Wednesday, July 17, 2013

When It's Time To Purge

I had a great question from Lorie, a long time regular here at the cafe. Here's what she had to say:

"Beautiful card. After a "leave of absence" from my stamping I am considering getting back into it. Step one is cleaning & clearing out my supplies. As a long time reader of your blog, I know you did something similar and scaled down your supplies. I am having a hard time deciding what to keep & what to sell. I know I am going to work toward more clean & simple cards. How did you decide what to part with? I would hate to sell a stamp set and regret it later. My floor is covered with stuff! I wonder if I was a collector or stamper! Any tips for me? I would appreciate any advice you may have. Thank you!"

In 2011, I had an event that I called "The Great Purge", where I sold off over 300 wood mounted stamp sets and a few tons of paper and accessories. The craft had become too cluttered and messy, my cards were becoming cluttered and messy, and I lost all creativity. Like Lorie mentions, I felt more like a collector than a true crafter.

I went through my stash with a critical eye, looking at everything that I wasn't using and didn't even like anymore. I made piles, lots and lots of piles. And then I sorted those piles, priced those piles, and sold off items here, at garage sales, to family and friends, and of course, at Splitcoast Stampers.

Do I regret selling any items? Nope! Not a single one. And here's why.


My wood mounted sets took up so much space! I still own a few sets, as you can see here.

 But look at this! I can store the same amount of stamp sets in a clear form, and it takes up a teeny amount of space in this little four inch square plastic tub!


Selling off my old SU sets allowed me the freedom (and the money) to purchase from other companies that I'd been admiring for their fresh style. Papertrey Ink, WPlus9 Design, Paper Smooches, Lawn Fawn, Waltzingmouse Stamps. I was able to find many of these stamps on buy/sell forums at a fraction of the price. That's where I found this:


I sold off my big old clumsy sewing machine and purchased a new Janome Sew Mini!


My sweet hubby bought me a Big Kick and I branched out into the wonderful world of diecutting.

I'm learning that purging isn't just a one time event. You have to stay on top of your stuff or it will take over!

There are papers that I need to pass on to new homes...


Stamps that served me well at one time, but haven't been used in ages...



Impulse purchases that were never really my style...


I have to check my hidey holes for things I've squirreled away...the ribbons, the punches, the accessories...

As you can probably see, I'll be having a sale soon!

I must admit, I am much more careful about the purchases I make now. I think long and hard about what stamps I "need" to fill a whole in my collection, and what stamps I just "want" because they're the trendy new shiny object.

Here's a trick that works for me. When I browse through online companies, I love it if they have a shopping cart or wishlist. I can put items in that cart and leave them for a while. I usually go back a week or two later and pare down the "wants" from the "needs". It saves me from the stupid impulse buys when I'm putting more thought into it.

If you are worried about regretting the sale of a certain item, here's a great suggestion. Put the items in a box and put a date on that box. Give yourself a time frame...six months, a year. If you haven't used those items and you haven't missed them, then you won't regret selling them.

I have incorporated this philosophy into so many areas of my life...my wardrobe, my kitchen accessories, cosmetics, CDs and DVDs, books. I am careful about what I purchase and bring into my home, and I am conscious about getting things out of my home that I no longer want or need. I'm not saying that I'm living a disposable life, but I'm living a more fluid life where "stuff" doesn't accumulate and form a "dam" in my day to day living.

Good luck, Lorie! I hope the purge frees up your creativity and allows you to enjoy the craft again!


12 comments:

  1. Thank you for the advice and encouragement. (I certainly didn't expect an entire post!) You have several great ideas. I am working a little each day and find that helps. If I were to try to purge in one day I would probably find it all in the trash! I have uncovered some things that I wonder what in the world I was thinking when I bought them. There have also been some hidden treasures that have brought a smile to my face, such as the card you sent me when I won blog candy many moons ago. Purging is a process that isn't always enjoyable but it is helping me get back in touch with a hobby that I had forgotten how much I enjoy. Thanks again!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks for inspiring me, Lorie! And that was too sweet of you to hold on to that card! :)

      Delete
    2. I forgot to mention that my dear, sweet Mom is in this same process right now. I'm trying to help her clean up her craft this summer, so we're in it together!

      Delete
  2. Maryrose, we are crafters of the same heart :) A few years ago, I sat down and re-evaluated this crafting 'hobby' and how much I had accumilated. It was shameful. I kept saying that just because I saw it, didn't mean I had to own it and I could have witness/tithed the money to so many better places than my craftroom! Purging was hard, but it was nice at the same time :) I envy you, though, for unmounting your stamps - I think I'm the last one to do that, but I just can't! I love the feel of the wood - I'm a very tactile person and love to touch/feel :) HURRAH for setting up shop in the new place already! I'd still be staring at boxes ........ LOL

    Blessings!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I hear you, Kelly! After twelve plus years, it was tough to let go of the wood, but I'm finding it much easier to do these days. So many wonderful companies that offer "clear"!

      Delete
  3. Great post, Mary Rose! I am sure that Lorie will find your experiences helpful.

    Kelly, you are not the only one that has not unmounted their stamps! I have some wood goin' on here too!

    I have certainly do not have a huge amount of crafting items compared to what I have seen on other blogs, but felt that I was not using what I did have and buying more. I put a halt on the buying, unless it is necessity and making use of what I have. It certainly has brought on new challenges to the creative flow. It makes me think harder to make what I have work. The end result is not always to my total liking, ie this layer should have been this color, but I feel better using what I have and not being a collector (okay maybe just a tid bit of a collector...). Glad I am not alone!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Oh, I almost forgot! The Ronald McDonald House accepts donations for crafting items. Barbaralynn on SCS donates to her local RMH and I have sent things to her to donate. Just an idea.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ooh, I'll have to remember that in the future!

      Delete
  5. Thanks for the words of wisdom and great techniques. DH is a bit of a hoarder and we battle the ensuing clutter all the time. Congratulations on the freedom that paring down brings to life! It's a great feeling.
    Blessings!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, Darlene! You are right...it is a good feeling!

      Delete
  6. Mary Rose, I am so impressed and inspired by this blog entry. I need to read and re-read it often as I so need to do this with my craft items. I have so much and I need to get it back to a manageable amount... Thanks so much for sharing..((hugs))

    ReplyDelete