Fussy Cutting And The Die-Cutting Conundrum

Tell me I'm not the only one who's noticed how expensive dies have become lately.  And just when they are at the height of their popularity, too. We've come to a point when we cannot remember crafting without them...and that's just about the point when they become more expensive than ever.

Manufacturers have said that the cost of steel has increased, and sadly, those extra expenses get passed on to the consumer. Waah! I do love dies, and cannot believe how long it took me to hop on the Big Shot bandwagon. But when the cost for the accompanying die cut set costs as much or even more than the stamp set it's meant to coordinate, that's when I've got to take a step back and reconsider.

All of us have a budget to consider when making purchases. If you visit the cafe frequently, it may appear that I'm the spendiest person on the planet. New "this" for the house! New "that" for the house! And truly, we have had to spend more on this house than any of our houses in the past. I'm not happy about that. Trust me. But what you don't see are the areas where we scrimp and save.

Ten Ways We Try To Live Frugally
*We often sell things we no longer need or use or want on Craigslist, and in turn buy gently used things on Craigslist as well.
*I sell stamp sets and supplies that are no longer getting enough love and attention on forums and boards and here on my blog.
*I buy crafting supplies from forums at greatly reduced prices.
*I wait for sales online, and always try to angle for free shipping.
*I stay out of crafty stores as much as possible, and only go with list in hand.
*I'm not a manicure or pedicure or fancy hair salon type of person. Honestly, I'd rather spend money on some beautiful COPIC markers than two handfuls of nails that will chip off when I do dishes. And did I mention I cut my husband's hair? And my son's hair, too? And sometimes, I let them cut mine.
*I'm a bargain food shopper. We LOVE Aldi!
*We don't eat out at restaurants frequently. It's quite surprising what a difference this makes in our monthly budget.
*We frequent the library over the bookstore, and the Redbox over the movie theater. Entertainment is usually cheap or free. Bike rides, metroparks, walks along the river.
*We are DIYers. We paint our own rooms. We cut our own grass. We landscape our own gardens.

So lately, when I buy a new stamp set, I have to decide if I really really really need the die cuts that coordinate with it. Most of the time, I'm deciding that I don't. Unless those dies do something extra fancy (like cut out a perfect frame, or emboss the paper with intricate detail), I'm trying to do without them.

Which brings us, finally, to today's card.

Wow. Took me long enough, didn't it?!

Today's card may look like I used die cuts, but I did not. I fussy cut around all of those flowers and leaves. I bet you can't tell the difference, can you? Sure, it takes more time. But in the end, time is money...and it turns out I usually have more of the former than the latter.

{Today's Brew: Blissful Botanicals (My Favorite Things stamps), Label Maker Sentiments (MFT), PTI card stock, Lawn Fawn papder, sequins, COPIC markers, homemade Gelato spray mist, corner rounder punch}

So tell me, do you use die cuts frequently? Are you a good fussy cutter? How do you save money?

Thanks for visiting the cafe today!