Sale Alert! Jack Rogers under $50!

This one has no gimmicks! Just a quick post to share an AMAZING deal!

Click the link below to get these gorgeous Coral Jacks for $43!  And bonus - they still have plenty of sizes available!

Jack Rogers Women's Nantucket Thong Sandal

Don't forget to follow my blog so you can be the first to hear about great deals!

How I got a pair of Jack Rogers for FREE!

Yep! You read the title correctly. I just scored a pair of Jack Rogers and paid nothing!  Here's how:

Even if you can not get these babies for free like I did you can still get that at a GREAT price - under $25!  For some reason Amazon wants to get rid of this color - so click over here now!

I got mine for free because of two great things!

1) Cash Back rewards!  I use Discover and I get cash back on certain purchases.  Over time that adds up (very slowly for me) and I finally found a worthy enough cause to use my rewards on - Jack Rogers!  I used just under $20 of my rewards.

2) Gift cards!  Now this wasn't just some gift card I got for my birthday or Christmas - this one I earned! That's right - free money!  Click here to read my earlier post on rewards sites.  I use Swagbucks and Bing Rewards to earn points and get gift cards.  Click on either link to sign up and start earning.  The gift card I used for my Jacks was a $5 one from Bing (but I've used many from Swagbucks in the past, just happened to use Bing points this time!)

Let me know if you have questions about the rewards sites, I am happy to help!

Happy Shopping :)

{How To} Paint Lilly Pulitzer Prints

Okay so this isn't EXACTLY a How To... You can't really teach someone to paint over the computer.  Or actually at all.  I think it just takes practice, patience, and raw talent (that's the part I'm missing...)

I may not have raw talent but  I am still happy with my first attempt at She She Shells!

What do you think?  Like I said that pure, raw talent is missing so it isn't perfect but you can still tell its She She Shells and the colors are pretty - so I am happy :)

This is the 14" wooden 'K' from Hobby Lobby.  It was only $3.25 and then it was on sale for 30% off! I am going to mod podge it this weekend and attach thick ribbon to it so it can hang on my bedroom door.  I'll post that once it happens :)

So I knew I wanted to try and paint a Lilly print on something.  After browsing the wood rows at Hobby Lobby I figured a flat letter would be the easiest and most useful.  If you want you can try a smaller letter for your first time.  But I was like, "Go big or go home!"

So I had the letter but still needed to pick a print.  I landed on She She Shells because its new from this summer, its one of my favorites, and it only has 4 colors (<--- that last one is the real real reason, I have about 50 favorite prints...)

So I googled:

And headed to JoAnn Fabrics (closer to me than going back to Hobby Lobby).  I got the paints that matched the best, kind of hard to tell when they're in the bottle though.  The paints were something like 60 cents each, super cheap!  I also picked up a few detail brushes and a 50 cent foam brush for the white background since it was such a large area.

If you are going to try this, go for a darker dark blue.  I think mine was a little too light.

All I did was look at the googled picture and free handed it.  I didn't use a pencil first or anything but feel free to try that method too!

Good luck and share your results with me on Instagram! Tag @preciousprep_ (that's preciousprep_ with an underscore at the end)

Lilly Pulitzer Binder Covers DIY Free Printable

Find me on my new blog, Sugar Spice and Sparkle!

I've fallen in love! With Lilly Pulitzer!  That's right - ever since my first After Party Sale (ok and maybe before) I have been full on ADDICTED!  The prints are just so pretty and the clothes are gorgeous and I want them all - yep every single thing!

Since it is back to school time I need to get some (more) Lilly in my backpack! I bought my first Lilly agenda:

Made myself a matching pencil case (slash makeup bag!) Get yours here!:

And got this iPad case for $14!!!!:

My matching iPhone case from the APS is on its way :)

So my notebooks need a little jazzing up if they're going to fit in!

Using Microsoft Powerpoint and images of Lilly prints found on Google, Pinterest, etc. I made these beauties:

And now my backpack is complete :)  And it is one happy little Lilly filled backpack at that!

Don't forget to follow me on Instagram to see more Lilly!

You can download the pictures below, then open them in Powerpoint and insert a text box in the white space.  You will be able to add your own text in your favorite font and color! 

Share your beautiful binders with me on Instagram using #preciousprep and tagging @preciousprep_ in your photos!  If you don't have Instagram then at least let me know you downloaded them in the comments below!  I love to talk to my readers!

Thank for reading! :)

Simple College Packing List

Its that time of year again!  Back to school!

Love it or hate it - it is almost here and for those of you heading to college (first time or otherwise) you gotta get packin'!

Since I need to start packing myself I decided to make a simple list and share it!

This list is more of a starting point than an all-inclusive list.  Sometimes those super long lists can be too overwhelming!  This one is a great place to get yourself started and I'm sure you'll think of more as you go.  If I left out anything major leave me a note in the comments and I'll add it!

Of course I had to make it pretty :) Have to make packing fun in any way you can!

I'm fairly seasoned in this whole packing for college/going to college deal so PLEASE ask me questions in the comments if you're feeling unsure of anything!

Click here for some decor ideas to get you started.

Click here for the BEST binder covers!

Click here for customized keychains, makeup bags, pencil pouches, and totes!

Happy Packing!

Key Chain Wristlet Tutorial

Update:
Embroidered key chains now available! Click here

Today was a great day!  Wanna know why?  Because I finally got all of the supplies I needed to make these adorable Key Chain Wristlets!  I found my inspiration from Prudent Baby a while ago and loved the idea!  About a week ago I got around to ordering some sets of the hardware.  10 sets on Amazon.com for $4.25!  They came in the mail on Friday :)  Then today I went to Walmart to get some cotton webbing and pretty ribbon.  After finding plenty of those items and much more... I got to sewing!

So there are my first two!  I have enough supplies to make 10, so expect to see more in the near future!

Here is how you can make one for yourself!

Step 1. Get the materials: 1 set 1" key fob hardware (includes the clamp and the ring), 10 inches of colorful 1" wide cotton webbing, 10 inches of pretty ribbon (less than 1" wide)

Step 2. Sew the ribbon down the middle of the webbing.  This isn't too difficult if you use your pins and go relatively slowly, making sure you are staying in the middle the whole time.

Step 3. Fold the now beautified webbing in half (with the ribbon facing outwards) and trim the ends so they are even.

Step 4. Insert the ends into the clamp and use pliers to squeeze it shut.  Hint: Make sure your pliers are smooth or you make them smooth with duck tape so as not to damage your clamp.

Step 5. Add the key ring and that is it!  Super easy, super cute, and super useful!  

Gotta love it!  If you love them too, buy them! Here :)

Below are most of the supplies you need, can't get much easier right?

More Updates!  These are the some of the many combinations you can make!  Find them here on Etsy!

 See how many options there are to choose from?!?! Crazy right?

Webbing Options:

Ribbon Options:

Check out my store, Precious Prep, here, on Etsy.com!

Have a Kraftie day!

Don't forget to check out the separate listing for Greek letter keychains too!

Embroidered Pocket Tee Tutorial

Also known as a 'frocket' the pocket tee is a wardrobe essential on any college campus! Learn how to make your own here!

Onto the fun stuff!  If you are a preppy girl or a sorority girl then you probably love a good 'frocket', like me (btw I am preppy, not sorority)!  In this tutorial you will see not only how to add a cute pocket but how to embroider it for even more cuteness!

First things first:

Draw out a pocket pattern.  Doesn't have to be perfect (you know how perfection goes over on this blog!) just make a general pocket shape that is about 4" by 5".  Make sure to leave the little flaps as shown in the picture.

**Update! Click here for a printable version!  All you have to do is print and cut!

Copy and paste this link to share the pattern with friends! https://drive.google.com/file/d/0Bw1R1Y2V5RzkamhwLW51cmJJUW8/edit?usp=sharing

Next cut out a rectangle of fabric that is bigger than your pattern.  Place onto your embroider hoop, in between your tear away stabilizer and water soluble stabilizer(if you're using a knit fabric like I did (which for beginners I suggest you do NOT use knit! It is hard to work with)).

Embroider what ever your heart desires on there!  In this case I was making one for a friend so I just did her initial, but a monogram would also be adorable!  Maybe I'll do one of those real soon!

 Cut out the fabric using your pattern.  Make sure your embroidery is going to end up in the center of where you cut :)

Fold (or even better iron) in the flaps.  Sew a straight stitch across the top of the pocket.  Then pin onto the shirt (I used a LOT of pins) in the correct placement.  Finally carefully sew around the pocket (***leaving the top open***) as close to the edge as you can.

Thats it!

As always leave me questions and comments below!  Follow me on Instagram for daily preppy/crafty/fun pics (@kraftiekatie)

Enjoy your new shirt!

{How To} Accessorize for Less

This post is not about crafts per-se... however through Pinterest, Instagram, and this blog I have learned that a lot of my fellow crafters are like me!  And I LOVE a good deal - hey the more money I save, the more I can spend on fabric ;)

So hopefully you will enjoy learning how to find an AMAZE-FEST USA deal on... wait for it .... EBAY!

There are SO many great things to find on eBay that are brand new - not used items.  And for cheap!  Like really cheap.  Let me explain:

So many good deals! Where to begin?!?

Ok I'll start here: So we all love Michael Kors Watches, am I right?  However we all do not love the price tag.  One of my biggest pet peeves is people not doing their research when making a purchase.  You can go to the mall or even Amazon and find a 'boyfriend' watch for around $30.  Which compared to over $200 seems like a great deal!  But!  If you just do a little looking around on the internet you'll find these (and more!) for $5.39 + free shipping.  Yes you can thank me later ;)  All links will be below the pictures.

Watches

Ok so now that I have your attention, on to the next one!  I really want to make one of these:

Marley Lilly

But they want $37 plus shipping for one of those things!  So I know not everyone can embroider their own stuff but there are embroidery shops that will embroider for you.  Anyways I am going to (try to) embroider this on my own and I got my clutch for [drumroll please] $2.99!  This was a bid item but you can search on ebay and easily find more for sale!

Here is how mine looked after embroidery:

Not too bad, eh? Click here to order one from Precious Prep!

I found this amazing shop on Etsy, and I think you all should check it out because it is a really great deal and product!  

StyleThisLife

However, being the deal-seaker that I am I had to try and find an even lower price.  I haven't gotten these items yet so I can not vouch 100% for their quality but it is a good deal :)  I got 10 tassels and the bracelet for $7 total!

Tassels - $6
Bracelet - $0.99

Now if you are like my mom, you think these are hideous... but if you are like me you think they are on trend and the perfect statement necklace.  Statement necklaces can be SO expensive!  And here these are for just $4.32!  So yes I got 2 :) haha

Rose Necklace

 Another popular statement necklace is the bubble necklace!  Get this one for just $4.25!

Bubble Necklace

How cute is this bag?  It is kind of nautical which is why I LOVE it!  And for only $8.50 I REALLY love it!

Tassel Bag

Now, I'll admit, these are significantly different than the inspiration: which is the Lilly Pulitzer bow belt:

Lilly Pulitzer

But as much as I love LP, $48 is WAY too much for a skinny little belt! In my opinion of course :)  So here is my alternative which is, although different, still extremely cute!  And how much cuter is it when you know you only paid $1.58 for it?!?!

Bow Belts

Well holy smokes that was a long post! BUT I hope you enjoyed and that you are headed to eBay to find some deals of your own!  PLEASE share what you find!!  Tag me in your Instagram pics of deals :)

xoxo Katie

{How To} - Fabric Storage

I have been wanting to share this post with you for so long now and I finally got the chance to take pictures of what I've got going on in my craft room.  Now I will admit that I don't have the best system BY FAR!  But it is a system none the less and it works for me.  Hope you enjoy!

Today I am going to share with you all how I store my fabric!  And I hope you won't judge me by the amount of fabric that I have... you won't right? :)

I love love LOVE fabric remnants.  You'll see below that I am not kidding.  I should probably be in the Guinness Book of World Records for most fabric remnants.  Please let me know if you have a ton too so I don't feel like a crazy woman!  (Though this feeling apparently doesn't stop me from buying more fabric remnants...)  I think what attracts me to them is that I can get really pretty fabrics for a cheap price since you usually get less than a yard in there.  Many of the things I make are small items (check out my Etsy shop!) that don't need much fabric, so remnants allow for a lot of variety for me.  Plus you can buy like 10 of them and not feel guilty for spending a ton of money on fabric you don't need.

Ok fine, on to the picture.  Here you go:

{So pretty!  How could I have resisted any of these?!}

Welcome to FHA (fabric hoarders anonymous)  Hi, I'm Katie and I am a fabric hoarder.  I seriously need this shirt:

{Pinterest}

 Like I said before... please tell me someone else shares the remnant obsession!!

Onto the actual point of this post...

As you can see I use one of those hanging shoe storage things for my remnants!  I picked this one out because it has clear pockets for ultimate visibility!  It is absolutely perfect because I can easily see what I have when I want to and at all other times it is behind the door so no one else can see!  Plus this method of storage easily keeps me in check: no more remnants for me until there is an open spot!  And I can justify having all these because they aren't in the way AT ALL!

My next storage area is not as easy to hide... it is a mini bookshelf.  I have all my other fabric stacked up over here.  Not quite as easy to get to but I can still see what I have relatively easily and since it isn't super organized I can just throw a piece back on top of a pile when I'm done.

On to another tangent - can we just all agree that those uber-organized things you see on Pinterest are not realistic?  I mean initially they are great and pretty but once you have to actually use them it is way to much effort to keep them that way!  Maybe thats just me... let me know what you think in the comments.

Finally I will admit that I have yet another area I keep fabric.  I forgot to take a picture - in fact I forgot about it completely until just now.  But under the bed in my craft room is one of those long plastic boxes that are meant for under the bed storage.  This box is filled with random fabrics, a kind of project graveyard that I will hopefully get to someday.  So I never really use anything out of there day to day, but alas, it is there.

So how do you store your fabric?  I am hoping to revamp the bookshelf portion of my storage someday... so give me ideas!!

Check out the buttons over there for more Kraftie Katie ----->
Have a great week!