Wow, where did February go? I did really well on the spending but did not meet my goal of scrapbooking at all. I did one card and that was it. I did not spend a thing though, so that is good!
How did you all do and what is your plan for March?
Mine plan is at least 10 layouts and stay on the spending freeze I have set for myself.
New to this challenge, check out our prior posts:
February 2023 ~ Spend Smart/Stash Bust Challenge - ACOT Message Board (acherryontop.com)
Wild Cherry
2024 Layout goal ~ 14/100 2024 Word ~ FOCUS
Cherry Cola
I ended up making 18 pages and 8 cards. I spent $25 (that was within the budget I set for myself in Feb). I did use up almost all my SS So Happy Together collection- just some pp scraps and ephemera left.
This month I want to do another 18 pages (more if possible) and 8-10 cards. I am working on using some of my saved (hoarded) stash of 49 and Market. Also want to use some collections that I bought on on sale/clearance. Don't want to spend anything unless needed specifically.
This month I want to do another 18 pages (more if possible) and 8-10 cards. I am working on using some of my saved (hoarded) stash of 49 and Market. Also want to use some collections that I bought on on sale/clearance. Don't want to spend anything unless needed specifically.
Hi everyone! My name is Susan and I love to scrapbook!
Cherry Bark
Because I lost my scrap room to my brother and SIL, Feb was a bust again. No scrapping or creating, but no buying either.
March might be different. They are awaiting final deets but looks like they will be closing on their home March 10th. If that holds true, they will move out March 11/12th. So if that happens....my only goal will be to finally be able to GO into my room and clean off the one remaining table I still have in there.
March might be different. They are awaiting final deets but looks like they will be closing on their home March 10th. If that holds true, they will move out March 11/12th. So if that happens....my only goal will be to finally be able to GO into my room and clean off the one remaining table I still have in there.
Brandy 
Chocolate Covered Cherry
I completely BLEW my budget in February. But it was my birthday month so I'm using that as my excuse! LOL! I got the Lost Shadow distress ink and stain, and I also got the March Cherry box. They're waiting at the post office for me. It's been snowing a lot so we haven't gone to town yet. I did get the collection for my nephew's baby album I'll be making and it's even prettier in person!
I did way more than my planned 10 layouts. I completed 18 pages! Hopefully I can keep on that pace this month! Only made one card but I've already got 4 cards started for this month.
I need to stop spending on scrappy things and start spending on house things! We're getting ready to start wiring and plumbing in the new house so hopefully it won't be long before we're moving in!!!
I did way more than my planned 10 layouts. I completed 18 pages! Hopefully I can keep on that pace this month! Only made one card but I've already got 4 cards started for this month.
I need to stop spending on scrappy things and start spending on house things! We're getting ready to start wiring and plumbing in the new house so hopefully it won't be long before we're moving in!!!
Chocolate Covered Cherry
Hey I DEFINITELY NEED to hold myself accountable and get a better grip on my spending!
Stash busting:
I DID complete at LEAST 10 layouts in February, so that's VERY good! A couple of those are layouts that were started some time ago and never finished for various reasons! It feels amazing to have some of those stories in my albums!
I want to do at LEAST 8 layouts this month, create/finish some cards, and do some more art journaling. I NEED to put all my LOs away (I have a drawer and a stack full!).
I am still getting ideas for different organizational methods and figuring out what works for me and what doesn't.
Spending Smart:
Maybe it is okay to get some good deals and now then, but I can definitely over do it sometimes! LOL! I have done VERY good at not buying any more paper- but I have to admit I went WAY overboard with purchasing some other things. Like stamps for example. Or brand new packs of chipboard embellishments for less than $2 a piece at the flea market! By not buying everything, I'm showing some restraint!
I'm STILL working on getting re-inkers for all my ink pads, and probably will get more albums eventually.
I need to be saving some money for things and it's hard to resist buying at the same time, but now I'm buying more purposefully as well and that certainly helps!
Good luck everyone!
Stash busting:
I DID complete at LEAST 10 layouts in February, so that's VERY good! A couple of those are layouts that were started some time ago and never finished for various reasons! It feels amazing to have some of those stories in my albums!
I want to do at LEAST 8 layouts this month, create/finish some cards, and do some more art journaling. I NEED to put all my LOs away (I have a drawer and a stack full!).
I am still getting ideas for different organizational methods and figuring out what works for me and what doesn't.
Spending Smart:
Maybe it is okay to get some good deals and now then, but I can definitely over do it sometimes! LOL! I have done VERY good at not buying any more paper- but I have to admit I went WAY overboard with purchasing some other things. Like stamps for example. Or brand new packs of chipboard embellishments for less than $2 a piece at the flea market! By not buying everything, I'm showing some restraint!
I'm STILL working on getting re-inkers for all my ink pads, and probably will get more albums eventually.
I need to be saving some money for things and it's hard to resist buying at the same time, but now I'm buying more purposefully as well and that certainly helps!
Good luck everyone!
Cherry Cola
I changed course slightly on the goals for stash busting, but stayed pretty close. I completed 71 pages and 17 cards - I finished my Baby Shower and our 2021 vacation. I still need to finish the wedding I was working on (from 2017) and I have 2 more double page layouts to go for my oldest’s nursery. 34 of these pages were completed at my 3 day crop! I ended up losing about 4 hours on the first day due to a last minute change in hubby’s schedule… or I probably would’ve gotten my total of 75!
I have been doing better about spending… although I went a little wild today grabbing a bunch of clearance stuff out shopping. I’m not buying every single new thing I like though, trying to limit to one new collection a month but oh man is March a challenge already - the new 49 & Market is SO tempting and I was already looking at some of the American Crafts lines too! I’m at least paying closer attention to what I’m buying and trying to be more intentional about it and isn’t that what spend smart is all about?!
For March, I want to continue to focus on finishing older albums, I’ll go with 45 pages and 10 cards, I make Easter cards so need to get those done this month!
I have been doing better about spending… although I went a little wild today grabbing a bunch of clearance stuff out shopping. I’m not buying every single new thing I like though, trying to limit to one new collection a month but oh man is March a challenge already - the new 49 & Market is SO tempting and I was already looking at some of the American Crafts lines too! I’m at least paying closer attention to what I’m buying and trying to be more intentional about it and isn’t that what spend smart is all about?!
For March, I want to continue to focus on finishing older albums, I’ll go with 45 pages and 10 cards, I make Easter cards so need to get those done this month!
~Brandi 
Follow me on Instagram! @scrappy.boymama
Follow me on Instagram! @scrappy.boymama
Cherry Addict
I only spent $37 to purchase supplies for an online NSD kit at the last minute in Feb.
I am spending $30 and $15 for day crops the next two Saturdays, but no new scrappy stuff!
And I have been cleaning my scraproom, getting 2-3 trash bags hauled out each week!
I am spending $30 and $15 for day crops the next two Saturdays, but no new scrappy stuff!
And I have been cleaning my scraproom, getting 2-3 trash bags hauled out each week!
Ann ~ Life is always better at the beach!
view my blog (new) https://ourhideawayparadise.blogspot.com/
view my blog (new) https://ourhideawayparadise.blogspot.com/
Cherry Bing
I have not purchased anything so far this year! I challenged my self to kill one kit per month this year, but have yet to do that. 10 months left to try to kill at least 1 kit!
I completed 9 layouts (1 double page spread) and 2 cards so I earned 11 points for my spending. (I get to spend $10 for every 10 points I earn).
This year I'm up to 25 points.
I hope to double that this month since I haven't' had much time to scrap so far this year and I'm ready to make up for a slow 2 months!
Spending rules...
1. No spending in January.
2. I'll give myself $10 to spend for every 10 layouts I complete. Cards count as 1/2 of a layout and double page layouts count for 2.
3. I'll earn $10 to spend for every kit I kill.
4. I'll also get $5 to spend for every package of ephemera or stickers I use up.
I completed 9 layouts (1 double page spread) and 2 cards so I earned 11 points for my spending. (I get to spend $10 for every 10 points I earn).
This year I'm up to 25 points.
I hope to double that this month since I haven't' had much time to scrap so far this year and I'm ready to make up for a slow 2 months!
Spending rules...
1. No spending in January.
2. I'll give myself $10 to spend for every 10 layouts I complete. Cards count as 1/2 of a layout and double page layouts count for 2.
3. I'll earn $10 to spend for every kit I kill.
4. I'll also get $5 to spend for every package of ephemera or stickers I use up.
Last edited by Amy Jo on Sat Mar 04, 2023 10:06 am, edited 1 time in total.
Cherry Tart
Since I joined the challenge late last month, this is my first full month here.
In February, I worked on organizing scrapbook paper and uploading/printing photos. I ordered 477 photos (1/3rd each for Mom, former foster kid, and us), then realized this week that I messed up the first part of the order and had to order again - 170 photos on their way. I still have July 2022, Disneyland 2021, and photos for my wedding album for my sister to still print at some point in the next few months. Plus any events we do for this year of course, but then I'm 'caught up' as far as photo printing goes. Scrapbooking them is another story though ...
Spend Smart for March: Goal is spend less than my carryover budget ($320) if I do spend - this is all hobbies, not just scrapbooking stuff, and does include business purchases, which is why the budget is very large. If we meet our financial goal of paying off debt, I get to add ($700!) to this budget, hopefully this month. Again, this includes business purchases so I can work towards 'grassroot funding' my business inventory supplies. Since my business includes my hobbies, that's why I have much larger budget than lots of people. Hope that makes sense. I don't spend outside of this budget, so if I don't have money to spend I focus on using my products, on personal projects and on building business inventory. Once the business is self-sufficient, all of my budget money goes towards personal hobby items. For now, they're combined. Hope that's okay for this challenge.
Stash Bust for March: I am attending a 2.5 day crop at the end of this month with my Mom. Our next event is in early June. We do two events per year, the rest of the time we do monthly or every other month crafting at my parent's house - at least two days spread over a weekend, I come over for dinner with my scrapbook stuff and a bag with clothes and stuff on a Friday night, we do brunch and scrap for all of Saturday with dinner out that evening, then the same thing on Sunday and I head home after dinner. But since I'm only doing the crop this month, the goal is to do all my prep - mat all photos, gather backgrounds and border paper and create kits for those photos. Then pack my tote and travel bags the day before. I will also need to organize my theme paper prior to this as it's all in a jumble and I need it for those kits - since I'm a chronlogical event scrapper, themes are used as my borders and tie everything together (other than stickers, die cuts and ephemera which I add when I'm at home). Additional goal is to therefore organize these themes into my Iris 12x12 boxes, using less than 20 as that's all that will fit on those shelves. All overflow will go above on the third shelf/top shelf of the shelving unit, which currently stores excess organization items.
In February, I worked on organizing scrapbook paper and uploading/printing photos. I ordered 477 photos (1/3rd each for Mom, former foster kid, and us), then realized this week that I messed up the first part of the order and had to order again - 170 photos on their way. I still have July 2022, Disneyland 2021, and photos for my wedding album for my sister to still print at some point in the next few months. Plus any events we do for this year of course, but then I'm 'caught up' as far as photo printing goes. Scrapbooking them is another story though ...
Spend Smart for March: Goal is spend less than my carryover budget ($320) if I do spend - this is all hobbies, not just scrapbooking stuff, and does include business purchases, which is why the budget is very large. If we meet our financial goal of paying off debt, I get to add ($700!) to this budget, hopefully this month. Again, this includes business purchases so I can work towards 'grassroot funding' my business inventory supplies. Since my business includes my hobbies, that's why I have much larger budget than lots of people. Hope that makes sense. I don't spend outside of this budget, so if I don't have money to spend I focus on using my products, on personal projects and on building business inventory. Once the business is self-sufficient, all of my budget money goes towards personal hobby items. For now, they're combined. Hope that's okay for this challenge.
Stash Bust for March: I am attending a 2.5 day crop at the end of this month with my Mom. Our next event is in early June. We do two events per year, the rest of the time we do monthly or every other month crafting at my parent's house - at least two days spread over a weekend, I come over for dinner with my scrapbook stuff and a bag with clothes and stuff on a Friday night, we do brunch and scrap for all of Saturday with dinner out that evening, then the same thing on Sunday and I head home after dinner. But since I'm only doing the crop this month, the goal is to do all my prep - mat all photos, gather backgrounds and border paper and create kits for those photos. Then pack my tote and travel bags the day before. I will also need to organize my theme paper prior to this as it's all in a jumble and I need it for those kits - since I'm a chronlogical event scrapper, themes are used as my borders and tie everything together (other than stickers, die cuts and ephemera which I add when I'm at home). Additional goal is to therefore organize these themes into my Iris 12x12 boxes, using less than 20 as that's all that will fit on those shelves. All overflow will go above on the third shelf/top shelf of the shelving unit, which currently stores excess organization items.
Cherry Tart
Great job on completing 71 pages and 17 cards, and being more intentional about your spending. Good luck with finishing your older albums and completing your Easter cards this month. Keep up the good work!QueenBee89 wrote: ↑Wed Mar 01, 2023 9:29 pmI changed course slightly on the goals for stash busting, but stayed pretty close. I completed 71 pages and 17 cards - I finished my Baby Shower and our 2021 vacation. I still need to finish the wedding I was working on (from 2017) and I have 2 more double page layouts to go for my oldest’s nursery. 34 of these pages were completed at my 3 day crop! I ended up losing about 4 hours on the first day due to a last minute change in hubby’s schedule… or I probably would’ve gotten my total of 75!
I have been doing better about spending… although I went a little wild today grabbing a bunch of clearance stuff out shopping. I’m not buying every single new thing I like though, trying to limit to one new collection a month but oh man is March a challenge already - the new 49 & Market is SO tempting and I was already looking at some of the American Crafts lines too! I’m at least paying closer attention to what I’m buying and trying to be more intentional about it and isn’t that what spend smart is all about?!
For March, I want to continue to focus on finishing older albums, I’ll go with 45 pages and 10 cards, I make Easter cards so need to get those done this month!
Cherry Bing
I need to go back and check to see where I am…. But I spent 0 in Feb and 0 in March, only purchasing the cherry box in January. I was able to complete 37 pages in March. I did organize more photos. Photos are an ongoing effort and will take awhile to complete.
This month I am planning on 30 pages, no spending. I must use what I have. I also need to put my scraprack back in order. I stopped and I still have my rainbow on the guest bed in another room….I’ll probably have a guest there the week of Easter so it has to be done.
This month I am planning on 30 pages, no spending. I must use what I have. I also need to put my scraprack back in order. I stopped and I still have my rainbow on the guest bed in another room….I’ll probably have a guest there the week of Easter so it has to be done.
Kim Breaux
Wild Cherry
Winter time is when I typically do most of my scrapbooking. I've done nothing but I am getting other things in my life together and making memories, lol
I did no scrapping and really only went in my room to clean and dust... On to April
I did no scrapping and really only went in my room to clean and dust... On to April
2024 Layout goal ~ 14/100 2024 Word ~ FOCUS
Cherry Tart
It sounds like you had a fun and productive February, and it's understandable that you may have splurged a little bit for your birthday gift. It's important to treat ourselves every now and then, and it sounds like you got something you really wanted with the Lost Shadow distress ink and stain.GinniG wrote: ↑Wed Mar 01, 2023 5:32 pmI completely BLEW my budget in February. But it was my birthday month so I'm using that as my excuse! LOL! I got the Lost Shadow distress ink and stain, and I also got the March Cherry box. They're waiting at the post office for me. It's been snowing a lot so we haven't gone to town yet. I did get the collection for my nephew's baby album I'll be making and it's even prettier in person!
I did way more than my planned 10 layouts. I completed 18 pages! Hopefully I can keep on that pace this month! Only made one card but I've already got 4 cards started for this month.
I need to stop spending on scrappy things and start spending on house things! We're getting ready to start wiring and plumbing in the new house so hopefully it won't be long before we're moving in!!!
Just remember to balance those splurges with your overall budget, and make sure you're still meeting your financial goals. Setting a budget for gift-giving occasions, including birthdays, can help you plan and prioritize your spending.
Overall, it sounds like you're making progress on both your crafting and home-building goals, and it's great that you're already thinking about shifting your spending toward house-related expenses. Keep up the good work!
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