Photo by cwalker71

Those jolly round veggies are ripe for the picking.  But brainstorming what to do with them beyond October 31 can be tricky.  Never underestimate the creative power of a gourd, especially while they’re super cheap.

1. Make some music.
The gourd maraca has long been a staple in various indigenous African and South American tribal music.  Not only are they cheap, but also easy to make and just plain funny looking.  You have several options ranging from rain makers and harps to drums and guitars—the sky’s the limit on your creativity and level of difficulty!  Check out this article which includes tips on creating instruments used in the Richmond Indigenous Gourd Orchestra.

2. Toast the seeds.
Forget trying to segregate the pumpkin mush from the seeds.  Lucinda Scala Quinn, executive editorial director of food for Martha Stewart Living, says to spread out the sloppy mess in a thin layer on the pan and bake for 10 minutes at 375⁰.  The goop will easily separate from the seeds.  Toss with olive oil and salt; or cinnamon, brown sugar, and salt for a delicious afternoon snack.  Always season after baking the seeds.

3. Carve or paint for decoration.
Who says the gourd and squash décor comes to a crashing halt after Halloween?  The new thing is to cover your gourds in monochromatic colors for an inviting entry arrangement or spray paint with glitter glue and set on top of small cake stands.

4. Create a centerpiece.
Clean out the inside of a gourd and dry to make a fabulous vase for fall flowers—just make sure the base is stable.  Modernists, don’t count out gourds as an accent to your sleek design.  Ready Made poses several awesome centerpieces for non-traditional décor.  A simple approach to gourd design is to gather colorful leaves outside, buy a few fall silk flowers, and adorn your gourds in a shallow dish extending down the table.

5. Just eat it.
If you’ve never savored tasty butternut squash soup, you’re missing out.  The texture and flavor is similar to sweet potatoes, but doesn’t fall apart as easily.  Or go crazy and try out bitter gourd curry, a spicy vegetarian dish that goes well with rice.

Photo by country_boy_shane

Be the envy of your neighbors this year and create your own haunted house. Remember to set a budget and decide whether you're targeting kids, teenagers or adults. Or create some of the simpler effects on your front porch and in the front hall, to lure trick-or-treaters into your House of Horror on Halloween night.

1. Make a diagram for your Halloween haunted house by first measuring the space to make sure you have room to do everything you want. Decide where you want features from the following list to be placed and where you'll create the entrance and exit.

2. Design fake and shiver-inducing walls by cutting black garbage bags into thin strips, stopping a few inches before you get to the top. Hang these walls from the ceiling.

3. Hang black thread in your front entryway to give the effect of walking into invisible cobwebs.

4. Black garbage bags also can be used to cover windows for a purer darkness. Replace standard light bulbs with black or red lights (found at party stores) to give an eerie effect but make sure people can still see where they're walking.

5. Stretch fake spider webbing across the room and spray it with water to create a particularly creepy experience when visitors walk through them.

6. Cut out gravestone shapes from large pieces of gray construction paper. Write creative epitaphs on them with a thick black magic marker, such as "Here lies Polly -- Choked on a cracker" or "Buried Alive?" Tape them near the floor to simulate real gravestones.

7. Have fun making a tape recording of scary sounds with your friends or family or buy a spooky CD from your local music store. Set up the speakers so the sounds can be heard throughout the maze. Place extra speakers in a front tree or bushes to lure in visitors.

8. Buy several Styrofoam heads from a beauty supply store and turn them into ghoulish creatures with makeup, masks and wigs. You can create different looks by sticking knives into the heads, adding fake bodies and semi-attaching the heads (don't forget a bloody axe to complete the tale) or by lining them up on a shelf for a story about the serial killer that got away. Add fake blood and wounds made from the recipes below.

9. Stuff a shirt, suit, socks and shoes with newspapers and position this creature in a dark corner. Top with a lighted jack-o-lantern head.

10. To create an electric chair, put another "stuffed" man or a friend dressed ghoulishly in a high-backed chair and place a metal noodle strainer on its head with wires running from the strainer. A strobe light aimed at the chair completes the look.

It seems like just as soon as the scorching temperatures melt away it's time to gear up for winter.  You've probably figured out that your house isn't perfect.  Even newer homes are cursed with cracks and openings throughout that let your heating air seep outside.  While some states, like Georgia, are even collecting money for low income weatherization projects, you probably won't qualify for most of the grants floating around right now.  But even with a moderate investment, you'll be coming out far ahead in energy savings. 

Get your house in weatherproof shape with these conditioning tips to keep the hot air where it belongs:

1. Inside Insulation
It's nice to have a roof over your head, but it won't do much against bone-chilling winters without a protective layer of insulation between it and your house.  You need at least six inches in the attic to make a difference.  Insulation is like a giant down coat for your home--the thicker and better quality varieties keep the inside toastier.  Don't attempt to do it yourself without some guidance from a seasoned homeowner or contractor. 

Also make sure you look between the walls--some homes actually have no insulation between the exterior surface and sheet rock making it a virtually peg board for air to circulate in and out at will.

2. Strip Sense
When the first cold front hits, put your hand around all the windows and doors in your house.  You may be surprised to feel how much colder it is and even feel a couple of drafty patches.  The best way to combat the cold creeping in front door and window cracks is with a trusty roll of weather stripping.  It looks like glorified foam tape.  You'll need to ask someone knowledgeable about what type of stripping is best for each surface, as you will probably need more than one roll. 

3. Caulking Cracks
Depending on where the opening is you may want to use either an expandable foam sealant or caulk to crack down on the cracks.  Caulk works best around windowsills and electrical plates while expanding foam does well in larger cracks not directly exposed to water and sunlight.

Short on time, but need to complete some DIY projects around the house? Labor Day and other one-day holidays are perfect for catching up. Here are some around-the-house projects you can save money by completing yourself in a day’s time.

1. Paint the front door.
Does the site of your front door make you cringe every time you walk through it? Make the best first impression for your houseguests by sprucing up the look of your entrance. Dust cobwebs and outdoor debris from the entrance first. Then use a paint color on the door that complements your home’s exterior.

2. Bake.
Plan a day of cooking and baking that will last your family a month or more. Many moms take one day a week and tackle a bunch of baking projects and freeze the bounty for later use. You can do the same. Free up freezer space, plan your baking strategy and buy ingredients beforehand. Then strap on an apron and get to work. Here are some recipes to get you started.

3. Clean a room.
Tackle one room and clean it top-to-bottom (and in that order). Start with dusting the ceiling fans. Move furniture and vacuum. Dust baseboards, fluff pillows, wipe down refrigerators (don’t forget to vacuum the coils underneath). And while you’re at it, experiment with rearranging your furniture, or paint one wall an accent color to add drama and change.

4. Take care of business.
While most businesses will be closed on a holiday, you can make a list and gather papers and materials you need to make calls to care of unfinished business on another day, like: canceling a credit card, enrolling in switching car or home insurance, creating wills. Or, be proactive and schedule out the next few months on your calendar, using your company’s or school districts calendars. Make calls to relatives to plan ahead for the holidays. Or make a list of activities you’d like to do or goals you’d like to accomplish in the coming year and schedule them out.

5. Organize the garage.
It’s the bane of your existence and it’s never going to get better until you throw some stuff out. This is an all-day job and one that will last you at least a year. Throw out or donate what you don’t use. Use organizing tools like bike hangers to create space. If you’re really up to a challenge, paint the walls and floor using Epoxy paint (check eBay for discount pricing, but be sure to order in enough time for it to arrive for your project day.) Or if the garage isn’t your thing, tackle a big organization challenge in the house, like a closet or a kitchen pantry – how long have those cans of peas been in there anyway?

Hard to believe Halloween is around the corner. Avoid buying expensive costumes by waiting too long to plan your kids’ wardrobe. Plan now and scout out inexpensive materials to make a creative and fun costume.

1. Set a budget.
If your child is old enough, get them in the act of planning their ghoulish gear. Set a budget and give them ideas on how to pull off their costume for that set amount of cash.

2. Stay general.
Costumes that aren’t commercial characters like SpongeBob or Hannah Montana will be easier to pull off cheaply – like ghosts and witches. But don’t limit yourself to traditional Halloween fare. Anything out of the ordinary can be a treat: cowgirl (or boy), scarecrow, a mime, punk rocker, sorority girl, hippie, pirate or a dancer.

3. Get inspired.
Search the Web for costume ideas and inspirations. If you already have an idea of what the costume is going to be, search online for pictures to give you ideas. You can also search for discount gear online from sites like Zoogster Costumes.

4. Start with what you own.
Do you have vintage gear like scarves, coats, glasses, jewelry hats or wigs that would make a great foundation for a costume?

5. Reuse.
Next, scour thrift stores, garage sales, consignment sales and even your friend’s closet for additional accessories.

6. Clip coupons.
Hobby and craft stores like Michael’s and JoAnn’s issue weekly coupons. Buy one item a week – like a boa, face paint or fake nails – until you’ve fulfilled your treasure chest with Halloween goodies.

Placemats make cheap and versatile material for a variety of crafts. They’re especially good for beginning crafters – young and old. Here are a few placemat-centered crafts for use around the home or on the go.

Making a Placemat
First off, if you’re looking to create a placemat instead of creating a craft from an existing placemap, you can use any fabric (including remnant pieces you may already have on hand).

Place two pieces of fabric on top of each other and using a washable pencil, create marks to cut your fabric to size (normally 17" X 12"). Cut the fabric.

Optional: Take two pieces of interfacing fabric and cut to size to give your mat a suitable thickness. Iron one of each pieces of interfacing to the inside of the fabric.

To close your placemat, use a zigzag stitch to sew the edges shut. Or, if you’d prefer, use fabric or hot glue to close all the edges but one while the fabric is inside out, then turn the fabric right side out and glue the last edge.

• To take it to the next level, check out this leaf-patterned placemat tutorial.
• Or, use your kids’ artwork as a placemat using this tutorial.
• Lest we forget our furry friends, here’s a way to create a cut placemat for your pup – and this is a project for the kids to get involved in.
• Recycle Christmas cards and laminate them to posterboard for festive holiday placemats. Do the same with copies of photos for special events, like Father’s Day.

It started with a round, pedestal table and four Windsor chairs we spotted at a garage sale. They were the set everyone had in the 90s--the chair back and legs painted white with a light oak-stained seat. The embarrassed owner just wanted to get rid of them. Would he take $40 for the set? As long as I could haul it away, it was mine at a steal. After some experimenting with sanding and staining (plus several oopses along the way), I unveiled the circular table with deep cherry stain and antiqued chairs--pale yellow milk paint undercoat with black exterior. Everyone was wowed, despite my novice mistakes. This led to makeovers for a triple dresser, rocking chair, and tall chest, all of which are stunning and unique.

Refinishing furniture really isn't that difficult. I actually use it as therapy. Plus I've done every project on the balcony of my apartment. Breathing new life into pieces that could be junk is exhilarating and beholding the rebirth gives huge satisfaction. Seek out solid pieces of furniture (made from real wood, not the wannabe wood "veneer" sold at most furniture gigs) and play with color. You'll save hundreds and have a beautifully individual piece.

To get started, you'll need:

• orbital sander (don't forget to look on Craig's List first)
• several packs of sandpaper from fine to medium grit
• drop cloth
• stripping agent and scraper for existing stain
• 10-15 rags
• wood conditioner
• rubber gloves
• mask
• 2" paint brush
• stain
• polyurethane sealant (I like semi-gloss for most pieces)
• new hardware (optional)

Before beginning: Select a piece of furniture that doesn't have too many details or complex surfaces for your first project. You need simple lines and planes to practice with technique before tackling more detailed pieces.

Step 1: Prepare a secure area outside with minimal wind and plenty of ventilation. The garage works fine. Place your furniture on top of a drop cloth and secure the edges of the cloth to the ground. If you have little ones running around the house, make it absolutely clear they may not go near the furniture.

Step 2: This is the hardest and ickiest part of the project. If you can push through this, the rest is down hill. Put on your gloves and mask. Apply the stripping agent to your furniture with a paintbrush. Do not paint back and forth--the stuff works the best when you slop it on thick and leave it. It is highly acidic and very painful to the touch. Let it sit for the time recommended on the can and wipe it off with rags. You will probably need to apply it at least twice. The goal is to remove most of the original stain, but some of it will have to be sanded off. After applying the stripper wipe down with a damp cloth and let sit for a few hours.

Step 3: Sanding is the fun part. But to avoid changing the shape of the piece or causing damage to it, you must have patience. Attach a sheet of medium grit paper to your orbital saw and begin sanding the large areas such as the drawer faces, table tops, and seats, with the grain only. Don't spend too much time on one area, but rather "apply" the sanding as if it were a coat of paint. Give equal treatment to all surface areas so you don't have a dip in the wood. Repeat with a finer grit of sandpaper to give it a smooth finish.

I just moved into a new house with bare walls and it's time to decorate! I hung a few family photos, then wanted specific art work to go into bedrooms that coordinated with bedding and curtains. I was shocked when I found a piece of printed canvas that coordinated with my bedding set that was going to cost $120 for a 20" x 20" piece.

Artwork does not have to cost a fortune. You can save hundreds of dollars by creating your own artwork. Here's how:

• Paint
  If you feel confident picking up a brush and painting, you can create your own abstract piece of art. Use simple colors and lines to create a piece that fits your style. Depending on your paint medium pick an appropriate surface to paint on. Ask for help at your local craft store if you are not sure what to use. Finish off your abstract art by picking up a frame at a place like Aaron Brothers during their Penny Sale. If you use canvas for your art piece, try painting the sides of the stretched canvas for a wrapped look and hang as is.
• Photography
  Using your own digital camera you can take simple shots of scenery which can look like expensive art. Read your camera's manual to learn about the different settings then go outdoors and start shooting. Experiment with the various settings to see what type of picture you end up with. Remember that simple shots like a single flower or a close up shot of grass make elegant photos. Using your computer you can convert your photo to black and white or crop your photo. Print your photo at a kiosk like Kodak for less than $1, then frame your photo in an affordable frame.
• Stock Photography
  You don't need to be a seasoned photographer to get a nice picture. You don't even need to know how to turn on your camera. There are websites such as istockphoto.com that sell stock photography for a few dollars. Just search for the type of photo you are looking for and the website can return hundreds of options. When purchasing stock photography make sure you purchase the size of photo that will closely match the final size you are looking for. Again, you can print your purchase photo at a kiosk and famed it.

When the clutter creeps into every cranny and boxes bask in the shady spot your car once inhabited, you know it's time to eliminate.  While I love the enterprising idea of eBay, it seems time consuming and complicated. 

Plus I can't stand the post office lines.  Sometimes a good old-fashioned garage sale can bring in a nice chunk of change without the hassle of online auctions.  But be prepared!  Planning for your sale can send sales sky high just as the lack of prep can sink them.

Step 1: Decide who, what, when, and where.
Plan at least one month in advance to start collecting items and separating them to a garage sale pile.  For maximum success invite the neighbors to participate.  Yes, it may cause a bit more drama and require additional preparation, but hosting a multi-family sale can really boost profits. 

Remember: the early bird catches the worm!  Most hard-core shoppers expect sales to begin early.  7:00am is a good time to start to steer clear of the heat and get some good buyers.  To avoid the languishing afternoon stragglers, make a cut off around lunchtime.  

Step 2: Get the word out.
Scope out the neighborhood papers and thrift ads to post a notice.  If you have a multi-family sale, list it first in capital letters.  Put a few specialty items that would appeal to a wide variety of buyers but also include general categories.  Split the cost of your ad with the neighbors.  

Step 3: Get a permit and investigate signage.
Most larger communities require permits for garage sales and typically set a limit for the number of sales allowed per year.  You must have the permit on site if a trusty city official swings by, so keep it in the cash box.  If you can post signs, buy foam board in a bright color and write with a chisel tip sharpie the address of your sale.  Post two or three more signs (with balloons) to direct traffic.

Step 4: Prepare the goods.
Don't try to sell stuff with dust on it.  Grab a wipe and scour.  No one buys a dirty car just as few people want to pay for a food-encrusted high chair.  At least pretend that you treasure your belongings and paint them in the best light possible.

Step 5: The price is right.
If going in with more than one seller, buy different colored blank stickers to label your items.  Write with a sharpie and include your initials on each label.  Include OBO on larger items you are willing to negotiate.  Keep in mind that you'll have to budge on most bigger ticket things, so you may want to price it slightly higher.