Old but not forgotten

This week's Daring Cardmakers's challenge is all about looking back to the things we used when we first started card-making.  It's Sharon who is our hostess and she says:

For my dare, I want you to think back to your very first crafty purchases and try and use something

Old but not forgotten

Have a look through your stash and see what you can find - maybe you've still got some of the very first stamp sets you bought, or if you're like me, you've still got papers and embellishments because you hate to throw anything away.

Well, it was all my mum's fault really - we saw some handmade cards and she said "You could do that" - she always had great and possibly unfounded faith in my creative abilities hehe!  Anyway, I thought I'd have a go. 
I went to a couple of classes right back at the start - these taught me something quite quickly -this was that stamping was never going to be my thing.
I like to get a lot for my money and soon discovered that buying patterned paper sets opened a whole realm of possibilities as you could make lots of "faux" embellishments like brads and ribbons as well as using it for backgrounds, layering, making flowers and all sorts of other things.
Which is probably why my shelves are groaning under the weight of 12x12, 8x8, 6x6 and A4 papers and so many other types of paper that it's never ev er all going to be used.
Periodically I have a sort and off load some of the "I am never going to use this" papers, but more often even if they've sat unloved for years I can't bear to get rid of them because of that naughty, niggling voice that says "throw it out now and you'll need it next week" - you know the one, I'm sure you do!
In the last couple of years I've gone right off Basic Grey papers, but back in the day they were the very first I bought and among those first purchases was one that I've loved ever since - even though I don't use them very often.  You know you love a paper set when you buy it in all the size formats and then go back and buy more,  BG's "Fusion" collection was one of these - I adore the colours, the "textures" and all of the patterns and I don't think I'll ever pull that box out and find I've gone off them!  Which is probably why I managed to make my card using only scraps and didn't need to cut into any larger sheets!
I'be just remembered that the book cover - a photo of which is my blog header was made with these papers!

The first major tool purchase I made, and first venture into the wonderful world of die cutting was the old blue Quickutz machine - it was soon replaced by the improved pink version.  They were hard work but the QK dies were really cute and I was hooked on die-cutting.  The QK machine was replaced by that teeny weeny little SideKick - I really didn't like the Sizzix dies, but that little machine was brilliant! 
Years on and the machines, the dies, the embossing folders got bigger, my shoulder got sore with all the handle-cranking and forcing difficult "sandwiches" through over and over to get a decent cut.
So now I have the grand-daddy of them all - an electronic die cutter and embossing machine, the wonderful ebosser - oh wow, what a machine!

I've used an old QK birthday cake die for my card and sat it on a very much newer Die'Sire diecut.  I think I need to reassess how I store all those little 2" dies as I'm sure I'd use them more if they were easier to get at.  Actually, probably not, but you never know!

Papers; Fusion collection from Basic Grey

Die; Birthday Cake by Quickutz

Embossing Folders; Chevrons and Petite Dots, both Die'sire 

by Crafter's Companion

Doily die-cut; Chantilly Lace stamping frame set also 

Die'sire by Crafter's Companion

Hand-cut bunting, Lilac seam binding, Baker's Twine, Dewdrop stones, Gelatos for colouring embossed background and the cake pieces, Stickles glitter glue

So, will you join us on a trip down Memory Lane this week and use some of your oldest supplies, tools and stamps etc to make a card?  We'd really love to see what you make and enjoy hearing your story too. You can see the rest of the cards from the DCM Designers HERE

The problem with taking a trip down Memory Lane is that you end up rambling around a bit - which I have done for long enough, so I'll get back to the present and go and finish at least one of the half-made projects on my desk!
Thanks for bearing with me on my meanderings, hope it won't have put you off coming back soon