My BIG Bargain!

I did a little retail therapy on Sunday while my DH spent his afternoon helping to wash firetrucks and hose out the firehall. First stop was Joann's where I got a few cards of fancy buttons. I like to use them on my purses, but I do not like to pay more than $2 for them. I hit the JACKPOT with some really cute ones. They were originally $3 and $5 for 2 button cards. I got them on clearance for 50 cents!

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Next stop was Michaels were the above pictured items became mine. They are "older" sizzix alpha-bars. I am now the owner of Doodle block upper and lower case and Ransom alphas and numbers. If I had paid original retail price for them it would have cost $350.....Please take a seat when I tell you that I got them ALL for $32. Can you believe it???? I nearly can't!!!!

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Lots of new toys to play with! I am so excited!!

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Some one had a question about what kind of clocks I use to make the altered clocks and where to get them. They are from Wal-mart and are in the Home Furnishings area near the picture frames and lamps. They are a Wal-mart brand item, Mainstays or Hometrends and they are so inexpensive. They are usually $3.76 and come in white, black, navy, red and burgundy frame colors. From time to time other colors are available depending on the season. I just love being a salesperson for my store! LOL! I like to dry sponge brush mine with a little acrylic paint to make them a little bit weathered looking. They are battery operated and require one AA battery.

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If you look at the clock face you will see that the clear plastic cover just sits in the the frame and is held in place by two tabs at 12 and 6. Just slide a thin butterknife (one of my favorite scrappin' tools) in there and gently pry the clear cover off. Next remove the hands by pulling them up. (The butterknife may help here as well.) the face of the clock is just a printed paper. Pull it out carefully and use it as a pattern for your clock. Embellish it as you wish and put it back together in reverse of how we took it apart.

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Some tips that I picked up by trial and error. If you are going to use something lumpy (like buttons) for your number markers make sure that you sit them in from the edge slightly so that there is room for the clear cover to go back on. If you plan to put anything on the hands of the clock (like butterfly stickers) be sure that they are still able to pass over each other freely, otherwise they will get stuck at noon most of the time. Be sure to test it before you alter it, so that if it doesn't work you haven't wasted time and supplies only to have a great looking nonfuctioning clock. ( It IS, quite honestly only a $3 clock from Wal-mart that has probably traveled more miles to get to you than most people will travel in a lifetime, the trip may have killed it! Just take it back to your friendly Walmart and they will exchange it for a new one!) Take the battery out before mailing your clock, nothing raises eyebrows in a post office line like a ticking package.

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If you check out some of the galleries at Two Peas or Splitcoast Stampers and search for altered clocks you will find tons of great ideas for making clocks!

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Nineteen and a half hours til vacation! WOOOOHOOOO!

Take care!