Archive for the “Crafty” Category

I got my federal and state tax returns in. I owe so much on credit cards, the refunds won’t even make a dent. But I decided to splurge and get some things I really wanted for a long time.

I’ve been researching prices and user reviews on the Cricut Personal Cutting Machine for over a year and a half now. It retails for about $250, and sells on Ebay for more than that sometimes (why would you pay MORE on Ebay for something you could buy cheaper at a retailer and have the option of returning it?) I’ve never seen bids on these machines end for less than about $220 once you pay for shipping/handling. The cheapest retail price I’ve ever seen was at the evil Wal-Mart for $184 plus shipping. I try to avoid supporting that demon corporation, but of course I got a $20 gift certificate for Christmas, so I was tempted. But instead I bid in an Ebay auction and won it. After paying for shipping and insurance, it’s only costing me $165 for a new-in-package Cricut! YAY! I feel like I got quite a bargain from the $250 it sells for.

Then on Buy.com they have a 3rd generation 4gb Ipod Nano, refurbished. I normally shun refurbished electronics but this still comes with all factory accessories and has gotten great reviews. With an online promotion code for a 5% discount, it ended up only costing me $94! I wanted an 8gb in red or the new hot pink color available on apple.com, but those sell for $199. For the 4gb I figured I saved $55 off buying it new. I don’t like to listen to new, unfamiliar music very often so I figure 1000 songs is plenty for me. (My old ipod was a 20gb, much older generation with the extra buttons and a black and white screen - I think it was stolen by the guy sitting next to me on a flight back from Cincinnati last summer when I became sick on the flight and was distracted by severe pain. I bought that one used and only paid $90 for that one as well.) My bargain was detracted from because I opeted for faster shipping ($14 more), rather than the free shipping that could take up to 9 business days. I have a trip coming up and I want to have it before the trip.

I also bought a cute little wallet to protect my ipod when I carry it in my purse. I love pink and brown as a color combination. Retails for $25, I got it for $14.50.

A really, really cool thing is that my parents won bluetooth wireless ipod earphones as a prize somewhere, and they’re giving those to me for free.

So even without counting the wireless headphones, and even after paying shipping and insurance, I saved almost $150 today, after spending $280.

Bargains make me happy.

… and everyone knows that the uterus is the seat of all creativity.

My favorite web comic is Natalie Dee. Even though I do not have a boyfriend right now (and the last guy I dated wouldn’t have been worth the effort, frankly) I couldn’t resist buying a Natalie Dee designed valentine’s cross stitch set.

They’re out of the heart-shaped canvases and have just the square and round ones with lace around the edges, but I like those better anyway.

So while on the Subersive Cross Stitch website I bought a couple other sets. One for my cubicle at work (which I will be forced to take down), and another to remind me to live a better life.

I haven’t cross-stitched in years, but I used to be pretty OK at it. One thing I haven’t tried since I was a child is needlepoint. My mom bought me a kit I wanted for Christmas back in 2006, but I have to do a practice kit first and just haven’t gotten around to it. It’s going to look great when I finally do it though. Nothing says class like a big framed version of Dogs Playing Poker, done in needlepoint.

Needlepoint is the new “art on black velvet”.

Who has time for this stuff anyway? I come home from a 10.5 hour day and I don’t have the energy for any of this.

I’ve been totally neglecting my first love, photography. Not that I ever took pictures of any importance like my friend Jack does. He’s really good! But I enjoy taking pictures.

A few months ago I bought a brand new camera - a Nikon D40x. I haven’t even gotten to use it yet! (Nor have I gotten to pay off my Amex from charging it yet!) It’s the same camera used by Lauren to take pics of her adorable dog Sam.

And I don’t even want to think about the last time I’ve gotten to scrapbook!

I’ve been scrapbooking since I was in the fifth grade. I’ve gotten better over the years. It’s a shame that we didn’t know about the importance of acid free papers and adhesives - even my scrapbooks from high school are ruined already, the cheap tape drying up and turning the pages and the photos yellow. I have to go back and re-glue the pictures properly, but that won’t erase the damage.

I haven’t been scrapbooking because my craft room is out of control! It looks like a paper shop and a photo lab vomited in there. I have to clean it first, then I can resume scrapbooking.

If you’d like to see my horridly cluttered craft room and some scrapbook page samples throughout time, click “read more”.

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