Every year Stampin’ Up publishes a new catalogue in June.  As a demonstrator one of the perks is that I get to preorder some of the new products.  But let me tell you that it is very easy to come up with a long wish list of wants.  This list can be deadly to your bank account.  Especially if you know that you haven’t used the items that you have ordered in the past.  So this is when you need to exercise crafting on a budget, or before you know it you’ll be in the red with your bank account.  Don’t get me wrong it is nice to have all the new products to play with, but lets be honest.  Accumulating product that doesn’t get used can be stressfull.  It almost made me feel like a craft hoarder.  So I created a list of 10 ways to craft on a budget without turning into a hoarder.  I use this checklist when I create my wish list of products I’m in love with.  Once I’m done creating my wish list I then use a checklist to recheck my wish list and I start to eliminate products that I  can wait to order later.  This helps me avoid becoming a craft hoarder.

1. Set your $$ budget.
2. Make a list of what you’d like to have by categories: tools, cardstock, inks, accessories, embellishments, etc.
3. Decide if you want to stay in one color family or more than one. Coordinate your purchases by color.
4. Prioritize each category into sections: must have, good to have, not needed immediately.  I usually put the emphasis on tools. Too many projects rely on basic tools, like a trimmer, to get the best result in your finished project.
5. Check around your house to see if you have substitutes for some basic tools.  For example, you might have a pair of scissors that will serve until you can purchase a better pair, or, in a pinch you can sub a pushpin for a paper piercer.
6. Look at ways to get more out of your cardstock:

• After cutting your cardstock or designer series paper layers, die cut shapes out of the center of any layers that will be covered by another. Not only will you have some die cuts for a future project, but no one will ever know that you used the center of a layer.
• Tie a bow BEFORE cutting the ribbon, thread, or baker’s twine off the spool. You won’t waste as much!
• If part of a die cut will be covered, let the framelit or thinlit hang off the edge of the cardstock or paper and cut a partial die cut.
• Punch shapes from cardstock scraps.
• Use left over ribbon scraps to create a design on a project.

7. To avoid duplicating supplies, keep a list of what you have and as you use it, convert that list into a shopping list.
8. Store your cardstock and Designer Series Paper in file drawers or another dark area. Sunlight and heat are paper’s worst enemies!
9. If your state has an annual back to school sales tax break, take advantage of it to stock up on adhesives and other items that may be covered.
10. Have fun!

Now I bet that all this has peaked your interest in wanting to check out the new products, which will be available on June 1st.  So check it out here.  There  is a sneak peak of new items available here. Remember to check the retiring items while you are in the shop.  Some items are reduced.