The Fickle Hobbyist

Archive for the ‘thrifting’ Category

Last week on one of our routine trips to GW (I swear, how many times have I started a post with that same sentence already?), Abby and I came across two boxes of markers.  Being the crafter that I am, I got a little excited.  I opened them up and noticed that the colors were in every shade imaginable.  Not just a blue, red, yellow, type mix.  “Oooh, Abs, look at these!  We’ve got to take them home.”  For $1.99 a box, I thought it was a steal.  Each marker had one super fine tip on one end, and on the other, a broad felt tip.  I was already trying to create projects in my head as I walked to the register. 

Hmm, Prismacolor.  Never heard of it.  Time to hit up Google.  Oh look, they have a website.  Oh, they sell them in sets of 24, 48, etc.  I wonder how many I have in this box all together.  One had leaked in the box, so I threw it out, but that left me with 45.  Apparently this box started with 48.  I wonder how much a box of 48 double ended Prismacolor markers goes for.  Want to know what I found?

Well, here’s just an example: Cheapjoes.com has them listed for $116.19!!!

Of course, that’s “cheap”. Office Depot has them listed for $149.99!

You have GOT to be kidding me.  People actually pay that much for MARKERS?! 

Apparently these are “real artist” tools.  I kind of feel guilty owning them now because I know I can’t do them justice.  lol  It kind of makes me want to take up drawing…although that’s something I’ve never been good at. 

Oh well, I’m still psyched I found 45 markers for $4.  You honestly never know what you’ll find at the thrift store! 

-Autumn

With teacher appreciation week coming up next month (May 2-8) I knew I wanted to make something for the girls’ teachers.  There are so many cute craft ideas for teachers, that it was hard to choose, but this one is one that I enjoy for it’s simplicity and cute end result.

What teacher couldn’t use another clipboard?  I mean, seriously. 

This is a super easy project that anyone can do.  I bought these unfinished clipboards at Michael’s for $2.99 each.  I wanted to have a really clean finish to it, so I unscrewed the hardware at the top before I did anything to it.  I painted the back in a coordinating color, cut and Mod Podged the paper onto it, and hot glued some ribbon.  Then, just to gussy it up a bit, I Mod Podged the clip as well and added a little wooden do-dad that had coordinating paper Mod Podged on it as well and then screwed it back in.  It really couldn’t be easier.  I always love the way these turn out.  So simple, but I think they’re adorable!

This one is for Abby’s teacher…

And this is for Joci’s teacher…

Then, following in the footsteps of How Does She I visited Vistaprint for probably the 100th time in the last 6 months.  You can’t beat their deals, you guys.  If you get on their mailing list, they are constantly sending out emails with free product.  I got each of the teachers the following; a monogrammed tote bag, a spiral notebook, notepad, return labels (saying “This Book Belongs To: Mrs. D”), and a pen ALL customized.  And ADORABLE, might I add!  I can’t wait to bag it all up and give it to them. 

What are you doing to celebrate the teachers in your life this year?  If you’re a teacher, what kind of gift do you really appreciate?

-Autumn

My birthday isn’t even until July, but my mom is just so awesome that she already sent me my gift.  If you’ve been reading me from the beginning, you may have remembered me ramble about my love of coffee.  Perhaps it’s the fact that I was born and raised in the Northwest, where there are independent coffee stands on every corner.  Or maybe it’s because I grew up sharing a cup of coffee with my mom and aunts as a child and the emotional attachment began there.  I don’t know what started it, all I know is I love coffee!

Since moving to Texas I’ve been really sad about the lack of variety when it comes to coffee stands.  We pretty much just have Starbucks.  Which is fine.  I like Starbucks.  But let’s face it, they are pretty pricey.  Especially when you’re used to getting the same thing (and sometimes better, imho) for half the price at the independent stands back home.  Plus, I always like to support the little guys.

When I lived back in Washington, my mom had this awesome little do-dad called a toddy maker.  I’m sure some of you know it as a cold brew coffee maker.  Whatever you call it, it makes amazing coffee.  By making cold brew, you are eliminating more than half of the acid in the coffee.  This would have been of particular interest during my pregnancies.  (Yes, I drank coffee, but only decaf)  While the lower acid content is a great benefit, I really just like it because the pure espresso comes out cold, can be stored in the fridge, and costs a fraction of the price of a coffee stand.  And if you want to have a hot coffee, all you have to do is heat the coffee up.  You can microwave it or use a steamer for that.  It’s really versatile.  Of course, I really just like it for the frugality and convenience of having the stuff at home to make my lattes!

I’d been telling my mom for a couple of weeks “I really need to get myself a toddy maker!  I’m spending way too much money at Starbucks.”  An iced grande vanilla soy latte sets me back $4.60 each time I go, and that can really add up!  So my mom, in all her awesomeness, sends me this as an early birthday present!

Isn’t she great?!  I set to work that very night to make myself a nice carafe of pure espresso.

Here’s what you’ll need to brew your own.  In the box you’ll get this big bucket, a handle, a carafe, a rubber stopper, and two filters.  You’ll also need a pound of plain, coarsely ground coffee.

The first thing you’re going to need to do is plug up the hold in the bottom of the bucket with the little rubber stopper.  Then get the filter nice and wet and put it in place inside the bottom of the bucket.

Next you’ll need to add 1 cup of water to the bottom of the bucket.

Then you’ll need to add half the coffee to the bucket.

Then add 4 cups of water SLOWLY in a circular motion, in an effort to moisten all the coffee grounds and avoid any dry pockets.  You will NOT be stirring this.  If you stir it, you could end up with a clogged filter and it will all have been for not.

Then, add the remainder of the coffee.

And add 3 more cups of water to the top of this.

Wait 5 minutes…

While your children play with Play Doh and sculpt amazing things.

Then slowly add 1 more cup of water over the top of your mixture.  Again, do NOT stir it.  Just slightly tap the top of the coffee grounds with the back of the spoon to make sure everything gets nice and wet.

Then, cover and leave it undisturbed.  Wait for 12 whole hours.

12 hours later, place the bucket over top of the carafe and pull the rubber stopper out.  You’ll be left with this amazingness.

You can reuse your filters a number of times.  Just be sure to rinse them out really good when you’re done.

To make an iced latte, here’s what I do.  First, put the ice in the cup.  Then throw in two shots of espresso, a shot of vanilla syrup, and then some soy milk.  If you’d like top it with whipped cream.  I don’t typically add the whipped cream, but let’s face it, it’s prettier to take a picture with the whipped cream on top.  Throw in a straw, and you’ve just saved yourself almost $5. 

Enjoy! 

Next time I’ll show you how to make your own coffee syrup so you can save even more dough.  You know how we all like to hear that.

-Autumn