Cheap Thrills

Women's magazine Better Homes and Gardens is offering a free online application that allows you design your very own cookbook. This is a great idea for anyone that wishes to preserve favorite family recipes and makes a special gift for the cook in your life. Don't have any recipes? No problem. Just use any of their recipes on their Web site. Get creative by customizing your cookbook with your own text and photos of your favorite dishes and then choose from a variety of cover designs to complete the look. It's free! Registration is required.

For more information, visit online: www.midwestliving.com/app/mycookbook/

Photo credit: Marge Perry/Newsday

Hitting the beach this summer? Learn how to make your own bikini cover-up with a fun educational video by ThreadBanger, a Web site that offers cool do-it-yourself projects.

July 26: Buy an Ed Hardy T-shirt and designer Adam Saaks will customize it, 3 to 7 p.m. at Nordstrom, Roosevelt Field; 516-746-0011, ext. 1530.

Photo credit: The Budget Fashionista

Chipotle Mexican Grill opens tomorrow in Huntington Station (Schwab Road near Walt Whitman Mall), but you can get a taste of what's to come from 3 to 9 p.m. today at a pre-opening fundraiser. You'll get a complete meal for only $5; 631-423-0127.

July 23-27: Shecky's Beauty Week offers up to 75 percent off treatments at participating spas and salons in Manhattan and Long Island. Visit Sheckys.com for locations and to book an appointment.

(Newsday Photo / Alejandra Villa)

Martha Stewart has teamed up with Wal-Mart to offer crafters yet another line of tools, kits and embellishments for their projects. And here's the good news: It's all oh-so-affordable.

The line, available only in Wal-Mart retail stores (some items sold at walmart.com), includes two arms:

Create: Basics such as craft punches ($8.97) and glitter markers($9.97) as well as a few innovations -- such as a circle cutter ($14.97). All-in-one scrapbook kits ($24.97) are a big value -- each includes the album plus 650-750 coordinated papers, embellishments and pieces centered around a theme such as "Elegant," "Heirloom" or "Classic." A clever just-for-kids "Gumdrop" scrapbook kit ($14.97) includes a three-ring binder, pre-punched paper and other goodies.

Celebrate: Brides-to-be can browse through ensembles of stationery, favor boxes, cake toppers ($8.96-$21.96) and such by theme -- from classic "Eyelet" and "Wedding Bells" to cheery "Daisy" and vintage-chic "Dove." Wedding shower planners can shop for printable invitations, ribbon streamers and favor bags ($2.97-$13.96) in themes of "Polka Dot" or the chocolate and pink "Hearts." Getting high marks for creativity: A "Shower Bow Bouquet" ($3.97) with wire loops to attach all those gift bows and ribbons and "Hearts Mini Candy Bar Wrappers" ($3.47), which help you personalize any miniature chocolate candy bars with print-it-yourself wrappers (dates, names or fun messages) powered by free online templates.

Handbag designer Monica Botkier is the latest to get on the Target bandwagon, with a limited-edition collection of handbags to be sold through Sept. 14. Look for satchels, hobos and clutches in black, white, fuchsia and assorted metallics priced from $19.99 to $49.99.

Several weeks ago, I finally purchased something I've had my eye on for months! And now that I have it in my possession, I can't imagine why I didn't buy it sooner.

It's a beautiful picture made by Emily Martin, owner of TheBlackApple, and I simply love it. I'd hug and snuggle it, but I don't want to destroy all the hard work that went into making this amazing piece of art.

What propelled my purchase? Well, I stumbled upon this darling print on Etsy.com and bookmarked it as a favorite months ago. Then I discovered that Emily Martin would be featured on the Martha Stewart Show. I was so worried that my little girl would be sold to someone else, so I snapped her up the night before the show aired!

Luckily, she was still there waiting for me. Hurray!

The Black Apple offers hand-sewn dollies with sweet faces, prints of little girls holding animals and dangling from trees, and postcards, too.

Check out the shop online: theblackapple.etsy.com

Do you buy handmade? Tell me about your latest handmade purchase! Pop me an e-mail describing your latest find and you may see it here on the blog!

Click here to read more from the "Buying Handmade" series.

Photo credit: Emily Martin

A Cheap Thrills reader just e-mailed me about an offer of free tickets to see the Mets for people who donate blood this weekend at the Walt Whitman Mall. Here's more details:

Donate blood at the Walt Whitman Mall blood drive this Saturday, July 19th. Every donor gets TWO free Mets tickets. The drive hours are from 11 a.m. to 4:30pm. Donate blood, save lives, and get free Mets tickets. If you can't make it on Saturday, there are two other blood drives running this summer offering free Mets tickets to donors:

* Friday, August 8th at the Walmart in Commack

* Saturday, August 16th at Lighthouse Harley Davidson in Huntington Station

Note: You can only donate blood every 56 days, so you can only donate once at one of these drives.

For more information, call Long Island Blood Services at 1-800-933-BLOOD (800-933-2566) or visit online: www.nybloodcenter.org

Photo of "Mr. Met" by Mike Stobe/Getty Images

AdornIt by Carolee's Creations offers papercrafting products for scrapbooking and has been a player in the craft industry for around 20 years, according to their Web site. They are currently offering a free idea book to help you get a jump on your scrapbooking projects.

Visit online to sign up for the free offer: www.adornit.com/ideabook/

And while you're at it, check out some of the scrapbooking clubs that meet in the area:

The Sisterhood of the Scrapbook Club meets for weekly workshops in Freeport.

The Bellmore Scrapbooking Meetup has planned a for a full day of scrapbooking where you'll have lots of space to work on your projects.

In New York City, there's the NY Scrapbooking & Rubber Stamping of Upper Manhattan where you enjoy a variety of classes alongside some talented crafters.

Above: A handmade card using a copper foiling technique. Photo by Heidi Davenport

July 19: Shop til you drop Saturday at Shecky's Girls Day Out, from 1 to 6 p.m. at the Southampton Historical Museum. Planners promise fashions from up-and-coming designers, free spa services, tons of samples and plenty of cocktails. It's free but you need to register at girlsnightout.sheckys.com; for $30, you get the goodie bag with products from the likes of Dove and Conair.

July 17: Sephora Soho celebrates it’s 10th anniversary with free skincare consultations, makeovers, and spray tans, noon–7 p.m. at 555 Broadway, Manhattan; (212) 625-1309.

Blogger Mark LaMonica is giving away free copies of the book "How the Other Half Hamptons" by Jasmin Rosemberg over at the Hanging in the Hamptons blog. Check them out and learn how you can score a copy. Tell 'em Cheap Thrills sent ya!

Photo credit: Hachette Books

Do you love Slurpees? How about a free one?

Well, 7-Eleven's participating stores are offering customers a free Slurpee to celebrate their 81st birthday on – when else? – July 11, 7/11/08, also known as 7-Eleven® Day!

As has been the tradition for many years, the company will celebrate July 11 with free 7.11-ounce Slurpee® drinks for customers visiting its U.S. stores. Special birthday cups will be available while supplies last.

Fun Fact: Long Islanders buy the most coffee out of all of its stores nationwide.

Pictured: 7-Eleven customers line up for Squishees, the Slurpee-like concoctions made famous on "The Simpsons." (Getty Images Photo)

-- Corris

For a relaxing bathtime treatment, try making your own bath salts. Here's an easy recipe you can create at home.

Midnight Wishes Bath Salts

3/4 c. epsom salts
1/4 c. sea salts
1/4 c. baking soda
5 drops patchouli oil
4 drops lavender oil
3 drops vanilla fragrance oil
2 drops cedarwood oil

Mix all ingredients and stir until blended. Store in a country Mason jar or similar airtight container. Will last for several weeks as long as you don't add water to the mixture. Use about 1/4 cup in a your bath. Enjoy!

The hottest designer purses can be found on one of my favorite Web sites, BagBorroworSteal.com.

Check out their Outlet site for new items every Wednesday and take advantage of new markdowns every Friday, including some items at over 70% off!

In celebration of their role in "Sex and the City: The Movie," BagBorroworSteal.com is offering members who borrow any designer handbag, jewelry or sunglasses an opportunity to have one week free with any monthly rental. You'll enjoy 4 weeks for the price of 3! Simply enter Promo Code 1WEEKFREE at check out to receive your special offer.

Latina Magazine offers a day of free pampering -- makeup applications, hairstyling, mini-manicures, 10-minute back massages, July 12 from noon-5 p.m. at the Westin Times Square, 270 W. 43rd St., Manhattan; e-mail reservation (must be 18; include name, age and number of guests) to rsvp_newyork@latina.com.

Glen Head jewelry shop Studio 44 holds jewelry-making workshops (beginner to pro). Make metal rings, bracelets and more with Sea Cliff designer Kathleen DiResta, 10 am to 1 pm, Mondays (July 14, 21, 28 and August 11, $180) or Saturdays (July 19, August 9 and 16, $135). Or work Thursdays on fused glass with Glen Head's Jane Irvine. For more info, visit janesartglass.com, kdirestadesign.com, or call 516-216-4630. -- Joseph V. Amodio

I received this open invitation to craft and I thought I'd share it with you. Church of Craft is a group of women (and men) who get together to make all sorts of things in various public locations in New York City and other spots across the country. This is not your grandmother's craft circle. Check it out!

Event: Church of Craft monthly meeting
Sunday 7/6 from 2-6 p.m.
at Etsy Labs!
325 Gold Street, 3rd Floor
Downtown Brooklyn
www.etsy.com

Come craft with us!!

Church of Craft's monthly meeting will be the usual casual drop in affair, come any time, bring anyone, bring anything you are working on or come and just check out what everyone else is up to. Snacks are welcome.

To learn more about the Church of Craft, visit their official Web site: www.churchofcraft.org or visit their Flickr group to see them in action: www.flickr.com/groups/churchofcraft

Thanks to Rev. Callie Janoff for the invite!