Day 16 - August 30 2010 - Monday

Has it really been two weeks since I bought anything?!

Instead of buying things on Sunday, like I normally due with a Sunday stop at Michael's after groceries, I focused on putting things away. 

I got all my Michigan purchases in their proper places.  And what I 'm finding out, is that when I buy something, in order to organize it, it has to come out of the packaging.  The brads have to opened, and put in all the little plastic floss separators that I keep them in.
The flowers get put in the clear plastic flower buckets.  12x12 letter sheets are cut in half so that they fit in the file folders in the file cabinet, each color letter having its own separate file folder.  And when it comes to paper, I "floor file" first (spreading and categorizing everything on the floor) and then put it was by category or color. I even pulled a part a paper pad and separated all the sheets out. (I didn't even know I had this paper!) By tearing it apart and putting it with the proper colors, I know I'll use it more.

I love organizing!

Then I started to put away photo prints from 2010, 2009 and some miscellaneous ones that had gotten pulled for projects.  Didn't get really far on this one. But at least it was a start. I put them in big Cropper Hopper photo organizers. 

And I'm glad I pass on the Christmas tags on Saturday. In putting my stuff away, I found something that will work just as well on the Christmas gift boxes if not better.  I KNEW I'd have something.

I Almost Caved

I had 30 minutes before my massage appointment today and decide that I would duck into Michael's.  Having a time restriction will help. That way I can't spend two hours looking at things I can't buy. I'm actually after some Zip-Dry; my favorite glue. One bottle for me and one for my mom - she wanted one. 

I make sure I have my coupon, and go in.

I'm being good. I don't look at the end-caps full of all the new Halloween stuff. I go right to the glue. There it is, 2 bottles and I'm done. I now have 28 minutes before my massage appointment.

I'll just look. And I'll only look at CLEARANCE items.  However, this particular Michael's doesn't separate all the clearance stuff. You have to look for the yellow/ red clearance stickers, which for me, is like Evelyn Wood Speed Reading - I can see those tags by standing at the end of the aisle and scanning to my right and to my left.

I picked up a package of gems. Ohhhh, pretty... sparkley... and only $1.50. Nope - got enough. Put them down.  Stamps.. that's always a good buy. You can use them over and over and over again. There's total justification.  No! No stamps. I literally have a bucket full that I still haven't used yet.
I found a 12x12 paper pack that Robyn was looking for. On clearance from $19.99 to $9.99! Yes! I can buy something! Even if it's not for me!!!!!
Glue, paper, and now I'm heading towards the check out. And what is blocking the aisle to the checkout, like some type of casino maze, is the dollar rack! NOT the dollar rack.  Where everything is only a dollar.  I'll just look.

Since Halloween and Christmas now share the same holiday, everything in the bins was new. And there, laying in the third bin from the top, are the cutest little Christmas tags. 5 to a sheet.  Perfect for the gift boxes that I made last year. Except this year we'd be able to have  all new designs. And they are only a dollar.  Reindeer with red noses, Santa and a sack of toys, even blue ones that could be passed off as Hanukkah gifts.  Since there is 5 to a package... I'll only get 4. That's 20 boxes I could do.  On top of the pile of paper and glue they go.  For only $4. 

I take 6 steps, and I stop.
What about the box of Christmas items you have in the closet. Things you've taken from cards and tags and such. And what about the boxes from last year you already have.  And why can't you take the stickers you have, add your own gems, and glitter and they'll look just as cute as what is in the package.  It's not about the money.. it's about using what you ALREADY have.

I put them back. I didn't need them. I wasn't out of any Christmas item. In fact, I could do all my Christmas pictures and all my friends Christmas pictures and even some of their friends Christmas pictures and never use up all the Christmas stuff I have. 
Christmas has it's own box - I can't even contain it in a file folder in the drawer. It would take up an entire drawer.

On my way home, I stopped at the library and got two books, "Blogging in a Snap" and "Blogging for Dummies".  I'm not taking the $35 class either.  My mother always told me, "If you can read, you can learn.  They have a book to teach you how to do everything."
Well mom, you were right. 

Total saving for today; $39.  Didn't get the $35 dollar class, and didn't buy the $4 worth of tags.

Day 14 August 28th - Saturday

Has it really been two weeks? Two weeks without buying a single scrapbook item? Wow.  Do they say it takes 21 days to form a habit? (Or a life time if you are totally addicted.)  I just finished up a set of thank you cards for a friend who was admitted to Ganzaga University's Masters program.  So happy for her. Happy for me too.  I did all 5 cards with supplies on hand. The internet is a beautiful thing if you are looking for one particular item/picture such as the school emblem, school colors or logo.

I must confess. I'm almost breaking here.  There is an on line workshop that teaches how to set up your blog.  I would LOVE to take this. One, I would be doing it for all of YOU. So then would it be considered a gift?  Since I'm doing it for YOU? And it's educational.  It's not just for scrapbooking... it's for ANY type of blog you would like to set it. Cost is $35 on-line course.  I'm trying to win it instead of buy it. I posted a comment on the website and they pick a random winner. But already there were 414 comments and its' still open all day today, so my chances may be a little slim.
I think I'm going to have to enroll.   If I'm going to keep this blog for a year, either you AND I will get bored of looking at blue on white.
My other option.. go to the library and see if I can find a book. That is free. What do you think?  This is a tough one.

Day 12 - Thursday August 26th

The Joann's flier came today. Claiming sales on paper pads, and stickers and punches and other accoutrement's of scrapbooking.   I tore the coupons off the back. Old habits are hard to break.  I put the coupons in my purse. As if I'd be going there to shop for anything else besides scrapbooking stuff.  I wouldn't. I certainly don't sew. I have enough frames. And unless I get into floral arrangements, there would be no reason for me to go there.  Oh, cake decorating. I could start cake decorating. But then I'd weigh 1000 pounds from all the cakes I'd make and no one else to eat them. I guess I might as well just throw the coupons away and make my purse lighter by one piece of paper.

Day 11 - Wednesday - August 25, 2010

Still haven't bought anything but was in the store. Temptation - strong. I eyed the ribbon.  Growing weak.  Must resume buying.....

Is there a 12 step program that can help me?

Day 10 - Tuesday - August 24th

I was up in Milwaukee today.  As I started my commute home, I called Tony.  He asked, "Are you stopping at any scrapbook stores?"
No. I wasn't. (Very sad.) And I WAS sad. Not that I wasn't going to be buying anything, but that the one scrapbook store that was in Milwaukee is closing.  "The Scrapbook Store" (nice original name) will be closing it's doors shortly.  They said that everything is on sale. But even when it wasn't on sale and before the store made it's announcements, you could tell it was going to close.
How, you may ask, do you know a scrapbook store will be closing.
-  They don't have any new inventory coming in.  Or, if they do, it's one sheet of paper from the manufacturer's new spring line.
-  They start selling paper racks.
-  They only have stickers from  holiday's no one wants. (i.e. St. Patrick's Day, Arbor Day, and Grandparents Day.)
-  They layout examples have all faded from being exposed to the sun too long.
-  They start having free crops.
-  They tell you to hurry on in and use your gift cards.

And now, by me withholding my spending,  I've been told the entire scrapbook industry will start to collapse.  (LOL!)

Day 9 - Monday - August 23rd

Since Friday, I finished up 32 cards. Not bad. And the best part.  I didn't buy anything!!!! Not a thing. In fact, I'm using stamps I've never stamped with, stickers I've never stuck and markers I've never ever marked with before. Love it!
However, I am on my last bottle of glue. So I will have to purchase that. But I wouldn't call that a scrapbook item.  Glue is like toilet paper; it's just something you have to have.

Day 8 - Sunday - August 22

In limiting yourself to what you will buy, you learn to use what you have.  All along, I've been the type of scrapbooker who uses what she buys.  I make a lot of pages, lots of albums and lots of cards.  If I buy something, I'll usually use it right away. There was a time when I would buy something and NEVER use it. It was too cute to use! What if I used it on a page, and then took a picture and that item would have been perfect for THAT page instead of the page I used it in.  I've learned... there is always more stuff coming out, and the perfect page, like the "perfect" anything only makes you crazy trying to make it perfect. Perfection is totally over-rated. 

So I'm using what I have. Including the packaging.  This photo shows the back of the Basic Grey packaging that some dog stickers came in. This is the back with the flowers and the UPC bar code.

And wha-la! It's a card.  Note that the packaging is now running along the right side of the card.  I enhanced it with a couple of flowers, attached a tag and a sticker and card is finshed.  All made with left over paper scraps and packaging.  Love it!!

Day 7 - Saturday - Big Expo Day

Today was the Scrapbook Expo. Several weeks ago, before I started my "quest" I signed up to volunteer at the expo. They pay $10/hr for a 4 hour shift. Last year I worked it, and for 4 hours stood at a door and told people they couldn't go through it. Easy cash.
I signed up again this year thinking I'd go, get my $40 and go shopping.

With the new "change of heart" and no longer spending I would have blown off the convention, but I had committed to be a volunteer and didn't want to cancel. You loose a $10 "deposit" if you do. The Expo isn't stupid. They know if you have money invested that you'll show up. If the expo has you sign up, and get no money from,  the number of cancellations is HUGE. I know. I have a girlfriend in the industry who works shows all the time and tells me so.

I arrive at 6:45am. They asked us to be there 15 minutes before our shifts. And I end up standing around and waiting to be taken to my assignment until 7:45. One hour of just waiting. OK by me. Their dime and they are paying me to pace the hall and look at class samples while I wait. You're getting paid to to that? Yep. And I'm highly qualified to pace - I've run a marathon! Finally, I get escorted over via hotel bus shuttle, to the Expo Center a cross the street. This is the crop room where for $40 you can crop from 8am-11:30pm.  I was working the check in table. Ask for the ticket, give them their pink wrist band, their paper packet, door prize ticket, and either stamp set or chipboard set, and ask them to write their name on an index card that they will tape to their chair for identification purposes. And so no one takes their spot should they get up to go shop or take a class.

From 8 until 11 I checked women in. The first one's arrived at 8:02. Tagged them, gave them their give aways (They LOVED me) and answered any easy questions that I could. (What's chipboard? Where are the vendors? Will there be snacks? - I think they were eyeing the cases of M&Ms that were behind me at the table.)

It was easy. At 11, I go back to the "main event" via shuttle,  and collect my $46 dollars.  I immediately give them back $6, which is my entry fee into the vendor fair. Sure, why not pay to go into the "lions den" where temptation will surround me.

Let's just say that the aisle have gotten smaller and the women have gotten bigger.  There was 4 aisles, maybe 5.  And the vendors had the same "old" stuff that they have had before.  These shows have become "clearance out" conventions rather then to show case anything new. The women are looking for bargins and not the last or greatest stuff; cash is tight. I understand.  And after having come off a weekend like last weekend, where Robyn and I did see all the latest and greatest, this stuff looked old and dated and they blew the dust off of it in order to put it in the dollar bins.  The "dollar store" scrapbook booth was jammed with women.  The stamps sets of $2.50each/ 2 for $5 was hopping as well as paper by the pound.  That's by how much the paper weighs... not the person.

I buzzed through.  I touched a couple of stamps, but knew I had a bucket full at home which are still in a virgin state and haven't been inked.  I didn't even look at paper. You couldn't even get close to the racks to see any. And they really didn't have a lot of paper. The one new item that did catch my eye and I stopped to look at was a "cold" glue gun.  It didn't take electrical to heat it like glue guns do, and it claimed not to have "glue strings" when you pulled away. They said it was archival safe. BUT for $20 for the gun, $3.95 for a cartridge, or $8.95 for a pack of 4, I wasn't willing to part with my "hard" earned cash. (Well, it' wasn't hard work but I did stand the entire time so I'd burn more calories.) And I already love the glue I use despite the smell it has. (Only I can't even smell it anymore since I use it so much.)

Out the door I went. Success!!! They didn't get me and I didn't buy.  I waited for Robyn outside the convention hall since it was so cold in there my teeth were chattering. We met up and she knew it was  not going to be good when she saw me on the OUTSIDE of the convention hall.
"What?", she said.
"Bad."
"Really bad?"
"Bad."
"Wow!"
"You don't need a thing in there. And you won't like digging in the bins. Or the crowds. We had it good last week."

I slipped off my purple wrist band and gave it to her. Why should we waste another $6 for her to pay the entry fee.  Tag-team shopping works. And I wasn't going back in. There was no need. I had made it through the jungle and survived!  :)

Day 6 - Friday - Augusts 20th - They Tried to Get Me but They Didn't

They all tried to get me yesterday.  Michael, Paula Dean, Martha Stewart...

I volunteered on Thursday to help decorate a couple of cheesecakes for one of the girls that is getting married in our office.  Went and ordered some special chocolate roses from the local chocolatier, but had to go to Michaels to pick up some kind of bride and groom, wedding bells, etc.  to place in the center with the roses.

Before I even walked in the door, outside on the sidewalk in the "go ahead and steal me, I'm on clearance anyway" bins, were scrapbooking items! Less then a dollar! My favorite kind. I touched them, flipped through them. Saw some really cute brads that I could use. No. I'm not going to. I already have some brads. And it isn't about cost, it's about the volume of items I have.

I went in.

There to great me is the Paul Dean collection. It seems everyone has their own "collection" these days. And there is Paula's smiling face with 40% off next to it.  "Hi! How ya all doin'?" I can just hear her voice and that laugh. All of her stuff in in peachy colored packaging.  Cutest little tags to put on cards. Oh the agony. No thank you Paula - not today.  I'll think about you when I use butter in whatever dish I make tonight.

Up the first aisle is the scrapbooking.  I have to pass it to get to the wedding section.  I could walk all the way around the store, counter clockwise to avoid it.  No. I'll just look to see what they have. Like I don't know what they have!

There's Martha. All decked out in her turquoise and white, clean as can be packaging.  And in that low voice, I can hear her. "Hello. Would you care to buy any of my items today. It would help to make you room look even happier." No Martha. No. I don't want any of your highly priced items, even if they are on clearance.

And so went the battle, but I survived. I only purchased the wedding item that I needed with my 40% off coupon.  A title, that will lay flat on top of the cheesecake that reads, "Happily Ever After".

Day 5 - Thursday - August 19th - Just When You Think You Have It All - You Don't

Just when you think you have it all... every flower, brad, ribbon, die cut. To cover every occasion... tooth fairy, Chanukah's, paint ball,
go-karts, you get the request for the one item you DON'T have.  Yep. Boxing gloves.  "Can you make a card with boxing gloves?"
Sure I can.  (I think I can.) I know I CAN. It's a matter of do I have to buy something in order to make that work.  I checked the "Sports" folder as soon as I got home last night from Archivers last night.   Baseball mitt - no boxing gloves.  Can I make boxing gloves out of mittens? 
Just don't know what I'm going to use yet.  Stay tuned.

Went to Archivers last night to work on a 8 year old project.  Pictures from two Creating Keepsakes Events that took place in Provo, Utah 2002 and 2004. Both years are going into one 6x6 album.  What surprised me was the quality of picture that I'm taking now vs. the pictures back then. Now, for an event, the pictures seem to tell a story.  Where I'm at. Who was with me.  The details of signs, activities and scenery.  Back then, my subject of the picture takes up about a 2 inch square on the 4x6 photo and cropping it down is never an issue.  And no. I did NOT buy anything. I had all the paper, embellishments, memorabilia all in one bag with the photos. I blew the dust off everything and got to work.

Day 4 - Wed - August 18th - Making it Work

The last couple of weeks I've been putting away  completed pages that I've done in the last year or so. They have been tucked into a file cabinet drawer and never placed into their proper album.  In the "out of sight, out of mind" category, there were about 100 pages that need to be put away. And putting them away is fairly easy since I don't scrapbook chronologically.  They just need to go into the right book; anywhere in the particular book. Front, back, fill in somewhere. 

Yesterday I was putting pages away and I go to insert one into the page protector and pull out a page protector that I don't like.
'How can yo not like a page protector" you make ask. "They are a piece of plastic. What's not to like."

This particular manufacturer, put this little halogen sticker on the spine part of the page. It's this purple metallic sticker. And you can't peal it off.



In the past I would have said, "oh I'm just pitching these. I don't like them and find them really distracting when I'm looking at the page." These days, it's all about making it work.

I ended up putting a strip of paper, that goes with the layout, over the sticker part. 

People look at your pages so fast. And they aren't going to critique them. Most people are happy with pictures in an envelope. When they see a book, they are  amazed in the fact you took your pictures OUT of an envelope. To put a strip of paper on the spine that looks like it goes with the page, they'll NEVER notice. 
And, should a "Scrapper" look at the page, they'll be amazed too.  "What a clever idea it was that you covered up that annoying little sticker!" 

Day 3 - Tuesday - August 17th - Why it Needs To Stop - Well, at least slow down

This is an older picture of my desk. I can tell because the 8.5 x 11 papers on the second shelf have been replaced with jars, and the individual drawers that hold all my chip board letters isn't there.

Here's a more recent one with the room containing my "new office" on the left. You can see, I have the stand up table that I work at now. After sitting all day at work, I really prefer to stand and work on my stuff.

This is the other side of the room. The paper wall.  (Which doesn't include the file drawer full of solid color cardstock.)

This is taking from the office side of my room.  I face out the window, but if I turn to my right - I'm in my "studio".  Doesn't every artist need a studio?

And what scrapper doesn't have ribbon?  And this isn't even the half of it. What you don't see are the ribbons wrapped on floss cards in plastic containers - 5 of them.

And where else do you put all the little do-dads.  In jars! Just like a candy store.  The colors are just so yummy.

 And no scraproom is complete without a giant brain on the wall. :)

And you still haven't seen the converted linen closet that stores stamps, albums, cards, punches, pages, etc.

Day 2 - August 16th - Monday - Into the Lions Den

Tonight was a true test. I was going into Archivers, loaded with one 30% off coupon and another coupon for 5 sheets of free cardstock. My project tonight was to sort pictures and get them into the proper file folder so that I could go home tonight and upload the order to Snapfish. They had free shipping for two days only,  and the shipping cost is usually half the total price of my order. And no. Prints are not scrapbooking supplies.

So I went in.  I made it down the main aisle to the workshop. I opened my laptop and started working. No checking out the clearance section. No stroll to the front of the store to see what is new.  In fact, I sat so long at my laptop just sorting pictures that I got a crap in my butt!  I had to get up and walk around. But what if I see something really cute?  No problem.  I'll only look up  at card samples and NOT look at the merchandise. I went over to the card supplies, kept my chin lifted. Didn't look down. Didn't look left or right. Just up at the samples. And I wasn't really impressed by anything. But I felt like I was running out of oxygen. Got to get back to "home-base" (the workshop) before I "run out of air" and can't resist!

I made it! I didn't buy anything tonight. I didn't even use the free cardstock coupon. (And free is not a purchase. It's like a gift.) I'm saving it, should I be scrapping and need some cardstock that I didn't bring with me.
Whew, made it out "alive".

Monday - August 16th - Day 2

This morning when I got up I discovered an old email that I had from Log Your Memory. They were offering a travel journal for $19.95 that I was going to buy for my cruise. This blank journal gives you pages to fill in with details of your trip. Where you went, who you were with, photo log, etc.  Can I make my own? I have to.  On Lulu.com where the book is being sold, I copied down the 17 pages that they gave you for the preview of the book.  I took the 5.5 x 8 binder we had in the office supply closet and pulled out the "Today" stamp that I have.
I'll decorate the cover with a map.. stamp the pages with the stamps I have and use travel stickers to embellish! It will take me an evening to complete. But that's OK.  Once again... another victory! :)

My first hurdle.

Tonight I sent back the subscription card to Paper Creations declining the subscription to one of the latest card idea magazines.  One, I wasn't all that crazy about the cards based on the preview issue that was sent. And two, I can get all the free ideas I want at Two Peas in a Bucket.

Day 1 : August 18, 2010 - Sunday

OK! That's it! I've got to quit! I can't keep on with this. I have so much scrapbooking stuff. And this weekend, after going on a Michigan binge with Robyn, I ended up with some form of scrapbooking in every room of the house.  Kitchen had magazines. Dining room; Silhouette, laptop and printer.  Also known as "Scrapbook South".  The living room holds my newest purchases.  Backroom has albums and magazines. Bedroom; idea books. And my bathroom has two magazines.  "The Studio" our converted master-bedroom - well, that's like living in a crayon box! The only room untouched was Tony's bathroom. 

I've got enough paper, supplies, stamps, etc. I've got every tool. From crop-a-diles, to light boxes, to die cut machines, to ump-tine different bags. I have scissors, and thousands of teeny-tiny brads. Enough flowers to open a flower shop!

And although the majority of what I buy is on clearance, even then, it's a lot of merchandise even if it is cheap.

And so, as I read "Women, Food, and God" about compulsive behavior and over eating, I wonder if I haven't reached the point.  I'm I getting "fat" on scrapbook supplies?

After Robyn and I left A Cherry on Top warehouse sale, after 5 hours of shopping we were "spent'. Both emotionally and monetarily. Our hearts were racing, our minds were stimulated by the colors. We needed a smoke! We were on creative overload and we loved it! The patterns, the colors, flowers, ribbons. All oh so pretty, SO cute. And it is. But living in a 5 room condo we are starting to run out of space. (Just imagine if I had an entire basement. It would truly be a warehouses.) The albums alone, I'm running out of shelving. We need another room just for a library of albums.

As I reflect on this last shopping spree ($300-$350) I'm thinking I need to stop, cut back. Could I go one year without buying another scrapbooking item? Could I use all the adhesive I have before buying more? Could I make some pattern paper work instead of the search for THE perfect paper?

One year. Until August or Cherry on Tops annual warehouse sale that takes place in August- give or take a couple of days.

I have 200 blank cards in my closet. 250 sheets of black cardstock. More stamps and embellishments then I can count.

The woman who wanted to cook through Julia Childs cookbook ("Julie and Julia") in 365 days did it. Why can't I? Why can't I use what I have, get creative and clear out and use what I got.

I guess I don't want to fail. What if I can't. What if I can't resist? What if I am addicted?  What if I can't pass up a Michael's coupon. Put blinders on while walking past the clearance aisle.  Ignore the $100 value Jolee package for $9.99 even though three quarters of it is Christmas and I have enough Christmas stuff to scrapbook mine and all the neighbors Christmas pictures.
What if tomorrow, when I'm cropping at Archivers I feel the need, the urge, to buy it with my 30% off coupon.

 I ran a flippin' marathon last year. Talk about being afraid and wondering if you can do it!
And there were times, where during the training wasn't always the best, and I missed a run, or didn't do well. But in the end - I got the medal. So it makes me think I can do this. I can do anything I want to do. If I give it my best try.

I'll do that. I'll give it my best try to be strong, committed and creative with what I have.
I'll go to stores to get ideas, see what they have, how they altered a flower, and then I'll go back and do it.  Glittered flowers; I've got glitter mist.  Polka dot flowers, I got staz-on and a dot stamp.  Golded, silvered, or aged - Got it all. I'll scope stores and start a "wish list" to ask for on special occasions, (birthdays, Christmas). Let me say right now; a gift is NOT a purchase. If I receive it as a gift, it is not a purchase.*
And maybe next year I'll still have some of the most beautiful pages and memories.

And with the money saved... Tony and I will go on a cruise. Or at least to Niagara Falls.

In this journal I'll write about what I've worked on, how I avoided the temptations,  and wear I stumbled, but never gave up.
Ahhh... Jolee... I will miss you for a year.

*This does not include the trip to Salt Lake City, already booked and on the calendar - oh I have to shop there! So, know already that I won't be perfect. But up until then. I'll try.