My Love for Cheap Crap

Daiso is the best place, ever! This little overstuffed Japanese dollar store with its agoraphobically narrow aisles and quirky, cheap stuff draws me in like a magnet. I can get several melamine sponges (Hello, Magic Eraser) for $1.50, fantastic kitchen storage/utility items made for tiny apartments, and a host of wonderful and sometimes insane things. Today, there was what looked like a back scratcher with a giant, weighted strawberry at the end of it. (?!) And they often have the funniest little self-inflatable fake boobs!

 I had to fill a prescription at the drug store across the street from the mall and there was no way I was going to miss out on the Daiso goodness. It was a horrible trip, barely being able to stop and inspect anything not at eye level, but I managed to thoroughly scour the place for things I could potentially use for my art journals, without a panic attack. Here's a sample of what I bought.

I took more photos, but I thought I would spare you the terrible quality. I promise, I will improve over time. I take lovely pictures, I swear. Exhibits 1 and 2:

Now, that I feel better about my photographic abilities, what did I get at Daiso, you ask?

• A couple of rubber sink mats in cool patterns that can be used as stencils.
• 2 packs of sparky gems meant for decorating a cell phone.
• 2 rolls double sided tape.
• Package of 3 bottles liquid adhesive.
• 2 packages lace trim.
• Adhesive backed paper lace.
• 2 chalk pens.
• Tubes of water colors, two to a set, in 5 colors
• Set of 3 curve rulers.
• Set of 3 round brushes.
• A set of clear stamps (several trims, a couple of name plate stamps, and an acrylic block included).
• Lace curtain that has interesting designs on it that will be nice to stencil.
• A set of 5 watercolor crayons.
• A couple of small spray bottles (I intend on making my own alcohol inks).
• 2 packages paper string (will be nice for use in binding).

 I also got a couple of beaded Christmas garlands and a couple of rolls of ribbon for very cheap at the drug store. Now, I have a ton of beads for embellishing the books and journals I plan to make. Whew! I have been on quite the little spending spree this week. I didn't mention the two tools I bought on eBay (Cop-a-Dile Big Bite, for punching holes in heavy stuff and a Vera Tool, so I can make my own stencils more easily) or the clothes I bought. Well, the clothes I actually need. I am not much of a clothes shopper, and most of the clothes in my size are better to buy or only available online, so I found an excellent sale at JC Penney's that also included 20% off my total and free shipping. I couldn't pass it up. My shirts are getting a little tattered and faded. I wear the same shirts to work, so it was necessary. I realized that all the shirts were in peacock feather colors, lol. What can I say, I love color! I did want to get a black shirt, but they were out in every style.  Maybe next time around.

So now it is time to give all that good stuff a home so I have room to play. So Merry Christmas to me, from me! When I get my Versa Tool, my spending spree will be complete. Now, it is time to tighten the belt and hope I get a job before my supplies run out.