Daily Thrifty Tips - October 18, 2006

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:
http://www.thriftyfun.com/post_craft.ldml

We lost Taffy when she was 13 years old from a rare muscle disease. She will always live in our hearts, though. I still get teary eyed when I talk about her. She was a Sheltie. We got Taffy from a breeder when she was 6 weeks old.

She like to hide our clothes from the clothes basket when she was mad at one of us. She also loved to lay next to me on her back and have me rub her tummy.

Taffy was one of the most loving precious pets I have ever owned. She use to hate it when we would leave her at home.

By Lil from Jacksonville, FL

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Materials for Ark

• 1 - 5 in. clay pot
• 1 bottom for 5 in. clay pot
• Ice cream sticks - 2 regular size 12 mini ones
• Ribbon or yarn
• Paints
• Brushes
• hot glue and gun
• 1 wooden ball

Directions for Ark

Paint all things as seen in picture. Let dry. Glue clay pot bottom on top of pot as shown then glue wooden ball on top of pot as shown.

Glue the 8 ice cream sticks on pot as shown then glue the other 4 mini ones together to make walkway. Glue to pot.

Materials for Animals

• 6 - 1 in. clay pots
• 3 wooden balls
• 3 wooden thimble shapes
• 2 wooden circles
• 2 wooden dowels
• paint
• brushes
• black pom poms
• ribbon
• colored foam

Directions for Animals

Paint all wooden shapes and pots as in picture then glue together. Cut ears for all animals from an appropiate color foam. Dog needs 2 foam legs. Zebra and giraffe need pom pom noses. Glue all on. Then embellish with ribbon as seen. You can add bells to cow and sheep on ribbon around neck. You can substitute whatever colors you want and embellish any way you want. Use your imagination.

By Sandy from Bluff City, TN.

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If your gravy is too runny and thin, mix equal parts flour and cornstarch together and sprinkle it into gravy to thicken it. Sprinkle it in a little at a time and stir, it should thicken up in no time.

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If grease or oil spills in your oven, quickly toss some salt on the stain. Once the oven has cooled off and the salt has dried, brush it out of your oven. Most of the stain should be gone.

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I save the plastic bags that my produce comes in and use them to line a large coffee can when I am cooking. This is a great way to eliminate trips back and forth to the garbage can when you are cooking, just put your scraps and ends into the can. The bag keeps it from getting nasty inside.

Also, consider saving peelings and bits from vegetables to make stock. I keep them in my freezer in these vegetable bags until I have enough. Then boil them together in some water with salt pepper and spices, strain it and you have a nice flavored broth. Be sure that you are washing your vegetables of course. Don't want gritty soup! You can also save bones from a chicken, or meat bones to boil with the vegetables. Makes delicious broth just from stuff you would have thrown away anyway.

By Celeste from Florida

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When I try a new recipe, I put the date beside the recipe in the book. I also add a short note such as "great," "add more salt," "family loved it" etc. so that I can be reminded the next time I use it if it was a success. Sometimes these notes also help me in choosing recipes to use--it is always helpful to know something was enjoyed the first time it was served!

By Becky from Watertown, WI

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When I was a little girl my mother made a simple but pretty costume with the taffeta skirt of one of her old dresses. She made the waist the neck, cut armholes, and decorated it with gold stick-on stars. I loved it and it was easy for my mother. Perhaps nowadays you could add a plastic tiara, wings or a wand!

By Pam from Los Angeles

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You can whip cream faster by chilling the bowl and beaters in the fridge before whipping. A few drops of lemon juice will help the cream stiffen.

Do you have any tips for whipping cream?

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Whoa-a-a, let me tell you about a real different black and white idea from back when we were "all together".

We had a "wreath" on the front door made of white rope and black ribbons, tied with a black/white bandana and silver chrome twisted wire!

We played all the classier Country Western pre-recorded music we could find, encouraging black or white clothing to be worn, if the guests had them, complete with any Western hats, boots, belts, jewelry or shirts anyone had.

We hung white/clear lights from the trees, patio umbrellas, adding black/white streamers/balloons inside over the main food table.

The first thing we handed guests upon arrival was their own personal name tag and tagged items in a black/white paisley bandana wrapped bundle with a small cowbell/whistle, notepad, black/white pencils for quiz games, licorice and white mint candy clear cans, and a Scavenger Hunt list and number to use for their "partner" in the hunt around the neighborhood, with a 45 min. limit, regardless, with the stipulation that they also had to wear their "disguises", (which helps with the often embarrassment).

I found black/white "fur" fabric, cut out placemats for the black/white striped fabric "tablecloth" stretched across the lawn over 1/2 sheets of plywood tables, at waist height, added black/white dotted napkins, plastic eyeglasses with "mustaches", black and white kerchiefs, bandannas for souvenirs with black whistles attached, and the bandanas also for using for blind-fold games like: Blindfold Limbo (to good rhythm music for hopping backwards under the black water hose between two helpers lowering it at the end of the line of players each time the line completes that level set to music and toss the black horseshoes at the short white stick in the distance, all after the Scavenger Hunt, before eating!

We had barbecued beef on Big Grands biscuits, grilled blackened catfish pieces for the side, black olive/pickles/green onions/mayo potato salad, hot black beans with mini cocktail onions, tall white cups of Iced Sweet Tea and short black wine glasses for non-alcoholic Cold Duck one time toast to the Guest of honor.

We offered chocolate covered frozen bananas for dessert along with a touch of red from the large strawberries pre-dipped in Chocolate! This was on a large silver tray but paper baking sheet doily covered.

I had a "Guess the number of black/white marbles in the Jar", for a black/white prize from a few prize choices, (to be done anytime by mingling guests), their guess logged by their own hand with a black dry erase marker on a white dry erase bulletin board), predesigned in advance with large animal print patterned background as a border.

We played Black/White Bingo, using black/white ping-pong balls to call out numbers on handmade FANCY cards. (after eating)

Just before leaving each one was given a black or white dart to toss at the people-cleared room of balloons to find money ($2-5.00) in a balloon of their choice (some black ones were empty and full of a handful of black/white homemade shredded confetti.

Now, this may all seem "easy for Texans", but like buying potatoes in Idaho, it's not so easy, believe it or not. It's just enough to keep folks busy and mixing, full and happy, and makes great memories because it's so different!

By Lynda from TX

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If you watch the Antiques Road Show, etc. on TV you will see that things with some slight damage go way down in value - So you might be able to acquire a slightly used version of something you would like at a price range you could afford and then fix it up. Trust me, very few people will know the difference.

By Pamphyila from Los Angeles

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Don't forget to clean your bed linen at least once a month. Everyone sweats, whether it's through their head which will release oils, or their feet or any where else and this will leave odors. Your body also has dead hair and skin that falls anywhere including your bed. So maybe cleaning the linen once a month might not be often enough for some, I guess it depends on how active you are.

By LRP from LOWELL, MASS

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Dear Webby's Humor Letter

Webby publishes our tips daily! A very funny newsletter.

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I joined a Health Coverage Company called National Benefits Advisory Association today. Is this a Good choice? Do they pay the bills? Are they a company I can depend on? I am a single woman and am concerned with whether I made the right choice.

Barbara from Kingwood, TX

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How can I get rid of the smell of a dead squirrel from my attic? I think a squirrel died in my attic about 3 day ago and I can't get rid of the smell. I have looked all over but can't find the dead animal. Please help.

Theresa from Bowie

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Product: Refrigerator

Model: Double Door Fridge

Request: I wish to know which is the best available fridge at present according to consumers.

Vijaya from india

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I am trying to make christmas ornaments for my red hat sisters and need purple satin balls for my crocheted covers.

Linda from Snellville, GA

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I am planning on having an Hawaiian themed party in a few weeks - any suggestions and ideas on how I can do this 'thriftily' will be greatly appreciated.

Kate from Melbourne, Australia

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My husband wears white cotton shirts to work everyday. Lately I have seen dark patches under the arms, even though they are washed regularly. Does anyone have an idea of how to get rid of these patches?

Martha from Maryland

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I have a problem. We live in the city and use city water. Apparently the water is high in something, calcium maybe, because all of my plants get a white crust around them that they didn't have when I lived in the country and used well water. (I had to give up my aquarium because of this awful white build-up.) We don't get enough rain to be able to collect rain water as an alternative. Is there anything I can do or add to the water to stop this from happening? I had some beautiful plants when I moved here 3 years ago, and now almost every one of them is dead or dying. Help!

Hardiness Zone: 8a

Tripleb from Greenville, AL

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What is the best way to wash produce?

jayh2d4 from Dillard, GA

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I am taking down some heavy pictures that were hung on a screw with the plastic support (not sure what it's called) in the wall. Since I am moving, should I remove those plastic pieces and fill in the hole, hammer them lightly into the wall and then fill them, or just leave them? I don't think just leaving them for the next owners would be appropriate but I want to do the best thing.

Thanks for any advice!

Kim from WI

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I am wondering if anyone has any good inexpensive (of course), not too time consuming, and fun ideas for wedding favors?

Jen from Des Moines, WA

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Classroom birthday party for 6 year old. Any ideas for a theme, games and food.

Dulce from Philippines

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I just bought a tan suede jacket, I was shopping in Wal-Mart, picked up some kinda soapy cleaner product for my car, and the soapy liquid has gone on my suede coat and left a stain. I am desperate to get it out, any suggestions?

I heard maybe a pencil eraser?

Richeyjh from Cardiff

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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:
http://www.thriftyfun.com/post_craft.ldml

Whether I'm at work or at home, I try to limit the amount of paper I use by utilizing electronic media as much as possible. The problem is, I'm a stationary junkie. I would much prefer to send and receive greeting cards and written correspondence by postal mail rather than email. After all of the junk mail that gets delivered to my cyber mailbox each week, I find it refreshing to open something that has actually been delivered by a living breathing human being.

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Ghosts, witches, goblins and black cats . . . yes, it's Halloween once again. Here are 10 tips to ensure this holiday is a fun one for you and your family.

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