That would depend on whether you are a collector or not. The answer is no if you are a collector because refinishing it will lower the value. If it is in its original condition, wood propellers may show imperfections that can add character and value to the propeller. It is evidence that that propeller may have been through an air battle. A collector would know that only refinishing that improves the provenance of a propeller is possible. A good example of this is the Bristol propeller. It requires you to cut down the blades to bring it home and is part of its provenance.

To improve the appearance of an old propeller just rub it down with linseed oil and after it dries apply a coat of furniture wax. Do not use water-based cleansers or varnish on it. This will lower its value.

Mounting a propeller is very simple. Simply cut a circle the size of the hub or a little larger and drill holes where the bolt holes are into the wood. Then remove the prop and glue small enough wooden dowels (same size as the hub bolts) into the wood so that they will not be visible when mounted. Once the glue dries, you can easily slip the propeller over the dowels. Make sure the bracket that you attach it to is strong enough to hold a propeller. You can use bolts instead of dowels for a more secure attachment.

Just like old wooden beer signs or lake house signs, you want to avoid moisture and large variations in temperature to avoid damage to the propeller.

Some people think an old wooden propeller would make a wonderful wall clock. Never alter the hub in any way because it detracts from the appearance of the propeller. It also lowers the value!

There is a large variety of promotional bags that you can choose from including travel bags, laptop bags and conference bags. Meeting your campaigns requirements may seem a daunting task but it can be done. You need to consider several factors in choosing your bags that include your budget and timing.

If you are just trying to get people interested at a trade show or an event you can choose the fundamental inexpensive bags. It will demand on your marketing objective as to what type of bag you will get. For example, branded designer bags are great to give out as corporate gifts to clients.

Having a good understanding of the interests and lifestyles of those who will be receiving the bags will also help you choose the proper promotional bags. Keep in mind the quality of your own merchandise when choosing your bags. The quality of your bag can reflect the quality of your products.

You might also consider getting custom printed bags. Personalized bags can be seen as high quality and as such reflects back on you. Custom bags and custom packaging can be just as important as the choice of the bag. You could also choose to purchase euro tote bags and have them customized.

Make sure you do some research on the suppliers before you purchase. You do not want to get poor service during your marketing campaign. That means you not only need to choose the right bag, but the right supplier as well to make your campaign a success.

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Designing announcement cards can be difficult and require more work than you may think. You also may never realize when an announcement may turn into an invitation. However, you can save time and energy by utilizing one of the many cards that are available that can be used for both an invitation or announcement. You can find them for birthday invitations, wedding announcements and even birth announcements.

There is such a large variety of both invitations and announcements that you can be confused or even lost. There are that many different kinds of cards. You can find some of the most unique sweet 16 invitations to the most tacky marriage announcements.

You may end up deciding to design your own unique announcements or invitations cards. It may even be cheaper for you to do so. It mainly depends on whether you have the time to accomplish it. Whatever your decision, you need to make sure that it reflects your personality. That is what makes announcement cards or even invitations effective.

You will need to decide on the paper either with a design or pattern, will it include a photograph, and the type of information you will be putting on your card. Will your card be a combined announcement/invitation or will you have separate cards for both? Remember you want your card to be both stylish and classy.

Your final decision will be how many you are going to send out. This will depend on what your card is for. Is it an invitation to a shower or an announcement of a wedding? Just remember, if you are announcing your wedding, you may not be sending invitations to the same people that you are informing of the upcoming wedding. You also have to live with the fact that you may insult some people by telling them of the upcoming wedding but not inviting them.

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A gift basket is a perfect gift for a new baby or new mother. A new baby gift basket can be filled with a variety of things. A baby gift basket would come with many items that may be needed as well as toys that are made just for a baby. In fact, you could even get a personalized baby gift basket that is for a specific infant. Moreover, baby shower gift baskets are the perfect gift to give at a baby shower.

What goes into a baby gift basket? The variety is never-ending. You can include gifts for both the mother and the baby if you wish. Here are a couple of lists for both baby and mom.

For baby:

• Baby oil
• Baby bath wash
• A washcloth
• Baby powder
• Baby lotion
• Desenex
• A ton of coupons
• A Rubber Duck
• Small toys
• Teething ring
• Bottles and nipples
• More than one pacifier
• Sturdy bibs
• Sleeper outfits
• A receiving blanket
• <Booties
• Baby caps

For mom:

• Lotions
• Soothing bath salts
• Pretty soaps
• Aroma candles
• Baby books
• Coupon holder with coupons
• Picture frame
• Disposable camera
• Photo album

As you can see from the above lists, they are still incomplete. What you put in a basket for a baby or mom should depend on several factors. How well do you know the mom? Do you know what she wants or needs? Is there a theme for the nursery? Do you know whether she is going to have a boy or girl? Answering these questions will go a long way in telling you what to put in the basket.

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Byers Choice Creations

Not only does the Byers Choice collection of carolers include such popular figurines as the London Girl with Strawberries and the London Woman Selling Eggs, but also available are creative accent pieces to ensure your Byers Choice carolers are properly displayed and safe while your family can admire them during the holidays. Hand crafted caroling treasures not only celebrate the season of Christmas, but also Easter and Thanksgiving with one of the most popular collections designed to resemble the humble Pennsylvania Dutch. Lovingly designed for many different holiday occasions, Byers Choice carolers are a unique part of any decorative celebration.

And Baby Makes 3

Let’s face it - a stroller is a necessity when you have a child. They are convenient and allow the baby to go along with you on several different activities even if it’s just for a stroll around the block. A baby stroller serves several purposes and a lightweight stroller makes the task of getting around much more bearable. If you have twins, lightweight twin strollers that will make visits to the amusement parks, visits to the zoo and that trip to the shopping mall even more fun. These strollers are popular because they are lightweight and take up much less space than the traditional bulky stroller.

Did you know that you could use the same technique to make ribbon bows for your hair just like the ribbon bows on packages? Yes, you can make a hair bow the same way that a gift is wrapped. The main difference is the clip that you use. On a package, you would usually tape it or even glue it into place. With a little practice you will be able to create bows that are not just for your Christmas tree but hair bows, floral bows and package bows.

You will need:

• Satin faced ribbon, double faced satin taffeta or grosgrain weave ribbon (your choice)
• Scissors
• Thread, in matching colors

Remember, ribbon comes in varying widths and your ribbon can be any width you wish it to be. You also need to decide on the size of the bow. Also remember that the measurements given below are just to give you an idea of what you are doing. Here are three basic bow techniques:

The Rosetta Bow

The size of this bow is determined by the number of times you wrap the ribbon around a card. You will need to determine the size of the loop to determine the size of the card. Once you have wrapped the ribbon around the card, gently slide the ribbon off the card, holding it in the center. Now take a piece of thread, wrap it around the loops in the center, and pull it tight. Tie the thread and form a rosette by spreading out the loops of the bow. Bow complete. This type of bow you will probably see on a flower hat.

The Dahlia Bow

You will need 28 inches of ribbon. Every 4-1/2” fold and make a crease until you reach the end of the ribbon. You do not use the card here you simply fold increase. Use a pin in the center to hold it in place. Take an additional 8″ of ribbon and tie it around the center. Remove the pin. Now cut the ends diagonally and spread into a fan shape. Some people actually cut the ribbon in varying lengths to imitate irregular petals. You might see a smaller version of this type of bow on wholesale baby girl headbands.

The Giant Bow

This type of bow is actually 2 bows and can be used for holiday decorations on front doors or large gifts. The width of this bow is usually 10 inches and you will need 1-3/4 yards of 3″ ribbon. You will need an additional 1-1/2 yards of 3 inch ribbon for the smaller bow that is part of this bow.

For now, grasp 5″ inches from the end gather up approximately an inch and hold with your left thumb and forefinger. Make a loop and pinch with your left thumb and forefinger. Continuing on the right side make another 5 inch loop and continue back and forth until you have made three loop’s on each side. Now take a piece of thread, wrap it around where your fingers are, and tie to hold it. Adjust the loops into a circle.

Repeat the same procedure only using 4″ inches and making 4 loops with two ends. Adjust loops into a circle and placed the smaller bow on the center of the large bow and tie both together with a piece of narrow ribbon. Bow complete.

Next month Making Ribbon Bows, Part 2

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End Your Daycare Search

Thanks to technology, the best way to find daycare centers is now available online! A service is now available online to help parents find the best childcare provider in your area. They understand that finding childcare is one of the family’s most important decisions. They have put together a management staff that has over 25 years of combined experience in marketing research, statistical analysis, and information management. With that experience they can now offer you an easy to use daycare and childcare search engine of the United States is largest list of licensed daycare in child care providers with over quarter of 1 million facilities in their database.

Thinking about revamping your offices but not sure what direction to go?  That’s understandable.  You have a lot of choices these days, and, depending on how big your company is and how many employees you have, you may have very specific budget and space constraints.

Check out the wide array of options from the folks at Weeks-Lerman, where you’ll find a good supply of products from the world’s leading manufacturers.

If you have a crew of more than 10 or so currently working in open-floor cubicles, you might consider open plan modular system.   These plans are cost-effective options for large or small spaces and come either fully-enclosed from floor to ceiling, or partially enclosed.  Their glass walls with partial privacy windows provide good sound proofing and a feel of privacy without putting folks behind closed doors.

The company also offers traditional wood office desks, chairs and other types of office furniture and office supplies that are also perfect for the home office or larger spaces as well.

In addition, Weeks-Lerman also offers space planning services.  The company’s space planning specialists will work with you to create custom plans for integrating your office furnishings and equipment to help you achieve a good balance of work, economic and ergonomic elements.

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If you have cremated a loved one or a family pet, you may be considering options for storing their cremains in your home that provide a way for you to cherish their memory with discretion and style.

Let’s face it: Not everyone supports cremation as an alternative to a traditional burial.  And, many don’t necessarily find it tasteful to be near a traditional looking burial urn.

You might want to consider a clock urn for your home.  These types of cremation urns are beautifully crafted in some of the finest wood available, including cherry and maple, and stand as a classic looking time piece in your home while holding carefully concealed cremains inside.

Some have satin finishes, hinged doors and glass crystal faces with Roman numeral numbering and quartz clock mechanics.  There are also beautifully crafted, glass-covered photo framed urns, which can hold both cremains and a photo of your loved one or pet.  These stand beautifully on a mantle at about 5 inches high and come in Rosewood, among other types of fine wood.

Another option is an octagon tower quartz clock with brass finish and base, crystal face and inside keepsake capsule for cremains with a removable base.  These stand about six inches tall and look very sleek on mantles or desks or side tables.

So your little prince or princess is about to turn 1 and you’ve decided to throw a birthday party.   Where to begin?

Check out 1st Wishes.com to get started.  This is a fantastic site offering a comprehensive and fun selection of ideas to help you throw a first birthday party that everyone will enjoy.

The site has links to more than 200 pages devoted to party themes, ranging from animals and insects to princesses and warriors and everything in between.  You can scroll over to “Party Basics” once you’ve established a theme and select matching items to go with your theme: apparel; balloons and decorations; party favors; toys; games; tableware and invitations.

OK: what if you aren’t a fan of themed-parties?  What if your heart says $500 Dora The Explorer backyard extravaganza, but your budget says pizza and a home-made cake. That’s fine.  There are so many ways to get creative, toss together a fun and lively party, and make a lasting first-birthday party memory for you and your family without going into financial overdrive.

Start with the Invitations: You can get really creative by turning your favorite photo of your baby and creating as set of artful and memorable 1st birthday photo invitations.  Most local drug stores, such as Rite Aid and CVS offer quick digital photo printing services.  Cut colorful note cards from heavy card stock, glue the photos on to one side of the card and put the details on the back.

Spice them up with sequins or shells.  Or, instead of a photo, what about making a customized hospital announcements that “recreate” that special day for everyone.  List the details of your child’s birth: time; weight; name given; birth location; maybe even include that first newborn photo.

These adorable little baby announcements as invitations not only communicate the who, what, why and where of your party on one side, but make it possible for you to hand out a beautiful keepsake to invitees who may not have the entire details about the birth of your baby.

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Childcare Expense

These three things in a family’s budget that can be a strain on the family finances are the mortgage/rent, car payment and daycare. A significant percentage of one salary will go to paying for childcare. Childcare costs range from $500-$1200 a month. In a two parent home, most of one paycheck will go towards childcare. In a single-parent home, you really do not have a choice unless you have a family member who will take care of your child. You should choose a daycare center carefully and make sure that the cost is not more than 15-20% of your gross income.

Applying Wall Decals

Applying details to your walls or even vinyl lettering is fairly simple. First you need to choose where you want to place them. Then using a ruler, draw a light line so that the lettering will be placed even on the wall. Before you peel off the back paper, burnish the surface of transfer tape with an old credit card or gift card to ensure that the quote or letter is adhered solidly to the transfer tape. Now carefully peel back the backing paper away from the letter or quote, which should remain on the transfer tape. Not using your drawn line, position the letter or quote correctly onto the surface.

The Twin Stroller

Twin strollers are handy for parents with multiple infants or young toddlers. Toddler strollers or double strollers may seat twins next to each other or in front of each other. Not only are there strollers for twins, but there are also triple strollers to transport additional children and many have cup holders and storage underneath. In looking at the top kids’ strollers for you, whether it may be lightweight strollers, jogging strollers, twin strollers, or other more suitable strollers for your needs, there are many brands to choose from. Among those brands are Perego, Kolcraft, Dream On Me, Mid Moda, and Instep.

If you run a small business you know one of the keys to success is how you market yourself.   Are you a professional lawyer, doctor or dentist?  If you are, you probably are registered with one or more professional association’s representing your industry, which speaks to your level of professionalism.

You also very likely have a web site by now and probably even a page on Facebook or one of the many other social Web sites out available, and may even have the budget for some TV or radio advertising.

Each of these forms of marketing are great for spreading the word that you are “open for business.”   But what about advertising your personality?   Research suggests that, when choosing a doctor or dentist, for example, that consumers are more inclined to gravitate toward a professional who speaks to their style and sense of humor.

You can offer to show the public a little bit about how you operate, no pun intended, from the inside out with specialty signs—doctors signs, for example, that hearken back to days of yore, when the black bag and stethoscope were pretty much the tools of the trade.

Perhaps you have a brand new bar opening up and you want to offer a light-hearted form of entertainment, such as pool and or shuffle board games.  Why not evoke the feel of the old west with old wood signs that tell saloon stories in print and offer a glimpse into the past.

Many companies out there are specializing in manufacturing reproductions of historic business signs, welcoming lake house signs, signs for cabin rentals and other places to advertise the warmth of a vacation rental for example, which invites guests in to your establishment—even if it’s a B & B in the middle of a suburb.

These old wooden signs (others are made of tin and metals), can attract customers to your doors while providing a form of entertainment and joy to those out there who may be just as plugged in to every technological gadget on the market as the next guy, but somewhere still find themselves ultimately drawn to nostalgic forms of advertising.

It’s coming.  That annual red-letter day on the calendar that usually puts us all in a panic is just around the corner.  That’s right: Valentines Day; the day you are pressured each year to find the perfect reflection of your romantic feelings toward your significant other without depleting your bank account.

With the economy going the way it is, you can bet this year more romantic dinners will be simmering on the stove at home as folks attempt to save a little while still sharing their love.

Here are five alternatives for Valentines Day that you might consider:

1. Send your partner a customized edible gourmet gift basket filled with all the makings of a fabulous pasta dinner for two; attach a note that says “I’m cooking,” then join your partner for a romantic meal at home.  Don’t forget to rent their favorite DVD for the evening, even if it means enduring one more viewing of “Out of Africa,” or “Caddyshack.”

2. Take a Night Walk along the beach or along one of your favorite outdoor trails.  Stuff your backpack with a bottle of great red wine, some chocolates, your iPod, a blanket, then find a great spot to kick back and enjoy the evening moon.   Weather permitting, of course.

3. Gotta work on Valentines Day?  What about surprising your partner with a delicious good morning gift basket filled with coffees, chocolates, scones and jams?  Call in late, bust open the basket and turn morning into a celebration to remember.

4. This may not be the year you buy the diamond engagement ring, but it doesn’t mean you can’t say forever.  Craft a special “commitment” love note for your partner and wrap it up.  Women love things in writing, and lets face it: men like to keep things simple and the more stripped down your gift, the more time they have to focus on you.

5.  Be bad: the folks at badfun.com offer plenty of options for erotic gift baskets to choose from that include a wide range of toys and novelty items.  If you’re feeling really adventurous, sign up to host a Valentines Day badfun.com party and get free stuff.

Off Topic Breach: The legality of Internet advertising of escort services is questionable. Escort services are usually described where companionship is hired for a night of entertainment or for more a night of intimate but non-sexual services, such as massage.  If you have a legitimate ethical escort services and are in need of Escort Website Marketing, there are many places on the web that may not service you unless you can provide evidence of a permit or license.

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Planning a Wedding?

The wedding day, it is a day every girl dreams about with her gown, flowers and cake. She is just beginning a new chapter in her life with a picture-perfect wedding. In a perfect world, what you imagine for your wedding would have. However it takes time and effort to plan your dream wedding. You’re going to need San Diego CA wedding flowers, decorations, linens and much more. Hiring someone to do the gorgeous backdrop decorations for your wedding will make things much easier. In fact, one vendor can design bridal bouquets, brides’ maids’ bouquets, groom’s boutonniere, groomsmen boutonnieres, corsages, pinups, flower girl balls, cake and floral centerpieces basically, all your San Diego CA wedding decorations.

Limo Service

Would you like to find the best limo service for the best price for the best party ever? Would you like to be treated like VIPs and not have to wait in line to get into a club? Are you interested in one of the Las Vegas bachelor parties packages? Or are you planning a Las Vegas bachelorette party? If you have answered yes to any one of these questions, just click on one of the links and you will get the best limo service in Vegas and be treated like a VIP with Las Vegas Hummer limousines.