Daily Thrifty Tips - January 25, 2008

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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: Smile Saver (Retainer Holder)

When I caught the dog carrying off my daughter's retainer, I knew it needed a home! I drew a face on a tiny picnic basket, positioning the mouth in an eyecatching way. The basket weave allows the retainer to dry and keeps it safe. Great quick gift for anyone who wears a retainer.

Approximate Time: 20 minutes

Supplies:

• Tiny (3 1/2-inch) Unpainted Picnic Basket with Hinged Lid
• Craft Paints or Paint Pens
• "Sharpie" style Fine Point Black Marker
• Paintbrushes, Pencil
• Terrycloth Fabric Scrap or Paper Towel

Instructions:

Paint eyes desired color. Fill in tooth area with white. Paint lips red. When paint is dry, use black fine point marker to add eyelashes, nose, and teeth. (Omit eyelashes if you are drawing a boy!) Use marker to outline lips and eyes.

Write "__________'s Smile" on the lid with the marker. Place fabic scrap or paper towel inside as liner. Change as needed.

By Cindy Bailey from Waynesburg, PA

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"Charming" Welcome Sign

For my welcome sign, I used things my family and I had collected over the years. I'm into beadwork and hearts, hubby is into running, my son is into reptiles and amphibians, and we're ALL into dogs! I attached the items to the sign with eye screws and nails.

I used a small, inexpensive "shelf" bought at a craft store ($2.99) for my sign, but any piece of wood could be used.

By Laura from Long Beach, CA

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Buck and Patch (Swiss Mt. Dog/Mastiff-Lab Mix)

Buck is a 1 year Swiss Mountain dog. I got him from a shelter. Patch is 10 months old and a mastiff/lab mix who I got from a friend

They like to chase and chew.

By Leslie from Olympia, WA

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Garden Arch For Protecting Plants

Hubby used a garden arch to put planks on for some plants I was saving to take with us when we move( don't know when that will be now) . It started to get cold here in So.Ca. and I was afraid we might have a freeze like last year. So he made this spot for the plants and we covered it with a tarp for the cold nights and took it off during the daytime. Now I just water and cover when needed.

By Great Granny Vi from Moorpark, CA

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Cut Out Sewing Patterns When Watching TV

I am a sewer, so to save time I cut out my patterns apart while watching television at night. When I am ready to sew, they are all set to lay out and cut.

By Lorraine from Minnetonka, MN

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Use A Bookshelf On Your Kitchen Counter

To make good use of a kitchen countertop that has no cupboard above it, place a 2-3 shelf bookcase on top of it and use it as a hutch. You can paint one that you already have around the house to match your decor, or buy one very inexpensively at Target.

By Jan from Champaign, IL

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Be Checked For Cataracts And Retinal Cysts When On Tamoxifen

This tip is of vital importance for anyone on tamoxifen, which is prescribed for a breast cancer patient. As well as having an annual mammogram, make sure you have an annual eye exam.

I went for my annual eye exam and was diagnosed as having cataracts and was sent to an ophthalmologist to verify whether surgery was needed yet. The ophthalmologist told me that my cataracts were not ready for surgery however he did find what he thought was either a cyst or a hole in my retina. I then was referred to a retinal specialist who diagnosed me as having a definite cyst on my retina. I was told that it could possibly correct itself or if it progressed, I would end up with a hole in my retina. This was determined by an eye scan. I was told to return in 6 month as a follow up.

The following morning, I received a phone call from the retinal specialist telling me that she did some research on my condition and found that tamoxifen could cause cataracts as well as the retinal cyst. The cataract part did not bother me as surgery can remedy that. Her main concern was that my other eye could end up with a cyst and then I would have big problems with my vision and possibly surgery with no guarantee. She suggested that my oncologist be contacted which I did and she said that seeing that I had been on the tamoxifen for 3 1/2 years that I had greatly benefited from it and to discontinue it.

I wear glasses and I normally go for an annual exam. But for those that do not wear glasses and take tamoxifen, do yourself a favor and make sure you keep a close watch on your eyes. My doctor told me that there are thousands upon thousands of patients that take tamoxifen yet only 3 patients have been documented as having retinal cysts that have been attributed to being caused by the tamoxifen. If this tip has helped but one person my purpose of sending in this tip has been fulfilled.

By Kidena from Beverly, Massachusetts

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Use Steel Cans In The Garden

One of the ways I recycle is by burying my steel cans in my garden, I leave the bottoms on and I bury them about 12 in. deep open side up. I fill the canned with compost and then plant above it. If I'm doing row planting, I will bury a roll of cans and plant above them. The cans will eventually rust away after a couple of years and in the process add much-needed iron to my clay soil.

I also take 1 gallon cans cut off the bottom and put them on the surface of the ground between my tomato plants, I push them in about an inch or so, then I fill them about half full with fresh compost and use this for watering. I fill it up with water and it slowly trickles through. We're in another drought here in Southern California.

By Babette from Lemon Grove

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Digital Scrapbooking

Want to start scrapbooking? Concerned about the cost, storage, and mess? Want to be able to access your project away from home? Take advantage of digital scrapbooking! This is a great way to dabble in creating layouts for your favorite digital photos. There are several free websites to help you get started. Try the free ecard feature at ScrapWow.com, newsletter templates at LetterPop.com, or the great layout options at Scrapblog.com.

Source: I use LetterPop.com to create 'newsletters' to share with friends and family. They are actually templates that you can plug your own photos into. Another fun source is Scrapblog.com. For the real beginner, try sending a free scrapbook page-looking card from ScrapWow.com

By Daphne from Portland, OR

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Use Nylon Netting For Scrubbers

Stiff nylon netting scraps make great scrubbers for dishes, car bumpers/windows, bathroom porcelain, and removing paint with stripper. Their holes catch raised food/dirt/paint and remove it. Nylon net is perfectly paired with baking soda as an abrasive, as both will not leave scratches on surfaces you're cleaning.

Source: Heloise

By Nance from Statesboro, GA

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Use Frozen Sandwich Rolls For Lunches

My kids take bread rolls to school for lunch so I buy a lot every week and freeze. before freezing, I cut them in half so all I need to do is to take out what I need and fill them with whatever I'm using WHILE THEY ARE STILL FROZEN. Then I put them inside the (clean) inner bag from an empty cereal box, seal them tightly with the plastic closure thingy from a loaf of sliced bread and put them in the fridge the night before. Voila! Ready to pop into lunch boxes the next morning. They don't dry out, stay fresh and I'm recycling all at the same time! I also save so much time in the mornings!

By Cettina from Malta, Europe

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Baking Soda To Clean Crayon Off Walls

Were your little ones just busy coloring with crayons on the wall? This solution works wonderfully. A damp rag dipped in baking soda will remove those horrifying crayon marks with little effort.

By Esther from Baltimore, MD

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Cover Car Seats With A Sheet For Road Trips

When traveling, I put a clean sheet over the seats, making cleanup easy. At stops, I just shake it out.

By Trude from Lima, Ohio

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Use A Steam Juicer

We go through a lot of juice because my husband makes his own wine. Friends give us their unwanted extra fruit. He uses not only grapes, but apples, pears, plums, cherries, strawberries, raspberries and elderberries. Even parsnips make good wine.

In order to get plenty of juice, we invested in a steam juicer. It is a large, three-tiered pot; really more like three pots in one. The bottom layer holds water. The middle layer catches the juice. It has an outlet with a rubber tube that has a clamp on it, so you can drain off the juice without having to lift the pot. You put fruit in the top layer, which is perforated to let the juice drip through. Then put the whole thing on a burner at medium to high and bring the water to a boil. Steam will start coming out the top. The heat cooks the fruit gently and extracts a rich, almost concentrated juice. After about an hour, we drain off the juice into hot, sterilized jars, put a hot lid on, and it seals itself as it cools. You could boiling water bath it for ten minutes if you want to be proper.

It would keep for years this way if we didn't use it up so fast. The plain juice is nice for breakfast. You can sweeten it if it's too tart. Sometimes I dilute mine to get fewer carbs or a lighter juice, because it really is thick. This is one of those investments that pays for itself the first year and then keeps on paying again and again. We have a Mehu Maija but there are cheaper versions available.

If anyone asked me what I wanted for my birthday, I would tell them I wanted a steam juicer and some little baby fruit trees. Over their lifetime, they will be worth thousands, and I don't know anybody who will give me thousands of dollars for my birthday. :-)

By Coreen from Rupert, ID

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Taking Care of a Puppy with Parvo at Home

My puppy Nemo has Parvo. I'm giving him Pedialite because I can't afford a vet. What else can I do? He's only about 4-7 lbs. Is he to small for the bleach thing I've been reading about? Please help!

Ashley from Stockton, CA

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How to Avoid Pilling on Clothes and Sheets

How do I avoid pilling on clothes/sheets. I have cotton sheets that have this and this is rough to sleep on. Also my nylon nightgown is the same way. Does anyone know what causes this and how to prevent it, and how to get rid of it.

Sheila from Ontario, Canada

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Removing Rust Stains From Title Deed

How do I remove rust stains from a title deed, put there by water damage.

Brian Agjee from Australia

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Recipes Using Leftover Chips

Any uses for those leftover 1/2 bags of potato/tortilla chips that NO ONE will touch after 2 days? Remember, camouflage is the KEY word here! The family can't actually identify it as leftover chips in the resulting recipe.

CammoMOM from California

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Braces Wax Stains

My daughter left the wax for her braces in her pants pocket and I washed and dried it. It left spots all over her pants and a golf pull-over of my son's. I've tried oxyclean stain remover and bleach for colors. No help. Any suggestions? Thanks.

Kim from Bossier City, LA

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Converting a Closet Into a Doll House

I just recently bought a home where my 4 year old daughter's room has two closets. I would like to use one closet to convert it into a 2 to 3 story doll house. Anybody could give me some ideas or pointers on how I could get this started. I have not one ounce of creativity in my pinky so I need some help.

Thank you!
Esther from Raleigh, NC

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Uses for Leftover Biscuits

Any uses for leftover biscuits? Refrigerator, KFC, homemade, etc. Like ground up and used in recipes? They can't be identified as leftover biscuits when I use them or the family will never touch it.

CammoMOM from California

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Biscotti Recipes

I am looking for great biscotti recipes. Especially lemon, anise and mocha.

Holmanhouse from Eugene, OR

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Planning a Masquerade Birthday Party

I am planing a Masquerade party for my 13th birthday. How can I decorate? Please send pictures if at all possible. The party is Saturday!

Kaelin from GA

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Flavored Tortillas Used to Make Wraps

I worked at a restaurant in GA where we made wraps (sandwiches) with different flavors of wraps (outside like tortillas). They were spinach, tomato, wheat, etc. When looking online I find flour tortillas and sandwich wraps but none of the other outside wraps. Does anyone know where I can find these recipes?

Jessica

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Homemade Bisquick

How do you make homemade Bisquick?

Rita from Ohio

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Advice On Painting Kitchen With Green Countertops

I want to paint my kitchen walls, but do not know which color(s) to use. My counter tops are green and my floors have green Formica on them. Any suggestions on the wall color?

Katrina from Chesapeake, VA

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Removing Dye from Wedding Shoes

I bought a pair of Vera Wang shoes to wear in a friends wedding a couple of years ago. I had them dyed to match my dress but would like to wear them to my own wedding this year. They are the MOST comfortable shoes and I can't find the style anywhere. How can the color be safely removed? Is it possible to get them close to white or off white?

Ania from Saratoga, NY

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Making a Kissing Ball for Valentine's Day

Anybody know how to make a Kissing Ball for Valentine's Day? I saw one in a Better Homes and Garden magazine but it calls for some stuff I don't have. I thought it would be cute to make for my family as a Valentine's Day thing like the mistletoe for X-mas. Thanks!

Crafts4Life from Kentucky

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Disinfecting a New Mattress

The other day my fiance and I bought a bed. The thing about the bed is that it was the display mattress, where people can lay/sit on it. The reason for buying the display one was because it was a great deal, a $600 mattress for $335. I was wanting to disinfect it but I am unsure what to use. I was hoping to use the Clorox Anywhere Spray, but its for hard surface only. Does anyone know what I could use?

Summer

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When Can I Bathe a Mommy Cat and New Kittens?

My mommy cat is still having her baby kittens at 12:25am on Tuesday the 22nd of January, 2008. She started at 7pm Monday the 21st. I was curious how soon I could bathe momma and the babies for fleas. How long does it take for a mommy kitty to have all her babies?

Jodie

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Min Pin or Chihuahua Mix?

I was told that he was a Min Pin, I am thinking he's a chihuahua mix.

Shae from Spokane

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Does Using Dryer Sheets Damage the Dryer?

Should I use dryer sheets in my new Kenmore washer and dryer? I seem to remember hearing, some years ago, that dryer sheets caused some kind of dryer damage.

I finally had to replace my old work horse Amanas, I don't know if I should start out using a dryer sheet in each load. Is there some advantage to using the liquid softener?

Ruth Counter from Salt Lake City,

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Why Do Pots Keep Burning After They Have Burned Once?

What causes pots to burn almost every time they are used, after they have burned once? They are clean and spotless.

Charlie from Southwest, LA

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Ideas for Using Old Fashion Magazines

I have over 100 Fashion Magazines, Vogue, etc., with pages and pages of beautiful pictures. Any ideas out there as to what I can do with these? It would be a shame to just toss them out.

Freebyrdz from Ontario, Canada

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Ideas to Using Fabric Samples

I also have many boxes full of gorgeous fabric and upholstery samples. Any ideas what to do with these other than the obvious, like quilts, pillows and sachets?

Freebyrdz from Ontario, Canada

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Pink Stains on White Collar

I washed a striped shirt with a white collar with red jeans. Now my collar is pink. How can I get it back to white without ruining the other colors in the shirt?

Peggy from Olathe, KS

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"Phantom of the Opera' Birthday Party

I want to do the 'Phantom of the Opera' theme for my daughter's 15th birthday. I need ideas for music, center pieces, invitations and so forth.

MARICELIS

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Ground Beef Casserole with Mayonnaise Topping

When my kids were growing up, I had a recipe for a casserole using ground beef with a puffy topping using mayonnaise. Sounded yuck, but it was delicious. Does anyone have the recipe to this casserole dish?

Kim from Orlando, FL

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African Violets Are Infested with Insects

I have been having a problem with my African Violets for months now and have actually lost some. I have some kind of spider or bug that you can't really see but there are tiny cottony white spots all over the plant stems and a few on the leaves. I have tried the normal insect spray and also dipping them into liquid dish detergent and nothing seems to work. Please help me, I don't want to lose any more of them. I only have a few left.

Diane from Pingree, 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

Complaints About NY and CA Moving Companies

I want to warn Thrifty fun members about these two movers. They cost my daughter around $8,000 in losses to her in her move from Brooklyn, NY to California. This is her report to those in authority, and she got nowhere. The moving industry is unregulated and you are at their mercy.

Anything she had in the original boxes, like her stereo receiver were missing. Assumed to be taken to sell at flea markets.

Her goods were damaged, even though they were packed by the movers. She is a pretty, single girl ,was alone in her apartment and she was harassed. Her Victorian hat collection was missing among other things. They refused to look for it. It was probably put in someone else's storage locker or sold. She did not know that her goods would be given to the movers located in California. Essentially, they gave her goods away. The Better Business Bureau and Chamber of Commerce couldn't help us, all they could do was put on their site that these movers had a complaint against them. We had no luck with arbitration or coverage with insurance.

We have all of this documented and pictures of everything broken and the data on the missing items. Beware, these are crooks! I hope I can help all of you from being ripped off by them.

Volt Relocation Inc., 47 Hall Street, 2nd fl., Brooklyn, NY 11205, (718)522-3819, - Fax: (718)522-3820, ICC# 502394 - US DOT# 1318777

Quick Transportation, Inc., 1208 Arques Avenue, #108-1, Sunnyvale, CA 94085 (408)733-8300 Fax: (866)826-6781, US DOT# 1298991, MC-504462, CAL PUC# T190018, Attn: Mac Ischanov, Manager.

We have spoken to a gentleman here in town who used to take these things to court as an owner of a moving company as an expert witness and he said they are definitely wrong and can be sued successfully. We are going to do, but that will take time, trouble and money and we want others to avoid using them. They are the ultimate in being dishonest!

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Sears and Kmart Recall Play Stoves Due to Tip-over Hazard

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.

Name of Product: "My First Kenmore" Play Stoves

Units: About 17,000

Retailers: Sears, Roebuck and Co. and Kmart Corp., of Hoffman Estates, Ill.

Hazard: A metal bracket connecting the door to the stove can cause a tip-over when the door is opened. This poses a risk of injury to young children.

Incidents/Injuries: Sears has received one report of the product tipping over, resulting in bruises to a child.

Description: The self-assembled, wooden play stove is painted pink with six white knobs and a timer. The dimensions of the stove when assembled are 11 1/2" W x 13 3/4" D x 32 7/8" H.

Sold at: Sears and Kmart stores nationwide from September 2007 through November 2007 for about $100.

Manufactured in: Taiwan

Remedy: Consumers should immediately remove and discard the bracket that connects the door to the stove to eliminate the hazard. Consumers may obtain updated assembly instructions by contacting Sears/Kmart or by visiting either firm's Web site. In some products, the updated assembly instructions are already included and replacement instructions are not required.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact Sears/Kmart at (800) 659-7026 between 7 a.m. and 9 p.m. CT Monday through Saturday, or visit either www.sears.com or www.kmart.com

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First Time Gardener Guide
By Debra Frick

Well, it's that time again when we are all sitting cozy and warm, dreaming of the day when we can turn over the soil for the first time and get our vegetable gardens going. The catalogs are a steady stream in the mail and we can hardly wait to plant that new award winning tomato. But what if you don't have a garden?, With all the emphasis on getting more vegetables in our diets, maybe you are thinking that this just might be the year that you decide to put in your first garden. I gotta tell you, there is something great about getting in the soil and planting seeds and watching over your garden until you see the fruits of your labors. Nothing in this world tastes better than a tomato that you grew yourself. Or maybe you're wanting to teach your children about the miracles that occur when seeds are planted and the life cycle of plants.

Whatever your reason, I am going to tell you some of the basics you will need to know to have a successful garden and, believe me, it is not as hard as you might think. With a little planning and some thought, you will have produce that you can eat all summer long. You can also investigate organic gardening on the internet and your local library. Most of the tips I will give you are going to be organic or "green". I don't like to use chemicals in my garden even for the bugs. I feel like it defeats the whole purpose of having a garden.

Making Your Garden Bed

What To Plant

Burgess Seed and Plant Company and Farmer's Seed and Nursery both have websites where you can order a catalog or order direct from them. http://www.DirectGardening.com and my other choice is Gurney's seed and Nursery Co. http://www.Gurneys.com. I found them fair and reliable and they all have a one year guarantee on all plants that you buy from them. Try and pick varieties that you have seen growing at your local garden center if possible but there are many varieties that will grow in your area that you can only get from the seed companies. I still laugh when I remember when I called my local extension office and asked if we could grow Pecan trees here. He said sure they would grow here but I would not get any nuts. I asked why and was told that it did not get cold enough here. He told me I could try though, that some parts of our county did get cold enough and other parts did not. My point here is that your county extension office can be your best friend and most even have master gardener programs, if you would love to do that. Also, whether you are ordering from a catalog or buying from your garden center, check growing times. This is important, you would hate to have your first pumpkins to only get so big before the first frost kills them off.

Planting Time

Garden Pests

Harvest Time

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