Being Resourceful

A Savvy Shopper's Guide to Bargains, Deals, & Freebies

$3.99 custom name stamp & FREE shipping October 28, 2010

Yes, I’m a sucker for just about anything personalized, but this deal just screams “gifts!” to me! Just $3.99 and FREE shipping for a custom stamp? 7 colors to choose from and oodles of optional illustrations to add? Yes, this is part of this year’s teachers’ gifts from our household! (I just ordered 4 custom name stamps for a total of $15.96. You can apply this code to multiple stamps in one order!)

Step 1: Click here to create your ArtsCow account (free and easy to do) if you don’t already have one.

Step 2: Hop over to ArtsCow to create your custom self-inking rubber stamp for just $3.99 with FREE shipping. Choose from their pre-designed templates or create your own. Pick your color — red, purple, black, green, pink, yellow or blue.

Step 3: Enter code STAMPME at checkout and you’re all set!

Think outside the box here. You could really have your stamp say anything! Have a wedding coming up? How about creating a stamp to use on your wedding paper goods? Or perhaps, “Happy Birthday! Love, The Smith Family” or something like that?

Expires: Halloween! 10/31/2010

 

$4.99 for 8 custom photo coasters & FREE shipping! October 1, 2010

CoastersThe season of gatherings is quickly approaching and there’s no reason to get those hard-to-remove water stains on your furniture… or on the furniture of your hosts! Be a gracious guest and bring a hostess gift of 8 custom photo coasters. You’ll be well-remembered and invited back! These make a great holiday gift too. Order them now and stash them away for a couple of months from now.

Through Oct. 6th, you can get any 8 custom photo coasters for just $4.99 and FREE shipping from ArtsCow! Choose round, square, or heart-shaped, mix and match from the photos you upload, and feel free to get creative! This is a great time to upload some artistic photos and get artsy. Remember those photos of the spring wildflowers or the summer ocean at sunset? Use them! Even better, how about photos from last year’s Ugly Sweater Party! (They also have tons of pre-designed templates if you haven’t caught the creative bug today.)

Use code LOVEDRINKS at checkout to snag this deal.

Expires: October 6, 2010

 

$4.99 Custom Playing cards (& kids’ flash cards) – FREE SHIPPING September 7, 2010

zebra cardWhy do I post the deals on custom photo playing cards every time I see them? Because they’re an AWESOME gift! Really, I’ve bought these as gifts and they’re so much fun to give — and the gift recipient has a gift he or she can really use.  Even better, ArtsCow has come out with a ton of pre-made templates so you can think outside the [playing card] box and get creative! Circular cards, heart-shaped cards, cards with sayings on them, Memory Game cards, cards for playing dominoes, even flash cards for kids!

Hop over to ArtsCow to upload your photo and make your custom playing cards for just $4.99 and FREE SHIPPING today! Use code NEWPLCARDS by 9/21/2010 to snag this deal.

I think I’m going to make a set of playing cards using their new safari zebra cartoon design and a photo of my kiddos from one of our summer trips to the zoo. This will make a great resourceful gift to stash away for Christmas!

Expires: 9/21/2010

(Here’s the actual email I received with the deal info.)

 

$8.99 Magic Photo Cube (w/ FREE shipping!) August 9, 2010

magic photo cubeBack in my days of being a systems analyst, this was my FAVORITE desk-topping freebie that I received from one of our vendors… A magic cube! Seriously, this toy provided endless hours of fun when I’d need to walk someone through a long process on the phone. Of course, the magic cube that I had was plastered with the vendor’s logo, but I saw this custom magic photo cube and am jumping at the chance to order one with our family’s photos on it!

Regularly $14.99, you can design your own magic photo cube using 6 small and 3 large photos of your choosing (or pop your company’s logo on there if you so desire!) for just $8.99 and FREE shipping! Use code MAGICCUBE at checkout to snag this deal. (As a head’s up, the email I received from ArtsCow said I’d need to use Microsoft Silverlight software to design the cube, but when I log in to create my cube, it doesn’t look like any special software is needed.)

Here are some ideas for how to use this custom photo gift… Choose baby photos for that new mom or dad to take back to the office. Summer vacation photos. A recent birthday party — or one held years ago. A wedding-themed cube, perfect for a wedding gift or upcoming anniversary gift. A pet-themed cube. Really, anything!

This magic cube may be too delicate for the 5 & under crowd, but it is sure to be a big hit with the 6 & up folks!

Expires: 8/18/2010

 

$1.99 for 20 5″x7″ photo prints & FREE shipping July 20, 2010

ArtsCowI don’t know about you, but I’ve caught a bug… A redecorating bug! We’ve lived in this house for 4 years and the only room I haven’t worked on is our master bedroom. The walls are now freshly painted and begging for some decoration! With this deal, I’m one giant step — or 20 giant steps! — closer to being done!

Amazingly, you can get 20 (twenty!) 5″x7″ photo prints for just $1.99 with FREE shipping from ArtsCow if you act fast! This deal is limited to the first 3,000 orders. Use code 57PRINTS20 at checkout to snag this price.

I’m going to tinker around with Picasa to see how my photos look in black & white. I can already picture a newly decorated room!

Expires: 7/31/2010 or when they reach 3,000 orders — whichever happens first

 

$1.99 & FREE shipping for TWO custom handbag hangers July 13, 2010

Ok, so what’s a handbag hanger and why do I need one? Well, when you go out to dine, where does your handbag go? The back of your chair so that you can be pick-pocketed? Your lap so you can drop food on it? The floor so you can bring home who-knows-how-many icky germs?

Here’s the solution! You need a handbag hanger! ArtsCow’s “great bag hanger provides an easy way to hang your purse or handbag. The hanger folds into a disc shape and are the perfect size for carrying in your purse. Customize with your own personalized [photo or] logo (1 1/4″ in diameter), with enamel coating for long time protection.”

Normally $6.99 each plus shipping, use code HANGHOOK to get TWO for a total of $1.99 with FREE shipping!

Some ideas… Use photos of your kids to make gifts for their grandmothers! Use your company logo or a friend’s company’s logo for extremely inexpensive give-aways or gifts! Use a photo of your pet so Fluffy or Fido is always with you! Perhaps a photo of the sunset from your latest vacation to whisk you away to paradise!

Expires: July 16, 2010 or whenever the stock is depleted – whichever happens first

 

$8.99 & FREE shipping: custom photo flip-flops! June 7, 2010

This may be the coolest, most unique Father’s Day gift yet! Sure, your guy can wear flip-flops that look just like everyone else’s, but there’s no mistaking they’re his when his flip-flops are adorned with photos of loved ones, your latest vacation, or crazy (possibly embarrassing) pics from his wilder, younger years!

ArtsCow has men’s custom flip-flops for just $8.99/pair plus FREE SHIPPING through June 20, 2010 when you use code FDAY2010 at checkout.

They also have custom flip-flops for ladies and kids! For those, get 30% OFF when you use code DISCOUNT30P through June 7, 2010.

Expires: Men’s deal expires 6/20/2010 and the 30% off deal expires 6/7/2010

 

$1.99 & FREE shipping for custom photo notepad May 25, 2010

Father’s Day is coming up, and I’m all about resourceful, useful gifts! ArtsCow is making its foray into custom stationery goods, so here’s your chance to create a custom photo notepad (3.75×3.75″) for just $1.99 and FREE shipping!

This would look really cool on Dad’s desk at the office (or on my desk at home!), and would be a great way for him to remember his loved ones while checking off his to-do list. Hop on over to ArtsCow (click here) and use code MEMO199 at checkout. The photo to the left is just an example — the design options are only limited by your imagination!

Another great use for this deal? End-of-year teacher gifts!

Expires: 5/31/2010 and please note that due to anticipated levels of sale, the offer price will be limited to the first 100 memo pads per day due to production restrictions.

 

1,200 FREE 4×6″ photo prints April 1, 2010

You want to print those photos that have been lurking in the “to print” photo on your computer, but now there are so many… And you’d need to go get more photo printing paper and ink… What a pain! Save the trouble and take advantage of this deal for 1,200 FREE 4×6″ photo prints from ArtsCow.com! You’ll be able to use them as 150 FREE 4×6″ photo prints per month!

Here’s how to do it:

  1. Sign into your ArtsCow account by clicking here
  2. Within the My Account section, click into Credit & Discount
  3. Copy and paste code SPR10PRINTS and click validate
  4. Your new credits should now appear on the list

For their shipping rates, click here, then scroll down about half-way down the page to see the rates for 4×6″ prints. It varies based on how many you order.

Here’s a tip: Ship them directly to the person you’d give the prints to anyhow. Does Grandma live across the country? Why pay shipping twice? Send them directly to her!

Expires: The code is good for 8 months!

 

$2.99 Photo Playing Cards & FREE SHIPPING February 23, 2010

The next time you host poker night, wow the gang with your customized photo playing cards! Or order a deck as a really, really inexpensive gift. Is Grandma a whiz at Bridge? Maybe you know someone who just got married and you have a great pic from the festivities? Or perhaps you have a budding “Go Fish” player in the midst?

Order your own custom photo playing cards for just $2.99 and FREE shipping! Use code PLAY299CARDS on ArtsCow.com to secure this deal. Choose from their traditional rectangular cards, round cards, or heart-shaped cards.

Who says you have to use an actual photo? Your company’s logo or any other graphic you can create works well too!

Expires: February 28, 2010