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Post by Really Red on Feb 25, 2019 15:01:28 GMT
I simply cannot believe how many crafting supplies I have. I swear I bought out every store in Colorado and Virginia. I am completely humiliated at the tons (well - it feels like it!) of paper and craft stuff I have. The empty albums, the paper (taller than my 5'8"!), the tools, the ephemera, etc.! What on earth was I thinking? How can this be? My basement flooded (for those who haven't seen my other sad posts), but fortunately, I had everything on shelves and most everything is fine. But I have to go through everything. I had built-in shelves and they have to be removed and they were the length of the room! Everything was taken off of every shelf and from inside every cabinet. There is a just MASSIVE amount of [poo] everywhere. I cannot even. And I still love it all
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kitbop
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,577
Jun 28, 2014 21:14:36 GMT
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Post by kitbop on Feb 25, 2019 15:13:02 GMT
Definitely not alone! I was packing up craft stuff for a trip and choosing some thickers. Realized that even if I go with a price of $4/package (currently I pay 6.99 at my LSS, 🇨🇦) I have over $1200 worth of them. Of letter stickers. That's ridiculous! But I adore them, and all my stuff!!! I also ❤️ my older papers, and I'm sure I would have at least 5' of them if stacked. I watch YouTube videos and see the hauls of stamps and ink a and dies and mixed media supplies...that's where I've been more conservative in buying because they are so pricey. I can't imagine what some people's budgets are like. Jealous!
Glad your supplies survived the flood. We had the same thing happen a few years back and most of my stuff was ok too...like you, I keep it all at least a few inches off the floor! (Basement scrappy spaces. Oh, my thicker collection for a window!) but dealing with the clean up is awful, even with insurance taking care of it!
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Post by don on Feb 25, 2019 15:22:42 GMT
Get that paper to a very dry place. Paper will absorb water from the air. I spent 30 years in the water and fire damage restoration business.
A scrapbook store in Centralia, WA suffered a flood from an overflowing river. They had just opened a month. They did not have flood insurance. The owner told me the store was restocked by the companies who supplied her original merchandise. It made me feel warm and fuzzy, and happy to be associated in the papercrafting world.
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Post by Really Red on Feb 25, 2019 15:27:18 GMT
Get that paper to a very dry place. Paper will absorb water from the air. I spent 30 years in the water and fire damage restoration business. A scrapbook store in Centralia, WA suffered a flood from an overflowing river. They had just opened a month. They did not have flood insurance. The owner told me the store was restocked by the companies who supplied her original merchandise. It made me feel warm and fuzzy, and happy to be associated in the papercrafting world. Within a few hours of the flood the mitigation company was there with their GIANT blowers. They have been blowing for nearly one week. There is no moisture at all in my basement now!!
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Deleted
Posts: 0
Sept 30, 2024 13:34:30 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Feb 25, 2019 16:00:35 GMT
You are definitely not alone . My weakness is stamps and kits!!! But I'm a pretty minimalist scrapper, so I really don't need to buy anymore kits for a lifetime.
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scrapnnana
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,316
Jun 29, 2014 18:58:47 GMT
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Post by scrapnnana on Feb 25, 2019 16:28:20 GMT
Glad your supplies got salvaged.
No, you're not alone, although thankfully, my supplies have not experienced what you've had to go through.
I went through my stash recently in preparing for a card making activity in my home. It was a bit of a wake up call.
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Deleted
Posts: 0
Sept 30, 2024 13:34:30 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Feb 25, 2019 16:56:44 GMT
Hang in there. It's ok to love what you love - as long as your family isn't going hungry Wishing you a speedy clean-up and reset.
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Post by anniefb on Feb 25, 2019 17:11:00 GMT
No you’re not alone. I have a small well-stocked craft room. I think I could probably scrap and make cards with what’s there for the rest of my life and not have to buy anything new apart from adhesive.
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Post by myboysnme on Feb 25, 2019 17:20:34 GMT
If you love your stuff then I believe that it was a worthwhile investment. Even if you don't use all of it you are still scrapping and it is part of your hobby, the same way people have fabric stashes, yarn stashes, or golf clubs, or books or whatever people have for hobbies.
I think we can have too much and I know I do, but I am also not afraid to use my stuff and I am not afraid to give stuff away. This weekend I went to a scrap retreat and did 60+ pages, so that's 60+ pieces of paper I got to use.
now if you no longer scrap and don't see yourself starting, then I think a more manageable stash might feel better.
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beachsm16
Junior Member
Posts: 87
Dec 8, 2017 4:39:59 GMT
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Post by beachsm16 on Feb 25, 2019 17:37:00 GMT
If you love your stuff then I believe that it was a worthwhile investment. Even if you don't use all of it you are still scrapping and it is part of your hobby, the same way people have fabric stashes, yarn stashes, or golf clubs, or books or whatever people have for hobbies. I think we can have too much and I know I do, but I am also not afraid to use my stuff and I am not afraid to give stuff away. This weekend I went to a scrap retreat and did 60+ pages, so that's 60+ pieces of paper I got to use. now if you no longer scrap and don't see yourself starting, then I think a more manageable stash might feel better. 60+ pages - Wow, that is totally impressive!!!
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Post by Embri on Feb 25, 2019 17:55:47 GMT
So an overabundance of 'stuff' is a common event - I won't say problem, because sometimes it's an issue, and sometimes it's not - in many hobbies.
The line between a working collection and collection-for-the-sake-of-ownership is different for everyone. Now's a good time to sort through your stuff and check and see if it's serving you, or are you serving it? Is it a shelf-warmer that's sat around for ten years doing nothing, or a useful contributor to your crafting hobby? Everyone's different. Some craft well in the midst of lots of things, find inspiration in having a wide variety of supplies, while others can end up feeling overwhelmed and less creative due to a glut of options.
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Post by riley on Feb 25, 2019 18:31:36 GMT
So an overabundance of 'stuff' is a common event - I won't say problem, because sometimes it's an issue, and sometimes it's not - in many hobbies. The line between a working collection and collection-for-the-sake-of-ownership is different for everyone. Now's a good time to sort through your stuff and check and see if it's serving you, or are you serving it? Is it a shelf-warmer that's sat around for ten years doing nothing, or a useful contributor to your crafting hobby? Everyone's different. Some craft well in the midst of lots of things, find inspiration in having a wide variety of supplies, while others can end up feeling overwhelmed and less creative due to a glut of options. This is a really great comment. Such good insight.
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Post by papersilly on Feb 25, 2019 18:40:00 GMT
YOU...ARE....NOT....ALONE! i was shaking my head in shock at my room full of stuff. what DON'T i own? seriously. i have a ton of shit i need to go through and pare down on.
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Post by myboysnme on Feb 25, 2019 18:47:43 GMT
The line between a working collection and collection-for-the-sake-of-ownership is different for everyone. Now's a good time to sort through your stuff and check and see if it's serving you, or are you serving it? Is it a shelf-warmer that's sat around for ten years doing nothing, or a useful contributor to your crafting hobby? Everyone's different. Some craft well in the midst of lots of things, find inspiration in having a wide variety of supplies, while others can end up feeling overwhelmed and less creative due to a glut of options. This needs top be pinned! Great summation of the issue!
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Post by Prenticekid on Feb 25, 2019 19:52:19 GMT
There is nothing wrong with you. No husband has ever thought this way about his tool stash...the barely used routers and circular saws for the one or two projects that they might get to some day, the crap ton of screws and nails, etc. There are way more Home Depots and Lowes and what have you than there are LSS. You're just keeping tools and supplies handy.
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scrapnnana
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,316
Jun 29, 2014 18:58:47 GMT
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Post by scrapnnana on Feb 25, 2019 19:54:07 GMT
Hang in there. It's ok to love what you love - as long as your family isn't going hungry This is how I view it. If you aren't using funds that should pay for your family's necessities, it's no one's business how you spend your money. A lot of people travel to cool (but expensive) places for vacations. We don't. We usually just visit family. My crafts and my stash make me happy, and it doesn't bother my DH. No one else matters.
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Post by thracian on Feb 25, 2019 19:59:56 GMT
I'm glad the flood didn't destroy anything.
I can definitely relate to feeling like you've bought too much! I feel the same way. Last year I did very little buying, but this year I've bought a bunch and can't say I'll stop anytime soon. I am using it but certainly not at the rate I'm buying. LOL.
One thing I am doing is making a big effort to use older items with my new. When I moved in 2017, it gave me a good excuse to go through things. I'm still working on that, but it's brought lots of stash to the top. It is so satisfying to use up older items.
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Post by thracian on Feb 25, 2019 20:01:37 GMT
There is nothing wrong with you. No husband has ever thought this way about his tool stash...the barely used routers and circular saws for the one or two projects that they might get to some day, the crap ton of screws and nails, etc. There are way more Home Depots and Lowes and what have you than there are LSS. You're just keeping tools and supplies handy. Good point!
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Post by thracian on Feb 25, 2019 20:02:53 GMT
If you aren't using funds that should pay for your family's necessities, it's no one's business how you spend your money. Amen!
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Post by pas2 on Feb 26, 2019 5:10:31 GMT
I’m right there with you, last month our basement family room flooded. Now im faced with moving everything including my stash to another location so we can replace the carpet. I thought the same thing about my stack of paper but I bought it because I LOVE it. Yes, i plan to purge some as I move it but it won’t be by very much. Now my enamel dot, sequins, glitter and thickers stash are a different story.
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josie29
Junior Member
Posts: 92
Mar 27, 2017 3:34:47 GMT
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Post by josie29 on Feb 26, 2019 5:44:20 GMT
The line between a working collection and collection-for-the-sake-of-ownership is different for everyone. Now's a good time to sort through your stuff and check and see if it's serving you, or are you serving it? Is it a shelf-warmer that's sat around for ten years doing nothing, or a useful contributor to your crafting hobby? Everyone's different. Some craft well in the midst of lots of things, find inspiration in having a wide variety of supplies, while others can end up feeling overwhelmed and less creative due to a glut of options. This needs to be pinned! Great summation of the issue! I totally agree! Very insightful! Thank you Embri
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Post by Embri on Feb 26, 2019 6:09:09 GMT
Y'all are making me blush. (why is there no embarrassed smiley? aaah!)
There's no one right amount of stuff that's best; it depends on the individual. Collections don't have to have a purpose other than to make you happy having them. There's no need to feel guilty about owning lots of craft supplies simply because you like them, unless you're acquiring things for the enjoyment of purchasing (that's a whole other kettle of fish and strays into compulsive buying), buying due to fear of missing out (surprise boxes and grab bags are notorious for pulling this trick), spending beyond your budget or buying unmindfully. The last one would be, for example, getting things you already own because you've forgotten you have them, or purchasing supplies that you really don't need because you already have something quite similar that would do. Is this new thing going to help you get enjoyment from your craft, or is it simply the attraction of 'new'?
No matter how good you are at gauging the utility or fit of a particular item into your hobby, you will eventually get some things that just aren't pulling their weight. Maybe it's that fancy tool that seemed like a good idea at the time, but you never take it out. Maybe it's really pretty paper that just doesn't work with any of your projects. Whatever the reason, those are the things that should find new homes. Tastes and interests change over the years, so too will your collection. However if you start to feel overwhelmed by the amount of stuff you own, that's usually a good sign it's time to take a long, hard look at your buying habits and maybe pare down the least useful of your stock.
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amom23
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,403
Jun 27, 2014 12:39:18 GMT
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Post by amom23 on Feb 26, 2019 14:50:09 GMT
I view my scrapbook stash like I do other areas of my house. Do I love it? Will I use it? Does it fit my style? Do I have space to keep it? After all these years I can truly say my scrapbook room is filled with items that bring me joy. Everything has a place and I know what I have and where I can find it.
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Post by crazy4scraps on Feb 26, 2019 15:43:32 GMT
Definitely not alone. I have enough stuff for five lifetimes easily. And I can totally relate with the comment “and I still love it” LOL. I went through a lot of my stuff when I unpacked and did pull out a lot of stuff to get rid of, but I was honestly surprised by how many of those really old things still sparked joy, so to speak. It’s the same thing with my boxes of fabric, I pull it out and look at it, touch it, think about all the fun things I could make out of it... and then put it back. Someday I will think of the perfect thing to make with it and it will be here waiting for me. I should cut a vinyl saying for my craft room wall that says, “Loved you then, love you still. Always have, always will!” Meaning my scrapping, sewing and crafting stuff, of course.
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Post by mikklynn on Feb 26, 2019 17:08:35 GMT
Hang in there. It's ok to love what you love - as long as your family isn't going hungry This is how I view it. If you aren't using funds that should pay for your family's necessities, it's no one's business how you spend your money. A lot of people travel to cool (but espensive) places for vacations. We don't. We usually just visit family. My crafts and my stash make me happy, and it doesn't bother my DH. No one else matters. Amen! I have purged a lot of craft supplies I kept for my school age children. I don't think I'll need any googly eyes! If I do, they are what? A dollar?
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Post by Citygirl on Feb 26, 2019 17:19:27 GMT
Nope...you are not alone. There is nothing wrong with you. No husband has ever thought this way about his tool stash...the barely used routers and circular saws for the one or two projects that they might get to some day, the crap ton of screws and nails, etc. There are way more Home Depots and Lowes and what have you than there are LSS. You're just keeping tools and supplies handy. This is SO true and no one ever tells them they have too much stuff!
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Post by crazy4scraps on Feb 26, 2019 18:53:18 GMT
There is nothing wrong with you. No husband has ever thought this way about his tool stash...the barely used routers and circular saws for the one or two projects that they might get to some day, the crap ton of screws and nails, etc. There are way more Home Depots and Lowes and what have you than there are LSS. You're just keeping tools and supplies handy. My husband hoards the left over end cuts of 2x4’s, you know, “just in case.” So yeah.
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Post by 950nancy on Feb 27, 2019 2:53:28 GMT
I do not let Mari in my craft room. That hussy can stay in my bedroom closet.
I am good with purging supplies, but I do not want to minimize what I have either. I have a Girls are Weird alphabet and a barely used Revolution (QK) die cutting machine in the back of my vehicle. I am trying to take it Goodwill. I have a Vagabond, Big Shot and new Gemini that do the same thing, but for some reason I haven't stopped by in the 6 weeks they have been back there. Usually I am happy to get rid of old stuff.
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Post by 950nancy on Feb 27, 2019 2:55:02 GMT
There is nothing wrong with you. No husband has ever thought this way about his tool stash...the barely used routers and circular saws for the one or two projects that they might get to some day, the crap ton of screws and nails, etc. There are way more Home Depots and Lowes and what have you than there are LSS. You're just keeping tools and supplies handy. My husband hoards the left over end cuts of 2x4’s, you know, “just in case.” So yeah. I had a friend use them to make reindeer one Christmas. She painted them brown, used pipe cleaners for antlers and they sold like crazy.
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leeny
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,754
Location: Northern California
Site Supporter
Jun 27, 2014 1:55:53 GMT
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Post by leeny on Feb 27, 2019 3:54:07 GMT
This is how I view it. If you aren't using funds that should pay for your family's necessities, it's no one's business how you spend your money. A lot of people travel to cool (but espensive) places for vacations. We don't. We usually just visit family. My crafts and my stash make me happy, and it doesn't bother my DH. No one else matters. Amen! I have purged a lot of craft supplies I kept for my school age children. I don't think I'll need any googly eyes! If I do, they are what? A dollar? Googly eyes are now for making cards! They look great on stamped monster faces...
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