prettypaper
Shy Member
Posts: 24
Sept 12, 2019 19:04:18 GMT
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Post by prettypaper on Sept 19, 2019 17:48:13 GMT
So one of the most fun things about scrapbooking to me is shopping for new supplies! I am so in love with pretty papers, new stickers, stamps, techniques, etc. I love getting new things even if it's just a few new sheets of paper and using them. But, probably like a lot of us, I have a TON of stuff. I keep buying more and I use some of it- buy more- use some- buy more- maybe not use it- etc. Or if I have a specific photo(s) with themes I want to buy corresponding paper/stickers/stamps/ephemera, whatever. Last night I decided to try to finish out this trip scrapbook I'm making from what I have. Surprisingly was so hard for me! But once I started really looking at what I had- I had everything I needed and more. I was scraplifiting a particular LO with photos I had- and she had done a line of heavy ephemera on it. I wanted to do that but obviously corresponding to my pics. After looking through my stuff I had so many perfect stickers and papers for it. I was so shocked. And they were all leftovers from past projects where I had used most of them in some cases and then these leftovers were all perfect. Same with today- I was doing a LO about sharks and I went online and started looking at shark stuff. Then was like no- and looked through my stuff- I had a huge container of mixed foam stickers including sharks I had gotten for my son (and we've used a lot, and there will still be a lot left over). Again, shocked.
So how many of you have done shopping or spending freezes or tried to use what you have? It's hard bc everything is so tempting and it's so FUN to buy new stuff. Plus I tend to get way more inspired that way. But this has been an interesting experiment. I'm not committed to it yet, but thinking about it.
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Post by LavenderLayoutLady on Sept 19, 2019 18:48:00 GMT
Oh yes, you'll find many of us that go on freezes, or stick ourselves in the refrigerator for awhile.
You are not alone! 😀
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Post by pixiegrrl on Sept 19, 2019 18:55:59 GMT
I am just starting an album project and challenged myself to only use the loose 12x12 pattern sheets of paper I have. I have a whole box full of individual sheets that have just been sitting there. (I tend to just go straight to all my paper pads first.)
I got rid of a couple hundred that I know I will not use. And then challenged myself to use up the leftovers individual sheets. Some of them are sooo pretty. I don't know why I've let them sit there for so long unused. Whatever I don't use, I think I will donate.
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Post by mikklynn on Sept 19, 2019 19:20:43 GMT
I am trying very hard to use up some of what I have. I have a lot, but that is OK. It's when I run out of storage space that I really go on a freeze.
I try to remind myself there will be another really cute line released later.
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chendra
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,860
Location: The 33rd State
Jun 27, 2014 16:58:50 GMT
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Post by chendra on Sept 19, 2019 19:49:54 GMT
My main problem is locating what I have. I don't have a dedicated room or space; I have to set up a folding table in the living room and then retrieve things from under the bed or my husband's office or the hall closet.
I guess I need to drag everything out, take an inventory, and create a spreadsheet. If I find myself with time or inspiration (rarely do they both strike at once) theoretically, I'll waste less time scavenging and spend more time scrapping if I'm more organized.
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kitbop
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,394 
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Post by kitbop on Sept 20, 2019 1:13:23 GMT
My main problem is locating what I have. Yes, this! It's "hard" to create a layout from my older stash because I don't remember what I have, or where it is. It takes extra time. My newer items are both fresher in mind and closer to hand. But I am must more satisfied with layouts I put a little effort into finding the older items. I know lots of peas shop their stash and make kits just to solve this "problem". I just struggle when I'm constrained by a kit. |
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Post by infochick on Sept 20, 2019 1:48:06 GMT
I have finally decided that I have too much stuff. I’m not to the point of a major purge, but I want to make an effort to use my stuff and be more intentional (and restrained) about what I buy. A huge problem for me is just not knowing what I have. I’m making a major effort to do a deep organization of my stash. This means making sure collections are together, putting like supplies together, and organizing odds and ends by colour. I’m even re-sorting old paper by colour. I think it will make it easier for me to use what I have. I like working with a collection, so this way I’m finding it easier to go through what I have and add in extra pieces from my existing inventory.
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scrapnnana
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,144
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Post by scrapnnana on Sept 20, 2019 4:23:03 GMT
I’ve decided to go on a spending freeze. I have far too many supplies and tools, and I have run out of room. I need to declutter and organize, so it’s easier to find what I want.
I mostly shop my stash, since I have no LSS near me, and I don’t care much for what is at the big box craft stores, but I do visit Tuesday Morning most weeks. And buy from them most weeks. I have found some nice things there, but I honestly didn’t really need any of it.
So for starters, I will stay out of Tuesday Morning, steer clear of Amazon, and stick to shopping from my stash.
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Post by amidwestkingdom on Sept 20, 2019 4:48:16 GMT
I didn’t buy anything from November 2016-Spring 2018. I also didn’t memory keep much as I would get nauseous looking at anything related to memory keeping while I was pregnant with my daughter. After the freeze, I found all the collections that I missed and purchased them—heavily discounted. Crate Paper’s Oasis was pretty hard to locate everything in one location.
It helped that I didn’t follow any memory keeping profiles during this time too, so I did not see ALL the cute things,
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Post by joblackford on Sept 20, 2019 5:30:10 GMT
I feel that so much comes out so often, more often than I would expect. If I'm not paying attention, not following along, I can easily miss things, and not even notice. That's good - I don't need anything! I see new things that I want things here and there, but for the most I don't want stuff as often as it is being made available. If I do miss out I usually find there's another cute (and often really similar) thing coming out soon after.
I love using up things I have.
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Post by steakgoddess on Sept 20, 2019 7:15:08 GMT
I’ve gone on spending freezes on purpose and completely accidentally.
Usually spending freezes are month long for me. I just don’t order supplies and I stay out of the Craft stores.
But sometimes I am just creating away and I don’t notice I haven’t gone shopping in a while. I didn’t shop at all in August and that was not a shocker because I created over 100 layouts. I find when I’m really, REALLY creating I don’t feel the need to shop. On the flip side, when you make that many layouts, you use a lot of stuff. So I have spent in September.
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Chinagirl828
Drama Llama
Melbourne, Australia
Posts: 6,478
Jun 28, 2014 6:28:53 GMT
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Post by Chinagirl828 on Sept 20, 2019 7:19:50 GMT
I've been frozen but I'm more likely to be refrigerated. I treated myself to some new things I absolutely did not need for my birthday last month and now won't shop until the BF sales. I'm hoping sketchtember will put a dent in my stash (it seems to be working on my paper, both scraps and full sheets so far) and then I'll try to be mindful that I'm filling gaps not buying the same thing I already have a dozen variations of.
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Post by LavenderLayoutLady on Sept 20, 2019 15:52:01 GMT
I’ve gone on spending freezes on purpose and completely accidentally. Usually spending freezes are month long for me. I just don’t order supplies and I stay out of the Craft stores. But sometimes I am just creating away and I don’t notice I haven’t gone shopping in a while. I didn’t shop at all in August and that was not a shocker because I created over 100 layouts. I find when I’m really, REALLY creating I don’t feel the need to shop. On the flip side, when you make that many layouts, you use a lot of stuff. So I have spent in September. I relate to this so much! Sometimes my mojo comes back full force, and I tear into my stash, and I create so much. It's an awesome feeling. But, like you said, then you've used up a bunch of stuff. 😀 |
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oh yvonne
Prolific Pea
Posts: 8,003
Jun 26, 2014 0:45:23 GMT
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Post by oh yvonne on Sept 20, 2019 17:36:17 GMT
Great topic! We were discussing this also on the organizing challenge thread, about how to be organized to even find all your stash. So I'm repeating myself here but when I recently completely overhauled my scrap room I had a notebook where I jotted down an inventory map  Seriously, in the past I spent more time trying to remember where I put something that I'd get so frustrated I'd lose my momentum and just give up. This time around I made that quick reference map to where I re-homed everything. Just one long list I can refer to. I wrote.. "instruction manuals: pink accordian file" and "adhesive refills: Ikea box, laminator sheets: with Cameo mats in Expedit". Just quick like that. So while I'm busy working and I need something randomly specific like that I check the list and then go right to it. I corralled like things together. The loose paper stash sorted by dominant color, loose embellishments are by color too. So far it's been super efficient and I have wasted minimal time. I'm loving using all my old stash again. One thing that can be said about just biting the bullet and doing a complete overhaul, is you revisit and 'touch' all your supplies refreshing your memory of them. As you are sorting through your pictures, you recall that you just saw that old Hambly paper with the orange background and hot pink doily imprint that would work perfect! I'm having a blast using all my old stash, I'm scrapping in a newer style than I would have done had I used it back when I purchased it so it feels fresh to me. This is great!  |
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Deleted
Posts: 0
May 17, 2024 2:36:00 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Sept 20, 2019 19:13:54 GMT
I feel that so much comes out so often, more often than I would expect. If I'm not paying attention, not following along, I can easily miss things, and not even notice. That's good - I don't need anything! I see new things that I want things here and there, but for the most I don't want stuff as often as it is being made available. If I do miss out I usually find there's another cute (and often really similar) thing coming out soon after. I love using up things I have. I think this is one of the advantages of discontinued scrapbook magazines and LSS for me. If I don't see it, I don't know, because I don't willingly shop the web for new product. |
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Post by marg on Sept 22, 2019 1:02:47 GMT
Great topic! We were discussing this also on the organizing challenge thread, about how to be organized to even find all your stash. So I'm repeating myself here but when I recently completely overhauled my scrap room I had a notebook where I jotted down an inventory map Seriously, in the past I spent more time trying to remember where I put something that I'd get so frustrated I'd lose my momentum and just give up. This time around I made that quick reference map to where I re-homed everything. Just one long list I can refer to. I wrote.. "instruction manuals: pink accordian file" and "adhesive refills: Ikea box, laminator sheets: with Cameo mats in Expedit". Just quick like that. So while I'm busy working and I need something randomly specific like that I check the list and then go right to it. I corralled like things together. The loose paper stash sorted by dominant color, loose embellishments are by color too. So far it's been super efficient and I have wasted minimal time. I'm loving using all my old stash again. One thing that can be said about just biting the bullet and doing a complete overhaul, is you revisit and 'touch' all your supplies refreshing your memory of them. As you are sorting through your pictures, you recall that you just saw that old Hambly paper with the orange background and hot pink doily imprint that would work perfect! I'm having a blast using all my old stash, I'm scrapping in a newer style than I would have done had I used it back when I purchased it so it feels fresh to me. This is great! This is great. I like the idea of doing the inventory map - I'm going to copy you!! It will help me remember what I have, too, by just looking it over from time to time. I recently reorganized and you are so right about touching everything - it really helped me remember what I have, and match things up to use with certain photos. |
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Post by pas2 on Sept 22, 2019 11:49:47 GMT
I haven’t exactly gone on a freeze but I have been reigning in my spending the past 2 months. I window shop the TM haul videos to decide if I really want some new items. Some weeks I don’t even go to the store! I cut way back on my AX shopping too. I haven’t even looked at the new paper line releases so I wouldn’t be tempted. Now I need to cut back on my thrifting.
I will take an hour or two every few months to thumb through my stash to keep what I have fresh in my mind. Sometimes it inspires me, other times it helps me purge small amounts from my stash. I keep a give away bag under my table at all times. I also keep a box to collect junk paper to use for test cuts or gluing on, etc. I can’t bear to toss it if it can be reused in some way. It seems wasteful.
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christinec68
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,129
Location: New York, NY
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Post by christinec68 on Sept 22, 2019 15:22:20 GMT
I “try” to keep a handle on my stash so I have a good idea of what I have and what needs to get used. I move things around a little as a reminder to use certain things. I’ve had some things for a while that are close to going out the door.
I placed a decent sized preorder that arrived a few weeks ago. This will be it until next year.
I mostly feel like I need to create more.
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prettypaper
Shy Member
Posts: 24
Sept 12, 2019 19:04:18 GMT
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Post by prettypaper on Sept 24, 2019 20:50:55 GMT
Oh yes, you'll find many of us that go on freezes, or stick ourselves in the refrigerator for awhile. You are not alone! 😀 This has made me laugh so many times. Thanks! |
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prettypaper
Shy Member
Posts: 24
Sept 12, 2019 19:04:18 GMT
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Post by prettypaper on Sept 24, 2019 20:56:17 GMT
Thank you all! I can relate to so much of it here. I love the thought of being "refridgerated." It feels less permanent and it's also just kind of funny to me. I've been keeping up with the same thing- just using what I have and I've been shocked again and again how much I have. It's also really given me an awareness of how I should shop in the future. Less paper pads, more individual sheets of paper. I tend to like to use it for one thing and move on so that should have been obvious but it wasn't. Also, no need to buy duplicate stickers or ephemera or something. Just one is enough per set unless they're really different. The refrigeration will be really good for my creativity and bank account though. I'm pretty excited when I use what I have and hopefully it'll cut down on that massive storage problem I have.
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Seriously, in the past I spent more time trying to remember where I put something that I'd get so frustrated I'd lose my momentum and just give up.
