14 Days of Love, Day 11

Day 11....2.5 days until Valentine's Day.  YIKES!  I added a little Valentine Charm to my Entryway.  I'm excited that I may be able to transition this into Easter just by changing a few items! 
~The heart garland I made from magazines. I have so many magazines, I hate to throw them away, so I find useful ways to use them.  At Christmas, I used them to make gift bows. I found a great tutorial here at How About Orange. 
~The topiary is a Cupcake Liner Ball...just Google cupcake liner ball and you are guaranteed to find just what you want.  I look through the listed images when I am searching for a "how to".
~The pink flower ball is just what you are assuming...flowers hot glued to a Styrofoam ball. ~For the framed artwork, I used scrapbook paper and glued some decorative hearts to it, put it in a frame and called it art!

Valentine Roundup - Simple and Quick!

As Valentine approaches, I find myself asking what happened to all those grand ideas I had to make this or that.  Time flies doesn't it?  Since its the weekend, I thought I would roundup a few of my favorite Simple and Quick ideas that I will be pulling together for my loves. 


IPhone Valentine.... download and print here.  Cut out and glue to box of Candy Hearts.  Done.  I did say Quick!   Living Locurto always has the perfect thing!
 



I love how easy these cute Heartbreaker Valentines are.  You will too once you check out the tutorial here...if you can print, cut, and staple, you can do these!  I like simple...I LOVE quick!


Don't let the picture scare you!  Remember, I said I like simple (aka easy) and quick. With a a little ribbon, gumballs, and a needle, you can make this darling necklace!  One Charming Party shows you how here.




Perfect Pair?  Quick! Easy!  Cheap!  I'm in heaven!  Target Dollar Bins have valentine socks right now in my area.   I plan to pick up a pair or two and attach "We Make the Perfect Pair" tags that I printed from C.R.A.F.T  here.  For the hubby, I will pick up some nicer manly socks, you know plain white.

What Simple and Quick Idea will you whip up this weekend?

14 Days of Love...skip a few, Day 9

Really, this post should have been on Day 8 since that is when I crafted my little token of love.   However, after a rough day and a computer crash, posting was not happening last night.  So here I am a day later, on another PC posting my little lovely.

                                    

I crafted a Little Girl's Clippie and attached to a Valentine I made from a FREE printable I downloaded over at Style Crush.    Bug has a sweet little bestie that we will be delivering this Valentine Clippie to. 

14 Days of Love, Day 2

Today I hung a sweet little print I found on someone's blog somewhere out there in blogland.  I've searched until my eyes hurt and I cannot find the original post anywhere.  If you find the original post or it belongs to you, please message me!  I want to give you credit!

I matted and framed the print and decided it needed just a little more.  Hence, the green ribbon as a border.  I hung this in the playroom to remind my littlest one to be sweet to her friends because we love them.

I think I may just keep this print up past Valentine's Day...its just so cute!

I really ♥ those who design prints like this and offer them to us for free!  It gets me crafting and art on the walls without hurting my wallet.

Join me on the 14 Days of Love Challenge!

14 Days of Love

I am participating in the 14 days of Love project @ http://theobanions.blogspot.com/

Believe it or not, it is already February 1!  So for Day ONE of the challenge, I posted a little Love Quote on hubby's Facebook page:  If you live to be a hundred, I want to live to be a hundred minus one day so I never have to live without you.
A. A. Milne  

Flash Sales

The latest Internet shopping craze is Flash Sales.  What is a Flash Sale?  To put it simply, sales in a flash.  Need a little more definition? It's highly discounted items offered at the discount price by an e-tailer website for a very limited time.  Its a way for retailers to build brand name and sell off their extra stock.  Its fantastic for consumers, if you have the patience.  If you are a Veruca, I want it now (Willy Wonka ref.) type person, you may find flash sales appalling.  However, those of us who can wait it out for the best deal possible, will find the latest craze an exciting, adrenaline pumping, new way to shop online!

When I say limited time, I mean don't blink! If  you do, the item you laid your eyes & pointer on may be gone.  Sites offering items as flash sales, have a set quantity of each item at the discounted price.

Flash Sale sites are typically member only sites.  Many offer an account credit just for signing up, and most offer credits for bringing on other shoppers.  Flash sales can range from 40% to 80% off retail prices. Each site offers new sales each day, so remembering to check your favorite sites could be a challenge.  But if you are afraid you may miss that one unbelievable deal...sign up for the site's emails.  They will send you an email containing info on Today's sales and possibly Upcoming.

That being said, Flash Sales could be harmful to your budget if not handled properly.  The retailers are hoping to grab you on an impulse, tempt you with limited quantities and limited time.  You must be sure the item you are about to purchase really is a great deal (shipping included) and you really must have need the item.


Here are a few tips:
            ~ put the item in your cart and keep browsing the site
            ~ return to your cart once you are ready to purchase
            ~ take 2 deep breaths
Analyze each item in your cart individually: 
  ~ ask yourself if you can USE this item, if not, its not a great deal
    ~ ask yourself, how many like items do you already have and are you                in need of replacing these like items
    ~ will you possibly want to return this item? Most flash sales sites have a
         strict return policy, if they even allow returns (outside of damaged
           items) Read up on the site's policy
     ~ is this item still a great deal after you factor in shipping costs?
     ~ do a quick price comparison...google the item and see what it sells for
           elsewhere
      ~ Be sure of the shipping timeline.  Some sites and/or specific items will
          have a longer shipping time. 

Most of my favorite Flash Sale sites allow you to preview upcoming sales.  If you are in the market for something, say a rug, you can keep an eye on their upcoming sales.  When a rug designer offers the site their rugs for a flash sale, google that designer.  Browse the rugs they offer and the prices of those rugs around the net.  When the Flash Sale site begins the rug sale, you will already know if they are offering a good price. You may be surprised to find the rug you had your eye on at a great sale!

Now that I have given you this info I ask one small favor in return.  Use my links below to sign up for memberships at these Flash Sales sites.

Corey's Favorites:       ** sites I have purchased from
  The Foundary - Home Decor, Baby Items, Gifts

     Gilt.com -huge fashion designers, Home Decor, Baby Items, Gifts

  **Lil Luxe - Premium Baby and Children's Brands

**Totsy -Items for mom, babies, kids

**Zulily - Items for mom, babies, kids

**One Kings Lane- Home Decor 

**The Mini Social- Kids and Baby Items-


               HauteLook- top fashion, accessories, beauty, kids and home

                                      brands, and getaways

Rue La La - everything for a life of style - at private sale prices

Next Time:  One-A-Day sale sites....