A Pencil Holder is a Functional Promotional Product

What makes a pencil holder such a wonderful promotional item? Lots of factors, but lets us define at least some of them, and may be you will consider the possibilities of it as an advertising tool in the course of your promotional campaign.

It is a frequently used thing, as it is made for keeping various writing devices. Pens and pencils are used all the time in your everyday life, therefore a holder is on demand as well.
It is always placed within a reach, which makes it visible and easily available.
A holder for pencils keeps one's writing table clean, and all the stationary items well organised and accessible.
A pencil holder contributes into professional, neat and attractive look of the office, as all those numerous pens, pencils, staplers, erasers, sharpeners, mechanical pencils and markers do not lay around in a mess, do not roll under the table or get hidden in some lest appropriate place.
Nice elegant holders with your logo on it, placed on every table in your office is a viable advertisement, which targets every visitor of your company.
Given to each employee of yours, it improves the impersonal relationships within organisation, increase the loyalty of the staff towards the company and enhance their corporate spirit.
The whole variety of pencil holders is available on the market. You can choose a pencil holder according to the age category, professional field or personal preferences of the people from your target group. It can be made of plastic, first of all, and of wood, metal, glass, vinyl and lots of other materials. You can even opt for the items made of recycled material: this way you advertising strategy will be helpful to the planet.
It's a versatile promotional item, as it will do well for giveaways during trade shows, exhibitions and presentations. Also, it is a nice thing to hand out on the street to the random passers-by, everybody will be glad to get such surprise all of a sudden. And it will be perfect for gifting as well.
A pencil holder is a great novelty, it is represented in a wide range of original shapes and colours. It automatically makes this thing suitable for schoolchildren. What would you say about a holder in a shape of cheerful lady bird? Or may be an elephant or a dragon? All the kids would be excited and grateful to get this present for the back to school day, or may be for Christmas.
A wooden pencil storage looks respectable and sophisticated, it will be a nice alternative to plastic if you want to make a nice present to your partners, regular customers or potential clients.
A pencil holder provides a nice space for all your promotional needs: you can put your logo on it, as well as contact details, website, email address, advertising message and motto of the company.

All these advantages make this thing a valuable promotional tool which should not be underestimated: it was used by the most famous companies on the way to their success.

For more information and suppliers of Pencil Holder visit Promotional-Merchandise.org.uk. Here you will find more articles and tips on Promotional Items as well as a Quick Quotes form where you can conveniently submit your request in one form and get responses from multiple suppliers so that you can find the best price and product for your marketing needs.

How to Install an Iron Wall Candle Holder

Iron wall candle holders have been around for thousands of years. They date back to medieval times where these wall candle holders were used for lighting the hallways of castles. Today these charming pieces of decorative art are used to add a feeling of warmth and tranquility to the room whose walls adorn them.

In order to install these types of candles, you must first know the circumstances of the room in which these will hang. Since this form of indoor wall lighting will use candles for lighting, you must examine the room to make sure that these wall candles will not be placed on the walls near anything that could possibly catch fire while the candles are burning, such as surrounding art, curtains, coat racks and anything else that could catch fire.

Keep in mind that candles melt and melted wax can get on your walls and floors. To avoid this you may want to have some sort of glass cover around your candle. Glass covers are available in clear frosted or colors of your choice.

Another good idea is to determine how high on the walls you wish to place these holders. If children are a part of your household, you may want to place these holders above the reach of children.

After you know whether you want or don't want a glass covering your candle and exactly how high you want your holders on your walls, the next thing is to measure each wall for placement. Depending on how many you wish to place on each wall, with a tape measure, measure how high on the wall you want to place them. I suggest that you measure from the floor up the wall and mark the wall at the proper height using a pencil. Go about 12 inches over from your first wall mark and repeat this procedure. Now you have 2 pencil marks on the wall at the same height about 12 inches apart.

Next, measure the width of the wall at the same height you placed the 2 previous height pencil marks and write the width measurement on a piece of paper. Depending on how many of these holders you wish to hang, divide the width of the wall by the number of wall candles you wish to hang. Once you know how far apart each holder will be, then using a tape measure, mark the wall with a pencil dot on each place the holder will hang.

If you are placing iron wall candle holders along the sides of wall art or a wall mirror, then what you need to do is measure how far from the left and right side of the artwork you wish to place each holder. With your measuring tape go to the left and right side of the wall art (or wall mirror) and measure from the edge of the art outward on both sides. Make sure your outward measurements on both sides are identical. Repeat this step over again on both sides, only this time go about 8 inches either above or below your first marks on both sides of your wall art (or wall mirror).

Now using the 2 pencil dots you have on both sides of your wall art, line your tape measure from the floor up the wall using the 2 pencil dots as a guide for a straight line and mark a pencil dot on the wall exactly how high you wish to hang your candle holder. Repeat this procedure on the other side of the wall art and you will have identical spacing for your holders on both sides of the wall art (or wall mirror).

Iron wall candle holders are not light in weight. In order to hang these holders securely you must use what is known as a wall anchor. Remember, never try to hang an iron wall candle holder with a screw directly into drywall or plastered walls. It just won't hold the weight.

Wall anchors are small devices that are placed into the wall at the exact same place a screw would go to hold up these types of wall candles. By using a wall anchor you will be able to hold heavy objects such as heavy metal sconces securely to the wall without having to worry about the fixture becoming loose from the wall and eventually falling off the wall.

Wall anchors come in different styles and sizes to accommodate different size screws that will screw into it after the anchor has been placed into the wall. My favorite wall anchor for hanging wall mounted candle holders looks like a short stubby plastic screw with a screw hole in the center.

This anchor is easy to install. All you have to do is drill a small hole (about half the diameter of the anchor) where you want to place the screw to hold your candle on the wall. After you have drilled the small hole, all you have to do is screw in the anchor into the small hole you just drilled until it is flush to the wall. Repeat this procedure for all the screws needed to mount your iron wall candle holder. When you have inserted all the anchors needed to mount your wall sconce to the wall, then you simply hold the wall sconce in position over the anchors and proceed to screw your holder up to the wall. It is as simple as that and rest assured that your candle sconce is on the wall securely.

Iron wall candle holders are works of art that come in many different shapes and sizes. They add comfort to the overall feeling of any room in which they are placed on the wall. With a small amount of effort you can add these to several rooms of your home and enjoy a simple but pleasing touch of art passed on down through the centuries.

Joe Tobiasz is an expert in interior/exterior decorating. Along with his wife Barbara, they own and operate Wall-Decor-Concepts.com. For more information on Iron Wall Candle Holders, go to Wall Candle Holder at: http://www.Wall-Decor-Concepts.com

Playful Playrooms

A playroom can be one of the most fun rooms in the house to decorate. Where else can whimsy rule besides in the one room that is set aside for nothing but fun? Bright colors and varied textures will help make the room pop, and make it interesting to even the youngest child.

Because this is a room where small children will spend a lot of time, it's important to keep safety in mind as well. Even if the rest of your home has hardwood floors, this is one room where a thick, soft carpet is a must. Upgrade to the best pad that your budget will allow. That way, if your little one takes a spill while playing, she'll have something soft to break the fall.

Because the room will be full of toys and stuffed animals, you will be able to keep decorative items to a minimum. All this room needs is a nice carpet, furniture and wall treatments.

It was mentioned earlier that a thick soft carpet is a must in a playroom. Furniture should also be child friendly, and should not have any sharp corners on which a child could hit his head. Keeping furniture to a minimum will maximize the amount of play space available. While some families have play rooms that do double duty as an office or TV room, others have dedicated play rooms.

If your room is set aside just for play, then consider adding only one comfortable sofa and no other furniture. This will give you a place to sit and watch the kids play without cluttering up the room. It may seem inconvenient not to have a coffee table on which to set a drink. If so, purchase folding trays and set one up only when needed. Having so little furniture will not only allow the room to have an open, airy feel, but it will also make the room safer for the children and easier to clean (less dusting!) for you.

You are limited only by your own creativity when it comes to wall treatments for a playroom. Some parents have painted the walls with brightly colored circles, other have hired a muralist to paint a scene fit for a princess or a future baseball star. Another fun idea is to do something completely different on each of the walls.

For example, cover one wall with chalkboard paint and give your little artist plenty of room to draw. Cover another wall in mirrors of varying sizes and with different frames. This will add light to the room, and help the room to look larger while the various frames will enhance the playful look of the room.

Finally, add a great big clock - perhaps in the center of the mirror wall - and be sure it is does not have a digital display. This will help your child get used to telling time "the old fashioned way", and may be one of the few places that she sees a non-digital clock throughout the day.

Have fun decorating the playroom in your home. After all, isn't fun the whole point?

For unique, different and quality wall and home decor products like metal wall hangings or metal wall décor shop at Wall Décor and Home Accents.

Enjoy this article? To read more home decor articles see this important one about using metal wall decorations instead of paintings.

How to Burn Pillar Candles And Fat Round Candles

Remove all packaging material before burning pillar or grubby candles.
Only burn in a holder designed for the candles.
Never place any candle directly on furniture.
Burn your freestanding candles 1 hour for each inch in diameter and keep the wick centered. This allows the flame time to melt the wax to the outer edge.
Not allowing your candle to burn until the wax melts to its outer edge will cause the candle to core down the middle & shorten burn time.
Do not trim the wick too short or it will not generate enough heat to melt the wax sufficiently.
Keep your candle wax free of matches, wick trimmings & flammable materials
To extinguish a candle with little or no smoking: use a candle snuffer.
Dip the wick into the melt pool and then retrieve it. Wick will be primed and ready for next lighting. The wax on the wick will light quicker than a dry wick.
Do not burn in drafty areas.
Your candles will have a more even burn if you give them a little (about ¼ turn) about every hour or so.
Crooked burning does happen if the wick becomes off center. To rectify the crooked burning, you can use a butter knife to gently push it back to center. If there is a draft from a fan or an open window, rotating the candle can help the candle to burn more evenly.
Remove candle wax from the candle holders by running very hot water over them.
The second way to remove wax from a candle holder is place the candle holder inside the freezer for about 10-15 minutes, take it out and hit the bottom of the holder with the flat of your hand. Usually the old wick and what left over candle wax pops out. I have had to use a butter knife to push down on the edge of the left over wax to help it come out.
To remove wax from washable fabrics, scrape off excess wax and run boiling water through the material.
To remove wax from carpeting, use a paper bag from the grocery store, get your iron very hot, iron the top of the grocery bag and most of the wax will come out.
If your candle is lit and in another room, it might be a good idea to check on it every hour.
A small amount of wax left at the bottom of containers/votives, and sometimes an outer shell of wax left on pillars is normal. The remaining wax at the bottom of a candle is a result of wick tabs with long necks that are specifically manufactured to keep a fire from starting if a candle is burned too low.

Tobey Anne Craft, of Tobey's Enterprises LLC, is the creator and owner of Tobey's candles. To find more information about candle tips visit http://tobeyscandles.com and you also will find Scented Candles, Unscented Candles, Aromatherapy Gift Sets and much more.

The History of Candles

A brief history lesson of candles based on The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition:

"candle cylinder of wax or tallow containing a wick, used for illumination or for ceremonial purposes.

The evidence of ancient writings is not conclusive as to the history of the candle; translated-"candle" may have meant "torch" or "lamp," and the "candlestick" was probably a stand for one of these candles. The candle probably evolved from wood, rushes, or cords dipped in fat or pitch. Candles as well as lamps were used in Roman times; by the Middle Ages candles (tallow for the poor and wax for the wealthier) were quite common in Europe. Tallow, beeswax, and vegetable wax such as bayberry in the American colonies, candleberry in the East, and waxberry in South America were supplemented by spermaceti in the late 18th cent., by stearine c.1825, and by paraffin c.1850. Twisted strands for wicks were replaced (c.1825) by the plaited wick. Candles were commonly made by repeated dipping in melted tallow, by pouring tallow or wax into molds, or by pouring beeswax over the wicks. Most modern candles are machine-made by a molding process. In literature, art, and religion the candle has had a wide range of symbolism; it commonly represents joy, reverence for the divine, and sacrifice (since the candle spends itself)."

As we all Know the candle has been in our lives for centuries and continues be a big part of our lives today in modern times. Birthday Candle ring a bell? How about setting a mood for that certain someone coming over, or just plain setting a mood to relax in and escape the hectic world outside? Also another use of a candle is for weddings and wedding decoration, let's not forget the Unity Candle in some cases.

No matter what the case it is evident that candles are here to stay, and there are so many varieties today to choose from. So many candles can be found online. Do a search on Google and you will see for yourself. I would like to point out the fact with using candles, there is a certain amount of safety you must pay attention to. Make sure you are placing a candle on a smooth, stable surface away form anything flammable. Another good idea is to use a safe holder to place the candle on or inside of. You can also find many varieties of candle holders, candelabras, chandeliers, and lanterns online also.

Candles and holders make great decorations and gift ideas also.

Jim Couch

[http://www.candleparade.com]

http://www.candleparade.wordpress.com

Holiday Candles - Questions and Answers - Part 2

We will address more of the Holiday Candles - Questions and Answers - on how to safely remove candle wax from our carpeting, chemical reactions while burning our candles, types of wicks and other general questions.

How do I remove wax from carpeting or fabric?

When the candle wax has hardened, gently remove the larger pieces of candle wax. After you have removed the larger pieces of wax, get a clean paper towel and place it over the wax spill. Warm the paper towel by using an iron on the lowest setting or a blow dryer on its lowest heat setting. The wax under the towel will begin to melt and soak up into the towel. Blot the wax and repeat as necessary until the wax is removed.

Another way is to use brown paper bags from the grocery store. Open up the bag, lay it across the wax, turn the iron setting to high, iron across the brown paper bag and the brown paper bag will absorb the wax. This tip is for a large area of wax on your carpeting. You will need many brown paper bags opened in order to help absorb the candle wax from a large candle wax spill.

It is highly recommend that you consult your fabric or carpet manufacturer's instructions before trying either of these methods. Should the wax still be present after using either one or both of these methods, please consult your home owners insurance to see if your carpet can be replaced.

Personally, I consulted my carpeting manufacturer's instructions, called a carpeting house, checked our home owners' insurance policy and used the internet to see what other options I had when my huge 3 wick Holiday Candle blew out its side and red wax melted onto a large area of my carpeting. After removing 95% of the wax, the wax residue and the red coloring made a huge mess on 5 feet of my carpeting. Our home owners insurance did pay to replace my carpeting.

How do I remove wax from wood surfaces? You can place a bag of ice over the hot candle wax so the candle wax can harden, then use a dull object to help remove the larger pieces of wax. Be sure to use a dull object on your wood furniture when removing the larger chips of wax so you won't ruin your wood finish. Should any wax spots be left on your furniture, place several sheets of paper towel over the wax spill, set your iron to a warm setting and iron over the paper toweling and try not to iron your wood furniture.

After you have done all of the above suggestions and there still is a residue of wax left, take mayonnaise, smear it over the surface with the wax residue and just wipe away the wax from the surface. This will also clean your wood surface.

How do I get all of the wax out of my candle holder? Allow your candle holder to cool, place it in the freezer for approximately 10-15 minutes to allow the wax to harden, take it out of the freezer and hit it against the palm of your hand. The wax should pop out into your hand. If this does not work, use hot water to dissolve the wax. Be sure to dry your holder before using it for another candle.

You can also remove the wax from your container by using a hair dryer. When all the wax is melted, wipe away the melted wax with a clean cloth. Be careful. The container can get very hot when you hold the blow dryer close to your container for a a few minutes, especially if it is metal.

Do candles contain lead? There is no lead in the candle wax and no member of the National Candle Association (NCA), which accounts for 90% of all candles made in the USA, uses lead wicks. NCA members voluntarily agreed more than 25 years ago not to use lead wicks. Although some candles, primarily imports, reportedly contain lead wicks, the majority of wicks manufactured in the USA are made of 100% cotton or cotton-paper combinations. Some USA made candles do contain metal wicks. These are typically zinc or tin wicks which are known to be safe and non-toxic.

What sort of chemical reaction is created by burning a candle? When your candle burns, the flame consumes the wax to produce water vapor and carbon dioxide, the same harmless byproducts humans produce when exhaling. This is true for all types of candle waxes.
Are certain candle waxes better than others? No. All types of quality candle waxes perform well, burn cleanly and safely when formulated and used properly. Candle manufacturers select waxes or blends of waxes based on their characteristics and their suitability for specific types of candles.

Tobey Anne Craft, of Tobey's Enterprises LLC, is the creator and owner of Tobey's candles. To find more information about candle tips visit http://tobeyscandles.com and you also will find Scented Candles, Unscented Candles, Aromatherapy Gift Sets and much more.

Tips For a Beautiful Patio

Your patio can either be a wasted space or an important portion of your living space. More and more, people are looking at patio space as extra square footage rather than just a place to put the grill and leave muddy shoes.

Patios are great for entertaining, and offer choices that aren't available indoors. Here are some ideas for using your patio, and turning it from blah to a place that you and your family will love spending time together.

Fire pit or Fireplace

Outdoor fireplaces are growing in popularity, and are becoming much more common in backyards across America. A fireplace adds elegance and ambience to your outdoor parties or dinners. While beautiful, some people prefer a fire pit over a fireplace. The reason is that the fire pit allows several people to sit around the fire, roasting marshmallows or just shooting the breeze.

Whether you choose a fireplace or a fire pit, a fire feature will help make your patio space very special. If you can't decide between the two, just get them both!

Outdoor Kitchen Area

In addition to your grill, consider adding an outdoor refrigerator and sink. This will help all your outdoor dinners and parties run like clockwork, and you won't have to be inside - away from your guests - while you prepare the food. Once a luxury, the cost of outdoor appliances has dropped and more and more families are able to have their own outdoor kitchen.

Seating

To really be able to use your patio to its fullest, you should have seating both around a dining table and other seating areas where people can visit or just enjoy your backyard. Even if your patio is on the small side, there may still be a way to fit extra seating. Consider seating that goes around the edges of your patio. This will provide maximum seating while taking up a minimal amount of patio space. You'll want your seating to be comfortable so purchase thick, cushions with covers that can be easily removed for washing.

Make it Pretty and Final Touches

When considering the final touches to your outdoor space, attack it much as you would indoor space. Think about what you want to achieve with your outdoor space. Do you want it to be relaxing and inviting or whimsical and fun? Do you want it to remind you and your guests of a trip to the shore or a night in the city? Whatever you choose, be sure than any products you buy will be able to stand up to the weather. Spray metal items with a rust inhibitor and protect any wood pieces with a water protectant.

If your climate will allow it, use flowers all around. After all, you want your outdoor space to LOOK like outdoor space. If space allows and you plan to install game areas, such as volleyball, whenever possible make the games visible to those sitting on your patio. This will allow family and guests to take advantage of the seating on the patio while still being able to enjoy watching the games.

Your patio can be a wonderful addition to your home. With a little creativity you can turn it into one of the most popular spaces in your home!

For unique, different and quality wall and home decor products like metal wall art & wall décor shop at Wall Décor and Home Accents.

Enjoy this article? To read more home decor articles see this important one about clocks at their finest.

Use Wall Crosses to Design a Focal Point

You can easily make a strong statement about your style, personality and faith by hanging a decorative cross. You can find these accents in various styles and sizes and fit them in any room in your house. A wall cross is not limited to a living room or den; you can also use this accessory in a bedroom, dining room, or any other space.

A Foyer Focal Point

The foyer or entryway is the perfect spot for a wall cross because visitors notice it as soon as they come in, and you get to see it every time you leave and come home. One way to create a cohesive theme is to group pieces with a similar element. Arrange a pair of candle scones along with your crosses; try to use crosses and scones of similar material. A interesting way to display your collection of wall crosses is to display them on a shelf with a flower arrangement, pieces of pottery, or figurines. You can purchase accessories to go with any room from rustic to Old World to contemporary. If you want to go with a religious theme, then create a scene with figurines, such as the ark or a nativity scene. You can also place a text that has been framed of a prayer or a beautiful religious painting.

Creating a Hallway Centerpiece

Many people showcase photos and mementos in a hallway, but you can also add other artistic elements like a wall cross. By matching the make and color of the picture frames with the finish and style of the decorative cross, you can develop a completed look. Look for accessories such as prints, plaques and paintings at local retailers that cater to this specific niche.

Because a cross for the wall doesn't protrude, wall crosses are the perfect accessory for a narrow hallway. Create a wonderful display by grouping crosses horizontally in a line. Attempt to establish a theme. Although the crosses should not be identical, they should have something in common. For instance, implement only crosses for the wall that are made from wrought iron in a abundance of styles or paint crosses made of different materials the same color. If you are a frequent traveler, you might also think about pairing crosses that you purchase on your vacations together. A great way to remember your travels is to place photos that are in frames or souvenirs that you purchased while traveling.

A Versatile Accessory

Consider a wall cross when you need a focal point for any spot in your home whether it is in the bedroom, library, or in a hallway. When hanging your decorative cross, you can combine it with other accents or you can elect to use it on its own as a focal point. What accessories will work depends on what material the cross is made of and what style it is done in. So this means that a wall cross of a contemporary design will not look good with country accents.

Professional designer Jessica Ackerman, writes for WallDecorandHomeAccents.com, and is an authority on decorating with wrought iron wall hanging and carved wood wall hanging.

Creating Your Own Designer Candles

One easy way to set the tone of a room is to add candles. Nowadays, candles also come in a variety of scents, which can increase the ambience of a room. Candles have become so popular that there are now even designer candles with embellishments such as shell and beads. Unfortunately, these candles are often very expensive compared to plain candles. If you want to get that expensive look of designer candles in your own home then you can decorate plain candles yourself for a fraction of the price.

Wrap it Up

o One of the easiest way to decorate a candle is to layer it with your favorite decorations. You can find faux gems and pearls already on a string in your local craft store. All it takes is a little glue to attach the strand of gems or pearls to the candle. Make sure you wrap the string tightly and do no leave any gaps. If the string is too big, but it down to size and secure it with a knot.

o You can do the same thing with ribbon, trims, sequin, yarn, and even fabric strips. You can find materials anywhere: the fabric store, craft store, or even your own home. Recycle a favorite dress, shirt, or kid's blanket into a covering for a candle. You can be inspired by anything around you, so take your inspiration from your favorite colors, textures or patterns.

Buttons
o Buttons are not just meant for clothing. Try wrapping a candle in ribbon and then pinning buttons on top. Alternatively, you can also just glue buttons to the candle. The effect created will depend on what materials you use. For example, sheer white ribbon with pearl buttons creates a perfect centerpiece for a wedding. You can create a nature themed look by using raffia or hemp and buttons that look like stone or wood. Gluing branches around the bottom of the candle adds to the natural theme.

o You can also attach buttons to create images, such as flowers. A larger button makes the center of the flower while smaller ones form petals and green pins make the leaves and stems. You can also make other basic images like rainbows or smiley faces. Try creating a whole scene with a sun, house, and flowers.
Garden Candle
o If you want to get a delicate look, try attaching dried flowers to a candle. While you can glue the flowers on, the best way to do it is to use melted wax. Candle wax can be purchased in any craft store. Once you melt it down, smear a little onto the back of a dried flower with a paintbrush. Then cover the flowers with another layer of wax in order to protect the delicate flowers. You can also tie a ribbon or hemp around the candle, but attaching buttons or beads would overdo it.

o If you are looking for fragrance, then add natural fragrant items, such as vanilla or coffee beans, cinnamon, or fragrant herbs by attaching them with wax. For your own safety do not light candles that have been decorated with flammable items.

Jeanelle Deppner is the senior staff writer for WallDecorandHomeAccents.com - a unique wall art store specializing in wall candle holders and modern art wall clocks.