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Looking for a creative, inexpensive way to glam up any special occasion or event? Paper lanterns are the best DIY decorations that can set the feel for all occasions, as the potential designs which can be made out of them are seemingly endless. Paper or card stock, scissors, staplers, tape, and glue are essentially all the tools needed to brighten up any occasion and set the theme. So, no matter the occasion, here are a few DIY lantern ideas to consider:

Holiday Festivities–

Just because the holidays are freshly over doesn’t mean potential holiday decorating inspirations have to be, especially when it comes to DIY projects. Practically everyone thinks about sweets and candy at Christmas time, next year throw the most fun Christmas party ever with DIY candy lanterns. By using hot pink or other brightly colored ribbons, tulle and mesh fabric, and chevron paper, setting the theme with giant pieces of candy has never been a better way to celebrate Christmas fun! Or, take an old New Year tradition and make it new again with classic Chinese paper lanterns–get some red and gold card stock and get to crafting for the next new year!

Other Holiday Parties–

Don’t forget Halloween, Valentine’s Day, St. Patty’s Day, Easter or any other exciting holiday event to use these various and fun paper craft ideas for easy decorating, as well. The choice of colors for the lanterns can truly highlight the theme, making it so there’s no need to even do much additional decorating on them– but, of course, adding pictures inside the lanterns make them look extra spectacular! Use the typical orange, black and purple colors for Halloween, or some cute pastels at Easter, string them together, tape them up to walls or hang them in trees, and voila, a central decoration for whatever kind of holiday party you’re throwing is in the bag.

Bridal Showers and Weddings–

Going for simple, fun, decorative lights for a bridal shower? Or, how about beautiful, romantic lanterns to string through the trees for an outdoor wedding? One of the best, most inexpensive decorating ideas for these special occasions are right at the decorator’s fingertips. Simply string up some classic white lanterns, add some extra colors that compliment the theme, or get even more creative by adding tissue paper pom poms on the tops of the lanterns for a floral-like twist. It’s so easy to have a simple, but beautiful shower and wedding with all the different ways one could utilize lanterns or other paper crafts.

Baby Showers–

Of course, another ideal occasion to make use of these crafty lanterns is at baby showers. Once again, by simply making the lanterns with the colors that set the theme of your shower–in this case, possibly light pink or baby blues– there’s no need to even add anything more to the lanterns. However, baby showers are typically events that commonly use pictures to accent the color theme, so when going with lanterns as a central element, it would make them stand out even more by adding some cut-out pictures or stickers on them of cute animals, flowers, etc.

And, there are plenty more occasions to use paper lanterns where that came from… In addition to the exciting occasions already listed, this versatile decor can be used for patriotic holidays such as the 4th of July, birthday party themes, bar mitzvahs, etc. Essentially, this is the perfect paper craft to compliment any occasion imaginable.…

If you are feeling like organic gardening is an overwhelming subject, then you are in the right place. When thinking about how to go about growing your garden, just remember that the more knowledge you have, the easier it should go when you’re forming strategies and implementing those strategies towards your gardening endeavors.

If you’re working to build a sustainable organic garden, try leaving a portion of your garden untouched so that the wildlife will be able to thrive. A natural area will allow beneficial birds and insects, many of which pollinate plants, to live on your property and help your garden grow stronger.

It is important to keep the temperature set between 65 and 75 degrees, if you wish to raise plants in the home. Indoor plants grow best at these warm temperatures. If you don’t like keeping your home that temperature in the winter, you may wish to consider getting a heat lamp, instead, to keep your organic plants the correct temperature.

Pay attention to how much light your indoor plants are getting. If your home does not let in sufficient light, then consider getting plants that thrive in low-light situations. You could also consider using grow-lights for this exact purpose.

A great first step to having a successful organic garden is to test the acidity of the soil in your garden. The ideal number is 6.5, if your soil is on the low end, it’s too acidic and if it’s on the high end it’s too alkaline. Neither of those situations lends itself to a successful garden. So by purchasing a soil testing kit before planting, you will assure yourself a beautiful organic garden in the summer.

Weed control in your organic garden will be more challenging than a conventional garden because you can’t use chemical herbicides. One of the best ways to control weeds without using chemicals is creating ground cover with mulch. Save tree trimmings and grass clippings from elsewhere in your garden and spread them around your plants to a depth of about 3 inches. This should be enough to prevent weeds from germinating and growing.

For the best organic garden, choose plants that do best in your type of soil and climate. Plants that have adapted to a specific type of environment have a better chance to thrive without much fuss in that environment. These plants will also save you time in maintenance because they are naturally hardy.

It is a good idea to get organic garden certification so as to reaffirm your claims that your products really are organic. This can boost sales and tell loyal customers that you’re providing the best to them.

With all of the knowledge you just learned about gardening, you want to start forming plans and implementing those plans to the best of your ability. When it comes to gardening, you have to go outside and get yourself dirty, while you try out the strategies you have formed, when you do that you’re going to see what does and doesn’t work and from there, you can form new strategies.…

Do you need more furniture? If so, the process of furniture buying may seem especially daunting to you. Where do you look to achieve the best prices? How do you avoid getting ripped off? The below article has these answers and more so you can make the best possible decisions.

Use social media to find great deals on furniture. There are many online yard sale pages on Facebook where you can find gently used furniture at a small fraction of the price of new furniture. Search for yard sale groups in your area and begin looking for the perfect piece of furniture.

Before purchasing a piece of furniture, always open drawers and doors. You should not purchase a piece of furniture if the drawers do not open all the way and close evenly. Make sure the doors stay open and close properly. You should also check the knobs or handles to make sure they are properly attached.

When purchasing a television stand, make sure that it is the correct size for your television. Many television stands are made for certain types of televisions. By knowing your televisions dimensions, you can ensure that it will fit in the television stand. You will also want to ensure that it has storage space for your components.

When you think about buying a single piece of furniture, think about how it will fit in with the rest of your decor. It’s one thing to see a flamingo side table out while you’re shopping, but it’s another thing to bring it home and try to make it work with everything else you have. Think carefully before you buy.

Do you have a large yard you want to put furniture in? If so, save your furniture shopping until the fall season. Summer furniture is marked down at this time of year to make room for winter items. Stores will give you a discount to get rid of older pieces.

If you want a new piece of furniture and already have a piece similar, consider altering the piece. There are many different ways you can alter furniture. If you want a new color, you can paint it or add a nice slipcover. If you aren’t comfortable doing it, there are a lot of people who enjoy this type of project.

When purchasing bedroom furniture for your children, look into wrought iron bunk beds. This type of bed will withstand the demands that children place on them. Additionally, if your child marks on the bedroom furniture, you can simply spray paint it and make it look brand new for only a few dollars.

Make sure reclining chairs and sofas work before leaving the store. A lot of people don’t test the furniture and when they get it home it’s broken and won’t work. Furniture returns or replacements can be difficult to arrange and may carry additional charges.

Do not allow the furniture-buying process to frighten you any longer. Now that you are armed with the great knowledge in this article, you can go out and purchase furniture with confidence. Rather than dreading this process, you can actually look forward to it. It is a good feeling whenever you purchase something incredible at a good deal.…

Are you considering investing in a rental property? Becoming a landlord, like Steven Taylor of Taylor Equities, is a great way to earn passive income, and real estate, in general, is an excellent investment. Nonetheless, there are challenges that you will encounter along the way. Read on for three helpful tips for success.

Address Any Outstanding Personal Debts

Although investing in rental property can be lucrative, doing so is not necessarily a shortcut to wealth. Before committing time and money to a property, you should assess your current financial situation. Are you carrying a significant amount of credit card or student loan debt? Are you planning to help significantly with your child’s college expenses in the near future? If so, it may not be the right time to buy.

Vet Prospective Properties Carefully

It can be tempting to snap up a cheap property in need of significant repairs due to the low up-front cost. Unless you are extremely skilled at making home repairs or have solid relationships with several different contractors, however, this is most likely not the smartest way to go. Instead, your goal should be to find a property that is listed below market value and needs little to no repairs. In addition, you should be judicious in choosing the location where you buy. Look for neighborhoods with the potential to appreciate in value, and consider choosing a location close to your home so that you can keep a close eye on the property.

Secure a Low Interest Rate

If you are planning to take on a mortgage, don’t be afraid to shop around to get the best rate. Any amount of money that you save in interest can be directed toward renovations, repairs, taxes, and other unavoidable costs.

With the help of these tips, you should be able to find success in your new investment. Start slowly, and take your time in accumulating a diverse portfolio. Good luck!…

Homeownership is one of the most significant achievements for most people. It can be a symbol of success and stability. Building or purchasing your dream home may require a lot of effort and cash. One of the essential steps in owning a home is ensuring that your finances and budget are compatible with the cost of your dream house.

The key to achieving your dream home is all about designing a personalized space suited to your preferences and tastes. Below are ways you can make your dream home a reality.

Self-Build

Building a house from scratch requires visualizing, research, and coming up with specifications unique to your build. That is, of course, if you want a unique house. Before starting, you should note that self-building can be costly and constructing a house can take a long time.

Before starting construction, you should consider hiring architectural planning services to get the right design. Then get your plans and permits approved by the relevant authorities. You may also need to hire competent and experienced project managers to oversee the construction.

Renovation and Remodeling

You can create your dream home by purchasing a fixer-upper and remodeling it to your liking. While fixer-uppers are generally cheaper than self-builds, you have to watch your spending so the cost of renovating does not surpass the value of the property. While renovating, you can knock down some walls and replace or add structures with assistance from trained professionals.

Interior Design

Designing your home’s interior comes into play when the house is structurally and desirably sound but in need of personalized functionality and details. Plan each room around your activities and aesthetic preferences. When designing, you can utilize some online tools and resources like interactive floor planners and 3D design software. If you’re not confident with your design skills, you can hire an interior designer for that professional touch.

The journey to attaining your dream home can be long and tedious. Finding the right location, deciding between a new or older home, and extensive renovations are just some of the challenges you might have to face.…

It is difficult to get into HVAC, but once you have the right information it is easy. The following article will be of help if you want to know more about your HVAC unit. Keep reading if you want to get into HVAC.

Before calling for help, know the system you have. It is important to understand what model it is and which brand it is. Also, if it has been serviced before, you should have that information handy. This helps make sure the contractor has the information they will need.

If your unit is outdoors, clean them regularly. Debris can pile up at rates that increase during rainy or windy weather, and this can foul up the inner workings of your system. It can also cause it to overheat.

Make certain that you clean your condenser when the weather begins to warm. Be sure to turn the power off first; you don’t want anything to move. Then remove the grill, remove the blades and clean it from top to bottom gently.

Don’t get grass clippings on your outside unit. Aim the grass in a different direction from the unit. Do the same when blowing snow or leaves.

If you want to know where you should put an outdoor compressor, you should place it somewhere where there is a lot of shade. When it draws in air for cooling, it will be more efficient because it will not need to work as hard to cool down the air.

Be sure to place your outdoor unit in a shady spot to maximize efficiency. This will help ensure that the AC is pulling in cooler air, reducing the amount of work it has to do and saving you money.

Outdoor condenser units need to be turned off when the weather turns cold. When the temperature drops beneath 60 degrees, it’s time to cut off the unit to prevent damage. This will allow your system to work well every year, and that saves you quite a bit on making repairs.

A programmable thermostat can really help you out when it comes to your power bills. In fact, you can save as much as 10 percent on both heating and cooling when you turn your thermostat by by 10-15 percent for at least 8 hours daily. Plus, some models allow you to control them over the internet or from a smartphone.

In order to keep energy costs down, make sure heating and cooling systems are services at least once per year. Make sure the person takes a look at the motor and examines the levels of freon. Doing this simple task can ensure that your system will be running for years with no problem!

If nobody is home, turn off the AC. The house will only heat to certain level and a decent HVAC system can quickly cool this down once you are home. If you leave it on all day, it’s fighting the heat constantly, meaning it’s using a lot of electricity to do its job.

With the right information, even an HVAC system is simple enough to understand. Be sure to take time to learn as much as you can. Use the guideline above to help you make those important decisions.…

Do you have a hobby that you enjoy? How do you escape from the daily pressures of your life if you don’t? If you are looking for a way to release a little steam each day and would like to take up a new hobby, here is a few ideas for you consider.

Having a hobby gives you the chance to experience positive stress while presenting an exciting new challenge. Find a hobby that makes use of your natural talents and interests. While your hobby should be challenging, it should not add negative stress to your life. A hobby will challenge you in ways that your other life experiences don’t.

Consider beading as your new hobby. It is the perfect way to express your inner girly side and do something creative that pays off in an afternoon. What’s more is that you can create jewelry that matches your wardrobe, so your hobby is not only fun and relaxing; it actually lets you show people what you can do.

If you are looking for a new hobby, reading is one of the most inexpensive hobbies that you can have. To read a great book all you need is a membership to your local library. Most community libraries are free to join provided that you live in the community’s area. Simply sign up for a card and you are free to borrow as many books as you like.

Take up sculpting as a hobby that can relax you. Nothing is quite like having some clay in your hands while making whatever you please according to the talents you have. Don’t sculpt alone! Look for a class and have your friend take it, too.

You can enjoy surfing if you like to swim and love the ocean. Secondhand surfboards are available to help you up, and surfing lessons tend to be quite reasonably priced. You will also notice that your leg muscles will benefit from this wonderful exercise.

Are you looking for a hobby to fill your time and want to get fit? Swimming might be an option for you to consider. It may cost a little each month to pay membership fees for the pool, but many people find great joy in swimming laps each day. The health benefits are great and so is the potential of picking up a fun hobby that you enjoy.

Believe it or not, current events could be considered a hobby of sorts. If you enjoy keeping up with what is going on around the world, you can create a scrap book that can be handed down to younger generations of your family. They may find it as interesting as you did as you put it together.

A hobby can provide so much joy to your life. You will find that relaxation time that your body and brain needs, and this will you allow you to switch off for a little while. Find a hobby that appeals to you and get started as soon as possible. You never know where it could lead you.…