It can be easier to get a piece of jewelry authenticated if you can find a signature of the designer somewhere on the piece. Many designers leave something like their initials engraved in a piece of jewelry, so scour the piece for any markers of the designer. There may also be hallmarks left on the jewelry. These are stamps left by a specific company. For example, Cartier jewelry is stamped with an eagle head. If you can designer signatures, this is a good start. However, more information is needed. There are forgeries in the jewelry world, so a stamp or signature may not be enough to authenticate a piece. Cut, clarity, carat, and carat weight are referred to as the 4 C's of gemstone certification. This information should be included on a certificate of authenticity, as it can help assess how much the piece is worth. Take your item to a local jeweler for appraisal. The cut refers to the shape of the gem, as gems and diamonds are cut into a variety of shapes. The clarity is the gem's purity. Diamonds, for example, are easier to see through when they're purer. Diamonds, and some other gems, are graded on color. In general, less color variation means the gem is worth more. Carat weight refers to the weight of the piece. Heavier jewelry is generally worth more. It's vital to work with the American Gem Society (AGS) at some point when authenticating a piece. You should hire an appraiser associated with the AGS to examine your piece. You can find a legitimate authenticator in your area through the websites of the AGS. There is a search tool where you can look for reputable appraisers in your areas. Not all appraisers will provide you a certificate. However, having an appraisal and confirmation of a piece's legitimacy from an AGS appraiser is important. You may have to hire a private authentication company to issue the certificate, but information from a qualified appraiser should be included. This can help your certificate look professional when you try to sell your jewelry. When working with an authentication company, make sure you include all the necessary information. Do not work with companies that hand out certificates lacking certain details. Your certificate should include the 4 C's of your jewelry, and verify the diamonds or gems used are legitimate. The certificate should also include the origin of your gemstone. For example, it should say whether it was made authentically or found. It's very important your certificate include all this information. Buyers and dealers do not work with sellers that cannot provide legitimate certificates of authenticity.
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One-sentence summary -- Look for designer signatures. Have the item examined by a jeweler to determine its cut, clarity, carat, and carat weight. Have a certified gemologist appraiser or independent certified gemologist appraiser of the American Gem Society appraise your jewelry. Check that your certification of authenticity is legitimate.

Use large plastic bins, cardboard boxes, or any other large containers you can find. Make sure you're getting containers large enough to hold the amount of metal you plan on scrapping. Write on them with a permanent marker or stick pieces of masking tape on them and write the label on the tape. Assign each container to a different kind of metal. For example, one container would be labeled "aluminum," and another container would be labeled "iron." Ideally you should have at least one container for each kind of metal you'll encounter while scrapping, including copper, brass, stainless steel, aluminum, and iron. Organize them so they're easy to reach and access. Position the containers so the labels are facing where you'll be sorting through the scrap metal. That way you can easily find the bin you need when you're sorting. Get scrap metal from old junk cars you have. Save old appliances like refrigerators and ovens. Look for old electronics around your home or on the side of the street and collect them. Save aluminum cans. Old laptops, computer towers, and cell phones can also have scrap metal inside them. Save yourself time by waiting until you have a lot of scrap to sell instead of making several trips to the scrap yard with smaller loads. You can also sort your scrap into bins as you collect it and then take it to the scrap yard once your bins are full.
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One-sentence summary -- Get containers to separate your metals in. Label the different containers. Set up the containers in your work area. Accumulate scrap metal. Start sorting your scrap when you have enough to fill your bins.

Allow time to set and then wipe off the excess. This will remove any previous color or stain from the wood, and enhance the natural grain and texture. This particular stain gives the appearance and color of wood that has been left for many years. If desired, this can be the final step. Combine your own unique combination of a color glaze, antiquing glaze, and mixing glaze. Be sure to use all three glazes from the same brand, so as to insure proper color mixing. Use a paintbrush to thoroughly coat the wood with the stain. There are multiple methods to do this: Apply a single coat for a lighter look. This also can give the appearance of slightly newer wood. Add multiple coats of stain to create a more worn look. This will also darken the wood, giving it a richer color. Create "freckles" on your wood by flicking stain using a paintbrush or toothbrush. This will give irregular small spots of dark color on the wood.
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One-sentence summary -- Apply a coat of sun bleach stain to your wood. Add a layer of early American stain. Make a rustic stain. Apply the rustic stain.

Use a sharp knife to cut an avocado in half, and remove the pit. Scoop out the avocado flesh from one half of the fruit, and place it in a bowl. Mash the avocado with a fork until it's fairly smooth. If the avocado is small, you may want to scoop out the flesh from both halves to use for your mask. You should have enough for a mask that you can spread all over your face. Once you've mashed the avocado, add 2 tablespoons (30 ml) of plain yogurt, 1 teaspoon (5 ml) of olive oil, and 1 tablespoon (15 ml) of organic honey to the bowl. Use a spoon to fully combine all of the ingredients in a smooth paste. If the mask seems runny and you've only added half of the avocado, mix in some more of the flesh to thicken it up. The omega fatty acids in the avocado and olive oil help heal cracks between the skin cells that can occur when your skin is dehydrated. Honey and yogurt are soothing ingredients that help moisturize and soften the skin. When the mask is fully mixed, use your fingers to carefully spread it all over your face. Allow the mask to sit on your skin for 15 to 20 minutes so the omega fatty acids in the avocado and olive oil have time to penetrate. Be careful when you're applying the mask around your hairline. The honey can be very sticky if it gets in your hair. When you've let the mask sit on your skin for at least 15 minutes, rinse it off with warm water from the sink. Because the mask can be fairly sticky, you may want to use a washcloth to help remove it. Be sure to rinse especially well along your hairline.
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One-sentence summary --
Mash up an avocado. Mix the avocado with the yogurt, olive oil, and honey. Apply the mask and let it sit for 15 to 20 minutes. Wash the mask off with warm water.