Money-saving Tips for Back-to-School Shopping

Though it seems like summer has just started, it is not too soon to begin thinking about back-to-school shopping.  Beginning this task early will ensure that you are able to get organized, take advantage of coupons and sales and will allow you to spread out your spending through the summer. We have detailed some fantastic money-saving tips to help you spend less and get more for your money.   

Get Organized

The number one problem with overspending on school supplies is lack of organization.  Have you ever gone to the grocery store on an empty stomach only to come home with more than you intended?  It works the same with back-to-school shopping.  Before you head to the store, take a detailed inventory of any items from last year that will work for this year.  Have your kids sort through their clothes and shoes and determine the essentials needed to begin the year.  

Make a List

Now that you are organized, make a list and stick to it!  Most schools offer detailed supply lists of required items.  In addition to these supplies, your child will need a good backpack, lunch box and tennis shoes.  Check your inventory of items from step one and cross off anything that you already own.  Remember that the school supply list is a starting point for your child.  Depending on his age and classes, he might require a graphing calculator, PE clothing, or a specialty item for an elective class.  Add all of these items to your list.

Determine Your Budget

Back-to-school shopping can be quite expensive, so it is necessary to determine your budget before you purchase even one pencil.  Prioritize your list and estimate the cost of all of the supplies.  If the cost of the supplies is greater than your budget, you will be able to purchase top-priority items first.  Often supply lists include supplies used throughout the entire school year.  Since some of them will be used later in the year, you will be able to delay those purchases until necessary.

Shop the Sales

Beginning as early as July, major retailers begin their back-to-school sales.  In fact, some of the best deals happen when most people have not even begun to think about school shopping.  Start planning early and watch the weekly ads in your area.  You will be amazed at how much you will be able to save.

Combine Coupons with Sales

One of the great things about coupons is that they are valid even during a store sale.  Historically, manufacturers produce coupons for common school supplies throughout the summer.  Print them off or cut them from your local newspaper and then hang on to them.  When you locate a great sale, use your coupons at the same time.  This can save you hundreds of dollars, depending on what supplies are required for your child.  

Take Advantage of Tax-Free Weekend

Many states offer a tax-free weekend or tax-free shopping days specifically for back-to-school shopping.  The special often includes school supplies like pens, pencils and paper and likely also includes clothes.  Additionally, most retailers will schedule store sales, coupons and other incentives during this tax-free time.  If your state allows, this is a great time to purchase big-ticket items like computers and textbooks. Let’s be honest… most people do not want to think about back-to-school shopping during summer.  However, those months will go by much faster than you think.  Start early and plan your schedule for the summer.  You might even be done when others are just starting!

dislaimer: this post may have affiliate links. By clicking on them and purchasing through them, I may receive a small commission. These small purchases help me to continue to keep writing content and creating at Holy Craft. Thank you!

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How to Refresh Flowers From the Market and Make a Bouquet Last for Weeks

I don't know if it's just me and our area, but I can usually find a farmer's market with a nice big bouquet of locally grown flowers for around $15. Sometimes, I can find them for far less from one of my local farm stands. I like to treat myself every once and awhile with some fresh blooms but after about a week, I find that the flowers are starting to wither and die. That doesn't mean all of the bouquet has died and I hate to waste live greenery, so I wanted to show you how I refresh that bouquet to make it last for at least a few weeks.

Here is my most current bouquet before and after. All of the flowers have died and are starting to look sad and even the greenery is looking a little sad and droopy, but it's still green and just needs a little refresh. My peony bush is in full bloom, so I took advantage of that and cut some stems for a new bouquet. I think the after looks pretty darn fresh. I bet you wouldn't have guessed that it was a week old.

So here's how you do it. I lay out my new flowers and my old flowers on the table.

I sort out the old flowers into dead stems and stems that are still fresh and living. Toss the dead ones. I take my clippers {I love these} and clip off the ends of the stems I want to use to get rid of anything that might be starting to rot. Plus, you want to let your greenery have a fresh end to suck up new clean water.

I gather my greenery in my hand and do my best to shape it and make it look pretty. Then I add it to my vase with fresh water. After that, I start adding my flowers where I think that it needs color. It's as easy as that.

Doesn't it look beautiful! I love that I can refresh my bouquet in just a few minutes. 

Plus, who doesn't love having fresh flowers around the house?

Next time you buy a bouquet and the flowers die, don't toss the whole thing. Refresh it! You can make an old bouquet look fresh again!

dislaimer: this post may have affiliate links. By clicking on them and purchasing through them, I may receive a small commission. These small purchases help me to continue to keep writing content and creating at Holy Craft. Thank you!

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How to shop ThredUp like a pro and save thousands on a new wardrobe

I don't think most people would be able to tell, but I buy more than 90% of my clothes used. I love shopping and buying second hand and lately, if I'm searching for an item to add to my wardrobe {last week it was a military jacket}, I head to ThredUP first. If you don't know what ThredUP is, it's an on-line thrift store where you can buy nearly new clothing for next to nothing. There are thousands of items in stock and you are bound to find something that you love.That is, if you can get past how overwhelming it all is to find what you are looking for. I've talked to a few friends about how much I love ThredUP and they say that they want to try it, but they get frustrated with how much selection there is. It's hard to narrow it all down and find what they really want. So, I created this post and am including a link code so that you can place your first $10 order and get $10 off making it FREE! I love free! 

Use this link to order and you can save $10 on your $10 purchase.

I know that I am closing in on my 40's but I still love to start looking for clothes in the juniors department. It's the first department I hit when I go to a store at the mall, I might as well start there when I shop on-line. You will have to scroll all the way to the bottom of the home page on Thred Up to find juniors written at the very bottom.

I find that my money goes further in the Juniors department too. I can find tank tops for summer for around $5 and dresses are usually under $10. Your $10 credit goes a LONG way in the juniors department. 

In both the Women's and the Juniors, I always start looking in the New Arrivals. Refresh that often because new items are added at an alarming rate! You can narrow it down to something specific {say dresses} if you want and then select your size. 

Another selection you want to UNCHECK is in the drop down size menu. It checks the box "include equivalents" automatically, but I know the size I wear and if I'm looking for, say shorts or pants, I need a specific size.  I don't want to see some cute shorts in a size I know I won't be able to fit into.

Now here is where it gets good.  I always select the brand. ALWAYS!

I pretty much love everything I find at Anthropologie and Madewell. Both of those stores have several brands that they carry but the clothes all have the same type of style. In juniors I love the BP brand.

This little click on brand narrows your search down in an enormous way giving you similar style items that are still affordable but it takes you far less time to scroll through all the great selections.

If I see something I like or that I think I might like, I always add it to my cart. I don't want to be searching some shirt down later if I change my mind. It's easier to sort through your cart at the end than it is to find something you didn't save earlier. 

When an item is in your cart you can click on it and check out the details closer. I always look the items over when I'm done shopping and delete the ones I don't want or decided against. This also gives me an easy idea of how much I spent since I can see the total in my cart.

So here is the shortened condensed version for easy shopping

Start in juniors {it's cheaper!} and move on to Women'sAlways refresh new arrivalsIf you can, narrow down your search to a specific item {like dresses or tops}Select your sizeUncheck "include equivalents"Select brands you loveAdd your favorites to your cart

Hopefully this makes shopping at ThredUP that much easier. It really is my new favorite on-line shopping store but I can see how it can be overwhelming. Narrow it down as much as you can and follow this tips and you will be on your way to an inexpensive new wardrobe in no time! Stop getting overwhelmed and start saving!Don't forget, new users can use this link for $10 off their first $10 purchase. dislaimer: this post may have affiliate links. By clicking on them and purchasing through them, I may receive a small commission. These small purchases help me to continue to keep writing content and creating at Holy Craft. Thank you!

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25 free or inexpensive things you can give your mom on Mother's Day

Mother's Day is just around the corner. As a mom of three kids that are growing up far too fast, I thought that I would make a list of the top 25 free or inexpensive gifts that you can give your mom on Mother's Day. I promise you, these are all under $10 so they will fit into any budget.  

Honestly, what I had in mind when I wrote this are things that I would appreciate getting from my own kids. Long gone are the days when their teachers helped them create a sweet card or created me an art project in class. My kids are on their own now. This is the perfect list for a teenager or a young twenty something to keep in mind, so make sure you share it with them.

1. Frame a photo of you and your mom together. You can find cheap frames at the dollar store or Goodwill.2. Help your mom with a project. Set aside time to help her do something she's always wanted to do. My mom isn't the most computer savvy, so I helped her make her first photo book. Then I watched her do her second. She's since made several on her own and appreciated the hands on tutorial. 3. Create a photo book. Chatbooks are super easy and only cost $8. You are limited by the amount of pages, so it's best to keep it to a theme {grandkids, recent trip, etc...}.4. Create a gift basket with your mom's favorite candy. You don't need to go all out, just pick a few items you know she loves. Everything looks better in a basket or tied up in a cello bag.5. Spend the day with her. Let your mom pick the destination and then go along for the ride. Even if it might not be your choice for the day, do your best to act like it is.6. Cut some flowers and make an arrangement. You don't need to buy an expensive bouquet {sometimes the best flowers are those you find on the side of the road}, simply put them in a ball jar or take grocery store flowers and rewrap them in brown kraft paper.

source: wedding party

7. Your local big box store often has great plants. Simply find a pot at a thrift shop and you have a great inexpensive house plant.8. There are so many creative people out there creating free printables. Simply print and frame them at home for a handmade gift. You can find lots of free printables on my printable Pinterest board.9. If your mom is crafty, consider putting together a basket with some goodies to DIY from the craft store. Don't forget to use your 50% off coupon!10. Moms love personalized and handmade gifts. These hand stamped necklaces and bracelets cost under $5 to make and can be done in under 20  minutes. 11. Stick to a color palate or theme. For under $10 you can fill a box of sunshine like this from HappyMoneySaver.com. 

12. Give your mom her favorite drink. It could be tea or coffee or maybe it's wine, regardless, just knowing that you know what her favorite is will be treasured.

13. Shop your mom's favorite store. Most likely you will find something in your budget {or get inspiration for something that is in your budget at another store} that she will love.

14. Write a note. Write down your favorite memory with your mom or write a line or two about what you appreciate about her. It doesn't take much and is sure to be appreciated.

15. Create a play list. If your mom is a music lover, she might enjoy the hand selected tunes you have picked for her.

16. Wash and clean her car for her. It won't cost you anything if you do it yourself and the time you spend on it will be greatly appreciated.

17. Make a journal or a notebook for her. You can use scrapbook paper or if you sew, you could cover an existing notebook. Both will cost you less than $5.

18. Make her a dinner. I cook nearly every day of the year so it's nice to have one day when I'm not expected to cook. It doesn't have to be anything fancy, but cooking for your mom would be a really sweet gesture.

19. Look around for free events in your area that you think she would like and offer to take her to one. There might be a concert in the park coming up in a few weeks, planning that with her and making the time to go would make her beyond happy.

20. Take on a project that your mom hates. Heck, you may hate it too, but doing it will make her forever grateful. 

21. Do something active together. Go on a bike ride our scout out a local hike.

22. Rent a movie and pop some popcorn and enjoy an evening together. Make sure it's her choice, not yours!

23. Set up a tripod and snap a family picture. You don't need to hire a photographer, just taking the time to be in a picture together that she can share with others will have her beaming. 

24. Visit a local attraction or museum together. Many libraries offer free admission to local museums, all you have to do is check out a pass. Some local attractions are free. Set aside the time to go with your mom.

25. Call her. Like on the phone with your voice. You may not live close enough to your mom to spend the day with her. Simply calling to let her know that you remembered is priceless.

source: Pavan Trikutam

So there you have it. 25 free or inexpensive ways to show your mom that you care this Mother's Day. Let me know if I missed any. I would love to hear from you.dislaimer: this post may have affiliate links. By clicking on them and purchasing through them, I may receive a small commission. These small purchases help me to continue to keep writing content and creating at Holy Craft. Thank you!

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Homemade Face Mask From Two Very Common Household Ingredients

It's so much fun having a daughter. My sweet girl is nearly 14 and she fell hard into the land of beauty products, make up and all things homemade. She loves to raid my kitchen cabinets and experiment with making her own beauty products. Some of them are wins, some of them are not. This one though, this one is a win. One Saturday I saw her walking around with a face mask on. I asked her what she used and I was shocked! There were just two very common household ingredients that worked together to create a surprising result that would be perfect if you need a night of pampering.

You won't believe how easy it is! I even bet you have everything you need in your house right this very instant! 

Can you even believe that if you tear off layers of toilet paper and paint them on with egg whites, that you would get the royal face mask treatment? I had no idea! It really does leave your skin firm and feeling nice and smooth. You really only need a roll of toilet paper {you will only use a little bit} and an egg. That's it!

You start by peeling your toilet paper layers apart. You may be fancy and have four ply, we have two ply. I just consider it working less.

The egg whites were placed into a small bowl, stirred around a bit and we used a make up brush from the dollar store to paint the egg white on top of the layer of toilet paper that was ripped to fit in a small section on my face.

 You are working with smaller sections of toilet paper sort of like you are doing paper mache.

Keep layering on all around your face. Until your face is covered. You can even put a few layers on to make sure you are overlapped and covered.

Once your face mask is complete, sit and relax for about five minutes.

You should be able to feel the face mask getting harder and it will turn a darker color as it dries. Start at the bottom and slowly peel your face mask up.

It should come off all in one layer.

How much fun is that?! Really, who knew just two very common household ingredients when mixed together would make a fun functional face mask that actually works to firm up your skin and leave your face feeling baby soft.

You should give it a try today! I would venture to bet that you have everything that you need right in your cabinets already.

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20 Things Frugal People Do some tips and tricks that will save you money!

I'm cheap. You can call me frugal, thrifty or a good shopper.  Perhaps even a mindful consumer. If I had to pick a word to describe my spending style, I think I would like to be considered resourceful. According to the dictionary, frugal means sparing or economical with regard to money or food. I suppose that's a good word to describe how we chose to live.  And it's one most people can relate to.

I really like to live well on less.  That's sort of my motto.  We started out married with a newborn at the ripe old age of 20 and 21, part of being frugal came out of necessity. Next year, our oldest son is starting college, and well, we are going to be going back to working with a pretty bare bones budget. However, through the years, we have found out just how far we can push our budget without really feeling like we are missing out on anything.  We really do live pretty darn well on less. 

I've written a list of 20 things that frugal people do every day to save them money.

1. They don't buy souvenirs

We like to travel. While that isn't necessarily frugal, we think that spending money on life experiences, trumps being cheap. We see value in the experience, not in the cheap crap that you buy at the gift shop walking out. So no, my kids don't have a stuffed panda from the San Diego Zoo, or mouse ears from Disneyland, but that doesn't mean that they don't still have memories from those trips.  

2. They don't eat out often

The majority of our meals are eaten at home. I pack lunches for our whole family during the day, and at night we share a meal together. Eating out just isn't cost effective for our family now that we have what amounts to four adults {my daughter is 13, my son is 17} and one child.  Even a cheap dinner with a coupon at a fast food joint will set us back easily twenty five bucks, and it's inevitable that the kids will still be hungry.

3. They shop sales and combine coupons

I rarely buy something if it isn't on sale. It's even better though if I can find something on sale and with a coupon! That's when I stock up. If my kids ask for something that's not on sale at the grocery store, they know it's almost always a no. 

4. They price match

Most stores remain competitive by price matching. This requires a little bit of research, but with the ease of smart phones, you can usually do your research in the aisle of the store. Price matching saves me not only time, but money.

5. They combine errands

Gas prices are dropping {hallelujah!} but it's still important to combine your errands. I try to hit all the stores in one area at the same time not only to save on gas, but also to save on my time. My husband always tells me that my time is worth something. 

6. They shop around

I am not loyal to one store or another. I do have some favorite stores, but if someone asked where I did the majority of my shopping I couldn't narrow it down to only one store. In a typical week, I will go to three different grocery stores hunting down their loss leaders from the ads. The same goes for big ticket items. I always shop around before I make a purchase.

7. They know their limit

Early on in our marriage, my husband and I said that if we spent more than $50 on any item, we would talk to the other person before buying that item. That's when we really didn't know each other's spending style. I rarely purchase anything over $20 without seriously questioning my purchase and my husband just rarely purchases anything.  There is usually a dollar limit in my head that I have associated with most purchases.  

8. They do the math

I'm constantly doing math when I am buying something. Is it cheaper to buy the bigger size toothpaste or the smaller one or is the cereal by ounce cheaper at the grocery store or at Costco. I recently got a new iPhone and while the cost out of pocket is dang on expensive, the math worked out over the life of the phone and with our plan to save us money in the end. {you can read this post on saving money on cell phones here}, so we purchased the phone and found our own plan.  

9. They cut out cable

It drives my husband batty when I say that we don't have cable. We actually have very basic cable with only network channels. We also have Netflix streaming and a Tivo. You can read more about it here.  On average, we pay less than $25 for our entertainment budget {including movies} each month.

10. They have a full pantry and freezer

I buy in bulk when I find a good deal. I freeze bread and lunch meat and if I find a sale on meat, I stock up. Because I cook most of our meals, I like to have food on hand so I'm not rushing around trying to figure out what to make for dinner. 

11. They are selective spenders

We often put off spending and rarely miss the item we were tempted by. The best way to not spend money is to just not buy anything. It's like telling someone who wants to lose weight that the key is diet and exercise.  The same thing is true of saving money. You want to save money, then don't spend it!

12. They do the work themselves

My husband changes the oil in our cars. I clean my own house, we do our own yard work. If we can do the work ourselves, we usually chose that route.  I do love to treat myself occasionally with a coffee from Starbucks, but I can make it at home for far cheaper and I usually do that the majority of the time.

13. They plan ahead

Failure to plan is planning to fail. The biggest financial trap I've seen people get into is not planning ahead. This could be as long term as planning for retirement but it could also mean that you are planning ahead to avoid spending money. When the kids were little and we would be out and about, I would plan our trips around nap times and meal times. I didn't want to be stuck without food on hand for the kids and be forced to eat out. Planning ahead saves you money in the long run.

14. They don't buy things at full price

As a family we buy 90% of our clothing second hand. Most of it is stocked up during garage sale season {tips on how to buy second hand clothing for the whole family}, but for those items I don't buy second hand, I never buy something full price. I rarely tempt myself by even going to the mall, but if I do, the only racks that draw my attention or are even a consideration are the sale racks. You can see this post for more specifics on how we save money on clothing. 

15. They use the library

We make good use of our local library. We rarely spend money on books. I see great value in books, though if you are only reading a book once or twice, I don't see value in the price tag. We find book titles that we are interested in and put them on hold. This sometimes requires planning {see number 13}, especially if you are leaving on a trip and need a book or two to read on vacation. We also use their free local museum passes and schedule in the free events that occur at our local library.

16. They bring it from home

I have a fully stocked fridge at home, so we pack our lunch if we are spending the day at the museum. I have reusable water bottles with me in case we get thirsty. If I have something at home that I might need, I bring it along instead of buying it. 

17. They buy quality items

I would rather pay a little bit  more to get a quality item that doesn't need to be replaced as often as a lower quality item. This means that I know the quality brands and gravitate towards those when I make a purchase. This doesn't mean that I buy the quality items full price, this only means that I know which brands are higher quality and I focus on those if I can.  For instance, when I was looking for a new bike for my youngest son at a garage sale, I had a particular brand in mind because I knew that it was a higher quality item. This same rule applies when I am shopping for used clothing. I know my brands and buy higher quality items because even after they have been handed down multiple times, the clothing is still in good shape.

18. They cook from scratch

Processed foods are more expensive. While they are more convenient, they aren't healthier and they usually cost more. I rarely, if ever, buy processed foods. 

19. They use {and reuse} what they have

It's not uncommon to find a bottle upside down in one of our cabinets. We squeeze every last drop out of the toothpaste tube and aluminum foil and ziploc bags get washed and reused. We try to make the best use out of what we have before we replace it. That sometimes means being creative and doing things a different way than we planned, but it's best to use what we have on hand rather than spend money on something we don't need.

20. They join rewards programs

Getting the best price for something is almost always on my mind. We have a rewards credit card {that we pay off each month} that gives us cash instead of points so that we can spend the money on whatever we want. I have rewards cards at nearly every store I frequent so that I can get the best prices at checkout. We make the most out of the purchases that we do make, so that our spending dollar goes further.I'm constantly learning and would love to learn from you! Perhaps you have a tip or two that I didn't add to this list. I would love to hear if you have anything to add. In the meantime, making a little change here and there can save you big change in the long run! 

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How we budget for the holidays

The date never changes. I think I knew that Christmas was on December 25, long before I knew what day my birthday was on. And yet, every year, I hear that the holiday sneaks up on some people and they are left wondering how they are going to make those gift lists that their children create a reality.

We do our very best to not make Christmas about the presents or the gift lists. Our children have everything that they need. We are beyond grateful to have a roof over our heads, a warm bed to sleep in, food that fills the pantry and clean water that comes out of the tap.

As parents, we decided very early on {out of necessity mostly} that we wouldn't indulge our children's every want. We don't buy new toys at the store, heck, we rarely buy any new books {thank you library!}. The kids never beg for candy or gum in the grocery aisle because they know they won't get it.

Because we exercise restraint most of the year, we do like to have our children receive at least one item that we know they really want at Christmas.

I've been asked multiple times throughout the years, how we stick to a budget for the holidays. Well, I'm spilling our secrets!



Several weeks ago, I wrote a post about the benefits of buying used gifts for Christmas. I shared with you that we budget $50 for each of our kids' gifts for Christmas.  This is far below the national average and we are totally o.k. with that.

This budget allows us to be more generous in other areas of our life. We are able to give to those in need, not just to those in want.

So, the million dollar question is, where does our money for Christmas spending come from? Well, my friends, just yesterday, we requested to cash out our Chase rewards card and by early next week a shiny new check will be in our mailbox earmarked for Christmas spending.
When we use our Chase card {it's the only one we use}, we receive points on every purchase and those points then can be redeemed for cash. Well, other stuff too like travel, experiences, merchandise and gift cards, but we almost always choose cash.  Because cash. Duh. 
After I deposit that shiny new check, I will be buying things with the money I deposited  and I will be collecting more points. The glorious cycle continues! 

I'm stretching my dollar and saving money all at the same time! {cue hallelujah chorus}

Your first step in budgeting for the holidays is to know how much you want to spend on each person and do your best to stick to that limit. I have talked to friends who don't do this and start buying from their children's wish list instead. Before they know it, they have hundreds of dollars worth of gifts set aside for their children who already have shelves full of toys and electronics.

If you buy family gifts {for your parents, siblings, aunts/uncles, grandparents}, try to set a limit for that as well. I try to shop all year long in anticipation of Christmas and buy gifts for friends and family members when they are deeply discounted.

The key is knowing your number and doing your best to be creative to stay in that budget.
Once you start buying gifts, keep track of what you bought and your spending. Because I shop all year long, sometimes I forget about the toy I set aside for my 10 year old that I picked up on major clearance in January. I take inventory of those items before I do any major shopping.

Finally, allow yourselves to be generous. I would much rather give to someone who really needed, rather than just to someone who wanted, however, there is joy in giving regardless.

Our family has two children through child sponsorship with World Vision living in Uganda. I've seen the needs in that area and I know those children can benefit from the savings I create from sticking to our budget. They have basic needs that aren't always being met. Because we are able to stretch our dollar, shop smart and use our credit card to get rewards on anything we want, we can be generous to the real needs of those living on the other side of the world!

There is no magic budget solution, but there is a magic card that will allow you to put money back into your pocket when you spend all year round. I would love to hear your tips on how you budget for the holidays.

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Seriously easy Halloween costumes that won't break the bank

I love Halloween.  It's my second favorite holiday behind Christmas. Free candy tops my list of favorite things with dressing up a close second.

It's easy to drop hundreds of dollars on the perfect costume but I'm here to show you how you can shop smart for costumes and not break the bank!

I spent a few years of early motherhood thinking that I would make my kids Halloween costumes. Talk about time consuming!

I would spend hours at store after store hunting for the right materials. It felt like I was looking for a needle in a hay stack sometimes.  It seemed like I could always find what I was looking for when I wasn't looking for it!

Through the years my husband has convinced me that my time is worth something. I can't spend days and hours searching for the perfect color t-shirt or taking hours to craft the perfect hat for a costume. It's just not worth it. Which is why I love stores like Spirit Halloween. Spirit Halloween has everything you could think of that you would need to complete the perfect costume.

If you want to buy a complete costume already packaged up, Spirit Halloween has it, but in order to not break the bank, I want to show you how you can pull together some pretty awesome costumes using easy to find accessories from the Spirit Halloween store.

I'm a big fan of using what you have, so I took inventory of the dress up and regular clothing items that we had. I hit the store, and I put together a few outfits using inexpensive accessories that I had found at Spirit Halloween.

This survival bow and arrow created several outfits and has the possibility of many more!  My daughter dressed up in clothing we had in the closet and used the bow and arrow as her accessory to become Katniss Everdeen from The Hunger Games. I could easily replicate this outfit for myself and you could too!  The skirt that I made my daughter for Valentine's day years ago, when paired with a pink top and a bow and arrow, turned her into the cutest cupid I have seen! My son had a skeleton costume that he's worn for years in his dress up box. Add the bow and arrow and now he's a Minecraft skeleton.

Probably my favorite costume of the day was this lumberjack {or is he a hipster?} beard. We had the plaid shirt in his closet and the black beanie in our winter clothes.  Another shirt from the closet, some aviator glasses and a mustache made for super 70's guy. The same mustache could be used for so many different costume ideas.

One thing my daughter loved were the face decals. When paired with a purple wig, she could be Mal from The Descendants. Or she could put a pointy hat on and be a witch. These spider decals and a black cape made for a pretty cute scary vampire.

While we are talking about capes, I bought this inexpensive adult size cape and it works for so many different costumes. A child or an adult could wear it so it will get a lot of use at our house. One year, I had a friend pay me to make a cape for her son. The fabric costs more than this cape. Trust me, just buy one! It's far cheaper and less time consuming!

A candy corn hat {we've had it for years} with the cape, makes for a cute candy corn witch. A purple wig, some decals and the cape could pass for a vampire or a witch. Of course we can't forget about Batman!

Batman is wearing his long johns {see...using what we have!} underneath the cape. He paired it with a batman mask, gloves and a belt.  And finally, those face decals again with the cape are a Halloween standard!

Aviator glasses are super hot this year, but they also make for some really cool costumes. This SWAT team costume is a Spirit Halloween store exclusive, and you probably remember the glasses with the mustache from above. A leather jacket or a navy suit jacket paired with the aviator glasses could make a pretty cool pilot costume.

While my son had his long johns to wear under many of the costumes above, my daughter needed a black dress as a staple item. This Morticia dress was fairly inexpensive and had the flexibility of being used lots of different ways. You've seen most of them before, but I also added the same Batman accessories that my son had with the dress and suddenly we had bat girl.  How cute is that?!

While we are talking about accessories, really, that's all you need sometimes to create the perfect outfit. I created a Minion costume using glasses and a yellow beanie from Spirit Halloween.  I had the yellow shirt and suspenders in my closet, though I could have bought both at Spirit. For more flexibility if you had overalls or a denim jumper, you could wear those with the hat and beanie for the same look but a totally different costume.

Harry Potter is holding a stick {yep, it looks like a wand...came straight from the yard!} and has glasses and a tie. The white shirt, grey sweater and grey pants were all in his closet. In fact, he loved the look so much that I had to pry it off of him later that day for family pictures!

I put together a ton of fun costumes that didn't cost a lot of money. The key is using what you have and shopping for those WOW accessories that make the outfit.  Don't waste your time going from store to store looking for the perfect accessory or outfit. I've done that and wasted hours of my time. Make your one stop shop at Spirit Halloween {or shop on-line!}.If you didn't download the 20% off coupon, you should do it now!  Then head to the Spirit Halloween store.  You can find the one nearest you here. 

disclaimer: this is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Spirit Halloween.  All opinions are 100% my own. I wouldn't share something that I didn't love. Promise.

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Boo! Unfinished letters, finished with mod podge and scrapbook paper

I love a quick craft that doesn't cost me a whole lot of money.  Those are my favorite!  Mostly because it gives me a chance to have a little creative outlet without breaking the bank on supplies.

I'm sure you have seen this little image making it's way around the craft circles.  It is so true though!

That said, I try to keep my craft costs low by buying most of my supplies at garage sales and with coupons at the craft store. Because we all know that we could spend a pretty penny buying supplies!

I was lucky enough to find some unfinished letters that spelled Boo at a garage sale. I'm guessing the gal had the same idea as I did, but never got around to it. It took me 10 minutes, some scrapbook paper and some mod podge to create a fun little addition to my Halloween decor that's already around the house.

I gathered my supplies and headed outside to snap some miserable pictures for this tutorial. Seriously, what the heck?! That ship has sailed to re photograph them, so bear with me!

The rest of this tutorial is going to fly by because it's super duper easy! I traced the backwards version of the letters in pencil on the back of my paper and carefully cut around it. Paint your mod podge on the unfinished letter and then lay your cut paper on top of the letter. Seal your paper with another layer of mod podge on top. That's it!

It takes longer to let the letters dry than it does to actually make them.  You can embellish your letters with glitter or ribbon or bows. You could even hang them on a large frame vertically.  That would be really cool.  I stuck with the minimalist approach and left them as is.

$2 in supplies and 10 minutes later, I have a quick project that helped me feel just a little bit accomplished.Do you ever buy craft supplies at garage sales? If so, what do you look for?

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