The Frugal Artisan

Ah yes you were right about where to put the code for Etsy sellers who blog...

Now to add the button

Well, hope this works for adding the 'button'

Lucky find! As a Brownie Girl Scout Leader, I should have the official handbooks to plan our meetings. However, they are really expensive, a set is about $20. I have been putting off buying them, and sharing the books that my co-leaders have.

At Barnes and Noble I just happened to find a set on the Christmas clearance table for $5. Whew.

DH and I are currently on dial up. With one child becoming an internet user, and the second close behind, it's time to move up.

Budget allows for an increase in cost but we're comparing the options:

1. Cable/Internet Combination. Evil cable operator in our area has alienated many of our neighbors and friends, us included. And the program content is not acceptable for my children.

2. Dish/Satellite. Seems to be the most expensive.

3. DSL/additional phone lines. Maybe this is the answer?

My 8 year old wants to take 3 friends to the movies for his birthday! Yay! So much simpler and inexpensive than a party at home or at a 'destination'.

We can take 3 plus my one in the car. Let them knock em selves out with Eragon and the ice cream parlor. (I might even sneak some candy in my purse instead of buying popcorn at the movies).

Maybe my 6 year old will also want the same kind of party. Any idea what movie I can plan to take little kids in about a month?

My kids each received a gift certificate for $35 on Amazon. My older is a veteran internet shopper after discovering the Lego website at 7years old (he saved for his dream toy). My younger is now in the modern world after a little lesson on how the internet is connected to 'stores'.

So many choices! They are making their wish lists for anything they can dream up. Gameboys, Rocking Horses, digital Tv, the sky is the limit, until...

Time to look at the prices and pick out what will the gift certificate truly pay for, not to mention a shipping.

Now is the time to notice 'used' is much lower than 'new' especially in books, movies. How about sales? Free/low mailing costs too.

Everytime they mention 'I want a ...' they go to Amazon to see if it can be put on the wish list.

We're on our first week of looking. I think we'll take a few more days to dream, then let reality take its course.

Over on the

Etsy forums there was a furor over shopping at the 99c stores. I contributed:

"The 99 cent store is just this generation's Five & Dime"

Taking our allowance, or coins from earning chores, to the Five & Dime gave use the 'buying power' life lesson. Didn't you get the feeling of directing your own destiny buying whatever you could with your own money? (Of course I think we mostly bought candy and little toys!)

I let my kids take their dollar(s) to the 99c store for the same lesson. They learn if something is a good choice and lasts, or how to save longer for a higher quality product if it doesn't last.

Of course they still try to buy candy, but I only let them get sugarless gum!

Unadvertised! Portable half-fold table at Linens n Things regularly $70 rang up at $35! Bring a 20% off coupon from Bed Bath, and Beyond as they will take it too!

This is the table you can use for the backyard BBQ, the craft fair (for us small businesses), the scouting meetings, etc.

Grand total $30.02

You may have seen me post this in the forums, but I want to refer others to this site to this idea-

Earth Day Game (in April). Great for classrooms, scout groups, etc.

Supplies:

Two Equivalent products-one 'over' packaged, one in simple package.

Examples some types of Pepperidge Farm cookies, boxed cereal vs. bagged cereal, string cheese with character vs plain wrapping. You can have a lot of fun with this.

Steps:
1. Remove the items from the packages and place in separate plain plastic bags, or on a plain paper plates being sure to note which item came from which package.

2. Reserve the packaging to show the players at the end of the game.

3. Ask players to observe, touch, feel, taste each item. Is one better than the other? Vote.

4. Reveal which item came from which package.

The lesson should be obvious-it is hard to say if the highly packaged item is better. Save the Earth by reducing packaging! Save loads of money buying house brands of course!

About 12 years ago I was asked to go out for pizza and to go 'spend a few dollars credit at the used book store' on a Friday night by a guy I met at an environmental group meeting. Well...I ended up marrying that guy and that was our first 'date'!

You can still have a great time with little cash. Here's my top three things to do for fun with $5:

1. Day hike. There is a hike calling your name undoubtedly. On the beach? (while there, collect shells or driftwood for crafting supplies) In the hills? (I hear the Smoky Mtn trail network is [almost] better than ours in California). In the city? Walk the downtown area of your city (pay attention to the buildings or just window shop). Take a small pack with snacks and water.

2. Go to the library. Pick the biggest one you can get to. There are magazines you want to browse, but didn't have time. There are newspapers from other cities. Go to the non-fiction section for how-to books, art, biographies, animals, pets. You've forgotten things you wanted to learn about.

3. Take $5 to the used book store! Of course you might find someone to marry...

This is not just for kids. Post your other ideas here.

If you double the filters in your drip maker, will your coffee come out weaker or stronger?

Check back for answer!

CVS Drugstores prints out a google of coupons on their receipts. I received one yesterday for:

BOGO beauty item (up to about $6 value)

What should I get? Mascara? Kids shampoo?

I don't wear eyeshadow much, never foundation or perfume either. I'm practical to a fault :{ but maybe this could be something to treat myself?

Or use to obtain a gift for my sister?

The moon has billions of these.

(courtesy: home Jeopardy game)

Do you want to amaze your Valentine this year? Put a little gift in a decorated can you make yourself.

My sister originated this idea (see her at zoltenwooddesign.com) They are so beautiful, she sells the cans by themselves.

Supplies:
Recycled coffee can, oatmeal cylinder, peanut can, or similar item. The cylindrical shapes are recommended.

Contact paper

Artificial floral items, including longish strands of leaves, small clusters of berries, birds, etc.

Hot glue gun

Steps:
1. Wash and dry the recycled can thoroughly.
2. Cover the can with contact paper carefully. It's not necessary to cover the lid.
3. Clip a strand of leaves long enough to wind around the can starting near the top and spiraling one or two times down and around the can.
4. Hot glue the leaves in several places on the can, especially gluing at the top and the bottom ends.
5. Clip a couple berry clusters, flowers or other items and arrange in groups at intervals along the ivy.
6. Hot glue the clusters on the can.
7. Hot glue single leaves on any exposed wire ends of the items.
8. Hot glue a cluster of matching items on the lid. Include a focal item on the lid, such as a bird.

Voila, beautiful. This 'wrapping' is so impressive, you need not fill with a major gift.

I gave all mine away, or I'd attach a photo!

Catch em all?
My 2 school age kids can't get enough of the Pokemon cards. But these have somewhat run their course over the past half dozen years.

To get a lot for a little I posted in the 'Wanted' section of Craig's list. Naturally, a family 5 blocks away had boxes full (a couple thousand cards) practically begging me to take them away.

Not free. But only $25 for 2 shoe boxes full of many unopened packs, 1,000 loose cards, a couple rare cards, a movie and some other stuff I didn't even want.

A great deal for 2 happy kids and many hours of free time for mom.

Muffin, soup, rice mix in a jar is a suitable gift for someone who has everything. The teacher, the elderly aunt/uncle, the casual neighbor.

Here's a couple recipes that cost pennies. Notice I prefer to give unsugary foods. Buy enough supplies to make several to save even more.

Supplies:
Glass jar with a lid (get it at the thrift store, wash well)
Square of Fabric to cover the lid
Ribbon or raffia to tie on the fabric

Spicy Lentil or Pea Soup
One to two cups dried lentils or split peas (bulk available at health food store, or bagged in the grocery store)

1/8 tsp flaked hot pepper
1 tsp paprika
1 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp salt

Mix ingredients thoroughly. Pour into jar. Close and cover with fabric. Attach tag with instructions (from bag) how to cook soup.

Herbed Rice Mix
3 C long grain rice such as basmati
dried mushrooms
1 Tb dried onion flakes
1 Tb garlic powder
1 Tb parsley

Mix ingredients thoroughly. Pour into jar. Close and cover with fabric. Attach tag with instructions (for rice cooking)

Through fighting over what to pack for lunch? Tired of food coming back home wasted?

Here's a few new ideas to perk up the kids lunch box from the-

NO SANDWICH ZONE!

Muffins: homemade featuring whole wheat, dried fruits, and zuchinni

Beef Jerky

Bread and Butter

Trail Mix: homemade featuring dried cereal, dried fruit, maybe a few choc chips

Crackers, Stick Pretzels, Cheese Dip (get the little sauce cups from Smart & Final and fill them yourself!)

Waffles and Syrup Dip (use the little sauce cups from Smart & Final for syrup)

Chicken Nuggets and BBQ Sauce Dip: homemade chicken nuggets are easy, ditto above for the BBQ sauce

More later!

Pretty Cheap Jewelry is not a small business, it is a teensy tiny eeny weeny business.

Please help me understand the workings of the business world. I handmake things for fun and love and surely price myself too low.

Does anyone understand Google Adwords (on a small scale?) and speak english not computerese? I have a small account and they have given me a $25 credit to get started. I have given it a $2/month budget and get a few clicks a week (my little ad probably appears on the 10th page of a google search).

Any advertising savings ideas welcome. I shamelessly promote, using many guerilla marketing techniques. But it's hard to drive traffic to my internet store.

Thanks for the help.

Need a lunch break at work? Before you go, always check the webpage of your destiny for coupons. Many have printable coupons to take with you, for example:

Subway
Quiznos

And have you checked for a coupon in the telephone book? Ours is especially filled with pizza place coupons.

What is the most common space landed on in the game Monopoly?

What playing piece was added by Parker Bros. when in 1988 Russia allowed a version of Monopoly to be sold?

Post your guesses here!

Check back soon for answers (provided by KVTA 1520 AM radio, 12/14/06)

What's in an avatar? Recycled chandelier glass pieces (for one!).

The avatar for Pretty Cheap Jewelry is a necklace and earring set I designed and handmade using chandelier pieces from a vintage light fixture.

The lights were rescued from a destiny with the garbage can. I removed and cleaned all the pieces and reused them in this classic, elegant and formal design.

A similar set of earrings can be bought separately in my little shop prettycheap.etsy.com

Thanks for looking!

Have you ever tried to make a wreath?

It's easy, thoughtful and costs little.

Small: Bend a wire coat hanger into a circle (use pliers if necessary). The hook is already in place for hanging! Gather small branches and greenery from your yard. (Don't be afraid to go to the street trees if necessary, but just a little!). Use a variety of greenery, such as ivy, pine, and berried bushes. Wire them to the hanger. Finish with small bows, small ornaments, cinammon sticks, etc.

Large: Gather medium and small pieces of greenery from the yard. Wire them directly into a circle. Be generous, as this will make your circle more sturdy. Weave a ribbon in and around the circle. Or decorate with a theme. Make a 'gardeners' wreath and tie on cloth gloves, seed packets, small tools. Very easy and smells nice!

Harvest your greenery ahead of time and put the cut ends into a bucket of water. Store in a cool place for about 2 weeks until you have time to do your crafting.

Don't forget to make a small one with inexpensive items at prettycheap.etsy.com!