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Post by ellewood on Sept 6, 2017 13:54:17 GMT
Hi! I am trying to straighten up my space and I am running out of storage space in my basket and clear pockets for my stamps. I have a lot of sets with one or two stamps that I like and a bunch more that I don't think I'll ever use (like stamps specifically for cards, which I don't make). I have a hard time getting rid of stamps, even if there is only an off-chance I might use it, because they're so expensive. I'm very happy with my organization system and I don't want to change it to accommodate a larger stash of things I'm not in love with. I think I just need to bite the bullet and give some away, but I could use some motivation or advice. How do you do it? Do you separate 4x6 sets?
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pinklady
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,528 
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Post by pinklady on Sept 6, 2017 14:10:41 GMT
I'd like to know too. I have a bunch of older Stampin Up sets that I want to get rid of. I tried to donate to the Ronald McDonald house and CHOC but they wouldn't take them because "stamps are too messy". And, I really don't want to hassle selling them online and dealing with shipping.
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MDscrapaholic
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,347
Location: Down by the bay....
Jun 25, 2014 20:49:07 GMT
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Post by MDscrapaholic on Sept 6, 2017 14:22:56 GMT
You can put them on the For Sale or Trade board here and ask the buyer to pay for shipping.
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Post by Scrapper100 on Sept 6, 2017 15:29:43 GMT
I just donated a bunch of su! Stamps as well I hadn't used them in years snd they took up too much room. I have never split up a stamp set. I think I'm too OCD for that. I kept ones I still really liked but purged those I couldn't see myself using. I need to purge some of my clear stamps to. I think the more you purge the easier it gets.
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PaperAngel
Drama Llama
Posts: 7,318
Jun 27, 2014 23:04:06 GMT
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Post by PaperAngel on Sept 6, 2017 15:44:29 GMT
The easiest solution is to keep all the individual stamps you like & will use, then drop off the remainder at the closest Goodwill, Salvation Army, or Habitat for Humanity donation center in your area the next time you're running errands.
Other donation options may include:
Daycares
Preschools
Churches' children's ministries
Elementary schools
After-school art programs
Community centers' youth programs
Charity scrapbooking events
Boy/Girl Scouts
Big Brothers/Sisters
Orphanages
Adoption agencies
Ronald McDonald Houses
Children's hospitals
Juvenile detention centers
Battered women's shelters
Senior living centers
Senior retirement homes
...& other places in your community
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Post by joblackford on Sept 6, 2017 15:48:21 GMT
Give them away! Make space for stamps you love and use! You have to weed (gardens and libraries and stashes) to allow the good stuff to flourish.
Someone will be thrilled to have what you don't want, I'm sure.
As to splitting stamps up, I would consider doing it. If there's a really useful stamp on a sheet of dreck, keep the good stamp. I don't think there's any need to keep sets together. Maybe it will feel uncomfortable "ruining" the set, but feel the discomfort and do it anyway. If you offer them as a RAK here you'll almost certainly find someone who likes what you don't use.
I need to take my own advice. My stamp basket is full and there's a bunch of old SC stamps at the back that are just not useful. I think I'll keep all the card-appropriate sentiments and give away the rest.
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Post by sleepingbooty on Sept 6, 2017 16:32:11 GMT
I love stamps but I have very very limited space to keep them. So, I regularly need to go through them and let go of a few sets.My main questions are: 1. When did I last use this set? 2. Do I have any concrete plans to use this again? 3. If so, is it in the next 12 months for sure? 4. Do I have a good balance between regularly used sets and I-love-it-so-so-much-but-only-use-it-very-rarely sets? By good balance, I mean more of the regularly used ones in terms of quantity than the love-ya-but-don't-really-use-ya sets. I rarely split sets up. It has happened a couple of times because I just knew I wasn't going to use half of a set. Otherwise, I don't break them up and rather think about how much I need the ones I could still see myself using. Good luck! I love getting rid of things. Don't hesitate to make a "Must Go" and "Let's review these in a month's time" boxes when cleaning out. Put a reminder in your planner or phone to make sure you do go through the Maybe box a month later.  |
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Post by ellewood on Sept 6, 2017 16:39:33 GMT
I love stamps but I have very very limited space to keep them. So, I regularly need to go through them and let go of a few sets.My main questions are: 1. When did I last use this set? 2. Do I have any concrete plans to use this again? 3. If so, is it in the next 12 months for sure? 4. Do I have a good balance between regularly used sets and I-love-it-so-so-much-but-only-use-it-very-rarely sets? By good balance, I mean more of the regularly used ones in terms of quantity than the love-ya-but-don't-really-use-ya sets. I rarely split sets up. It has happened a couple of times because I just knew I wasn't going to use half of a set. Otherwise, I don't break them up and rather think about how much I need the ones I could still see myself using. Good luck! I love getting rid of things. Don't hesitate to make a "Must Go" and "Let's review these in a month's time" boxes when cleaning out. Put a reminder in your planner or phone to make sure you do go through the Maybe box a month later. I love the "I'll come back to this later" approach. It's what I do with my clothes. Put them away and if I don't go looking for it in a few months, it can go for good. I have a huge box in a closet already of "I don't use this stuff" so it couldn't hurt to add to it! I have so been admiring lately that minimal look (obsessed with Elise from FYC's TN layouts) so maybe I should just ruthlessly purge and hold and see if I can stop feeling guilty about not putting puffy heart stickers on everything. Purging/cleaning is so emotional with threads of "can I afford to buy this again?" Or "should I save it in case I ever completely change my style?" and the like... Thanks for the advice! |
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Post by jeremysgirl on Sept 6, 2017 18:39:37 GMT
I have been searching high and low for tag type stamps. If you have some, I'm happy to pay for them plus shipping, whatever.  |
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Post by anniefb on Sept 6, 2017 19:29:34 GMT
I donate stamps that are only worth a few dollars (like small SC stamps from kits) but I do sell more expensive sets - either on our version of EBay or in the PTI for sale Baird for Papertrey Ink stamp.
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Post by scrapaddict702 on Sept 6, 2017 21:56:15 GMT
...I have no advice as I have just massively expanded my stamp storage. I have doubles of some from kits or grab bags that I am finding it hard to sell off. If you find a magic answer, please share it with me!
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Post by chrispeas on Sept 6, 2017 22:12:35 GMT
I have a few stamp sets that I only like a couple in each. I'm going to take them and put on a sep sheet. I can sell the rest on a Craig's list "as is". I do have a binder that has stamp sets that I took apart and put with like stamps on the same sheet.
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Post by scrapperal on Sept 7, 2017 0:28:45 GMT
I was going to say that I keep everything, lol! But I've gotten a few grab bags where I don't know the name of the set, which is forcing me to organize those stamps by type (words, flowers, etc). That's actually a little freeing. But I have the opposite problem of you. I'm a cardmaker and I'll buy a set, just for one or two sayings.  |
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Post by refugeepea on Sept 7, 2017 0:35:31 GMT
Donate them. I tried selling stamps on a local classified group for $2.00 or $3.00 a set and no takers.
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Post by artisticscrapper on Sept 7, 2017 1:08:06 GMT
Before scrapbooking became big I was a stamper. This was when they had stamp stores (three within a 10 minute drive)! Needless to say I had quite a stash. When I switched to scrapping I started purging them. My process was:
Is this still my style?
Will I use it on a layout?
Will I use it on a card?
Would I buy it again?
Then I went back to the ones I kept every few months until my collection was manageable.
Also, I do break up my sets. I'm more likely to use them, especially words and phrases. I've actually bought sets and tossed the 1 or two stamps I didn't like.
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Post by scrappyem on Sept 7, 2017 3:13:37 GMT
I've been thinking about this too. I don't stamp very often at all but get a stamp in my FJ kits every month and have a several from GB when I was a subscriber. For some reason I didn't want to break up the set, but that's pretty silly. I think I will go through and get rid of everything I won't use. Thanks for the push in the right direction!
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Post by pas2 on Sept 7, 2017 9:49:47 GMT
I have seen (and bought) stamps being sold at booths in antique stores where they sell a mix of old and newer items. There are newer stampers who would love being able to pick up stamps for cheap.
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Deleted
Posts: 0
May 10, 2024 6:12:08 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Sept 7, 2017 11:17:04 GMT
I regularly purge (just as I regularly buy  ) and mine go to 3 places: 1. Valuable sets get sold on eBay - for me, it's something that will sell for $10 or more. You will want to search the sold listing for your set to check what they have been selling for. 2. Sell on a facebook group - Scrapyard 1.0 or there are lots of groups for selling SU sets. If they are listed too high, they just sit out there forever, so I like to price fairly. 3. Donate, donate, donate! Most of my stuff goes this way. I have done both stamp and scrapbook lots that I give away on our local garage sale site (or something like $5 for all), have a local group that needs certain items (I cut paper scraps into card sized pieces for them, too) or I just send it off to goodwill. I don't split any sets. Friends that have regret it! If I were to keep what I wanted and got rid of the rest, I definitely would then. I have stamped for 20+ years and my stamps are very manageable through regular purging, yet I know people who bought like crazy and keep it all and have gotten really overwhelmed. Some to the point of not crafting anymore. If I was on the fence about a set, I would keep it (for now). |
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Post by ellewood on Sept 7, 2017 15:03:59 GMT
Whew! This question started an entire scrap room re-do! Thank goodness for my Ikea Alex furniture and Raskogs that are so flexible! I am purging and re-organizing everything. My husband came home from work yesterday to me sitting in the middle of huge piles of scrap crap and just looked at me like "?" Here's what I did with my stamps: I went through everything and pulled out duplicates and anything that I had a better version of in a different set. I pulled out specific things that I don't use regularly- fall/Halloween sets, stamps and die sets, etc and put them in old SC kit bags labeled in a gold wire basket. I have them and know what they are but they aren't in my everyday stash. All of the stuff that I've purged is in a box in a different area of the house waiting to be dealt with when I'm emotionally ready  I want to eventually turn my studio into a home gym since it's on a slab and move my scrap room to a slightly smaller upstairs bedroom, so maybe this will be good practice in not spreading out to fill every single space. |
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Post by loveallcrafts on Sept 7, 2017 16:15:10 GMT
I admire all of you that can let go of your old supplies. I have so much trouble with this, even though I know I will probably never use them....but "you never know I may need it one day" is what I have trouble with. Sorry no advice from me, lol. Good luck to you |
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) and mine go to 3 places: 
