Daily Thrifty Tips - February 27, 2009

This newsletter is going out a little late. The internet was down at our office on Friday. We hope everyone is having a nice weekend.

Thanks for reading,

The ThriftyFun Team

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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 Project: Spring Basket Liner

Sewing a liner for an old basket to give it new life and purpose:

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Gardening: Growing Mint

This is picture of mint I have in my flower beds. I like to make mint tea with it, winter or summer. Very good.

By Kathleen from Dothan, AL

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Craft: Tin Man Mania

I created this mini man from some recycled soup and coffee cans, soda tabs, funnel, bolts, screws, candy tins for feet, coat hangers, swivel, spray paint and tin snips. I used and awl and hammer to make the holes I needed. Tin snips were used to cut out hands and heart. I hang him in my garden.

By Wendy S from Coopersburg, PA

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Garden: Kitchen Cabbage

After seeing the "celery plant" tip, from the bottom of a fresh celery, I decided to see if the bottom from a Napa Cabbage would work. It did, and sprouted literally overnight. Slice off the bottom end of a Napa Cabbage, use several toothpicks to suspend the bottom end in water and place in a filtered light place. Here's what it looks like after just a week.

By ShellyE from Las Vegas, Nevada

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Minnesota State Fair "Veggie" Burger

This exhibit was so cool, vegetables used to make something other that what it was. This was at the Minnesota State fair. This looks like a close up of a burger and fries, Makes me hungry!

By Joyce from Benson MN

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Holiday Decorations for Your Table

Instead of spending money each holiday to change our tablecloth, we purchased a white table cloth and clear plastic from our fabric store cut to fit our table. The plastic cost around $3.50. For each holiday, we cut out designs from construction paper and place between the cloth and the plastic; ie, hearts for Valentines Day, shamrocks for St. Patty's Day, eggs for Easter, etc. For birthdays, we put pictures of the birthday girl/boy. We get to change our design over and over without spending a fortune on new tablecloths and without having to take up additional storage space.

By Susan from Hammonton, NJ

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Buy Frugal Toilet Paper at a Restaurant Supply Stores

Buy your toilet paper in bulk from online restaurant overstock suppliers. You can get 96 rolls of toilet paper for .67 a roll. Most are double ply, so if you turn one roll into two rolls, you can get 192 rolls of toilet paper for under $65!

Source: That would be my brilliant little brain. :)

By Beka from Catoosa, Oklahoma

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Using Free Address Stickers On Your Calendar

When I receive those address labels in the mail, I use my paper cutter to cut off the little seasonal pictures. Give them to my grandchildren along with a current calendar. Throw away the portion with the name and address. Instead of making x's on the calendar to mark the passing days or even special days, they use one of these picture (self-sticking).

By Frances from Bath, PA

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Caring for Bettas

I have to mention what good pets Bettas make. They are the fighting fish you buy in the little jars at the pet store. Of course, they need bigger bowls to be happy, like a goldfish bowl or a little bitty tank you can buy for a couple of bucks at Walmart, about the size of a margarine container.

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Baking Soda for Teeth Whitening

Use baking soda daily to whiten your teeth. It tastes terrible at first, but you get used to it. Just wet your toothbrush and dip it into the baking soda and brush as usual, then follow-up brushing with regular toothpaste for fluoride, etc., and also the flavored toothpaste will get rid of the baking soda taste!

It works and I'm a coffee and a tea drinker, so my teeth were terribly yellow. Aside from professional whitening (which made my teeth very sensitive), nothing worked very well. I was spending a lot of money on various products, even with coupons.

I checked with my dentist and he also said I could make a paste with peroxide and baking soda which works well. I am going to continue with only the baking soda for now. He also recommended brushing with a little toothpaste after brushing with the baking soda/peroxide paste.

I find baking soda for a great price at the dollar store and also watch for it on sale at the drugstore when they offer their two for one sale. If you want to add peroxide to make a paste, the store brand is very inexpensive. It is great to have on hand to rinse cuts and sores. My grandchildren are always amazed to see it foam up when I rinse their cuts.

By Bobbie from Rockwall

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Cake for the Birds

Ingredients

• 1 cup cornmeal
• 1 cup uncooked oatmeal
• 1 cup flour or dry cereal
• 1/2 tsp. soda
• 3 tsp. powdered milk
• 1/2 cup bacon grease
• 1/2 cup dry bread crumbs
• water to make thick batter
• mesh bag

Directions

By Stacey from Topeka, KS

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Add Whipped Topping to Stretch Frosting

When using canned frosting mix, place the mix in a bowl and add 1/2 cup of whipped topping with it and whip with mixer for about a minute. It doubles the amount and makes it easier to spread.

By Mary C. from Newark, California

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Be Wary of Snakes in Mulch

Do not grab handfuls of mulch. Dump it out on the ground and rake through it. They have found snakes (copper heads) and other critters in the mulch still alive.

By Kelly from Lexington, KY

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Keep Insects Off Your Fruit Trees

Here's a tip to keep insects out of your fruit trees: Take a gallon milk or water jug and fill it half full of water. Place a banana skin and l cup of sugar inside and mix. Hang this on your fruit tree. The insects will go into it instead of the fruit. Do this before the blossoms come.

By Jean from Schenectady, NY

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Reusing Pickle Juice

When you eat all the pickled peaches from the jar, pour the juice off a can of regular peaches, put them in the jar, tighten the lid and refrigerate them for several days before eating. Do the same with left over sweet pickle juice and put canned beets in them. Put boiled eggs in dill pickle juice.

Source: This is just tips that have been passed down through the family.

By BJ from Mid Missouri

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Repairing a Hole on Sofa Fabric

Any suggestions for repairing a small 1/2 inch size hole in a sofa's fabric located on the inner area?

Robin from NYC

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Fried Macaroni Recipe

Year ago, my grandfather used to make a dish that he called "Fried Macaroni". All I can remember is that he used macaroni, wheat germ, and sugar. And it was fried, at least at the end of the recipe. Does anyone know of a recipe that sounds like this at all?

Dani from Ohio

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Hair Irons Stopped Heating Up

This morning my flat iron stopped heating up but the light still goes on. Then, this evening my curling iron has done the same thing. Now both of them do not work on any outlet in the house. Only the light turns on. Why would this happened? Help.

deebassi

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When Do Puppies Open Their Eyes?

How long before a pup opens its eyes?

hersheybar from Knob Noster, MO

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Dealing with a Hyper Puppy

I purchased an American bulldog at 8 weeks of age. She is now 14 weeks old. She is a good puppy overall but when she gets hyper she becomes very aggravating to be around. She jumps on everything and bites on everything including our clothes and arms.

I have tried redirecting her but she comes back twice as hard. If I say no, she will growl at me and jump at me as if it is a game. I say "off" when she tries to jump on furniture but she keeps going anyway. Please help me!

Joslin from Houston, TX

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Composting a Large Amount of Grape Waste

I'm a master composter, trained by Denver Recycles. Our Community Garden here in Salida has been approached by a local who makes his own wine. Next year, he expects to generate 400 gallons of grape waste: skins, stems and seeds, and wants to compost it for our use. We're trying to prepare for the onslaught, planning to collect grass clippings and autumn leaves and many varieties of manure so that we can make a decent pile when the time comes.

How can we estimate the C:N ration of the grape waste? And what about PH? I've made many successful compost piles, but 400 gallons of grape waste is a new animal to me!

Hardiness Zone: 5b


Trish from Salida, CO

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Poodle Puppy Smells Bad

We bought a standard poodle puppy 2 weeks ago. He is 4 mo old now and he smells terrible. We washed him but that did not help, he still smells. What could be the problem?

Inna from San Mateo

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Attaching Fabric to Painted Wood Frame

I want to attach small bits of fabric to an unfinished wood frame I bought at Michaels. I painted a couple coats of acrylic paint already and wanted to attach the fabric to the paint. What type of adhesive should I use? What type of sealer should I use afterward? I should mention that I did not realize I needed to use a sealer on the wood first, so I applied the paint directly to the wood surface. Thanks for your advice.

Harmony from Vancouver, BC

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Crocheted Turtle Rattle

I am looking for a pattern to crochet a toy turtle rattle. It is simple and it has a margarine tub in the shell to put beans or popcorn in to make noise. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Lori from Ephrata, WA

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Straightening Permed Hair

I just got a perm last week and I hate it. Now I want my natural straight hair back. Will it get messed up or fall out if i get it straighten? Please help me.

Nicole from Methuen, MA

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Cleaning Laminate Floors

How do I get rid of the film that's on my laminate floors? I''m so sorry we put this down. I would rather have carpet any day. Don't tell me to spray vinegar and water on it and then get down on my knees to dry it!

Polly from Klamath Falls, OR

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Chamber Banquet Table Ideas

We are having a "Taking Your Business to New Heights" themed banquet table. I'm looking for some ideas on how to decorate the table.

Slthomas from Norfolk, NE

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Substituting Marshmallow Creme for Marshmallows

I want to substitute marshmallow creme for marshmallows. I only have a recipe for Rice Krispie treats with marshmallows. How do I substitute the marshmallow creme for the marshmallows?

Jonna from Manheim, PA

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Perspiration Stains on Underwear

How do I remove severe perspiration stains from cotton-poly men's underwear?

Norm from Alberta

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Milk Odors in Memory Foam

Milk was spilled on my seat, which has memory foam in it. I wanted to know if I am going to have to replace the foam in order to get the milk smell out. Is there anything else I can try? Please help me. Thanks.

Sheryl from Oklahoma City

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Removing Odor from a Leather Jacket

I have a leather bomber jacket that I really like except for the cigarette smell. The lining which I think is silk, smells the worst. I've tried baking soda but with limited results. The smell seems to come back. I couldn't scrub with baking soda all over as it made quite a mess. Any suggestions as to what I can try? Thank you.

Chuck from Lexington, KY

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Treating an Allergy in a Dog's Ear

I am looking for a home remedy for allergies in a dog's ear. His ear tends to itch and get red. Is there something I can do other than the panalog that the vet prescribed?

Karen

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Keeping Cats from Peeing on Furniture

My cat continually pees on my leather lounge. We have tried chemicals from pet shops, and other chemicals around $150 worth and nothing is working or preventing him from doing this. He was fixed and toilet trained, I don't understand why he is like this. I also have to keep bedroom doors closed as he pees on the beds as well. Please help me as I don't know what else to do.

Amanda

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Red Hat Society Club for Mentally Challenged Women

Has anyone else started a Red Hat Society Club for women who are Mentally Challenged in their day program site? I have a group with 6 other members from a Adult Day Treatment Center that I worked with years ago. I think we are all having a great time but we have had only 2 sessions and I am wondering if anyone has started such a group so I can brainstorm with them.

I hope to be doing this for a very long time and just need someone who has Red Hat ideas in terms of in house types of activities. There are 8 of us, 1 Queen Mom and 6 Sister Red hatters. Three have ambulatory issues, one is deaf and two are active women. We have done crafts, games, and teas. We need some more thrify ideas. Thanks a lot.

Donna from Middletown, NY

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Hard Water Stains on Granite

How do you get hard water stains off of granite?

Maureen from NJ

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Daddy's Diaper Dooty Poem

I am making a daddy's diaper dooty apron for a co-ed shower. You can buy the aprons online for a dad's gag gift called Daddy's Diaper Dooty or Diaper Master. There's a poem with them, and I really, really want one to go with mine! I can't find out what either says! If anyone knows of one or where I can find one please help!

Jan from Atlanta, GA

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Skin is Peeling After Sun Tanning

How can I keep from peeling after sun tanning? What can you do if you've already started to peel? Is there anything I can use to minimize the peeling?

rjw

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Planting Sunflowers

What month do you plant sunflowers?

Hardiness Zone: 6a

Donald from Canton, Ohio

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Organizing Silk Flowers

How do I keep craft items organized? I have extra silk flowers from other projects that are just laying around and nowhere to put them. I tried keeping them in empty coffee cans but I keep adding more to the cans.

Marlene from Seagrove, NC

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Preventing Food from Staining Bowls

How do you stop bowls from staining red from chili or spaghetti sauces?

Jan from Cincinnati, OH

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Homemade Aloe Vera Juice

I am brand new to aloe vera juice and have found it very beneficial. For best results it must be taken everyday. To avoid on going costs I have juiced up 2 large leaves from my pot. I juiced the whole leaf along with water and lemon juice. It tastes terrible, other than causing diarrhea, what are the risks of eating the outside of the leaf as well as the gel?

Leigh from Perth, WA

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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

What Is Arbor Day?
By Debra Frick

Arbor Day was started by J. Sterling Morton in the State of Nebraska as a way to stop soil erosion. That first Arbor Day, over 1 million trees were planted. Now Arbor Day is celebrated in all fifty states but in different months so that they hit the best days to plant trees.

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