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Friday, May 24, 2013

Careful What You Wish For Paint Party Friday

Visit more artists a Paint Party Friday
A box I painted for cupcakes coupons  inspired by a few admired artists!!

My Cupcake is an avid couponer. There is quite the art to it! You need memory, organization, tenacity, and diligence  to coordinate the process. Very few people do it to the extent she does because they aren't detail oriented enough! It's not for everyone, but boy there can be a lot of money made doing it!! She has done a two hundred dollar shop for literally pennies!!( It's not as lucrative in Canada as it is in The United States either) It entails waiting for things to be on sale at their lowest price before the coupon expires! When you walk out of the store with a very long receipt, several bags of sundries/food, with little to no money changing hands it can be a poker players high! But, it IS a gift!!
I am such a people watcher and admire all the unique body shapes!

I have always been frugal, watching sales, knowing all the best prices, but I have NEVER been a couponer! Doubt I ever will be! Cupcake sent me out twice with coupons and I screwed up! The first time I left them in the car, with no intention of heading back to the car with my bad hip, the second time I lost them in my purse.

If by chance I became a couponer it would be a nightmare for everyone! If I HAPPENED to remember I had a coupon for something, I'd be digging in my vortex of a purse for five or ten minutes, making the line behind me wait, only to find the coupon is scrunched up beyond reading recognition.  Then be informed by the cashier that it was outdated!!  I am definitely NOT, the, "have it in an envelope, place the new  perfectly cut coupon, on the item, in an orderly fashion, on the conveyer belt, kind of person!" I'm more the," I know what's cheapest, look at the prices as they're being rung in, stop you  if your wrong, recheck my receipt in the car, kind of gal!"
I've been creating all these characters in a fresh journal  I just started!

Anyway, about a year ago we heard this really coupon friendly economy grocery store was coming in near our home, just a mile or so past our local grocery!! Cupcake was so excited knowing she'd have so many chances to coupon free items there!! Which we have. Just  so happens they have some  nice produce there too....which takes a bit of business away from the roadside stands we normally buy from!
This is my attempt at some characters I often see others create... I was hoping to find my own style with them!

We were happy to have the discount store with no frills, but when we want those extras I'd pop to our local grocer which carried Cupcakes favorite delectable slices of gourmet chocolate cake,( instead of baking a whole cake and having that huge temptation screaming at us) and other items we can't find other places!!  Convenient, within walking distance of our home, not too busy, easy for me to find everything I need with my bad hip, it was a place I enjoyed popping into. Except for being slightly pricey, with a crabby deli manager who refused to slice my deli meat from the center instead of the fatty ends, I loved that store!!


Sunday I was in the area  to see the windows papered up. IT'S CLOSED, permanently. Having been there well over a decade it was so sad to see it go.  I sat in my car, sadly stared, thinking, "Be careful what you wish for!" The employees there had just ratified as a union shop, weeks later they found themselves out of a job. So for those workers hoping for better  working conditions and pay, it backfired. For Cupcake who was so excited about the competition coming in with way lower prices, it's backfired. So before you wish for something, keep in mind how everything and everyone will be affected. I love to shop local, I don't use as much gas, and it's the right thing  to do. It's supports my community. Now I have to find another place to buy perogys darn it!! Or I could go back to making them.....I think NOT!!
Painted in acrylics then added a digital color edit!

How about you have you ever wished for something that backfired? If this were the game family feud,  I'd  say  "marriage" would be the number one answer! But really what have you wished for that wasn't the best for you or others?


For more about  my  crazy couponer go  here!!

44 comments:

ann @ Whimsyville said...

Love cupcake.... and the sentiment. HPPF !

Mary C. Nasser said...

So much wonderful art in one post!!
Especially love the idea of dreaming in color and finding the joy in small things.
♥♥♥
Happy PPF!!
Mary
Mixed-Media Map Art

Valerie-Jael said...

Great post! Hugs, Valerie

Christine said...

cute art this week! I do use coupons but on and off. I have a friend who is like your daughter and I must say I do learn from her but can't keep it up that way.

Netty said...

terrific post as always Giggles and I love your original paintings, yep, love them. Happy PPF, Annette x

http://nettysartadventures.blogspot.co.uk/

GlorV1 said...

I don't do coupons either and shop locally and we grow our own garden so we have our veggies. I do know that your new ladies are awesome and what a great idea to start them off in their own journal. What would you call these new ladies in this series? Very nice. Happy PPF!

Anonymous said...

I was picturing you fishing inside your vortex of a purse and chuckling away. Good advice, do be careful what you wish for. Good for Cupcake, once in a while a coupon or two but never that much, would make me batty. xox

Faye said...

Hi Sherrie,
Love the colorful variety of body shapes you've made here. I think I dream in color is wonderful. Sorry your store has closed. We live 12 miles from the nearest grocery store so once we leave the house we do all kinds of errands so we don't have to make many trips. But I am not a real coupon shopper. I have seen people walk out of the store without handing over much money and be laden down with groceries. Wow, I admire them for their coupon savvy.

Silke Powers said...

Fun, fun, fun little paintings! I love all the characters you have created. And I had fun reading about the couponer in your life. I am not one of those and never will be. I have tried, but haven't got the patience for it. I try to buy things on sale and sometimes I do. Happy PPF! xoxo Silke

Linda Kunsman said...

wowza!! Your couponing experiences are too funny :):) I am loving all your new paintings too-marvelous!!! As for answering your ? I honestly can't think of a thing at this moment...perhaps I'm blocking it out :)Happy PPF!

PiaRom said...

Your story always amazes me :) and those cute littel characters along with...love the girl with the cup of icecream in her hands... so sweet! ...and yes I am a big beliver that whishes always come true, if they are straigth from the heart :) ♥ Conny
http://piaromsartjournaling.blogspot.de

Christin@SpicySouthernKitchen said...

Love your paintings! I've tried the coupon thing several times, but it's just not meant to be my thing. I'm way too flighty and unorganized. I was always finding the coupons after they expired. It definitely is a talent.

Paper rainbow said...

ooooohh a wish i wish i hadn't wished for! ;) you do like to challenge us!....I have rather too many, although most of the them were made when I was young and rather silly. I hope now i'm older and slightly less silly this sort of thing will stop happening to me :)much love and a happy PPF

sharon said...

First of all what lovely ladies, they deserve a ournal to themselves. I have tried to use coupon but always foreget before they expire or if I take them with me I walk out the store with them still in my purse, duh! I admire Cupcakes skill!

Karen Smithey said...

Sometimes my girls watch that couponing show on TV. I'm not sure I'm organized enough to do that!

Love all your girls here!

Happy Paint Party Friday!

Ginny said...

I love your new ladies. They definitely deserve their own journal.
I love the questions you ask. I have thought long and hard about wishing and realized that although I dream and I hope I don't really spend much time wishing. (Just when I blow out my birthday candles) I like to believe I can make things come true and maybe wishing seems like I don't have a lot of control on the outcome.

Tracey FK said...

I actually love that extreme couponing show on Discovery but would never be organised enough to use them either... sad to see a store shuttered up though... it is always a sad sight isn't it... as to wishing for something.. not so much... can't think of anything... will have to ponder that one...xx

Arnoldo L. Romero, MLA said...

I don't do much with coupons at grocery stores, but I definitely use them when shopping for art supplies. I also love going through their clearance isles and am very patient about waiting for sales. I'm very particular about the materials and tools I use, so it makes a difference. (Yes, I'm an art supply snob. LOL!) Thank you for the kind words you left at my blog and have a blessed week, my friend.

Lynn Cohen said...

I'm not sure what I've wished for that backfired. I'll have to get back to you on that. My best friend is a coupon person, I use them for art supplies at Michael's. but cupcakes way sounds intriguing. I love a deal. I think I need to give this serious consideration. I like all these colorful women you've created and shared here today! They have such personalities. I can see them joining my peeps at tacos Jalisco's! ;-)))) xo

soulbrush said...

Love those 'voluptuous' hips baby. I guess there are quite a few things that have backfired on me too- need to think about them- or maybe not! Happy PPF.

denthe said...

Love your unique bodyshape figures! As for coupons: oh, I try. I collect them, and then I put them somewhere, and I always forget to take them with me to the store .... I need to get more organized....
Can't remember a time that I wished for something and then regretted it, although I'm sure that must've happened some time ....

kat said...

All your ladies are great, I love the shapely ones very much! I'm no good with coupons either...I just pop into my close to local store and am so grateful for the handiness of it being close and quiet, I hate those big shopping malls that you have to spend ages looking for where things are, too busy, noisy and horrible places!
As for wishes...well I like to believe they have all come true and have made me very happy! Best wishes your way Sherrie! xx

Janet said...

Your art is fun and colorful and just perfect!

I've wished for many things in my life...things I didn't get...only to look back later and think, thank goodness that didn't happen!

I'm not a couponer either. I sometimes will use one or two but that's about it. I don't have the patience for it.

SAMARA said...

You are hilarious! And it is also a sad story for poor cupcake :( I admire you for trying and you are right, up here in Canada no one seems to have heard of anything other than reading flyers?????? and price matching????? What's with that. I know a woman who is a couponer and she saves about 125 a week on groceries! I am totally envious. but I hear your story of how you would be and I see myself saying just wait, wait, I'll find it!!!! I can barely find my debit card! lol I LOVE the art you put beneath your stories. It is SOOOO expressive of what you have just said. Your characters are just beautiful and I love how the fingers point at Be careful what you ask for!!!! I also love that number one answer....you make me laugh so much when you are ranting...keep it up. you make me smile, or cry, depending on where you are at...and I LOVE IT!!!! Lovies, Samara

Ritu Dua said...

Love all your art it instantly lifts up the spirits ...and so does your post !

Ariel said...

Your characters look wonderful. You standing in the line searching for the coupons, it just reminds me of how I'm. It is the same for me, be it discount coupons, keys... I just make my hubby wait:)Organization is just not my skill I guess.
Susan

Unknown said...

We don't have coupons per say in Australia, but I do find myself going to three or four shops to get the bargains!!
I can't remember having a wish backfire on me, but I think I am a bit careful with my wishes!

Beautiful art this week, love what you are doing x

Erika said...

It is a wonderful post with wonderful ladies ! Your Story is fine as ever!
Happy weekend
Erika

Unknown said...

Lovely and so creative characters. Stay creative and have a magical week.

K J D said...

I love a bargain... but I don't think we do the coupon thing here to anywhere near that extent. Shame!

What do you mean btw 'find a style' you already have your own unique style.... I do love your girls though...especially 'find the joy in the small things'.... something I try and live by.

I get nervous about wishing for things for exactly the reasons you mentioned! You never quite know how your wish will be delivered!

Have a great week!

Karen x

aimee said...

absolutely with you on the coupon thing! sometimes i downright resent them because the minute it goes into my hand, I know I'll lose it or forget it, and i'll have to go into the store next time and pay full price!

pauline said...

** digging in my vortex of a purse ** omg... that cracked me up!! You and i sound so alike, it's not even funny. i would suck right along with you if ever i began to coupon. (it's a verb now, right?) ;-) LOVED this post and my jaw dropped when i saw that first red painting with the quote about money! You and i must be in the same zone these days. The quote says EXACTLY what i was saying in my post!! Love the art. Those little women with the wide eyes are gorgeous... xox

Carolyn Dube said...

I so fail as a serious couponer- I get so easily distracted by new items, pretty displays...sorry to see that your store closed up- you are so right about what you wish for!

Elisa said...

makes me think of the extreme couponing series that shows on TLC channel. I enjoyed your characters very much and I do think you got your own flare.

Å olanje na domu-Waldorf said...

I love your little people. They are such characters. :) We don't have much coupons in our country but I'm like you. I tend to forget I have them or I lose them. :)

Carol said...


love your new ladies!!!!!I tried coupon-ing and just don't have what it takes. :( I can have a $5.00 coupon in my hand at checkout and forget to turn it in ... believe me I have HAVE DONE that :(

Viola said...

Lovely and creative! =)

I think it's a good trait to be happy with finding joy in small things. and joy is where you find it.. I believe it's not belonging to big expensive luxury things.. :))

Forgetfulone said...

Love this post! A great combination of words and art. Love your new characters. I know an extreme couponer, but that could never be me, at least not until I retire. It takes so much time, dedication, and organization! Doesn't surprise me that Cupcake is a couponer. I can see that. Let's see... besides marriage, not sure I can think of something that backfired on me, although I'm sure there's lots of examples, I just can't think right now! Have a great week, Giggles. You deserve it!

janice smith said...

First of all, I love all your new characters. They are wonderful and you've been very busy! I am definitely not a coupon girl. I see those ladies at the market with their big binders all stuffed with coupons and completely organized and I think "wow"! I'm usually doing well just to remember to take my list in with me (if I even have a list). I know what you mean about changes affecting so many things around us. Everything really is connected.

J C said...

Awesome art, awesome post. My dear other half is the couponer in the family. Drives me crazy with it, but he does save $$$. Kudos to cupcake.

www.dorissdaughter.com said...

Love all your characters and the quote on the first one is so true! My mum used to get "Green Shield stamps" from the supermarket when I was a kid. She would save them up to buy stuff from a catalogue. I am like you when it come to coupons though! I often think I have "great ideas" and get quite excited only to discover it's not an ideal world! :)

JKW said...

I love the illustrations in this post. I wish that we had products that were great and worked when you purchased them and lasted a lot longer. I bought a ceiling fan and am having to take it back, I could go on and on while I'm upgrading my house. Yes, that part of long ago yesterday was Better. Sorry for the rant, but you asked :-) Blessings, Janet PPF

Ayala Art said...

Your ladies here are fabulous! Love them all!
bout the wishes, yes, I learned early in life that a wish has to come with many specifications and serious thought about consequences, because they can come true and then what do we do with the unexpected domino effect? :oS

Valerie-Jael said...

Great post! My marriage was okay, but there were a lot of other things in my life that went in the wrong direction. Valerie

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