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Vol. 7, Num. 2, January 3, 2008 (Read It Online) Do you have any tips for storing holiday decorations so that they are easy to retrieve and use the following year? Submit them on the contest page. Thanks for reading, Susan
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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:
Craft: Recycled Jewelry Organizer Use a hunk of Styrofoam packing from one of your technology purchases and a fabric scrap to make this organizer to hang all your baubles. I hung one in the bathroom for my 16-year-old to get some of the mess off the sinktop. I also made a small one for my other daughter's dorm room. You could also use it for photos, mementos, notes, or seasonal items just for decoration.
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Rate It: Thrifty Gift: Brown Sugar Scrub I used an empty jar of mushrooms as a container for a brown sugar scrub. The scrub recipe was brown sugar, baby oil, and body soap. After mixing, I poured into the mushroom jar, hot-glued a fabric scrap from my baby's receiving blanket on the lid, and used a CD label cut in half for my hand lettered label. Cost- Less than $2.00
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Rate It: This is my Crown Royal bag quilt. I have five more people waiting for me to make them one. It has been a lot of fun and a lot of time but well worth it.
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Rate It: Spotty is a Jack Russell Terrier and was born on the 26th of January, 2007. My brother owns his mum, she had a litter of ten. Never heard of a Jack Russell having ten puppies, only four survived. They have all stayed in our family.
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Rate It: I crochet my own pot scrubbers but to keep them handy and dry, I have added a band on the one side. Just chain a loop from one side to the other and add a couple rows of single or half double crochet. To do the actual pot scrubber, I purchase 16 meters of the heaviest netting. Cutting it in 3 3/4 inch strips is the challenge. I lay a large flat cardboard across my bed or table with the chalk lines on it. I fold the netting back and forth like folding a large fan (accordion style) and pin each fold every time to keep it straight and flat. This will save you a lot of grief in the end by keeping the strips straight and even. Take a ruler and draw the chalk lines across. Cut and roll each strip into individual balls ready to make one scrubber. To roll the ball quickly, just wrap the netting around a cracker box into loops, slide the loops off of the box, squeeze the loops together like the figure eight and wind a few wraps in the centre to keep it from unravelling. These long balls are now ready to take in your car to fill idle time as a passenger or just keep handy to crochet while watching TV or talking on the phone. Using a 5mm crochet hook, I crochet one circle beginning at one end of the ball and the other circle beginning at the other end, leaving enough (two or so meters) to join them together. The circles consist of 6 chains, join, then two double crochet in the back of every stitch (sometimes one). Just lay flat and adjust to keep it flat. Keep going in a pinwheel fashion until it is about 3 to 4 inches across. Make them both about the same size and single crochet together with the right sides out. It will resemble a flat hamburger patty. Weave the ends into the scrubber for added strength and scrubbing power. Crochet the handle and you are done! Keep your scrubber handy and dry by hanging it on your drinking tap out of the way. I also have a small flowerpot with drain holes to keep them in. These scrubbers are non-scratching and Teflon safe. By Joyce from Regina, Sask.
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Rate It: This is an idea I had for making a denim jean handbag. I had a pattern for a small fabric bag (McCalls 4885) so I used the pattern's pieces to make the ruffles. For the lining and handles, I used a pretty cotton print. The jeans were cut off at the crotch (make sure you cut it even across the bottom). I took the seam apart up to the zipper, finger pressed it out and layed it out flat, folded top piece over bottom, lined it up so it would be straight and sewed it down. Do the same on the back.
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These contests are weekly. We pick 2 tip winners and 1 photo winner at the end of each week. Each winner will win $25!
How Has the Cost of Gasoline and Oil Affected Your Life With gas at record high prices and due to go up more with the price per barrel at an all time high, how much more are you spending on gasoline now than you were at this time last year? How much more is your heating oil costing you if you use it? How has this affected your overall budget. Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf54189269.tip.html
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Rate It: Vintage Holiday Ecards at About.com From the Antiques section of www.about.com at http://antiques.about.com/od/holiday/qt/aa122207.htm Another source for vintage holiday ecards! There are lovely New Year's cards - I plan to send some of those to anyone I missed and others I just want to shower with good wishes. Take a look at the site while you are there - very interesting, I think. Source: www.antiques.about.com By pamphyila from Los Angeles, CA Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf46546818.tip.html
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Rate It: Making Ornaments from Can Lids You can make free Christmas ornaments and other year round decorations with lids you've taken off the tops and bottoms of soup, tuna, juice and other cans with the can opener. Just use a permanent marker to draw out a flower (or whatever) and then cut it out with Tin Snips. You can color the metal with permanent markers. Use care, Wear work gloves because the metal can cut you! Keep away from children! Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf45581773.tip.html
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Rate It: Hard boil meat (be it beef, chicken or pork) in 2 boullion cubes and 16 ounces of water for the most tender meat that even a small child can eat without teeth or an adult without their dentures. Take the meat flavored water to make a low calorie gravy with the directions that are on any corn starch box. This is the only way I have made gravy in over 20 years, IT IS THAT GOOD AND EASY. Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf55063795.tip.html
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Rate It: Check your prescription medications to see if they qualify for the SPLIT A PILL program. The program identifies medications that you can take in 1/2 pill form and be safe knowing you are getting a correct dosage. If your medication qualifies, your doctor can write the prescription for a dose 2x your need and when you fill your prescription, using a pill splitter, you split all the pills in 1/2 immediately. Your dose is now 1/2 a pill each time. Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf52821621.tip.html
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Rate It: Using Up Hand Lotions That Are Too Sticky On occasion I find myself buying hand lotion, hand cream or body lotions that are too sticky, heavy, or greasy. Instead of tossing them I use them as foot lotion in my socks when I just want to soften my feet for a few hours or over night. Therefore I am not wasting any lotion and the heavy stuff seems to work great on feet. Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf78691112.tip.html
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Rate It: Recycle Christmas Cards Fronts Onto New Cards Here's a great way to use old Christmas cards or those Christmas card samples you get in the mail, or even those Christmas cards you get on clearance after Christmas. If you are like me, then you get those sample card fronts with the beautiful pictures asking you to buy the design. They can be expensive and I hate to throw those beautiful cards away. Materials
Instructions Take your Christmas card and cut off the greeting part of the card so that you are left with the picture part of the card. Cut along the edges of this part with decorative scissors. Next, take your blank cardstock and fold in half to make a card (if you are using a blank greeting card, just find the front of the card). Take your decoratively cut Christmas card front and glue to the front of your blank card. You have a great recycled Christmas card! If you are using Christmas cards you bought on a clearance sale, there is no need to do all the cutting and what have you, just simply take a blank sheet of colored paper, or cardstock and cut to fit the inside of your card, and you have a new greeting card to use any time of they year. I try to find cards that do not have a holiday motif with the picture on the front (which is sometimes hard to do). I found some recently with gnomes on them and had no Christmas motif to them at all. I give them for birthdays, or other special occasions. By Jenifer from South Shore, KY Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf59285342.tip.html
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Rate It: Give Older Kids Christmas Money Instead of Presents If your children are older, give them money for Christmas. Then, take them shopping the day after Christmas. They can get twice as much for the money and get anything they want for themselves. I once knew a family who had six children, and this is how they handled the holiday. It worked very well. Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf95640754.tip.html
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Rate It: Add trim, bric-a-brac or embroidered ribbon to clothing. A plain blouse can be made to look like a designer classic with a little imagination. Many articles of clothing can be saved by sewing decorative bric-a-brac over small holes or stains. Use Thread the color of the bric-a-brac or ribbon. Approximate Time 15 - 30 minutes for most projects Materials
Instructions Determine how wide the area is if you are using this method to hide a stain or repair. Make sure what you buy will cover and overlap by at least a little. Pin into place and baste by hand or machine with matching thread. Try on clothing to be sure it lays correctly, and make any necessary adjustments. Sew to clothing using thread that matches the addition. By U*u*U from TX
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Removing Dried Paint From Wood Floors How do you get dried paint dripping off hardwood floors? Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf43039622.tip.html
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Rate It: I have a coat with a hood that has Fox Fur edging it. The coat says wash in cold water on gentle cycle but remove hood with fur on it first. Then just wash coat on gentle cycle. It is made of 100% Polyester and 100% Nylon. What I want to know is how do I wash the hood with the real fox fur on the edges to get the hood clean. Help! and God Bless, Angelheart. Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf95162720.tip.html
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Rate It: Is cheese unhealthy for dogs? Why? Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf59066333.tip.html
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Rate It: I have two "Grolsch" type bottles (with the cantilever top and ceramic stopper) What can I do with them? Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf98013245.tip.html
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Rate It: Can I paint formica kitchen counter tops? Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf26496909.tip.html
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Rate It: My lifelong quest for natural looking, long lasting eyebrows continues. It would be cute if I was blonde or light red, but my hair is a medium red and so I look plain as a piece of paper w/o color on my invisible sparse eyebrows. I have used every shade of pencil, powder and gel but am still not achieving the look I want. I heard there is a new brow marker out. That both scares and intrigues me. Also, I've heard Rogaine can be used for brow regrowth - but, heck, its expensive. And I once saw someone with permanent eyebrow tatoos - or should I say two orange tadpoles. Is there any hope or should I just resign myself to my fate? Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf95512121.tip.html
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Rate It: Advice for Dealing with Lazy and Abusive Husband I'm financially independent woman. I am married and have a daughter an year and half old. My husband is also earning but a little lesser than me. He is dependent on me for paying the rent of the house. He agreed to bring the grocery items. I do all the household work. He doesn't lift a waste paper and throw it in the dust bin. Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf62733187.tip.html
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Rate It: Grass Clippings Getting Stuck In Crocs Product: Crocs Shoes Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf39855048.tip.html
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Rate It: I have lower back pain from the work that I do. Is there anything to help? Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf18177268.tip.html
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Rate It: Can you freeze lobster bisque? Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf23891305.tip.html
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Rate It: We have lost a recipe for a no bake bar. We know it uses rice krispies, cheerios, corn syrup, peanut butter, M and M's and marshmallows. We can not remember the proportions. Thank you. Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf26794306.tip.html
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Rate It: Where Can I Find An Electric Bed? I am in a wheelchair and I have been looking to find an electric hospital bed. The one I have is giving up the ghost, and I really need one bad. Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf41833363.tip.html
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Rate It: Where Can I Find Cabinet Kits? Trying to locate a site that I can go on and look at some cabinets that I can assembly from kits. I recently purchased an electric fire place and want to put some type of cabinets on each side to put the VCR, Stereo and other components in. Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf72503986.tip.html
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Rate It: Repairing a Couch with Cigarette Burns I have cigarette burns in my sofa (fabric) that I bought a year ago. I have extra throw pillows that I don't need with the same fabric. Is there any way to repair the burns? Or any place in the Long Island area that someone can recommend for the repair? I'm desperate as I'm moving and I need this sofa - any help/advice would be greatly appreciated!! Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf40082385.tip.html
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Rate It: Should I Buy My Leased Car That is Having Mechanical Problems? I have a '05 Chevy Impala that is leased and it is up in March. My question, does anyone own one and know how reliable are they? Mine has been an awesome car, just now before the lease turn in the front suspension sounds loose, and when the heat goes on it sounds like water is running through the dash. Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf46892437.tip.html
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Rate It: What License Do I Need to Be a House Cleaner? I am trying to start a house cleaning service in Virginia. Does any one know what kind of licensing I need to start? I am thinking of going solo for now. Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf43267797.tip.html
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Rate It: How do I spot clean a velvet couch? I've tried just water and a soft cloth and it has completely matted down the fabric. I tried to lift the dry fabric with a toothbrush, but to no avail. Any ideas? Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf95031388.tip.html
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Rate It: Which diet pill works fastest and best? My sister is getting married in 2 months and she's working out and eating good but wants rapid results? Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf28005503.tip.html
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Rate It: Creative Way to Give a Gift Card I bought a friend a gift card to a store. What would be a creative way to give it to them? Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf27823755.tip.html
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Rate It: Glueing a Glow-In-the-Dark Puzzle Can you glue a glow-in-the dark puzzle without damaging the glow effect? Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf88410195.tip.html
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Rate It: Looking for Baby Quilts to Embroider Where can I find baby blankets that are quilted and ready to embroider? Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf24923948.tip.html
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Rate It: Craft Ideas Using Extra Large Coffee Filters Our church just bought a new coffee urn that does not use filters. We just purchased a large box of extra large coffee filters. Does anyone have any craft ideas that uses extra large coffee filters? Since we have so many of them we are going to use them as part of our Youth Bible Classes. Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf89734351.tip.html
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Rate It: Making a Pot Holder with a Knifty Knitter How do I make pot holders with the Knifty Knitter? Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf55682873.tip.html
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Rate It: Removing Nail Polish Fast and Cheap How to remove nail polish from fingernails, in the fastest and cheapest way? Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf74641071.tip.html
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Rate It: Beagle Puppy Has Severe Itching I have a 50 day old beagle. Suddenly he has developed severe itching on the back and sometimes bites his hind feet. He had fleas when we got him and I removed all of them. Earlier he didn't have any itching problem but suddenly it developed and now it is very severe. Any possible causes you can think of? Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf534848.tip.html
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Rate It: I love the bread from Gyros, a local Greek restaurant. I would like to make my own. The flat bread I have found in the store is not good. It is either way too thin or way too dry, or both. Does anyone have any recipes for the actual bread used in the flat bread dishes? I am looking for something thicker than a tortilla, and chewy. Any tips? Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf84902860.tip.html
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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:
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