Steve Nickol’s Articles

Photo mosaics are rising in popularity all over the world. You have probably seen one somewhere such as in your child's school, your local library, a medical office or elsewhere. They are beautiful, large photo mosaics that will catch everyone and anyone's eye. You just can't take your eyes off of these wonderful photos. There is so much to look at and so much to discover in a photo mosaic.
So, What is a Photo Mosaic?
A photo mosaic can also be known as a Photomosaic. This is a type of imaging art that is completely unique from the rest. A photo mosaic is usually made from a digital photograph - this would be the best type of image to use. You could also use another type of picture, but for the sake of this article, we will focus on creating photo mosaics from a digital photograph.
To begin, the photograph needs to be divided into equal rectangular sections, as small as you want them to be. They should be small enough to create a great visual effect, but not too small so that someone looking at the finished project could not see them. They also should not be too large, because then it would look a little odd and probably not create your desired look.
Every one of those rectangular divisions will be replaced by another image with normal colors. When you look at the image at a distance (let's say you are using a digital photograph of your favorite cat to create a photo mosaic) you would only see the cat. However, you might notice that the photograph's resolution is a little off, or that something seems to be different about this photograph. When you stand close to the photo mosaic you will notice that there are many different photographs infused within the photo itself. How interesting!
You can use many kind of photos for the mosaic part of the digital photograph you want to. For example, in your favorite cat's photo mosaic you could use many different photos of your cat to make up your photo mosaic of your cat. So, when you see it from a distance, you will see a large photo of your favorite cat. However, when you look closer you will see many different photos of your cat doing other things in the equal rectangular sections!

The cornucopia is Thanksgiving decor at its most classic. Also known as the "horn of plenty", cornucopias have a history dating back to around 500 BCE and strong ties to Greek mythology which tells us that Zeus gave Amalthea a goats horn that could grant the owner anything they wished for. Today the horn has similar meaning in new context, granting the first European settlers in the new world a feast they did not dream possible -- so the new tradition holds.
Now inseparable from American folklore, the cornucopia is second only to the turkey in symbolizing the Thanksgiving holiday. If you love the look of a cornucopia you can easily create this decorative Thanksgiving symbol for your home and/or dinner table. All that's needed are a few simple craft supplies, which you can find at almost any craft store or retailer's crafting department. Here's what you will need:
1 Cornucopia
1 Roll of Autumn-Themed Wire Ribbon
Scissors
Wire Cutters
Crafter's Glue Stick
Silk Flowers & Foliage
Artificial Fruit
First and foremost, you will need a cornucopia. These artificial decorations can often be found in styling similar to that of wicker, glass or ceramics. You can choose to decorate a cornucopia with autumn leaves, sunflowers, fruits and even corn. When creating a decorative centerpiece, it's a good idea to use silk flowers, foliage and artificial fruit to keep your design looking fresh throughout the holiday.
In addition to the aforementioned items, you can add an even more customized look with the help of craft or floral wire, which can be purchased in themes featuring the colors of autumn. This ribbon is easily shaped, and will create a colorful style to your project. Adding the ribbon is simple, and can be done by wrapping it around the widest part of the cornucopia, which is located at the top opening, and tying it into place. You can trim the remaining ribbon to suit your design style and shape it as needed to create the perfect look.
When it comes to securing your decorative filler, which consists of silk flower bushes, artificial foliage and/or fruits, you will first need to ensure the filling fits inside of the cornucopia properly. In some cases, you may need to use wire cutters to trim the stem area to ensure a perfect fit. For even more stylish control, you can use crafting wire to keep your floral and leaf bouquets in the desired location. Next, you can use a crafting glue stick to hold everything in place. Before your cornucopia design is complete, you may need to shape the leaves and/or flowers to create a full and plentiful appearance, which will give your decoration an even more traditional look.
The information contained in this article is designed to be used for reference purposes only. It should not be used as, in place of or in conjunction with professional decorating tips or advice. When using wire cutters or when working on any type of crafting project, wear protective eye goggles and gardening gloves to prevent injury.

Elvis. The king of rock and roll. He's been long gone as a human being, but his music and his spirit still lives in our hearts. His clothes, his accent, and the way he sang and moved are all memorable. What better way to pay tribute to the King than to wear Elvis costumes whenever the opportunity presents?
You can find the costumes online and in costume shops. They come complete with sequined outfits and you can even wear a wig to make the transformation complete. But it is one thing to simply wear Elvis costumes for a party or for Halloween. It is quite another to get into the spirit of things.
There are a lot of Elvis impersonators. And there are a lot of contests. So for some, it isn't enough to just dress in the Elvis Costumes. They need to perform. Show others that they've mastered the essence of The King's personality. We look at these people and we acknowledge how similar they are and for a while we feel as if the King is still with us.
Do you want to wear Elvis costumes and catch the spirit of his personality at the same time? Maybe you would like to become an impersonator. Or perhaps you just want to learn some tricks for your next costume party. Either way, here is some advice on how to get into character.
Watch the Movies
When you watch his movies, you have the opportunity to watch Elvis act. You can memorize his mannerisms and impersonate them. How does he move when singing? If you want to perform as an Elvis look-alike it is important to be as thorough as possible. If you just want to wear the Elvis costumes to a party then you just need to learn some of his mannerisms. Watch him when he sings, talks, walks and practice what you learn in front of a mirror. You may also want to record yourself speaking like Elvis. This will help you understand if your delivery is sound.
The Look
Elvis had a certain style and it was more than just sequined outfits. Take some time to get it right. Grow your hair or buy a wig. Paste on sideburns or grow your own. Wear the Elvis costumes while you practice. Then, when it is time to put it all together, you will be as believable as possible.

Toy cars fascinate the children as much as the original car. To an extent more! In the real car, they can only be the passengers. In the toy car, they are the masters. They can even create accidents that won't harm anyone.
However, they appeal to the amusement of the adults as well. They can roll out any model for the party and enjoy a ride with all relatives and friends. If you have made a car before, the process will be easy for you.
First things first, think of how many party guests you wish to accommodate. It would be on the scale of a standard car. Just because you would like to accommodate your many friends, you can not go on making compartments after compartments. Other accessories need to be fitted into their proper place.
The articles required are: Pick up any boxes, hard card-board boxes, TV-computer cartons or any other box. Take paper plates, plastic plates and a good quality spray paint; construction or bond paper in different colors, strong ribbon; stapler and gum; brads fasteners; craft knife, blade, scissor, glue and tape, markers, foam letters and numbers to decorate.
As the assembly operation of the car is in progress, you may have some new ideas for enhancing its beauty. Think well and go ahead!
The plastic plates are meant to serve as wheels. Choose your color. Do not hesitate to ape the latest model of the race car. Let the wheels turn properly. The other plate will be your steering wheel, unless you have better ideas.
Cut two small circles for headlights and tail lights. When your car is ready to roll out of the assembly lines, all that is necessary is to make the rail tracks. Track made out of old tyres looks good and they are durable. You can achieve perfection in this area, by trial and error method.

Music fans everywhere are tuning in to iPods. To get going with an iPod is not difficult. After you purchase one you can download off the computer, your favorite tunes, right onto the iPod. The flexibility of song choices and its small compact size make the iPod great for those seeking portability. Just like the Walkman's of old iPods can be used for exercising, walking, waiting in lines, simply clip it on and plug in your headphones or ear buds and go.
Now that you have taken all the time to search, find, and sort your own personal top 100 or so tunes wouldn't it be nice if you could use your iPod to play them on your supersonic, surround sound home stereo system? Or, if you are planning on throwing a party and have prepared a special song mix for it, you can simply download those tunes to your iPod and play them on your home system. Using some cables and a dock you could be on your way to enjoying your iPod tune selections at home as well.
Using the headphone jack on your iPod you can connect it to your home stereo. Visit a local electronics stores such a Radio Shack, and purchase a 3.5 mm RCA adapter cable. This is the same size as a standard headphone jack. Now you can connect your iPod to the amplifier's sound input. When you try this for the first time you should make sure your iPod's volume is set below its half way point. You will be using the stereo's control to adjust the volume. You don't want to blow your stereo's amplifier speakers by having your iPod volume cranked. If you need to you can always adjust your iPod volume after you have determined that it is necessary.
Curious about universal docking? The universal dock works with multiple electronics devices, just like a universal remote. You can use a universal dock to connect your iPod to your computer. A cable should have come with your iPod when you purchased it for this purpose. When you put your iPod in this you are able to sync and charge it. When you plug your dock into an electrical outlet with your iPod Power Adapter you can also charge the battery. You can also dock your iPod to your stereo or speakers using an iPod AV cable or an audio cable from the stereo and now play music using your iPod. If you want to get really fancy you can control your iPod from a distance using an Apple remote control.
If your iPod has video capabilities or a color display you can connect it to your TV and view photos or watch videos. You can do this by using the iPod's AV cable or a S-video cable.
You can also connect your iPod to your car's stereo system using the auxiliary input on your car's stereo. Take a 3.5 mm cable with stereo connectors on each end and plug it into the auxiliary input. If your car's system lacks an input jack you can use a cassette adapter.
So, while an iPod with its ability to store your personal favorite tunes, may simply seem like an improvement on the old Walkman it has many more functions that you only need a few cables to utilize.

One of my loyal readers was seeking advice cleaning an oil painting:
"My grandmother did several oil paintings before she died. They are lovely, but only valuable to our family. My mother, a heavy smoker, hung a small oil painting (about 12" x 18") in her small studio apartment for many years. This week she is moving, and gave me the painting. It is sticky and drippy with smoke residue.
My local art gallery wants almost 200 to clean it!
Is there a home-remedy that I could attempt? Obviously, I don't want to damage it, but it's not a valuable piece, and I just want it cleaned enough to hang in my kitchen (still life with wine and fruit). Thanks for any advice you can offer!"
I can't make any guarantees (because I'm not a curator) about the safety of these methods for your particular painting. But I can tell you what I do to clean the paintings I own.
1.The safest option, but won't work on sticky areas is to use a very soft brush to remove dust and soot particles (super soft paintbrush, baby toothbrush, shaving brush, that kind of thing). You can buy a micro attachment kit for your vacuum that has small brushes (under an inch in diameter) for deeper cleaning (don't scrub the surface with the bristles, though-just light, circular passes). If that doesn't work, you can use a dry rubber sponge in short strokes across the surface, but only if the surface isn't damaged or flaky. It picks up every last bit of dirt and soot, but likely won't work on the really sticky parts.
2.The other option is to use soft, clean cloths and water with a few drops of dish detergent. If you can remove the frame to test this on the side or edge of the painting first, do so. Watch the surface of the painting and check the cloths to see what's coming off, and obviously if the paint colors are lifting off, stop cleaning. Try just damp cloths at first, dab the painting, no scrubbing. If she painted on canvas, be careful not to stretch the canvas by pressing too hard. If damp cloths aren't working, use a bit more water, just beware that water can seep under varnish, if there is any, and that if the paint is thin, and the canvas or board gets wet, it can shrink or warp and cause cracks in the paint.
I've cleaned my own paintings this way, but a conservator would wring my neck if I ever tried it at a gallery! I've also used rubbing alcohol on a cotton ball for really bad areas...scary, but it works. Use a tiny amount of alcohol.
If these methods don't work, it might be worth it to ask around at the gallery to see if there is a conservator's apprentice or helper working there. Ask around unofficially by checking with the security guards, reception staff, gallery shop clerks, etc. He/she might be willing to look at your painting to recommend a solvent or clean it for a lower price (under the table on his/her own time). You could also check antique and framing shops to see if they have lower prices for cleaning services.
Good luck cleaning your oil painting! Please let me know if you found my advice helpful. For more helpful oil painting tips refer to my blog.

With so many video game consoles on the market, there is something for everyone. No matter what your budget, taste, or choice in video games is you can be certain that there is a video game console that you will love. How you choose your console depends largely on what you are looking for in video gaming. Do you want games your whole family can play? How important are superior graphics to you? Are you looking for budget friendly consoles? There are so many questions to answer, so here are a few helpful hints on finding the perfect video gaming console for you.
When you are looking at the different video game consoles you can definitely see a trend or rather a market towards certain people. For example, the newest console, the Nintendo Wii, is geared mostly towards families and is an excellent option for those with children. The Playstation 2 is without a doubt the best budget video game console compared to the more expensive Playstation 3. If you are interested in online gaming then you should definitely consider the Xbox 360 which is the leader in online gaming for so many reasons. Lastly you have the previously mentioned Playstation 3. Yes, it is very pricey, but for those who are unworried about budgets, this offers the highest resolution graphics of all the above. The visuals are simply amazing if you have the entertainment setup to enjoy them.
When looking at the video game consoles you also want to take into consideration the video games that come with it or that are sold separately. You want to stay away from worthless extras like games you would never play. Many video game consoles come in packages with games that are "free", but truly they just charge you extra for the package and you end up paying more then what you would if you just bought the video game console separately with games you actually enjoy.
Make sure everything you need is included. Most will only come with one controller so you need to budget for extra controllers and games as needed. You also might need subscriptions for online gaming if that is what you are into and you may need special cables if you are looking for the best audio and visual performance. Compare all the prices because just as some of them include games, some packages include various cables and "extras" that you may want. It may be less expensive then buying everything separately. Not to mention, prices sometimes vary from store to store, so definitely do a little comparative shopping before buying any video gaming console.
Lastly, before buying any video game console, or video game for that matter, you need to read your video game reviews. There are many websites and gaming magazines that will direct you to exactly what you need and give you very informative video game reviews that will tell you if that console or game has exactly what you are looking for. Don't rush into any purchase that you may not be happy with. Most of all, when you get your console home, enjoy it and have a great time playing all of your new games.

The house blue prints that ultimately build your home is a choice you will live with day in and day out for as long as you live in the home. This is why it is so important to choose the right person to make those house blue prints for you.
My husband and I just went through the process of building our home and we went through quite the ordeal in getting our own house blue prints done right. I wrote this article to make your process go a bit smoother.
The first person we talked to about our house blue prints was a real jerk. He would make his own decisions on how our house should look and wouldn't explain to me why my ideas could not be used instead. Customer service was obviously not a priority in his eyes.
It is very important to find a company that will actually listen to and explain things to you when you have questions and ideas. After all, it is your home. You will be the one living in it.
Sometimes it is just easier to choose from stock house blue prints and just have modifications done to them to suit it to your needs. That way you know what your house will look like right from the beginning.
A great source to find some high quality blue prints is - http://houseblueprints.thebestreview.net
Find a company that has a lot of experience in both customer service and creating high quality blue prints. If I had knew this from the beginning, I would have saved myself a lot of time and stress.
If the company does not care about you and your questions, they don't deserve to have your business. When I finally came across a great company I was so relieved. They actually explained things to me and the whole process went beautifully.
The most important thing to remember is to know what you are paying for. When you're looking for stock house blue prints or custom blue prints, you want to know all of the costs up front.
Many people will have 'hidden fees' or costs you have no idea you will be paying until you receive the bill. Find out exactly what you will be paying before you sign a contract or make a payment.

Diamond blades can be used for the concrete of cutting, brick, the block, the stone and other materials with the similar properties. A diamond blade is composed of core out of steel (to the difference of the diamond wire) and of powder metal which is combined with the crystals of diamond and then heated and tightened in a frame which form the diamond segments, also known under the name of "teeth of cutting" of the blade. The diamond segments are then welded with the steel core.
The steel core can change in the design. Some of them have spaces (known under the name of oesophagi) between each segment to provide cooling and the removal of mud, whereas others have a rim continues simple for a softer piece-free cutting. The type of core which must be employed depends on the type of materials which will be cut. A diamond blade really does not cross, instead of that it rectifies. They have rectangular teeth (segments) which contain diamond crystals on the end of each segment to rectify by very hard materials.
The bond is a term used for the softness or the hardness of the powder metal being employed to form the segments and to hold diamonds in place. The bond orders the rate to which the diamond segments carry downwards and make it possible new diamonds to become exposed on surface to continue to rectify with a "pointed" edge. The most important stage matches a blade with the good bond with your specific material of cutting. The first thing that should know to you is how hard, or the abrasive, the material you wish to cross is.
Each diamond blade is single in its combination of: to stick, diamond concentration, diamond sizes/forms, width, design of segment, design of core, etc to obtain to You with the most effective cutting should always test with the match the type of blade to the specific material which it conceived to cut.

A home theatre system offers all the benefits of going to the movies, right in the comfort and privacy of your living room. It is also a great asset to have, so if you are out to purchase one for yourself, make sure you buy the right one to suit your needs and budget.
Today, there is a large number of home theatre systems available on the market and choices can be overwhelming for someone who is not familiar with the different choices. You will find numerous differences in prices and features among models across the whole range. So if you want to be sure about the best home theatre system that you can afford, read on...
Here are a few common mistakes that most people make when buying a home theatre system:
Most home theatres are state-of- the-art and it's very difficult to tell which one is best at first glance. As a matter of fact, you will never know how good system is unless you give it a complete run-through, right there in the store. Now, most people would assume that a storeowner wouldn't allow you to do much more with a home theatre system than switch it on and check a few basic functions here and there. But the truth is that, if a store wants to sell their product to you, they will be willing to tow the line a lot farther.
If you are a gaming freak and you plan to use your home theatre system to play games, you might consider taking your gaming machine over to the store to test that system out. This will be a good way for you to find out if the system you are about to purchase produces quality sound and images.
Now that you are satisfied with a particular home theatre system, don't be in hurry to swipe your card and drive home. Most people make this mistake and pick up their home theatre system before they even shop around for the best price. Such a mistake can prove to be expensive, because you can never tell how much you could have saved unless you check the prices at other stores. Sometimes, you will find the difference in price at the next store up to hundreds of dollars for the same product. So make sure you check out different stores before you make the final purchase or else you will be kicking yourself when you find out.
Many times, you will find that you can get amazing bargains on the internet. It is not unusual for major outlets to offer huge discounts to online customers. Online shopping is a growing phenomenon and this is where you can expect to do most of your shopping in the future. Of course, when ordering online, remember to take note of the shipping costs as well. This will give you an accurate idea of what you will have to pay when you take delivery of your system.
I hope the above mentioned points help you find the right home entertainment system.