| How to Make Party Favors for a Baby Shower Posted: 07 Aug 2018 05:00 PM PDT Baby showers are meant to help an expectant mother prepare for her baby. The guests will often bring gifts to the mother to help her, such as baby clothes or diapers. As a thank you, the mother will often make special favors that her guests can take home. EditPlanning the Favors - Choose a date for the baby shower. This will determine how fancy you can get with the favors. If your baby shower is only a few weeks away, you may not have a lot of time to do fancy favors that involve painting, cutting, and gluing. You may have to stick with simple ones, such as melt-and-pour candy or popcorn-filled treats.
- Some projects, such as candles and soap, can be prepared ahead of time. Other projects, such as succulents, need to be prepared closer to the date.
- Decide how many guests you will invite. This will help set a budget as well as the project. If you have a lot of guests, it might be a good idea to choose a quick and simple project, such as popcorn bags. If you don't have a lot of guests, you could make unique gifts, such as mini, potted succulents.
- Keep transportation in mind. Some items are easy to transport, like nail polish. Other items, such as potted succulents, are much harder. If you don't have a big car or people to help you, something that is easily stored in a box or basket would work the best.
- Potted succulents and chocolate will be the most difficult to transport. Potted plants need to be kept upright and chocolate needs to be stored in a cool area.
- Small items, such as mini hand sanitizers and nail polish bottles will be the easiest to transport. You can just put them into a bag or box.
- Plan your budget. Keep your project and guest list in mind. Fancier projects will require a larger budget--one that will increase with the guest list. If you have a huge budget, you can really splurge on unique gifts. If you have a tight budget, however, you will need to stick with simpler projects.
- Take advantage of coupons and sales. If you are shopping online, try wholesales.
- Develop a theme for your baby shower. It can be simple as "baby girl" or "baby boy." Another option is to do a unique theme, such as pirates, undersea, safari, or superheroes. Have some related colors, symbols, and images in mind. For example:[1]
- If you are doing a baby girl theme, you might want to include lots of pink, bows, baby rattles, and pacifiers.
- If you are doing a gender reveal theme, your colors might be purple or yellow. Baby blocks, diapers, and bottles are great neutral themes too.
- For a unique theme, such as undersea, you might want to have lots of blues (ocean), greens (seaweed), and yellows (sand) as well as fish and bubbles.
EditCreating Non-Edible Favors - Decorate mini hand sanitizer bottles. Purchase a pack of mini hand sanitizer bottles. Peel the labels off, then remove the residue with some baby oil. Wipe the bottles down with rubbing alcohol, then decorate with stickers or homemade labels to match your baby shower's theme.[2]
- If you have a high budget, consider colored and scented hand sanitizer. It is more expensive than regular hand sanitizer.
- Mix up a simple sugar scrub, and present it in mini jars. Mix 2 parts white sugar with 1 part oil. Add some essential oil, if desired, then stir everything together. Fill mini jelly jars with the scrub, then screw the lids back on. Decorate the lids with personalized labels.[3]
- Coconut oil and olive oil make great choices for sugar scrubs.
- Lemon or lavender are great options. You can also try vanilla extract if you don't want to use essential oil.
- Make candles in mini jelly jars. Cut candle wicks down until they are taller than your jars. Insert the wicks into the jars, then fill them with melted candle wax. Let the wax set, then trim the wicks down. Decorate the lids with personalized labels and put them back on the jars.
- Give your candles a special touch by mixing fragrance oil and candle dye into the wax.
- You can purchase all of the required supplies at your local craft store.
- Make baby-themed melt-and-pour soap. Purchase some baby-themed candy-making or soap-making molds. Melt a melt-and-pour soap base, then stir in some soap-making fragrance and dye. Pour the melted soap base into the molds. Let it set, then pop the soap out.
- Both candy-making and soap-making molds will work for this project. Candy-making molds are much smaller and ideal for mini hand soaps.
- Examples of baby-themed molds include: alphabet blocks, baby bottles, pacifies, rattles, and rubber duckies.
- Decorate bottles of nail polish with ribbon and labels. Purchase bottles of nail polish that match your baby shower's theme. Use a craft punch to punch tags out of cardstock. Write a message on the tags, then tie them to the bottles with skinny ribbon.[4]
- You can also write the baby's name and due date on the tags instead.
- Some beauty supply stores sell mini bottles of nail polish. These tend to be cheaper than full-sized bottles.
- Give your guests mini succulents. Purchase a tray of mini succulents. Pop them out of the tray, then transplant them into mini terracotta pots or mini pails. Decorate the pails with ribbon, washi tape, stickers, or scrapbooking paper.[5]
- Prepare these no more than a week before your baby shower. Remember to water them before giving them to your guests.
- You can buy mini terracotta pots and pails in the craft store. They are about tall.
- Decorate seed packets for a unique favor. Purchase a bunch of seed packets, preferably ones that are in season. Secure a personalized label to the front of each packet with double-sided tape. Wrap a ribbon around the middle of the packet and tie it in a bow. Present each packet in a mini flower pot.[6]
- If you want something "baby-themed," try baby's breath.
- Easy-to-grow plants, such as most herbs (i.e.: basil, chives, mint, oregano, thyme, etc.) are also a great option.
- Fill the flower pots with shredded, crinkled paper (basket filler) to mimic soil.
- For a rustic look, forgo the label. Tie some twine around the packet like a present, then add a personalized tag instead.
- Make commemorative favors to remember the baby shower. These favors will typically include the baby's name and due date. Sometimes, they include a quote from a book or famous person as well. Here are some popular ideas:
- Make bookmarks with the baby's name and due date. Add a special quote or book passage.
- Print unique wrappers for chocolate bars. For gender reveal parties, make them blank on the outside and colored on the inside!
- Decorate disposable cameras and give them to the guests so they can take pictures throughout the event!
EditMaking Edible Favors - Make some chocolate candies or lollipops. Purchase some candy molds that match your baby shower's theme. Purchase chocolate candy melts that match your theme, then melt them according to the instructions on the package. Pour the melted chocolate into the molds, let it set, then pop the candy out.
- You can use baby-themed candy molds for a traditional baby shower, or unique molds. For example, if you have an undersea theme, try shell-shaped molds!
- Tuck the candy into cellophane bags, then tie the bags off with ribbon.
- Create lollipops by getting a lollipop mold, then inserting lollipop sticks into the provided grooves before the chocolate sets.
- Create a clever pun with "Ready to Pop" popcorn bags. Cut small rectangles or tags out of cardstock and write "Ready to Pop!" on them. Punch a hole through the top of each tag, then thread a piece of skinny ribbon through them. Fill cellophane bags with flavored popcorn, then tie the tagged ribbon around the top into a bow.[7]
- Caramel popcorn is a great option, but you can also try kettle corn. Avoid plain buttered or salted popcorn as it may taste stale after a while.
- You can make the tags on your computer then print them out to save time.
- Serve up some mini champagne bottles. Purchase a bunch of mini champagne bottles from the liquor store; they are typically around 2 ounces (30 mL) each. Use a craft punch to create mini tags, then write a cute message on each tag. Tie the tags to the bottles with matching twine, then present the bottles in a mini metal pail.[8]
- Alternatively, create your own adhesive labels on the computer, then stick them over the existing label on the bottle.
- Take things a step further and spray paint the pail to match your baby shower's theme.
- Write a message like "Bottoms Up!" or "Mommy Bottles."
- Decorate mini jars and fill them with candy. Purchase a case of mini jelly jars. Remove the lids and spray paint them to match your theme. Decorate the top of the lids with stickers or personalized labels. Hot glue a ribbon or trim around the rim of the lid. Fill the jar with candy, then screw the lid back on.[9]
- Save money buy re-using baby food jars. Make sure that they are clean, however!
- For a princess or baby girl themed jar, hot glue a mini tiara to the top of the lid.
- Hard candy like M&Ms or jelly beans works the best. Be sure to match the color to your baby shower's theme!
- Make a baby shower candy pacifier party favor. Prepare a batch of royal icing. Transfer it into a piping bag, then snip the tip off. Use the royal icing to glue 2 white lifesavers perpendicular to each other; they should make a T-shape. Use the royal icing to glue a gumdrop to the top of the "T" to finish the pacifier.[10]
- Tie a piece of ribbon to the bottom lifesaver for a cute touch.
- Create marshmallow rattle lollipops. Add a large marshmallow to the end of a 4-inch (10-cm) lollipop stick and a mini marshmallow to the other. Coat both marshmallows with melted white candy melts. Let the chocolate set, then dip the larger marshmallow halfway into melted blue or pink candy melts.[11]
- Add a nicer touch by sprinkling white confetti sprinkles onto the colored chocolate before it sets. It will look like polka dots!
- Tuck the lollipops into cellophane bags, then tie them with ribbon.
- If you have more time, consider making cake pops, then decorating them to look like rattles instead.[12]
- Create marshmallow baby bottles. Glue 2 large marshmallows together with melted candy melts. Let the chocolate set, then use a toothpick to dip the entire bottle into the melted candy. Roll the bottle in sugar sprinkles for more texture and let it set. Use more melted candy melts to glue a mini marshmallow, a gumdrop, or a chocolate kiss to the top of the bottle.[13]
- Remove the toothpick before serving the baby bottles.
- Use white chocolate candy melts for basic bottles. Use colored sugar sprinkles if you want to match the theme of your baby shower.
- If you are making the favors for someone else, double-check with her to ensure that she likes everything.
- Double-check your guests for any allergies. Write an ingredient label for the edible favors, if needed.
- Consider making some interactive favors, such as word searches or crossword puzzles. There are many websites that allow you to create your own.
- Make favors that your guests can use. While baby sock roses and diaper rattles are cute, your guests may not find much use for them.
EditThings You'll Need EditCreating Non-Edible Favors - Soap or candle-making supplies
- Small jars
- Hot glue
- Cardstock
- Craft punches
- Ribbon
EditMaking Edible Favors - Chocolate candy melts
- Candy
- Small jars or cellophane bags
- Ribbon
- Tags
EditRelated wikiHows EditSources and Citations
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| How to Color Block Posted: 07 Aug 2018 09:00 AM PDT Color blocking is a popular design trend that involves mixing solid colors to create a striking statement. If you love bright colors, it's easy to incorporate colorblocking into your own wardrobe and home decor! EditMixing Colors - Choose 2-3 colors that you think go well together. If you're not sure how to pair colors, look at a color wheel. Try to either choose colors which are close together on the wheel, like orange, red, and pink, or which are directly across from each other, like blue and yellow. You can also use varying shades of the same color.[1]
- Pair a neutral color with a bold shade for subtle colorblocking. If using a lot of bright colors isn't your style, try picking one bold shade and pairing it with neutral colors. This will make the bold color stand out without being overwhelming.[2]
- For instance, you might mix a warm grey skirt with a top that's bright yellow to make the yellow really pop.
- Experiment with unexpected color combinations. Part of what makes colorblocking such a popular trend is that it opens the door to fun and unusual color combinations. Try pairing your favorite blue shirt with a bright fuschia jacket, for instance.[3]
EditColorblocking Your Outfit - Choose colors that look good on your skin. The colors that look best on you will work best on your skin's undertone, which is either warm or cool. Warmer skin tones look best in bold, warm colors, while cooler skin tones look better in blues and paler hues.[4]
- If you're not sure how to determine your undertone, look at the veins in your wrist. If they seem greenish, you have a warm undertone. If they are blue or purple, you have a cool undertone. If your veins appear bluish-green, you have a neutral undertone and can wear almost any color.
- Try colorblocking with pieces you already own. You don't have to go out and buy a new wardrobe to try the colorblocking trend. Just look for shirts, pants, or accessories in solid colors and mix them together.[5]
- If you already have a bright yellow T-shirt, for instance, you could pair it with a dark pair of jeans and a pair of blue sneakers to create an easy colorblocked look.
- Wear a tailored suit with a bold shirt to bring colorblocking to the office. Since colorblocking focuses on simplicity, it's a perfect trend to incorporate in your professional looks. Wearing a brightly-colored blouse or button-down shirt with your suit will give your look a pop of personality while still being appropriate for work.
- Choose your shirt based on the color of your suit and what looks best on you. For instance, if you have a navy suit, your shirt could be red, pink, powder-blue, yellow, teal, fuschia, or green.
- Wear several different shades of the same color for a striking colorblock effect. If you really want to stand out, create a head-to-toe look out of shades of the same hue. Depending on the pieces you wear, this look can work for anything from a night out to a formal occasion.
- Try wearing coral slacks, a salmon shirt, tan shoes, and pumpkin-colored accessories for a casually cool fall look.
- Choose bold accessories without embellishments. Colorblocking is all about creating clean lines to show off your color choices. Your accessories should be simple and graphic and should build on your overall look.[6]
- Try pairing a purple shirt with a chunky teal necklace or wide belt to try out a trendy color combination.
- Pick simple shoes that accent your outfit. You can never go wrong with a neutral pair of shoes, but colorblocking is a chance to try out some really fun footwear. Look for shoes in bold colors, but avoid shoes which match the other colors in your outfit too perfectly, as this can look old-fashioned.
- Make a pair of blue trousers pop by finishing your look with a pair of red slip-on shoes.[7]
- Colorblock your nails for a subtle way to try this trend. To colorblock your nails, paint them a solid color, then let them dry completely. Next, use pieces of clear tape to divide your nail into 3-4 sections. Paint each section a different color. Carefully peel off the tape, then let your nails dry completely.[8]
- When you're creating your design, you can do a side-by-side pattern, or you can divide your nails with a diagonal or zig-zag line. Be creative!
- If you like, top your nails with a protective clear coat.
EditUsing Colorblocking in Your Home - Use colorblocking to create an eyecatching tablescape. Whether you are planning a special occasion or you just want to brighten up the dinner table, you can bring colorblocking into your dining room. Select plates, chargers, napkins, and a centerpiece in a variety of bold colors.[9]
- To make your family dinner more inviting, lay down a white tablecloth, then add solid-colored plates in a variety of reds, yellows, and greens. Place a vase of flowers or a bowl of fruit in the center of the table to finish the look.
- Paint an accent wall in 2 bold shades. If you want to make colorblocking a more integral part of your interior design, try dividing a wall in 2 with painter's tape. Paint the top half of the wall in one color, remove the tape, then let the paint dry completely. Replace the painter's tape and paint the bottom half in another color.[10]
- Paint wooden furniture in a colorblock pattern. If you have an old desk, table, or dresser that could use refreshing, try painting it in different colors to bring the colorblock trend to any room in your house.[11]
- For instance, if you have a dresser that you want to put in a little girl's room, you could paint the body of it light grey, then paint the drawer faces a soft pink. Finish the dresser with some imitation crystal drawer pulls for a sophisticated take on colorblocking.
- Use brightly colored rugs to accent your colorblocked look. No matter how you're incorporating colorblocking into your home, you can use rugs to complete your look. You can choose a rug in a solid color, or amplify the trend with a rug that is colorblocked.[12]
EditRelated wikiHows EditSources and Citations
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| How to Enable the Emoji Emoticon Keyboard in iOS Posted: 07 Aug 2018 01:00 AM PDT This wikiHow teaches you how to add emoji options to your iPhone's keypad, as well as how to use them. The Emoji keyboard is available on all iPhones and iPads running iOS 5 or higher; since the current iOS version is iOS 11, your iPhone or iPad should support emoji use. EditEnabling the Emoji Keyboard - Open your iPhone's Settings . Tap the Settings app icon, which resembles a grey box with gears on it.
- Scroll down and tap General. This option is near the top of the Settings page.
- Scroll down and tap . It's near the bottom of the "General" page.
- Tap . You'll find this near the top of the screen. Doing so opens a list of keyboards that you currently have active on your iPhone.
- Look for the Emoji keyboard here. If you see an option labeled Emoji in the list of keyboards near the top of the screen, your iPhone's emoji keyboard is already enabled and you can proceed to using the keyboard. If not, proceed.
- Tap . It's near the middle of the screen. This will bring up a list of available keyboards.
- Scroll down and tap . You'll find it in the "E" section of the keyboards page. Tapping it will immediately add it to your iPhone's keyboard.
- Close the Settings app. Press the Home button at the bottom of your iPhone's screen to do so. You can now use emoji from your iPhone's keyboard.
EditUsing Emoji When Typing - Open an app that supports typing. Any app with a text field (e.g., Messages, Facebook, Notes, etc.) will be enough to allow you to open your iPhone's keypad.
- Open the keypad. Tap the text field or typing option to do so. Your iPhone's keypad will appear at the bottom of the screen.
- Tap the emoji icon. This smiley-face icon is in the lower-left corner of the keypad. Doing so will bring up your Emoji keyboard.
- If your iPhone has more than one additional keyboard (three total), tap and hold the globe-shaped icon here, then slide your finger over to the Emoji option.
- Select an emoji category. Tap one of the visual tabs at the bottom of the screen to display a category of emoji, or swipe from right to left to scroll through the available emoji.
- Select emoji. Tap any emoji that you want to type to enter them into the text field.
- Tap . It's in the bottom-left corner of the screen. This will take you back to the regular keyboard.
- If you're using emoji in a messaging context, you can tap the "Send" button to send your emoji in a text.
- The word "emoji" is both singular and plural, though some sources use the words "emoticon" and "emoticons" to describe singular and plural emoji, respectively.
EditRelated wikiHows
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| How to Gold Leaf Furniture Posted: 06 Aug 2018 05:00 PM PDT Gold leaf can add glam to your furniture, especially if you have old pieces laying around that are in need of an upgrade. From side tables to bureaus to desks, gold leaf looks good on almost any type of furniture in your home. Applying gold leaf to furniture is surprisingly easy to do once you have the necessary tools and materials. With the right approach and a few steps, you can have beautiful gold leaf furniture in no time. EditChoosing the Gold Leaf - Use imitation gold leaf for a cheap option. Imitation gold leaf can be found at most craft stores or online. It looks almost as shiny and bold as real gold leaf but it costs much less. Imitation gold leaf may be ideal if you are planning to cover a large surface area or a big piece of furniture.[1]
- Go for real gold leaf for a bright, shiny look. Real gold leaf can be found at craft stores and online. It can be expensive to get in large quantities so you may use it only if you have the budget for it. It may also be ideal if you are covering a small surface area or a small item of furniture.[2]
- Get gold leaf in sheets for easy application. Gold leaf comes in transfer sheets that are easy to apply, as loose gold leaf can be tricky to work with. Depending on how large the furniture item is, you may end up using about 20-30 sheets of gold leaf. Get enough gold leaf to cover the surface in 1 even layer, as you do not have to apply more than 1 layer of gold leaf to get the gilded effect.[3]
- Buy more gold leaf sheets than you might use so you have extra on hand. You can then use the sheets on other items of furniture or decor in your home later.
EditPreparing the Furniture - Clean the furniture with soap and water to remove surface dirt. Start by wiping the furniture down with a cloth that has been dampened with soap and water. Rub the furniture lightly with the cloth so there is no dirt or dust on the surface.[4]
- If you are gold leafing furniture that is metal or wood that is smooth and has a thin layer of paint on it, a wipe down is all that is needed to prepare it for the gold leaf.
- Sand wood furniture if it has bumps or cracks to smooth it out. If you are using a wood furniture item that has bumps, cracks or scratches, you will need to smooth these out by sanding them with medium sandpaper that has a #120 or #150 grit. Lightly rub the sandpaper over the bumps or cracks to smooth them out so the wood is even. This will make applying the gold leaf easier.[5]
- You can also sand wood furniture that has thick layers of paint or uneven paint to make it smooth and even.
- Use a tack cloth to remove any debris or sanded bits that appear on the furniture once you are done sanding it.
- Apply sealer to the furniture if it is porous. If the furniture is unfinished, you may want to seal it with paint sealer to ensure the gold leaf adheres to it. Look for paint sealer at your local hardware store or online.[6]
- You may need to paint the furniture first before you seal it to ensure the wood is no longer porous.
- Wipe the furniture with a towel so it is completely dry. Make sure the furniture is dry to the touch, as this will ensure the gilding adhesive sticks properly to it. If the furniture is very wet, you may need to wipe it down with a dry cloth and let it dry overnight.[7]
- Use painter's tape to create a design on the furniture for the gold leaf. You may block out vertical or horizontal lines on the furniture with painter's tape to create a sleek, simple design. Or you may try creating circles or shapes with the painter's tape so the gold leaf appears as a geometric design on the furniture.[8]
- Make sure the painter's tape is secure on the furniture and easy to follow, as this will make applying the gold leaf easier.
EditApplying the Gold Leaf - Wear cotton gloves so you do not damage the gold leaf. Gold leaf sheets are very delicate and prone to ripping. Wearing cotton gloves will ensure you handle the sheets carefully and do not get the oil from your hands onto the gold leaf, which can damage it.[9]
- Use a brush to apply a thin coat of water-based adhesive on the furniture. Apply the adhesive a little at a time using smooth, even brushstrokes. Try not to leave any brushstroke marks on the furniture, as you want the adhesive to go on as smooth as possible.[10]
- Use a medium sized paint brush to make applying the furniture smoothly easier, especially if you are covering a large surface area.
- Liquid adhesive made for gilding or attaching gold leaf will work best.
- Let the adhesive dry and become tacky. This can take between 15-60 minutes, depending on the furniture's size and how much adhesive you applied. A water-based adhesive tends to dry faster than an oil-based adhesive.[11]
- Apply the gold leaf 1 sheet at a time. Once the adhesive becomes tacky, use your gloved hands to apply 1 sheet onto the adhesive, rubbing the sheet so it sticks. Slowly pull the sheet back, letting the gold leaf rip and stick onto the adhesive. If there is gold leaf still on the sheet, use it again on the adhesive on a new area until the entire sheet is empty.[12]
- Continue to apply the gold leaf to the adhesive 1 sheet at a time, rubbing and pulling off the sheet until there is no more gold leaf left on it.
- Cover the furniture entirely, or the area you marked with painter's tape, with 1 even layer of gold leaf.
- Allow the gold leaf to dry for several hours. The drying time will depend on how much gold leaf you applied. A small area will take at least 2 hours to dry and a large area may take up to 6 hours to dry.[13]
- Do not touch the gold leaf before it has dried, as this can leave fingerprints and marks in the gold leaf.
- Use a dry brush to remove excess gold leaf. Once the gold leaf has dried, brush off any gold leaf that did not stick to the adhesive. Move the brush gently over the leaf to remove the excess.[14]
- You may want to lay a sheet down under the furniture to make catching excess gold leaf easier as you brush it off.
- Let the gold leaf cure for 24 hours. Place the furniture in a spot indoors where it can dry for at least 1 day without being touched. This will allow the gold leaf to set and adhere to the furniture.[15]
- Apply a thin layer of sealer over the gold leaf to protect it. The sealer will give the gold leaf a smooth finish and prevent it from flaking off. Use a clean brush to apply the sealer in 1 even layer over any areas with gold leaf.[16]
- Let the sealer dry overnight before you use your new gold leaf furniture.
EditThings You'll Need - Gold leaf
- Water-based gilding adhesive
- Painter's tape
- Cotton gloves
- Paint brushes
- Clear polyurethane sealer
EditSources and Citations
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| How to Zest an Orange Posted: 06 Aug 2018 09:00 AM PDT Orange zest is made from the top layer of an orange's peel. It contains the fruit's oils and adds a bright, citrus flavor to a dish or recipe. There are several kitchen utensils you can use to zest an orange, including a grater, microplane, vegetable peeler, or knife. Before you zest an orange, be sure to wash the fruit thoroughly with water and a drop of dish soap, and scrub the skin with your fingers or a brush! EditGrating the Zest - Position the end of the grater on the cutting board. If you are using a flat grater, hold the grater at an angle, with one end resting against the cutting board. If you are using a box grater, simply place the grater on top of the cutting board.[1]
- This will stabilize the grater for easier zesting, and it will allow you to see how much zest you've made as you're working.
- Scrape the orange along the grater from top to bottom. Drag the orange along the grater toward the cutting board, maintaining enough pressure to remove the top layer of the rind. Once you reach the end of the board, lift up the orange and place it at the top of the zester again.[2]
- Try to avoid pulling the orange from the bottom of the zester to the top, which can clog the holes or damage the skin of the orange.
- If you're having trouble holding the orange while you zest it, cut the orange in half and squeeze the juice into a cup to make it smaller and easier to hold in your hand. Without the juice in the orange, the rind will be more pliable, and you can mold it into a shape that's comfortable for you to hold.
- Rotate the orange when you reach the white rind. Once you reach the white part, call the "pith," rotate the orange to a different spot on the rind. Normally, you'll reach the pith after zesting an area 1-2 times, and then turn the orange slightly to continue zesting.[3]
- The pith of the orange has a bitter taste, which is unpleasant for most recipes. If you do end up accidentally zesting the pith, stop and pick the white parts out of the zest.
- Transfer your zest to a measuring cup once you've used the entire rind. When you have a large pile of zest on the cutting board, scoop it into a measuring spoon to see how much you have. If you have enough for your recipe, set your zested oranges aside to use the juice or flesh later.[4]
- One medium-sized orange should yield about 1-1.5 tablespoons (6-9 grams) of zest.
- If you need more for your recipe, wash another orange to zest some more.
EditZesting with a Microplane - Hold the microplane at an angle. Rest the tip of the microplane against your cutting board, and hold the handle in your non-dominant hand. This will help to stabilize the microplane while you use it, and it will gather the zest in one place while you work.[5]
- Avoid trying to zest directly into a measuring cup, since the microplane will gather the zest in the long groove under the plane until it falls onto the board.
- Slide the orange along the microplane with light pressure. Lightly press the orange against the microplane and scrape it from the handle toward the cutting board. Maintain enough pressure to remove the top layer of the rind.[6]
- If you press too hard on the orange, you can clog the microplane with large chunks of orange rind. Maintain a light pressure to keep the zest pieces small and manageable.
- Turn the orange slightly after every 1-2 scrapes. After each scrape, check the orange rind to make sure the white pith isn't showing. When you start to see it, rotate the orange slightly to zest a new part of the rind. Avoid using any section of the orange more than 2 times, since you don't want pith mixed in with your zest.[7]
- The pith has a bitter taste, so be sure to remove any white pieces from your zest if you accidentally zest the pith.
- Remove the zest from the groove underneath the microplane. Once you've zested the entire orange, turn the microplane over, and use a knife to scrape the zest into a measuring spoon.[8]
- You should be able to gather at least 1 tablespoon (6 grams) of zest from your orange. If you need more than that for your recipe, wash another piece of fruit and keep zesting!
EditUsing a Vegetable Peeler or Knife - Hold the peeler or knife against the skin and slide it across the rind. Press down hard enough so that you remove the top layer of the rind, using the same motion that you would to peel a potato. Make sure that the peeler or knife is just slightly under the skin, but not touching the pith.[9]
- After your first peel, check the zest to make sure there's no white pith. If there is, throw that piece away and use less pressure for your next peel.
- Move to a new section of the orange after every peel. When using a zester or knife, only peel each section 1 time to avoid cutting into the pith. Spin or rotate the orange to find a fresh section of the rind to peel each time.[10]
- When you're using a peeler, you can get very long pieces of zest. These are perfect for cocktail recipes, or using as a garnish on a plate.
- Chop the peel into smaller pieces for use in a recipe. If you're recipe calls for a finer zest, use a sharp knife to chop or mince the peeled pieces to a smaller size. Be careful when cutting the peeled pieces, as they can be curly and need to be held in place. As you work, measure out the amount needed for your recipe.[11]
- If you have one available, a small food processor can quickly and easily chop longer pieces of zest.
EditThings You'll Need - Cutting board
- Grater, microplane, vegetable peeler, or paring knife
- Measuring spoon
- If sealed in a plastic bag, orange zest will keep in the freezer for up to 6 months.
EditRelated wikiHows EditSources and Citations EditQuick Summary
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| How to Be an Effective Public Speaker Posted: 06 Aug 2018 01:00 AM PDT Even accomplished public speakers worry about whether or not their presentation is effective. Fortunately, improving your effectiveness as a public speaker is very simple! To be an effective public speaker, prepare a well-developed speech that fits your audience. Then, practice your delivery prior to giving the speech. Finally, connect with the audience, articulate your words, and use gestures as you give your speech. EditPreparing Your Speech - Know your audience. This includes the expected size of the audience, as well as their age, gender, educational background, and socioeconomic status. It's also important to know their level of knowledge about the topic you're presenting. Finally, consider how the audience views you and what they will likely expect to gain from your presentation.[1]
- For example, will you be presenting to people who are relatively new to the topic, or are you speaking at a professional event where people will have some familiarity? You'll need to adjust your material to fit their needs. You want to avoid talking over people's heads, but you also want to avoid giving them a lot of information they already know.
- Similarly, your presentation will differ depending on how the audience views you. If they see you as an expert on the topic, your speech should convey that knowledge and authority.
- Determine the appropriate tone for your speech. You can think about the tone of your speech as the mood of the speech. It will be determined by the audience, occasion, topic, and purpose of your speech. You'll also want to consider your personality, as you'll want to use a tone that's natural for you.[2]
- If your topic is serious in nature, you may use a grave tone. Alternatively, you might choose a humorous tone for a speech delivered at a celebratory dinner.
- Generally you can use a conversational tone for any speech, regardless of the topic or size of the audience. Most important is to be authentic!
- Keep in mind that you don't need to use the same tone for your entire speech. For example, your presentation may start out serious but end with a fun, interactive segment. In this case, you'd want to adjust your tone as the presentation progressed.
- Conduct research, if necessary. If you're already an expert on your topic, then you may be able to compose your speech from memory or from your own notes. However, it's important to do research if there are any gaps in your knowledge. Keep in mind that the audience may notice those gaps and ask questions. Also, audience members may appreciate statistics and facts that back up your points.[3]
- If you know a lot about your topic, you might want to start writing your speech before doing research. This way you won't waste time reviewing information you already know. For example, a biologist may be able to give a speech about cell division without doing additional research. Similarly, you'd likely be able to write a speech for your parents' anniversary without conducting research.
- If you don't know much about your topic, do a little research, and then start outlining your speech. For example, if you were giving a speech to celebrate a local landmark, you might want to look up the history of the landmark and important details before you start writing.
- Outline your speech if desired. Many people find that outlining helps them organize their thoughts and create a well-crafted speech. First, write your thesis, purpose, or controlling thought at the top of the page. Then, write out your main supporting points. Finally, write the conclusion that you want the audience to draw.
- Stick to 3-5 main points in a single speech. Avoid providing so much information that the reader can't retain it.
- After you have a basic outline, you can make notes about what you want to say under each bullet point.
- You don't need to write full sentences. Just write down enough words for you to remember what you want to say.
- An example thesis for a speech might look like this: "In this new exhibit, the artist's personal history and passion for color come together to recreate a world that the viewer can almost touch."
- Create a "hook" to engage your audience. A hook is a sentence or phrase that captures the audience's attention. In many cases, it gives them a personal stake in what you have to say. Alternatively, it may set up a question that you will answer in your speech. What's important is that you give the audience a reason to want to listen.[4]
- Ideally, your hook should come within the first 30 seconds of your speech.[5]
- For example, "Like you, I once struggled to organize my time. Now, I get more done in a day than I did in an entire week," or "When I started my research, I asked myself one question: How can we achieve the impossible?"
- Add anecdotes or jokes. Although the audience wants to hear your speech, people lose attention quickly. Stories, particularly personal ones, and jokes help hold their attention and make your speech more enjoyable. Additionally, they help people relate to you. Just be sure not to say anything offensive or inappropriate.
- Audiences love to hear personal stories! They are one of the best ways to make your speech engaging and to pull the audience in.[6]
- For example, you might start a speech about your scientific research by telling a story about a mishap from your first day in the lab.
- You might open a training presentation at work with a joke about work meetings.
- Anticipate audience questions. If you have an idea about what the audience might ask, you can provide those answers in your speech. This ensures that your audience gets what they want from your presentation. Additionally, it'll prevent you from getting caught off-guard if there's a question-and-answer session.
- Consider your audience again. What do they expect to get out of your speech? What is their knowledge level? Use this information to consider what kinds of questions they may ask.
- Make presentation materials, such as note cards. Although you don't want to simply read your speech, having notes can keep you on track and ensure that nothing gets skipped. It's a good idea to write out your major points so that you can glance down for a reminder, if you need it.[7]
- You may also want to jot down a few words to remind yourself of important concepts that you don't want to forget.
- Don't write out full sentences, as this is more likely to trip you up. Just write the key words.
- Note cards work well, but some people may prefer to print out an outline on paper.
- Be flexible. Planning is a big help, but it's impossible to foresee everything. Don't let last-minute changes throw you off. You don't have to follow your prepared speech exactly.
- For example, you may plan your speech for a group of experts but realize on the night of your presentation that the audience has less background knowledge than you expected. In this case, you could present less of the material you'd planned to share but provide more explanation so that a beginner will understand.
EditPracticing Your Delivery - Practice your speech in the mirror. It's normal to be nervous before speaking in public, even if you're used to it. You can alleviate your nervousness by practicing the speech beforehand. Give your speech out loud, preferably in front of a mirror. This will allow you to watch yourself so that you can practice how you're going to stand, what gestures you'll make, and any movements you'll make.[8]
- Film yourself giving your speech. Filming yourself is even more helpful than practicing in the mirror because you can experience what the audience will see! As you watch the video, pretend that you are an audience member. Make notes about what you like about your presentation, as well as what you might like to change.[9]
- You may want to film yourself more than once if you have things you want to work on.
- Alternatively, you could have your friend watch you practice the speech and then give a critique.[10]
- Time your speech. Your speech likely has a time limit, so you want to make sure that you fit within that window. Similarly, you don't want to end your speech too early. Luckily, practice can ensure that your speech fits into your time slot. Use the timer on your phone, a clock, or a handheld timer to time your speech. Make adjustments as necessary.
- It's best to practice your speech a few times before you start timing it, so that your delivery is smooth. At first, you might spend a few extra seconds here and there trying to remember what it is you wanted to say.
- Memorize your main points. This will make it easier for you to deliver your speech. Additionally, it'll ensure that you cover all of your material.[11]
- Don't try to memorize your whole speech. Not only is this difficult, but it can make your delivery a bit robotic. Knowing just the main points will keep your flow natural.
- Practice using your visual aids, if you have them. Visual aids like PowerPoint, posters, or video presentations can support your speech, but they can also detract from your presentation if you experience a glitch. Incorporate them into your practice sessions so that you get used to transitioning through them without issue.
- Get used to presenting alongside your visual aids without reading directly from them, as people don't like being read to.
- Keep in mind that there may be technical issues and you may not be able to access a powerpoint or prezi. Make sure you can deliver your speech without these things, if necessary.
EditGiving Your Presentation - Mingle with the audience members before you give your speech. This gives you an opportunity to gauge their potential response so that you make adjustments in your delivery, such as omitting a joke. You can also get a better idea about what they hope to get from your speech. Finally, this allows the audience to see you as a person, making them more likely to relate positively to you.[12]
- Stand by the door and greet people.
- Introduce yourself to people as they find their seats.
- If you're sitting in the audience before your speech, talk to the people around you.
- Review your notes before your speech. Glance over them once or twice on the day of your presentation. This will refresh your memory so that you are less likely to forget information.
- Don't stress! Trust yourself to remember what you need to say.
- Articulate your words. Speak in a slow, clear voice, taking the time to enunciate each word. At times, it can feel like you're talking too slowly, but it actually makes it easier for the audience to follow your speech.
- It helps to breathe deeply as you're giving your speech so that you're less likely to talk too fast.
- Use gestures to emphasize your points. This can include intentional hand movements and your movements on the stage. For example, you might want to use your fingers to indicate the point you're on, or drive your hand down to emphasis a point. Use gestures that are natural for you, as forcing them will look fake.[13]
- However, you should avoid nervous gestures. Make sure your movements are intentional, not a result of fidgeting.[14]
- Adjust to follow the audience's reaction. Sometimes audiences react differently than you expected, and that's okay. For example, they may not enjoy your humorous elements. If this happens, adjust your tone and delivery slightly to meet their reactions.[15]
- For example, if your audience is laughing at your jokes, let the room quiet down before continuing. If they aren't laughing, but are smiling or nodding, you don't need to cut out your jokes. Recognize that larger audiences may provide more intense reactions than smaller ones, as people feel less self-conscious in large groups.
- If your audience seems to be lost, you might lighten your tone and give more explanations.
- Use audio-visual aids only as needed. Unnecessary audio-visual aids can be distracting to audience members. This detracts from your speech.[16]
- Don't read from slides, as people don't enjoy being read to.[17]
- You can use audio-visual aids in fun ways to add to your presentation. For example, you might include a short video about the latest discoveries in your field.[18]
- Involve the audience. This is one of the best ways to keep your audience engaged. It can also help them remember more from your speech. You can do this by asking them to respond to you or allowing them to ask you questions.[19]
- Ask the audience to repeat your key phrases.
- You could also get the audience to make a particular sound or gesture at certain points in the speech.
- Ask the audience to offer examples or suggestions.
- Take audience questions.
- Be yourself. Although it might be tempting to adopt a persona, don't try to be someone you aren't. The audience is there to see you! Have the confidence to put a bit of yourself into your speech. Remember, it's possible to give a professional speech and still be yourself.[20]
- For example, if you are boisterous and lively in life, then be like that when you speak. However, don't try to force yourself to act that way if it isn't natural.
- Calm yourself if you start to feel nervous. Feeling nervous before speaking in public is totally normal, so don't give yourself a hard time. If you start to feel nervous, you can try a few techniques for calming yourself down:[21]
- Imagine your presentation going well.
- Focus on the purpose of your speech rather than your nervous feelings.
- Breathe deeply to calm yourself.
- Jog in place or wave your arms above your head to burn off nervous energy.
- Limit your caffeine consumption before you're scheduled to present.
- Stand up straight to boost your confidence.
- Don't let being anxious or nervous lower your confidence. Embrace it by expressing it as excitement and enthusiasm.
- Remember that no one knows your speech but you.
- The audience have attended to hear you speak, so they are interested in what you have to say. Enjoy the experience of being the center of attention!
- With every speech, speaking will become easier. Don't give up if you mess up the first few times you give a speech.
- Instead of thinking of public speaking as a chore, think of it as an excellent opportunity to share a part of yourself with the world.
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