Daily Thrifty Tips - December 12, 2006

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This is my granddaughter, Alyssa, giving me a glimpse into the red and purple in her future!

By Kayray from Plainfield IN

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I had photo made on transparency film at Kinkos. Then I cut it out in a 3" circle. Rolled it up and inserted into the top of clear glass ball. It flattens out by itself. I added some angel (or glitter) hair, poking it down with a pencil, on each side of the film.Then I replaced the top, added some "snowflakes" the names and date with a white marker. These are our two oldest great grandsons. Have to make another since there are 3 of them now.

By Great Granny Vi (Originally Published 8/31/2005)

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Here is my nativity stable my husband put together. He made it out of skids sitting up on end and put wafer board around the sides.

Below is a daytime shot of it.

By Dorothy from Friedens, PA

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Dress up your buffet table with a simple string of Christmas lights. It's easy to simply tape lights onto the side of your table then place your cloth over. It's very effective and your guests will be really impressed!

By Mitzi from DeLand, FL

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Ned is a 6 month old Common Barn Cat, fleas included. I got him from a box at the flea market next to his more lovely white brothers and sisters to be given away. My daughter took pity on him as he was the "ugly duckling."

He likes to torture his "Uncle Opie," our big white cat.

My daughters are teenagers and have boycotted my annual Christmas card photo of them in get-ups, so I thought I'd do a cute pet photo of Ned and Opie. I put them on a blankey that said "Let there be peace on earth and let it begin with me" to, you know, show love and brotherhood at Christmas. So much for that bright idea. In the end, Opie stalked out, so all I got was a shot of Ned. I think I will buy ready-made Christmas card.

By Cindy Bailey from Waynesburg, PA

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I bought the boxes at the dollar store and thought to myself that even though they were pretty I thought they could use some sparkle. I had some leftover beads from making Christmas ornaments so I decided to sparkle up my boxes.

This was a craft that I could do in front of the TV big plus I couldn't miss my cooking shows. I also thought this would be a great way to jazz up those decorated cardboard boxes we all have that may be looking a little tired.

Time:

Materials:

• Dollar store boxes
• Left over gems, small tri-beads pearls and any other small sparklers
• Good strong glue I used regular white Elmers

Directions:

The boxes I used had a oriental feel so I chose to bead where every there was a flower on the fabric. On the green box I free formed a branch on the fabric. I took the white glue and straight from the bottle I applied a small dab of glue and the pushed on a small bead. On the boxes that have two layers of beads I let the first bead dry then added a second bead. This could be used to decorate any fabric or wooden box.

By Debra from Colorado Springs, Co

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Grow celery hearts on your windowsill this winter. It's easy and they're pretty and delicious. Next time you buy a stalk of celery, cut the heel off about an inch from the bottom. That is, cut across the stalk so you have a crosswise slice off the end. Then do what we used to do with avocado pits - stick a few toothpicks in the side, fill a glass almost to the top with water, and rest the celery heel with toothpicks on the rim of the glass so that the bottom of the heel is just touching the water. Keep the water at that level, and after a week or so, you'll have little celery hearts sprouting from the middle of the heel. They keep sprouting for weeks.

By Jantoo from Kenosha Co., WI

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Downloadable Gift Cards (To: From: ) and recipe to print and give with your baked goodies for gifts, for this Christmas Season!

http://www.bakersjoy.com/promos/promos-giftcards.cfm

By Terri H. from NV

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With a new baby, you can spend a lot of time fielding calls from family members when you would rather just be relaxing. One thing you can do is leave a message on your answering machine giving the baby's name, weight, gender, and it's date and time of birth. Ask people to leave a message so you can call them back at a later date. That way you can rest and they can get the information they want about your new arrival.

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Instead of an ordinary jar or can to hold pencils and pens by the phone, try using an old toothbrush holder. It's more decorative, gives something old a new use, and has a separate slots for each. I have a "retro" green and blue mushroom topped with ladybugs next to my phone and it always brings compliments.

By Marie E. Cecchini from West Dundee, IL

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Another easy and cheap garland is a popcorn garland. String popcorn together using a large needle and thread (or fishing line). You can add a little color by mixing in some raw cranberries.

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Here is a link where you can print out a letter from Santa for your child. You just have to furnish 4 things that are used to personalize the letter, and then you print it out. It also includes a cute background behind the letter. You just need to give them:

1. The child's first name
2. What they have done to be good this year, example: cleaned my room, helped do the dishes.
3. What they want from Santa
4. The name of the street they live on.

http://www.aaasouth.com/newsletter/1205/santa/santaletter.asp

By Harlean from Hot Springs, Arkansas

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Looking for Christmas garlands that cost little or no money? Make a paper chain garland using the funny pages from the newspaper or colorful gloss ads. Just cut paper into strips, tape or staple the loops as you chain them together.

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I met a woman recently who had cosmetic surgery to correct sinus problems. Well, I thought to myself, when suffering, I just use heating pads on my sinuses to help them drain, plus a little bit of decongestant (too much irritates the sinuses and makes them worse). Also drink hot drinks and inhale the steam, and you can squirt saline solution up your nose. But then, I like my nose the way it is. I guess she didn't!

By Pamphyila from Los Angeles

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Do you have some styrofoam packaging peanuts lying around? String them together using a large needle and sturdy thread (or fishing line). You can even spruce them up a bit by painting the peanuts in Christmas colors.

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I treat myself to a very expensive facial care system that includes 2 small pump bottles; one for the morning and one for the evening. One bottle normally does me 2 months. Near the end of the bottle, the pump no longer reaches the cream but I can see that there is still cream there. I turn the bottle over and allow the contents to drip into the lid that comes with the bottle. By doing this, I get an extra 2 - 3 weeks of cream. Since this is quite expensive to begin with ($30.00 for one 1.5 oz bottle on sale), the extra I gain is very welcome.

By Robin from Hamilton, Ontario, Canada

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Take a pair of scissors and cut your food helpings into small pieces. The food will stretch further plus the more you chew the faster your brain tells you are full and you will not over eat.

I fed my husband and myself by cutting "one chicken breast" into small bite size pieces (with a pair of kitchen shears) and then added a cup of fried rice to it and we were full at the end of the meal and satisfied with the portions that we had. At the cost of one boiled chicken breast and 2 cups of rice we were full at the cost of nearly nothing spent for two to eat.

At this time of year, we all do need all the suggestions we can get to keep the "extra pounds" off of our thighs, hips and back ends! Good luck, I personally know that this does work, it saves us money and helps control our weight at the same time.

By Paula Jo Carr from Mebane, NC

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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/

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How do I clean money that went through hurricane Katrina?

Deanna from Pollock, LA

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What kind of gift could i make my boyfriend for christmas?

Caitlin from Illinois

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I got soap in my dogs eyes, what should I do?

Tammy from Shelby, MI

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How do you get gas smell out of leather gloves?

SUE from LA CROSSE, WI

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Could anyone help me with a recipe for chilli wine? I was watching a cookery programme that used chilli wine. I have phoned around but nowhere in South Africa can I find someone that stocks this product. I then thought it would be great fun if I could try to make some myself.

Thanks,
S Hatting from South Africa

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Is there any product either homemade or store bought, that will keep pets away from the Christmas tree?

Sharon from Florida

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I would like a pocket book organizer pattern. Can anyone help?

Sharon from NC

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My son eats Cheetos everyday for lunch. I can't seem to get the orange color out of his clothes. Most of his clothes are colored cotton. Any ideas other than banning Cheetos?

Berta from Marana, AZ

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My daughter is starting to date. Do you know how I can help with this milestone in life?

Lola D. from Denver, Colorado

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Why would my English Mastiff that's 5 years old start losing weight even though she eats and drinks? She is also rubbing against any wood she can and her hair is coming off and sometimes bleeds.

Pat from Illinois

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My American Staffordshire Terrier keeps rubbing his neck raw with his collar and causing it to get infected and i keep taking him to the vets and they say to leave the collar off but then he scratches it and makes it worst. What kind of collar should i use to keep him from rubbing it raw when it heals?

KK from Lynchburg, VA

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Pet question: What is crating?

Patch from South Australia

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Is there a forum for beginners using sewing machines?

Suzanne from UK

Editor's Note: Hopefully someone has a great discussion list or forum to recommend to you, if you have any specific questions, feel free to post them on ThriftyFun.

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Product: Frigidaire Refrigerator

Model: GLRT13TE - 20.5 Cu. Ft. Top Freezer Refrigerator

Request: any information on this model will be appreciated.

Natalie from New York City

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My daughter told me yesterday that she has been dating, a 16 year old boy who is gothic and skips school, for months now. She is only 13. What should I say about this interesting relationship?

Thanks for the help,
Virginia from Atlanta, GA

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I have an ingrown toenail, it doesn't look to bad but it's red, and easy to hurt. The last thing I want to do is surgery, what should I do?

Victoria

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I would like to make cookies for our neighbor who has helped our family out tremendously in little ways. I am needing some diabetic cookie recipes to make them, since the father is a diabetic. If anyone can share these with me it would be greatly appreciated. Thank you in advance!

jmz2005 from Illinois

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Why is acne scar caused? I never touch my pimples on my forehead, but is it true that I can still get scarring? Even if I don't touch it?

Jamie from New York

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I need to know what will eliminate perfume odors from clothing. I've had nice clothing items given to me, but every piece has the odor of perfume. I cannot tolerate perfume because of a health condition (COPD). Odors cause me to lose my capacity for breathing. Thus, I cannot wear the clothing without ridding it of the perfume. All factual assistance is greatly appreciated.

Donna from Charlottesville, VA

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I would really like to know how you country ladies take care of your skin. Face and otherwise. No matter what I've used I end up with alligator skin. We have hard water. I throughly enjoy reading all the posts.

Thank you,
Granieanie from Idaho

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My Daughter lives up by North Bay and has asked me to find a anime comic or magazine she can subscribe to, as her daughter is now into anime. It is a japenese comic that is quite popular with the teens and preteens.

Thank you so much,
Gramma Sue from Hamilton, Ont

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How do you remove brunt smell out of the house when you can't open windows?

Mthomas from Atlanta, GA

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How can I sterilize my laundry from bed bugs? I sent them to the regular laundry and it did not work.

JOHN from BOSTON

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Hi Ellen!

I am from Mumbai, India which is located on the coastal region of West India.

I have 3 queries:

1) Is Mumbai suitable enough to grow the BEST quality of Vanilla beans?

2) What is the minimum area suitable to grow Vanilla? Can it be cultivated in a small CONDUCIVE area at Home?

3) Is it commercially viable? And, how much does it cost to buy the best quality cuttings to grow it?

Nishit from Mumbai, India

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Could anyone give me some ideas for inexpensive gifts to take to an elderly neighbor in a nursing home that could lift his spirits?

Nelliemary

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I am looking for Aunt Nancy's Toffee candy recipe.

Darlene from Winnipeg, Manitoba

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My daughter spilled hot rice on my carpet - polyolefin - several months ago. I have been trying to get it up ever since. It's working, little by little - rubbing in carpet cleaner with a brush, then vacuuming when dry - but I can't get it all out. Any suggestions?

M from Maryland

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We have a variation of the Alberta spruce tree/shrub. They seem to be shedding a lot of their greenery. They are turning brown in many, many areas. In the spring I gave them some extra fertilizer for this type of shrub but it did not seem to help. These are up by the house (about a foot from the house) and the back of the shrub on several of them is almost totally brown. I water them all summer and into late fall. Not sure what to do to help them along. Last summer was their second season.

Hardiness Zone: 6a

Thanks for any advice,
Ginger from Ohio

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How many cups of coffee should I use in a 30 cup coffee pot?

Gin from Florida

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