A BIG reveal of a different sort

I realize I was supposed to reveal the snow dyed fabric today, but it was so cold in my craft room, the snow has not had a chance to melt.  On top of that, I didn't have a chance to take an updated photo because as I was just getting up this morning, my dear friend Kathy called and told me she was on her way to my house and would be here in about an hour.  That was barely enough time to make a pot of coffee and take a shower, much less clean house.  Oh well, I thought I could live with the mess in the craft room by closing the door.

 

Little did I realize the totally awesome gift Kathy had for me.  Yep, this is a DIE CUTTING MACHINE, a BIGkick.  With it she included some dies, including a complete alphabet, and some off cuts from pieces she made.  No, I didn't get the die that makes the butterfly, but I got a few others.

I may have mentioned that Kathy's sister died a couple of months ago and Kathy inherited her sister's die cutter, the Big Shot.  So Kathy gave me her old BIGkick and she kept her sister's machine.  I'm not sure what the difference is, but Kathy said the Big Shot was made by Ellison.  I can't begin to tell you how thrilled I am.  The only problem is, I have no place to put it, so right now it's sitting in my craft room along with melting snow and fabric.

I had a little gift for Kathy, but it was nothing like what she gave me.  I gave her a small matchbox style book for keeping notes.  On the cover, it said something like (and I forgot to write down the original saying before I gave it to her) "Whoever says money can't buy happiness doesn't know where to shop."  And anyone who has ever read my blog knows how much Kathy LOVES to shop.

And shop we did.  We walked out, left the mess of books and magazines Kathy gave me on the table, along with the scrapbook paper, a few other pieces, and several plastic bags.  We went to the Salvation Army thrift store and I bought a broken tea pot for $2.00 and a lacy sheer for $1.00.  Not much of a bargain, but I've actually quit going to the thrift store because the prices are now so high.  While there, I realized I forgot to put my camera in my purse.  So from here on, there were no photos.

Next, we went to the Goodwill, which is also in my neighborhood.  I spoke to the lady at the register who was sorting through jewelry.  I asked her if they ever had broken items they threw away and she said if she found anything in the jewelry that didn't have a mate, she would give it to me.

 And Kathy found a doll that didn't have a head, so the lady gave it to me, too.  Look at all these goodies she gave me for FREE.

I was so impressed, I decided I should show some of the things Kathy brought me besides the die cutting machine.  Although I'm not fond of dabbers, these vintage dabbers looked like something I was willing to try.  And that LOUD yellow and red tape was to die for.  Quite a contrast from the vintage look right next to it.  Just goes to show I have never settled on a design style I prefer.

Kathy made a few cupcake liner roses, more than likely originally found on Pinterest, and gave them to me, along with a plethora of magazines and a few books.  She also gave me all that white cardstock weight scrapbook paper that I can turn into any color, colors, or designs I choose.  My kind of "scrapbook paper."

I hope to have the fabric out of the snow by tomorrow's post.  I never envisioned it would take this long for snow to melt.  Just goes to show how cold it is in my house!  And thanks for dropping by.  Sorry if I misled you into thinking you were going to see snow dyed fabric today.  Hopefully tomorrow!!