Sketchpad and Sketchbook for Only $1.99 Review

Every once in a while you are in the right place at the right time for an unbelievable

amazing deal at Michaels Arts and Crafts store.

This sketchpad and hard back bound sketchbook was only $1.99! Woo Hoo!

The regular price was $7.99 and even that is not bad for good quality paper art supples. Every artist knows how expensive good quality art supplies can be.

No joke this was a great value. LOL! I was browsing the clearance section (every store I visit, I always walk to the back to look at the markdowns first) and I saw stacks of these sketchpads on the shelf. They did not have a price tag. I walked over to the price scanner and the price on the screen said $1.99.

You know what happen next. I load up a hand basket and headed to the checkout  lane. 

I was content with being lucky enough to stock up on inexpensive art supplies but I was even more thrilled that the sketchpads are a good weight paper (65lb) and a very pale beige.

This is the embossed logo on the back of the sketch book. 

The front of the sketchpad. The paper is very smooth. I drew on it with pencil and was happy with the results.

Hopefully you will be able to find this item on clearance at your local store. I have walked around in Michaels several times many days and come up empty handed finding a good sale on something I needed.

Always look at the clearance shelf, you never know what you will find.

Tell me about a bargin you found at Michaels.

Thank you for reading!

Thomasina

A Necklace Becomes A Bracelet - Quick DIY

A $2.00 Rue21 necklace becomes...

a brand new bracelet!

I redesigned this necklace into a bracelet by simply shortening the chains on both sides.  

Lay the necklace across your wrist and gauge how loose or tight you want the bracelet to be.

Using my jewelry pliers to open the links to remove the excess chain then reattach the lobster clasp and the jump ring to the chain ends.

You now have a new bracelet!

It only took about 5 minutes to complete this super quick DIY. 

The necklace was so inexpensive, I had to buy more than one (LOL!). Layering the two necklaces was an idea at first but I thought of the matching jewelry suites from the 1950s and 1960s and got inspired to make a bracelet.

Do you ever give your jewelry a makeover? Tell me all about it in the comments.

Thanks for reading!

Thomasina

Dollar Tree Beach Items From Myrtle Beach

The Dollar Tree Stores are awesome for finding all kinds of inexpensive items. From home decor to frozen food this store will help you survive on a very tight budget .

This past Saturday, I went down to Myrtle Beach for a fast fun day trip getaway.

I was so happy to see find more beachy items to decorate my home. A Surf's Up sign and a gorgeous hulu dancer.

The sign is lightweight material with glitter  letters but it is not flimsy. I love the graphic design. For only a dollar, this sign is a steal compared to the crazy high prices of beach items in the beach shops down at the beach.

The hulu dancer is a hanging party decoration. Her facial features are really well done. I can be very picky about faces in art I buy. 

As I am not a fan of the cold months, I decided to be proactive and make the inside of my house as much like a relaxing warm beach retreat as I can.

When I came home, I went to my local Dollar Tree store, only hulu girl plates were available and no beach signs.

Things do tend to sell out quickly. 

Of course always check the quality of the items - some things are so cheaply made they are not worth paying a dollar for. 

When I look at the two signs paired together on my door, they make me smile, relax and think of the beach.

What is your favorite thing to buy at the Dollar Tree?

Thanks for reading!

Thomasina

Tattoo necklace With A Heart - Rue 21

I love fashion and accessories from the 1990s so I got so excited that I was able to finally buy a tattoo necklace at Rue21. For some reason way back when, I never had a necklace like this.

If you have been reading my blog, you know I love a bargain when shopping for costume jewelry. This cute little necklace was on markdown for only $2.00.

At first when I saw it I was thinking I did not really like it but it really grew on me. The iridescent heart is a sweet accent to the stretchy black plastic woven cording.

This piece would look really cool with a T-shirt or a button down shirt. You just stretch it over your head to put it on since there is not a clasp closure.

The ceramic clam shell dish was on clearance at Target for about $2.00.

Thank you for reading!

Thomasina

Necklace Of The Day Rue21 Charm Necklace

I love a bargain especially when I shop for costume  jewelry. Rue 21 has weekly markdowns on their clothes and accessories.  

Today's necklace is a double chain multimedia  charm necklace. I got this fun piece for only $2.00. 

A close up picture of the heart and turquiose bead. 

This necklace reminds me of  the charm bracelets that I make from odds and ends of  I take apart or broken pieces of    

jewelry. 

I can imagine each individual charm as having a story or meaning.

Have fun with your accessories. Take them apart and create your own unique piece.

Another post about a necklace is here.

Thank you for reading my post!

Thomasina

Necklace Of The Day - Pale Turquoise Flowers

Pale turquoise plastic bead three pendant necklace with rhinestone accents and on a goldtone chain. Lobster claw closure.

I often find the best marked down prices on costume jewelry at Rue 21. This statement piece was only $2.00. Love this!  I could not make this necklace myself for $2.00. The materials alone would be a lot more than $2.00.

Nicely designed piece with a good weigh to it. The color reminds of the color palettes from the 1960s.

Thank you for reading!

Thomasina

Bringing The Beach Home - Beach Sign

Here is another wonderful find at my new favorite store The Christmas Tree Shops. 

This is a  lightweight printed wooden sign with happy fun words that remind me of my times at the beach.

I could not believe it said mermaids because it is so rare to find anything with that word on it. 

Not being a fan of the cold weather months, I decided to make the inside of my house a bright happy fun beach house away from the beach. 

I got a couple more signs that I will talk about on the blog. 

This sign was only $3.99. Christmas Tree Shops has really low prices on seasonal home decor. It is not just a Christmas Tree store which is what I first thought.

I will be doing a haul very soon of other items I purchased. Stay Tuned.

Thanks for reading!

Thomasina

Happy Sunday! Blue Skies White Clouds

Peaceful perfect blue skies after a night of thunderstorms. Everything feels like it has been washed clean and revitalized.

Love this old worn amphitheater located in front of the Cape Fear River. I wanted to sit on the weathered wooden benches but the ants were using it for their busy highway. 

The dry brown leaf in the center of this lush green field made me realize that nothing is perfect but flourish anyway.

Don 't let the negative energy of others define your emotions or outlook on life. Thrive anyway! Focus on your positive goals. Be determined to be the best you possible.

Thanks for reading!

Thomasina

Mermaid Standing Statue

A new mermaid statue added to my mermaid collection from the Christmas Tree Shop.  I was completely surprised to see a mermaid anything in a local store.  Usually, I only see mermaid figurines when I go to the beach.

She is a little over a foot high tall. I am so excited to find a mermaid I really like. This mermaid has a beautiful face and the statue has a lot of detail. i think it is made from a kind o resin not a ceramic material. 

The only thing i really did not like is the "distressing" of the surface of the piece. if the paint was smooth, it would be perfect. But thankfully, there is only a few places where the paint is chipped off.

The tail is so beautiful.    I am really picky about the design of my mermaid's facial features and the tails. i do prefer the  mermaid tails to have a fuller wider tail fins.

The only color on the figure is this green and pink on  the clam shell.

A view of the back of the mermaid.

Love the intricate detail of the base: tiny sea shells and pearls






I got another wonderful surprise when I got to the register and it was half off. My price was $8.99! Awesome! The prices for this type of statue in Myrtle Beach is 2 or 3 times more than the regular price of this item.


Thank you for reading!

Thomasina

Necklace of the Day - Rue 21 Cranberry Antique Gold

This necklace is one of my favorite recent purchases from Rue 21.This costume jewelry piece is antique goldtone chain with cranberry colored beads. 

It reminds me of detailed colorful ornate jewelry from India which I absolutely love.

The low price of $5.00 (regular price $9.99 50% off ) right on budget.

The earrings have been in my collection for years and I actually love their much loved worn tarnished look.

Thank you for reading my post!

Thomasina