TED

Most of the time shipping is a deal breaker for me whether it's from eBay or some other source. I do think the shipping calculator on eBay will sometimes come up with crazy shipping prices but other times it's the seller. That is the reason why eBay changed their fee format to apply to both the selling price and the shipping price. Dishonest sellers were avoiding fees by jacking up the shipping price. TED

I noticed these on the Target website: https://www.target.com/p/28-led-lit-snowman-holding-sign-sculpture/-/A-51439466 https://www.target.com/p/3-led-lit-snowman-holding-tree-sculpture/-/A-51439469 TED

Stephen, I didn't know you used those. I certainly didn't intend to insult your display and/or decorations. Do the fabric covered items hold up to the weather? I've always thought they would deteriorate rapidly. I know I've seen some that were dirty and muddy. TED

I found one of the small ones but there was no sign of either of the big ones. TED

Some of you may recall that last year I posted about Gen Foam pumpkin pails being sold at Whole Foods. I figured that they wouldn't have anything this year since Gen Foam closed but to my surprise they have the Union Products pumpkin pails. This is the first time I've seen them for sale around here so I had only seen pictures. They are about the same width as the Gen Foam pails and a bit shorter. The price was a little higher than the Gen Foam/Amloid pails at $2.49 but I got one anyway. TED

Oh my goodness...that was painful to read! Why didn't he give them to you!? It just never ceases to amaze me what people will throw away. I've seen people in the neighborhood rent dumpsters (which is very expensive) to throw away perfectly good things. I've seen furniture, guitars, an air compressor... The air compressor was in one of those "bagster" things. I tried to get it but it was too heavy for me to lift. When I came back the next day with someone to help me the bagster had been picked up. I can't understand paying hundreds of dollars to throw away perfectly good stuff. If it's too much trouble to pick up the phone and call one of the charities that will come pick it up (for free) why don't they just set it all out on the curb? It would be gone in a few days. TED

I have one or 2 Union lamp posts that I don't have the tops for. I wonder if that would make a good replacement top? TED For those who collect money for charity it might be something they could use (depending on how secure they need it to be). TED

That's a nice looking candle. The lettering almost has a Japanese look to it. TED

I'm pretty sure that there are no wolfman 'molds. I recall seeing someone turn the Victorian caroler man into a Jack the ripper type character. That's the closest thing I can think of. I've always thought that a wolfman 'mold would be a great thing for one of the companies to make but with Gen Foam out of the picture I don't think we'll see one any time soon. TED

I find Home Depot to be a big disappointment in the Christmas department. The only outdoor figures they've had in recent years are those awful fabric covered flimsy frames. TED

Is that the old Union black cat? TED

3M makes a paint stripper called "Safest Stripper" that is safe to use on blowmolds. You can leave it on a long time with no damage to the plastic. Sometimes you can find it at Ace Hardware (but not the ones here where I live). TED

I came across an article about zombie flamingos. It's not a particularly good article, however it is nice to see something written about blowmolds. The article includes a picture of zombie flamingos and also a picture of skelemingos but fails to explain or even mention the difference. Here's the link: https://www.townandcountrymag.com/style/home-decor/a23596190/zombie-flamingo-halloween-decor/ TED

Both ears are the same. They are just put on at a different angle. So you can use the ear that you have for a model if you want to try to make one. I remember once somebody posted about making an ear out of wood. Since the ears don't light up it wouldn't be noticeable once it was painted. No, the cow ears poke into a hole in the head. The Goofy ears are held on with a screw. No. The ear is a completely separate piece that is attached with a screw. There are other ways to make one that don't require a 3D printer. You'd need a high dollar 3D printer to print something as long as a Goofy ear. No, they are long gone. Grand Venture went out of business in 2003. TED

I was searching for another source for the "American Maid" brand pumpkin pails. I didn't find any but I didn't find some DIY projects with pumpkin pails that I thought I would share. Large Pumpkin arch: https://www.triedandtrueblog.com/make-halloween-pumpkin-archway/ Basic Pumpkin totem: https://www.craftymorning.com/tipsy-plastic-pumpkin-decoration/ I can't quite approve of this one. Pumpkin pail snowman: https://www.craftymorning.com/plastic-pumpkin-snowman-decoration/ TED

I wonder if these are being sold anywhere else since we don't have a Winco here. I tried searching online but came up empty. The closest Winco to me is in Oklahoma. I'll have to ask Slankard if he knows where it is. TED

Mel I'm sure you are right. I feel tired just thinking about it! I have thought about picking up a box of the smaller size "can liners" (clear trash bags) at Sam's to use for the smaller 'molds. I bought a box of the biggest size a few years ago. The 'molds I always have trouble with are the ones that are too big for the large size can liners. Usually they are just 3-4 inches too tall so that the bag can't be tied. My rate of acquisition has slowed down a lot although I have picked up a few here and there. TED

I just realized that we are in the same state! The Hollister store is the closest one for me also. I'm in Little Rock. TED

Everyone has probably figured this out already but I think we can conclude that Amloid does have all 3 of the "new" pumpkin pail faces. Between the two at Walgreens (New Traditional and 3 Tooth) and the two at walmart (3 Tooth and Spacey) all three faces are represented. TED

Ghost train! TED

Wow--you can't view those without feeling nostalgic! Thanks for sharing them. (There weren't any Franks stores around here so unfortunately I've never been in one.) TED

Yeah it sounds great until you get one smashed to pieces because it wasn't protected by a box! I still have a smashed TPI pumpkin around here somewhere that I haven't tried to fix yet. TED

I saw pumpkin pails and also cauldrons at walmart. They all had Amloid molded into the plastic. I also saw a cool M&Ms pumpkin that I think could be lit up. It is intended to hold candy and has a large opening on the back. I think a plate could be made to cover the hole and hold a light. TED

That's a great price for shipping. Did you have them shipped to your local store or shipped directly to your house? TED

Mel, Your post reminded me of something I forgot to tell you about. I remember a few years back I had asked how you make the bags and you told me about using the "Seal-a-meal". The following summer I went to "Bargains Galore on 64" which is where people all along highway 64 have yard sales (similar to those World's longest yard sale events). Of course I was on the hunt for blowmolds but did not find any. Late in the day I was at one sale where they had already started packing up. I was looking around at the stuff they still had out and found a Seal-a-meal. I asked the lady how much she wanted for it and she said, "Oh, just take it!" So I did have some success on the trip even though I didn't find any 'molds. I haven't made any bags yet but it's on my list of things to do! TED