Tip thread, all tips accepted ;o)

13 years ago

You guys want to have a tip thread today? Doesn't have to be craft related, just any tip you'd like to share.

I have a couple I'd like to share, I buy Aida cloth for cross stitching by the yard, but finding ways to store it so it stays clean was kind of a problem until today, I had saved one of those zipper cases that you get pillow cases in and after refolding my cloth I shoved it down in that plastic case and zipped it closed. Viola, clean free storage.

Those cases are good with yarn too, I have one of the quilt sized ones with my sock yarn (yeah I know lol) in it. It's great storage for the yarn and I can see just exactly what colors I have.

Next? ;o)

Comments (25)

clairdo2
13 years ago
I knead my homemade bread in the sink because i'm short...The bowl in the sink of course and it saves a mess.
azzalea
13 years ago
I've commandeered one of the spare bedrooms as my craft room. I've organized my supplies in those clear plastic shoe boxes you can buy at the dollar store. Each is labelled: pipe cleaners, straws, narrow ribbons, wide ribbons, paint, clay, etc. They stack wonderfully on the shelf in the closet and I can see at a glance where something I need is.

I buy a lot of my books at the used book store these days. So I keep a plastic bag in the car. When I finish reading a book, into the bag it goes, and is there and handy the next time I'm at the Farmer's Market.

Bar Soap--I always buy it way ahead and unwrap it as soon as I get home from the store. If you can give it a couple of months to dry out before using it, it doesn't melt away as fast. And, of course, the tiny slivers get 'piggybacked' onto the new bar.

Laundry detergent--I use only a fraction (about 1/4-1/3) of the amount the manufacturer recommends. Clothes get much cleaner that way, because you get a lot of detergent build up if you use the extravagant amount the manufacturers suggest.

Toothpaste--a pea-sized dot is enough to clean your teeth. You don't need an inch-long strip of toothpaste. Note: I haven't had a cavity in many, many years.

My favorite tip? Baking Soda. I buy it in 5 pound bags, it's so useful in the house. It deoderizes, scours without scratching, disinfects, bleaches (I've even gotten KoolAid and Grape juice stains out of white formica with it), it's cheap, it's non-toxic, readily available, unscented, it even treats heartburn. It does an amazing job of cleaning those brown stains off the bottom of frying pans, or scouring the kitchen sink (and bathroom fixtures). First thing I reach for when I'm cleaning--and I rarely have to step up to something else.
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What would you say is a humid climate? Here it's a pretty average 40-60%. I would further detail how you water is really dependent on the soil you are using. Here are a few examples: Peaty soils as you say can get hydrophobic (resist water) quite easily when they get too dry. So watering once, waiting a few minutes, and watering again helps get over that. Bark also can take a while to absorb water, so multiple watering or a dunk helps get water deeper into the bark. Perlite and turface absorb/grab onto water very quickly so there is no delay required. I believe pumice is the same (others can confirm). Sandy/very fine mixes pull/wick water greatly. Of course, watering once and waiting allows for salts to dissolve is good practice. Then watering after that helps flush them away, reducing the chance for harmful accumulations. Little sips does the opposite, allows for higher accumulation of salts. However, this is necessary for some specific succulents. Pots have a big impact on rate of evaporation. Clay pots allow better breathability. Ones with slots on the sides give more oxygen to the roots. Plastic/glazed clay not so much. Holes on the bottom can change how the mix dries out from the bottom up as well. That varies if you have a saucer (minimal drying) or empty circulating air below the pot (such as directly on a wire shelf). Same as number of holes, although I would say this is probably the least concern of any grower. My belief is actually that watering in the evening is better for succulents. The vast majority open their stomata/pores when it's cooler at night to breathe, as well as taking in water. In the morning, the guard cells close up for the day to prevent water loss. If there's water left in the pot then the roots just sit around in warm water all day long. Not saying that watering in the morning is bad, just that you may get a better feeling of your plants needs by watering in the evening. If it's not perked up by the morning either you didn't give it enough water or there is something wrong with the roots (or it may be dormant). Probably I should say that if you're growing indoors, try not to get the leaves wet at night without good airflow or else you're inviting trouble. If that's the growing condition (poor airflow, wet leaves from being rushed/not watering carefully), morning watering may be better. Watering Mesembs is a bit dependent on the species. Many different types have different characteristics. I agree that when you say watering a Lithops lots when the new leaves are growing in is not a good idea. It will leave you with a Lithops with many extra pairs of leaves. I think this applies to many species: Lithops, Cheiridopsis, Lapidaria, Conophytum, maybe Agryoderma? But other types of Mesembs are not so restrictive to have just one or two pairs of leaves. At least, as far as I know! I've even read about some very water-loving Mesembs that you're supposed to water like strawberries?! Forget which type, but watering like that sounds bizarre (but is true). Anyway, it's a nifty idea! Hope others contribute their experience/ideas too!
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Been meaning to post something about this forever! Ez even bugged me last month about it. =) Here are some of my tips for improving your plant photography. I've included some extra photos for examples. Overall Plant Photos: Try to include a full shot of the plant. I like to include part of the soil mix or pot to help give some scale to the image. Show off that beautiful form! Close Details: My favourite parts of succulents are often the details. Quality close-ups or macros are essential for showing specific problems or the beauty of flowers, leaves, and branches. A combination of overall photos and closeups is best, such as for this Gasteria. Higher and Lower Angles: It's worthwhile trying both high and low angles when taking plant photos. In the photo below, a higher angle favours the symmetry of the flower, while the lower angle helps show off the shape/form of this Aloinopsis. Side and Back Lighting: If you're looking to create more dramatic or dynamic images, the light direction is extremely important. When lighting my plants, I prefer to use side light and back lighting whenever possible. This kind of light helps bring out the texture of the plant and gives depth to the image. Front lighting is typically very flat and less flattering (in general, not all cases). In the photo below (top), this Lapidaria was lit from several directions. Primarily the rear left which is casting the darker shadow on the soil surface. However, there is added light from above to fill in the shadow and bring out the flower's structures. In the second photo below (bottom), the 'Gollum' was lit mostly from the right side to emphasize the shape of the plant and strange texture/shapes of the leaves. Light Sources: The most obvious is the sun! I love shooting my plants outside on my rooftop in the late afternoon or mid morning. The light is less harsh and the quality of light is very good. I find best spots are typically at the edge of shady areas (right up to the line between bright light/shade). Don't forget about the direction of the light too. I like to set my plants down in their photo spots and rotate them a little for the best angles. This Anacampseros was taken in natural light on my rooftop, early afternoon, and in a bright but shady spot. On the flip side, most of the photos I'm posting around the forums are lit with a 5 flash setup. This gives me a lot of control over how exactly the light is illuminating my plants. The number of lights isn't really important, just that getting them off your camera adds flexibility and will enable you to be more creative in your lighting setups. Bouncing flashes off white walls/ceilings or using other light modifiers can be quite helpful as well. The Lithops below (top) was taken in the early evening purely with flash. It's important to note that using flash doesn't mean that your photo must look like you used flash! Not all images taken at night have to look at the Echeveria flowers photo below (bottom). Now that it's winter time, some of us have grow light setups which also serve as very good light sources for photography. If you have daylight spectrum bulbs, it'll make things a lot easier too. For example, I moved this Adromischus below to the edge of my lights to help give a bit more depth to the photo. Backgrounds: Have to admit that I'm not a big fan of cloth or paper backdrops, mostly because they can get a bit repetitive over time. Whatever you pick, make sure it's simple and uncluttered to best show off your plants. Remove or crop out any distractions. Normally I'm using my light wood deck, the walls in my loft, or my countertop as a background. Sometimes I use the backyard trees or sky, but that is fairly rare and a lot more difficult. For this Aloe flower photo below, I used a plain wall that was just barely lit. Macro Lenses & Extension Tubes: These are both very helpful tools for taking macro shots of your plants. I prefer extension tubes because they're a bit cheaper and a bit more flexible (with different length tubes). Macro lenses can be very helpful, but they can get quite expensive if you are looking at the top quality ones. If you are using a macro lens, it's best to know the minimum focus distance. I used three extension tubes stacked together to take this Neohenricia photo below. The flowers are just 5mm in diameter! Focusing: If I'm taking an overall plant shot, I'm using automatic focus on my camera. That's pretty straightforward. But if you're planning on doing very close macro shots, I highly recommend using manual focus. Adjust your lens to its minimum focus distance (if you want maximum reproduction ratio) and then move your camera to bring the specific details into focus. Often, the depth of field is so narrow when working at the macro level that focus ring adjustments are just too 'coarse'. Take a couple photos and review your photos to ensure the critical plant details are sharp, such as the leaf texture on this Haworthia below. Depth of Field: There is no hard rule on what apertures to pick when taking photos of your plants. I would recommend picking a small enough aperture for sufficient depth of field. This would be say at least F4 for overall shots and at least F8 for macros. Note that if you stop down extremely small, say beyond F16, you will end up degrading your image quality instead due to light diffraction. It's always a bit of a trade off. If you are really particular, you can try specialized techniques like focus stacking. On this Lithops photo below, I wanted just enough depth of field to get all the anthers and sepals in focus. Everything else was less important. Colour Balance: Generally, I like a bit of a warmer tone to my images. It's all personal preference really. The big part is to correct for any strange light you may be taking photos in, particularly if its incandescent. Often I will use 1/4 CTO gels on my flashes to warm up the light just a little bit. If you are able to take RAW photos with your camera, it is a distinct advantage. And that's it for my introductory tips for plant photography! I've hit my post picture limit and run out of time for now. Hope that helps! =)
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karenmay_gw
13 years ago
Clairdo...why didnt I think of that? When I'm kneading bread it really hurts my shoulder (tendonitis). Putting the bowl in the sink is a great tip. Thanks!

Karen UK
sheilajoyce_gw
13 years ago
I replaced all the kids' sheets and bedspreads 5 years ago, and I saved all the zipper bags that everything came in. The large quilt bags hold my yarn too, and my DD uses them to store the outgrown baby clothes. I like the pillowcase size for all my circular knitting needles in one and my double points in another.

I keep lighter fluid on hand (mineral spirits is the same) for removing black heel marks, glue from store labels, and other marks I don't want.

I use hair spray to remove ball point ink from clothes. Just spray the spot, it melts, and drop it in the sudsy washing machine right away.

I soak my stained tea pots and teacups in water with a tablespoon or less of Clorox liquid bleach.

I soak stubborn burned on food from cooking pans with a little Cascade electric dishwashing detergent and water. If it is real bad, overnight.

Son saves one clean can of tennis balls for fluffing his down comforter and pillows in the dryer set on "air."
phyllis__mn
13 years ago
Another way to remove black heel marks is to erase it with your white tennis shoe heel.
lilliepad
13 years ago
Good idea Clairdo!
I'm not short but I have to use my scooter when I'm cooking or doing anything in the kitchen.The cabinets here are high,the scooter seat isn't and doing just about anything hurts my shoulders because it seems like I'm always holding my arms up.There is a drawer right beside the stove.I have a laminated shelf board that is about 18 inches wide and 24 or so long.I pull the drawer out and place the shelf across the top then shove the drawer closed and it makes a nice workspace,just the right height and my knees fit under the drawer.Makes cutting and making patties or whatever a lot easier,cleans easily and it's close to the stove.

Non-acetone fingernail polish remover will remove those black scuff marks too.
ont_gal
13 years ago
Always wrap your celery after you get it home from grocery in foil..it will keep much longer

Keep your composting pail/bucket outdoors,and have a styrofoam container to put kitchen compost waste into that is handy near your sink..that way,you are not opening and closing the pail continually--one trip does it all.(coffee grounds,lettuce leaves,peelings,etc)
okwriter
13 years ago
Toothpaste and a soft damp rag makes bathroom and kitchen fixtures look like new!

White vinegar works quite well to loosen hard water scale. Moisten a paper towel with it and lay it on the spots for awhile before wiping.

Working from home, my computer is my life. I make two backup copies of my computer files when I go on vacation. I leave one with someone I trust and take the other with me. (Seems redundant, but ya never know...)
pris
13 years ago
I always buy the fresh tomatoes with stems still attached. I found they last much longer than the ones without stems. A mesh bag of 5 or 6 will last me a couple of weeks or longer and I'm not throwing out spoiled tomatoes before I have time to use them up. Did I say I've spent the year or so since retirement figuring out how to eliminate as many trips to town as possible? I really do hate to shop and with pantry and freezer room my life has become much easier. There aren't too many fresh foods I can't substitute canned or frozen for and tomatoes for sandwiches and salads make the list.
socks
13 years ago
Zipper--quilt size for sock yarn!!! LOL!
Zipper_TX
Original Author
13 years ago
Hey Socks, now you know where I spend all my yarn money ;o)

I hate to tell you the truth here but that quilt bag is kind of bulging at the seams, I think I need another bag lol.

Hello, my name is Zipper and I have a sock yarn addiction!
cynic
13 years ago
Lately I've been buying the Dawn Direct Foam so I don't do this anymore but some might find it useful. I used to keep a small spray bottle next to the sink with a mixture of about 25% dish liquid and 75% water. When I only had a dish or two or something I wouldn't bother filling the sink with water. Give a spray on the diluted soap wipe it down, give it a good rinse and done. Saves water and soap. The one spray bottle I used before getting the Direct Foam had a foaming setting on it too. So that gave an extra option.

I keep a folding stool in the kitchen now so when I'm cooking I can sit down a minute or two as needed. Can sit next to the stove and tend the pans, reach a cutting board and now it's less of a hassle to cook.

I bought a new little 8" TV for the kitchen. Finally got around to using it while I was cleaning out the refrigerator waiting for the new one to be delivered. I noticed something strange about it. It has a magnet built into the remote control! So now I just leave it attached to the refrigerator and know where it's at when needed. Otherwise I could have used some Velcro.

As I age, reading the fine print in the stores, whether it's the limit on sale/rebate items, ingredient lists, unit pricing, matching the UPC codes to make sure it's the right price tag or whatever, I keep a magnifying glass in my pocket. Sure is handy.

Lastly, I have found so many uses for the reuseable bags I keep them all over the house. Picking up things to put them away, just put them in a bag - easy carrying. I even use them for bringing up laundry from the basement rather than lug a laundry basket. Keep them in the vehicle for a variety of uses. I can bring in a partial case of water since I can't carry the full cases too easily anymore. And when I need to bring a bunch of things to the vehicle, stuff 'em in a sack and tote them out!
nicole__
13 years ago
I use the produce bags to put my DH's sandwichs in, just tie a knot. Save a landfill item & it's free.

Buy porkchops for .97a lb, grind it free @ the grocery store, have THEM package it in 1 lb portions in freezer paper. Use it for shepherds pie, nachos, green chile, enchiladas,lazagna....cheaper than hamburger.
vicki7
13 years ago
I have a 5 year old grandson who loves to draw and do artsy things. When I started pondering what gift to get for his birthday I realized he had more than enough Transformers, race cars, and electronic gadgets, so I wanted to get him an art set. I never did find one that had exactly the items in it that I wanted, so I decided to make my own. I went to Wal Mart and bought one of the clear plastic storage bins with a snap-on lid, one that was large enough to accommodate drawing pads and coloring books. I then picked out all the markers, crayons, colored pencils, etc. along with several pads, tracing paper, sharpeners, and all kinds of other stuff. He was absolutely THRILLED with it! Now this was probably, when all was said and done, more expensive than if I had bought a nice toy, but I had a lot of fun doing it. I love this thread. I mostly lurk, but I feel like I "know" all of you.
Vicki
lisa_fla
13 years ago
I use a regular dry paper napkin to remove scuff marks on the floor.

I learned here to use a cup of hydrogen peroxide in the white laundry and it has made a difference!

Bring baby powder to the beach and sprinkle it on sandy arms or legs and brush it off along with all the sand!

A mixture of half rubbing alcohol and half water in a spray bottle cleans eyeglasses perfectly.

Baking soda removes tea stains in mugs.
OklaMoni
13 years ago
If you sometimes need a dab of sunblock, when you are out and about...

buy a small sample/travel size bottle of lotion. Get one with a screw on top, rather than flip open, cause it is less likely to leak.

Dump the lotion, either so you can use it, or just down the drain.

Now pour some of your fav. sunblock in, and put that in your purse.

:)

Moni
(who uses this on her bicycle rides)
pattico_gw
13 years ago
How about 50cents.....?
kathi_mdgd
13 years ago
Since i do a lot of gardening,i have found that the barbeque tongs make a great tool for moving cactus/and or pulling out weeds around them.Also keep a pair of the long tweezers from my serger for the same thing.

Shampoo will also remove spaghetti sauce from your blouse,before throwing it in the wash.

Need to do a light sanding on something?? Bunch up a brown grocery bag and use that,does a good job without a lot of rubbing or a trip to the store for sandpaper.

I also keep vinegar and baking soda in the house at all times,has a million uses.
kathi
sheilajoyce_gw
13 years ago
I would be careful about using acetone to remove black heel marks. It could remove the finish of the flooring, and certainly remove the wax. That's why I like lighter fluid--it won't remove the finish or wax on the floor.

I use a spray bottle of equal parts rubbing alcohol and water and clean windows, mirrors and granite with it.
Jasdip
13 years ago
I've used hair conditioner as a shaving lotion for many years.
Dirt cheap and works great.

I recently got hubby to try it and he loves the way his skin feels after shaving. He doesn't nick his face like he used to using shaving cream.
Jasdip
13 years ago
When baking a pie, and the crust browns too quickly I cut the center out of an aluminum pie plate and lay the rim over the crust. Fits perfectly.
Zipper_TX
Original Author
13 years ago
Thank you Pattico, but I can not get the 50Â¢ out of this machine......bwahahahaha!

These are all great tips, thanks, and keep them coming.

I use a wooden salad bowl as a bead spinner, the bowl is just un-level enough to spin with one hand while I use a big eye needle to get the beads threaded onto my working thread, this is for bead crochet and it works great!

I use baking soda, then vinegar to clear a clogged drain. First you put about half a cup of baking soda down the drain, then add about a cup of vinegar after it stops foaming use hot water to rinse it on down the drain we have a septic system and that doesn't disturb the balance.
Georgysmom
13 years ago
Jasdip....love the aluminum pie plate tip! Why have I not thought of that.
dilly_dally
13 years ago
Love the aluminum pie plate tip. That is a new one for me. Thanks!

---

Be careful when using rubbing alcohol for cleaning that it does not get on something it is not suppose to. It will ruin certain plastics. I keep a spray bottle of rubbing alcohol in the bathroom for cleaning and shining ceramic and chrome. I ruined a plastic toilet seat with it.
carol_in_california
13 years ago
If you are trying to thread a needle, instead of wetting the thread, wet the eye of the needle.....works well.

Tip thread, all tips accepted ;o)

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Tip thread, all tips accepted ;o)

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