Daily Thrifty Tips - November 12, 2007

Volume Six, Number 219, November 12, 2007 (Read It Online) I hope everyone had a nice weekend. To all of our readers who are veterans and to all of their families, Happy Veteran's Day! Here are the contest winners for the week before last... Photo Contest Winner Growing Organic Vegetables At Home By piki viki from Abbeville, AL Tip Contest Winners Staple Patches In Place Before Sewing By Robbie from Knoxville, TN Glass Photo Christmas Ornaments By Panktty from Anderson, IN Thank you to everyone that took time to submit something! Thanks for reading, Susan Send to a Friend! Share a Tip (You could win $25!) Share a Photo (You could win $25!) Have a Question? Submit a request... Link to ThriftyFun.com View Active Topics! Edit Your Subscriptions: To edit your ThriftyFun subscriptions, click the Update Profile/Email Address link at the bottom of this newsletter. Today's newsletter contains: Today's Photos: Craft: Updating a Lamp Tyvek Cosmetic Tote A New Use For Pants/Trousers Hangers King Ling (Siamese) Today's Tips: Potholders From Fabric Scraps Simple Ways to Conserve Water Use Hot Dogs for Cat Treats Growing New Veggies From Discarded Roots Perking Up Instant Hot Cocoa Website for Buying Grocery Coupons Using Car Polish to Clean Glass in Your Shower Easier and Healthier Hashbrowns Clip Art for Folk Art Projects Share Thanksgiving with a Foreign Visitor Joke of the Day New Requests: Painting Walls in a Mobile Home Target Coupon Code Beginners Crochet Christmas Ornaments Keeping Cats Out Of The Christmas Tree Removing Ink from Cotton Doona Cover How Much Should Addition To House Cost? Removing Mildew in the Shower When To Treat Rose Leaf Fungus Where to Buy Laundry Line Separators How to Make Holiday Candy Lights Nail Polish on Suede Looking For Discontinued Gutter Coil Fun Corn Recipe for Thanksgiving Feast Information About Tyler Fixture Freezer Crafts for Large Glass Vases Puppy With Bad Breath Semi-Formal or Casual 17th Birthday? Earning Money Online Where to Purchase 130 Volt Incandescent Bulbs Who Makes Walmart's "Great Value" Coffee? Craft Ideas With Zippers Paint Peeling on Galvanized Hamper Eyedrops or Supplements That Improves Vision Looking For Comforter With Large Grasshopper Pattern Mildew Smell on Towels Removing Gum From a Dryer More Reading: How Long Are Seeds Good For? Ideas For Sifting Rocks Out Of Garden Today's Sponsor: 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. More Information: Click Here: http://www.thriftyfun.com/post_craft.ldml Today's Photos: Craft: Updating a Lamp After redoing my guest room, my lamp did not match the decor. Instead of purchasing a new one, I simply covered an existing one with fabric to match the room. This is a great way to recycle an outdated lamp. View This Craft: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf68961919.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Tyvek Cosmetic Tote Did you know you can recycle tyvek into a waterproof and durable lining for fabric projects. Tyvek can be found in jumpsuits/coveralls for industry work. This type of tyvek is very soft and fabric-like. You can also recycle Tyvek from mailing envelopes. This tyvek is medium weight, but not suitable to use with light colored cover fabrics as the printing will probably show through. Tyvek used to wrap houses in new construction is also useful. This is very stiff and paperlike, but softens when you crumple it. It will stay wrinkled though. Tyvek should not be ironed or put into the dryer. The tote in the picture is a cosmetic tote made using jumpsuit tyvek on the inside. The handle allows it to be hung from a locker hook or wall hook in a bathroom, and the inside can be easily wiped out. For fun, I write a message on the tyvek with a sharpie before assembling the project, so the recipient sees the message each time they open the bag. By Regina from Rochester, NY Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf47382394.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print A New Use For Pants/Trousers Hangers Just as useful as clips, which I sometimes run short of because of having too many snacks open at once, is the hangers with clips! Also, if you are short of shelf or cabinet space, you can hang the snacks on a nail on the back porch out of the way and possibly rodents won't get to them as easily! By Veronica from Sedalia, Missouri Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf26468967.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print King Ling (Siamese) King Ling is a 3 year old Siamese. He was a stray kitten. He likes to have his head rubbed. We named him King Ling, because he acted like he owned the place. This picture was at Christmas when we got snow in Texas and had to bring him inside. He found this sink. By Valleygal from Harlingen, TX Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf24139202.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Contests: Tip Contest Submit a Tip or Recipe! Photo Contest Submit a tip with photo! These contests are weekly. We pick 2 tip winners and 1 photo winner at the end of each week. Each winner will win $25! My Frugal Life Submit a My Frugal Life Essay! Today's Tips: Potholders From Fabric Scraps I have a lot of fabric and a lot of scraps leftover from my projects so I decided to make some potholders from the scraps.I have not been able to master the binding that goes around the edge so I tried something different. I cut some 2 1/2 inch strips (4 per square) and sewed each one to each straight edge (after quilting the square), folded down the end and sewed across it. For loops, I made some from the matching material or you can use bias binding that's been sewed together. These binding strips are cut into 5 inch pieces, fold one in half and insert into end of potholder and sew across. You can use most anything to sandwich between the potholders but I find old flat blankets or fleece at the thrift store.You can even use old clothes,the possibilities are endless! I have made 100 or more so far and they are selling like hotcakes, can't make enough of them and they are very easy to make. Oh and these are cut into 9 inch squares. Hope you enjoy making these potholders as much as I do. By Marian from Danville, VA Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf68986854.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Simple Ways to Conserve Water With the drought conditions in many parts of the country, begin to conserve water even if your state hasn't been affected. If it's yellow, let it mellow, bathroom-wise. Turn off the water while brushing. Use gray water for the lawn and plants. Sweep instead of spray leaves off the deck or sidewalk. Use only a glass of water when taking a pill. Run full loads of laundry. You get the idea. By Rhema from Charleston, SC Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf69879129.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Use Hot Dogs for Cat Treats When cookout season is over you most likely will find condiments and hot dogs marked down so it is definitely time to stock up! My cat (Omen) LOVES me to slice her a hot dog into her dish for a snack ! The cost of kitty treats is near $3 for a small pouch vs. a pack of hot dogs for 79 cents! By Veronica from Sedalia, Missouri Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf57010725.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Growing New Veggies From Discarded Roots I save money by using the bottoms of onions and leeks to grow more of the same. When I clean onions and leeks for eating, I leave a small part of the white area connected to the roots, about a half inch for green onions and the bigger cooking onions, and an inch for the leeks. Then I either place them in a small amount of water to get more roots growing or place them in a plastic bag in the fridge and check them every day for growth. If I clean them in the garden, I cut the really big roots and simply replant them where I pulled them. It's a great way to get free veggies. I also do the same with cabbage. Cabbage roots easily, usually in a few days. I place the bottom of the cabbage in a tray with a little water. When I see good roots growing and the little cabbages sprouting on top, I cut the plant apart and plant each baby cabbage. Sometimes I get six or more free cabbages from one cabbage bottom. I do the same with big onions that that have gone bad or started to sprout. I can get three or more from a large onion. I just make sure that I cut between each part where I can see the beginnings of a new onion clear through the base of the onion and let root. Try it! I've done this for many years! By Mary from Paris, Ohio Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf43097277.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Perking Up Instant Hot Cocoa To perk up a cup of instant hot cocoa, I like to put in a little something extra. I add a dash of flavoring to the prepared hot cocoa, such as vanilla extract, peppermint extract, even coconut or almond is good! I also like to put in a "shot" of half n half or cream if I have it, just to make it even richer. By Carol from Landisville, PA Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf11563742.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Website for Buying Grocery Coupons This is not a recipe, just a tip to save money. Go to grocerygame.com. You can "buy" coupons for just about anything you need. For example, pay 7 cents for a coupon to save a dollar. It's really cool. You gotta check it out. By Mel from Memphis, TN Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf99438130.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Using Car Polish to Clean Glass in Your Shower This tip is for cleaning the glass on your shower screen and keeping it clean. To keep it looking good, use a really good car polish on it and it keeps it clean. I had new glass put on one side and when they put it back in they had some silicon on their hands, with a little rubbing it cleaned it off. I tried everything to get it off and it looks real good. I hope it helps someone else. By Pamela from Australia Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf68316203.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Easier and Healthier Hashbrowns When making hash browns, the most time consuming part is getting the potatoes to fully cook. It saves a lot of time to bake the potatoes the night before and put them in the fridge. Then in the morning you just dice them up while still cold and brown them in a pan. This way is more healthy too because you don't have to use so much oil to cook them. By Roger from Hampton, VA Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf45179574.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Clip Art for Folk Art Projects I found this great site that has free and buy-able clip art for folk art painting or many other project uses. http://www.pccrafter.com/ JC from Tenn. Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf34383054.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Share Thanksgiving with a Foreign Visitor Share Thanksgiving with an International guest! Thanksgiving is one of the few truly American holidays. Try to invite a foreign friend to your home. Maybe you live in a University town and can host a foreign student for the day, or you have a co-worker or friend at church without family? Inviting this international guest benefits your family and the guest because you learn about their culture and they get to experience this holiday with an American family. It can help your kids (and even you) experience the holiday in a new way by not just going through the motions but explaining why we do this Turkey dinner every year. I'll be having 10 foreign friends over who will stare at the sweet potatoes covered with marshmallows, but then gobble them down! Hosting a lone foreigner for the holiday can lead to a life-time friendship. By Grister from Limoges, France Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf44239491.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Dear Webby's Joke of the Day Read More Jokes Here: http://webby.com/humor New Requests: Painting Walls in a Mobile Home How do you paint the walls in a mobile home? We are trying to update my boyfriend's mobile home, which is about 10 years old. The walls have these strips of plastic type stuff every 3 feet or so, and I don't know how to get wallpaper out from under those strips or how to paint them and make it look good. Do I have to pull the plastic strips off? And what is the purpose of them, anyway? Abby from Pensacola, FL Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf62306668.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Target Coupon Code Does anyone know any coupon code for Target? Thank you. Patty from Long Island, NY Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf17354724.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Beginners Crochet Christmas Ornaments Does anyone have directions for a beginner to crochet Christmas ornaments? I would love hearing from you with ideas. I can single and double crochet. Deb816 from Hampton, Tenn. Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf78898351.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Keeping Cats Out Of The Christmas Tree I'm wondering what other owners of cats do to keep them out of the Christmas trees? I have a 1 year old cat that I got this year. I just know she will end up batting at the ornaments and maybe climb up the trunk. Any suggestions? Judy from OH Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf74558980.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Removing Ink from Cotton Doona Cover I have managed to get blue ink on a white, pure cotton Doona cover. I have seen some posts suggesting Dawn, or some other commercial cleaners, however these are not available in Australia, so I'd be grateful for suggestions that one might find around the home. Any help would be gratefully accepted. Thanks in advance. Wendy from Australia Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf74560417.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print How Much Should Addition To House Cost? How much should I expect to pay for an addition to my house? I would like to add on approx. 8 x 18 feet to enlarge my master bath and make a bigger closet. I realize a lot of the pricing will depend on the price of the tub, sink, etc, but I am wondering about the base price for the addition itself. Does it normally go by square footage or some other way? Abby from Pensacola, FL Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf18078034.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Removing Mildew in the Shower I would like to know how to get rid of nasty mildew/mold in the bathroom. My bathroom really has a bad case of this stuff because it does not dry out properly. This particularly happens in the winter where there is a lot of moisture. I try cleaning it with regular commercial products but I end up taking the cement part between the tiles off. So, I have to continuously re-do this cement part (don't know the right word for it). Also, when I remove this cement part in the cleaning process water gets through to the adjoining walls and ruins my rooms next door. I really would like to find something to help me avoid this problem. Thank you. Michael Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf87746649.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print When To Treat Rose Leaf Fungus My roses have fungus on leaves. Should I trim them and treat them now or wait until spring. I am a real novice with plants. Hardiness Zone: 9b Loni from Sacramento, California Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf92314220.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Where to Buy Laundry Line Separators I still hang laundry on an outdoor clothes line. I cannot locate line separators anymore. If you need a description, best I can give is they look like large paper clips and are used after hanging several items to keep the lines together (I use a pulley line, not a single one). Can someone out there identify with this this problem and tell me where I can buy these things--I will do mail order if necessary. Thanks for your help. Monica from Northeast, PA Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf52064756.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print How to Make Holiday Candy Lights Holiday Candy Lights. I am looking for directions on how to make a string of mini Christmas lights into a string of wrapped candies. It used mini lights, cellophane and little clear plastic cups. Would like to make these for Christmas. Anyone have the directions for these? Thanks! Mark T from WLA, CA Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf85388030.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Nail Polish on Suede How do I get red finger nail polish out of suede? Jennifer from Lansing, MI Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf95275290.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Looking For Discontinued Gutter Coil Looking for a list of discontinued gutter coil. The color in question is lime green. HELP! Tracy from Plymouth, MN Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf86952743.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Fun Corn Recipe for Thanksgiving Feast Need a fun recipe using corn to send to 1st graders Thanksgiving feast! Betty from Orange, TX Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf97463794.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Information About Tyler Fixture Freezer Product: Antique 3x5 "Harder Freezer" Model: HC13E Manufacturer: Tyler Fixture Corp This came with my house I purchased last year. Want to know more about it. Anybody know? John from Hicksville, NY Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf62696283.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Crafts for Large Glass Vases I have several medium to large glass vases that are sitting around collecting dust. I'm wondering about crafts to do with them. I have one on my table filled with pine cones and acorns and other seasonal dried flora as decoration. Thanks! Stefani from Lexington, KY Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf76224970.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Puppy With Bad Breath Any advice on bad puppy breath? Puppy is 7 weeks old. Colleen from Buffalo, NY Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf505708.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Semi-Formal or Casual 17th Birthday? I am turning 17 this month and I haven't had a party the last two years so I want to have a semi-big party, but I want it to be original. I'm not sure if it should be semi-formal or just casual. Please help me. Kayla from Gresham, OR Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf96255050.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Earning Money Online Does anyone have any ideas on how to legitimately make money on the internet? I am needing to make some extra income and am interested in finding out about some legitimate web sites to work with and for. Any suggestions? Thanks ahead of time! Robin from Washington, IA Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf34753277.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Where to Purchase 130 Volt Incandescent Bulbs A subscriber recommended buying 130 volt incandescent light bulbs. Where can these be purchased? Thanks. Sharon from Southern Illinois Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf75163638.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Who Makes Walmart's "Great Value" Coffee? Who makes Walmart's "Great Value" coffee? Bill from Orlando, FL Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf91586195.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Craft Ideas With Zippers What can you make from lots of zippers? I have an abundance of all kinds of zippers,different sizes and was wondering if anyone has any ideas of what crafty thing I could make from all these zippers.Something unusual that nobody else has.I sew all the time but hardly ever use these zippers.I make mostly things that are easy to make.Thanks for your feedback. Marian from Danville, VA Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf60588900.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Paint Peeling on Galvanized Hamper I have an old galvanized painted hamper. The paint is peeling. Does anyone know how to go about removing the paint and then repainting the surface? I am also looking for any interesting ways to decorate this object. It is very old and I like the shabby-chic look. Thanks! Carla from Sellersville, PA Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf40094969.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Eyedrops or Supplements That Improves Vision Anyone tried eye drops and/or nutritional supplements which improve the vision? (cartaract/blurred vision) How about Catalin eyedrop? works? How about Sharp Vision (by Irwin Nat'l)? Many thanks! Shanna Lu from Seattle, WA Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf68899681.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Looking For Comforter With Large Grasshopper Pattern I have been searching and searching for a comforter with a large grasshopper on it, and a sheet set to go with it. I really need the comforter ASAP. So I can do with out the sheet set for now. Where can I find this or someone who will custom create this comforter? K from NEW YORK , NY Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf33789408.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Mildew Smell on Towels How do you remove the mildew smell from towels. They smell OK until they get used again after a shower. The towels are cotton. Jayne from Minneapolis, MN Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf31725159.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Removing Gum From a Dryer There is gum all over the barrel of my clothes dryer help how so I get this off? Thank you. Marie from Holyoke, MA Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf554973.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Today's Sponsor: 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. More Information: Click Here: http://www.thriftyfun.com/post_craft.ldml More Reading: How Long Are Seeds Good For? How long are seeds good for? Advice from the ThriftyFun community. Read More: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf64771719.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Ideas For Sifting Rocks Out Of Garden I need to get the rocks out of my garden. I've already made a rectangular "box", open on top, heavy-duty wire mesh on the bottom, but lifting it to shake it hurts my back. I'm trying to create a way to put legs on it and shake it to filter out the dirt. I'm looking for examples, plans, etc. Read More: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf71577517.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Interactive Coupon Swap! Swap coupons with other ThriftyFun.com users. Seed Swap! Swap seeds with other ThriftyFun.com users.