Stix ‘n Brix

Children’s allowances. As our first child became old enough to understand the uses of money, we were faced with familiar questions: Should we or shouldn’t we? How much is enough? How much is too much? These are questions that every parent has to grapple with as their children reach school age.

In some families parents dole out cash like clockwork, on a predetermined schedule. Others control all spending, allocating funds on a case-by-case basis. We’d seen enough spoiled children to be wary of the first approach, yet we wanted our children to have the experience of being responsible for their own finances. Our solution was a little unusual, but it worked beautifully. (more…)

It feels great when visitors compliment your home’s decor, but it’s even better when you can tell them ”I made that myself.” Sadly, most of us lack the talent and training to create even simple art.

Paint by number kits came into being over 50 years ago for just that reason. They rode high on the wave of do-it-yourself crafting for over twenty years before slipping into obscurity. To be honest, those early kits were not much to be proud of. They were crudely rendered in only a few colors. Their smelly oil paints were slow to dry and messy to clean up. Many were laughably poor reproductions of famous works of art. They became teh butt of well-deserved sneers.

That’s all changed now. Paint by number has exploded back into popularity. Today’s kits  are beautifully designed. They include two to three times as many colrs for more subtle, attractive shading. Paints are usually low-odor, fast-drying acrylics that clean up with soap and water. Brushes and easy-to-follow instructions are included. Paint-by-numbers are still affordable, too, with prices ranging from six to thirty dollars.

There are more kits than ever to choose from, too. One online craft shop, Uptown Sales (www.UptownSales.com) stocks nearly two hundred different kits. And to prove that paint by number is not to be sneered at, some of America’s most popular artists like Charles Wysocki and Thomas Kinkade produce paint-by-number designs.

So if you’re looking to fill that space on the wall with something that has a “personal touch”, take a look at paint-by-number kits. They’re an easy, attractive, and affordable way to add custom decor to your home.