Coupons!

 

      I love coupons, in particular I love how using coupons allows me to take my small decorating budget and stretch it so I can make beautiful things to fill my home or gift to others.

 

      There is a coupon, for EVERYTHING! So it makes sense, why not coupons for craft items? We all want to decorate our houses, make gifts and not break the bank to do so. Thankfully there are coupons that help minimize the cost.

  

      Who takes coupons? Jo Ann's, Michaels and Hobby Lobby do. Walmart will price match

 

      Ok so where do I get them? Well first I go to the websites of all related stores and sign up for their Emails and put myself on the mailing list. I created an Email just for my coupons so I wasn't searching through tons of Emails in my regular Email account.  Then I go directly to their websites and print out the latest coupon.

Jo Ann's  http://www.joann.com/

Michaels http://www.michaels.com/

Hobby Lobby http://hobbylobby.com/

AC Moore http://www.acmoore.com/


Did you know that Jo Anns accepts competitors coupons? They sure do, you can use one coupon for every item you purchase. However they all have to end in different numbers under the bar code. I also get coupons from the Sunday paper, and the flyers in the store, and the ones they put in the bags with each purchase.  If you have two or more coupons ending in the same number, nicely ask your checker to please break your purchases up to do multiple transactions and use all of your coupons.





Body Scrub on the Cheap!

                                                          ~  Body Scrub ~ 

 I love foot scrubs, body scrubs, anything that makes my skin feel great. But I do not love how the price makes my pocket book feel...
    So a few years ago I searched for a body scrub that was easy to make, felt good, and was great for all skin types.  http://www.chsugar.com/holidays-parties-gifts/gifts/brown-sugar-body-scrub-recipes The best part for me was that I could make the scrubs with everything I already had in the kitchen!

    They are perfect for a hostess gift, stocking stuffer, teachers gift and don't forget to make some for yourself to!
   Tip: Save your jelly jars, olive jars, baby food jars, any little jar is perfect.


Brown Sugar Body Scrub Recipes

We know the perfect way to relax after a long day of baking! Try this luxurious homemade spa treatment using a delicious aromatic blend of C&H® Dark or Golden Brown Sugar, moisturizing oils and fresh fragrances. You can also create this homemade sugar scrub, as a thoughtful, low-cost gift that will make your friends feel a little sweeter!

Brown Sugar Body Scrub

• 1/2 cup ground almonds
• 1/2 cup ground oatmeal
• 1/2 cup C&H® Dark Brown Sugar, packed
• 1/4 cup almond oil
• 1 tsp. vanilla extract
• Small containers with lids

Combine all ingredients using a spatula in a large bowl until well blended. Mix should have a paste-like texture. If it is too dry, add more oil a few drops at a time. Conversely, if it is too oily, add more dry ingredients until you reach the desired consistency. Keep stored in tightly sealed jars. May need to mix before use if ingredients settle.

Sweet N’ Spicy Brown Sugar Scrub

• 1 cup - C&H® Dark or Golden Brown Sugar
• 1 cup - C&H® Granulated Sugar
• ¾ cup - almond oil
• 2 tsp. - ground cinnamon
• 2 tsp. - ground ginger
• 2 tsp. - ground nutmeg
• 1 16 oz. - glass container with lid
• Cinnamon sticks, optional

In a medium-sized bowl, combine all ingredients until thoroughly blended. Be sure to break up any lumps from the brown sugar or from the spices. Spoon into the glass container and secure with lid. Scoop a teaspoon or two of the scrub on your hands and gently massage in circular motions onto your skin. Leave on for 3 to 4 minutes before thoroughly rinsing. The scrub will tighten on your skin.

Application:

Gently apply to wet skin in a circular motion, concentrating on dry patches and rough areas of your skin. Avoid using the scrub on sensitive areas, in cuts or on skin that is irritated or sunburned. Sugar scrubs are also not recommended for the face. Thoroughly rinse with warm water.
Caution: the oil in the sugar scrub can cause the tub to become slippery.
Have fun creating your own signature body scrub by experimenting with various scents from essential oils like grapefruit, lavender or peppermint, found in specialty markets or crafts stores. If you add any natural fruit or dairy products to your scrub, we recommend you refrigerate for up to two weeks.

Tips

A little goes a long way with the sugar body scrub when giving as gifts. Use small mason jars or washed out baby food jars as containers. Decorate the lids buy cutting out fabric scraps in a circle shape about 2 inches larger than the lid. Glue the fabric to the lid, then tie a pretty coordinating ribbon, gathering the fabric, around the neck of the jar. Be sure to include a small tag with the application instructions and don’t forget to let the recipient know that you were the one sweet enough to make these for them!

http://www.chsugar.com/holidays-parties-gifts/gifts/brown-sugar-body-scrub-recipes

Make your own $50 wreath for $20!!

My fall wreath.

  I wanted a beautiful fall wreath, but when I saw how much they were priced at Michael's... no thank you! I knew I could make my own for alot less. And so I did, and I took pictures to share with all of you, so you can make your own to.

I started off with this wreath, a left over from last fall. I got it on clearance at Michael's when they were getting rid of all their fall/winter craft things.

 

You don't need to many tools, I used the above ones.

(Wire cutters, scissors, sewing scissors, decorations, hot glue gun and green wire)

 

Those two little "balls" in the picture with the sunflowers are seed pods of some sort, I found them at the park last week. You can find all kinds of goodies outside during the fall, just keep your eyes open.

We have found pine cones, acorns, seed pods, long seed pods, snail shells, pretty rocks, and so much more.

I should have covered my table, but then my "helper" would have helped by pulling all of it onto the floor. Yes, he has reached the busy stage.

 

These are the flowers and leaves I chose, the leaves had been $12.99 and the flowers $7.99

I got both for 75% off!

I had two Michael's and Hobby Lobby coupons 50% off one item each. Then I had a Michael's coupon for 25% off your total purchase.

 

I chose leaves that also had those little orange "berries" in them, added decoration for my wreath, but no extra cost!!

 

I originally wanted orange ribbon, but not at $6 a roll! So instead I got two yards of tulle, at $1.19 a yard, much better price.

I cut the tulle into strips, about 10 inches each.

Ties a knot and slipped it under a piece of the wreath on the back.

Then I just wrapped it around the wreath.

I then cut the flowers off of the bunch, giving them about a four length stalk.

I bent the stem a little and wedged it into the wreath.

I always stick/wedge the flowers and leaves in first, to get see if I like the placement.

If I like the placement, then I hot glue.

 

Remember the seed pod I found at the park? Well I cut some stalk off of the bunch of flowers, hot glued it on the bottom of the seed pod......

Wedged it in, and took a look. Pretty AND free! My kind of decoration.

After putting some of the flowers and leaves on I sat back to take a look.

And decided it needed more.

 

So I raided my kitchen cabinet.

And found a bag of mixed fall decorations from a few years ago.

Then I got to hot gluing stems on some of the pieces.

I glues some of the berries on the underside of this pod to add some more detail.

I glued all of this together to make a nice bunch of leaves/berries/seed pod.

Yes, much better!

 

I made a bow out of left over tulle, a big loop tied together with a long piece of tulle.

Then I formed the bow, added a tail and tied it on the wreath.

(I forgot to take a picture at this point, I am sorry)

 

After I added the bow I glued a flower in the middle of it, added some leaves and was done.

   

 

Finished and hung.

I think it turned out beautiful, how about you?

 

I added up the cost, for under $20 I got a beautiful, hand made wreath.

Best of all, it was made by me!

 

My next post will be about how to use coupons to get your supplies for cheap!