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Yes, I've done that but I needed to bold look on a silouette stamp. I would have made due but would have been disappointed had I given away the EP after carting it around for 8 years or so. Thanks though for the suggestion.
__________________ If you don't want your tax dollars to help the poor, then stop saying you want a country based on Christian values, because you don't. ~ Jimmy Carter
I have been crafting for years and lucky for me I don't have the money to buy alot of new toys. I have been blessed to have friends give me their purged items. If I am lucky enough to get too much to use, I always share 1/2 with my adult daughter. Since I am unemployed shopping for new toys is not an option. I don't have fancy designer paper or designer stamps. Most of what I have has come from big lots, Michaels and Jo'anns. Most have been gifted to me for Christmas or my Birthday. I am happy to make cards for my family and friends, they don't care that I didn't use designer paper, they are just happy to get a pretty card and that is all that matters to me too. I make what I can with what I have and am so greatful to just have what I have. I am happy that there are so many ladies out there that are so kind as to share what they purge. It has blessed my life when I can't buy anything new and to recieve a token in the mail.
I'm an SU demo and at the beginning I was drawn into the company's direction on the products they wanted to highlight and the stamps they were highlighting. After a few years of this I got a lot smarter and began to purchase only supplies and stamps that I personally liked. I have given away or sold a lot of those early sets because I was never going to use them again.
I also got caught up in the clearance syndrome, but I too am trying to use what I have and not purchase anything new.
I have been crafting for years and lucky for me I don't have the money to buy alot of new toys. I have been blessed to have friends give me their purged items. If I am lucky enough to get too much to use, I always share 1/2 with my adult daughter. Since I am unemployed shopping for new toys is not an option. I don't have fancy designer paper or designer stamps. Most of what I have has come from big lots, Michaels and Jo'anns. Most have been gifted to me for Christmas or my Birthday. I am happy to make cards for my family and friends, they don't care that I didn't use designer paper, they are just happy to get a pretty card and that is all that matters to me too. I make what I can with what I have and am so greatful to just have what I have. I am happy that there are so many ladies out there that are so kind as to share what they purge. It has blessed my life when I can't buy anything new and to recieve a token in the mail.
That is an amazing & beautiful attitude to have. I posted my poor room was destroyed. I am going through things and donating it. I feel like it's time to start anew anyway and I want to make people happy after getting slapped so hard.
What hurts the worst. Most of my room was a gift. I was very grateful to have it too. I think that's what stings the worst about all of it. I did buy some things and they were wrong. I got rid of them. Eighty percent of my room was gifted to me by friends and family who support my love of art.
I make things for my friends who don't craft. It will be something simple most of the times, since they are mainly guys. They don't want frou frou paper or Prima's, lol. Could care less about Scor-Pal or Cricut. I just made something pretty and love them enough to give it to them. I can make a car decal and my friends show it off with pride. That always makes me cry happy tears.
I do have a small update some of my cutter's are fine. Yes! Anybody in the market that you can throw and try to destroy. It won't break. Seriously! I am so happy. The Pink Gazelle was given to me by my DH.
Cricut is still wonky though. When is the Cricut not wonky? I bought that one! I think there is something to this. Buy it wonky, gifted will keep forever. ;)
I find it hard to purge something that I have spent so much money on (being Canadian and paying SU prices for example). Now, like Jazzytobi I find I have a style and I try to stick to it. I therefore do not buy a lot of stuff. I say this after placing an order Ha!
When my parents died I cleaned out their house. They saved everything (they were not hoarders) Just their generation. That cured me of wanting to save everything. To think that my mother saved all that for what? To take it with her. So now if I am not using it I get rid of it. Hopefully that will save my daughter from that very sad task.
I am going to start with my old SAB sets. My theory is that I would have purchased the 60.00 dollars anyway so they are free sets right?
When my parents died I cleaned out their house. They saved everything (they were not hoarders) Just their generation. That cured me of wanting to save everything. To think that my mother saved all that for what? To take it with her. So now if I am not using it I get rid of it. Hopefully that will save my daughter from that very sad task.
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Yes...this is a VERY ROUGH task, and that is an understatement--to say the least. My mom had started to give things away and had left instructions for whom she wanted to have several items, YET this was still such a heart-wrenching task. And to further complicate matters, she rented and we had a very short time to deal with everything or we'd face significant additional fees. Yikes...plus, we were at such a "raw place" with our grief! So, yes, this experience alone should motivate me to be more "mindful" of the "stuff" I think I have to have....
I think this story sums it up
I will paraphrase it .
The Buddha came upon a man carrying a huge branch. The man was exhausted from the weight. The Buddha asked the man why he was carrying such a heavy branch. The man said a long time ago he needed to cross a creek that was too deep to wade across. He found the huge branch and laid it across the creek to walk on it to cross.. He was "so grateful" for the branch he couldn't just discard it so he carried it every where he went.
The Buddha told him just because he needed the branch in the past was no reason to carry that burden when it was not longer needed. He told the man he was carrying an unnecessary burden that was wasting his energy and slowing his travels.
Unnecessary burdens can be no longer needed possessions , reliving past events or hold grudges.
Many things people bought were needed, (for what ever reason), at the time. When they are no longer needed or useful it is time to lighten the load.
Maybe the man knew there would soon be millions of mad stampers wanting wood mounted stamps??
I have gone through my stuff and weeded out those things that I impulsed purchased and have donated through the Free Cycle program. Sometimes I get really annoyed with myself because I didn't think before I bought so now I try to make myself wait it out a bit. If I still want it in a few days then I go ahead and buy it.
I think we don't have enough TIME to use all the stuff we collect. I would love to do all the projects that I have collected supplies for. I just don't have enough time to do them all. Then I use my time perusing for MORE ideas...which is counter-productive. And I spend MORE time shopping for more supplies for more ideas.
Sometimes I just have to cut myself off from new ideas. And go create the ones I already have supplies and ideas for.
lol, you sound like you have the same problem I do!
There are so many posts in this thread that I would like to respond specifically to! Some very thoughtful and eloquent responses ~ one of the best threads I've read here. I've been seriously stamping for a relatively short time. . . I guess since Feb 2007. . . and have purged quite a few times, and given this topic lots of thought. Many of you have practically read my mind with your insights!
I'm going to go back and re-read but I just wanted to pop on now and mention also how wonderful it is to see so many new or relatively new members/posters!! Welcome to SCS!!! It's wonderful to hear your new "voices." :^)
I have gone through my stuff and weeded out those things that I impulsed purchased and have donated through the Free Cycle program. Sometimes I get really annoyed with myself because I didn't think before I bought so now I try to make myself wait it out a bit. If I still want it in a few days then I go ahead and buy it.
I just purged yesterday when friends came to stamp. I pulled out decorative paper bags that I've had for years. Made some cards, friends liked, gave friends the extra bags. Purged!!! We are also lucky here in our area of New York, there is a wonderful place in Fairport the collects excess craft supplies, sells them and the money is used for the senior citizens in the area. It's called Bits 'n Pieces and though I love to donate, I do get in trouble buying more stuff to purge later!
