MAKELEARNBUILD GRANT BUDGET OFFICIALLY SPENT!

I never imagined they'd pick me so the budget I sent them was only a dream guesstimate (guesses + estimates). I'm proud that I stretched it so far! They basically gave me a grant to get my animation career started and I managed to get the following things:

1. Computer $839.99
2. Dragonframe $313.85
3. Micro-Nikkor Lens $140.00 (YouthInFocusSeattle ebay)
4. Nikon DSLR Camera $289.86 (ebay)
   
5. Tables (3) $149.70
6. Main Camera Rig $199.00
7. FL Studio $199.00
8. Condenser Mic and Boom Stand $62.99
   
9. Saddle Stool $109.00
10. Tablet Monitor $212.49
11. Yarn, fabric, and fiber notions. $15.25 (scrap PDX)
    
12. Yarn, wool felt, floss. $42.00 (collage PDX)
13. Baltic Birch Plywood half sheet cuts $56~ (Mr. Plywood)
    
14. Wool felt $22.66 (etsy)
15. Lamp $44.99
16. Secondary Camera Rig $28.73
    
17. Silhouette Portrait $163.14 (am*zon renewed store)
    
18. Laser Printer $109.05 (am*zon renewed store)

I have am*zon smile turned on (.05% to Wild Salmon Center ) and I'm buying mostly from the am*zon renewed store whenever possible if used from other sellers isn't available. I had the benefit of lingering Memorial Day sales and coupons. Because of rounding up and use of coupons I'm not $100 sure of the price of some things (the lamp likely ended up being cheaper than $44.99) but I know that the $3k I got for the grant is gone now. Mr. Plywood was also a paper receipt and I'm not sure where it is but I know I spent over $50 there because a full sheet of Baltic Birch was $90-something.

I sure have been making, learning, and building. I never had prior experience with using DSLR and this is my first time owning a mic or tablet monitor ever. It's been weeks but I'm still so excited!

I've been using the tablet monitor to animate a little bit and storyboard. I print frames from the drawings to use as templates to cut out the characters. I realize I'm generating a lot of "waste" in the process so I have plans for the end-of-life use of my "props" (I'm going to gather all the scraps and fabric pieces to use as stuffing in a plush or multiple plushies after film completion). I'm changing the plan to use a mixed media approach- mainly hand drawn and paper cut outs for some scenes. Wool and recycled plastic, as well as buying remnants, and used is pretty eco-friendly but I still feel nervous about the scale of the project. I've made as small as a footprint as I could though!