Controlling Invasive Herbs
You can add oregano, wild violets and seedless morning glories to that list!
Saving Vegetable Plants Sprayed With Vinegar?
Try spraying them with a lot of water to wash off the vinegar.
Keeping Deer Out of the Garden?
This may sound rather gross to some people, but my friend says it works well. Have your husband (or any adult male) pee around the perimeter of your yard. Apparently there is something in the male pheromone smell that the deer will avoid.
Rose Grown from Cutting Not Blooming?
Dont give up on them. I planted several stems from my Lagerfeld rose and it took 3 years for them to get enough root base to bloom. This is the third year and they are blooming like crazy!
Planting Cactus
If you get small cactus spines in your skin, heres an easy way to get them out. Spread white glue on the area and let it dry. Pull it off in one piece and the spines will come out too.
Where Can I Get Brugmansia (Angel's Trumpet) Seeds?
Brugmansia is a poisonous plant. Are you sure you want it in your garden? Here is what Wikipedia has to say about their toxicity. All parts of Brugmansia plants contain dangerous levels of poison and may be fatal if ingested by humans or animals, including...
Dental Floss When Gathering Fabric
Many years ago, when Belly Dancing was very popular in our area, we used dental floss to sew the coins on to our costumes. Never lost a coin no matter how much we shimmied!
What is the Best Way to Transport Small Berry Plants By Air?
The cargo hold probably wont be heated so you had better figure out how to pack them so they wont freeze.
Craft Projects Using Empty Medicine Bottles and Margarine Tubs?
Cover the bottles with Sculpey or Fimo polymer clay designs. I have found that the plastic bottles and lids will come through the 275 degree baking process just fine. I sold a lot of these bottles a few years ago to people who wanted them for pill containers...
Can I grow Angel Trumpet Plants from Seed?
Keep in mind that this is a poisonous plant. Are you sure you want it in your garden? This is a reference from Wikipedia - Toxicity - All parts of Brugmansia plants contain dangerous levels of poison and may be fatal if ingested by humans or animals, including...
How Can I Cut Repeating "V" Shapes in Paper and Plastic?
If you need a very small v go to a craft store and look at the tools for making a linoleum block print. For a larger v go to a hardware store and look in the chisel section. There are also wood carving and leather carving tools that will cut a v shape.
Rain-X for Removing Ball Point Pen From Paper
This sounds like a very good method to change the dollar amounts on a check that someone else writes to you. Im rather surprised that Thriftyfun would show us the way to do this illegal thing. There are pens available that supposedly are impossible to remove...
Caring for a Lavender Plant?
Check out this website. http://www.thriftyfun.com/tf74822559.tip.html It should give you some ideas. I cut mine back every year from about 5 across to about 3 across.
Baby Wipes Containers to Store Craft Items
For larger items I use the shoe boxes that sport shoes (like Nike or Reebok or New Balance) come in. You can unfold them and re-fold them inside out so none of the print shows. Then you can print the contents on the outside of the box with a felt tip pen. They...
Uses for Coffee Cans
In the following suggestions many people suggest using cans over a fire or in an oven. Most coffee comes in plastic cans now. They will just melt in high heat. Please keep this in mind when trying out the hints and suggestions.
More Trashy Treasures: Upcycling Plastic...
No more plastic bags in California except at certain businesses such as Goodwill, Salvation Army and other non profits. I just save all of those to use in my garbage waste basket in the kitchen. So far, the supply has kept up with my demand. But what really...
Grammar Tip: "Advice" vs "Advise"
It would help to eliminate a lot of mistakes if people would take few seconds to proof read what they just typed!
Wipe Houseplant Leaves With Banana Peel
A banana peel will leave a sticky residue on the leaves that will attract more dust. Would you like that sticky stuff on your skin? The best thing to use is a soft, damp rag. I spray my plants with water and then wipe them off with a soft rag. Mother Nature...
Make Circle Template
The circles might last longer if cut out of plastic. I prefer empty bleach bottles. Cut off the top and the bottom then cut open the cylinder that is left so you can flatten it out. This can be cut with standard scissors to any shape you want. I have also used...
Removing Nicotine from Painted Wood?
Use ammonia and water with a little squirt of dishwashing liquid. Put in a spray bottle @ 1 part ammonia to 4 parts water. I use the lemon flavored ammonia as it doesnt smell as strong.
Preventing Tarnish on Stored Silver Jewelry?
You can get the anti-tarnish strips on line at firemountaingems.com. They also have lots of other jewelry supplies and have been in business for over 40 years that I know of.
Ink on Clothes that Have Been Dried?
I have used the cheap hairspray solution too! Sometimes you have to spray until the fabric is wet and wash (dont put it in the dryer!) several times, but it will come out. I have a pair of khaki shorts that had ink all over the front and it all came out after...
Craft Uses for Nail Polish
You can use clear nail polish to fill up small holes in a window screen. I also use it to paint my stainless steel hair clips in different colors to go with what color I am wearing.
Slicing Onions
I keep my onions in the refrigerator. Then when I slice them I use a very sharp knife so the job gets done quickly. No tears for me.
Moisten String Used to Tie Packages
First, use a felt tip pen to draw some horizontal lines through any barcodes on the box. Then pull it apart where it is glued in one corner. Turn it inside out and re-glue. At this point the box can be stored flat under the bed or at the back of a closet. When...
How Do I Preserve Inkjet Iron-on Transfers?
Ive never done this myself but here are some ideas. Write to the manufacturer of the iron-on sheets and ask them about it. You might try washing and drying items before doing the iron-on. DO NOT use any fabric softener. I do this before making any fabric iron...
Hair Conditioner for Shaving Your Legs
I get shaving lotion at the Dollar store so thats about as cheap as you can go. It doesnt matter whether it is labelled for men or women and usually the men version is cheaper. I live in California so to save water I dont shave in the shower. It is a lot safer...
Cleaning Silver Jewelry?
Also try Fire Mountain Gems for various anti-tarnish items. They also have all the jewelry making items you could ever want to use!
Cleaning Silver Jewelry?
I have been collecting those little silicon bead envelopes for years from the racks of shoes that are usually displayed in a drug store. They all fall to the bottom shelf where I can just pick them up. I feel I am doing someone in the store a favor since this...
Removing Build Up from Tea Kettle?
I fill my teakettle with white vinegar, heat it up almost to boiling and let it sit all day. After dinner I pour the vinegar into a bottle that is labeled vinegar for teakettle. You can use this many times again. Then I use a sponge to loosen and clean any...
How Property Laws Affect Gardeners
If you live in a mobile home park there are other rules to consider. Every park has its own rules about fences, etc. The main thing you have to remember is that even if you own your own mobile home, you are renting the ground it sits on from someone else. The...
Binder for Saving School Keepsakes
I use binders to hold old family documents such as my mothers certificate from a Singer Sewing machine class and various other certificates from square-dance calling classes, marriage, birth, and death certificates. I think you get the idea. You can get larger...
Alternate Uses for Dental Floss
When I was involved in Belly Dancing in the 70s we would make our own costumes. We found that sewing the coins on the costumes with dental floss kept them on better than using thread. The constant movement of the coins when dancing would wear through thread...
Use Dog Tag for Medical Information
Kaiser health insurance will provide you with a thumb drive with all of your medical stuff on it for about $5. I carry mine in my purse. You could also do this yourself on a thumb drive. I have seen them in catalogs that are programmed already to do this.There...
Wildlife: Black Bumble Bee
Those are carpenter bees. They like to bore into wood to make their nests. I hope you live in a concrete house!
Homemade Damp Rid?
I collect those little bags off the wire shelves in drug stores where they have shoes and sandals. They fall out of the shoes to the bottom shelf so I just pick them up. I feel I am doing some clerk a favor as now they dont have to clean them up and throw them...
Make Your Own Hair Detangler
Long hair is easy to de-tangle if you start at the end about 3 inches up. Then work your way up slowly working out the tangles inch by inch. People with short hair never think of this and just start at the top near the scalp. This just makes it hard to get...
Speak Aloud to Help You Remember
I am the same kind of learner. I use Postit notes on my bathroom mirror to remind me of things. Dates for today are placed right in front of my face. Other reminders are placed in order farther up or around the mirror.
Unclogging a Sink With a Garbage Disposal?
Every morning I boil a whole teakettle of water to make 1 cup of instant coffee. I pour the rest of it down the garbage disposer drain. About once a month I pour boiling water down my bathroom drains. All of my vegetable garbage goes outside in my yard compost...
Craft Uses for Small Plastic Bottles?
Why not cover them with polymer clay (Sculpey, Fimo, etc) and give them away for Christmas for people to use for decorative pill bottles. I have made many and sold them to various stores. Since the clay bakes at 250° the bottles wont melt. Heres a picture of...
My Frugal Life: Trial And Error
You may be able to scan your slides into your computer system if your scanner/printer has that capability. Check the book that came with it. Or you can get a device for about $100 that will do it. I saw one in the Hammacher Schlemmer catalog as well as some...
Sunburned Leaves on Avocado Tree?
Move it to a place with filtered sun. Water deeply until the water runs out of the pot. Leave the leaves alone, they will drop off when they are ready. Hot weather here in Gilroy CA has never bothered my trees, but they are in the ground. It is really hard...
Using Blue Mesh For Garden Plants
The blue gauze mesh you are looking for is probably called tulle. You should be able to find it at any fabric store or online.
Using Every Last Bit Out Of Bottles And Tubes
Another way to get to the lotion in plastic bottles is to cut them in half with an exacto knife. Then you can scoop out the rest of it. I can usually get enough sunscreen (Walmart Equate brand) out of an empty bottle to take care of my face, neck and arms for...
Store Food Waste in Freezer Until Garbage Day
We have 3 cans for garbage here in most cities in California. One is actual garbage, the second one is for recycle stuff, the third one is for yard waste (read - compostables). I recycle everything I can. Things like potato peels, coffee grounds, egg shells...
What is This Plant?
It looks a lot like the star jasmine that grows in my yard. Mine is not a bush, but a climber.
Homemade Car Locator
I have a dark red, newish, Honda Civic. There are a bazillion other cars of similar color and shape in my town. There is no antenna. So I got a roll of bright pink tape at Lowes and taped long pieces to the inside of the backside windows and tied on some pieces...
Mark Emptied Cabinets When Moving
Instead of masking tape which leaves a mess when you peel it off, if you can get it off, use a blue tape called painters tape. It will stick all right, but it also peels off without leaving a mess. Available at all paint and hardware stores and probably Walmart...
Use Dental Plackers As Plant Markers
Go to www.plackers.com to see a picture. I hadnt ever heard the term either so I googled it. They are those plastic toothpicks with the little flosser on one end.
Pack Travel Basics In Advance
Everyone should have a Go-Bag that you can just grab in case of a sudden emergency (earthquakes in my area). This article is a good start on what to put in it. Mine has whatever I would need for a week when I cant get back into my home such as prescription...
Getting Rid of Flying Insects Outside?
You might try setting burning mosquito coils near you. The smoke will keep away the flying insects. Im now 70 and in good health so 20 years of burning the coils on Maui (40 years ago) apparently did not affect me. There are also some other commercial products...
Drying Flowers in a Book
If all you want to do is dry rose petals for potpourri cookie trays in the oven work great. My oven has a pilot light that keeps it warm enough. It takes about 24 hours to completely dry a tray of rose petals. Mr. Lincoln red roses dry to a very dark red. Julia...
Better Cake Mix Tips
Turn it into cookies! Mix in only one egg and one stick of butter plus what ever other flavorings that turn you on.... vanilla, chocolate chips, coconut flakes, nuts, ginger, allspice, nutmeg, etc. I think you probably get the idea. Most can be baked @ about...
Shop Garage Sales For Summer Clothes
To take in the waistband on a pair of pants that are temporarily too big do this. Make a slit on the INSIDE of the back waistband near each side. Thread a piece of 1 or wider elastic through and pin it on the INSIDE short enough to take up an inch or two of...
Your Time Is Worth Something Too
I dont remember where I read this, but it created a great aha moment in my life. You dont pay for things with money, you pay for them with time. Translate the dollar value of a house, car or anything else into time and then see if it is still worth it. Sometimes...
Your Time Is Worth Something Too
Another one that just came to mind is a quote from Theodore Roosevelt (or maybe McGyver?). Do what you can, where you are, with what you have.
Remedies for Grey Hair?
Why is this a problem? I have seen teenagers who have a beautician dye their hair silver on purpose. You are right in style! Dont call it grey call it silver. My hair is silver and gold (blonde) so I call it electrum color.
Insulating Windows Against Summer Heat?
As a temporary measure I taped up some sunscreens that are meant for cars. They measure 28x32 and were just right for some of my windows. They are the black ones that you have to twist to get them smaller to go back in their bag. My daughter gave me a set with...
Use Vodka for Disinfectant
You can also use it to make your own Kahlua drink. I dont have the recipe any more, but Im sure it is online somewhere.
Cleaning Seashells?
When we lived on Maui and collected shells on the beach we would just leave them out in the yard and let the ants clean them out.
Cell Phone Tips
Oh so many times I have asked my friends to please call me and leave messages on my land line! When they call me on my cell phone, which is just for emergencies, it costs me 25¢ a minute to talk to them and I may not even get their voice messages until a day...
Making a Vacuum Cleaner Cover?
I use a king size pillowcase on my vac. Open the stitching a few inches on the end and slip it down over the handle. This keeps the vac dust free and looks pretty. You can get the pillowcases at thrift stores or buy one new.
Information About a Precision Deluxe 30 Modern Sewing Machine?
Is Precision the name of the maker of the machine? If it is just a description of the model, what is the name of the maker? Some makers are Singer, Bernina, Kenmore, Brother, Janome, etc. If this is the case, you may be able to find out more about your machine...
What is This Plant?
The second plant looks exactly like my Golden Pothos. You may have 2 varieties of Pothos in that pot as the leaves on the left look like standard Pothos and the multicolored leaves on the right look like Golden Pothos.
Finding Comfortable Shoes?
Glenns Mom is so right! Women arent the only ones who are vain about their feet. It took me almost 10 years to convince my husband that you dont buy shoes by fitting them on your smallest foot. Now he fits on his bigger foot and just adds an extra pad in the...
Growing Plants in a Horse Trough?
If your trough is water tight you may be drowning your plants because there is no way for excess water to drain out. Try drilling some holes in the bottom and not watering so much.
Discontinued Caron Simply Soft Green Yarn?
I did email them. They dont have any and informed me that it has been discontinued. Christmas is not the only time we need green. So far, Red Heart is the only company where you can get green all year and I dont like the feel of their yarn. The yarn companies...
Growing an Apple Mango Tree?
A caution about Mangos! It is possible to be very allergic to them and the juice from the skin is the worst part. It will manifest itself with blisters similar to a case of poison oak. This can come from contact with the mango or inhaling the steam from cooking...
Making Salt and Pepper Shakers from Plastic Bottles?
Why not just cover them with polymer clay? I have covered and baked a large variety of plastic containers with good results. Since the temperature for baking is only 250 degrees there hasnt been a problem with melting bottles yet! I use Sculpey, but other brands...
Repurposing Containers
LABEL all re-purpose containers. Even if you can remember everything you stored and in which container, other people have no clue as to what is now in an old container. LABEL IT! To ID the contents put a strip of frosted tape on top and write the contents and...
Saving Money on Calendars?
In the newspaper this morning Ask Marilyn said that for a set of generic yearly calendars that include every possible future year you would need 14 calendars. One with Jan. 1 on each of th seven days of the week for regular years, and one with the same for...
Disinfecting Wipes for Kitchen and Bath Clean Up
I refuse to have any of that antibacterial stuff in my house. The reason I am still so healthy at almost 80 years old is because my immune system was exposed to so much dirt all my life. You are not doing yourself any favors by killing all the household germs...
Stain Remover For Set-In Stains?
I have found that a pre-wash I get from Walmart called Great Value Stain Remover works really well even on old blood stains. The trick is to squirt it on and let it set for at least half an hour. Then wash in cool water.
Fixing Plastic Scissors Handle?
If you still have the handle piece that broke off there is an easy way to fix it. Others just tell you to use super glue, but the trick is to use superglue GEL. This will fill up cracks and will stay where you put it. I have fixed several pairs of plastic handled...
12 Days of Classic Christmas Cookies
You can add Cake Mix Cookies. Just add 1 stick of softened butter and 2 eggs to any cake mix to make a cookie batter. I usually add other things like nugmeg, vanilla, choc chips, coconut, peppermint chips, etc. Spoon it out and mash down with bottom of glass...
Keep an Emergency Envelope in Your Purse
I never leave my handbag in a cart under any circumstances! Since I was 11 years old I have carried a handbag that hangs off one shoulder and never leaves that shoulder when I am shopping. My wallet and my phone are connected to my purse with a cord so no one...
Keep an Emergency Envelope in Your Purse
If you belong to the Kaiser health plan you can get a thumb drive with your medical record on it to keep in your purse. It is also possible to buy these through various catalogs.
Christmas Lights for Night Lights
Good idea!! I have used the red bulbs in my nightlights for years. They are getting harder to find, but I got some at Walmart last year. Sometimes you can find them at the Salvation Army or Goodwill in their Christmas shelves.
Christmas Lights for Night Lights
Great minds think alike! I have been using the red ones in my night lights for years. Since everything is LED now days, the only place to get them is GoodWill. All though I did find some at Walmart last year.
What Kind of Tree is This?
Thanks for the suggestion. The place here that sells trees knows nothing. County Agent? Whats that? How do I find one? Several friends and I have all looked at all the pictures in all of our tree books (5 different books!), but cant find anything with that...
What Kind of Tree is This?
Thanks so much for your tree link! After poking around at the site a little bit, it turns out that what we have growing here in Gilroy, CA is Brachychiton Populneus. That is an exact match! It is a relief to find that the seeds are edible as it is planted at...
Recycle Mattress Cover for Quilt Filling
I made quilts for wedding presents for my grandchildren out of the acrylic fabric you find in old muu muus. Since I am pretty lazy the quilt blocks are usually 10 squares. The backing is a polar fleece blanket. There is no middle as that would make it too heavy...
Making a Fabric Wall Hanging
For a temporary fabric wall try this solution used by Service wives who have to move a lot. Soak sheets in liquid starch and wring out then use a squeegee to paste them on the wall. It will stick and dry. When you want to move and take it with you just loosen...
Sign and Date Your Crafts
My quilts usually consist of 9 blocks because Im a lazy, machine quilter. I always send one block to my daughter because she has an embroidery machine that will do any design or font. The last block she did for me said Made with love by Grandma (my name) for...
Remedy for Muscle Spasms?
I heard about the quinine thing many years ago, but it was to drink Tonic Water which has quinine in it. You can get it at the grocery store. This may or may not work for you. An 8oz glass in the evening seems to work. I have found that it also helps to keep...
Making Vests With Pre-Quilted Fabric?
To make a really FLAT flat-felled seam with quilted fabric do this. Make standard 5/8 seams. Trim one side of the seam down to 1/4 or slightly less. Pull out all the batting you can from this layer. On the other side of the seam trim the inside fabric down...
Ideas for Mother's 80th Birthday?
For my 80th birthday we had a very small celebration with just family at a restaurant. One daughter made me a tshirt that says HOLY CRAP...IM 8O! And the other one made a polar fleece vest on which she had sewed 80 buttons. I add another button every year!
Making a Table Cloth from a Doily Pattern?
I have Coats & Clarks book of pineapple patterns from 1946. Contact me with your mailing address and I will copy and send a couple of patterns that will enable you to make a pineapple doily of as large a diameter as you wish. The directions are too long to...
Resizing a Large T-Shirt
To make the neckline smaller in a large size knit ladies blouse/t-shirt is easy. Use elastic cord and a big blunt pointed yarn needle. Push it through the binding on the neckline. When you get to the end gather the neckline as much as you need to then cut off...
Weekly Errands Master List
I use sticky notes on my bathroom mirror for appointments etc. that I dont want to miss. This works better for me than on the fridge as I look at the mirror every morning when I brush my hair. The fridge door has so much stuff on it that anything posted there...
Uses for Prescription Bottles
If you are going to make a key hider to go in your garden, I would suggest that you glue a rock to the BOTTOM of the pill bottle. My experience is that the glued-on rock pops off the plastic top when I try to open the pill bottle.
Small Wildlife Under a House?
When you do finally get rid of the critters you need to make sure the skirting on your mobile home is tight without any holes for them to get in again. We have lived in a mobile home park for 16 years. Critters can get into smaller holes than you can imagine...
Hiding Places for Cash at Home
Now all the millions of readers know where to look for cash. I hope none of them are thieves! Publishing those ideas here doesnt seem like a good idea to me. Now I will be sure not to use any of those places if I ever have any cash to hide.
Hiding Places for Cash at Home
Just be sure you tell the person who will be cleaning out your stuff after you pass so they will look for the cash. My daughter is my executrixe so she knows everything.
Keeping Track of Appointments
I write day, date, time and occasion on a bright post-it note and stick it on my bathroom mirror. This seems to be more effective for me since I see it every time I brush my teeth or wash my hands. There is already so much stuff on the fridge that reminders...
Keeping Track of Appointments
My bathroom mirror is very large. To remember appointments I just write the information on a sticky note and put it on my mirror. I keep the dates lined up in order and put the current postit right in the middle where I will have to see it in the morning. Since...
Keeping Track of Appointments
I stick post-it notes along the side of my bathroom mirror. Since I will be in front of that mirror at least twice a day to brush my teeth, I will never miss seeing all those notes. The bottom one is always the most current one so I move that one to the middle...
Keeping Track of Appointments
Use postit notes on your bathroom mirror. That way you see them every time you brush your teeth. The super sticky ones never fall off.
Setting Dye in Silk Fabric?
Update on original question: These are handkerchief silk garments that are commercially dyed. I have no idea what they use for dye. Do you mean that I should use the vinegar/water recipe and heat the water with the garment in the water? I tried soaking one...
Using Clay Pots Outside?
The Salvation Army store or any thrift store are good places to get saucers for your pots. Get a plate with edges that curve up a little to keep the water off the deck. You can get plates to fit just about any size pot.
Getting Started with Quiltmaking?
Make your quilt top with squares as Redhatter describes. I usually make my squares about 9. Dont even bother with batting. The 40 x 60 microfleece throws that you can get at the drugstore or WalMart are the perfect size for a child. Or sew 2 of them together...
Too Many Unfinished Craft Projects?
Keep in mind that you can finish a project by choosing to not to finish it. Then put all the materials and instructions in a big ziploc and take it to your local Senior Center. There are usually people there who like to have these projects. Just because you...
Reusing Onion and Orange Mesh Bags
I live in a mobile home with aluminum awnings. I crumple the bags and put them at the ends of the dips in the awnings to keep the leaves from going into the gutter that runs across the ends. That way the water goes through and the gutter keeps working.
Hemming the Neck of a T-shirt
?
I run a line of stiching around the neck about half inch away from the frayed part of the neck. Then cut off the frayed part just past the nasty holes. Turn it over to the inside right at the line of stitching and make a line of stitching. Make the turn-over...
Reuse Sheet, Blanket, and Comforter Bags
I store all my yarn in the big comforter bags. That way I can see all the colors. The bags stack very well in the bottom of my closet.
Keep Lemon Wedges in the Freezer
I store my lemons on their tree. It produces lemons all year here in Central California near San Jose. When they ripen too much and fall off I just rake them up and put them in my compost bin. When I need the juice I just pick some and squeeze them into ice...
Self-Watering Using Milk Jugs?
If you use milk jugs with tight fitting tops they will not drain as quickly.
Preventing a Dog from Peeing on Plants?
Try putting little dishes of straight ammonia around the area. It keeps the cats from dumping in our yard. Maybe it will work with dogs. The animals dont care much for that smell. I get my half gallons at the 99cent store.
Patch Kids Pants With Shirt Sleeves
In observing all the people wearing jeans on the street, I am under the impression that it is quite the style to wear them full of holes. It even costs more to buy a pair that already has holes! If you are a style dinosaur, like me, I would use iron-on patches...
Use Your Bathroom Mirror as a Reminder Board
I use postit notes and line them up by date on my bathroom mirror. I keep a pad of them and a pen in the bathroom for this. When the dated appointment, chore, etc is finished the note goes in the trash. Anything for the next day goes right in the middle in...
Use Your Bathroom Mirror as a Reminder Board
I just use the super sticky PostIt notes arranged all along one side of the mirror in order of date. The most recent is at the bottom. When that one is done it is just thrown away and everything is moved down. Be sure to keep PostIts and a pen in the bathroom...
Store Glue and Fabric Paint Upside Down
For my Scribbles acrylic paints I use the boxes that individual hard soaps come in. Cut them in half and store 2 bottles upside down in each half-box. Store all of these couples in a shoe box. This way they dont all fall over when you take out one or two to...
Turn Old Sweaters Into Leg Warmers
I use old sweatshirts for knee warmers. Cut off sleeve at shoulder seam. Cut off the rest of the sleeve above the knitted cuff. Attach a clip-on elastic (like the ones used to keep sheets on the bed) to the highest part of the sleeve. Clip the other end to...
Dental Floss for Sturdy Buttons
About 45 years ago, when my daughters and I were very involved with Belly Dancing we would sew the coins on the costumes with dental floss. Despite much movement when we danced, the coins and other decorations never broke the floss!
Looking for Old Fairy Tales Book?
Try Dover Books. www.doverpublications.com If you put Blue Fairy Book in their search box you will get a page with all the colors of this series. I remember reading them all in the early 50s. You will be amazed how many tales there are!
Invasive Plants and How You Can...
Some are so pretty when you first see them, like wild violets. Then they just take over your yard. It has taken me 2 years to get rid of most of them with a combination of RoundUp and just pulling. Still not over, but at least there are very few now!
Using Pencil in Address Books
I use an address book that will accept more pages. When I run out of room for name changes I add another page. This is a history book for me with all the old information. I was able to find out a lot about my mother from her address book. Erasing pencil marks...
Using a Cake Mix That's Expired?
I make many batches of cookies every Christmas from cake mixes that I purchase on sale all year and have never had any complaints. I dont worry too much about the dates, but do use the oldest boxes first. The recipe is... to one box of cake mix, add one large...
Have Kids Write Notes in the Busy Morning
I put sticky notes on the big mirror in my bathroom to remind myself about appointments etc. This works a lot better for me than sticking them on the fridge which already has too much stuff on it. I arrange them so that the most current reminder is right in...
Have Kids Write Notes in the Busy Morning
I use postit notes on my bathroom mirror to record dates for various appointments and gigs lined up by date. That way I see them every morning. When the event is over I throw away the note.
Hang Family Calendar in the Bathroom
I put sticky notes on my large bathroom mirror arranged by date. That way I cant miss them!
Frugal Halloween Costumes for Children and Adults
I agree. There are lots of original and creative possibilities for costumes that are not offensive to anyone.
Decorative Gift Magnets
I bought a roll of magnetic wallpaper that is intended to be put on the inside of your school locker. It was about 8-9 wide and about 2 long. Then I put stickers on it that I got at the craft store and cut them out. It made a LOT of magnets that I then sold...
Save Rose Petals For Future Wedding
I have an oven that uses a pilot light so it is warm in the oven all the time. To dry my rose petals I spread them on cookie sheets and leave them in the oven for about 24 hours. The petals will come out darker than the original rose. For instance, Mister Lincoln...
Silver Jewelry Leaving Black Marks on T-shirts?
The one time I went down into one of the dormant craters on the island of Hawaii I was wearing a set of sterling hairpins to keep my hair up. When I took them out later at home they were tarnished! Probably the sulpher fumes in the crater. I guess the lesson...
Plants That Produce Unusual, Distinctive Seed Pods?
Love-in-a-mist or Nigella. It produced really weird pods. Caution, it is very invasive. The seeds wind up every where.
Origami Garbage Bin
Where are the instructions for making this item? Unfair to show us all these neat things to do with it without also offering instructions about how to make it!
Keep Car Keys on Bedside Table
Can you think of some kind of alternative to this for those of us who dont have that kind of key? You have to actually put the key in the lock and twist it to get into my 2000 Hyundai. Not everyone can afford those fancy new keys.
Reuse Silica Desiccant Packets in Packages
If you have a gas oven with pilot light that keeps it warm you can put them on a cookie sheet in there overnight to dry out again. I put them in my boxes of old photos and in the plastic boxes where I store all the letters my parents wrote to each other during...
Shop Other Thrift Stores Before Goodwill
The Gilroy, CA Good Will store discounts a certain color tag by 20% for a week. For instance, this week it is yellow tags. I have noticed that on the last 2 or 3 days of that color there will be employees going around and removing anything with that color tag...
Bake Brownies in Cupcake Liners
If you use foil cupcake cups and only put in half the recommended amount you can fold over the edges after they are baked and put them in plastic bags and stash them in the freezer. I do this for my brownies that have an unusual ingredient in them.
Bake Brownies in Cupcake Liners
Use foil cupcake cups and only put about a third of batter in them. After they are baked and cooled you can fold the excess foil over the top and preserve them in your freezer in a plastic bag. This works really well if you have put some spice in your brownies...
Is .925 Silver Worth Anything?
http://www.silverrecyclers.com/Calculators/gold_calculator.aspx This website will tell you the current value of 925 Sterling and/or Fine silver, also gold values.
Garbage Disposal Cleaner
I hardly ever use my disposal. Almost all of the stuff you normally would put down it is compostable. So, in my house, all of that just goes in my green yard waste can and the garbage trucks pick it up once a week to go in their compost piles. About once a...
Trace Patterns Off Computer Screen
Just make sure you are using some kind of pencil that wont bleed through the paper or make an indentation on your screen. I wouldnt want to try it on my LCD screen - a new printer (as low as $50) would be a lot less expensive than a new (at least $130) monitor...
Use Foam Shapes and Alphabet Blocks to Make Stamps
What do you mean by tag artist? In this area (California) someone who is a tag artist is a vandal who draws (tags) graffitti and/or gang symbols on other peoples property - fences, buildings, railroad cars, etc.
Rag Rug Instructions
First of all, if you are crocheting you will be using a HOOK, not a needle. Needles are used for knitting or sewing. Probably a very large hook like a Q or bigger will work the best.
Keep Your Purse Safe When Dining Out
My purse never leaves my shoulder anywhere I shop. Wallet and phone are attached to purse strap with clips on lanyards so I can pull them out for use, but no one can walk away with them without pulling on my purse. That also keeps me from leaving them somewhere...
Mayonnaise To Clean Plant Leaves
Mayonaise (or anything similar such as salad oil or banana peel) is NOT a good thing to use to clean house plant leaves. It leaves a gummy residue that collects even more dust. Water is the best thing to use. Mother Nature uses this for all her plants, surely...
Mosquito Problems, Decorate with Geraniums?
Garlic helps too. Use a lot of it in your cooking or just suck on a clove. There have been scientifice studies about this that proove it really works. I eat a lot of garlic and am not bothered by mosquitos. It may help that I live in Gilroy!
"The Vial Of Life" For Emergency Information
If you belong to Kaiser you can get a thumb drive with all of your medical history on it to keep in your purse. The first one costs $5 and they will update it for free. All anyone has to do is plug it in to the nearest computer.
Crochet Tips for Beginners
I have always used a small metal hair clip, the kind you bend to open, then bend back to close, to keep my place when crocheting. You can get these in sizes from half inch to 2 inches. They work better than a paper clip as the end does not get caught in the...
Uses for Old Sheet Music
Just because it is out of date doesnt mean no one wants to listen to it anymore. My S O plays in a piano bar and he still gets requests for songs that are a lot older than I am - 77! I agree with all those who suggested that you try to find someone who would...
Remembering To Take Items With You
I put things in my purse to be sure that I take them with me. If they wont fit they go right in front of the door that I use to get to my car. Sometimes I just put things in the car as soon as I remember that they have to go with me, even if it is late at night...
Transfer Soap to a Smaller Bottle
If you will put your soap in a pump bottle it will be even easier to use. I use Soft Soap 7.5oz pump containers. I get them at our local 99cent store and refill with cheaper soap when they are empty.
Making Wind Chimes
At the risk of sounding like an old curmudgeon, let me remind all the wind chime people out there that some of your neighbors do not enjoy all that chaotic and constant noise. The sound of silence is what we enjoy most.
Uses for Lipstick?
Why would anyone want a tube filled with a bunch of straw bristles? What on earth would you use this for? I cant picture it.
Stretching Expensive Lip Gloss
I save all the used lip gloss containers. When I have 5 or 6, I sit down with a pointed steel nail file and dig out what is left in the little cup and stuff it into an empty lip gloss tube. It is possible to save a lot of money this way. After all, you pay...
Turn a Used Box Inside Out
I turn cardboard shoe boxes inside out - just figure out where the flaps are hooked together on the inside. This makes a box to use for craft supplies that will fit on most any shelf. I use a felt tip pen to write on the box about the contents. Or you can just...
The Joys of Recycling
I have heard that running a strong magnet over the scan bar on the back of a credit card will ruin any information stored there. My daughter used to work in a casino office and she said that people who carried their cards in EELSKIN wallets would have trouble...
Onion Smell in My Apartment?
Why in the world would you want to get rid of that lovely fragrance? The only better one is the fragrance of Garlic! I am not being sarcastic, I really enjoy both of those odors! It just shows that there are a great variety of opinions in this wonderful United...
If You Are Overcharged at WalMart
At the Walmart here in California I am usually surprised by finding a lower price charged on sale items - Shorts marked on sale for $7 and rang up for $3. I always use the ring it up yourself kiosks in all stores, including Safeway, etc. so that I can see right...
Bananas and Mosquito Bites
Eating a lot of foods with a lot of garlic in them works well too. It is a scientific proven fact that garlic eaters dont get mosquito bites. The mosquitos hate the smell.
Buying Bargain Books
Another place to buy books is the Friends of the Library book sales at various local libraries. The money they make from these books benefits the library. The Friends will take most donated books, both paperback and hardcover, for these sales. Ive gotten some...
Poll: How many shopping reward cards for stores do you carry with you?
I dont need to actually carry any of those cards. All the stores in my area will take my phone number instead of the card.
Lime Deposits in a Teakettle
We have very hard water in our area, too. About every 2 weeks I fill my teakettle with white vinegar, heat it up, then let it sit all afternoon. I then pour the vinegar back into its bottle and use one of those sponges with the green stuff on the back to scrub...
