Revamping Flower Pots

Found some flower pots at a garage sale for a BUCK each. We were looking into buying pots new; they cost an arm and a leg, so this was a steal of a deal. They were looking a little sad, so I decided spruce them up with a coat of paint.

Using a gloss spray paint makes the pots look like their ceramic. This a cheap way to get this rich look. 

Here's the finished product. They'll eventually hang out on our patio... once we're done making the patio...

Home Made Piñatas

For Cinco de Mayo I wanted to make some piñatas for my fiesta.

First I blew up a balloon and shredded some newspaper:

I applied the strips of paper using a flour and water combo. (One part water, one part flour: boiled and cooled. Makes for a strong paste!)

After letting the strips harden over night, I applied another layer of newspaper.


I felt that the newspaper wasn't as strong as I would like it to be, so my next layer was with a thick cardboard/ cardstock material. I also applied it to the balloon form with the flour paste.

 Once that was thoroughly dried, I began applying the decorative shell. I took several layers of tissue paper and cut squares. I applied the tissue to the balloon with a glue stick.

When I was close to completing covering the balloon, I cut a hole to insert the goodies.The balloon popped inside and shriveled up. Upon removing the balloon, I inserted the candies. Once completed, I used duct tape to seal up the hole and finished gluing the tissue paper on it.

The the finished piñatas:

Fan Scarf

I originally saw this scarf on Pinterest from One Flew Over.

It's a super easy pattern that can be found at this link.

Valentine Poof Balls

 Getting ready for V-Day


Supplies:
6 Styrofoam balls
Crepe Paper
Muslin fabric
Plastic tablecloth
Hot glue gun

 I folded over the top and started twisting the streamers until it formed a flower.

After I formed a few, I started gluing them to the ball.

I cut out white ovals then folded them hot dog style, then again hamburger style. These were each glued to the ball. No real strategy here.

The last two balls are made out of a random tablecloth I bought at a g'sale. I cut off about 2 inches off of one end off the folded tablecloth and glued them to the balls. 

Here are the completed balls!

Wall Art

Saw this done on Pinterest... Thought I'd give it a go.

http://www.everythingmom.com/decorating/diy-decor-distressed-numbers-canvas.html

I started out with 6 12x12 blank canvases. 

 Paint - Based on the I used Americana paints in Snow (Titanium) White, Buttermilk, Burnt Sienna, Lamp (Ebony) Black - I grabbed a couple extra black just in case.

Once the canvases dried, I flipped them over and stapled them together.

Next I cut out the numbers and arranged them.

I traced them with a pencil, then painted with a mix of the three colors.

Finally I sprayed a gloss on the top. Ta-daa!

Tornado Disaster Relief Donations

After a few months of couponing, we have accumulated quite the stockpile. We've read on several blogs that tornado victims are in need of several of the items hanging out in our pantry.

A fellow couponer - Couponing to Disney  - is organizing a donation drive. Donations are being accepted by her church and she is helping distribute the materials. You can send items to:


Disaster Relief
c/o First Baptist Church of Moody
902 Church Street
Moody, AL 35004


Here's what we'll be sending along...

Deals found on Mother's Day

Rite Aid:

Breath Right 10 ct – FREE with coupon

Receive $1 Up with purchase

=FREE +$1 Money Maker

Hershey's Single Serve– BOGO 
Pair that with 1 FREE Hershey’s Bar wyb Select Hershey’s Bars, exp. 6-17 (SS 05/01/11)
= 2 FREE chocolate bars

Starbursts Easter Candy –75% off = $0.62 per bag
Mfg $0.50/ 2 Starburst or Skittles
$0.25/1 Starburst Video Values Coupon (it pictures a single serve, cashier may not accept)

=$0.49 for 2 bags or $0.25 each bag

Precise Tyenol Heat Patch / Cream – On sale for $5

Use $5/1 Precise Product printable 

= FREE!! These bad boys work great for back pain... not that this old dancing body would know... 

Cadbury Eggs – On clearance for $0.22

Use $0.50/2 Cadbury Eggs Video Values coupon
= Free w/ overage 

Athletic Shorts – On clearance for $1.74 

Willy Wonka Scrubdiddlyuptious – Currently $4.99
Our Rite Aid had a sign up saying they are 75% off. Supposedly this sign was supposed to be for 5/10, but they gave us the clearanced price of $1.25. Pair that with a $1/2 Willy Wonka Coupon from Coupons.com and they wound up being $1.50 for 2 bags or $0.75 a bag!!!! 

Walgreens:

Nexcare bandages – $3.99 each

Mail In Rebate up to 3.99 per type = up to 11.97
Use this $1 off one Coupon thrice
or Use $0.55/1 Nexcare from SS 5/1
or Use $0.55/1 Nexcare Product, SS 04/03
= FREE (after rebate) and up to $3 money maker

 
Gillette Proglide Razor $9.89
$5 Register Rewards back after transaction
Use $4/1 from P&G 5/1
= $0.89

Sunburnt Gel -$3.99
Free after $3.99 mail in rebate
Rebate prints during check out
Also use $0.50 Coupon
= FREE (after rebate) and $0.50 money maker


On the Border Products
Buy one Margarita Mix, and Chips, Get Salsa FREE
No 'real' coupons for these. We used these as filler items to use our register rewards from prior purchase. Walgreens considers the money back as a mfg coupon and you can only have one mfg coupon per item. So since we had several $2 off rewards we need to pair them with products that didn't have coupons. (yeah.. pretty tricky) 


CVS: 
Carefree Pantiliners $1
$1/1 Carefree Product 5/8/2011 SS
=FREE

Revlon Makeup - Get $7 wyb $15
The magic CVS machine printed out $3 off of $10 of Makeup
Use (2) $2/1 Revlon Products from today's news
So $7 worth of coupons, get $7 back, = about a buck for 2 items. :-D

Chef Boy Ravioli - $1 each
We used a buy 4 get 1 coupon from the latest All You Magazine.

Kellogs Cereal - $1.97 eachLimit 6
$1/2 Kellogg's Krispies Cereal 4/17/2011 RP Insert (exp 5/29/2011)
$0.70/1 Kellogg’s Raisin Bran Cereal Kelloggs 4/12/2011 (exp 5/10/2011) $1.50/3 Kellogg's Cereal 4/10/2011 RP Insert (exp 5/22/2011)
$1/2 Kellogg’s Rice or Cocoa Krispies Kelloggs 4/4/2011 (exp 5/10/2011)
= Final price varies