A Huge Haul & 2 Challenges

God blesses each of us in different ways and at different times. Yesterday was my day! I was looking for a mannequin on Facebook Marketplace when I saw an ad for a LOT of Stampin' Up! rubber stamp sets for $1.00 each. You had to buy 20 minimum, but that's not a problem! 

It looked like they were in a large, business room somewhere, so I messaged the owner. Turns out someone had donated them to a nursing home, and the sales were helping them buy a new organ for the residents. 

I drove almost an hour to check out the situation and boy was it worth it! This is what I came home with for $120.00. And there were still many, many stamps still left for sale!

I shopped fairly quickly but was still there for about an hour, picking out sets. When I came home I organized them on my shelves, and just grabbed the first one, which was a set called Elements of Style. I actually think it wound up in my pile by mistake. It wasn't one that I probably would have normally selected from the catalog, and I really struggled with it. These are the first two cards I made:

I accidentally dipped my blending brush in the darker brown ink rather than the lighter brown one, and I just hate the results. The one on the left isn't too bad, but the one on the right reminds me of Weird Barbie. Did anyone else see and love that movie!?  I was trying for a vintage, lacy look and got "yuck." It's going in the trash after I salvage the back.

So I went to Pinterest and found some inspiration there. I found that stamping the image in a darker background really made it pop more. My complete supply list for the first card is:

• Stampin' Up! Elements of Style (2013)
• Speckletone True White Card Stock
• Black Card Stock
• Lawn Fawn Ballet Slipper Cardk Stock
• Graphic 45 Patterned Paper
• Copics YG61, Y02 & R81
• Sentiment Strip from Simon Says Stamp

I'll probably keep this set, using it for weddings, anniversaries and sympathy cards. It's not easy for me to make it look good, but perhaps that's part of the fun on being a card maker.

The nice one in black and cream is being entered in two different challenges: Retro Rubber #212 and NBUS #53. 

It's been so much fun going through all these old sets. I'm ready for a lot more challenges both at Retro Rubber and at NBUS as a result of this haul! Keep your eyes peeled for craft supplies for sale. You never know what kind of amazing bargains you'll find!