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

SHOESTRING: ORIGAMI KIT

 Use your 50% any one item at Michaels (in store as they don't carry on line) to buy the 300 pack of origami paper (6x6).

I dealt it out by color (16 colors) and ended up with 17 sets.  (.40 cents a set)

I used the 15 cent pocket folders from Staples BTS to make up a kit.  The package contained great picture instructions, in three languages.  I scanned and cleaned it up so it would fit on two pages (free copy paper).  On these, I took a dinner plate go round the flaps.  You can find tutorial on the folder here.http://shoeboxesonashoestring.blogspot.com/2015/09/shoestring-make-folder-for-stationary.html

You can download below.

DOWNLOAD

DOWNLOAD

So for around 55 cents you have something great for older boys and girls kits and since it is flat, doesn't take up a lot of room.

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: DAILY DEAL SITES SIGN UP BONUS

Sometimes Daily Deal Sites and the like offer you a store credit when signing up.  This is a great way to get "free" items.  I received an email today from Beyond The Rack reminding me that I had a $25 credit, totally forgot about it.

I used it to get 4 of these sets.  What a great wow item for an older girl's box.  Melissa and Doug's sets are packaged in wooden boxes, so the girl will also have this cute pink tray.

Of course, I had to pay shipping so each one ended up costing me $2, I think well worth it for the set.

Since I don't do affiliate links, you can see if they are offering deals for signing up etc.

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: 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: APRONS FROM MEN'S SHIRTS

The Goodwill in Upstate SC marks their items down differently than they do at home in Atlanta.  Atlanta takes 50% off for the color of the week, Upstate marks the color of the week to 50 CENTS. I thought about what I could do for a shoebox with one of the men's shirts.

I did my own thing but you can find a tutorial here for the green apron above.

I used one sleeve to make the ties.

I ended up with an apron, two little button pouches from the cuffs.  I still have one sleeve and the back left over.  Any ideas what to do with the leftovers?

I need to give everything a good press (I don't have a full size ironing board here) and a spray or two of starch to make it look crisp.

I was worried that the recipient might not realize what it is, a strange backless dress?  I made some tags that you can download and pin to your aprons, in English, Spanish, and French.

DOWNLOAD HERE

DOWNLOAD HERE

TIME SENSITIVE; SHOESTRING FREE SAMPLE FOR TEEN GIRLS

Walmart is offering a free sample with three pads.  A nice thing to add to teen girl boxes.

CVS: CUTE GIRL ITEMS $1

I was in CVS today. These are metal tins. The Frozen one has cotton swabs and the Minnie Mouse one has round cotton pads. There is also soap in the shape of Mickey's hand. 

They were cute and kind of shoestring friendly. I will probably wait till I see one clearance 

SHOESTRING: Target Sample Panti Liners

Free samples are one of my favorite way to get some items to put away for Shoeboxes.  Target has a sample page  that they periodically post samples.  Bookmark the link and check every so often.  I noticed today they have panti liner sample pack.  These are good for older girl boxes.  If they can't use, I imagine there is someone they know who can.