My New Notebook!

Yes, it's been a long time, but I'm getting back to posting!!

Our lives have changed a great deal, as have many of you out there in stamp land. My WMWH's retirement from the military and job change have changed our lives quite a bit. Throw in a pending out of state move and the economy, and we've been hit hard just as many of you have!!

This is the reason for today's project. We've had times where coming up with stamping money has been plentiful - or plenty enough - but right now is not one of them! Being frugal and making only purchases I think I "need" is even more important now. Being a Stampin Up Demonstrator gives me a discount for their products, but what to do when I'm eyeing something I don't sell from our catalog??

Those purchases have to meet certain criteria:
1) Will I use it "forever?"
2) If it only will be used for one project, is the cost worth it?
3) How versatile is it?

That doesn't cover everything, but you get the idea. The Quilters Sampler stamp set from Papertrey Ink has been on my list of things I'd REALLY like for quite a while now. It debuted in July of 2008, and I loved it right away! I'm not a quilter, but I have friends who do and like the idea of making them cards or gifts using this set.

I love how easy the stamps are to use! Each square works perfectly with the 3/4" Stampin Up square punch!

After waiting 9 months since it's release, and still loving the set just as much as I did in the beginning, I ordered it this month. I'm so happy I did, this will be in my "forever" collection!

Months ago, there was a set of Pink and Brown cute little notebooks in the Target cards and gifts section. I really liked them - and they went SO well in my pink and brown office! But they were a little on the expensive side. My husband remarked that I could easily make some...and that's been sitting in my mind ever since! I like the idea of making several of these for different things and keeping them in one place. The one pictured here is the first I've made, and as you can see it's for "Stuff I Think I Need!" I have a list of things to add in this little book. A few more PaperTrey sets, the Tim Holtz Tiny Attacher, a Mushroom Lane or two, and many more sets from Stampin Up. I used some little notebooks from my stash. They measure about 4 1/4" x 3 1/2" and you can usually find them at the Dollar Tree in a pack of 4. Very economical!!

I will write things that catch my eye and beg "Please, buy me!" and think about it for a little while. Things I want to keep in my "forever" collection will stand the test of time. Impulse buying may be fun, but can make you miss out on something else you would have REALLY liked a lot more!

Here are some ideas for other, similar, books:

1) Time to Reorder list - As I run out of cardstock, or need reinkers, I can jot it in my little book. I never place an online order - Stampin Up or anywhere - for one small item! The shipping would be way too much. I know right now I need the Staz On white opaque refill because it's on a slip of paper somewhere here on my desk. I would LOVE to eliminate some of those little slips of paper!!

2) Inventory List - This idea came to me at StampFest this year. I was looking at stamps at a vendor's table and they carried the Thomas Kinkade line! I've been buying them at Cornish Heritage Farms since they came out - buying what I can, as I can. I knew which images I had in the large size, but couldn't remember which I had in the vignette. I would have loved to have a little book with all of them listed, as well as the proper name of my Nestabilities, and Copic markers.

What would YOU use most? I'd love to hear your ideas, leave me a comment if you have one!!

Until next time,
Debbi

Items used: Papertrey Ink Quilters Sampler, Copic Markers, 3/4" Square and Word Window Stampin Up punches, Basic Grey Sugared paper, Nestabilities, Pink Pirouette and Chocolate Chip Stampin Up Cardstock, and Itty Bitty Backgrounds Stamp set