I Like Big Lots and I Cannot Lie

Okay...yes, I've been dying for Big Lots to purchase rights to use the Sir Mix A Lot hit in a commercial.  Every time I go to Big Lots, I sing that little ditty but with Big Lots substituted.  I've even gotten my kids singing it.

ANYWAY!  It is very common to find embellishment packs at Big Lots for $1 - $2 each but here's a great deal at 50 cents each!

Cardstock Stickers

Chipboard

All that for $4.50!  Skrimp N Skrap!

Storage Splurge

Ordinarily, I am just as frugal about my storage as I am about my crafting supplies.  Here is one exception.

Fell in love with this 3 tier jewelry holder at TJ Maxx and couldn't resist.  It was only about $15 as I recall...the expense came in the little salt and pepper shakers that I stacked on it and am starting to use to hold very fine glitter.  These were $6 for 8 at Big Lots.

I think the little spurgle was worth it, though.  Makes me smile evertime I see it.

Bazzil Bargain!!!

In a previous post I mentioned my new Bazzil addiction - I've been worried that I would run out of my stash before I found another inexpensive source.  Well, I didn't find a reliable inexpensive source but lucked out on a stock up opportunity.  I was trolling my local Goodwill store and came across 20 packs of 8.5x11 Bazzil cardstock (25 pages per pack) for $1 a piece.  Yes...really, $1 per package.  I don't think the employee who priced them knew what they had.

My Bazzil withdrawal has been averted...at least for awhile.  Skrimp N Skrap!

Frugal Flowers

I love Prima and Recollections flowers - really I do, but when they run 50 cents or so a piece (with a coupon), well little flower clusters on a layout can get expensive!  I often turn to dollar store silk flower bunches or Michaels/Joann dollar area paper flowers so that I can afford to cluster more on each page in a more economical fashion.

Another great source for silk flowers is Goodwill and here is my latest haul.  I went to the 50% off sale at my local Goodwill and found these - cost me $4 for all of these flowers (not including the containers).  They look so pretty just in the bunches and I've already got tons of projects in mind for them - shadow boxes, scrapbook layouts, altered home decor.  Can't wait to get started!

In the meantime, though, they are adding a happy little pop of color in my craft room.  The flash photography doesn't do them justice, but aren't they cheerful?

Skrimp N Skrap!

Dollar Tree Inspiration

Some crafters are very skilled at deciding exactly what product to use on a project and then heading off to the craft store to get exactly what they need and no more.  I am in awe of that discipline.  I am not that person.

I like to "shop" in my craft room. Once inspired, I like to pull out almost every possible product that might go on that project.  I hold up this paper, that flower and then another embellishment, slowly narrowing down to the product and design I will use.  If I tried to do this "shopping" at the store, well, eventually Joann's would kick me out for either making a mess or being there for hours.  Not to mention that when I am finally ready to buy product for a project, the stores either do not have it or it's atrociously expensive.

So, in order to be able to shop in my craft room, I stock up when I see items I like.  The only way I can afford that is to be very frugal.  Thus, I call myself Skrimp N Skrap.   Fortunately, this isn't hard.  Here are just a few of my stock up items from a recent Dollar Tree excursion.

Already, I am seeing how some of these will coordinate with some 6x6 albums I bought from the Dollar Tree awhile ago.  I'm thinking some cute little toddler boy albums are destined for a future post!  Skrimp N Skrap!

Dollar Doilies Double

Yesterday, I posted a layout of my daughter using dollar store supplies including paper doilies.  Well, I have twins.  So that means I have to make two of every layout but just a little different each time to make it special for each girl.  If I don't make them similar, they get upset, but if I make them identical, they get upset.  The joys of motherhood!  Anyway!  Here is the "similar" layout that I made for my other daughter.  Hope you enjoy.

I used a different set of stickers from the Dollar Tree.  I love these so much I went back and got more!!!  :-)

The other supplies used were purchased in the same manner as my other daughter's layout - mostly from the Dollar Tree.  I swear, I'm as addicted to that store as I am to Craigslist.  So sad.

Skrimp N Skrap!



Dollar Store Doilies

This new blog world is just awesome.  Recently, I came across the Scrappin' Sisters blog in my wanderings through blog-land and was enamored with their style.  The beauty of their layouts is stunning and the product they use is gorgeous.

I love the way they create clusters of embellishments and decided to do a little more of this in my most recent layout.  It's the more is more technique and as I noted in a previous blog, I struggle making more detailed, complex layouts and cards.  I always end up taking things away until I have a much simpler design.  I fought this instinct on this layout.  Here is the result.  I'm pretty pleased with it.

I love the recent trend of using fabric and paper doiles on layouts and cards.  This one came from the Dollar Tree (18 doilies per package).  You might recognize the flower and bird stickers from a previous blog, too.  They also came from the Dollar Tree.

I added some paper flowers I bought from the Michael's dollar area, fabric flowers from the Dollar Tree, bling from a bulk buy at the Creating Keepsakes Convention, trim from the Dollar Tree and a couple title stickers from another Dollar Tree sticker pack.  The entire layout cost less than $3.

Thanks for stopping by!  Hope you got a few ideas from this project.

HSN Craft Show Binge

I love National Craft Month.  It always comes with a crafting (paper and sewing) marathon on the Home Shopping Network (HSN).  I try to DVR and watch every show, not to buy, mind you, but to see all the inspirational projects made with the products.  Every once in a while, they will have a deal I cannot pass up - bought a Crafter's Companion on sale, with an additional 15% off coupon.  Usually, though, when you add in the shipping and handling cost, the great deals they offer are not so great after all.

This month, HSN featured Anna Griffin and a set of border punches.  They were lovely, but not something I just had to have.  One of the featured projects, however, inspired this card.

I fell in love with the ruffled look created by layering pieces of border over each other and just had to use it on a card.  It reminded me of a beautiful baby girl dress.  So, of course, this is a congratualtions/gift card for a new little baby princess.

I used scraps from my left overs, a Fiskars scalloped border punch and a Martha Stewart lattice border punch.  Then I cut a frame with a shadow using my Slice.  I attached a little title made with a Hampton Arts Studio G $1 stamp set. 

I really love the overall effect.  The white on white is so fresh and pretty.   I like it so well, I'm thinking of using it in a shadow box I've been putting off making.  Hopefully, you'll see that project here soon!

Thanks for visiting!  Would love to hear from you!  Feel free to share your own crafting inspiration under comments.

Going Green or Just Cheap?

Every time I punch out a die cut from a pre-made sheet, it hurts me to just throw away the remaining paper.  Sometimes the leftover could be a nice frame when some of the image remains from the die cut or even a template when it is cut from chipboard.  It just feels so wasteful to throw all that acid-lignin free goodness away even if I put it in the recycle bin.

Here is an example.  I got this sheet of Basic Grey punch out tags in a recent Craigslist haul.  A good bit of the image remains once the tags are removed.

 

So, I cut the tags apart and cut out the "frames".

Then, I adhered the frames to some pretty card stock and cut around them leaving a border to make another set of tags.

I thought they came pretty cute.  I haven't finished all of the different frames (thus the different photo examples of frames in various stages)

Here is a closer look at one of the tags (the one I like the best).

And, here is a quick birthday card I made with it.

 

"For You" Stamp by Hampton Arts (Studio G).

I'm not sure I will do this every time I have punch outs.  It takes a little time and it is important that the amount of frame left is usable.  For example, not only does there need to be a certain amount of color left, but it needs to be relatively even on all sides (if there is no color left, not sure the effort would be worth it).  Still - it can make a nice detail to add to a tag.

How Did I Live Without These?

Okay, between my new Slice, my newly "discovered" Pazzles and my new Texture Boutique, I am in total craft heaven!  Really, how did I ever live without them before?

I have fallen in love with accordion-fold flowers and have been dying to try my hand at one using my Fiskars scalloped edge border punch.  Here is a thank you card with this technique. 

I added a die cut made with my Slice, a vintage button from my grandmother's collection, a crimped strip of white paper, some ribbon and some inking for dimension - voila, a striking flower.  I matted it on cardstock embossed/inked with a Tim Holtz clock pattern which I think is just gorgeous.  (I seriously need more embossing folders; they are just too awesome!)

Stamps of Life March Release

Got my set of the Stamps of Life March release in the mail Saturday and had to play around with it.  I haven't created a Pazzles cutting file for this yet - the edges are a little complex - but eventually I probably will.  In the meantime, a little fussy cutting never hurt anyone, right?

Anyone out there still use the EK Success Fastenater?  I got mine on clearance and then bought a bunch of the "staples" at Big Lots for $1.25 each.  Thought I got a great deal until I later saw them clearanced at Big Lots for $0.25 each.  Oh, well.  Decided to grab some more at the new and improved price in case they are being discontinued.  At least I have enough to last me for awhile.

Thanks for visiting my blog.  Hope you enjoy my inane ramblings.

President's Day Sale

Love the holiday sales - they can be a great opportunity to pick up items on my wish list.

I've had my eye on a Sizzix Texture Boutique for forever.  I have plenty of die cutting tools and punches.  So I wasn't keen on spending tons of money on a Big Kick or Cuttlebug or any of the other non-electric die cutters but I really wanted a quick, effective embossing option.  When Joann.com offered the Texture Boutique for 40% off and free shipping, I was all over it!  I can say, it was totally worth the wait...now I just need more embossing folders!

NLFMP - No Longer Fearing My Pazzles

I have a Pazzles...I am afraid of it.  Remember how I mentioned in my Craigslist post that there are some purchases you regret that hang around staring at you and making you feel guilty?  Well, my Pazzles nearly became that purchase for me.

I spent a lot of money on this bohemoth grandaddy of electronic die cut machines - I thought it was splurge worthy.  After all, Pazzles designed the Cricut for Provo Craft but their own machine allowed so much more creative freedom - oh, and no pricey cartridges that you are forced to buy.  I bought it used and got a ton of extras with it.  So it was a decent deal, but it is really only a decent deal if I use it!  It has sat in my craft room for over a year, unused and unloved.  So sad...and costly.  Gulp.

I tried cutting with it a few times, but couldn't get the pressure and blade height right.  I also used some paper that was just too thin and it left lovely bits of lint all over my mat.  Well, after buying my Slice - with the excuse that it was just a convenient, portable supplement to my Pazzles - the guilt got the better of me and I fired grandaddy die cutter up.

Fortunately, I have found a great resource on the Pazzles Craft Room web-site - Klo's Corner.  Klo is an experienced scrapbooker and Pazzles user.  Every week, she hosts virtual classes using the Pazzles for a variety of creative projects.  She is very patient and will show procedures many times if needed.  In addition, she records and archives all classes for students to reference later.  Honestly, it's like having a Pazzles with training wheels!!!  Klo is awesome!  Thank you, Klo!

It was with Klo's voice in my head that I finally took on a project I've wanted to do for a long time:  create cutting files of The Stamps of Life images so that I can just stamp them and not fussy cut them by hand.  Well...here is my first project with the first cutting file I've created.

Yes...it looks a little like a project I posted previously...sorry, just love that little umbrella (and, of course, it's real easy to duplicate as a cutting file - hey, baby steps, I'm not ready for nothin' too complex, yet).  I know it is hard to see the dimension - I cut out the top of the umbrella and popped it up with a large foam square.  It's really cute in person.  I am THRILLED with the result.

So, my Pazzles is now on its way to becoming splurge worthy!  Another good example of making an investment - save over here to splurge over there without (or at least with less) guilt.