Making your Cricut mats last longer

I love my Cricut.

I use it often, not as often as I like but pretty darn often. Every holiday at the least.
I have used it so many times in fact that I've had to buy replacement mats several times.

I was so excited to find this blog

Fantabulous Cricut Challenge Blog

No only do they have tons of gret ideas and inspiration but this one post is totally worth it!
Click on the link below and you'll thank me, I promise.

Quick Tip Tuesday

She shares with everyone how to recondition your Cricut mats so that they last longer!
Yay!

Pick your Plum

Lookie lookie what I scored today at Pick you Plum!

I got one for myself and one for a gift!



Card Swap

Hey everyone? Want to send some holiday cheer but not break the bank?

Kimmie over at Sugar & Dots and Rachelle over at Fingerprints on the Fridge
are having a Card Swap!

Sounds like fun and you can meet some new peeps!
Go check it out

Great deal just in time for Christmas

Grab this great deal of the day!
Just in time for Christmas!


Craigslist find

I found this lil guy on craigslist for $5.00

I still have no idea what I'm gonna do with him or where I'm gonna use him.

For $5 I couldnt pass it up.

I thought about using it in the livingroom but it doesnt match the style.

I'm also planning a room redo for my son and I thought I could use it there.

One day, one day... of course I'll keep you guys posted.

My BIG FAT CHECK!

Well... its not that big, tiny infact, but its FREE MONEY $$

(sorry for the crooked pix I just cant fix it no matter what I do. Anyone got photo tips??)

It's free easy money people, how can you turn that down?

If you do any online shopping at all, you have to check it out.

I promise you won't regret it

 



Do you swag?

Well you better get with the program!

Swagbucks that is!

Ok, I'm just sharing this because I totally love swaggin'

You sign up for an account and use them as your search engine.

They randomly reward you with Swagbucks.

Collect Swagbucks and then trade them in for awsome prizes.

I traded mine in for 6 yes 6 Amazon gift cards for $5 each!

Thats $30 worth of Amazon gift cards!

NO JOKE!

You can put them towards some cricut cartridges

Cricut Cartridge, Stretch Your Imagination

This one is in my shopping cart!

Or a new bathing suit for summer

 

Monokini Swimsuit Pink Size Large

Cute and sexy and still hides my baby bulge tummy I never got rid of!

Amazon is one of my fav places to shop, since you've heard me say over and over again, we have NO selection here. Honest we have no where to shop.

You have nothing to loose, I promise, go ahead and click on the banner below and check it out for yourself.

Also, Friday's are Super Swagbuck days and your chances of winning are doubled!

 



More Freebies... Mail Call...

I'm linking up again to:

So fun to see what other people get in the mail and I'll admit jealous too!

Free samples that I signed up for at The Frugl Girls

I also got some crepe myrtle seeds that I'm hoping and praying that I can make grow!

New Advertising /PR Tab

Have you noticed a new tab up top there under my header?

(Yes I know I still have to make over my pages)

From the Heart would like to branch out and also help you to branch out as well.

I have decided on offering some Advertising/PR options.

Now every option is FREE (unless you are doing a giveaway)

I am not at the point of accepting paid advertisements yet so now is the time to jump on this opportunity wheneverything is FREE!

Want more info check {here} or email me at collectionsfrommyheart@gmail.com

Thanks!

Aloha Friday!

It's Aloha Friday and boy do I need it!

It's been a busy week.

First of all today is Mega Swag Bucks Day!

I've been collecting Swagbucks for just a little while and already I have over 600 Swagbucks.

What are Swagbucks? 

They're points you earn just by using their search engine. You can also earn by taking daily polls, watching Swagtv and participating in special offers.

Then you take your Swagbucks and can earn gift cards from all over. I'm saving mine to trade in for Amazon cash cards. Go check em out you'll see the link at the bottom of this post.

Also my newest blog to stalk is The Frugal Girls. Go and check them out for all the latest deals, steals and how to get FREE stuff!!!

What a way to end the week!

Day #5 Getting Organized Challenge - Under the Kitchen Sink

A Bowl Full of Lemon's has started a 21 day challenge to get yourself organized.

How perfect is this? Just what I need to start of my goals for my new year.

It's already day #5 but Im game to jump right in and join everyone in the organizing fun.

Day #5 is under the kitchen sink. I never thought much about under my sink, I always thought it was... eh.. ok.

Its not overflowing and its not horrendous but once I took everything out I realized all the crap I had under there.

WOW, now that it was all clean and empty I really wanted to put some pretty contact paper and maybe paint it up a bit, but NO this is just to get cleaned and organized and I promised myself to make it FREE.

I really would have loved some new baskets or those racks you hang on the inside of the doors, maybe another day. Come to think of it, I should put that on my list of to dos. That way I can put all my plastic wrap, foil and ziplock bags there and I can free up a cabinet drawer for something else.

So after I gave it a quick vacuum and wiped it down, I used some plastic containers that I already had on hand to organize my cleaning supplies

Seriouslly didnt know I had that many opened and half used packages of sponges. I don't think I'll be buying sponges any time soon.

Ok so I had an almost empty soap dispenser and an almost empty bottle of soap, time to filler up and throw out the huge bottle.

Kmart had those grey caddies on sale for 99 cents. I bought some thinking I could put togther a great gift one day, well today it's my gift.

I also noticed cleaning up a bit I had a lot of extra room under there.

I threw out a bunch of those empty cans we use to dump oil in so we don't dump it down the drain and I had tons of room. I put my kitchen trash bags under there and there was still room! So I put some of my extra boxes of ziplock bags and plastic wrap.

Not wanting to get too carried away and fill up my cabinet with junk again,I stopped there. Which was good enough for me to clear out enough room in my pantry to store my new glass caraffe. yay!

FREE wedding printables

Are you planning a wedding on a budget?

Ok, lets be honest, who isnt?

We're not all that lucky to be living it up My Big Fat Fabulous Wedding style.

Post Cards and Pretties (love them) is sharing a FREE printable wedding set here.

Its a very cute black and white simple but elegant set which includes:

invitation, save the date, response card, wedding program, menu, place cards, table number, seating list and thank you cards.

How very generous! Go check it out!

Peeps are for HALLOWEEN too!

When you think of Peeps do you think of those sugary yellow chicks that you find in your Easter basket?

Yup just like this one.

Mention the word Peeps and thats what comes to my mind.

However, those crazy creative people over at the Peep factory come up with some great ideas for all the other holidays as well!

Have you ever been to their website?

Its full of fun ideas.

I just had to share these with you guys cause they're just sooo darn cute!

Mike & Ike Cornucopia

 Cat and Moon Brownies

Choco dipped pretzles

Haunted House Cake

Candy Bowl

Halloween Hot Chocolate

Chocolate Mousse Dip

Spooky Tree

Go check out their fan site for all their creative ideas that are sooo easy to do!

They have Halloween, Holiday, Valentines and Easter.

Fall Favorites Gift Exchange

I've never done a gift exhange before!

So I'm excited to participate in the

Fall Favorites Gift Exhange

Hosted by Every Crafty Endeavor.

Head on over if you want to participate too!!!

We dont have fall here in Hawaii, so I've got to get creative!

Thrifty Thursday.... a find

Have you heard of Ebates?

I keep hearing people talk about swagbucks but I dont know how that works. I DO however know and luv Ebates. Who doesnt shop online? I shop, you shop, we all shop online :-)

(sorry that was cheezy)

Anyways, if youre gonna do it shop online then why not earn cash back!

Super Simple! All you do is register for an Ebates account. Click HERE. Then when you want to shop at your favorite online store go to the ebates site and look up that store. Click on the link provided by Ebates and they will start a tracking ticket. When you check out Ebates will credit your account for whatever percentage that particular store is offering. You can earn anywhere from 1% - 15% cash back! Only for using their site!

Choose from hundreds and hundreds of online stores.

You wanna know whatelse? When you sign up you automatically get $5 cash OR $10 gift card to select stores! AND if that isnt good enough...If you reffer a friend they'll give you a $5 gift card!

Go here and check it out today and start earning cash today!!!

Thrifty Thursday.... BIG Impact... Small Price

Having an outdoor wedding? Check out these coctail tables from The Party Dress

I love the look of the glow and its super simple to do. All you do is add a lantern or candle under the table for a big WOW factor. They explain that lighter color linnens work best obviouslly.

Super Simple Super great look!

if they CAN so CAN you....

Ever wonder how you're gonna pay for your wedding? I know I did. I worked two jobs, bought things on sale slowly over 2 years time, made decorations by hand and cut costs wherever I could.

Have you heard of these two?

They are Peter Geyer and Andrea Parrish. The couple who recycled 400,000 cans to fund their wedding.

 I LOVE IT!

It's a lot of dirty work, but a great idea. Not to mention they're doing their part to recycle and save the earth. I hope other people take note of this also and follow their lead.

Check out the full article at Yahoo

21 dresses all from $65

Like this dress? Guess what, this Calvin Klein number is only $218 from Nordstroms.

Check out Glamour's article

Glamour's 21 Gorgeous Wedding Dresses (from $100 - $1,000)

for a variety of styles in different price ranges. They even have a dress for $65, yes $65 from JCPenny, did you know they had a wedding store?

Don't be afraid to shop around for your wedding dress especially when you see shows like

Say Yes To The Dress, which could be very intimidating. It's a coture shop, not everyone shops there and can spend that kind of money.

Get creative check out etsy for handmade dresses and accessories or even Amazon, they have everything!

Free Wedding Invites

Did I say FREE wedding invites? Yes I did say FREE wedding invites.

Check out Brenda's Wedding Blog right now for a chance to win a set of custom wedding invites from Precious Invitations

GOOD LUCK!

Thrifty Thursday...

This week's diy idea comes from Celebrations at Home
http://celebrationsathome.blogspot.com/2010/06/creative-favor-packaging.html

Very creative favor packaging check them out:

Great for jams, cookies, candies. I especially like the little envelope for the cookies, so simple!

How cute are the tissue paper flowers? You can find all these and instructions from one of my faves, of course, Martha Stewart.

http://www.marthastewartweddings.com/photogallery/summer-weddings-bold-bright?lpgStart=1&currentslide=35&currentChapter=4#ms-global-breadcrumbs

Also, I just have to share this idea from the laides over at eighteen25

http://eighteen25.blogspot.com/2010/05/party-ideas-part-one.html

Super easy, super cheap and totally cute favor bags or envelopes whatever you want to call them. Honestly it's probably the easiest favor ive seen, 4 steps and done. Fill with a large cookie or whatever, a cd even!

BTW, if anyone can teach me how to link to a site with a word and NOT use the actual link, Im up for lessons! THANKS!