Daily Thrifty Tips - August 1, 2008

Vol. 7, Num. 149, August 1, 2008 (Read It Online) 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: Tinkerbell the Cat Garden: Calla Lilies Perennials, Annuals and Shrubs Craft Project: Trash-Picked Potting Station Craft: Silver Pickle Fork Craft Project: "Scoop" Needle Fob Today's Tips: Inexpensive Unusual Gifts Mending Sheets Before Washing School Supplies For Summer Birthdays Hire A Student Photographer For Your Wedding Product Review: Knifty Knitter Spool Loom Link: Activity TV Setting Color in Cloth Cutting Down Straws for the Little Ones Using Truffles Use Old Pantyhose to Keep Rain Barrel Water Clean Floating Eggs Are Too Old To Use Joke of the Day New Requests: Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup Mower Won't Start Sour Smelling Clothing Home Remedy For Foot Callouses Dog With Rough Paws Chocolate Brown Wedding Decorations Freezing Eggs in the Shell Fingerprint Tiles Cornbread Salad Making a Rag Mop Switching to Advantage Bringing Mayo For Your Lunch Recycled Paper Pots Crafts Made With CDs Replacing a Freeze Plug in a 1997 Dodge Dakota SodaClubUSA.com Reviews Fizz Savers Review Lawn Mower Not Running Smoothly Dark Clothing Staining Light Clothes Hitachi HB-B102 Bread Machine Instructions Substitutes for Cafeteria Food While Visiting the Hospital More Reading: Attracting Toads To Your 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: Tinkerbell the Cat Tinkerbell is almost 13 years old and although she will not answer to that name from me, she answers to the name "stupid" for me and me only. She is a wild cat. She came to me as a kitten, if any are familiar, wild kittens do not like to be held, but she would jump up in my lap. I had separated from my husband and it was as if she knew I was in a deep deep heart break. She walks around the yard as if on duty when I walk. She's a good cat, for being born wild. By Dawn from Richmond, VA Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf69393452.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Garden: Calla Lilies These are my calla lilies! This was taken three years ago. I used the picture to make my wedding invitations. I did them in black and white on brown paper, it looked antique. The callas are beautiful every year! By Karen from Bolivar, TN Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf67919007.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Perennials, Annuals and Shrubs No matter how small a garden is, a mix of perennials, annuals, and shrubs will guarantee colour all season long. Grayce - Toronto, Ont. Canada Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf91082011.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Craft Project: Trash-Picked Potting Station My husband brought home a desk from his brother's trash pile. I'll admit I was annoyed when I saw it on the back porch, but then I got inspired to make this cute potting station with the desk, an old chair, a shelf I got for $2.50 at the thrift store, and a 25-cent roll of wallpaper from a yard sale. As you can see, "Ned", the cat loves it, too! Approximate Time: Weekend (with drying time) Supplies: Old Desk or Table with smooth top Old Chair (optional) Shelf for "hutch" (optional) Wallpaper or Contact Paper Basket for Gloves Wire Basket/Hooks for Rags, Sponges Coordinating Paint Acrylic Sealer or Varnish Instructions: Desk: 1. Tighten hardware on desk. Clean desktop well. 2. If desired, paint edge of desktop with latex or acrylic paint. Allow to dry according to manufacturers' directions. 3. Measure desktop and cut a section of wallpaper (or Contact) a little larger. 4. Soak wallpaper and place on desktop. Use squeegee to remove bubbles. 5. For easier cutting, use small vises to attach a metal straight edge along edges of desk. Cut paper with utility knife. 6. Allow to dry overnight. Seal with several coats of acylic, allowing to dry between coats. 7. Attach wire basket or cup hooks to hang rags. Chair: Paint in coordinating colors to match desk. Cut a piece of wallpaper to fit seat and back of chair. Soak with water, attach, remove bubbles. When dry, seal with several coats of acrylic. Shelf: Paint as desired. attach to wall above desk. Paint basket to match, hang on side for gloves. By Cindy from Waynesburg, PA Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf95590108.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Craft: Silver Pickle Fork Odd pieces of silver or silverplate can find a new life when transformed into a useful kitchen gadget. Using needle nosed pliers, curl up the two outer tines on one side of the fork and the outermost one on the other side, leaving one tine unbent. You now have a very functional pickle fork and a great conversation piece. If you're buying flatware for a wedding gift, buy an extra fork and add a special touch with a pickle fork to match. By Sandy from Elon, NC Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf68924258.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Craft Project: "Scoop" Needle Fob Take a baby formula scoop with the hole in the end. Fill it with coffee (sand, etc), seal the large opening, and you have a perfect needle sharpener that sits flat on any flat surface. Approximate Time: under 5 minutes Supplies: Baby Formula Scoop 1-2 Tbsp. Sand or Coffee small cardboard disk the size of the scoop opening glue or tape small piece of velcro (optional) Instructions: Take the baby formula scoop, fill with sand or coffee. I prefer coffee, because is smells so good when it's fresh and even sweeter when it's old. Pack it down really solid. Cut a cardboard or plastic circle the same exact size of the large opening. Either glue or tape securely the disk to the scoop. I glue a small 1/4" piece of velcro to the scoop and the sewing machine. That way, I can hang it from the machine, or you can just sit it on any flat surface. There is a small hole in the top of the the mound. It's perfect for keeping all the needles and pins in your house nice and sharp. The nice thing about using the tape, is that you can refill it if you want to. ENJOY! By Sandra from Salem OR Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf16625730.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: Inexpensive Unusual Gifts We don't normally mention commercial sites unless we feel that they might have some interest to our readers. This is an online shop opening today with games and puzzles that are actually inexpensive, inventive, unusual and fun. Here's the link www.paradoxyproducts.com to discover priceless gadgets, gifts and design objects from $4 to $12. Good luck with your new shop Daniel! Susan from ThriftyFun Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf89373426.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Mending Sheets Before Washing Mend small rips and tears in pillow cases and sheets before, you throw them in the washer. This will prevent them from ripping more. By Anne A. from Fernley, Nv. Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf16528778.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print School Supplies For Summer Birthdays If your school age child has a summer time birthday, let your relatives purchase their needed school supplies such as lunch boxes, backpacks, notebooks as their gifts. Be sure to give important details as to certain favorite colors, sizes needed, favorite cartoon characters (or teen idol groups), and maybe the store or location your child has found a specific item they like and needed. So your child gets something that they like and you're not out the money for the school supplies and the gift giver has given a much appreciated gift that will be used. By Terri from NV Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf67213133.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Hire A Student Photographer For Your Wedding If you want a professional photographer at your wedding but can't afford one, contact a local university's photography department for a starving student who might do it for less. Also you might persuade that student, or another beginning photographer to take the pictures but give you the negatives, or images on a disk, if digital. You have them developed at a later date when you have more money. You pay the photographer for his time, but not the prints. A well established photographer is NOT going to go for this, but a beginning photographer might be willing. By Mom from Huntsville, TX Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf90958648.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Product Review: Knifty Knitter Spool Loom Product: Knifty Knitter Spool Loom Manufacturer: Provo Craft Cost: $5.96 I bought this today at Walmart. I then used it to make a tubular scarf. It took me about 2 hours to make one. It's so cute. I am going back to get the one that makes pom poms to add to the ends of the scarf. I am going to make several in different colors to put up for my nieces for Christmas. This is so inexpensive, as is yarn that you could make one for everyone very cheaply. Also it's so so simple to use, I cannot wait to try the other ones. By christi from paducah, ky Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf34285497.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Link: Activity TV My tip is for people to go online to a web site named: http://www.activitytv.com There's kidsbop, family gifts, room projects, jewelry, magic, science, paper airplanes, cartooning, crafts, origami, cooking, puppets, juggling, cheerleading and summer fun (for summer only). By Charles from Augusta, GA Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf59295591.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Setting Color in Cloth Use 2 Tbsp. turpentine and 1 small handful of salt. Pour boiling water over this mixture. Put garment or cloth in and saturate. Let it soak until the water gets cold By Anne from Fernley, NV Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf29102004.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Cutting Down Straws for the Little Ones When eating out with children and grandchildren, Papa always makes sure he has his small Swiss Army knife in his pocket. Little ones have a difficult time managing a straw in their drinks. Papa comes to the rescue with the little scissors on his knife. One snip and the problem is solved. Now the children just automatically pass their drinks over to him so he can cut the straw down to a more manageable length. By Sandy from Elon, NC Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf19561072.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Using Truffles Truffles are a Diamond in the Kitchen and very difficult to find due to lack of prolonged drought. I've managed to find them at several food markets in K.C. Missouri, so you'll have to search in your cities if they are wanted. Tips for using truffles: Do not pair truffles with strong, competing flavors. Cut truffles with a fine grater or use a paring knife to shave fine slices. Shaving truffles over a dish allows their rich creamy taste to permeate the dish. When using truffles oils, use 1 drop. A little goes a long way. Source: Check my recipe for chicken breasts in butter with truffle. It's delicious! Chicken Breasts in Butter with Truffle By Connie from Cotter, AR Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf17336491.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Use Old Pantyhose to Keep Rain Barrel Water Clean I've discovered that when collecting rain in your rain barrel, you can put a leg from a pair of pantyhose over the end of your downspout. It keeps the water clean, especially if your gutters have any debris in them. I hold the pantyhose material on with an elastic band, which makes it easy to remove and rinse off when it gets dirty. I also use an old window screen over the barrel to keep mosquitoes out, and keep any wildlife from falling into the barrel. Hope these ideas are useful. By Judy from Williamsburg, Ontario Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf13406265.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Floating Eggs Are Too Old To Use With grocery prices rising almost daily, I am even more prudent in seeking even small ways to save. Tip: Don't throw away eggs just because the sell by date has passed. If you will fill a pot with water and put the eggs in, the ones which are still good will touch the bottom. The ones which fully float are no longer any good. I do this regularly and have seen good results in this procedure. Source: I have no idea where I learned this since I've been doing it for years. By Sandy from Elon, NC Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf93853830.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Dear Webby's Joke of the Day "If you had a quarter," quizzed the teacher, "and you asked your father for another dollar and fifty cents, how much money would you have?" "One quarter." answered little Johnny. The teacher shook her head and said, "You don't know your arithmetic, do you, Johnny?" Little Johnny shook his head, too, "You don't know my father." Read More Jokes Here: http://webby.com/humor New Requests: Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup Does anyone have A recipe for homemade CHICKEN NOODLE SOUP. I would love to make A big batch to can for cold weather! Thanks and God Bless! Debra from Hampton, TN Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf82504774.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Mower Won't Start When I try to start it the first few times it seems to try to start. Then the next times it's silent. What's wrong with it? Shooter Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf620712.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Sour Smelling Clothing I am looking for help with stinky sour clothing. Bonnie Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf839489.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Home Remedy For Foot Callouses I have some callouses on the side of my foot and underneath and on my toes. I have more than six years having the same problem. I tried to soak my feet and removing them but they keep coming back. Sometimes when I put on closed shoes they become white. I'm too shy to show my foot. What can I do? I have tried sally hensen product, no use. What can help me to renew my skin? Charity Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf337974.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Dog With Rough Paws My daughter's rescued mutt dog had distemper some 8 months ago. A medical souvenir of this disease is a very rough nose and paws. A small price to pay for survival. But now the poor dog has horribly scratchy paws. I am looking for suggestions to restore a more normal texture to his paws? Approximately 21 months old. Vet guesses part American pit bull terrier and part anyone's guess. Thanks, Holly from Richardson, TX Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf62836095.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Chocolate Brown Wedding Decorations I am looking for wedding decoration ideas in the colors chocolate brown, cinnamon and latte. Any ideas? Karla from Sarasota, FL Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf82561355.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Freezing Eggs in the Shell Can you freeze fresh eggs in the shell? David from Seattle, WA Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf53671968.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Fingerprint Tiles I went to a craft show years ago where a woman used small tiles to turn painted fingerprints into art designs on the tile. She then fired them in an oven and we took them home. I now have kids of my own and want to do this craft with them but can't find any instructions. I don't know what kind of paint to use or how long to bake in my oven. Can anyone help or give ideas? Christy from Mauston, Wi Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf78579503.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Cornbread Salad I need a recipe for Cornbread Salad. I had it at a tea room in West Point, Georgia. Can you help me out please! God Bless you all! Astarley from Panama City, FL Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf605239.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Making a Rag Mop Does anybody know how to make a rag mop? I have a lot of towels that have seen better days that I don't want to use in my (new) bathroom. They are still in reasonable condition if rather dingy looking but seems a pity to toss them or use them as floor cloths. A rag mop would be ideal as they would be put to good use. Thanks, Cettina from Malta, Europe Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf71533726.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Switching to Advantage I was wondering if any one knew if it was ok to use these products at the same time on a 4 year old cat? I have already put the collar on him, which seemed to make him itch more, and so I want to try advantage but wanted to know if I should remove the collar or if I need to wait a certain amount of time after removal of the collar to apply the advantage? Also, do you think I would need to treat the house after the cat has been treated or will they go away on there own once the cat has treatment? Melissa from Fillmore NY Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf11146059.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Bringing Mayo For Your Lunch When making a turkey sandwich, what type of separate container can you put the mayo in? I don't like to add the mayo in the a.m. because by lunch time the bread will be soggy. I didn't know if you could buy the small mayo packets (like the little ketchup packets you get from fast food restaurant) or is there something else I could put the mayo in until lunch time and then add it to my sandwich. Any suggestions? Onesummer Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf24171223.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Recycled Paper Pots This is in response to the post about making recyclable plantable paper. I have been thinking about taking that idea a step farther and making little flower pots from recycled paper with seeds in them. Do you think they would still sprout if the whole pot was planted? Also, any ideas about an eco-friendly additive that would help them keep shape? Hope someone can help! Manijeh from Portland, OR Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf55140498.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Crafts Made With CDs I have lots and lots of old CDs and I don't want to just dispose them. Anybody here who has craft ideas that I can make out of them? Thanks. Loi from Philippines Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf39923906.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Replacing a Freeze Plug in a 1997 Dodge Dakota My 1997 Dodge Dakota freeze plug close to transmission is squirting water. How do I pull the old plug and replace. The transmission not in the way but kind of hard to reach. George from Hollister, CA Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf25054246.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print SodaClubUSA.com Reviews Product Review Requested: Has anyone tried the make-your-own soda pop kit from SodaClubUSA.com? Lynn from Chico, CA Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf64543692.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Fizz Savers Review Has anybody tried the product called "Fizz Savers"? (It locks in the bubbles and flavor on opened soda cans so you can put the can in the fridge and finish it later.) Lynn from Chico, CA Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf21262629.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Lawn Mower Not Running Smoothly My Briggs 4.5 powered lawn mower doesn't run smoothly. The engine revs and uses more fuel than it should. I think it is running too rich and that the problem stems from ethanol. Does anyone else experience this problem, and do you know what parts need repair? Philip from Massachusetts Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf27728790.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Dark Clothing Staining Light Clothes Yesterday I washed my white colored pants with a blue color shirt. How can I remove the blue color marks from my white pants? Lokesh K Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf90721570.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Hitachi HB-B102 Bread Machine Instructions I have the HB-B102. Will the HB-B101 instruction book work for me? Betty from , Bakersfield, CA Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf77847581.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Substitutes for Cafeteria Food While Visiting the Hospital My mother is in a hospital 2 hours from her home, my father is with her. Eating in the cafeteria twice a day gets very expensive, any tips for this situation? Thanks, Debbie Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf10665076.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: Attracting Toads To Your Garden By Ellen Brown Who needs pesticides to protect your flowers and vegetable garden when a single toad can eat thousands upon thousands of pesky garden insects in a single season? In fact, they may eat as many as 50 to 100 slugs, flies, grubs, grasshoppers, and cutworms in just one night! Toads could care less about eating your garden crops. They are only interested in the bugs eating them. Here is how you turn your garden into a humble abode for toads. Is It a Frog, or a Toad? Actually, it is both. Toads and frogs are in the same family, but they do have some physical characteristics that are commonly used to tell them apart: Toads have: Frogs have: Warty, dry skin Smooth, slimy skin Stubby bodies with short hind legs Long hinds legs with webbed feet Paratoid glands behind the eyes Two bulging eyes Eggs laid in long chains Eggs laid in clusters Group of toads is called a KNOT Group of frogs is called an ARMY (Source: Hamline University Center for Global Education) If You Provide It, Toads Will Come First off, never remove toads (or tadpoles) from their natural habitat and transport them to your garden, and discourage children from capturing toads both from your garden and elsewhere. If you provide the right environment for them, eventually toads will come. And not only will they show up, but they are also likely to stay a while. Toads can live from 2 to 40 years, so once a toad decides to make your garden his abode, he is likely to provide you with non-stop insect control for years to come. All you need to do to make your garden a toad-friendly place is to provide the basics: shelter, food, and moisture. Shelter Toads can be somewhat secretive, after all, they like to lie low and wait patiently for their meals to crawl or fly by. Creating a toad abode is easy. Leave some leaf litter under trees and shrubs in the garden and plant native plants and grasses. You can also build burrows for them to hide in. To do this, create a shallow depression in the soil around ferns, shrubs, or flowers, and surround the depression with layers of flat stones piled 6 inches high. Broken terra cotta pots also make the perfect toad abode when flipped over in a moist, shady spot. And remember, a well-manicured lawn may look nice, but it isnít necessarily ìtoad friendlyî. Food Insects are not hard to find in the garden, and to the sticky tongue of the toad, nearly anything creeping or crawling is fair game. Adults feed mainly on insects, which means itís wise to avoid pesticides. After all, pests are their food supply. You can also erect a toad light, set no higher than 3 ft off the ground. Place this near a border between a garden or rockery and your lawn. The light will attract insects to one area, which the toads will happily munch on at night. Moisture Toads are amphibians, which means they like to live on land and in water. The most obvious way to add moisture to you garden is by installing a water feature such as a pond. It doesn't have to be a deep pond, because unlike frogs, toads hibernate over winter either in the aquatic vegetations of lakes and ponds, under the water, or under leaf litter on the ground. Some even turn into "frog-cicles"-with the partial freezing of their body fluids while buried under leaf liter on the forest floor. If you do decide to install a pond, surround it with rocks, logs, and native plants that mimic a toad's natural habitat. If you don't have a pond, it's still essential to provide moist places where toads can cool off and protect their skin from the heat. Hiding saucers or small, shallow pans of water in cool shady areas throughout your garden will provide toads a respite from the heat and enable them to jump in and out as they please. Read More: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf73601445.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.