All About Vinyl: Where To Buy The Cheapest, Best Craft Vinyl

I use a Silhouette SD (yep, still going strong!) for my cutting. I love how I can make professional looking gifts that are fully customizable and personalized. I can quickly whip up a hostess, thank you or birthday gift at the last second when I haven't had time to shop. I keep a back stock of glasses, mugs, totes and other random items to personalize on a whim, and of course, vinyl! But the selection can feel very overwhelming when the internet is full of options. Let me break it down for ya!

You can see metallic, neon, and glitter heat transfer vinyl here. There are truly mirror finish metallics available as well as a whole host of patterns and colors.

Where to buy Vinyl (in my opinion): 

I recommend H&H Sign Supply, Inc. I first learned of H&H Sign Supply, Inc. through  CardMkrLeslie's blog (which is a treasure trove of vinyl info!) and wow she was so right. INCREDIBLE color selection, metallics, glitter, holographic, flocked t-shirt vinyl, etc. They sell quality vinyl at inexpensive prices, and offer great variety packs for crafters. I promise they haven't paid me, they don't even know who I am (I've only done eight or so orders) but I'm forever their customer! They always ship so quickly it amaze me. They have a new website called Just for Crafters that is awesome as well. The prices are almost identical, but sometimes I want a frosted glass look and need to use H&H if JFC doesn't sell the exact vinyl I need, like they have fewer patterned vinyls, etc.

Coupon Codes for HRH: 

You can use the code FIRSTORDER for your first order (once per address) of $50.00 or more. I suggest adding them on Facebook as they post impromptu coupons like 15% off on Friday's, $5 shipping, or two hour only 25% off your whole order sales! I'm a BIG fan of companies who know their customer base and utilize social media to give back to their loyal patrons.  If you will be going through Just for Crafters, the code NEW will get you 20% off your entire first order.

What is the best buy on H&H:

Getting the sample packs and multipacks are the greatest deal. 

• GT5 Intermediate 
• 30 color options. Permanent outdoor vinyl (it will say "six years" etc. for guarantee but all of their outdoor is excellent) I prefer these packs because of the sizes they offer. I normally get the 12"x24" value packs in the 30, 40, or 50 sheets. H&H writes how much you save, because the larger the value pack, the more you save. This is great if you want multiple sheets and are just a casual crafter/gift maker and want a lot of colors. 5 yard long 12" packs are available just like the Avery and Oracal listed below, and are the cheapest option if you're buying long lengths of single colors.
• Avery IC 600 
• 40 color options. Permanent/outdoor. Comes in 12" wide rolls starting in 5 yard lengths. Great for anyone who wants a lot of one color, more color options (though most of these colors are available in 12"x12" sheets on Just for Crafters, their sister site) than the GT5, or has a vinyl craft business and wants to buy large quantities of vinyl. Slightly cheaper than the Oracal 651 packs in the same size.
• Oracal 651
• 59 color options. Permanent/outdoor. Comes in 12" wide rolls starting at 5 yards in length. The larger packs come in longer lengths. Same as the Avery IC 600, but more color options and $3.75 more expensive for the 5 yard long pack than Avery's. Probably the most popular permanent vinyl.

What About Iron On / Heat Transfer /Tshirt Vinyl?:

• The Siser Easyweed multipack is 5, 12"x15" sheets, you choose the colors, for $14.75 on H&H. There are 32 color options, including florescent.
• The Thermoflex Plus packs are also 5 12"x15" sheets with 44 color options, including neons and metallics. You cannot layer more vinyl on TOP of the neon (for doing outlines, etc.) so keep that in mind. 

I don't want to use them for some insane reason, where else?

If you want to go with another source, here is some of my research. 

Craft Vinyl: If for some reason you only need one sheet of something, they have tiered shipping, so up to $2.99 shipping is $1.95. The tier looks enticing, but every time I've bought vinyl it has been $30 or more, and that would be $8.95 shipping, which is a teensy bit high in my opinion. They offer multipacks, and the same brand (GT) outdoor glossy vinyl, 5 sheets of 12"x12" is $6.95 here compared to $4.95 at H&H. They seem like a good company with good reviews, and great variety of colors/finishes/designs.

Here's my beef: Why on earth does this website have to look so confusing? You don't have to restate on every single page that you need your address to be correct before ordering, put it on the first page or the Faq page and call it a day. Quite honestly the amount of information I have to dig through and analyze to make sure I'm doing everything exactly right makes me feel like I'm being cheated somehow. It is difficult for me to feel good about a website with so much fine print.

That being said, the "one of every color"multi packs of Oracle 651 they do every Friday morning come out to .54 cents per 12"x12" sheet, which is amazingly cheap. Unfortunately most of their deals are such that they are the only thing you can purchase. So if I want to get that day's deal of Siser Glitter, and need just a couple sheets of regular black vinyl, I cannot add it to my order I must place a separate order and pay additional shipping. This makes this a more expensive option for me as paying shipping twice starts to add up. 

Expressions Vinyl: This is probably the most talked about and popular vinyl supplier for crafters. I think that's because they've been around for such a long time, and are extremely popular among Cricut users. They have a coupon section on their website and offer 10% off your first order for signing up with Vinyl Values, their rewards points system. Also check out their Facebook page for coupon codes, they often offer free shipping over a certain amount, etc. 

Their 6 12"x12" pre-selected color family multipacks run at $8.99 for the lowest priced, so that's much higher than Craft Vinyl or H&H but their individual sheets are $1.49 which is exactly the same as H&H/Just for Crafters. However, H&H/Just for Crafters sells 12"x24" sheets of the same brand vinyl for $1.89 a sheet. So if you are wanting a bit more of the same color, that's better than multiple sheets at Expressions.  H&H indoor/craft vinyl (non permanent) is $1.03 per 12"x12". Expressions also has a wider range of patterned vinyl. You won't find as much patterned vinyl on Just for Crafter's as you will H&H for some reason. 

Another perk I like is they sell a wide range of replacement blades, mats, etc. for Silhouette and Cricut machines. So it is sort of a one-stop-shop, especially if you have a free shipping code. Because I do eBay for blades and restick my mat, that usually isn't necessary for me. 

I love H&H and Just for Crafters because of the wide range of vinyl colors. You can see here (sort of) that I have five different lavender/purple colors between all the different brands.

Mmm. Vinyl. It even smells good... I'm weird.

I really love the mint and turquoise the best, obviously ;) 

I bought these baskets at the Dollar Tree for, well, $1.00 (go figure) and I like to stand my vinyl like this. That's my collection of craft/nonpermanent vinyl. The vinyl all comes rolled up already so it stands easily like this. I use the middle of the vinyl "donut" to store scraps that are at least 6"x6". Anything smaller than that goes into a scrap basket. 

What is your favorite vinyl craft? Do you order vinyl elsewhere?

12

How to Use Store Sales, Coupons, and Rebates to Get the Best Deal On Appliances

When we started renovating our home-turned-office-to-our-home we decided early on that we would try to avoid cheap/temporary because in the end it can definitely end up costing more. It isn't always possible, but we like to think of it this way, "Okay, $5 toaster is crap, $50 toaster is amazing but not necessary. $30 toaster is rated/reviewed well." Then (and this is important) we get a coupon and then if we can, we combine that with a sale for the deepest savings. Then we check for rebates, see if floor models are available for purchase, and check for defects that might give us more money off. The stars don't align themselves when it comes to sales, you have to do the work!

1. Research which stores near you are generally cheapest for your appliance, or offer price matching, and then begin researching those stores constantly. Check websites and sale sections in store often; their websites will often show you what is in stock at your particular store.

2. Start early. I started months before needing our fridge because I knew Lowe's/Home Depot would delay my shipment for a long time, so I wouldn't even have to store it. There are certain times of the years particular brands roll out new models and the old ones go on sale. Ask store associates if they know when this happens for their store.

3. Scour clearance sections and look for floor models. 
Don't be afraid of a floor model, especially if your store doesn't even plug their models in. We snagged our fridge as a floor model that had never been plugged in and received an additional discount for it! Sure, it has been touched by a million hands, but so has every other thing we touch while out in public. Disinfect and enjoy the savings.

4. Pay attention to holiday weekend sales.
Labor Day scored us an automatic 10% off of our appliances as this is the standard home improvement store sale. It clears out old inventory for newer models and everything was game. Everything from Martin Luther King Day to President's Day can snag you good deals on appliances. Black Friday is more tech geared but there can be good deals. Again, ask around in your local stores!

5. Look for rebates.
There is a rebate section for all appliance selling stores on their websites. Lowes' had a sweet tiered rebate (rebate section of Lowe's website) going where if we bought two of their appliances we got $100 back, and if we bought 3 we got $200. It took a couple months to get the check but it was easy savings!

6. Look for scratches.
I forgot to mention this but when we bought our floor model, I mentioned the big scratch across the front (it was five inches long and ultimately I don't care about that kind of thing but it was a new fridge...) our salesperson overheard me mention it and took another 10% off for the defect! Which brings me to...

7. Never be afraid to ask for a deal, just be nice!
No one is going to think you're being cheap (and if they do? Who cares!) if you show a bit of indifference and then say, "Are there any deals that could get the price down a little bit? Rebates? Coupons?" A good salesperson is happy to work with you! And that brings me to...

8. Find your sales person. 
There's an episode of King of the Hill where Hank is teaching his son Bobby to have a salesperson for everything, "This is my car-guy, this is my appliance-guy." I actually do that! I will ask questions I know the answers to in order to size up my sales people and see who I can trust with info later on. Do some research, ask some basic questions while browsing to a few different people, then go straight for the one you like the best and make them your person. Look for someone willing to help you and who seems knowledgable and professional, not just friendly. Our sales person when we bought a washing machine recently made sure to personally call and hop on the internet to price match for us.

9. Coupons, man! 
We signed up online with Lowe's a while back and they send us great coupons. Sometimes $10 off of $50 but often $50 off $300 which is obviously helpful with appliances. Sidebar: If we know we're doing a project soon and have a $50 off of $300 but only need $100 in supplies, we might go ahead and buy some things we know we will need and usually do not go on sale (nails, wood, etc.) in order to use it.

10. Is Stainless necessary? 
This is something I didn't realize at the time and am starting to think about more for our next set of appliances, which will hopefully be in 8 million years. Stainless looks clean and polished and industrial, but I really like white. The newer finishes of white look incredibly good and futuristic with the LED lights and modern styles; white isn't what it used to be. It is also quite a bit cheaper, sometimes saving you $200 or more. Black looks nice as well. Our stove is a double-oven (the top is a mini-oven with normal two-rack oven separately beneath it, and there's no broiler) glass top and was FREE from a friend of the family redoing their kitchen. They rarely cooked so it was in pristine condition, but it is white. It doesn't bother me at all and sometimes I wish my other appliances were white to match!

Our Receipt: 

$1,636.00 Whirlpool French Door refrigerator (On sale from $2,036)
- 10% Labor Day Sale on all appliances at Lowe's) 
- 10% additional for 5 inch scratch
- 10% for floor model
- $50 ($50 off $300 Lowe's coupon mailed to us) 
- $66.67 (1/3 of the $200 rebate for buying 3 Whirlpool Gold appliances)
______
= $1,075.97 (roughly, plus taxes)

I made a selection of a fridge, hood-microwave and dishwasher that were all within our budget but were very good quality. It was what we would have purchased without dealing with sales/coupons/rebates. Our three appliances would have been 3 different brands, not as nice, and a side-by-side fridge, which isn't what I wanted at all. In the end, we actually spent less money on my higher end Whirlpool Gold appliances with rebates and discounts than the sensible list.

0