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Craft: Place Mat Handbags

Here is a great craft idea that makes great gifts! I purchased 2 gorgeous place mats at Goodwill (2 for 99 cents) in a purple toile pattern. I placed them together and sewed around leaving an opening at the top and turned right side out. I then sewed on purchased bamboo handles (which I found on a purse I got for 50 cents at a thrift shop, I just removed the bag).

Voila! A really cool purse! You can use dollar store place mats. I am always on the lookout at Goodwill, etc for purses with these handles, a lot cheaper than buying them new. You can embellish these however you want. I have put a ribbon "rose" on one. I left this one as is because I didn't want to clash with the print.

By Carol from Landisville, PA

Craft: Place Mat Handbags

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Alice The Cat

Alice is a 10 year old cat. I think she looks like a Maine Coon cat. I rescued her from an apartment complex where she was living comfortably but sadly in a safe, protected storm drain. That's why her full name is Lady Alice Maude Stormdrain, Countess of Kentlands. She likes to have her hair brushed.

By Jill from Just outside DC

Alice The Cat

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Craft Project: Light Bulb Duck

Create this cute duck from a burned out light bulb and a few other supplies.

Craft Project: Light Bulb Duck

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Craft Project: Filter Flowers

Coffee filter flowers colored with bingo dabblers.

Craft Project: Filter Flowers

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Uses for Ben and Jerry's Mini Spoons

You can think of this as being frugal, and recycling, too.

I had never had any Ben and Jerry's ice cream before. I know, insane, right? So last night I opened my first mini one, thinking if I didn't like it (NOT) I would only be out a dollar. They come with these cute little spoons on the top under a cardboard lid.

Well, I was about to recycle it today and it hit me, that looks like a little measuring spoon! I fished out my 1/4 tsp. measurer, and sure enough, two of them fit in the little spoon. That makes the mini spoon 1/2 tsp. for liquid or powder.

I also thought of some other things to do with them.

If a guy (sorry gals, but their thumbs are a little longer) has a sprained thumb and needs to immobilize it till they can work again or get to the doctors, or they have a bad nail brake, these can be great little splints.

I don't know if they can be drilled in the small little hole that is in the end, but if they can, they would make great key fobs, especially for property managers like me.

Do you enjoy making Turkeys and Bunnies with Construction paper? What cute feathers and ears! They are perfect for holding just the amount of beads you need for a project, or as a scoop for glitter!

So, can you all come up with more ideas? I know you can!

Source: I brainstormed this one today when cleaning up the kitchen!

By Poor But Proud from Salem OR

Uses for Ben and Jerry's Mini Spoons

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My Frugal Life
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Make Your Own Ear Lifts

Hello, Everyone! Isn't this website just the best?! I'm constantly referring to it - it is so useful!

I've found a way to make my own "Ear Lifts", using clear packing tape, bought at the dollar store, waxed paper, and scissors. Stick a couple of inches of tape to the waxed paper. Then, just cut out your own ear lifts. When you want to use one, just peel off the waxed paper, and stick it to the back of your earlobe, the same way you do with "Ear Lifts". So much cheaper and just as effective!

By Karla from Greensboro, NC

Editor's Note: If you are unfamiliar with this product (as I was), it is to keep your earlobes from stretching out when wearing earrings.

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Organizing Ideas from Magazines in a Filing Cabinet

Since I have children, I often get magazines that have lots of ideas ranging from craft ideas to party and food ideas. I had accumulated so many because I wanted to keep the useful ideas that I came across. I was becoming overwhelmed with magazines. So then I got the idea of my filing cabinet.

I bought some file folders and labeled the folders for craft ideas, food ideas, etc. I went though each of my magazines and tore out the ideas I loved, and put them in the appropriate folder.

Once I did that I took the rest of the magazine I didn't need and took them to the recycling bin. Now I have those ideas at hand away in organized folders in my filing cabinet. And I don't have the clutter of magazines any more.

By Chris from Ohio

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Tips for Hang Drying Clothing

Enjoy many benefits from using your clothes dryer less. You'll save energy and money by running it less. In colder, dryer climates and seasons you'll put moisture back into the air by hanging your clothes to dry; therefore, running a humidifier less if you use one. When you hang your clothes to dry, your house smells good like clean laundry. Or if you line dry outside, you're clothes smell so good when you bring them in.

It's already been mentioned here that if you don't like the rough feel of your hang-dried clothes to put them in the dryer for about five minutes. If you can deal with rough towels, though, they make for great skin exfoliators after a shower or bath and soften up after the first time using them.

By Britt Y. from Boston, MA

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Indoor Jelly Bean Hunt for Easter

My children enjoy easter egg hunts, but when it was too cold outside to have it, I would take jellybeans, and hide them inside instead of using the colored eggs. They are so much smaller and would take them quite a while to find. You can match the colors to your decor so they match in. The black ones are really hard to find!

It's best to count them as you hide them, or you might be finding them months from now! For the harder ones, I'd say your getting hot or getting cold, as they get near it. You can have a prize for the most found, and for the hardest one found. Have fun!

Source: From my mother, when I was a child.

By Noriemong from Dover, PA

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Renewed Night Gown With T-Shirt

When your night gown wears out at the top, but the bottom is still ok, cut the top off, and replace it with a T-shirt. Cut the hem off the T-shirt. Put a long zipper in front to keep from pulling it over your head. I use an 18 inch zipper. It wears very good, and is very soft.

By kffrmw88 from Dothan, AL

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Keep Ants Out of Your Honey

A honey moat keeps the ants away from the honey jar! We eat very little sugar. We even use honey in our coffee in place of sugar. It's quite hard not to attract ants when you use honey as much as we do. Not liking honey that comes directly from the refrigerator, it dawned on me one day to place the jar of honey in a bowl of water.

Walla! It works great! Ants can't swim. If they try, they do the "back stroke" then sink to the bottom of the bowl. Most don't even try! Replace the water in the bowl often.

Placing the lid on the quart jar, then running warm soapy water over the jar also helps to keep the honey clean. We place our coffee cup up against the water bowl "moat" so any drizzle of honey that is dripping from the spoon will go into the moat as well.

Cold honey is harder to work with, not to mention the fact you use more as it ends up a heaping spoon full when used cold, directly from the quart jar. Honey is expensive so using it wisely helps offset the cost. Eat more honey. It's so good and good for you!

By Suzy from Clinton, TN.

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Keep Your Polymer Clay Extruder Clean

I love polymer clay and extruding it like a little bitty cookie press. BUT I've never loved cleaning the "barrel" where the clay roll is loaded. No problem now! I just give a quick spray of Armour interior car cleaner to give the inside of the barrel a beautiful coating of "surfactant" or a "release agent".

When you've run the clay through, just take 1/2 paper towel, pull it through the extruder and any little bits of clay are caught. Now you clean the disc, of course, too. Then from extruding black clay - you're ready for white clay - and it won't be gray!

Source: I just made this up after I was told by another clay addict that she used the Armour product as a mold release.

By Barbara C. from Wickliffe, OH

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Use a Balloon to Make an Easter Basket

A fun Easter "egg basket" is made by winding crochet thread around a balloon that is not completely blown up (a balloon is in a "egg" shape when not completely blown up). Wrap the thread around the balloon heavy in what you perceive as the back and not as heavy in what will eventually be your front. Wrap the end of the balloon with string. Take white glue or a very heavy starch and put this all over the "egg basket". I used to hang my "egg baskets" from the shower rod in the bathroom to dry.

When the glue is completely dry, cut an oval opening in the front with your scissors. You pop the balloon and remove it before you try to fill your "egg basket". You can glue lace or whatever you want around the outside of the oval. Fill the "egg basket" with plastic grass. Then put in candy and anything else you'd like to have in the egg.

I did these "egg baskets" when my kids were small (my oldest is now 43) and my children loved them. If you make a big "egg basket", you can even put a stuffed toy inside with the candy. I'm sorry but I don't have any pictures of these "egg baskets".

By Bobbie from Mesa, AZ

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Cereal Bags to Store Ham

This is the perfect way to save your Easter ham. A big ham fits perfectly in a recycled bag from a large box of cereal. For ham, I especially like the very large corn flakes bags. It's wonderful as you have no mess with going in and out of the bag as anything messy stays inside the bag. The ham can be "carefully" sliced inside the bag, if you're just slicing a small amount and don't want the mess. You can save the messy stuff inside the bag for future recipes. =

I save all cereal bags when the box of cereal has been eaten as they are too good to throw away. In my opinion, they are better than anything you can buy to store food or other things in. They're even good to cover seeds, that you have started indoors. Like Thrifty Fun, cereal bags are absolutely wonderful!

By Suzy from Clinton, TN.

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Dear Webby's Joke of the Day

Jill wanted to convince Susan, a continually harried friend, that she needed to find ways to relax. She invited her to dinner and, while she was busy cooking, Susan agreed to watch her videotape on stress management and relaxation techniques. Fifteen minutes later, she came into the kitchen and handed Jill the tape. "It was good," she said, "but I don't need it." "But it's a 70-minute video," Jill replied. "You couldn't have watched the whole thing."

"Yes, I did," Susan assured her. "I put it on fast-forward."

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

Dog Peeing Inside House

I have a 3 year old German Shepherd/Husky Mix. The past few months she has been peeing in my bed, on the couch, on the floor, just as she lays there. It's not like anything is making her excited to do this. I'm calling the vet soon, but does anyone have any suggestions for me? She is fixed. I have never had a fixed female dog before, so I'm not sure if this is a side effect? Please help!

By AmandaSue from Saginaw, MI

Dog Peeing Inside House

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60's and 70's Weight Watchers Food Plans

I would like to know the Weight Watchers plan from the 1970s. It worked so well back then, and I desperately want to lose some weight. Thanks.

By Beads from Key West, FL

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Psoriasis on the Scalp

I have psoriasis in several places. But in the past few weeks, it's gotten worse on my scalp. It often gets crusty and bleeds. I use a medicated shampoo/conditioner and also skin zinc. But it doesn't seem to be getting better. Does anyone have suggestions?

By Monk'scornerdeli from SC

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Daughters of the King Banquet

We are having a Daughters of the King banquet. I need ideas for set up, games, foods, etc. The theme is Royalty.

By Lesesnead from Orange Park, Florida

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Base Make-up on a Shirt

How do I clean base make-up on a shirt?

By Riana from South Africa

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Pimples After Facial Waxing

I had my face waxed once and at that time I had broken out with bad crater type pimples. Now, 8 months later, there are brown and white spots. I'm only 38. Will these ever go away?

By Azbutterfly

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Dryer Lint for Bird Nests

If you use fabric softener, is it safe to use the dryer lint to put out for the birds to line their nest? Would it be dangerous for the baby birds? I know you are not suppose to rub the sheets on your animals.

By Lapras from TX

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Raw Honey as a Laxative

Is raw honey a laxative?

By Mel from Mt. Washington, KY

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Homemade Garlic Extract

How do you make homemade garlic extract?

By Sksweeney from WY

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What color kitchen appliances should I get?

I am in the process of looking for a new fridge. My present one is beige, cabinets are a dark oak. The microwave, wall, oven and dishwasher are black. I am thinking about getting a black fridge, but wonder if it would make the room look too dark? The floor is a red brick linoleum pattern. Thanks in advance.

By Kidena from Beverly, MA

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Dye on Suit Pants Ran

I purchased a pinstriped suit for my son by Hardy Amies London. I had to wash the pants. The color from the maroon stripe has run and the pants are now destroyed. I was just wondering if there is anything that can be done to save these as the suit is useless without the pants. I am not sure about the fabric, but I think it is a wool.

By Jenny57 from Qld. Australia

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Fireman's Banquet Favor Ideas

We are having a 65th fireman's banquet. Does anyone have ideas about favors for all the guests or anything else? Thank you.

Lisa

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Icing for Ice Cream Cone Cupcakes

Does anyone have a recipe or the name of a store bought icing that will really 'stand up' without that melting look? My daughter-in-law is planning my grand baby's first birthday party. I bought her cupcake molds in the shape of ice cream cones, so she's going to use cake mix to make the 'cones' then slice off the tops. She wants to pipe the icing on top of the cupcake ice cream cones so the icing will look like ice cream on top of the ice cream cone cup cake.

Today we tried Duncan Hines Whipped vanilla icing and within about 20 minutes those cupcakes were a sad site. They looked like the icing just melted in the sun. Any ideas out there please? The birthday party is in early May, so the sooner your suggestions, the better, please. Thank you!

By Metroplex from Houston, TX

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Starting a Safe House

I would like to start a safe house. Can anyone tell me how to go about it, or whom to contact.

By DoubleD from Fontana, CA

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Problem With Child Wetting Herself

My boyfriend's 4 year old daughter keeps wetting her pants while watching TV. Her mother, grandmother, and father (my bf) have decided to spank her on the butt after she wets her pants, and I do not agree with this at all. I think they should ground her from TV and maybe timeout as well. So what do you think should be done? There's got to be something better than what we are all doing. Should we get her professional help?

By joyjoy33 from Hobart, IN

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Cat is Throwing Up Food

No matter what kind of cat food we have tried, Bailey seems to keep throwing up. What kind of food can we give him? He doesn't throw up everyday all day but almost every other day it seems like and it might not even be that frequent but it's enough to notice.

There are times when the food is completely chewed up but there are several times when he throws up that only partial of the food looked chewed and the other part doesn't, almost like he just swallowed without chewing. Please help. I mentioned it to the vet but he didn't seem too disturbed by it.

By WarpedAngel

Cat is Throwing Up Food

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Carpet Glue on Cement Floor

How do I remove dried carpet glue from a cement floor?

By Lizzie13421 from Oneida, NY

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Questions About Stimulus Tax Cuts

My office manager has notified us that the stimulus package result of us getting $13-14 back will be then taken back from us in taxes next year. She suggested we fill out a new W4 and request that money not be put in our take home pay. My friend who helps me with money questions has not heard about this at all. Does anyone have any thoughts?

By Sandy63 from Baltimore, MD

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Keeping Wax on Floor

How can I keep my wax on my floor?

By Taligvaa from Canada

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Repairing Cat Scratches on a Leather Sofa

My cat has put some scratches on my leather sofa. Does anyone know how to cover these marks? Thanks.

By brenjean from Brampton, On

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Back to Life Machine

I was looking at the Back to Life machine and wonder if it helps after a back fusion. I am fused from T8 to L5. My surgery was in Sept. 2003. I would like to know if this will help the back muscles to relax.

By Brad from San Diego

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Selling Handmade Crochet Items

How should I begin selling my crochet work?

By lderavin from Orlando, FL

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Organizing a Summer Fete

I am organizing a summer fete in June for 3,4,5,6 and 7 year olds at their school. I was wondering if anyone may have some ideas for stalls or indeed anything that may help our fete go off with a bang! Many thanks again.

By 77hels from Devon, England

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Mildew on Needlepoint Canvases

How do I clean mildew spots and smell off of needlepoint canvas? They are hand painted and have not been stitched yet. Some of them have large areas of yucky looking mildew on them and some of them only stink. My cousin had them stored on the California coast in a shed sitting on a cement floor and they got damp.

They are beautiful and expensive canvases. She was going to throw them out, but I would like to save them. I have them here in Arizona, where it is definitely not damp, and have hung several of them on my patio to air out, but it takes months and I still have lots of them in boxes waiting for room to hang them up to air out. I also have the thread to stitch them and it stinks also. Any suggestions?

By Howdydoody from Yuma, AZ

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Carpet Dye is Bleeding

I don't know how it happened but as I was cleaning my designer carpet the red from one part ran into the beige color. I have taken it to the carpet place but they wouldn't even look at it. Has anyone had to get red carpet dye out and how?

By Yorkieboots from Winnipeg

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Food Stains on Microfiber

My little nephew was eating on my microfiber suede couch. He was going to drink soda (Mountain Dew I think). When he opened the plastic bottle, it fizzed out the top, leaving tiny droplets of soda on the couch cushion. Now it has tiny stains all over the seat.

I was reading past posts and was wondering if I should use Windex? What about the suede eraser/brush or something else? I think one of the stains might be ketchup! I also don't know where to get the suede eraser/brush. I tried Lowe's, Home Depot, and some furniture places but no luck.

By Wingedlion from Philadelphia, PA

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Giving Dogs Tomato Juice

I have heard that you can give your dogs tomato juice to stop their urine from turning the grass yellow. How much would I need to give my dogs and how often? I have two dogs weighing 19kg and 38kg.

By SophHarv from UK

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Sink Smells Bad

My sink has a moldy, mildew smell that I cannot figure out. It smells like a dishrag that has soured. I do not have a disposal or anything, it is just a plain sink. I have looked under my sink and there is a small dried puddle but it does not stink under there at all and it does not seem to be leaking anymore for whatever reason.

I have used bleach and I did the baking soda and vinegar thing. It works for a day or two and then that smell is back. I can walk by and get a whiff of that smell and it makes me furious! What can I do? Is there a service for this?

By sweetie6116 from GA

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Keeping Birds Off My Car

How do I discourage the birds from playing on the hood of our cars under the carport?

By Robyn from Hampton, TN

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Plastic Canvas House for a Coffee Can

I am looking for a plastic canvas pattern that looks like a house, and a coffee can fits inside.

By Amuck from Fairview Heights, IL

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Diabetic Recipes

Does anyone have any good meal recipes for a person with diabetes?

By yard_sale_annie

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Making Hair Bows

What is your favorite type of hair bow to make for your little girl?

By learnhowtomakebows from Cary, NC

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Crafts Using Men's Neckties

I need patterns to reuse or re-purpose neckties. Thanks.

By C.L.

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When Will My Crepe Myrtle Bud?

When will my crepe myrtle start to bud?

Hardiness Zone: 6a

By Regina from Lawrenceburg, IN

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Buying TVP

What is TVP (textured vegetable protein) and where can I find it in Sam's?

By crochet1-half from PA

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Chocolate Cheesecake Using Nutella

I am looking for a recipe that appeared in Woman's World magazine around the end of Feb. or beginning of Mar. for double or triple chocolate cheesecake that used Nutella.

By Yankgirl from Cape Coral, FL

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Cleaning Carpet Cleaner Brushes

Does any have any ideas for how to clean the rotating brushes on my Hoover Steam Vac carpet cleaner? I've taken them off, soaked them in the sink, put them in the dishwasher, but there is still carpet fibers and hair that is stuck in the brush heads. Is there an easy way to clean these to get the build up out of the brush heads?

By go2jared from Columbus, OH

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Cleaning a Rice Filled Pillow

I have one of those pillows with rice in it that you can use for sore muscles, etc. I bought it second hand and it smells like cigarette smoke. I can't wash it because of the rice, and can't use Febreze or anything because it is heated in the microwave and I don't want skin rashes. Any suggestions on taking the smell out of it?

By blueflye from ID

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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

Plan Your Resort Vacation Frugally
By Kelly Ann Butterbaugh

When planning a family resort vacation, unexpected savings might be closer than imagined. For example, resort vacations often offer free stays for children under 12 or other perks that make planning and paying for the vacation a bit easier. Booking with a travel agent can also save money on airfare and upgrades, and agent booking fees are minimal in comparison to the savings they sometimes provide.

Plan Your Resort Vacation Frugally

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Daily Thrifty Tips - April 9, 2009

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