Hello World,
Earlier this week, my second DIY kit design (Constellation Canvases) launched on Darby Smart, and they are giving a kit away to one lucky winner! The kit includes everything you need to make the project, and comes in the cutest packaging! Who doesn’t love free things?! (Especially free crafting goodies!)
Sweepstakes ends 6/24/2014.
Enter here.
Hello World,
Instead of a DIY project for you today, I thought I’d share a list of places that sent me birthday deal emails. I do love a good coupon, and who doesn’t like a freebie to help celebrate their birthday?
I received emails from the following companies in 2014:
Cold Stone Creamery – My local Cold Stone is located right next to a movie theater, so just about anytime I see a movie during the summer, I get a Like It (small) sized ice cream. Their birthday email had a Buy One, Get One Free Creation coupon, good for seven days after my birthday.
Hot Topic – I signed up for a HT+1 account a few years ago, and each year they send me a birthday coupon. This year it was $5 off my next $30 purchase in store or online, good for the next 30 days.
Jack In The Box – I received an email on my actual birthday, with a coupon for two free tacos (with any purchase). It was good the entire week of my birthday. I redeemed mine yesterday, and ended up spending $1.00 + tax on fries. (Off subject, but I have not stepped foot inside a Jack In The Box in years. I always just use the drive through. Have they always kept all their condiments hidden behind the counter?)
Kellogg Family Rewards – Inside specially marked Kellogg’s products are 16 digit codes that you can redeem online for coupons and goodies. Back in college, I ate my fair share of Pop-Tarts, and redeemed my codes to buy even more Pop-Tarts. For my birthday they sent me a code worth 100 points. (The email also included a $20 credit to Shutterfly.)
Olive Garden – Good for one week after my birthday, Olive Garden sent a coupon good for one free appetizer or dessert (good with the purchase of two adult dinner entrees (not including soup, Garden Salad, or pizza) on the same check). I haven’t redeemed this yet, since my favorite thing to eat at Olive Garden in the Zuppa Toscana soup.
Pizza Hut – Pizza Hut is constantly sending me coupons. Their birthday email included a coupon for free cinnamon sticks with my next online order.
Qdoba – I signed up for their rewards program, and received a Buy One, Get One Free coupon on an entree, good for a seven days after my birthday.
Sally Beauty – If you don’t have a cosmetology license, you can join their Beauty Club for $5. After buying a Beauty Club Membership, you receive a coupon for $5 off your next purchase. For my birthday they sent me a $10 of $20 coupon. I redeemed this yesterday and added even more colors to my Gelish collection. (Off subject – dark Gelish colors take about three coats if you want to avoid streaking.)
Sephora – If you sign up for a Beauty Insider account, you are eligible for a birthday gift. I stopped by my local Sephora (inside JCP), bought a sale Sephora eyeshadow palette, and picked up my free Make Up For Ever deluxe minis. It included a Smoky Extravagant Mascara and a Rouge Artist Natural lipstick. The birthday gift changes every year, with last year’s being Benefit deluxe minis.
Shari’s – Signed up for the Pie Club last year, and both years I have received a coupon for a free slice of pie, good for about a month after my birthday.
Starbucks – Register a Starbucks Card on their website, and they’ll credit your account with a free handcrafted beverage, Starbucks bottled beverage, or food item of your choice, for your birthday. They also sent me a code for 15% StarbucksStore.com.
Ulta – I signed up for their rewards program, and was sent a coupon for a free full-size Signature CK (Calvin Klein) One Mascara, valued at $18. I redeemed this coupon yesterday, and was excited when I realized the mascara wand is adjustable – never seen anything like that before.
Vanity – A week before my birthday they sent me a 20% off coupon, good towards my entire full price purchase. It also stated that sale, promotions, and clearance cannot be used in conjunction with other coupons and discounts.
I also received a happy birthday email from my student loan repayment company. Unfortunately, there was not a coupon or discount in their email. A girl can dream…
As a warning, if you sign up for promotional emails, be prepared to have your inbox flooded. I have multiple emails, with an old high school one that I always use when signing up for deals/newsletters. Gmail’s new categorized inbox tabs also help to filter important and promotional emails. As a tip, sign up way in advance. Some of these companies skipped me last year because I signed up in my actual birthday month.
*There is no guarantee these deals are sent to everyone on these companies’ mailing lists. Almost every email stated that the deal is “subject to change,” are valid at only participating locations, and hold no cash value. Remember to be careful with who you give personal information to.
Do you have any birthday deals that you have redeemed?
Hello World,
Today I have both a tutorial and a giveaway for you! Check out the tutorial below to learn how to make your own customizable zippered pouch, and enter the giveaway to win the one featured in this tutorial:
1. Gather your supplies: fabric, a zipper, scissors, acrylic or fabric paint, a foam or paintbrush, freezer paper, an iron and ironing board, and a sewing machine or needle and thread.
2. Cut out 4 rectangles of fabric that are the same length as your zipper.
3. Fold the top edge of each rectangle over 1/4″ inch and iron flat.
4. Cut a strip of freezer paper. This will be used to make your stencil.
5. Cut your designs out of your freezer paper. If you draw on your freezer paper, draw on the matte side of the paper, not the shiny side.
6. Iron your freezer paper onto your fabric, shiny side down.
7. Paint gently within each freezer paper stencil. Be careful around your edges, so paint doesn’t leak out of your stencil.
8. Allow to dry and gently remove your contact paper. Iron both sides of your design to set the paint.
9. Sandwich one edge of your zipper (right side up) in between two rectangles of fabric (wrong sides together).
10. Sew through all three layers (fabric shell, zipper, fabric liner).
11. Repeat steps 9 and 10 for the other half of your pouch.
12. Now that everything is sewed to your zipper, unzip your zipper. Fold your shell on top of your other shell fabric piece. This places your two shell pieces on top of each other, right sides together, and does the same with your liner pieces.
13. Sew around the edges of your entire rectangle, leaving a gap on the liner edge.
14. Turn your bag right side out via the gap in the liner.
15. Sew this gap closed, and push your liner into the body of your pouch.
16. Tada! You have made your own lined zipper pouch!
I used the same fabric for the liner and the shell of this pouch, but using coordinating fabric would work great too. Use this type of pouch as a makeup bag, pencil case, mini iPad case, etc.
PS- Remember the giveaway I mentioned? Well, enter below and one winner will receive this chevron pouch, handmade by yours truly. Giveaway ends next Friday, November 22nd.
Happy Crafting!
