Wednesday, June 16, 2021

WOYWW 628: My annual craft budget is SHOT (Big Shot)

 

Actually, what I was given by my crafting friend and shopaholic Kathy (who no longer has a blog) was a Big Kick die cutting machine, but it doesn't sound as good in the title.  Of course, I'm here to join Julia, Queen of Deskers, at Stamping Ground

I realize many of you have unlimited craft budgets, but my annual budget is $60.00 (USD), (42,40 pounds; 49,26 Euros).  Imagine how thrilled I was when my friend Scott ordered these dies and the Sizzix items on Amazon Prime I need to emboss these dies.  There are 16 dies in each package for a total of 32 dies.  The cost was $22.00 (USD) with tax (15,54 pounds; 18,01 Euros).  The Sizzix pieces, one hard plastic, one rubbery silicone mat were $11.00 (USD) with tax (7,77 pounds; 9,03 Euros).  That's a total of $33.00 (USD) (23,41 pounds; 27,21 Euros).  It's a good thing I still have nearly half my annual craft budget left to spend because I have less than half a year to go.
 
I love how the dies are flat and contained in such nice packaging/storage.

I know you came to see the rocking horse, though.  Note how Wendy is hanging out in the background.

I decided to move this stained glass beauty where the light can shine through it.  And Julia can see both my peacock chairs that sit on my front porch, too!

I thought I would also show my sewing, cutting table in all its non-glory today.

Tools, including my heat gun, and my TV and old VCR take up the rest of the space.

Please join me at Julia's and share your own desk, no matter how clean or messy it might be.  I suspect everyone knows by now to please leave your number if you are coming from Julia's.  Have a great WOYWW, too.

 

44 thoughtful remarks:

Sarah Brennan said...

Those dies look very useful and I am sure they will get a lot of use. Love, love, love the stained glass rocking horse! Stay safe and happy WOYWW. Sarah #3

Helen said...

I hope you enjoy using all those dies, they look very useful. the rocking horse is beautiful there in the light! happy WOYWW Helen #2

Elephant's Child said...

I am sure that you will make most excellent use of those dies.
And love, love, love your rocking horse.

Valerie-Jael said...

Have fun with your new ties. I don't have a craft space, I have to work on my small kitchen table, but it's okay as long I clear it up here and there! Hugs, Valerie

Tracey@Hotchpotchcreations said...

Oh Elizabeth another crafty tool which will become addictive, you'll find those dies so useful. Lovely to see all those other areas you have to hand, so good to be able to just go use things rather than having to get them out and put them away. Your rocking horse is fabulous.
Happy WoywW Tracey #9 x

Iris Flavia said...

The horse is a beauty! Our Graff-book-store is open again and I looked through their cards... no rocking horse :-(
I wouldn´t want to send you a pig instead ;-) That, they had!

Neet said...

Good to see a rocking horse again and this time it is a real beauty - I can just imagine the sunlight shining through the glass. Good to see Wendy is keeping an eye out on things.
Those dies will be very useful, I always think ovals and rectangles can be used in so many ways, happy hours ahead.
Take care and love to you all
Neet xx 5

aussie aNNie said...

Gorgeous rocking horse, your craft area looks awesome. xx

PerthDailyPhoto said...

Isn't it wonderful to get extremely useful gifts like this Elizabeth, friends whether they be virtual or real are a joy ✨ oh my gosh your little stained glass rocking horse is superb, did you make it? 💜

Shaz in Oz.CalligraphyCards said...

Hi Elizabeth, you have a very interesting crafty space, and the gift of a dye cutting machine has certainly sent you in another tangent .. and those dies are really great sizes too, as you say, store easily. I store dies according to packaging as found they don’t get lost if kept in what they come in. 😊 stunning rocking horse too, really special.
Thanks for Sharing, God bless and keep you safe, and all those you love, hugs Shaz in Oz.x

{Wonderful Words of Life - Shaz in Oz}
{Calligraphy Cards - Shaz in Oz}

Lynnecrafts said...

Lovely rocking horse! It will light up the room with the sun through it. I hope you get lots of pleasure from your dies.
I used to have a peacock chair, first thing I bought with my wages.
Take care and happy WOYWW
Hugs
Lynnecrafts 7

Lunch Lady Jan said...

Well, you may have used up half your allowance but you sure got a lot for the money! You’ll get so much us out of those dies and the way theyr’e stacked flat pleases me too! That’s a gorgeous stained glass horse, you have it in just the right place with the light shining through like that. Your comment on my blog about your Grandma ironing everything made me smile….I iron as little as possible, lol!!
Hugs LLJ 6 xxx

Mae Travels said...

That rocking horse looks really neat. I'm grateful for the last photo because I found it hard to guess how big it really is.

best... mae at maefood.blogspot.com

Spyder said...

Oh my goodness those dies are going to come in soooo useful! Love the little rocking horse! AND your big cutter, I'd definitely need a bigger craft room to have one that size! Thanks for your earlier visit, Have a great crafty week, stay safe. Happy WOYWW!? ((Lyn))#19

CJ Kennedy said...

The cutting machines are so handy. Have fun! Your craft space is so nice and tidy and the stained glass rocking horse is a beauty.

Felix the Crafty Cat said...

The new stash was a great buy, it just shows that you don't have to break the bank to have some great crafty stash. The rocking horse is a real sweetie too. Wishing you a lovely creative woyww, Angela x14x

My name is Erika. said...

Those are nice dies. I think you'll get a lot of use out of them! I also love seeing that pretty glass rocking horse. It looks great with the light coming through it. And I wonder who has an unlimited art supply budget? ( I want to be them, but then you'd end up with too much stuff, which happens anyhow.) I budget monthly, and what I spend on craft supplies depends on what else I need money for that month (after my savings and basic bills get paid). Hope your week is going well.

Diana Taylor said...

Your little glass rocking horse is absolutely delightful and it's good to see Wendy keeping an eye on things as usual. I suspect giving yourself a craft allowance is a great way of not ending up with stash you never use - it must focus the mind on what you actually need and ensure it will be used more than once! The dies look great - you certainly got a lot for your money there.
Hope you have a great week,
Diana xx #17

DVArtist said...

I know you will put everything to good use. Enjoy.

Jackie McGuinness said...

I need to get my crafting mojo back!!

Sylvia/LittleTreasures said...

Thanks for the visit. Neat and orderly is what you are ! Loving the stained glass horse, just adorable. Have fun with those dies and the embossing. Most times less is better. Enjoy a great week.

Crafting With Jack said...

Unlimited craft budget? That sounds wonderful! The trouble is you can’t use up your supples as quickly as you can buy them. Happy WOYWW Angela #18

Anne (cornucopia) said...

Scott is very nice. And I love that rocking horse. I'm sorry I haven't been by to visit much. I've had a few issues that have hampered me. (One that started a few weeks ago, right when Teddy and I wanted to rejoin the T Gang on Tuesdays.)

Lindart said...

Hi Elizabeth! Beautiful Stained Glass Rocker! And what a fantastic buy! I have a very limited craft budget too, I can't tell you what it is exactly (because it's generally "don't buy it unless its glue!), but I generally wait for Christmas and Birthday Gift cards and presents. What a great friend to gift the Big Kick to you! I'm sure a whole new world will open up! Have fun, Lindart #30

StampinCarol said...

I had to laugh at the "unlimited" budget. If wishes were horses... but not rocking horses. Oh I'm bad. Anyway, you will get so much use out of those dies!! Love your glass horse and such a nice space to craft!
Thanks for popping by and have a great week!
Carol N #27

Divers and Sundry said...

Cool! Another tool I've never used, and I look forward to seeing how you use them. Love that rocking horse :)

I was surprised at how much the simplest of craft items cost if bought at places like Michael's and even Amazon lol. I depended on Kleenex boxes and magazine/newspaper clippings and Dollar Tree, but even then I was beginning to expand beyond the little cabinet I had set aside. You're so organized :)

Sami said...

That stained glass rocking horse is a beauty and so unusual Elizabeth.
You've done well with your craft budget and so nice that Kathy gave you the die cutting machine.

Sandra Cox said...

Good on Scott for the order and good on you for getting so much accomplished on a frugal budget.

da tabbies o trout towne said...

the rocking horse is soooooooooo totally cool !!! ☺☺☺♥♥♥♥

Shoshi said...

How exciting, Elizabeth, getting the Big Shot and those fabulous dies - they do look lovely! Well done, sticking to your budget. I'm afraid I'm not discipled enough to set myself a budget but tend not to buy stuff for ages, and then go completely mad for a while! Somehow I manage to remain solvent at the end of the day! The little rocking horse is adorable. At first I didn't realise he was made of stained glass. So unusual! I love peacock chairs too... It was lovely having the tour of your room, which looks well organised.

Thank you for your visit - yes, I've got a real sense of achievement with my clearing - I did another session this afternoon and feel I've made real progress now. I'm glad you enjoyed seeing our garden - all credit to my hubby!

Happy WOYWW,
Shoshi #8

Felicia said...

Wow, what a great deal on those Amazon finds! I luck up and find some good deals sometimes as well, but I KNOW I go over your $60 budget!! LOLOL I'm not boasting, mind you, probably need some intervention to be truthful! LOLOL Look forward to seeing all your craft projects from them! LOVE, LOVE the stained glass horse! So beautiful!!! Thank you for coming by and visiting my desk and your lovely comment!! Especially concerning my daughter! I hope I did parenting justice that's for sure! :) Stay cool and blessings for the rest of your week! :) Felicia #26

Heather M said...

Hi Elizabeth, oh my, I love the stained glass rocking horse - I can imagine how amazing it looks when the light shines through it. Those dies are similar to ones I first invested in when I got a Big Shot. I did sell the Big Shot and get an electric machine as I can't leave much equipment out, and the Big Shot was getting too heavy for me to move about. I did love it though. I'm quite fortunate at the moment with my crafty budget, but .... it's been diverted to my garden and plants at the moment! Thanks for stopping by earlier - I am really enjoying the time spent in my garden! Have lovely week, Heather xx #28

Lowcarb team member said...

Oh WOW!
I just love that rocking horse, it's amazing.

All the best Jan

Jeanie said...

I can tell you will be putting those dies to good use! What a great way to spend your budget! (And that stained glass rocking horse is so you -- it's perfect!)

Rita said...

Beautiful dies! So many things you can do with them. :)

Lynn Holland said...

I’ve just had a right old nosey round your room and if you weren’t so far away I ask to come over for a play day haha.
The star of the show is definitely the rocking horse though
Lynn xx 13

RO said...

Wow! I'm totally loving that rocking horse, for sure, but I really adore the rolling drawers that allow you to put stuff in them, and then walk away. Such a perfect crafty tool. Hope you're doing well, and sending lots of hugs your way! RO

roffeycreations said...

Hi Elizabeth - thanks for stopping by - the Big Shot is fabulous - I hope you gets lots of great stuff out of using it. The plates are the clear plastic / perspex sheets you sandwich your dies and card in to put through the machine. They can be over $20 here to buy a pair - and they get messed up pretty quickly. I have been using the same pair for a few years now - but have spares to swap over to. If you want to know anything about them just ask - I love them. Have a great week - Stay safe & well - Cheers Maurs xxx #34

Susan Renshaw said...

I could use those Dies!
Your guillotine looks identical to the one I left with my sister when we moved to Australia 15 months ago!
Happy WOYWW!
Susan #12

Christine said...

Thanks for your visit earlier.
Just love, love that rocking horse! beautiful!
Thanks for sharing her with us and enjoy your new toy.
Christine #24

Lillianb said...

They sure look like you are going to get a lot of use out of those dies, I love the horse. great colours for the sun to shine through. lovely sewing area,

Take care and stay safe,

Lilian B #23

Dorlene Durham said...

Wow! Your horse is so beautiful and I’m glad you moved it so the light shines through. Great photos of your room too! Have a great week! Dorlene #31

pearshapedcrafting said...

Those dies are going to get a lot of use I think! You make me feel guilty when I think of what I have spent on crafting goodies over the last year!! I am sharing with T though...well...some of it!! Your rocking horse is a beauty! Hugs, Chrisx

Empire of the Cat said...

I have a bit of an obsession with dies, they are so useful. Glad you got some that you like. I probably have more than I could ever need so I have to stop myself from looking at Sizzix sales. Since it's summer there is probably one going on right now, but I am NOT going to look! Elle #19 and late