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Hello,
We have an article in the More Reading section called "Garden Plants That Can Be Toxic to Pets" that is worth reading, especially if you have pets.
We also have 17 new requests today, please look them over and see if you have any advice to offer.
Thank you(!) to everyone that has submitted their homemade Christmas Decorations or Gift ideas, it has been a lot of fun publishing them. Please keep them coming.
Thanks for reading,
Susan
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Today's Photos
Pop Bottle Angel for Christmas
I made this angel out of an empty pop bottle. It's easy to make.
You will need:
Cut the top off of an empty pop bottle. Take the lid off of the pop bottle and wrap tissue paper around it. While your lid is off of the bottle pry off the white ring around the neck of the bottle. This will be your angel's halo. Put the lid back on your pop bottle. Wrap a pipe cleaner around the top of the bottle for the angel arms, under the lid. Hot glue on seqins to the "dress". Smear elmer's glue on the styrofoam ball and roll in glitter. Hot glue on the glittered styrofoam ball to the top of the lid. Put glue at the bottom of the bottle and sit in glitter. Make angel wings out of construction paper and glue them on the lid. Take your straight pin and stick it through the ring or "halo" and down through the top of the glittered styrofoam ball.
By luv2craft from Normalville, Pennsylvania
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Paper Pinecone Ornament
By Stella Rivet
This is a very lovely ornament and would make a great gift. It does take some time to cut, fold, and pin everything together but the outcome is well worth the time spent.
View Project and Photo: Click Here
Webster Gerard (Yorkshire Terrier)
Webster Gerard is my 7 year old Yorkshire Terrier (Yorkie.) I got little Webster at 3 months old and only 2 pounds.
He likes to do tricks for treats. He can count, add, subtract, multiply and divide. He can also fall over dead, go upside down for dead dog, "gimmie" five, play hide and seek and do a fancy rollover as well as other tricks. Each time I see a new trick I teach Webster. He's a very smart boy and I am truly dog stupid!
He has a GREAT personality and never met a stranger!
By Mitzi Gerard from DeLand, Florida
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Making Christmas Swags by Reusing Items
These are some swags I made for our porch where we keep our firewood. For each swag I took two branches from our old artificial Christmas tree. I laid them on top of each other, with one slightly higher. To hold them together I tore a piece of duck tape in half widthwise so it was narrow and then taped them together. I then hot glued on the pinecones which I got from my neighbor. For the bows I used an old jumper dress that I cut strips out of. I also painted the tips of the pinecones with a little bit of white paint after they were all assembled.
I think they're a little Martha Stewartish and even better because they were completely free to make:) My local thrift store sells the trees for $6. So maybe if you don't have a tree to work with you can pick one up for cheap.
By Mom 2_5 from IL
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Vinyl Record Bowl
By Stella Rivet
This is an easy recycled craft that you can make in 20 minutes or less. It makes a hip container for that small potted plant that you are planning to give someone as a gift this Christmas.
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Today's Tips
Since we live in a rural area about 15 miles from the town we go to shop, we combine our trips for medical needs, appointments, etc. with our shopping. Often it means we are there at mealtime.
We are octogenarians and therefore need less food than a younger person requires. We go to a restaurant where we can select carry-out and fill one carry-out tray (those rolls are so big one is plenty for both of us), they charge by weight. So one tray is ample for both of us. The amount we pay varies of course by the weight. Usually between $5. and $7.
Either we eat in our car or we take it home, depending on our schedule. Another advantage of this for us is that we always want our favorite beverages, coffee for my husband and decaffeinated tea for me, and we always take these with us.
By Mary Bryan from Lexington, GA
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Inviting People That Will Be Alone
Do you know a single person, any age, who lives alone? Share the spirit of CHRISTMAS and invite them over for dinner. I live alone, have no family and would have loved to have been invited to someone's house for Thanksgiving.
By Linda from Vista, CA
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Roll up a thin section of newspaper to use as a tube to wrap your holiday lights around. They stay organized, compact, and it makes it easier to string lights right off the 'tube'.
By Lisa from Tampa, Fl.
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Cleaning the Oven or Microwave
To clean and freshen the microwave, in a microwave safe bowl mix and 1/4 cup of white vinegar and 1 cup of water. Heat for 5 minutes on high.
To clean the main oven - In a 1.5 qt casserole dish, fill with 1 qt of water and one cup of white vinegar. Bake at 350 degrees F for 30 minutes.
This will remove odors and soften baked on food spills.
By Dianne from Calgary, Alberta
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For a frugal and fast gift bag, use a brown paper lunch sack. Take a bag and fold it down about 1 - 2 inches from the top. Take a hole punch and put 2 holes in the center of the flap you just made. After the bag is filled, thread about half a yard of curling ribbon through the holes, tie, and curl the ends.
The outside of the bag can be decorated with rubber stamps, shapes cut out of craft foam, or a picture from an old greeting card.
We made these for our school's Santa's workshop, where the kids can buy presents for friends and family. They turned out really cute and made a great presentation.
By Wendiesioux from Edwardsport, IN
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What to Do with Lights Strings That Don't Work
If you have a string of lights that doesn't work, strip it before you toss it. I pull out all the bulbs and keep them in a small box with all the strings of lights. When decorating I replace burnt out bulbs with the ones from the broken string.
By Lisa from Tampa Fl
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Contest ends December 31, 2005
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New Requests
Removing Candle Wax from Carpet
How do you remove candle wax from carpet?
Maria from Los Angeles
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Christmas Gift for My Boyfriend
I was wondering if anybody has any ideas for Christmas gifts. ive been with my boyfriend for almost 2 years and i dunno what to get him for christmas. he likes the color red and he like dale jr memorabilia but i got him that for his birthday and i need some ideas for christmas Can anyone help?
Amy from Bradenton, FL
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Burnt Sugar on a Smooth Top Stove
I have burnt sugar on a smooth top stove. Any suggestions how to remove. Regular stove top cleaner is not helping
Barbara from Columbia
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Residue From a Shop Label on Suede
How can gum from a shop label be removed from a suede jacket.
Teagreen from Limerick, Ireland
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When I make a cake, the directions are to bake for a certain amount of time or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean. When I wait until the toothpick comes out totally clean, the cake is very dry. Can the toothpick be a little wet, and the cake still be okay to take out of the oven?
Thanks for any and all replies.
P.J. from Delaware
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I would like to purchase a new vacuum and was wondering if anyone is "in love" with theirs. It must be an upright vacuum and have an on-board suction hose with tools.
Thanks!
Marnita from Cumming GA
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Gold and Silver Applesauce Layer Cake
My grandmother used to make a cake she called gold and silver applesauce layer cake. It was delicious. I know she gave the recipe to some of the ladies in the church, but I do not have access to their names here in charleston. Does anyone have a recipe that has applesauce between the layers and the layers are gold and silver?
Thanks for the help.
Carolyn from Charleston, WV
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I have a basic foam couch that has broken. The material that is the support has come away from the back of the couch. Does anyone know if this can be fixed as easily as hammering the nails back in? Or if not, do you know how I would fix it?
Jen from QLD
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Does any body have the directions for a candy cane made out of a dryer vent. I saw it in a magazine and now can't find it.
Thank you,
Muffinronnie from South St. Paul, MN
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Kerosine Smell on Upholstery Material
I have four yards of regular (cotton blend) upholstry material that absorbed kerosine when it was placed at the top of a closet. Any suggestions on how to get the smell out? There are no visible stains on the material.
Michelle from Salina, Kansas
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I am looking for a recipe for sponge candy. The old fashon sponge candy. I once had the receipe but have lost it. I would really love to get it again. Does anyone know how it is done? Or is it a lost art?
Nicole McLaughlin from Cornwall Ontario
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Carnival Themed Party Invitations
I need help with an invitation for a 6 year old Carnival Party. I have fold down popcorn boxes and I am going to print the invitation on yellow paper with the edges cut round - to make it look like popcorn coming out. I am not good on the wording - so any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. The party will be a carnival theme, with games and food like at a carnival. Kids will get prizes. I plan on sending a red ticket in the invitation to "admit" them into the carnival. Any ideas?
MicheleLM from Houston, TX
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Cleaning My Son's Comfort Blanket
My 2 year old son has a blanket that he takes everywhere with him. He uses it as a comfort blanket and often has it him in his mouth, chewing and sucking on it. I try to clean it on a regular basis, but it still smells. I was just hoping for some advice on how to wash it to get the smell and stains out.
Thanks a bunch!
Kelly from Windsor, CO
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Step by Step Guide To Get Organized
I would like to get my home organized but have trouble doning so. When I buy storage items I just get more clutter. I would like to know if anyone knows of a free website or a book that has step by step guide. Or a company, like on HGTV, where they come in and help you (For example: Mission Organization).
Thanks,
nailfanatic from Poteau, OK
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This Christmas I would ike to give out candy in a Mason Jar with a tag of cute quips. Like "Do Not Open In Case Of Emergency", "Bad Day at Work Emergency Candy", "kids out of control..." and so on. Can you help me think of some cute ideas?
Thank you,
Katie from Mountain Home Idaho
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I am looking for a recipe for a goulash made with pork and beans, hamburger and it has vinegar in it. It is for my father in law, he is in a nursing home and would love to have some of the dishes that his wife (gone now) made for him.
Thanks for your help.
Carolyn from charleston, WV
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More Reading:
Seared Venison with Mushroom Ragu
By Charlie Burke
For the last two years the New Hampshire Farm to Restaurant Connection (http://nhfarmtorestaurant.com) has sponsored Growers' dinners, featuring the finest New Hampshire products at leading restaurants in the state.
Read More: Click Here
Garden Plants That Can Be Toxic to Pets
By Ellen Brown
At times it seems as though our pets like gardening just about as much as we do. They love to stay close to us when we are out working outside. And sometimes all that beautiful black dirt is just too irresistible to pass up digging up and rolling around in. Most of us are familiar with at least some of the houseplants that can be harmful to pets, but there are a few plants from the garden that can harm your pets, too.
Read More: Click Here
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