Daily Thrifty Tips - July 5, 2006

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When you need templates for any kind of crafting; plastic sheets are available at most craft stores. However here's what I discovered: go to any "dollar" store and buy a package of cutting board sheets. They come two to a package and are quite large. I used one for a template for a "shabby chic fabric bowl" rather than paying $20.00 for the manufactured template.

By Mairmie from Edmonton, AB, Canada

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I wasn't blessed with thick eyebrows so I have to fill in the sparse areas with an eyebrow pencil. The problem I had was, at the end of the day, most of the eyebrow pencil had worn off. I solved this by spraying a small amount of hairspray on my finger and then dabbing it on my eyebrows quickly before it dried. Now I have eyebrows all day long!

By Marnita from Cumming, GA

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You can use a prescription bottle to make a little sewing kit for travel or as a gift for a college student. It's the perfect size to fit a couple small spools of thread, a few needles, a needle threader, a thimble and some buttons.

By Fisher

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To keep slacks from becoming baggy at the knees put an 8 inch piece of lining fabric on the inside from one seam to the next. No need to attach to the actual knee, although one needs to be careful dressing to be sure the pieces are on the front.

By siris from Dawson Creek, BC Canada

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This tip is great, because it works in those places where it's sometimes difficult to get to with tweezers: between toes, in the middle of a head full of dark hair, etc.

Apply a glob of liquid soap to a cotton ball. Cover the tick with the soap-soaked cotton ball and swab it for a few seconds (15-20), the tick will come out on it's own and be stuck to the cotton ball when you lift it away. This technique has worked every time I've used it (and in KY, that was frequently), and it's much less traumatic for the patient and easier for me. Unless someone is allergic to soap, I can't see that this would be damaging in any way. I even had my doctor's wife call me for advice because she had one stuck to her back and she couldn't reach it with tweezers. She used this method and immediately called me back to say, "It worked!"

Thanks to Martin and Dear Webby for this tip.

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My friend sent me this story.

Ahhhhh. The joys of having girls. My mother taught me to read when I was four years old (her first mistake).

One day, I was in the bathroom and noticed one of the cabinet doors was ajar. I read the box in the cabinet. I then asked my mother why she was keeping 'napkins' in the bathroom. Didn't they belong in the kitchen?

Not wanting to burden me with unnecessary facts, she told me that those were for "special occasions" (her second mistake).

Now fast forward a few months. It's Thanksgiving Day, and my folks are leaving to pick up my uncle and his wife for dinner. Mom had assignments for all of us while they were gone. Mine was to set the table. When they returned, my uncle came in first and immediately burst into laughter. Next came his wife who gasped, then began giggling. Next came my father, who roared with laughter. Then came Mom, who almost died of embarrassment when she saw each place setting on the table with a "special occasion" napkin at each plate, with the fork carefully arranged on top. I had even tucked the little tail in so it didn't hang off the edge!

My mother asked me why I used these and, of course, my response sent the other adults into further fits of laughter.

"But, Mom, you SAID they were for special occasions!"

Isn't it easier to just tell the truth?

By Terri from NV

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Here are some uses for Pringle cans.

Pringles cans work well for storing small toys and tennis balls. They work well for to store clean (or still being used) paint rollers and small paint brushes. They are also the perfect size for storing home baked cookies.

Post your ideas below!

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Frugal For Life

A great blog with posts about frugal living.

More Information:
http://www.frugalforlife.blogspot.com/

I was wondering how long it takes before a question is posted? I submitted a question and it hasn't been posted yet.

Thanks,
P.J. from Delaware

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My husband and I just purchased a small camper. I would love to hear your space-saving and organizing ideas for in a camper or RV. Also any camping tips in general that you might have.

April from Knoxville, TN

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Does anyone have and be willing to share the pattern and directions for making the cooling neckerchiefs that contain the material that absorbs 100 times its volume? Thank You.

Camilla from St. Louis, MO

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My 10 year old cocker spaniel has recently been diagnosed with epilepsy, after experiencing several seizures. My vet has put her on phenobarbital. She has become very active. Does anyone know if this is normal or could she be having some adverse reaction? She seems to feel better than she has in quite some time!

SonjaK from Shelton, WA

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I have a pack rat spouse. How do I organize his old radios, telephones, records, tapes, etc.?

Evelyn from Cross Plains, IN

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I have very red, bumpy splotches on my legs from a severe skin rash. I scratched so much they had opened and oozed. It's no longer itchy, but how can I get rid of, or fade, these ugly red splotches? I can't show my legs like this. Please help!

Sandy from Stoughton, WI

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I am crafting for people in hospice/nursing homes. I find a need for crocheted and knitted capelets (that have no sleeves and can be fastened with one button). They are for terminal patients whose shoulders are always cold and who cannot be put into a sweater. I have a couple of patterns (from Internet), but would like more.

CayC from Green Cove Springs, FL

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How can I keep the birds from eating the figs from my trees?

Hardiness Zone: 9a

CC from Texas

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Could any one please give me a home remedy for the mange?

Tina from Georgia

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How does one season a new teflon treated pan? Do I heat it with oil, then wipe the oil out? The pan came with no instructions.

Thank you,
Miriam Null from Southbury, CT

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How can I keep the squirrels from eating every single pecan from my trees?

Hardiness Zone: 9a

CC from Texas

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What is the mistake made when charcoal grilling steaks that makes the meat taste like the lighter fluid? What, if anything, can be done to camoflage that taste once cooked?

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I have a manufactured home which came with pre-papered wallboard. I want to remove it and re-paper but I don't know if it is possible to do. Anybody out there who has done this I would really like to hear from you.

k8 from Pennsylvania

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We are going to start building a house. I'm scared out of my mind! Any tips for me? Things to watch out for. Things I might not of thought of... anything! Thanks!

Debbie from Lewiston, NY

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I am looking for a craft idea using broken window blind slats for children who range in ages from 2 1/2 to 8 years old.

Thanks,
Dee from Charlevoix, MI

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Any opinions pro or con on Fresh Vac? I purchased a set of this storage ware at Target. It is supposed to keep food longer in the fridge because it has a seal that keeps air out. I am trying it at home now.

I purchased it with asparagus and cherries in mind. They cost an arm and a leg and don't last very long after purchasing, considering that the grocery stores here prepackage them in large quantities. It's not unusual for a small bag of cherries to weigh 2 pounds and at $3.99 per pound, that's a lot of waste. Asparagus is usually $2.99 a pound when on sale, and that is another one that won't last too long, either.

Their web site is www.freshvac.com if interested. Target's prices are very reasonable by comparison. They are supposed to be microwavable, but I haven't done that yet.

Holly from Richardson, TX

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With all of this damp weather I have been having a problem with mosquitos and flies in my apartment. I need to know a safe way to kill them as I have a cat. The people that built these new townhouse building forgot to put screen doors on and there's only two small windows in my apartment. I never heard of an apartment house without a screen door in Maine. The landlord refuses to install screen doors on my apartment. Yet Avesta Housing wants me to keep my cat indoors with no screen doors to keep her from going out. Is it okay to use the coils that you burn indoors?

Thank you,
Kathie from South Portland, Maine

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I am looking for a recipe similar to the crepes on the Bob Evans menu. They were very good.

Jo Brown from New York

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I got a hydrangea last summer. I have worked with the soil so that it changed to blue. The leaves are turning brown. Am I watering it too much or not enough?

Hardiness Zone: 6a

Brenda from South Bend, IN

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Is it possible to housebreak a dog that's older? When they had to have their old dog put to sleep, my frail (can hardly walk any distance) elderly parents--against my wishes--got 2 new dogs (one a puppy!) and have not really gotten either one housebroken due to their (my parents, not the dogs) poor health. My DH and I installed a fence for their yard and a doggie door, but the folks are just not training the dogs well enough. Due to the age and health of my folks, odds are that we'll be needing new homes for these poor little dogs at some point and I'm afraid that no one's going to want them since they're not housebroken. When that day comes, will it be possible at all to housebreak them, or will they be too old to learn?

Lynn Marler from Chico, CA

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Free Photo Organizer From Google

"Picasa is software that helps you instantly find, edit and share all the pictures on your PC. Every time you open Picasa, it automatically locates all your pictures (even ones you forgot you had) and sorts them into visual albums organized by date with folder names you will recognize. You can drag and drop to arrange your albums and make labels to create new groups. Picasa makes sure your pictures are always organized."

More Information:
http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf61219677.tip.html

Scrapbooking is a wonderful hobby! Besides being relaxing and fun, it also allows you to be creative and to spend quality time with your family and friends. Plus, it results in a storybook of lifelong memories.

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Selecting High-Quality Chilies: Select crisp, thick-fleshed chilies that are free from blemishes and have a bright color.

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Have an old, cracked sand pail lying around that your kids don't play with anymore? Have more sand pails than the kids could ever use in a summer? Now, you can make those sand pails into planters with their own matching plant markers!

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