Daily Thrifty Tips - October 23, 2007

For all of you in fire danger in San Diego and L.A. our thoughts and prayers are with you. It's been a tough week for all of you. I hope everyone else is having a nice week.

Thanks for reading,

Susan

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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.

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Craft: Homemade Skeleton Costume

Approx craft time: 1 1/2 hours or less (minus washing time)

Materials

• one black shirt (long sleeved)
• black form fitting pants
• white material the height and width of your child
• spray starch
• black marker
• pencil
• pins
• white thread
• scissors

Instructions

Take the pieces and lay them out on a piece of white fabric. An old sheet works well. Pin to secure and trace around the outside to give yourself a size template. Unpin and remove clothing. Use a pencil to sketch bone shapes.

When you are happy with your design, go over outline with black permanent marker. Cut the entire design out in a rough oval. If there are visible pencil marks, wash gently. Starch heavily with spray starch and iron.

If you want to add glow-in-the-dark paint, you can do it at this point, and dry thoroughly. Cut on black lines. Pin to clothing, baste (if you like) and sew.

If you want to get really 'fancy', you can even do finer work on black gloves

By Doggy

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Angel Kisses

Here is my youngest son who wanted his picture taken. I think he is the cutest little man. Just look at his dimples. Angels kissed him and kissed him.

By Kelly from Grand Rapids, MI

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Changeable Bumper Sticker Plates

A changeable license plate cover lets you change your bumper stickers as you change your mind. Cut plastic cutting sheets (from dollar stores/2 in a pack) to the size of plate cover. I bought clear plates to use as support underneath and clear cover to protect stickers. It beats scraping off an old sticker and lets me change them out for different messages. Clear plates outlined by shoelaces.

By Trish from Memphis TN

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Rudy (Dachshund Mix)

Rudy is 8 years old. We think he is Dachshund, Chihuahua and Terrier mix. We got him in 2002. My son was working at a house (remodeling) and the dog showed up at lunch to share his McDonald's food. He'd been sleeping in an old tin building in the back yard. The owner said he'd better be gone by the time they move in or else he would get rid of him. My son called me and even though we did not want another dog we got attached to him and kept him. Our dog Whitney was getting old (15) and we thought he'd be good to have in case she went to heaven. He had been kicked and hit, we are sure, because he goes after people's shoes and bites them. We keep away from everyone except the close family members.

He chases reflections from mirrors and lights. We send them on the ceiling and he goes around the rooms biting up at the ceiling at the reflections. He sits motionless for hours staring at a reflection he saw. Waiting for it to return.

He follows me around whenever I leave a room. He gets in the bathtub when it rains. He shivers when a storm is occurring. He perks up when he hears aluminum foil being unwrapped and comes looking for food, I suspect. He hates the sound of crinkling paper. When you remove a coat or clothing, he goes into his little retreat fetal position or runs away. Don't know what that's all about. The sound must hurt his big ears. He just has weird habits. Anyway, the picture I am sending is him laying in a bed full of material strips I've cut up to make rag rugs with. He thought it was comfy on them. His look says, "No, mommy don't put me down."

By Donna from Millbury, OH

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Placemats for a Lap Robe

Placemats sewn together would be a great complimentary "lap robe" for someone in a wheelchair! They could sew their own or be involved in choosing the color or design that would match their clothing, as an accessory to other items they wear! The placemats are inexpensive enough and usually thick to be warm enough that a person could have as many lap robes as they want to go with different sets of clothing!

What fun!

By Veronica from Sedalia, Missouri

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Use Plastic Placemats For Cutting Board

Since recently moving, have misplaced a plastic cutting board. Went to the dollar store and purchased a plastic place mat, ( not the kind that has foam on the back side) and I use this place mat for any cutting of vegetables/meats, etc. When the place mat becomes too used, just toss and get another. Yesterday I was able to purchase 4 new ones for only $1

By Czechlady from Yakima WA

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Halloween Costume: Ghostly Guise

Sheer curtains over white or grey sweats make an ethereal and safe (see through) ghost costume. They're very inexpensive and much lighter than a sheet and no makeup is needed, although one could use a little clown white. For safety, put a few strips of reflective tape in spooky teardrop shapes in strategic spots on the chest, thighs, and back, if it's to be used for Trick-or-Treat. The sweatshirt should be hooded, or a stocking cap could be used. Use safety pins to tack the curtain, in folds, to the sweats. After Trick-or-Treat, the sweats are back on duty!

By Doris from Harrisburg PA

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Use Apple Cider Vinegar For Dandruff

For dandruff problems or dry scalp, put apple cider vinegar in a spray bottle and spray all over scalp thoroughly and let dry. In a couple of hours, use a shampoo (like neutrogena) that removes build up and residue. You may need to do this every other day for about a week, but you will see a big improvement and no more useless dandruff shampoo to buy!

By Kim from Cleveland, OH

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Think Before You Speak

Conserve your words. It takes many, many kind words to erase one careless, negative remark. Try to put a positive spin on everything you say to your child, or anyone for that matter.

By Marie from West Dundee, IL

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Check With Multicultural Families About Halloween

I work in a multicultural school with many beliefs and holidays. I find a Fall Festival is the best thing to do if you have a lot of different faiths. Put out a questionnaire at the start of school. You will find that many let their children have parties because they like American traditions. Good luck

By Doreen from Michigan

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Use Baby Oil With Perfume

To make your perfume last longer, try rubbing a little bit of baby oil on your skin, then spray perfume in that area. It will last all day.

By bbfoo from AZ

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Halloween Milk Jug Treat Carrier

Take a white milk jug. With a craft knife, cut a small hole 2 inches across about 1 3/4 inches high (align the cut on the opposite side of the jug handle). This is for your trick or treater's collected treats.

Now, after taking the milk labels off, have your child start decorating the carrier with drawings, cutouts or just just words for the holiday, like "GOT CANDY!" Or "Hungry Jug Here".

I could go on to tell you exactly what my jug looks like, but then your jug wouldn't be yours. You could paint it, put glue and glitter on it, make it anyway you want .

Oh, by the way, after Halloween, the candy carrier can be set anywhere in your child's room and even be reused afterwards for something else, like storage.

Happy Halloween to you too

By Mr. Thrifty from Shermansdale, Penna.

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Holiday Software At Avery.com

There is FREE holiday software now to download at Avery (they are known for making labels) at http://www.avery.com

There are cards as well as gift and address labels. Sign up and you will get their software updates.

By pamphyila from Los Angeles, CA

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Potato Flakes For Thick Potato Soup

I use instant potato flakes to thicken my potato soup. What else would you use!

By Janette from Parkersburg, WV

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Measuring for New Windows

My daughter wants to fix up her house before she sells it. She wants to do some of the work herself. She needs new windows but does not know how to measure for them.

Arlene from Wisconsin

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Free Pictures to Download

Where on the internet can I find free pictures of objects to use when I make up my class worksheets? I need pictures of animals, furniture, people, etc. Can be black line or simple pix with colors (black line preferred). I have a Broderbund with these pictures from years ago, but it doesn't seem to like my Win XP computer.

Holly from Richardson, TX

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Orange Rainbow Tea Ideas

I need ideas for rainbow tea with orange as the theme.

Pam from Lumberton, NC

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Cleaning Tarmac

How do I get tarmac back to black and clean?

Michael from Manchester, England

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Improving Scanner Quality

The situation is that when I write on a sheet of paper and then scan it, the one from work comes out dark and legible and the one I have at home is substantially lighter. (The scanner at work probably cost between $400 and $1,000. Mine was maybe $125 and is so old I don't recall when I bought it.)

I use the slider set all the way to dark to improve the image, but it's not enough. When my scanner's bulb wears out, I am going to replace it with a new model but it sure won't be expensive. How do I insure that my newest scanner will produce crisp and dark letters for private tutoring? And for that matter, can I improve the image I am now getting on my home scanner?

Holly from Richardson, TX

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Armour Etch Cream

Looking for info on using Etch cream for large area-octagon glass dining room table top. I bought Armour Etch Cream and the bottle says not to be used for large areas. What am I suppose to use?

Tisch from Dayton, Oh

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Long Lasting and Moisturizing Lipstick

I am in need of new lipstick and would like to try something new. I am looking for long lasting and moisturizing. I buy lipstick at Rite Aid so I can return it if I need to but it's so confusing with all the brands. Any suggestions?

Mindy from Oregon

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Killing Stinging Nettles

My question is about a property I own in zone 4b. I have a patch of Nettles the stinging ones that grows in a Strawberry and fern area. When is the correct time to put weed killer such as roundup on them? And is there a kill product that would not kill the other plants in this area?

Hardiness Zone: 10a

Chyrel from Red Bluff

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Melting and Casting PVC Products

Looking for information and resource materials on how to melt and cast PVC products?

Loloy from Philippines

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Pom Shih Tzu Mix Breed

I would like to introduce Yoshi the Shiranian. Does anyone know about these babies? He is a Pomeranian mixed with Shih Tzu.

Cookie

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Chili from St. Augustine's Spanish Quarter

I'm looking for a recipe for a chili type soup we ate in St. Augustine, Fl. Spanish Quarters. We used to go there on vacation and had this wonderful soup with homemade bread. I have tried to get it other places and have tried with trial and error, but can't get the spices just right. Can anyone help?

Marsanna from Ocoee, TN

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Clear Meat Gravy

My mom used to make a ground beef gravy, but it was not a dark or white gravy. I would consider it a 'clear' gravy, and quite basic. Maybe some juice from browned hamburger, onion, garlic, water? It was not a thick gravy, but not completely runny either, from what I remember. She would make this meat gravy and put it on mashed potatoes. Anyone have any suggestions? (This was back in the late 60's early 70's and used as budget-wise main meal.) Thank you.

Steve from Redlands, CA

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Simple Games for Third Graders

Looking for a couple of simple, short games for third graders. This is for a classroom of 20 during a class party. They need to be very short so everyone can be involved (10 minutes for all 20 to get through each game). Thank you!

Barbarao from San Francisco, CA

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Easy, Inexpensive Thanksgiving Dinner

Any ideas for an easy, cheap Thanksgiving menu and the recipes?

Kathy Milligan from Mira Loma, CA.

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Keeping Brownies from Getting Hard on the Edges

Why are my brownies always hard around the edges? The center is fine. I use a glass baking dish and have tried a metal pan but same results. Several people I know have this same problem. Can you help me? Thanks in advance.

Sassy from Central IL

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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