Daily Thrifty Tips - January 24, 2007

These two photos show ornaments that are much different than the green and red ones I made in 1992. After writing the directions for these, I decided to make some more. I assembled a 550 piece puzzle and sprayed it gold.

To make the ring shape, I traced around the flat lid of a wide-mouth jar on white printer paper. These are three layers deep, and the bow is glued and stapled.

I did not put a hanger on them because they look nice with a bit of evergreen poking through beneath the bow. The puzzle made 24 ornaments. I'm all ready to give my friends a gift for NEXT Christmas!

By Coreen

Post Feedback: Click Here

Max is 4 years old and is a Lab, Rock and Chow mix. He was my daughter's pet for 3 years. She moved and couldn't take him with her so I guess I adopted him.

This is my 3 year old grandson, Hunter with our dog Max. (His father named him Hunter because he loves to hunt) They were watching us move furniture around. When I turned around, this is what I saw and grabbed the camera. With little ones you have to grab the moment.

By Barbara from Wiggins, Ms.

Post Feedback: Click Here

Instead of the traditional Valentine cards for mom, dad, a grandparent or friend, make special banners to send your message.

Crafting Time: 20 - 30 minutes

What You Need:

• Red or pink crepe paper streamer
• Yarn
• Scissors
• Cellophane tape
• Red, pink, and white construction paper
• Markers
• Glue
• Ribbon

Directions:

1. Cut an 18" length of crepe paper streamer and a length of yarn for each banner. Knot the yarn ends together to make a hanger. To attach the hanger, place a yarn loop at one end of a streamer, fold the top of the streamer down over one section of the yarn loop, and tape the top to the back of the streamer. Cut the opposite end of the streamer into points to resemble ribbon.

2. Draw and cut heart shapes, in various sizes from red, pink, and white construction paper.

3. Write on three of your hearts. Write "I" on the first, "Love" on the second, and "You" on the third. Glue the hearts to the banner ribbons, spacing the hearts evenly. Glue additional hearts to the banners above and below the word hearts. Hearts may be decorated with marker before gluing. Other messages you might want to write: You're the best. You are great. Please be mine. I'm sure you can think of more.

4. Cut a length of ribbon for each banner. Tie the ribbons into bows and glue a bow at the top of each banner.

By Marie E. Cecchini from West Dundee, IL

Post Feedback: Click Here

• Tip Contest
  Submit a Tip or Recipe!

• Photo Contest
  Submit a tip with photo!

The above 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!

In the winter, I take extra hot showers and end up with dry very itchy legs. I no longer have that problem because, right before I get in the shower, I slather my legs with Vaseline. It repels the hot water from going directly on my legs. When I get out of the shower, I have beaded up water on my legs and gently pat them dry. My legs are smooth and have never itched again.

By Linda from Oceanside, CA

Post Feedback: Click Here

We have had a lot of problems with bees, small and large, before the cold weather hit. We love to sit outside and when having a cold soft drink, those pesky things come around. We are always afraid that one will get into the can without us knowing and this could result in a serious problem. I found that using the top of a can of spray paint works great and fits right over the top without them getting into it.

By Jodi from Texas

Post Feedback: Click Here

If you use a brush-type boot/shoe cleaner for snow removal, sprinkle it with your snow and ice melter as you do your walks, etc. The snow won't build up to the point that it can't be used to clean the bottom of your boots.

By kcarskc from SE Idaho

Post Feedback: Click Here

During this cold winter weather, the air in our homes gets terribly dry and some people don't like the added work of keeping a humidifier machine clean. An easier way to keep moister in the home is to keep a pot of water on a low burner on the kitchen stove. The added moisture also distributes the heat more evenly and it keeps us warmer. The only drawback is that the pot gets crusted over with calcium from the water and seems to ruin the pot. A very easy way to clean the pot is to put straight vinegar in it and wipe it out with a sponge.

By Retha from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Post Feedback: Click Here

For a goo/ink/food stain remover, mix 1 part Goof Off with 1 part Citra-Solv and 3 parts water. Shake the solution thoroughly and then allow it time to emulsify. It is ready for use when the solution is uniformly a milky white color.

By Philip from Sacramento, CA

Post Feedback: Click Here

Just when you're letting out a big sigh because the kids have ripped the sole and fabric apart in another pair of sneakers, consider this: repair the sneaker by gluing it with silicone, the kind you use in bathroom repairs. My husband has made his sneakers last a bit longer this way.

By Nilaja from New York City

Post Feedback: Click Here

I made these pillows for Christmas for family members, but you could make them for any reason or decor. I bought at the dollar store the sets of 4 placemats with matching runner for $5, per set. Then I took 2 placemats and sewed them together, turned them inside out and stuffed with poly filled pillows that I bought at the same store on sale, 2 for $4. I cut the pillow open and used the stuffing, each pillow will stuff two of the theme pillows, and sew the bottom together. I put the 2 pillows together with the runner in the middle and tied it with pretty ribbon. Each family had 2 pillows for their sofa and a matching table runner for the coffee table. Everyone loved them. I would send a picture but I have already packed up Christmas. Some of them were snowmen, angels, christmas trees, wreaths and reindeers.

By Barbara from Wiggins, MS

Post Feedback: Click Here

Nail a funnel to the wall and pull string out of the bottom of the funnel.

By Nancy from Madison, WI

Post Feedback: Click Here

Have you ever had a thought or idea, and had it just "go" right out of your mind when the phone rang or there was some kind of interruption? My daughter says "Mom, I swear I am going to buy you some ginko!" Well, since I carry my cell phone in my pocket most of the time, I now record what I want to remember. It has worked out great!

By Leann from Columbus, Ohio

Post Feedback: Click Here

When you need to wrap a very large gift item or an odd shaped gift item which is too large for a gift bag, go to the local dollar store and purchase a vinyl/plastic tablecover in a solid color or appropriate design for the occasion. It not only works great but saves on the cost of gift wrapping. I used this idea recently to wrap a rocking chair for my grandson's birthday.

By Janet from Havertown, PA

Post Feedback: Click Here

Dear Webby's Humor Letter

Webby publishes our tips daily! A very funny newsletter. Webby now has a blog, read his latest newsletter as well as back issues here: http://webby.com/humor/blog/

More Information:
http://webby.com/humor

I have vinyl coated drywall panels on my walls. I would like to know if they can be painted. What kind of paint would I need to buy and do I have to primer them first? My home is a double wide and the walls have the vinyl coated drywall panels with board strips between them. I would also like to know how to remove them boards and how to make them look like regular dry wall when I paint them. Is there something I could get to put on the wall between the panels so I don't have them board strips on the wall? I would like to make it smooth like drywall looks.

Thanks,
Dorothy from Pennsylvania

Post Feedback: Click Here

Does anyone have any treatments for greying of hair?

Meher from Mumbai

Post Feedback: Click Here

I am on our school's auction decorating committee. The theme is "An Evening on the High Seas." We're sort of gearing it toward being an elegant Titanic-like cruise ship theme. It's going to be a formal evening with black, white and silver being the colors. Does anyone have ideas on decorating an entrance? Decorating the stage? Table decorations? I'd appreciate any ideas. Our budget is approx. $1,000. We anticipate nearly 500 people showing up. Thanks for your help!

Kathy from Lynden, WA

Post Feedback: Click Here

We have a parvo puppy that has been in the vets for 8 days. She is up and barking and wagging her tail, also keeping food down, BUT, she is having to be force fed as she won't eat on her own. How can we get her to eat?

Lucy from Sydney, Australia

Post Feedback: Click Here

I have a lovely cocker, she has suffered from skin problems since she was a pup. The vets are constantly putting her on antibiotics (ceporex) which has no effect. I am at a loss and hate to see her constantly scratching and licking herself. Does any one have a good home remedy to treat elephant skin?

Isabel from London

Post Feedback: Click Here

Our daughter's getting married on 7/7/07, with an outdoor reception. She wants an elegant (yet simple) dinner, possibly buffet style, and I need to find recipes that will work for entrees, preferably chicken or pork. Any ideas? We're talking 250+, so needs to easily reproducible.

Kim from Crawford, CO

Post Feedback: Click Here

How do you clean outside furniture? Especially the cushions with mildew.

Jennifer from Dallas, Georgia

Post Feedback: Click Here

Twenty five years ago, a man I worked with shared some chicken with me his wife had cooked. When I asked for the recipe he told me it was a family recipe that was sold to a restaurant in Knoxville with the condition that they would never share it with anyone outside the family, so she wouldn't give it to me for anything.

Twenty five years later and my mouth still waters for it while I search and try every chicken recipe that I find. Yeah, it was that good!

Jane from Lima, Ohio

Post Feedback: Click Here

A kerosene heater got out of control and left black soot on my suede couch. Help!

Rene' from Springfield, MO

Post Feedback: Click Here

Does anyone have the recipe for the Cracker Barrel "Apple Streusel Pie" that they serve in the fall of the year, or a good recipe for it?

Deborah from Bartlett, TN

Post Feedback: Click Here

I have a side by side fridge, with a built-in ice maker. One has to open the freezer to get the ice. Anyway, I get frozen hunks of ice along with the ice cubes that drops into the ice bin. I have to use an ice pick to break up the clumps of ice. What causes this and how can I correct this problem without calling the repair man? Also, It continues to make ice and If I do not remember to lift the arm that stops ice forming it will fall out of the full ice bin and go all over in the freezer.

Thanks in advance,

Mary from Mendenhall, Mississippi

Post Feedback: Click Here

I'm looking for any recipes on how to make hickory smoke salt. Stores don't carry it anymore.

Thanks,
Melanie from Canada

Post Feedback: Click Here

I need to remove a stain on my dooney bag because. It rained and my jeans stained my bag.

Janette G. from TX

Post Feedback: Click Here

How do I remove human urine odour and stains from a mattress with Borax?

Serina from Rankin Inlet, NU

Post Feedback: Click Here

What do I do with all of my children's school artwork? I don't want to just throw them out in the trash! I do hang them for a while on the kitchen cupboards, or fridge, etc. Anyone have any suggestions on storing them, or preserving them in a binder, or frames?

Pattie from Fredonia, NY

Post Feedback: Click Here

My iron accidentally tipped over when I wasn't looking and scorched a brand new cotton shirt. I tried oxyclean and peroxide and it didn't get the scorch mark out. Any ideas? Thanks for your help.

Andrea from New York

Post Feedback: Click Here

When should I use my pet stroller for my pug who goes everywhere with me?

Carol from SAN DIEGO, CA

Post Feedback: Click Here

Is there a pastry blender (for mixing flour and butter when the recipe says to "cut in the butter with the flour") that anyone would like to recommend?

My mother successfully used two knives in an X motion, or a chopper that had a dull blade that went up and down sandwiched between two stationary blades.

I have a technique that desperately needs improving.

Thanks,
Holly from Richardson, TX

Post Feedback: Click Here

I had a bright white, dry clean only, dress dry cleaned. It is now off-white. The dry cleaners would not claim any responsibility or help with the dress. Is there anything I can do to whiten the dress. It is 55% linen, 45% rayon with 100% acetate lining. Thanks, Donna

Donna from Dyersburg, TN

Post Feedback: Click Here

How do you remove sharpie permanent marker from carpet?

Thank You,
Bertie Hamlet

Post Feedback: Click Here

How good is the ATI 3D RAGE LT PRO compared to Radeon 7000?

Anthony from Ithaca, NY

Post Feedback: Click Here

Does anyone know how to get rid of "yellow" wear stains out of linoleum tiles? My linoleum floors are still in good shape, but have yellowed over the years. Any suggestions?

Crystal from Arvada, CO

Post Feedback: Click Here

I am interested in finding neat ideas for office decorations - pictures, etc. I want to maintain a very professional office, but don't have a lot of funds to decorate. Any ideas would be much appreciated. Currently my office is a bad impression of the early 70s... yuck!

Sheri from Modesto, CA

Post Feedback: Click Here

Technically speaking, a perennial plant is a plant that has a life cycle lasting longer than 2 years. But for most gardeners, perennials are more like old friends. When given the proper care, we can look forward to seeing them return to the garden year after year. Because there are literally thousands of kinds of perennials, it can be a bit overwhelming to try to figure out which type of perennial works best for different situations. Here are suggestions for 10 perennials in a variety of categories.

Read More: Click Here

Coupon Swap!
Swap coupons with other ThriftyFun.com users.

Seed Swap!
Swap seeds with other ThriftyFun.com users.

To Subscribe or Unsubscribe