Thrifty Thursday (January Thrift Scores)

I love finding a good deal. Whether those deals are in thrift stores, at garage sales, or even on the clearance shelves at local stores, I'm all about "saving money." I went ahead and stored up the purchases I made this past month to share with you in a single post. This is that post!

This all began with a garage sale down the street from our house. Pat and I decided to stop in real quick. While he didn't find anything he needed, I was able to snatch up a few things.

The first thing that caught my attention was, of course, a tin.

As I snatched it up,  I noticed it had some heft.

On further examination, I was surprised to find an array of art supplies.

Oh boy!

At home, I discovered that it was mostly Liquitex and Speedball acrylic paints, a few watercolor paint tubes, and some old (but still good) oil pastels.

In addition, there was a smattering of some miscellanea.

Also at the garage sale, there were a few piles of other craft-related materials, but one stack caught my attention the most.

I spotted beads!

It's obviously not anything I need, but I got both the tin, these items, and two embroidery hoops for $4. That's a real deal!

Later in the month, I went to Ladies Night at Southern Antiques and Accents. While everything is 10% off on Ladies' Night, I found some crystals that were 50% off!

I have to admit that I didn't realize they were reduced until I got to check-out. Ha! Total score.

Finally, Hobby Lobby marked down some of their Tim Holtz and art supplies. I had seen the talk about this clearance all over the internet, so I made sure to jump on it.

I'd been wanting some of the Maribou art crayons for some time, and I can't go wrong with the Tim Holtz stuff. Hopefully, you can still find these deals at your local store too.

To give you an even better look at these thrifty scores, I, of course, recorded a video.

I have a good laugh in the video when I get confused about some of the garage sale materials.

So, how about you, found any good deals lately?

Dollar Tree Altered Playing Card Self-Challenge

The other day I had a ton of errands to run with/for my nieces. However, I knew there would be some lag time between a few of them that I wanted to use to work on my altered playing cards. I considered lugging a bunch of supplies with me, but that just didn't sound appealing at all. As well, I knew I had a few items to pick up at the Dollar Tree. So, I decided to challenge myself to create at least one playing card with supplies I got there. Here are the supplies I grabbed.

Left to Right: glue stick, paint, stickers, paint brushes, scissors, permanent markers, and a cute kids' activity book.

I did have a few of my gesso-ed playing cards with me, and let myself use items that were laying around my mom's house (where I waited between errands).

I used a yellow legal pad that was there as my underpaper.

To start, I painted the card.

However, I wasn't happy with the brush strokes from the stiff paintbrushes and decided to go another route.

From out of the paper recycling I pulled a piece of newspaper - the game section. Using the glue stick, I stuck the find-a-word onto my card and trimmed the edges with the scissors.

While I probably could have left out showing you the original painting of the card, I wanted to illustrate that it's okay and even easy to start over on a project like this - cover oopsies with paper, gesso over them, whatever. You don't have to keep something you're not happy with.

Since it was the brush strokes that bothered me in the first go-round, I decided to use my finger to rub the paint onto the card this time.

My palette of dark blue, green, and orange worked out perfectly. I had no direction, I was just putting paint down as it spoke to me.

From there, I used the permanent markers to make random marks on the card.

Dots, dashes, arcs, and circles were formed with orange and brown markers.

There were some really cute images in the activity book I bought. However, the colors just didn't seem to mesh with the color palette on the card. Instead, I turned to the stickers for a focal image.

This "Love" sticker was perfect. However, the blotches of color on it blended in almost too well with the blotches of color on the card.

I fixed that with a black marker, outlining the sticker to separate it.

The black marker was also used to outline the whole card and make it pop.

I think working with just a few supplies can sometimes inspire me more than having a whole craft room full of options. As well, this just goes to show you that it doesn't have to cost you a bundle to make some fun art.

I love being frugal and finding supplies for only a buck. Do you have any favorite craft supplies from the dollar store?

One Dollar Valentine Stamps DIY

I have a sick obsession with the Dollar Tree. I'm really just too frugal for my own good. But, for only a dollar, I can buy a plethora of general items. I'm always on the lookout for anything I can incorporate into a craft. On a recent trip, I picked up some Valentine's erasers. Here's what you can do with them.

I bought this unsuspecting pack of holiday erasers, already figuring I could make some stamps.

I was a total dummy though and completely forgot to take into account that words/letters need to be reversed for stamps in order to read them. Duh! Fortunately, I got a happy surprise when I opened the packaging.

Those manufacturers must have known this would be the perfect craft!

I stacked the erasers into pairs (making sure they matched up perfectly) and grabbed my Speedball Linoleum Cutter. I worked on top of a piece of paper so cleanup would be easy.

I started with what I thought would be easiest and worked to hardest to make sure I got into the groove of carving before it got too hard. The heart with the single crescent got the first chunks taken out of it.

Again, ensure you have the erasers perfectly matched and carve on the same side so you can make the stamps interlocking. This was another huge bonus in this one buck purchase.

After completing each pair, I tested them on a slip of paper to see if I needed to carve off any more of the eraser.

I repeated this process for all the pairs.

As I predicted, the last pair gave me trouble because of its intricacy. I had to test and re-carve several times.

While it isn't perfect, I'm happy with how it came together.

I had quite a mess when I was finished.

But twelve completed stamps!

I lucked up even more at the Dollar Tree and discovered a couple of blank card sets - perfect for making Valentine Cards with my stamps!

Let me say that the cards have a slick surface, much like regular greeting cards. I had to be careful with the stamps as I put the ink down because they did want to slip.

While I was really excited about the ability to inlay the designs, I think they each look great on their own too.

I can't wait to find some more uses for these and find more erasers for upcoming holidays! 

What Dollar Store scores have you repurposed lately?

Friday Finds #4 | Thrift, Craft, and Antique Stores

I know, I know. These finds were from November, but I'm still trying to catch up. I do hope y'all will forgive me and just enjoy the finds!

Here's my video reveal of all of these scores. It actually includes all of them because it was recorded just after I discovered the goodies.

If you're just not feeling like watching me ramble for five and a half minutes, here's a peek at most of what I unearthed.

From a thrift store in Mobile, AL

From Blue Girl Beading Co in Gulf Shores, AL

From Hobby Lobby

My favorite find in this post! From The Rabbit Hole Marketplace in Summerdale, AL

The jewelry was brought home in a bag and sorted before being placed in a jar. This may not be the right jar. You'll have to watch the video to see what I got. Oh, and I figured out that the tiny jars are food coloring jars. I was excited about that. Anyway, these were from an antique store in  Robertsdale, AL.

So, that's the bulk of my finds lately (even if that was back in November). I've been so busy since then, there hasn't been a whole lot of treasure hunting. Hopefully that will change. However, I've got so many treasures right now that I really just need to spend some time working with them instead of hunting for more! Who can resist the thrill of the hunt though?

Have you found anything good lately?

Being Frugal-ish and a Meal Plan

I wouldn't say I'm a 'cheap' jewelry artist. . .more like thrifty. . .or economical.

I grew up without much money and learned to make do with as little as possible. 

Though times have changed, I can't seem to shift my penny pinching habits and the ingrained lesson that if you want something, just make it yourself. 

With frugality constantly in mind, I'm always grateful for sale items and generous friends.

As such, the below items I scored last week really brought a smile to my face.

Hobby Lobby had lots of Vintaj pieces on clearance. I scooped up as much as I felt brave enough to spend!

As well, a sweet friend handed me a baggie of some of her old jewelry to play with. I was able to re-work some pieces that she liked to give back to her. Afterwards, I was still left with these treasures.

Anyway, I just thought I share some of the cool items that can be gained with very little money at all.

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It's time to share my menu! The dinner menu is a little weak because we've got a lot going on a few evenings. . .including going out to dinner for our 9th Anniversary!!

Breakfasts: Bagels, cereal/grits, hashbrown baskets, pumpkin cream cheese muffins, omelets, cinnamon sugar croissants

Lunches: Turkey sandwiches, tuna noodles, chicken salad, pepperoni pizza puffs, chicken fingers w/baked beans, PB&J

Dinners: 

Cheese ravioli w/shrimp and a salad

Crockpot potato soup

Grilled Chicken with Lemon Basil pasta w/broccoli

Grilled Steak w/sweet potatoes & green beans

Check out more Menu Plan Monday over at I'm an Organizing Junkie.

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Re-listed these today.

Liking the Difference Earrings

I'm off to do some more frugal shopping as I head out to the dollar store to scope out possibilities! How do you save money to make jewelry?

Little By Little, I'll Get It All Done (ThTh)

You know those days when you feel like you accomplished NOTHING?
Have you ever had one of those, but in retrospect realized that you really were more productive than you thought?
That was yesterday.
I worked (some) until I could no longer stand the internet dropping every few minutes, I blogged, I crafted, I shopped, I made dinner, I watched a movie - soooooo productive. Of course, then again - the house is a mess, clothes need to be washed, and I have a ton of crafts in progress and can't seem to finish them. Hmmmm - let's just say I'm happy with what I did accomplish and recognize what I didn't. There now!

On to "Thrifty Thursday" Here are a few more 'creative' links.

• I love that you don't have to buy those expensive pre-packaged mixes now that these Easy Bake oven recipes are available.
  
• How would you like some creative ways to recycle ordinary objects? There ya go!
  
• Here are some recycled art links for those of you interested in how others are using 'trash' to make art and other objects.
  
• Hopefully, you've done better than I have and have already gotten your calendars for 2009 (my iPhone has one, so I've avoided a paper kind so far this year.) If you haven't; jump on over here for some FREE 2009 calendar links.

I'd better be out for now, so maybe I can be 'productive' today as well. Best of luck to you in your endeavors!!!

Coupon Profiling (and ThTh)

I've been a little lax about posting since I made the demand that you TAKE MY POLL (in sidebar at right.) I've just had a few busy evenings. First, with my nieces and then I had a Room Meeting for my Mardi Gras Society. Following the meeting, I got to hang out with two of my best friends, one of which just had a baby.
I have to tell you the funniest thing that happened last night. You know those coupons that the cash registers at grocery stores spew out based on what you bought? Well, before heading over to the baby-mama's house, we stopped for some wine. I'm not talking about a neat little bottle, I'm talking one of those BIG bottles of wine. However, it was just some Pinot Grigio, nothing harsh or odd and nothing else. Well, as we go to leave the lane, the cashier begins reeling in this foot-long string of coupons. He passes them to me. Walking toward the door, I examine the coupons to see what bells ring when you buy wine. I'm thinking flowers, frozen dinners, etc. NO! The boy had handed me coupons for cat food, vitamin water, and tampons!! SO, apparently people who buy large bottles of tasty white wine are hormonal, malnourished, cat-ladies.

SERIOUSLY!!

We had a great chuckle over the coupon choices. But, you know what - if the cat food was another brand, I would probably USE ALL of the coupons. Sigh - I'm that sad and apparently that predictable.

Speaking of coupons, it is "Thrifty Thursday."

• Make your own clock hands with this neat product.
  
• Here are some more tips for cleaning, deodorizing, etc. I do want to mention that this is a fairly old site and not the most attractive, but full of all kinds of tips - it even has some background music. It's rather low, but if you don’t want to hear it, turn off your speakers.
  
• Help Reduce -part of the 3 R's - some simple strategies.
  
• Making neat, funny, and unusual design and functional elements from dollar store finds.
  
• Michelle Stitzlein's recycled work is so neat. They are beautiful, recycled butterflies

That's all for now folks! Please remember to take my poll (on the sidebar) and let me know if there's anything else you want to see here.

Frugal Gifts for Kids

Kids can be the easiest or the hardest to buy for at times. Some parents tend to get their children everything they want making it hard on those of us who are not their parents, while other children receive simpler gifts and are happy to get anything at all. On this "Thrifty Thursday," I want to share with my idea for shopping frugally for the little and not so little ones. Basically, I like to do gift baskets for kids. This is easier than you might think.

WHERE TO SHOP:

• The toy aisle in you local supermarket will have inexpensive toys and school supplies, but they do tend to cost more than I would pay in other places.
  
• Superstores like Target and Wal-Mart are a good place to start. You can usually count on the quality of the items in these stores. Plus, they tend to have a wall of items in their toy departments that are $1 or less.
  
• Surplus stores like Big Lots and Fred's also offer a great variety of items that you may not find elsewhere.
  
• Dollar stores will help fill out the basket without putting you in the poorhouse.
  
• You may even luck out at a thrift store. I know our Goodwill has begun receiving unopened items from Target.

**What's great is that many times, the small, inexpensive items you can find for gift baskets come in packets of several items, which works if you are buying for several kids. It's really great when you are shopping for several children in the same age range because then you can get great deals when you buy in bulk, even if it is only two items in a package for $1.50.

WHAT TO BUY: Think about the age and gender of the children for which you are shopping to select appropriate items to fill the baskets.

• Children who are younger than 4 tend to be difficult to do a basket for because of choking hazards. Soft items like dolls and clothes work best. Yet, I think it is just as easy to find a single toy gift for this age range. These do not usually break the bank and this age range is not too picky about what they receive.
• Ages 3-10 - Look in the toy section or at the party favors section of any of the above mentioned stores.
  
• BOYS: cars or other vehicles, transformers, rubber super balls, army men, and anything that looks gross.
• GIRLS: small dolls, doll clothes, hair accessories, tea set/cooking accessories, play jewelry, and anything pink.
  
• BOTH: bubbles, play-dough, toy cell phones, crayons, small coloring books, puzzles, fidget games (like the ones with marble you roll around into holes or the ones with the numbers you side around to get in order), and arts and crafts.
  

• Tween to teen: 11-17 - Look in the cosmestics/hygiene section of the stores, especially if they have a travel size section of the store where the small items are usually less than $1 (I like Target's travel section the best.)
• BOYS: aftershave, cologne, Axe body sprays, chap stick, nail clippers, combs, small puzzle games (like above), anything electronic, candy, and snacky food.
• GIRLS: matchbook emery boards, bath confetti, bath bombs, lip gloss/chap stick, nail files, bubble bath, body spray, lotions, nail polish, nail polish remover, powder, small travel hairbrushes, mirrors, hair accessories (cute pony tail holders, barrettes, or butterfly clips), and candy (esp. candy necklaces and ringpops)
  

HOW TO PACKAGE

• Containers: You can either get the container first so you know the space you have to fill or get it last once you know how much you are putting in there.
• For the younger age range, I try to find something with a handle so it is easier for them to carry around. Last year, I was able to find miniature buckets (that looked like the large 5 gallon buckets that everyone has in their garage/shed). I found these in white and simply used permanent markers in a variety of colors to write their names on the buckets.
  
• This can work also for the older boys, but you might also find an inexpensive shave kit bag that will work.
  
• Similarly, cosmetic bags are great for older girls. Both the cosmetic bags and shave kits can also be found in the travel section of stores. Small purses are also good for the older girls' baskets.
  
• Christmas stockings are always an easy alternative for any age range.

• To wrap these, I make sure to keep a large roll of clear cellophane in with my gift wrap and simply pull it up around these items with a fun and festive bow (lots of curling ribbon).

Shopping for and making these baskets is usually one of my favorite gift giving practices.

I find that for $5-10 you can make a great little basket for kids. I think thats a really awesome bargain. Frugal and festive, who knew?