As with all wise words, this really struck a chord with me. I've become a very much more considering consumer in the last five years for sure, but I still fall into the 'must have' because of so many blog recommendations. Let me present to you just one in what may be a series....
My Scor Pal.
Or, as you can probably tell from the photo - the plastic board I use to protect my pen holders from the sunshine.
However, it doesn't mean that I use my Metric Scor-Pal any more. Or at all. I can't remember the last time I reached for it. I did a bit of paper engineering with it originally, and I'm pretty sure I used it in a couple of workshops so that people could do the old 'try before you buy' thing. I need to apply the wardrobe principle to these items...if I haven't used it for a year, I clearly don't need it!
This feels like a real confession. Anyone care to join me in this occasional series?!
How ironic. I had the chance to use my friend Kathy's Score Pal and I fell in love with it. Although I wanted one badly, I don't make cards often enough to go out and purchase one.
ReplyDeleteI recently have gotten out products I either purchased or was given, and found ways to use them. Does anyone really need over 40 decorative scissors? Apparently I do, because I had no idea I had acquired so many until I did a tutorial on them last year. So I agree that we need to use what we have or let it go. My problem is, I'm a mixed media artist, and it's hard to let go of things I think I might use in the future.
I feel your pain and empathize.
I’ve been doing this a lot over the past year since I stopped demoing for SU my spending has become less but I found a LOT of things I needed at the time yet never used - my scoreboard is something I never use now I don’t do classes it was fab for making card bases I have a large box in the loft atm full of stash I’m trying the shop from there if I need something new and no spending on scrapbook stuff as that’s what I’m just not using been good so far for 6 months but I’ve also not got anything out of the box.....
ReplyDeleteCharlie x
I have the imperial one and love it x
ReplyDeleteI think we have all fallen fowl of the "must have" situation in the past but with pennies becoming tighter many of us are thinking twice about purchases (but not necessarily clearing out what we no longer use). I spend much less on stash these days and try and use some of the money saved for workshops so that I still get my crafting fix.
ReplyDeleteToni xx
No, no, I don't know what you mean! I have nothing that I "had to have" that hasn't been frequently and lovingly used.... ahem!
ReplyDeleteI am clearing out old (2005!) magazines at the moment.... and stamp catalogues.. from 2002...oops!
I have recently been sorting through my craft room and found a Crop - a- Dile III that when I first tried it didn't really impress me (the demo looked brilliant) I moved it to a higher shelf, then when we moved brought it with me…and put it on a high shelf! This week I got it down, tried it again, hubby tried it thinking I wasn't 'doing' it right…no…it doesn't work…I was going to send it to a charity shop but why give someone else a problem - so it's in a bag for the tip next time we go!! Now as for anything else….you'll have to wait and see…I'm going in again!!!! Have great week! Chrisx
ReplyDeleteI wouldn't know where to start.....
ReplyDeleteI think I have atleast 3 score boards in a drawer- 2 sizes of score its and d=some martha ones. and I now have 3 stamp positioners. Releasing them is going to take some will power. I need a sponsor!!
ReplyDeleteI think it would be my light box which I got for dry embossing with brass stencils and a ball tool in the days before embossing folders and Cuttlebug.
ReplyDeleteGosh that was ages ago! 2005 perhaps? BJ
Aah this resonates with me Julia as I've been doing some ruthless clearing myself. My most expensive white elephant was the Cricut - I used it a lot to start with, as did my friends, but then the cartridges and sticky mats were so expensive, plus I got bored with it so it sat gathering dust, taking up premium craftroom space. It had cost such a lot that I was reluctant to get rid of it, so it squatted in my room, looking at me reproachfully for several years until I finally bit the bullet about six months ago. PHew!! what a relief.
ReplyDeleteFlip side of the coin is my Cuttlebug, which is a little star - only cost me £34.99 ten years ago and has been used and used and used and still going strong :o)
Thanks for this dialog I enjoy reading your tale and feed back. I too feel the guilt of have and have not used. Tools and product that were demonstrated by someone of nimble fingers...Hmm I had this Big Stapler thing with decorative staples, used it once or twice. It went happily on its way in a garage sale last spring. Love my cropodile, use it all the time. The scor board was something I had mooned and dreamed about having. Could not justify the price. Then I happened upon a very old version of it {3 smaller boards} at the next to new. I don't use it often, but I do use it. Can you hear my hoarder speaking now, sigh. Old magazines here too. I did stop buying them by the subscription. They were so helpful to me in the beginning. But, I guess we all out grow things...But that is a story best left to the closet for now!
ReplyDeleteLove this post and enjoyed the true confession comments as well.
ReplyDeleteI did the wardrobe thing one year but added a twist to it. If I wore it and it annoyed me, out it went too. We all have clothes that you have tug or pull or smooth or just doesn't "do it" for us. I didn't keep it just because I wore it within the time frame.
On that note, I started doing that with crafting stash. We all have stamps, dies and tools that don't work well, or aren't as cool as we thought, or are too fiddly and out they go. I've been working on small increment downsizing for years now but I still have more to go through, and stuff keeps coming in as well.
Just last night I ran across a stash of Smooch, little nail polish looking bottles of shimmery stuff? MUST HAVE IT! IN ALL COLORS! Maybe I used it once... I left the stash where I found it for now but I'm sure its time is limited.
Also, since I seem to babbling now. The problem with being the "leader" in downsizing and careful purchasing is no one buys my stuff! I'm a SU demo and my friends are like nope, we're following your lead. I try to tell them that I still buy SU stuff but they're not biting. Oops.
Hello julia, I am afraid I also fall into this category, but I can nkt throw anything away, because you never know, maybe one day it will come on handy, I have a cutting tool and scoringq board but hardly ever use it.Vicky
ReplyDeleteDo not get rid of your scoreboard, Julia! I've just bought one myself and wondered how I managed without one so far. They're great for making envelopes and small gift boxes - or even shadow boxes! Loads of tutorials on YT. And don't you need it for scoring the fold lines in your cards? I use mine for fold lines in mini books. The wardrobe rule does not apply to craft supplies! You never know when you will come across a video and have the uncontrollable urge to try something, but you can't cause you got rid of the supplies. Take it from someone who's made that mistake several times - and then I had to buy them all over again LOL!
ReplyDelete