December 2, 2004

Inexpensive Sponge CakeThis is wonderful with fresh fruit on top with some Cool Whip.

 

Good Sugar CookiesMix together margarine (softened) and powdered sugar. Add egg and vanilla. Beat well...

 

Refurbishing Rubbermaid Drain BoardsI have Rubbermaid drain boards on the counters next to my sink. They had begun to look faded from being cleaned all the time. We have very hard water and I use vinegar to remove calcium deposits. I got tired of looking at them so the other day after cleaning them once again, I grabbed the liquid car wax and spread it on. I let it dry and then polished it with a soft cloth. They looked almost new again! By jeangnome46

 

Firestarters and Yule Log GiftRecycle metal coffee cans by making firestarter kits with them. I have friends and family with fireplaces (who also camp). I've made the firestarters with melted candles over sawdust in egg cartons and pine cones before. Toss them in baskets from the Goodwill.

 

Opening Tuna Fish CansI love Tuna Fish but hate opening the cans due to them being messy. So, to make it easier and less messy, I take 2 tuna cans, but one under the other, and open the can with my manual can opener.

 

Save Money by Taking Your Own Family Holiday Portraits

The secret to taking great family portraits is to have a colorful background, have everyone dress in colors that match or contrast with the background, have plenty of natural light, and take the shots as close as possible. -- Cindy added some more tips so if you've already read this, look again! More . . .

 

Check Online for CouponsPrior to shopping, I visit the store's website to see if there is a current coupon I can print.

 

Second Use for Denture CleanerHere's a quickie toilet cleaning tip I use. After having soaked my dentures in denture cleaner, I pour the used cleaning mixture right into the toilet, let it sit a few minutes than give it a quick swish with a brush. This way you get 2 uses out of those expensive denture cleaning tablets! By Marilyn

 

No-Sew Tree SkirtFor an easy and economical tree skirt, I purchased a round holiday tablecloth (vinyl front, flannel back). I cut a small hole in the center and cut a straight line from the hole to the outer edge. It works great, is easy to clean & my kids love the design.

 

KoolAid Ice CubesDifferent colored ice cubes made of KoolAid make an exciting looking, as well as an unusually flavored drink when added to lemonade. Remember to use good judgment.

 

Tip For The (ahem) ToothfairyI use a pretty pill box (available at most pharmacies) - the ones intended to carry pills for when you're on the go - for my daughters when they lose a tooth. I have my daughter place the tooth in the box and then put it under their pillow before bed. This makes it easier for the Toothfairy to find in the dark. Then, when my daughters wake up in the morning, they find the empty pill box and the Toothfairy's gift in a ziploc bag, as the pill box isn't large enough usually to hold the gift. By Melissa from Missouri

 

Yahoo! Autos - Looking for a new car?Get competative price quotes for cars in your area. Having a competitive price quote in hand will give you the advantage before you set foot on the lot. You'll have the information you need to get a good deal. This service is totally free, with no obligation to buy.

 

Makeup Bag For Feminine ProductsI got tired of having to worry if I had enough "girl stuff" packed when I had to go somewhere, and I wanted to keep my occasional need for "girl stuff" private. So, I purchased a small makeup bag and filled it with travel O.B. brand and travel liners.

 

Reusing Deli Containers For Baked GoodsI save and wash deli containers (the kind potato salad comes in). I use them to send "squishable" stuff like brownies and cookies with lunches to keep them from being smashed, and if I don't get them back, not a big deal. By Camilla

 

Buying Good IngredientsFalse economy ends up costing more in the long run. While it may be less expensive to buy unhealthy ingredients for cooking, health and nutrition suffer. I use real butter and olive oil in cooking. While it may cost more in the short run, my family is healthier for it. Costs can be reduced by buying on sale and in bulk quantities. An added bonus is that the food tastes better. By Lynn

 

Christmas Countdown For KidsTo help the kids with counting down till Christmas and wanting to open presents I get small inexpensive gifts for as many days before Christmas as I like. I usually do two weeks. I buy small erasers, pencils, sweets, etc. and wrap each individually.

 

A Christmas Theme for Your RoomHow about decorating along a theme this Christmas? Spice up your decorating projects for this Holiday season by using a theme.

 

Food and Fun Recipe Cookbook For Kids?I am doing a prodject in language arts, I'm supposed to make a mini cookbook with recipes for children. If anyone has any links or ideas please respond. juniorbaker

 

Gift Baskets Ideas for My Dad?I like to make gifts for my parents and this year I want to make gift baskets but I dont have one for my dad. I just don't know what to put in it. Any ideas? Please help. Casey

 

Cutting Wine Corks in Half?For Christmas, I am going to make a bunch of wine cork trivets. Does anyone have any suggestions as to the easiest way to cut them in half. I have tried the knife and that will be time consuming.... any other ideas out there would be appreciated. Kari

 

Uses for Fish Tank Water?What do you do with the leftover water from your fish tank maintenance?

 

Removing Old Ball Point Pen From Jersey?I'm trying to remove a (don't laugh) 10 year old ball point pen autograph from a valuable jersey (the vinyl number part-which is white). I tried alcohol which seemed to smear, gonzo stain remover, non-acetone fingernail polish remover. Nothing is working. I'm getting so desperate I'm thinking of white out! Any ideas out there? Kim

 

Birds Aren't Interested in Suet?I've hung an onion bag of suet next to my regular platform feeder for several weeks now, and haven't noticed a single bird partaking of it. We get lots of sparrows, finches, and junkoes at the feeder, but none seem interested in the suet bag.

 

Decorating Plastic Mugs?I bought some 32 oz. plastic travel mugs with the intent of decorating them. Can anybody reccomend a painting technique that would be dishwasher durable or other craft technique that would be dishwasher durable that I could use to decorate them?

 

Making Your Own Vinegar?I am looking for a recipe for making your own vinegar at home - any kind of vinegar will do. Thanks, Anita from Arizona