Browsing Category:

Reviews & Adverts

Reviews & Adverts

How to Add Value to Your Property: A Guide

adding value to your property

This is a collaborative post

Whether you are planning on selling your property or not, looking for ways to add value is a smart investment. You never know when you may wish to move, and by ensuring that your property is continuing to unlock its full potential, you are safeguarding your investment and able to sell and move to a new property whenever you wish to, without much thought. Yet, you will want to figure out the best way to add value to your property and whether you need special planning permission. A loft or basement conversion, for example, may need planning permission.

Are you looking for ways to add value to your property? If so, this guide has got you covered. Read on for tips on how to maximise your properties profit.

Extend Your Home

Extending your property and increasing the size and space of your house is often a failsafe way to increase the value of your property. People are typically looking for a larger property that they can grow into and start a family in, and a well-planned, well-designed extension can turn the humblest of abodes into a dream property people are willing to bid over.

Extending your home can be a very expensive option but there are ways to help fund big projects; equity release is one such option.

If you have questions about equity release, consider speaking with an advisor at Equity Release Supermarket to help you compare equity release rates and product features if you’re looking at all the equity release schemes on the market.

The service provided by Equity Release Supermarket provides you with unbiased advice as well as access to an online comparison tool, allowing you to evaluate deals available across the entire market.

If you are unsure of how to extend your home, the payoffs of doing so, and what you could do with the added space, be sure to speak with contractors and architects who can help you unlock your property’s potential. Remember that you may need to apply for planning permission!

Add a Veranda

Do not neglect the outside of your home. Your garden holds a wealth of potential, and therefore, you should consider investing in a veranda that suits your home and is a useful but attractive feature. Nationwide has a selection of verandas, including traditional verandas that offer a period aesthetic to your home. Their glass verandas can offer cover from the outside elements while also allowing the sun to shine through. Patio covers like glass verandas are a great investment opportunity as they offer a comfortable outside area for you to entertain.

Update Your Bathroom

Updating your bathroom so that it is modern and more contemporary can add value to your home. Bathrooms should be optimised and offer comfort while people use them, and a cramped, uncomfortable bathroom can cause frustrations. You can update your bathroom with a few simple fixes such as a fresh lick of paint, updating any tiling, and modernising the bathroom facilities. For instance, if you have a bath but you rarely use it, swap it out and incorporate a walk-in shower instead.

You should also consider adding another bathroom if you only have one main family bathroom already. Adding a bathroom, be it a downstairs toilet or an en suite can add a lot of value to your home. This can be an expensive venture, but the payoff can be immense.  

Your home will have unlocked potential. All you have to do is find the best ways to unleash it so that you can reap the benefits. Your best bet is to ask a professional to evaluate your property so that you have a starting point you can build on.

Reviews & Adverts

Help! My Drains Are Clogged

blocked drains

This is a collaborative post

Oh gross! Your sink, shower, or toilet is backing up and dirty, smelly water is taking up residence where it shouldn’t. How do you get your drains running smoothly once more?

There are a few methods that can help. Their effectiveness usually depends on what caused the blockage in the first place. Let’s learn a bit about items that commonly block up pipes and what you can do to clear them out.

What’s in Your Drainpipe?

The only things that should be going down your drain are water, human waste, and a little bit of toilet paper. Unfortunately, in many homes, these aren’t the only items going down the drain.

Check out these common items that people put down drains that should NEVER go down the drain:

  • Kitty litter: clumps together in water and quickly creates a blockage
  • Food waste: bits like coffee grounds and tea leaves don’t break down readily
  • Grease: hot grease is liquid, cold grease isn’t and the jellylike consistency will easily block up your pipes
  • Dirt: shower with a little bit of dirt on your body, but if you’re super muddy, rinse off outdoors first. Lots of dirt is rife with debris and tiny rocks that will quickly wreak havoc
  • Soap: using soap is just fine, letting bars of soap slip down the drain can lead to clogs
  • Toiletries: each year billions of tampons, sanitary pads, and other debris is flushed down toilets, causing clogs in the home and problems at the wastewater processing plant
  • Hair: hair, whether long or short, can get stuck in the pipes and create a web for other debris to get stuck and cause problems

Are you guilty of allowing any of these items to go down the drain, whether inadvertently or on purpose? Take care to avoid this to avoid clogged drains the future.

How to Fix a Clogged Drain

There are a few methods you can try to fix a clogged drain. You can try pouring boiling water or a solvent down the drain to dissolve the clog or one of these other ideas.

DIY Drain Plunger

If there is still water moving through, albeit slowly, you may be able to loosen the clog with a plunger. This device forms a seal around the drain and forces air into the pipe to dislodge the clog.

DIY Drain Snake

More stubborn clogs will require a bit of an extra push. If the clog is close enough to the drain, you may be able to reach it with a DIY drain snake made out of an old coat hanger. This can also be good for hooking hair clogs in a shower.

Call a Plumber

If the DIY methods fail, or you don’t like the idea of fighting with it yourself, it’s time to call a plumber. Before you do, ensure anyone who works on your drains is licenced for drainage work.

Enjoy a Clog-Free Drain

Once you get the drain taken care of, keep your drains clear by not allowing any of the items we’ve talked about to go down your drains.

Reviews & Adverts

How to recognize and address depression presenting as anger

depression presenting as anger

This is a collaborative post

Depression and anxiety are a few mental issues prevalent throughout the globe, especially in western countries. People go through silent inner battles on their own for years without asking for help. On the contrary, some people have no idea they are dealing with depression for years.

It is crucial to analyze yourself and stay aware of what is going on within your body and mind. People mostly know of depression as a feeling of endless sadness and apathy. However, some people may have a distinctive way of dealing with depression.

Sometimes, people can get agitated and angry when something in their life is not going right. The constant anger and rage eventually turn into the frustration that can mess up people’s relationships.

How do you let out anger in a healthy way?

People, especially men, have a concept in their heads that they need to stay strong all the time. However, when they feel vulnerable, they vent out their emotions like anger. The feeling of worthlessness, sadness, frustration, and helplessness can quickly turn into anger. However, it is essential to realize that people may be dealing with depression if they are frequently angry. There are many ways to deal with depression; however, self-realization is the first step towards healing.

Battling with depression is a lonely journey, and the constant feeling of loneliness is super exhausting. On the other hand, people feel weak and exposed when they open up about their mental issues with someone. However, the exposure and increase in mental health awareness are leading people to change their perspective.

What are the signs of hidden anger?

Hidden anger may not always be due to a particular scenario. When a lot of things go wrong in a person’s life, they tend to feel frustrated. While it is easy to ignore anger, it can ruin relationships and kill a person’s productive spirit. Let’s have a look at things that can help you realize your anger is depression.

Importance of Self-realization

Why do I get angry out of nowhere?

We all have been in situations where we feel mad beyond our control. Once the anger dies down, you cannot point out what made you angry. Also, the anger can turn into frustration, and eventually, the anger turns into a whole episode of crying. However, it is necessary to control our emotions rather than let our emotions control us. First, a person must make an effort to know themselves and pinpoint factors that may be leading to them feeling distraught. Let’s analyze some factors to identify if you have depression:

1.     Start journaling

It is always helpful to keep a record of your emotions. Sometimes, we have a lot on our plate that we forget the pattern of our emotions. Journaling is an easy way to record your feelings and analyze what you feel and why. Once you start maintaining a record, you can actually pinpoint if you are angry or depressed. It is necessary to connect with your inner-self and ask basic questions. It may not be easy to self-realize your emotions, but you can try—most anger management classes also emphasize mental health and self-evaluations.

2.     Meditation

Meditation is not the simplest thing to do when your emotions are all over the place. However, without effort, you cannot reach a substantial solution. When you breathe in and breathe out, you can get hold of your emotions. If meditation is not helping you relax or calm down, then the possibility of depression increases. Depression is something that can make a person feel worthless, and feeling worthless can translate into anger quickly. Hence, a person must give meditation a try to feel at peace.

3.     Socialize

Mostly, when a person is angry or feeling worthless, they are unable to socialize. However, it is essential to socialize and observe your behavior around people. You may have noticed that your parents or friends observe things about you that you do not even realize yourself. Hence, it is imperative to surround yourself with people who provide constructive feedback. It leads to self-improvement and helps to bring your life together.

How to deal with depression?

1.     Therapy

Can anxiety show up as anger? Therapists also suggest that many patients have their way of dealing with depression, and anger is one of them. Seeking therapy brings a lot of positive life changes. On the other hand, it helps people realize their self-worth and boost their confidence significantly.

2.     Natural remedies

Natural remedies such as CBD lip balm and other related products help significantly in reducing depression. CBD gummies are a new invention that people eat on a regular basis to balance out their hormones. Apart from CBD, kratom, lavender spray, and chamomile tea show outstanding results in calming anxiety and curing depression. On the other hand, it is best to give natural remedies a try before taking medications.

3.     Exercise regularly

People preach exercise as a great solution to mental issues, but they rarely practice it. It is crucial to move your body and try out some form of exercise to feel good about yourself. It releases hormones that neutralize emotions and induces a feeling of gratitude.

Reviews & Adverts

9 Tips To Buy The Perfect Chocolate-y Gift For A Loved One

assorted chocolate
Image by S. Hermann & F. Richter from Pixabay

This is a collaborative post

The best medicine for celebrations, be it birthdays, valentines or anniversaries is sharing and consuming chocolates. Gifting has never been easy, especially when you want the recipient to enjoy and truly like what you gift! For instance, you know your friend is brand conscious, and they mostly like purchasing branded clothing. 

You need to consider a few things before buying the perfect chocolate gift for someone close. Take a look at these 9 tips before you hop to the nearby mall and purchase chocolate hampers for your near and dear ones! Check them out now.

1.      Let’s Talk About Personal Taste First

From a wide range of chocolate types available in the market, what does your friend or dear ones like? Your choices could include multiple types like dark chocolate, milk chocolate, truffles, caramels, alcoholic, non-alcoholic, etc., Make sure you know their taste though!

2.      Do You Have Enough Budget?

chocolates
Image by congerdesign from Pixabay

Gifting can be quite expensive; it is a wise thing to consider the budget that you would like to buy the gift for.

Always remember that gifts are something that you put your love and thoughts into, and it doesn’t necessarily have to be expensive. Go around your budget a little bit but mostly stick to how much you have and do the best by gifting different types of chocolates.

3.      Dietary Restrictions

This one’s perhaps the most significant, health-wise. Are you aware of any allergies or dietary restrictions your loved one might have?

Some chocolates that contain milk can affect someone who is lactose intolerant. Also, it’s no secret that many people have been known to complain that dark chocolate triggers their migraines. Make sure you have all the information you need beforehand.

4.      Choice Of the Right Brands

If you are gifting them chocolates from their favourite chocolate maker, they will always remember it because they will know that you are aware of their favourites. Some well-known chocolatiers are Teuscher, Godiva, Valrhona, etc., that you could explore and ultimately choose one from

5.      Single Flavors Or Multiple Flavors?

Your personalized chocolate gift box can contain lots of small and big chocolates, but do you want it filled with the same flavour or like it to be an assortment of sorts? This choice mostly lies with you in case this gift is a surprise. If your friend is an experimental type, then you can always go wild in terms of choosing flavours,

6.      Want Pretty Packaging?

Valentine chocolate
Image by Jill Wellington from Pixabay

Wanting pretty packaging is fine, but don’t blindly buy something just because of the packaging, because the product quality inside is what truly matters.

7.      The Source Of Chocolate Making

Just like clothing brands, chocolate brands, too, are known to have links with unethical trades. You would need to research the companies that are ethical in their trade. One good company that has Direct Trade Certification is Madécasse.

8.      Look For Discounts

We all know premium chocolates costs a fortune. If you are buying it during the festive season, selective products might be on discounts.

9.      Market

You always have a choice. Do you want to buy from an online store or physical store? Either way, it goes a long way if you know reviews of that store first. You don’t want to buy gifts that don’t turn out well for the users who bought it before.

Conclusion

So those were our tops tips. And if you got here, mission accomplished. There’s no way your loved one will not like something that you’ve so thoughtfully gifted them!

To make the gift a little more special and personalized, don’t forget to write a heartfelt message or choose a greeting card to do so.

Let us know which tip helped you the most.

Reviews & Adverts

Easy Lifestyle Changes to Help You Sleep

This is a collaborative post

We all struggle to sleep from time to time. Sometimes, the reasons for our sleepless nights are clear. You might have had too many late nights or early mornings, only to find that you can’t get back into your routine. You might be drinking too much caffeine late at night or overeating sugar. Sometimes we can’t sleep because we are stressed out and worried, and so we spend our nights tossing and turning as we struggle to turn our minds off for the night. 

Health Issues Caused By Lack Of Sleep


Lack of sleep can cause a whole host of health issues including memory problems, mood changes, weakened immunity and high blood pressure which in turn can lead to heart and other organ problems, dizziness and ear problems, to name a few.

Problems with your ears can be particularly stressful and even painful. It’s important to maintain good ear health, which the team of Ear, Nose & Throat (ENT) doctors at Auris Ear Care can help you with.

Finding The Cause

But, the causes aren’t always as clear. You might find that you can’t sleep, but that there’s no apparent reason for it, which makes it much harder to deal with. Fortunately, it doesn’t always have to be difficult, and you might not have to make any drastic changes. There are often just a few simple lifestyle changes that can improve your quality of sleep, as well as its length. 

lifestyle changes to help you get more sleep - Woman asleep on the sofa
Pixabay – CC0 Licence

Stop Smoking

Smoking might not directly impact your sleep. But, it can hurt the quality of the air in your home, increase your adrenaline levels, and have a negative effect on your mental health. Of course, quitting isn’t an easy change, but you could always go for a classic shisha pen in this kit for a swap.

Switch Off for an Hour Before Bed

A common cause of sleepless nights in the modern world is our growing use of technology. We sit in bed on our mobile phones or tablets, or minds kept alert by both the light and the content that we view. Try to switch devices off, or at least put them down for an hour before bed. 

Leave Your Phone in Another Room

You might also be guilty of sleeping with your phone charging up next to your bed. This won’t hurt you as such, but you might be tempted to check more than the time if you wake in the night. You might also turn to your phone as soon as you wake up, instead of trying to get a little more rest or waking gradually. Leave your phone in another room overnight, and you might sleep much better. 

Exercise More

yoga pose
Pixabay – CC0 Licence

Getting even ten minutes more exercise a day can help you to sleep better. It tires your body out, eases your stress and improves your mood. Try cardio exercise, or at least going for a short walk after dinner.

Get Organised for the Morning

Sometimes, we can’t sleep because we are worried about how much we need to do in the morning. You might be subconsciously planning what you need to do. So, start doing some of it before you go to bed. Pack lunches, get uniforms out, prepare what you are going to wear, and even begin showering before bed. You might sleep better if you know your morning will be easier. It can also mean that you can get up a little later. 

If these changes don’t help, there’s still no clear reason for your sleepless nights and no sign of improvement, you may want to look for any other symptoms, and see your doctor. Just in case it’s a symptom of an underlying condition. 

Reviews & Adverts

Tips To Look After The Health Of Your Household

This is a collaborative post

Being happy and healthy is all that a household needs when it comes to their wants. There are plenty of opportunities to help make that so, particularly if you feel that you might be lacking in that somehow. Here are some tips to look after the health of your household.

family walking on a pier at sunset - look after the health of your household by getting exercise together
Image Source

Improve Relationships With Food

Your relationship with food is more important than you think. The food that we consume has an impact on how healthy we are and what chance it gives us when it comes to living a long and healthy life. Unfortunately, everything that is bad for you always ends up tasting really nice. However, you can help improve everyone’s relationship with food by preparing your evening meals from scratch. Learning what you’re putting into your food is essential, and when you know that, it can help you figure out how to make those meals a little healthier. Your idea of portion size and moderation might also be a little warped. It’s certainly healthy to look at your plates and see if there are some issues with the amount that gets piled onto your plate each time. The ratio of veggies to protein, meat to meat alternatives is also very important.

Improve your relationship with food as a household, and you’ll start to feel a lot happier in yourself.

Do Some Family Exercise

Keeping on top of exercise can be essential for your health in general. As you get older, the need for exercise becomes more important so to help this, why not try family exercise? It could be an opportunity for you and your family to go down to the local swimming pool and spend a morning or afternoon swimming together. Sometimes it can be necessary to take someone with you when exercising because it can certainly help motivate you further. Ensure you’ve set up a time and an exercise class or routine that everyone enjoys. This is a family exercise and so everyone who is involved, should enjoy what they’re doing and not feeling like they’ve been dragged along.

Ask your family members what they’d like to try out and give each other the opportunity to try something out that you all may have not tried before.

For example, if the family is looking for something meditative, then yoga may also be a great family exercise you can try. One of the best things about yoga is that your body will learn to relax, concentrate and stretch.

Moreover, if the family wants an adventure, going for a bike ride may also be a good way to exercise the body. You’ll not only explore the place during the ride, but you’ll also burn enough calories, which is good for your health. 

Lastly, you can take up a sport as a family exercise. For example, you and your family can play football, basketball or whatever you like during your free time or at weekends. Aside from having fun, playing a sport can be good for your household’s health. 

Try Physical Therapy 

Another way of looking after the health of your household is to try physical therapy. Its primary goal is to alleviate pain and improve mobility. With physical therapy, you and your family may take advantage of the flexibility and strengthening exercises to restore a range of motion. It may also help your entire household to boost athletic performance and recover from injury more quickly. Also, physical therapy may help fight lung and heart problems, facilitate speedy stroke recovery and improve balance. You can even find Pelvic Floor Physical Therapy New Hampshire (or elsewhere) if you or a family member is suffering from bowel problems or pregnancy complications.

So, if the family wants to try physical therapy, many therapy facilities like the Brixton Therapy Centre offer a wide range of services, including osteopathy, massage and acupuncture. Just choose what’s best for your family, and everyone’s health will be protected. 

Try Out Supplements 

Supplements can pretty much be assigned to anyone in your household, as long as it’s a suitable age for your child to be taking them. For adults, things like CBG are starting to emerge as a popular supplement to take when it comes to advertising. So what is CBG? Well, it’s a cannabinoid that is taking the wellness industry by storm because it’s an all-natural supplement. It can help benefit pain management, which can come in handy when recovering from any injuries or pain from working out.

If you are looking for products to benefit overall bodily function rather than just improvements to pain management, look for reputable companies with a range of supplements, such as Activated You. Finding a company with a holistic approach to healthy bodily function will likely mean their supplements are helpful to take together, if you agree with the companies objectives too then this is a big bonus. Issues like digestive health and immune system support can be improved with a simple course of supplements. You should do research online and look at product summaries like Activated You reviews for example, in order to get an idea of whether this is right for you. If you’re looking for ways to transform your body, then finding a company specialised in these kinds of supplements would be best advised, as they will have done extensive research to make products safe.

If you’re looking for help with weight loss, Nucific offers all-natural supplements that are made from real foods, specifically, whole fruits and vegetables. They can help boost the metabolism, help manage those junk food cravings and supports smoother digestion, among other things.

As with anything though, it’s always a good idea to approach your doctor first to see what they think about what you’re looking into.

Keep The Home Tidy

Keeping your home tidy and clean is useful for your health because if you let the cleanliness of your home deteriorate, then you are likely to cause illnesses from spending too much of your time in a cluttered home. Try to involve your household more and stress the need for keeping all spaces in the home clean. Declutter on a regular basis and make sure you’re getting rid of anything that’s maybe taking up a lot of room. Keep your surfaces clean by having proper cleaning products and equipment, especially those you don’t often touch because these are the ones that accumulate a lot of dust, like your windows and doors. Set up a weekly or monthly cleaning schedule that you can all contribute to. The more respect everyone has for the home, the better it will be treated. The health of your household can always be helped if you’re willing to pick up after yourself and to keep all of the dust at bay in your home.

Woman in a kitchen, cooking dinner
Image Source

Stress The Importance Of Medical Appointments

Medical appointments are something that we all have access to, but we often forget to attend them. And although many of us can end up leading busy lives, you’re not busy enough to skip your medical appointments or to forget about going. You want to be able to set a good role model for your children in that looking after your health and getting regular check-ups is good. So make sure you’re going to all your dental and doctor appointments but also take advantage of the free eye tests and hearing tests. These are both things that are usually free first time around, and they might pick up something that hasn’t been recognised by yourself.

Always Stay On Top Of Personal Hygiene

Taking care of yourself is essential, and your personal hygiene can certainly impact your health too. By not brushing your teeth twice a day or not washing your hands after you’ve been out. These are all the little things that you don’t think are bad for skipping a day on or not doing at all, but they are really vital. You should always try and carry a hand sanitiser and that way you keep on top of destroying any germs that might get transferred from communal areas to your hands. The amount of dirt and bacteria that can sit on your hands and potentially cause you harm is as worse if not more than your standard toilet bowl. Be wary of personal hygiene and that of others in the household.

Looking after your health as a household is important, so the more you can do to help yourself, the better. Start by washing your hands religiously before mealtime and if not, use hand sanitiser to do the same job. Stress the importance of medical appointments with your children and make sure they’re attending once they’ve flown the nest too. Keep your home tidy as often as possible and remember to declutter every now and then. Try out supplements and don’t forget to do some family exercise together as and when you can. It’s a great bonding experience but one that’s also healthy!

Reviews & Adverts

Everything You Need to Know About Changing Your Name

This is a collaborative post

There are times in everyone’s life where they want to start over with a new identity and new plans. While some plans fall through, others don’t. Many times there are too many reasons a person might consider getting a new name. Like in the case of divorce or separation, a woman would like to get her surname changed or would want to change her entire name. In some cases, a person might want to leave his old life behind and start afresh with a new identity, a new job and probably even a new name.
But thanks to the fast-growing and evolving world, changing your name has become more hassle-free than ever. All you need to get is a deed poll.

Deed Poll: 

A legal binding document that works as a piece of evidence. When you decide to get a new name, the deed poll is that official document you need to fill out to get this process done. It will help you to update your name in all other official and essential documents like your passport, license etc. It states the necessary information like what new name you have decided to go with, and from what date onwards.

How important is it to get a deed poll? 

Changing names is not something you do every day. It is your marked identity. The new name you choose, is now your identity proof that has to be updated in all of your important documents. If you decide to change your anime due to any reason, you need to do it officially, by informing the right authorities and sending out updates to relevant organizations. You must sign the legally binding document and notify certain authorities to get going. 

Image by Michal Jarmoluk from Pixabay

In many cases, when you’re married, your marriage certificate can act as a proof of a new name, but in the case of separation, a deed poll may be needed if you decide to go back to your old name.

How to Apply For a Deed Poll? 

Applying to change your name by deed poll has become very easy over the years. You can even order one online. 

Start by filling out an online application, and once all the details have been entered, you will be redirected to the payment page. There is a minimal amount for deed poll that you need to pay.

After the completion of payment, your deed poll will be sent to you via post along with any duplicate copies that you might have ordered. 

Once you receive your deed poll, you will need two witnesses to sign the documents along with your signature, stating that you are willingly going ahead with this change. 

Once done with the signature, you need to notify important organizations to update your name in all important documents.

The process is relatively seamless and straightforward, and it won’t take much of your time. Make sure you have a list of the official bodies you need to inform and then you’re good to go.

At any point in life, you can go through this change, but you need to be above 18. And in case you’re not, you can ask your parents or guardian to help you with this.

Do You Always Need a Deed Poll?

No, you don’t always need a deed poll. In case of marriage, the marriage certificate will act as a legal document for the new name change. If your marriage were finalised in the ion UK, the state would issue a certificate mentioning your old name and the new name. This acts as a legal document. 

In case of separation, you may need a deed poll if your divorce hasn’t been finalised yet. But if you have gone through the divorce, you won’t need a deed poll to switch back to your maiden name. It would help if you had your decree absolute.*

Christmas, Christmas Crafts, Crafts, Reviews & Adverts

Have A Creative Christmas With Design Bundles

merry1

This is a collaborative post.

When I got my Cricut in February 2019, my first project was to make a wedding gift for my cousin and his wife.
I didn’t really know what I was doing, having never used a Cricut before but I managed to figure it out, eventually!
The first SVG file I ever used was from Design Bundles; as soon as I saw it I knew it was perfect for what I needed.

Butterfly Bouquet Cutout Framed personalised wedding gift

Early Christmas Decorating

We put our decorations up on November 29th. We’ve never put them up in November before and I always said I never would! However, after the year we’ve all had thanks to Covid-19, we all needed something fun to do and something to look forward to.

Gnome tree decoration from Design Bundles
I love these gnomes. They’re super easy to make.

Everyone in the country seems to have gotten into the Christmas spirit a bit earlier than usual. We’re grabbing hold of it like a lifeline and even though it’s not going to be a normal Christmas, it can still be a brilliant one.

A Design Bundles Crafty Christmas

Christmas is my absolute favourite time of the year and one of the things I look forward to is crafting with the children.
We used to do lots of different crafts when they younger and I loved spending the time with them. Nowadays they prefer social media to crafting with mum but I can sometimes cajole them into crafting with me!

I downloaded loads of Christmas svgs from Design Bundles. They have so many you’re spoilt for choice! I use Design Bundles a lot so I decided to sign up for the Plus Membership. I can now choose new files every month using my Plus Credits 🙂

We’ve made tree decorations, 3D layered scenes, Christmas cards and Christmas t-shirts.

3D layered deer scene from Design Bundles

You can find tutorials below for some of the things we’ve been making.

3D Layered Penguins Scene Tutorial

This 3D layered penguin scene is simple and fast to make. All you need is a Cricut or other cutting machine, the 3D Christmas SVG papercraft bundle from Design Bundles, your choice of coloured/glittered card for each layer and some glue.
An optional extra is to add some wired fairy lights that you can put inside the scene behind the first inner layer. The finished product looks lovely when the lights are on.

3D layered penguin scene

Step 1 – Cutting

Cut all the pieces using your cutting machine. If you’re not sure how to use an SVG file, I have an in-depth tutorial here.

I used:

Black card – 2 outer layers
Silver glitter card – inner layer 1
Cream card – inner layer 2
Light blue card – inner layer 3
Dark blue card – Inner layer 4

Design Bundles penguin 3d scene

Step 2 – Assembling

Glue the 2 out layers together using the flap on the front piece.

mmm

Step 3 – Insert inner layers.

Starting with the back layer, insert all inner layers by slotting the tabs into the holes.

Penguin 3D scene - adding the layers
Design Bundles - Penguin 3D scene - adding the layers
Penguin 3D scene - adding the layers
Design Bundles - Penguin 3D scene - adding the layers

Step 4 – Closing the frame

All you need to do now is to apply glue to the tab on the outer back piece and stick the front penguin layer to the back.

Glue the flap

Christmas Tree Decorations Tutorial

This is a great project to use up all those card scraps; if you’re anything like me, you’ll have boxes of them!

We made our bauble decorations to go in the kitchen window rather than on the tree and they look lovely when they spin and catch the light.

All you need is scraps of card, glue, ribbon/string and adhesive gems.

Step 1 – Cut your pieces

I resized all the bauble files when I got them in Design Space because they were huge!
I resized them to around 10cms and changed the colour from black, making each design a different colour so they would be placed on different mats by Design Space.
If we were going to hang them on the tree, I’d have made them smaller but ours are going in the kitchen window so we need them a bit bigger.

Bauble files in Design Space

Step 2 – Duplicate and Flip

Now click on each bauble in turn, right click and duplicate then with the duplicated piece selected, click on Flip and flip the ornament horizontally.

Flip the duplicate piece horizontally

Once you’ve saved your work, click the Make It button in the top right corner of Design Space and cut all the pieces.

Step 3 – Assembling and Decorating

Put glue on the back of one the pairs of ornaments then stick the other piece to it, making sure they’re lined perfectly.

Using adhesive gems or any decorations you choose, decorate both sides.
If you’re using glitter card like me, it’s a good idea to put a dab of glue on the card where you want a gem to go, even though they’re adhesive, they sometimes fall off when put on glitter card.

Hang them using ribbon or Christmassy string.

Iron-On Vinyl T-Shirts Tutorial

My last tutorial today uses iron-on glittery vinyl to create some Christmas Movie watching t-shirts for KayCee and Ella.
Now before I start, I have to say I’m no expert when it comes to working with iron-on vinyl. I was really excited to try it when I first got the Cricut but I didn’t enjoy it the way I did when working with card.

I haven’t mastered layering yet so this is a one colour vinyl tutorial. I have to say, though, I do love the glitter and the svg files I got from Design Bundles made this a quick and easy craft.

KayCee and Ella wearing thier Christmas movie watching t-shirts

Step 1 – Choose Your SVG file

Go to Design Bundles and in the search box, search for Christmas Movie. This search term is enough to give you hundreds of results.

Choose your design and add it to Design Space.

Set the size and click Make It.

Step 3 – Cutting Your Design

The most important thing to remember at this stage is to MIRROR your design. I totally forgot with the second t-shirt and I wasted a whole sheet of glitter iron-on!

Design Space glitter iron-on settings

Click Continue then select Glitter Iron-On for the material.

When the cut has finished, weed away the excess material and your design is ready to be put on the t-shirt.

Step 4 – Applying The Iron-On

I used the Heat Press 2 with the following settings for Glitter Iron-on, a Cricut t-shirt and using the Cricut Easy Press mat:

Heat press 2 settings 1

Centre your design on the t-shirt and use the Easy Press to stick the design to the t-shirt. Let it cool before trying to peel off the carrier sheet.

I hope you’ve enjoyed the tutorials. I’ll be back tomorrow with some free Christmas printables I made using gorgeous artwork I bought at Design Bundles 🙂

Reviews & Adverts

5 Tips for Getting Into Affiliate Marketing As a Blogger

Home office - affiliate marketing
Image by LEEROY Agency from Pixabay

This is a collaborative post.

Everyone is interested in earning more money, but not everyone knows how to create a second source of income. Particularly a passive income.

Whether you’re looking to rely on passive income solely one day or actively work along with it, affiliate marketing is among many great ways to start.

But before you get too excited, affiliate marketing is not easy nor a get rich quick scheme. Affiliate marketing takes hard work and time at first. But it can be really good if you succeed.

Let’s take a quick overview of affiliate marketing before getting into the tips.

What Is Affiliate Marketing?

Basically, affiliate marketing is a way for publishers to earn commissions by promoting products and services of businesses that want to get more traffic or sales. You have to partner with the right kind of companies.

You will simply need to convince people to click on the affiliate links you paste, which will lead them to the business’s site. When anyone buys a product by clicking on your link, you get a commission.

Establish Yourself as an Expert in a Niche

Suppose you are searching for a beauty product online. Would you listen to someone who has expertise in beauty or an automotive expert? Obviously, the beauty expert.

You need to build an audience that has specific needs and then tailor your affiliate marketing campaigns to fit those needs. You can get more success by simply establishing yourself as an expert in the subject.

Don’t Be Afraid To Make It Personal

There is a common rule among most affiliate marketers that you should think about. That is, they only promote products or services that they personally believe in and have tried.

This way, you can ensure that you’re putting the best out there for your audience. You can achieve a more impressive conversion rate and simultaneously increase your reliability.

Be Careful When Choosing Campaigns

No matter how skilled a marketer or blogger you may be, a bad product or service can ruin everything.

Suppose if you’re an expert in trading or stocks, you need to study the products and services high in demand. If you’re partnering up with a forex affiliate network, make sure to check them carefully and see whether or not your audience can get a good deal out of it.

Review Products and Services

Once you find the right products and services in your niche, start reviewing them. You can use your rapport here and tell your readers why they should purchase the product or service. Also, telling your personal experience with the service or product can help.

Whether it’s a physical product, e-book, software, an online service, or anything else, it can be reviewed. You can also compare the products or services you’re promoting and say why they are better than others in that category.

Look Into the Trends

The affiliate marketing game is experiencing some serious competition nowadays. For that reason, you should always be looking out for trends in your niche to stay competitive and provide the best for your audience.

You should also look out for more affiliate marketing techniques and strategies that get created all the time. You can use them to get more conversions and make higher revenue.

Extra Tip: Try Other Channels As Well

While blogging is an excellent way to start your affiliate marketing career, it’s not the only channel you should consider using.

You can surely start with blogging and build an audience. But while you do that, consider creating an audience on social media, getting the right emails for email marketing, and even use media channels if you can. The more you promote the products and services, the more you earn.

Reviews & Adverts

5 Online Activities To Help Pass The Time This Winter

a street covered in snow
Image by misskrume from Pixabay

This is a collaborative post

Oh, the weather outside is frightful!
Well, if it’s not yet, it probably soon will be, unless you live in the Bahamas!
Here in the UK, we may not have snow yet, but there’s a definite chill in the air. So, with that in mind, I’ve found 5 online activities to keep you entertained and your mind active while you’re inside keeping yourself warm and snug.

Sign Up For A Free Online Course

Whatever interests you have, you will most certainly be able to find a free online course to further your knowledge.
There are literally thousands of free online courses out there from many well known and well-respected institutions, like The Open University.

They have hundreds of free course in the following categories:

  • Health, sports and psycology
  • Education and development
  • History and the arts
  • Languages
  • Money and business
  • Nature and the environment
  • Science, maths and technology
  • Society, politics and law

Learn New Card Games

Card games are everywhere online these days. You don’t have to spend money at online casinos either, there are plenty of free sites out there. If you’re new to card games and want to learn the rules, you can find instructions for how to play blackjack, poker, bridge, solitaire and lots more on many websites or by watching videos on YouTube.

Play Online Slots

online activities slot reviews
Image by OpenClipart-Vectors from Pixabay

Online slots are very popular right now, which is great, but it does mean that there are hundreds of sites to choose from.
It can be hard to know which slot games are best but don’t worry, there are lots of slot review sites to help find the perfect slot games, just for you.

Reading reviews before playing slot games will help give you a feel for the game, see what the graphics are like and also how easy it is to win!

If you’re worried about spending your actual money on gambling games, fear not, we’ve got that covered as well!
You can find slot reviews for free-to-play games as well as paid-for versions.

However, if you do fancy a flutter, check out minimum deposit casino India. You could win big for a minimum stake but remember to always gamble responsibly.

If slots aren’t your thing but you still like a flutter, check out the best indiana sportsbook apps.

Listen To Free Podcasts

As with online courses, there are hundreds of thousands of free podcasts to listen to covering every single topic you can think of.

Head over to the BBC to find podcasts from your favourite TV shows and stars such as Strictly Come Dancing and Graham Norton.
Listen to Joe Wicks asking his friends what one thing is that makes life better for them or settle down and listen to the one and only Gemma Collins, diva extraordinaire!

Learn Meditatation And Mindfullness

massage oil, a candle and white towels
Image by Gundula Vogel from Pixabay

Are you a Zoom fan? If not, why not?! And if you’ve been living under a rock for most of the year and don’t know what Zoom is, it’s a video conferencing program that’s free to use.

So many of us this year has fallen in love with Zoom because it’s so versatile.
Not only can you get together with family and friends, no matter where they live and enjoy a family quiz night or celebrate a birthday, you can also learn meditation and mindfulness with Brown University.

All the Zoom classes are completely free, you just need to register to secure your place for each class you’d like to join.

Join An Online Book Club

Online book clubs are actually a thing and the massive bookworm in me is very excited to know this!

There are many different clubs to choose from, some run by people you may have of like Reece Witherspoon and Oprah Winfry!
Sam Jordison of The Guardian runs a book club on the first Tuesday of every month. You can even put your own reading suggestions to him.

Maybe you’d even like to start your own online book club. Whichever you prefer, you’re not only going to be reading lots, (yay for reading!!) you’ll be making new friends, possibly from around the globe.

Winter doesn’t mean you have to stop you from enjoying yourself. You’ll just be doing from the comfort of your own home instead.

Verified by MonsterInsights