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The Do’s And Don’ts Of Engraving Gifts

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Personalizing gifts is one of the best ways that a person can make those gifts exceptionally special for that special someone that they have in mind.  This simple process is what will take a store-bought present that originally had a price tag and give it a cherished value that extends far beyond all possible price amounts.


However, in order to achieve the very best results from engraved presents and gifts, there are certain rules that should be followed.  It is important for the gift giver to know what they should and should not do when it comes to engraving their various presents.

The Length of the Message

Make sure that the message itself is not excessively long.  This is a huge mistake that many people make all around the world.  It is very easy to get so wrapped up into the moment and have so much that a giver would want to say to the recipient, reminding them of how special they are to you or even why they are giving the present away in the first place.

However, it is important to remember that there is a very limited amount of space to work with when it comes to most gifts and jewelry items that are being engraved.  Choose the words wisely and focus on creating a short and simple message.

The Actual Item Being Engraved

Another important part of the engraving process would be to focus on the actual item that is being engraved.  Many people assume that any particular gift that has space on it for some sort of message or even initials can be engraved.

This is a major misconception that has led many towards permanently damaging and even destroying their items because of it. Pay close attention to the materials that are used to create the gift and check to make sure that they are sturdy and durable enough to handle the type of carving and pressure that will need to be applied in order to complete various types of advanced engraving.

If the materials are soft and not very sturdy, consider laser printing and other forms of customization.

Keep All Options Open

Do not make the mistake of keeping a very short list of gifting options.  The world of engraving is wide open to an overabundance of great ideas that can be used to create some amazing gifts.  If you are looking for jewelry, for example, Mens Tungsten Online has a wide variety of rings and even dog tag necklaces that can be engraved and personalized for that special person in your life.

However, Mens Tungsten Online is just one example of the thousands of different websites that can be used in order to create some of the most memorable gifts in the world.

Focus on the Recipient

Lastly, always think about the recipient and what they would like to have as a present.  It becomes a little too easy in most situations for a giver to pick out a present that they personally like but that the actual recipient will not.

Make sure that the personal preferences of the recipient are being properly used as a guide throughout the entire gift shopping and engraving process.

This article was written by Adam, a professional content writer. Adam has been able to write many different articles, blogs and other online content over the years for a wide variety of popular websites, including Mens Tungsten Online.

4 Less Expensive Material Choices For Your Home

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We are all wanting to make improvements to our homes. But they can be so expensive! Of course we still want high quality when it comes to our homes. But are there less expensive options that will make it more possible for us to be able to actually afford these home improvements that we’ve been wanting to do for so long?

Well you’re in luck! There are definitely some fake out materials that you can use in your home. These are less expensive options, but they will still give you the quality you need to show the pride you take in your home.

Here are 4 less expensive material choices for your home improvement projects:

1. Real Wood Instead of Trex

For Your: Deck

Trex is a great, high quality, long lasting material for decks. It is water resistant, fade resistant, stain resistant, insect resistant, splinter resistant, etc. But it is also very expensive (almost double of plain wood). Instead of saving up for years to be able to afford a deck made out of trex, instead make your deck out of wood.

Yes, some of the downsides to wood are true: it can fade, splinter, rot, etc. But if you make sure to take care of it you should be safe from those potential downsides. Just purchase a high quality wood, and make sure to seal it every couple years, and you should be good to go.

2. Faux Wood Blinds Instead of Real Wood

For Your: Window Coverings

We all love the look and feel of wood blinds in our homes. Real wood blinds are beautiful. They come in a large variety of colors, they are sturdy, and they create a great warmth in your home. But, just like other premium material options, they can be expensive. That is where faux wood blinds come in. Faux wood blinds, sometimes also known as “alternative wood blinds,” are a great alternative to real wood blinds. Unlike many other “cheap” material substitutions for different areas of your home, faux wood blinds absolutely don’t look cheap. In fact, they are a very high quality looking substitution.

And not only are faux wood blinds less expensive than real wood blinds, but they also resist moisture much better than real wood blinds. So you not only get the money savings associated with purchasing the faux wood instead of real wood blinds, but the can also last longer.

3. Engineered Hardwood Flooring Instead of Solid Hardwood

For Your: Flooring

Hardwood flooring instantly makes a home look elegant and classy. But there are certain drawbacks to solid hardwood. For one, you guessed it, it’s expensive. On top of that, it is bad for our environment. There are unnecessarily large amounts of timber that are wasted in the production of solid wood flooring.

With the more premium brands of engineered hardwood flooring, you can still get the quality look and feel of solid hardwood flooring, but for less than you would expect to pay. And because of how some of these cross-engineered floors are created, there is a lot less waste associated in creating this flooring option. On top of that, this flooring is also stronger and lasts longer than traditional solid hardwood.

4. Corian Instead of Granite

For Your: Counters

Believe it or not, granite counters didn’t gain their popularity until around 10 years ago. Before that, Corian was the most commonly used material for countertops. Of course granite has gained popularity in homes, especially high quality custom homes. But Corian absolutely shouldn’t be counted out. It is still a great, very nice looking option for countertops… but it comes at a fraction of the cost of granite.

Corian is quite a bit less expensive than granite. But that is not the only upside to this material. It can be seamed invisibly, it comes in a large variety of colors, and you have much more shaping and styling options than you have with granite.

If you are used to granite counters do keep in mind that you must treat Corian a bit differently than granite. You can’t cut directly on Corian, can’t put hot pots and pans directly on it, etc. But if you are willing to make the few adjustments, this is a great (much less expensive) alternative you should look into.

Nicole is a writer for Lifewood floors. They are a company that offers engineered hardwood flooring with style, quality and sustainability.

Ugly Bathroom Troubles?

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You go there every single day. Everyone in your family goes there every single day. Even guests will go there relatively frequently. So why are you okay with having such an ugly bathroom?

Let’s face it. That multi-colored mint green and blush pink bathroom just isn’t cute anymore.

Thankfully, there are a lot of other non-mint green/blush pink tiled options out there. And, fortunately, people are beginning to realize that the value of their home actually increases considerably when bathrooms are modernized and updated; you actually have a legitimate reason to fix up the bathroom. So say goodbye to that not-so-cute bathroom your grandma picked out in 1964 and let’s talk remodeling.

You Can’t Do it Alone. No, Really.

First, let’s take a few deep breaths; remodeling makes most people panic. You’re not alone. But what sets you apart from the rest of the bathroom-remodeling folks out there is that you’re not remodeling the bathroom yourself.

You’ve seen too many pipes broken, walls destroyed, and money-pits happen to try to do something like a remodel yourself. Let me go ahead and tell you now, reader, that if you’re still even thinking about doing a home remodel by yourself, don’t. Just say no. I know you’re handy, sir, and I know that you’ve got a killer eye for design, ma’am, but trust me. Home remodeling rarely goes smoothly.

In fact, people end up paying more money for remodels when they do it themselves than when they work with contractors; accidents happen and unforeseen plumbing issues abound in the bathroom. Repeat it with me. Just. Say. No.

So now that we’ve got that out of your system, you need to decide what design you want for your new bathroom. The options are basically endless. Yes, this is that point in the article where you’ll open up a new browser window and start looking up online décor magazines and pull out your catalogs for some inspiration. I know, I know. Take five (or an hour and twenty-five) and we’ll regroup.

So now that you’ve looked online at all of the different options you know exactly what it is you want, right? Yeah, I didn’t think so. I know, I should’ve told you that would make it worse. Sorry. You would’ve done it anyway.

Where to Start?

Okay, let’s get back to your “where to go next” tutorial. You’ve already decided that your bathroom needs to be remodeled. Hallelujah. So, there are a few things we need to address so that you can get into full bathroom-remodeling mode.

  1. Make sure that you’ve got a budget set. This is, without a doubt, the most important part of your remodel. Tell your contractor (because you hired one, right? No? Well then stop here, call a contractor, and then you may proceed) exactly what the budget is, and tell them that that amount also includes the emergency fund. I can almost guarantee you that an unexpected expense will come up – make sure the budget is set.
  2. Be flexible. Like I just said, there are sure to be some unanticipated costs when remodeling a bathroom – be sure to have more than one design plan. If the problems cost more money than you’d anticipated, you’ll have a back-up plan that you yourself picked out.
  3. Make sure your home is prepared for the remodel. Be sure to clear the area of power lines, pipes, water lines, etc. Make sure you know exactly what’s behind every wall and shower before you (your contractor) starts tearing things out.
  4. Do your research. Certain designs and building materials will cost more than others.. Find out if it works for your budget. If something doesn’t work, there are a lot of other options out there. A lot of imitation materials are just as beautiful, even more durable, and half the cost of what you originally wanted.
  5. Stick to your plan(s). This goes along with budgeting. You know how things that you suddenly need just pop up – a different vanity, a different toilet, different faucets, etc. It adds up. Don’t let something sway you. You made your two plans (one for your dream bathroom, the other in case you need to lower the cost), so stick to it.
  6. Be sure to plan your bathroom thoroughly. Pick how many pieces you want, decide the layout (check with your contractor first to make sure it’s feasible), and then plan, plan, plan. Unplanned details can often result in more expenses.
  7. Make sure the people doing the remodel are reliable and know what they’re doing. Ask around for reliable workers. Don’t settle for someone. Make sure your work is done right. And be sure to document the bathroom before and after the remodel to make sure everything was taken care of correctly – and as contracted.

With any luck, that nasty tiled bathroom of yours will be on its way to sleek sophistication in no time. Just remember, don’t try to do it alone! You’ve got people out there who can help you, so take advantage of their services. Just say no to working solo.

Author Bio

Ginger Price writes semi-informational home improvement and home maintenance articles and works closely with companies who provide bathroom remodeling in Shreveport to bring awareness to the awesomeness of bathroom remodels.

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