DecoDreams, Issue #016, New Decorating Web Site Launched!

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DecoDreams
Your Guide to Creating Beautiful Spaces, FAST!
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January 04, 2004
Issue #016
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THE MISSION...DecoDreams is the home-decorating-made-
easy.com e-zine that delivers interior decorating tips,
ideas, and solutions to enhance all rooms of your home.
Staying on top of what's hot in decorating has never been
so easy or fun!
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DON'T FORGET Your Friends!...If you like DecoDreams, please
do a friend and me a huge favor and "pass it along"...

...or ask them to subscribe by visiting
Home Decorating Made Easy.com ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
***********************ACKNOWLEDGEMENT********************

Diversity of creative ideas has always been the
hallmark of home decorating. That's why I've asked
designer, artist, educator and writer, Marney
Makridakis, to share her own unique brand of
decorating advice in our "Ask the Decorator" column. I
think you'll enjoy her wit and original insights.

Submit your questions to Marney by clicking here. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

> TABLE OF CONTENTS

o News

1) New Decorating Web Site Launched!

o Featured Article

1) Kid's Message Center Craft Project

o Today's Quote

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NEWS ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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New Decorating Web Site Launched!

You may recall a survey that we did back in November
2003 that asked if you thought a web site dedicated to
decorating children's rooms would be helpful.

Well, the response was overwhelmingly in favor of us
going for it!

So, after spending the last couple of months pulling
together useful articles, we're ready to introduce our
newest "bouncing baby" interior decorating web site to
the world...awwwww :-)

But we've added an interesting twist!

Not only are we giving decorating tips, but we've
dedicated an entire section to creating money-saving
decorative crafts to fill your child's room.

You get step-by-step instructions along with
photographs of completed projects. You won't find
another site on the Internet that has taken such a
unique approach.

So, why did we add crafts to this web site?

Well, when you think about it, it makes perfect sense.
In addition to saving money, these easy projects will
give you the opportunity to...

Spend some quality time with your child, and
Create memorable decorative treasures

We plan on adding even more articles and pictures in
the future, but I think you'll agree that we're off to
a great start.

OK, OK...I know your curiosity is peeked about the
name of the site, so I won't keep you in suspense. The
new site is called Kids Rooms and Crafts.com.

Even if your kids are grown and on their own, you
probably know someone who could benefit from this
information.

So, please forward this issue of DecoDreams to them. I
bet they would appreciate it. The feature article
below will also give you a flavor for the type of
information available on the site.

I want to again thank everyone who responded to the
survey. I plan on gathering more of your thoughts and
opinions this year because I really want to help you
make your decorating dreams a reality.

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~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ FEATURED ARTICLE ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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Kid's Message Center Craft Project

(This craft project is suitable for children ages 12
and up.)

To adjust the project for younger children, use a
pre-made chalkboard or dry erase board.

This kids' craft creates a message board your child
can put in his or her room or even hang on their
bedroom door.

It includes areas to write messages, tack them on the
board like a bulletin board, or clip them onto the board.

This particular child craft uses a special paint that
creates a chalkboard surface. While you can buy a
chalkboard or whiteboard to reduce the time and
difficulty of the kid's craft project, I've found that
making their very own chalkboard fascinates children.

What you'll need to do this kids craft:

8" x 10" piece of smooth wood
2 pieces of wood for trim: 1 ½" wide by 10" long -
craft or hobby wood works well
2 pieces of wood for trim: 1 ½" wide by 5" long
paint
3 or 4 corks
2 hinged clothespins
Glue
Chalk
Small wooden flowerpot
Chalkboard paint - This paint can be purchased at
hardware stores or stores that sell kids
craft supplies.

Sand your 8" x 10" piece of wood to get it as
smooth as possible. The smoother the board, the
better the chalk adheres and erases when the project
is complete.
Paint one side of the piece of wood with the
chalkboard paint for this kids craft. Let it dry
completely.
Check the instructions on the paint to see if it
requires a second coat.
Paint each of the trim pieces on all except
the backside. Once these are dry, glue them onto the
front of the chalkboard to create a frame.
Paint the clothespins. These may be easier to
paint if you take them apart. Test one first to see
how easily it goes back together. If it is very
difficult to reassemble, it's probably best to paint
each clothespin as one piece.
Don't worry if you get paint into the hinges. This
will dry and crack off without any effect to the hinge.
Glue the clothespins to the side trim pieces.
You can glue them both in the same direction, or glue
one with the clamp facing up and the other with the
clamp facing down.
Glue the corks in a row on the bottom trim
piece. You may have to hold each of these on for a
minute or two while the glue dries. These are easier
to glue on if you cut them in half lengthwise, but
depending on how dense the cork is this may be
difficult to do.
Paint the small wooden flowerpot. Glue it
onto the bottom corner of the chalkboard trim. This
is to hold the chalk. If you can't find one of these,
you can use string to tie a piece of chalk to your
kids craft message center.

That's all to it! Get more ideas by visiting our brand
new site,
Kids Rooms and Crafts.com

----------Recommended Resource----------

Get Organized Now!
Before you begin any decorating project,
do yourself a HUGE favor and get clutter
under control. Doing this alone will make
a room appear larger, and you'll feel more
relaxed. The crown jewel is that you'll get
more time back into your day. Click here to
learn more...

http://www.homedecoratingmadeeasy.com/get_org_now.html

------Recommended Resource------

"How to Make Roman Shades"
I reviewed this ebook recently and it's
the best you'll find on how to
easily create roman shades on
your own. Step-by-step diagrams
and easy, yet detailed, instructions
will have you making beautiful roman
shades in no time at all. Even sewing
beginners will find the process easy
to follow. Just think of the money
you'll save!

http://www.homedecoratingmadeeasy.com/sew_roman_shades.html

------Recommended Resource------

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ***************** TODAY'S QUOTE ***************************

"The definition of a beautiful woman is one who
loves me."

- Sloan Wilson

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Wishing you all the best,

P.S. Don't forget your fr*ee chapters of Awaken Your
Interior Designer. You'll get 72 pages, filled with
lots of ideas and photos to put you on the right
decorating path.Click here to download your copy right away

P.P.S. If you're thinking of starting a part-time or
full-time business for crafts or home decorating, be
sure to download our complimentary ebook called From Passion to Cash: How to Make Money With Your Passion of Crafts and Decorating. You'll find lots
of helpful ideas to get you going in the right
direction. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~