Friday 17 August 2012

Tips on Refurbishing your Office


The environment that you work in is very important. If you are working in an environment that is need of repair of refurbishment, it can have an effect on how the workers feel. Do you realize that people who work in a shabby or outdated office can feel unappreciated and uncomfortable, and that may have effect the way they work? If you work in an office that is in serious need for refurbishment, you may want to have a talk with your boss. Here are some tips on refurbishing your office that you can tell your boss and convince him or her that this is something that can be a benefit to everyone who works there.

The ceiling

Do you have a regular ceiling? If the ceiling in your office is the standard kind, then now may be a good time to look into a suspended ceiling. A good reason to change to a suspended ceiling is that it'll save money on your energy bills. An office is also easier to both heat and cool if the ceiling is suspended. What could be better for the comfort of your workers then a cool room in the summer and a warm room in the winter?

Partitions

It may be time for all of the people in your office to get their own space. By adding partitions, you give workers their own mini office in which they can have privacy, and decorate it with things like pictures of their family. Imagine how morale in the office will grow if people have their own little space in which to call their own?

Furniture

Do you have a small area in which workers can relax? Studies have shown that when there is a little "rest area" set up in an office, people tend to feel more at ease and work better. Imagine taking a break and going to sit on a big plush couch with thick cushions? Wouldn't you feel better knowing you can go unwind by sitting on a big comfortable couch with your feet up?

Storage space

Is your current office full of clutter? You might want to consider adding some places for storage. Adding a few big storage cabinets in a space away from your workers will give them more space and things will be much more organized.

Lighting

It may be time to retire those overhead fluorescent lights and opt instead for more natural light. Instead of having big ugly walls everywhere, try knocking down a few and installing big windows that will allow natural light to fill the office. Studies have proven that being able to see outside can help make the workers feel less stressed.

Working in an office doesn't have to be a chore if you can convince your bosses that it may be time to get the office refurbished. Sometimes an office is starting to get old and there's such things as cracked walls and worn out carpeting. Refurbishing your office is the perfect way to add life to your office and to make the morale of your office workers go through the roof.

Thursday 16 August 2012

Creating Your Own Picture Frames

Pictures are priceless yet amazing treasures, which call for a creative display. Making a craft picture frame is the best way to fix unforgettable memories in the handmade frames. Made to measure picture frames is also a perfect idea of keeping children engaged in activities that make them think differently. If you feel bored on the lazy Sunday afternoons, then making pictures frames is the best way to spend some quality time with your children. Such frames can be constructed from waste materials such as colorful stones, feathers, randomly collected shells,, never-to-be-used cloth pieces, pieces of paper, bits and woolen threads.

Making handmade picture frames for children

Flower frame

This is one of the most popularly used ideas for a picture frame. To make it, you would require cardboard rectangle, colors (crayons or paints), scissors and the photo. Mark the measurements of your photo on the cardboard. Then trace out a nice flower template on the board and cut it out. Now decorate the flower as you like and allow it to dry. You can utilize your wildest imagination and creativity to make a unique flower for decorating your picture frame. In the meantime, cut out another portion of cardboard; slightly bigger in size than the picture. Finally, paste the photograph on it and then put the flower on top. There you are.. Your flower frame is ready to decorate the wall in your house.

Foam frame

The form picture frames usually look colorful and amazing. You can either utilize cut out shapes or form stickers to make decorations on the frame with foam sheets. In making the picture frame, you would need ruler, glue scissors, colored stickers or form sheets, and the photograph. Cut out a piece of foam from the sheet; slightly bigger in size than the picture size. Stick the picture on the sheet with glue. Make a border of contrasting colors and decorate it with cut outs or stickers. You can make stars, flowers, clouds, football and other designs for a decorative Made to Measure Picture Frames. Once the glue dries, create a small loop with the thread on the back of the frame and then use the loop to hang it on your wall.

Potpourri frame

Recycling an old potpourri as a decorating item for your handmade wooden picture frames delivers amazing results. For making the wooden frames, you don't actually need wood. You can use the wooden sticks on the ice cream candies. Clean the sticks and then paint them in any color of your choice. Cut a cardboard piece which is a bit bigger than the picture you want to frame. Stick the picture onto the cardboard and then stick the frame around the photo. At this point, decorate the picture frame with potpourri for a marvelous look.

Bottle cork frame

For making this frame, you need bottle corks, cardboard, adhesive glue and photograph. Cut a piece of the cardboard which is a bit bigger than the picture and then stick the photo on it. Stick the bottle corks on the cardboard to make any design of your liking.

Sites such as Go Frame It provide a huge range of picture frames so that you can find the frame that is perfect for your picture. They also offer a custom frame builder option which allows you to create the exact frame that you are looking for.

Preparing Your Home for the Fall: Preventing Rodents


No one wants pests like mice or rats in their home, but what can you as a homeowner do to prevent
them? When you are investigating pest control options, you will quickly find out that you need to have a
pest management plan especially for those furry pests that might find their way into your home. Not only
do rats and mice spread disease, you’ll discover that they can seriously damage your home. Think about
what you can do to protect your home from these vermin before you need to call an exterminator.

Start Sealing in Fall

You may already know that lots of pests can be kept out of the home through sealing up the cracks and
gaps, but did you know that the best time to do this is in the fall? Plenty of animals make their way into
the home when the weather gets cold. They are seeking warmth and food, and a human home has plenty
of both. Before the cold weather rolls around, make sure that you make the rounds of your home and seal
up every crack that you can find in the foundation. Silicone caulk goes a long way towards keeping your
home in secure from incursions, but you should also consider firmer materials like stucco or cement to
keep pests from invading your home.

Seal Up your Food

Rodents need things to eat, and if you leave your food unsecured, they will find it. First take care of
the obvious problems. Don’t leave things lying around, and keep your fresh fruit in the fridge. This is
something that can make a big difference all on its own. Sweep after meals to get crumbs off the floor and
wash your dishes in a timely fashion. Pour all of your food out of cardboard or paper containers and into
plastic or glass containers. Mice and rats naturally gnaw to get to their food, and they can contaminate
your food very quickly.

Set Traps

If you only have one or two mice, it is worth your while to invest in some traps. Pest management does
involve dealing with pests that already exist, so put out some traps wherever you have seen the animals
in question. One way to make the traps more appealing to your pests is to use a small amount of peanut
butter or mashed potatoes to draw them out. To improve your chances for success, consider leaving
bait in the trap for a few days before setting the trap; this ensures that the animals will be more likely to
take the bait. Skip poisons and other chemicals. There are many chemicals on the market designed for
animals that are quite unsafe for humans. Consult with an exterminator if you feel you need to take a
more aggressive approach to pest removal.

Disposal

If you are engaging in pest control tactics, you will find that you do need to get rid of rodent corpses at
some point. When you need to get rid of them, bag them up in a sealable plastic bag and then place them
in a trash can outdoors. Do not leave them in an indoor trash can, as this can draw other pests. Also, do
not bury them, as this can draw cats, foxes, and raccoons to your property.

Author Bio: Rose McMillan is a retired pest control professional who has worked at multiple pest control companies, such as the likes of Terminix. She now pursues a career in freelance writing and enjoying the outdoors.