Ideas with missing tools

Hello friends!

Do you ever have an amazing idea to create something, but don't have the right tools? That is what I am experiencing at the moment. Awhile back I had some ideas and I keep thinking about them over and over. So what are these ideas and what tools do I need? Well I need some metal smithing tools. Nothing too crazy. Metal smithing is just too long of a process for me and I'm impatient.

I am really digging on these little disc cutting tools, dapping blocks, and letter stamps. I recently posted on facebook asking people if they had a good fairly inexpensive resource for these tools. I was thinking living in a very artistic community that some would end up on Craigs List or something. I tried doing a few searches, but came up empty handed. I am not the greatest web searcher so I may have missed them. I tried looking under "jewelry", "tools" and "art" in my city location.

So what is this amazing idea? Well I will kind of tell you what I had in mind cause you all know how I like to create something KICK ASS and then show the process and finished product.

So pretty much what I have in mind is cutting out, doming and stamping on recycled materials and making mixed-media jewelry.

So how does this tool problem fit in this equation? Well as many of you know some ideas don't exactly work out how they look in your head. I tried to think of how to do this in the most cost effective way since tools for these ideas look like they will be about $250ish. The best I could come up with was to see if I can find a local place to rent studio time that would have these type of tools. This way I can try my ideas and see if they even work. If they do I can then sell the pieces and then buy my own tools :D

The resources that people have suggested to me were Harbor Freight, Beaducation, Michaels, and Metalliferious.

I guess I will start hunting around and see what the pricing looks like. My birthday IS in 8 days ;)

If anyone in the Portland, OR area has any resources for these I would be excited to hear about some used tools and the like.

What creative ideas have you had and what tools did you need to get to create them? Did your ideas work out like you had hoped?