USE IT, TOSS IT, OR PASS IT ON!

HOW TO STOP BEING A COLLECTOR AND START CREATING!

The past eight months or so have been extremely stressful for our family culminating with my mother- in - law passing away a few weeks ago. Needless to say, my crafting time has been limited. This past weekend I had the luxury of spending an entire day in my craft room! I looked around and just shook my head. I had 4 months worth of Paper Pumpkin kits stacked on the edge of one shelf, there were various sizes of scrap cardstock to file away, there were new stamp sets to catalog, etc. I had become a craft supply collector as opposed to a creator! My happy space felt so disorganized, and definitely needed some attention!

While putting things away and cleaning up a bit I realized I had quite the collection of card bases, envelopes, DSP, embellishments, etc, etc. Some items I don’t even remember buying! I decided the time had come. Time to start going through all my stashes!!! My usual method for dealing with excess supplies is use it now, toss it now, or pass it on now! 

I decided it made sense to start with the Paper Pumpkin kits! The July kit, Summer Nights, is really cute. I ordered the Add On Kit  as well (20 card bases and 20 envelopes). I used the Add On Kit and the elements in the Paper Pumpkin to make 20 cards I will use as invitations for our annual July Fourth Celebration. Included in the kit were 9 small white bags with cute fireworks die cuts.  I stamped on them and embellished the. I will put little LED tea lights in them to use as decorations for our celebration! The cards and the bags are all packed away in the cute Paper Pumpkin box and labeled. Come summer I will be ready to relax and enjoy the celebration. So, one kit completed, and I felt great! 

I moved on to the August kit. I made the cards a bit different from the instructions - I usually do! These cards are not my style, but I have kids in my life I know will love them. I will send these out to help the kids celebrate the end of the school semester.

Next I moved on to the September kit, darling crackers; great treat holders for Halloween, or Thanksgiving. I missed Halloween, but we are having a modified family dinner on Thanksgiving. I filled these with yummy candy treats. They will surely put a smile on everyone’s face, and help us remember just how much we have to be thankful for! These are sitting in a cute basket and ready to go!

And finally, I finished the October Paper Pumpkin! I added a few embellishments, some retired! Yay! I used more stuff! I added these to my stock of Christmas cards. I should have enough cards for this year now!

I was looking for note card sized envelopes and found these. Stampin’ Up! retired these either last year or the year before. So, should I use them? (I was undecided.) Toss them? (That was not an option.) Pass them on? (Maybe.)

 

I discovered I had quite the collection of Feels Like Frost DSP. I thought the photographic images would look great framed in silver. I decided to make New Year’s cards. I pulled out two retired stamp sets I swore I loved and would never part with, but I have not used in some time. So, time to use them! All I had to do done these cards was cut the DSP to 3 3/4” x 5” and stamp the sentiment right on the DSP, and attach them to the card base. I also stamped a sentiment on the inside of each card. Now I have twelve pretty cards to send to family and friends to wish them a wonderful 2021!

So, that was the use it part of my cleaning. This week I have been working on the “toss it” phase. Remember I mentioned all those pieces and scraps of cardstock? I went through them, separated them by color to file them. I had to laugh at myself.  I had saved some pieces of cardstock that are truly not usable. Why? Who knows? I tossed all the tiny piece. The same with the small pieces of DSP! Next stop, the ribbon cabinet. I had some teeny tiny scraps of ribbon that have been in that cabinet for a couple of years. No longer! I tossed them. I went through all my markers, and tossed the ones that were dried out and those with damaged tips. I moved on to my multipurpose glue. I had a couple of empty containers. I tossed them, I found and empty Fast Fuse dispenser- it is gone!  I am certain there are more things to toss, but I have a good start, and I have a sense of accomplishment!

As I was going through things I put some retired cardstock, DSP, ribbon, and other embellishments in a box. As I continue to go through my stash I am certain the box will be overflowing. I usually give excess supplies my nieces for them to use for themselves, with their children, at church or donate to their children’s schools. 

My craft room looks a lot better, and I have a true sense of accomplishment. Although I have only scratched the surface, I feel free to use my supplies and create my Christmas gift tags, packaging for stocking stuffers, and begin my 2021 birthday cards. My craft room is my happy place once again!

I hope my story has helped inspire you to do what is necessary to turn your creative space from a storage space for collecting supplies into your happy creative space!

Until next time...

Stamp Happy!

Kim

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