When a situation arises when you have to create or come up with homemade gifts, you may have the desire to construct your own packaging that will complement and match the character of your present.  This task has been made even simpler with the availability of a wide range of ornamental papers and stock. It is very much possible for you to construct small, cute and less expensive boxes in a very short period of time and they can make as much as an impression as the gift which it is used to package. Small boxes are suitable for smaller gifts such as ornaments, chocolate, sweets and small toys.

When it comes to receiving presents, many people in as much as they may try not to, tend to judge a book or lets us say the present by literally looking at its cover. It may sound ridiculous but there is a thread of truth in the fact that the package that the gift is wrapped in tells us something about what is in the package. Therefore, you can easily make a present look more expensive and sophisticated by just investing some extra time and effort into the packaging of it.

If you have the intention of organising a birthday party and want to give all those people who were invited to the party a thank you present, then small boxes might be just what the doctor prescribed. This is because they are extremely nice as gift boxes for small presents. Besides, they require little effort to make since all you have to do is print them, cut out the appropriate shape and then paste them with the aid of glue.

Small boxes can also be packed with baby items to be given out at the subsequent baby shower that you may attend.  It is very true that presents for a baby are very highly valued by many parents especially the first time parents because new born babies usually require lots of things.  Most of the smaller items required by the baby are usually cheap, and it may be your desire to buy a few of these items to accompany your presents for the baby.  Small boxes filled with the necessary items for the baby are often a sight to behold. Some of the items that most of the new parents require for their babies that can fit in small boxes include thermometers, socks and baby nail clippers.

Hasting a party can be a bit of a hassle and can cause a lot of stress! So here are a few really great tips for making your party look extra special without any extra special effort!

Think outside the box and use some unusual items as molds! You can buy shaped molds on eBay or from good cookware shops, or you could find thing around your home! Why not clean out some lego bricks, and use flavoured jelly mix to create these cute little jellies! Great for kids parties, and even for adults! You could use them to decorate a cake or as a fun addition to ice cream.

If you want a sweet idea for a casual wedding, why not try making some paper cut-outs for the straws? You could make various mustaches, and when you're guests drink from the straws, you'll create some great photo-ops! But don't limit yourself to just this, simple shapes like hearts and flowers work well too.

Whether you're having cocktails or just serving milk at a kids party, adding decoration to the lip of a glass looks sophisticated yet fun! You can do this simple trick by swirling the rim of the glass in something sticky (try nutella or honey) and then dab the glass in a dish of sprinkles!

This cake has the wow factor, and yet it's so simple to make! Ice a simple cake with some frasting, then stick the empty ice cream cones to the outside. You can then carefully pipe frosting to look like ice cream into the cones and finish the effect with a bright red glace cherry on top!

As in any kind or any form of education, finding the right Liverpool driving school for you is of utmost importance. Indeed, no matter how gifted or how intelligent you, the learner, might be, if the school does not offer the quality of education that it is expected to give, then the entire learning process would not be that effective.

Of course, in order to find the best, one must first look at these schools through the internet. However, there are some people who are saying that these might not at all be the best means to look for the best school for drivers. This is because the internet is actually filled with all kinds of things and advertisements for the best schools for drivers, and also the worst. In other words, while it is true that the internet will give you access to some of the best schools for those who want to learn how to drive, you can also end up at a sham.

Basically, experts recommend that you ask your family and friends regarding the best schools for drivers. Indeed, according to some professionals, this is actually the best way to start your search for the best schools. This is because by asking your friends and some other people, you can effectively narrow down your choices. Of course, once you have identified schools for drivers in your locality, you can further narrow it down by actually going to the internet. This is also a wise move because now you have a clear sight. In other words you already have some background information regarding these schools for drivers – you are no longer searching with blind eyes.

So, what are the things that you need to watch out for in your desire to find the best possible school there is? Well, once you visit their sites, you can actually ignore the ads which you will be able to see at the very first page. More importantly, you need to search for forum pages – this is very important. Companies or websites that do not have these forum pages are bad websites primarily because good companies allow their websites to be a place where customers can relay their feedback, whether bad or good.

Therefore, the best driving school should be able to have a good balance of good comments and bad comments. Of course, those with nothing but good will understandably be a fake and are most probably paid comments.

Choosing a band for your party is like adding icing to a cake. The music and entertainment during a celebration will dramatically impact the vibe of the party and may be the determining factor of how long your guests will stay before giving their excuses and leaving.

Planning a party can be a mammoth of a task. There are so many things to consider, and the damage forgetting one small thing can completely ruin the party. If you can, allow yourself a good few weeks in order to plan and prepare as this way the terrifying mind set of  “ its only in X days” wont kick it just yet. A couple of weeks will allow you spare time to do your research and find the best value for your money.

Theme and genre? Where to start…well having a theme for a big celebration can really set the mood and atmosphere but you have to get it right. If it’s your 60th birthday and you’re known for being a bit exocentric, why not do “guys and dolls” fancy dress, lets be honest, your only 60 once! However, be warned, If you are planning a more official day, for instance your wedding day, you might want to leave the crazy ideas for your honeymoon.

The entertainment is also a major issue within party planning. You must achieve a fine balance between what you would like and what your guests would enjoy. Some entertainment will not be suitable for minors so remember exactly who is on your guest list. One popular choice with most parties is of course the music. It is now easy and cheap to hire a decent party band to put the cherry on the cake to your special day.

Another big factor to consider is the venue. It really can make or break a party. If the establishment is not sufficient and doesn’t cater for all the needs of your guests, you might find the party ending before the clock hits midnight. Spending a good amount of your budget on the venue is normal and a good investment so never cut corners.

Finally, the entertainment is also a major issue within party planning. You must achieve a fine balance between what you would like and what your guests would enjoy. Some entertainment will not be suitable for minors so remember exactly who is on your guest list. One popular choice with most parties is of course the music. It is now easy and cheap to hire a decent party bandto put the cherry on the cake to your special day.

Article by Hazel Miller

If your heading off to University this September there are some things you need to consider. One of the major dilemmas all students have is keeping organised. One way of overcoming this is by investing in some notice boards.

University is a big leap from college or sixth form, you will be hit hard with information for clubs, societies, night outs, university work, university email accounts and the list goes on. Often this can become so overwhelming for freshers and it can cause students to panic but it can be easily resolved.

If you have applied to live in student accommodation, blue boards are normally provided both in your own room and in a shared communal room. You are given some pins in order to pin up any important information. It allows a visual mind map of all the info that you have to remember which can clear your mind and make things seem a little easier.

Sometimes, student accommodation provides students with a calendar and a planner, which has a section were you can write in all your lectures times and room numbers. Again, this becomes extremely useful especially for those of us who are a bit forgetful.

If you are not living in student accommodation during your first year at university, it is strongly advised to invest in some notice boards, white boards and marker pens and some blue/white tack. Where ever you are living, more than likely you will be allowed to use at least white tack in order to stick up vital documents or notes to keep you organised.

Being organised is essential especially when it comes to writing assignments or essays. There are so many things to remember, from the question and word limit to the deadline. I found that during my first year, it was imperative to have coloured folders, ring binders and a sticky pad to keep up to date and on track with all my tasks and deadlines. It is normal to feel under pressure at university and possibly that things are getting too much for you, but you must always remember that thousands of students are in the same position, feeling the same things and you can get through it. Students: invest in a notice-board today!

Article by Hazel Miller

Here at Home and Leisure Info Blog, we've already shown you some great cupcake recipes, but now we want to show you a few more, because life is too short for just a few cupcakes.

Lightly mix food colouring into icing or batter for a marbled effect. Top off with plenty of sprinkles!

You can make a really good no-raw-egg cookie dough frosting by adding condensed milk, chocolate chips and brown sugar to your usual frosting mix.

Non-toxic glitter decorations are a great way to add an extra dimension to your cupcake decorations. You can get them in a whole rainbow of colours.

Dessicated coconut is a great way of adding texture to your cupcakes, use it toasted for a straw effect, or dye it green with food colouring to create grass!

You can find some unusual cupcake cases online, from teacups to starbucks cups, to shape your cupcakes into something else!

There are various reasons why cats love bubble wrap. It is ingrained in their DNA that cats do really love to play. This is a trait that runs through their blood as it gives them a chance to do a little exercise.

It is always a great occasion for cats whenever they see goods packaged using bubble wrap being delivered to homes and it is not unusual for the cat to rummage through the packing materials so as to find something to play with. You should always understand that some cats usually view the packing materials which in most cases are bubble wrap as a toy which on the part of the cat is a good thing.

The air-filled plastic bubbles are in way much better than other toys but the utmost care should be given as they can actually burst in the cat’s mouth and send pieces down their throats. This may actually suffocate the cats.

Most people will be quick to admit that apart from the obvious fact of catching mice, there is not a single moment that a day passes by without a cat doing something practically funny, intelligent or just plain stupid. The first reason why cats just love bubble wrap is because they love lying down. Cats have a tendency of lying down on any material that makes them feel comfortable. This comfort is readily provided by bubble wrap.

The second reason as to why cats love bubble wrap is their aforementioned playfulness. This playfulness exhibited by cats is extended to playing with bubble wrap. Cats are always fascinated by the popping sounds produced by the bubble wrap and this in turn encourages them to play some more with it.

It is common knowledge that cats are curious creatures. This curiosity makes them to explore anything that comes their way and this can easily be a piece of bubble wrap.

Another reason as to why cats love bubble wrap is that they love to tear at anything. It is not an uncommon sight to find cats tearing at papers, clothes or any other piece of packing material. This is your cat trying to get in touch with the wild feline side displayed by their cousins in the jungle.

Lastly cats love this wrap as they are creatures that are easily bored and this wrap offers them an avenue to relieve their boredom. Cats will never cease to be fascinated by bubble wrap as it makes great fun for them.