How To Attach A Zinc Frame On Stained Glass

By: Maureen Summy

A zinc frame on stained glass panels is essential for structure and rigidity. The zinc frame is added once the design is cut, foiled and soldered. The process of adding a zinc frame is accomplished by following seven steps.

1. First, measure the length of zinc came needed for each side.
   
2. Then, decide if you want straight cuts or mitered cuts for the corners.
   
3. Using a came saw or a fine tooth hack saw, cut the zinc came to the length and angle you need. Initially, you may want to cut the pieces long then re-cut once you dry fit the came to the stained glass piece.
   
4. Once you have all the zinc came cut and fitted to your piece, insert the glass into the came channels and hold zinc in place using t-pins. If you are using Handy Hangers, you would insert them into the came corners during this step.
   
5. Now flux the corners of the came frame and all the solder seams that touch the frame
   
6. Then, solder each joint of the frame and the adjacent solder seams.
   
7. Once, the first side is done, carefully turn the piece over and repeat the process on that side.
   

To apply hanging rings to the zinc frame, lightly flux the ring and the area of the frame where the ring will be attached. The area in which you attach the rings should be where the zinc frame meets a solder seam. Next, solder the rings to the zinc frame. Be sure the ring extends over the edge of the frame. If you are going to add a wood frame to the stained glass piece do not attach rings to the zinc frame.

Hanging rings can be purchased or easily made by using copper or silver wire. To make your own hanging rings, wrap wire around a pencil or other object to get the diameter you need. Then simply cut it, making a small circle. If you need stronger rings, cut two or three lengths of wire and twist them together. The twisting can be done easily by placing one end of the strands in a vice and the other end into the chuck of a drill. Rotate slowly until the desired amount of twisting is completed. Then wrap the twisted wire around a pencil or other object and cut.

After zinc frame is attached, be sure to use flux remover and remove all flux residue.

Some areas of concern:

Please note that zinc frames are available in different sizes, widths. Each one, however, laps over the edge of the glass the same amount. So, the only reason for going to a larger width is looks. Additional strength may be gathered if your stained glass piece is extremely large. Any piece over 30” wide or tall should definitely be framed in the largest size zinc frame available.

Mitered cuts look better in my opinion, especially if you are not using a wood frame. Actually miter cuts are not that much harder to accomplish, so why not be professional in the first place? Small electrical frame cutters, 2” blade, are available for around $20. This is worth it in my opinion.

When mounting frame on your art work, be sure that all edges of the glass are secured into the full depth of the zinc frame. Otherwise, you will experience dissatisfaction after you solder the pieces together. As mentioned, T-pins are suggested to be sure and hold the frame tightly anchored to edge of the glass and deep into the channel of the zinc frame.

When soldering the corners or the seam lines connecting the frame, you will see a slight rise to the solder. It is common to see the actual solder at these points, but after patina is applied, these blend together and look fine. Be careful as to not build up too much solder at these locations or this may be highly visible when finished.

After soldering the first side and then turning the art work over to solder the second side, examine the frame to see that it is in the correct position before soldering. Sometimes it can get “adjusted” when you turn the piece over.

I highly suggest the using hanging rings that have been twisted together as these are much stronger and tend not to pull apart after the art work has been hanging for some time. I have experienced single wire hooks actually failing and a piece or two has dropped and broken. Save yourself grief (take it from me) and only use the twisted, therefore stronger hanging rings.

If using a wood frame, a better look is always produced by mitering the corners of the wood. Simple 45 degree cuts on the end of all frame members easily accomplish this. When mechanically attaching these pieces of frame, I strongly suggest the use of a good carpenter’s glue and one screw for long term hanging safety. Additionally, wood frames come in all sizes, including width, thickness and specie of wood. Decide how you want to finish them, paint or stain. This will enable you to use the right wood for the right job and not end up painting oak wood. Oak is too expensive and beautiful to hide under paint in my opinion. Mechanical hanging fasteners that include screws into the wood should be used.




source: www.Isnare.com

Paper Embroidery – A New And Creative Form Of Needlework

By: David Faulkner

If you have never heard of the term paper embroidery, you might think that it’s a strange idea to be stitching on paper instead of on fabric. But paper embroidery has actually been practiced by people for many decades now. Although it has been started quite a long time ago, its popularity only started to peak in recent years when more individuals manifested interest in this unique art form.

The main purpose of paper embroidery these days is to add a personal touch to otherwise nondescript items, such as notebook covers perhaps or a page in your scrapbook. Many people also like to create paper embroidery greeting cards.

We all like receiving gifts and remembrances that the giver had put a lot of effort into making, and paper embroidery cards are definitely something that is well thought of. These gifts will surely be treasured by the recipient for many years.

Paper embroidery is very similar to needlework on fabric in the sense that you use a needle and thread to create attractive patterns and designs. The concept is the same and the only difference is in the materials to be used.

When preparing your materials for your paper embroidery, the first thing you have to think about is the type of paper that you will be using. It has to be something that is tough enough to contain the threads of the embroidery design, but also fibrous enough for you to be able to push a needle through it.

Speaking of needles, the type of needle you need for your paper embroidery project is something that is very thin and sharp so it won't create unnecessary pores in your paper.

You also have to make sure though that the eye of the needle will be able to accommodate the thickness of the thread you are planning to use. Many paper embroidery experts recommend that you use the 75/11 needles for your work.

The next thing you have to consider is the kinds of threads to use. In paper embroidery, you can actually use any kind of embroidery thread you like. You just have to make sure that the thread will fit the needle, and that it won’t be too thick for the paper you have decided on using.

One of the fabulous things about paper embroidery is that you can combine the needlework with other forms of art that you can do on paper. For example, you can use clear glue to sprinkle glitter onto your paper, or even add sequins or beads to your work.

There is actually no limit to what you can add. You just have to make sure that your paper embroidery project is well put together even with all the elements you put in.

Once you get the hang of paper embroidery, you will definitely be able to produce many unique products and have a lot of fun while doing it.

Embroidery designs have good and bad things about them. The good things include the fact that many people the designs make a piece of material or clothing can look much better than before embroidery. It can give that piece a more professional look to it. Sophistication can be brought to a specific product. Your garment can be pleasing to the eye and bold also. It will make it more attractive and wonderful. The way the garment will change will depend on the design chosen.




source: www.Isnare.com

Wine Gift Baskets - The Perfect Idea

By: Garry Neale

Purchases of wine gift baskets have gone up steadily over the past 15 years. This can be attributed mainly to the ease of ordering brought about by the advent of the Internet. Since just about everyone enjoys a good wine, wine gift baskets have become an increasingly popular choice for special occasion giving.

The giving of wine dates back to the Bronze Age in the Old World when fine Italian grapes were picked on royal land to produce fine wines that were sent to foreign nations and presented to other rulers as a gift. The tradition of giving a bottle of wine to celebrate any occasion is always welcomed.

Giving a wine gift certificate is another way to go because it allows the recipient to select the wine they would like. It's easy, and they appreciate you for it. However, it does seem a bit impersonal...as if you didn't care enough to take the time to find out which wines they prefer.

A wine gift basket makes an even better choice. This is one of better gifts you can give someone on any special occasion or celebration. These are an especially great gift idea for the boss or other corporate personnel. They are an elegant surprise and such a joy to give and receive. These trendy presents are a real popular way to show somebody you really care without going overboard on cost. A wine gift basket can be filled with a dozen small bottles of a favorite vintage. Or, it might be a wide variety that allows the recipient to sample a new wine every month.

Gift baskets are an especially wonderful gift for a wine enthusiast. They are welcomed in every home and the added gifts make them even more thrilling to receive. Wine gift baskets are usually given on very special occasions; such as weddings, birthdays, parties, festivals, or anniversaries, and are sold in a wide variety of types, including classic red, chardonnay, California Red, and merlot. These great gifts are always appreciated by all. Imagine how impressed your new client will be upon finding a beautiful basket waiting in their hotel room.

Wine gift baskets are available with white wines and blushes also. They are usually an especially big hit at parties as the assorted items allows everyone to share the gift by enjoying the wine and other delicious tidbits such as cheeses and chocolates. Once you start sending wine gifts like these to a few people, you will get a reputation for giving unique and thoughtful gifts.

Did you know that the average American enjoys more than 2 gallons of wine every year? This quantity has gradually increased over the last few years with the advent of the Internet. The Internet has made sending wine gift baskets extremely simple and there are a wide variety of sites to choose from. Not just the wine, but also the accessories. You can usually add extras like jewelry, elegant photo frames, monogrammed coffee mugs, and much more. Add the recipients name or initials for a gift they will always treasure. Ordering wine gift baskets for that special someone is very simple and hassle free. You can either phone in or log onto the Internet and place your order. Order online and relax with convenient delivery right to your home.

You'll be surprised to discover the excitement one of these simple wine gift baskets can generate. The pleasure of giving one will become a tradition you won't want to break!




source: http://www.isnare.com/

Learn to Make Gift Baskets - Veneer Basket Making

By: Angela Smith

A small slim sheet of wood is referred to as Veneer; veneer is put in use when attached with other more solid wood pieces or cardboards which then lend strength & stability. The real veneers can be used for multiple applications and are available in 3-ply, phenolic, 10 mm paperbacked and 22.2 mm "air-free" bending wood veneers. Veneer are mostly widely used for furniture making, they are also sold to furniture suppliers, display companies, boat builders & general wood artisans. There are many varieties of veneers both soft and hard depending on who you wish to use it. Some of the veneers types are Fir Douglas, Birch, Jatoba, Hickory, Butternut, Cypress, Makore, Alder, Oak and Walnut.

Veneer can be made to look more graceful if the strips are multi-shaded or a combination of 2 or more are pasted on different parts of a basket. You can create your own veneer basket by putting together veneer strips around the basket. But doing this part requires proper knowledge before starting. Certain glues are required so that the veneer can be pasted properly on the surface of the basket by using veneer press, mostly a vacuum, hot or cold press by applying yellow or white glue; this is how wood veneer is applied. Suppose the press cannot be found then decent contact cement could be used. Take the best quality cement having highest level of adhesiveness and instructions by manufacturer. (Nonflammable is not as effective as flammable contact cement)

Veneer has to be joined to a complementing substrate whose quality is reliable. Medium Density Fiberboard (MDF) is a stable substrate most suited, and then comes industrial particleboard, plywood of veneer-core, and least suitable is hardwood. When veneering is done on flexible plywood materials, it is advisable that the lamination of a MDF of 1/8" size when applied on top surface give the entire structure more stability (MDF of 1/8" size can turn till near to 2' - 3' radius).

Veneered baskets require personal attention as they are more susceptible to getting distorted easily due to atmospheric changes. Veneer also can get chipped off in conditions where it is glued to hard surface before it has been given shape. Though veneer basket making isn't a common practice but its popularity is fast increasing mainly because the veneer gives the basket a shiny appearance making it affable for the rich look it gives.

Such baskets are ideal to make presents to men, gardeners, mechanics, woodcrafters; anything can be kept in this basket for gifting purpose because these baskets are very strong and then can hold heavy items easily unlike the more often used paper or card baskets. Fruits baskets too can be made of veneer basket but do remember to tell that person to take out the fruits immediately as the fruits could spoil the veneer or fruits easily. So whenever to require a strong basket remember veneer baskets provide you with an ideal solutions, such baskets are hard to locate so you might have to make it.




source: http://www.isnare.com/

Little Masterpieces at Olympia International Art & Antiques Fair

By: Sam Scribbler

The International Art and Antiques Fair opened last week at the Olympia Exhibition Hall, Kensington, west London and continues until 15th June. I attended, as I do every year, excited, hoping to find some small treasure. My interest is Chinese art and antiques, which I have bought and sold, and collected for more than thirty years. I try to visit most of the Art and Antiques fairs in the UK and some in Europe and the US each year.

From a Chinese art point of view Olympia was a disappointment for me. Although I saw a few interesting pieces, the objects I would have liked to buy were too expensive or restored. I was resigned to leaving empty-handed. Not only empty-handed, disappointed, because I had not been really excited by anything I had seen and I had walked miles. Exhausted I headed for a coffee shop.

Unable to find a seat in the coffee shop, I sat on a long bench opposite a stand selling silver. Although I occasionally buy Chinese silver to sell, I have never been interested in collecting silver, always seeing it as too bright and needing too much attention to keep it that way. I rarely look at silver dealers stands, but as I sipped my coffee I looked at the objects this dealer was selling and quickly realised that many of them were much more than just silver. Gilded, silver beakers, tankards and large covered cups that looked like pineapples mingled with religious objects: a gilded monstrance, a rock crystal cross and various reliquaries. None of these objects were ordinary and they were all eighteenth century or earlier.

The man selling these items lifted various pieces out of the cabinets, cheerfully, giving information in excellent English with an accent I did not recognise. I looked at the name above the stand: Peter Szuhay - B59.

Somebody asked the price of a beautiful rhino-horn cup with a gilded, silver foot. I know nothing about European rhino-horn works of art, so when the potential buyer left and I had finished my coffee, I asked Mr Szuhay if he would show it to me.

We chatted about the cup, now standing between us on top of a glass showcase filled with jewellery and I discover that Mr Szuhay is Hungarian, has lived in London for over thirty years and has a permanent stand in Grays Antique Market, Davies Street, in London's West End, near Bond Street underground station. He is a leading expert on Continental silver and works of art. He showed me various beautiful pieces early silver, mentioning the famous towns of Augsburg and Nuremberg, of which, even a Chinese art dealer has heard. He also has an interest in later silver and he showed me some 19th century Russian silver and a magnificent 20th century silver fish-server by the Scandinavian master silversmith, Georg Jensen.

I noticed that, what I had initially dismissed as jewellery, in the showcase beneath the cup, was in fact an array of beautifully carved stone cameos and intaglios. I am used to seeing shells carved into portraits, mounted in brooches, usually from Italy and dating from the mid-nineteenth century until quite recently, but these pieces were something quite different and very exciting.

By now we were on first name terms and Peter showed me a selection of these carved stones, dating from the late nineteenth century back to Rome in the third century AD. Exquisite, tiny works of art, some signed by sixteenth century master carvers. We were interrupted and while Peter sold a Chinese silver box, which I had not even noticed was there and I walked to the other side of the stand, where he had a second jewellery showcase.

Here he was displaying, what appeared to be, a group of much more ordinary gold signet rings. But, when he returned to talk to me again, Peter put me straight. They were actually English Medieval rings of gold and silver. Some were signet rings others were guild rings or iconography rings, worn by pilgrims and etched with icons of Saint Christopher etc. There were sixteenth and seventeenth century Posy rings: mostly plain gold bands bearing sentiments etched around the inside of the ring, in Olde English. This was an area of collecting I had never considered. I have never had much interest in jewellery as adornment, but Peter's jewellery was a lot more than that - it was sculpture, design and graphic art and everything had a story and a history attached. These small masterpieces were a revelation to me.

I did not buy anything from Peter Szuhay at Olympia, although he did make my day and gave me something to write about. I did however promise to visit his shop in Grays Antique Market and I will, and I'm sure I will buy something from him soon. Peter also offers a selection of his stock at: www.peterszuhay.co.uk



source: http://www.isnare.com/

Little Masterpieces at Olympia International Art & Antiques Fair

By: Sam Scribbler

The International Art and Antiques Fair opened last week at the Olympia Exhibition Hall, Kensington, west London and continues until 15th June. I attended, as I do every year, excited, hoping to find some small treasure. My interest is Chinese art and antiques, which I have bought and sold, and collected for more than thirty years. I try to visit most of the Art and Antiques fairs in the UK and some in Europe and the US each year.

From a Chinese art point of view Olympia was a disappointment for me. Although I saw a few interesting pieces, the objects I would have liked to buy were too expensive or restored. I was resigned to leaving empty-handed. Not only empty-handed, disappointed, because I had not been really excited by anything I had seen and I had walked miles. Exhausted I headed for a coffee shop.

Unable to find a seat in the coffee shop, I sat on a long bench opposite a stand selling silver. Although I occasionally buy Chinese silver to sell, I have never been interested in collecting silver, always seeing it as too bright and needing too much attention to keep it that way. I rarely look at silver dealers stands, but as I sipped my coffee I looked at the objects this dealer was selling and quickly realised that many of them were much more than just silver. Gilded, silver beakers, tankards and large covered cups that looked like pineapples mingled with religious objects: a gilded monstrance, a rock crystal cross and various reliquaries. None of these objects were ordinary and they were all eighteenth century or earlier.

The man selling these items lifted various pieces out of the cabinets, cheerfully, giving information in excellent English with an accent I did not recognise. I looked at the name above the stand: Peter Szuhay - B59.

Somebody asked the price of a beautiful rhino-horn cup with a gilded, silver foot. I know nothing about European rhino-horn works of art, so when the potential buyer left and I had finished my coffee, I asked Mr Szuhay if he would show it to me.

We chatted about the cup, now standing between us on top of a glass showcase filled with jewellery and I discover that Mr Szuhay is Hungarian, has lived in London for over thirty years and has a permanent stand in Grays Antique Market, Davies Street, in London's West End, near Bond Street underground station. He is a leading expert on Continental silver and works of art. He showed me various beautiful pieces early silver, mentioning the famous towns of Augsburg and Nuremberg, of which, even a Chinese art dealer has heard. He also has an interest in later silver and he showed me some 19th century Russian silver and a magnificent 20th century silver fish-server by the Scandinavian master silversmith, Georg Jensen.

I noticed that, what I had initially dismissed as jewellery, in the showcase beneath the cup, was in fact an array of beautifully carved stone cameos and intaglios. I am used to seeing shells carved into portraits, mounted in brooches, usually from Italy and dating from the mid-nineteenth century until quite recently, but these pieces were something quite different and very exciting.

By now we were on first name terms and Peter showed me a selection of these carved stones, dating from the late nineteenth century back to Rome in the third century AD. Exquisite, tiny works of art, some signed by sixteenth century master carvers. We were interrupted and while Peter sold a Chinese silver box, which I had not even noticed was there and I walked to the other side of the stand, where he had a second jewellery showcase.

Here he was displaying, what appeared to be, a group of much more ordinary gold signet rings. But, when he returned to talk to me again, Peter put me straight. They were actually English Medieval rings of gold and silver. Some were signet rings others were guild rings or iconography rings, worn by pilgrims and etched with icons of Saint Christopher etc. There were sixteenth and seventeenth century Posy rings: mostly plain gold bands bearing sentiments etched around the inside of the ring, in Olde English. This was an area of collecting I had never considered. I have never had much interest in jewellery as adornment, but Peter's jewellery was a lot more than that - it was sculpture, design and graphic art and everything had a story and a history attached. These small masterpieces were a revelation to me.

I did not buy anything from Peter Szuhay at Olympia, although he did make my day and gave me something to write about. I did however promise to visit his shop in Grays Antique Market and I will, and I'm sure I will buy something from him soon. Peter also offers a selection of his stock at:www.peterszuhay.co.uk



source: http://www.isnare.com/

Holiday Ribbon

By: Deby

Ideas for Holiday Decorating with Ribbon.

One of the things I like most about the Christmas Holiday is decorating. There are so many products on the market these days that make Holiday Decorating both fun and easy. One of these is Ribbon. There are thousands of colors, styles and widths of ribbon in as many different fabrics and even plastic. Ribbon can be used for all the extra festive decorating touches a home needs to reflect the holiday spirit.

Here are just a few ideas.

Roll the individual place setting of silverware in either a festive paper or fabric napkin and tie it with a narrow strand of Grosgrain ribbon in a whimsical holiday pattern or with a more elegant strand of shimmery, sheer Chiffon or Organza ribbon.

Place an elegant Taffeta or Moire Bow in the center of a side table and let the streamers act as table runners, extending down each end of the table. Place random lengths of ribbon, cut from several types of ribbon, on a mirror and arrange some of your heirloom glass ornaments among the strands, even add a battery candle or votive to add a more elegant effect. Invite family and friends over for a special holiday gathering by printing your invitation on parchment paper, roll it like a scroll and tie it with a beautiful ribbon bow.

Types of Ribbon.

Ribbon is woven in various ways and with similar fabrics for different effects and uses.

Acetate satin ribbon is a stiff satin that is shiny on one side and matte on the other. It can be used for tying favors to gifts and making bows to decorate your Christmas tree, wreaths and garlands.

Chiffon ribbon is a sheer ribbon that can elegantly attach special ornaments to a Christmas present. Chiffon ribbon also makes very elegant bows that can be used to decorate your home for the holidays.

Organza or Organdy ribbon is a sheer ribbon that comes in a variety of widths and styles. It can have satin on the edges or in the center and also comes with wire edges. Organza ribbon makes very elegant decorations for gifts and your home.

Jacquard ribbon has unique and distinctive design styles. Jacquard ribbon is beautiful for use as a ribbon garland for Christmas trees and bows for your Christmas Tree Topper, Christmas Wreaths and Christmas Garlands.

Moire ribbon has a touch of sating with a watermark pattern and comes with wired and unwired edges. Moire ribbon makes beautiful bows for Christmas Tree Toppers and Christmas Wreaths and decorating your home for the Holidays. It also is very elegant when used to decorate your holiday gifts.

Ombre ribbon is a very simple but tasteful ribbon that has very unique coloring that transitions from one hue to another. Its colorful design and lavish look make it perfect for any holiday decorating project.

Poly ribbon comes in several styles including waterproof satin, plastic, iridescent and metallic which makes it perfect for all your holiday home decorating projects, including outdoor projects where durability is a must.

Satin ribbons come in many colors, widths and styles for everything from decorating your Christmas Gifts to Decorating your home.

Taffeta ribbon is luxurious, soft, shiny satin on both sides and very easy to tie into a bow. It is perfect for any Holiday Decorating projects.

Velvet ribbon adds a touch of elegance to any Holiday decorating project.



source: www.isnare.com

Learn To Make Gift Baskets - Gift Basket Ideas For Craft Gift

By: Angela Smith

What I am going to tell you about gift basket making thoughts & gift basket ideas is a treasure. Making a gift basket is an art and if you are good enough to prepare the right basket then you would be able to see the smiles on everyone’s faces. Looking for a place where you can get all the best ideas to make an appealing gift basket then boy you have come to the right place, we will tell you how.

Here we would like to you a complete list of things and ideas to make or create exclusive items that would put to shame some of the professionally gift baskets available in the market, all you need is imagination and implementing the whole idea properly.

· Delicious food packing are one of the most sort after gifts packing done today. A basket package having gourmet pasta one or two, paprika, tongs, garlic olive oil or virgin olive oil, Tabasco sauce, spices such as oregano, chili powder, dried red peppers, basil, black pepper, cayenne pepper, white pepper, thyme, or a mixture of spices, sauces of the likes of chili sauce, HP sauce, plum sauce, soy sauce, teriyaki sauce or Szechwan sauce, hot pickles plus an additional recipe book shall be nice to round it off. If you like to have more in the basket then flavored teas, herbal teas, cleavers, olives or chopsticks would be fine as well.

· For those who are wine collectors or like wines then what better gift than a gift basket containing wine. Such baskets are ideal for Christmas, for New Year, Thanksgiving and at any occasion. Take a small pretty looking tub or the conventional basket and place good wines either red or white or of them, place some wine glasses, corkscrew, pack some snacks as well like fine cheese, dry fruits, roasted nuts, and the odd Swiss chocolates would make the basket complete.

· Quite a lot of people love craft. In every family there exists an admirer of craftwork. If you are making one that has craft material in it them it should have a painting kit, glue gun having glue sticks, wood sticks, acrylic colors, fabric or glass painting kit, gel candles, water oil, craft knife, set of brushes, beads, candle making kits, pine cones, candle wax, dried flowers, wreath hangers, grape vine wreath, ribbons, oasis foams, arts & crafts material, DIY books, DIY project kits or pattern books.

* For the newborn you can have some baby bath kits, baby blankets, baby photo album, diapers and all sorts of goodies that are there in the market.

With the above listed ideas there should be no dirt of thoughts to make a great gift basket. I sincerely hope that we have listed all that can be done to prepare a proper and elegant gift basket. The list can be endless but that we have told you encompass a wide range of possibilities to choose from. Put a small handwritten note so that the person will remember you for a long time and I think this note shall be the perfect finishing material.



source: www.isnare.com

Selling Your Photography: Sales Outlets

By: Mark Eden

If you’ve been taking photos for a while now and are thinking of turning professional, trying to turn your hobby into a part time business, or just want to make a little extra cash to pay for the new lens you’ve been drooling over, there are many options for sales outlets. This article takes a look at just some of the possibilities.

Stock Photography Agencies

Stock agencies are libraries of images where someone who needs to use an image for a purpose such as a newspaper or magazine article can purchase a license to use the image. These days almost all stock agencies have online collections, where people can search the library, pay and download the image immediately.

The advantage of stock agencies is that they market your images for you. This can be a big plus in the online world, as you are able to show your photos through an established website without having to build one. Associating yourself with a reputable agency will also add to your credibility as a professional.

The downside of selling stock photography is that it is a numbers game. You will need a large collection of images to be able to earn an income. You will also pay commission to the agency for each image sold. This can range from 20% to 50%. Agencies also expect regular submissions to keep their libraries current. So you need to think of an agency as a business partner.

Your own website

Having your own website has the advantage over a stock agency website of being all about you. A website devoted to your own images rather than sharing with competing photographers has huge potential for gaining exposure and sales because of the size of the web. The downside of having your own website is that you need to put a lot of work into designing a website that shows off your work and can bring customers. This can be expensive and time consuming, and is better thought of as a long term strategy.

Offline

With the internet boom it is easy to forget old fashioned methods. Art fairs or markets are a great way to show your work to potential buyers. You also have the huge advantage of meeting customers face to face and being able to talk about your photos and answer questions. You also have the chance to sell yourself and gain peoples trust, which is half the battle of selling anything.

The downside of exhibiting your work this way is that it can be expensive to display. The costs of framing your prints, setting up a display and paying stall fees all add up. You also need to keep in mind that your potential customer base is much smaller than the global reach of the internet

So which method is best? The truth is there is no right or wrong answer to this as different methods will work for different photographers depending on where you live, the type of photography you do and the number of images you have. The best option would be to combine all of the above and get your work out there to as wide an audience as possible.



source. www.isnare.com

Find Scrapbooking Titles in Music, Movies and Television

By: Christine Perry

Are you ever stuck for a perfect phrase for your scrapbooking title? Maybe you just stick with the date or the seasons like summer or fall. Some scrapbookers title every page with the name of the subject in the photograph. It might be a place, like Disney World or the beach, or it could be a person's name like Susan or Grandpa. Being creative with scrapbooking titles adds interest to a page layout just like embellishments and borders. Music, movies and television can offer inspiration and ideas for your scrapbooking titles that will capture the mood and theme of your next page layout.

Scrapbooking Titles in Music

Music inspires us all. How often have you heard a song on the radio and it immediately brings back a memory from years ago. It might be a song that was playing when you first dated your husband, or maybe it's a song from your high school days that reminds you of your senior year. Songs have the ability to spark memories in all of us.

For your next page layout, look to music for your inspiration. Song titles are great sources for scrapbooking page titles. Quoting a single song title may be all you need to say to start singing that song in your head. Some examples of song titles that could be used as scrapbooking page titles are "Simply Irresistible," "Brown-eyed Girl," and "You Are My sunshine." Keep a list of possible song titles that would work well on your scrapbooking projects.

Sometimes it's the lyrics themselves that inspire us. You might want to use more than just the title. A lyric like, "These are the moments and I could not ask for more," will add just the right mood to a treasured photograph.

Scrapbooking Titles in Television and Movies

Consider adapting television show titles like, "The Brady Bunch" and "Days of Our Lives" to a scrapbook page. Maybe something simple like "Survivor" or "Lost" says it all. Movie titles, such as, "Mission Impossible," "Little Miss Sunshine" or "Back to the Future," might be perfect for one of your layouts.

Many TV and movie characters are known for a certain phrase or saying. These quotes often work well as scrapbooking titles. Does your favorite TV or movie character have a particular line that just fits with one of your photographs or scrapbooking pages? Think of phrases like, "How Sweet It Is," "May the Force Be With You" or "Here's Looking At You, Kid."

Scrapbooking Titles in Commercials and Advertising

Slogans, sayings and jingles can all be a source of inspiration for scrapbooking titles. Those catchy phrases we never seem to forget also make fun headlines for our scrapbook pages. Scrapbooking titles can be found in the lyrics of commercial jingles, as well as, in the slogans on print advertising. The next time you are considering fast forwarding through the commercials of a taping of your favorite television show, you might consider listening to the advertisements for scrapbooking title ideas. There are many slogans that could easily be adapted to a page layout title. Consider using "I'm Lovin' It," or "Zoom, Zoom, Zoom," or perhaps, "It's the Real Thing" or "A Diamond Is Forever."

Movies, music and television can inspire a huge list of potential scrapbooking titles for just about any page layout. The next time you need ideas for a scrapbook page title just turn on your radio or television for inspiration.

source: http://www.isnare.com/