Did you shop Singles Day 11-11?

Did anybody obsess at Aliexpress.com on 11-11?  I spent way too much time before hand and most of the day yesterday finding things for Shoeboxes.  There were some good deals to be had and some big coupons that may not be reflected in the prices I will list below.

I should mention that the current price I will list may not be lowest you can find. Many vendors sell the same items and I bought the lowest price YESTERDAY

WOODEN WHISTLES (Pictured above)
i paid 58.4 cents, currently 75 cents
$1.79 on Amazon

FINGER PUPPETS (400 PIECES)
Can order by animal
I paid 22.7 cents each,  currently 31.8 
On Amazon 31 cents, 27 cents, shop around

FOAM PUZZLES
Flat packed, 18 different animals
I paid 39.25 cents, currently 44 cents

FOAM BLOCKS 

Flat packed, fits perfectly in a shoebox.  When all pieces connected, makes a 12"x12" mat

I paid 81.3 cents, currently $1.02

$2.29 Amazon

FOAM MASKS, ASSORTED
I paid 38.72 cents, currently 57 cents each

FUNNY GLASSES, Love these as there is a whistle and party blowers in the moustache.
I paid 37.4 cents, now not much different 44 cents

COMPRESSED TOWEL
This is more like a handi wipe but won't take a lot of room
12" x 16" when expanded
This was a great sale item
I paid 7.3 cents each, now 20 cents

PEARL HEADED STRAIGHT PINS

One disk has 40 pins

I paid 15.87 cents per disk, now 20.7 cents per disk

SEAM RIPPER
Good for sewing kits
I paid 13.1 cents, now 14 cents

NEEDLE THREADER
I paid 1.46 cents each, currently 1.68 cents each

NEEDLES
30 NEEDLES PER PLASTIC CASE
I paid 58 cents, currently 66 cents each

SOCCER MINI FIGURERS (about 2 inches tall)
in packages of 100 assorted
I paid 15.8 cents each, 17.3 cents now

ALUMINUM WHISTLE

Listed as survival whistle so not a toy

I paid 15.5 cents and currently sold out

Amazon 59 cents and up

WOODEN TANGRAM PUZZLE

I have a sheet to include in the boxes with puzzles

I paid 67 cents, currently 79 cents

SPIROGRAPH TOY
This is a good size and can double as a ruler too.
8" LONG
I paid 83.6 cents, now $1.09

"LEGO" MINIFIG

I paid 20.9 cents, now 26.6 cents each

REMEMBER, ALL OF THIS WAS FREE SHIPPING

WON'T BE HERE FOR THIS YEAR'S BOXES

MAKING SPACE: REMOVING PACKAGING

I love these mini erector sets from the Dollar Tree for 10-14 boys boxes.  I ordered a case (24) and had them delivered to the store.  The packaging states 6+, there are lots of fiddly bits and think 6-8 is a little young.  The on-line reviews stated that their 6 year old had hard time.

I have not an square millimeter to spare in terms of space in my Go Boxes.  I decided to shed the boxes.  I cut out the picture on the front.  I then scanned the assembly instructions and printed them two-up.  In case any of you bought these, I have uploaded the instructions:

 DOWNLOAD HERE

 DOWNLOAD HERE

DOWNLOAD HERE

DOWNLOAD HERE

I put the two sealed packages from the box, the cut-out picture of the model and the assembly instructions in a baggie.  I taped it closed with a piece of washi tape.  It seems like a lot of trouble but I will be able to add another item to the box now.

Shoestring? Toys R Us

Colored Pencil set in metal tin with metal pencil sharpener Toys R Us

http://m.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=71370716

$1.08

This maybe above your "buy" price. I really like this set for a shoebox. Love the tin storage box and the metal pencil sharpener. I hate the plastic sharpeners from the Dollar Tree. Those just chew up the pencil. 

I think this worth the little extra money 

ON-LINE 

SHOESTRING; MAKE FOLDER FOR STATIONARY, ORIGAMI, OR PAPER AIRPLANES

When you include homemade or loose items, it is nice for the kids to have a place to store them.

To make this, you will need:

Pocket Portfolio (15 cents from STAPLES back to school sale)

Ruler

Hole Punch, if tying

18" Ribbon or Twine

Optional: 

Velcro Dots

Scissors if you want to cut down the fold

Measure 5' down from the top edge of the portfolio and score a line going across.  You can use the back edge of pair of scissors or a bone folder.

Fold along the fold.  Creasing the fold.

Option 1:  While folded, punch holes for the ribbon closure

Option 2:  Place velcro sticky dots as pictured.

If using velcro, I would cut the portfolio along the middle down to the fold.

You can place origami paper (remember it needs to be square) in one pocket and instructions in the other.  

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: 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.

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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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.

TIME SENSITIVE SHOESTRING DEAL

End of Season toy clearance can be a shoestring way to get perfect things to stash away. 

Rite Aid has their summer toy clearance 75% off right now. 

I liked the price on the jump ropes 79 cents and the bouncy balls are a SUPER item at 37 cents. They had a lot at my store and in a lot of different patterns .  These are heavy and solid, far nicer than anything at Dollar Tree. 

I am sure there were other items but I was in a  hurry. 

Another item, I should have bought:

5 pack of throwing and catching toys. 

$7.99*.25= 1.99/5=  40 cents each

Much cuter than this picture