Daily Thrifty Tips - March 6, 2007

Making Wedding Scroll Favors

I found this idea for a wedding favor in my Dad's mementos, and think it is a nice touch. I have just transferred the idea to paper, but they are very pretty printed on parchment paper, and rolled into a scroll using the wedding rings you can find in the craft or wedding section at WalMart or Hobby Lobby to hold the scroll as shown in the photo.

I don't have any real fancy software to make them, so just typed it up in my word documents, added the clip art picture, and picked a nice font and color.

By Harlean from Hot Springs, Arkansas

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Purple Calla Lilies

These are Purple Calla Lillies (I think). Until the blooms opened up I thought they were just weeds. Good thing I waited to pull them up! I have these growing wild all over my yard!!!

By Teresa from Union City, CA

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Bubba (Bull Dog)

Bubba is 1.5 years and is a Bull Dog. We got him when he was 2 1/2 months old.

He likes to play with his Dad! He is a true Bully! We love him.

By Mary Ann from Center Junction, IA

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Sharkskin Pendant

I was looking for large pendants but never found anything I liked that was not way out of the price line I wanted to spend.

I looked at my local leather repair shop and was lucky to find some sharkskin in the remnant box.

I used A York Mint tin and some boot shoe string and some beads. This is how it turned out. A one of a kind over sized pendant.

By Arther from Salem, OR

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Restuffing Pillows

I have a "body pillow" that has seen better days. I put it at the head of my bed and then place my pillows on top of it. It has been washed several times over the years. I then put it in the dryer to partially dry and take it out and air dry the rest of the way. Needless to say it is kind of "lumpy". I decided to open one end of the pillow and stuff it with some new and some used fiber I had. I then hand stitched it back together and it looks as good as new and feels a lot better too. No more lumps! Just make sure you use clean fiber to refill. I take my old pillows and bleach them before I open them and remove the fibers.

By Jonnie from Owensboro, KY

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How To Cure Kennel Cough in 5 days

Give your dog 1 Vitamin C (500 mg), 1 Garlic capsule (500 mg), 1 Echinacea capsule (125 mg), once a day after food. I hide each pill in a small ball of liverwurst, dogs love it. This is the mildest dosage, for dogs under 10 lbs and puppies. If you have a larger dog, you could try giving it twice a day but not a higher dosage at one time. My Italian Greyhound and Chihuahua mix puppy, 8 lbs, 4 mos. old, came from the shelter with a severe kennel cough. In just 3 days, the infection was going away, after 4 days, only 1 cough. After 5 days, the kennel cough had vanished.

If you read the ingredient list of the very expensive remedies for K.C. found online, the three main ingredients are those. Side effect: A great glossy coat! Additional benefit: I maintain a garlic and vitamin C regimen twice a week, to prevent K.C. relapse and to stave off fleas, ticks and mosquitoes. Ticks cause Lyme's Disease in dogs (and people too), mosquitoes carry West Nile disease and heartworm. Garlic, available in tasteless and odorless capsules in vitamin stores, is the only non-invasive remedy against all those.

I have used it for years on three Doberman pinschers who never caught any of the above and they practically lived outside (My puppy does too). I recommend garlic for people too. Take at least twice a week, 1500 (fifteen hundred) mg for people, 500 (five hundred) mg for dogs. Additional benefit for people and dogs: Mosquitoes won't bite you, bugs won't go on you, and your hair or coat will shine!

By Liz from Central Florida

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Share Seeds and Cuttings With Your Neighbors

All of my neighbors like to garden, so we all share out plants by cuttings or seeds. Most of us have the same types of flowers and plants because, where we live, it is a very short summer season and we have a lot of deer that like to sample and eat our plants. It is wonderful to see how all the gardens turn out different even though the plants are mostly the same. Just arranging them differently give a completely different look. Sharing always saves us money. It also gives us a great memory of who gave us the plant.

By Danialle from Polson, MT

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"Burnish" Metallic Finish With Markers

Got a good deal on extra reading glasses at the 99 Cent Store (the label read $9.95!!). But they are metallic, and even though they are sturdier than my normal plastic glasses, they just look cheesier. So I "burnished" the metal with a brown permanent marker on a gold pair and a blue on the silver and they are much improved. (Note: This isn't a terribly sturdy finish and I would only recommend it for occasional, not daily wear) But the marker(s) make it easy to get at the metal around the lenses themselves and it looks "mottled", it makes a nice finish, anyway.

By pamphyila from Los Angeles

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Scented Moisturizer

Good scented moisturizers can be a tad expensive. Here is a simple way to make your own using inexpensive ingredients. Ingredients

• 1/2 c. distilled water
• 3 tsp. glycerin, available at drug stores
• Essential oil, available from craft and health food stores (a little goes a long way)
• Storage bottle with a lid
• Cotton balls or a spray bottle

By Marie E. Cecchini from West Dundee, IL

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Crockpot Chicken Taco Meat

In crock pot, put 1-2 boneless skinless chicken breast. Add 1 cup of your favorite salsa. Let cook on high for 4-5 hours. Before using, shred chicken in crock pot. You now have the meat for your chicken tacos.

By Brenda

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Use Salt To Remove Onion Odor

I believe everyone has had this happen. When chopping onions, my hands would have a strong odor of onions for hours, even after repeatedly washing them. The smell would still be there. One Christmas while chopping some onions for the dinner dressing, I told my mother, "My hands are gonna smell like onion all day!" She told me to put my hands over the sink and she poured a small amount of salt into the palm of my hand and she said, "Now rub it in as if you are washing them with the salt." I couldn't believe it, the smell was gone. Works great for garlic too. I wish I would have known this years ago.

By Tena Bean from Champaign, IL

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Make a Mobile Out Of Kids Meal Toys

Do you end up with several of those cute little stuffed toys from the fast food restaurants? Sometimes we have duplicates. Take a plastic hanger, have your child wrap it in pretty ribbon or whatever pleases them and then take the little stuffed toys, hang and make a mobile with them. Plastic fishing line is great as it makes the toys look suspended in the air. Right now there are really cute stuffed girl toys at Burger King, you can even use the little plastic cars for the boys. Be sure to hang high enough your child cannot reach.

By Tracey from Thomasville, GA

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Browning Ground Beef

Biscuit Cutter

When fixing casseroles, taco filling, sauces or anything requiring cooked ground beef, use an old fashioned biscuit cutter to mince the beef while it's browning. This prevents lumps.

By Sandra McArdle

Pastry Blender

I use my pie crust maker with the four metal pieces on the bottom to take the lumps out of hamburger. Really good for chili and sauce.

By Gen

Use Vinegar

If you pour in a couple of tablespoons of white vinegar, the meat will crumble easier.

By Suzi Homemaker

Use A Fork

I just mash it with a fork while it's cooking.

By Jannie

Rinse After Cooking To Remove Grease

I use the potato masher. Works well. I also add about 3/4 cup water to the pan, and pour off the grease with the water when the meat is cooked. Pour through a colander into a bowl, and then rinse the cooked meat with hot water while still in the colander/bowl. This removes most of the grease. Drain and use the meat. I pour the greasy water in an out-of-the- way corner of my yard.

By Jean

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Candle Wax on a Sweater

I spilled candle wax on the sleeve of a good knit and cotton sweater. Please help.

JEANNETTE from TEXAS

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Basketball Awards Banquet Decorations

I am planning a Basketball Awards Banquet on a non-existent budget. I need ideas for centerpieces and decorations that would be incredibly inexpensive to make or purchase. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

JodiS from Groton, CT

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Buying Doll Houses

I am looking for some good doll house suppliers.

Kathy from Waupaca, WI

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Painting Chrome on a Drum Set

I wanted to paint the lugs of my drum set chrome to black. First, I have to take them off individually from their shells. Do I have to have them individually sanded before painting? You can just imagine I'm dealing with at least 80 small chrome items or maybe more. What's the easiest way to do this? I know spray painting them is a lot easier than going through the pain of sanding them individually. Please help.

Hubert from Seattle, WA

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Freezing Uncooked Minute Rice

Can you freeze uncooked minute rice in a casserole?

Tasha from FL

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Buying De-Sol-It Spray

De-Sol-It Spray - Where can I buy it? I used to get this spray at Wal-Mart but I have been to 3 locations in 2 weeks and none of them carry it anymore. This spray works wonderfully at taking out grease/oil stains from clothing and I need some more! I checked K-mart and Target but they don't carry it either.

Thanks for any information!

Amanda from Niles, OH

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Shout Color Catchers Sheets

I've had a string of "red sock in a white load" laundry cycles lately so I picked up a package of the color catcher sheets, the first one I used came out of the wash without any color on it so I tossed it back in with the next load. Anyone have any luck with this? How many times have you used one sheet?

Amanda from Niles, OH

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Patterns for Plastic Canvas

How can I get patterns for plastic canvas?

CHARLENE from Morgantown, WV

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Hanging 24" Cabinets on 24" Studs

We want to hang 3 24" kitchen cabinets in an alcove in our kitchen. The studs on the wall are 24" centers. The way it works out, only the middle cabinet will be screwed into both of these studs. The cabinet on each end of this will only have studs to screw into on the sides. Since all the cabinets will also be screwed together, will this work?

Janet from Phoenix, AZ

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Unclogging a Toilet

Tips to help you unclog a stuck toilet. How can I unclog my toilet?

Toni from Windsor Locks, CT

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Graphic Design Business Name Ideas

I am starting a home-based business and having a hard time thinking of a name. I am a graphic and web designer offering full creative services, plus I just added the equipment to be able to produce custom signs, banners, vehicle graphics, shirts, etc.

I'm trying to think of a unique name that hasn't been used already so I can trademark it and find an available URL.

I was reading some great ideas and advice that was given to others who have posted here for help on business names.

Anyone have any ideas? I would like to use the word "signs" but it isn't necessary. I thought about "Dsigns" but that is way overused. Something that says "Creative" would work the best I think.

Thanks in advance for any help!

Bunny from Pittsburgh, PA

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Mehandi Design

I need to remove the old mehandi design and put a new one by 2 days. What do i do get better results as soon as possible? I had put mehandi on 24th of feb, now i want a new design on 4th of march.

Radhika V from Bangalore

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Death By Chocolate Recipe

Does anyone have a recipe for Death By Chocolate?

Wendy from Waupun, WI

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Toothache Remedies

Does anybody have any home remedies for a killer toothache? Please help!

Gladys from CHELSEA, MA

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Uses for a Potato Express

I have an electric Potato Express which is used for peeling potatoes by tumbling on a grater in the bottom of a bowl. Do not confuse it with the Starfrit nor the Rotato peeling machines now available. This one is probably 15 or more years old.

It is from the time before salad spinners were in vogue. Also has a citrus juicer attachment. I haven't used it in years because potatoes are now much cleaner from the market than they used to be and peeling them is not the major dirty task it once was.

I was going to get rid of it and then realized it would make a nifty salad spinner by removing the grater disk. Any other suggestions? I did a web search and couldn't locate any examples of this item to show you.

Thanks,
Holly from Richardson, TX

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Family Reunion Invitations

I am looking ideas for making do it yourself invitations for a family reunion.

Kat from Ontario, Canada

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Controlling Spanish Moss

I need a homemade recipe for spanish moss invader. How can I control it?

Hardiness Zone: 9b

Thank you,
Janine iskowitz from Riverview

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Crochet Toilet Seat Cover (Bath Set)

I'm new to crocheting and I love it but I need to find an easy pattern for a crochet bathroom rug, toilet seat cover and pedestal mat set in a loopy or fluffy design. What I've found are too complicated and I can't manage them yet. No stripes, just one color please. I haven't got to the stage that I can manage stripes yet.

Many thanks,
Cettina from Valletta, Malta, Europe

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Uses for Napkin Rings

Are there any other uses for napkin rings? I received 12 pewter ones many years ago as a wedding gift, and I have never used them.

Anne from Emporium, PA

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Tooth Whitener for Nails

I have head that you can apply a small amount of tooth whitener under your nail, real or acrylic, to keep them clean. Has anyone else heard of this and tried it? If so, how did it work?

Linda from Ohio

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Wonder Box Pattern

Does anyone have a pattern for a Wonder Box? They are heat-retaining food cookers. They look like huge bean bags with a spot to put a hot saucepan in.

Carrie from Yakima, WA

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Saving Money on Furniture

It's great to have useful, durable and attractive furniture but even low quality furniture can be expensive. Here are some tips for saving money on furniture. Please post your own ideas below.

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Crockpot Pinto Beans Recipes

Ideas and resources for cooking pinto beans in the crockpot.

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