Leonie's Craft Foray to the US - 8-18th April

[LeonieM]

I thought I'd set up my own little Florida craft shopping thread now!

I am more than happy to take orders for ribbons and stuff. Going on past trips to Wal-Mart and Michaels, you can buy 5-yard reels of organza ribbon and 10-yard reels of satin ribbon for only $1 a reel!! Yes, folks, that's 50p for 5 yards/10 yards of 6mm/7mm wide ribbon!!! That's the perfect width for ribbon weavig and wrapping round cards.

They also do countless reels of all sorts of fancy ribbons, in all widths, colours and designs, for less than half the price we have to pay here! Obviously I can't show pictures of these unless I take my camera into the shops with me - which I don't think will make me very popular!

I can't offer to bring back papers, unfortunately, due to the sheer weight of them! It wouldn't be financially viable by the time I'd added the postage.

However, I am more than happy to bring back anything light for people - especially items that are very difficult to source here and aren't financially viable for ordering from American sites due to the P&P costs.

Please let me know if you're interested in anything, and we can take it further.

[jilly]

Hi Leonie we go to Florida in November and i'm already planning what i need & want, :rolleyes:I've heard about how cheap craft items are in Wal-mart so we will be having a look there as well as mouse memories:)

[LorraineJ]

Don't know how heavy they would be, but I am intrigued by the ribbon holders you can get on US scrapbooking sites. What puts me off ordering is that the P&P charges would be greater than the item.

[LeonieM]

If you've got a link for me, I'll have a look. I won't know what I'm looking for, otherwise!

[LorraineJ]

Hi Leonie,

Unfortunately I can't find again exactly what I had in mind, I was trawling through and came across it and thought "wow but by the time you have added on import costs its not cheap".

What I have found is smaller and should hold about 30 ribbons

http://www.orientaltrading.com/application?origin=page.jsp&namespace=browse&event=link.itemDetails&categoryId=377320&BP=330&cm_mmc=Shopping.com-_-datafeed-_-datafeed-_-datafeed&sku=65/85172

I can't quite see how they are supposed to snap together though.

[LeonieM]

Lookie what I found!!!

http://www.michaels.com/art/online/displayProductPage?productNum=sb0548&channelid=

I wonder how much it is ....

[LeonieM]

Hi Leonie,

Unfortunately I can't find again exactly what I had in mind, I was trawling through and came across it and thought "wow but by the time you have added on import costs its not cheap".

What I have found is smaller and should hold about 30 ribbons

http://www.orientaltrading.com/application?origin=page.jsp&namespace=browse&event=link.itemDetails&categoryId=377320&BP=330&cm_mmc=Shopping.com-_-datafeed-_-datafeed-_-datafeed&sku=65/85172

I can't quite see how they are supposed to snap together though.

That's very interesting. How do you stop your ribbons getting knotted together, though? If you have 1 yard lengths, then that wouldn't be so bad, but a 10-yard reel de-carded might be a problem.

[LorraineJ]

Lookie what I found!!!

http://www.michaels.com/art/online/displayProductPage?productNum=sb0548&channelid=

I wonder how much it is ....

I think thats possibly the same range as StampTup do (US based)and you have to wind the spools on yourself. Who knows, the Florida Michaels may have them - hint, hint!

[LorraineJ]

That's very interesting. How do you stop your ribbons getting knotted together, though? If you have 1 yard lengths, then that wouldn't be so bad, but a 10-yard reel de-carded might be a problem.

I agree, by the look of the picture, it does look as if its for small amounts of different ribbons only, as otherwise as you say they will tangle.

[LeonieM]

Woo hoo! First batch of gorgeous bargains snapped up at Wal-Mart today.

Get this - a full Colorbok scrapbook and accessories in stand - $50 of value for $14.97.

A 'Chipboard Cube' with 67 chipboard punch out sheets, about 4" square. This agains was something stupid like $7 - but I need to see the receipt to confirm.

I also bought loads of ribbons in varying lengths/colours/finishes ranging from 50c for 4 feet to 3 yards for 99c.

Pics will follow when we've got the wifi internet connection working - I can't download photos onto the PC here, obviously!

We've got a Michaels only a couple of miles away, and I'm really looking forward to investigating that.

[corrine]

Sounds lovely, I'm so jealous. Sounds like you're having a great time already:)

[LeonieM]

Here's my scrapbook kit! Not bad for £7.50!!!

[Bagpuss]

Great VFM Leonie! Hope you are having a good time - hey you know me - any cat stuff (NOT pink tho) I would love it!

[corrine]

What great value - I definitely have to arrange a holiday to the States sometime

[CraftyGal]

Wow Leonie that looks fab - so bright and funky. I've never wanted to visit the US but now I do lol.

Lisa x

[jilly]

What great buys i hope when i go over later in the year i'm as lucky :)

[celfyddydau]

I went to the states a few years ago, before I was as heavily involved with crafting and found a craft shop on my travels. Loved it but I had far to much I wanted to do and see that I just didn't have time for shopping.

[LeonieM]

That's fine in theory, Celfy, but you need 'down' days between park visits because you'd burn out very quickly.

We went to Epcot yesterday and were there from 10am to 9pm. I have a pain in my left thigh and a painful blister on the ball of my right foot - and that's with my Birkis!

Today we've got the Princess & Pirates party at Magic Kingdom (7pm until midnight, but we can go in from 4.30pm onwards) so we're having an easy day after yesterday. This morning after a leisurely start we'll be going back to Wal-Mart to pick up some more food essentials and then on to a new mall called The Loop - where there's a Michaels! I don't know how big this one is, mind you. I also found a Jo-Anns up the road the other way - another craft shop. I don't know whether it's needle crafts only, but I will also need to investigate what they've got in there.

But, very important is stuff that we really need to buy and missed before. Crocs, which can be £40 over in England are so much cheaper here. I mean, if you can buy Disney Crocs for under $39 how much are the plain ones going to be???

[LorraineJ]

That's fine in theory, Celfy, but you need 'down' days between park visits because you'd burn out very quickly.

We went to Epcot yesterday and were there from 10am to 9pm. I have a pain in my left thigh and a painful blister on the ball of my right foot - and that's with my Birkis!

Today we've got the Princess & Pirates party at Magic Kingdom (7pm until midnight, but we can go in from 4.30pm onwards) so we're having an easy day after yesterday. This morning after a leisurely start we'll be going back to Wal-Mart to pick up some more food essentials and then on to a new mall called The Loop - where there's a Michaels! I don't know how big this one is, mind you. I also found a Jo-Anns up the road the other way - another craft shop. I don't know whether it's needle crafts only, but I will also need to investigate what they've got in there.

But, very important is stuff that we really need to buy and missed before. Crocs, which can be £40 over in England are so much cheaper here. I mean, if you can buy Disney Crocs for under $39 how much are the plain ones going to be???

In Tenerife last year we saw authentic crocs for £20-25 and cheap rubbishy copies for about £6. Didn't buy as we had crocs already, jolly comfy though.

[Amanda]

Leonie.... sorry i am being lazy, and not looking back to see where you are on hols, so where are you? I can point you in the direction on a couple of FAB shops if you are in Florida!

Amanda

[LeonieM]

We went to Jo-Anns today. It has slightly different stuff to Michaels, but is slightly more expensive for a lot of things.

The other day at Michaels I bought a couple of really good quality 12" plastic boxes with hinged lids a good 2" deep - should have been $8.99 each - Michaels had 40% off at the till. You couldn't buy a big good quality box like that in the UK for under £3!!

I bought lots of lovely ribbons, too.

Lorraine, they have the ribbon boxes that hold the spools. They're $9.99 each (£5). However, next week Michaels are doing a 50% off everything offer!!! Guess where I'm going in a couple of days! I want to buy some Cuttlebug and Sizzix dies!! I haven't seen the other kind of ribbon container you told me about.

[LorraineJ]

We went to Jo-Anns today. It has slightly different stuff to Michaels, but is slightly more expensive for a lot of things.

The other day at Michaels I bought a couple of really good quality 12" plastic boxes with hinged lids a good 2" deep - should have been $8.99 each - Michaels had 40% off at the till. You couldn't buy a big good quality box like that in the UK for under £3!!

I bought lots of lovely ribbons, too.

Lorraine, they have the ribbon boxes that hold the spools. They're $9.99 each (£5). However, next week Michaels are doing a 50% off everything offer!!! Guess where I'm going in a couple of days! I want to buy some Cuttlebug and Sizzix dies!! I haven't seen the other kind of ribbon container you told me about.

Hi Leonie

I'd be interested in the Michaels boxes at £2.50 each, as I do have some ribbon that have never come off the spools but am always interested in more!! If you haven't come across the other sort, don't worry, you don't want to spend your precious holiday searching.

On the subject of the Cuttlebug dies, I'd be very interested in the Cuttlebug embossing folders of Happy Birthday, writing, music (think its called Allegro) and the swirls, as they have to be cheaper than £3.99, which I have seen them for here (they are much bigger by the way about C6 size)

[LorraineJ]

Well done on your hinged boxes, good price and exactly what you are looking for. I would suspect they would be too heavy to bring back, but have you seen any Cuttlebug storage wallets for the dies, as they are a horrendous price and hard to come by over here.

[LeonieM]

Can't remember, tbh. I have seen various storage solutions for CB, Cricut and Sizzix stuff, but as I don't have a Cuttlebug obviously I didn't really look at that stuff.

I'll keep you posted.

[LorraineJ]

Can't remember, tbh. I have seen various storage solutions for CB, Cricut and Sizzix stuff, but as I don't have a Cuttlebug obviously I didn't really look at that stuff.

I'll keep you posted.

Thank you Leonie. Are you doing anything nice today or are you having a break? (sorry am I right in thinking you are about 4 hours behind us, so its around 11 am?).

[LeonieM]

Bad news! I found the voucher, and it's for one item only! Sorry 'bout that.

Jo-Anns were doing Sissix on 40% off - I will look there to see if they've got any Cuttlebug offers.

[LorraineJ]

Bad news! I found the voucher, and it's for one item only! Sorry 'bout that.

Jo-Anns were doing Sissix on 40% off - I will look there to see if they've got any Cuttlebug offers.

Never mind.

Thank you.

[LeonieM]

Just got back from our probably final trip to Wal-Marts (which we stopped off at on the way back from dinner tonight).

I bought 9 reels of 1/8th satin ribbon - for (wait for it) 44c for 10 yards! Think about it - 2.2p a yard!!

[LorraineJ]

Just got back from our probably final trip to Wal-Marts (which we stopped off at on the way back from dinner tonight).

I bought 9 reels of 1/8th satin ribbon - for (wait for it) 44c for 10 yards! Think about it - 2.2p a yard!!

Thats an unbelievable price.

[CraftyGal]

How many suitcase are you going to be fetching back Leonie? ;)

Lisa x

[LeonieM]

Actually, the pile of stuff I have looks horrendous, but the two plastic paper cases are obviously empty. I shall pack both of them with clothes so that if the cases get bashed about they won't get smashed - but that way they'll take up minimal room in the case. The vinyl 12" pockets are soft and will pack down. The only big item is the scrapbook in stand I bought.

As we have 4 suitcases, all of which came out seriously underweight, I'm sure we'll be fine. Honest!

If not, I'll just go out tonight (oh isn't it wonderful that the shops are open all the time) and buy a small extra bag to pack the overflow into.

I looked longingly at the trolley craft caddies you can buy as they're much, much cheaper here - but I wouldn't trust all the inserts to survive the hold (I'd have to check a caddy as it's clearly too big to go in the overhead locker).

[Bagpuss]

I would love a wheeled trolley! Great offer on ebay US yesterday for $39.99 on a buy it now - came with two other bags as well but of course could not be posted to UK - although she did offer to post to a US address if someone would bring it back for me - luckily I did not know where you were staying LOL!

[LorraineJ]

I would love a wheeled trolley! Great offer on ebay US yesterday for $39.99 on a buy it now - came with two other bags as well but of course could not be posted to UK - although she did offer to post to a US address if someone would bring it back for me - luckily I did not know where you were staying LOL!

Bit of a shame that.

I think Leonie travels home tomorrow

[Bagpuss]

Sounds like it! Somehow I don't think she would have been too pleased if a parcel had turned up for me tho for her to bring back :lol:!

[LeonieM]

Went back to Jo-Anns today. I bought - wait for it -

* 12 reels of 1/8th inch ribbon at 4 for a dollar, ie 25c a reel, 10 yards per reel

* 10 reels of 1/4 inch organza ribbon, at $1.99 each, 15 yards per reel

* 1 reel of 3/8th inch rainbow satin ribbon for $2.79, only 12 feet on this, but it's special

* 1 reel of 18mm white satin ribbon printed with "I [heart] my cat", again $2.79 for 12 feet but again it's special

* 1 set of 4 Sizzix 'Sizzlits' dies in brush stroke square, heart, star and circle $11.99 in their sale

* 1 single 'Sizzlits' die in the hearts, paisley design $2.99 in the sale

* 1 pair of 13" long cutting plates for my Tag-a-Long for $4.79 in the sale

* 1 Cuttlebug embossing folder 'Spots and Dots' costing - wait for it $2.50 in their sale. This will go to a certain relation of mine ...

* 1 2-way glue pen $2.39 in the sale

When I went there last week I bought a spare pair of standard cutting plates which cost $1.99 in the sale. You can't buy them under £3 in the UK!!

I was oggling some gorgeous wheeled totes - some in the sale for only $34.99. Trouble is, as I've already said, they're far to big to go on as hand luggage, and I wouldn't trust them to arrive in one piece if they went in the hold as checked luggage.

[qh0971]

I Passed ........

[LeonieM]

It didn't all fit; we popped down to Wal-Mart and bought a pull-along wheelie bag which I've put the washing and shoes into, as well as other bits and pieces.

I found some more crafting stuff I bought and forgot about! lol

More ribbons, a scrap pack of K&Co papers and a pack of 12" insert pages for under $5 for the 10.

I will finish packing in the morning when we've finished with today's clothes and our nightclothes and toiletries.

This is always the part of the holiday I hate ...

[Bagpuss]

You should have got a craft trolley rather than a wheeled one Leonie to carry all the craft stuff in LOL!

[samsq]

Leonie - I've so enjoyed hearing your holiday purchase news. It makes me want to hop on a plane and grab a few bargains myself!

[LeonieM]

I'm back - and we're sort of awake! lol After stopping off at Waitrose on the way past to get bread, milk and a copy of the Radio Times, we came home and went straight to bed. I've just got up. I feel that I could still sleep more, but having had nearly 5 hours' sleep already any more and we won't sleep tonight.

I can't wait to unpack all my goodies - and check that the two large boxes have made it across the Atlantic in one piece. The suitcase that one of them is in has a large dent in the moulded plastic at the top, and I do hope the contents are okay ...

[LorraineJ]

I'm back - and we're sort of awake! lol After stopping off at Waitrose on the way past to get bread, milk and a copy of the Radio Times, we came home and went straight to bed. I've just got up. I feel that I could still sleep more, but having had nearly 5 hours' sleep already any more and we won't sleep tonight.

I can't wait to unpack all my goodies - and check that the two large boxes have made it across the Atlantic in one piece. The suitcase that one of them is in has a large dent in the moulded plastic at the top, and I do hope the contents are okay ...

Glad you are back safe and sound, hope all your goodies are OK.

[Bagpuss]

Glad you are back safe and sound and if the airline have damaged the case you can claim for it from them just contact them.

[LeonieM]

I haven't unpacked - but I have taken all my craft goodies ut of the various cases. Yes, they are all fine too.

[LorraineJ]

I haven't unpacked - but I have taken all my craft goodies ut of the various cases. Yes, they are all fine too.

Thats good.

[LeonieM]

I am going to line all my ribbon spools and cards up and photograph them so you can see the huge stash I bought! The question is, how on earth do I store over 30 spools of ribbon?? Previously I've taken them off the spools and stored them in a sectioned box, but I have so many now ...

[LeonieM]

Here we go - bottom row are the 3mm satins, next row left are the organza (called organdy in the US), and on the right of that row are the specials. Top left are 6 reversable carded ribbons, and there are a couple of tiny rolls of 'Argyle' ribbon in the top right.

[LorraineJ]

Here we go - bottom row are the 3mm satins, next row left are the organza (called organdy in the US), and on the right of that row are the specials. Top left are 6 reversable carded ribbons, and there are a couple of tiny rolls of 'Argyle' ribbon in the top right.

Some lovely colours there, where on earth are you going to put them?

[spurs]

Leonie,
Welcome back to the uk, glad you had a wonderful time. We went last year and I had a buy up of goodies. Your stash looks great, I want to go . Aren't the prices incredible compared to the uk.

[samsq]

Welcome home Leonie:)

[Bagpuss]

Lovely ribbons Leonie - love the paw print one!

[LorraineJ]

My favourite is the purple spotted one, top right

[BetteK]

WOW! What fabulous ribbons ... I LOVE ribbon but find it such a pain to store.

Only yesterday I transferred all my ribbons from one box to another larger one as they were in such a tangle and it drives me potty trying to find what I want ... it still drives me potty but at least I have more room now to rummage through the box.

Each time I put my box away I say to myself that I will sit and wind each length onto card or something but, of course, never quite get around to it.

I did sit once and put all the different colours into separate bags but that didn't work because on a major-crafting-day I was too impatient to put them all back properly ... quite odd really as I am a very tidy crafter and normally make sure everything is in its place. Might just tackle that box today whilst I am thinking about it.

Or maybe not.

Debbie xXx