Craftsy Free Patterns

Brrr...it is cool and windy outside today!  Perfect day for cleaning the cottage, where I quilt, scrapbook, sew, and create cards.  It is been such a crazy summer, so I haven't spent much time in my cottage...bummer.  Hopefully, the fall season will allow me the pleasure of my hobbies.  Today is the day I tackle cleaning and organizing.  Wish me luck!!!

For those of you who are ready to start working on fall projects, http://www.craftsy.com/ is a site with "for sale" and "free" patterns.  Here's the steps to finding the quilting patterns. After you log on, click on Projects, Quilting, and Patterns. Next, select the pattern category that interests you.  Scroll down to see the 172 free patterns that are currently available.  You can also link to their blog at http://blog.craftsy.com/.  I just read an excellent article called, "Why Can't All Patterns Be Free?"  Hope you enjoy this site.

Baby Steps to Couponing: Organization

Busy day for couponing!!!  I usually save about 45% on groceries and personal care items.  Yes, in the beginning the process is time consuming, but it gets easier after practicing the techniques and getting organized.  My suggestion is to pick one store to familiarize yourself with the process.  Couponing at Walgreens takes the most practice and planning, so I would wait until you are more comfortable with cashing in on coupons.

Begin couponing by purchasing the necessary supplies.  What should you purchase?  There are many tips and suggestions on-line.  Here is what I would suggest:

1.  Find a binder for organizing coupons.  I really like the Case It Binder that has two sets of D-rings.  The binders are available at WalMart, but so far I have only found them when the school supplies are being stocked.  The binders sold out very quickly at the local WalMart.  Some bloggers have stated the binders are on clearance in their towns.

Case It Baseball Card Sheet Protector

2.  Next, it is time to purchase page protectors.  I like the top loading 3 pocket, baseball card, and full-sheet protectors.

3 Pocket Top Loading Page Protectors.

Birds Eye Veggie Coupons

Birds Eye Steamfresh Veggies Coupon 

Link to Birds Eye on Facebook and click "Like."  Next, play the game, "Veggie Powered Plate."  After playing the game, you will be able to print a $1.00 coupon off any 2 Birds Eye or Birds Eye Steamfresh variety of frozen vegetables.  Click on the back arrow and refresh the page to print another coupon.


If you shop at Gordy's County Market (Sept. 25 to Oct. 3) a package of 12 oz. veggies are 10 / $10.00.  If you use two of $1.00 coupons (maximum number to print on one computer), the final cost for 10 bags will be $8.00 or $.80 a bag. A total of five, $1.00 off if you buy 2, product coupons, could be used for this offer...if you have coupons from other resources.)

Update:  Look in today's (Sept. 25, 2011) Sunday paper (Smart Source) there is a $.50 off coupon for one package!!!  See if your neighbors are throwing out their coupons, because you could use 10 coupons...final cost $.40 per bag.  The coupon states, "One coupon per purchase."  That means you can use one coupon for each bag of veggies that you buy.  What a deal!!!

If you would like to follow the Tranquillity Cottage, web site...please join the site!

Sites for Free Quilting Patterns

Today the weather is cloudy, cool, and damp.  I had the best intention of cleaning my quilting space, but I ended up having fun checking out web sites with free patterns!  The distraction started when the mail came with a pamphlet from, In The Beginning Fabrics.  Thought I would share a couple of the web sites...what are your favorite free pattern web sites?

In The Beginnings Fabrics

United Notions and Moda Fabrics

Scroll down until you see black scissors, which indicate there is a free pattern using the fabric.

Robert Kaufman

RITZ Crackerfuls Coupons

Here's a technique for saving money on RITZ Crackerfuls:

• Purchase 2 boxes of Crackerfuls at Walgreens for $5.00...they are having a sale. 
• Use the $1.00 off Walgreen's coupon on page 12 from the September 2011 Savings Book. You do not need to clip the coupon, just show the coupon to the clerk for scanning.
• Cub Foods has a "Pack to Go Back" flyer with coupons.  In the flyer there is a manufacturer's coupon to save $1.00 on 2 RITZ Crackerfuls.
• The final cost will be $1.50 per box.
• Sometimes Walgreen's prices are higher than other stores, so I usually do my homework to make sure I am getting the best deal.

Rainy Days are Good for Finding Coupons

What to do on a rainy day?  Time to replenish my coupon binder!!!  This weekend I was busy shopping and using my coupons, so I thought today would be an excellent time to search out more coupons on the Internet.  

Remember the coupons will be good for one month from the printed date.  Some sites may run out of coupons, so don't delay in printing the coupons that you need.  Also, most sites will let you print two duplicate coupons per month. Remember that it is illegal to copy coupons...most coupons have a watermark that will not scan on copied coupons.

To save the most money, use the coupons when an item is on sale.  I like to wait until there is a store coupon, so that I can stack a manufacture's coupon...sale, store coupon, manufacture's coupon equals a good deal!!! 

Web Sites with Coupons:

•  Very Best Baking

 Marketplace Foods has Nestle Toll House Morsels (limit 3) on sale for $1.99.  You will be able to use the $.50 off coupon from this site to make the sale a better deal! There are other coupons available:

• Cream of Wheat 

Save a $1.00 on one Cream of Wheat or Cream of Rice hot Cereal (11 oz. or more.)

• Land O Lakes

The link will bring you to the Land O Lakes web page.  Go to "Offers" located on the banner and sign up for the Simple Rewards Club.  I was able to print 2 copies of the following coupons: Alpine Lace Deli Cheese ($1.00), eggs ($.75), cinnamon sugar butter spread ($.75) and margarine ($.40). 

• R. W. Knudsen Family 

Try their natural juices.  To get a coupon link onto the tab.

• Organic Valley Coop

Interested in organic foods?  The following coupons are available from this link: milk ($.50), yogurt ($.50), soy creamer ($.50), and half & half ($.50).

• Dove

You will need to register for this site, but it has a $1.00 coupon off the body wash.

• Coupons.com

Coupons come and go from this site.  The good coupons go very quickly!!!  Remember you will only be able to print each coupon once or twice, so make sure that your printer is ready. If you only print one coupon, many times there is colored advertising that fills the page.  Therefore, I try to select at least 3 coupons.

FYI: I will use the zip code 90210, because there are more coupons available for this site. Right now there is a $1.50 coupon for Smucker's Jelly at the 90210 zip code. 

• Coupon Network

This web site offers "Your Buck" offers for local grocery stores and coupons.

Facebook Page Links:  
You will need to "Like" the page in order to
receive coupons or information.

• Hillshire Farm ($.55 off smoked sausage links) 

• For The Mommas 

• The Krazy Coupon Lady 

• The Coupon Keeper (Eau Claire area blogger)

Hope you become a member of this site!

Free Kindle Book

What a deal!  Amazon.com is offering a free Kindle book called, "The Everything Soup, Stew, and Chili Cookbook."  If you don't have a Kindle....don't worry.  Amazon provides a free Kindle upload for a PC!

Free Kindle Book: "The Everything Soup, Stew, and Chili Cookbook"

TIP:  Double check the price before you make a purchase.  Sometimes the free offer may only last a few hours.

(Thanks couponing.101 for the info.)

Thoughts

Remembering the events of 9/11 with much sadness

in my heart...sympathy goes out to all the 

families and individuals affected by the tragedies.