Daily Thrifty Tips - November 13, 2006

Crafting for Fun and Money!

If you are an avid crafter, capable writer and own a digital camera, you are eligible to participate. Submit your craft projects to ThriftyFun and we will pay $15 for any crafts that we publish.

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Sable is a 5 year old Chihuahua/Rat Terrier. I adopted Sable from my ex fiance's sister when she had her 1st child 4 years ago.

Sable loves to sleep - Like mother, Like daughter...lol

Here is Sable for Halloween this week - she was a witch. I bought a 24 month old Halloween infant shirt and the hat was for an animal. I bought another costume for her but she didn't like it - the head was too heavy for her little head. lol.

By Carol Ann from Ida Grove, IA

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Supplies:

• one piece of cardstock or a plain white card
• one piece of colored background paper
• scraps of flesh-toned paper
• scraps of embroidery floss
• scraps of ribbon
• fine-lined marker
• glue stick
• white craft glue
• circle punch

Directions:

Fold your piece of white cardstock in half or use a "decorate yourself" plain white card. Cut your colored background paper to fit and using the glue stick apply adhesive and cover the white card with the colored paper.

Using a circle punch, punch out the flesh-toned paper to make three faces. You can trace around a pop bottle cap and cut with scissors if you don't have a punch.

Apply the glue stick to the back of the faces and adhere to the card. Using a fine tipped marker draw on faces, making the mouth shapes into an "0" so it looks like they are singing. I used a little blush to color the cheeks by applying it with a cotton swab.

The hair is made by wrapping the floss around two fingers and tieing it in the middle; I trimmed the boys hair but left the girls hair with the loops that are formed when you wrap your fingers.

Tie small bows from scrap ribbon and use white craft glue to apply them to the girls' hair and the boys' collar. Draw musical notes around the card. Use a marker to write the words "Fa-la-la-la-la" on scrap cardstock, or print out the words from your computer and cut with scissors.

I used scalloped scissors, but you can use straight paper scissors if you don't have craft scissors. I set up an assembly line when making my cards and just repeat multiple steps to make up lots of cards at one time; the kids can help by punching out the faces.

By Paula from Christmas, MI

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Helping Seniors with Crafts, Games and Bingo at Bayonne Medical Center.

By Larry Pilarski from Bayonne, NJ

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Nala is my 5 year old Abby/Tabby (Abyssinian/Tabby mix). I adopted her from the animal shelter at almost 1 year, she was exactly as I was looking for. A female tabby, a little older than a kitten. She was declawed, I wouldn't pick that for any of my animals, but was perfect for a 2 year old to learn how to pet a kitten without getting hurt!

She loves her Crazy Stupid grass (catnip), thrown on the floor on vacuuming day, she rolls forever! She loves to sleep on my hip in bed. She loves her treat scoop of wetfood each morning and meows at my daughter while she takes a shower each night. She likes to sleep in the bathtub when it's hot!

She is so special! She picked me! As I walked by her cage she put out her paw and touched me and meowed, how much more perfect is that?

By Michawn from Morgan Hill, CA

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This is an all time very quick, healthy and versatile favourite in our family.

Chop up any kind of vegetables you like, to bite size, I use tomatoes, cucumber, bell peppers (different colours). Our family loves Feta cheese added, cube it. Cook 1 package of fresh Tortellini in about 2 Litres of boiling water with a bit of salt for about two minutes (the dry kind works just as well, just needs longer to cook). Once the Tortellini are cooked, drain and put them in a bowl. Add veggies and cheese. Pour over it your favourite salad sauce and mix. The salad tastes great with the warm Tortellini, but if there's some left over, it's lovely to eat cold as well.

Enjoy!

By Hanna from Germany

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I am happy to say that I grew up in a frugal family. It certainly made a difference. My greatest influence was my father. Both my Mom and Dad lived through the depression and Dad's family was affected deeply. It was important to my parents that their children receive good educations and do well in in life. Their children were to have the opportunities that were not there for my brilliant parents. My Father skipped three grades in school catching up to his eldest sister. There was no money for higher education in university.

We turned off lights as we left a room and counted the ounces in various tins of vegetables and fruit. Although there was no waste in our home, we lived well, ate proper food and had a nice home. Living well and thriftiness can definitely go hand in hand. My husband and I have enjoyed the wisdom of our parents and added in lots of our own.

Bev from Chilliwack, BC

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When cutting meat, use a plastic cutting board instead of a wood one. It is much easier to clean bacteria from a plastic cutting board than it is from wood, which will also need to be reseasoned after cleaning. After using a cutting board for meat, wash it well (or wash it in the dishwasher) before using it again to avoid transfering bacteria to other food items.

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For grimy, dirty tile floors, I use oven cleaner, it is the perfect degreaser and cleaner. It is best to work in small areas at one time to get the whole job done. I first spray on the over cleaner, make sure your windows or doors are open for proper ventilation, as recommended on can. Next, I allow it to sit for a few minutes while I begin to spray another area, while area 2 is foaming, I sponge mop dry area 1 to remove foam and then rinse it with clean water to remove any left over cleanser. Move onto section 2 and start a third section and so on and so on until the entire floor is squeaky clean. The best part is the oven cleaner removes the build up without YOU doing any of the scrubbing.

By Pat from FL

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This is a fun party to throw for your friends that are into needlework. Make your invitations with fun old time graphics. Inside your invitation, include instructions for an easy quick square that everyone can make and ask that they make two. These you will make into a afghan for a small needy child or baby. Get out all of your pattern books and ask your friends to bring their newest patterns to share. Free patterns can be found on the internet and printed out cheaply.

If you don't have enough teacups, they can be bought at yard sales or thrift stores or you can just ask that each lady bring her own favorite cup from home. In the room that you want to have your tea party in, have plenty of comfy chairs and sofas for your friends to lounge on. Set out your pattern books. You will want to have some background music, something like classical music with nature sounds or some soothing music. Decorate the room with small tussy mussie's at each place setting. By the side of each place, set out a small pad for taking notes or copying directions.

As party favors, you could make each lady a crochet hook caddy out of a pencil bag or box. For the crochet hook bag, you will need one zippered bag for pencils that goes inside a three ringed binder and some lace. With some hot glue, glue the lace right below the zipper. To decorate a pencil box you can use paint or foam shapes to glue on. Pencil bags can be bought at the dollar store and pencil boxes can be bought really cheap when school supplies go on sale.

You will need a tea pot to keep the water hot in. You can wrap the tea pot in a towel at the table to keep the water hot. Set out a small bowl with sugar cubes and one with lemon slices. Set the table with a nice lace table cloth. You can use an old lace panel from your window it you have one on hand. You will want to serve some comfort teas. Celestial Seasonings make some great teas that are fruit and spice. It is nice to have two or three to choose from. Set them out in small bowls. I always use small clear glass bowls as they will match with any color scheme or theme tea party. Get out your favorite teacups and set up for a tea. Each place should be set with a small plate for goodies and a napkin. You can also set out a small plate for tea bags if you want. If you are providing the tea cups, set them out beforehand also. You will want to have easy finger foods for this party. Cookies and small cupcakes would be nice. If you want to have more substantial food you can make finger sandwiches out of thinly sliced deli meat. I would stay away from fillings like egg salad as these have a tendency to be messy.

Have everyone bring their latest project to work on. Sit back and relax. If you want to play some games, you might make a scramble word game out of crochet words like double crochet or treble crochet and maybe award a small prize like a pattern for the winner. Or you could crochet a long chain and have the ladies guess how many chains there are. For other entertainment, you might want to make a tape of you reading some poetry or passages from a good book. Share the latest stories with your friends and have a great time.

By Debra from Colorado Springs, CO

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I have very dry skin, especially my feet. I use very little vegetable shortening in cooking and had a can of shortening in the pantry. I remembered reading somewhere that vegetable shortening is very moisturizing, so for the past week, I have been applying the vegetable shortening to my dry feet especially the heels, then putting on a pair of socks to hold the moisture in. WOW, I am amazed at the difference in my heels and other dry places on my feet. It really does work.

As Winter approaches and my hands become dryer, I plan to do the same on my hands. I am looking for an inexpensive pair of thin gloves to put on during the bedtime hours. Of course, my husband thinks I am nuts and not very romantic. Hopefully, I won't have to do this often.

By Bobbie G from Rockwall, TX

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My brother reminded me of this tonight (he's a fireman) :)

Making children's clothing flame retardant: Mix together nine ounces 20 Mule Team Borax and four ounces boric acid in one gallon water. If the article is washable, soak in the solution after final rinsing, then dry. If the garment is not washable, spray with the solution. This solution, recommended by fire departments, may wash out of clothing and should be used after each washing or dry cleaning.

By Laurie from Nevada

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How do I fix large hole in my ceiling? I have already done a square cutout of 24x24 inches.

JAMES from GASTONIA, NC

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How does one get assistance on exotic trips for elderly on walker,
i.e. african safari, machu picchu?

Lex from Hollywood, FL

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How do you remove underarm sweat stains from a dark blue shirt?

DW from Grand Junction, CO

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I need ideas for a Christmas float with the theme "Christmas at PapPap and Granny's"

Lois from Cambridge, Ohio

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What are the blue stains in my toilet bowl?

Eva from Los Angeles

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I have had the last two electric ovens in the house we live in be "off" in temperature control in the oven. For example I set the dial to 375 and the oven heats up over that. I finally purchased an oven thermometer so I can see what temp my oven is and try to regulate from watching that and dialing the temp control. I do store pots and pans in the oven when not in use. I do have the drawer underneath the oven full of items. Other than that I cannot figure out for the life of me why two ovens would both be "off" in temperature. Any ideas?

Thanks in advance!

Trica from Kalamazoo, MI

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I recently got a Himalayan cat for my birthday, and he's constantly peeing around the house, on the leather couch, on our chairs, etc. We also have 3 other cats, I'm wondering if getting more litter boxes would help, or as people have told me that it's just the breed that is unhappy being around other animals? I don't want to get rid of him so please tell me any information you know.

Lacey

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Can someone help me with the categories they use to sort their coupons?

Tammy from Newark, OH

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I need help removing dust that has been on wood a long time. Wood Walnut and black & gray dresser draws. It's been sitting around a long time neglected.

Jo from Waterford, CT

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Does anyone have a homemade recipe for a dry skin moisturizer for face and body?

Jamish from Ransom, Kansas

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When you have a male and female guinea pig and she is going to have babies, do you have to remove the male from the cage? Or will he not eat his young?

CarrieLeeann from Kansas City, Missouri

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How do you get baby poo off carpets and walls?

Wesley Lubbe from United Kingdom

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How to remove burn marks from Vinyl floor. A candle dropped on the floor and there is deep black, brownish yellow stain because of the burn. Any help to remove the stain is much appreciated.

VJ from VA

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I have an older home with a fuse box and I need to add outlets in the basement. I also need to up the fuses to at least 20 from 15 so I can run my saw. How do i do this?

Doyle from Morristown, TN

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I have taken my cloths to a laundry mat for a long time and have now got a problem with a mildew smell in my towels. For the first time my daughter's sweatshirt now smells of mildew after it has been washed. Could you please tell me what is causing this and how I can deal with it? Thank you.

Sincerely,
Linda from Vancouver

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I am looking for a recipe that my mother in law made. It had (I think) Lime jello, nuts, cream cheese, pineapple and she would call it green salad. It was wonderful and she would put it in a mold with the cherries on top. It was always a holiday tradition. Please help, my daughter who is now in college wishes she had some of her granny's green salad. Granny has since passed away.

Karen from Summerville, SC

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My sister-in-law made me a reindeer pin from a baby bottle nipple. The tip was painted red like rudolph's nose and the antlers were chenille stems, and it had wiggle eyes. I lost mine and would like a pattern to make these, has anyone seen these on the web?

Kaye from Alabama

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What can I use to remove a dog urine stain and smell from a persian carpet.

Sheila from South Africa

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Can you trim back a Fuschia plant? I want to bring it in for the winter, but would like to cut it back and let it grow back out this winter.

Hardiness Zone: 5a

Peggy from Chillicothe, OH

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How can I bind my carpet remnants myself?

Nelwyn from Bunkie, LA

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I have a Neapolitan mastiff and I am unsure on whether I'm feeding her the right amount of food. She has lost weight recently and does not look like the mastiffs on the internet. I love her to bits and I'm so worried. I have had her at the vets and he's said that she's fine.

Bucky from England

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Ingredients

• 1 package Hashbrowns (32 oz size)
• 1 can Cream of Mushroom soup
• 1/2 cup Margarine
• 1 can Cheddar Cheese soup
• 1 cup Sour cream

Directions

Put hashbrowns in crock pot. Mix soups and sour cream together. Pour over hash browns. Cut up margarine and stir into hashbrowns.

Cook on low for 4 to 6 hours, stirring occasionally.

Comments

This time, I added almost a full bottle of real bacon bits. I like it with and without. For the hashbrowns, I used shredded first time and southern this time, both good. I used a small can of Cream of Chicken soup instead of the Mushroom soup. Everyone loved this and wanted the recipe.

By Christi from Paducah, KY

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