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Vol. 8, Num. 77, April 20, 2009 (Read It Online) I hope everyone had a nice weekend. Earth Day is on the 22nd. If you are looking for some earth friendly tips be sure to check out the Green Living section on ThriftyFun: http://www.thriftyfun.com/Green%20Living_441.html Thanks for reading, The ThriftyFun Team
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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:
My daughter and I are doll collectors. Many times, we have found potentially beautiful dolls at auctions and yard sales. They often just need a little cleaning and redressing to fit in with home decorations. They look especially nice around the holidays and we have a lot of fun changing their outfits to fit the season. By Beth from Ft. Blackmore, VA
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Rate It: Craft: Recycled Nespresso Necklace A necklace I made using smashed Nespresso capsules and glass beads. By Orquidea from Portugal
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Rate It: Craft Project: Fabric Luggage Tag While on vacation in Hawaii I was lucky to discover a native women who made different craft items. The luggage tag was among her beautiful items. I bought a few and thought they were so cute that I had to make some. You can use them as re-usable gift tags and choose from an endless selection of fabrics; wedding, honeymoon, sports, floral, tropical, animal etc. View This Craft: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf50816967.tip.html
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Rate It: Bailey is a 2 year old AKC Miniature Schnauzer that my granddaughter picked out for me. She used to love to chew on furniture, and then I got Tommy, my 1 year old miniature schnauzer. They fell in love, now she just digs holes in the yard. LOL. She just had a litter of 6 puppies yesterday. She is being the best new momma!
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Rate It: Sweetie Pie (Boxer/Pit Bull Mix) Sweetie Pie is a 2 year old Boxer and Pit mix (I think). I got her on 10/25/08, she was a stray who came and never left. She was at home her first day. It was like she lived here forever. She likes to run and play with our other dogs. She loves to give air kisses, upside down kisses and more kisses. I named her right. She loves us all. She especially loves Kayley our 5 year old. Sweetie kisses us good morning. If we let her she would most likely kiss us all day long. We love her, love her, love her. By Marion from Watseka, IL
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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!
Smooth Wall Spackle With A Block Of Wood For home repairs on wallboard done easily and inexpensively, you might want to try this technique as many of us have a block of scrap wood available to do this job. After using plaster of paris to cover wallboard nails and any dings, nail holes, etc. sufficiently, I took a scrap of pine wood sawed to fit the size of hand and gently rubbed over the surface of the dried plaster of paris. This worked the plaster on the wallboard as smooth as though sandpaper was used and it didn't cost me a dime. Just be sure you do not dig in the plaster, but lay the wood flat and work in circular motion until smooth. One side of the block of wood is rougher and could be used as coarse grit and the other side of the wood block is smoother and could be used as fine grit. By lorelei from Georgetown, OH Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf97410233.tip.html
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Rate It: This tip is something I saw my father do back in the fifties. We moved into an apartment that had those old fiber mat room carpets. It was alive with fleas. They absolutely covered you when you walked in. He went to the local fruit/vegetable stand and got a banana stalk from from the owner. It cost him nothing as all bananas were pulled off that stalk. He brought it home, cut it up into links and spread the pieces around the rooms, within two days the fleas were gone and never came back. Has anyone else seen this done? I've often wondered if banana oil would serve the same purpose as they send bananas here in boxes now. I have my eye on some wild bananas across the way, and intend to snatch them when they come to fruit. Source: family experience By Linda S. from Haines City, FL Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf48884766.tip.html
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Rate It: I made a "Memory Jar" to sit on my son's grave. It is made of a glass jar with weatherproof pop-top. I painted "Chad's Memory Jar" on the outside. I put a stack of 3x3 inch blank paper inside with a pen. I tied a nice ribbon around the neck of the jar and tied the jar to the gravestone. Now when friends and family visit, they can put their memories of him inside. By vguy from Earle, AR Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf48649990.tip.html
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Rate It: Frontline Spray is Cheaper than Individual Applications Frontline Spray is cheaper then buying the individual shoulder application drops. I pay $24 for a bottle and it lasts all summer for my 4 dogs. Here is where I go to shop online for it: By Robyn Fed from Hampton, TN Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf32512742.tip.html
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Rate It: Have you ever needed a certain color of artificial flower for a project and you couldn't find that color (Like blue for example) anywhere? I've come up with a solution for flowers that don't need to be washed. Buy white silk flowers and a permanent marking pen in the color of the flower you need. Take the flower off the stem then pull the back off & take the flower apart piece by piece. Now take the petals and lay them on a piece of cardboard (thick junk-mail works fine). Put a pair of rubber gloves on. Next, take the permanent pen and color only the very outside edge of each petal, layer by layer (don't color the whole flower). This way you will get a variegated look. You can also color only the center of the top for a different look. Now, hold the flower over your sink (it will drip) and spray the flower with either rubbing alcohol or hairspray (which usually has alcohol in it). The color will start to spread when the alcohol comes in contact with it and it will be darker where you colored it with the marker. You can leave it this way, or you can take the wet flower and rub it around between your fingers and thumb. Lay each colored piece flat to dry and be sure they don't touch. If your sink or countertop gets coloring on it, alcohol will clean it off. Be careful not to drip the coloring on your clothing. By Cyinda Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf80521640.tip.html
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Rate It: Different Briefcase for Each Organization If you are involved in many different kinds of organizations or work committees, sometimes it is helpful to have a different briefcase for each function. This helps me be ready for meetings with the relevant information at hand. As an example: I have one briefcase for my school committee involvement. All the information is always there together, and ready to go. I do the same with work, having one for each work commitments. It is a filing system that helps to keep me be organized. By Bellevillelady from Belleville, Ontario, Canada Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf90278939.tip.html
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Rate It: Wash Whites Last to Keep Washer Fresh I have found that my new front load washer used to get smelly. I now make sure that I do my whites last. The bleach keeps it fresh until my next use. If I don't need to do a load of whites, I run just the rinse cycle with 1/4 cup of bleach. This keeps my washer smelling fresh. By Peggy from Neosho, MO Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf96194466.tip.html
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Rate It: Finding Extra Plants in Pony Packs I'm frugal, but do afford myself the "luxury" of buying the small plants for my backyard raised garden and flower beds. Today I decided to get started with the planting and stopped to by a few plants from a mom and pop's roadside stand not far from home. Upon examining the little four-packs, which they sell for $1.25, I realized that many of the packs had two or more plants growing in each of the four cups. By spending a little extra time looking, I was able to buy packs with as many as 9 plants in them rather than the 4 which are usually in the ones which come from the big box garden centers who get them from huge greenhouse operations. I saved money; I kept the profit to the merchant in our community; and I got very healthy plants that hadn't gone through several days of shipping and stocking. By Sandy from Elon, NC Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf54110696.tip.html
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Rate It: I have 22 hens that are kicking into high gear laying eggs. If you, too, are looking for egg recipes, I found tons by goggling "recipe 12 eggs", "recipe 7 eggs", "recipe 10 eggs" etc. There are many EGGceptional recipes online! By Starwolf539 from IOWA Editor's Note: Here is a link to our egg recipes category. If you have a favorite that isn't listed, post it here! Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf18906309.tip.html
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Rate It: Use Plastic Garden Trays for Transporting Baked Goods Each year, I come home from the local garden center with several large trays. The plastic ones with raised sides that they give you to carry your flats of plants in the car. I wash them and then use them to bring cookies, muffins, etc. to pot luck dinners and bake sales. Sometimes I cover the trays with foil or even pretty wrapping paper for a seasonal party. They're easy to carry, the baked goods don't get crushed, and I'm happy to leave them behind since the host can simply place them in a recycling bin, or better yet, use them again! By NatashaLee from New England Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf22306691.tip.html
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I am trying to make a grosgrain ribbon watch strap. I am interested in making holes in the ribbon for a watch buckle (like any standard leather watch band), but I'm not sure how to go about doing that without making the ribbon fray and separate. Any ideas? By GrosgrainHelp from UK Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf62241816.tip.html
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Rate It: How do I get rid of chipmunks? They have tunnels throughout my yard and I don't want the ground to sink. Any suggestions? By Mastte from Fleetwood, PA Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf542341.tip.html
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Rate It: How do you remove fungus from carpet? By Raycin from Winnipeg, MB Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf37444497.tip.html
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Rate It: Has anyone tried the Wii Fit for exercise? How about exercise for people with bad knees? I am thinking of this for someone who should not be outdoors in bad weather. By Cookwie from Richardson, TX Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf94862246.tip.html
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Rate It: Repairing a Hose Reel Foot Switch How do you fix a hose reel foot switch on a battery operated reel from Sears. It is made by Suncast Inc.. Thank you. By Kffrmw88 from Dothan, AL Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf40866941.tip.html
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Rate It: Looking for Wide Contact Paper Where can I find 24 in. or wider contact paper? By KYPAINTER from KY Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf89265731.tip.html
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Rate It: I am always looking for info on how to redecorate or fix things in my 1989 three-bedroom mobile home. All the regular sites are geared towards real houses and don't hit on the particular peculiarities of these kind of homes. Does anyone know of any sites or info they may have run across? I'm pretty sure I'm not the only one out there who would be interested. By Creeker721 from Southern Adirondacks in NY Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf73814758.tip.html
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Rate It: I've been trying to find a list or directory of free websites that folks use for person-to-person bartering within their regions, states or communities. But all I can find is business barter sites or Yahoo clubs that don't appear to be active. Can you point me in the right direction? Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf22829881.tip.html
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Rate It: I have 5 or 6 old bottles of suntan lotion. Where can I get rid of them? By Regrab from Brookfield, WI Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf55576011.tip.html
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Rate It: My husband and I bought a buffet lamp made from a real clarinet and made the mistake of cleaning it with furniture polish. This seems to have stripped away the ebonized finish of the instrument. So now the finish is a fuzzy gray in part, instead of a deep ebony black. Is there any way I can restore the finish of the instrument/lamp without hurting it anymore? If not by me, then who would I turn to for a fix? Thanks for any help out there. The lamp is very sentimental to me, especially since I lost my husband recently. Thanks again for any help. By Sweepscat from Richmond, VA Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf24657864.tip.html
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Rate It: Plant Ideas for a New Gardener I am getting real plants for the first time. Not knowing much about what flowers do best in what regions doesn't help. I am not very good with living things other than humans and animals. I need something low maintenance, but beautiful. I live in Greensboro, NC and to give you an idea of what I like (but probably can't keep alive) I would have to say orchids, lilies, tulips, sunflowers, and a few others. Any suggestions for a 'green' gardener? Price is not too big of an issue, I just want a beautiful 'living' garden that can be potted and not grounded. Hardiness Zone: 7a By Kimsey813 from Greensboro, NC Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf50722315.tip.html
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Rate It: Has anyone used iOffer.com? Is it better than EBay? By Tina from OC, CA Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf95368693.tip.html
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Rate It: Does anyone know where to buy small eucalyptus trees to plant in the yard? A family member bought one at Lowe's one year, but hasn't seen one since! It's grown to be 5 feet tall, by the way. Hardiness Zone: 8a By Vguy from Earle, AR Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf94552865.tip.html
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Rate It: Getting Local Stations Without Cable We rebelled against high costs and canceled cable, however I thought we could at least tune in the local stations. Our TV is digitally "correct" (less than 2 years old), so what do I need to buy or do to get local news? Thanks. By Pmusicmom from Lafayette, IN Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf97651128.tip.html
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Rate It: I have border on my kitchen walls and I need to replace it. I have tried to take it down and I am having a really hard time. I need some help? By Jade001 from Wayne, WV Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf20637729.tip.html
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Rate It: What do I feed a six week old Lab/German Shepherd puppy? Sandy Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf54310684.tip.html
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Rate It: Tobacco Stains on Wooden Shades I just purchased a home and the previous owner was a heavy smoker. The window coverings are nice wood shades but they are stained with tobacco. How do I get this off without ruining the shades? Please help. By chip off the old block from CA Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf56643263.tip.html
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Rate It: Decorating Ideas for a Masquerade Ball I am thinking of having a black and white sweet 16 masquerade party. I have sorted out the hall and the DJ but still haven't got any decorations. I've decided on long tables, I really want that elegant feel to the room but am unsure how to do it on a tight budget. Can any one please help me? By Ilovetitch from UK
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Rate It: Removing Sharpie Marker from Paper Does anyone know how to remove Sharpie from areas under which there is text I would like to read? This is on copy paper. By LG from St. Louis, MO Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf153383.tip.html
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Rate It: Back2Life (Back Exerciser) Reviews I have pain in the upper left side of my back. Will the Back2life still help? By Jegbert2 from Bradford, PA Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf46550099.tip.html
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Rate It: Making a Candy Wrapper Bracelet I was wondering if anyone knew where I could get instructions on how to make a candy wrapper bracelet. Instructions with pictures would be greatly appreciated but without pictures would be good too. Thank you. By Katdevilmaniac from Whippanny, NJ Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf53613537.tip.html
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Rate It: I am a caregiver for my Dad who is ninety. He is in good health, but needs help with a lot of things. Sometimes I just feel so overwhelmed with things. Any hints or suggestions? By Lynda (crabby) from Kearny Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf88692149.tip.html
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Rate It: Advice for Potty Training a Toddler I am looking for advice for potty training a 16 month baby girl. By Superjane from Louisiana Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf48390371.tip.html
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Rate It: Keeping Larder Beetles Out of the House I just had a pest control specialist come in. I moved into my new home about 3 weeks ago and since that time I have found at least 100 larder beetles. They were mostly in with my towels and dishcloths. I have vacuumed and cleaned it all out and they are back. I washed all the towels and dishcloths (there were larvae in the towels). I am really grossed out, especially since I am not a dirty person. Is there any preventative measures that I can take to keep them away other than cleaning? Thanks! By Meryl from Nova Scotia Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf28275723.tip.html
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Rate It: Does anyone know how to get blackheads out of ears? Please help. By GApeach3510 from GA Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf27939276.tip.html
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Rate It: Pests Eating Squash Plant Roots Something is chewing through the roots of my squash plants, just below the surface. The only bugs I've seen are ants and pill bugs. Could one of these be the culprit? What can I do to stop this before all of my plants are gone? Thanks so much. Hardiness Zone: 9b By Demandy from Brevard County, FL Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf98395593.tip.html
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Rate It: Advice for Painting an Accent Wall I want to paint a wall in my bedroom. Is there a decorating tip that will help me choose which wall I should paint? The wall that you face as you enter the room that has a window on it, or the wall to the right that is opposite the bed? By Jodiann from Ogden, UT Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf17191250.tip.html
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Rate It: Has anyone ever used Mycolog 2 for their itchy ears? If so, did it work? My ENT doctor has prescribed it for my itchy ears, they are driving me CRAZY. By Lonso from Medford, OR Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf71254970.tip.html
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Rate It: My mom used to make a coconut cake that she sliced the layers in half then put icing and coconut on each layer. She let it sit in the fridge for 3 days before we could eat it. She also used coconut milk. If anyone has this old recipe please let me know. Thank you for your time in advance. By Mawmaw1 from Hickory, NC Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf34949542.tip.html
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Rate It: Removing Labels from Medicine Bottles I want to donate my prescription medicine bottles to the Humane Society. Can anyone tell me how to get the labels off when they are really stuck? By Theboss from St. Louis Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf67113343.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:
Green Baby Shower For Earth Day
I thought it would be fun to host a green baby shower for Earth Day. Most mothers' now days are looking for ways that they can raise healthier babies and help the planet too so here are some great ideas for a green baby shower. This would also be a great party just to celebrate Earth Day.
Read More: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf58710949.tip.html
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Rate It: Here are tips for Saving Money on Pants as suggested by the ThriftyFun community.
Read More: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf34371059.tip.html
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