11-11 Aliexpress

I use Aliexpress all the time and for years, I have only ever had one problem. Aliexpress is an on-line marketplace, Connecting you with Chinese vendors. Annually, their version of Black Friday is Nov 11. You can go on now and search and see prices and add them to your cart now. You won't get in time for this year's boxes but great prices to put away. 

I have some screen captures of a couple of things I like. 

Dollar Tree: A Good Shoebox Item

This an item I love:

1. It fits in the box easily. 

2.  It is great as it has construction paper, drawing paper and tracing paper. 

3.  You can order on-line and have if delivered to your store. 

http://m.dollartree.com/mt/www.dollartree.com/office-school/paper-notebooks/Mini-3-in-1-Activity-Pads/610c567c567p88226/index.pro?method=search

4.  Good for all ages and both boys and girls. Great gender neutral item. 

The down side is that when your order, the case has 48 pieces, maybe you could share with a friend. 

FOUND MONEY: Staples Survey

I clicked on an email from Staples this morning asking me to do a short survey for a $10 off any regular price purchase. It took less than five minutes and when done took me straight to a link to print. FOUND MONEY. 

I went over to check out clearance and found these cute play doh trucks at $4.99 each. Normally, I would not have  spent full price for this but with my FOUND MONEY, I got these two for free. Great wow item for 2-4 boys. 

Moral: click on emails from known companies, you never know what is inside. 

SHOESTRING: SOAP DEAL AT TARGET

As I have stated before, not a big couponer but when I know I will be buying a specific item.

Target has a deal this week, $5 gift card with $15 personal care purchase.  I need more soap for my boxes.

99 cents for 3 bars, I googled Ivory soap coupons and found a 50 cent coupon. I could print two on my computer and two on my husband's computer.
This isn't has confusing as it seems:

15 packages x .99 =  $15
Minus $2 total coupons
Total: $13
$13 divided by 45 bars = .289 cents per bar and $5 in FOUND MONEY (Target gift card)

OR IF you want to think of it this way....
$13 minus $5 gift card = $8  or .178 cents per bar

For last minute needs, this isn't a bad deal.


(If you have a Red Card, 5% more off, or 16.33 cents each)

MY 2CENTS ON WASHCLOTHS

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I know most experience shoebox packers include a wash cloth.  I have three points to make.

1.  Use packaging to sew a hanging loop on the cloth.  Have you ever sent a kid to camp?  There aren't usually towel bars available, maybe a nail.  I imagine that this might also be the case for shoebox recipients.  I think it is a thoughtful thing to do.  It only takes a minute or so.  
I use the ribbon or twill tape that comes around the package.  I have always had enough.  See below.

2.  Do any of you live in the South and have boys?  When my boys were small, it was IMPOSSIBLE to keep their socks white. Back to the Summer Camp theme, white items were never a good thing to send with them.  This would also be true for shoebox recipients using well water or river water.

I try not to send white washcloths, a few sneak through when in an assortment.  Try to pick colors that won't be stained with mineral stains.

3.  Prices are all over the place.

Home Goods:  $4.99 for 8
Big Lots $5 for 9 (some packages have 8)
Walmart $3.47 for 18
Target on sale $3 for 8  ( I haven't seen these in person)

In the past, I used the Walmart ones.  I have given up even the price is soooo good.  These are cheap, thin, flimsy.  When my husband was doing his PhD research in Mexico, I remember how HARSH the detergent was.  Our clothes were in tatters when we left.  The Walmart washcloths just won't last.  Spend  few extra bucks and spring for a quality washcloth.  Does anyone have any feedback on the Target ones?  Other sources?

SHOESTRING: 8 CENT SOAP, MAYBE FREE

I am not a big couponer.  I tend to print them and let them sit on the printer.

Thanks to Krazy Coupon Lady, she pointed out a great deal at Rite-Aid this week.  You can get 6 bars of soap at 49 cents total or 8 cents a piece. Coupons.com

Use a $1.00 Smart Source coupon to get a six-pack of bar soap for $0.49, or $0.08 per bar. Check it out:

Buy 1 Irish Spring Gear Bar Soap, 6 ct $3.49, sale price through 9/26

$2.00 Off With In-Ad Coupon through 9/26

Use one $1.00/1 – Irish Spring Signature for Men Body Wash/Bar Soap OR Irish Spring Gear Body Wash/Bar Soap from SS 9/20

Final Price: $0.49, or $0.08 per bar

 Actually, it may be better than what she shows, when I printed the coupon, it shows bar soap, so it may be free.  You can print two coupons (go to her site to find the link, I don't do affiliate links and since her deal, let her get credit).

You will have to go to Rite-Aid twice to get use this deal 2x.

SHOESTRING: CLEARANCE AT WALMART TODAY

I never seem to find the deals that other people seem to find at Wal-Mart.  I stopped in today for something else and picked up some things in the clearance aisle. I took most to the scanner to check prices.  Lots of things not marked down far enough.  Here are some highlights:

 Prepacked clear backpacks full of school supplies.  For someone doing only a couple of boxes, this is an easy way to get school supplies.  I think $7 was a pretty good deal and could easily be used in a couple of boxes.  The Three ring binder wouldn't fit but I can always use these. Clearance tag said $13

50 page lined notebooks.  Not as big as a full size composition book so will fit great in a shoebox.  Clearance tagged 50 cents but price was only 25 cents

Set of two notebooks and case of 8 sharpened pencils/pencil sharpener  50 cents each.  Wasn't marked at all but in clearance aisle.

If Staples is out near you (they have a better brand on sale this week for the same price), you can pick these up for 50 cents.

They also had a multi-pack of Fiskars Student Scissors (the best brand ever) for $4 for a five pack.  They were clearance stickered $7.  

SHOESTRING: DR SEUSS PENCILS 4 CENTS

Amazon has these super cute Cat in the Hat or Green Eggs and Ham pencils for a great price.  $5.26 for 144!  Great to add to Shoeboxes or give out for Trick or Treat.

Thanks Shopping for Shoeboxes for the heads up on this deal

SHOESTRING: TUESDAY MORNING VS DOLLAR TREE

Cheap thread at Tuesday Morning.  I know Dollar Tree is a favorite place to fill a shoebox.  It isn't always the best place in terms of quality and price.

This is a great example that I found yesterday at Tuesday Morning. This package of 12 spools of thread, needles and threader were only 49 cents. You could even split up between two boxes.

This little kit from Dollar Tree is cute and comes with more needles, less thread but it is twice the price.

What do you think?  

SHOESTRING: POSSIBLE FREE ITEM LLBEAN

Do you get LLBean Catalogs?  If not, you need to get on their list.  A couple of times a year, I get one that offers $10 off any size purchase.  They always offer free shipping.  This one came in the mail recently.  Look and see if you got the offer.  

Here are some options that will be FREE!  Check the clearance section and sort low to high, they have some kids clothing items that will work too.

This item won't be free, but what a great WOW item, solar powered and hand crank flash light.

TIME SENSITIVE: BON TON TODAY ONLY SALE

I saw on Hip2Save that Bon Ton is having a great clearance sale Today ONLY.  To to her blog to see all the details and promo codes. 

She didn't feature this item (also a pink flamingo option and a red/white/blue option), melamine kids items.  Each piece will be $1.19 after codes (free shipping with $25 purchase using SEPBDAY.

Flatware Set $1.19

Divided Plate $1.19

Lidded Bowl $1.19 

REG $8-$14

http://www.bonton.com/sc1/livingquarters-americana-kids-dinnerware-collection-873440.html

http://www.bonton.com/product/873439.html?rec=05

http://www.bonton.com/sc1/livingquarters-shark-kids-dinnerware-collection-873438.html

SHOESTRING: DRAWSTRING BAG FROM GOODWILL T-SHIRT WIPES

The Goodwill in upstate South Carolina sells bags of "rags" made from unsold t-shirts. Some are from the middle of the shirts and others from the bottom.  

These bags are only $1. I made the bag in the picture using one of the bottoms. Super fast and cheap. I can make 20 bags from on package. 

I took one and cut it in half, making sure both halves still have the hem. The hem will be the casing for the drawstring. 

Fold in half and pin. 

Sew up the side and bottom. Be sure not to sew up the casing. 

I put a small box pleat in the bottom bug totally optional. 

I took on of the wipes from another bag and cut two strips of the bottom (3/4"?)

See two of the ends together. 

Once done, pull on the strips and will curl. 

Feed through the casing, safety pin one end to make it easier to feed. 

Once all the way through, even up the drawstring and tie a knot in each end. 

Easy and cheap!

SHOESTRING: DOWNLOAD AND PRINT MINI COLORING BOOKS, SECONDS TO MAKE

I have created five little coloring books to add to your shoeboxes.  They take ONLY A SINGLE piece of paper each.  No special tools etc.

I cut a piece of scrap of card stock and stapled around but you certainly don't need to do that.  I still like to staple the middle with a single staple as it holds together better.

I am sorry that I didn't keep track of the sources of downloads.  You can easily create your own, just google coloring sheets for kids.  They are small enough to fit in a pencil box or a small purse.  Coloring book is on the front in English, Spanish and French.  FYI, use google translator to include instructions as needed.

DOWNLOAD HERE

DOWNLOAD HERE

DOWNLOAD HERE

DOWNLOAD HERE

DOWNLOAD HERE

I have shared a YouTube Video for you visual learners. This isn't my video, just sharing how to cut and fold.


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PLASTIC OR PAPER? WHAT BOXES TO USE FOR YOUR PACKING

There is a debate whether plastic shoe boxes (6 quart) or cardboard shoeboxes are best. 

I can see both sides.  When I personally was doing almost 100 boxes per year. I used cardboard shoes boxes but I covered in contact paper rather than wrapping paper. 

I found a great post on this from themommaknows.com:

I have copied some of the info below:

Both plastic and sturdy cardboard shoeboxes work just as well, but each have different benefits. Sturdy, cardboard standard size shoeboxes hold up well in transport. Samaritan’s Purse does provide green and red “Go Boxes”, but they aren’t as strong as a shoe store shoebox. The benefit of the Go Boxes is that 22 of them will fit into a shipping carton.

If you want to use a plastic box, get one a step up from the dollar store boxes, with a flat, snap-on lid. The ones with hinged lids are very bulky and don’t fit into a carton as well.

Diane said “The dollar store boxes often arrive at the processing plant shattered, and end up going to the ‘shoebox hospital’.” Plastic boxes are good for long-term storage for the recipients though, and are often reused for many things, including food storage. . It costs $107 for Samaritan’s Purse to ship each carton, whether it contains 9 shoeboxes or 22.Bigger is not always better when it comes to your shoebox donation. Think of it this way: You can reach 9 children with that money, or you can reach 22. Which would you prefer?The one below already has 8 and may fit another 4 or 5, if they are small. The $7 donation they ask you to include is very important!

I did some shopping today for plastic boxes.  These are all Sterlite brand and all were cheaper than  $1 

TARGET

Remember you get 5% off and free shipping if you use your Red Card

WALMART

BIG LOTS 

OTHER: THOUGHTS FROM SOMEONE IN THE FIELD ON SHOEBOX CONTENTS

I was googling last night before bed and came across a blog post  (click here to read) from a Missionary in Senegal and her thoughts and recommendations for shoe box contents.  It was thoughtfully written and some ideas are important but some of the things she mentioned, I am not sure I agree with.

• ANY thing soccer is good.  She suggested a deflated soccer ball and pump.  Not budget friendly but a good idea.  Soccer is so big the world over so I don't think you could go wrong with soccer themed items.  Skip American Football items, kids might not get.
• She said not to send screen printed shirts, but rather send solids and stripes. In another portion, she said most kids are wearing rags.  i think i disagree with this.  Wouldn't a new shirt be better than no shirt?
• She said to make sure the sizes are right (ie not XL adult shirt in teen boxes). Again, I am not sure how I feel about this.  If the rest of the box is thoughtfully packed, the shirt is a bonus.  I can remember when my children were small, they LOVED to give us presents.  I imagine this is an universal experience and I think a child would love to be able to share something from their shoebox with an older sibling (who is too old to get a shoebox) or a parent.
• I haven't usually packed a tooth brush case and soap case.  Her post makes a good case why these are important.  I will be putting this on my must have list.
• She also suggests a high quality Melamine (PLASTIC) plate, bowl and/or cup.  Again, this is something I haven't thought of.  Target carries this kind of thing and I have often seen in the clearance end caps.
• She doesn't like stickers as there is no place for them to stick them.  I am not sure I agree with this either although I think it depends what else is in the boxes.  I always include a notebook, stickers allow some personalization of a boring notebook.  Again when my children were small, they loved to stick them on each other.  They don't take up any room, just something fun and colorful to add.
• Stuffed Animals?  On her no list.  I think it is important to include something soft and lovey to add.  In fact, I also read that Australian OCC insists on this.  Your thoughts?

in general, I think all shoe box "fillers" should read her post and take away from it what you think is important.

I would love to hear back from you on your thoughts.

Also, look at when this was written (May).  Did you know shoeboxes are passed out year round?  I would suggest that you don't include Christmasy items since it will be months and months later till "your" child will receive their box.

TIME SENSITIVE SHOESTRING DEAL; MAKE YOUR OWN MINI BOOK

HIP2SAVE is one of my favorite mommy-savings blogs.  She posted this week that MyPublisher is giving you five mini books.  Follow through to her link.  This is HER affiliate link, not mine.  $1.39 is all you have to pay for shipping.

I want to show you what I did:

I made a Tanagram Puzzle Book.  I have uploaded the individual pages to Dropbox.  The pages are sized to the mini book.  Here is the link to the actual book.  Downloaded the puzzles and solutions from Google Images.  I put them an a colorful background in Photoshop.

I am going to cut the pieces from a magnet sheet and store in an Altoid's Tin or get someone I know to cut from very thin wood.  The pattern is also in the dropbox link.

I think it will be a great addition to a shoebox for boys or girls and almost any age.

SHOESTRING: OLD SCRAPBOOK STICKERS

Do you know a scrapbooker?

I am 100% sure if you do, they have some supplies that would be a great addition to your shoeboxes. 

• Stickers

• Pads of "dated" papers

• Decorative Scissors 

• Embellishments 

I have tons of this kind of stuff in my craft room. The decorative edge scissors would be such a fun addition to a box and your scrapbooker friends would be happy to give them up!

SHOESTRING: SAMPLE MACHINE SAM'S CLUB

I was at Sam's Club last Sunday and found this sample machine giving out packages of Fruit Snacks. Just swipe your card and out spits a package of Dinosaur Fruit Snacks.  I looked all over the package and found no "use by" date.  Maybe like Twinkies and will last forever.

If you think they would be good in Shoeboxes, they seem to be a good price, 7.48 for 75 packages, 10 cents a piece.

Throw these in your Shoebox Tub, free is always good.