Reverse Glass Painting

Glass painting can be quite fun, yet needs patience. Once you get the basic techniques right, there is no end to the improvisation you can do to get fabulous pictures !!

Materials you will need:

* Thin glass sheets of any dimension you wish (Tip: it will be a good idea to start with an A4 sort of size, as a bigger canvas will allow you to paint with more freedom)
* Paints (There is quite a wide choice here depending on the type of design, one can use fabric colours, water-based glass colours, liners, glitter 3D outliners and so on)
* Design printed out on paper, the same dimension as you wish to paint on the glass sheet. It is recommended to leave at least a 1mm allowance on all sides as this area will be taken up while framing the painting. If you are good at free-hand drawing, then simply go ahead and paint directly on the glass (Note: It can always be wiped/washed off if it goes wrong :) )
* Carbon paper for transferring the design on to the glass
* Clean lint-free cloth
* Brushes of desired sizes
* Palette for colour mixing
* Old newspapers for a mess-free work area

1. Clean the glass sheet of any smudges, finger prints using oil-free soap and water, or simply wipe using a lint-free wet cotton cloth

2. Since this is a reverse painting technique, we need a reverse copy of the design to be placed under the glass while painting or transferring the design. Now if we have printers at home, then this is easily done with the help of the cloning or mirror tool in any photo suite software and then printing it out. However, for those without this facility, or if you got the design from a journal, or if it is a religious motif that ideally should not be printed in reverse, then the following technique will help. Place a carbon paper face-up, i.e, the inked side stuck to the paper, under the design sheet and trace out the design. Once done, remove the carbon and turn the design sheet over, you will see the motif on the backside, but in reverse. Now you can use this side to place under the glass sheet.

3. Use transparent tape to firmly stick the design to the bottom of the glass. Now we are ready to begin.

4. Using the glass outliners or other paints and a thin brush, commence drawing out the outlines so you have the basic picture. Start filling in the colours according to your imagination. If you wish you can alter the dimension of the design such that you also have allowance for a nice decorative border apart from the 1mm gap on the 4 sides.

5. If working with religious designs, such as Tanjore paintings, etc, it is ideal to fill in the ornamental parts of the picture first. As there is more scope for colours to run over or smudge on glass, make sure to let it dry a little in between colouring adjacent areas. Once dry you can also turn over the glass sheet to check for any vacant spots. You will also get an idea how the finishing actually appears on the other side.

6. Once your work is done, let dry completely. You can frame this with or without a background. If there is a brightly coloured wall, you can simply provide a frame for the 4 sides leaving the back uncovered, so it uses the wall colour as its background. If not, it is also a good idea to use crushed aluminium foil or any other paper of your choice which best complements your masterpiece.

Voila!! Not too bad now, was it. But remember, practice makes one perfect. So keep at it till you improve. Happy Painting :)

Buying craft supplies in Chennai

By visalam

From my somewhat short exploration of shops in chennai, based on my requirements, I found the following shops that are quite resourceful. Hope it will help people looking for such information.

Ranganathan Street, T.Nagar (a by-lane next to Textile India)houses 2 amazingly well-stocked shops :

Raja Thread Stores - A small shop but you would hardly hear a "No" to anything craft-related that you need!!! The upper storey of the shop has an annexe where you can buy glasses of different dimensions, embroidery threads, etc. The main shop stocks the A-Z of craft work. The staff is friendly and will guide you for any relevant information. Examples of supplies available:

Paintings including glass, canvas, embossed, Tanjore, Madhubani, etc, and related items. Candle-making kits, tailoring and embroidery accessories, knitting accessories, design books, beads, laces, Anchor Stitch kits, Velvet cloth, list is endless

Pandian Stores - This is right opposite Raja Thread Stores in the same street. They too stock similar items as above, main advantage being a larger shop area, hence more stock. There are 3 shops in all; the 2 at the ground level are for tailoring-related items, other one selling fancy jewellery, bangles, etc. The top storey of this shop stocks beauty items that are quite rare elsewhere.

Oviya Academy, Royapettah - This one is adjacent to the Deccan Plaza Hotel, above JFA furniture shop in a commercial complex. This place, as the name suggests, is also an academy that conducts painting workshops for all ages. They stock specialist painting supplies, ranging from Reverse Glass Painting canvas, to supplies, special Gold paint that will not fade or blacken with time, and so on. The designs available here are quite unique to the standard ones available in other shops. Glass designs are available in multiple dimensions, but subject to stock availability.

Helpful Aromatherapy Tips

By: Keith Conwell

Many people are into alternative medicine nowadays. One of the most popular is aromatherapy. This is an ancient way to treat certain ailments in the body. Whether it is internal or external, it can help alleviate the ailment once this method is used.
The main technique of aromatherapy is to stimulate the olfactory nerves to release certain hormones that will help enhance or improve wellness of a person.

There are many ways on how to use aromatherapy. You can use gadgets to enhance the essential oils used in aromatherapy sessions. This kind of therapy can also be provided by the services of a professional aroma therapist. Certain aromatherapy tips in the internet can also be applied.
To provide you added information, below are the aromatherapy tips that you can apply. Read on my friend.

Tip 1 – Be Selective

There are aromatherapy essential oils that can be purchased in the internet or in stores. However, you must be careful in choosing because some can be made from added chemicals. These chemicals can be synthetic or pure.
The best thing to do in choosing essential oils is to check its components. Meaning, it should be naturally based and there are no added chemicals that will irritate your sense of smell.

Tip 2 – Properly Store Essential Oils

This is also very important. You must store any essential oils or aromatherapy gadgets to prevent spillage. Proper storage will also preserve it and can be used again later. Remember, aromatherapy oils and gadgets can be expensive.

Tip 3 – Compare

Another way is to compare first the difference between essential oils and perfume oils. Always remember that the most effective means on how to use aromatherapy is to implement it naturally. Essential oils can give you therapeutic benefits while perfume oils are used for sheer enjoyment only. Meaning, it is better to choose the one that will benefit you the most.

Tip 4 – Create Your Own Aromatherapy Recipes

It is also a great idea to improvise and create your own aromatherapy recipes. In case you have your own backyard with flowering and herbal plants, you can use these to make your own essences. In this way, you have saved money including the environment since you don’t have to purchase factory made essential oils. Remember, you can buy books or search in the internet for recipes in aromatherapy.

Tip 5 – Check the Safety Information

Aromatherapy can sometimes cause allergic reactions in other individuals. It is best to check or read safety information before using aromatic oils for you therapy session. It is also a good idea to consult your doctor to prevent you from having allergic reactions in using this kind of therapy.

Tip 6 – Enjoy and be relieved

Aromatherapy is basically a method to avoid stress and anxiety. This kind of therapy will surely calm your senses and provide you the outmost relaxing feeling. All you have to do is to enjoy and be relieved.

These are the aromatherapy tips you can implement. Remember, pamper yourself and be rejuvenated. Enjoy my friend!

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Tips to Stay Young

Written by: Anil Moses

The thought of growing old scares everyone.

The secret for better aging is to feel good about yourself and treat the symptoms that come naturally in the process of aging. You don t have to just live with these symptoms and feel bad. You have to embrace what you have and feel good about yourself.

Avoid your obsession with aging, and you’ll be surprised just how much weight you’ve lifted off your shoulders.

You should feel that same person 20 or so years before. What matters is not how you look on the surface, it is who you truly are deep down. This may sound like too much of a cliché, but then again, this became a cliché for good reason. Inside, you still have the same dreams and many of the same interests. In fact, aging has only had its rewards. The years should have taught you to be more confident and happier in your own skin. You may constantly obsess about the fine lines and deep crevices you see in front of the mirror, but has this done anyone good?

If you follow the steps listed below,you can stay forever young and beautiful.

Unfortunately there are no miracles drugs. Sadly, no Fountain of Youth but there are some things you can do to stay young and healthy looking without anything too radical. Lifestyle Habits are the main thing to consider. Following some simple steps will help you look and feel better. It will also save you a ton of money and keep you out of the plastic surgeon s chair.

1. Eat Healthy:

Eat a balanced, healthy diet, including five helpings of fruits and vegetables a day.

2. Exercise:

Exercise has so many benefits. Helps maintain good posture, alleviate stress and increase blood flow. Once you see the positive affects it brings you ll be hooked.

3. Sleep:

Sleep is a natural healer for mind and body. It s easy to say sleep 8 hours every night but often not as easy to do. Do try to get on a schedule that gives you enough sleep. Your body restores and repairs itself during sleep.

4. Smile Gorgeous:

Your smile is something people notice. Take care of your teeth. Make sure to get your regular dental check ups and cleanings. If you notice your teeth becoming discolored buy a teeth whitening product. These are very reasonable now and they work. Avoid smoking, coffee and red wine as they can stain teeth.

5.Love Your Locks:
Find a happy middle. Avoid wearing hair too long. As you age it becomes less flattering. Avoid wearing it too short. A severe short hair cut can also tack on the years. Have bangs! Bangs soften the face and are flattering on anyone. Avoid blunt cut bangs. Try side swept or long layered bangs

6. Give up smoking:

Smoking destroys the natural proteins in the skin collagen and elastin. It decreases the blood supply to your skin. When you smoke your pucker your lips. Over time those pucker lines will become permanent. Lipsticks bleeds down into them making your lips look dry, crackly and well old.

7. Less is More:

Avoid being heavy handed with make up. Certain cosmetics can actually age you. Foundations and Powders often make fine lines look more prominent. They look more like wrinkles Use anti aging products and keep it light.

8. Be Fashionable

Keep up on style trends. Make sure you know what works for you. Don t give up your age by wearing outdated clothing. Be modern and express your amazing taste with your clothing.

9. Stay Positive

We are all our own worst critics and we often judge ourselves to harshly. When you look in the mirror don t take note of the crow s feet take note of your lovely brown eyes. Be kind to yourself. Everyone ages. There is no way around that but we can make sure we do it gracefully. Remember that you are Beautiful. Take Pride in that.

About the author: Anil Moses is a post graduate in business administration and is serving Vision Infonet in key positions. He is an expert in medical transcription, medical billing services and involved in the development of MDCare EMR .

[Article From Articles Haven]

Treat Brittle Nails With Extra Care

By: Adriana Noton

You’ll know if you have brittle nails. They chip and crack with the slightest touch and are a constant source of irritation. Chances are, if you have brittle nails, you have ended up with a few messed up manicures. However, if you take care of those fingernails, you’ll be able to enjoy long, gorgeous nails again. It just means a little extra work.

Daily Care

The first thing you need to do is ensure that your nails are in good condition. Since brittle ones tend to split if they are clipped, the best way to remove damaged areas and ensure that they are all the same length is to file. A nail file is gentle enough when used correctly that it won’t break the tips. You can do this by filing gently in only one direction. Using an emery board or glass file is also much safer than a metal file.

Avoid too much exposure to water, since this causes the cells in the nail tissue to swell up and separate. If you find that they tear easily and are soft, rather than hard, then chances are you have spent too much time with your hands in water. The opposite is true of hard fingernails. When they are hard and brittle, it’s more likely that chemicals from excessive polish or treatments has taken a toll. In this case, you will be better off leaving your hands naked for a couple of weeks until the brittle nail has grown out. Remember to let your nails breathe in between manicures. This can also occur, however, if your job involves handling chemicals or cleaners. Using rubber gloves can help.

Moisturizing and Polishing

There are some moisturizers specifically designed for fingernails. These can be very helpful in keeping them softer and less likely to break. You can also use hand lotion applied to the entire hand, including the nails.

Consider using a strengthening polish as a base coat or even as a single coat for a few days. If you use nail polish remover, avoid using it more than once a week, since this can damage the nail and cause it to dry out by removing the natural oils that are secreted to keep your hands healthy.

Keep in mind that a manicure, while beautiful to look at, seals your nails and prevents them from getting air. Over time, continuously covering them with polish can cause problems and worsen brittleness. It’s a good idea to let your hands breathe once in a while and spend some days without any polish at all, just to let them recover. Even if you feel naked, it’s worth it to keep your nails healthy and strong, as they will stand up to far more in the long run. You can also look for natural nail polishes, which will affect the nail much less and can reduce the issues faced by constantly applying polish.

Looking after brittle nails can require a bit of extra time, but as long as you let them air out sometimes, keep them moisturized and avoid chemicals or soaking in water for too long, they should be strong and healthy. Keep an eye on them and be sure to treat your fingernails with care.

Providing pure, high quality natural essential oils and aromatherapy massage oil products to promote a sense of well-being. View the wide selection of base & carrier oils, floral waters, airsprays, roll-ons and gift sets and more. Adrian Noton - Saffron Rouge

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