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We created two requests online so you could post your name ideas for our servers and ThriftyFun Users.
Help Us Name Our Servers
ThriftyFun is adding a new server next week, bringing the total to three. Do you have any name ideas for our servers? Feel free to post them below.
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What Do You Want To Be Called?
We have been trying to think of a good name to call ThriftyFun readers. Do you have any ideas?
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Today's Photos
Paper Bag Stationery
By Rela Ann
Grocery brown bags or other brown bags accumulating? Don't thrown them away. You can use them to make nice and dainty Stationery to write your grocery list or your recipe for next week's party or your shopping list or your to do list. That beats having to write on torn pieces of the same paper, or worse bringing the whole bag as your list.
Ingredients
Method/Instructions
A. Preparing the Stationery Holder
1. Cut the cardboard into the desired size. In this example, we cut it to 4.5" x 14" rectangle.
2. Fold the cut cardboard into 3 so that it's profile is shaped like a "J". In this example, we folded at 8", then at 2", then at 4" (total length is 14").
3. If your cardboard is not good-looking, you can paste nice paper remnants to "J" cardboard's inside of the 8" face.
4. Cut a rectangular piece of the brown bag 1" longer than the "J" cardboard (5.5" x 15"). Shear the edges so that it has a design.
5. Wrap the prepared rectangular brown paper on the "J" cardboard's outside. Fold and paste in the extra length so that the designed edges shows up on the "J" cardboard's inside.
6. Cut another rectangular piece of the brown bag - this time it will be 0.5" longer than lower dimensions of the "J" cardboard (9.5" x 2.5"). Shear the edges so that it has a design.
7. Wrap and paste the prepared rectangular brown paper on the bends of the "J" cardboard so that its "J" shape can now stand on its own. This is now the Stationery holder.
8. Glue the magnet on the upper back.
B. Preparing the Stationery sheets
9. Cut many rectangular pieces of the brown bag. Quantity depending on your requirement or the number of brown bags you have available to cut. Dimension depends on your requirement or at most, should fit into the inside of the Stationery holder above. In this example, 2 sizes were cut : 3.5" x 5" and 3" x 6").
10. Make the pieces look nicer by shearing the edges or rounding the corners or punching the corners with design.
C. Putting it together
11. Place the Stationery sheets in to the Stationery holder pockets.
12. Add in the desired decors to make it match your refrigerator or kitchen theme. In this example, the upper corners were decorated with some metal edging removed from a shirt long time ago. A pink flower from a ruined ponytail holder was added in front together with a lighter pink riboon. Silver pen was used to place "Notes" and some lines in the front.
13. Place a pen or pencil on the Stationery pocket.
14. Place on the side of the refrigerator or some other place needing a memo pad ready for writing.
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Meet Curt and Cathy Clothespeg, of the clothesline gang. They're all dressed up for a night at the opera.
Round-headed peg clothespins have been a quick crafts staple for decades - so much so that many crafting supply companies package them as 'crafting pins' or some similar name. Frankly, I don't see any difference between the pins marketed to turn into crafts and the ones you buy for $1.19 at the supermarket to hang your clothes.
We've used them to make cottages, napkin holders, Christmas reindeer and castle fences. These little stick puppets are probably the cutest of all the uses we've found.
If you're looking for a fun and easy craft project to do with a Scout troop or Sunday school class, these cute little charmers might be just the thing. For an added boost in creativity, have each person create a character from a familiar story and use the puppets to put on a play - or dress them up in school colors to decorate lockers.
We just used markers and paints to Curt and Cathy, but there's no end to the materials that you can use to dress up the cunning puppets. Tulle circles, bits and scraps of lace, paint, markers, leftover fabric and yarn - your imagination is the only limit.
Materials
For Bride
For Groom
Instructions:
1. Lightly sand clothespin to remove any rough spots.
2. Using markers, paint black or blue dots for eyes and red cupids' bow lips.
3. Glue or paint on clothing using markers, paints, nail polish or any other permanent markers. Spray lightly with acrylic coat to preserve. Let dry.
4. Paint glue on bottom 4 inches of chopstick and wedge between legs' of clothespeg to serve as a handle'.
For Bride:
Layer three tulle circles one on top of the other. Fold in half, then twice more to make a point at the top. Using a sharp scissors, snip a tiny bit off the very tip and unfold. Slide the circles over the top of the clothes peg and work down to 'waist'. Dab glue around waistline to secure. Using 1/4" satin ribbon, tie bow around neck and wrap ends down and around to back. Secure with a dab of glue.
For veil, fold tulle circle in half and in half again. Dab glue on top of head, and press veil into place, holding until set.
For Groom:
Using black marker, paint on 'tux'. Glue 4" strip of 1/4" satin ribbon along side of each 'leg' for satin striped tuxedo pants. If desired, cut and glue lace ruffle to front of shirt. Glue bottle cap derby" to top of head, and paint handlebar mustache above lip.
There's no end to the adorable puppets that you can create using round-headed wooden clothes pegs. Just fire up your imagination, scrounge for scraps and have fun!
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Today's Tips
A little white vinegar added to your dish water improves your soap's grease fighting performance.
By Robin
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Tips to help you organize your home's laundry. Post your ideas.
Use colored plastic hangers. Give every family member a different color. That way it's easy for everyone to find and put away their own clothes. (Yes I actually do this and it works great for me.)
Consider using specific colors of towels and wash rags for different bathrooms (and the kitchen).
By handysmurf
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Replacement for Downy Wrinkle Releaser
I have a homemade solution that works quite well for the downy wrinkle releaser found in a trigger spray bottle. After it emptied, I didn't want to spend all that money on another bottle so I experimented by putting about a 1/4 cup of downy fabric softener and then filled it the rest of the way with water. It works great!
By Christy
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Avoid high ATM fees by only using your card at your local bank's ATM machine or you can also use it to get cash back at the store.
By Robin
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Cleaning White Leather Tennis Shoes
To clean white leather tennis shoes take a Pure-aid (that's a generic clorox clean) eraser block and get it wet and rub off dirt. It makes them look new again. My daughter does it all the time.
By Debi Spear
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Have Christmas gifts purchased by August and wrapped by September and you will have a relaxed holiday season!
By Bev Sobkowich
When buying for Christmas in July (or August) have a notebook with everyone's name and write down what you buy for them when you buy it. For my kids I wrap and number them instead of putting names and then keep their number in that book so you don't forget which gift belongs to who. An example is for my son his numbers all ended in 1 last year, 9001, 651 etc. It takes them a while to figure it out if their peeking!
By Debi Spear
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Keeping Your Favorite Cookbooks Clean, While Keeping Your Favorite Recipes Handy
I don't like using my favorite cookbooks in the kitchen. They get messy and don't last as long. I also don't like having to look for them when I need them. To solve this problem, I made up a list of recipes that I make often, then I bought 2 of the wire-bound index card pads. I didn't put the entire recipe in the pad most of the time. I put in whatever I needed to be reminded of when I make the recipe, such as an ingredient list, oven temperatures, and cooking or baking times. This allowed me to keep each recipe confined to one card.
When I was done, I used one peel and stick magnet on the back cover of each pad (the kind that are used to make business cards into magnets-- you can buy them at Wal-Mart). I put them on the front of my refrigerator. I also bought two clips with magnets on the backs that I put above the pads. They hold the pads open to whatever recipe I am making, so I can refer to it hands free and without taking up precious counter space.
I now have an easy to access "cheat sheet" for all my favorite recipes.
By Denise Roche
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Tips for saving money on postcards. Post your ideas.
Don't spend money to buy postcards! And don't throw away old greeting cards! You can cut the front off of your old greeting cards and reuse them as post cards! Costs nothing!
By Robin
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The back pockets of jeans may be used as fun drink coasters! I remove them from the pants, put some backing on them (quilted material for example), with a water resistant glue or sew them on, and voila! drink coasters that can even be put into the washing machine!
Everyone I know said that they were cute. =)
By Cindy in PSL
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To clean venetian blinds. Fill bath tub with enough warm water to cover blind. Add equal amounts of Tide & Spic & Span. About 1/2 cup each.Soak blind for short time. Blinds & cords come out clean without any scrubbing. Rehang blind with towels on window sill till dry. There is no danger combining the two cleaning agents.
By Helen G.
If you need to clean those venetian blinds just take them outside and pull them all the way out and spray clorox clean-up all over them. Wait a few minutes and spray with hose, they come almost new again! Let them outside to dry a little while and then hang them back up. This is super easy!
By Deb Spear
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New Contest - More Prizes
We are giving away 17 $25 prizes in a variety of categories.
Tip Contest!
To enter, visit: http://www.thriftyfun.com/contest.ldml
Photo Contest!
To enter, visit: http://www.thriftyfun.com/photo_contest.ldml
Contest ends October 31, 2005
Syndication Spotlight:
Here are some publishers that have chosen to publish our tips this week!
Dear Webby's Humor Letter
Webby publishes our tips daily! A very funny newsletter.
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New Requests
Mothball Smell Out of Cedar Chest
We received a family cedar chest that can't be used because of an awful smell of mothballs. Why would anyone put mothballs in a cedar chest anyway? Does anyone know of a good way to get the smell out of the cedar?
Lisa from Michigan
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I am disabled and on medicaid and hence have no dollars to spend on my garden. Many of my neighbours have lilac bushes and I'm sure a request for some part of their bushes for rooting or transplanting would meet with generous approval.
What part(s) of these bushes should I ask for? How do I go about rooting them? Is it too late for this year Also, there are several mature but small (about 3 feet high) bushes that I may be able to transplant. Again, is this the wrong time of year?
If I can transplant these bushes - beyond digging them up - what immediate care will they need?
Thank you so very much for any help you can give me!
Suz Long Island NY
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I wanted to see if anyone can help me with ideas on themes, games, etc. for a suprise 40th birthday party.
Any tips appreciated.
Jonida Martin
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I am looking for an easy recipe for banana bread that can be used in a bread maker.
Thanks,
Michelle
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Saving Plants Through The Winter
I think we are moving in the spring. I want to take some of my plants with me to my new home. Does anybody know a good way to keep the plants over the winter and in what? I'm thinking this is the time to do this while I can still see what they are and decide if I want to take them. I'm in the Colorado mountains.
Thanks!
Laura
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I have an outdoor trash can that is issued by the city. The prior owners obviously put trash in there without bagging it. The trash can is disgusting to smell. It is at least 55 gallons. I have filled it and soaked it in bleach water in the sun several times. I have scrubbed it with all kinds of cleaners that include vinegar, baking soda, bathroom cleaners, everything I can think of. Nothing will take the stench out. It is made of really hard plastic, rubber material. Please advise if you know of anything I can do.
Thank you.
suzi_homemaker01
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I am looking for a pattern for a chicago bears afghan for my son. I can not find one. Can anyone help?
blueschild
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Where Can I Buy Essential Oils?
To: melody_yesterday
You posted a recipe for making fragrance oil for fragrance lamps. I located the 91% alchohol that you recommended but as yet I have not located the perfume or essential oil that your recipe called for. Your recipe is as follows:
16oz. 91% isopropyl alcohol
3oz. essential or perfume oil
Your message stated that it was much cheaper to make your on fragrance oil for fragrance lamps.
Thank You.
FANCi
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Adapter for 20 Amp Power Strips
I purchased a few 20 amp multi-strips. The plugs are different than normal plugs and do not fit into the wall outlet. Is there an adapter I can buy to convert the plug?
Thanks,
Charles
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My child had an accident in the car. How do you remove urine from car upholstery?
Katherine
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We are having a problem with Squirrels coming in our house after ripping the screen on the window above our sink in the kitchen. I have already replaced the screen on the window once and I don't want to do it again, before I can repel these nasty things! They are just a plain nuisance. I heard about using a repellent like "Squirrel Away" or I heard filling a nylon stocking with moth balls will work.
I would appreciate any ideas that are known to have worked in a similar situation. Thanks, I'll be checking for your replies.
Mike from Connecticut
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Does anyone know how to remove a 7 year old dark stain from an offwhite heirloom crochetted WOOL christening dress? I'm guessing that the gown was put away 7 years ago without cleaning the baby spit-up and now the spots are a dark brown (rust color) mess. I'm scared to death to put something on it and make it worse yet it's ruined if I don't.
Thank you.
Judy
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Has anyone ever dyed flannel? I have about 10 yards of it that I may want to dye.
Thanks,
Laur
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Pictures left in rain and stuck together!
I have a bunch of senior pictures that got left beside an open window and it rained on them and now they are stuck together. I was wondering if anyone knows any good ways to get them apart without ruining them?
Zach
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How can you make chocolate milk at home without the chocolate seperating from the milk? Chocolate syrup always ends up at the bottom of the cup. My 2 year old can go thru 3 gallons of store bought chocolate milk in a week. And although I want him to have the milk, the cost of this is unbeliveable. I have tried mixing the store bought chocolate milk equally with powdered milk and it has worked. Just wondering if someone else knew a cheaper way to fake him out!
Thanks,
Carole in NC
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Apple Cake from IKEA Restaurant
Does anyone have the recipe for the Apple Cake served at IKEA's restaurant? I've tried making a few of them I found on the internet that sounded similar, but there is no comparison.
Thanks.
Holly
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With home heating oil so expensive this year, I am considering ordering a Hydrosil portable heater for my living room. My dear husband sits in the living room during the winter with the furnace wide open and I am wondering if I purchase one if I can get by with less gas heat?
This will run on 110 v and has a thermostat that you can set. Once the room becomes the temp you want it will shut itself off. I just want some input on this product if anyone has used them before.
They aren't real expensive but I hate to spend a couple of hundred dollars and have it not make a difference in our heating costs.
TIA!~
Cookiepom
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This is my first time to post. I love this site. I have found an answer to so many of my questions. Everything about this site is great especailly the crafts.
Recently my nephew washed his clothes with his back pack. As usual he left them in the washer. I put them in the dryer for him, not checking to see if there was anything in the back pack.
He had left a black ball point pen in it. Needless to say the ink pen separated and now there is black ink all in the dryer. It is on all of my clothes.
How do I get the ink out of the dryer. It is smeared inside the dryer?
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you so much for any suggestions.
Venis
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I lost my recipes in a move! I am looking for homemade yogurt recipes.
Thanks in advance!
Goldey
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I have a 2 year old indoor cat that has been scratching his neck so much that he has an open sore on it. Trust me, he has no fleas. I put one of those funnel collars on him to prevent him from scratching and used a topical antibacterial salve on the open sore. That spot is healed but now when I take the collar off he is doing it again. Anyone have any ideas why he might be doing this?
Thanks.
Dan
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ThriftyFun is adding a new server next week, bringing the total to three. Do you have any name ideas for our servers? Feel free to post them below.
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We have two puppies that love to chew on everything from the dining table legs, chair legs, plastic garbage bags, weights and have even destroyed the blue padding that covers the springs on a trampoline! I've tried scolding verbally, they ignore me. I tried showing them the fly swatter and smacking my hand with it, also to no avail. What can I do to stop these two from chewing everything we own up? I have thought about tabasco, but have heard that destroys their taste buds and they'll be finicky (sp) eaters after. I'm one step away from begging for help here!
Desperately,
Dimps
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Color Transfer on My Favorite Pants
I am trying all types of clothing spot cleaners to try to remove a color of dye that bled onto another piece of clothing. I have looked into the RIT color fade, but it says that the clothing piece must be white. I am dealing with navy blue bleeding onto a lighter shade of blue. Please help, these are a favorite pair of pants.
Becky from Texas
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What Do You Want To Be Called?
We have been trying to think of a good name to call ThriftyFun readers. Do you have any ideas?
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I have a 7 month old cockapoo puppy who is having some house training problems. All in all, he is pretty much potty trained, I have even taught him to ring a bell when he needs to go out (he learned that in a day) yet every once and a while, he will still have an accident in the house. I can't figure out what is going on, but it almost seems like he all the sudden realizes he can no longer hold it and then just squats on the floor because he doesn't have time to get to the door.
For example, today I took him outside and then gave him a bath. It couldn't have been more than 30 minutes to an hour after he had peed when he went bolting out of the bathroom and peed on the couch. So I took him outside again, he went potty and then 15 minutes later peed on the floor again.
Does this mean he has bladder control problems or could it just be that he is still young? It doesn't happen often, but when it does it is very frustrating. Can anyone help?
CharlieBear
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I found one in the kitchen and I found one in the bathroom of my new place.
This is a small, simple looking, long bug with small feet that are not very prominent. It is dark gray on the top, and on its underside, it's white. It does not appear to have wings or any really noticeable features.
What's odd about it is that is sort of waves or wiggles when it moves, rather than scuttling like a normal bug.
What is this bug? Why is it here, how big of a problem is it, and how would I get rid of them?
Yasmin
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Today's Sponsors
Lots of great art supplies at DickBlick.com
http://www.thriftyfun.com/thriftylinks/tf241337_tfl.html
More Reading:
Petition to Help Stranded Animals from Hurricane Katrina
Here's a petition site to help the stranded animals from the recent hurricane.
Thanks a million !!!
Connie Kaylor
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/840979272
There is also a link to contribute to the rescue effort at the American Humane Society.
Editor's Note: Being a pet lover the welfare of all of the pets stranded and lost during the hurricane has been a concern to me. I signed the petition, hope you will, too.
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