How to Make a Really Creative Shoebox Diorama

A shoebox diorama can be much more than just a miniature scene. It can be a creative display that people are really amazed by. Here are some creative tips and hints on how to make your shoebox diorama really special.

Select A Unique Housing for your Diorama

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When making a shoebox diorama the very first thing you should do is think outside the box! I mean this literally in that you really don't have to use a shoebox to make your shoebox diorama. You can use any number of interesting containers to make a really unique diorama housing. But I recommend you take this thinking to a second step and use something that adds a level of meaning to your diorama.

For example, if you are going to make a diorama about coffee plantations you might want to use a big coffee can as the actual diorama housing. This adds a level of uniqueness that also adds meaning to your diorama. It gives people something to talk about. Think about what your diorama is going to be about and then look around for housing ideas. Another good example of this would be an ocean diorama. This is a very popular theme for a diorama and I made a diorama by hollowing out a Styrofoam lobster trap buoy. It looks really nice and gives the whole diorama a very nautical feeling. Of course if you are going to make a diorama of a shoe store or a shoe factory then a shoebox is perfect!

Tell A Story or Capture a Moment in Time

One of the best things about a diorama is that they can not only show a scene but they can tell a story by capturing a single moment in time. A good example of this is if you want to build a medieval diorama with a castle you could put a dragon and a knight in battle. If you are making an ocean diorama you could capture the moment just before a big fish is about to gobble up a little fish. This tells a story. There is an event frozen in time and it gives your audience something to think about and questions to ask. What is happening in this diorama? What is going to happen next?

Explain something with the structure of the diorama

This is a little bit harder to do but can be the most rewarding aspect of diorama making. Think about how the structure or materials of the diorama can be used to explain the story or point you are trying to make. A good example of this would be a rainforest diorama. The rainforest has five layers from the over canopy to the ground layer. You could build your diorama in five different layers. This way the actual structure of the diorama helps to make the point of how the actual rainforest is.

A shoebox diorama can be a beautiful little facsimile of the real world and there are lots of ways to make it creative and special. All you have to do is think outside the shoebox!

How to Make a Really Creative Shoebox Diorama

SHOE CARNIVAL

Coupons Create Crazy, Creative Ways to Save Big - Just Ask the Krazy Coupon Ladies

"Pick Another Checkout Lane, Honey" is everything you ever needed to know about using coupons to save big. I have to admit upfront I was skeptical at first that coupons could provide the kinds of savings the authors promise, but as I read through the secrets in this book, I was completely won over. These ladies know what they are doing with coupons-it's completely ethical, really not that "krazy" at all except when it comes to the gigantic savings, and some of the shrewdest business advice imaginable.

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I'm not going to give away all the secrets here. I'll just say that these really aren't "secrets" and the Krazy Coupon Ladies are not selling anything other than this book-there are no gimmicks, no additional purchases necessary, no expensive special kits to buy, and no overpriced seminars to attend. Everything you need to know is in this book. And it's more than just advice on how to use coupons to save a couple of dollars on peanut butter, mayonnaise, or ketchup-it's practical financial advice on how to protect your wallet, how to stockpile for emergencies, how to prepare for your future, how to provide you with lasting financial security in times of adversity, and also how to have some extra money for fun-to take vacations or whatever you want to do with it. Coupons are vital for such times as when the economy is bad, or as the Krazy Coupon Ladies explain, when gas prices are high:

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The price of oil directly affects the price of groceries. The more it costs to transport groceries, the more you'll have to pay to get them. The shipping and oil industries are often unpredictable, so it's comforting to have a stockpile. If truckers go on strike, if gasoline prices quadruple, you can insulate yourself from the effects by having a stockpile. It's nice to think that if gas prices jumped to per gallon tomorrow, I wouldn't have to drive to the store twice a week for overpriced cereal. I could just walk out to my garage and congratulate myself for stocking up when boxes of cereal were

What I didn't expect from this book was to find out that Coupons Are Fascinating!-really! I had no idea about the history of the coupon from its origins in the late 1800s to its Internet printable versions and the fraudulent scams they have engendered. Did you know there are coupon clearinghouses operated by prisoners? Did you know what all those numbers and symbols on a barcode mean? You will learn all this and more in "Pick Another Checkout Lane, Honey."

And what about that title? It's funny. It describes how shoppers will have to wait a little longer while you use all those coupons, but so what? You'll be saving tons of money. The authors' many stories about their shopping and couponing adventures are equally priceless for their humor. And throughout are numerous wonderful cartoons depicting Krazy Coupon Ladies doing what they do best-savings tons of money.

Every step from finding great coupons, to how to use them to double and triple your savings, and what to do when checkout cashiers and store managers argue with you-how to educate them actually since you'll know far more than any store manager about coupons-is all provided here. And to top it all off, a lot of additional and completely free information is available on the Krazy Coupon Ladies' website.

This book may be the best financial investment you will ever make. You can easily earn back one hundred times the price of this book within one year-and if you follow all the advice in "Pick Another Checkout Lane, Honey," you may even earn back five hundred times the price. So get ready to save, and even make money.

.50 each.

Coupons Create Crazy, Creative Ways to Save Big - Just Ask the Krazy Coupon Ladies

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Women and Retirement: Creative Couponing

You have probably seen the stories on the news (especially the morning talk shows) about people who save hundreds of dollars on every shop by using coupons. You may say "that could never be me; I don't have time to clip and organize coupons!" Believe it or not, couponing is really not difficult but it does take a little patience, organization and planning.

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The first and most obvious place that people find coupons is in the Sunday paper. I usually buy a Sunday paper and share it with my Mother. This arrangement works well for us because I clip the coupons that we both can use and she enjoys reading it. I know not to buy the paper on the Sunday before a holiday, though, because for some unknown reason, there are no coupons in those editions. I use these coupons at discount stores, the grocery store, and at drug stores. Many drug store chains will allow you to use a manufacturer's coupon along with their store coupon on one single item. For example, today I bought three packages of chips at a drug store and the price is 3 for .00. The store coupon was.99 and I had an additional.50 coupon which brought the price down to 2.50. I also got a reward coupon worth .50 bringing the final price down to 3 bags of chips for 1.00. A nice savings that enabled me to justify buying Girl Scout cookies on the way out of the store (I figure if those darling girls and their parents can stand out in the freezing cold, the least I can do is buy a box). Some really frugal folks skip the step of buying a newspaper and they get their coupons from recycling bins. Talk about creative couponing!

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Many people I know also get coupons online. Most major retailers LOVE for you to print their coupons and use them in their store. It confirms that you are shopping only with them and are also using their website. Before you next shopping trip, go to the store's website and looks for ads and coupons or online coupons. You will need a printer to print them (many are now moving to an online format that will enable you to have coupons emailed to you on your iPhone). You can also sign up for coupons to be delivered to your email box for local services, restaurants, and other items. You can try to places in your area and save lots of money. In fact, many of them give additional discounts if you "like" them on Facebook.

A final way that many people get their coupons is through online auctions. If you have a particular coupon that is of interest, you can order a lot of them for a small price. For example, a friend of mine eats protein bar most mornings for breakfast that costs .00 a piece (which is out of my price range comfort so I don't eat them). She bought a lot of 40 coupons for .00 on an auction site. She will save ( minus .00) for something that she loves and uses (which is the secret to effective couponing).

So, if you want to save money today and in the future (more for a secure retirement!), start couponing today. Be sure not to fall into the trap of buying stuff that you won't use because even with a coupon, you are spending money on stuff you don't need. Also, make sure to buy the item listed on the coupon to make sure that you get the discount (match the photo on the coupon to the item).

So, if you do couponing right, it can be fun and addicting. With a little practice, patience, and organization, you can also be a creative couponer!

Women and Retirement: Creative Couponing

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