The Generosity of Others

I have a story I want to share with you this evening.

I am a very luck lady.  When I espoused on my first year in blogging (you can click HERE to see that post if you missed it), I mentioned how lucky I was to have made so many friends during this past twelve months.  I also alluded to how incredibly generous some of these people have been to me.  Well, I'm here today to share a little bit more about that.

From time to time during the past 9 months, I have been lucky enough to become the recipient of a variety of gifts.  Some were for my birthday and others have been just because.  I have received a care package filled with crafting goodies, some of which were homemade.  I have also received bags of charms, packages of flowers, a pretty scarf and other goodies along the way.  I have also been lucky enough to receive numerous digital gifts. Additionally, I received a gorgeous unique handmade paper creation that truly is stunning.  Each of these gifts has meant so very much to me.

Well today, I am also going to talk about another incredibly generous gift that I received from one of these new found friends.  If you have been following me for awhile now, you will know how much I have been wanting a die cutting and embossing machine.  You will also know that our financial means don't allow me to go out and get everything I'd like to have--mind you, whose does with the length of some of our wish lists.  I have been saving my pennies but was torn between getting a Bamboo Create Tablet for doing some digital drawing and of course the die cutting and embossing machine.  The initial price for both is about $200.00.  Of course with the die cutting and embossing system. that is simply a starting point.  

One day, one of these new friends read in a post that I didn't have a die cutting or embossing system; so, I received an email telling me that if anyone deserved to be working with this kind of equipment, it was me.  She herself had a Cuttlebug , a Cricut and a Big Shot and decided that she was going to send me her Big Shot.  That I would get more use out of it than she did.  Of course I protested, telling her that it was much too generous a gift but there was no dissuading her from her choice.  She was determined one way or another that I was going to become the owner of her Big Shot.

So within an extremely short period of time from that initial conversation,  I can now say that I am the proud owner of a very gently used Big Shot die cutting and embossing system.  Now not only did she send me the machine itself and the multipurpose platform required to use it, but she also threw in a silicone pad and went out and bought brand new cutting pads because she didn't want me to start off using all scratched up ones.  To top it all off, she threw in a gorgeous stamp set and a '100% Canadian Made' stamp as well.  Then, less than two weeks later, 3 Cuttlebug embossing folders arrived in the mail too.  Check it out...
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I still can't quite believe that someone would so generously gift me something of this nature.  It just goes to show you that in a world where it seems to be all about take, take, take, there is still some give.  Throughout this all, my benefactor has asked that I don't reveal her name.  She is simply happy knowing how much enjoyment I will receive from her gift.  The fact that she wants to remain anonymous is just another indication of how modest and truly generous of spirit she really is.  Now you also have to understand that this is a woman on a very limited budget herself, which just makes all of this even more incredible.

Now of course, I had to go out and get a few extra items to start using the machine.  So armed with about eight 40% of coupons and a hubs who was willing to keep lining up to use them, I purchased a few other accessories.

I purchased two double pack folders and one quadruple pack (all in back row).  Thankfully the Cuttlebug was on sale because of course you can't use coupons with Cricut products.  The dotted embossing folders in the front row were from a purchase awhile back.  Some of you may remember my hilarious attempt to have my hubs down on his hands and knees with the rolling pin trying to emboss some paper for me.  It obviously didn't work like You Tube predicted.  Thankfully I have a hubs who is a really good sport!

Of course, I also needed some die cutting shapes so purchased these two.  I would have loved to have also picked up an oblong and a circular set but I had to stop somewhere.  Even at 40% off, these puppies are still expensive.

So there you have it.  You have now met all my new toys.  While I haven't done much playing around yet as I now have to find the time to sit and watch some more videos to learn how to use these items properly, I did manage to get in a couple videos about using the diecuts and tomorrow morning bright and early during my first post of the day, you will see the fruits of my first die cutting labours.

I am a very lucky lady, indeed.

Thank you so much to my private benefactor.  You literally have no idea how much your generous gift means to me.  I can promise you that I will love and cherish these items and put them to very good use.  I hope that the generosity that you have shown to me, comes back to you a hundred fold. 

Until next time,