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; 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: 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.

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: 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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