Mail Call: Got It Free | June 2014

I don't know about you but I love not having to pay for things! Whether they're free items with a paid purchase, cool samples by mail, gift card rewards to redeem for whatever, or full-size products from consumer test panels just for sharing your opinions... I like them all! And these last couple of months I've found lots of awesome things online available for free!

Some freebies require more work than others, like taking surveys to earn points which you can later redeem for your favorite gift cards. But others are as easy as logging onto a website, filling out your mailing info, and requesting a free sample! I'm one of those people that loves to share my opinion, so I'm a part of numerous consumer test panels. I get to try lots of different products, and all I have to do is tell them what I think. It's definitely my favorite way to get free stuff! 

I spend every other day or so checking my favorite sample sites like Vonbeau or Raining Hot Coupons. It's where I get most of my goodies! They really have the best information for the latest available freebies. I also log into my test panel accounts daily to see my invitations to new campaigns. I'm fairly active on each of the test panels I'm enrolled in, so I get new invites constantly!

Here are some of My Links and where you can find me...

I keep a basket near my front door designated for the free stuff I get each month. If anything new comes, I just add it to the box. At the end of the month I go through my stash to see all of my awesome finds! I've decided to start sharing them here with you through this fun monthly series...

Here is what the postman delivered to my mailbox in the month of June:

MAGAZINES

Periodicals are such a great thing to get for free. Our household is currently subscribed to nearly 10 different magazines! But we only subscribe to the ones that we know we'll read. I archive our favorite titles [mine is allure!] which I use later for reference and others go into a pile that I use for different crafts and projects.

HEALTH & BEAUTY

These are definitely my favorite kind of freebies! I've gotten everything from personal hygiene items, hair and skin care, even full-size makeup products like lipstick and nail polish! A lot of these samples came from Vonbeau, brand pages on Facebook, Walmart & Target's sample sites, and my different consumer test panels.

FOOD & DRINK

Every so often there are some really cool food samples online, but there wasn't much that came this month. Since we consume Coke products pretty often [mostly Powerade!] we registered for a My Coke Rewards account. Each week I enter the codes found on the lid, and when I get enough points I redeem them for coupons of free Powerade.

Here's a sneak peek at all of the goodies I got in April & May:

FAVORITE FREEBIE SITES

Vonbeau

Raining Hot Coupons

Facebook Brand Pages

Walmart

Target

CONSUMER TEST PANELS

Influenster

BzzAgent

PINCHme

Smiley360

GIFT CARD REWARDS

Crowdtap

Swagbucks

Toluna

These are just some of my favorites places to get free stuff, but there are so many more that I haven't mentioned yet! I'll be doing more detailed posts in the future about different campaigns I've qualified for and the products I've received from various consumer test panels. Check out My Links if you're curious, and stay tuned if you want to know more!

I hope you enjoyed today's post and discovered something new along the way! You can stay updated on my recent posts, projects, and photos by following me on instagram, or by "liking" my fan page on Facebook. So why not head over there now and show some love...

Do you like getting free stuff? Any thoughts, questions, or comments about this post? I'd love to hear it! Your feedback is always welcome and much appreciated.

Thanks for stopping by!

Influenster: Spring Fling VoxBox | May 2014

Hello June! 

This year I've decided to step out of my Scrapbooking, Planning, and Crafting niche to pursue another passion... Beauty. Don't get me wrong! I love Project Life, my Filofaxes, and Crafts, and you'll see a few posts about them here and there. But I felt it was time for something new... a change. 

I wouldn't call myself a "Beauty Guru." I'm just someone who's passionate about beauty, makeup, and skincare. Through my blog I'll be sharing my thoughts and experiences about new products, revealing the goodies from my beauty boxes, and giving product reviews for the awesome free Test Panels that I'm a part of.

It's a new month, and soon Spring will become Summer. You know what that means? Plenty of sunshine! I don't know about you, but I change up my makeup and beauty care routine when the warm weather comes. Feel free to check out my Spring Beauty Must-Haves for 2014. Being given the chance to test out some new Spring products courtesy of Influenster, means that I'll definitely have some new favorites!

If you're not familiar with Influenster, it's a community of consumers who like to share their opinions and experiences about different products they use everyday. Certain Influensters qualify for exclusive programs where members receive complimentary products to test and review. All they ask is to share your thoughts and opinions with friends and followers on social media.

I became a member in April and qualified for the Spring Fling VoxBox in May. It's my very first box, and I'm super excited to try out all of these new, fun products! 

Here is what I received:

Playtex Sport Fresh Balance: $3.99-$4.99

I haven't had the chance to use these tampons yet, but based on what I've seen advertised on TV, they look like they will be great for active women needing extra protection. I'll be sure to update this post with my review when I get the chance to test them out.

Kiss Everlasting French Nails: $6.49

I can't wait to give these false nails a try! I'm normally a polish girl and haven't used press-on nails since high school almost 20 years ago. Since shying away from acrylic nails a while back, I like the idea of these store-bought, not-so-permanent French nails. The directions seem easy enough, and the inexpensive price tag (compared to an acrylic/gel set from a salon) means I won't be breaking the bank. I'll be sure to update this post with my review when I test them out.

Softlips Cube: $3.49

I've been a user of Softlips for over a decade, so when I saw this new 5-in-1 Lip Care Cube I was super excited to try it out! Since it has SPF 15, it's perfect for Spring and Summer. It nourishes and hydrates my extremely dry lips, and the Pomegranate Berry scent is fresh and lovely. I really like this product and will definitely purchase it when I run out! I think I found a new favorite...

Rimmel London Scandaleyes Retro Glam Mascara: $5.99

Since I'm currently working on a new tube of mascara already, I haven't yet had the chance to test out this one. I do love its "bold, wide-eyed, fanned-out volume" claims and am extremely tempted to use it with my current mascara. I will definitely update this post when I have the chance to test it out.

NIVEA Skin Firming Hydration Lotion: $2.49 for 2.5oz. / $10.99 for 13.5oz.

This product claims that in as little as 2 weeks you'll see firmer, more toned skin. I can't say that's true based on my own experience, since I haven't used it for two weeks. But I can say that the lightweight formula leaves my skin very hydrated and super soft. It also has a nice scent that isn't too strong or overpowering.

As you can see, Influenster is pretty awesome! I still can't believe that I received $25- worth of products for free. I hope you enjoyed my post and discovered a few new products along the way! You can find me at CLRoy2014 on Influenster. To see what I've been up to in my other Test Panel communities, check out all of my links here.

You can stay updated on my recent posts, projects, and photos by following me on instagram, or by "liking" my fan page on Facebook.

Are you an Influenster? Did you get a Spring Fling VoxBox too? Any thoughts, questions, or comments about this post? I'd love to hear it! Your feedback is always welcome and much appreciated.

Thanks for stopping by!

*I received these products complimentary from Influenster for testing purposes.

Christmas DIY: Traditions | 25-Books-in-December

Happy Holidays! Today I want to share a special project that our family started in 2012. Originally inspired by Pinterest, I added touches better suited to my style and our family. We loved it so much that it's definitely a tradition that we'll continue for years to come! It's such a simple project that any parent can put together... you and your child can share your love of reading together all month long! The best part... it's a great way to start a wonderful collection of books that your child can enjoy all year!

When it came to gathering books together for this project, and being the frugal mommy that I am, I tried to find the most inexpensive route. I rotate my daughter's book collection every six months, so I like to include some of those books for this project. They're almost like new to her, since it's been a while since she's seen that particular book.

I also frequent the local Goodwill often and make it a habit to scour the children's book section. You do have to thumb through each book to make sure the pages are all there, and that they aren't covered with crayon marks. But it's definitely worth the time and effort, because the prices of kids books are incredible! And on that rare occasion you may find something you weren't expecting!

Here is the stack of books that I'm using for this year's 25-Books-in-December...

When I mentioned earlier that sometimes you find something unexpected, this is what I was talking about! 90% of these books came from our local Goodwill. You can imagine how excited I was to find numerous Hawaiian books for $.50 a piece! It was a great way to build my daughter's Hawaiian book collection :) The other 10% of them are from family members and cousins that passed down their favorite books. They were put away until she was old enough to read them.

So don't think that you need to go out and buy ALL brand new books for this project! "Be Green" and buy secondhand, like I did :) If you're a book lover yourself, you'll find much joy in searching the thrift store's shelves for books to be treasured by your little ones. I absolutely love it!

Next comes another fun part...I don't know about you, but I love wrapping presents! It's one of my favorite things to do during Christmas time, so I treated this batch of books just like a stack of Christmas presents! I alternated between pretty printed wrapping paper and brown Kraft paper, and adorned each book with a handmade tag and white & gold twine.

My Silhouette Cameo named "Candy" [a gift from the hubs last Valentine's Day ;)] helped with the tags. Super simple... no cutting for me! I decorated each one with various washi tape and hand wrote the numbers with some of my favorite pens. Some gold and white twine wrapped around each book finishes my 25-Books-in-December.

Christmas DIY: Traditions | 25-Books-in-December

PROJECT IN ACTION: Here is a look at a favorite book from last week. This is such a fun tradition! We get to read together as a family or one-on-one, and discover new adventures each and every night. We look forward to putting on our favorite jammies and snuggling up together with a new book. At the end of the night, it goes into a basket under the Christmas tree with the rest of the books we opened, to be enjoyed any time.

That's all I have for you today. I hope you enjoyed my Christmas post! If you're looking for more DIY Holiday inspiration, check out my handmade Activity Advent Calendar. I have even more fun projects, ideas, and inspiration on my "Holidays" pinboard on pinterest! Are you documenting December? I'm doing a December Daily this year! I'll also be sharing more of my Christmas projects this month, so stay tuned!

You can stay updated on all of my recent posts, projects, and photos by following me on instagram or by "liking" my fan page on Facebook.

Do you share this family tradition? Have I inspired you to try it? Any thoughts, questions, or comments about this post? I'd love to hear it! Your feedback is always welcome and much appreciated.

Mahalo for stopping by!

Printables: December

Happy Holidays! It's about that time again.... for my monthly printables post! Last month was just a bit crazy and I didn't get the chance to write my November post, so I decided to combine it with December. In case you missed October's batch, you can find it here.

I first discovered free printables a year and a half ago when I was looking for fun stuff to add to my SMASH* book spreads. Over time I've incorporated them into all of my books because they are incredibly versatile! You will also see them in my Project Life album, handmade Daybooks, and even my Filofax planners.

Early 2013, I decided to share the knowledge I've learned from my printables adventures. So if you've never tried at-home printing or it's something you're curious about, I strongly urge you to read this post. You'll find lots of helpful hints and tips to get you started, including ways to save time and money doing it...

Every month I scour the internet for new free printables to add to my collection. November I was in search of Autumn and Thanksgiving themed journal and filler cards. This month I was looking for Christmas themed items for my December Daily album. Since I only do my printing once a month to save money, I also try to look for things that can be used in all of my books!

Now onto the good stuff....

THANKFUL

Top Left ----> Thanksgiving Cards & Elements from Simple as That

Top Right ----> Blessings Cards & Elements by Kristine Davidson

Bottom Left ----> Fall Colors & Autumn Journal Cards from Wee Share

Bottom Right ----> Thanksgiving Library Cards from Little Birdie Secrets

My printer was running low on colored ink when I printed out this batch of Autumn cards, so the colors on them are more pink than orange and brown as they should be. [I actually don't mind it one bit because pink is my favorite my color!] The elements from Simple as That got printed on Kraft cardstock for a totally different look. There are also a lot more Fall files from Wee Share that I didn't download and print. So be sure to browse the blog for more fun stuff!

HELLO DECEMBER

2013 December Daily Calendar from Stitch in Time

Christmas Subway Art by Eighteen25

Both the 6" x 8" Dec. calendar and subway art print are going into my December Daily album. They'll fit right into the full page pockets. The subway art print comes in a variety of colors, so choose one that will fit with your theme. You can also print it full size and add it to a frame for wall decor!

MERRY CARDS

Holiday Recipe Card from Reasons To Skip The Housework

Merry & Bright Cards by 36th Avenue

The reason I printed these is because I'm adding a recipe card to my December Daily album. Of course, you can also use it for Christmas recipes and stick it right into your recipe box. The Merry & Bright cards come in a set of 4, as well as an 8" x 10" print that you can frame. I'm using these cards as holiday decoration in my Filofax, and I also cut one down to 3" x 4" size for a filler card in my December Daily. You can even use them with your other holiday supplies to make pretty handmade Christmas cards!

JOURNAL CARDS

Top Left ----> Christmas Twist by Miss Tiina

Top Right ----> A Very Vintage Christmas from DDE

Bottom Left ----> Merry & Bright by Traci Bautista

Bottom Center ----> To-Go Cup from Scrapbook Printables

Bottom Right ----> It's Christmas & The North Pole by Suzy Q Scraps

I'm always on the lookout for fun journal cards to add to my collection, and these are perfect to use in this year's December Daily album! My favorite from this batch are the Christmas Twist cards by Miss Tiina. She's one of my favorite designers of free printables! Be sure to browse Scrapbook Printables blog too, because this month there are lots more goodies to print and download! I think this year the To-Go Cup cards have a new design...

FILLER CARDS

Holiday Cards by Becky Higgins

The Newborn King by My Fabuless Life

December Calendar Card by My Renvironment

Merry Everything by Secrets of a Modern Mama

Scrooge Quote from A Pop of Pretty

Grinch Quote via Pinterest

YUM by Trisha Grace

I love typography and like to use them as filler cards! They're perfect for filling up those extra pockets in Project Life or December Daily. A few of these, like the cards by Becky Higgins, the Dec. calendar card, and the YUM card were made for Project Life, and sized 3" x 4". The others were originally larger art prints that I resized to fit in the pockets of my December Daily album. 

With the Becky Higgins cards, I'm only showing the ones I printed to use in my album, but there are more designs that come in the set. The December calendar card comes in 4 colors, so choose one that works with your theme. And the Merry Everything card also has more designs, pick your favorite!

ELEMENTS

FA LA LA LA Set by My Digital Art Studio [on Facebook]

Merry Christmas Set by Heidi Swapp

Red Labels by iHanna

December Daily Numbers by Odrai

Every month when I search for free printables I try to include a batch of cool elements. Since I print once a month, I need my stuff to go the extra mile. These are definitely the most versatile pieces! I love using elements like this in my Filofax, and as embellishments on the cards and pages of my Project Life album and SMASH* books. I was extremely happy to find a set of numbers to use in my December Daily album, but my favorite are the fun tags by Heidi Swapp! Aren't they lovely?

[See how I use this fun stuff in my December Daily albums.]

I hope you enjoyed this month's printables post and found some new goodies along the way :) Be sure to check back next month for January's finds! If you're looking for more free printables, browse my "SMASH* & PL" and "Printables/Templates" pinboards on Pinterest. I also have lots more awesome stuff for December that I've printed since planning this post, so check out my "December Daily" pinboard to find them! There are even more free planner printables on my "Filofax Addict" pinboard! Have fun "pinning" away!

You can stay updated on my recent posts, projects, and photos by following me on instagram, or by "liking" my fan page on Facebook. So why not head over there now and show some love...

Do you like printables? How do you use them? Any thoughts, questions, or comments about this post? I'd love to hear it! Your feedback is always welcome and much appreciated!

Thanks for stopping by!

DIY: Handmade Yarn Wig

Happy Wednesday! I apologize for the little hiatus I took earlier this week. I just needed some time away from my blog and other social media outlets to recharge. Now I'm back and ready to play catch up with my usual blog posts. But today, I have a super fun DIY project for ya!

Last week was the start of the Holiday season with Halloween. I really love that my daughter adores all of the characters that I loved when I was her age. So you can imagine how excited she was when I found a Strawberry Shortcake costume for her. It's such an adorable outfit and I know she'll get more than one day's use of it since she loves to play dress-up, so I didn't mind paying $25- for it. But the one thing I couldn't see myself paying for was the $20 hot pink character wig!

I knew there had to be a better [and cheaper] solution to complete my daughter's Strawberry Shortcake costume. And being the crafty mama that I am, I find pleasure in making things myself. So I wracked my brain for ideas and thought that a ragdoll-like wig would be a great alternative. But how do I start? While scouring the internet for inspiration, I came across this post from A Beautiful Mess. How perfect!

So here is my DIY for a custom, handmade yarn wig....

SUPPLIES

Yarn: In your choice of color. [30" to 40" strands]

Embroidery Thread: In a complementing color.

Embroidery Needle

Felt Strip: In a complementing color. [8" - 10"x 2"]

Hair Comb [Optional]

Ruler

Scissors

Ribbon

*TIPS: The length of yarn I started at was around 40". A great length for an adult, not so much for a 4-year-old. 30" is perfect for a child's wig. For the felt, I used an 8" x 2" strip, which fits my daughter's head perfectly. 10" is a good size for adults.

NOTE: I decided to share my DIY in two-parts: How to Wrap Yarn & Sewing Your Wig. I'll be providing you with easy directions and helpful tips to make the whole process super simple.

-----------------------------------

HOW TO WRAP YARN

• 30" lengths of yarn produces a 15" wig when sewn in half. Find something around 15" or so to wrap the yarn around. Maybe a 15" length of sturdy cardboard, legs or arms of a chair [my choice], or even a metal baking sheet.
• Make sure the yarn is nice and taut (but not too tight) when you're wrapping.
• I found it easier to work in groups.
• Once you have a decent sized amount of yarn wrapped, grab a set of "loops" on one end, and cut the loops at the opposite end. 
• Slowly add the batches of yarn to your bundle. This is where the piece of ribbon comes in handy. Tied at the center of the lengths of yarn, it holds the bundle neatly together while you work.

SEWING YOUR WIG

• Lay your strip of felt vertically on a flat surface.
• Place your bundle of yarn (still secured with ribbon) horizontally across the strip of felt. Smooth out the strands by finger-combing. Make sure it is nice and centered before untying the ribbon.
• Arrange the yarn along the strip of felt, creating an even layer of "hair."

• Starting at the end closest to you, sew a backstitch right down the middle of the felt backing. The stitching acts as the center "part" of the wig. Be sure to make your stitching nice and tight! When you reach the other end, knot it off.

• This step is where you'll hand sew the hair comb near the front of the wig. It will help secure it to the hair. [I opted out of it since my daughter's costume has a hat. It holds the wig perfectly!]
• After your wig is done, place it on your [child's] head, and trim or cut to desired style. I cut my daughter's wig into layers, varying the length of sections by 1-2".

NOTE: I was originally going to style this wig with large bouncy curls to mimic Strawberry Shortcake's hairdo, but was unable to do that. I searched the net for ways to easily stiffen yarn but the hairspray option I chose didn't work. I think I'll try the diluted glue tip on the next wig I make. If it worked for you, please let me know!

What I love most about this project is how it was such a simple and inexpensive solution to a costume wig. And being able to customize it for any costume is fabulous! My munchkin is already asking for a red Jessie [from Toy Story] wig for next Halloween ;)

I hope you enjoyed today's post! If you're looking for more crafty fun, be sure to check out my other DIYs! You can stay updated on my recent posts, projects, and photos by following me on instagram, or by "liking" my new fan page on Facebook.

Thanks for stopping by!

Printables: October

Happy Monday! With October coming close to an end, I thought it's about that time again for my monthly Printables post! In case you missed September's batch, you can find it here. I originally started using free printables over a year ago for my SMASH* books. Over time, I've incorporated them into all of my books. My Project Life album, handmade Daybooks, even my Filofax organizers.

If the whole "Printables" thing is new to you, or it's something you've been meaning to look into, I strongly urge you to read this post. You'll find lots of helpful tips and tricks for at-home printing, including ways to save time and money doing it...

Every month I'm on the lookout for new free printables to add to my collection. In October, it's journal & filler cards, along with fun elements I can use in my books. Since I only print once a month, I need my stuff to go the extra mile... the versatility of the printables I use helps with that.

Now onto the goodies....

CUSTOMIZED NOTECARDS

Printables: OCT | Editable Notecards

Hello Notecards by Benign Objects

Striped Notecards by Jenny Bevlin

These cards could be used for anything. Journal cards for Project Life or notecards for penpal letters. I'll be using these as paper for my A5 Filofax planner. [Just punch holes!] Hence the, "I'm a Filofax Addict." It'll be a fun place for important notes, favorite quotes, a checklist. Anything.

PROJECT LIFE CARDS & ELEMENTS

Printables: OCT | Journalers. Fillers. Elements.

[Top Left] Watercolor Accents by Michelle Yuen

[Top Right] What About Me? by Kristine Davidson

[Bottom Left] As Seen on Pinterest by September Blue

Pinterest Journal Card by Pam Middlebrooks

[Bottom Center] The Inspired Collection from Sweet Rose Studio

[Bottom Right] Pink & Gray Life Cards by Wee Share

I'm always restocking my supply of Project Life cards. I love the fun and colorful designs and styles available! A lot of the stuff I found this month had little elements as part of the collection. They're so versatile... try using 'em in different books! The Watercolor set has circle tags & labels, and prompt cards for journaling. The What About Me collection has cards, washi, flair, banners, and label sentiments. I even found some Pinterest cards!

TYPOGRAPHY

Printables: OCT | Typography & Quote Cards

[FROM LEFT to RIGHT]

Smile Quote from LiveLaughRowe

Beautiful Life Quote via Pinterest

Little Fighter Quote via tumblr

Inspire Quote by Ashley Ella

None of my books or projects would be complete without quote cards and typography. Each with their own special message. I print them as 4x6 or 3x4 [shown here] and tuck them into Project Life pockets, add them to my Filofaxes for inspiration, or as an element on a SMASH* spread. Be creative! [Tip: I used a small corner punch on these cards.]

VINTAGE GLAM STUDIO

Printables: OCT | Designer - Vintage Glam Studio

The Blues Journaling Elements

Air Mail Journaling Elements

Vintage Office Supply Journaling Elements

Each month I like to feature a new favorite designer. I recently came across Vintage Glam Studio... and fell in love. The style of VGS is sweet and whimsical. Shown here are just a few of the designs, but there are still about a dozen more left to print! Each of these sets come with 4 fun journal cards and a various mix of elements. From banners and washi tape to flair, flags, and labels. The cards are great for PL, and the little elements would be perfect for planners or SMASHing. I know how I'll be using mine! I highly recommend browsing Vintage Glam's blog. There are so many wonderful things to be discovered!

Printables: OCTOBER

I hope you enjoyed this month's printables post and found some new goodies along the way! Be sure to check back next month to see November's finds! If you're looking for more free printables, be sure to check out my "SMASH* & PL" or "Printables/Templates" pinboards on Pinterest. I even have some awesome printable planner freebies on my "Filofax Addict" board! Check 'em out! Remember to follow those boards because I find new stuff daily!

You can stay updated on my recent posts, projects, and photos by following me on instagram, or by "liking" my new fan page on Facebook. So why not head over there now and show some love...

Do you like printables? How do you use them? Any thoughts, questions, or comments about this post? Please let me know. Your feedback is always welcome and much appreciated!

Thanks for stopping by!

Green Clean: DIY Stain Remover

Happy Aloha Friday! I hope you enjoyed your week :) It's been pretty busy in our household with the holidays right around the corner, as well as all of the planning I've been doing for my blog. I have lots of fun stuff coming up, so stay tuned! I noticed that it's been a very long time since I've done a "Green" post... and based on the statistics of my blog, they are some of my most popular articles to date!

Dishwasher Detergent DIY

Laundry Detergent DIY

Fabric Softener DIY

Today I have another homemade favorite from my "Green Clean" arsenal. It's about time to restock my Stain Remover supply, making this the perfect opportunity to share my recipe. Originally inspired by photos from Pinterest, I decided to try it out for myself. I've been using this for over a year now and it still surprises me with the things it can get out... having a 4 year old, and all ;) With about 95% of my household cleaners being homemade and natural, I have no plans on ever switching back to store-bought chemical products. This one does the job, is very inexpensive to make, and consists of ingredients I know. We love being Green.

SUPPLIES

1 Part Dawn

2 Parts Hydrogen Peroxide

Spray Bottle

Note: I used my Silhouette Cameo to cut a vinyl label.

First add the Dawn dish detergent. [Note: The other recipes I came across used the blue Dawn. Since I don't notice a difference between the type of Dawn being used, I went with my favorite... plus it was what I had on hand! The Hawaiian scent is heavenly...]

Over time, instead of measuring, I just eyeball the ingredients. Homemade recipes are so great because making adjustments is super simple. My bottle has measurements on the side which is very handy.

Next you add the peroxide. Again, I just eyeballed it, pouring about double the amount I used for Dawn.

I slowly added more Dawn and more peroxide to get a good amount of solution. This small batch will hold me over for about 6 months. Adding large amounts of each ingredient will give you a full bottle!

You are done! Wasn't that easy? Just give the bottle a good mix before each use, but don't shake it too vigorously or you'll end up with a soapy mess. Spray on carpets, upholstery, and clothing to remove tough stains.

*TIP: Perform a spot test on your item first, as the peroxide may cause lightening.

Don't forget to check out my other "Green Clean" DIY's that I linked at the top of this post! If you're looking for more natural homemade recipes, browse my "Earth Mama" pinboard on Pinterest! You'll find lots of inspiration for making that small step to becoming a Green household.

You can stay updated on my recent posts, projects, and photos by following me on instagram, or by "liking" my new fan page on Facebook. So why not head over there now and show some love...

Are you Green family? Do you make your own cleaners too? What motivated you? Tried this recipe? I'd love to hear about it! Any thoughts, question, or comments about this post? Please drop me a line. Your feedback is always welcome and much appreciated!

Thanks for stopping by!

Printables: September

Hello :) It's about that time again for my favorite monthly post... Printables! And I have a great batch to share with you today! In case you missed last month's post, you can find it here. Or feel free to check out all of my "Printables" posts! There are plenty of fabulous things to be found...

If you are familiar with my blog, you know I'm obsessed with printables. I use them in all of my books. From my SMASH* & Daybooks to Project Life and my Filofax! I take full advantage of all the wonderful freebies floating around on the internet! If you aren't familiar with printables, or it's something that you have been meaning to look into, I strongly urge you to read this post. You'll find helpful hints and tips for at-home printing as well as simple ways to save money doing it!

Each month I'm on the lookout for specific cards and printables to add to my collection. It was all about Filofax freebies last month, but today I'll be sharing some awesome finds that can be used in all of your books!

I was running low on ink, but at the same time I needed more filler and journal cards to restock both sizes in my stash. So this month I decided to scour the internet for some cool black & white cards and printables. Not only did I find some fabulous stuff, but I was also able to save colored ink by printing those files as "Black Ink Only." But since I am a colorful person, I had to add pops of color in there too! I did that with some fun elements and word art. Now onto the goodies...

BLACK & WHITE

Printables: September | Black & White

Set 1 [Far Left]: 3x4 Project Life Cards by Just Izzy

Set 2 [Center]: Chalkboard Life Cards by My Thoughts Exactly

Set 3 [Far Right]: Black & White by KLDezign

I specifically chose these cards to use in my Project Life album. There was such a great mix of journalers and fillers! I didn't print any, but the Just Izzy cards also has some 4x6 designs in this set available for free download. I really love the Chalkboard cards though, and decided to print out both sizes available. I also printed out some of the sets on Kraft cardstock for a totally different look. The black ink really pops! Have you tried a using a white gel pen on Kraft paper? It's one of my favorite techniques and looks amazing! If you are really dying for some color, you can easily add it using colorful ink and pens to journal with, or even through embellishments. 

MISS TIINA

Printables: September | by Miss Tiina

Top: Good Life Collection

Bottom Left: Good Life Journal Cards

Bottom Right: Any Day Journal Cards

Miss Tiina was the designer that started my free printables obsession over a year ago. I'm a huge fan of her designs and own and use all of her freebies! My favorite stuff is definitely her "collections." She has a few different ones, each consisting of various styles of cards in both 4x6 and 3x4 sizes. This particular black and white collection has 90 individual cards with simple designs and styles. There are cards with grid backgrounds, quotes, lists, writing prompts, word art, lined journalers, and fun fillers. Then she added even more cards like the Good Life and Any Day journal cards that complement the collection. I went ahead and printed one of those sets on Kraft cardstock too!

TYPOGRAPHY

Printables: September | Typography

"Someday" Quote via tumblr

"Dr. Seuss" Quote via Pinterest

"LOVE" Word Art by Nina Hunter

"Kindness" Quote via tumblr

"Life is like..." via Pinterest

"A Positive Life" Quote [#20] from VictorStuff

"Love is Simple" Wallpaper by SonyCY

"Witty Word Art" Poster from M.M.M.

"Roald Dahl" Quote by Kensie Kate

I added some color to this month's B&W batch with these awesome cards! I've always had a passion for signage, word art posters, quotes, and typography... even as a kid. It's something that I'm happy to carry into my crafting! I love using these types of cards in my books. You can find the smaller cards in my SMASH* books and Project Life album... even in my personal Filofax for inspiration. The larger 4x6 cards are perfect for PL, and I'm even using a couple to decorate the dividers in my new A5 Original Filofax. I hope you enjoy the ones I chose to feature this month...

FLAIR & STAMPS

Printables: September | Fun Embellishments

"Pen Pals Postage Stamps" by Sheri McCulley

"Heidi Swapp Flair" by Lorrie Nunemaker

"Flair Badges" by Lorri Nunemaker

I saved my favorite finds of the month for last. Don't you absolutely love these little embellishments?! Because I sure do! The artwork on the pen pal stamps is absolutely adorable. Each one has a different design for a specific country. I'm going to have so much fun with these when I write my next batch of letters :) I think the recipient will enjoy it too! 

And you wouldn't believe how happy I was to find these fabulous flair! I may have been running low on colored-ink, but printing out these little babies didn't take much at all. After each sheet was done, I used my super handy 1" circle punch by EK Success to punch out each piece. I ended up with a ginormous stack of flair! I like to use them as-is to decorate my Filofax, SMASH* book, and Project Life cards, since it doesn't add too much bulk. But you could easily turn these into real flair buttons, or just add some 1" clear epoxy circle stickers for dimension. Have fun with 'em!

Printables: September | A Batch of Yummy Goodness

That's all I have for you :) I really hope you enjoyed this month's printables post and found a few new goodies along the way! Don't forget to browse my other "Printables" posts for more links to other great freebies. And you can find even more fabulous free printables on my "SMASH* & PL" or "Printables/Templates" pinboards on Pinterest! Be sure to follow those boards because I find new stuff daily!

Check back next month for another printables adventure! You can also stay updated on my recent posts, projects, and photos by following me on instagram, or by "liking" my new fan page on Facebook. So why not head over there now and show some love...

Are you obsessed with printables too? What do you use them for? Any thoughts, questions, or comments about this post? Please let me know. Your feedback is always welcome and much appreciated!

Thank you for stopping by!