Daily Thrifty Tips - February 22, 2007

Barbie's Crocheted Bedroom Set
By Debra Frick

This is the third and final part of the Crocheted furniture for Barbie or other small dolls. Since pink is Barbie's Signature color, pulled out all of the pink yarns I could find. But if your little interior decorator doesn't like pink or would rather have a blue bedroom that is up to you. Again you are making slip covers for the base which are made out of polystyrene or Styrofoam or cigarette boxes.

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Fruit Tree Bird Net Frame

Hubby and I made this frame out of 2" plastic irrigation piping attached to metal 'star' pickets. This size pipe fits snuggly on to the ends of the pickets, sliding easily over.

This made attaching and removing the netting over our cherry tree much easier. Thanks to the net, we enjoyed a full harvest of sweet cherries this year.

If we don't net our cherry tree we don't get any fruit at all. The Blackbirds eat every single one!

By Scarecrow from South Australia

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Bailey Belle (Golden Retriever)

Bailey Belle is 5 months old, she is 3-4 months in this picture and is a Golden Retriever.

I got her in November after my black lab passed away. She has helped me come to terms with my lab that I had for 13 years. She is so much fun!

Her favorite thing to do is Chew, chew chew. The first thing she does when she comes inside is search for something to chew on! She ignores us until she has found something like a sock or shoe.

She loves to sit on the floor in the kitchen and bark at the countertops. She just KNOWS there has to be a treat there somewhere!

She has some mud on her face in this picture.

By Paula from GA

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Slicing Round Food

To prevent an onion, bagel, or anything round from rolling while you slice it, cut a small slice from an edge and use that as a base. Then it it will not roll as easily and is much safer.

By Janet Fox

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Rock Candy Stir Sticks

• 2 cups water
• 5 cups sugar
• Drops of food coloring
• Plastic container lid
• Wooden coffee stir sticks, bamboo sticks or popsicle sticks

By Jan from Suring. WI

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Team Up With Your Husband For Thrifty Shopping

Get your husband in on it! Since we have gotten together, my husband has been warming up to thrift stores and the 99 Cent store, etc. And he prowls the bargain tables at Staples and Office Depot. He has actually found new places for bargains and is quite proud of himself when he brings home a really good deal!

By pam from Los Angeles

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Monthly Resolutions

Statistically, most people don't succeed with their New Year's resolutions. If you are one of those people, try starting smaller, with weekly or monthly resolutions. If you are trying to cut down on fast food, commit yourself to not eating out for a month. It can be easier to achieve goals when the finish isn't so far in the future.

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Lint Roller To Clean Up Thread

In order to save dragging out the vacuum cleaner, I use a lint roller for picking up threads on my rug. I have an area rug where my favorite spot to sew is located. I have found this to be very effective and a very fast clean-up.

By Sewingmamma from Oakmont, PA

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Keep Cooking Spices In Freezer

Keep cooking spices fresh by keeping them in the freezer. To organize them, I use the top shelf of the door. I arrange them in alphabetical order so I don't have to search through all of them to find a particular one. Ex: If I'm looking for basil, I know it will be at the left end of shelf, whereas thyme will be near the right end of the shelf.

By Laura from Elberta, AL

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Avoid Delays With Your Tax Return

Be careful when switching software or filling out your tax return if you are married-filing jointly. My husband and I accidentally switched the order of our social security numbers from last year to this. Everything is correct on the return but because the first social security is different from last year, the IRS is delaying the return 30 days to make sure.

The IRS representative we spoke to said to make sure to keep the returns as identical as possible from year to year. I guess their computers are not as advanced as you might think. We filed as early as possible and were excited to receive our return quickly but now have to wait! Hopefully, this advice will help someone avoid the same delay.

Jess

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Recipe For A Tie-Dye B-Day Party

Ingredients

• Have blank white cards, 5 colored magic markers, plastic knife and black crayon
• Either have guests bring white t-shirts or get their sizes and you can get them, 6 different colors in separate buckets set up, elastics of all sizes.
• Watercolor paper, straws, and India inks.
• Colored balloons, straws.
• Different colored lollipops (tootsie pops)
• Cupcakes with white frosting, food coloring and plastic knife or fork.

Directions

Make very colorful individual invitations by coloring inside, 5 stripes up and down. Then cover stripes by coloring over with black crayons. Use knife to scrape out info for party. Design own covers.

Let guests start tie-dye t-shirts when arrive so they might have achance to dry.

Place a few drops of different color inks on paper. Give them a straw and let them blow the ink around. (Can do 1 color at a time or 3 colors at once or 1 of each). Hang on line with clothes pins, or large paper clips to dry.

Balloon race. Depending on your space, you can:

• A. Race all at once until the finish line
• B. Do teams
• C. Do 2 at a time, then winners race each other

Lollipop licking contests (without biting)

After the B-day person has blown out candles, let each guest decorate a cupcake: Take a cupcake frosted with white frosting. Drop each of 2 colors of food coloring on top. Use a plastic knife and or fork to move colors around.

I got some of these ideas from the Home And Garden Show and some are my own.

By LRP

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Use A Floor Squeegee For Removing Snow On Your Car

I have found a great way to clean off your car with all this snow we are having. I bought a floor squeegie at the dollar store. The long handle makes it easy to clean the top off the car, and the squeegie really cleans the windows off great, removes all that nasty salt. My car looked like it had never been parked outside! The soft rubber doesn't scratch anything, so it is perfect for cleaning off the entire car.

By Lori from Elgin

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Out of Food Coloring?

I was making Valentine cupcakes last week and didn't have any food coloring. I went through my leftover Halloween candy and found some bright red candies (Nerds is what I used, but anything super bright will work). I poured the candies into a cup and added about 4 tablespoons of water. Then I heated it in the microwave for 20 seconds to get it warm. I stirred several times until all the food dye melted off the candy. Then I just scooped the white candies out, leaving me with some bright red liquid. I added it to my butter frosting recipe and VOILA! Pink icing!

By mommamoody from Marietta, GA

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Grease Build-up on Copper

How do I remove built-up grease from an old copper ladle? I recently "inherited" an old copper ladle that has years of grease build up from hanging next to the stove. The copper finish appears to be ruined for the most part, so I am not trying to save that. I like the aged, weathered look, but I want to remove the old, sticky grease. What do I do?

Dayna from Plainview, Texas

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Crochet Dish Towel Top

I would like the directions for a crochet dish towel top. The one I saw had a button on to fasten it.

Mahalo,
Judy

Judy from Aiea, Hawaii

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Butter on Microfiber

My daughter smeared a stick of butter all over our brand new microfiber couch. I cleaned it with upholstery cleaner and it is still full of greasy butter. What can I do?

Dannette from Spring Lake, MI

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Training a Dog To Use a Dog Door

I've got 2 great dogs, and 1 is terrified of the new doggie door that we just installed. His brother runs in and out of the pet door with no problem, but the other guy just sits and shakes, staring at the door knowing that the grass is greener on the other side, but afraid to get there. I've tried bribing him with treats and toys, but all he does is whine. I've stuck my head through the door, praised him with every step forward he's made, but still nothing. It's doubly frustrating because usually he's the bold one in a house (I hear he even tried to attack a cow once!) What else can I do?

Kathy from Oak Harbor, WA

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Smell Under House

I need help getting rid of cat pee from under my home. It has gotten into the heating and a/c ducting. Help!

Kitten2 from Deberry, TX

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Freezing Cooked Pasta

Can you freeze cooked pasta? What is the best way to do it? I'd like to cook some meals for a friends whose daughter just passed. Thanks!

Debbie from Waterford, MI

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Shampoo Bottle Stain

How do you remove a gray stain from a shampoo bottle left on the shelf of a fiberglass tub?

Joanne

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Dog With Arthritis

Does anyone know what I can do for an arthritic Golden Retriever? The vet wants to put her on Rimadyl and that is very expensive. Are there any home remedies that might relieve her pain or does anyone know of anything else? I have been giving her one children's aspirin when she acts like she's not feeling well with the leg, but I'm not sure that's enough. She is over-weight at 80 lbs., which we are working on. Any help I can get will be appreciated. Thanks ahead of time!

Robin from Washington, IA

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Casino Themed Dance

What are good ideas for casino themed dance? I need some good ideas for a Las Vegas theme dance. Anyone have any ideas?

Victoria

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Pet Urine Smell After Using a Carpet Cleaning Machine

I've cleaned my carpets beautiful with a machine and now I've got strong pet urine smell all over my living room. Help

Kimberly from San Diego, CA

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Backing Up My Computer

I am fairly new to computers. How do I backup everything on my computer, ie. my documents, pictures, favorites, address book?

Thanks for any help.

Gail from Chattanooga TN

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Rough Spots on Leather

I used the tip to remove acetone free nail polish remover to remove white scuff marks from my blue patent leather handbag - it worked great! However, I then used the polish remover rather over-zealously to remove paint marks on my brown moc croc leather handbag. This handbag now has rough patches where it was rubbed with the polish remover. Is there a way to smooth out the roughness?

Pearl

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Onion Crusted Salmon

I am looking for a recipe for Onion Crusted Salmon for a friend. She used to get it at Leverlocks restaurant in Florida, which has gone out of business.

TIA

Gardencraft from NH

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Brass Finger Plates

How do you clean brass finger plates?

Vivien from England

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Protecting My Swimsuit From Chlorine

Does anyone have a method for keeping the chlorine from eating away at the fabric of your swim suit? I recently started swimming as a past-time and in a few short months, my suit has begun to shred, even though I wash it in my machine at home after swimming. I've heard something about white vinegar and water but don't know the proportions. Thanks for any help with this!

Mary Jo Eckholm from St. Paul, MN

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Debt Reduction Companies in Iowa

I am wondering if anyone who lives in Iowa can recommend a good company for debt reduction, etc. What I am looking for is the type of company that takes credit card debt and other unsecured type debts and gets payments and interest lowered for its customers. The customer pays one lump sum each month to the company and they distribute it to the debtors. We need to work with something like this but want to make sure that we use a reputable company. Thanks!

Robin from Washington, IA

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Money Roses

How do you fold dollar bills to make roses for a birthday gift?

Madeline from York, PA

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