Wow, thanks for the information- I've never had that kind of luck with getting ModPodge to harden. You may very well be right-- it could be it was either too damp or not warm enough in the house. The nice thing about sealing over ModPodge or other glue products is that if you get enough layers over it, the decoupage has a sort of recessed/inlaid feel to it. If you get a chance, you can see a couple of the past decoupage projects I've got online: http://web.mac.com/thriftshopromantic/iWeb/The_Thrift_Shop_Romantic/Decoupage_Footstool_Purse.html http://web.mac.com/thriftshopromantic/iWeb/The_Thrift_Shop_Romantic/Greeting_Card_and_Lace_Guest_Tray.html I ended up doing these with Aleene's Craft Glue, and then a topcoat. But now you've got me thinking I just wasn't using the ModPodge under the right conditions! --Jenn

Nope. There just isn't enough freezer space. UGH!! With the pull-out basket, you really lose a lot of space as compared to the old, freezer-on-top, shelf but no pull-out style. Granted, you have to have a pull-out with a bottom freezer (a shelf wouldn't work well), but, it's such a waste of space. If I had a separate freezer elsewhere in the house, I wouldn't mind so much, but as it is, I feel *very* limited in how much freezer space I have -- and that's for just one or two people. If I had to feed a whole family with such a small freezer, I'd really find it difficult -- unless we ate out a whole heck of a lot (actually, I'd just HAVE to put in at least a small chest freezer somewhere in the house!). <:>Um, yes, I *do* like to cook. And buy stuff on sale. Hence the need for a decent-sized freezer. ;P So you might want to consider whether the freezer space will be sufficient for you. I didn't realize how much less space I would have, even though I chose the largest fridge/freezer I could -- *and*, it's larger than my old freezer-on-top, yet holds less frozen food. Sigh.

Yes, I do think it would be fine for valances. In fact, I have used another Kaufmann print called 'Ottomani' with elephants on it for valances in my bedroom that is the same scale. I typically use 1 to 1 1/4 yards for each valance. The 54" width is perfect for your windows. You will need to order extra for matching the repeat from window to window, as well as for your pillows. If you look on Fabric Guru at the picture of the fabric with the ruler on it, you'll see that the pheasant print alternates with another of two different birds. You don't know where their 'cut' will start, so since it's so reasonable there, I'd personally order a minimum of 5 yards, since you need 3.75 for your valances, and you'll need extra for that to match prints, and then extra for your pillows. Sitting here looking at the fabric 'in person', and your stripe choices, to my eye, your first stripe fabric is the one I would use, given those choices.

I save all plastic bags and give them to my sister to crochet mats for the homeless. She can use any that's he can cut loops out of including toilet paper ones if you open the ends instead of tearing down the side. I takes 5 or 600 bags to make one mat. she can also use dry cleaning bags, .like I said it would be any cylindrical bags. The mats are 6 ft long and 2 1/2 feet wide and have a carrying handle and loops to hold them together when they carry them. I save bread bags. I use those for all kinds of things. I guess o got that from my DM. I have just started using worn out socks for rags. My DH goes through socks fast. I use single slippers for on my Swiffer. I saved the bottom part of my old litter box and cleaned it up really good and use that for soaking clothes in OXy CLean. I also save twisty ties. I have some of those nut jars too. Mine had fruit in them at the restaurants I cooked at. Here is the big one. I save almost all of the glass jars that I get. I use them for canning. If they have the rubber inside of the lid they work. I like the small ones, so if I want to give something to somebody They don't have to return the jar. I always make pickled beets and give some away. I boil the lids just like I would Kerr or Ball lids and fill the jars and screw them on tight. I had one jar that wouldn't work once because the lid wouldn't tighten. It just kept turning. I just made sure I used that one first. then I threw it away. I also put other things in them