WRAP Extra-Large GIFT -- Try a paper tablecloth matching the gift. Birthday == birthday gift, Christmas == Christmas gift, you get the idea. This works great and very inexpensive.

  Laundry Travel Tip -- When going on a trip, pack a few plastic bags in your suitcase. While you are traveling, use the bags to hold your soiled laundry, keeping it separate from your clean clothing. When you return home, just put the bags in the laundry room.
Scented Dresser Drawers -- Instead of using sachets to make the clothes in drawers smell nice, use a small scented candle. It is cheaper, makes your clothes smell wonderful and provides you with lots of readily accessible candles if the electricity ever goes out!
Homemade "Snow Globe" -- Using ANY jar with a tight-fitting lid, glue some small plastic plants or figurines or animals to the inside of the lid and then fill the jar almost full with water and add some glitter. Put the lid on securely, shake, and a Winter Wonderland!

Recycle "POPCORN" Shipping Pellets -- Place a handful of pellets in a 8" square of lace or netting. Sprinkle a few drops of scented oil on the pieces, tie up the ends of the square with a ribbon to make a small bundle and stash it in your closets, dresser drawers, behind toilet bowls, by garbage cans, or any other smelly area.

SAVE all your old CANDLES and Baby Food Jars -- Read how to make your OWN candles for little cost! Click here for the Instructions

Bassinet but NO more Babies? -- Makes a great cart for moving toys from room to room.
Need a Candlestick? -- Just core an apple, orange or grapefruit--then put a candle in the middle. It can also make a great centerpiece, too.
CD Cleaning & Fixing -- If your CD SKIPS, rub the surface with some toothpaste on a soft cloth. Rinse with water and dry well.
Push That Tack -- Put a thimble on your finger when you're pushing tacks into place.

Homework Carrier -- Don't discard cardboard tubes from waxed paper and plastic wrap. Give them to your children to carry homework, such as maps.

NO Pencil Sharpener? -- A potato peeler works quite well as a pencil sharpener. Don't forget to wash it thoroughly after using it.

Appointment Notices -- Tape or staple doctors, hairdressers or other appointment slips to your calendar as soon as you get home and then you won't forget.
Baby Sitting TIP -- Leave a loaded camera or camcorder with your baby sitter so that the next time your child does something new and special, you won't have to miss it.

  For INSECT Stings & Bites -- For a Sting, cover the area with a fresh-cut onion and let sit for a while. For a mosquito bite, try dabbing on a bit of toothpaste or a little paste made by moistening a little baking soda. Best Hint! Soothe the itch with an ice cube.

Removing GUM from HAIR -- Put a glob of smooth peanut butter on the gummed area and rub the gum and peanut butter between your fingers, working the gum out of the hair. Use a comb to finish the job, then shampoo and rinse as usual.
OR Egg white is an effective gum remover, if you don't mind the sliminess.
  Homemade ICE PACK -- Mix 1 part rubbing alcohol with 2 parts water and freeze in a zipper plastic bag. It will be pliable enough to conform to a knee or elbow and can be refrozen after each use. Be sure to place a damp cloth between the skin and the ice pack to prevent frostbite.

SEE MORE FIRST-AID TIPS HERE!!

Making Candles Dripless -- Prepare a solution of 2 tablespoons of salt per candle in just enough water to cover the candles. Allow the candles to soak in the saltwater solution for about 2 to 3 hours, then rinse them, let them dry, and wait at least 24 hours before you use them. The salt water hardens the wax and allows it to burn more cleanly, reducing the chance of its dripping.
THICK Glue? -- When glue thickens in the bottle or you must remove a spot of it, use a little vinegar. It's a good glue thinner or glue remover.
  Have an Artist in the Family? -- Keep those works of art preserved. Lightly ZAP a drawing - chalk, pencil, crayon or watercolors - with hair spray, and it will protect the pictures from smudging and fading.
  Posters and Pictures -- Hang posters and lightweight pictures on your walls with toothpaste. It's easy to clean off when you take the pictures down, and you won't have unnecessary nail holes.
Plastic Playing Cards -- To clean plastic playing cards, drop the deck into a paper bag and add a few tablespoons of flour. Shake briskly, then wipe completely clean.
OR Use baby powder, it works just as good and they even smell good.
MUST DO's -- When you think of "must do's" at work, call your home answering machine to leave yourself a message -- no more lost self-notes!

Aquarium Backdrop -- Instead of buying a plastic backdrop from the store for your fish aquarium, tape to the back of the aquarium, a sheet of wrapping paper in a design that pleases you.
Baby Bottle Holder -- Use a six-pack cardboard container to use when traveling or just to keep them upright in your refrigerator.

Bank Deposit Slips -- Recycling Excess - Unfortunately, most of us don't make bank deposits as often as we write checks so we often have leftover deposit slips. Instead of throwing them out when you finish the book of checks, cut out the square area printed with your name, address and phone number and then glue or tape this "address label" top forms for in-store giveaways, on envelopes for return address, and on other forms that require this information. You've already paid for them, you may as well use them! Keep some in your wallet, handy when someone you've just met wants your phone number or address. Or even slip them behind the window of a luggage tag.
STAMPS STUCK!!! -- When postage stamps have stuck together, try placing them into the freezer for 10 minutes; they should come apart without damaging the glue.
Remove a Cork from Bottle -- When the Cork has been pushed into a Wine Bottle that you want to SAVE, remove it by pouring ammonia into the bottle and leaving it somewhere where air circulates. The cork will disintegrate in about a week. Wash the inside well with soap and water and the bottle is ready for display or to root a sprig of ivy in water.
Great Sand-Castle Builder -- Save the tops of your liquid laundry detergent and bring them to the beach. They form great sand castles OR children can stack them like blocks.

  TENNIS BALLS LOST BOUNCE -- Have your tennis balls lost their bounce? If so, place the can of balls with the lid off overnight in a closed oven. The heat from the pilot light will get them back into shape.
Rejuvenate PING PONG BALLS -- To bring ping pong balls back to like they were before, that have been dented, just place them in hot water for 15 to 20 minutes.
RECYCLE Strawberry Baskets -- Can be washed and reused as:
1. Playpen for small dolls.
2. Candy baskets for holidays. Weave ribbon through the holes, and attach other decorations with appropriate glue.
3. Hold soap and scouring pads in the kitchen.
4. Store perfume, nail polish bottles, sample cosmetics, small medicine containers.
5. Place over damp area in carpet so it can dry without being stepped on.
6. Hold packets of sauce mix, spices, etc. in cupboard. (Double them to make them stronger.)

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