Monday, April 23, 2012

Need Photos?

I love COUPONS!  I have another coupon code for you, to print photos at your local Walgreen's!  How does 10 cents a print sound?  From now until April 28th, 2012, you can get 10 cent prints when you order 100 prints or more!  Just use the coupon code ROSY10 when you checkout.  You can get significant savings on fewer prints, as well.  See other coupon codes here:  http://photo.walgreens.com/walgreens/storepage/storePageId=SO?ext=gooPhoto_Brand_General_Exact_walgreens_photo_coupon&sst=1cefaabc-539a-b469-d2ce-00005dbaa391

I'm working on a new mini-album, made with just ONE sheet of B&T paper!  I'll share when I'm done!

Friday, April 20, 2012

Crazy about Dotty!

Close to My Heart has a fantastic way to celebrate National Scrapbook Month!  From now until May 31, you can get "Dotty for You" -  a fantastic pack of 24 sheets of double-sided heavyweight cardstock for just $5 with a $35 purchase! 

This pack is full of fabulous bright and cheerful colors!  The Dotty colors include Sunset, Lagoon, Sweetleaf, Smoothie, Grey Wool, Creme Brulee and work with a base of Colonial White. 


You can even get this paper pack for FREE!!!  Just host a Gathering with a few of your friends with a total of $400 or more in orders, and it's YOURS FREE!  You can also join my team in April or May, and you'll get it for FREE.  Gosh, I love FREE!!!

Here's a little video that Close to My Heart put together to tell you all about it!
http://youtu.be/SF0pDo8guKM

Friday, April 13, 2012

Camera Trick (that you probably already knew!)

I was having trouble deciding on embellishments for a layout yesterday.  I was using the Stella paper pack from Close to my Heart, and using the Stickease that match the pack.  I just couldn't decide which version of my layout that I liked the best.

One of the great things about Stickease is that they come on a clear backing sheet.  Just cut the stickers apart, and you can "try" them out on your layout to make sure you're getting the effect you want.  Love that!

I had rearranged the Stickease about 4 times before I was struck by a lightning bolt idea - USE MY DIGITAL CAMERA to take photos of each version, then choose the one that I like the best! (slapping self on forehead - DUH!)

I know this isn't revolutionary, and I know I've read it somewhere before, but it just didn't stick in my head as an actual thing to do in that circumstance!  Silly me!

Here's the layout that I went with:



This little dog has been the BEST dog EVER.  I had to add a little tag from the Art Philosophy cartridge to the lower right corner that said so!

Lucy was adopted from the Cocheco Valley Humane Society in New Hampshire when she was about 4 months old.  That was 13 1/2 years ago!  She's a lovable mutt, part Lab and part Daschund.  We couldn't ask for a better companion to our children.  She is part of our family.  Who cares if she has horrible table manners, stinky breath and snores?  I'm always comforted to know that she's forever ready to defend us (she'll lick any intruder to pieces) and she'll chase a ball at a moment's notice.  She's getting up there in age, and is having a hard time with stairs now.  But her ears are as soft as when she was a puppy, and she has a heart of gold. 

Monday, April 9, 2012

Got Coupons?

Want to save a little moo-lah on your photo printing?  Snapfish has a deal good through April 16, 2012 - order 365 prints for just $15!!!  (coupon code: CELEBRATE365 at checkout).  Don't need that many photos?  How about 100 prints for just $5?  (coupon code: CELEBRATE100)  Both coupons include shipping!!  Can't beat that!

I just love coupons!  In fact, I've saved hundreds of dollars already this year just by clipping coupons.  I 've only been "couponing" since last summer, but I've already become a dedicated coupon shopper!  Now, I'm sure I won't be featured on any "Extreme Couponing" shows, but my last grocery shopping trip cost $48 for $126 in products.  That's a savings of $78!!!!  And, yes, I bought milk, meat and veggies; we don't eat a lot of processed or ready to serve meals.

I always thought that people who clipped coupons were wasting their time for just a few cents off on a product, or that I would have to buy products that my family doesn't usually buy.  While this is sometimes true, I've found that it's not generally the rule. 

This all started when my good friend asked me to attend a workshop with her one evening.  The speaker was a writer and blogger from our local newspaper.  She talked all about coupons for 2 hours!  I was very skeptical.  But, I promised my friend that I'd try it and see how things went.

The first thing that I did was to order the Sunday edition of our paper.  I called the circulation desk and was able to subscribe for just $1 a week.  I already saved $1.50 off the cover price! 

Then I set up a binder with categories to have a place to organize my clipped coupons.  I used some scrapbook paper to make the dividers, and then put several baseball card protectors in each category.  As I clipped coupons, I put the coupons into the card pockets.

In my area, we have several supermarkets that double the face value of coupons up to 99 cents.  Some supermarkets even TRIPLE the face value of coupons for short periods of time, or they double coupons up to $1.99.  I learned which products to buy at the stores with double/triple coupons, and which items were less expensive at the stores that don't double coupons. 

I kept track of prices for things that we use frequently - soap, shampoo, canned goods, paper products, boxed items and frozen foods.  When I see coupons for these items, I clip them.  When these items go on sale in our supermarkets, I stock up.  Eventually, ALL of the items that we frequently buy will go on sale.  They just aren't on sale all at the same time.  So, it does take awhile to see real savings happen; the sale cycle is usually about every 2-3 months, the same kind of product will go on sale.  So, I buy enough canned diced tomatoes to last for 2-3 months while they're on sale so that I don't have to pay full price for them when I need them for a recipe.

I also signed up for e-mail coupon programs for each grocery store where I shop.  You know those little keytags?  Each week, the store sends out emails with special pricing for e-mail customers that are tied to those keytags.  All I had to do was sign up online and I instantly received a special sale price on items that I'd have bought anyway.  Milk was $1 off last week with my keytag!

The biggest trick that I learned was to SIT DOWN and MAKE A SHOPPING LIST using the store flyers and the store coupon emails.  As I shop the sales at each store, I can pair up coupons that I have in my binder with store specials.  Last week, for example, the store had frozen veggies on a Buy One Get One Free sale.  I had a $1 off coupon for each.  The frozen veggies cost me NOTHING.  Salad dressing?  Same thing!!

I just love a bargain!!  I figure, the more money I save on the things that we NEED to buy, the more money I have for the things that we WANT to buy.  Like scrapbook paper and stamps!!

Sunday, April 1, 2012

April - New Stamp of the Month!

Well, today is my daughter's favorite day - April Fool's Day!  She surprised me this morning with salt in the sugar bowl - imagine 2 spoons of SALT in your morning coffee!  Blech!  She's quite the prankster!

Today is also the beginning of a new Stamp of the Month promotion!  Yay!  This month's set is called "You Are" and I can't wait to get my hands on it.  I've seen lots of artwork done using this set, and it really lends itself toward a more masculine theme.  I've also seen some feminine layouts, cards and crafts using this set; it's really versatile!  I think it has a very vintage feel to it, don't you agree?




This set has 15 stamps, including two background stamps; one makes a set of lines, the other is a cross-hatch diamond design.  The set of lines background stamp can be used in many ways; you can overlay the lines at a 90 degree angle to create a background of tiny squares like graph paper.  The set includes words, curved banners and a trio of stars. There are also several "filler" stamps in a starburst design; use these to highlight words or the edges of your papers.  LOVE THIS SET!

You can see more of this set, including all 15 designs, on my CTMH website here:  http://deequarles.ctmh.com/CTMH/Content.aspx?id=%2fen%2fsitecore%2fcontent%2fOBA%2fPromotions%2fStamp_of_the_Month.aspx

How can you get yours?  Easy!  Just select $50 in products in my online store (the button is to the right) OR contact me by email at inspired.scrapbooks@yahoo.com.  I'd be happy to help you select supplies that will get you started economically and within your budget.

Product suggestions from the sample artwork above:
X5902 - Bright Blue cardstock shade pack $7.95
Z1393 - Mini Medley Accents black $4.95
Z1680 - Dimensional Elements Stars $3.25
Z1224 - All Sorts Mini Album $5.95
Z1719 - Color Ready Evergreen Cork shapes $3.95
Total:  $26.05
Add coordinating Exclusive Inks colors at $5.25 each, and more shade packs to total $50, or
purchase any products of YOUR CHOICE to total $50, and you get this amazing stamp set for just $5 ! ! !

This offer is good only for the month of April, after that, this stamp set will disappear forever!