How to Make Paper Mache

Follow these simple steps and create wonderful paper mache masterpieces!


What You Need :

1. Paper Mache Paste
2. Newspaper
3. Paper Mache Form

Method :

1. Create your paper mache form and prepare your desired paper mache paste.
2. Tear newspaper into strips. The length of your strips may vary depending on the size of your paper mache project; however, you will want your strips to be about 1- to 2-inches wide.
3. Dip one piece of newspaper at a time into prepared paper mache paste. You want to newspaper strip saturated.
4. Hold the strip over the paste bowl and run it through your fingers to squeeze off excess paste.
5. Stick the newspaper strip over the form you want to paper mache, and smooth it down with your fingers.
6. Completely cover your creation with a layer of newspaper strips. They should all be over-lapping and running in different directions.
7. After one layer is applied, let it dry completely. This can take up to 24 hours.
8. Add a second layer of newspaper strips and let it dry completely.
9. Repeat this process until you get the desired effect, but you should have at least three layers of paper mache newspaper strips.
10. Paint, decorate and proudly display your creation!

Tips:

1. Tear the newspaper into strips -- do not cut it! Torn strips lay smoother.
2. Be generous when dipping the newspaper strips into the paste -- you want each piece thoroughly saturated!
3. Let each layer dry completely before adding another.
4. You can use the paper mache pulp recipes I share here to add extra detail to your form before, during of after you add the paper mache layers. This pulp recipe can be used like clay.
5. If you want to be one of the first to know when more paper mache and other craft projects are posted, take a few moments to sign up for the Family Crafts Newsletter.

7 Ways with Cookies

However you slice (or drop) it, there's a cookie style for everyone.

 
Drop Cookies

Formed by spooning mounds of soft dough onto baking sheets, these cookies are some of the simplest to make.
• Ensure even baking by dropping the same amount of dough for each cookie. Use a measuring spoon to scoop the dough, then push it onto the baking sheet with your finger or another spoon.
• For a one-handed option, use a cookie scoop (available at kitchenware stores), which looks like a small ice cream scoop. These gadgets come in a variety of sizes, from one teaspoon up to several tablespoons.
• Coat whatever you use to scoop the dough with cooking spray first to encourage easy release.
• There's no need to flatten the cookies; they will spread and flatten as they bake.



Rolled Cookies

These are made by rolling out a stiff dough into a thin layer; the dough may then be cut with cookie cutters or sliced into shapes.
• For the dough to hold its shape once cut, it needs to be firm. Chill thoroughly before cutting.
• Roll the dough between sheets of heavy-duty plastic wrap to prevent sticking or tearing.
• If the dough becomes soft after rolling, place it in the refrigerator for 10 to 15 minutes, or in the freezer for five minutes, until it firms.
• Dip cookie cutters into flour or powdered sugar to make clean cuts and prevent them from sticking to the dough.
• After cutting the dough, gather the scraps, knead gently, and reroll. Cut out one more batch of shapes. Do not reroll the scraps again, as the dough will be overworked at this point, resulting in cookies that are tough.
• To ensure cookies retain their intended shapes, follow two rules: Roll the dough to the thinness specified, and be sure the dough and pan are cold as they go into the oven.

Sliced/Icebox Cookies

Also called refrigerator or slice-and-bake cookies, these are formed by shaping dough into a cylinder and then slicing into thin disks before baking.
• To shape dough into a log, roll it back and forth across a lightly floured cutting board or work surface.
• Chill the dough thoroughly before slicing.
• Use a thin, serrated knife to make clean slices.
• After every two or three cuts, roll the dough log a quarter turn to make sure it keeps its round shape and doesn't flatten out.



Striped Cookies

These unique treats, which use rolled dough that is stacked and sliced, are actually a hybrid―a cross between rolled and sliced/icebox cookies.
• Cutting and stacking different colors and flavors of dough creates alternating stripes.
• For pinwheel variation, stack the two (12 x 8-inch) dough rectangles on top of each other, and roll up into a 12-inch-long cylinder as if you're making cinnamon rolls.
• Chill the roll before slicing.


 

Hand-Shaped Cookies

A step beyond drop cookies, these are the ultimate hands-on project.
• Coat hands with cooking spray before handling the dough to prevent it from sticking.
• Use a ruler or measuring spoons for the first few cookies to help you determine the right size; then you can judge the rest by eye.
• If the dough starts to stick to the bottom of the glass you use for flattening, coat the glass with cooking spray after every three or four cookies.
• To ensure thumbprint cookies hold their shape so they can be filled, chill the dough thoroughly after making the thumbprint indentations.
• Spoon filling into thumbprint cookies only after they've cooled completely.



Twice-Baked Cookies

These are meant to be hard and crunchy, perfect for dipping into coffee or hot chocolate.
• Biscotti are the most common type, but mandelbrot is another kind.
• Once the ingredients are combined, the dough will be crumbly. Knead it in the bowl so all the flour is incorporated.
• The finished dough will be slightly sticky, so you may want to coat your hands with cooking spray before shaping it on the baking sheet.
• Leave plenty of space between the dough rolls so they don't spread and bake together.
• After the first cook time, the rolls will be slightly crunchy; use a serrated knife to slice them without crumbling.



Bar Cookies

These moist cookies are typically made by spreading batter into a pan with sides, then cutting into pieces after the batch is cooked.
• For easier removal of cookies, you may find it helpful to line the entire pan (bottom and sides) with parchment paper.
• Set your timer alarm for three to five minutes before the time specified in the recipe. That way, if your oven runs hot, you can remove the cookies before they overcook.
• Cool the cookies completely in the pan they bake in before cutting them into portions.

4 Steps to the Best Banana Bread

America's Favorite quick bread gets a nutritional makeover. Follow these steps to get perfect banana bread every time.

1. Combine Wet Ingredients

This is a hybrid between a muffin method (combining wet and dry ingredients separately by hand) and a cake method (whipping butter and sugar with a mixer).

2. Add the Sugar
Next, add the sugars and beat to incorporate air into the batter. The recipes use a mix of granulated and brown sugars to add straight sweetness and caramel notes.

3. Add the Dry Ingredients

Weighing flour is the most accurate way to measure. If you don't have a scale, lightly spoon flour into dry measuring cups and level with a knife. Then add the remaining dry ingredients; stir into the sugar mixture.

4. Stir in Your Flavoring Additions

Besides the requisite bananas, you can add lots of tasty ingredients to the batter—chopped nuts, chocolate chips, spices, dried fruit, and alcohol, to name a few.

How to Make Apple Pie

Ingredients of Crust :

1. 1/3 cup rolled oats
2. 6 graham crackers
3. 2 tablespoons chopped walnuts
4. 1 egg white
5. Buttered flavored vegetable cooking spray

Ingredients of Filling :

1. 2 cups apple cider
2. 1/2 cup sugar
3. 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
4. 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
5. 1 1/4 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
6. 5−6 large Granny Smith apples, about 2 1/2 pounds
7. 3 tablespoons cornstarch

Ingredients of Topping :

1. 1/3 cup brown sugar
2. 1/3 cup rolled oats
3. 2 tablespoons chopped walnuts
4. 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
5. 2 tablespoons butter, melted

Instructions :

1. Set oven temperature to 350 degrees.
2. In a food processor, process the oats, graham crackers and walnuts until finely ground. Add the egg white and process until blended.
3. The mixture should look crumbly not gooey. Coat a 9−inch pie pan with cooking spray.
4. Press the crumb mixture evenly into the pie pan to make the crust. Lightly coat with cooking spray.
5. Bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes. Remove from oven and set aside until ready to use.
6. Bring the cider to a boil in a large heavy saucepan over high heat. Cook until reduced to 1/2 cup, about 15 minutes.
7. Pour the mixture into a large mixing bowl. Add the sugar, lemon juice, vanilla, and pumpkin pie spice to the bowl.
8. Peel the apples, cut into quarters, remove the core and cut into thin slices.
9. Stir the apples into the cider mixture.
10. Sprinkle the cornstarch over the apples and stir to combine. Arrange the apples in the crust.
11. In a small bowl, mix the brown sugar, oats, walnuts and cinnamon together.
12. Pour the melted butter into the bowl stirring to combine.
13. Sprinkle the topping over the apples, pat down with your hands and bake at 350F for 1 hour to 1 hour and 15 minutes. The center should be soft when pierced with a sharp knife.

Easy Steps for Make Two Layer Pumpkin Pie

Ingredients  :

1. 1 pie crust, baked
2. 2 cups prepared pumpkin
3. 1 cup cold skim milk
4. 2 pkg. Instant Vanilla Pudding mix, sugar free
5. 1 tsp. allspice
6. 1 tsp. cinnamon
7. 1/2 tsp. ground cloves
8. 8 oz. low−fat cream cheese, softened
9. 1 tbs. sugar
10. 1 tbs. milk
11. 8 oz. cool whip, Lite

Instructions :

1. Bake pie crust until browned and allow to cool.
2. Mix together pumpkin,allspice, cloves, cinnamon, 1 cup milk, and pudding mixes. Mix well.
3. Combine softened cream cheese, sugar, and milk. Stir until smooth and add 1 1/2 cups cool whip.
4. Spread cream cheese mixture in bottom of prepared cooled crust.
5. Spread pumpkin mixture over cream cheese mixture.
6. Top with remaining cool whip. Chill for several hours before serving.

How to Make Son In Law Eggs

Son In Law Eggs, or ‘khai luuk kheuy’ in Thai ('khai' = egg + 'luuk kheeuy' = son-in-law)  is a salad made from deep-fried hard boiled eggs, which have been cut into halves or quarters, and topped with a sour & sweet tamarind sauce and fried shallots. I’ve heard many stories as to the origin of this dish’s name… but they all conflict. I’ll ask around here in Thailand and see if I can get the real story and get back to you.

Ingredients  :

• 4 eggs, hard-boiled and shelled
• 1/2 cup evenly-sliced shallots
• 10 small dried chilies
• 1/2 cup tamarind paste, which you make from 1/4 cup tamarind + 1/2 cup warm water
• 3 tablespoons palm sugar
• 1 tablespoon fish sauce or white soy sauce
• 1/4 cup coriander leaves

Instructions :

1. Boil the eggs: put the eggs in cold/room temp water on the stove, and make sure they are at least 1″ under the surface of the water. Bring to boil and boil for 7 minutes on medium-high. Don’t do a rolling boil, or the shells will crack. When finished, switch the water with cool water and leave for a few minutes to cool down. When cooled, peel and set aside for frying.
2. While the eggs are boiling, you can start with the rest of the steps. First is to dry-roast the chilies. Take the chilies and put them in a pan on medium-high and toss every few seconds. The air might get a bit spicy so make sure you have a window open or a fan on or something. Brown on each side and set aside.
3.  Now you can make the sauce. Start by creating the tamarind paste out of the tamarind and hot water. Squeeze it in a small bowl with your fingers until you’re left with a paste and seeds/fibers. Remove the seeds/fibers and then strain the rest to get rid of the bits. Add to a sauce pan.
4. Heat on low until warm, and add the palm sugar and fish sauce. The palm sugar will melt in the heat. Cook until it’s melted and mixed well, and then simmer on low for about 5 minutes until darker brown. Set aside.
5. Frying time! In a wok add about 2 tablespoons of oil, and heat to high. Drop in the shallots and stir constantly (don’t stop even for a second or they will burn!) until lightly browned. Strain and remove.
6. Add a tablespoon more of oil, lower your heat to medium/high, and add your eggs. The recipe is for ‘deep fried’ eggs, but actually you don’t need to waste your oil to submerge them. Just keep turning the eggs so they evenly brown all over. When golden brown, strain and set aside.
7. Cut your eggs into quarters or halves, and arrange on a plate. Drizzle the sauce on top, and top with the fried shallots, roasted chilies and fresh coriander.

How to Make Tom Yum Goong

Tom Yum is probably the most famous of Thai soups and is popular not only in Thailand but in Thai restaurants worldwide. It is a clear, sour soup flavored with fragrant lemon grass, fresh galangal root and kefir lime leaf. This potent herbal mixture is well known for its medicinal properties.

Tom Yum Goong is the most well-known variety of Tom Yum and makes use of shrimp (in Thai: goong or kung) as the main focus of the dish but you may also use firm white-flesh fisher or chicken.


Ingredients : Serve 2-3 people

1. Clear broth or water 3 cups
2. Shelled prawns, 10-12 raw 
3. Lemongrass, 2-3 stalks cut in pieces
4. Kaffir lime leaves, 3-4 whole leaves
5. Galangal root, rough cut in 4-5 pieces
6. Straw mushrooms, 6-8 cut halved
7. Small chilies, 2-3 whole or pounded
8. Fish sauce 4 tablespoons
9. Lime juice 4 tablespoons

Optional ingredients :

1. Coconut milk 1 cup
2. Cherry tomatoes, 3-4 halved
3. Holy basil, 4-5 leaves
4. Thai chili paste (Nam-prik-proa in Thai) 1-2 tablespoons

Method :

1. Boil broth or water with all cut lemongrass, whole kefir leave, cut galangal roots and pounded chilies by medium-high heat.
2. Once the water is boiling, add prawns, halved mushroom, cherry tomatoes (optional). Until shrimps turn orange (cooked through).
3. Turn off the heat, add fish sauce and lime juice.

Note :

• IF you want to add coconut milk (optional), add it in step 2 boil altogether.
• IF you want to holy basil leaves, add leaves when served in a bowl to preserve its spicy taste and aroma scent.
• IF you want to add Nam-prik proa chili sweet paste, add 1 tablespoon when served in a bowl.

Cooking Tips :

• All herbs: lemongrass, galangal root and chili are quite spicy, you can adjust the taste by yourself
• Do not boil prawns too long, cook as instructed to add prawns when all ingredients boiling.
• Add lime juice as the final step after you turn off the heat to preserve its sour taste and scent.
• Rather than prawns, you may like to add squid, fish, shells etc. to make seafood tom yum.

2 Solutions for Make Salted Eggs

Just like vegetable meat, eggs can be preserved, too. Salting eggs is one way of doing it. They taste good with tomatoes. They are ready to be serving and not messy for people who do not want to be bothered with saucy preparations when bringing packed meals.

Being able to prepare salted eggs on your own saves money because they cost a lot more than raw ones. If desired, you can get a business started on salted eggs. They can be sulk like hot cake.

Procedure of Salting Eggs in Brine Solution

Ingredients: 

• 12 ducks eggs
• 12 cups water
• 6 cups salt

Procedures:

1. Boil 6 cups salt w/12 cups water. Cool the mixture after boiling
2. Carefully place 12 ducks eggs in a wide mouth glass jar.
3. Pour the brine solution into the jar. Weigh down the eggs w/a plate to keep them from floating, or use instead of a jar a sealed plastic bag filled with the salt solution.
4. Cover the mouth of the jar w/perforated paper. Keep the jar in a cool dry place.
5. Try one egg after 12 days. Soak the eggs again for 5 days more if the dried egg is not salty enough. When the eggs are salty enough boil them for 10 minutes. Color the egg’s shells if desired.

Procedure of Salting Eggs in Clay

Ingredients: 

• 12 ducks eggs
• 12 cups of Clay
• 12 cups salt 

Procedures:

1. Mix 12 cups of clay & 12 cups salt. Add water to the mixture and mix thoroughly.
2. Transfer to a pot a considerable amount of the mixture.
3. Wrap the 12 eggs w/clay. Arrange the eggs in the pot allowing 1-2 inches of space to prevent breaking of the shells.
4. Pour the remaining mixture into the pot. Store the eggs.
5. Taste and egg after 15 days. If it is not salty yet, restore the eggs.
6. When salty enough, hard boil the eggs. Add red food coloring into water to make colors in shell.

Growing rice-straw mushrooms

Rice-straw mushrooms are easy and cheap to produce and need very little land. They are nutritious food, and fetch a good price in the market. They can be produced wherever rice straw is readily available. Mushroom production is an ideal business for small-scale farmers, landless people, and women.


What you will need

• Enough straw to make 35 bundles, 10 inches in diameter.
• 3 packages of spawn (1 package = 1 g). You can buy this from spawn producers.
• 2 gallons of water.
• 1/2 basket of cow dung.

These inputs will produce 2 – 3 vises of mushrooms.


What to do

Preparation :

1. Make 35 bundles of rice straw, each about 10 inches in diameter and 3 feet long. Tie each bundle neatly with some straw.

2. Thoroughly soak the straw bundles with water for 3–5 hours.

3. Dig a small, narrow drainage ditch around where you want to build the
straw pile, about 3.5 feet x 3.5 feet.

Making the pile :

4. Lay down 5 soaked rice straw bundles side-by-side as the first layer of
the pile.

5. Sprinkle a little water on the bundles if needed.

6. Tread on the straw bundles lightly to make a level surface.

7. Sprinkle a little spawn at 4-inch intervals around the edges of the pile, about 4 inches in from the edge of the pile. Use about a betel-nut-size amount of spawn in each place.

8. Spread a little well-decomposed farmyard manure over the pile (about 1 kg per layer).

9. Lay down another 5 straw bundles on top of the first layer in a crisscross pattern. Sprinkle with water, tread lightly on the pile, then add spawn and manure.

10. Repeat step 8 for several more layers. You will end up with a pile about 3 feet wide, 3 feet long, and 3 feet high, consisting of about 6–7 layers.

11. Cover the whole pile with grass, straw or palm leaves to protect it from direct sunlight.

Maintenance and harvesting :

12. Water the pile from time to time to keep it moist.

13. Under favorable conditions, you can harvest the first mushrooms after about 10 days. You can harvest continuously for 2–3 weeks. 

14. After the mushrooms are finished, use straw as organic manure.

Do's and don'ts

• Do keep the pile warm (the optimum temperature is 40–45o) and moist (100% relative humidity) at all times. Add water if it becomes too dry.
• Don't use any pesticide or insecticide.

Limitations

• Mushrooms cannot be produced if no rice straw is available, or if all the straw is used for cattle feed.
• A regular supply of spawn is needed.

How to Make Extra Money..

I’ve been able to put together a solid list of how to make extra money. Most, if not all of these ways to make money, can be done even with a full-time job.

1. Write Reviews - There are many websites that will pay you a little cash to write product reviews. If you’re knowledgeable and can write fast, this may work for you.

2. Delivering Pizzas – If you have a car and a decent driving record then you qualify for this easy extra money maker. You’re likely to get some free pizzas too.

3. Freebie Trading – Freebie trading is a real money maker. But it takes a special person to master the techniques and be consistent with the process. See how The Freebie Guy made over $28K in his First Year

4. Freelance Writer – Right now on Elance.com they are looking for more writers. Set up an ad and start offering up your fast writing skills.

5. Sell Digital Photos – (Digital Photography School) – Take nice pictures. Get them up on the web at a broker, or Microstock site. Make some money. It’s not as easy as that, but those are the basics. If you need a better guide, check out Photo Nuts and Bolts: Know Your Camera and Take Better Photos

6. Sell Yourself Online – Get creative and sell you and your time online in a fresh, new way. It’s not what you think: Make money on Fivver.com.

7. Sell Micro Ad Space Online – Start a website and sell tiny ads. Can this be duplicated? Or can you take the concept and make it fresh?

8. Start an Online Store – Setting up an online store is extremely easy with sites like Amazon, eBay, and CafePress. Once you learn how to market that site you can begin making some cash.

9. Focus Group Participant – Researchers need people to help them develop their results. Become a member of a focus group in your area and get your share of their research funding. Call your local university, museum, or look in your local paper for opportunities.

10. Sell Bottled Water – Buy bottled water in bulk and sell it for a dollar where there are a ton of people: parks, festivals, concerts, etc.

11. Paper Route - This job will likely take up only your early morning hours. You can also search for a paper that only comes out once a week.

12. Walk Dogs – If you love animals and live in an urban area then consider this job.

13. Pet Sitting – Take dog walking a step further and actually be paid to watch someone’s pet for a few hours or days. This may just entail checking in on the pet a few times a day.

14. Baby Sitting – If you enjoy kids and are good with them, this can be a fun and easy way to make a little cash. Advertise your baby sitting services for free online with SitterCity.com. In need of a baby sitter, browse their website for free.

15. Tutor – Have a knack for a certain subject and live near a college? Consider offering up your brain power and teaching skills for some quick cash. Grade school kids need help too, and parents pay better than college students.

16. Play Music in Church or at Weddings - Some churches don’t have volunteers for their music. A talented pianist can make pretty good money doing this on the weekends.

17. Teach English to Adults - Go through your local schools and colleges to find classes where teachers of English are needed.

18. Collect Aluminum Cans – I collected cans in my teens and made a few extra bills for spending money. Some woman saved up $73,000 collecting cans.

19. Sign in the Yard – In our local neighborhood we’ve seen this service hired out to place signs in people’s yards for announcements or funny pranks. Ha!

20. Stage Homes – People are having trouble selling their homes these days and could use a second pair of eyes to stage their home for the quick sale. If you’ve got the designing skills, offer up your services.

21. CashCrate – There’s some money to be made with CashCrate.com completing the free offers, but the real cash comes from the referral program. Earn extra money at CashCrate.com by taking part in daily research surveys, doing your shopping online, and referring other members to their program.

22. Waiting Tables – This is the perfect job for nights and weekends. That’s when all the big tips are made anyway. Pick the nicest place in town.

23. Bar Tending – Even better, I think, than waiting tables is tending the bar at nights in a busy bar. Typically at least $1 for every drink you serve.

24. Teaching Swimming Lessons - If you’re a good swimmer you might be able to pick up a weekend swim teacher gig at your local recreation center. Keep in mind that some places may require a special certification or that you be a lifeguard.

25. Car Valet – If you hook up with a for-hire car parking service (the type hired out for fancy neighborhood parties) you can make some nice cash tips in just a few hours at night and on the weekend, when parties are held.

26. Create Websites – Businesses will pay you to take them online.

27. Blogging – This isn’t quick money, but you can make decent money with a little luck and a few months of solid, consistent effort. Believe me, it can be tough and a bit time consuming, but it can be done. Get started with a nice domain and cheap hosting plan from the provider I use BlueHost.com. Or consider the services of a more notable provider like GoDaddy.com.

28. Write an eBook - I hesitate to put this one in here because an eBook by itself usually doesn’t make money unless you’re an excellent marketer. What a great eBook can do though is act as a sales lead to one of your other online businesses.

29. Design Web Logos – If you’re good with Photoshop and can work quick, you might could make some decent cash with this online business.

30. Re-write Poorly Written Ads - Search the ad listings at eBay.com and Craigslist.org for big items like cars. Email the seller and offer to re-write their ad for a 1% commission.

31. Sell Stuff on Craigslist.org - Craigslist.org is the first place I go to sell something. It’s best for items you think will appeal to everyone (therefore justifying the smaller audience) and large items that can’t be shipped.

32. Paint Street Numbers – With just a few paint and stencil supplies you could walk the neighborhoods with curbs and solicit your curb number painting services.

33. Sign Up with Upromise – Upromise puts money in your kids college funds while you do your normal spending.

34. Sell Your Body – Not talking about the oldest profession here. I’m talking about your plasma, hair, eggs, and sperm.

35. Re-sell Computers – This is slightly different than eBay Arbitrage. Find a distributor that will sell to you at their discounted prices. List these items online. Buy and ship to your hearts content. Basically, you become a reseller.

36. Look for Odd Jobs on Craigslist.org - People in your town need your help and they will pay you for it. Seriously. The jobs are there on Craigslist.org.

37. Have a Garage Sale – The stuff you can’t sell online, you could sell from your garage on the weekends.

38. Put Stuff on Consignment - This is great for clothes and other items that aren’t easily sold online.

39. Bank Account Opening Bonuses – Many bank accounts will give you a cash bonus to open an account with them. I’d start with an online savings account that will pay you higher interest.

40. Credit Card Bonuses – Like the bank accounts, you can sort through the many best credit card bonuses available just for opening an account.

41. Rent Out A Room – If you have an extra room in your house, consider renting it out to a friend, relative, or random person you find using what else, Craigslist.org.

42. Have a Car Wash – Find a business that’s willing to loan you their parking lot and gather up a few friends to wash some cars. Take donations or ask for very little. People usually do this to raise fund for an organization, but there’s no reason you couldn’t do it for the You Foundation.

43. Cleaning Houses – This is a job with flexible hours, but requires a bit of elbow grease. Some homes would provide their own cleaning supplies and tools.

44. Get a 2010 Census Job - Work opportunities begin in the Spring.

45. Sell Your Baked Goods – Are you skilled at a few special recipes? Contract your items out for parties, meetings, etc.

46. Rent Out Your Truck or Van – If I had a truck and needed extra money this is one of the ways I would do it. Nothing seems much easier to me.

47. Drive People to the Airport - Another good gig for someone with a reliable car and the ability to be on-time all the time. Once you have a few happy clients and word gets out, you’ll find you have to turn business away.

48. Lawn Care – I grew up doing this job on the side and loved it. But it’s not just a teenager gig. Obviously better for warmer climates.

49. Be a Mystery Shopper – Get paid to shop and share your experience.

50. Become a Ticket Broker – No special permit required. If you know sports or entertainment enough to pick the right events, and have access to purchase the tickets at face or below, then you can use a service like StubHub.com or Craigslist.org to re-sell the tickets for a profit. I’ve done this both out of necessity and just to make some extra money.

Making Candle Gel in 6 Easy Steps

Here is the step-by-step procedure for making gel candles. But first the list of the materials required, which are easily available at any candle-making hobby store, online or otherwise. Beginners can preferably go for ready-made gel candle-making kits.

The Formula :

1. 95%  of  White Mineral Oil / 375* Degrees F Flash Point/Viscosity 200 
2. 5%  of  CP9000 Thermoplastic Resin Powder

The Procedure :

Mix Oil and Resin together and allow standing for 60 minutes at room temperature. Begin heating slowly to 200* degrees F. Cook at 200F for 1 hour or until all lumps have dissolved, stirring as needed. (Never exceed 220*F.) Add fragrance and color if desired and pour. Makes crystal clear gel that burns five to seven times longer than wax.

How to Make Gel Candles

STEP 1:


You will only need a few simple tools, of which all can usually be found in your kitchen. A metal spoon, a scale, a measuring cup, and a crock pot with a thermostat or a stovetop pan and a thermometer.



STEP 2:


Ingredients: Mineral Oil, CP9000 Resin,


Wick and base, Fragrance and color. (Optional). 


Measure ingredients as follows. 2 Fluid Cups mineral oil, 25 Grams CP9000 Resin.
Mix and allow setting at room temperature for 1 hour, stirring occasionally.


STEP 3:


 Begin heating ingredients slowly bringing to 200-210 degrees F (Never exceed 220*F) and hold at this temp for 1 hour or until the gel is completely smooth flowing. The consistency of corn syrup.


STEP 4:


Be sure to never let the temperature exceed 220 degrees as this may scorch the gel. If gel does scorch  it is worthless and no amount of fragrance can save it. Give up and start over.



STEP 5:


Stir the mixture often while cooking to assure proper mixture. If you don’t have a crock pot is sure to watch your temp on a thermometer. The gel may smoke slightly during the process; this is not a cause for alarm unless smoke is excessive.



STEP 6:


Just before you are ready to pour add fragrance to suit (do not exceed 3%) as this will lower your flash point to an unsafe level. Color should be added now if desired.

Tips :

    - Don't use paraffin and gel wax in the same melters. Use all separate utensils for gel and other waxes.
    - Keep wick at least 1/2 inch from embeds.
    - When combining gel and paraffin wax, pour the gel at the lowest possible temperature to prevent paraffin from melting.

Warnings :

    - Don't use flammable embeds! Natural materials should be coated to prevent clouding and bubbles.
    - Trim gel wick to 1/16 of an inch before burning. That's very short! Keep it short to prevent gel fires.
    - Never burn candles unattended.

Easy Step for Making Handmade Paper

Below you will find a simple paper making recipe to get you started. If this is the first time you are making paper, don't be afraid to experiment with different fibers, you don't have to stick with paper related products. Add whole flower heads to the pulp mixture after it has been through the blender. You can add scraps of yarn, tin foil, even seeds. Its all comes down to what you want. Experiment with different textures and colors after all Ts'ai Lun did! Remember, some of your ideas will turn out while others may not. Have fun with it, express your creativity.
   

Simple Recipe :

Many types of paper that can be used include:

• Computer Paper (unprinted)
• Newspaper (If you want a grayish colored paper)
• Magazines
• Egg Cartons
• Old Cards (For heavier paper)
• Toilet Paper
• Paper Bags
• Non Waxed Boxes (Pre-soak in warm water)
• Office Paper
• Tissue Paper (For finer paper)
• Typing Paper
• Napkins
• Construction Paper

Supplies you'll need :

• Sponge
• Window Screening (mold)
• Wood Frame (old picture frame can be used too) (deckle)
• Plastic Basin/Tub (Large enough to totally immerse frame)
• Blender/Food Processor (For making paper pulp)
• White Felt or Flannel Fabric
• Staples or Tacks (For tacking screen on frame)
• Liquid starch (optional)

Instructions :

1. Select the pieces of paper to be recycled. You can even mix different types to create your own unique paper.

2. Rip the paper into small bits, and place into the blender. (about half full). Fill the blender with warm water. Run the blender slowly at first then increase the speed until the pulp looks smooth and well blended. ( 30 -40 seconds) Check that no flakes of paper remain. If there are, blend longer.

3. The next step is to make a mold. The mold, in this case, is made simply by stretching fiberglass screen (plain old door and window screen) over a wooden frame and stapling it. It should be as tight as possible.

4. Fill the basin about half way with water. Add 3 blender loads of pulp. (the more pulp you add the thicker the finished paper will be) Stir the mixture.

5. Now is the time to add the liquid starch for sizing.(This is not necessary but if the paper is going to be used for writing on, you should add some, the starch helps to prevent inks from soaking into the paper fibers.) Stir 2 teaspoons of liquid starch into the pulp.

Place the mold into the pulp and then level it out while it is submerged. Gently wiggle it side-to-side until the pulp on top of the screen looks even.

6. Slowly lift the mold up until it is above the level of the water. Wait until most of the water has drained from the new paper sheet. If the paper is very thick, remove some pulp from the tub. If it is too thin, add more pulp and stir the mixture again.

7. When the mold stops dripping, gently place one edge on the side of a fabric square (felt or flannel square). Gently ease the mold down flat, with the paper directly on the fabric. Use a sponge to press out as much water as possible. Wring the excess water from the sponge back into the large plastic tub.

8. Now comes the tricky part. Hold the fabric square flat and slowly lift the edge of the mold. The wet sheet of paper should remain on the fabric. If it sticks to the mold, you may have pulled to fast or not pressed out enough water. It takes a little practice. You can gently press out any bubbles and loose edges at this point.

9. Repeat the steps above, and stack the fabric squares on a cookie sheet. Save one fabric square to place on the top of the stack to cover the last piece of paper. Use another cookie sheet to press the remaining water out of the stack. (do this outside or in the bathtub, it can make a mess)

10. After you press the stack, gently separate the sheets. They can be dried by hanging on a clothesline or laying them out on sheets of newspaper. When they have dried peel them off the fabric and voila! you have paper!