Friday, February 6, 2009

Frugal Uses for Glass Jars








Reusing Baby Jars and Other Glass Jars




BABY JAR USES:



Use them in the garage or basement to collect nails, screws, washers, and other loose materials.

You could also use them to store small paint samples when you repaint a room and have just a little bit of paint left in the can.


Keep a couple on a dresser to toss in loose change or stray buttons.


In the kitchen, use them for storing spices ? use one for each type of spice.



Root plants. Cut a branch off of a plant, then place it in a jar filled with

water. In a few weeks, roots will grow and a new plant will be started.


Have your kids paint them and use them for miniature flower pots.


Have yourkids paint them and use them as a treasure holder.


Use them to hold bath beads.


Make miniature Candles - here is a site that has directions - click here


Make a Santa candy holder- Decorate to look like Santa on the outside then fill with candy. Use felt, wiggle eyes and cotton for the beard.


Use them to store small pebbles for the fish tank.


Use them to store fish and turtle food.


Decorate them and store potpourri in them


Kids can use them to catch bugs!






Other Glass Jars, Larger Glass Jars, Spaghetti Jars



*I always save our spaghetti jars for crafts and other uses. My teen likes to use them to drink milk out of.

One craft using thm my ex mother lw tought me that I absolutely love is a Lighted Potporri Christmas Jar.

She didn't give it a name but it sure was pretty.

She would get small strands of colored Christmas lights (gold can be used too) and put them in a Spaghetti jar or Mason jar. She put it in in a spiral for with the plug on the outside.

She then filled it with cinnamon potpourri (you can use any kind)

Next she got a small round paper doily and put it over the top of the jar (make sure the cord is outside of it) and tied a red ribbon around it.

When you plug it in it heats up the potpourri and it's pretty. it also makes a great gift!! The kids love doing this also.



Some other things I use large glass jars for:

Homemade Piggy Banks

To hold water while painting

As a family money jar

My son collects rocks and puts them in jars

Decorate and use as drinking glasses.

Store homamde sauces and broth

Store crafting beads


There are several crafty uses for glass jars so don't throw them away!







(©) Frugal Nifty Tips 2009 All Rights Reserved






Posted by topwebfreebies at 4:13 PM
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Thursday, February 5, 2009

Frugal Tips - Uses for Broken Crayons





TIP #1


Gather up all of your broken crayons, and cut them into small pieces. (An adult will need to complete this step.)

Preheat the oven to 150 degrees.

Fill the muffin tin with an inch-thick layer of crayon pieces.

Bake 15-20 minutes, or until the wax is melted.

Allow the tin to cool; then pop out the crayons, and they're ready for use.





TIP #2



Rainbow Crayons


What you'll need:
old crayons
old muffin tins , empty tuna cans OR disposable muffin
aluminum foil (to line the muffin tins or cans



Directions:


Remove all the paper wrappers from the crayons. Go for the bright colored ones! Fill each can/tin with bits of different colored crayons (let the kids break up any larger pieces)

Try to keep pieces less than 1/2".

Fill about half way.

Bake the crayons in a preheated 300 f. oven for about 5-7 minutes.

Watch them closely! They'll melt quickly. Don't let them melt completely though, or it blends into one color.


Let them cool about 30 minutes before trying to remove them from their cans or tins. Usually they can be tapped out or you just have to peel the tin foil off.
You can make solid colors or the rainbow colored crayons.





TIP # 3



MAKE CANDLES OUT OF OLD/BROKEN CRAYONS



Supplies:


Paraffin wax
Discarded bits of crayons in the color of your choice
Empty coffee can
Old sauce pan (one that you will no longer be using for food preparation)
Glass jars or cardboard milk containers to use as candle molds
Vanilla extract Or other flavorings/scents
White packing string
Scissors
Tongs
Potholders
Safety glasses



DIRECTIONS:


Cut a length of string approximately six inches long to use as a wick. If you wish to add extra stability to your candle wick, you may want to try braiding together three lengths of string.


Melt your paraffin wax over medium heat in old coffee can placed in a pan of water. Paraffin is easily combustible, so it should never be heated directly above the burner. One pound of paraffin wax is enough to create one medium sized candle. After the water starts to boil, it should take between 10 and 15 minutes for the paraffin to melt completely


After you’ve removed any leftover paper packaging, add the bits of broken crayons to the melted paraffin wax until the desired color is achieved. If you add the crayons to the pot first, the color will make it hard to see if the paraffin has melted properly


Add a two to four teaspoons of vanilla extract per pound of paraffin wax if you wish to make a scented candle


Use your tongs to dip the bottom of your string into the melted paraffin. Tie the top of the string around the pencil and put the pencil across the top of the container to hold the wick in place


Slowly pour the paraffin and crayon mixture into your candle container. Use the potholders to protect your hands and the safety goggles to guard against splashing wax.


Wait 30 minutes to one hour to make sure your wax has time to cool. When your candle is set, snip off the wick about half an inch above the wax.


If you used a cardboard milk container to make your candle, carefully peel back the cardboard to reveal your finished creation





TIP #4

(this one the kids and I made up)


Use Broken Pieces for Artwork!


Simply use a crayon sharpener and have your kids sharpen the broken crayons into containers. Save the containers for craft projects. You can sort them by color if you wish.


Have your child draw a picture on cintruction paper using liquid Elmers School Glue. Then have your child sprinkle the crayon shaving all over the paper. Tap the paper to get rid of excess pieces. Let dry.

This makes a great colorful picture.


Also, you can do the same with was paper except after they draw the picture on one pice of wax paper and sprinkle the crayon shavings on it, cover it with another pice of wax paper the same size and run a hot iron over it.

It comes out really neat!

Use orange, yellow, brown and red for fall. And red and green for Christmas. Pastels for Easter



(©) Frugal Nifty Tips 2009 All Rights Reserved


Posted by topwebfreebies at 7:15 PM
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Thursday, January 29, 2009

Frugal Birthdays and Birthday Printables




Frugal Birthdays and Birthday Printables



FRUGAL BIRTHDAY TIPS:


Limit the number of guests.

You don’t have to invite every child in your son’s preschool class to the party. Be tactful and mail invitations, so nobody in class feels left out. I’ve heard the general rule is to invite one child for every year of your child’s age. If your child is turning 4, that means 4 guests. There are several benefits to limiting the number of guests.
None of the kids will be overwhelmed by the chaos
Your child won’t be overwhelmed with toys he doesn’t need
You need to buy (or make) fewer party supplies
It will actually be possible to throw a birthday party at home

Use the library. You can rent movies, games and music for free!

Plan ahead.
Chances are, if you are planning a party at the last minute, you will be spending more money than if you had planned ahead.
Planning ahead allows you to bargain shop.

Enlist the help of friends and family.

If you child does not have alot of friends don't bother with inviting everyone from his/her classroom. That just leads to hurt feelings. Instead invite over family. They will have just as much fun!

USE COUPONS!! Use coupons to buy your cake, frosting and supplies. It will cut your costs in HALF!!

Here are a few good places that usually have coupons for Betty Crocker, Pillsbury Eggs. Pam, paper and More:








*If your child is 10 and under they can eat out of their Birthday for FREE. Here is a list of places that have kids birthday clubs.

Finally, don’t stress over it.

Your attitude will be instrumental in your child having a good time. If you’re stressed, your child will pick up on it. If you’re in full-celebration mode, your everyone will have a great time, no matter how big or small the party is.


FREE BIRTHDAY PRINTABLES:


























MISC.....
















Posted by topwebfreebies at 6:09 PM
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Sunday, January 25, 2009

Frugal Uses for Fabric Softener Sheets


Frugal Uses for Fabric Softener Sheets


MY FAVES I ALWAYS DO:


Caked On Food
If you are having trouble getting baked on food out of a casserole dish, fill it with hot water. Add a fabric softener sheet. Let it soak for a couple of hours and then rinse. Most of the caked on food will slide right out, and the rest will come out with a swipe of the sponge.



Pots
Food that is burned onto a pot or skillet works the same way. Just fill with warm water and throw in a few dryer sheets. Let it soak for at least a half hour, but a couple of hours works best.


Sticking Clothes -

During the Winter I put a used fabric softener sheet in my pocket.

This helps prevent static cling. You can also rub it over your hair to get those flyaway strands.


REPEL BUGS -

It repels mosquitoes. Tie a sheet of Bounce through a belt loopwhen outdoors during mosquito season.


USED SHEETS ARE GREAT FOR - Dusting. I use leftover sheets to dust the washer and dryer. They also work great on tv and computer screens!


OTHER GREAT USES:


Collect cat hair. Rubbing the area with a sheet will magnetically attract all the loose hairs.


Eliminate odors in wastebaskets.


Stick one in your pillow case for a fresh scent while you are sleeping!


Put a sheet in your vacuum cleaner (bag).


Deodorize shoes or sneakers. Place a sheet in your shoes or sneakers overnight.


Remove Soap Scum – Use to wipe soap scum off your tub, tile and shower doors. No chemicals, no messy sprays or soaps, just wipe down your glass and tile walls with a dryer sheet and the soap scum is gone.


Clean those Blinds - Just clean each slat with a sheet. You’ll probably need more than one, but it will clean, shine and deter future buildup.


Freshen Drawers and Closets


Handyman’s Helper – Keep a box of dryer sheets on the workbench for quick cleanup after messy woodworking projects. A dryer sheet will pick up sawdust like metal to a magnet.


Tangle Free Sewing – If you sew or do needlepoint, you’ll appreciate dryer sheets as a detangler. Just run your thread across a dryer sheet and you won’t have to worry about those frustrating knots and tangles. Always keep a dryer sheet or two in a zip lock in your sewing basket.



Posted by topwebfreebies at 7:27 PM
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Saturday, January 24, 2009

The Many Uses of Lemon Juice









The Many Uses of Lemon Juice






Uses for Lemon Juice:


Whiten discolored chopping boards with lemon juice. It will also work on yellowed ivory handles.


After cutting smelly garlic or onions on a wood board, rub the surface with a slice of freshly cut lemon, rinse well and dry.


Remove fruit or berry stains from your hands by rinsing with lemon juice.


Stir a tablespoon of lemon juice into a cup of fresh, sweet milk when you need a substitute for sour cream or buttermilk.


Use lemon juice in the washer to remove rust and other mineral discoloration from cotton t-shirts and briefs.


Discolored socks will look white again if you boil them for a few minutes in a pan of water with a slice of lemon in it.


Use lemon juice to remove ink spots on cloth.


To eliminate odors in home humidifiers, pour 3 or 4 capfuls of bottled lemon juice in the water.


Lemon juice is the natural way to whiten and brighten nails. Soak them in it for 5 to 10 minutes, then brush with a mixture of equal amounts of white vinegar and warm water. Rinse well.


To shine smooth aluminum, rub it with the cut side of a lemon.


Use lemon juice to bleach and soften grubby elbows: place a few drops of baby oil into two lemon halves. Stick elbows in the lemon, tape in place and leave on for 30 minutes.


The fastest way to dry up a facial blemish is to dab it with lemon juice a few times a day.


Lemon Odor Neutralizer
Leaving a cut lemon out will naturally help neutralize stinky odors! And of course the lemon smells great too...It will help get rid of smokey smells or pet odors - naturally and without chemicals!


Lemon and Baking Soda Cleaner
If you want to give the faucets or sink a really good scrub (and deodorize them at the same time, try this:
Cut a fresh lemon in half and dip into some baking soda. Use this as the cleaning tool to scrub the sink. It smells great and it will leave any stainless steel sparkling clean. You can then throw the used up lemon down the food disposal and give it a whirl - the lemon and baking soda will help clean and deodorize it too!


Use it to clean a permanent marker stain.


Lighten Hair
Apply the lemon juice to all or part of your hair. For highlights choose small portions and coat in the juice. For the whole head dose liberally.
Blow dry or go out in the sun for 30 minutes.









Posted by topwebfreebies at 8:36 PM
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Homemade Laundry Soap Recipes






Homemade Laundry Soap Recipes



RECIPE #1 POWDERED:


1 cup Vinegar (white)

1 cup Baking Soda

1 cup Washing Soda

1/4 cup liquid castile soap
Mix well and store in sealed container.



RECIPE #2 POWDERED:


12 cups Borax

8 cups Baking Soda

8 cups Washing Soda

8 cups Bar soap (grated)
Mix all ingredients well and store in a sealed tub.
Use 1/8 cup of powder per full load.



RECIPE #3:


2 gallons Water (hot)

1 bar Soap (grated)

2 cups Baking soda

Melt grated soap in a saucepan with enough hot water to cover.

Cook on medium-low heat, stirring frequently until soap is melted.
In a large pail, pour 2 gallons hot water. Add melted soap, stir well.
Then add the baking soda, stir well again.
Use 1/2 cup per full load, 1 cup per very soiled load.



RECIPE #4:


Hot water

1 cup Washing Soda

1/2 cup Borax

1 Soap bar
Grate the bar soap and add to a large saucepan with hot water.

Stir over medium-low heat until soap dissolves and is melted.
Fill a 10 gallon pail half full of hot water.

Add the melted soap, Borax and Washing soda, stir well until all powder is dissolved. Top the pail up with more hot water.
Use 1 cup per load, stirring soap before each use (will gel).



RECIPE #5:


1 quart Water (boiling)

2 cups Bar soap (grated)

2 cups Borax2 cups Washing Soda
Add finely grated bar soap to the boiling water and stir until soap is melted. You can keep on low heat until soap is melted.
Pour the soap water into a large, clean pail and add the Borax and Washing Soda. Stir well until all is dissolved.
Add 2 gallons of water, stir until well mixed.
Cover pail and use 1/4 cup for each load of laundry.

Stir the soap each time you use it (will gel).




Homemade Laundry Stain Pretreater Recipes


Save pieces and leftover slivers of bar soaps and collect in a jar.

Those little hotel soaps are ideal for this too (cut them down to small pieces).
When jar is filled half way with soap chunks, add boiling water.

Mix soap bits and water until soap is melted.
Once cooled this will make a soap jelly. Use to pretreat laundry.




Homemade Laundry Stain Removers


1 cup hot water

1/2 cup baking soda

1/2 cup hydrogen peroxide
Directions:
Mix ingredients then store in spray bottles. Spot treat stains then soak overnight.




Posted by topwebfreebies at 8:22 PM
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Frugal Cleaning - Make Your Own Cleaners the Safe Way!






Non Toxic Home Cleaners



Mold and Mildew:
Use white vinegar or lemon juice full strength. Apply with a sponge or scrubber.



Rust Remover:
Sprinkle a little salt on the rust, squeeze a lime over the salt until it is well soaked. Leave the mixture on for 2 - 3 hours. Use leftover rind to scrub residue.



Scouring Powder:
For top of stove, refrigerator and other such surfaces that should not be scratched, use baking soda. Apply baking soda directly with a damp sponge.




Disinfectant:
Mix 2 teaspoons borax, 4 tablespoons vinegar and 3 cups hot water. For stronger cleaning power add 1/4 teaspoon liquid castile soap. Wipe on with dampened cloth or use non-aerosol spray bottle.




Drain Cleaner:
For light drain cleaning, mix 1/2 cup salt in 4 liters water, heat (but not to a boil) and pour down the drain. For stronger cleaning, pour about 1/2 cup baking soda down the drain, then 1/2 cup vinegar. The resulting chemical reaction can break fatty acids down into soap and glycerine, allowing the clog to wash down the drain. After 15 minutes, pour in boiling water to clear residue. Caution: only use this method with metal plumbing. Plastic pipes can melt if excess boiling water is used. Also, do not use this method after trying a commercial drain opener--the vinegar can react with the drain opener to create dangerous fumes.




Dishwashing Soap:
Commercial low-phosphate detergents are not themselves harmful, but phosphates nourish algae which use up oxygen in waterways. A detergent substitution is to use liquid soap. Add 2 or 3 tablespoons of vinegar to the warm, soapy water for tough jobs.




All-Purpose Cleaner:
Mix 1/2 cup vinegar and 1/4 cup baking soda (or 2 teaspoons borax) into 1/2 gallon (2 liters) water. Store and keep. Use for removal of water deposit stains on shower stall panels, bathroom chrome fixtures, windows, bathroom mirrors, etc. Another alternative is microfiber cloths which lift off dirt, grease and dust without the need for cleaning chemicals, because they are formulated to penetrate and trap dirt. There are a number of different brands. A good quality cloth can last for several years.




Lime Deposits:
You can reduce lime deposits in your teakettle by putting in 1/2 cup (125ml) white vinegar and 2 cups water, and gently boiling for a few minutes. Rinse well with fresh water while kettle is still warm.




Marks on walls and painted surfaces:
Many ink spots, pencil, crayon or marker spots can be cleaned from painted surfaces using baking soda applied to a damp sponge. Rub gently, then wipe and rinse.




Oven Cleaner:
Moisten oven surfaces with sponge and water. Use 3/4cup baking soda, 1/4cup salt and 1/4cup water to make a thick paste, and spread throughout oven interior. (avoid bare metal and any openings) Let sit overnight. Remove with spatula and wipe clean. Rub gently with fine steel wool for tough spots. Or use Arm & Hammer Oven Cleaner, declared nontoxic by Consumers Union.




Toilet Bowl Cleaner:
Mix 1/4 cup baking soda and 1 cup vinegar, pour into basin and let it set for a few minutes. Scrub with brush and rinse. A mixture of borax (2 parts) and lemon juice (one part) will also work.




Stickers on walls:
Our children covered the inside of their room doors with stickers. Now they are grown, but the stickers remained. To remove, sponge vinegar over them several times, and wait 15 minutes, then rub off the stickers. This also works for price tags (stickers) on tools, etc.




Window Cleaner:
Mix 2 teaspoons of white vinegar with 1 liter (qt) warm water. Use crumpled newspaper or cotton cloth to clean. Don't clean windows if the sun is on them, or if they are warm, or streaks will show on drying. The All-Purpose Cleaner (above) also works well on windows. Be sure to follow the recipe, because using too strong a solution of vinegar will etch the glass and eventually cloud it.




Tub and Tile Cleaner:
For simple cleaning, rub in baking soda with a damp sponge and rinse with fresh water. For tougher jobs, wipe surfaces with vinegar first and follow with baking soda as a scouring powder. (Vinegar can break down tile grout, so use sparingly.)




10 Alternative Household Cleansers

White Vinegar
Baking Soda
Lemon Juice
Borax
Washing Soda
Isopropyl Alcohol
Cornstarch
Mineral Oil
Coarse Salt
Toothpaste








Posted by topwebfreebies at 8:02 PM
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