Cheap Thrills

You're in for a real treat! Baskin Robbins is offering their popular 31 Cent Scoop Night from 5-10 p.m. today. Bring your friends, the neighbor's kids or the whole family for ice cream on the cheap. But don't be greedy, there's a limit of 10 scoops per person, per purchase.

This special offer is only good at participating stores. A donation of $100,000 will be made by Baskin Robbins to the National Firefighters Foundation.

To get the scoop on this discount, go to BaskinRobbins.com.

You're invited to take part in watercolor workshops with East End artist Marilyn Gartelmann on April 30th, May 28th and June 18th at the East End Arts Council.

Each workshop will focus on a different technique and skill. Also coming up are Plein Air Watercolor classes with artist, author and illustrator, Mike Killelea. The focus of Mr. Killelea’s classes will be capturing the warmth and color of Long Island’s dazzling spring mornings.

Classes will be held at various locations throughout the East End on Tuesdays from 9:30 AM to 12:30 PM, now through May 20th. The cost of the class is $157.

Mr. Killelea will also be teaching Twilight Plein Air Painting, also on Tuesdays, from 5 to 8:00 PM, April 15th through May 20th. For more information and a complete listing of classes please contact the Community School of the Arts at 631.369.2171 or visit www.eastendarts.org/education.

With Mother's Day just around the corner, Spring crafts at Lyndhurst, a festival of contemporary craft, art, music and food, offers shoppers the chance to find unique gifts just in time for Mother's Day. This event will be held May 2-4 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The show includes one-of-a-kind and limited edition jewelry for mom's luxiorious side; fashion and accessories for her glamourous side; furniture, and home décor pieces, as well as functional and sculptural work in ceramics, glass, metal, painting, photography, wood and mixed media for the mom who keeps a beautiful home.

Despite it's name, the fair offers more than just crafts. Visitors can also purchase specialty foods, participate in children's activities, and enjoy live music all throughout the weekend.

This event is a fundraiser for the National Trust for Historic Preservation. It returns to the 67 acre Lyndhurst Estate in Tarrytown, New York for the 24th year, displaying contemporary work from more than 300 artists and craftspeople from across the country. Collectors, art enthusiasts and discerning shoppers will enjoy the rare opportunity to meet these visionary artists and purchase their latest work.

General admission is $10 per person, Seniors are $9, children ages 6-16 are $4, and children under 6 are admitted free.

For more information: Call (914) 631-4481 or visit www.CraftsAtLyndhurst.com

Got a local craft fair coming up? Click here to let me know about it.

Photo above: Susan Esquivel's Perfection Dwelling

I finally got my tax refund. Hurray!

I must say, I'm pretty proud of myself for doing them myself and itemizing a few deductions to boot! As a reward, I decided to buy a few things on Etsy.com, my favorite Web site for affordable and unique handmade goods.

Here's a look at what I purchased:

Debbie Chialtas is the owner of Soapy Love and sells adorable handmade soaps in the shape of a popsicle! The "soapsicles" come in a variety of colors and scents. Her soapy creations remind me of summers I spent chasing the ice cream truck as a child. For my Etsy purchase, I chose the Squeakymelon soapsicle because of it's sweet scent and bright color. When it arrived, my mailbox smelled like watermelon candy. It's pure heaven on a stick!

Lather up with one her whimsical soaps for only 8 bucks via her Web sites: soapylove.etsy.com or www.soapylove.com.

In addition to soap, I picked up a couple of her soap tutorials to try out at home. I'm always interested in trying new ways to make my own soap. I love her polka-dot and cameo soap tutorials.

Are you looking for an interesting gift? Debbie's soaps would make great wedding favors or stocking stuffers for the holidays.

Did you buy something handmade and want to rave about it? Pop me an e-mail describing your latest handmade purchase and you may see it here on the blog!

In the spirit of Earth Day, just imagine: If you could be any kind of plant, animal or insect, which would it be? Kids can show off their crafty side and design a costume during a workshop from 1-3 p.m. Tuesday at the Long Island Children's Museum in Garden City (11 Davis Ave., 516-224- 5800). The workshop, $3, is part of the museum's "Women in Science and Math Series," and afterward, participants will join in a "Mother Earth Parade." Admission is $9 for adults and children, $8 for seniors. For details, go to licm.org.

By now, everybody knows the pitfalls of using disposable plastic bags. Happily, that means manufacturers are dreaming up better-looking (and much more environmentally friendly) alternatives for toting groceries, toys and books. Here's a sampling:

PRACTICAL

Made from 100 percent recycled materials, the Great A&P Tea Co.'s bags feature imagery depicting seashells, fruit and animals. And they're easy on the wallet, too: costing 99 cents at Long Island Pathmark, Waldbaum's and A&P grocery stores. (Pictured at left.)

Dubbed the new "it bag" by Teen Vogue, this Earth-friendly Baggu tote will help reduce your carbon footprint. Available in a variety of colors and made from sturdy ripstop fabric that will carry up to 25 pounds. Sold for $8 each or $22 for a pack of three at baggubag.com. (Pictured at right.)

Lightweight and waterproof, the Envirosax bag comes in a variety of unusual designs and colors, each sized just right for toting vacation souvenirs or beach gear. Costs $8.50 each or $37.95 for a pack of five at envirosax.com.

PREMIUM

In Asia, they were used as rice and feed bags for transporting various goods. In New York, recycled totes by Gecko Traders can carry your groceries, beach gear or anything else. These durable bags are made by a fully certified Fair Trade Co-op in Cambodia. Plus, no two bags look exactly alike. The recycled totes have even been vetted by Treehugger.com, a blog dedicated to green living. They cost $35.95 at reusablebags.com (Pictured at left.)

Made with 100 percent organic cotton and water-based inks, the oversize Beleaf tote can fashionably carry you through a weekend's worth of errands but withstand the weight of bulky grocery items, too. It's $36 at beleaf.com.

Read more about eco-friendly decorating, green celebrities and ways to reduce your carbon footprint on Newsday's section on "green living," newsday.com/green.

While trolling the Web for handmade gift ideas, I discovered Peg and her blog IvyArts. She is participating in a pay it forward handmade exchange based on the movie "Pay It Forward."

Here's more information from the IvyArts blog:

It’s the Pay It Forward Exchange. It’s based of the concept of the movie “Pay it Forward” where acts or deeds of kindness are done without expecting something in return, with hope that the recipients of the acts of kindness will continue to pass it on.

Ivy Arts says she'll make and send a handmade gift to readers who leave a comment on her blog and request to join the PIF exchange. Once you sign up, you must pay it forward by making the same promise on your blog.

I was one of the lucky participants on the Ivy Arts blog and received a pink quilted pillow along with a note saying "enjoy your pay it forward surprise!" I simply adore it!

I think is a great way to share your handmade goodies with others and I would love to offer the same PIF exchange right here on Cheap Thrills. The first three people (spammers not included) to comment to my post and share what they love about The Cheap Thrills blog will get a handmade gift. The handmade gifts will be revealed once we have winners! However, you must pay it forward and offer the same promise of a handmade gift on your own blog or Web site.

Are you ready? Click here to leave a comment!

Please note: Our blog moderates comments and it may take up to 24 hours for your message to get approved. Thanks for your patience.

When environmental crusader Deron Beal first created the community recycling network called Freecycle, he envisioned people trading large household items such as sofas and desks. What he didn't expect was the wave of miscellany including old underwear and half-eaten packages of chocolate that has flooded the network. Freecycle says this all helps keep 400 tons of garbage out of landfills every day.

Continue reading this article about Freecycle and check out our living green section on Newsday.com.

Shop 'til you drop, rub elbows with celebrities and help your favorite charity at Lord & Taylor’s Garden City store this Tuesday. The large retailer in Garden City is hosting its Third Annual Benefit Bash, which helps about 100 charities raise money.

Some famous faces who will be there include children’s fashion designer Lucy Sykes Rellie, meteorologist Bill Evans, matchmaker Matt Titus and CBS News reporter Tamsen Fadal, as well as children’s book author Sheri Bell-Renwoldt, restauranteur Jesse Ziff Cool and mystery writer Ellen Crosby.

The event is from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. offering complimentary makeovers from the store’s cosmetic counters, free books, gifts and a fashion show. The day is great for kids, too. They can meet Marvel’s the Hulk in person, a clown from the Big Apple Circus and get custom-made friendship bracelets.

Tickets are $5 and can be purchased at the door. Lord & Taylor is at 1200 Franklin Avenue in Garden City. -- Tania Padgett

They create their own spaces with artistic flair. Meet Long Island's designing kids and get inspiration for your own room. Continue reading this article by Newsday's Carol Polsky.

Crafty mom, TV personality and fellow Long Islander Rosie O'Donnell will be signing copies of her new craft book "Crafty U" on Thursday, April 10 at 7 p.m. at Borders, 1260 Old Country Road in Westbury, according to Rosie.com.

Check out her recent appearance on the Martha Stewart show where she shows Martha how to decorate Keds sneakers with a little craft paint and duct tape. It's a very cute and simple project you can do with your children.

During the craft segment with Martha, Rosie wore an artsy head wrap she's dubbed the "hadIT." When you're crafting and you've just about had it, you pull your hair off your face and get down to business! She even admitted to shaving the back of her head to help it fit on her head! She's one serious crafter! I totally love the idea and may pick one up for myself!

Go to Rosie.com for more details about her new craft book and "hadIT" headgear for crafters.

Just when you thought the deals at Tanger Outlet Center in Riverhead couldn't get better, they just did. A slew of new stores have opened up at the sprawling shopping center and more are on the way. New stores include The Disney Outlet Store, Esprit, Oakley, Coldwater Creek and Avirex. Stuart Weitzman, True Religion and Zoo York are planning to open this year. Meanwhile, the Banana Republic Factory Outlet Store just completed a renovation, while Tanger undergoes its own face-lift. The new Tanger mall will be unveiled this summer. The renovations haven't put a chink in the malls great deals. OshKosh is currently having a warehouse sale. -- Tania Padgett

Before you go, print out these coupons for extra savings!