January Pantry Challenge Update

Update: Just received an email from Wal-Mart's Savings Catcher that one of the items I bought was 52¢ cheaper somewhere else, so I got that back. But if I put it on my Bluebird Card, they will double the amount, so I really got $1.04 back, lowering my total spent to $70.06.

 I thought I would pop in and share the rest of my January deals with you. I did buy some groceries that were just too good a deal that it didn't seem frugal to not purchase them:

canned vegetables for 25¢ (I bought peas, one thing we didn't garden)
2 liter Coke 88¢ (probably didn't "need", but DH likes homemade Vanilla Coke, so got it for a special treat)
red pepper 86¢ plus 25¢ refund through Snap making it only 61¢
loaf bread 88¢
pasta 77¢

Dollar general had a one day special $2 coupon and you had to spend at least $2.01 so used it on chili pdr (we were out) $1 plus a pkg of salami that was $1.50, so only paid 50¢ for the 2 items

gallon milk 2.69 (2)
flour tortillas, I usually make mine, but with store special plus coupon off they were only 18¢
French Toast Crunch...did NOT need cereal, but ever since I learned that General Mills was bringing this back and it's my son's favorite cereal, I had 2 coupons and was finally able to get some! So $3.50 for 2 boxes. Can't wait to surprise him with these in his Valentine care pkg.

cabbage $1.40 (it was a very large head and I was able to get a large salad plus runzas made with it)
ketchup 88¢
chunk cheese 1.50
shredded cheese 7.35 for a large bag
2 jars Alfredo Prego Sauce for 2.25 (for both of them) I use this for chicken lasagne, chicken pasta of any kind, chicken/bacon/ranch pizza, etc
eggs 1.28/doz

4 boxes of 12 ct Pop Tarts for $4!! Was suppose to be $5 (in store special plus coupon I had off of 3), but gal rang it up wrong and would not believe me when I told her I owed her $5, not $4. There was a long line behind me, so I let it go and then went back in to talk to manager and he wouldn't let me pay the dollar I owed, so a GREAT deal on Pop Tarts!

so total spent for second 1/2 of Jan:$43.19plus first 1/2$27.91

total $71.10

We still have soooo much food in the freezer/pantry/canning cupboard, so I'm going to try this again in Feb, but only allowing myself to buy milk & eggs and then whatever spices/sugar/flour, etc I might need. I think milk and eggs will be all I need to buy, but we'll see. HOWEVER...if there are any great deals like tortillas for .18....it would be dumb of me not to get some. I only had the one coupon, so only bought the one pkg....guess I'll just see how it goes and keep you all posted. Ü

PPPR Guest Designer

Today I am a guest designer on Pretty Paper Pretty Ribbon's blog. I've had fun creating with their cutting files and used 2 of them for my project today.

I used Gift Box with Window Cutting File (I made the small box) and inside the box, I layered a piece cut from Background Lace Cutting File to the open window, using Mono Adhesive Dots. This adhesive is perfect for this type of thin line design because you just rub the extra adhesive right off.

Then I layered a piece of clear acetate (AKA page protector) over that. I inked all the edges and decorated the front of the box while it was still flat.

I used one of my tickets (again! Ü), a handmade flower that I crocheted with embroidery floss, a fun heart brad and a stick pin and fun embellishment that were in my embellishment box.

I tied a piece of ribbon around the box and you just lift the lid as the ribbon is only attached to the back.

For the inside I added some reinforcement to the back of the box edge as I could see it needed it as I kept opening and closing the box.

Thank you Pretty Paper Pretty Ribbon for having me as a guest designer and thank you for the files to create this fun project. I will definitely be making more of these darling boxes.

Let It Snow

We are suppose to get snow this weekend, but the title of this post is actually the name of the digital stamp set by From the Heart's January Stamp of the Month. It's been a LONG time since I've been able to play along with Faith's Stamp of the Month challenges. If you would like to play along, you can find info about it here.

It's also been a long time since I've created a tall card like this. This size will fit into a business sized envelope and measures 4" x 9.25". I purposely left off a sentiment that I will later add to the front, when I know who will be receiving this and for what purpose. I like making several blank cards like this so that I can use them for any occasion when I need a quick card.

The inspiration for this layout came from this Pinterest post.

What If Wednesday~Sketch Challenge

The fourth week of the month for Repeat Impressions on their blog The House That Stamps Built is a sketch challenge. This is the sketch we were given:

Okay, now bear with me, when you see my card. I am NOT a wonky image person, so took a few liberties with this challenge. First I turned it on it's side with the band piece toward the bottom.

The stamped image, 9012-M, Dandelion Breeze, is in place of the curved piece. Then the outside curve pieces I put outside the square. I added stick pins to replicate the blowing dandelions.

Be sure to stop by The House That Stamps Built blog (Repeat Impression's blog) for more details on how you can play along, Each submission enters you in the drawing for a $25 Repeat Impressions Gift Certificate. You don’t always have to use their stamps in your creations, but you will receive an extra entry if you do. Also be sure to stop by each of the Rock Star's blogs and see what they did with this week's Sketch Challenge.

Cheri

 Joy

 Deonna

 Karen 

Patti J

Kathy

Melissa

Would  you like to receive a discount on Repeat Impression stamps? Wendy is graciously offering my readers 10% off their order by using this code rr10df. (thank you Wendy!!) Just click on the box on the right and it will take you right to the store. Have fun shopping!

Frugal Friday 1-24-15

Since I am doing the Pantry Challenge for January, I haven't been spending as much. But here are a few deals I have gotten in the past 2 weeks

*Swagbucks points I redeemed for Amazon and Walmart gift cards
*Christmas items at Dollar General for 25¢ each: green tablecloth and 3 tins with cute lids (that I will spray paint and alter)
*nice heavy dinner plates for a dollar at Dollar Tree. This is their normal price, but it's a lot cheaper than anywhere else and they are nice and big and heavy ceramic dishes. We were using the old Currier and Ives plates that were my g'ma's and they have been breaking a LOT, so decided to put what we had left away and use only on special occasions and get some cheap ones to use for every day
*used 40% off coupon at Hobby Lobby for a craft item for a Valentine project.

Grocery:
canned vegetables for 25¢ (I bought peas, one thing we didn't garden)
2 liter Coke 88¢ (probably didn't "need", but DH likes homemade Vanilla Coke, so got it for a special treat)
red pepper 86¢ plus 25¢ refund through Snap making it only 61¢
loaf bread 88¢
pasta 77¢
Dollar general had a one day special $2 coupon and you had to spend at least $2.01 so used it on chili pdr (we were out) $1 plus a pkg of salami that was $1.50, so only paid 50¢ for the 2 items

RI What If Wednesday: Photo Inspiration

This week's What If Wednesday challenge for Repeat Impressions is the above photo. We already have more snow, ice, and freezing temps this year than all of last year put together. This photo make me think of the cold (BTW she needs a coat, blanket, something! LOL) and how we like to snuggle up under quilts and blankets, so I designed my card with that in mind.

I stamped & embossed the image in white using RI's 9402-U, Quilt Background stamp. The I colored some of the images with a red marker (looks like a dk pink because I water colored it) and cut apart. I layered them onto some red snowflake designer paper and paper pierced the corners and "tied" my quilt with embroidery floss.

Added another designer paper to the bottom where the circles look like a sweater pattern to me and added some fun pompom ribbon from May Arts. It is finished off with a computer designed sentiment.

Be sure to stop by The House That Stamps Built blog (Repeat Impression's blog) for more details on how you can play along, Each submission enters you in the drawing for a $25 Repeat Impressions Gift Certificate. You don’t always have to use their stamps in your creations, but you will receive an extra entry if you do.Also be sure to stop by each of the Rock Star's blogs and see what they did with this week's Photo Inspiration Challenge.

Cheri

 Joy

 Deonna

 Karen 

Patti J

Kathy

Melissa

Would  you like to receive a discount on Repeat Impression stamps? Wendy is graciously offering my readers 10% off their order by using this code rr10df. (thank you Wendy!!) Just click on the box on the right and it will take you right to the store. Have fun shopping!

Calendar Pizza Box

Hello! After being sick for Cutting Cafe's 7th of the month post, I am back. It feels so good to be creating again.

For the 21st post, Regina challenged us to use one of these sets.

2015 CALENDAR PRINTABLE SET

2015 CALENDAR DAY SET

I chose to use her new set: 2015 Calendar Day Set and I also used the Pizza Box Set. I cut the Pizza Box the size that it came, but I reduced the calendar to 65%, so that it would fit the top of the box.

I decorated the box with the calendar that I printed out onto kraft cardstock, a paper doily, my wonky crocheted heart (need to practice that a bit more), one of my tickets that I like to add to my projects, and some embellishments from a My Mind's Eye kit that I had left over from previous projects. 

I think this turned out pretty cute and will be fun to fill with some goodies for someone special for Valentine's Day.

Be sure to visit the Cutting Cafe Blog on the 7th and 21st of every month to see the design team's projects in which you can leave a comment to be entered into a drawing to win 3 FREE sets of your choice from the online store.

Pantry Challenge

One thing I had planned to do this month is a pantry challenge. I first learned of this through THIS blog that I enjoy reading. I've done it a couple of times (not necessarily in January) and decided to do it again.

One of the upsides to being sick is that it makes this challenge REALLY easy! Esp. since DH doesn't shop.

I wanted to eat from our pantry, freezer, etc as much as possible for this month. I decided I would only buy the necessities and then anything not a "necessity" ONLY if it was a huge bargain that wouldn't make sense to pass up. So, since the first, here is what we have bought so far.

Things we were out of and needed:
gallon milk 3.89
chili pdr 1.00
salami 1.50 (minus $2.00 coupon from Dollar General...with the coupon it was a one day deal and you had to spend at least $2.01...so my salami and chili pdr only cost 50¢)
buns .88 (these were on sale)
baking soda .65
cooking spray 2.18
cocoa 2.68
parmesan 3.00 (needed for recipes for alfredo sauce)
cottage cheese 2.73 (something I could eat and not make me sick the first part of the month)
eggs 1.45
canola oil 2.50
crackers 2.50
chips .99 (didn't really need these, but DH likes them and they go easy with a sandwich and on sale)

Great Deals
case (12 pk) of REAL cranberry juice 99¢/case! We bought 4 cases 1.96

Things we've eaten that I already had on hand (these don't include breakfasts which has been mostly toast, pop tarts, and cereal. We have LOTS of cereal that I got last year with great buys with store bargains plus coupons)

fried egg sandwiches
peaches/cottage cheese
French dip sandwiches
chili & grilled cheese sandwiches
chili baked potato
beef and noodles over mashed potatoes
chicken and noodles
deer steak, mashed potatoes & gravy
hamburgers & chips
salami, crackers, and cheese
oranges
French toast
bacon, egg, & cheese "tacos"
cream cheese chicken chili (what we are having tonight with cornbread)
breakfast pizza (sausage and bacon)
pumpkin bread
pancakes

So if I figured it all up, we've spent $27.91 for 15 days. Not too bad. I'll check in at the end of the month to let you know what the total has been.

Do you do a pantry challenge? If so, what have been some of your best bargains, or deals?

What If Wednesday

Hello! Today I am showcasing a card for my first post as a Repeat Impressions Rock Star! Recently Wendy contacted me and asked if I would be interested in joining her design team.

Every Wednesday the RI design team has a challenge and you get to play along for a chance to win a prize.

This week is fellow design team member Deonna's turn to hostess and she is challenging us to make a monochromatic card/project using black, brown, and white. For my card I chose RI's rubber stamp 103-K, Bouquet Stencil.

I stamped the image in black and colored with markers. I'm liking how the white really pops against the darker brown designer paper.

Be sure to stop by The House That Stamps Built blog (Repeat Impression's blog) for more details on how you can play along, Each submission enters you in the drawing for a $25 Repeat Impressions Gift Certificate. You don’t always have to use their stamps in your creations, but you will receive an extra entry if you do.

Also be sure to stop by each of the Rock Star's blogs and see what they did with Deonna's challenge.

Cheri 
Joy 
Deonna 
Karen 
Patti J
Kathy
Melissa

Would  you like to receive a discount on Repeat Impression stamps? Wendy is graciously offering my readers 10% off their order by using this code rr10df. (thank you Wendy!!) Just click on the box on the right and it will take you right to the store. Have fun shopping!

Hello!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! Yes, I know I'm kinda late, but the last 3 weeks have been a blur to me and I'm just now feeling like I'm on the mend. I found out on Dec 22nd that I had pneumonia and it went from bad to worse in a hurry. I ended up with it spreading and getting pleurisy and then spread to my bronchial tubes to make for a rough few weeks. Three day infusions at the hospital and more meds before I can say I feel like I actually am on the mending side.

Lots going on here! I posted my last post for Tombow the end of Dec, have some news coming up to share with you on Wed and have a word for the year...SLOW that I will be sharing some thoughts on later as well. I have been thinking about SLOW being my "one little word" for the 2015 year for several weeks now. How ironic that I get sick the end of the year and start the year still on bed rest. Can't get much "slow"-er than that! LOL

As we start the new year, I hope to "slow" down and figure out what I want to do when I grow up. Ü What will that look like, what will I be involved in? What will I say "yes" to and likewise, what will I say "no" to as well. I have lots of ideas, but want to take it "slow" and make wise decisions.

Do you have a word/phrase for the year? If so, I would love to hear about it.

Frugal Friday 1-10-15

*earned $5 through Bing Rewards. Here is a link if you would like to join:
https://www.bing.com/explore/rewards?PUBL=REFERAFRIEND&CREA=RAW&rrid=_effa9da1-a0ac-ed8d-f00f-8b00f82822e9
*earned swag points that I redeemed for Amazon gift cards






Grocery:
* 8 oz blocks of cheese on sale for 69¢!! I picked up 10 of them


saved LOTS of money food wise by being sick and not able to go anywhere. Unfortunately will pay even more with meds and hospital infusions!