Daily Thrifty Tips
Volume Four, Number 288, December 7, 2005
http://www.ThriftyFun.com
Hello,
We have a great article in the More Reading section called Preventing Winter Damage to Trees and Shrubs by Ellen Brown.
Thanks for reading,
Susan
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Today's Photos
Oreo Turkeys
These are cute little turkeys made out of oreo cookies and candy pieces. They are even easy enough for young children to help make and look great on the holiday table.
Requires:
- 2 Oreo Double Stuff cookies
- 1 malted milk balls (like a whopper)
- 4-6 candy corn
Directions:
5 minutes preparation time.
Take 1 oreo apart. This will be the base.
Place the whole oreo on its side on the base, so that it sticks to white of the oreo.
In front of the oreo on its side, place a malted-milk ball for the turkeys head.
Place candy corn, points down, in between the oreo cookie that is standing on it's side.
By Cheryl Lore from Asheville, NC
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Wooden Snowflakes
By Christine Weber Intricate wooden snowflakes are painted white and hung on the tree with silver thread. An optional touch of glitter provides extra pizzazz for those who like their holidays to sparkle!
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Dressing Up Your Dog for the Holidays
Start playing dress-up when they're young so they won't mind later on!
By Christy Brownlee from San Antonio, TX
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Safari Theme Bedroom
Here is my Safari Theme bedroom.
By Bonnie Stein from Byron,Il
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Bouquet of Stars
By Christine Weber A handful of wooden stars painted gold or silver and twisted onto stems of wire to make a whimsical and unexpected bouquet for a vase.
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Cute Edible Apple Turkey
These are really cute turkeys made out of apples that kids can make for school or just eat as a snack. They also make adorable Holiday Table decorations. They can be made with either Fruit Loops or raisins. Variations: head can be a cut out that is glued on or a large marshmallow with raisin eyes and a candy corn stuck into it for a beak.
Requires:
- 1 apple
- 1/4 cup Fruit Loops cereal or raisins (if using Fruit Loops you will need a few raisins for the neck)
- 6-7 mini marshmallows
- 7-11 toothpicks
- 1 green olive
- 2 cloves
Directions:
5 minutes preparation time
To make the feathers: Take raisins or Fruit Loops and slide onto toothpicks about 3/4 the way down. Place a mini-marshmallow on the end. You will need 6 or 7 "feathers" depending on the size of your apple.
Stick the "feathers" into the back of the apple.
To make the head: Slide raisins down toothpick and top with a green olive (head). Use cloves for eyes. If your olive has a pimiento you can pull it out the back of the olive and let it hang so that it looks like a turkey wattle.
Insert three toothpicks under the turkey so it can stand freely.
By Cheryl Lore from Asheville, NC
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Woodland Log
By Christine Weber This is a lovely gem of a project that looks wonderful in a snowy window. Small birds, mushrooms and other woodland creatures sit amongst dried moss on a small log to bring the forest into your home on a winter's eve! One of my favorites.
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Hendrix the Cat
Hendrix is 8 years young! I got him from a family who was selling kittens in 1997. He likes lots of TLC and affection. He loves to sit by the opened back door to bask in the sunshine. He also has lots of little stuffed animals he with. He brushes his own fur with a hair brush by putting the brush handle between his paws.
He likes to knock the phone off the hook to make it beep! He also likes our computer's printer and is very curious about how it actually works as well.
By Daniel and Paula Arnold from Frankfort, Kentucky
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Today's Tips
Making Ornaments and Napkin Holders
My mother and I made our own holiday ornaments for the Christmas tree. We bought clear tree ornaments and different colors of craft paint. We put 1-3 colors in the bottom then twisted and twirled the bulbs so the paint covered the inside. Then when we were done we turned them upside down in a paper cup so the excess paint could drain out.
Another gift tip is making napkin holders from felt and craft paint (to draw on the felt) or place mats made from felt. I made these one year for my family and wrote their names on them so they would know where to sit each year for family gatherings and dinners. These are inexpensive and it lets your family know that it came from the heart knowing that they are hand made. Hope you enjoy and have fun making these great gifts!
By Heather from Holden, MO
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Fixing Loose Hinges
If the screws from your door hinges are pulled loose from the door frame, possibly from a gust of wind blowing it wide open, you can fix this by hammering wooden golf tees into the old screw holes then refastening the door hinges to the frame.
By Ted L. Whitford from Terre Haute, Indiana
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Getting Up Slivers of Glass from the Floor
Easy way to clean up typical messes on kitchen floors. To get up all slivers of glass from breaking a glass use a soft piece of bread, just gently press on top of the glass slivers. It should get up every little speck.
By Linda Jonson from Oceanside, Ca.
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Birdhouses from Old Latte Cups
This is an idea for a gift or a Christmas, or all year decoration. It is a good way to recycle those latte containers. Rinse out the cup and lid, and turn upside down to dry or gently dry with a paper towel, use a safe knife to cut out a round hole in the middle of the cup, like a birdhouse. Make sure and put the lid back on. You can decorate the birdhouse with anything you want. If you want to paint it with acrylic paints, or spray paint the cup. You can use raffia or spanish moss inside to look like a real bird-house (nest) . Its fun to use fake snow on top and white glitter, you could purchase small fake birds, or put your favorite silk flowers on top. You can be real creative or simple. If you want you could arrange three different sizes on a table. Have fun and recycle. Kerstii
By Kersti Brouillette from Bellevue, Wa.
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Removing Road Tar from the Car
Got road tar on your new car? Instead of using abrasive bug and tar removers that can strip off wax, use peanut butter. Just rub a little on the spot with a clean rag and the tar will start coming off. Safe for your paint and earth friendly.
By Steve from Memphis, TN
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Cutting Apples for Pies
Try this the next time you make an apple pie: first pare the apples (remove skin or if you're like my family you can leave the skin on the apple) then use an apple cutter that removes the core and sections the apple (used usually for children eating apples) and then cut those sections into the smaller sections you would use when baking your pie. This has made apple pie making more enjoyable and much quicker for me especially since we like the skin on our apples. Thanks and hope you try it and like it!
By Jo from Manchester, NH
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Car Buying Tip 8 - Stick To Your Plan
Stick to your plan... you made a plan, didn't you? If not, make a plan! BEFORE you go to the dealership, decide what a fair deal on the car is. Why? If you do not have any expectations as to what is fair, the salesman will declare a high price, and then you will struggle to lower it. It's best if you have a number that you have worked out, and that you can back up with research. It's amazing, but most people don't do that, and it makes a lot of sense.
By Robin Segal
http://www.thecarbuyersbible.com
Previous Tip
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Filling the Stockings
Each year I hang stockings for everyone in our immediate family (3 daughters, their spouses, and children, as well as my husband and me.) This year there will be 13 stockings! To save lots of time on Christmas Eve, I keep a large storage tub with plastic bags (13 this year) and as I buy stocking stuffers, I place the items in the appropriate bags in the tub. On Christmas Eve, all I do is transfer the items to the stockings. This also helps me make sure I have not short-changed anyone!
By Ann from Dublin, GA
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Making Punched Paper or Fabric Candle Shades
The punched tin look for candle holders is very popular right now. Get that look with paper or fabric by using your sewing machine. Take a strip of whichever medium you wish to use and sew holiday designs onto it, "without thread". The holes produced will light up when this is wrapped around a tall glass candle holder.
By Bobbie from Imperial, NE
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Make Fruit Sauce with Overripe Fruit
Is your fruit too ripe to eat. Don't throw it away. Peel your bananas, apples, pears, peaches, plums, etc. Slice and put in a saute pan with 1 tablespoon butter, sprinkle brown sugar. As the fruit warms in will break down creating a sauce. Use this sauce over pancakes, ice cream, pound cake. yummy and elegant.
By Beachers from West Covina, CA
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Contest ends December 31, 2005
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New Requests
Organizing for the Holidays
<img src="/images/requests/577535x100x103.jpg" width="100" height="103" align="right">I would love to have help in cleaning and organizing my home for the holidays. I would like to have it the feng shui way. I have two kids and it hard to get things done. I am sending a picture of my two kids.
<P>Jessica Chattopadhyay from Norwood, Ohio
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Solution for Ice on a Deck
What can I use to prevent slipping on ice on my deck. I have heard that salt is harmful to carpets, if you carry it back into the house on your shoes. I want to also use something that is safe for animals (just in case they should eat it).
Thanks for any replies.
P.J. from Delaware
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Fragrance Lamp Fuel Recipe
I am looking for fragrance lamp fuel recipe.
Mimi-v from Monroe, LA
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Adcor Shoe Stretchers
I am looking for Adcor Shoe Stretchers, could you please tell me where I can buy some?
Thank you,
Shems Christiane from Yarmouth ME
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Peanut Butter Candy Bar Made With Crackers
I found a bar/candy thing (for lack of a better word) at a bake sale. My family loved it and now I am trying to find the recipe. It had saltine crackers, I believe, on bottom with a peanut butter mixture (smooth and creamy) and then another layer of crackers and then chocolate on top. If anyone could help me I would appreciate it.
Thanks
Bonnie from Avoca, NE
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Potatoe Soup that Uses Milk
I'm looking for a recipe for potato soup that uses milk (not half-n-half, etc.), and does not have any meat in it.
Thanks!
Maryeileen from Brooklyn, OH
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Sugared Pecans
Can anyone tell me how to make sugared pecans? I'm guessing brown sugar and butter?
imaqt1962 from Illinois
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Dog Pees On Rugs
My dog pees in the house at night, only when we're asleep, and only on a rug (but never in our bedroom where there is wall-to-wall carpeting.). I have discovered she often does this only an hour or two after we gave her a walk and then went to bed, so it's not likely to be a full bladder.
She is a 2 year old terrier/mix we got last January from a shelter. We closed off the living room at night, but then she peed on the runner rug in the dining room, so we temporarily removed that. Then she peed on the bathroom rug, so we removed that.
Any idea what's going on, or how to fix it?
Mark from Alameda, CA
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More Reading:
Preventing Winter Damage to Trees and Shrubs
By Ellen Brown If you live in a climate where winters are severe, you've probably already discovered that the snow and cold weather can cause severe damage to trees and shrubs. And while you can't do anything about the weather, a little bit of planning and preparation can minimize the effects of winter damage on your landscaping.
Read More: Click Here
Build Character with This Delicious Triple A Recipe
By Jean Tracy, MSS Vinegar or honey, what do kids really want? "Toys, candy, and their own way," answer millions of parents.
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