FOUND MONEY: STAPLES

I had a great couple of emails from Staples today.  If you aren't a member of Staples Rewards, sign up.

This morning, I got an email offering $5 in rewards back on any purchase if I ship on-line and pick up in the store.  This pack of 50 pens, reg $11.99, was on sale for $5.99 this week. Theis is a nicer pen than just a stick and love that it comes assorted so I can mix the colors.

Used ebates, so when all said and done, it will be 1.9 cents a pen.

Then this afternoon, I got another email with an anniversary $5 off any purchase.  Did this deal again.

i will end up with a 100 pens for $2. Yipee!

FOUND MONEY: OPEN STAPLES EMAIL

If you aren't a member of Staples Rewards, you should join and also sign up to get their emails as lots of deals may come your way. I think you also get a $25 coupon for copy and print center, great for your shoebox letters.

This is the second time in a week that I got a "free $10" offer.

This one was for an order placed on-line but picked up in the store.  Fantastic found money offer.

I needed some more dry erase markers to go with my wipe off boards, I got 12 assorted markers for FREE.  I double dipped as these markers are regularly $17.99 and had instant coupon savings making them $10.

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. 

SHOESTRING: CVS BACK TO SCHOOL CLEARANCE 90%

Yesterday, CVS went to 90% off yesterday. DH went out this morning (on his own) as he knew I needed more scissors and pencil sharpeners. Look at the picture he just sent me. 

Glue sticks 2.5 cents each!  So much more. 

If your store hasn't marked down yet, try next Sunday morning. I talked to a store manager today, she said they get their work order/mark downs on Sunday morning (at least in the Atlanta area). 

School Supplies Pencil Sharpener

I always include a pencil sharpener but I am funny about them. Most of the cheapie ones don't work well at all!  The pencil gets chewed up and it would frustrate me. 

I don't pack any until I test. I found these at a different Dollar Tree than I usually shop at. They aren't the cheapest you can find but they seem to work well. They  are lidded which is nice and you turn the lid to "lock" the shavings inside. 

Unfortunately, I didn't see on the website. 

UPC CODE 6-3927798446-3

Item:  178446-033-061615 

SHOESTRING; FUN PRINTED DUCT/DUCK TAPE

I love to include Duck Tape but it is usually way too expensive.

13Deals.com has all these prints available for $1.50 a roll and only $1.25 if you buy 20 rolls (sold in two roll packs, so 10 packs of two gets the discount).  Shipping is only 99 cents.

http://www.13deals.com/store/products/42223-2-pack-of-duck-brand-designer-duct-tape-pick-your-favorite-designs-unlimited-99-cent-shipping-so-load-up


What can a shoebox child do with duct tape:

• Repair something in home
• Crafts (can include copy of how to make a wallet)
• Kids here use to make cardboard homes for stuffed animal
• Mark things that belong to them.  I put this tape on all my phone cords to make sure family members from wandering off with them

What else can you think of?

SHOESTRING: 4 PENCIL BOX FROM UPCYCLED CARDBOARD

Shoebox Shoppers shared a great deal on Dr. Seuss pencils a week or so ago.  These were such cute pencils, I wanted them to be special in the shoeboxes.

I saw this on pinterest:

You can find the original instructions here. I would read these.  I haven't been a detailed.

I made a new template to work with 4 Dr. Seuss Pencils, I used a cereal box. You can download it here.

A couple of things I learned:

1. Tape the template to the reverse side of the box because good lines and scores are important to make a nice finished box.

2.  I scored while the template was still taped down.  I used a ruler and the back side of my scissors.  You need to be precise or you won't get good folds.

3.  Once you cut out, begin to fold.  Again, be precise.

4.  I used double sided tape to hold it together.

5.  I cut a small square of sticky velcro into quarters.  Put the loops on the flap.

SHOESTRING: Walgreens BTS CLEARANCE

Reports of people finding backpacks for $1. I wasn't so lucky at the Walgreens in Seneca SC. My DH is going to check at home tonight   

I did find:

Flexible Rulers 24 cents

Has CM & MM which all shoebox rulers should have. 

Super cute and really nice zipper pencil cases, some have eyes and when you unzip, it looks like a monster mouth. 90%  off 60 cents

Flexible protractors 10 cents

Great for older kids boxes

Zipper pencil pouch (as pictured), not a great deal at 82 cents

Locker Mirrors  49 cents

Love these unbreakable mirrors for shoeboxes. Nice for any age but I am sure an older girl would love to have for her primping. 

Let me know what you have found and what clearance items you like. 

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 IDEA: Reuse Old Crayons

Of course, you can't pack broken crayons in your shoebox.  But I bet all of you can find a pile of crayons that look like this.  I will teach you a budget friendly way to repurpose these stubs into new crayons that are easy, fun, and cute.

Find a cheap silicone ice cube tray.  I found this one at Goodwill for 99 cents.  I have seen at Dollar Tree and Ikea.  One of my favorites is this Lego one.  Just google and you will find lots of shapes.

Take all the paper wrapper off the crayons. I find CRAYOLA brand turn out the best.   Break into small pieces, I also use scissors to cut so the pieces are more uniform.  They will melt more evenly.

 Wrap foil on a cookie sheet.  I use my toaster oven so I don't have to heat up the big oven.  Fill the mold with crayon bits.  You can mix and match or do just a single color.  You need to over full as the empty spaces in between the crayons will fill in melted wax.  You want the mold to be as filled as possible when done melting.

I put in the toaster oven, set to 250 degrees and set the timer for 10 min.  I really don't think there a right or wrong temp.  When I have made before, I didn't cook as long and there was still some definition in the crayon chunks but the colors didn't mix as much as this batch.

You can let set up in the oven once you've turned it off or CAREFULLY take the melted crayons out, being sure to leave as flat as possible,  Once they are a little set, you can put in the freezer to speed it up.

I love to un-mold as you never know how they will look.  Aren't they fun?  I think a lot more fun than a plain old box of crayons.

I put six in the white bag, folded up and tied with multicolored yarn.  I will add a tag that says crayons so when the box is inspected, it will be clear what is enclosed.  You could also use sandwitch baggies or treat bags.


Cheap!  Virtually free!  Make a lot of sets to share with other shoebox packers.  I would love to to see your crayon creations if you do this project.

School Supplies DEALS Staples

I always like to include school supplies in my boxes and BACK TO SCHOOL time is the perfect time to stock up.  Any of these deals at Staples (ends 8/22/2015) are great for OCC Shoeboxes,  Remember, only include rulers that also have metric measurements,  The Crayola brand crayons are SO MUCH better than the Dollar Store brands.

Staples 12″ ruler $0.35 (limit 30)
* Slider Pencil case $0.25 (limit 5)
* Paper Mate erasers 3/pack $0.25 (limit 5)
* Staples pencil cap erasers $0.25 (limit 5)
* Staples 1-subject notebook $0.25 (limit 30)
* Staples 3″ x 5″ index cards $0.48 (limit 30)
* Staples composition book $0.50 (limit 30)
* Staples school glue 4oz with glue stick $0.50 (limit 30)
* Crayola crayons 24/pack $0.50 (limit 30)
* Staples #2 pencils 12/pack $0.68 (limit 30)
* Staples filler paper $0.75 (limit 30)