These fillers may be printed one time in publications without cost, provided that they run under the heading of "Paula's Projects", and contain a by-line. If your publication normally pays for fillers and hints of this type, I like money as well as the next person, and author's copies are greatly appreciated. I don't want to put my mailing address up on the web, for fear of spam and junk mail, but if you e-mail PHrbacek@aol.com, I'll let you in on the secret.

Paula's Projects
by Paula Hrbacek

wd. ct. 162

Save Money on Sewing Thread

If you have a serger, and don't want to buy four spools of thread in each color, buy one large spool of serger thread. Using empty thread spools, transfer the thread from the large spool onto three smaller spools. To do this, find a long screw or bolt that will fit through the center hole of the spool. Secure it with a nut, making a snug fit. Put the end of the bolt in the chuck of an electric drill (cordless ones go slower, and are easier to use). Wrap the end of the thread around the spool several times to secure it, and then continue winding the thread onto the spool by running the drill with your right hand, and applying soft "tension" to the thread with your left hand.

Paula's Projects
by Paula Hrbacek

wd. ct. 194

Save Money on Cooking Ingredients

If you are making cajun or spicy food, and you accidently put in too much hot sauce or red pepper, cut a potato in half and add it to the pot. As it cooks, the potato will absorb the spices.

If you run out of pancake syrup, try this substitute. Combine 1 cup brown sugar, 1 tblsp margarine (melted or squeeze), 1/2 cup water and a teaspoon of vanilla (or another extract such as almond). Put in a microwave safe container, and heat for one minute. Stir until dissolved. This will make a thin syrup, with a slightly different taste than maple syrup. To make a thicker syrup, place ingredients in a sauce pan, and bring it to a boil.

If you're making pecan pie, and run out of dark corn syrup, use brown sugar instead of white sugar, and add a bit more (heaping instead of level). Then, use pancake syrup instead of corn syrup. This will give the pie a lighter, less "sticky sweet" taste.

Paula's Projects
by Paula Hrbacek

wd. ct. 155

Save Money on Small Powerwash Jobs

Especially in the South, mold and fungus can discolor your concrete sidewalks and bricks. If you need to powerwash a small area, and are not willing to spend $50 or more to rent a power washer, another alternative is to use a hose nozzle that will concentrate the spray. One such alternative is to screw a cap from a bottle of liquid dishwashing detergent onto the end of your garden hose. The threads are very similar, and most brands will adapt easily. Then, turn the hose on full force. The very small hole in the bottle cap will force the water out with enough force to clean concrete. The only drawback is that you will have to clean a smaller area at a time; the spray width will be about half an inch, as opposed to the two-inch wide spray of a power washer.

Paula's Projects
by Paula Hrbacek

wd. ct. 37

Guitar Tip

If you're an occasional guitar player, and hate getting blisters on your finger tips, create instant callouses by applying several coats of fingernail polish to your fingertips, and let dry.

Paula's Projects
by Paula Hrbacek

wd. ct. 65

Token Gifts

The small plastic tokens that come of bakery-decorated cupcakes can be turned into children's fashion jewelry. Cut off the "toothpick" with wire nippers. Sand the cut end until it is smooth. Then superglue a jewelry finding, such as earring backs or a pin back, on the back.

Paula's Projects
by Paula Hrbacek

wd. ct. 181

Popcorn Balls are Inexpensive Treat

An inexpensive item to make for class parties and bake sales are popcorn balls. The ingredients are simple; one cup sugar, one cup light corn syrup, a pinch of salt, and 3 quarts (about two batches in a microwave popper) of popped corn. Mix the sugar, syrup and salt in a pan, and heat until boiling. Continue heating, stirring constantly, for two minutes. Pour over the popped corn, and stir until well coated.

To make forming the balls easier and less painful than simply buttering your hands, spoon the coated corn into sandwich bags, and then press it into a ball. You'll avoid hot candy sticking to your skin, and the balls will be already wrapped.

This recipe can also be used to making granola bars. Substitute crisp rice cereal, sunflower seeds, raisins, oatmeal and nuts for the popped corn. Pour into an extremely well- greased cookie sheet that has sides on it. Cover with greased waxed paper, and compress with a rolling pin or your hands. When cooled, cut into bars.

Paula's Projects
by Paula Hrbacek

wd. ct. 159

Quick Finish for Finishing Costs

Many crafts, such as pinecone wreaths, painted plaster casts, painted bisque pottery, decoupage and straw flower arrangements, call for a spray varnish finish. You can save money on the finish by using canned varnish or polyurethane, and a pump bottle from any household cleaner, throat spray or pump hairspray.

Dilute the finish half and half with whatever thinner that product calls for. Fill a cleaned and rinsed pump bottle with the diluted finish, and spray your projects. This will be that last time you will use this spray bottle; once the finish sets, it will plug up the spraying unit beyond repair, so it is best to have a large selection of projects ready for spraying so that you can do them all at once.

Paula Hrbacek is the author of three craft/game books, St. Louis Is for Families (Bethany Press), Created in Faith (Concordia) and Bible Verses for Young Children (CBP). Her ideas have appeared in such publications as Highlights, Girl Scout Leader, and Pack O Fun magazines.

Paula's Projects
by Paula Hrbacek

wd. ct. 102

Cutting Flower Costs

When making flower arrangements, one of the costs can easily be cut. Florist's foam, which costs more than a dollar a brick, can be replaced with scraps of foam insulation used in construction. Construction workers throw away the scraps; all you have to do is ask, and they will give them to you for free.

Construction foam, or rigid insulation, comes in 1 1/2 inch sheets. The sheets are covered with a thin fiberglass fabric that can easily be peeled off. If you need a larger piece of foam, just "nail" the pieces together with toothpicks.

Paula's Projects

by Paula Hrbacek

wd. ct. 153

Getting a Handle on Tennis

The kids left the only, good metal tennis racket in the driveway, and it was run over by the car. This smashed the plastic handle grip beyond repair. I removed the smashed parts, and cut a scrap of PVC water pipe, the type used for underground sprinkler systems, which is about 1 1/2 inches wide, and has thinner walls than the pipe used for indoor plumbing. I placed the pipe in a vise, and squashed it into an oval. I squashed the top of the pipe in the same way with a vise grip. Then, I pushed the handle end of the racket into the pipe, tapping it down with a hammer. The result was a handle that is very comfortable. If desired, this handle can be made more attractive by wrapping it with a rubber handle strip, available at sporting goods departments for about $2.00.

Paula's Projects
by Paula Hrbacek

wd. ct. 57

Display Your Keepsakes With Taste

The small, plastic "tables" that come is some types of take- out pizza make nice display stands for Cub Scout Raingutter Regatta boats, model kits, and autographed baseballs. Just turn the "table" upside down, and balance the boat or ball on the tips of the three legs.

Index

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