Cha-Ching on a Shoestring™

Living Large on a Limited Budget

  • STORES
    • Coupon Database
    • CVS
    • Rite Aid
    • Walgreens
    • Target
    • Walmart
  • Restaurants
  • Online Deals
    • Amazon Deals
    • Amazon Subscribe & Save Deals
  • Freebies
    • Free Kindle Books
    • Free Stuff by Mail
    • Free Birthday Stuff
    • Free Stuff Online

The Dollar Store Diva: One-of-a-Kind Father’s Day Card

June 12th, 2013 By Kaley
This post may contain affiliate links, which means I will make a small commission if you click and make a purchase.

***

DSD Father's Day Globe PicMonkey

Aren’t globes fascinating?

When I found this website Le Paper Globe, I was so very, very excited. Check it out right now and get excited along with me.

Globe printed

I used the website’s free download, printed the templates, and followed the clear (and delightfully witty) pictorial assembly instructions.

Globe pieces display

Forewarning: this is not a quick process. If you decide to create this beautiful paper globe, plan on an afternoon, an evening, or the length of a l-o-n-g movie for cutting and folding.

DSD I Made It Globe Card

Then, use the You’re the Best Dad template to choose your favorite tag.

DSD Father's Day Globe Card6

Now you can turn the globe into a memorable Father’s Day card.

DSD Father's Day Globe Card2

One idea:

Print the label of your choice on card stock, trim it lengthwise (the template is landscape) and wrap it around a small container. Use that as a stand for the globe. You can even slip a gift card or loving wishes inside the container. Wouldn’t that be a fun surprise for Dad!

DSD Father's Day Globe Card3

Or:

You can use your chosen template to create a tag to be attached to the globe. Simply mat the printed tag or be as creative as you have the time, energy, or creativity for.

And there you have it: a one-of-a-kind card for one of the best dads in the whole wide world.

***

For those of you who haven’t met her, the Dollar Store Diva happens to be my Mom who has a special power.  She can transform Dollar Store and other inexpensive finds into super fun gifts that would brighten anyone’s day!

Filed Under: Craft Ideas, Giving, Simple Living Tagged With: Dollar Store Diva

The Dollar Store Diva: Unforgettable Father’s Day Card Tutorial

June 9th, 2013 By Kaley
This post may contain affiliate links, which means I will make a small commission if you click and make a purchase.

***

Father's Day Cards

I personally know many wonderful fathers, including my own, my father-in-law, my husband, my sons and sons-in-law. Obviously, this is not a competition, and the message on this card is not literally true. But the sentiment can be.

So, how about blessing the dad in your life with this easy-to-make card.

Check out this quick slideshow to get a better idea of the impact of this card, then follow the easy steps to create your own (click here if you are reading this in an email):

1) Choose a double-sided sheet of scrapbooking paper with a colorful design on one side and a muted design on the other.

2) Print this map You’re the Best Dad  on the muted side of the paper. [I created one map with black text and one with brown so you can print whichever is more appropriate for your card.]

3) Trim the top and bottom of the paper to crop off the text. It will make the card just the right height.

IMG_8380

4) Fold the paper into thirds (see photo), leaving the left flap a little longer to slightly overlap the right flap.

IMG_8386

5) Print You’re the Best Dad onto a piece of paper that coordinates with the card.

6) Mat it on another scrap of coordinating paper

7) Put adhesive on the back of the mat, being careful not to put any on the end of the word “best”; that will be the flap to open the card.

IMG_8372

IMG_8377

8) And there you have it! Jot a note inside with a few hugs and kisses and bring a smile to your own dad or to your children’s dad.

******

But wait! There’s more!

Stay tuned: I’ll be back soon with another fascinating “You’re the best Dad” tutorial.

 

Filed Under: Craft Ideas, Simple Living Tagged With: Dollar Store Diva

The Dollar Store Diva: Milano Cookie Wrapping Ideas with Free Printable

May 24th, 2013 By Kaley
This post may contain affiliate links, which means I will make a small commission if you click and make a purchase.

***

Gift Wrap Milano Cookies

I have had so much fun gift-wrapping and sharing my semi-homemade Milano cookies.

I wish that you could listen to the message of thanks my  neighbor (who is due for surgery soon) left on my answering machine.

And preparing my gift was so simple.

Wrapped Cookies 001 (640x406)

I saw some Wegman’s take-out containers at my daughter’s house; I knew immediately that they would be perfect for gift-wrapping my cookies.

I placed each cookie in a cupcake wrapper and placed one on top of the other in the plastic container.

I put six cookies in this one, but I could easily have stacked more.

Wrapped Cookies

After I placed the lid on, I wrapped the container with a strip of dollar store wrapping paper and adhered it underneath.

Wrapped Cookies

I used a manila folder (from the stack I saved after throwing pounds of old papers away) to print out the Framed Best Wishes and attached the Thinking of You! tag with twine. [You can also inform your printer that you want these printed in black instead of color.]

If, like me, you often give gift cards, wouldn’t attaching a card to this package make a happy presentation?

But wait, there’s more! Check out this one:

Wrapped Cookies

I really like these clear mugs from the Dollar Tree.

I bought a set some time ago for family dinners; I use them for soup and–most often–for serving lovely desserts. I was happy that they still had them in stock because the shape is just right to wrap my Milano cookies.

Wrapped Cookies

I used the same wrapping paper to create a little envelope for two of my favorite teas. I then adhered the Enjoy! tag and wrapped twine around it.

 Cookies in mug

Once again I placed the cookies in cupcake wrappers and stacked them, along with the tea bags, in the clear mug. A gift card could also be attached.

How fun is that?!

***

For those of you who haven’t met her, the Dollar Store Diva happens to be my Mom who has a special power.  She can transform Dollar Store and other inexpensive finds into super fun gifts that would brighten anyone’s day!

Filed Under: Craft Ideas, Giving, Simple Living Tagged With: Dollar Store Diva

Teacher Appreciation Gift Idea: You Were ‘Mint’ to Teach Candy Jar

May 17th, 2013 By Kaley
This post may contain affiliate links, which means I will make a small commission if you click and make a purchase.

teacher appreciation jar

In addition to the Mason Jar Teacher Appreciation Gift Idea that I shared earlier, I suddenly had another brainstorm today.

This time instead of a Mason jar, it was an empty frappuccino bottle that caught my eye – which is almost just as fun and versatile.   (If you don’t have an empty one, go buy yourself one, enjoy a refreshing beverage, and you’ll be all set!  Better yet – get the four-pack Archer Farms brand at Target for about $4.59.  You never know when the need for an empty frappuccino bottle might arise.)

I had some Chalkboard labels (how appropriate, right?!) – you can find them at Michaels for $8.99 for a 24-count package (look in the Brides section).

teacher appreciation jar 2

Next I found a package of mints that called my name and completed the inspiration.

And the brainstorming began:

  • Thanks for your ‘Invest-MINT’ in Griffin.
  • You have ‘MINT’ so much to us.
  • You were ‘MINT’ to teach.

I opted for the last saying since it fit so nicely on the label!

I tried using chalk, but it was just plain old ugly.  So I found a sparkly gel pen and that did the trick.

teacher appreciation jar 3

We also happened to have some white spray paint on hand, so I spray painted the top to make it look less like an empty frappuccino bottle.  I had purchased some super cute scrapbook paper at Michaels (for just $0.20 per sheet!) and added that to top it off.

Finally, I played around with some ribbons and ended up using this bright and cheery turquoise guy.  There’s just something about red and turquoise together that makes me happy.

teacher appreciation jar 4

What do you think?  If my son’s teacher gets as much ‘Enjoy-MINT’ out of receiving it as I did out of making it – then we have a win!

Filed Under: Craft Ideas, Great Deals

Summer Relaxation Gift in a Jar Idea for Mother’s Day or Teacher Appreciation

May 9th, 2013 By Kaley
This post may contain affiliate links, which means I will make a small commission if you click and make a purchase.

mother's day gift in a jar

Looking for a last-minute Mother’s Day gift?  Or thinking ahead to end-of-the-year teacher’s gifts?

I am in LOVE with Mason jars these days and had a sudden inspiration earlier today.  I had everything on hand and in just a few minutes, it all came together for this super cute gift idea.

Here’s what you need: 

  • A half-gallon Mason Jar (I got mine at Michaels for around $3.)
  • Some packs of Crystal Light
  • Some  fun straws (I got the ones pictured on Amazon for my son’s first birthday last week.  Maybe you could find some at a party store as well?)
  • Ribbon
  • A magazine

Other ideas: 

  • Gift Card to a local coffee shop or Starbucks
  • A gift certificate for a fun Kindle eBook

Amazon offers some great magazine subscriptions for under $10. You could pick up an issue in-store and slip in a note letting her know that a subscription is on its way to her mailbox.

What do you think?

mother's day gift in a jar 2

Now doesn’t that just say summer relaxation all over it?  I love that the Mason jar can double as a pitcher for the Crystal Light!

Looking for more Teacher gift inspiration?  Check out my You Were “Mint” to Teach Candy Jar idea. 

Filed Under: Craft Ideas, Giving Tagged With: Mother's Day

The Dollar Store Diva National Letter Writing Month: Time- and Money-Saving Postcard Printables

April 25th, 2013 By Kaley
This post may contain affiliate links, which means I will make a small commission if you click and make a purchase.

National Letter Writing Month Collage

Another National Letter Writing Month Challenge from our one and only Dollar Store Diva.  Be sure to complete today’s easy task at the bottom to enter to win a $50 Michaels gift card!

***

Hey! How’s it going with your letter-writing April? It’s hard to believe that the end of the month is only a few days away. I have been checking some names off my list, but I still have several friends and family members I hope to write before the calendar turns to May.

To help me, I created postcards for sending some love in the mail.

The beauty of postcards is that you can write a quick, warm note; but, in addition, the picture on the front can add an extra level of greeting.

For example:

PostCard-MapSource

I LOVE this Map Postcard I created for my family. I live in New York, but I have children, grandchildren, and sisters in Pennsylvania, Texas, Kansas, and Virginia. For me, the front of this card says so much. Obviously  I wrote more words on the back, but the map and text express the message of my heart

And then there’s this one:

Thinking of YouSource

There were people that I just wanted to send a smile to. As I wrote these Thinking of You cards, it was fun to visualize them opening their mailbox.

post cards

It’s easy to turn the printables into postcards.

1) Print the pdf file onto cardstock or heavy paper. 2) Trim the individual cards 3) Turn each card over  4) Draw an off-center line on the back.

The message will be written on the left side, and the stamp and address will be on the right side.

And don’t you think those little apple postcard stamps are as cute as anything?!

By the way – don’t have colored ink?  You could check with your local library to see how much they charge for colored copies.  Or print them in black and white – your recipient won’t mind!

*****

Okay one more thing – I have a confession to make: I don’t know what I’m doing.

Honest.

Check out this picture:

attachment-407237340

Just look at those hands. The first time those hands touched a keyboard it was a black manual typewriter, and my fingers got all inky each time I had to change the ribbon.

Here comes the part where I explain why I don’t know what I’m doing. If you look carefully at the picture, you will notice that is a MacBook Pro. Yup, I am now the proud owner of a Mac!

I was warned that there would be a learning curve.

A learning curve indeed.

So, after more hours than I want anyone to know, I finally created the postcard printables I have included in this post . The thing is–so sorry–I couldn’t get them to center properly.  So, I hope that you won’t think dark thoughts about me when you have to trim the postcards a bit, will you?

****

And now …who wants to win a $50 Michaels gift card??!

To encourage you to join us for National Letter Writing Month, we will be giving one lucky Cha-Ching on a Shoestring reader a $50 Michaels gift card at the end of the month!

Entering to win is easy.  At the end of each Dollar Store Diva post this month (there will be many!), there will be one method of entry.  If you choose to complete that task, you will be entered!

At the end of the month, we’ll randomly select one winner from the comments left on each of the posts.  So that means the more you get involved with National Letter Writing Month, the more chances you will have to win!

Here is today’s task:

  • Write someone a post card – using one of these printables or whatever your heart desires!
  • Then leave a comment below (click here if you’re reading this in an email) letting us know that you did.  (That’s it!)

HINT: Want extra entries? Click here to check out all the other ways to enter the giveaway this month.

**Want to stay connected during the National Letter Writing Month Challenge? Be sure to sign up for FREE updates from my email newsletter or on Facebook.**

Disclaimer: Michaels provided the $50 gift card to give away.  But as always, the rest is all me!

 

 

 

Filed Under: Craft Ideas, Giveaways, Great Deals Tagged With: Dollar Store Diva, National Letter Writing Month

Michaels Weekly Ad – Best Deal Sale (Daily Deals!)

April 8th, 2013 By Kaley
This post may contain affiliate links, which means I will make a small commission if you click and make a purchase.

michaels best deal

Have you checked out Michaels weekly ad that is updated every Sunday with new deals, coupons and more?  They now have a Best Deal Ever campaign which features Daily Deals available for one day only in-store.  Head over here to check out today’s deal!

The interactive ad also has weekly coupons (which can be printed or texted to your phone), featured craft projects with step-by-step instructions and materials list, in-store event information and you can even sign up for text alerts or emails to receive more special offers, deals and inspiration from Michaels.

Don’t forget that I’m also giving away a $50 Michaels gift card!

Disclaimer: Michaels provided me with a gift card, but all other opinions are mine!  See my Disclosure Policy.

Filed Under: coupons, Craft Ideas

The Dollar Store Diva: Grand Reveal

April 2nd, 2013 By Kaley
This post may contain affiliate links, which means I will make a small commission if you click and make a purchase.

Who’s ready for the Dollar Store Diva‘s Big Surprise?!

***

Remember this picture from last week…the results of my little Dollar Store shopping spree?

Dollar Store Buys 009 (640x392)

Well, over the weekend that became this…

Letter-Writing-Organization-017-640x465

and this…

Letter-Writing-Organization-031-640x480

because I want to invite you to join THIS…

National Letter Writing Month Challenge

Did you know?

April is National Card and Letter Writing Month.

Yup, April is National Card and Letter Writing Month.

And Kaley and I have cooked up something special to entice our readers to join us in mailing some handwritten notes.

We’re psyched.

And if you’d like to join in the fun, we want to offer resources and tips to help you get pysched …and organized!

Like my Notes to write check list:

Letter-Writing-Organization-051-640x3541

my motivational quote:Letter-Writing-Organization-052-640x525and my handy-dandy everything-I-need-to-write-letters carry-all:

Letter-Writing-Organization-033-640x624

 Be sure to check back in for the fun details of our

Cha-Ching on a Shoestring National Card and Letter Writing Month Challenge

along with FREE printables and tutorials for the two organizational options.

So…who’s in?!

***

For those of you who haven’t met her, the Dollar Store Diva happens to be my Mom who has a special power.  She can transform Dollar Store and other inexpensive finds into super fun gifts that would brighten anyone’s day!

Filed Under: Amazon deals, Craft Ideas, Organization Tagged With: Dollar Store Diva

  • « Previous Page
  • 1
  • …
  • 6
  • 7
  • 8
  • 9
  • 10
  • …
  • 12
  • Next Page »

Welcome

About
Contact

My  name is Kaley. Wife, Mama, and Dreamer, I have a passion for saving money, living simply, and helping others find creative ways to live large on a limited budget.

My Favorite Things

Copyright © 2025 Kaley Ehret · Site Design by Sharon Hujik · Log in
Disclaimer | Disclosure Policy | Privacy Statement