Daily Thrifty Tips
Volume Four, Number 60, April 6, 2005
http://www.ThriftyFun.com
Hello,
We have a great newsletter today. Lots of interesting requests and tips. We also have a video clip to accompany one of today's Photo Contest entries, which is a first for us.
Thank you to everyone that responded to our request for more Photo Contest Entries. We still could use more, so don't hesitate to submit your pet, craft, or garden photo.
Also, thank you to everyone that submitted their identity theft tips and experiences. We are publishing a TF News about Identity Theft on Friday and it should be a good newsletter.
Thanks for reading,
Susan
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Today's newsletter contains:
Today's Photo Contest Entries:
- Doggy Tug-O-War Movie - Buffy (Lab) and Waclaw (Pit Beagle)
- Blue Anemones, Daffodils and Primulas
Today's Tips:
- Uses for Club Soda
- Storing Cookie Cutters
- Flea Combing
- Keeping The Lid On Your Garbage Can
- Sanitizing Dishes
- Make a Quilt With Cartoon Character Socks
- Uses For Tortilla Chips
- Vacuuming Delicate Items
- Using Dryer Sheets When Quilting
- Gorilla Joke
- Affirmations To Help You Save
- Saving Money on Baby Clothes
- Junk CDs As a Bird Deterrent
- Pasta Gets Out the Last Bit
- Easter Egg Dye Making Boiled Eggs
- Protecting Flower Bulbs
- Ran Out of a Wallpaper Border?
- Keeping Ants Off Your Picnic Table
- Birthday Message On Tape
- Sugar 'n Spice Angel Food Cake
- Mother's Sugar Cookie
- Skillet Fudge
- Gooseberry Cobbler
- Danish Puff
- Removing Formula Stains
New Requests:
- Making Nylon Painted Butterflys
- Boston Terrier Barking
- Freezing Meat - How Many Times Can You Freeze It?
- Breastfeeding Advice
- Painting and Cleaning Textured Ceilings
- Removing Insta-Foam From Clothing
- Paint Color Suggestions For Asian Inspired Decor
- 13th Birthday Blunder
- Looking For Angels For a Quilt
- Tips For Taking a Cruise With Children
- Removing Permanent Marker
- Sweating Toilet Tank
- Uses For Water From Boiled Eggs
More Reading:
- Creative Upholstery Materials for Updating Your Furniture
- Wonderful Garlic Cheese Biscuits
- Flower Meanings & History
- 12 Ways to Pay Less
Search ThriftyFun Using Google: Click Here
Today's Sponsors
11 Craft Designs By House of Greathouse
Just $5.00 (including shipping) for instructions on how to make
11 unique craft designs on CD. For more information and pictures
of the crafts visit:
http://www.thriftyfun.com/columnists/harlean.html
Today's Photo Contest Entries
Doggy Tug-O-War Movie - Buffy (Lab) and Waclaw (Pit Beagle)
My two dogs, Buffy (the Yellow Lab) and Waclaw (the Pit-Beagle) were playing tug-o-war with their rope. When I pointed the camera at them, THIS is what happened. Never before, and never again. Just good luck on my part.
Watch the Buffy and Waclaw Movie
By Mike
View Photo and Post Feedback: Click Here
Blue Anemones, Daffodils and Primulas
Dear ThriftyFun, I really enjoy your site, so many helpful hints and recipes. Thanks to all who send them in. Here is a picture of my blue anemone, they are so vivid and pretty, mixed in with the yellow daffs & burgundy primulas in a bed.
Spring is such a lovely time of year! This is on Vancouver Island, BC.
Photo by Betty Reese.
View Photos and Post Feedback: Click Here
Submit a tip with a photo or a pet description with a photo and you could win a Digital Camera! You can enter the photo contest here:
http://www.thriftyfun.com/photo_contest.ldml
Today's Tips
Uses for Club Soda
Ideas for using club soda. Post your ideas.
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Storing Cookie Cutters
To save yourself some space, string together your cookie cutters and other such items with a length of ribbon or string and hang them from a hook inside your kitchen cabinets.
By Robin
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Flea Combing
I use a fine tooth flea comb on my cats daily and never have any flea problems!
By Holly Dawson
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Keeping The Lid On Your Garbage Can
Tie your garbage can lids to the handles of your garbage can to keep the lid from blowing away on windy days.
By Robin
Editor's Note: Also useful for keeping stray dogs and other animals out of your garbage can.
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Sanitizing Dishes
I love clean dishes! I use a little bleach in my dish water. Not only does it help sanitize them, the dishes actually dry faster!
By Pamela
Editor's Note: Just make sure you use a dish soap that does not contain ammonia. At restaurants (that have hand washing) they have a sanitizing sink with bleach water in it. Before drying, you dip the dishes in that sink and rinse.
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Make a Quilt With Cartoon Character Socks
When my boys were small they loved wearing the character socks (Batman, Spiderman, Looney Tunes, etc.) As they grew older or wore out a pair, I saved them to make a quilt. I'm going to use the socks that don't have holes in them to make a "wheel" pattern and use solid fabrics as the background. The socks with holes I will cut and use the good parts, sew together, and use as the binding. This would work with baby's socks as well - the lacy ones would be really cute!
By Susan
Editor's Note: That sounds fantastic! Please share a picture of it when the project is finished.
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Uses For Tortilla Chips
Have some tortilla chips that are a little stale or some crumbs left in the bottom the bags? Here are some ideas for using those chips. Post your ideas.
Don't throw out those last few little pieces of tortilla chips left in the bag - put them in a plastic bag and freeze them for recipes. They work great in Mexican casseroles or tortilla soup!
By Susan
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Vacuuming Delicate Items
Take an old piece of pantyhose wrap around the end of the vacuum cleaner crevice tool (keep in place with an elastic band). Then vacuum, only the dust can get through. This works well on silk flowers, window blinds etc. Especially helpful when you have to be careful not to vacuum up tiny bits and pieces that you don`t want to "suck in"
By Mairmie
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Using Dryer Sheets When Quilting
When quilting with thin, flimsy fabrics, use USED fabric softener sheets as an inexpensive backing. It gives it body and makes it a whole lot easier to work with.
By Susan
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Gorilla Joke
A clean joke, one of my favorites...
Why does a gorilla have such big nostrils?
Because his fingers are SO BIG!
By Susan
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Affirmations To Help You Save
A reader named Jill submitted a tip that reciting the Lord's Prayer helps her keep her finances in order. Is there anything that you do on a regular basis that helps you keep your spending habits under control? While we try to shy away from politics and religion on ThriftyFun (there are many other forums for that), we are always interested to hear how people save money. Post your ideas.
The Lord's Prayer
I was reading the Bible. One sentence jumped out. It was something I needed. I say this over and over. I find meetings go in my favor or I avoid auto accidents or find bargains needed. etc.
I was shopping Friday and stopped at a computer bin. I got a fan for $1.50 when the tech wanted $19 to replace it. I got registry cleaner and virus for less than $5. I found prewound bobbins for $4 for 144 of them.
I am amazed that saying the Lord's prayer when walking, driving, working, cleaning, etc. leads me NOT into temptation but delivers me from evil--the evil of expensive computer repairs and software or accidents. etc.
I am hesitant to share this. I do not want anyone offended but for me this works and works big time. I even won an appeal I just made.
Those of you who like heavenly help may want to know how this little prayer repeated many times a day has helped me. I think it will help you.
By Jill
Editor's Note: Here's is the text of The Lord's Prayer.
The Lord's Prayer
Our Father, who art in heaven,
Hallowed be thy Name.
Thy kingdom come.
Thy will be done,
On earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses, (or debts)
As we forgive those who trespass against us.(or as we forgive our debtors)
And lead us not into temptation,
But deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
and the power,
and the glory,
for ever and ever.
Amen.
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Saving Money on Baby Clothes
Tips for saving money on baby clothing. Post your ideas.
Save Money on Infants and Children's Clothes!
I have a four year old daughter and a newborn son and buying new clothes all the time is expensive! I found two websites that let people buy and sell used children's clothing. They are both awesome sites!
http://www.gently-used.com and http://www.mykidscloset.com
By Crystal
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Junk CDs As a Bird Deterrent
I keep all those "junk" cd's you get free in the mail to put on fence posts, on the tomato stakes, or just long sticks to let shine & spin in the garden to keep away the birds. And maybe even some animals, too.
By Sheila McDonald
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Pasta Gets Out the Last Bit
When I cook pasta and have a little bit of mayonnaise or sauce in the bottom of the jar, I put some of the pasta in the jar, put the lid on and shake it up. The sauce or mayonnaise sticks to the pasta and isn't wasted. It's easier than trying to get the last bit of mayonnaise or sauce out of the jar with a spoon or knife.
By Carol Foltz
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Easter Egg Dye Making Boiled Eggs
I'll be buying Easter coloring kits after Easter and using them to mark my boiled eggs during the year.
By Carol Foltz
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Protecting Flower Bulbs
When planting tulip or other flower bulbs in the spring, scatter moth crystals or moth balls around the area where you planted the bulbs. Moth crystals will help deter squirrels from digging up and destroying your investment. In the spring squirrels are hungry and freshly planted bulbs make for meal, if you don't protect them
By Eric Klinkowski
Editor's Note: Because mothballs are toxic to cats, dogs and some other animals, put them in baby food jars with holes in the lid. That way the smell still gets out but the mothballs can't harm the wildlife. Possibly put them in a circle around the bulbs.
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Ran Out of a Wallpaper Border?
To the person who ran out of wallpaper border, this happened to my daughter. I copied the border onto a good grade of paper after it was on the wall you could not tell the difference Good Luck!
By Sally Jo K.
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Keeping Ants Off Your Picnic Table
Ants can totally over take when food is eaten outside. Whether it be my dogs dish or my picnic table, I have found a way to stop them in their tracks
First make sure not one single blade of grass touches the legs of your picnic table, or a small low to the ground dog/cat food table. I have place old carpet under the dog food table. Then place each leg into a coffee can, put oil some the can.
The ants have to walk up the outside, then down the inside of the can, but can't swim through the oil.
By Cat Webber
Editor's Note: What kind of oil do you use Cat?
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Birthday Message On Tape
My friend did a neat thing when a large group of us went out to eat for her birthday. She passed a small tape recorder around the table and asked each person to leave her a message. Of course, it was totally impromptu, but that made it even more fun.
Papillon
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Sugar 'n Spice Angel Food Cake
Ingredients:
- 1 cup cake flour
- 1 tsp. cinnamon
- 1 tsp. ground ginger
- 1/4 tsp. ground allspice
- 1 cup confectioner's sugar
- 1/4 tsp. and 1/2 tsp. salt
- 1 2/3 cups egg whites
- 1 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
- 1 tsp. cream of tartar
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 1/2 cup packed dark brown sugar
Directions:
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. In medium, with fork, mix flour, cinnamon, ginger, allspice, confectioner's sugar and 1/4 tsp. salt; set aside. In large bowl, with mixer on high speed, beat egg whites, cream of tartar, and 1/2 t.. salt until soft peaks form; beat in vanilla extract. Beating high speed, sprinkle in sugar and brown sugar, 2 Tbsp. at a time, beating until sugar completely dissolves and whites stand in stiff peaks. With rubber spatula or wire whisk, fold in flour mixture just until flour disappears. Do not overmix. Pour batter into ungreased 10 inch tube pan. Bake 30-35 minutes until cake springs back when lightly touched. Invert cake in pan onto a plate; cool completely in pan. With metal spatula, carefully loosen cake from pan. Makes 16 servings.
By Robin
View Article: Click Here
Mother's Sugar Cookie
Ingredients:
- 4 lbs. sugar
- 2 lbs. lard
- 10 eggs
- 6 lbs. flour
- 3 oz. baking powder
- 1 pint milk
- Vanilla, salt, to taste
Directions:
Mix together and roll out and cut with cookie cutter. Sprinkle with white sugar. Put on ungreased cookie sheet and bake around 10 minutes till light brown in 350 degree oven.
By Robin
View Article: Click Here
Skillet Fudge
Ingredients:
- 2 squares unsweetened chocolate
- 1 1/2 cups sugar
- 2 Tbsp. margarine
- 2 Tbsp. butter
- 7 Tbsp. whole milk
- 2 Tbsp. white corn syrup
- 1 tsp. vanilla
Directions:
Combine ingredients (except vanilla) in a cold 12-inch iron skillet (nothing else will do). Bring ingredients to a hard boil and boil for exactly 1 minute. Pull skillet off range and allow to cool for 5 minutes (do not stir). Add vanilla and beat with a wooden spoon until fudge begins to lose it's gloss. Pour into an 8x8 inch pan and let it set up for about 15 minutes. Enjoy!
By Robin
View Article: Click Here
Gooseberry Cobbler
Ingredients:
- 4 cups gooseberries
- 3/4 cup sugar
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1 tsp. baking powder
- 3 Tbsp. oleo
- 1 cup flour
- 1/2 tsp. salt
Topping:
- 3/4 cup sugar
- 1 Tbsp. cornstarch
- 1 tsp. cinnamon
- 1 cup boiling water
Directions:
Put gooseberries in the bottom of a buttered 9x13 inch baking dish. Mix sugar, milk, baking powder, oleo, flour, and salt. Spread this mixture over berries. Mix topping ingredients and sprinkle over batter. Pour boiling water over this. Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes.
By Robin
View Article: Click Here
Danish Puff
Ingredients:
- 1 cup flour
- 1/2 cup butter
- 2 Tbsp. water
- 1/2 cup butter
- 1 cup water
- 1 tsp. almond flavoring
- 1 cup flour
- 3 eggs
- Slivered almonds
Directions:
Mix flour, 1/2 cup butter, and 2 Tbsp. water with a fork and round into a ball. Divide in half. Shape into 2 3x12 inch strips. Place 3 inches apart on ungreased baking sheet. Mix 1/2 cup butter and 1 cup water in saucepan. Bring to boil and remove from heat. Add 1 cup flour and almond flavoring. Stir flour in quickly to prevent lumping. When smooth, add 1 egg at a time beating well after each egg until smooth. Divide in half and spread each half evenly over one of the pastry strips. Bake 60 minutes at 350 degrees until topping is crisp and nicely brown. Frost with powdered sugar frosting and sprinkle with slivered almonds.
By Robin
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Removing Formula Stains
Baby formula stains UNTIL NOW were almost impossible to get out. I recently bought a can of OXYGEN CLEAN at the Dollar Tree, just thinking it might actually do what it says it will do. I have a new GRANDDAUGHTER (thought I'd throw that in!) and I found some really nice sleepers and bibs at a used clothing store. Soaked the for several hours in a bowl of hot water with a lot of that in the water. I also added some to the wash cycle and the stains all came out. This product is GREAT! Sharon,Ky
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Other Active Topics
Be sure to check out our active topics page to follow the discussion.
http://www.thriftyfun.com/board.html
Tip Contest
Submit a tip and you could win:
New Contest Prize! Now a $50.00 Gift Card
In our newest contest we are giving away a $50.00 Gift Card at one of the following stores: Home Depot, Jo-Ann's Crafts or Amazon.com. If you are the winner, you get to choose which gift card! We figured it would be more valuable if you pick out your own prize, that's why we have decided to go the gift card route. This contest will end on April 15th.
Enter the contest!
Syndication Spotlight:
Here are some publishers that have chosen to publish our tips this week!
Dear Webby's Humor Letter
Webby publishes our tips daily! A very funny newsletter.
http://webby.com/humor
Do you publish a newsletter? Sign up for our Tip Syndication:
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New Requests:
Making Nylon Painted Butterflys
I am looking for instruction for making a Butterfly from nylon. These are the one you see that have a wire frame and the nylon is painted.
Thank you,
Judy Gail from Phoenix.
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Boston Terrier Barking
Our 18 month old boston terrier has started barking at any noise in or outside the house. It is an awful bark that makes you jump out of your skin. Is there a way to stop him from this behavior?
Susan
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Freezing Meat - How Many Times Can You Freeze It?
I went to the store this morning and I bought some Italian sausage and they were almost frozen. Luckily I was going to use it today, but my concern is I always thought that you couldn't refreeze meat. If this is true, had I come into the store later that day, the sausage would have been thawed. So unknown to me I would have brought it home and stuck in the freezer. I just wonder how many times other meats in the case are frozen? Can you refreeze storebought meat or not?
Thanks,
Pam
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Breastfeeding Advice
How do you honestly know if the milk your producing is sufficient for the baby? Just going through the process doesn't guareantee that the baby is getting enough to satisfy it? My new grandbaby acts like she's still hungry. And HEAVEN FORBID a mother-in-law to suggest WITHOUT PROOF that this may not be the best idea? I've raised three children on bottles and this is a new one on me. Please help!
New Mamaw
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Painting and Cleaning Textured Ceilings
Is there a easy way that you know of to clean and then paint my ugly textured ceilings? Or should I not clean them and just paint?
Thanks!
Tim
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Removing Insta-Foam From Clothing
My husband was working in his garage and got "insta-foam " all over some of his clothes. I have tried "goo-gone" and laundry soap to get it off but no luck. Anyone have any ideas?
Thanks,
Teresa
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Paint Color Suggestions For Asian Inspired Decor
Does anyone have any suggestions on what color to paint our bedroom? We have a red satin duvet cover and our room will be asian inspired.
Alison
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13th Birthday Blunder
Okay here it goes... I've posting on this website througout planning my party. I already have my ideas snd games (thanks to skbeal & trish). I also have already passed out the invitations but earlier today my mom and I got in an argument and she got really upset (I was talking back). She told me... "THATS IT, NO PARTY!". I'm in a rut and I need to know how to earn my party back!!!
Pease please,
Haley
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Looking For Angels For a Quilt
I am searching for pictures, drawings and/or patterns of Angels that are appropriate to use as patterns for Quilt squares. I have looked every where. I want to make a quilt with just angels and would like several different ones. If you have any suggestion as to where I might find these, I would appreciate your help.
Thank you,
Deborah
Atlanta, GA
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Tips For Taking a Cruise With Children
Im taking my 10 and 12 year old children on a 3 or 5 day cruise, other than going to the doc to get a perscription for motion sickness. Any tips/suggestions to make this an awesome trip? Never traveled before so any advice is much appreciated.
Thanks in advance!
Ma
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Removing Permanent Marker
My child drew on his car seat with a permanent marker do you know of anything that will get it off. it is my friend's son's seat, it is not even mine.
Thanks,
Stacy
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Sweating Toilet Tank
I would like to know what i can do to get the back of the toilet tank from sweating. It is always sweating and the water drips down on the floor. I would appreciate any suggestions.
Thank You,
Kate
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Uses For Water From Boiled Eggs
I boiled an egg just a few minutes ago, and I brought it to a boil and let it set for 10 minutes like I'm supposed to. Then, I wondered what to use the hot water for. Any ideas?
Aunt Sharon from Texas
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Looking for a frugal solution to an everyday problem? Submit
your request here: Click Here
Today's Sponsors
11 Craft Designs By House of Greathouse
Just $5.00 (including shipping) for instructions on how to make
11 unique craft designs on CD. For more information and pictures
of the crafts visit:
http://www.thriftyfun.com/columnists/harlean.html
More Reading:
Creative Upholstery Materials for Updating Your Furniture
By Pamela Cole Harris
Reupholstering and updating your old furniture doesn't have to cost a fortune (unless you want it to!) Using your imagination, you can easily come up with unique fabrics for your furniture redesign. Here are a few ideas to get you started:
View Article: Click Here
Wonderful Garlic Cheese Biscuits
By Crystal Miller
Makes 1 dozen biscuits
View Article: Click Here
Flower Meanings & History
By Josh Grossman
The charming and delicate beauty of flowers has fascinated people of all nations and backgrounds for centuries. Flowers have been bred and cultivated for their decorative beauty as well as their ability to heal diseases. Flowers are the subject of poems and myths, and religious symbols are associated with flowers as well. Many girls are named after flowers. The main reason for the popularity of flowers though is their ability to bring good cheer.
View Article: Click Here
12 Ways to Pay Less
By Roger Sorensen
Every where you go it seems you are bombarded by 'Buy and Save' sales ads. Why only shop the sales, why not look to save money on other purchases not advertised as sales? Here are insider tips and strategies to get the lowest prices on things you want.
View Article: Click Here
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