|
-- Baby Boomers -- Family - -- Green -- Home and Auto -- -- In Critical Condition -- Lifestyle -- -- Just Starting Out -- Money -- |
|
|
share your thoughts about frugal living at TDS Community Subscribe to Our Money Saving Newsletter Also In This Week's Issue 8 ways to find and keep a temporary job Investing shortcuts for the DIY investor More Stories About: |
Cheap Fun for the Festive Season Wacky Windows - Decorate your windows for the Festive Season! Mix together 1 Tbsp. paint powder and 1 Tbsp. liquid dish soap. With windowsills covered, paint bells, stars, reindeer, etc. on windows. To clean, wash off with wet rag. Psychedelic Snowmen - Why not decorate the yard too?! Pour 1 C. water and 1 tsp. paint powder (or 20+ drops food coloring) into a spray bottle. Then, spray colored water on snowmen or snow castles, or spray designs on a fresh bed of snow. Paper Mache Pinata - add to the fun on New Year's Eve! Mix together 1/2 C. wallpaper paste and 2 C. warm water (or 1 C. flour and 1 1/8 C. cold water), adding few more drops of water if thickens too much. Dip newspaper strips into paste and smooth onto balloon until 5 or 6 layers all over, leaving small opening at top. When dry (after several days) pop balloon and fill opening with treats. Tie string through 2 small holes made at top and hang for children to knock with rolled up newspaper. Gingerbread House Cream together 1/2 C. butter and 2/3 C. brown sugar. Mix in 1/2 C molasses, 1 egg, 1 tsp. baking soda, 1 tsp. cinnamon, and 2 1/2 C. flour. Spread or press into cookie sheet to 1/2" thickness. Bake at 350'. When cool, cut into 6 rectangles, and use icing to "glue" house together. Decorate with candies, sparkles, cereal, etc. Chocolate Fondue - a great way to bring the new year in! In a fondue pot or saucepan, heat 1 can Evaporated Milk (385 ml) and 2 1/2 C. chocolate chips on low, stirring constantly, until melted and smooth. If you wish, add peppermint flavoring, 2 tsp. instant coffee dissolved in few drops of water, or 3/4 C. peanut butter. Dip fruit,maraschino cherries, or pieces of doughnuts or cake into mixture. Homemade Gifts Plaster Hand Print In large yoghurt container, mix together 1 C. water and 2 1/4 C. plaster of Paris (from lumber store) to thickness of a milkshake. Pour into pie plate. When plaster is firm enough to hold a shape, press your hand into and carefully lift up. Let dry. Record date and your name on back. Personalized T-Shirt With parent supervision, melt crayon scraps in an empty tuna or soup can over boiling water. Working quickly, paint pictures or messages on an old T-shirt or apron. To make colors permanent, cover designs with fabric scrap and press with hot iron. Pet Rock Paperweight Glue 2 well-shaped rocks together to make the body of a duck, ladybug, or other creature. Add features with felt markers, bits of felt or fabric, pipe cleaners,etc. Donut Bird Feeder - Why not make a gift for the birds, too! Sandwich a bagel between 2 plastic lids. Thread string through hole in lids. Tie a big fat knot on bottom and hang from house or tree. - - or, string popcorn onto thread and hang on trees. Creative Gift Wrap - Design your own gift wrap! Paint fancy designs on newsprint using sponges, cotton balls, old toothbrushes, an old pot scrubber, or a straw (to blow paint). When dry, use as gift wrap. Reprinted with permission from "Help! I'm Bored!", ISBN 0-9680809-0-1, $14.95 Cdn, $11.95 US. (Bluebell Cockle Shell Books, E-Mail - dale&janine@3web.net) Janine Lynn is a parent, author, and educator. Born and raised in Alberta, she enjoys team sports, biking, gardening, travelling, and dreaming up new ideas for future books. She wrote Help! I'm Bored! because she wanted all of her favorite teaching ideas collaborated into one book,ready to use for any occasion. Her current project involves developing seminars and workshops for presentation at parent/teacher conventions. Share your thoughts about this article with the editor: Click Here Do you have a time or money saving idea that wasn't included in this article? Please send it to tips@stretcher.com. We get the best ideas from our readers!
If you liked this article why not sign up for our free money-saving email alerts? Your bonus? 209 ways to save on groceries. Follow The Dollar Stretcher on Twitter. |
Copyright 1996 - 2009 "The Dollar Stretcher, Inc.". All rights reserved unless specifically noted.
Write to the Dollar Stretcher at:
Dollar Stretcher
PO Box 14160
Bradenton
FL 34280-4160
941-761-7805 voice
941-761-8301 fax
"The Dollar Stretcher, Inc." does not assume responsibility for advice given. All advice should be weighed against your own abilities and circumstances and applied accordingly. It is up to the reader to determine if advice is safe and suitable for their own situation.
|
|
|
|
 Subscribe to our email alerts |
