INPUT ARTICLE: Article: If you're trying to make a more official, standardized crossword puzzle, there are specific dimensions you have to adhere to. If you're making a more casual puzzle, though, you can pick whatever size you want. If you're using an online crossword puzzle maker or puzzle-making software, you may be restricted to a certain range of available sizes. If you're making your puzzle by hand, it's totally up to you. Usually you'll select words according to a theme of your choosing. That theme, or a clue to it, can then become the title of the puzzle. Examples of common themes include foreign places or languages, words from a certain time period, famous people, and sports. This part of the process can feel as challenging as actually solving a crossword puzzle. Once you've laid the words out, black out any unused squares. In a US style crossword, there should be no "hanging words," or words that do not connect to other words. Every letter should correspond to both an Across word and a Down word, and be totally interconnected. In a UK style crossword, hanging words are permitted. If the answer to a clue is a phrase rather than a single word, there should be no spaces between the words. You don't need to worry about capitalizing proper nouns in your answers, as crosswords are usually filled out in all caps. The answers should not include punctuation either. Many crossword puzzle creators automatically lay the words out for you. All you do is specify puzzle size and input the list of words and clues. Begin in the upper-left corner of the puzzle, and divide the words by whether they run vertically or horizontally, so that you have a "1 Down," and a "1 Across," etc. This can also be pretty mind-bending, and many people prefer to use software instead of doing it all manually. If you're using a crossword puzzle creator, it will handle the numbering for you automatically. This time the starting square for each word should be numbered, but the squares themselves should be otherwise blank. If you're creating your puzzle by hand this will be a bit more labor intensive, but if you're using a crossword puzzle creator it should be done for you. Set aside the filled-in puzzle for use as an answer key. You can make as many copies of the blank one as you need.

SUMMARY: Decide on a grid size. Make a list of words for your crossword puzzle. Lay the words out in a grid format. Number the starting square for each word. Create a copy of the crossword puzzle.

INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Pour the chopped peppers into a medium-sized sauce pan on the stove. Add 2 cups (500 ml) of distilled white vinegar and 2 tablespoons (29.6ml) of salt. Turn the burner to medium-high. Bring the pepper mixture to a boil and stir regularly to ensure that the peppers do not stick to the bottom of the pan. Once the sauce is boiling, turn down the heat to low. Let it simmer for approximately 5 minutes. To ensure that you don't heat the peppers for too long, set a timer. Remove them from the heat immediately. Stir occasionally, but try not to stand right over the sauce pan and breathe deeply. The steam rising from the hot sauce can irritate your lungs and nasal passages. Turn off the stove and remove the sauce pan from the heat. Cover the mixture loosely and allow it to cool completely before pureeing the sauce. Don't move forward with pureeing until the sauce cools. When hot, its consistency is thinner and the final result may end up too thin.

SUMMARY: Put the peppers, vinegar, and salt in a sauce pan. Heat the mixture until it begins to boil. Let the sauce simmer for 5 minutes. Cool the mixture completely.

INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Most universities require you to submit some basic details using an online application. These details may include things like your name, address, schools attended, etc. Complete this part of your application before you do anything else. Some schools also require letters of recommendation to be submitted via an online system. You may need to submit your recommenders email addresses so that they can access this system. Your applications will also likely include some paper items, such as your statement of purpose, official transcripts, writing samples, or other required materials. Collect these items and seal them in a large envelope. Make sure that you give yourself plenty of time to send your packets so that they will arrive before the deadline. Address the packets. Make sure that you double check the addresses for each of your packets to ensure that they will be delivered to the correct location. Pay for postage. International postage can be quite expensive, so make sure that you reserve some money to pay for this cost. Pay the postage for each of your packets and send them out. Waiting to hear back from schools may be the most difficult part of the process. It can take weeks or even months for PhD application committees to make their selections. Many schools alert applicants of an acceptance or rejection via email as well as with a paper letter, so keep an eye on both of your inboxes.

SUMMARY: Complete online application components. Prepare your application items to mail. Wait for responses.

INPUT ARTICLE: Article: This is optional.

SUMMARY:
Add a bit of opalescent glitter to the entire face-painting.