INPUT ARTICLE: Article: In the baking section of most grocers, there will be decorative candies that you can use to dress up your cake. Candy beads, sprinkles, and other special edible confectioner ornaments can change your cake from simple delicious to dazzling. Edible glitter is a great way of giving your cake a magical touch, and can also be used to hide small inconsistencies in your frosting. Simply dust the surface of your cake in a thin layer of glitter for an effect that will impress all who see. You can also drizzle your glitter through stencils to create special shapes and patterns on the surface of your cake. Pieces of Kit-Kat can be used to create a border around your cake. Stick the wafers of the candy one or two at a time to the frosting on the side of your cake until it is completely bordered. M&M are another popular addition to birthday cakes. You might even use these to spell out a message or create a special design. Especially for themed cakes, this is an easier way to indicate a favorite character or series than drawing an elaborate picture freehand. Consider using Lego models. These are small enough that they can easily nested in the icing of your cake. There's nothing better than the look of pure gratitude you'll get when the recipient sees the beautiful cake you've crafted. Place candles in the cake, sing happy birthday, and share your handiwork with all your guests!

SUMMARY: Use edible decorations to give your cake extra appeal. Hide blemishes and errors with a thin layer of glitter. Add candy to your design for candy lovers. Top your cake with toys or figurines. Enjoy the look on the birthday boy or girl's face.

INPUT ARTICLE: Article: You'll need a friend to help with this method: they should use their hands or a comb to part your hair into multiple small squares. It's up to you how many squares your friend makes. Each square will become a single dreadlock, and smaller squares make thinner dreads. Generally, 1- or 2-inch (2.5 or 5 cm) squares are preferable, though it depends on what you want. Determine what size you would like beforehand. Backcombing works to create dreads on hair that is already at least 3 inches (7.6 cm) long. If your hair is less than three inches, plan to grow your hair before starting dreads, or use another method to create the hairstyle. African hair typically doesn't need to be backcombed since this usually doesn't look as good. Start off your dreads by sectioning the hair in a square, applying product and then using a dread comb to twist the entire section of hair in a spiraling motion, from the roots to the ends. This is a time consuming process: you'll need to wait while your friend backcombs the section of hair in each square on your head (there could be as many as 30). As they backcomb all of your hair, they can also roll the hair of each dread back and forth between their fingers. This will help pack the hair in each dread as tightly as possible. Be aware that you'll lose length when you create dreads by backcombing. Plan to lose at least 1/3 or 1/2 of your hair length: if you start dreads in 6-inch (15-cm) hair, the finished dreads may only be 3 inches (7.6 cm) long. Once each dreadlock has been completely backcombed, secure the end of the dread with a small rubber band. You or your friend can secure another small rubber band around the root of each dread (as close to your scalp as possible) in order to prevent the base of the dread from loosening or unraveling. African hair has a texture which makes rubber bands unnecessary. The curliness of your hair should be enough to keep the dread from unraveling. Any variety of rubber band will work: check an office supply store and purchase the smallest, thinnest set of rubber bands available. After each dread has been fully backcombed and has rubber bands at the tip and base, it's time to wax the dreads. Have your friend liberally apply a dread wax to each of your new locks. This will help restrain loose ends on each dread, and will help the hair form proper dreadlocks quickly. For safety reasons, it's best if the wax you use does not contain petroleum. You'll probably be able to purchase dread wax at the same location you bought the dread comb. Look in online retailersincluding online hair salonsdrug stores, beauty parlors, or large department stores. Even after having been waxed, it will take dreads 34 months to reach maturity.

SUMMARY: Section your hair into small squares. Don't backcomb if your hair is naturally curly. Repeat for each square. Fasten each dread with two rubber bands. Apply a dread wax.

INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Pull the jeans from the washer and leave them inside out. Also make sure the zipper is up and the jeans are buttoned. High heat puts extra and unnecessary stress on the material of the jeans, so stick to the low setting. Permanent press or delicate are both good options. It's best to dry only a few pairs of jeans at a time or they will take a lot longer to dry. Dryer balls are rubber or wool balls that beat against the jeans during the dry cycle. They loosen the fibers of the jeans, which provides extra softening. Dryer balls are especially helpful with stiff fabrics like denim. Look for dryer balls in the laundry sector of the grocery or big-box store. Dollar stores may even have a cheap version. Tennis balls are a cheap alternative which accomplish the same effect. Pull the jeans out of the dryer and roll them up while they are still hot. Fold the legs on top of each other. Then start rolling from the bottom of the pants until you get to the top. Leave them rolled up at least until they cool off from drying.

SUMMARY:
Leave the jeans inside out from the wash. Dry the jeans on a low heat setting. Add dryer balls or tennis balls to the dryer. Roll the jeans up when you take them out of the dyer.