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.

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Craft: Recycled Lid Bugs and Bug Houses

"Crafternoon" boredom buster for the kids. We saved the lids from water bottles and soda-which should be removed for recycling, in case you didn't know this already. We hot glued two lids together to create play "Buggies" for "Bugville". My children came up with this idea! They glued eyeballs and even antennae pipe cleaners. They customized each bug with paint and made bug houses out of large dish detergent tab bottles and some recycled Easter grass. Great fun and creativity.

By Wendy from Coopersburg, PA

Recycled Lid Bugs And Bug Houses

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Gardening: Grow Larger Rose Blooms With Banana Peels

I have roses growing on my back fence. Year before last my flowers were nice but small. Last year I remembered my grandmother adding banana peels in the dirt around her flowers. So early in the spring, I dug a trench around my bushes and buried banana peels about 6 to 8 inches from the plants. My flowers were much larger than before, and bloomed for a longer period.

By Sharon from Van Buren, Arkansas

Larger Rose Blooms With Banana Peels

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Craft Project: Snack Pack Purse

Little girls purse made from snack packs.

Snack Pack Purse

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Hermes The Cat

Hermes is a 1 year old street cat. We live in the country and someone had dropped him off in the night. He jumped into my truck when I was on my way to work at 4:30 in the morning and we've had him ever since.

Hermes likes to harass my other cats. He is a wonderful cat. The smartest cat we have ever had. He was around 2 months old when he was abandoned.

By Skyweaver from Gallatin, TN

Hermes The Cat

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Mr. Spugsley (Cairn Terrier/Chihuahua Mix)

Mr. Spugsley is a 2 year old cairn terrier/chihuahua mix. We brought him home on New Year's Day of 2007. I found him on craigslist.

He likes to shred brown paper bags or toilet paper rolls, chase tennis balls, and sometimes just snuggle.

By CJ from Dallas, TX

Mr. Spugsley (Cairn Terrier/Chihuahua Mix)

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Tip Contest
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Photo Contest
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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
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Mix Styling Gel With Leave-in Conditioner

If you like to use hair gel or styling glaze but don't like the way it dries out your hair, simply mix it with leave-in hair conditioner prior to applying it. The hold is still great, but your hair gets a healthy dose of conditioner, too! No more dry ends!

By Dawn R. from Johnstown, PA

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Free Cake from a Culinary Class

Free or inexpensive party cake. Call a local technical college. If they offer a culinary class, they may make a cake or other dessert for you for a nominal fee or for free as practice for their students. My daughter wanted a "mad hatter" cake for her birthday. A mad hatter cake is a topsy turvy cake covered in fondant.

I called a local bakery and it was going to cost $150 for a very small two-tier cake. So I called the local technical college. The culinary class needed a cake decorating project and offered to do it for free.

Source: My sister's idea to call the college.

By Luv to Cook from NC

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Combining Coupons and Store Rebates

When stocking up for toiletries, I find Rite Aid to be a good store. They have all these rebate sales, where the product ends up being free (or close to it).

This week they have 4 pack Bic razors on sale for $4.99, the newspaper has a coupon for $2. You enter the receipt on the rite aid site and they will send a check for $2. The total cost of the razors is .99 cents - that's .25 cent a razor.

You can get their ad free at the store or go the website to see what the months deals are. I find it very easy to use.

By Rebecca from Lancaster, NY

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Use Your Cell Phone in the House to Call for Help

Not so sure this is a tip, but it worked wonders for me. I crushed my ankle and it required surgery and prevented me from climbing stairs. So I slept in the ground level bedroom. If I needed help to get up in the night or needed meds, I used my cell phone to call our ground phone. This awakened hubby (he actually cooked up this idea) and he came down to help. He is a great caretaker.

By Ginny from Saginaw, MI

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Plastic Page Protectors to Store Patterns

I have found plastic document protectors work great for my patterns. You can xerox a favorite pattern and put in document protector, then organize them in a binder. This is also great if you only want one pattern from a magazine instead of keeping the whole magazine and trying to find it later. You can get dividers and organize your patterns in the binder by categories if you want. This saves time and space.

By Cindy from St. Clair Shores, MI

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Use a Denture Brush for Kitchen Scrubbing

Keep a denture brush in the kitchen for when you wash dishes. The stiffer bristles help clean in between spatulas and hard to get at places. Especially helpful if you have a juicer, french fry cutter, etc. because those all have some sharp and hard to reach areas. If you can find a double sided brush, that's all the better as one side is a little longer than the other.

By Carol in Dunedin, FL

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Cut Magic Erasers Lengthwise Into Thirds

Magic Erasers are everything the manufacturer claims, and then some. They'll clean surfaces as no ordinary sponge can, but they can be a little pricey. Use a steak knife and easily cut them lengthwise into 3rds. You'll get 3 for the price of one, and they work just as well.

By Kathy from Syracuse

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Make Your Own Recipe Box With Recycled Cardboard

My recipe file was over flowing, too full! I like to collect good recipes. I could not find a larger recipe box so I made a larger box with a big popcorn box, we get boxes with 15 bags of popcorn in it. I took an empty box, cut it so it is as deep as the index cards (a little deeper than the recipe cards). I got all my recipes it in and have room for more in it, saves money.

By Kathleen from Dothan, AL

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"No Peel" Hard Boiled Eggs

I don't know if anybody has tried this already or sent this in. But here's a way to peel your "hard-boiled" eggs all at once. I don't think it works for "soft-boiled". I didn't want to try that, could be very messy.

Anyhow, once you've hard-boiled the eggs in salted water; empty the hot water out of the saucepan, keeping the eggs inside. Add about an inch of cold water to the pot and, holding the lid on, give the pot a few shakes to crack up the egg shells inside. And POOF! Your eggs are peeled, or at least mine were when I tried it. LOL! Good luck to anyone who does this. It really works.

Redskin in Brockville, Ontario, Canada

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Dog Food Liver Cake

This is for dogs. It's a liver cake they will love.

Ingredients

2 lbs. of Liver
1/2 cup of Corn Meal
2 cups of flour
1 Tbsp. garlic powder
water

Directions

Put liver in blender till it turns to liquid. Add garlic and blend some more. Put cornmeal into mixing bowl. Put liver mixture into the cornmeal, stir. Add flour and stir. Should be pourable, add water 1 Tbsp at a time. Pour liquid mixture on a greased cookie sheet and spread. Bake at 325 degrees F for 22 minutes. Should be slightly pink in the middle when done. Let cool then cut into squares.

Source: came from a breeder friend of ours.

By Chandra from Greenwood, NS

Editor's Note: This recipe contains garlic, which can be left out at your preference. Most veterinarians recommend avoiding garlic for dogs. There is a vocal minority that supports the health benefits of garlic and recommend it in small amounts. Please consult with your vet or other pet professional regarding garlic to make your own opinion.

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Dear Webby's Joke of the Day

Walking up to a department store's fabric counter, a pretty girl asked: "I want to buy this material for a new dress. How much does it cost?"

"Only a kiss a yard, " replied the smirking male clerk.

"That's fine," replied the girl. "I'll take ten yards."

With expectation and anticipation written all over his face, the clerk hurriedly measured out and wrapped the cloth, then held it out teasingly. The girl snapped up the package and pointed to a little old lady standing beside her.

"Grandma will pay the bill," she smiled.

Read More Jokes Here: http://webby.com/humor

Homemade Wedding Gift Ideas

I am looking for ideas of wedding gifts I can make.

Lou Ann from Cozad, NE

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What is the Title of This Movie?

Does anyone know of a movie where there is a crazy shape-shifting guy who is obsessed with this girl and near the end he yells at the girl "Tell me you love me, I won't tell anyone!" I know it's weird but it's really bugging me.

Rachel from PA

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Spots Appearing on Carpets

I am seeing some small brown stains on my carpet. Initially I started seeing them on the basement carpet. I don't have a finished basement. I just carpeted the basement floor so that kids can play on it. I do not think they are mold stains as the house is only 4 years old and never had a leak anywhere in the house or a damp floor. Also, I cut some carpet in the basement and did not see any evidence of mold on the floor underneath the carpet or on the back side of the carpet.

Now I am seeing similar spots on the carpet on my first and second floor. Most of the stains are actually in the 2nd floor near bathroom entrances and in the walk-in closet areas. I have the Berber carpet and the stains are the size of small finger nail. They just look like someone dropped some oil drops here and there. I have around 6 or seven spots in each area.

We don't know how they got there. They are a mystery for us. I bought a few carpet cleaning sprays from Wal-Mart and tried it on my basement floor and it did not work. Earlier we had a rodent (small mice) problem in our house which we took care of. So, I thought maybe a small mouse is running around the house and is excreting urine/poop and was causing this.

I set up mice traps with no luck. Also, typically mice poop is visible and since that was not the case we ruled it out too. If not mice could it be some kind of fly? Can someone help me to understand what these spots could be and how to get rid of them? Your help will be much appreciated.

Bob from Chicago, IL

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Relieving Itching for Dogs

We have four dogs. 2 golden retrievers and two small poodles. My male retriever has a very bad sore on his left foot, on the top and on the side. We have been to the vet. He gave him an antibiotic and a head cone, It looked like it was gone so I took off the cone. Within a week it came right back.

I clean it regularly with peroxide and a pain and itch relief medicine that goes right on the sore. It is not working, and now he has started to limp a little bit. We are going back to see the vet but I thought I could get some medicine for him.

My mini poodle is a neutered male that is forever scratching something till it bleeds, usually on his neck but elsewhere too. Does anyone know how much Benadryl to give to my little poodle who weighs about 25lbs? Thank you.

Dee

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Cooking with Almond Milk

I have been given about 10 containers of almond milk. Can I cook regular pudding, etc. with it? I tasted it and I guess it will be OK in coffee or hot chocolate but I don't think I will drink it.

Sandy from Baltimore

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Cleaning a Porcelain Sink

I'm cleaning porcelain sinks that seem to have a touch of soap scum and what looks to be remnants of a sealant around the faucet. The stuff is so hard, I've been using a razor to carefully take off the stuff. Just wondering, when I take it off is the porcelain supposed to shine or am I taking off the protective layer?

BigJess from Minnesota

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Am I Damaging My Porcelain Sinks?

Does anybody know if porcelain is supposed to have a dull, white finish or a gloss white almost glass feel to it? Just trying to figure out if I'm taking the outer protective layer off of my sinks.

BigJess from Granite Falls, MN

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Transplanting Daffodil Bulbs

About 18 years ago I planted daffodils around new house. My crepe myrtles have matured into trees so the bulbs are in shaded areas now. I noticed that this week one clump is blooming profusely but most others have one or no blooms. As you can see in the photo, the clumps in the back have few blooms but this one gets more sun but fewer blooms.

While this clump may get a little more sun, I may have also watered this area a little more during the fall. Can fall watering affect the number of blooms in spring? I plan to transplant most of these clumps when I re-landscape my backyard and get them in more sun. When should I move them?

Hardiness Zone: 8a

Robin from Meridian, Texas

Transplanting Daffodil Bulbs

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Black Marks on a Glass Stovetop

I have black marks on a glass stovetop. How do I remove them?

Diane from Front Royal, VA

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Cat Urine Smell on Carpet

How do you get cat urine smell out of a carpet?

Debbie from Broken Bow, NE

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Jeans Zipper Won't Stay Up

I have a favorite pair of jeans but the zipper will not stay up. It goes up but when I move or bend down it goes down. I did see a post here that suggested to paint the zipper with clear nail polish. If I do not get any other solutions I may try that. Thank in advance.

Sandi from IL

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Measuring Cup for Creative Pasta Express X500

Does anyone know where I can find a measuring cup that came with the Creative Pasta Express X500? Thanks.

Linda from Manitowaning, Canada

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Ideas For 16th Birthday Party

I'm having a 16th birthday party. I plan on having a party bus, but I want to do something before. Something that doesn't cost too much money, or no money would be great also. And no I don't feel like going to dinner. I'm up for anything besides a house party, because last year somebody left having to get stitches. Thank you for any ideas.

Maria

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Homemade Chicken Feeders

Any ideas for homemade chicken feeders and waterers?

Roz from Victoria, BC

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Instant Pudding Came Out Runny

I tried making some Jello brand instant pudding, and instead of whole milk I used non-fat milk. I also used 1 1/2 cups of milk instead of the suggested 2 cups of milk. It turned out extremely runny, and I had to throw it out. Why did this happen? I have previously used reduced fat milk without encountering this problem.

Carolyn from Warren, MI

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Using Old Oil Can for Olive Oil

Can an old fashioned squirt oil can, or the ones with the squeeze handle on them, be cleaned so that we can use one for applying olive oil to salads, etc.? Please explain how to clean them because, I'm both a kitchen hazard and Ms. Fix-it! Thank you very much.

Jane from Baltimore, MD

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Sink Drain Gurgles

My kitchen drain gurgles after the water has gone down even though it is not slow or backed up. Any thoughts as to why? I run baking soda and vinegar down it usually once a week.

Christine from Middletown, PA

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Lupini Beans

I love lupini beans! I used to be able to buy them dried at local stores but can't find them anymore. Does anyone know where I can buy them? They are so delicious after you cook and soak them salted for several days. They remind me of nuts. There is one brand Sun of Italy that sells them but they are so puny and the jar doesn't give you that many. Thanks for any help!

Gigi from Upperco, MD

Lupini Beans

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Blueberry Juice Recipe

My doctor wants me to stay on a low sugar daily diet because of high cholesterol. I searched the health food section of my local grocery store and was going to purchase a bottle of pure blueberry juice, no sugar added. What really stopped me was the price for such a small bottle. I happen to own a high speed blender. Does anyone have a pure blueberry juice recipe using filtered water? Thank you for any suggestions.

MCW from Lewiston, NY

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Removing Wax Finish from Hardwood Floors

We have a wood floor with a very thin and very worn polyurethane finish, but we inadvertently cleaned the floor with a product that is a "light wax". Now the floor is super slippery. We've gone over it a couple of times with a water-based cleaner, but it isn't helping. Since we have only used the wax-based product once, I can't imagine that we need to strip the floor. Can anyone recommend a product or technique that will help us to remove the thin layer of wax that is on the floor?

C.I.A. from Orange County, CA

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Melted Crayon Dried on Clothing

How do I get crayon out of already dried clothes?

Pam from Union, MO

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Who will take my wire hangers?

I have hundreds of extra wire hangers and do not want to throw them away. How can I dispose of them?

Sandra from Cuyahoga Falls

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Freezing Cream Cheese

Can you freeze cream cheese?

Debbie from Richmond, KY

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Sticker Residue on Leather

I need to remove sticker residue from my leather jacket. I forgot to remove a name tag after a conference and when I finally remembered it was there, the sticky backing stayed. Any ideas on what I can use that won't harm my leather?

Susan from New Jersey

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Dishwasher Not Draining Water

I have a GE Profile Performance dishwasher, Model # GSD4920Z04BB. The water will not drain. How can I avoid a service call? I'd like to try this on my own. Thank you.

Cindy from Ogden, UT

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Pop Tab Belt

Does anyone have a pattern for velvet ribbon and pop can tab belts? Thank you.

Jane from Otis, OR

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Making Towels Soft

How do you get towels soft? I live in the country and have a water softener. I have tried everything, vinegar, baking soda, fabric softener, and dryer sheets. Am I using to much or to little of something? They still come out scratchy.

Pico from St Paul, Alberta

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Problems With Printable Coupons

I remain confused. What good are coupons downloaded from the internet if the grocery stores won't accept them? All of the grocery stores around here that accept manufacturer's coupons from the Sunday paper have signs that say "We do not accept internet coupons".

Sandra from Pennsylvania

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Feces Stains on Underwear

I need tips for getting feces and urine out of underwear.

flower51

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Recipes Using Apples

I recently bought several bags of small apples (a really good sale or so I thought). They are a little on the tart side, and are quickly bruising. Any advice on simple recipes to get them used up quickly? Also, how can I sweeten them? Thanks!

Stacey from Dorr, MI

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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

Saving Money on Scrapbooking

This is a great time of the year to get organized and many people have boxes of photographs, keepsakes and other memorabilia that they will get to "someday". Here are tips and tricks for saving time and money on scrapbooking. Post your own advice here.

Saving Money on Scrapbooking

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Daily Thrifty Tips - February 17, 2009

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