Couponing for the Rest of Us

A few fun & easy Christmas crafts!

The shopping is winding down, and thoughts tend toward hearth and home 2 days before Christmas.  Wrapping presents, snuggling on the couch with popcorn and Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, and of course, Christmas crafts.  Here are some cute ideas of things to do with the kids (or just a friend) that are fairly easy and won’t cost you much if anything:

1. )  Graham Cracker Gingerbread House:

This one is fairly self-explanatory, you build a house using graham crackers, (or any cookies you might have) and glue it together with frosting.  Decorate with all that candy your kid brought home from their class part and VOILA!  An edible masterpiece!   If you need a little direction – check HERE.

 

2. ) Paper Snowflakes & “Virtual” Paper Snowflakes

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This one’s a classic, but not often done well.  Here’s a site that tells you the right way to fold those triangles to cut out great snowflakes!  And for those wanting an even easier snowflake project, check out this Make-A-Flake website – it’s pretty cool for the kiddos!
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3. ) Home-Made Wrapping Paper


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My kids have drawn each other’s names out of a hat, and later today we’ll be going to the Dollar Tree to let them pick out a couple little items for each other (Yes, we ARE that classy).

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One way to keep them busy and make some fun is to do home-made wrapping paper together.  You can also make fun gift tags – see a how-to HERE.

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I like the potato-stamped paper (or cut out sponge-stamps) the best. But just coloring/painting on a brown grocery bag, newspaper, or regular paper works fine too!

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Filed Under: Family Fun / Kid's Crafts, Tis The Season
December 23, 2012 by Leave a Comment

Christmas Movies on Amazon as low as $6.55!

Polar Express Widescreen Edition – $6.98 + Eligible for FREE Prime Shipping

Polar Express is one of those movies that kids can watch over and over again. I love the idea behind this story, and the importance of believing even that which you cannot see. Right now, Amazon has this movie for only $6.98, saving you 53%! In addition to this widescreen edition, you can purchase Polar Express on Blu-Ray for only $9.99 (a savings of 50%!).

- Thanks Pink Coupon Cafe!

Elf Infinifilm Edition $7.12 + Eligible for FREE Prime Shipping

In addition to Polar Express, you can also get the Elf Infinifilm Edition DVD for only $7.12, saving you 52%! This is a great movie to have the older kids watch while the little ones are watching Polar Express.

Thanks Pandora’s Deals!

A Christmas Story Full Screen Edition $6.55 + Eligible for FREE Prime Shipping

A Christmas Story is one of those Classic Christmas Movies I remember from when I was younger. And, you can pick it up on Amazon right now for only $6.22 – saving you 67%!

National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (Special Edition) $9.49 + Eligible for FREE Prime Shipping

National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation is definitely more for the adults than the kids, but it’s one of those movies most of us watched as kids, or watch everytime it comes on TV like some people I know! Grabbing it for only $9.49 on Amazon is saving you 52%!

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Filed Under: Amazon Deals, Online Deals, Tis The Season Tagged With:
November 9, 2012 by Leave a Comment

Post-Christmas Clearance – Going, Going, Gone!

Bendaroos: $1.25 @  CVS’s 75% OFF Christmas Toy Clearance

My name is Jamie.  I am a Clearance-Aisle Addict.

I have been known to sneak out of the house on an early January evening, on the pretense of grabbing milk or bread, just to stop by the drugstore around the corner to see if Christmas is up to 75% OFF yet.  It all started before I was a couponer, when I felt like clearance sales were the only way I could get good deals.  Now – although all that has changed, I still get giddy when I start down the Christmas clearance aisle :)

Thanks to couponing and being a savvier online shopper, this is the first time I’ve actually had a little extra money left-over after Christmas.  That made it a kazillion times more fun to hit a clearance sale – and hit them I did.
- I’ve picked up toys for next year’s Angel Tree at church: a keyboard for $3.75, a 2-Pack of nerf dart guns for $5, a snuggly puppy with a velvet bow for $2.50.
- I’ve grabbed toys for a rainy day (which I ended up using during this snowy week) – like Bendaroos for $1.25 a box.
- I got SUPER-cheap fleece blankets to give to my church’s blanket drive.
- And I am entirely stocked up on cookie containers, cupcake liners, sprinkles, and various baking knick-knacks for next year’s “Cake Ball Extravaganza”.

I want to encourage you, as everything in town has just about hit the 75% OFF mark, to shop clearance with an eye on the future.  Shop creatively.  Shop SMART.  And shop with a giving heart!  This is a GREAT opportunity to get small items for the Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes, or larger ones for the Angel Tree, Toys for Tots, etc…

Here are some great things to grab, if you see them cheap (thanks to Kasey for some of these great ideas!):

Stocking Stuffers for next year:

  • Slipper Socks, Slippers
  • Activity Books, Small Toys
  • Some Candy (Check the expiration date)
  • Holiday packaged lotions & potions

Gifts (for next year, Valentine’s Day, or birthdays!):

  • Toys *Drugstores have limited space, so theirs will go REALLY low until they’re gone.
  • Gifty Appliances
  • Robes, Pampering Sets
  • Fragrance Sets (Use the $5/1 from the December ALL*YOU to score a great deal on some!)
  • Craft Projects
  • Gifty Bath Sets/Kid’s Bath Sets
  • Babies 1st Christmas Stuff (for shower gifts next year)
  • Makeup or Hair Barette/Bow Sets

Practical Supplies (That happen to look Christmasy):

  • Cookie/Cupcake pans *Walmart had them for $3.75!
  • Paper Cups, Plates, Napkins (Use red for Valentines Day & Green for St. Patrick’s Day)
  • Vinyl/Plastic Tablecloths (for play-doh mats, rainy-day art projects, etc…)
  • Tape, Scissors
  • Cute wicker baskets with holiday liners (take out the liners for cheap storage baskets!)
  • Fleece Blankets
  • Personal Hygiene Sets (Even better deals can be had with coupons too!)
  • Candles/Air-Fresheners
  • Red/Green Loofahs
  • Underwear/Kids Pajamas

And of course, Christmas Decor/Supplies for next year:

  • Lights, Garland, etc…
  • Christmas Cards, Wrapping Paper  (Plain silver/gold can be used for weddings)
  • Special *pricier* ornaments for next year
  • Ribbons, Bows

Food:

  • Sprinkles, Cupcake Liners
  • Deluxe Nuts Sets
  • Christmas Candy
  • Refrigerated Holiday Cookies
  • Christmas Oreos, Ritz, etc….

Have more suggestions?  Share your ideas!
And, get even more ideas HERE!

Filed Under: Christmas Toy Deals, santa-tunities, Time 2 Give, Tis The Season, Toy Deals
January 12, 2011 by 4 Comments

How to Make “Reindeer Food”

I took the kiddos to a Christmas party tonight at a friend’s house, and as they stumbled out the door with sugar-hangovers, she handed each a bag of “Reindeer Food”.  I’d never heard of such a thing, but if you humor your kids with the Santa-Claus story like I do, then I thought you might want to know it too!

Ingredients:
Raw Oatmeal (Cause reindeer LOOOVE them some oats….)
Glitter or sprinkles (To sparkle in the moonlight and guide them to your home)

Toss some out on the lawn on Christmas Eve, to give those poor over-worked reindeer something to munch on while Santa’s doing his chimney business.
If you’re having a Christmas Eve Party, and want to give little ziploc bags out to the children, here’s a short poem you can staple to them:

“Make a wish and close your eyes tight, then sprinkle on your lawn at night.
As Santa’s reindeer fly and roam. This food will guide them to your home.”
Filed Under: Family Fun / Kid's Crafts, Tis The Season
December 23, 2010 by Leave a Comment

Last-Minute Gift Basket Ideas!

Did you suddenly realize you forgot someone on your Christmas list?  Well – being a couponer certainly has it’s perks – one of which is that we usually have a closet full of random objects we picked up for free/cheap.  This lends itself very well to creating a last-minute “Gift Basket” for someone.

Toss in some lotion, bath supplies and a loofah and you have a “Pampering” basket.  Put a candle, a mug, and some cocoa packets together for a “Cozy Winter” basket.   You get the picture!  I thought we could all tell what we’ve used to make frugal gift baskets – and help each other out.  Just leave a comment below with your ideas or suggestions – and we’ll team up to create an UBER-LIST!  Then next Christmas we can dust if off and add to it!

*NOTE: You can also go read this AWESOME Gift basket ideas list on AFullCup (You may need to register to see it)

Filed Under: Tis The Season
December 22, 2010 by 3 Comments

Amazon: 99 Essential Christmas Classics $1.99!

My husband was on the computer this morning, eating his cereal, when he saw this deal and thought I should share it on the blog today:

Amazon has 99 Essential Christmas MP3′s for just $1.99!

It has “O Come O Come Emmanuel” on it – which is one of my favorite, even though it’s more of an Advent song.  Our laptop is uploading them all as we speak – we’re really going to get in the Christmas spirit this week!

Filed Under: Christmas Toy Deals, Tis The Season
December 22, 2010 by Leave a Comment

Zoobooks Magazine Subscriptions *Buy 1 Give 1 FREE!*

Here is a great, educational Christmas gift idea for the children in your life!  It is a gift that gives all year!  Go HERE to buy 1 subscription to Zoobooks and get a second subscription to give as a gift for FREE!  What a great deal!

Filed Under: Daily Deal Sites, HOT Deals, Tis The Season
December 18, 2010 by Leave a Comment

Christmas Morning Casseroles (Come leave yours!)

Shared by Barbie of CouponingMadeSimple (Utah mother of 7 – all-around amazing person.)

I can’t believe I am about to type this, but Christmas is next week.  It’s Thursday and Christmas is NEXT WEEK…I’m so excited!  Usually for Christmas morning breakfast we have a huge breakfast with pancakes, bacon, eggs, all the good, heart attack on a plate stuff and all the mess.  This year I don’t have time for the prep and mess because we are having family and friends over for dinner and I really don’t want to spend my entire day in the kitchen.  I pulled out my recipe box today and put together this group of recipes for breakfast casseroles.  I will need at least two casseroles to feed our family with 7 kids, 3 of whom are teenagers.  I just can’t decide which to make because they are all so very yummy! Enjoy!

French Toast Casserole

1″ thick slices french bread, allowed to dry over night then place in a 9×13 dish

In a bowl:
8 eggs, whisk well
1 milk
2 c. heavy cream
a pinch of salt
2 Tbl. sugar
1/4 tsp. cinnamon
1/4 tsp. nutmeg
1 tsp. vanilla

Whisk these ingredients together, then pour over bread.  Cover with foil and refrigerate over night.

The next morning preheat oven to 350*

In a separate mixing bowl cream together:
1 c. brown sugar
1 c. butter, softened2 Tbl. light corn syrup
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp nutmeg
then stir in:
1 c. chopped pecans

Bake for 35-45 minutes at 350*.

Blueberry Coffee Cake

Preheat oven 375*
2 pkg buttermilk grande biscuts quartered
Mix together:
1/2 c. brown sugar
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 c. butter, melted
Dip biscuits in the mixture and place in a 8×8 buttered dish.

1 1/2 c. blueberry’s tossed with
1/2 c. sugar

Sprinkle 1 c. oatmeal and blueberries over biscuits then drizzle with a little melted butter.

Bake for 20 minutes.

See more of Barbie’s Recipes HERE

Jamie’s Family Breakfast Casserole:

Jamie here!  I just had to add my family’s breakfast casserole.  It’s a super-easy one that I always take to mom groups or other events – and the ingredients are very inexpensive as well.  You can make this one the night before in a Pyrex dish – put the cover on and refrigerate.  Then go to bed.  In the morning, pop in the oven while the kids are opening presents and you’ll have a hot breakfast waiting for you!

You’ll need:
Crescent Rolls  ($.17 at Bi-Lo this week)
6- 12 Eggs (Depending on how many kids you’re feeding :)
1-2 Bags Shredded Cheese  ($1 at Bi-Lo this week)
Crumbled Sausage  ($1 a roll at Bi-Lo this week)

Nevermind – I just found a very good how-to HERE. So there’s no point in me writing one out!!

Filed Under: Recipe Box, Tis The Season
December 17, 2010 by Leave a Comment
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