Birthday Shopping for Teenaged Homeschooler

It is only two weeks until NatureGirl’s 13th birthday party, and I am almost as excited about it as she is. This is a rite of passage birthday, and she is emotionally making a rite of passage already. I want to celebrate it in a big way. We will have the party with friends, a family dinner, and a mother/daughter celebration day, welcoming womanhood. (And not, it is not just an excuse to get our nails done-but a rite of passage!

However, that does not mean breaking the bank and changing my ways as a conscious consumer by frequent trips to the mall and huge credit card debt. I have been taking care to notice great sales and put things away since April. This may sound silly to most, but the gifting impact of three gorgeous sweaters, two denim skirts, three pr. flannel pj (all rocking with skulls and cross bones!) and five winter tops that I got on 80-90% clearance then will be much more powerful as we are entering fall than if I had handed her the bag right then. (Total Spent-$28!)

More over, I want to make those purchases that I know she would love and will also fill her free time. Last year, I got her a table top easel and brush set, with some acrylic paints. She loved it, and has spent many an afternoon painting away. The solution—specialty art and craft basics.

FOr this birthday, we are diving into watercolors. She idolizes Beatrix Potter and Emily Carr, and wants to paint everyday. She is also fascinated with Chinese watercolor painting. I found a lovely watercolor set for my in-laws to give her. (they asked me to find it!) I also found a handful of special brushes, just for watercolors, a plastic palatte, and special paper and board. I am going to be hitting the book store to try to find a reader friendly instruction book on watercolor painting as well. We want to sent her for watercolor classes, but they won’t be starting until January. (My Total spent- $18 )

She has also shown interest in embroidery. She loves the idea of decorating her clothing with little thread pictures. I found a lovely book called Kid’s Embroidery, and we will also be doing, after the fact, the Embroidery Lessons with Crafty Daisies. I have a large selection of floss from my pre-child days when I did a lot of cross-stitch and embroidery, as well as lots of cross-stitch fabric. I found a bundle of 31 embroidery hoops at the thrift shop, covering any shape and size imaginable! I got her a little floss holder and winder, some muslin, some needles (gonna whip up a felt case for them) and a handful of floss in her favorite colors. (Total Spent $11)

I used paperback swap to get in some books she has been wanting to read…and since I had so many credits built up, it feels like a freebie! (Total Spent $0)

Today, I get to head out shopping for the art books and baskets to put all the arts & crafts in. I will take a photo once I get it all together!