Here is everything I bought on my birthday at the Innovative Beads Expo. Needless to say I didn't go by my original budget, but I plan on making a lot of new pieces to put in the Giving Tree and the Jewel Box of Cape Cod, as well as at my shows and my hopefully soon to be Etsy shop.

So here's what I got!

Better late then never right?! Well anyways here is a recap of my No Craft Supply Spend July just a little bit late...

So No Craft Supply Spend July didn't go perfectly, but to be fair I only cracked twice. 

Here is what happened the first time: 
I bought washi tape on the 5th. I had done so well prior to that, going to Michael's and not spending any money. I cracked at Marshall's right at the register when I spotted washi tape out the corner of my eye. I couldn't pass up the bargain it was to buy it. I mean a whole tube of washi tape for $3.99, I would have been crazy not to buy it. 

The second time: 
I cracked at a bead store in Rockport, MA. I had never been to this bead store, and couldn't pass up the beads they had. I didn't spend a lot of money which is good, but I still did spend money. 

So all in all I didn't do horribly. It could have been a lot worse, and it was way less than I would normally spend on craft supplies in one month. I also realized that if I decide to do it again next year, to not do it in July, because all of the chain craft stores have wicked good sales. So now that it is August, I have ordered some stuff craft supply wise. I mean I do have a show to get ready for in just over a month! 

Happy July everyone! I can't believe 2014 is halfway over! 

I decided from now on in 2014, I will set at least one monthly goal. July's goal is a No Spend challenge, specifically on craft supplies! 

It's no secret I love shopping. I have not only shown pictures of everything I have bought, but also how often I go shopping (for the most part). So I have decided that for the month of July I will not spend any money on craft supplies. I am doing this to force myself to use what I have first, because I have more than enough projects to get me through a month at least! If I feel so good about it I may extend it to August too. I've seen this on other blogs where people don't spend any money at all on like anything, like going out to dinner, drinks etc. I catered it to myself, knowing how much I spend on supplies a month, how much I can save if I don't spend it. I can then put that money towards a down payment on a house or a vacation. 

The only exception to this is if I got an order for something that I can't fill with my current stock. Orders do have to take priority. But I will not use it as an excuse to buy extra or sneak in a trip to Michaels/Joanns/any other fabric store near me/any internet website, aka any type of craft supply place in the world.   

Now you are probably thinking, no posts really for a month, I must have been making lots of new stuff to show here, but unfortunately I haven't had as much time as I have wanted to make jewelry. I have been working a lot at my nursing job (which I absolutely love), but I do have projects in the works and will be showing them here soon. 

One thing I have been doing a lot of is stocking up on supplies. Between shopping on the internet a lot (another post coming for that), I have also been going to bead stores and craft supply stores to stock up, for what I hope to be a busy Spring/Summer. 
One of the stores I have gone to multiple times is Crystal Beads of Boston. They are unfortunately closing, but on the bright side they are having great deals of beads. Which makes it okay to spend more money right? 
Here is some of the beads that I got on one trip to the store. 

And then there is Michaels. And they always have sales, and usually I find something that I need. Between the amounts of washi tape and yarn I have bought, I  have enough to last me awhile, but I still want to buy more! What's pictured below is not the only yarn I have bought..ooops. 

This past weekend I had a little weekend getaway to Boston. I was in town celebrating a friend's birthday, but I was not going to pass up the opportunity to go shopping! Even a snowstorm couldn't stop me :) There are so many cute stores in Boston, especially in terms of crafty stores! Some of my favorites include Paper Source, Rug Road, and Black Ink.