Lens

2015 Crafty Shopping: August

It's early in August, but I've already spent my modest discretionary funds on other things (a book, some clothes for our upcoming vacation), so I know this is it for crafty acquisitions for the month. 

If I was sticking to my tentative plan for the year, this would be a month to stock up on various scrapbooking supplies: 

• 12x12 patterned paper, primarily white-based
• 12x12 cardstock
• die cuts
• enamel dots
• alphas
• wood veneer
• washi tape

And what do you know -- I did buy scrapbooking supplies! The papers are cream-based because I've been enjoying Crate Paper's stuff lately and also the bargain pricing at Tuesday Morning. :-) 

2015 Crafty Shopping: July

This month, in my tentative crafty shopping plan, was designated as a mixed media month, so that would entail items like:

• Stencils 
• Blank tags
• Inks, Paints, Sprays
• Embossing powder
• Glitter
• Specialty papers

 The Dylusions art journal is definitely a mixed media item. I haven't done anything in it yet because I was making layouts and catching up on Project Life. But I look forward to playing in it in the future. I couldn't resist these Thickers (and try to buy two packages when I think I will not get sick of a particular color or style.) The Heidi Swapp stamps came with a die to cut out the word bubble shape, so I thought I would get enough use out of it to spend $2.49. :-)

 

2015 Crafty Shopping: June

According to my tentative crafty shopping plan for the year, this month would include adding some of the following cardmaking supplies to my stash: 

• 6x6 patterned paper pad(s)
• 8.5 x 11 cardstock
• stamps
• dies
• ribbon,
• twine
• jewel embellishments
• pearl embellishments

I did buy a 6x6 pad (although my plan is to use them with 12x12 from the same collection in a scrapbook.) I bought some stamps and used them on a layout or two already. The gelatos, although a more mixed media type of item, have already been used to color stamped images that I'll use on cards. 

 

2015 Crafty Shopping: May

Given my tentative shopping plan for the year, this month it was time to buy scrapbooking supplies:

• 12x12 patterned paper, primarily white-based

• 12x12 cardstock

• die cuts

• enamel dots

• alphas

• wood veneer

• washi tape

However, I had picked up cardstock and enamel dots recently and still have a good stash on hand of everything else. What I really needed was albums -- because I'm finally ready to scrapbook our last Disney trip and wanted to get a second one to match for our upcoming trip -- and adhesive. 

So, I visited Tuesday Morning and lucked out. I got two We R Memory Keepers gold albums and a big package of American Crafts adhesives. (The glue sticks seem to be not great quality -- perhaps they've dried up some after being in the package a long time. But even if those are a total loss, it's still a good deal.) I also found some Amy Tangerine chipboard stickers, Chickaniddy enamel hearts, and We R Memory Keepers 3x4 pads of journaling cards. 

2015 Crafty Shopping: April

 

April's tentative shopping focus, based on the outline I made up:

Mixed Media: Stencils, Blank tags, Inks, Paints, Sprays, Embossing powder, Glitter, Specialty papers

What I actually bought: My first Ranger/Tim Holtz distress paints, an alphabet stencil, 12x12 neutral card stock, a package of Simple Stories Sn@p Color Vibe patterned paper, plus two packages of embellishments. I'd like to have a lifetime supply of those Dear Lizzy enamel dots -- really love the colors. I also purchased three small bottles of craft acrylic paint in pastel colors to use to paint some inexpensive Easter eggs from Michael's (which reminds me that I still haven't done it!) The eggs were cheap and said they were dyeable . . . but I want to try painting them. 

 

2015 Crafty Shopping: March

March's tentative shopping focus: Cardmaking supplies

6x6 patterned paper pad(s), 8.5 x 11 cardstock, stamps, dies, ribbon, twine, jewel embellishments, 
pearl embellishments

What I actually bought: 

Zots Bling minuscule glue dots, pink & white laser cut blank cards, Stardust glitter pens @ Michael's; Tim Holtz hexagon frame die, Tim Holtz word bands, Crafter's Workshop Balzer face stencil @ Hobby Lobby.

The die, the clear glitter pens, and the premade cards are obviously card-related. The glue dots can be used on any type of papercrafting project. The metal word bands will likely be used on tags or cards. The stencil was on sale and was a total impulse buy, but I like Julie Fei-Fan Balzer's designs and have other stencils of hers in my collection. 

I don't often buy premade cards anymore. I like to make cards, but between Project Life and regular layouts, I find myself not wanting to spend the time on it as often lately. So I decided to use these for to use for Easter cards and possibly birthday party invitations in a couple of months. 

2015 Crafty Shopping: February

February's tentative shopping focus: Scrapbooking supplies

12x12 patterned paper, primarily white-based, 12x12 cardstock, die cuts, enamel dots, alphas, wood veneer, washi tape

What I actually bought:

Blank red cards, blank red envelopes, This to That double-sided tape, white doilies, pink doilies, Little Yellow Bicycle word dies (love, smile, laugh); Online mini class -- Noell Hyman through True Scrap; Tim Holtz "Speckles" stencil, Project Life mini kit (Dear Lizzy Lucky Charm, with gold accents on all the cards) to help finish up 2014 PL; two super cute colorful packages of enamel shapes (hearts, arrows). [These aren't affiliate links; they're just for informational purposes!]

February turned out to be more of a "card supplies" month than I'd planned, instead of purchasing primarily scrapbooking supplies, due to the fact that I wanted to make Valentines. But the Project Life kit is for scrapbooking and the enamel shapes are embellishments that will mostly likely be used on layouts. I just used the "love" die from Little Yellow Bicycle to make the title on a layout, as well. Plus, I have lots of 12x12 patterned paper to use up and really didn't need to purchase more. 

Overall, I'm having a good time pretty much buying what I want, but at least considering a focus for my spending in a given month. Sometimes when there are a million cool things out there, it's a little difficult to decide what to choose. 

2015 Crafty Shopping: January

So, here's what I thought I might do in January:

Bargains, Basics, or Cool stuff found at NC store

• Look for bargains at Tuesday Morning, Joanns, Michaels, Hobby Lobby

• Stock up on basics, like adhesives of all kinds and blank cards

• If we go to NC and visit the local scrapbooking store, buy a new album for Project Life and enjoy the novelty of seeing stuff in person

And here's what I actually bought:

• Tuesday Morning: 12x12 Amy Tangerine album and sticky-back canvas sheets -- Those albums are normally $25 at full price, so $9.99 was a great bargain. The sticky back canvas was only $5.00 and I use two of the five sheets to cover my December Daily album with some good-sized scraps left over. 
  
  
• Sandy's Scrapbook Corner in NC: Forget-me-not Ranger Archival ink pad, October Afternoon label stickers (4 sheets), Authentique die cuts, sticker sheet, 3x4 PL-style cards, and three pieces of patterned paper, 12x12 pad of Graphic 45 Halloween paper. I had not seen the Authentique line elsewhere and fell in love with the bright colors. I like using labels in Project Life and never see October Afternoon stuff anywhere. And I love, love, love vintage for Halloween scrapbooking -- I now probably have enough Halloween paper to last the rest of my life, since I figure my ten-year-old won't really be trick-or-treating too many more years. *sniff* 

I think this a la carte, free range shopping option made sense for January. I didn't end up buying any basics, so I'll try to pick up things like that here and there in other months. 

Crafty spending in 2015

I've decided to try an experiment for 2015: My own personal “kit club.” I’ve decided that my interests are too varied to be happy with one single kit club each month. Many appeal to me, but not to the exclusion of all others. Also, I don't want to commit to a particular club for six months or a year -- there might be a month where I want to spend my (modest) budget on books or clothes.

 

I tend to spend a lot of time "shopping" online and would like to be more efficient about it. So, I've set up a schedule of what to stock up on in which months of the year. I think it will be fun to "build" my own kit in a specific area of interest. I'll make a note in my calendar to blog about this again to report whether it's working out.

 

January -- Bargains, Basics, or Cool stuff found at NC store

• Look for bargains at Tuesday Morning, Joanns, Michaels, Hobby Lobby

• Stock up on basics, like adhesives of all kinds and blank cards

• If we go to NC and visit the local scrapbooking store, buy a new album for Project Life and enjoy the novelty of seeing stuff in person

February, May, August -- Scrapbooking Kit

• 12x12 patterned paper, primarily white-based

• 12x12 cardstock

• die cuts

• enamel dots

• alphas

• wood veneer

• washi tape

March, June, September -- Card Kit

• 6x6 patterned paper pad(s)

• 8.5 x 11 cardstock

• stamps

• dies

• ribbon, twine

• jewel embellishments

• pearl embellishments

April, July, October -- Mixed Media

• Stencils

• Blank tags

• Inks, Paints, Sprays

• Embossing powder

• Glitter

• Specialty papers

November, December -- Holiday

• Whatever I need for December Daily

• Stuff to make Christmas decorations, gifts, or package toppers