Daily Thrifty Tips - November 22, 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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Sunrise or Sunset you can find me with my camera to take photos. Take time to enjoy the beauty of creation each day. It can be very restful and relaxing.

By Evelyn Heinz from McHenry, IL

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Gilead is 7 years old and is a Dachshund. Someone I know breeds Dachsies. Gilead was born without eyes and was going to be put down. I couldn't let that happen!

He likes to eat, eat and eat some more. Also play with his sisters.

Dont feel bad for him. He doesn't know he doesn't have eyes. He gets around VERY well! Plus, he is spoiled ROTTEN! He has his own fan club at our vet.

By Fran Marie from Shirley, NY

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This paper bag Santa Puppet is a simple craft. It's great to do with kids.

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Here is a cute set of cannisters made from clay pots and trays.

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When I got my last pair of eye glasses I was given a hard shell case with them. As I wear my glasses all the time I didn't think I had a use for it. Voila! It is perfect for a couple of Crochet Hooks, Small Scissors, Yarn Needle and Threader. I keep it in my "Project on the Go" that I take along with me to appointments. Waiting is so much more productive and you don't have to stop when you have to change colours or need to sew in an end!

By Faye from The Pas, MB, Canada

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I decided to use up the last of a turkey that I had in the freezer by making enchiladas. I was appalled to find that the enchilada sauce was well over $2.50 a can. Instead, I bought a packet of enchilada sauce mix for 50 cents, and the required can of tomato paste which was in my cupboard cost 33 cents, bought at Big Lots. Total $ .83 for the sauce which would have cost me over $2.5 ready made.

I made a pan of turkey enchiladas, and then used up some taco meat and made a smaller pan of enchiladas in a pan lined with foil, and popped it in to the freezer. Not counting the meat I figure the total cost to be $.83 for the sauce, $1 for the tortillas and $1 for cheese to top both pans. Not too shabby!

By Linda

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If you have time, try seasoning your turkey and then returning it to the fridge for 2 or 3 hours before beginning to roast it.

By Robin from Washington, IA

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When in need of an ice chest of ice, the last thing you want to happen is your ice that you bought to melt before you are ready for it to. Save your 20 oz. plastic soda bottles and fill them up with water and place the lid back on them and place in freezer to freeze. When filling an ice chest, place several of these frozen water bottles in with your ice, you will be amazed at how much longer your ice will stay frozen! Works every time!

By Sharon from Lakeland, FL

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Making mashed potatoes at the last minute in order to keep them hot is very tricky while your juggling everything else for Thanksgiving. I make them a day or two before. I just make them as usual, sometimes adding sour cream and garlic salt. Put them in a casserole dish and refrigerate.

Then on Thanksgiving, I pull them out and let set to room temperature and microwave to warm them up at the last minute. No one knows they were done early.

By Candace - Annapolis, MD

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Mix up an envelope of spiced apple cider mix with a two-liter bottle of ginger ale. Add ice if desired. If you are living it up, add a couple pounds of dry ice.

By Coreen from Rupert, ID

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I know lots of people don't have the money for gifts this time of year. What I do is subscribe to several freebies newsletters. You can get a lot of goodies for free from companies. Another thing I do is go to company websites, and look for promotions. You can get a lot of goodies for free there too.

Sometimes you may have to send proof of purchases for some things. I look all year long, and put things back all year so that when Christmas comes, my five little ones get lots of goodies.

For adults, you could take a basket (I always seem to have several from gifts or flowers) as I receive free samples of things like shampoos and lotions, I put them in the basket, when I'm ready to give it, I just add a nice tea candle and a matching ribbon.

Using this method, my daughter is receiving a Little Mermaid blanket and Princess CD (Thanks to Kelloggs promotions) and my oldest kids are all getting Talking Alarm Clocks (Thanks to Poptarts promotions).

By Tonya from Martinsville, OH

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I get out all the serving bowls I will need for the feast when I set out the holiday dishes. I drop a note in each bowl or platter to remind me what goes where.

By Linda

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Thought this was such a cute idea and wanted to share.

http://www.greenkitchen.com/blog/2006/02/recycled-sweater-kid-pants.html

By bellesmom from florida

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Use the time while the guys are watching football on Thanksgiving (after dinner) to address Christmas cards.

By Linda

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I would like to repost something that has been on ThriftyFun in the past. Sending expired coupons to our troops. This is the link to a great site that explains all about how, what and where to send.

http://www.ocpnet.org/

Please take the time to do this for the men & women who have sacrificed so much that we may all live free.

Barbara from Hoffman, IL

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When our home electrical box needed repairs - the main breaker was corroded; the system is over 25 years old and we thought we might have difficulty locating parts for repair of the system. My husband took an up close picture of the electrical panel; he took a ruler and photographed the ruler on certain areas of the system so electrical parts personnel could determine if they could supply us with the parts. The pictures were a success and the hardware store we found the parts at (the part had to be ordered) was very appreciative of the picture when he was in the process of ordering the part.

We have decided to take pictures of all the important components in our home (plumbing, electrical, septic tank, etc.) in order to have a visual record. These pictures will be kept in a file and will be updated when repairs or changes are made.

By WandaJo from Collierville

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For getting crayon marks off of refrigerators, use baking soda and a damp cloth. It works great.

By Rhonda Moore from Thomasville NC

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Dear Webby's Humor Letter

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I am crocheting a coat using afghan hook. How do I stop the project from rolling up? Or, how can I flatten it out?

Inanshoan from Fresno, CA

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I have a yellow burn mark on our driver's side car door. It's a 2006 Chevy Trail Blazer. I don't know how it got there. We don't smoke in this vehicle. How can we remove it?

Blessings & Happy Thanksgiving,

Justin from Hickory, NC

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How do I clean hair dye off of a linoleum floor? It is a small amount, splashes of it. I did not notice it in time and now it is stained.

DMT from Charlotte

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I need help with an idea for a cub scout christmas parade float. The theme is "A Storybook Christmas". I had thought of taking a line out of "The Night Before Christmas" and changing it to "The children were nestled all snug in their beds while the values of scouting danced in their heads". I was going to have children in bed dreaming and have big elaborate presents wrapped with the 12 values of scouting in letters on the outside: courage, faith, honesty, etc.. My questions is how do I make it look like a dream? I want to have some presents "floating" over the bed and maybe some under a tree or by a fireplace. Any suggestions on how to exactly make this work?

Tracy from Franklin TN

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I have a a question about installing a bigger amp circuit breaker. During Christmas, after putting the lights up the C/B keeps tripping after 15 minutes. I heard that I could put a bigger amp C/B in, I think they are all 15 amp breakers now, how big can or should I go?

Thanks,
Conrad from El Centro, CA

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What does starch look like?

Bernie from QLD

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This is my first attempt at baking a turkey. Silly question here... How does one know when the bird is defrosted?

Thanks!
~Wendola~ from Highland, MI

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I'm looking for a dessert recipe that calls for a graham cracker crust, cherry pie filling, and has a cool whip/cream cheese mixture for the top.

Judy from Marion

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I desperatly need games that are not to childish for a party. I am having a party with 12 highschool (kind of richy stuck up) girls and I need good games. Please help.

Tasha

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Last week, I got a bottle of Dermapet Eicosa Derm to help with allergies for my dog. The base ingredient in this product is fish oil.
The bottle spilled last week and leaked all over our kitchen counter. I used a small hand towel to clean up the mess. Over the weekend, my wife put that towel in the wash along with other towels, placemats, etc and now everything smells like fish.

I washed the items 4 times on Sunday. One of the times I put in a cup of vinegar. Last night, I soaked everything in vinegar for 2 hours, washed them with regular laundry detergent and they still smell to some degree.

Also, the smell permeated around our sink and below the sink. (It smells worse under the sink.) Need a suggestion there as well.

Thanks,
David from Phoenix, AZ

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How can I remove the mineral deposits in my water from my tea kettle?

Cecile Frank from Seattle, WA

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What's an effective homemade recipe for a slimming cream that I can apply on my body to help me reduce fat or tone an area? I workout and tried so many but they're not very good.

Sophia from Paramount, CA

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How do I keep my dog's blanket on at night? She's 16, we get up 2 or 3 times at night to go outside, but I have to check on her every couple of hours at night because she also gets up to get a drink of water or nibble on her food. Then she goes back to her bed and gets cold sitting on top of her blanket, until I wake up and cover her up again. I love her dearly and need to figure this out. Thanks very much to all.

Jantoo from Kenosha Co., WI

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I have several mugs taking up my little cabinet space. Does anyone have an idea for a neat mug rack. I did see the beautiful rack from a garden rake, but I do not have a rake like that.

Thanks for the tips.
Jennifer from Van Buren, AR

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