Saving for Disney Gift Cards

Every once in a while two of my obsessions combine -- Perdido Key Wine & Arts Festival, Green Depression glass on 50% off sale, Boston Rob on The Amazing Race.  Now, I'm planning my family's Disney vacation with the help of Pinterest. Is it just me or do you hear the angels singing, too?

My girls are getting the Dave Ramsey style education on work, money, giving, saving and spending.  They are extremely excited about the trip.  So, we are trying to focus that energy into doing extra chores and putting that extra money into savings banks.  I saw some beautiful ones pinned that inspired this project.

Junkin Junky via Pinterest

I did find an excellent deal on shadow boxes at Tuesday Morning.  Unfortunately, I have already used them to make a Christmas project.  Now, when I need some, I cannot find any in my normal thrifty sources.  I dragged the girls to two different Goodwill stores, HomeGoods, Tuesday Morning and an indoor flea market -- no shadow boxes.

Thank goodness for Hobby Lobby (the second happiest place on Earth).  They had the perfect acrylic box frames at a great price, made even better with their 40% off coupon.  Do not laugh at me for couponing $2.99 -- the money we saved on each one went into the savings banks.  "Train up a child in the way she should go; even when she is old she will not depart from it."  Proverbs 22:6. I guess mine will be crafty, couponing and a little crazy.

don't know how my finger
got broken there.

We pulled out the bulky card board insert thingy that was inside the frame. It makes a great template for the thin foam core that we would use as backing instead.  I just had to remember to cut it a little larger because we wanted a tight fit. 

Next we cut slits in the foam core. 

The Girlies all picked out the gift card they wanted the most. We printed out pictures of them on photo paper.   

Middle Girlie is the best cutter. Baby Girlie loves the glue sticks because they are purple, her favorite color.

Next, I added a bead of hot glue around the back to seal the foam core. First of all, that holds in the heavy change. Secondly, it makes sure that the money stays in until our trip, even if the ice cream man comes by on Saturday afternoon.  

We decided to add a tally sheet on the back to keep up with the totals. Big Girlies are both math monkeys who love to add up their "deposits."  Baby gets to use the calculator, which helps with her eye/hand coordination and number recognition.  OK, so she really likes pushing the buttons, but that counts.  

Already, they are all asking for extra "jobs" they can do around the house. There may be a lemonade stand in our future.  The baby clothes that we just tilled out are going to the consignment store instead of Goodwill. Bonnie asked if she could have the cash value instead of picking out candy like her sisters did at Walmart today.  If Hunky Husband stands still too long, they may figure out a way to hire him out to the neighbors.  

Apparently, these simple little boxes inspire hard work, creativity, entrepreneurship and sacrifice. Well, they look cute on my mantle. We'll see how long all this free enterprise lasts.

I have a series on staging that will help you get more Visit Ready while I'm getting vacation ready.  Check back this week.

just bec

linking up all over the place:

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Craig's List Chairs

VisitReady images:  justbec74 on Instagram

"We got our chairs, YEAH! YE - AH! We got our chairs, YEAH! YE - AH!" -sing to the tune of Katrina & the Waves, Walking on Sunshine. Picture Baby Girlie and I singing and dancing, well, wiggling. Add in a couple of fist bumps and a high five or two.

Dontcha just love the hotel drapes & carpet combo? via Craig's List

At our house, just about anything is likely to be the lyrics of our newest song.  This time, Craig's list helped us find two new chairs.  A local hotel was redecorating. They listed 40 barrel chairs with dark blue upholstery, wait for it... $20 a piece!!!!

"Hotel living room chairs. Used. Most are in very good condition. Stop by the Quality Inn & Suites on Scenic Hwy and pick them up. We have 40. They can be sold to one person all together or individually. We're here 24hrs a day. No delivery. First come, first serve. We will remove this post once they are all gone. Please, no phone calls."

It was not a new listing the first time I saw it. I was so excited, especially about that "open 24 hours" part.  Hunky Husband was not thrilled with the idea of me going across town at 1am, prolly in my pajamas. He was even less jazzed about my suggestion that he should go instead.

The next day, I set out with Baby Girlie on our grand cheap-chair-getting adventure.  The only problem, I  locked my house key and purse inside the house. So,  our adventure turned into a trip to Hunky Husband's Home Depot store to get a new key made.

The next day my parents were flying in for a visit.  Perfect. The hotel is right behind the airport, we could easily go pick up our chairs before we run by to pick up MeMe & Big Daddy.

What had happened was...

That night HH was away from home, Big Girlies had trouble going to bed and Baby Girlie woke up with an earache.  After chatting with the on-call doctor at 2am, she took some more children's advil and I held the warm rag over the achy ear.   Needless to say, there was not much sleep under my belt when the alarm went off at 6:20am to get the Big Girlies ready for the bus stop.

picture this in white cotton duck fabric and matched cording. jcaroline home! via Pinterest

After they left for school, I shut my eyes, just for a minute. When the phone rang, at noon, I don't know who was more shocked, sleeping Mommy, sleeping Baby Girlie or my parents at baggage claim. So, I didn't make it to the hotel that day either.

We had a wonderful week visiting with my parents.  We went shopping, antiqueing, beaching, eating and playing.

littlegreennotebook.com upholstery charts via Pinterest

By the time we took them back to the airport, the Craig's List ad was nearly a month old. I was pretty sure they would be out of the chairs, but we had to give it a try. The barrel shape would be clean and modern. They would be easy to slip cover (knock wood). I could use them in my house for now and staged houses later.  Hotel furniture has to be pretty sturdy, surely theses would hold up well for a long time.

I kept my fingers crossed all the way. We started the song with the nervous verse, "Please let them have 2 chairs for us, please let them have 2 chairs for us."

Blessed and lucky, they did have 2 left for us. Now I'll check this pin to see how much white duck fabric I'll need to make the slip covers. In the meantime, I don't hate the blue.


The chairs are sturdy but very light weight -- I have a feeling I'll be toting them around quite a bit.  BEST $20 I'VE SPENT IN A LONG TIME.  I hope you are finding some great things on Craig's List. As yard sale season heats up, keep an eye out for great deals that can help make your place a little more visit ready.

just bec

linking up at:
hooking up with hoh @ house of hepworths show off your stuff @ fireflies and jellybeans  thrifty thursday @ thrifty decorating under $100 @ beyond the picket fence sticker time @ the 36th avenue get your brag on @ gluesticks blog link party @ somewhat simple flaunt it friday @ chic on a shoestring weekend wrap up @ tatertots and jello feathered nest friday @ french country cottage  thursday temptation @ two yellow birds decor mad skills party @ mad in craft show me what you got @ our delightful home manic monday @ serendipity and spice nifty thrifty tuesday @ coastal charm  tuesday to do @ the blackberry vine tip me tuesday @ tip junkie tutorials & tips @ home stories a2z take a look tuesday @ sugar bee crafts one project at a time @ a bowl full of lemons  tuesdays treasures@ my uncommon slice of suburbia  wow me wednesday @ ginger snap crafts wow me wednesday @ polka dots on parade sugar & spice @ 733 a creative blog  crafty scrappy happy me @ crafty scrappy happy