Wonderunder-foamcore: - all I can tell you about trying to iron Wonder-Under onto foam core is that when I tried it, I warped my foam core. Perhaps the iron was too hot - but it made the foam swell.

Jeanette in Wisconsin

Wonderunder-foamcore: Here's a tip using Wonder-under. I have been ironing it to the reverse side of print or plain fabric, and then ironing it right on to the foam-core that forms the outer box for the projects that use a picture mat and forms inner and outer boxes for a framed scene, like the ones that Cat Wingler (One of my favorite Artists) taught at the Nationals in Ky. last Summer. It works great, just don't hold the iron in one place too long, and make sure it is pressed to the fabric before you iron it to the foam-core. I iron it completely around the box, and make it look like a gift package, and any loose edges, I add some Bond-Grip glue.

Jan

Wonderunder-foamcore: We did this in a club project several years ago...a member was teaching a wonderful, 1/2-scale 'tree house') the house sat atop the trunk! We used wonder-under to apply fabric 'wallpapers' to the foamcore before assembling the house...I only remember that we needed to use a lower heat setting, because high heat would melt the foam. Maybe you can practice on a few fabric and foamcore scraps to get it right?

Laura in OKC

Using acrylic paint:

1. Make sure you are using the best quality paint available. You didn't say what you are painting. Furniture? Walls?

2. If you are getting brush strokes, you are applying too much paint at a time. Put some paint on a palette and add a little water by dipping your brush into your water basin and mixing it with your paint. Do not overload your brush with paint.

3. Get an assortment of high/artist quality brushes.

4. I have never gotten away with only one coat of paint. You can assume that you will be using at least two THIN coats. I always lightly sand between coats using very fine sandpaper (800). After the last coat, a light sanding with a piece of brown paper bag gives the piece a satin finish. The more thin coats you apply, the deeper and richer the finished project with be. Make sure the piece is allowed to dry completely between coats of paint and sanding!

Kathy in Wisconsin

Child's Roombox: Our grandson is now 5 and loves the "house" we made for him - it isn't really a house at all, just a large room box with no ceiling.  It's rather like what we call over here a bedsit, with everything, except the bathroom, in one open space.

Maybe your grand daughter might like the idea, Rose.  That way you can put a bit of everything in it, bed, shelves, tiny kitchen and things like the Michael's hutches, with lots of opening doors and drawers.  Adam had three hutches in his, in various styles, and loves to put the mugs and plates and things away and out again.  He also loves to make the bed up, so we made lots of simple bedding, so he can choose.   Most of all, though, he likes the food and drink (like his Dad!)  I made a lot of pies, cakes, sandwiches and burgers, all from Fimo, with a couple of slices cut out, so he can share.  He loves to offer his Dad a can of beer or Coke when they play with it together!

Florida Gill, Surrey, UK

Special Newspapers: When I was making Trinity's dh, I made a little newspaper all about Trini, her birthday, weight, eye and hair color, all kinds of little stuff about  what the weather was like on the day she was born, what the top news story, etc.  You get the idea.   The point is, I made it on the computer, took maybe an hour and was tons cheaper than buying newspaper patterned dh wallpaper.  Couldn't something like this be done for those on a limited budget?   I guess I am always looking for a way to diy, since I limit my spending budget as well.

Eileen in St.Louis

ROOM BY ROOM - KB TOYS: !   Thanks for the advice from fellow miniers on the Room By Room  Boxes.   Picked up the Kitchen, Bath and Dining Rooms at K-B Toys for the $15 reduced prices today.   Would like the bedroom and living rooms, but   they were not in stock.

Great starter for the little ones, and kit-bashing possibilities for us older kids.  The dishes resemble the Chrysnbon ones, and am thinking of painting them.   The plain walls could use some pretty wallpaper. The curtains go into the trash box--would like to frame scenes over the window openings on the back of the boxes.

Had a little 4-yr. old here Sunday before I picked up the rooms.  I don't usually have dolls in my houses, but the first thing she asked was "where are the dolls".  Little ones love having dolls in houses, so when I got the boxes set up I hauled out my Fisher Price dolls to go into them. Even though not in perfect scale, they are great since they bend at so many joints, and the children won't notice the difference. Sure wish they were 12 v. lighting instead of batteries, but then you can't have everything.

Dolores

Glass block. Go to a stained glass store and ask to see their architectural glass selection. They have glass that is on a sheet in little squares that will work great for glass block. The squares are about 3/8" maybe. Usually they have inexpensive scraps you can buy, get a cheap cutter, and voila, glass block.

Joni

countertop materials : You can get man-made countertop materials - laminates - in thicknesses thinner than 1/4". Both Formica and Pionite are 1/16" thick. I've collected a large supply of the free samples available. They come in the traditional sorts of designs, but also in some wonderful "wood" grains. I'm always saying to myself that I'm going to put them to good use by creating my (unbuilt - but planned) kitchen counters, tile floors, and perhaps a butcher block (one Formica pattern is alternating strips of light and dark"wood") and a chess board. Anyway, The Building Box (but not Home Depot) sells large sheets (maybe 6 sq. feet) of the more popular Formica patterns and the price was very cheap $3.00 - 4.00 Canadian. You can also cut Formica without power tools. You can even use a utility knife. You simply score and snap! I found a site with illustrations -
http://alsnetbiz.com/homeimprovement/htseries/formica.html

Each sample piece has it's name, and ordering number stamped on the front, but I found that rubbing alcohol on a cotton puff (and some rubbing) removes the print, and gives you a little bigger piece to work with.

Jenny in Toronto

Silica gel Crystals: If your rocks turn yellow, just stick them in the oven for a little while to dry them back out. They change colors to let you know that they have absorbed all the moisture that they can.

Sherry