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Learning how to consolidate credit card debt is one of the best things cardholders can do. Consolidation is perfect for those who are looking to better their credit for the future. There are many advantages for cardholders who consolidate credit card debt. If you are thinking about consolidation, then there are a few things you should consider before doing so. Use these tips as a guide while you consolidate your debt.

Why Consolidate?

There are several great reasons to consolidate credit card debt. One of the best reasons is to get better rates. If you can get a better rate on a consolidation than you currently have, then there is no reason not to consolidate. Anytime you can consolidate credit card debt and save yourself money, you should. Locate all of your interest rates from each card and write them on a list. Then note the new rate you would be given. If the new rate is lower than the average of the old rate, then to consolidate credit card debt would be profitable for you. If there are cards that have a lower rate, then you dont have to include them in your consolidation. Another reason people love to consolidate credit card debt is to make their lives simple. By paying one bill, they can cut out a lot of stress and bill paying time. You should probably not consolidate credit card debt for this reason alone however. You dont want to pay more in the long run just to cut out a few pieces of mail monthly. Consolidation also gives those in a credit card mess a chance to get out of it. By consolidating, they may be making lower monthly payments than they would be if they didnt consolidate credit card debt. By closing out the other accounts, their credit may also be improved.

Who To Turn To?

When you want to consolidate credit card debt, you should turn to professionals. There are many great credit card companies and banks that would love to help you with your request. Make sure you do your research so that when you consolidate credit card debt, you are certain you are making a decision that is profitable to you. Make sure there are no hidden fees that come with different consolidation plans. Doing your research can help you save money for the future.

Making The Choice

If you want to consolidate credit card debt, you should first look at all of your debt in detail. Once you know what you have, it will be easier to contact professionals to help you with your consolidation. Dont be afraid to tell them you are shopping for the best deal. You should do yourself the honor of getting the best deal out there to making your consolidation as worthwhile as possible.

Morgan Hamilton offers expert advice and great tips regarding all aspects concerning Credit Cards. Get the information you are seeking now by visiting Consolidate Credit Card Debt

Creative types may be curious to learn how to make lanyards. If you are able to follow simple directions you will be able to produce your very own lanyard for personal use or to give as a gift. Whether for yourself or a as a gift, lanyards are a great way to secure your keys, cell phone, badge, or whistle.

In learning how to make lanyards it is important to choose the right material. A popular lanyard making material is a thin, elastic, and flexible plastic lace. It is readily available at most craft stores and referred to as craftlace, lanyard, gimp, or boondoggle.

There are many different stitches that can be used to make or braid a lanyard. Many braiding techniques are complex and time consuming. One of the simpler braids is referred to as a crown (or round) knot. One must utilize patience and follow directions carefully in learning how to make lanyards. The basic crown knot is as follows:

To begin, take two strands of craftlace, fold them together (length will depend on the type of lanyard) and tie a knot at toward the top to hold them securely together. You now have four strings secured at the top.

Spread the four strings apart, separately, pointing in each cardinal direction of a compass. Hold the west string with one finger (close to the knot). At the same time, pull the west string over the north string.

Continuing on, cross the north string over the east string. At this point the north string is covering both the west string and the east string. Now cross the east string over the south string. Finally, cross the south string over the west string. At this point pull each end of the four string extremely tight to make the first knot. Continue crossing the strings in the same manner until the desired length is reached. The knots will produce a rounded lanyard.

Lanyards Info provides information on printed, custom, beaded, badge, neck, key lanyards, and cell phone accessories and jewelry. Lanyards Info is the sister site of Lapel Pins Web.

So you want to learn to sew but Grandma is off hang-gliding? Well, we can help with the very basics here. Well go over some of the first steps and then give you some places to go for more information. So take a deep breath and lets get started.

Find a pattern.
This can be the most fun part! But when you are really new at this you want to choose something easy. Dont look at fancy dresses yet. You dont want to mess with sleeves, zippers or facings...no running till you can walk. Also avoid doll clothes at first, tiny things are not easier. Straight lines good, curves bad. Look for the words Fast, Easy, Jiffy or Simple To Sew.

How do you find a pattern? Well any fabric store should have several pattern books, usually from the Big Four pattern companies, Vogue, Butterick, McCalls, and Simplicity. These generally are put out seasonally, for spring/summer or fall/winter for example. If you want more choices then come back to your friendly online pattern sellers. Thats where youll find other companies and a much wider choice.

Choosing a size.
If you are going to make clothing you need to figure out what size you want. Dont go by the size you buy at the mall. You need to know your measurements. And dont try to take your own, get a friend with a tape measure and write it all down. Youll need Bust (across the fullest part), Waist ( at your beltline) and Hips ( widest part) to start. There are lots of tricks to get exact measurements and later youll want more numbers, but these are the basics.

When you see a pattern you like compare the sizes to your numbers and pick the best match. Warning: every pattern company is different and they all change their sizing from time to time. Always check your numbers against any pattern you buy. Just because you bought a Vogue 12 last time doesnt mean you will always wear a Vogue 12. This is especially true for Vintage patterns...always check the measurements!

Now that you have a pattern envelope in your hand dont leave the store yet. You are going to need some more stuff. First is fabric. Start by looking on the back of that pattern envelope, there is usually a list of suggested fabrics. For your first projects to will want to stick with cotton or a polyester/ cotton blend. Fuzzy fabrics, fancy textures or sheers are tricky to sew, better saved till you know your machine better. Youll see the words - with and without Nap. That refers to texture on the fabric.

Velvet has Nap, cotton usually doesnt. For now you want Without Nap. Cottons will be found in quilting section of the store, or look on the end of the bolt ( thats the name of the cardboard that the fabric is wound around), on one end there should be a label with the fabric content and the price per yard (36 inches). Just poke around and youll find it. After youve found a few bolts marked Cotton you can look around the store and youll see similar fabrics. Go find one you really like. This is important. There is no point in sewing with fabric you dont like. It doesnt have to be the most expensive stuff in the store, but it should be a color or pattern you are excited about.

The pattern envelope will tell you how much fabric you need for the project youve chosen. On the front the choices will have small numbers or letters near each model. These are the Views. Your project will be on a chart that shows View 1, or View 2, ect.. The chart will also have the sizes listed, use it find how much fabric you need. Now, just pull that bolt out and take it over to the cutting table. The folks there can look at your pattern and help you get the right fabric and the right amount. Its usually a good idea to buy a little extra fabric...this allows for shrinkage and little mishaps.

Next look at that envelope back again. You are going to need some Notions. Thats a catch all phrase that includes all the threads, trims, buttons, zippers, snaps and other bits to finish your project. Since you are starting easy you shouldnt need much at first, but you will need thread. Pick a spool that matches the background color of your fabric, black thread for black fabric, ect. Dont worry about this to much, for the most part the thread wont show.

Resist going nuts here, there are tons of very pretty metallic and shiny threads out there, but remember unless you are sewing with decorative top-stitching the thread wont show. But you do want to get thread that has the same content as the fabric it will sew, so we want cotton or cotton/polyester blend. Check that Notions list again, do you need trim or anything else? It should be listed by View. Oh, and you are going to need some big flat space to lay all this out on. The fabric store will have these folding cardboard table toppers. They are pretty cheap and very nice to have. Now go pay and run home!

Prewash your material before you sew...wash it just like you will wash the finished project. Then you wont make a fabulous thing that later shrinks all goofy.

Lay out the tissue pattern. It will be huge, but you only need the pieces that are for your View and size. Cut the tissue pieces apart...but beware! There are weird little marks on the edges of the pattern pieces that look like arrow points, or like two arrows next to each other. They are usually called Notches. You need these later...dont cut them off! Instead cut around them. If there are any other odd looking marks save them...when in doubt dont cut stuff off. The marks vary from one company to another, the printed instruction sheet inside the pattern will explain them. That brings us to the all important Instruction Sheet.

This piece of paper is your friend. From here on out it will give you step by step instructions on how to proceed. There will be drawings and written instructions. Read them over at first, but dont get overwhelmed, sewing is a step by step process. There will be a drawing of how to lay out your tissue pieces on the fabric. Its like a map! The fabric is often folded, look at the drawing carefully. If it says Right Sides Together that means the colorful, brighter side of the fabric, the Right Side, should be touching when its is folded. (The plainer side is called the Wrong Side.) All the symbols used on the pattern will be on the sheet. Be sure you understand the ones that explain those notches, the cutting line and be sure you figure out the one that means Place on Fold ... thats not a cutting line.

There are a few other terms that might be confusing. Grain Line ( or Straight of Grain) is a term that refers to the weave of the fabric. You want your finished project to lay flat or hang smoothly. If you cut the pieces out with the grain (vs. against the grain) everything will lay better. The pattern pieces will show a Straight of Grain symbol, usually a double headed arrow. Just try to have that arrow point parallel to the Selvage. Selvage is that hard edge of the fabric. It isnt meant to be included in your project. When you layout the tissue pieces dont use the selvage.

Now pin the tissue pieces to the fabric using straight pins. Place the pins so that they dont cross where you will need to cut. Use plenty of pins, youll be glad later. Next use good sharp scissors to cut the fabric making sure you leave those notches in place.

Now you can turn to that Instruction Sheet and proceed! Just go step-by-step, reading carefully and trust your gut. If you get stuck picture the finished project in your head and see if the next step makes sense. And if you get stuck come on back...I know people who know stuff!

Tina Sutherland Owner of What-I-Found - Sewing Patterns! A wonderful collection of Vintage and Current patterns for all ages and eras. Come visit at; http://www.mainstreetmallonline.com/patterns/store.php?ref=2

Millions of would-be entrepreneurs want to sell things on ebay. eBay is the #1 home-business opportunity in the world right now, so it's natural that many are eager to find highly profitable items for re-sale on eBay. However, it's important to know that there are certain items that can't be sold. Here are a dozen of them ...

Some items are copyright infringement and can actually land a seller in federal prison:

1. Knock offs of music, TV shows or movies. The "bootleg" movies, for example, are often made by guys who sneak a movie camera into a newly-released movie where presumably, they crouch behind a seat and make a crummy copy. There is a large production of these counterfeit items in Asia where US laws have no power.

2. Software and computer games can likewise be copied and their sale is illegal by all US laws.

Naturally, the items above may be sold if you have a copy that you purchased legitimately and no longer want.

3. The so-called "replica" market for handbags, designer sunglasses and clothing is definitely forbidden although these items are often sold in physical stores around the US. Ironically, when attending eBay Live In New Orleans in 2004, we found a store in one of their famous markets selling replica purses that were not allowed on eBay.

4. Lazy and less-than-honest sellers often steal copyrighted material from other sellers. This has happened to me many times and eBay has a program called VERO (Verified Rights Owner) that will remove offending auctions, although there seems to be no penalty attached to the seller, which is unfortunate.

5. Alcoholic beverage sales are not allowed although a beverage "container', especially those of wine, may be sold for its value.

6. Cigarettes, cigars, smokeless tobacco or coupons for such items are not permitted on eBay.com.

The Ebay rules for collectible tobacco and alcohol containers are the same:

* The value of the item is in the collectible packaging, not in the wine/tobacco itself.

* The listing description should state that the package has not been opened, but that the twine/tobacco within is not for consumption.

* The collectible tobacco packaging must not be available at any retail outlet, and packaging must have a value that substantially exceeds the current retail price of that wine/tobacco product in the package.

* Sellers must take steps to ensure that the buyer of these collectibles is at least 18 years of age

7. Firearms are strictly regulated by US law and may not be sold on eBay.

8. Satellite and cable TV descramblers are forbidden by the Federal Trade Commission.

9. Animals and wildlife products may not be sold, which includes stuffed birds and pelts from endangered species. There are limited sales of ivory, tortoise shell, marine products and other items relating to animals. This area is quite complex and any would-be seller needs to thoroughly understand the various laws before getting involved in these sales.

10. Event tickets have state-by-state laws that make their sale complex. Some states, for instance, forbid anyone to make more than a few dollars in profit (or no profit at all) on the resale of tickets. For instance, Florida law states that tickets can be resold at no more than face value plus $1. In such states, these regulations apply only to buyers and sellers located in the same state as the actual event, meaning if a seller lives in Florida, he can't profit from ticket sales to Florida events. However, if he lives in any of the other 39 states, this restriction doesn't apply.

11. Listing a catalog of items that a seller offers for sale is forbidden. The only catalogs legally sold on eBay are collectible kinds, such as an old Sears Roebuck or Montgomery Wards catalog that is memorabilia and doesn't offer current merchandise for sale.

12. Raffles and prizes are 100% prohibited. According to eBay, such promotions are highly regulated and may be unlawful in many states.

There are other kinds of merchandise that a seller may not sell on eBay, so carefully check eBay rules before listing anything. It's much better to know the rules in advance of spending money that can't be recouped.

Learn how to sell on eBay with 16 hours of online instruction taught by a 10 year eBay veteran. Own an eBay business instead of an eBay hobby.