Archive for April, 2011
Creating a Simple Box Plan Design
Of all woodworking projects, creating a box seems to always appear as one of the most interesting end creative crafting ventures. Boxes of different shapes and sizes can be used as a storage tool, a decorative piece, a jewelry box, a specialty keepsake box and many other purposes. It is a really wonderful piece to have and it is truly a magnificent piece to enjoy and take advantage of. Finding a box plan is easy. However, it would be best if you create your own box plan that will serve a particular purpose in your home or personal space. Draw the image of the box and take note of how the sides will merge together and how you want it to open. You have to get an idea of what will happen in the interior and exterior so that you know how much wood will be necessary.
Cut the panels using a cutting tool. You can also use a power tool to cut the wood into the desired shapes. Once you have all the pieces cut, sand them and make sure that there are no splinters and rough surfaces on the wood. Some crafting experts design their panels with jigs that will fit perfectly with the other panels. This is also a great way to create a unique style for the box and to veer away from the commonplace straight seams that you find in common box plan layouts. You can cut the jigs manually but it would be best to use power tools to get a smooth and perfectly rendered shape.
Some crafting experts wait till the whole piece is assembled before re-sanding and varnishing. Some do this process before the pieces are assembled. It is up to you how you want to do the design. The most common option to piece these things together is to glue them using wood glue. To reinforce the bond, small nails can be hammered (nail size depends on the size of box) into strategic areas box.
Closures for the box plan can vary greatly. There are those covers with hinges for a classic style. Some boxes can also have covers that just sit on the top. It all depends on what you envision for the design. You can opt not to put any covers at all. This is ideal for those who want to use the box as a temporary compartment for stuff. It is all about choosing the design that fits your purpose.
Once you are done with your box, you can create even more designs and versions. You can use it as a fancy gift box or a box where you can place goodies. Paint them or even cover it with leather for a more luxurious and sophisticated look. Overall, the design of the box all depends on your particular design needs as well as level of expertise. You can take classes on woodworking or explore the whole crafting experience by yourself and come up with your own unique box plan designs.
How to Measure for Curtains
Deciding on which curtains to hang on your window can be a difficult choice to make. Because there are so many options, it can be useful to nail down as many of the various aspects as possible before anything else. Would you like your curtains to dangle from a pole or be hung from a track? Which heading would you prefer to use? Are you thinking of including any sort of swags or tails, or even a valance or pelmet? Will the curtains hang straight down or be held using tiebacks? Would you prefer your curtains unlined or lined? Will you combine them with anything such a blind or sheers?
Once you’ve decided what style you want, you’re at a good place to begin the process. The process begins with deciding where you think the curtain rod or track should go. Most curtain owners hang theirs on the wall about halfway between the top of the window frame and the ceiling itself. Some, however, may prefer the rod or track either slightly higher or lower to compensate for something else or to balance out the room. If your window frame is particularly tall and deep, you may want to create a dramatic effect by hanging the curtain rod or track inside the frame. This will give the window an embossed, sunken look.
An important addendum to hanging the rod or track is that often window frames and ceilings are not quite exactly level. If you hang the curtain rod or track using a level to get it exactly right and it still looks wrong, you may want to adjust it so that it is more or less parallel with the window frame and the ceiling. This will help your room to appear much more pleasing to the eye.
Instead of hanging the curtain rod or track right away, you may want to simply mark the position where it will be with a pencil. You can then perform all your measurements using the line you’ve marked on the wall instead of the rod or track itself.
Next, decide how long you want your curtains to be. Most curtains hang from the rod or track down to about two or three inches below the bottom of the window frame. This makes sure that they can open and close with as little hassle as possible. You may, however, want them even longer, for instance, if you need to sleep late and you are sensitive to light. Use a tape measure to find the precise length of fabric required.
The width is also important. In order to make sure your window is completely covered, use a tape measure to measure from about two or three inches outside of the window frame on either side. Double this measurement to make sure there is plenty of fabric for some good, full curtains.
When passing these measurements to your seamstress or decorator, make sure they understand that these measurements are the length you wish your curtains to be, not the length of your window frame.