Daily Thrifty Tips - August 8, 2008

The Olympics start tonight! Have a great weekend.

Thanks for reading,

Susan

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Crafting for Fun and Money!

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Birthday Tee Shirt

Our grandchildren made their grandfather a birthday tee-shirt and imprinted their footprints and hand-prints on the front of the tee-shirt. On the back was the birthday age number..I.E. #62!!

Fabric paint was used on the white tee-shirt and it will be hand-washed and only worn on special occasions.

This garment will be a treasure in my husband's memory!

By Jose from Tennessee

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Garden: Half And Half Roses

Several of my rose bushes this year are blooming in varied colors. Some of the bushes just have two different colors of bloom, but this one is very unique- it has blooms that are half and half. They seem to be split right into two different colors on a single bloom.

By Angi from Spokane, WA

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Belle (American Bulldog)

Belle is 1 year old and an American Bulldog. We got her when she was 9 weeks old from a breeder. My husband has always wanted an American Bulldog.

She loves to play fetch and she plays with every single one of her toys and chews on all of her bones. She appreciates everything we buy for her. We get tons of compliments about how beautiful she is. She is very shy around new people but is always wagging her tail. My nickname for her is "sweet face."

By Debbie from Garden City, MI

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Recycled Rock Crafts

These are some recycling crafts that we saw last weekend at a Festival. All of the crafts were made by students. The pictures aren't the best but the crafts were very nice and very cute ideas.

The first is a snake made out of painted rocks of different sizes. with each rock being separate, you can have your snake coil around a post or change their positions.

The second is two rocks painted as turtles. They looked a lot better than they show in the picture. Unfortunately it was very bright and I only had my cell phone to take the pictures. These were really cute.

I've had rocks that I painted last for years in the garden. I used acrylic paints to paint the rocks, then when it was finished, sprayed them with a good sealer.

Susan from ThriftyFun.com

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Craft Project: Magnetic Teddy for the Fridge
By Harlean Greathouse

This little wooden bear has a magnet to be used for displaying a child's drawings. Made of wood, but this pattern could also be used with craft foam.

Tools and Materials:

• scroll saw
• Black Sharpie
• Acrylic paints:
• Red
• White
• Brown
• Scrap of Ribbon
• Round Craft Magnet

Directions:

Trace pattern onto light cardboard, transfer to 1/4 inch plywood and cut with scroll saw.

Dilute brown paint: 1 part paint to 4 parts water. Dip bear into paint covering all sides. Let excess drain and wipe gently with a soft cloth.

Using the picture at the top of this page as a guide, draw the features with the Black sharpie. Use the sharpie also to personalize with 'See what ______ Did" or "See What ___ Made".

Glue a round craft magnet to the center back of the bear, and glue a small bow to the ear. Use the red paint for the mouth and the white for the dot in the eye.

Use it to hold the child's artwork on the refrigerator. This is a craft that a child can help make.

An adult should cut the bear from the wood. Note: If you don't have a scroll saw, you could make this with a piece of art foam instead.

Use a toothpick dipped in the white paint to put the dot in the eyes.

By Harlean from Hot Springs, Arkansas

The instructions are also in a PDF file for which you may need Acrobat Reader to view. Download Acrobat Reader

Click Here to download the Teddy Magnet for Fridge Instructions in PDF format.

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Preparing Your Child For Their First Job Interview

Our 16 year old daughter recently needed to get a REAL job when her babysitting position for the summer fell through at the last minute. Here are some tips to make it easier on both the parents, the teen worker and the employer!

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The Right Way to Take Care of a Bloody Nose

When you or your child has a bloody nose, sit in a chair and keep your head level, as opposed to tipped back or forward. Gently pinch the nostrils together near the tip of the nose and remain in that position until the bleeding stops, usually about 3 - 5 minutes.

Source: I pass this information on from a school nurse I knew when I was teaching.

By Marie from West Dundee, IL

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Reuse Plastic Bags for Smelly Garbage

I save all my plastic bags to reuse, even the small bags that come from stores (meat, greeting cards, etc. are often put into small bags before being placed in the grocery bag).

I use them for kitty litter when scooping the pan, just tie off and put in the larger bag, I also use them for smelly garbage (onions, meat wrappers, etc). You can make a non odorous package by tying off the plastic bag as close to the garbage as possible, flipping the excess plastic over the garbage and tying again. Depending on the size of the bag you can often wrap it three times. Since I live on the third floor and only take the trash out once a day, I really found this helped cut down the odours (also keeps the cat's noses out of the can.)

By Cinnamon from Williams Lake BC

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Paint Cords To Match The Wall

If you love electric wall sconces but hate the cord hanging down, paint the cord the same color of your wall to disguise it. Or, you could also cover the cord with a "cozy" like they do with chandelier cords and it will at least be more stylish.

By Patricia from Imperial, NE

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Prep Produce And Freeze Waste For Stock

Buy produce in large quantities and then prep it for the week. THEN, save the ends for lots of uses:

I keep a freezer bag with the extra air squished out in the door of my freezer. Every time I chop off a carrot top or have stems left from fresh herbs or bones from a pork chop, I throw them in the bag. Then every week or two, I throw them in a pot, cover with water, maybe add a bouillon and I have fresh stock. You can use shrimp shells, mushroom stems, and save time on cleaning onions by just chopping off the tops and bottoms since you know you'll be using them for stock later! In winter, I keep a few bags going with Asian seafood, meat/stew veggies, and vegetarian.

You can also reuse seeds. Scoop the seeds out of the cantaloupe and cover with water. Blend and strain for a Mexican "agua fresca". I also put the seeds in with less water than will quite cover, some herbs and vinegar and oil for salad dressing. The seeds are a natural thickener and the dressing turns out creamy and very healthy.

I also love juicing melon rinds. The little scraps we have left, I'm planning to compost. But I'll need to search around on Thrifty fun for some ideas of how to build a cheap composter first!

Source: my own ideas I think...well, cantaloupe seeds are used in traditional Mexican cooking but the dressing is my recipe.

By Erica from Dallas, TX

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Use Neosporin to Stop Tree Cankers

Sometimes trees develop wounds called "cankers". These are horizontal cracks in the bark. They slowly expand until they have encircled the tree, cutting all of the "tubes" that carry nutrients from the roots to the branches, killing the tree. I have always been told that there is no known cure. However, years ago I stopped a canker that had progressed one third of the way around the trunk of a birch tree in my yard. That tree thrived for the next 30 years.

The "miracle" substance I used was triple antibiotic ointment (Neosporin), which is available at every health and beauty aids department in the country. Simply reach under the edge of the bark with any kind of narrow tool, and scrape out most of the rotten wood, bugs, and debris. Then insert the nozzle of the Neosporin tube under the bark and proceed from one end of the canker to the other, squeezing the tube until the ointment begins to squish out from under the bark. (Do this on top and bottom of the canker). Then, don't do anything else! My experience was that this one treatment stopped the canker cold, and saved the tree. This "ridiculous" idea came to me after I tried bleach, peroxide, and probably one or two other chemicals. It then dawned on me that a canker is an infection. Neosporin stopped and cured infections on me and on my cat (who liked to fight with other animals), so maybe it would cure the infection on my birch tree. When it worked, nobody was more surprised than I was.

By Larry from Northwest New Jersey

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Strawberry Milk

If your kids love it when you put strawberry sweetener in their milk to make it pink, but you hate giving them all that sugar, I have a solution for you. You can achieve the same results by adding just a pinch of the strawberry powder and one drop of red food color. The milk will be very pink and the kids won't be able to taste the difference.

By Marie from West Dundee, IL

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Save Deadheaded Annuals for Next Year's Seeds

If you have annual flowers that are blooming now, such as zinnias, Black Eyed Susan's, asters, four o'clocks, etc., they will bloom better and longer if you deadhead them every few days. Just take scissor and clip the blossoms that are starting to dry up. But don't throw those blossoms away. Toss them in a shallow open box, and let them dry thoroughly. Then rub them between your hands, and you will see that the spent blossoms are actually seeds for next year.

Then I just store them in a paper bag, and, in early spring, I broadcast them in flower beds, along the edge of the woods where we can't mow. You will have enough seed to furnish all your friends, and may never have to buy annual flower seeds again!

I sent a half a gallon Zip lock bag home with my daughter to cast out onto a piece of property that they plan to someday build on. And still had a gallon bag left for myself. I just mixed all the different varieties together, but you could keep them separate if you prefer. I just think the mixture looks good in a flower bed.

By Harlean from Hot Springs, Arkansas

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Clean Coffee Grinder with Bread

If you use a spice or coffee grinder, here's a handy tip. When you are finished grinding, cut a piece of plain bread in quarters, and grind it. It will flush the spice or coffee dust out of all the nooks and crannies. Then toss the bread crumbs in the yard for the birds.

Source: Local TV guide

By Cinnamon from Williams Lake, BC

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5 Steps to Creating A Landscaping Plan
By Ellen Brown

Landscaping around your home can seem like a daunting project-especially if you're starting with a blank canvas. Whether you're building a new house, cleaning up after a storm, or planning a complete renovation of your existing landscape, sometimes the hardest is part about creating a plan is knowing where to start.

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Hair Has Become Dry And Gray

I am a 36 yrs old married lady. My hair was thick and black when I was in college. Over the last 20 yrs it has become very dry, thin and gray. It is continuing to grow but it is becoming more white too. Does anyone have advice for me for how to maintain my hair like my old golden days?

Heena

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Becoming A Vegetarian

I'm thinking about going vegetarian. If you knew me you would think I already am. I'm always eating fruits and veggies. I hardly eat meat, never eat eggs and I drink soy milk. I don't drink carbonated drinks, mostly water. I exercise daily. I was wondering if anyone can tell me about the different kinds of vegetarians and what they can eat and drink. Thanks

Aliesha

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Homemade Paint Texture Powder

I've heard that the stores sell a type of powder that can take regular house paint and turn it into textured paint. I was wondering if anyone knows if there is something else that I could use to get the same results, sort of a homemade texture paint powder? Thanks for any info!

Tammy from Fort McCoy, FL

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Trouble With Sirius Satellite Radio Reception

I have subscribed to Sirius satellite radio for two years or so. Since I moved into my place about a year ago the reception has been mostly good. At certain times of the day the radio loses the signal for different lengths of time. Sometimes for only a few seconds, sometimes for much longer. I think it is truly random.

I realize I should have been keeping a log in order to see if this performance is repeated every day, or whatever. I can't believe the orientation of my antenna is that far off, so am wondering if it's a failure of the Sirius system. Have any of you out there run into problems like that?

Sirius customer service is absolutely useless! It has to be the cheapest outfit on the face of the earth. Online there seems to be no cluster of unhappy users I could find. I talked about my problem to the Manager of a local Radio Shack store. It didn't take long to realize he has never been a tech wizard. No help there either.

Any help or advice would be appreciated.

Tomato Hanger from Canton, OH

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Cookie Recipes Using Applesauce Instead Of Butter

I would like to know how to use applesauce in cookie recipes in place of butter and shortening. Any recipes would be welcome, especially sugar, peanut butter, and chocolate chip. Thanks!

Cheryl from Saugerties, NY

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White Grubs In Compost Pile

I have a nice-looking compost pile, but I have noticed white grub-looking bugs in it. Is this normal for compost piles? I know that worms are very important to the decomposition of a compost pile, are the grubs there to help the worms along?

I have not turned the pile this year, and the bin does not have proper ventilation. The sides are completely closed instead of slatted so that it can get ventilation. I have been meaning to re-do the bin, but it is just so darn hot this time of year.
Anyone have any thoughts on the subject?

Hardiness Zone: 7b


Carole from Locust Fork , Alabama

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Will Sunflowers Still Bloom If Tops Were Eaten Off?

The deer ate the tops off my sunflowers, will they still flower? They were not up but about 6 inches.

Sheri from Crooked River Ranch, Oregon

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Why Microwave Food One At A Time?

Why do microwave pot pies say only cook one at a time?

Sam

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Manual For Welbilt Home Bakery ABM-150R

I have lost my manual to the Welbilt homemade bread machine ABM 150R and I need one desperately. If you know of a web site or anyplace else I can find it to print off I would certainly appreciate it.

Debbie from Collinsville, OK

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How to Get Rid of Snakes!

I have found a snake in my home. It was brown with lighter colored brown stripes. How can I be sure I will not be getting any unwanted guest anymore. I want to call someone, but don't know who to call.

Tracie from Central, Florida

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Uses For Formula Canisters

Need crafty ideas on what I could make with empty formula cans and baby food containers. Especially in crocheting or plastic canvas. Other ideas would be great too. Thanks

Pat from Corydon, IN

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Cleaning Old Kitchen Cabinets

My beautiful stained kitchen cabinets are 25 yrs old and quite streaked and dirty. I've tried Murphy's wood soap and other cleaners. I would like to clean them really well and then shine them up. I also don't know what to use to shine them once they are clean.

Peggy from Centralia, WA

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Remedies for Varicose Veins

Three years ago I really whacked the inside of my left leg on a table. A vein in that leg swelled from the ankle to the abdomen. It went away pretty quickly but a few months later a cluster of varicose veins developed on the inside of my thigh just above the knee (this is where I hit it).

It doesn't hurt but it's so ugly. Does anyone know what would make them go away? I'd prefer an herbal/natural cure. Thanks for any help.

Curious Cat from Hampton Roads, VA

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Getting Rid Of Horse Flies

Does any one know how to get rid of horseflies? They are causing problems when we are in the pool. We didn't have any problems last year. Any information would be appreciated. Thanks.

Mike from PA

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Looking for Giant Tennis Balls

Does anyone know where to purchase a tennis ball the size of a basketball? Walmart carried these about five years ago. My yellow lab loved it! He could not pop it because it was too big. I can't find them anywhere. The ball needs to be light enough to roll easily. Thanks!

Lori from Clinton, MO

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Getting Rid of Groundhogs

How does one get rid of groundhogs?

Sheila from Flint, Michigan

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Alternate Rival Vacuum Sealer Bags

I am using a Rival vacuum sealer to freeze my husband's garden goodies. I am almost out of the bags that came with the vacuum sealer. I know they are expensive, does anyone know of a source for the cheapest bags or how to use an alternate bag? We tried to use other bags and the vacuum wouldn't work with them.
Thanks so much.

Millie from Williamsburg

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Ideas for Surplus Herbs

This year my herb garden is doing well. I have a nice amount of peppermint and oregano. I have dried some for tea and cooking spice. However I don't want to let the rest go to waste. Any ideas for dried peppermint recipes, and holiday gifts? I'm hoping my lavender comes in this abundant too. Thank you!

Ginger from Walnutport, PA

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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

Healing Ceremony For Assault Victims
By Debra Frick

When a woman is assaulted her self concept and self esteem not to mention her innocence and trust are taken from her. This is a ceremony that returns the sacred feminine power to a woman who has been assaulted sexually, physically or verbally. This devastation is life changing, brought about by a man or, in some cases, many men.

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