Crafting on a Budget

Can you believe it?   It's already May!   Are you scrambling for a last minute teacher appreciation gift?  I got the Oracal 651 out and sat down with ecal 2 and made this design for some of the teachers in our life.  I admit,  I had some trouble and had to remove,  re-cut and then reapply my design on a couple of these,  but FINALLY I got the look I was shooting for.
I finished them with some paper and foil shred.  If you make some using the Dollar Tree tumblers, be sure to include a note to handwash only.   Have fun creating!

Paper projects are fun to make, but paper can be expensive.  I have found some ways to make my paper pads go a little farther so I make sure to get my money's worth.  It helps me afford the svg kits I love to buy from SVG Cuts.  I would like to share some of my tips with you, so that you too can enjoy more crafting on a budget.

Today I'm sharing my love for The Dollar Tree!

I have found so many things at the Dollar Tree that I can use in my crafting.  And for $1 it is usually a savings over the craft stores or even Wal-Mart.  I did some shopping there this week for the first day of school teacher gifts I'm sending with the boys.  I bought some little note pads, pens and sticky notes.  With these few items, I'll fill up a desk set and it will be adorable, useful and cheap!  And each purchase will make more than one gift.

Next week, a lot of schools will be celebrating Teacher Appreciation Week.  Most schools discourage monetary gifts for the teachers and ask that the students make cards, draw pictures and/or bring flowers from the garden.  These are all very lovely things for the kids to do, but I like to let the teachers know that I also appreciate their hard work during the year.  In Wichita, we have Dollar Tree stores, and I just love them.  Recently I found these darling compact mirrors and bought up a few for gifts.  (If I like something I try to buy many of them, because the next time I go in, they're usually sold out)  To really dress up my wonderful $1 find, I have made these adorable clutch purses to give them in.  These super affordable mirrors in this clutch makes them an extra special gift for next to nothing!  Who wouldn't love to get one of these purses with a handy compact inside!  And not just for teachers, but girlfriends, sisters and yes MOMS.
These are from SVG Cuts Luxury Handbags collection.  The possibilities are endless!  Super cute and easy to make!