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Frugal Gift Idea
Monday, November 26, 2007
Well this wasn't a gift (because my daughter was with me when I purchased it! ARGH. LOL)
But it would be a great gift idea for a friend or family member, or even a business associate, I think!
A FRUGALLY PAINTED BULLETIN BOARD
This definitely isn't a brain-drainer, and certainly isn't an original idea. For me, it was an IMPROMPTU idea. I was getting ready to hang the plain board in my daughter's room when I got the idea to paint it first!
I started with something close to this...
(the board is 3'x2')
Out of pocket expense for this project= $4.99.
and ended up with this
 (Click for larger view)
The top middle I fiddled with for this photo to block out my daughter's name. But the letters are painted in yellow and outlined in the blue. Paints I used for this project were FREE as I got them from my scrapbook stash. They're the Making Memories line of paint. I also had various foam brushes, foam stamps (for the letters and flowers) on hand, too. And a pencil eraser came in handy for the lines of polka dots. When my DD saw this she just LOVED IT. She already has a spot picked out to hang it.
I had thought to paint the outside framing, but decided not to. Maybe one day. Additionally, the frame could be decoupaged , covered with rocks, rhinestones, fabrics, flowers, toy bugs, nuts & bolts, etc. The possibilities are virtually limitless, just constrained by your budget and choice of adhesive!
sports nut
Debbie Mumm tells how to REALLY jazz up a cork board
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Books for free
Friday, October 19, 2007
For those that aren't aware, or anyone else who uses books in their homeschooling (grin) I want to point out my PAPERBACK SWAP bookshelf.
Here is what I currently have listed that I'm giving away FOR FREE!
Daniel Boone; Taming the Wilds
Katharine E. Wilkie - ISBN-10: 0590306146 - ISBN-13: 9780590306140
Dragon of the Lost Sea
Laurence Yep - ISBN-10: 067380139X - ISBN-13: 9780673801395
George Washington's Breakfast
Jean Fritz - ISBN-10: 0698206169 - ISBN-13: 9780698206168
Ginger Pye
Eleanor Estes - ISBN-10: 059045126X - ISBN-13: 9780590451260
Hanukkah
Roni Schotter - ISBN-10: 0316774669 - ISBN-13: 9780316774666
The Revolutionary War (True Books: American History)
Brendan January - ISBN-10: 0516271962 - ISBN-13: 9780516271965
The Read-Aloud Handbook (Penguin handbooks)
Jim Trelease - ISBN-10: 0140465340 - ISBN-13: 9780140465341
Red Badge of Courage (Great Illustrated Classics)
Stephen Crane - ISBN-10: 0866119787 - ISBN-13: 9780866119788
The Story of the Constitution
Marilyn Prolman - ISBN-10: - ISBN-13: 90450
Tree Castle Island
Jean Craighead George - ISBN-10: 0060002565 - ISBN-13: 9780060002565
The Carbohydrate Addict's Lifespan Program: A Personalized Plan for Becoming Slim, Fit, and Healthy in Your 40S, 50S, 60S, and Beyond
Richard F. Heller, Rachael F. Heller - ISBN-10: 0451204972 - ISBN-13: 9780451204974
**Note-- if any books mentioned here are not appearing on my bookshelf screen that is because they've recently been requested by someone else.
It is super easy to register (for free) and get started swapping out your books (for the cost of media rate postage) so you can take in books from other swappers (for free!) All you have to do is visit this registration page and fill out the information. I'd love it if you'd use me as your referral: mamaluvsbooks.
Then, gather up 10 unwanted books from your house (or garage!) and post them to the system. It ISN'T just for paperbacks, that's just the clever name!It is a quick and rather easy process. Before too long it'll be "out with the old, in with the new!"
You can read more about the whole paperback swap system from this page.
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Tuesday Thrifting
Tuesday, August 21, 2007
Today was thrifting day on base and here's what we scooped up...
DD picked up an unabridged copy of OLIVER TWIST (I think I already own it but at the nominal price I didn't want to tell her "no" for wanting that book. LOL) 
and Magic Tree House Revolutionary War on Wednesday. This is way, way below her reading level, but she wanted it and since we're moving right into studying the Rev. War, well, it will make quick bathroom reading. LOL After that we'll PBS it!
I picked up All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten which I'm pretty sure I read years and years ago when it first came out, but... figured I might enjoy it again. If not, I can gift it away or post on PBS as it is brand new looking. 
I also got THE JOURNAL OF BEATRIX POTTER (from 1881-1897) Transcribed from her code writing by Leslie Linder. Nice big hardback with book jacket. I thought it might be an interesting read to dabble in from time to time.
DH selected FOUR BLIND MICE by James Patterson. (What I don't get is how he's read this WHOLE series EXCEPT that particular book! AACK!) 
He also picked up Islam and Democracy: Fear of the Modern World. 
And he got another pair of uniform pants.
But the VERY COOL FIND I got FOR FREE was TWO PACKS OF TRANSPARENCIES!! Both boxes are "100 count" but are 1/2-3/4 full. So, even if there is only 100 between the two boxes, well heck FREE IS GOOD! That means I can take the box I purchased this weekend back to Office Depot and get a refund! WOOHOO I just LOVE FREE STUFF! We'll be using these with our Tapestry of Grace mapwork.
OH! I NEARLY FORGOT--- this whole adventure today was only $4.00! Yep, all of it! WOOHOO
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Frugal Girlie Fun
Wednesday, July 25, 2007
Here's a frugal, oh-so-girlie idea for you... we did just last week!
My DD had a birthday sleepover with two neighbor girls. One of the activities she wanted to do with
them was hair beading (something she picked up this summer while at girl scout camp.) But the hair beaders in the stores are just tooooo expensive! So instead, I got out my box of wire (used in
scrapbooking/cardmaking) and about an 8" length (one piece for each girl) and folded it in half, leaving a loop at the top, and twisted it down the length of the wire. Then smoosh the loop a little so it is
oblong, not so round. Next, my daughter picked out 10 pony beads for each of them (we already had a stash, didn't have to buy any) for a nice "starter set". Then she picked out 4 tiny "no tangle" elastic
bands for each of them (also from her stash)to keep the beads IN the hair. I put the wire loop, elastic bands, & the beads into tiny ziplock type bags (also from my scrabooking supplies) and voila!
Hairbeading kit for mere cents! The girls had a ball and picked up the how-to really quickly/easily from my daughter.
Nothing difficult, nothing fancy, but pure fun. One thing to keep in mind is to make sure the wire you're using is a small enough gauge to pull through the bead with hair in it.
Here's the girls beading their hair:
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Today's Frugal Find!
Tuesday, July 17, 2007
So after breakfast DH went to the gym and DD and I went to the base thrift store. I spoke to the lady about us (DD and me) volunteering there once a week (will now wait to hear from the office) and DD found a BRAND NEW American Girl Mystery Puzzle! At the AG store it is $16.95... we paid a whopping $1.00 for it! The puzzle pieces are all in their original and sealed packages, the booklet is there and everything. We couldn't believe the luck! Nothing else there popped out at my, but that's okay as I was just there this past Thursday! LOL
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Saturday garage sale finds...
Sunday, July 1, 2007
Bright and early, out the door, on my way to the commissary... but I got sidetracked by the bright posterboards hanging around my neighborhood. Everyone knows the best time for garage sales in military housing is on a payday weekend! LOL I popped in and out of a number of sales but mostly there were only baby items... clothes and toys. I did manage to snag a lovely green wire basket and a candle votice trio. (didn't take pics of those) I also got these items...
I picked up the Battleship game for DD to play with her friends on the patio (there isn't any paper items to blow away!) as she likes the PDA version of the game. However, (ggrrrrrr) when I got it home and we looked inside, ready to play... there were NO SHIPS!!!!! I'm ticked off, but that's what I get for not insisting to look inside before I bought it. *sigh*
The red striped wooden tote was purchased for the schoolroom, but when DD saw it and I told her that she said, "What for?" (Guess there isn't a need.) So, I'm thinking I'll find another use for it, something crafty I presume.
The wooden shelf with little, tiny wicker baskets is for here at my desk. Probably. Not sure what I'll put in the little baskets but I've no doubt something will come to mind. (It's actually upside down in the photo. LOL At least I plan to use it the opposite direction.)
The books are Trail Blazer books. DD will munch right through those, but they make for good "road trip" readings from time to time.
I also picked up this basket, which I've already put to good use holding some of my yarns!
It's nice and sturdy!
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Thrifting today...
Thursday, June 28, 2007
After taking DD and the neighbor girl to VBS this morning, DH and I headed over to the thrift store on base. He got two pair of uniform pants and here's what I towed in...
Overview of things.
Two wool sweaters for felting and making something with, one sturdy crocheted tote for crocheting on the go, primitive styled country decorative candle stick (hard to see) with dipped candle, and a wooden weaving loom. The weaving loom also had yarn and a metal potholder loom inside it. (We already have a plastic potholder loom but... ya never know when ya might need another. LOL)
Two little decorative bird houses and a child's board knitter.
Girl of Limberlost paperback book and pink cotton crocheted runner (for DD's room.)
All totalled we spent $18.00. DH getting the uniform pants alone were a HUGE HUGE savings on our budget! |
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