Project 2011 Scrap Our Stash Update

I tried to participate on Denise's challenge "Project 2011" this month over at Lala's World.  The challenge was a monthly challenge to avoid the stores and use your stash!  I did great with the second and failed miserably with the first!  I decided to invest in the new Spellbinders Grand Calibur machine at the beginning of the month, with a slight problem..... I don't own any Spellbinder dies!  So I spent the month watching websites and daily deals and slowly growing my die collection.  On top of that, JoAnns has new 4 set spellbinder kits and they were on sale from $80 down to $39.99.  On top of that, they had a 25% off friends and family day, so how could I resist? 

I also was working on finishing our California Vacation Album and I ran out of a specific paper so I had to order it online.... as I was paying shipping, I decided to go ahead and include a few things for our Utah vacation as well.  Then Scrap-Your-Trip had a 25% off the entire site sale.  I started our Spain Honeymoon album, so I needed to buy a few things there are well.  Then I was at Wal-Mart and they had a couple of cricut cartridges clearanced for $15, so how could I resist?  I also had a page lapse problem and needed to order a couple of other cartridges online. 

Then, my friend Jolanda posted a ton of amazing layouts with this awesome chipboard ScrappMatts.  I immediately fell in love with it and decided I just had to place an order.....only one problem, they are in made in Australia!  That meant that I had to purchase enough to make shipping worthwhile. Then I was all set for a 4 day scrap marathon with my friend Shannon, only she threw out her back and was unable to come.  I filled in my sadness with a trip to the scrapbook store.  It's been a few months since I've been.  Finally, last week was double discount day at JoAnns and they already had all of their scrapbook stuff marked down 40% off, so with the discount it was 70% off!  I am happy to report that I only spent $25 and came away with a ton of stuff. 

I think that was everything, although there might have been one or two other daily deals that I picked up along the way.  I am just obsessed with baby stuff now!  The good news is I created 40 layouts this month!  I think that is almost a personnal record for me.  I did out scrap that in January with 44 layouts, but I wasn't working at the time. 

I do think I reduced how much I typically purchase....if you can believe that! I really do have a problem! LOL.  I will try again next month and hopefully do a bit better.  I hope you did better than I!  I recommend you joining in the April challenge over at Lala's World.  Maybe together we can do better.