Full of fresh ideas

• “When I get a contact sheet for my pictures, I save it and use the little pictures for calendars and craft projects. They are perfectly sized for lockets, too.” — J.J. in Florida

• “The combination of 1 part warm water and 3 parts baking soda makes a great paste for removing rust spots. Simply use an old toothbrush in a circular motion to smear in the paste and wipe away rust.” — C.B. in Alaska

• To soothe broken blisters and sterilize them at the same time, try a bit of Listerine. Its antiseptic properties work just as well outside the mouth as they do inside.

• “I had a dresser that was partially broken, and I was getting rid of it. Some of the drawers were still good, though, so my husband attached casters to the bottoms, and now we use the drawers in all kinds of places — under the bed mostly, but he uses the larger drawers in the shop.” — T.L. in Virginia

• “To keep sauces from splattering and dirtying the inside of your microwave, cover the food with a damp paper towel or a coffee filter.” — E.C. in Utah

• “Before I pluck my eyebrows, I rub on a bit of my granddaughter”s teething gel to dull the pain. She”s done teething and doesn”t need it anymore, but it works well for me. Apply very carefully, let dry and wash your hands before touching your eye any further.” — M.L. in California