The Slippery Slope

Once I started buying again...

I won't say I can't stop - because I CAN. I just don't have the will or want to stop right now.

I'm trying, but it's not easy.

My LSS is now selling Glimmer Mist.

I found out because I was there asking for donations for work - my kids (my group) love playing with patterned paper and stickers and all that fun stuff.

I'm thinking of having an Ongoing Scrapbook for our summer. Have a table with scrapbook items out and when we get new pictures of a trip (or just regular day) let the kids create the page - and journal it.


***edited to add***

I just looked at my counter and I have less than 100 hits before I'm at 10,000! Blog Candy when I reach 10K.

Shopping Therapy

I know it's been a while since I've posted - I'm creating, just not taking pictures of stuff.

Plus life's gone wacko again, so I've been laying low.

The kids at work were CRAZY this week - Wednesday, Thursday and Friday especially. It's the full moon at work.

So... armed with a 20% entire purchase coupon from Michael's, I did a little shopping therapy.

Yeah, making it past Easter without a purchase didn't fly.

It was a Tim Holtz day: one of his stamp sets, some Distress Stickles, the clockwork mask set, 2 jars of Distress Crackle Paint, and a set of Fragments.

Oh, and some Prima gem stickers.

I'm feeling a little guilty, because I cheated on the spending ban again.

But some time in stamping therapy (with my new goodies) with wash that guilt right away.

Confession

Hello, my name is Sara.

(hello, Sara)

I have a confession.

(sympathetic noises)

I mentioned about a month ago that I was on a buying moratorium - no buying anything stamping-related for a while.

(nods all around)

Well, I cheated on my moratorium.

(gasps)

I was on the Buy/Sell/Trade forum for SCS and I bought some Bella stamps from a person cleaning out her stamping room. It was a good deal: 3 stamps and shipping for $15. I'm helping another stamping person out - the stamps are going to a good home.

(semi-understanding nods)

Then, today, I was monitor shopping (window shopping online) and found myself on Oozak.com - where I found out that their really low price on Copics was only going to last until March 1st. So... I started looking at what markers they had available.

(groans of "oh, Sara")

I bought 13 markers and a colorless blender refill. It was a really good deal: the markers were about $4 a piece and the refill was about $4.75.

(sighs)

I fell off the wagon. I acknowledge this and understand that not spending money on stamping supplies is an on-going battle.

My goal: make it past Easter before I make another purchase. I survived the temptation of a Papertrey release this month. :)

(cheers of "you can do it, Sara!")

Spending Moratorium

It turns out that the budget at work is lousy, so hours are being cut. Mine included.

I was planning on doing another buying moratorium this year like I did last year around Lent.

It's going to start really soon. And it stinks because I just got the new Stampin' Up! catalog today from my demo and there are stamps that I want from other companies too.

I'll figure something out.

Lent's Over... Let the SHOPPING BEGIN!

Not really.

Honestly, there's not much I HAVE to have.

Things I'm going to get when I get around to ordering:
SU cardstock - I'm running low on some colors
SU Designer paper - I want some of the new designs
It's a Celebration stamp set at Papertrey
Framed Flowers stamp set at Gina K

That's about it. Nothing major. I think the whole experience was a good exercise in restraint. Plus my bank account is plumper because I didn't have the impulse buying.

And it's officially over because I went to my LSS (local stamping/scrapbooking store) today after work. I spent under $10. I bought my first ever bottle of Stickles, a pack of rub-on letters (they're going on the olive oil bottle in the kitchen), and 5 sheets of paper - some of which are for a project coming up.

All in all, it's been a good experience.

Time to grab a bite to eat and head off to the Dungeon to play with the Stickles. :) Then watch Dancing with the Stars.

Swap Pics

I signed up for 2 swaps after I decided to give up buying stuff for Lent: the first My Favorite Things full card swap and a 6"x6" recipe card swap.

I've had to be pretty creative with how I created these because I couldn't just run off to the LSS and pick up some extra dp. These were carefully planned out.

The My Favorite Things swap was split into rounds. I joined Round 1 - Pick a set. The set I chose was Baby, It's Cold Outside because it's a fun set to use. I also needed to think of some dp (designer paper) that would work well with the set because of the whole no buying thing. I chose some 3 Bugs in a Rug dp that I bought on a whim and hadn't used yet. I didn't want to add a sentiment because I figured that someone could do whatever they wanted with it.

Stamps: MFT - Baby, It's Cold Outside. Paper: Barely Banana, Night of Navy, white, 3 Bugs in a Rug - Cabana Horizon Stripes and Cabana Chunky Dunk. Ink: Versafine black onyx. Accessories: Prismacolor pencils, baby oil, blending stumps, brads, dimensionals.

The recipe swap is something that Keri (stampinupconsultan on SCS) came up with. It's a great idea - a small scrapbook of our favorite recipes. 25 identical 6"x6" pages. I HAD a full pack of 8.5"x11" Real Red when I started this, now I have scraps. I really like how this turned out. I chose to share my Grandma Grant's Apple Slice recipe - think of apple pie, spread out and in bar format. Absolutely delicious and pretty easy to make.

Stamps: SU - Ladybuds. Paper: Real Red, Wild Wasabi, Very Vanilla, Wild Asparagus dp. Ink: Real Red, Garden Green marker. Accessories: mat pack, brads, dimensionals.

Can I cry now?

I returned to my computer after an afternoon of clearing out part of the bottom of the driveway and playing down in the Dungeon. My Weatherbug icon is flashing - meaning there's severe weather of some kind in the area. A Winter Storm Watch is in effect for tomorrow evening through Tuesday evening.

I want to throw a tantrum like a little kid because: 1) I'm sick of snow and ice. 2) There's supposed to be about 6 inches of snow overnight. 3) The temp's actually supposed to break freezing - and then we get snow on top of that. 4) There is 3 inches of SOLID ICE at the bottom of my driveway that is going to melt and refreeze tomorrow. 5) My road NEVER gets plowed - it's an ice rink already.

Okay... I'm over the snow and the cold. And done whining.

On the upside, I have 2 cards and an altered clipboard that I finished today.

Card #1: Featured Stamper - Mary Jo Albright. I love her gallery! The card I chose to CASE: http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/gallery/photo/801112 (The first card I wanted to CASE was a Sketch Challenge - which I try not to copy.)

Stamps: MFT - Say Charge. Paper: white, Chocolate Chip, Close to Cocoa (cardstock and dp), Real Red (cs and dp), Soft Sky (cs and dp). Ink: Versafine black, Real Red. Accessories: Prismacolor pencils, 1 1/4" 1 3/8" and scallop circle punches, Chocolate Chip taffeta and Soft Sky double stitched ribbons, mat pack, glitter dots, ticket corner punch, dimensionals.

Card #2: Stalker's Thread Color Challenge 19. It's my last time to hostess the color challenge - it's the end of the month. I pulled the colors for this challenge from the East Coast Prep SU DP: Real Red, Tempting Turquoise, Wild Wasabi and More Mustard. I like my Flourishes Cake Decorating 101 set - it's so easy to use and fun to play with.

Stamps: Flourishes LLC - Cake Decorating 101. Paper: Real Red, Wild Wasabi, More Mustard, white, East Coast Prep dp. Ink: More Mustard, Wild Wasabi, Real Red, Tempting Turquoise. Accessories: Bazzill and Provocraft chipboard shapes, glitter dot, ribbon, Martha Stewart Glittering Glue, aquapainter, dimensionals.

And finally, the clipboard. I got some ideas from cards using Fabulous Flowers and clear embossing powder. I took some dp from We R Memory Keepers and embossed the flowers onto it, then brayered Vintage Violet over the top. It didn't completely cover the way I hoped it would, but I think it looks really good. The top of the clipboard is Vintage Violet cardstock that is cut to size and sponged with Vintage Violet ink and one of the smaller flowers form Fabulous Flowers is stamped on top. The back of the clipboard is painted white and the front papers are mod podged in place. Silver dots by Colorbok and white grosgrain finish it out.

Stamps: Fabulous Flowers. Paper: Vintage Violet and We R Memory Keepers dp. Ink: Versamark, Vintage Violet, Brilliance Moonlight White. Accessories: clear ep, clipboard, white paint, mod podge, ribbon, silver dots, brayer.

1 month left on my no buying anything for Lent. I'm already starting a list of things I want/need to buy once Lent's over. I thought I'd be okay with my cardstock levels and there are colors that are running out. This hasn't been too bad. I miss going to the LSS when I get the urge, but my credit card bill is A LOT smaller than it's been in months.

Sketch Challenge gone wrong

Oh boy, did I do it. I REALLY messed up a sketch challenge. It's a good card, but it's not what it was supposed to be.

I hate when that happens.

It was a fast card too - It only took me maybe 15-20 minutes to do.

Stamps: Fabulous Flowers. Paper: Purely Pomegranate, Soft Sky, Whisper White, So Saffron cardstock and dp. Ink: Soft Sky and Purely Pomegranate. Accessories: brads, Bella Baubles, dimensionals, ribbon, pearl pin (already dyed), silver and pearl beads.

I got an email from my demo... One of a Kind is in! I'm going to pick it up soon!

Limited Supply Challenge

Limited Supply Challenges are interesting. You're given a theme - and some boundaries and you make a card out of it. Last week, it was Superbowl related: football, team colors, etc.

This week? Valentine's Day, the non-traditional kind. No flowers, no hearts, no red or pink, no embellies that are red or pink, and keep it under 4 layers.

Well, if you don't count the base, I have 4 layers. :-)

I really like these Flourish stamps. They're fun and easy to work with. I don't think I could make an ugly cake with this set.

Stamps: SU - All Through the Year, Priceless; Flourishes - Cake Decorating 101, Sweet Treats. Paper: So Saffron, Certainly Celery, Chocolate Chip, Whisper White. Ink: So Saffron, Certainly Celery, Chocolate Chip. Accessories: ribbon, dimensionals, Chocolate Chip marker.

I have my blades, spent a grand total of 5 minutes in Hobby Lobby - most of it in the checkout. My much-needed SU cardstock and various other things I ordered before I came to my decision to not buy anything for Lent will be here on Monday!

My Favorite Guest Designer and Ways to Use It card

It's the beginning of the month, and it's time for another My Favorite Guest Designer project. This month's challenge was to create a candy holder - nugget box, slider, pixie pouch - basically whatever your heart desired.

My project: A milk carton. :) We got a lot of snow yesterday and I really wanted to use my Winter Blast set - those penguins are adorable! So with the help of Beate's milk carton tutorial in the Resource section of SCS, I created my own.

I had a blast doing this and I think it looks adorable!

Stamps: MFT- Winter Blast and Essential Sentiments. Paper: Soft Sky, Old Olive, Georgia-Pacific white. Ink: Soft Sky, Old Olive, Versafine black onyx. Accessories: brads, Marvy mega scallop square punch, ribbon, stapler, tacky tape, stylus, paper piercer, prismacolor pencils, word window punch, silver cording.

I also made a card for the Ways to Use it Challenge - DOTS. I think I did a pretty good job on this card and *gasp* No embellies!!!

Stamps: Stamping Bella: Cuppacakeabella and Obey all the Rules. Paper: Soft Sky, Old Olive, Really Rust, Watercolor paper, Fall Flowers dp. Ink: Versafine black onyx, Really Rust, Reinkers: Really Rust, Old Olive, Soft Sky. Accessories: corner rounder punch, ticket corner punch, aquapainter.

Update on my problem from yesterday. Talking it over with my friends on SCS and hearing what they had to say - as well as those who posted here - I've come to the conclusion that papertrimmer blades don't count as stamping supplies - they're more of stamping necessities. So I'm going up to Hobby Lobby tonight and just buying blades. I did make it through the MFT release party without buying anything last night!

Doesn't this ALWAYS happen? Lent, Day 1

So today officially starts my buying moratorium on all things stamping - except One of a Kind (I mentioned this earlier.) I realize - as I'm cutting the pieces of my card for today - that the blade on my paper trimmer is getting dull. I don't have replacement blades.

*palmtohead and headtodesk*

I can't believe I didn't think of it. I have plenty of adhesive, I just started a new roll of Tacky Tape, I have an extra pack of dimensionals. I have more brads, ribbon and primas than I know what to do with, I just ordered a bunch of cardstock before I decided to give stamping stuff up.

I have a 25 - 6x6 recipe card swap due in the middle of Lent as well as my regular cardmaking.

I'm wondering how I can get around this problem.

On a better note, I made a card today. It was for the Sketch Challenge on SCS. It's also a sample bridal shower card for my future SIL. The wedding's not until next year, but since I'm designing and probably making most of the paper stuff (invitations, bridal shower invites, thanks you cards, etc), I want to get a head start.

Stamps: Stamping Bella - Bridalpartybellas; Papertrey - Piece of Cake. Paper: Sage Shadow, Chocolate Chip, Very Vanilla. Ink: Palette Burnt Umber, SU Chocolate Chip, Sage Shadow. Accessories: Prismacolor pencil - jade green, Sakura Quickie glue pen, Martha Stewart glitter, May Arts brown satin ribbon, brads, paper piercer.

While I was waiting for the card to load, I went to the Post Office website to look at where some of my packages are - I'm a BIG fan of delivery confirmation since one of my swaps went missing for 3 weeks. Something confused me and honestly, it doesn't take much today. WHY, if all my packages are heading west from here, are 2 of them (specifically the ones heading to Utah) in BALTIMORE?

Tuesday

It's Tuesday. I didn't do the Technique Lover's Challenge at SCS because I really don't need to make a centerpiece out of an upside down cootie catcher - though it was cute.

I DID do the STCC and posted it on SCS just after I announced my blog candy winner, but I didn't want to bury the winner announcement post with that card. I'll add it here later today.

So... last night I was working on a project down in the dungeon that I think turned out really cool. It was dark when I emerged, so I didn't get to photograph it until now.

What do you think? The inspiration came from Cammie's blog (she's in my blog roll) and her Frappuccino bottle full of m&ms. Next time I do this, I'm using individual bags for each color - sorting Jelly Bellys is a pain. I went into the store looking for Bright Pink ones - to match some yummy satin ribbon, but they didn't have that color. But they had Bubblegum, Lemon-Lime, Lemon and Juicy Orange and I had ribbon to match!

The medallions are a SU scallop circle punch, Marvy Extra Jumbo scallop circle punch, 1" chipboard circle, 1" circle punch. The word LOVE comes from Papertrey's Mixed Messages set.

My card for today is for the CC152: Apricot Appeal, Real Red, Ballet Blue. I really like this combination and it made for a great card. My mom has bronchitis, so it's going to her.

Stamps: Gina K/Melanie Muenchinger - Just so Hippy. Paper: Real Red, Ballet Blue, Apricot Appeal, GP white. Ink: Versafine black, Apricot Appeal, Real Red, Ballet Blue. Accessories: prismacolor pencils, baby oil, brads, chipboard, dimensionals, tacky tape, cropadile, ribbon

The buying moratorium officially begins tomorrow, though I've started already.

What I'm Giving Up for Lent

I'm generally not someone who is really religious. I don't have a problem with religion or anything like that - I am just of the opinion that my religion and faith is mine and I don't have to share anything about it if I don't want to.

While I don't belong to a denomination of Christianity that asks its members to give something up for Lent, I like to do it on occasion to see what my willpower is.

This year, I'm giving up buying anything stamping related. No cardstock, no dp, no brads, no stamps*, no stickers, no rub-ons. NOTHING.

*I want the SU set One of a Kind when it's available again. If it happens to be available during Lent, I will get it.

The reasoning behind my decision (while people are recovering from their faints of shock and horror): I put together a 12x12 paper rack I got for Christmas and realized I have a LOT of stuff - brads, cardstock, dp, stamps, etc. and I DON'T use it.

It needs to be used before I buy more. I don't want to be my grandmother with her boxes FULL of clothing patterns and fabric.

So, here we go. No more buying stamping stuff until March 24th.

Don't forget my blog candy in the previous entry! You have until Sunday/Monday at Midnight to comment in that post!