Daily Thrifty Tips
Volume Four, Number 187 August 3 2005
http://www.ThriftyFun.com
Hello,
We are running a bit low on photo contest entries. It's not unusual for ThriftyFun to be a little slower in the summer. It's a great time to be outside, instead of in front of the computer. But, if you get chance, please snap a picture of your favorite craft, pet, home improvement accomplishment or garden decoration and submit it on the contest form.
We also have been wanting to send some money to help the people currently starving in Niger. So for every photo contest entry submitted between now and Friday at midnight we will donate $2 to UNICEF's Emergency Relief for Children of Niger. You can submit your photo at the link below.
Photo Contest!
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Thanks for reading,
Susan
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Today's newsletter contains:
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Today's Tips:
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Today's Photos
Sock Can Pin Cushion
By Rela Ann For those of you who do a lot of sewing, you will like this second idea: 2nd way to use those socks is to make a pin cushion!
Ingredients:
- Any socks but one with a terry cloth side is preferred because of its softness when folded/rolled.
- Can (Size depending on your requirement. Remove paper labels. Open one side. Make sure there are no sharp edges. File sharp edge if necessary.) In this example, we used a fruit mini-can.
- Scissors
- Glue
- Gift wrapper and ribbon remnant pieces, other decors
Method/Instructions:
1. Roll the sock so that it fits the can with a slight bulge at the top. Make sure the terry cloth side is exposed.
2. Measure the height of the can between the upper and lower tab. Cut a rectangular piece of gift wrapper with a height equal to the measured height. Do not worry about the lenth - you can cut it down later.
3. Paste the rectangular piece of gift wrapper around the can, making sure that it is all covered. Cut the length where appropriate (for example, the design becomes concealed because of the length.)
4. For finishing touches, decorate the can. In this example, a small blue ribbon is glued just below the upper tab. Again, cut the ribbon length as appropriate. A little overlap is good. A small peach ribbon is added where the blue ribbon overlap is. 4 small beads are glued in the middle of the peach ribbon.
No more pins or needles laying around anywhere, waiting to prick you!
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Toto - One hot dog
One hot dog cooling off. It gets very hot in Houston.
By Thomas
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Wedding Table Coverings
Here is a picture of the very inexpensive table coverings we used at my daughter's wedding reception. The bottom coverings were only $1/each from Dollar Tree and the top were lace tablecloths from Dollar General Store purchased for $5 each.
By Robin
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Simple Wedding Scrapbook Pages
By Kelli Mahoney Scrapbooking can be fun, but when you have all that stuff from a wedding, it can get overwhelming. However, that "stuff" can make for more interesting pages. Some avid scrapbookers will tell you to make sure you seal off anything that is not on archival paper, but if you make copies of all of your photos, you can put is all on one page without worries.
Materials:
- Fancy scrapbook page (mine has a cream floral pattern on tan)
- Double sided scrapbook tape
- Design scrapbook scissors with elegant edge
- Scissors
- Tan or cream Scrapbook paper
- Doilies
- Wedding photos, program, seating card, and other items.
Directions:
Use the fancy page as your base, and lay out your items on each page. I like to put the program on the first page, as you then do not need to create a title for the page. In this case, I added a doily, because the program was too large to also add a photo. Then place your photos, doilies, and other items as they fit on a page. They do not have to be in chronological order.
For each photo, tape them onto the tan or cream paper, and then cut around them with the design scissors in order to create a frame. This adds a touch of elegance to the page, but it does not take a lot of time. Use the double-sided tape to fasten everything to the page. I like to put the Thank You note at the end, too, but you don't have to put the pictures in chronological order. Put them in the order you like.
In the end, you'll have pages as elegant as the event.
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More Bunnie
This is Bunnie my one year old Bob Tail cat. My sister's neighbor had a black bob tail cat and it got with her yellow long tail tabby and this is the results. There were three bob tails and two long tails born. My sister brought her to me from Alabama to NC. She likes to play with my 1-1/2 year old Mini pin Tazzy, play with the other three kitty cats, go outside, eat snacks and sit in her favorite chair that I bought for her to keep her off the couch and bed. It worked she loves it as you can see. No more cat hair on the couch.
Oh, she also likes to sit in my lap and sleep. She is intriged with the phone. When the phone rings she jumps in my lap and starts purring. If I am not at home, the answering machine come on and she jumps on the bed and is sitting there staring at the phone when I come home. When there is movement the phone beeps, maybe it is beeping also. Instead of switching a tail she purrs. She has a good personality or shall I say attitude.
There are more pictures of Bunnie in her chair at:
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Today's Tips
A Priest, A Rabbi and a Minister Fishing Joke
A priest, a rabbi and a minister go fishing on a rare day off. They row their boat out a ways from shore and put down an anchor. The boat moves just a little bit here and there. They are enjoying being "away" from their jobs, the fishing is very relaxing, and they exchange funny stories about their lives.
The priest says: "Well, I have to go and use nature's rest room." He steps out of the boat, and walks on top of the water to shore, does his thing and walks on top of the water back to the boat and gets back in.
The rabbi is astonished but says nothing. A while later, the minister says: "Well, I guess it's my turn now." He gets out of the boat, walks on the water to shore, and does his thing and returns to the boat by walking on the water and gets back in the boat.
The rabbi is again amazed, saying nothing. When it comes time for the rabbi to "do his thing", he tells himself that if they can do it so can he. So he steps out of the boat, and plunges into the water. The priest and the minister help him back into the boat. They look at each other, and the minister says: "Shall we show him where the rocks are?"
By Angellface
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Preparing for Christmas In July (or August)
By Sharon Shearer Here are some fun things to do and make ahead for this Christmas. Kids will be back in school soon and Moms will have a little extra time on their hands. Think ahead and make a list of those special people on your yearly shopping list. Let this be the year you surprise them with handmade decorations and baked goods, instead of going out and buying a last minute gift. Here are a few suggestions I have found useful over the years. My family and friends love them since these are things they don't do themselves.
Gingerbread Ornaments:
Make Gingerbread Men using a jar of cinnamon, 1 cup of Applesauce and a small bottle of school glue. Mix by hand and roll out to 1" thick. Cut with a cookie cutter which cuts only a shape (Don't use the flat kind which makes a pattern, these will stick to the dough). After these are cut out and laid on a flat surface (a thick piece of cardboard works fine) let these dry on their own. This will take several days. Turn them every day or so to keep them flat. These are so cute and smell good. I have some I've had for years. They are, however, fragile and easy to break, so be careful with them.
Felt Ornaments:
Felt Ornaments are easy to make. Dig up some old scrap material and make patterns of different shapes. I make stars, Gingerbread men, snowmen and trees. Sew them together and leave a small hole to stuff with craft batting. After stuffing and sewing up the hole you used, take a needle and embroidery thread and chain stitch around the sides for an old fashion look. To make the chain effect, sew as you normally would, but before going on to the next stitch catch your needle UNDER the top of the previous stitch. This will make a line ACROSS the top to the next stitch. Repeat this all around the sewn ornament. Practice chain stitch on a scrap piece of material until you get the effect you are satisfied with.
Hot Pads:
Hot Pads are easily made with scrap material and stuffed with good smelling finely crushed potpourri, cloves and cinnamon. They give out a wonderful aroma when used.
Baked Goods:
Make baked goods for gifts, which can be frozen. End of summer produce sales are a good place to get Zucchini. I also do Banana bread from leftover Bananas which I've frozen and pumpkin bread. Store in the freezer with a good ziplock bag. Stored properly, these will thaw out fine for gift giving.
Crocheted Items:
Crocheted kitchen towels are fun and I do them while sitting and watching TV in the evenings. Using a kitchen towel, fold in the middle and cut it so that you have two half-towels. Using crochet thread and needle begin your crochet by punching a hole in the top of the towel and single crochet the first row punching through the towel top. Do two rows of single crochet. Then add on three rows of double crochet, skipping between each stitch so that the towel is becoming smaller.
After that is finished single crochet the handle on. It will take about 5 single crochets (and turning after each row) to make the handle. Do this 10 times. When finished sew on a button to hang the towel. With this project you get two for $1. Ask a friend who crochets to help you learn this if it sounds too complicated. It's really relaxing and makes great gifts.
Gift Baskets:
The back-to-school sales are a great time to stock up on personal care items (Shower supplies, lotions, razors, deodorants and scrubbies). A basket full of these make a great gift. Baskets can be purchased at yard sales.
These are only a few suggestions but they are gifts that can be made in advance to prevent last minute gift buying when the Holidays come.
By Sharon Shearer
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Add Almond Oil to Lotion
My grandmother was very careful with her skin she always bought a small bottle of Almond oil and added it to all of her store bought lotions. It makes a huge difference in the moisture and can be added to almost any type of lotion. Add about a teaspoon or tablespoon depending on size of bottle. Just add and shake. Hope it helps!
By Lisa
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Double Knotting Laces
I often take care of a little girl with a profound learning disability. When she wears tennis shoes with laces she hates to have them double-knotted. Her latest pair of tennis shoes has a "2" embroidered at the top of the tongue. So I told her that the "2" meant that those shoe laces had to be double-knotted. She still doesn't like it but she accepts her laces being double-knotted.
By Carole
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Spreading Crunchy Peanut Butter
Okay, do you know how, when you are making peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, and if you use crunchy peanut butter, it tears up the bread? Well, I've found that putting the peanut butter on a plate (the amount that you plan to use), and putting it into the microwave for about a minute softens it up enough that you can spread it onto the bread WITHOUT having to tear up the bread and making a gigantic mess.
By Jasmine
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Minor Burn Remedy
If you ever get a light burn on your fingers, my grandmother always said to bury your fingers in your scalp for a little while. It will take the heat away. And, also she would put dirt in a bowl and add water and make mud. It's a cooling reaction and, it works. : )
By Cheri - Niles, Ohio
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Salting Vegetables
Do not put salt on vegetables while cooking them. It will cause the veggie to lose some of its vitamins. Salt afterwards.
By Angellface
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New Contest - More Prizes
We are giving away 16 $25 prizes in a variety of categories.
Tip Contest!
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Photo Contest!
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Contest ends August 31, 2005
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New Requests
Cleaning a Burberry Purse
I have a Burberry purse. Anyone who knows what that is knows what kind of material it is. It is a vinyl material. I got some dirt on it. I don't know what it was from but its black and faded.
Any suggestions on how to clean it?
Reena
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Helping My Best Friend Who Is Getting Married
My best friend since high school is getting married next year and she is already driving me nuts. I am her maid of honor and so, of course, I want to help her in anyway possible. Well everything I try to suggest or give advice on is just shrugged off with a whatever or I don't care.
We live far away from one another so (sad to say, thankfully) I am not there in person or I would go nuts. Should I just stand back and let her do it all? She is having issues with her family and the wedding and I understand that but I don't want her attitude. It drives me away from helping her. Any suggestions?
Texasteacher
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Small Galvanized Trash Can
I'm looking for a galvanized trash can in a 3 or 4 gallon size. The larger outdoor sizes are usually 20 to 30 gallons. I've looked everywhere.
Karen from nebraska
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New Floors for Cheap!
I've never been crazy about the carpet in our living room. I want to do some kind of tile floor or hard flooring. Any tips on installing tile or has anyone painted/stenciled, or done anything with the plywood under the carpet with any luck?
Sandy
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I Eat Too Much - Tips for Eating Less
This is a pretty basic request. It may seem silly but I think a lot of people have this problem. I eat way too much. Especially at restaurants. I love Mexican food and with anything I order, the portions are enormous. I eat too much at home as well. I don't eat until I am sick to my stomach, but I know eat more than I need to survive and be healthy and every year I gain a little more weight. Has anyone out there conquered this problem? What are some strategies, tips, or tricks to keep yourself from eating too much?
Thanks,
Jerry
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Lilacs and Butterflies
What type of Lillacs attracts buterflies? I read that a thin lillac bush is one. Yet i did not get any other info on the subject. Can you help me on this problem? And thanks in advance for your time.
Linda Paradise
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Cleaning Up Spilled Household Ammonia
Can anyone tell me what to do if you spill clear, common household ammonia on a rug or, in fact, on anything at all? I don't have kitty litter and I live in an apt. I opened windows, doors, etc., but I still don't feel comfortable that I don't know EXACTLY what to do when I spill ammonia. I am transitioning from expensive household products to homemade and vinegar, baking soda, borax I can deal with.
Spilling the ammonia today freaked me out, though. I called poison control to get advice but I still feel like I need advice from seasoned pros. So, what do I do when I spill ammonia on rugs, canvas bags, workout gloves, walkman carrier, and so on? Thanks so much.
Newbie
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Removing Sharpie Marker from Cement
Okay, this may sound lame but does anybody know how to get sharpie off cement? We had a few vandilizers and need help!
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Painting Over Wallpaper
Removing all the wallpaper in my house seems like such a hassle. Could I just paint over the wallpaper? If so, should I prime it? Any tips or warnings?
Thanks!
Chris from CA
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Pug with Black Smelly Skin
I own a 5 year old pug. Since he was 6 months old, he has had non-stop ear infections, yeast, staph, etc. He has seen 2 very good vets and I am now getting ready to take him to a natural vet.
He has been on all different types of antibiotics, steroids and shampoos. He's tried different foods and vitamins. His skin now is very tough and turned black where he itches (which is everywhere). He smells like foot rot which makes up beleive it is yeast. I've even tried antifungal foot cream on him. I don't know what to do and feel like I'm being neglectful even though I have no more ideas.
Please help!
Pugsley
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How do I remove ivy gunk off of siding?
We are preparing our house to put it up for sale. Our realtor told us to take down the ivy that was growing up the brick and siding. Well we did as told and now we have this gunk left on the siding from where the ivy clings to the wall. We have tried power washing, elbow grease, Simply Green and bleach to no avail.
Does anyone know how to get this off the siding?
Michelle from Texas
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Perfume Bottle Won't Spray
I have some perfume that won't spray. I have cleaned the nozzles but still cannot get them to spray. Anyone have any tips to help they would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.
Bobbi
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Removing Asphalt from Jeans
My husband works with asphalt and he has it all over his jeans. How can i remove it? Please help? I'm a mother of 5 kids. Thank you. - texas
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Cutting Vinyl Tile For Around The Toilet
How do you cut the vinyl tile around your toilet and make it fit and look nice without pulling the toilet up?
Sandy
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