Daily Thrifty Tips - March 4, 2008

Vol. 7, Num. 45, March 4, 2008 (Read It Online) Here are the contest winners for last week: Photo Contest Winner Use A Scanner To Make A Photo Collage By Igmommy from Sweetwater, TN Tip Contest Winners Pay Attention to Package Sizes When Grocery Shopping By Kim from Franklin Park, IL Use an Exfoliating Glove for Scrubbing Soap Scum By Freebyrdz from Ontario, Canada Recipe Contest Winner Stir in Pan Fudge Cake (No Eggs) By Sheila from Ontario 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: Shiny Glam Easter Eggs Homemade "No Show" Socks Customizing a Jeep for Girls Princess The Hamster Today's Tips: Hand Wash Stained Coffee Carafe With Dishwasher Detergent Use Soda In Your Flower Arrangements Use Sheets for Long Curtains Donate Extra Cards To Schools Attractive Container For Your Compost Scraps Make Your Own Automatic Shower Cleaner Brown Bag Bananas And Store In The Fridge Poke a Hole in the Center of Your Burger Use Wax Paper In Your Microwave Joke of the Day New Requests: Glycerin in Homemade Liquid Laundry Soap Removing Grass From Ground Cover Removing Burnt Plastic Smell in Dishwasher College Graduation Party Ideas Are Nuts Harmful for Dogs? Finding a Free Prom Dress Discontinued Wallpaper Border: Beach House 127, Seashells Border Beige BH53022B Cleaning Permanent Marker off Walls Disney's Pirates of the Caribbean Cotton Fabric Housebreaking a Miniature Pinscher Making a Bedroom Door Stay Closed Manual for Perfection-Aire Oven Model # C2000 Using 'Twist Embroidery Machine Thread' Removing Hair Dye Stain on Rug Removing Water Marks from a Shower Screen Cleaning a Diamond and Pearl Ring Preserving Homemade Aloe Vera Gel Replacement Vertical Blind Fabric Inserts Removing Endust Residue From Pergo Floors Cleaning Products for Venetian Blinds Kraft Classic Noodles Buying a TV on a Budget Sites Similar to Thriftyfun Saving Money on Tickets 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: Shiny Glam Easter Eggs Plastic eggs made glam! Approximate Time: 30 minutes Supplies plastic easter eggs crystal beads hot glue and gun Instructions Take plastic eggs and glue on crystal beads. Let dry, put in basket and enjoy. By Sandy from Bluff City, TN Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf23253797.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Homemade "No Show" Socks Make your own "no show" socks. Materials pair of pantyhose with a run pair of scissors needle and thread your foot Instructions Cut the panty part off the pantyhose. Stretch the open end of the cut off stocking over your foot. Cut off the excess stocking off, leaving a seam allowance of 1/4 inch. Sew together the narrow end of the "sock" with a running stitch. Depending on where the run is in the stocking you can get a few pairs out of one pair of hose. You can also wear these under other hose to prevent runs and snags from you toes and heels. The panty portion can be worn over tights that have stretched out elastic to keep them up. By Kristen from Cambridge, UK Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf25421093.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Customizing a Jeep for Girls For Christmas this year, we wanted to get our daughter an all terrain Jeep that could handle our thick grass and her grandparent's gravel road. The problem was they were geared towards boys and looked nothing like a girl or even neutral. So my hubby and I placed Disney Princess stickers all over it along with some flower stickers. It worked great! Even though the Jeep was "not purple" like she hoped, she really enjoyed the decorations and never even knew we did it. Plus, we have had no problem with the stickers coming off because this jeep cannot stay outside anyway. Also clingies or wall art would work just as well. By Sarah from Chattanooga, TN Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf26394038.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Princess The Hamster Princess is 6 months old and is a hamster. I went shopping for a turtle and got a hamster. She likes to play in the doll house, eat treats like apples and carrots and run in her plastic ball. By Faith from St. Louis Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf47062623.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: Hand Wash Stained Coffee Carafe With Dishwasher Detergent If you have a stained glass coffee maker carafe with the plastic top (pour spout area), resist the urge to clean it in the dishwasher. The sealant around the plastic section will soon shrink and start to leak coffee when you pour. Instead, just put in a spoon of dry dishwasher detergent and fill the carafe with water to below the plastic section. In a matter of seconds, you will see large dark flakes of 'stain' peeling off the inside of the glass. Swish with a dish brush, or pour out the water and wipe the inside with a sponge, then rinse. The glass will quickly be clear as new! By CrafterMary from Mtn. Pine, AR Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf56534921.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Use Soda In Your Flower Arrangements To make fresh cut flowers last longer, use 1/2 water and 1/2 soda, such as Sprite or any clear color soda. Your flowers will last for weeks and weeks and they will remain beautiful. By Dawn from Newburgh, NY Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf71127919.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Use Sheets for Long Curtains If you have high windows that need curtains over 86 inches but don't want to spend money buying the longer lengths or for material by the yard, just buy flat bed sheet(s). They're already sewn looking like curtains and come in many colors and patterns (buy extra to make decorative pillow covers, throws, placemats, running mats, whatever you like ) They're about 96 inches or longer. Just buy the pole or wire and curtain clips and hang'em up. You have 4 sheet choices: twin, full, queen and king. By Vivi from Richmond hill, NY Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf15969346.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Donate Extra Cards To Schools Have leftover holiday cards (Valentines, Christmas, birthday, etc.)? Don't throw them away, ask your local school if they want them. They can use them in the lower grades to make great "cards" for mom and dad for future holidays and you'll recycle too! By Debradj from Illinois Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf97715492.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Attractive Container For Your Compost Scraps Composting is always great. It recycles plant wastes and makes great soil. We have a composting unit in the back yard under a tree. When I worked in the kitchen, it was hard to save things for composting and I was always debating if it was worth the time to take the little I had out or if I should just throw it out. This was especially true at night or if I was not feeling well. Now I have a stainless steel container with a lid right by my sink (It is about 1 gallon size). Since it is not see-through and closes securely it is neither an eye-sour or a smell problem. I put the banana peel in after breakfast. The ends of carrots, onion and potato peelings, salad wastes, etc. from lunch and supper. I also put in tea bags (minus the staple and string. Coffee grinds are great too. When this can is full, I empty it into the composter . We also layer the leaves and grass clippings into this composter. Having the steel canister in the kitchen saves me time and I end up with great soil for my garden. By Harriet from Lakewood, CA Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf61498054.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Make Your Own Automatic Shower Cleaner Everyone wants clean showers - but paying for the formula is expensive. I've found a cheap way to deal with this situation. Maybe not cheap to start with, but well worth it in the long run. Purchase the Automatic Shower Cleaner product (about $20). This comes with two containers of shower cleaner. Using this batch is a good start. Clean up the shower by hand initially to get the junk off, and then use the cleaner after each shower (one button push). You will notice that it does clean up pretty good, however, replacements are expensive. Now here is where it gets nice and easy. After you have used both bottles - simply open one of them (they are hard to open because they have some reverse tabs on the inside of the lid - but they do come off) and pour in about 2 or 3 tablespoons of Jet Dry dishwasher fluid. Fill the rest of the bottle with water. And voila, you have a wonderful shower cleaner. Just tap the button after every shower and it will always look good! By Sean from Owasso, OK Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf61113332.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Brown Bag Bananas And Store In The Fridge Bananas browning too quickly? Place bananas in a brown bag, set in the refrigerator. The skins will turn brown in a few days, but the fruit will be beautifully white and firm. By Cajun from Collinsville, IL Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf11613978.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Poke a Hole in the Center of Your Burger When making burgers, poke a hole straight through the middle with your finger after you have flattened them with your hands. This helps them cook faster, and stay flat. As the burger cooks, the holes fill in a bit, but it is also easier to check to see if they are done. Source: I'm not sure where I heard this tip, but I've been cooking my burgers like this now for over 10 years! By Marion from Ontario, Canada Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf76514103.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Use Wax Paper In Your Microwave I have a cute tip now I admit I have a small kitchen because we live in a small trailer so on my counter are things I use a lot. You guys had an e-mail about paper towels. Well, I have an tip for you! When you use the microwave a lot, use wax paper to put on top of the food in your microwave, it helps with the splatter and mess. You can also use it when you want to roll out your dough and make sandwiches too. Also I stopped buying paper plates too because my daughter used to tear them apart. Hey, dishes are dishes to me. For the people who might have a lot of clutter, try this great web site (you do not have to buy any thing). It is great way to help with your clutter. The website is www.flylady.com and she is great. I have used her stuff a lot. It's been a couple of years now but it is still in my head and it helps out a lot. By Barbara from Shoemakersville, PA Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf47502046.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Dear Webby's Joke of the Day Carlson was charged with stealing a Mercedes Benz, and after a long trial, the jury acquitted him. Later that day Carlson came back to the judge who had presided at the hearing. "Your honor," he said, "I wanna get out a warrant for that dirty lawyer of mine." "Why?" asked the judge. "He won your acquittal. What do you want to have him arrested for ?" "Well, your honor," replied Carlson, "I didn't have the money to pay his fee, so he went and took the car I stole." Read More Jokes Here: http://webby.com/humor New Requests: Glycerin in Homemade Liquid Laundry Soap What is the actual purpose of adding glycerin to liquid laundry soap recipes. (You know the typical recipe with grated soap, washing soda and borax.) But some call for glycerin and others don't. But I'm wondering what it's actual purpose is. Is it better to use it or omit it? I've been making my own laundry soap for a long time now and won't go back to commercial ones. K from Here Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf54971330.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Removing Grass From Ground Cover I have some large garden beds that have grass growing up through the ground cover. In fact, the grass is now higher than the ground cover and some of the gardenia shrubs. Does anyone have an idea for me to kill the grass without me having to pull out all the ground cover? I have begun pulling out all the ground covers and the grass just to get to the grass roots, but it's such an enormous job that it will taking me forever, as I am not very well and I only manage a few good days each fortnight. Friends have been saving newspapers for me to put down as the ground is weeded. I have sugar cane mulch to cover the newspaper once it's down. How many sheets of the newspaper is about the best thickness? Hardiness Zone: 11 Wendy from Hervey Bay, Australia Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf61982380.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Removing Burnt Plastic Smell in Dishwasher A plastic cup fell onto the heater coil on my dishwasher while it was in the drying cycle and I can't seem to get the smell to disappear now. Any ideas? Marie from Longview, WA Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf88364437.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print College Graduation Party Ideas My name is Ulissa. I'm 23 yrs old and about to graduated from college in two months (meaning May). Well I have a problem because my parents want to throw me a graduation party but I have lots of family members that I want to invite but my parents don't want me to invite all because some don't come. What theme and what location should I have it held in? Does anyone have any advise or ideas? Ulissa from McAllen, TX Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf897997.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Are Nuts Harmful for Dogs? Are cashews or nuts harmful for dogs? Bob Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf14905280.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Finding a Free Prom Dress Where can I get a free prom dress? Sandra Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf91635225.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Discontinued Wallpaper Border: Beach House 127, Seashells Border Beige BH53022B I am looking for a discontinued wallpaper border. It is from Beach House 127. It is called: Seashells Border Beige BH53022B. It measures 6 3/4in. X 15 ' It's a tough find. I definitely want the beige border not the blue. Mary Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf30176370.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Cleaning Permanent Marker off Walls How do you get pen marks and permanent marker off a wall? Fasha from San Antonio, TX Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf83861917.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Disney's Pirates of the Caribbean Cotton Fabric Besides Ebay sellers, does anyone know what fabric stores are selling the new Disney cotton fabric of Pirates of the Caribbean? Our local Walmart does not sell it, nor does Joann Fabrics. I see that some Ebay sellers offer some but it's priced so high and then there's high shipping added. Julie Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf50016560.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Housebreaking a Miniature Pinscher I just got a new pincher pup. He's about 7 months old. I have only had him for the last month and can not get him to do his duty outside like he should be doing. The woman who had him before didn't train him, so he has no idea what he's doing. How do I get him to do his duty outside? I really need help. Mikayla from Davison Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf72842872.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Making a Bedroom Door Stay Closed How can I make a bedroom door stay closed? Nicole from Phila, PA Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf23042826.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Manual for Perfection-Aire Oven Model # C2000 We are looking for an instruction manual for a Perfection-Aire Oven Model # C2000. Wally Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf81416024.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Using 'Twist Embroidery Machine Thread' I just bought a new Brother SE-270D Combination Sewing and Embroidery Machine and I have used the embroidery machine and love the results. Right now I have only done names with regular colored thread. I want to purchase embroidery threads and saw that there are lots of different kinds that give different looks. While searching on Ebay I saw what's called Twist Embroidery Machine Thread which said it gives a 3D look. Can someone who has used this type please provide a picture of something they have embroidered so that I can see what that actually looks like when finished please? And also any helpful advice as to the best type threads to use for embroidering would be appreciated as well. Thank you in advance. Julie Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf37653988.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Removing Hair Dye Stain on Rug I have a blue rug that has a hair dye stain on it. I've heard of this product Spot Shot, would that work? If not, are there any other suggestions? Nicole from Mt. Pleasant, MI Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf59740439.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Removing Water Marks from a Shower Screen How can I get water marks off a shower screen? Betty Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf52121204.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Cleaning a Diamond and Pearl Ring Does anyone know how to clean a pearl and diamond ring? I know how to clean diamonds, but I don't know how to clean the pearl. I seem to have gotten something on it that feels a bit sticky. I just got the little beauty for Valentine's Day. Help! Jana from NC Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf21280305.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Preserving Homemade Aloe Vera Gel Please send me your guidance on how to preserve homemade Aloe Vera gel in bottles. Probir Pal from India Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf15267058.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Replacement Vertical Blind Fabric Inserts Looking for sites to find fabric insert replacements for existing verticals. Cheryl Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf94410633.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Removing Endust Residue From Pergo Floors I just had Pergo floors put in and my contractors cleaned them with 1/2 a can of Endust. Now they are all oily and greasy. What can I use to get it off the floor? Please help! Denise from Chicago, IL Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf62912503.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Cleaning Products for Venetian Blinds Where do I buy the special cleaning products to clean Venetian blinds? I'm in Australia. Cheryl Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf42816101.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Kraft Classic Noodles Does anybody remember the Kraft classic noodles? They were my husbands favorite. All I can find is the classic spaghetti. Anybody know how to make this? audrie12 from PA Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf10425433.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Buying a TV on a Budget How can I buy a nice TV on a very tight budget? Deb from Terre Haute Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf93852914.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Sites Similar to Thriftyfun I was wanting to know if you all have any more sites that you all visit like Thriftyfun that you could share with me. I totally love Thriftyfun and there's not another site like it. It's the best ever. Teresa from Richlands, VA Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf20093077.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Saving Money on Tickets Tips for saving money on tickets to concerts, plays, sporting events and other entertainment opportunities. Post your ideas below. Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf17833946.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 Interactive Coupon Swap! Swap coupons with other ThriftyFun.com users. Seed Swap! Swap seeds with other ThriftyFun.com users.