Daily Thrifty Tips - December 10, 2007

Volume Six, Number 237, December 10, 2007 (Read It Online) I hope everyone had a great weekend. We have lots of new recalls in the More Reading section, be sure to look them over. Here are the contest winners for the week before last. Photo Contest Winner Use Soda Can Box To Organize Bags By Lana from Peoria, AZ Tip Contest Winners Thrifty Gifts For The Family By Allison from northeast TN Homemade Christmas Gift: Blue Jean Purse By Susan from the Chicago area 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: Candy Decorated Christmas Trees Kharma the Cat Craft: Wooden Gingerbread Ornaments Craft: Easy Snowman Ornaments Craft: Breakfast Gift Basket Today's Tips: Homemade Gift Bath Scrubby Advice for Planning a Spouse's Birthday Party Make Your Own Saline Solution String Nuts on Fishing Line for Target Practice Send A Christmas Card To A Recovering Soldier (Urban Legend) Fabric Lunch Bags Five $5 Gifts Christmas Traditions: Making Ornaments Joke of the Day New Requests: Gray Smoke Coming from My Van's Tailpipe Removing Glue from Front of Microwave Has Anyone Tried Roopamrit for Acne? Homemade Foaming Carpet Cleaner Softening Ice Melt Looking For Free Calendar Templates Online Removing Kerosene From Wool Health Advice For Pus Bump on Tonsil Homemade Christmas Tree Flocking Wallet Made from Magazines Materials to Make a Magazine Purse Recipe for Spicy No Bean Chili Scoring a Wall Sunscreen Stains on Clothing Oriental Themed Christmas Decorations House Paint on Velour Pants Organizing Art Supplies and Materials Main Dish Ideas for a Holiday Potluck Recipes for Canned Poppy Seeds or Canned Apricots Pattern For Miniature Christmas Tree Made With Pipe Cleaners Advice for Fixing Up Wooden Wheelbarrows What to Do With Coke Bottle Caps Melting Candy Canes To Shape For Gifts Looking For Review of 'Package Shark' Recipes For Making Fresh Ham Steaks Taste Better Cheese-free Recipes For Canned Pink Crab Meat Cleaning Handles of Dooney & Bourke Handbag What Can Be Added to Water For Boiling Chicken Before BBQ? Broccoli, Cauliflower and Cabbage Not Forming Heads College Graduation Party Decorations More Reading: Children's Sunglasses Recalled by FGX International Due to Violation of Lead Paint Standard Starbucks Recalls Coffee Mugs Due To Burn Hazard; Product Manufactured by lab921 The Home Depot Recalls Holiday Figurines Due to Lead Paint Hazard Boys' Hooded Sweatshirts with Drawstrings Recalled by Scope Apparel Due to Strangulation Hazard RC2 Recalls The First Years Children's Feeding Seats Due to Fall Hazard RC2 Recalls Potty Training Seats Due to Violation of Lead Paint Standard Personal Identity Children's Sweaters with Drawstrings Recalled by Sears Due to Strangulation Hazard Basic Editions Girls' Clothing Sets Recalled by Kmart; Drawstrings at Waist Pose Entrapment Hazard TKS Children's Pants Recalled by Sears; Drawstrings at Waist Pose Entrapment Hazard Collins International Co. Recalls Oscillating Ceramic Heaters Sold at Menards Retail Stores Due To Fire Hazard 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: Candy Decorated Christmas Trees Try these as an alternative to making an entire gingerbread house. My school's PTA had this as one of the crafts this weekend and it was a big hit with all the kids. Take a sugar cone (the pointy one) and stick it to a small plate with some white frosting. Then cover the cone with frosting to resemble a snow covered tree. You can now decorate the tree with small pieces of candy, tubes of icing, sprinkles, you name it. This would be a great activity for a December birthday party or any other Christmas event. Have the kids use their imagination. By Jess in Oregon Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf87671856.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Kharma the Cat This is Kharma. I gave her to my mom last Christmas, and in the year since she has been nothing but spoiled! As you can tell from the photo she's the perfect combination of cute and gorgeous! Just had to share, don't be jealous! (lol) By Sarah from Lake Oswego, OR Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf69020907.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Craft: Wooden Gingerbread Ornaments Materials wooden shapes decorative snow real candy sprinkles ice cream stick to apply snow drill and small drill bit to make hole for hanger (if you can't find any wooden shapes with holes already in it) brown paint (if you want to paint the shapes to look like gingerbread) Instructions Drill hole first if you need to do that, paint shapes if you want, let dry. Take ice cream stick and apply snow to look like cookie frosting. Apply sprinkles if you like, be sure to do that before snow dries. It usually takes 12 to 24 hours for snow to dry, I let mine sit overnight. By Sandy from Bluff City, TN Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf31714677.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Craft: Easy Snowman Ornaments Here's a quick and easy way to dress up to those plain glass ornaments in your Christmas box. While you're at it, make several. They make great gifts if you need a unique Christmas gift idea. Approximate Time Less than 30 minutes Supplies: white or silvery-white glass ornaments black acrylic paint orange acrylic paint black felt 2 pom poms craft glue cotton swab small paint brush scrap of 1/4" wide satin ribbon Instructions: Keep ornaments in their tray, if possible, to make a sturdy placeholder while you work. Using a cotton swab and black paint, paint on simple dot eyes and mouth. Use orange paint to paint on a carrot-shaped nose. Fashion a headband for earmuffs by cutting a strip of black felt that is 4" long and 1/2" wide. Glue in place across top of ornament, just in front of hanger. Glue pom poms at each end of the headband to form earmuffs. You may need to trim one side of each pom pom to "flatten" it a bit to allow for easier application. Cut a piece of 1/4" wide satin ribbon to make a hanger. By Momof1 from Wilkesboro, NC Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf28805811.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Craft: Breakfast Gift Basket Contents Tea for One Teapot Earl Grey Tea Bags (24) Passion Fruit Tea Bags (24) Peppermint Tea Bags (24) Tea Bag Wallet with 4 tea bags Cappuccino Mix in a Bag Clover Honey Morello Cherry Fruit Spread Honey in 5# jars from a local beekeeper* *I poured some honey in a clean jar which was sterilized in my dishwasher. Put some saran wrap over the top, screwed the lid on tight. Taped the neck of the jar closed and sewed a jar topper out of scrap fabric. Some time ago I purchased a package of new chef's aprons which I always keep on hand for whenever I'm baking or cooking. So I added one in the gift basket. I purchased a new Tea for One Teapot from a website and attached the following label: Warm your teapot: While the water is heating, fill your teapot with hot tap water to preheat it. This prevents cracking that can occur when boiling water is placed in a room temperature teapot, and it helps the brewed tea maintain the proper temperature. Discard the water once the pot is warm. My husband and I buy foods in bulk to keep on hand for emergencies, so we don't have go grocery shopping every week. I bought the basket from a garage sale this summer and added a ribbon. The only items that I had to buy was the teapot, and the tea bags. Total cost for making the basket was about $20.00 or less. By Marge W. from Sanborn, NY Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf11019638.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: Homemade Gift Bath Scrubby I buy dollar store soaps in holiday scents, like peppermint or even gingerbread scent. From thrift stores or again the dollar store or any outlet, buy cheap children mittens. Shave the soap with a potato type peeler and add it to the mittens, sew the top half of the mittens closed, (where your hand would go) and us as a shower/bath scrubby to feel refreshed and in the holiday spirit. Makes a great stocking stuffer or gift too! By Pat from Fort Myers, FL Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf83547128.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Advice for Planning a Spouse's Birthday Party For my husband's upcoming 30th birthday, I am renting a beach house on Pismo for a weekend party. It's not more expensive than two hotel rooms. I'm sending the guys down a day before the girls to have a poker competition and Xbox tournament. The day after, the women will join up and we're all going ATV'ing on Pismo. That night, we're having a bonfire and a night-surf contest. The next day after a big breakfast, we're heading back home to a relaxed family barbeque. It's good because some of it is planned out of the ordinary activities but most of the time isn't and we're in a great spot so everyone can hang out and really enjoy the party. Other ideas: send your man away with a few close buddies to somewhere fun like camping, Vegas, motorcross, or in a rented RV for a big bash. I get tired of hearing about the family barbeque or the poker night with themed decor from stores. It's a little cliche. Let the man do something wild for once, like go sky diving. Something he will remember as being out of the ordinary. Take something cool and make it an adventure, like a barn dance could include a "cattle" roping competition with funny animal substitutes, or a poker night could be staged at a local pub with live music. You have to think about not what you would like to happen but what they would love to be surprised (or not surprised in my case) as possible. Some people want the big shabang and some don't. Listen to your man or woman closely as they talk about things they like and don't like throughout the year. When it comes time to giving them a real party, you'll know what they'd really like. But, when in doubt: ask them what they want. Sometimes the surprise can be something extra you add to something they already know about; like a party at a regular spot could be more fun if you rented a fun car to take you and friends there, or an evening dinner made better by a show after as a surprise. By Scallywaginc from California Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf73887134.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Make Your Own Saline Solution For those of us who tend to use saline solution to calm allergic reactions, this recipe is a great money saver. Combine 1/2 tsp. of sea salt with 1 cup warm water in a bottle with a lid. Add a pinch of baking soda, place the lid on the bottle, and shake. Pour some of the mixture into a nasal spray bottle and you're ready to go. The rest of the mixture can be stored in your medicine cabinet or even in the kitchen so it will be readily available when your spray bottle needs a refill. By Marie from West Dundee, IL Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf63306692.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print String Nuts on Fishing Line for Target Practice For preparing for target practice for the upcoming deer season, my sister and her daughter picked up walnuts on the ground during a nature walk. Upon getting home, they tied a strand of fishing line between 2 trees (about chest high) and placed the nuts hanging from the fishing line. From an appropriate distance, they used their rifle and a shotgun to hit the nuts with. My Dad said they both were doing great shooting the nuts. He said with them being able to shoot something as small as nuts from 100 yards away, they'd have no trouble shooting and hitting deer! By Terri H. from NV Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf25417580.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Send A Christmas Card To A Recovering Soldier (Urban Legend) I've just received this from a friend. When making your list of Christmas cards please include: A Recovering American Soldier C/O Water Reed Army Med Center 6900 Georgia Ave NW Washington, DC 20307-5001 Thank you. Daniel from Syracuse, N.Y. Editor's Note: According to Snopes unless you address a particular service member in the hospital, they are returned or thrown away. Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf91696537.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Fabric Lunch Bags Several years ago before I retired, I made some interesting lunch bags for my supervisor and some other fellow workers. I took a brown lunch bag and cut it into pattern pieces, down the back and around the bottom. I cut my fabric pieces a slight bit larger to allow for seam allowance. I went to Hancock's remnant table and found some brown calico, deep chocolate brown with tiny orange flowers. I found some beige quilted fabric for a lining. I sewed strips for two handles and some velcro at the top for closure. All this was topstitched in orange. There might be 6 of these on the earth now. I never did finish mine. Calico brown bags. They were a big hit. By Marty from Houston, TX Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf55116362.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Five $5 Gifts I find it challenging to give all the gifts I'd like to without exploding my budget. For many friends and their children, I have a $5 budget. I feel like this can work when 1: the gift is thoughtful and original and 2: the gift is well wrapped and comes off looking more expensive. In order to stay within the $5 budget and to fulfill #2, you need to be well-stocked with wrapping elements that you have recycled, gathered, gotten at the thrift store or dollar store. Here are 5 ideas which can usually be done for $5 at Wal-Mart or other similar stores: Select a fruity-flavored bath gel, purchase the same flavor tea, and pair with a sponge, lufa, or washcloth in matching color. Present in a recycled basket or lunch bag tied with a pretty coordinating ribbon. I've done this with both peach and apple. Purchase a high-quality magazine and pair it with a single-serve packet of bubble bath. Tie both together with a pretty ribbon. Or, get a book from the used book store and do the same. You can even pair the bubble bath with the theme; either roses or ocean, etc. Vary this idea for the guys by getting a fishing magazine and putting it with a lure or a hunting magazine and a pack of hand warmers. Tie these together with twine or rope. For the kid, don't forget one of the very basics: a fresh box of 64 crayons and a color book. I've seen some pretty fancy coloring books lately, so this might even work for an adult who is young at heart! Or--make some recycled crayons to go with! And a bonus kids' gift: buy a magnetic alphabet set or alphabet sponges, pair with an alphabet template, and a can of alphabet soup and or pack of alphabet macaroni. This should provide plenty of ways to work on the ABCs. Purchase the odd but prety porcelain cup (with or without saucer) at the thrift store. Based on what is left out of the $5, purchase tea or tea and a box of tea biscuits to go with it. For the holidays, get a holiday mug or vintage holiday cup and put with hot chocolate. This gift is pretty in a recycled basket. Hope these give you some good $5 ideas and help you from getting discouraged when it comes to fulfilling your generosity and keeping your budget! Happy Holidays Source: These are mainly my ideas, but I read about gift giving all the time. By Amy from Cedar Hill, TX Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf83684937.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Christmas Traditions: Making Ornaments When I was a kid, I always wanted a themed Christmas tree like you see in stores or in the movies. We had the kind of tree with mismatched ornaments that had been handed down or picked up secondhand. No one can really afford to have all their ornaments match, right? When my oldest daughter was 2, I noticed all the fun projects she would bring home from daycare. I didn't want her to do all the fun stuff with other people. I decided that we would make good memories at home too. We started making ornaments. We pick a new color or theme every year. The first, year our colors were red and white. She made very simple pipe cleaner crafts like candy canes and I made ornaments with red ribbon and scraps of lace. The second year, we made white snowflakes with cornstarch dough and decorated them with beads and glitter. We've put starched string around small inflated water balloons, popped them when they were dry and then glittered them. This year, we got pretty ambitious. We are making butterflies and dragonflies with wire and pantyhose, then decorating them. We never spend much money on supplies, we usually just use stuff we have already in the house. We keep a few ornaments to remind us of what we've done and either donate or toss the rest of them. We also make extras for teacher gifts, again saving money. We have a beautiful tree every year and the time we spend together gives us the best Christmas memories! By Lisa from Lena, WI Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf15969870.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Dear Webby's Joke of the Day Marv, a local cop, recently stopped a woman for exceeding the posted speed limit. He asked the driver her name. She said, "I'm Mrs. Ladislanyatv Abdulkhashim Zybkcicraznovskaya from the Republic of Uzbekistan, visiting my daughter." Marv put away his summons book and pen, and said, "Well, uhhh, ok, but don't let me catch you speeding again." Read More Jokes Here: http://webby.com/humor New Requests: Gray Smoke Coming from My Van's Tailpipe I have a 1990 Caravan with 178K miles on it. Recently it started smoking from the tailpipe intermittently, though the engine was running smoothly and there was no noticeable loss of power. The color of the smoke is gray. I had a mechanic check it out. He said the compression was fine on all six. He replaced the PCV valve (which had never been changed) and cleaned up a few things. The smoking problem was unchanged. He put some additive in the oil supply and told me to run it for awhile and if that didn't fix it he recommended a ring and valve job (around $1800). This is somewhat confusing to me. If the rings or valves were bad it would seem that it would have shown up during the compression check. I have noticed a decrease in the smoke but it is still there and more dense when first started up in the morning and for the first few miles. It then appears to quit altogether. My question: Is it possible that there is a fuel management problem that is causing the engine to run too rich until warmed up? I know old cars used to do this due to a choke problem, but of course, there's no choke mechanism on this vehicle. Bob from Fairfield, Ca Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf72819390.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Removing Glue from Front of Microwave How do I clean the glue off the front of a new microwave? Paula from Mesa, CO Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf83405457.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Has Anyone Tried Roopamrit for Acne? Is the e-book 'acnefreein3days' safe to download? Has anyone tried the program in India? What were the results? And what about the product Roopamrit? Is is effective? Shivani from Uttaranchal, India Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf77204449.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Homemade Foaming Carpet Cleaner Early last summer, I was watching Channel 6 - Joey Green was sharing some of his recipes for different problem cleaning issues. He gave a recipe for foaming carpet cleaner using pine scented ammonia, clear dish detergent -- and something else. I can't find where I put the recipe and can't remember the ingredients/measurements. Does someone have this? Madelanie from Sacramento Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf17499235.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Softening Ice Melt How can I soften ice melt? I bought a 20 pound bag last year, and it is in one solid block now. Is there any way to put it back to it's original state, other than chopping it up? Linda J. from Brooklyn, NY Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf13175600.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Looking For Free Calendar Templates Online Does anyone now of a web site with free calender templates. Prefer one where I don't have to give them my e-mail address or sign my life away. nevjacq AT dodo DOT com DOT au Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf94410844.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Removing Kerosene From Wool How do I remove kerosene from wool or an unwashable fabric. Barron from Bethlehem, PA Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf28616801.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Health Advice For Pus Bump on Tonsil Someone please help me!! Before this I have never had any trouble with my throat! Back in mid Sept. I was brushing my teeth and saw a small pus spot in my left tonsil. I popped it several times but it kept coming back. I gargled with salt water and it disappeared. A few days later my throat on the left side (side the pus spot was on) was throbbing! My lymph node swelled for about a week then my left ear starting hurting! I have been to the E.R. numerous times, the regular doctor and an entomologist had strep tests, mono tests, an x-ray, ct scan, the entomologist scoped my throat. None of these doctors can tell me anything! I was even put on penicillin and azithromycin BEFORE I was tested for strep which obviously was negative! Now I'm on amoxicillin because I found a pus bump in my gums, went to the dentist and found out I had an abscess tooth, had a root canal. I even asked the dentist if this all could be connected but he said no. So here I am 3 months later still having this throat pain, just on the left side, sometimes I even have a gagging sensation when I swallow, and my ear is hurting so bad and here recently been having headaches. The only thing doctors can say is maybe you need your tonsils taken out, but I don't think that is the problem. One pus spot EVER, and I need surgery? Not what I want to do. If anyone has had these symptoms or has them please let me know if you found out what was going on or what you did. Thanks. Ammie from Louisville, KY Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf51572836.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Homemade Christmas Tree Flocking I have looked for spray flocking ( heavier than the normal snow spray used for Christmas trees, etc.) No one seems to carry it--when I checked on line, cheapest price was 39.95! Has anyone come up with a crafty idea on making this stuff at home? If so, will you share it? Thanks for your help. Monica from Northeast, PA Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf43729864.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Wallet Made from Magazines Does anyone have a pattern for a two or three fold wallet? I would like to use magazine pictures to make it. How many plys of plastic will I have to use and were can I buy it. Brenda Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf53436764.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Materials to Make a Magazine Purse Can someone tell me what type of material to use for the magazine purse, if you want to make them out of magazines. Iron-on vinyl did not very well. What size do you have to have for it to come out even. Do anyone have a picture to send me? Brenda Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf40988842.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Recipe for Spicy No Bean Chili Does anyone have a good no bean chili recipe that's spicy but not ridiculously spicy to where you can't eat it? Debbie from Garden City, MI Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf43392635.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Scoring a Wall How do you score a wall? Courtney from Springtown, Texas Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf51861610.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Sunscreen Stains on Clothing I'm a golfer and I have ruined many shirts and shorts due to the sunscreen. How do I get rid of these stains? Alicia from Tampa, FL Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf325054.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Oriental Themed Christmas Decorations I am hoping that some of you can help me with ideas on making Christmas Tree ornaments to be hung on a tree in my Oriental themed living room. My knickknacks, wall pictures, rug, etc. are oriental style. I wanted my tree to fit in with that theme but can't find ideas or patterns for ornaments. Can anyone help me with ideas/patterns? Thanks. Thissie from Juneau, AK Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf95952166.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print House Paint on Velour Pants How do you get paint stains out of Velour pants? It is the kind of paint that you use to paint a house. I have used color safe bleach and all kinds of other laundry powders, and even used a toothbrush, but it left a small spot that looks like it has been rubbed like a small chunk of material is gone. Can anyone tell me how to get it out that wouldn't ruin the material? Alisa from LA Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf91739957.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Organizing Art Supplies and Materials How do you organize art supplies and materials? The things I'm trying to organize range from all sizes of scrap paper, to oil paints, yarn, buttons, and oddly shaped small trinkets. My main concern is paper. I use and collect it to make collages, but I can't seem to find an effective way to organize it! Miki from California Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf54305520.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Main Dish Ideas for a Holiday Potluck I need a main course recipe for a potluck. Now, here comes the tough part! The potluck is a holiday celebration for my co-workers, we are school bus drivers. Since I leave my house @ 5 a.m. and the party is not until 10:00 a.m. I would like something that would keep and still be yummy. We are all ready for LUNCH at 10 a.m. and I don't want to bring dessert, there always too many of those. I do have an insulated Pyrex bag, complete with a 9x13 casserole dish. Simplicity is always appreciated. Ideally what I'd like to do is prep a day or two ahead, and pop it in the oven before I leave for work. The potluck is on the 13th. Christine from Sterling, Virginia Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf10643518.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Recipes for Canned Poppy Seeds or Canned Apricots I was given a case of canned Poppy Seeds and canned Apricots, from a friend who knows that I like to cook. But I haven't a clue at what to make with these. What can I use these in? Laura from Sun Prairie, WI Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf90087166.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Pattern For Miniature Christmas Tree Made With Pipe Cleaners Many years ago, while at a craft fair with my mother in law I learned to make a miniature Christmas tree from green pipe cleaners (or chenille stems for you language purists!). You started with a small block base with a thin dowel sticking up. Then you took a length of pipe cleaner (about 6" or so) and twisted around the dowel. But, and this is what made them look so real, before you twisted each length, you took about an inch long piece of cleaner and twisted it a bit down from each end (for branches). You used several lengths the same then decreased the length around the dowel to get the tapered effect. Unfortunately I don't remember the details. I have one left (after having made many to give away) but don't want to destroy it to figure out the pattern. Does anyone know of these or have the instructions. Melody from Oak Ridge, TN Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf32560578.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Advice for Fixing Up Wooden Wheelbarrows I have just purchased 2 small wooden wheelbarrows that are meant for the garden. They've been exposed to the elements for a long time and the wheels are badly split. Should I oil, varnish, paint or what? I would like to use enamel paint on them as they will be in the garden. My main concern is making them sturdy in the elements. Thanks so much for your help! Sharon from Incirlik, Turkey Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf23191711.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print What to Do With Coke Bottle Caps I collect Coke plastic bottle caps for the Coke Rewards program. After entering the codes, I then have lots and lots of plastic bottle caps. Is there anything useful I can do with them? Jean from Detroit, MI Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf82824898.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Melting Candy Canes To Shape For Gifts Does anyone know if you can melt candy canes so that I can shape them for gifts? Wendy from Joliet, IL Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf96816298.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Looking For Review of 'Package Shark' Has anyone tried the "Package Shark"? (http://www.packageshark.com/) Does it work like it says it does? Jean from Detroit, MI Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf57976396.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Recipes For Making Fresh Ham Steaks Taste Better We had a pig butchered by mistake we didn't get our ham steaks cured they are fresh any recipes out there to make them taste better do not like the taste of them plain. Thanks lindasue41@yahoo.com from Hartley,IA Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf49649839.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Cheese-free Recipes For Canned Pink Crab Meat I have a couple dozen cans of BumbleBee "premium select" pink crab meat, and I've run out of things to do with it. Here's the catch: I'm allergic to dairy products (milk and things made from milk). I can substitute easily for milk itself, so don't worry about that, but any recipes that require cheese won't easily turn out right. So, what are your favorite cheese-free recipes for canned pink crab meat? Thank you in advance! Ms. C. from USA Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf93985960.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Cleaning Handles of Dooney & Bourke Handbag I have a tassel tote Dooney and Bourke bag. The handles and the strap have begun turning brown and dark. Does anyone have any suggestions on how I can clean it? Patricia from Dallas, TX Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf29028836.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print What Can Be Added to Water For Boiling Chicken Before BBQ? A friend boils her chicken pieces before putting them on the gas grill to brown along with a heavy basting of BBQ sauce for flavor. What could be added to the boiling water that would not significantly add to the sodium content of the chicken, yet still survive all that boiling and bbq'ing? Thanks. Holly from Richardson, TX Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf22771052.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Broccoli, Cauliflower and Cabbage Not Forming Heads My broccoli, cauliflower and cabbage have many large leaves and look very healthy. However they haven't started to form any heads. Have just large plants. Hardiness Zone: 10b Allene from Phoenix, AZ Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf24348538.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print College Graduation Party Decorations I am doing a surprise college graduation party for my sister. I am having 30 people at my house with not a lot of room or money and I have no idea how to decorate for it. Her favorite colors are bright colors like hot pink green blue! Any suggestions? Help please! Jenny Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf40066367.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: Children's Sunglasses Recalled by FGX International Due to Violation of Lead Paint Standard Hazard: Surface paint on the sunglasses can contain excessive levels of lead, violating the federal lead paint standard. Read More: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf23220351.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Starbucks Recalls Coffee Mugs Due To Burn Hazard; Product Manufactured by lab921 Hazard: The plastic handle can detach from the body of the mug when filled with hot liquids, posing a minor burn hazard to consumers. Read More: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf88712207.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print The Home Depot Recalls Holiday Figurines Due to Lead Paint Hazard Hazard: Surface paint on the holiday figurines contains lead. Read More: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf17393107.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Boys' Hooded Sweatshirts with Drawstrings Recalled by Scope Apparel Due to Strangulation Hazard Hazard: The garments have a drawstring through the hood which can pose a strangulation hazard to children. In February 1996, CPSC issued guidelines (pdf) to help prevent children from strangling or getting entangled on the neck and waist by drawstrings in upper garments, such as jackets and sweatshirts. Read More: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf88227886.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print RC2 Recalls The First Years Children's Feeding Seats Due to Fall Hazard Hazard: The restraining straps can pull out of the waist strap slots, posing a fall hazard to young children. Read More: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf66803745.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print RC2 Recalls Potty Training Seats Due to Violation of Lead Paint Standard Hazard: Decorative plaque inserted into the back of the potty seat could have orange paint that contains excessive levels of lead, violating the federal lead paint standard. Read More: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf66729328.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Personal Identity Children's Sweaters with Drawstrings Recalled by Sears Due to Strangulation Hazard Hazard: The recalled sweaters have a drawstring through the hood, posing a strangulation hazard to children. In February 1996, CPSC issued guidelines (pdf) to help prevent children from strangling or getting entangled on the neck and waist by drawstrings in upper garments, such as jackets and sweatshirts. Read More: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf48184669.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Basic Editions Girls' Clothing Sets Recalled by Kmart; Drawstrings at Waist Pose Entrapment Hazard Hazard: The recalled pants have drawstrings at the waist, which are longer than the maximum length set forth in CPSC guidelines. This poses an entrapment or entanglement hazard to children. Read More: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf55771935.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print TKS Children's Pants Recalled by Sears; Drawstrings at Waist Pose Entrapment Hazard Hazard: The recalled pants have a ribbon belt at the waist, which are longer than the maximum length set forth in CPSC guidelines (pdf). This poses an entrapment or entanglement hazard to children. Read More: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf14507941.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Collins International Co. Recalls Oscillating Ceramic Heaters Sold at Menards Retail Stores Due To Fire Hazard Hazard: The heaters can overheat, smoke, or ignite which could pose a fire hazard to consumers. Read More: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf34296495.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.