Hello, Clearance Racks!

So….have you seen all the clearance stuff at the stores lately?
Holy bargains batman!
I went to Target for some pickles, no I’m not preggers…just picky about my pickles….and I ended up sifting through rows and rows of 70% off awesomeness!

C’mon, 70% off!?!
Who can seriously pass that up? Those little red and white stickers over the original price that squeal “hello! I’m on sale. Don’t you want me?” (the answer is usually “yes!”)

And then I bring it home and my husband says, “do you mistake the word “sale” to mean “free”? Because they’re not the same.”

Whatever.

Regardless, the end of January and first of February are FANTASTIC times to stock up. I love to buy clothes one size too big for the kiddos. And use them next year.

And I LOVE to buy gifts.
Yep.

If you get a gift from me, and you think “my goodness you shouldn’t have. This is expensive!”
Guaranteed it wasn’t.

See, if I have a small stash of gifts on hand, I can give them out whenever I choose. And you don’t know any better. (shhh…..)

Another awesome thing you can do with clearance items is find something with a good “base”.
This little jacket is completely darling. And I needed it for my super cute niece. But I also wanted to give something that was more personal than “here’s a fleece jacket.”

It’s one of my favorite things to do for gifts.  Take something basic…make it personal.  (and possibly awesome!)

Once upon a time…when LCMF was a brand new baby….I showed you how I LOVE to customize little baby carriers.  If you saw that one….you are  LOYAL fan!

I know it’s a tried and true option, but nothing is as awesome as some mix-n-match flowers.  And they’re SO EASY.

• Start with a thin strip of material.  (keep in mind this one was for a 6 month old baby jacket, so these strips were maybe 1.5″)
• Tie a knot in one end and then start to wrap the material around that knot….while twisting the fabric just a bit.

I don’t recommend using hot glue for something that’s going to be worn.  Particularly by kids.  In fact I sewed up this bloom with upholstery thread.  It’s not BUDGING!

As you twist just sew through a few layers here and there.  So it stays in place.  There’s really no rules.  Just do it ’til you like it.

Don’t cut the thread when you’re done sewing….just sew it directly onto the garment.

Now that clearance jacket, is a one-of-a-kind gift.  And although my niece is ALREADY the cutest baby on the planet…..now she’ll be even cuter.

And don’t blame me if you go to Target for pickles and come out with amazingness at awesome prices.  You’ve been warned.

(for the record…Claussen sliced dills….in the refrigerated section….you’re welcome!)