With time off from your regular meetings, now is the time to plan ahead before you dive into cookie season. Be prepared with these amazing deals that will help you plan your troop meetings from January until spring.
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I remember when my Girl Scout troop was younger, I would go to the stores the day after Christmas and buy supplies for the rest of the year. If you wait a few extra days, the selection may not be as much, but the percentage off typically goes from 50% to 75% and higher.
Being organized made my meeting planning easier. While I did map out the scouting year back in September, I did not buy all of the supplies I needed. Plus, there was always time for a last minute change.
There are lots of sales taking place in stores and online now. There are clearance prices that cannot be beat.
Items to BOLO (Be on the Lookout)
When you are clearance shopping, think ahead to what your future meetings look like. Is there a service project that you have planned? Are you doing something special for Girl Scout Week? Do you need supplies to Bling Your Cookie Booth? Do you make gifts for parents for Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day or Father’s Day?
There are several items that I would look for every year on my Winter Break clearance hunt. They were:
Winter themed stickers and craft kits (snowmen and snowflakes were great for crafts all winter long and for scrapbooking)
Red cardstock for Valentine’s Day
Green cardstock for spring
Solid colored gift bags
Tissue paper
Bulk candy
Online Clearance Specials
If you would rather shop online, there are plenty of specials at store for you to have shipped directly to your home.
Shindgiz Specials
I love shopping at Shindigz. The selection is varied and I never know what items are on clearance (my favorite section!). Here are some of the items you can buy now for later (and you need to act fast as the prices are fantastic!)
This Baroque style picture frame is made of cardstock. The girls can add embellishments to it. Take a picture of the girls as a troop and you have an inexpensive year end gift. Add the troop number with foam letters. The photo size is 2″ x 3″.
You can also take individual photos of each girl and use this picture frame as a Mother’s Day or Father’s Day gift. It is sold individually or in a pack of 6.
With snow on the ground it may be challenging to think about chalk. This 12 count box of Colored Chalkboard Chalk includes assorted colors of green, orange, yellow, pink, blue and red.
Chalk can also be used for an assortment of indoor craft activities. Try looking on Pinterest for ideas. You can use the chalk to earn the “Playing the Past” Girl Scout Junior badge and play old school games outdoors. Or if you girls get antsy, spend the last 10 minutes of your meeting drawing on the sidewalk (if it is permitted where you meet).
The Active for Life website has some outdoor chalk games you can do with your troop.
This can be used as an inexpensive bridging gift to your girls.
This Good Citizen Award pin can be given to your girls for any community service project that your troop completes.
This donut cup can be used at your fun Donut Party Meeting. Another way to use it is to have the girls fill it with assorted candy you bought on clearance and wrap it in a cellophane bag. They can give this as a gift for Valentine’s Day.
Many troops celebrate Girl Scout Founder’s Day by making a “Birthday in a Bag” kit to donate to an organization. This service project can be done year round. With stores like Target having large holiday food aisles that they need to clear out, you can grab some cake mix and icing, along with colorful red or green plasticware and napkins, and create birthday bags for winter.
Use these hearts for crafts or for a tablescape. They come in a package of 10.
Clearance Craft Supplies Online
At my school, I buy most of my craft supplies online at Discount School Supplies. There is always a sale, a coupon code, and many times, free shipping for a low out of pocket cost. Here are some amazing supplies to get now.
Available at Discount School Supplies
Individual glue bottles are expensive this time of year. Now you can refill them with this half gallon of washable clear glue that is more than half price!
Available at Discount School Supplies
The box says it all…16 colors, 8 of each. Perfect for new troops or for troops needing to freshen up their craft supplies.
Find more clearance Colorations Craft Supplies here.
What will you be buying for your troop during the clearance sales?
