More decorating for Independence Day

Dig out the reds from Christmas or Valentine's Day. Blue anything goes - flowers, baskets, vases, napkins, rugs... Use white (sheet, paper, dinnerware, tablecloth, etc.) to set it off.

Stars are part of it all. Make stars of all sizes from aluminum foil or colored paper and hang or tape everywhere.

Decorate for Independence Day

Tie several 18 inch pieces of red, blue and white yarn or crochet thread together at one end, then attach them to your radio antenna or gateposts, or hang them around your patio or from tree branches where a breeze will catch them. Instead of yarn or thread, cut narrow strips of cloth or plastic grocery bags.

Make your own Easter basket

Make your own Easter basket from rag strips if you have a little time. You can crochet, knit or braid them into long strips then lace them together in the form of a basket. Start at the bottom and lay them in a circle or oval, then stitch them together. When the bottom is as big as you want it, start the sides by stacking the strip and sewing it down. Try it; it's easier than it sounds.

Frugal Easter baskets

Baskets are easy to make, but if you have a bread basket or some other kind of basket, repurpose it for Easter. Add some artificial flowers or leaves or bows or yarn doodles to the outside and fill with artificial grass and Easter goodies.

Never buy a bucket

Coffee cans, large juice cans, or gallon food cans or containers can be used for small buckets. Use a hammer and nail to punch holes exactly opposite each other, then insert wire, rope or heavy twine for a bail (handle). You might get lucky and find a larger container; otherwise, ask at restaurants or grocery stores for any large plastic buckets or containers. You may have to wait awhile before they are ready to throw one out, and not all stores do, so ask around. Don't forget the large ice cream buckets! They're a little flimsy, but will work for some things.

Clean gunk with ammonia

Ammonia isn't as popular as a cleaning agent as it should be because many people don't like the fumes. It's cheap and efficient when you have a tough cleaning job involving grease or unknown gunk, though, and since manufacturer's have added scents, it's not even quite as smelly.

Those famous fumes are the real gunk-loosening power of ammonia. To use them, put a small amount of ammonia in a container that can be closed - like your oven or a plastic bag. To minimize the use even more (and maximize your savings), put it in a shallow container like a pie pan (glass only) in the bottom rack of your oven, then put drip pans, electric skillets or anything else that's coated with grease or baked on gunk. Close the oven door and leave it all there overnight. The gunk will be loosened by morning so a quick scrub will have everything, including the oven, shining.

Knitting or crochet needle container

Use a round oatmeal, cornmeal or grits box and cover with your choice: Contact paper, pictures cut from catalogs or magazines, wrapping paper covered with white glue, glued on glitter covered with shellac or more glue or yarn wrapped around and around and glued or taped at each end.

Choose the container to suit the needle height. This is especially good for knitting needles with the size on the end because it's easy to find the right size.

Tortilla chip crumbs

Save tortilla chip crumbs from the bottom of the bag until you have enough to make chili pie or to top casseroles. They give an excellent flavor and if you're going to throw them away anyway... they're free. For a chili pie, butter a casserole dish and put a layer of chip crumbs on the bottom, then a layer of chili, a layer of shredded cheese and another layer of chip crumbs. Make as many layers as you want, then top with cheese and another layer of chip crumbs and bake until it's heated through.

Newspaper pots

If you're gardening this year, you might want to start some plants inside. Instead of buying containers of any kind or using plastic which you will have to remove the seedling from, make newspaper pots. You don't need the special tool to do it. Use two containers, one of which will fit into the other. Put the newspaper in the larger container and crunch it in with the smaller one. Tie cotton string around the pot when it's finished to keep it from coming apart when it gets wet. When it's time to plant the seedling, dig a hole and put the pot and all into the ground. It will degrade in time for the plants roots to grow.

Bread crumbs and cubes

Need bread crumbs? First off, don't buy them! They're just what they say: bread crumbs. If you ever have bread in the house, you have bread crumbs. If you need more than what is in the bottom of the bread sack, put a slice or two on a plate and set it on the refrigerator or other out of the way place for a few days, or put them in the oven on very low. Spread them thinly and they'll dry faster. Do you need bread cubes (croutons)? Cut into cubes, season and bake at a low temperature until they're crisp.