http://www.mythings.com/TipsAndTricks.aspx Tips for your products en-US Images/logo-MyThings.gif http://www.mythings.com/TipsAndTricks.aspx 100 100 Teeth Whitening Methods If you are looking to whiten and brighten your smile, there are many teeth whitening methods available. Many of the professional teeth whitening methods are expensive and are done through multiple trips to the dentist. Other, more affordable, teeth whitening methods can be done at home. Laser Teeth Whitening This professional teeth whitening process consists of the cleaning and removal of any plaque along the gum line, followed by the application of a peroxide gel. Then a special laser light is used to activate the gel to whiten the teeth. Dentists claim that this process can whiten teeth by as many as 10 shades in one sitting. The cost for laser teeth whitening can vary drastically from dentist to dentist depending on the technology used and your desired level of whiteness. Often this method can cost in excess of $2,000. Professional Teeth Bleaching ... http://www.flickr.com/photos/radiofree/179313453/ http://www.mythings.com/tips/2428/Teeth-Whitening-Tips 2008-08-28T11:01:47 http://www.mythings.com/tips/2428/Teeth-Whitening-Tips Makeup For Tanned Skin If your skin is tanned,you have a nice golden tone. To compliment this healthy look, use a bronzing gel or liquid to give your skin a glow. Use a deep bronzing powder or a deep red as the blush. Use a frosted lipstick and follow with a lip gloss. Use muted eyeshadow colors in khaki or brown. Line the eyes for definition and apply mascara. http://www.flickr.com/photos/8141289@N02/1096877494/ http://www.mythings.com/tips/2427/Makeup-For-Tanned-Skin 2008-08-28T10:59:48 http://www.mythings.com/tips/2427/Makeup-For-Tanned-Skin if you're prone to acne, make sure you prep your skin with a daily oil-free moisturizer. This will ensure your makeup goes on smoothly and evens out your skin. Use an oil free concealer that is exactly the same shade as your skin. If you go any lighter, or too dark, the concealer will draw attention to the blemish. Apply the concealer with a concealer brush, which has smooth, synthetic bristles that are made for cream (not powder) formulas. Dab the concealer directly onto the spot and then wait at least 15 seconds before you blend so that it has time to set on the pimple. Don’t brush the middle of the spot; fan out the edges of the concealer to make it blend seamlessly. You can gently pat the middle with the brush, but don’t rub because you will brush too much concealer away, revealing the redness again. Tap a thin layer of translucent powder over the entire area. This will help to set your makeup.. http://www.flickr.com/photos/haagenjerrys/2194116286/ http://www.mythings.com/tips/2426/Cover-Up-That-Blemish 2008-08-28T10:53:43 http://www.mythings.com/tips/2426/Cover-Up-That-Blemish Most women get their eyebrows waxed, plucked, threaded, or shaped. An extra way to add a little shape to your face is to fill in your brows with a brow powder. This is especially important if your brows are sparse or fair. Find a brow powder that matches the color of your hair. Or, if you are a very light blonde, go a couple of shades deeper for added definition. Redheads sometimes have a hard time finding a reddish-brown brow powder, but there is a wider selection of colors available in eye shadows that can double as a brow powder. Just make sure the eyeshadow is a matte shade and doesn’t have any shimmer to it. Keep a brow brush in your makeup bag. The perfect brush tool has angled, stiff bristles that are short and will allow you to brush the powder right into your brows. When you add the step of filling your brows with powder to your makeup routine, you’ll be amazed at how extra polished and professional your makeup will look. http://www.flickr.com/photos/helmutoelkers/1579320 http://www.mythings.com/tips/2425/The-Right-Tool-To-Fill-In-Your-Brows 2008-08-28T10:52:03 http://www.mythings.com/tips/2425/The-Right-Tool-To-Fill-In-Your-Brows Everyone wants whiter teeth. You can’t turn on the TV without seeing an ad for whitening toothpaste, strips, gels, bleaching trays, etc. But here's a little beauty secret: you don't need a dentist for whiter teeth; you need a tube of lipstick. Choose a lipstick shade that has a cool or blue undertone. Go for a medium to deep shade that isn’t too yellow or orange in tone. A glossy plum or berry lipstick will maximize the white finish on your teeth making your smile much prettier. If you are having trouble figuring out what exactly a cool shade looks like, head to one of the makeup counters and let a professional do the work for you. Hint: If you want to do it yourself, head to the Prescriptives makeup counter. All their lip colors are divided into specific warm (Yellow/Orange and Red/Orange) and cool (Blue/Red and Red) color families, so choosing the right shade is a piece of cake! http://www.flickr.com/photos/cobalt/532646290/ http://www.mythings.com/tips/2424/Make-Your-Teeth-Look-Whiter-With-Lipstick 2008-08-28T10:49:17 http://www.mythings.com/tips/2424/Make-Your-Teeth-Look-Whiter-With-Lipstick Do you ever notice how amazing the model’s eyelashes look in the beauty shots for cosmetics ads? Of course they do! They have makeup artists who spend hours making the model's lashes look perfect. Makeup artists on commercial sets use anywhere from three to five different types of mascara, a lash comb, a toothpick, and a tweezers to make each lash stand up just right. If you had a makeup artist poring over your eyelashes for three unbelievable hours then yours would, too. But let’s get real! There are a few basic things you can do to make the most out of whatever mascara you are using: 1. Replace your mascara every 3 months - old mascara doesn’t go on smoothly, making your lashes dry, short and clumpy looking. If you are on a budget, try to find a great drugstore brand. 2. Get a hand mirror - when you apply your mascara, hold the mirror down by your nose and look into it. .. http://www.flickr.com/photos/auntiep/1430412918/ http://www.mythings.com/tips/2423/Getting-The-Most-Out-of-Your-Mascara 2008-08-28T10:46:34 http://www.mythings.com/tips/2423/Getting-The-Most-Out-of-Your-Mascara Some homeowners seem to find that they can only water their lawn when it is convenient for them. This for them may mean early in the day, late in the day, or even after sunset (if an irrigation system is being used). There is one time during the day, however, when a lawn stands to benefit the most from being watered. That time is after any overnight dew has evaporated and before mid-afternoon when the day’s heat is strongest. The reason you should wait until after your lawn is dry (no longer damp from the overnight dew) is because there are certain water-borne fungi that require 8 to 10 or more hours of moisture before they will start to flourish. For example, if it began raining at 6 p.m. and stopped at 11 p.m., but then because of cooler night temperatures your lawn remained wet until sunrise at 6 a.m., your lawn will already have been continuously wet for 12 hours. .. http://www.flickr.com/photos/cobalt/190568737/ http://www.mythings.com/tips/2422/When-Is-The-Best-Time-Of-Day-To-Water-Your 2008-08-28T10:26:42 http://www.mythings.com/tips/2422/When-Is-The-Best-Time-Of-Day-To-Water-Your Many homeowners believe that a properly cared for lawn should resemble a golf course. The grounds on a golf course represent some of the most intensely managed areas of turf around. It is common that a large percentage of the operating budget for a golf course is spent just maintaining the landscape. It is also common for golf courses to utilize irrigation systems and frequent applications of fertilizer and herbicides to maintain the high standards expected. And it takes armies of grounds maintenance personnel routinely using expensive machinery - like core aeration machines to counteract compaction problems and precision cut reel mowers on the greens. I guess what I’m trying to say here is that if you had people and golf carts on your lawn all day, your lawn would also require a lot more special attention in order to look that great. ... http://www.flickr.com/photos/golf_pictures/1533316186/ http://www.mythings.com/tips/2421/If-You-Want-Your-Lawn-To-Look-Like-A-Golf 2008-08-28T10:25:15 http://www.mythings.com/tips/2421/If-You-Want-Your-Lawn-To-Look-Like-A-Golf Sometimes the grass in a homeowner’s lawn will find its way into areas in which it does not belong. Some of these areas may include flower beds, vegetable gardens, shrubbery and beds that are mulched (meant to be plant free). Some grasses - including Kentucky Bluegrass - can reproduce themselves by way of underground rhizomes. These adventurous rhizomes will grow and spread out below the surface of the soil. They then produce new grass plants, sometimes a foot or more away from the original grass plant that sent out the rhizome. Now mind you, when this happens within the confines of the area you designate as your lawn, this is an ideal situation. Basically, it means that your lawn is self-repairing. However, your lawn will also send out exploratory rhizomes that will find their way into places outside your lawn where you do not want grass to grow. ... http://www.flickr.com/photos/24117029@N07/2606042959/ http://www.mythings.com/tips/2420/Dealing-With-Grass-When-It-Becomes-A-Weed 2008-08-28T10:22:44 http://www.mythings.com/tips/2420/Dealing-With-Grass-When-It-Becomes-A-Weed If you are always getting Access Denied errors when trying to connect to a XP computer, and you know you have the correct user names and passwords on the computer, the solution may be a simple registry edit. 1. Start Regedit 2. Go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE / SYSTEM / CurrentControlSet / Control / Lsa 3. Change the value of a key called "restrictanonymous" to 0 instead of 1 4. Don't change "restrictanonymoussam" value. 5. Reboot http://www.flickr.com/photos/kit_hartford/178370800/ http://www.mythings.com/tips/2419/Windows-XP-Tips---Network-Connection-Always-Shows-Access-Denied 2008-08-28T10:18:25 http://www.mythings.com/tips/2419/Windows-XP-Tips---Network-Connection-Always-Shows-Access-Denied Taking Ownership Of a Folder Added 2/6/07 Sometimes when you reinstall WindowsXP, you can receive an Access Denied error when trying to open a previous user's directory. To take ownership of that folder again: 1. Log on with an account that has administrator rights 2. Right click on the folder 3. Select Properties 4. Click on the Security tab 5. Click on the Advanced button 6. Click on the Owner tab 7. In the list of Names, click on your name 8. To take ownership, click on Replace owner on subcontainers and objects.. http://www.flickr.com/photos/fran_hi/2487121525/ http://www.mythings.com/tips/2418/WindowsXP-Tips---Taking-Ownership-Of-a-Folder 2008-08-28T10:16:38 http://www.mythings.com/tips/2418/WindowsXP-Tips---Taking-Ownership-Of-a-Folder IPCONFIG Error Added 9/15/07 When you run IPCONFIG and get an error: An internal error occured: The request is not supported. Please contact Microsoft Product Support Services for further help. Additional information: Unable to query routing information You need to copy a clean TCPIP.SYS file to the \windows\system32\drivers directory and reboot. You can download TCPIP.SYS from my site http://www.flickr.com/photos/maiclo/2457527649/ http://www.mythings.com/tips/2417/WindowsXP-Tips---IPCONFIG-Error 2008-08-28T10:13:47 http://www.mythings.com/tips/2417/WindowsXP-Tips---IPCONFIG-Error # From the roof space inside If the inside of the roof is unlined, check for cracks showing daylight as this will indicate areas needing closer inspection. Shine a torch on the timbers and check for water staining. If stains are found on the timber, try to trace the source of the stain. It is useful to inspect the inner roof space after a long period of rain, as the source of a leak is easier to trace. Slate does deteriorate with age so check for hairline cracks by looking for staining on the tiles. # From ground level Outside, check the whole roof by inspecting at ground level. It is easy to spot a disjointed or slipped slate against the regular lines of slates. If there is a change to the colour of a section, it could be newly exposed and therefore unweathered. Look for a powdery or flaky surface, known as delamination, which shows deteriorating slate, which is no longer doing its job effectively... http://www.flickr.com/photos/jurek_durczak/559941540/ http://www.mythings.com/tips/2416/Checking-the-condition-of-a-slate-roof 2008-08-28T10:10:01 http://www.mythings.com/tips/2416/Checking-the-condition-of-a-slate-roof The techniques required for papering a ceiling are the same as for papering a wall. You are more likely to be dealing with longer lengths rather than more difficult sections containing pieces to cut out for windows, switches and plugs. Papering a ceiling hides an uneven plaster surface. It can be transformed into a smooth, decorative surface which is often painted for a smart, clean finish. The surface must be prepared beforehand to provide a good base. A lining paper can improve the final appearance, but it is important to fill any cracks and smooth the surface first. It is usual to work parallel to the window wall. Work away from the window to allow the maximum light to be available as you paper the lengths across the ceiling. Use a ruler to mark the ceiling along its length to get the first straight edge. .. http://www.flickr.com/photos/karenapricot/543217213/ http://www.mythings.com/tips/2415/Papering-ceilings 2008-08-28T10:05:02 http://www.mythings.com/tips/2415/Papering-ceilings Learn 5 interesting ways to enhance your lawn and garden with sugar. http://www.mythings.com/tips/2414/5-Easy-Ways-to-Use-Sugar-in-the-Garden 2008-08-27T23:56:26 http://www.mythings.com/tips/2414/5-Easy-Ways-to-Use-Sugar-in-the-Garden Learn how opposition enhances a photo with this clever suggestion from Better Photo Tips. http://www.mythings.com/tips/2413/Show-Size-in-Photos-with-Opposition 2008-08-27T23:20:25 http://www.mythings.com/tips/2413/Show-Size-in-Photos-with-Opposition Draught proofing windows and doors is another way of saving money on your energy bills. Draughts are caused by cold air forcing its way through gaps around windows or doors. By blocking the gap you will stop the draught, but be careful not to block out the draught designed to pass under the house via the air vents at ground level. These vents will allow fresh air to circulate the property and help prevent dry rot, which may develop if the timber is damp. To help find the source of a draught, light a candle and use it to find the source. By moving the candle around the edge of a frame, the flame will flicker where the draught is coming in. Use draught proofing strip around the frame of the door. Types of draught excluder available: * Self-adhesive foam strip * Self-adhesive rubber strip, tougher - will last longer than foam strips * Brush strips - particularly useful on surfaces moving against each other... http://www.flickr.com/photos/jowo/57041211/ http://www.mythings.com/tips/2412/Draught-proofing-windows-and-doors 2008-08-27T20:24:02 http://www.mythings.com/tips/2412/Draught-proofing-windows-and-doors * If your tap is connected to the mains, it is relatively simple to cut off the supply. Turn off the indoor stop valve. If it is stiff, it is advisable to use a spanner, or to apply a little oil if necessary. When this has been done, simply drain the remaining water away by turning on the taps until the flow of water has stopped. * If your hot or cold tap feeds off of pipes from the cistern, there should be either a gate valve or mini stopcock available to turn off. The stop valve can be found alongside the cold water tank. When these have been turned off, switch on the tap until the water flow has stopped. N.B. If you find that neither the gate valve or the stopcock are present, then the cistern itself will have to be drained. * To drain the cistern you must first prevent water entering the system by switching it off at the mains.. http://www.flickr.com/photos/75166820@N00/152683617/ http://www.mythings.com/tips/2411/Cutting-off-the-water-supply 2008-08-27T20:21:18 http://www.mythings.com/tips/2411/Cutting-off-the-water-supply In order to provide a protective surface, more than one coat is required. Successive layers applied build up to a good coloured surface finish. The number of coats of paint depends on the type of paint being applied and the colour and condition of the surface to be covered. The surface material to be covered is related to the choice of paint used. For example when painting wooden doors or windows use primer, undercoat and top coat. There are two main categories of paint on the market: oil based and water based paint. They come in different finishes, giving a gloss or matt finish. Gloss paint gives a shiny finish whereas matt gives a dull finish. Apart from their finish, gloss paint is known for its strength but matt paint covers the surface colour best and doesn't highlight faults in the surface as much as gloss paint. .. http://www.flickr.com/photos/wongjunhao/2232885914/ http://www.mythings.com/tips/2410/Selecting-the-correct-paint 2008-08-27T20:19:09 http://www.mythings.com/tips/2410/Selecting-the-correct-paint 1. Time to plant your Spring Flowering bulbs like tulips, daffodils,iris and more so they bloom next spring. 2. Time to plant all your fall blomming bushes and tree's, like crape myrtle and red maple tree's to. 3. Time to dig up all your annual bulbs like crocus , gladiolus and cannas just to name a few. Just store them in basket with lots of holes or in onion bags hanging up. But before you put them in there dust them with medicated powder. 4. Time to prune your tree's and bushes back for the winter make shure and get rid of all the dead and diseased brankes to. 5. It's also time to check your flower beds to see if there mulch is still ok our if a layer is needed. 6. Also it's a good time to divide some of your plants. 7. Time to clean up your vegtable garden and till under the weeds. If your planing on planting a cover crop ( which I rrcommend ) then do so now annual rye is the cover crop Ireccommend. ... http://www.flickr.com/photos/chalkie_circle2000/527881405/ http://www.mythings.com/tips/2408/List-Of-Fall-Planting-And-Clean-Up-Tips 2008-08-27T20:13:45 http://www.mythings.com/tips/2408/List-Of-Fall-Planting-And-Clean-Up-Tips To help your summer flowering bulbs survive the winter , dust them with medicated baby powder. Before storing them in old onion sacks for the winter . This helps them from getting disease and drying out to much. http://www.flickr.com/photos/agapanthus/2563432283/ To hold blossoms longer , spray cut flowers with hair spray to keep in tacked longer. To make flower in a vase prolong the life of cut flower (except tulips) add a tablespoon of charcoal in the bottom of the vase. Putting a penny in the bottom of a vase of cut tulip will keep them from popping wide open, which causes them to die faster. In the fall you can remove the faded flowers from bulbs, but the foliage must be left on to provide the bulb with food for next year's flowers. If you cut them they may take up to 2 years before they will bloom again or they may never grow again. Bulbs due best if you dig them up every 3 to 4 years and separate them . After separating them place bonemeal under the soil at th http://www.mythings.com/tips/2407/Flower-Tips 2008-08-27T20:12:13 http://www.mythings.com/tips/2407/Flower-Tips Tip #1 Easy Photo Banner Tip #2: ABC Arrows Photo Tip #3 Shortcuts and Icons Tip #4 Photo for the Web Tip #5 Screen Shot Photo Tip # 6: Selective Contrast Photo Tip #7: Curve Adjustments Photo ... http://www.flickr.com/photos/edastrauch/463851978/ http://www.mythings.com/tips/2405/60-Photoshop-Tips 2008-08-27T20:07:13 http://www.mythings.com/tips/2405/60-Photoshop-Tips Have you ever left your computer to grab a drink and returned to find it crashed and restarted? If you keep a log of the restarts you'll be better equipped to fix the problem. Here's how to keep a log. http://www.mythings.com/tips/2400/How-to-Keep-a-Log-of-Spontaneous-Shut-Downs-to 2008-08-27T19:49:58 http://www.mythings.com/tips/2400/How-to-Keep-a-Log-of-Spontaneous-Shut-Downs-to Keyboard shortcuts make life much easier, so why not create your own for the tasks you use most frequently? Here’s what you need to do. http://www.mythings.com/tips/2399/How-to-Make-Keyboard-Shortcuts-to-Your-Favorite-Programs-Windows 2008-08-27T19:47:23 http://www.mythings.com/tips/2399/How-to-Make-Keyboard-Shortcuts-to-Your-Favorite-Programs-Windows If you switch from Windows or Linux to Mac, one of the things you will notice is Mac OS X doesn’t have a utility to help uninstall applications. http://www.mythings.com/tips/2398/Completely-Uninstall-Your-Programs-with-AppCleaner-Macs 2008-08-27T19:42:18 http://www.mythings.com/tips/2398/Completely-Uninstall-Your-Programs-with-AppCleaner-Macs Spring cleaning has a nice ring to it, but that doesn’t mean you should wait to April to start clearing away money drains in your home. http://www.mythings.com/tips/2395/Cut-Energy-Costs-with-this-Refrigerator-Tip 2008-08-27T12:13:00 http://www.mythings.com/tips/2395/Cut-Energy-Costs-with-this-Refrigerator-Tip There are likely many ways to avoid discoloration, but this is one method that is fairly simple to utilize. http://www.mythings.com/tips/2391/How-to-Avoid-Dishwasher-Discoloration 2008-08-27T12:05:04 http://www.mythings.com/tips/2391/How-to-Avoid-Dishwasher-Discoloration Some people think it might be wise to vent their dryers in their homes during the cold months. This way, they save a little on their energy bull using the exhaust from the clothes dryer to keep them toasty. Here’s why that’s a big no-no. http://www.mythings.com/tips/2390/Why-You-Shouldnt-Vent-Your-Dryer-inside-Your-Home 2008-08-27T12:03:19 http://www.mythings.com/tips/2390/Why-You-Shouldnt-Vent-Your-Dryer-inside-Your-Home A lot of people toss their coffee into the freezer thinking this will keep it freshest. According to Abby's Guide that’s a mistake. http://www.mythings.com/tips/2388/The-Best-Place-to-Store-Your-Coffee-Beans 2008-08-27T11:58:58 http://www.mythings.com/tips/2388/The-Best-Place-to-Store-Your-Coffee-Beans Life’s too short to spend a day out of every month cursing the mobile phone Gods for your insane bill. That’s 12 days a year—936 days in total based on the average life expectancy, assuming you’ve been chatting straight from the womb—wanting to throw your mobile through someone’s windshield. http://www.mythings.com/tips/2386/Keep-Your-Mobile-Phone-Costs-Down 2008-08-27T11:51:56 http://www.mythings.com/tips/2386/Keep-Your-Mobile-Phone-Costs-Down Trying to nurture your little one’s green thumb? It’s a of carrot cake with these tips. http://www.mythings.com/tips/2384/Tips-for-Gardening-with-Children 2008-08-27T11:42:28 http://www.mythings.com/tips/2384/Tips-for-Gardening-with-Children This video will help you figure out why your washer isn't spinning. Watch on! http://www.mythings.com/tips/2379/How-to-Check-Your-Washer-if-it-Isnt-Spinning 2008-08-26T22:50:07 http://www.mythings.com/tips/2379/How-to-Check-Your-Washer-if-it-Isnt-Spinning If you find your sugar bag full of clumps don’t just spoon around them—fix it! http://www.mythings.com/tips/2378/De-Clump-Sugar-with-a-Slice-of-Bread 2008-08-26T22:29:55 http://www.mythings.com/tips/2378/De-Clump-Sugar-with-a-Slice-of-Bread If you have some fabric, rice, and thread you can make yourself some nifty microwavable mitten warmers to use when it’s cold outside. (Which admittedly, isn’t now.) The tutorial even shows you a few ways to make these without having to sew at all. http://www.mythings.com/tips/2377/Microwavable-Mitten-Warmers 2008-08-26T21:58:32 http://www.mythings.com/tips/2377/Microwavable-Mitten-Warmers Many cameras have a safety feature that prevents the flash capacitor from charging if the case is opened. This is to lessen the chance of electric shock. http://www.mythings.com/tips/2376/If-You-Press-the-Shutter-Button-but-the-Camera-Wont 2008-08-26T21:23:53 http://www.mythings.com/tips/2376/If-You-Press-the-Shutter-Button-but-the-Camera-Wont Google has quietly added another new feature to its basic search box—single-word translations between English and nine different languages, including French, Italian, and Spanish. http://www.mythings.com/tips/2374/Translate-Single-Words-with-Googles-Search-Box 2008-08-26T20:43:05 http://www.mythings.com/tips/2374/Translate-Single-Words-with-Googles-Search-Box We’ve been a little partial to Windows users when it comes to computer tips, and we now see the error or our ways. Mac people—we love you, too. Let’s say we start over, OK? Here’s a tip to show how much we care. http://www.mythings.com/tips/2372/Launch-System-Preferences-with-a-Keyboard-Shortcut-Macs 2008-08-26T10:41:19 http://www.mythings.com/tips/2372/Launch-System-Preferences-with-a-Keyboard-Shortcut-Macs A few months back Ecamm Network launched PhoneView, an application iPhone users received enthusiastically... http://www.mythings.com/tips/2371/Add-and-Edit-Notes-on-the-iPhone-without-Rebooting-after 2008-08-26T10:36:22 http://www.mythings.com/tips/2371/Add-and-Edit-Notes-on-the-iPhone-without-Rebooting-after Are you one of those resourceful people who work with what they’ve got instead of whining about what they don’t have? This tip just skims the surface of your MacGyver-like capabilities, but it just may help you in a dog-walking emergency. http://www.mythings.com/tips/2366/Turning-a-Slip-Collar-into-a-Non-slip-Collar 2008-08-26T10:10:21 http://www.mythings.com/tips/2366/Turning-a-Slip-Collar-into-a-Non-slip-Collar 1. Soak the bottom sponge in water. Wring it out so that it is still heavy and wet with water but not dripping and place it on the bottom of your box. 2. Affix the top sponge to the center of your box's top lid with two push pins as shown in picture #2. 3. Soak the top sponge in water and wring it out so that it is still heavy and wet with water but not dripping. 4. Now trim your screen so that it will fit between the upper and lower sponge. See picture #3. 5. Place your two spacers on top of the bottom sponge and rest your screen on top of it. See picture #4 6. When finished and set up, it looks something like this. See picture #5. In a while, depending on the sponge water, the size of the box, ambient temperature, humidity and sunlight on the box, water droplets will form on the sides of the box. 7. I cut a wine cork into ½" thicknesses and used them to cover the sharp ends of the push pins holding the top sponge in place on the cover. .. http://www.flickr.com/photos/three_fre http://www.mythings.com/tips/2363/Build-Your-Own-Stamp-Sweat-Box 2008-08-24T21:01:07 http://www.mythings.com/tips/2363/Build-Your-Own-Stamp-Sweat-Box TIP 1: SOAKING STAMPS Set aside any stamps on colored paper, or on paper with a colored backing. Pick out any stamps with colored cancellations, especially with red or purple ink. SOAKING THE STAMPS: Use a shallow bowl and fill it with several inches of cool-to-lukewarm water. (Never use hot water.) Float the stamps with the picture side up. Make sure the stamps have room to float and do not stick to one another. Don't soak too many at one time. Let the stamps float until the glue dissolves and the stamps slide easily off the paper. Paper is very weak when it is wet and it's easy to tear a wet stamp if you handle it roughly. Be patient, and let the water do its work! Rinse the back of the stamp gently in fresh water to make sure all the glue is off. Change the water in the soaking bowl often to make sure it is clean. Place the stamps to dry on paper towels or old newspapers. (Don't use the Sunday comics! http://www.flickr.com/photos/itchys/16644174/ http://www.mythings.com/tips/2362/Soaking-Stamps-Choosing-an-Album-and-Using-Tongs 2008-08-24T20:56:46 http://www.mythings.com/tips/2362/Soaking-Stamps-Choosing-an-Album-and-Using-Tongs A collector can use the magnifier to examine a stamp before he purchases it to make sure the stamp is sound. Most collectors begin by looking over the outer edges of the stamp. The points extending from the edge of a perforated stamp are known as perforation teeth. They are one of the most vulnerable elements of a stamp. Collectors should avoid stamps that have bent or missing teeth. Stamp edges should also be examined for minute tears or cuts into the stamp paper. There are many different kinds of magnifiers, ranging in price from a couple of dollars for small hand-held lenses to precision illuminated models that sell for a couple hundred dollars. A glass with four- or eight-power magnification (symbolized as 4x or 8x) will help the beginner collector get a good close-up view of stamp details. With higher power magnification the details will appear even larger... http://www.flickr.com/photos/digitaltribes/2318487593/ http://www.mythings.com/tips/2361/Even-stamp-collectors-need-the-right-tools 2008-08-24T20:52:02 http://www.mythings.com/tips/2361/Even-stamp-collectors-need-the-right-tools Before you decide to get rid of the collection your well-meaning relative left you, think about using it to start a new hobby. If after giving it some serious thought, you've decided you want to disperse of the collection, here are some tips for determining what the collection is worth and finding a new owner. The 1996 book I Inherited, A Stamp Collection, Now What? might help you, but it is out of print, and parts of the book are obsolete. Another book Top Dollar Paid! is a good one and is available from stamp supply dealers who also sell books, including from Amos Advantage www.amosadvantage.com You can determine the retail value of your stamps by using the Scott Standard Postage Stamp Catalogues, available at most public libraries or for purchase at AmosAdvantage.com... http://www.flickr.com/photos/jurvetson/81751460/ http://www.mythings.com/tips/2360/Inherited-Stamp-Collection 2008-08-24T20:44:19 http://www.mythings.com/tips/2360/Inherited-Stamp-Collection That's actually just one of 6 smart tips from ZDNet. Here's the full list... http://www.mythings.com/tips/2357/Secure-Your-Wireless-Network-by-Setting-a-High-Connection-Speed 2008-08-24T20:29:42 http://www.mythings.com/tips/2357/Secure-Your-Wireless-Network-by-Setting-a-High-Connection-Speed If you're thinking of organic gardening, you must check out this one-stop resource for everything you need to know! http://www.mythings.com/tips/2356/300-Organic-Gardening-Tips 2008-08-24T20:21:21 http://www.mythings.com/tips/2356/300-Organic-Gardening-Tips Sometimes it can be difficult to scan thin paper because the light goes right through it. And irregular-sized photos present a problem, too. If you don’t get the dimension settings correctly configured you end up scanning part of the glass, resulting in off-white colors that are hard to remove. http://www.mythings.com/tips/2354/Increase-Scanner-Results-with-Black-Paper 2008-08-24T11:17:58 http://www.mythings.com/tips/2354/Increase-Scanner-Results-with-Black-Paper This likely isn’t a revelation to you, but broken glass can be dangerous. Grab some thick protective gloves and safety goggles, and read this advice from DIY Fix It. http://www.mythings.com/tips/2352/Removing-the-Glass-from-a-Broken-Window-Pane 2008-08-24T11:09:06 http://www.mythings.com/tips/2352/Removing-the-Glass-from-a-Broken-Window-Pane You don't need a food dehydrator to dry out your herbs—just toss them in the microwave! http://www.mythings.com/tips/2349/Dry-Herbs-in-Your-Microwave-to-Use-Later 2008-08-24T10:32:31 http://www.mythings.com/tips/2349/Dry-Herbs-in-Your-Microwave-to-Use-Later Renowned nature photographer Richard Ettlinger provides 6 tips on capturing the majestic beauty of birds in flight. http://www.mythings.com/tips/2345/6-Tips-for-Photographing-Birds-in-Flight 2008-08-24T10:16:00 http://www.mythings.com/tips/2345/6-Tips-for-Photographing-Birds-in-Flight Online Computer Tips put together a handy list of tricks for Office; of course, they may vary depending on your version. We’ve highlighted a sampling below... http://www.mythings.com/tips/2344/Microsoft-Office-Shortcuts-and-Tips 2008-08-23T21:59:23 http://www.mythings.com/tips/2344/Microsoft-Office-Shortcuts-and-Tips