Lake Home and Cabin Show in Madison WI

Atlas Signs and Plaques at the Madison Lake Home and Cabin Show

Atlas Signs and Plaques has an entire category of Signs and Plaques dedicated to the desires of those who own Lake Homes and Cabins.

Loon Shaped Lake House SignCome and see us in at the Lake Home and Cabin Show in Madison Wisconsin, Alliant Energy Center, January 24, 25, and 26. Here is your chance to speak directly with the designer of your custom plaque, and take a look at the great display selections of Custom Plaques for your Lake Home, Cottage, Cabin, or Mountain Retreat.

Choose your theme from Trout, Bears, Mountain Scenes, Moose, Trees, Forest, Birds, Deer, Pine Cones, and just too many others to list. Studies show that Atlas Signs and Plaques has the largest selection in the entire world of custom plaques for your Home, Cottage or Cabin so you are guaranteed to find the unique finishing touch that you have been seeking.

Pine-Tree-Mountain-Cabin-Address-PlaqueCan’t attend? you may view all the terrific Welcome Plaques, Address Plaques, and Gift Plaques specifically designed for cottages and cabins in the Cottage, Cabin, and Lake Category at Atlas Signs and Plaques.com.

Atlas Signs and Plaques is located right here in Wisconsin USA.

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It’s Time for An Atlas Signs and Plaques Christmas, Order Now

Make it Yourself Dog or Cat Gardener PlaqueAnd to help you find the perfect gift for everyone on your list, these are among our top Christmas gift ideas. Yes, ACLU, we still say Christmas Gifts.

Every sign and plaque from Atlas is custom so it is really time to order. We will create your gift and ship within 3 weeks. Allow time for shipping and get your order in now.

Man Cave Gift PlaqueBoy-Cave-PlaqueThis is the first Christmas that Atlas has offered custom signs and plaques that you can Make Yourself. So if you have DIY in your blood or are a Crafter, this is the way to put your personal touch on gifts for everyone. So easy to accomplish using commonly available paints. You won’t be able to stop once you start.

Carved Heart with Initials gift plaqueFor the Big Guy; The Man Cave Sign.  What a great way to define his (or her) personal space.

For the Little Guy; The Boy Cave Plaque. With the message that girls are not allowed (except for Mom, of course) It is perfect for the younger set that likes cookies delivered on occasion.

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Travel to Moscow, Some Common Misconceptions about Visiting the Russian Capitol

Moscow Red Square and St Basil's CathedralHere are some casual observations about the mismatch of expectations and realities of visiting Moscow.

Having just returned from a September 2013 visit to Moscow, I was struck by the mismatch of what I had expected and what I actually observed.

Soviet Era Ruins in Moscow

Expected a lot of Soviet Era Rubble

 

Moscow turns out to be a wonderful place for the casual traveler to visit. While Moscow might not match some other cities in cuisine, shopping, or magnificent sight-seeing, it does offer plenty of beautiful parks, history, culture, architecture, world-class art and museums, cathedrals, and enough sights to keep a traveler easily occupied for many days.

I expected a bit more of a “police state” atmosphere, and at least expected some gnarly looking scar-faced, bandoleer draped, machine gun toting, pressed uniform wearing guards prominently stationed at the airport and on every street corner. But, no luck and no photo ops (presuming that I would not be sent to the gulag for attempting to use my trusty Leica to expose the goings-on behind the Iron Curtain). Well…maybe too many old cold-war movies stored in my DVD collection, and too many John le Carre books gathering dust on the shelves.

Moscow City is a Modern Financial Center

Got, Moscow City, As Modern as anywhere

 

Vibrant colors in Moscow

Expected Drab. Got Color

 

The reality is that there is definitely a lot more overt police presence in any large American city than in Moscow. Actually saw or heard very few police sirens. But, since there are not any donut shops, I guess there is not any reason to turn on the blue lights and go fast.

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How to Pack a Sign for Return Shipping

Once in a while we have a customer that needs to return a sign to us, and occasionally that sign doesn’t make it to us safe and sound. We know our customers mean well and try their best, but to make it even easier we thought we’d share with you a step by step guide to proper sign packing for shipment, the Atlas Signs and Plaques way.

The first thing you’re going to want to do is wrap your sign in something to protect it from scratches. We prefer a double layer of tissue paper (this also keeps the bubble wrap from sticking).

sign wrapped in tissue paper

 

 

 

 

 

The next step is to cover the sign in bubble wrap, paying special attention to the edges as this is where damage is most likely to occur. We recommend using a double layer, because you never know when one of those bubbles is going to take the day off.

sign in bubble wrap

 

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DIY Ornaments Ready to Ship from Etsy

DIY-Snowflake-Ornaments

Do-it-Yourself Ornaments from Atlas Signs and Plaques are available on Etsy

DIY Christmas OrnamentsEtsy is a wonderful marketplace for buyers and sellers of artistic goods and materials, like our signs and plaques, and now DIY ornaments. If you love handmade and handcrafted as much as we do, you have to check it out.

Atlas is now making holiday ornaments available to DIY enthusiasts and crafters. They are made of the same HDU sign foam that is the base material of every sign and plaque that Atlas creates.

We make some of these most every year before the holiday season. Do-it-Yourself Ornaments are limited in quantity and are only available to our Etsy friends. Ornaments are usually 3-6 inches, detailed, and in some interesting shapes.

Do-it-Yourself ornaments are easy to complete. Use latex paints (like we all did in the finished examples), or oil paints, dyes, glitter, foils, or pretty much anywhere your mind goes. HDU is a terrific base material for decorative items.

DIY Hoot Owl OrnamentTo hang, all you have to do is drill a hole and use string or wire.

Since HDU is so easy to work with, you could use the ornaments to make an ornament tree, or a totem, or a mobile. Endless ideas for the creative mind.

All Made in the USA of domestic materials.

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