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Dollar Tree Fall Decor – Decorate with Autumn Candles on a Frugal Budget

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September 12, 2013 by Ashley at Frugal Coupon Living Filed Under: Crafts, Halloween, Pinterest, Thanksgiving

Dollar Tree Fall Decor

I love when it is finally far enough into the fall season that I can begin to bring out the pumpkins, and leaf décor without looking like a crazy person. I really love everything about fall; pumpkin flavored everything, autumn decorations, the crispness that comes to the air, and cozy pretty sweaters. Alas, I live in Florida so I only get a touch of those last two, poor me. But I can bring the beautiful look of fall right indoors, or even onto my front porch. Also, I am cheap frugal so I love doing it on a budget, I took a drive down to my local Dollar Tree for a little inspiration and was able to come up with a few pretty, inexpensive and quick fall crafts. They have a lot of plain candle holders that make a perfect blank canvas to build upon.

So in my buggy I tossed a bag of raffia, 4 candle holders, 4 candles , a small bag of coffee beans, a roll of fall ribbon, 2 bags of large silk fall leaves, bag of popcorn, and a few bags of beans ( I had most of them already in my pantry) I spent $15 on my 4 candle holder projects, with the exception of the candles, and candle holders all items can be used on multiple projects, so if I use my remaining supplies they each really only cost a couple dollars each. And if you have any of the items on hand you can lower your total even more. Look at you being thrifty!

Grab your glue gun and let’s get this crafty party started!

Fall Leaf Candle Holder

Take 4 of the large leaves, cut off the stem right at the leaf edge. Turn your candle holder upside down, apply a thin bead of hot glue to the bottom rim about ¼” from the edge. Press each of your leaves into the glue, overlapping them. Turn your candle holder over run a thin line of hot glue up each leaf where it branches, press into glass, you will need to overlap leaves a bit again. Wrap candle holder in 2 lengths of raffia 2 or 3 times, tuck ends under and place a dab of hot glue to hold them down- use a pencil or something to press down while it dries( not your fingers, trust me)

Coffee Bean Candle Holder

Fill jar about 1/3 of the way full with coffee beans. Place your candle on top of the beans, tap down gently, centering candle. Fill between candle and jar with more beans, up to the rim of glass. Wrap candle jar with 2-3 pieces of rafia, tuck and in and secure with a dab of hot glue. Alternatively you can tie your rafia ends into a bow, I just liked the clean, simplicity of the raffia this way- I put a row of 3 of these down the center of my table as my centerpiece.

Harvest Corn Candle Holder

Measure your wide wired ribbon by wrapping it around the jar and overlapping about 1”, cut. Draw a thin line of glue down one end of the ribbon, press onto the back center of glass jar. Wrap ribbon around fold the end under about ½” and run a line of glue down the end, press into other side of ribbon to overlap. Like the coffee beans, fill jar 1/3 of the way full with unpopped corn kernels Place your candle, centered on top of the corn, fill the sides between candle and jar up to the rim with corn kernels. Place a sticker or I used a chipboard letter for our family initial, they don’t stick well to fabric so use a couple tiny dots of hot glue on the back to affix firmly. You could do Halloween themes and place Halloween stickers like witch heads and bats on top.

Autumn Layered Bean Candle Holder

This is such a simple craft but it makes a big impact in pretty fall colors, lending your table or shelf some beautiful textures. I used a taller candle holder I purchased at Dollar Tree to create a little more drama. Simply layer dry beans in 2” layers, using at least 4-5 various colors and textures for variety. I used; black beans, kidney beans, green split peas, yellow spit pits, northern beans, and pinto’s. Even 2 colors alternating would be a pretty decoration. Choose colors from your home décor, use year round.

Pin Dollar Tree Fall Decor to Pinterest for future use! Be sure to follow Frugal Coupon Living (FCLAsh) on Pinterest.

WHAT’S TRENDING? Looking for a few engaging activities? Grab Minute to Win it Games – Traditional, Holiday, Group, and more! Use these fun activities in the office, classroom, or at your next birthday party.

Back to School Money Saving Tips

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September 4, 2013 by Ashley at Frugal Coupon Living Filed Under: Back To School, Back to School Series, Free, Pinterest

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Back to School Money Saving Tips
Lessons from a Former Teacher and Current Mother

There was a time when a back to school list consisted of a box of crayons, a pencil and some paper. It seems the “needs” of your child’s school supply lists can at times feel ridiculous. The bottom line, knowing how and when to shop for Back to School Supplies, might not make you dread the never ending list of supplies.

Take inventory before you go shopping

Nothing stinks worse than paying full price for something that you have tons of up in the closet. Go through the list carefully and find out what you can use from the previous year. Also take a look on what you have in supplies. I keep a bin in my gift closet labeled arts and crafts and school supplies. This saves on future lists. You might be surprised what you have on hand.

Take advantage of mark downs

Don’t shop right away! Wait. When the school year gets rolling, retailers are ready for Halloween and Christmas – they have to clear the shelves and will begin to see back to school merchandise go on “mega-clearance.” Grab what you can at reduced prices and put them away at home for the coming years or to replenish your supplies halfway into the year. Focus on the staples and not the peripherals. Book bags may not be in style the next year, but pencils, pens, paper and notebooks will always be needed. When items go this low, this is when I stock up for next year. Next August, you might find you need nothing on your list because you have it all already.

Save larger purchases for tax-free sales

If you intend on buying higher ticket items like a laptop or a scientific calculator, make sure you save those purchases for tax free day if possible. That alone can save you hundreds depending on what you buy. Also consider looking for big purchase items on Craigslist or Consignment Area Facebook Groups. *Use wisdom when buying from these places online. Never meet someone at your home or alone.

Stick to a list

Take the grade list that is provided by your school and stick to it like glue. What kills parents during back to school shopping are the funky extras that kids are excellent at begging for. If your child comes to you begging for that troll pencil topper with neon green hair, just say nay! They will get over it, I assure you. Stick to the budget and list and you will save money.

Invest in quality

When it comes to certain items, it pays off to buy quality. Book bags that are simply a base color are great examples. If you buy a high quality one, you might get extra years out of it. The same goes for calculators and other electronics. Pencils and paper can be any quality and it won’t really matter. They will be lucky to still have those at the end of the first day. I also tell my shoppers, it is better to buy one quality pair of shoes than three cheap pairs.

Saving money on back to school is simply about paying attention and taking advantage of the opportunities that are out there. Use wisdom, buy then then price is right, and stock up!

Find more on Frugal Coupon Living in the Back to School Series.

WHAT’S TRENDING? Looking for a few engaging activities? Grab Minute to Win it Games – Traditional, Holiday, Group, and more! Use these fun activities in the office, classroom, or at your next birthday party.

Back to School | FREE Personalized Lunch Labels

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August 4, 2014 by FrugalCouponLiving Filed Under: Back To School, Free

Oh.My.Goodness. These are so cute and I cannot wait to print them!

Add a personal touch to your child’s lunch with this adorable labels from LiaGriffith.com!

This sheet of labels, illustrated and designed by liagriffith.com, includes 6 labels that you can personalize with your child’s name when opening the PDF and 8 face labels for both decorating fruit or adding a cute smile to any lunch item.

This PDF uses a free font from fontsquirrel.com called Quicksand. You will want to download it and install before you open the PDF.

Once you have personalized your labels you can print the design onto a full sheet label paper. Just trim with pinking sheers for a fun edge or regular scissors and trim the fruit faces with a 1.5 inch punch. These are sure to bring lunchtime delight!

Print on Worldlabel One Page labels and cut out the designs. For the round label stickers, you can use a hole punch.

Also check out these fun Wilton Candy Eyeballs on Amazon for $5.24. Stick them to fruit, sandwiches and more for your lunchtime fun. You might remember me doing this with our fun Halloween Frankenstein Rice Krispies or Thanksgiving Turkeys.

Make sure to check out the FREE Back to School printable lunch notes too and my Project Lunchbox Series! I’ve been using these and my kids LOVE finding which one I’ve given them each day!

WHAT’S TRENDING? Looking for a few engaging activities? Grab Minute to Win it Games – Traditional, Holiday, Group, and more! Use these fun activities in the office, classroom, or at your next birthday party.

Back to School | Project Lunchbox – Happy Birthday Theme Lunch

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August 2, 2014 by Ashley at Frugal Coupon Living Filed Under: Back To School, Back to School Series, Birthday, Crafts, Pinterest, Recipe

Happy Birthday Theme Lunch

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Welcome to the seventh post in our Back to School Series – Project Lunchbox! Today’s theme – Happy Birthday! With each series, we create a theme and strive to create fun and inexpensive lunches to give your child a little Celebration in their school day.

If your child’s birthday happens to fall on a weekday and during the school year, why not make it special? A few extra touches can really make your child feel extra loved and celebrated. Celebrate your child’s day by making a birthday themed lunch for your little cupcake.

I went simple with the food this theme, but included my daughter’s favorites; peanut butter and strawberry jelly, Sour Cream and Onion chips, fruit snacks, and fruit. Our school has a no celebration policy in tact for the classroom (class)… but on her birthday, I decided to surprise her with a little sugary treat (this is straying from my daily healthy lunch)!

To make everyday lunch items special, I raided my birthday stash, most of us have gift bags, wrapping paper, bows, and tissue on hand – This is frugal and costs no additional money. I wrapped her sandwich loosely, don’t want them having to wrestle at lunchtime to get into their sandwich. To make a sweet message, scratch lightly on a banana with a toothpick . Carve out a notes or picture, the air will darken the peel of your scratch, making your note extra visible. The cupcake went into a small lidded container, with a candle on top- not only does this make the lunch more festive but it keeps the cupcake from moving around if the lunchbox didn’t stay upright during the day.

Descent once more on your crafts stash and grab some stickers! With the stickies, I decorated the outside of the cupcake container and the pack of her favorite princess gummies. Finally, tying some curling ribbon to the handle of her drink container added some festivity to her lunch. Nestle all contents into a tissue paper bed.

While we all might not have the Martha Stewart of decorating abilities, anything that comes with bows, stickers, pretty colors and gift wrap is sure to excite our little ones! Smiles all the way around, you might even hear a “You’re the Best Mom Ever!” when she jumps in the car that afternoon.

To bring a little pizzazz to your child’s lunches with minimal effort begin by designating a drawer or basket in your kitchen. Gather simple items such as a paring knife, some basic cookie cutters, and an apple corer/slicer. Pick up fun items as you go to add to the collection. As you go about your day and life, you will notice little things that can be used for fun accessories or tools when making your child’s meal!

Do not forget the FREE Back to School Lunch Printables – a sweet note is always a great addition.

Find more Back to School Series including…

More Themed Lunchboxes

1.) Introduction – Project Lunchbox – Pin It

2.) ABC School Days Theme – Pin It

3.) Shark Week Lunch Theme – Pin It

4.) Camping Theme – Pin It

5.) Chicka Chicka Boom Boom Theme – Pin It

6.) Bug Lunch Theme – Pin It

7.) Happy Birthday Lunch Theme – Pin It

Also check out Back to School Deals on Frugal Coupon Living.

Back to School | Project Lunchbox – Bug Theme Lunch

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August 2, 2014 by Ashley at Frugal Coupon Living Filed Under: Back To School, Back to School Series, Crafts, Pinterest, Recipe

Bug Theme Lunch

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Welcome to the fourth post in our Back to School Series – Project Lunchbox! This week’s theme – Bugs! With each series, we create a theme and strive to create fun and inexpensive lunches to give your child a little fun in their school day.

Your little one will go buggy for this sweet and silly lunchbox. Make a PB&J a little more special using a cute butterfly sandwich cutter. You can find these most anywhere, but I picked mine up at Target Dollar Spot-they also had fun dinosaurs. The little red Baby Bell cheese makes the perfect little lady bug. You may prefer to use a food grade marker to make your spots like these. But since the wax layer is so thick I felt comfortable using a sharpie.

Blueberries on a cut down skewer make an adorable caterpillar. Be sue to cut any points off the tips to prevent accidents and cuts. I thought it looked adorable resting on a lettuce leaf leftover from dinner the night before. I haven’t had Ants on a Log in forever, how about you? I wanted to try this traditional favorite with a twist, my little one loves Craisins so they became my ants. Another healthy option is nuts – adds a pit more protein to the meal. Almonds work great!

To include a little dessert, what else could I put in but dirt and worms in this bug themed lunch? I split a chocolate pudding cup between both of my kiddos, a crushed Oreo each, and a gummy worm. If your school doesn’t want sweets at school, consider doing sugar free pudding and perhaps breaking up graham crackers. It still is a tasty treat, without going overboard on junk.

Finally, I raided my art bin; a scrap of yellow paper with black stripes colored in with a sharpie, a piece of black construction paper, two google eyes, and a pipe cleaner. I think this little bee really finishes off the theme don’t you? You could do a butterfly, or even a creepy spider the same way. Keep it all cool with these darling bug freezer packs.

Do not forget the FREE Back to School Lunch Printables – a sweet note is always a great addition. Find more Back to School Series including…

More Themed Lunchboxes

1.) Introduction – Project Lunchbox – Pin It

2.) ABC School Days Theme – Pin It

3.) Shark Week Lunch Theme – Pin It

4.) Camping Theme – Pin It

5.) Chicka Chicka Boom Boom Theme – Pin It

6.) Bug Lunch Theme – Pin It

7.) Happy Birthday Lunch Theme – Pin It

Also check out Back to School Deals on Frugal Coupon Living.

Gen Con Over but the Passion Carries on: Save on Dixit, Dominon, King of Tokyo, Ticket to Ride & More at Amazon!

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August 21, 2013 by Frugal Coupon Living Writers Filed Under: Amazon, Entertainment, Hot Deals, Online Shopping

Gen Con, the original gaming convention maybe over, but its passion can still be carried on thanks to Amazon! Take advantage of the savings below on a few of my favorite games and save as much as 35% OFF!

Dixit, a nearly perfect 5 star game, is a favoite of mine. Dixit is a wonderful way to practice your skills at creating unique and subtle clues, while your friends test their abilities to bluff and mislead. A picture is truly worth a thousand words in this beautifully crafted board game that will be enjoyed by all. I found this game an easy game to play yet ever changing!

Additional Games Savings and Recommend Games to add to any Collection:

Back to School | Project Lunchbox – Chicka Chicka Boom Boom Lunch Theme

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August 2, 2014 by Ashley at Frugal Coupon Living Filed Under: Back To School, Back to School Series, Crafts, Pinterest, Recipe

Chicka Chicka Boom Boom Lunch Theme

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Welcome to the fourth post in our Back to School Series – Project Lunchbox! Today’s theme is – Chicka Chicka Boom Boom! With each series, we create a theme and strive to create fun and inexpensive lunches to give your child a little CONGA in their school day.

Chicka Chicka Boom Boom, will there be enough room? To contain the cuteness of today’s lunch? This popular childhood favorite is a hit with kids and parents alike.

Whether you have a toddler, preschooler, or early elementary kids, they will love seeking out letters in this fun box. Our tree trunk is a PB&J made of “Texas Toast” since I was only including less than half a sandwich I went with thick bread, and my Kinder loves bread. Use whatever you have on hand for branches; celery stalk ends, fresh spinach, iceberg, or romaine lettuce (ours is made from romaine hearts leftover from last night’s salad) Grapes make great mock coconuts, spread some up and down your tree. To carry on the alphabet theme we used Alpha-Bits cereal for a snack, and used a sharpie to draw those impish lower case letters climbing up the coconut tree on a stick cheese. We chose cheese curls because they mimicked the coconut shape and that seemed to round off the theme well.

You could also use Scrabble Cheez-its, alphabet graham crackers, or a small bowl of alphabet soup to carry out the theme further (grab a few thermoses on sale!) Also consider some ABC cookie cutters for cutting out sandwiches, cheese shapes, and more.

The Chicka Chicka Boom Boom Book Series can be found on Amazon. Books as low as $3.59.

Do not forget the FREE Back to School Lunch Printables – a sweet note is always a great addition. Find more Back to School Series including…

More Themed Lunchboxes

1.) Introduction – Project Lunchbox – Pin It

2.) ABC School Days Theme – Pin It

3.) Shark Week Lunch Theme – Pin It

4.) Camping Theme – Pin It

5.) Chicka Chicka Boom Boom Theme – Pin It

6.) Bug Lunch Theme – Pin It

7.) Happy Birthday Lunch Theme – Pin It

Also check out Back to School Deals on Frugal Coupon Living.

Back to School | Project Lunchbox – Camping Theme Lunch

This post may contain affiliate links or ads. Read my privacy policy and disclosure policy here.

August 2, 2014 by Ashley at Frugal Coupon Living Filed Under: Back To School, Back to School Series, Crafts, Pinterest, Recipe

Camping Theme Lunchbox

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Welcome to the third post in our Back to School Series – Project Lunchbox! This week’s theme – Camping Theme! With each series, we create a theme and strive to create fun and inexpensive lunches to give your child a little SPARK in their school day.

Want happy campers at lunchtime? Treat them to this cute campsite themed lunch. They can imagine that they’re roughing it while sitting in the cafeteria. I think your average bear (and boys and girls) would agree it’s a fun pastime, even if you’re just pretending. I think this lunch would also be great to serve for a camping themed birthday as individual camp lunches, don’t you?

Of course ,we had to start with hot dogs on a stick, remember those days of finding the perfect straight stick to roast your dinner on? Let’s recreate that in a fun, safe way. Use skewers, but don’t forget to cut off the pointed end, and I use a bit of sandpaper to smooth the rough edge down a bit. Another option is using popsicle or lollipop sticks. I “grilled” a bunch of hot dogs on my George Foreman mini grill, and froze the extra, you can cook them anyway you want, but I love the way the little grill lines look.

Next up, you can’t have wienies without the beanies can you? As much as I don’t like canned foods, Pork N Beans have really got it down pat in the flavor department, so I cave a little. They also go on sale and you can occasionally fine coupons so it might be something you already have on stockpile. Lastly, If you’re gonna cook up some grub you must have a good campfire – Pretzel nuggets make great logs and sliced cheese can be cut into flames with a good pair of kitchen scissors (you might remember this pair from our Shark Week lunch!)

And finally, you wouldn’t send your scout off to school the great outdoors without a s’more to finish of their tasty meal – use 1 large marshmallow. A fun size Hershey( better yet buy a large, break off a piece for the s’more and keep the rest for your afternoon pick me up), and a whole graham cracker-broken in half for top and bottom. I heat in microwave for about 10 seconds just so it will stick together.

I’m sure this lunch will get the stamp of approval from your backpacker. Like the little camping set? Check out one of our favorite toys, the LEGO Duplo Fishing Trip.

Do not forget the FREE Back to School Lunch Printables – a sweet note is always a great addition. Find more Back to School Series including…