MORE paper, glue, and glitter

I'm still working on projects around here.  

Today I worked on more of these...

and these....

 The scent of these candles...

heavenly...

The second project of the day called for these supplies...

and a little of this...

I cut the newspaper into scores of ruffled-edged circles of different sizes...

then I layered them into piles of 4 or 5 pieces,

and carefully burned the outer edges of each piece...

{NOTE: do not do this in front of your small children!  Also, I found it easiest to burn my 

pieces in front of the fireplace since several of them caught completely on fire and had to be 

tossed in to avoid catching my sweater on fire!}

 I glued each piece to the one on top of it, added a glittered button to the center and that's it!

 I'm planning to use them in one of my Christmas projects, but I can't show it here yet...

don't want to ruin the surprise.

I'm working on another project, inspired by this plague I found HERE:

 more to come later...

Shhh....don't tell...

On a roll...finally seeing some gifts completed....

Candles all glittered and dressed up...

{each candle/matchbox gift cost $3 and change}

A work in process....

but it's a secret, so don't tell...

{supplies for this project cost $8-ish}

Reminding myself NEVER to try to cut foam board again...

Can't show what it became...

maybe after Christmas

There's still a lot to finish up...

and next week the baking-gifts start, 

but stress is not allowed,

so I'm pacing myself.

A little crafting...

So this week it's time to get started on the projects that I'm making for Christmas gifts. 

 I'm not sure why I always put things off until the last minute, but I always do...

My pile is ready and tomorrow is the day it all starts.

And just when I thought I had it all figured out and had all of my supplies ready,

 I came across THIS

Isn't it the cutest??!

You can find the instructions to make it HERE

Shucks...

Looks like another trip to Michaels.

Merry crafting!

Christmas coupons...

I'm off to do a little Christmas shopping today.  We're totally cutting back this year and focusing in a different direction than "us".  So anyone on my Christmas list will likely be getting something homemade or extremely on SALE.  

Here's a few coupons I'm using today that you might find useful too!

Click HERE for a link to a 50% off AC Moore coupon.

You'll be prompted to put in your zip code to find your nearest store, 

then you'll see a link to their current coupon.

{I had trouble printing it out--it was HUGE--you'll need to resize it in your printer options}

Click HERE for a link to a 20% off Bed Bath & Beyond coupon.

I looked and looked for a ready to print coupon, but didn't find one in the amount of time I wanted to spend looking.  Eventually I signed up for BB&B emailing list and was immediately sent a 20% off coupon.

You could also click HERE for coupons for a large list of stores and restaurants.

Also, if you have lots of time on your hands before you head out to shop, 

click HERE for a host of thrifty shopping ideas and deals.  

One more great coupon HERE if you're into shoes and boots that are practically FREE!

Off to AC Moore where I will hopefully be inspired to be creative...

Here's hoping!

Christmas bargains...and remembering the Gift.

We're always on a budget around here, and Christmas time is no different.  So, to kick things off this season, I unwrapped my decorations to see what was needed.  We're in a bigger house this year, so it was almost necessary to add a few more things to stretch what I already had...

Of course, I had to stop here:

{Print a $10 OFF coupon HERE}

and here:

{They posted a few Holiday budget tips you might want to read HERE}

Merry Christmas sign $2.99

Pink Christmas tree $2.99

Silver glitter electric candles $1.99-$2.99

{Silver and Green Christmas trees unwrapped from last year...}

{7' Fraser Fir- Costco $33.99}

Silver glitter words $1-$2.99

 Silver tinsel wreath from last year

{Made with a Dollar Tree wreath and balls}

Goodwill Christmas ball wreath  $3

"Joy"- free

Glitter birds- $1

Blue mercury glass votives - $1

I found a few non-Christmas items on one of my recent Goodwill trips...

LOVE these pink veggie dishes. 

 I paid $4 for both!

I spied these beauties hiding in a corner but couldn't think of a reason to buy them for myself, so I picked them up for a photographer friend to use in her photoshoots...

there was a bonus cosmetic bag inside the small one!

Aren't they sweet!?!  

I can't wait to see how she uses them..

{I'm sure she'll put them to good use!}

www.amberjacobyphotography.com

23 more days until Christmas...in case you've lost track.

Take a moment to reflect on the Greatness of this season.

Stop here:

have one or two of these:

 *

 And 

RELAX.

I mean, at this time 

NEXT year will your family 

remember the gifts you were so 

stressed over finding and wrapping THIS 

year?  And, in TEN years will they even remember

 ANY of the gifts you've stressed over all these years???

Doubtful.

Remember the original Gift...and don't stress over the imitations....