On the Horizon... and why I Haven't Been Posting

As you may have noticed, my blog is quiet at the moment.... but this is very temporary. My daughter, and fellow Operation Christmas Child volunteer is leaving for college.... and with a quick visit to grandparents beforehand and the chaos and emotions that come with this huge life change, this blog has been put on the back burner for the moment, but... I wanted you to know what is coming up.


We have several events coming up in the next months including another craft event, a table at the Klamath Children's Ministry conference, and hopefully, a countdown event here in Klamath where you can come to get materials and motivation for Operation Christmas Child. Details will follow.

Crafting Party in Klamath was a BLESSING...

Thanks to those who attended... I hope to get pictures up soon but please be patient... I will be visiting my family and taking my daughter to college over the next two weeks.

I love meeting others who love Operation Christmas Child.... today I met a lovely young lady who takes it on herself to pack a LOT of boxes and even does a fundraiser to help fill them each year! Her family also came and helped... with a wide range of ages involved in the process. We also had some of my dear friends from Calvary Chapel come and craft as well. Loads of school supplies were decorated and (hopefully) fun was had by all.

I look forward to getting in ONE more crafting party in early October. Please watch here or on facebook for upcoming details.

Joy is Contagious... Share the Joy

I have shared this clip several times now... but it never grows old... and perhaps you haven't seen it yet. And note, he hasn't even OPENED the box yet.

Klamath Area OCC CRAFT EVENT Saturday, August 17, from 1-4

Hi all... we are going to have another craft day this weekend.... at Calvary Chapel Klamath Falls where we will do our crafting for the shoeboxes. All supplies will be there for you to use... just come and enjoy the fellowship, fun, and crafting! We will be decorating school supplies for the shoeboxes.

FREE FREE FREE AND 1 CENT DEALS AT STAPLES 8/11/13

This week at Staples there are some AMAZING deals...

Home Select Pocket Tissues $0.01
With Minimum $5.00 Purchase, Limit 6

Staples 1-Subject Notebook, 70 sheets $0.01
With Minimum $5.00 Purchase, Limit 6

Pilot Bottle2Pen Retractable Ballpoint Pens, 5 ct $5.29
Buy 1, Submit for $5.29 Easy Rebate, Limit 1
Pay $5.29, Submit for $5.29 Easy Rebate
Final Price: Free  

Staples Photo Plus 4″ x 6″ Gloss Paper, 60 ct $9.99
Buy 1, Submit for $6.99 Easy Rebate, Limit 4
Use $3.00/1 In-Ad Coupon, Limit one per customer
Pay $6.99, Submit for $6.99 Easy Rebate
Final Price: Free 

Hammermill Copy Plus Copy Paper $6.99
Buy 1, Submit for $5.99 Easy Rebate, Limit 2
Use $1.00/1 In-Ad Coupon, Limit one per customer
Pay $5.99, Submit for $5.99 Easy Rebate
Final Price: Free 

Staples Pastel 8.5″ x 11″ Colored Paper, 500 sheets $8.99
Buy 1, Submit for $5.99 Easy Rebate, Limit 4
Use $3.00/1 In-Ad Coupon, Limit one per customer
Pay $5.99, Submit for $5.99 Easy Rebate
Final Price: Free4

Not free or a penny but worth noting:

Staples Translucent Pencil Box $0.50
Limit 2
 
Pentel Hi-Polymer Erasers, 3 ct $0.50
Limit 2 

OCC at the Klamath County Fair

If you are in the Klamath Area, and you come to the fair... Operation Christmas Child has a booth there... stop by and say hi!!!

iHomeschool Network brings together Homeschoolers and Operation Christmas Child with the $10 Challenge!

Last year iHomeschool had a link up for OCC and this year they are doing it AGAIN... as a homeschooling mom myself I find this partnership of sorts VERY neat!

You can learn more at http://www.homeschoolcreations.net/2013/08/back-to-school-10-challenge-for-operation-christmas-child/ or around iHomeschool's network! I can't wait to see the linkup!

I am going to try to participate in the $10 challenge too! Sounds like fun! Great deals to be had right now! 

Walmart Clearance

Lots of clearance at Walmart right now... today I picked up $3 sundresses for girls and some fashion tank tops for women for $2. Jump ropes and recorders and other dollar aisle items are marked down too! Check out YOUR Walmart and share what you find.

Deals for the week of 8/4/13

RITE AID : Did you take advantage of the free toothbrushes last week? If so you have Up Rewards to use..... here are some possibilities:

Carmex Lip Balm, 0.15-0.35 oz $1.50 each, when you buy 3
Buy 3, Receive $3.00 +Up Reward, Limit 2
Final price 50 cents each

Conair Colorvibes Brush $2.99
Scunci Elastics $2.99
Buy 1, Receive $2.00 +Up Reward, Limit 4
Use $2.00/1 – Conair or Scunci Tool or Fashion Accessory, regularly $3.99 or higher – (adperk.com) if included 
Pay $0.99, Receive $2.00 +Up Reward
Final Price: $1.01 Moneymaker   or 99 cents each if no matching coupon

Crayola Chalks, 12 ct $0.49

WALMART 
17 cent notebooks
25 cent crayons or 50 cent for crayolas
Bic Cristal Pens, 10 ct $0.97, regular price
Use $1.00/1 Bic Stationery Product, Limit 4 like coupons per household per day from SS 8/4 (exp 9/15)
Final Price: $0.03 Moneymaker 

STAPLES
Staples Filler Paper 120 sheets $0.01 (with minimum $5 purchase, limit 5)
Bic Mechanical Pencils 5 pk. $0.25 ( with minimum $5 purchase, limit 2)

Westcott 5 inch scissors, 2/pack $1 Limit 2

Michael's Sales Event

Wooo hoooooo!!! I was at Michael's today and their huge clearance event is all SALES not clearance for the purpose of the coupons... so you can use the 20% off entire purchase to get additional discounts on the flip flops which are already 70% off! And MORE.. so check out your Michaels and see what they have!

http://weeklyad.michaels.com/coupons/

Crafting With Kids For Kids

I love to include handmade items in our shoeboxes..... I feel as though the child who receives it can feel the love and prayers that go with the shoebox. And I love to pack shoeboxes with children so that they can minister to another in a meaningful way. 

SO crafting with kids for the shoeboxes is a natural extension... but sometimes it can be challenging to find easy crafts that are worth including in the boxes. So I thought I would pull together a variety of ideas... this will be the first in a series of Kids Crafts.

http://athriftymom.com/diy-flower-pencil-money-saving-craft-for-kids/

 Or these pencil toppers which could be cute even if without arms...
http://www.craftberrybush.com/2010/08/pencil-pals.html

http://www.jeffgossministries.org/salvationbracelets.asp

The possibilities are endless for decorating notebooks.. with children have plenty of cut out shapes and stickers and simple embellishments ready to go... and you might want to start with the notebooks already covered in a paper.

http://herestohandyandy.blogspot.com/2012/11/personalized-notebooks.html

http://dollarstorecrafts.com/2012/05/tutorial-kid-art-necklace-for-mothers-day/

Shrinky dink, with kids artwork, made into a pendant or even cut into two and made into a pair of friendship bracelets. 

http://mamasmiles.com/fancy-shaker-eggs-version-two/

Egg shakers ... could be made with electrical tape as shown or perhaps strips of duct tape.. and could be filled with beads. Although beautiful clear, this could also be done with any color eggs and could even have 2 different colors of top and bottom mixed. And these could be decorated with stickers for extra fun.

Keep watching for MORE craft ideas for kids.