Day 217 - Can't Stop

OK. I can't do this. I can't not shop. I can't pass up a bargin. And I can't walk into a scrapbook store without buying something.
I just can't. "To thyn own self be true." Isn't that what they say. Well, I know myself now. I know, that if I step foot into a store, money will come flying out of my wallet. It's going to happen. I KNOW that now. 

So you would think... then just don't go. But I can't. I HAVE to go.  At a minimum of need glue. And you've seen me struggle with that. Going in and just getting glue.  Order on-line, I could, but the shipping would probably cost me more then what I would spend if I went into the store. 

Then there is all the justification as to why it's ok for me to shop...

I don't spend that much. My average purchase is around $20. It's not like a have a hobby collecting diamonds or gold! That I have a "problem" and every time I walk into "Jareds" I buy a diamond ring.  I'm totally into stickers! (And let me tell you.. my husband is happy about that one.) So is it so bad?

I use what I buy.  I swear I do. Some people just collect scrapbooking supplies and never use it for whatever reasons. One being it's their "favorite" and they don't want to use it. (Been there, done that.). But what good is ribbon tucked away in a box. Wouldn't you rather see it on your favorite page, coupled with a favorite photo. I would. But I scrapbook and think that way.

Plus - I use all these stuff on my cards. Which is getting busier and I LOVE that. And I think the cards have taught me to let go of a lot of product... and I love that - causes I have to make more room.  Although I have bought more stamps. Which take up more room. It's a vicious cycle.

When I shop - my creativity flows. Really. Walking up and down the aisle and looking at the paper, ribbon, buttons, etc, gets me "in the mood" to doing pages and cards. And I'm not looking at layout ideas. Just looking at the product gets me thinking. And it's not like magazines.  It's touching the stuff, walking in it, passing through it - that makes it happen. It's the physical that makes the mental work.

And I'm not putting us in the "poor house" because of it. Lots of people spend $20 just in coffee. And what can they show for that? A lot of trips to the bathroom.  Me - I can show you album after album, page after page of what my money has purchased.  But it is showable. In fact, a little too much... I'm running out of shelf space for my albums.  (I really do need that other condo for scrapping.)

And so... I just love it so much... and shouldn't that what life be about. The things you love. How blessed I am to be able to enjoy all those things - so why deny it. Why surpress it. Just go for it!!!! 

So... should I change this into the "Latest and Greatest" blog and share my purchases and cards created... I'll have to think about that.
So am I throwing in the towel... don't know yet... get to think about that too. Wait... I'll go shop and think about it. LOL... just joking. ;)

Day 207 - I Was Naughty

I was SO bad. So, very, very bad. 

Did you know Michael's is clearing out their entire line of "Recollections" (that's their brand) in addition to other items. They are totally reworking their scrapbook dept and clearing out walls of items. Clearance. Clearance and scrapbooking.. I just about wet my pants with excitement. What could be better? A chocolate cake shake with no calories. Since the shake isn't happening - I went for the items.

 It was bad. Well, it was good -because prices were unbelievable low. I mean unbelievable. A $10 Martha Stewart punch for $1.50. Bling for 49 cents. Sticker sheets, in which I could make 6 cards from $1.
Paper for 14 cents a sheet and bottled flowers for $2.99 (Regularly $7.99) and glitter chipboard letters that were normally $8 were 99 cents! 99 cents! Less then a dollar. Even the Dollar Store can't beat this price.

Come on! I HAD to! I SO had to. I couldn't pass up these prices!!! No way. I don't care about the promise, the blog, anything. I threw it all a side and got some great stamp sets for making cards... 4 different one. I got 2 bottles of flowers, 10 sheets of paper, 4 jolee "shoes" to use for cards - the shoes are satin with "diamonds" on them.  4 rolls of dollar ribbon. I would have picked up some paper packs, but I didn't have a cart or basket and by this time, every time I would reach to look at another item, I'd start to drop everything in my hands.
So the bending down and picking things up wasn't worth the reaching up and looking. (You would have thought I'd just go get a basket. No - cause then I would only buy more.)

Smokin' deals!!! So I'm sorry.  I apologize. But the saver in me, beat out the don't shopper in me and I couldn't pass it up. And I KNOW I will be using all of this.  Cheap scrapbooking supplies - I was in scrapbook heaven. Shopping nirvana!

Bottom line... the no shopping isn't going to well these days. I'm doing better then I use to.... but at those prices... is there justification?