Daily Thrifty Tips - December 3, 2007

Volume Six, Number 232, December 3, 2007 (Read It Online) In past years we have asked people to send in their Christmas traditions. You can find an archive of all the traditions that people have sent in here: http://www.thriftyfun.com/Christmas_Traditions_246_294.html Do you have a Christmas tradition to share with the ThriftyFun community? Submit it here: http://www.thriftyfun.com/post_contest.ldml Here are the contest winners for the week before last. It was a short week but we still had a bunch of good entries. Photo Contest Winner Wall Pocket Decorations By Maggie from Bloomington, MN Tip Contest Winners Keep Track of Rainy Days To Save Garden Water By Tonya S. from Coal City, IL Starching Your Curtains By Joyce from Regina, Sask. Canada Thank you to everyone that took time to submit a tip for photo! Thanks for reading, Susan Send to a Friend! Share a Tip (You could win $25!) Share a Photo (You could win $25!) Have a Question? Submit a request... Link to ThriftyFun.com View Active Topics! Edit Your Subscriptions: To edit your ThriftyFun subscriptions, click the Update Profile/Email Address link at the bottom of this newsletter. Today's newsletter contains: Today's Photos: Cocoa Jars for Christmas Boo Boo and Wildcat Friends Craft: Baby Trees Craft: Decorated Spray Bottle Today's Tips: Twelve Days of Christmas Savings Remove Tree Sap from Your Hands Organize Paperwork In Shoe Boxes Grammaw's Lye Soap Car Trouble: A Joke Set Up Nativity Right After Thanksgiving Plastic Tray to Hold Gear in Mini Van Using Christmas Towel to Display Cards Attach Magnet to Bathroom Cabinet to Hold Tweezers Joke of the Day New Requests: Ideas For Marketing Farmhouse Style Aprons Removing Stuck On Flannel from Dining Table 14th Birthday Party Theme Ideas Gift for Boyfriend Who likes Sports Simple Crochet Pattern For Granny Squares Funny Caption For Santa Photo Card Recipes Using Flavored Powder Coffee Creamers Stripping Off Hopes Floor Revive Owning a Husky/Shepherd Mix in One Bedroom Apartment Anyone Know the Starter For Amish Friendship Bread Recipe? Advice For Round Crochet That Buckles Looking For Information About Salt Crystal Lamps Walls With Multiple Layers of Wallpaper Making Fake Snow Can You Put a Metal Coffee Can In The Oven? Removing Old Dried Blood From an Armchair Help Getting Cat With Urinary Infection To Eat Smelly Black Tar Stuff in Dogs Ear Need Help With Creating Clever Flyer For Church Invitation Soup Kitchen Needs Help Utilizing Excess Food Commodities Homemade Exfoliating Body Scrub Easy Pattern For Knitting Ladies and Kids Slippers Making Wreath From Old Christmas Tree What Medicine To Use On Dachshund With Burst Mole Are Old-fashioned Fragrances Sold By Mail Order the Original Scents? Today's Sponsor: 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 Today's Photos: Cocoa Jars for Christmas This is a jar gift that I made for the employees at my local post office because I'm always there mailing out my eBay packages. We purchase clover honey in 5# glass jars, so I try and save as many glass jars as possible during the year and reuse them for jar gifts. I used a self-adhesive shipping label for the jar and put clear contact paper over the labels so they wouldn't smear. I printed the USPS logo from the postal website. For the lid I copied an oversized postage stamp and lastly made the bow out of blue and white curling ribbon. The jar is filled with hot cocoa mix. I also baked 2 small loaves of zucchini bread, along with the jar of hot cocoa mix. It was wonderful just to see the smiles on their faces, when I gave them the gifts. By Marge W. from Sanborn, NY Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf18673870.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Boo Boo and Wildcat Friends My sister's cat Boo Boo. The other photo is supposed "wild cats" that visit my sister's house every day. By Mary Lou from Abingdon, MD Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf55348193.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Craft: Baby Trees These baby trees are adorable and made to fit anywhere, no matter how much space you have. It's a very easy project, all materials are pre-made. I was able to pick up all of my materials very cheaply at yard sales. You can use your creativity to create theme trees for yourself, to sell at a craft fair, or to give as gifts. Have fun! View This Craft: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf61566480.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Craft: Decorated Spray Bottle I painted a pump spray bottle with black acrylics (2 coats) and decorated it with gold 'Accent' paint (.99 on sale at Michael's) to match my bathroom decor. (Wallpaper in the background.) I filled it with home made cleaner, and keep it on the counter. It makes it easy to spray and wipe. You can coat your spray bottle with any (dark) color and coordinate to match any room you'd like to keep a pump cleaner in. Instead of painting on the decorative color, you could decoupage and seal as well. I have one in my kitchen also, filled with a bleach/water solution for quick counter touchups. It's especially handy to instantly treat drips and/or splashes when I'm preparing chicken or pork. Pictured, is the original bottle and the decorated one. By Doggy Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf83792103.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Contests: Tip Contest Submit a Tip or Recipe! Photo Contest Submit a tip with photo! These contests are weekly. We pick 2 tip winners and 1 photo winner at the end of each week. Each winner will win $25! My Frugal Life Submit a My Frugal Life Essay! Today's Tips: Twelve Days of Christmas Savings By Kelly Ann Butterbaugh On the twelve days of Christmas, my true love gave to me - savings. Try these holiday activities that bring people together and cost nothing but time. On the first day of Christmas... Make a holiday treat for the animals with Cheerios, berries, or popcorn. String them onto yarn and hang the garlands outside. On the second day of Christmas... Cut out paper snowflakes. On the third day of Christmas... Visit someone who can't go out for the holidays. On the fourth day of Christmas... See who can be the first to recite the names of Santa's reindeerin alphabetical order. On the fifth day of Christmas... After supper walk the neighborhood as a family and "judge" the Christmas lights. On the sixth day of Christmas... Choose a toy to give to charity. If there are no toys in your house, choose a new piece of clothing or a warm blanket. On the seventh day of Christmas... Do a secret favor to someone and don't tell them. It'll be your secret. On the eighth day of Christmas... Watch a Christmas video. On the ninth day of Christmas... Make a phone call to someone you won't see for the holiday. On the tenth day of Christmas... Sit the family in a circle, turn off all the electronics, and read a Christmas story together. On the eleventh day of Christmas... Choose a common word of the day (like "kitchen" or "water"), and every time a family member says it he/she must stop and sing a chorus of Jingle Bells. On the twelfth day of Christmas... Sit in the dark and enjoy the Christmas lights. Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf69121097.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Remove Tree Sap from Your Hands While cutting pine tree branches for Christmas decorations last year, my hands became covered in sap. We tried everything to get if off. My husband told me I would need gasoline. I decided to try a home remedy as I did not want to put gas on my hands. I mixed a hand full of baking soda with a small amout of baby oil to make a paste and rubbed it all over my hands. My hands were clean, soft and smelled good too! A few weeks later my husband used the same solution to clean window caulk off his hands. Try it, it really works!!! By Dawn from Guilford, CT Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf704195.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Organize Paperwork In Shoe Boxes I save shoe boxes so that when I have something to store papers, such as hand written recipes, letters, etc. I use them for small items that I don't use on a daily basis, but don't want to get rid of. I decorate the boxes with plain gift wrapping paper or a brown paper bag. This makes it easy to write on the outside the contents of what's in the box. They stack nicely on any shelf. By Maggie from Tucson, AZ Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf28292660.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Grammaw's Lye Soap My sister got this at a church circle meeting during the 70's. It's called Grammaw's Lye Soap. I call it the best complexion bar ever. 3 lbs. lard or strained meat drippings 2 1/2 pints water 1/4 cup 20 Mule Team Borax 1 can Lye Mix ingredients in a glass or plastic bowl. Stir with wooden or plastic spoon. (Lye will react to metal of any kind) Stir constantly until it's the consistency of cake batter. Pour into a box lined with waxed paper. The box in which soap is placed to set up should be on several layers of folded newspaper sections and should be about the size that will fit 2 six packs of cola drinks. Cover with a heavy towel. Allow to set for 24 hours or untill solid. Use rubber gloves to cut into bars. Let it age for about 2 weeks before using. Lye will be very caustic during the mixing and setting process so this should be kept out of the reach of pets and small children. After it ages, it is wonderful for complexion problems and for dry skin. All bar soaps have lye in them so there is nothing to fear. I used it for years until I got too trifling to make it. It costs just pennies a bar. By MartyD from Houston,TX Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf17673601.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Car Trouble: A Joke A man's car stopped dead along the old Wisconsin country road. He got out of his car, lifted the hood, and looked at the motor. Just then, a big black and white cow came along and stopped beside him. The cow also peered under the hood. "Your trouble is probably the carburetor", said the cow. The startled man jumped back and ran down the road until he met a farmer. He told the farmer what had happened. The farmer asked, "Was the cow black and white?" "Yes, yes!" cried the motorist. "Oh, don't pay any attention to Ol' Bossy. She doesn't know a thing about modern cars." By Terri H. from NV Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf62921851.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Set Up Nativity Right After Thanksgiving The first decoration I always put out right after Thanksgiving is the nativity set. Mine is Precious Moments and made of porcelain so it goes on the server, not under the tree. Kind of keeps me focused! By Linda from Vista, CA Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf47112001.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Plastic Tray to Hold Gear in Mini Van One reason that my family bought a mini-van, was to haul our camping gear. Unfortunately, that also means sometimes wet and muddy gear. The back of our old van got pretty grungy. When we purchased our new van, we drove straight to a home-improvement store. We bought one of those big square plastic trays, that you put underneath your washing machine. We put our dirty gear there. When I buy potted plants and soil in the spring and summer, I set them in the tray to contain any dirt or spillage. It can be taken out and hosed off from time to time. It has sure kept this van a lot cleaner! By Regina from Rochester, NY Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf48256600.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Using Christmas Towel to Display Cards Don't have a holiday card holder? I have an idea to get those Christmas cards up for friends and family to see. Take a Christmas towel (mine has a Christmas ball on it), and hang it on the wall with 2 thumb tacks. Then you can just staple or tape your cards to it. By gracie23 from North Carolina Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf71572015.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Attach Magnet to Bathroom Cabinet to Hold Tweezers I was getting tired of digging through the bathroom drawer to find my tweezers. So I attached a magnet to the inside of my bathroom cabinet door, to hold the tweezers. No more searching! By Momof1 from Wilkesboro, NC Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf98074471.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Dear Webby's Joke of the Day A college drama group presented a play in which one character would stand on a trap door and announce, "I descend into hell!" A stagehand below would then pull a rope, the trapdoor would open, and the character would plunge through. The play was well received. When the actor playing the part became ill, another actor who was quite overweight took his place. When the new actor announced, "I descend into hell!" the stagehand pulled the rope, and he actor began his plunge, but became hopelessly stuck. No amount of tugging on the rope could make him descend. One student in the balcony jumped up and yelled: "Hallelujah! Hell is full!" Read More Jokes Here: http://webby.com/humor New Requests: Ideas For Marketing Farmhouse Style Aprons I make farmhouse style aprons, the kind that the farm wives wore around the 1930's. I would like to market them, and wonder if anyone has some ideas on how. I have already put them in a store for consignment, and have a booth in the local antique/flea market, but would like a broader market, as this is what I do to help with our finances. A job outside of the home is not feasible at this time. I do them in a variety of different fabrics, and I charge $20 each (plus shipping if I have to mail them). Thanks for your help! Grandma D. from Colorado Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf20077160.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Removing Stuck On Flannel from Dining Table I need help regarding my formal/wood dining room table. I had a vinyl flannel lined table cloth on it, under my fancy table cloth. A hot dish caused the flannel to get stuck to the table. How can I remove it? It is a white, fuzzy, dried glue mess. Edith from CT Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf58358395.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print 14th Birthday Party Theme Ideas What should I do for my 14th birthday party? It's in 16 days! Help me! Heather Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf62791128.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Gift for Boyfriend Who likes Sports I am a 15 year old dating a 17 year old. I have been dating my boyfriend for about 1 month and a half. Christmas is coming up and I have no idea what to get for him. I know he likes sports and he said he was going give me one of his hats that he likes, so I was thinking of buying him that same hat. Help Me! Corrie from Belmont, NY Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf52515906.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Simple Crochet Pattern For Granny Squares I would like to know about a simple pattern for granny squares. I would like to start making for charity. I haven't crochet in over 20 years. Sue from Saratoga, CA Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf60868541.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Funny Caption For Santa Photo Card I am needing a caption/phrase for my daughter's Christmas card picture. She is 18 months old. I made a "fake" Santa with just his legs and boots sticking out from under the Christmas tree. I have 1 picture of her making a face in front of Santa and a 2nd picture where she has on a Santa hat with a grin and Santa in the background. My plan is to put it on the card as a before and after type shot. I need a caption that would go with these photos. Does anyone have any ideas? Abby from Illinois Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf55403989.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Recipes Using Flavored Powder Coffee Creamers I was wondering if there are recipes which use the flavored powdered coffee creamers? I had a coupon for a free bottle but I don't drink coffee. I thought since there are so many different flavors maybe someone has creative ideas for including them in something other than coffee. Thanks, Denise from Nebraska Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf73796162.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Stripping Off Hopes Floor Revive I recently bought a condo with laminate flooring in the entry hall and kitchen. It was dull and a mess. I was advised to to use Hope's Floor revive, not a good idea. The floor now has a build up and shows scratches from my dog walking across it. Does anyone have a suggestion for stripping off the Hopes Floor Revive? The floor never scratched prior to using Hope's. Please help. Curtis from Evansville, IN Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf33109783.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Owning a Husky/Shepherd Mix in One Bedroom Apartment I live in a one-bedroom apartment in New Jersey. However, there are a lot of great parks in the neighborhood, not necessarily dog parks, though. My question is: is it possible for me to own a husky/shepherd mix (love them!) even though I live in an apartment since you need to have lots of room to own this breed? Thanks! Crispy from Montville, NJ Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf43712129.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Anyone Know the Starter For Amish Friendship Bread Recipe? A month ago my daughter gave my husband Hank and I a ziplock bag filled with a starter called "Friendship Bread". With it came a recipe on how to make it. It was delicious! Anyway, I let my starter die and I was wondering if anyone out there knows how to make this? I would assume I would need to know how to make the starter. Thank you and have a great day! Charlotteann from Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf400677.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Advice For Round Crochet That Buckles Need some help from crocheters please! I've just started to crochet so I don't do complicated stuff. Just finished making a round rag rug which wasn't difficult BUT the whole thing has buckled and looks frilly round the edges. I've undone it and tried working looser but that didn't work so I undid it again and tried working tighter but still no joy! please could anyone tell me what I'm doing wrong? It's so disheartening when you are new to a craft and you try so hard to get it right and nothing works! I love my new craft but if I'm incapable of doing a simple round, then I may as well give up, which would be a shame! Any suggestions, please? I got the pattern from Yarn Lovers Room on the internet. It said it was easy, so if I cant do an easy pattern, then I cant do crochet! Cettina from Malta, Europe Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf41221053.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Looking For Information About Salt Crystal Lamps Does anyone have information on salt crystal lamps? I have read that they are beneficial but that's on the web sites that sell them. I would appreciate any feedback. Thank you. Mike from PA Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf73689134.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Walls With Multiple Layers of Wallpaper I've just bought a house built in the 40's. I need help on removing multi-layers of wallpaper. Also if I can paint over that really thick vinyl wallpaper or do I have to remove it also? Lisa from Lebanon, MO Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf16684118.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Making Fake Snow I need fake snow that will stick to people for about 10 minutes for a church play. Any ideas? Thanks. Dale from Springfield, MO Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf31787711.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Can You Put a Metal Coffee Can In The Oven? Can you put a metal coffee can in the oven? I want to bake a circular gingerbread form around the coffee can, would this work? Dana from Clearwater, FL Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf65712148.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Removing Old Dried Blood From an Armchair Removing old dried blood that has been on an armchair for a long time. Others have tried to clean it off without success. Jilleen from Murwillumbah NSW Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf29545979.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Help Getting Cat With Urinary Infection To Eat I have a cat that had a urinary infection, I took him to the vet they done the catheter on him,ran some tests and said his kidneys were damaged a little bit. Then they put him on cdl a perscripiton food, he wont touch it. So, he is wasting away, it has been almost two weeks with out food. He will lick the gravy off of the can food, and that is about it. Any suggestions on what to feed him? Do I go back to the food he was eating, and let him live happy as long as I can? Because right know he is starving to death. Melanie from Spokane, WA Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf95014203.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Smelly Black Tar Stuff in Dogs Ear My dog has black tar stuff in his ear and it smells, what is it? Kim from Eugene, OR Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf86800369.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Need Help With Creating Clever Flyer For Church Invitation I'm looking for some clever words to use on a flyer, inviting parents at our grade school to a coffee/donut get together after mass on first Fridays. Jeanne from Philadelphia, PA Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf70607645.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Soup Kitchen Needs Help Utilizing Excess Food Commodities I am involved with a soup-kitchen type of ministry in Mexico. They receive donations of food from the states and currently they have an over abundance of the following foods: Canned spinach, matzo meal (Jewish type), and catchup. None of these foods are foods that the average Mexican would eat and so we are trying to disguise them or make them into something palatable. They have tried adding the spinach to soup and even making a quiche type breakfast with it. Does anyone have any suggestions or can anyone recommend any websites that might deal with commodities such as these? Linda from Texas Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf67448427.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Homemade Exfoliating Body Scrub Does anyone have a recipe for a facial scrub, and I can also use it all over my body. Jamish from Ransom Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf34169817.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Easy Pattern For Knitting Ladies and Kids Slippers I'm looking for a easy pattern for knitting slippers. Ladies and kids. Thank You. Cheryl from Carterville, Ill. Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf87962854.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Making Wreath From Old Christmas Tree Some time ago there was a post on how to make a wreath from your old Christmas tree. Can any one remember how it was done? We bought a new tree and I would like to recycle the old one. Thanks. Jan from Springfield, MN Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf31335013.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print What Medicine To Use On Dachshund With Burst Mole My dog dachshund is 7 years of age, having skin rashes throughout. Recently he developed a big mole which burst and gave rise to lot of blood with white juicy fluid. I am very much worried since in that region a big hole is found. What medicine shall I give him? prasun from Texas Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf58923989.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Are Old-fashioned Fragrances Sold By Mail Order the Original Scents? Does anyone know if the old-fashioned fragrances(like Tweed, Oh!deLondon, Tigress, etc...) sold by mail order places like Vermont Country Store and Beauty Boutique are originals or those terrible reformulations? I bought a little bottle of Ambush from Dollar General and it was awful! Not only wasn't it the original scent, it didn't even smell good. I was only out a dollar there but these others cost considerably more. All of these companies promise you can return your purchases but with the price of postage nowadays! Can anyone give me a head's up on this? Joan from Chesapeake, VA Post Feedback: http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf81316738.tip.html Email to a Friend | Get Responses | Bookmark | Link | Rate It: | Print Today's Sponsor: 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 Interactive Coupon Swap! Swap coupons with other ThriftyFun.com users. Seed Swap! Swap seeds with other ThriftyFun.com users.