Long gone are the days when eco-friendly was synonymous with tree-hugger and hippie. Today’s new shade of “green” is hip and fashionable…some even say it’s the new black. Bridging the gap between popular and fashionable culture and environmental responsibility is a critical part of supporting the environment and reversing the damage that has already been done to it. With couture clothing designers using organic fabrics and vegetable dyes, and luxury car companies producing hybrids, sacrificing quality and aesthetics are no longer part of the “green” equation. Even luxury paper products are going green!  Read more... (568 words, estimated 2:16 mins reading time)

Tags: Arts and Crafts, Collecting, creativity, Family, gift wrapping paper, Going green, Holidays, picture frames, recyclables, scrapbook pages, Scrapbooking, shopping, Supplies

Doll house kits are an excellent way to begin or even grow your existing doll collections. They offer a wide variety of houses to choose from, and some even come with furniture and accessories to match your first home.

In choosing your doll house kit, it is important to note who you are buying it for. Is it for an adult collector? Or is it for a child, as a start of her collection, or simply a toy? Knowing who you are buying it for will help you decide which doll houses to choose.  Read more... (588 words, 1 image, estimated 2:21 mins reading time)

Tags: Collecting, Design, dollhouse, Furniture, hobby, Recreation, Wood

The world is just getting smaller and smaller. With the onset of the Internet technology, the email correspondences and the cellular phone, miles and miles of distance seem to be an issue only of yesterday.

Stamp Collecting Freeware
However, it is not only the means of communications that makes the world smaller. Sharing something with other people in the other parts of the world is a better way to have some sort of connection.  Read more... (424 words, 1 image, estimated 1:42 mins reading time)

Tags: Collecting, mail, Postage stamp, Recreation, stamp, stamp collecting

Custom rubber stamps are a form of creativity, where people can impose their own style, logo and art on their work to leave their mark on their personal materials. These stamps allow people to express their individuality with their own personal style marking their work. Besides drawings and figures, custom rubber stamps also come in the form of type, where people can now imprint their name and address on envelopes instead of sticking an address label.

All they need is a little ink pad of the color of their choice or all the colors of ink to suit their different creative or work needs. Custom rubber stamps are a form of decoration for paper covers, envelopes, wallpaper, stickers, etc, whether using type or art work, or just doodling in your boredom for fun to create your own personal art form.

The list is endless of what you can design or create with these kind of stamps. All you need is your imagination and lots of creativity. And let your imagination go wild and free to create whatever you envision in your wildest dreams because there are no rules in art. Everything goes.

Mostly found in art stores, custom rubber stamps allow artists and creative enthusiasts an unlimited opportunity to create and express themselves. It often has a vintage art look that can add personality to your original work. A very old method that is used mostly in postal offices as well as other businesses, is now a new art form, allowing others to enjoy it in its now many uses, whether for work, play or just creating visual art.

Hence, impress customized rubber stamps to express yourself, and create your own logo or mark, your own personal art form. Life is all about being yourself and imposing your mark on society, whether for work, visualization, or for fun. Life is short, don’t waste anymore time.

Tell the world who you really are and what you are all about. Art is truth, and these custom stamps allow you to express this truth in order to leave your mark on society. Similar to graffiti but legal and acceptable.

So, express your truth and leave an impression on society about your life, your personality, your identity, what you represent, what you feel you represent, or at least, what you would like to represent, but are shy and insecure to be otherwise. Custom rubber stamps allow you to be who you have always wanted to be through your expression of your art form. Live your dreams through your creativity and art work, and let custom rubber stamps show you the way to your goals, destiny and happiness.  Read more... (472 words, 1 image, estimated 1:53 mins reading time)

Tags: art, Collecting, Recreation, rubber stamp, stamps

Pins are a hot collectible that offer an added advantage over other collections – they are small and do not take up much room. Pins are available in many motifs and themes. Some of the most collectible themes are Disney characters, sports teams, and Hard Rock Cafe. The first rule of pin collecting is to specialize. If you like the San Diego Padres baseball team, for instance, you can start pin collecting with souvenir pins that celebrate this team. And just because these themes are popular doesn’t mean you have to collect them. Be original and collect what you like.  Read more... (454 words, 1 image, estimated 1:49 mins reading time)

Tags: Baseball, Collectable, Collecting, Hard Rock Cafe, Pin, Recreation, San Diego Padres, Walt Disney Company

First created in the mid-1900s, diecast cars have been a long-time success in the toy and hobby industry. The automobiles are made out of a zinc and aluminum alloy, and then complemented with plastic parts such as windows or doors. Over the past seventy-five years, die-cast cars have quickly evolved into one of the most popular areas of the hobby and toy industry.  Read more... (596 words, estimated 2:23 mins reading time)

Tags: Collecting, collectors, diecast, hobby, hot wheels, matchbox cars, toy

Tagua nut carvings may look like they have been produced from finest ivory, but the truth is, it has never been anywhere near an elephant! The tagua nut is actually a very hard nut that comes from a tree known as the ivory nut palm. This nut can be carved and polished to a high degree, making it difficult to discern from elephant ivory. The paleness of the nut and the ease with which it can be carved has made it very popular as an adornment or decorative piece.  Read more... (408 words, estimated 1:38 mins reading time)

Tags: carvings ivory, Collecting, netsuke, tagua nut carvings