I'm a bad, bad girl...

I have a savings account where I divert $25 to each payday. It is kind of my "mad money" account. I don't keep track of it really. If we are getting close to running out of money in our checking account then I'll use it for gas or lunches. But I use it pretty sparingly. So I was surprised when I checked the balance and found I had $170 in in! Usually it runs less than $50 in that account. Guess I've been using it even more sparingly than usual! LOL. So...I splurged!

I got a few new sets of nestabilities and a tan embossing mat so I can emboss with them in my cuttlebug machine. Most of you are probably familiar with nestabilities. But if you aren't they are thin metal dies in graduating sizes and shapes. For the basic shapes (circle, oval, square, rectangle) they also have matching graduated sizes of scalloped dies to match. You can either cut OR dry emboss with them. They are made for the Spellbinder Wizard machine...but you can use them in just about any die cutting machine. I own a few of the nesties...but have never got the mat I needed to emboss with them. And due to the cost I'd only bought the scalloped version (figured I cut out the basic shapes with either my paper cutter or my coluzzle). But really, the thing that makes these SO cool IS the embossing and the idea of embossing the solid circle (for example) and then having a scallop circle to mat it to. So I bought the coordinating "solid" sets to go with the scallop sets I already had and I bought the embossing mat. They have shipped and I'm waiting for my new toys to arrive! HERE is a card made by one of my SBS4 sisters (Sparkle) that uses the nestabilities and you can see the embossing and the scallops.

I also got two of the new release stamp sets from Clear Dollar Stamps. I fell in LOVE with the Farm Critters set. And while I was there I got the Chocoholic set as well. The Farm Critters set had a coordinating "sayings" set and a rolling "wheel" but I decided I could make do without those.

So...now I'm done buying for awhile. At least till tax return time. The main thing I want now is to add to my Copic marker collection. I've been thinking of maybe using that as an incentive for my weight loss. Maybe one new marker for every 5 pound loss? But I'd only do the actual buy maybe every six months or so. The cheaper places you have to place a sizable order in order to get free shipping AND a good price on the markers.

I'm off to make lunch and then to create a few cards to share for the week.

Jane

YAY...it's SATURDAY!

I slept in until 11a.m. this morning...gasp! And now I'm leisurely looking at all my stamping sites and "window shopping". There are several things that are currently on my "I NEED this list" but I can't afford them. Sigh. Maybe I can talk hubby into it when we finally get out tax $ back.

So...what's on my "I NEED this list"?

1) Copic Markers - These are artist grade, alcohol ink based markers. They ain't cheap! These are carried at multiple places - I would probably get mine from Clear Dollar Stamps since I design for them and get a special deal. HERE is a blog that has a tutorial and shows how awesome these markers work!

2) Nestabilities - These are thin metal die cuts in different shapes and sizes with both straight edges and scallops so you can create layered looks. You can see them used HERE. They sell these at different places and that's the main thing I've been looking at this weekend. A few places and prices I've checked (in case anyone else is looking):

wolfcamera.com each set is $15.89 plus $6.95 s/h - they do NOT carry the embossing mat

ucutathome.com each set is $22.49 but you can sign up and get a monthly coupon for 40% off so it breaks down the cost if you make your purchase over multiple months. They carry the embossing mat for $6.95.

overstock.com each set is $19.99 plus $2.95 s/h. They do NOT carry the embossing mat.

allthatscraps.com each set is $24.99 and free s/h with purchases over $25. They also have the cuttlebug swiss dots embossing folder in stock that I've been eyeing.

3) Bind-it-All - Just what it sounds like. It's a little binding machine where you can make your own little scrapbooks. Once again, available in many places (including two local scrapbook stores). I've been eyeing this for well over a year but can't convince myself to spend $60 on it. It's also available at Clear Dollar Stamps among other sites. I imagine the weight of this might make it cheaper to buy locally though instead of paying shipping! HERE is a site that shows the machine and a few projects they made with it.

4) Score-Pal - As seen in the first posting showing the Copic markers...the score pal is a little (well not so little) gadget for scoring your paper. This can be used functionally (like for making your card fold in half or for making boxes and such) or it can be used decoratively (like you saw in the card. This is probably lowest on my list because I can make do with my paper trimmer and a scoring blade. But my Fiskars paper trimmer doesn't cut (or score) perfectly straight. So it'd be a nice gadget to have.

5) Cruise - Well, this is only if I won the lottery! But doesn't THIS look like fun?

Ok...now that I've spent all my virtual money and shared all my good finds...I guess it's time to share a card with you!

How about this card?



This uses new stamps from Clear Dollar Stamps. This set will be available on June 1st. It is called "Shore Treasures" and is a set of 16 stamps for $12.99. The sentiment is something I printed on the computer. I was originally going to do a single crab (mostly a white based card) but then I thought it'd be cuter to stamp him randomly all over the background. Well, then I had to COLOR him a zillion times! Next time, just shoot me! LOL. :-) I loved working with this set. It's the same one I used for the little lunch tin I posted yesterday. I will be posting more used with it over the next few days.

My Wish List

Last night I worked on my swap cards. I'm about 3/4's of the way done but need to borrow some cardstock to finish them.

Today I need to work on a Father's Day card for my dh. Don't even know what I'm going to do. In the past I've made him a mini scrapbook, cards with the kids handprints, I've made him t-shirts with "we walk all over our dad" on it with their footprints on it. And another that says "we can't keep our hands off our dad" with their handprints on it. I know he plans on buying something that he wants for himself. So today it's just a card in the plans...maybe something with monkeys or computers?

As I said in a former post, I've been shopping for my secret pal on-line. I've found a lot of cute things that I would love to have (LOL!) So today I'm going to attempt a new feature on my blog...I'm going to attempt to do hyperlinks. So...hopefully if I do it right you'll be able to click on items and it'll take you to their website to view each item. Maybe I'll enable someone else!

Before I start...let me just say that if you want to save money and NOT find new stamps to lust over...then you need to STAY AWAY from the SplitCoastStampers gallery! With so many stampers from all over the world...you get a lot of exposure to wonderful artwork that makes you want to buy all the stamps! LOL!

I fell in love with these Changito Monkey stamps. They are so adorable! Here are some cards made with the stamps from the SCS gallery And then there are the Crabs from Gina K Designs. There is one shown at the top of the page and then another in a bucket at the bottom of the page. (Gina is from SCS and has started up her own company...very cute stamps all the way around but I love the crabs the best.) Here is one card sample made by the designer herself. And here is another created by a different person (Ericka). Then there is the Amuse stamp line...I don't have any particular favorites...but it seems like I love every card I see made with them. Here and here are a couple sample cards made with their stamps. And lastly, I love the Penguins by Memory Box. Oops...those were just the new release penguins for summer. Here is the full line. And here and here are a couple card samples from the gallery.If you haven't guessed by now, I'm not much of a floral type of gal. Give me critters any day! LOL!