I love the Dollar Store!

Just a short post to let you in on my newest dollar store craft idea.  For $1 each, I bought a kitchen whisk and a bag of Christmas chocolates.  I simply squeezed the chocolates into the whisk (they all didn't fit, so I had to sample a few) and placed a cellophane bag around it and added a holiday ribbon and bow.  This is a great gift for a secret Santa, Aunt Millie, or as a hostess gift.  You could add a recipe, an oven mitt, or tie onto a package. 

Gotta run! 

Has it really been that long?????

I have really been neglecting my blog because I have been so busy with holiday craft shows and bazaars.  I did a show at Blackstone Country Club, one at Cider Days in Lakewood, Overland High School in Aurora, Red Rocks Country Club in Morrison, Colorado Country Christmas Gift Show at the Merchandise Mart in Denver and now I am at Grandmother's House Holiday Boutique in Centennial.  But one exciting thing has come of all of this....I have been asked to do a segment for Colorado's Best, a noontime show on Channel 2 here in Denver.  I will be showing how to turn regular household items or items that you might find at the dollar store or thrift store and turn them into gifts for even your pickiest person on your list.  Some of my ideas are my snowman muffin tins, my santa paintbrush ornaments, a kitchen kiss whisk, my spindle angels, children's personalized aprons, and so much more.  Tune in on November 23 at noon to see my segment, or check out my other blog for tutorials:  http://3peas-in-a-podprim.blogspot.com/

Save those beer bottle caps!

Bottle caps are a big thing with scrapbookers and you can buy them at craft stores or on Ebay.  But I save my own!  The look is different when they have been crimped but they are still cool.  Paint your bottle caps your favorite color and decorate accordingly.  This is a free download of Santa Heads printed on my printer and cut out.  I have a one inch hole punch that I turn upside down to get it perfectly over the picture.  If you don't have a hole punch, you can just cut them out with a scissors.  Glue to dried cap. (inside)  You can decorate however you want!  I use a modgepodge filler to cover the photo and I dip the crimping in glue and glitter.  But there are many things you can do with them!
I added mine to an aged and stamped tag.  You could make a necklace, (maybe a little locket type necklace with your favorite photo inside.)  You might try funky earrings, a collage of photos when mounted to a board, a Christmas ornament, and the list goes on.  Get creative! 

Fall is in the air!

When this time of year rolls around, I think of harvest and Thanksgiving.  Since our garden didn't do as well as normal this year, I made a trip to the local farmer's market and bought enough cukes, tomatoes, and corn for a nice winter stash.  My tip is this:  When shopping at a farmer's market, ask if there are any specials.  Most of the time they are posted, but I missed one.  The market clerk showed me a halfbushel of oversized cucumbers.  Too big for pickling but they were only $2.50!  I took them of course.  They made up nicely into dill and sweet relish.  I just scooped out the seeds and used the rest.  What a deal!

I also made dill and sweet spears and slices, ground tomatoes, salsa, pickled beets, rhubarb, corn relish, and bread and butter pickles.  I processed over 100 jars and had to freeze some of the tomatoes.  So here is another tip:  Be sure to save all of your jars and rings.  They can be kind of pricey buying new each year.  You can also find them at garage sales but just be sure there are no chips along the rim.  You MUST replace the lid each year though. 

Another tip is to save all of those plastic butter, cool whip, cottage cheese, etc, containers.  If you are like me, you save them and they soon become overwhelming so you throw them out.  I have learned to put them in a large garbage bag that I keep in my basement.  They are great for freezing you many veggies in.  For instance, last year I made so many loaves of zucchini bread that when I met someone new, I would say, "Glad to meet you.  Want some zucchini bread?"  Then I started using these throw away containers.  I shredded the zucchini and measured it out into one batch sizes and labeled and froze.  I also did this with pumpkin. 

Have a great week, everyone!

Not too old to try something new.....

I had quite the experience last week.  We were moving from one construction yard to another and we have greatly downsized.  We decided to sell some of the scrap metal rather than move it or dump it.  I had no idea!  This is a huge business.  On the first load, we were unloaded by the CLAW.  Yep, it looks just like one of those claw devices where you try to pick up the stuffed animals only it was like 1000 time bigger.  We had all sorts of scrap metal.  The claw threw it up on a huge pile of bed springs, washing machines, cars and other assorted junk.  On the second trip, we (Scott, my son, and I) loaded up aluminum cans and copper wire.  There was a huge line to get in.  It was so entertaining!  There was a truck a couple of slots ahead of us.  There were three men in this compact truck.  I assume they were out of gas because they shut the truck off and pushed it forward each time the line moved.  Behind us was an old van full of what we called Hippies, who obviously did not have air conditioning.  They were using rags to wipe their arm pits.  There was a literal soccer mom, who drove a van with a soccer goal strapped to the top.  My favorite though, was the older man on a bicycle who had a very new-looking lawn mower strapped to the top. 

Though it was hard work and very hot, I had an enjoyable time and pocketed around $700 for our efforts.  I believe I will go back!  Next time, with my camera!

Clearance in grocery stores?

You betcha!  I have found some really great buys lately in my neighborhood grocery stores.  You just gotta look!  Not only are there deep discounts in the bakery area, but also there are some great prices in the meat and dairy departments.  You just have to be sure that you are smart in how to use any fresh or refrigerated items.  So if you buy steaks that are half price, chances are they are nearing their sell-by date.  Same with dairy.  What you may not realize is that sell by and use by dates are not the same.  If you are unsure how they are different, ask your grocer.  Many times, milk will be good for an entire week after the sell-by date. 

Have you ever checked out the clearance items in the cosmetics section?  Many times, items are up to 75% off if they are an overstock, being discontinued, or if they are just unpopular.  My local store, also has an area close to the bakery day-old items that carries other items.  I bought a 12 pack of soda pop for $1.19 because the packaging was torn, some relish for $ .69 because the label was torn and toilet paper 12 pack for $2.59 because of torn packaging.  Check it out!!!!

Time is money.........

My time has been really tight lately and sometimes I have to stop and remember that time management is money management.  If I am spinning my wheels and loading my schedule with more than I should, I find that I am stopping at fast food restaurants, the closest gas station, and the grocery store on the way home (without a list)   I might buy food that is not on sale, forget my coupons, and leave my reusable bags at home.  So this short post is for all those parents, business owners, hobbyists, daughters and sons, and homeowners that have taken the weight of the world on themselves to carry.......LIGHTEN UP!  Your wallet, your psyche, your family, and your body will thank you!