Bargain Hunting Led Me to Excess and Clutter
When I worked full-time outside the home and had just 1 child, my house was pretty neat and orderly. Now, I work from home and it seems as though each time our family has grown, so has the size of our home, and I always seem to
find a way to fill up the additional space with "stuff".
I no longer go clothes-shopping as often, but since I opened my paper crafting shop, I find myself buying unnecessary crafting supplies, just because they were "good deals". The problem became apparent a few months after we moved and my dream-come-true sized craft room was still not organized.
Yet, I kept buying more supplies.
like the Sizzix Boutique Embosser, more Cricut Cartridges and my ultimate weakeness: cute stickers!
The craft desk I can't use because there is too much stuff on top,
oh and more unpacked things underneath!
I have plenty of craft storage, but it isn't truly organized *sigh*
Now comes the hard part, clearing out all the excess stuff that I don't need and probably won't use. As for the supplies, I could destash them in my shop; sell them on Ebay, Craigslist, have a yard sale. With so many options, sometimes I find myself doing nothing. Why the sense of urgency? Not only is the clutter stifling my creativity, but we are moving yet again this summer and I don't want to carry any "extras" with me. So, I've committed to
spending 15 minutes a day
decluttering my craft space. Yes, I think that breaking the task down into bite-sized bits of time, I won't get overwhelmed and run away (or log onto Facebook!). You can check my weekly progress here on my blog!
How do YOU get rid of your excess supplies and tools? I've love to hear, so leave me a comment! Now, I'm off for my 1st 15 minutes of purging!
9 comments:
I'm an organizing freak so when my sewing room looks cluttered, it's usually because I have a half finished project taking up one whole table. Right now it's ribbon bookmarks. I have beads all over 1 table plus setting in boxes on the floor and I just need to finish that project and put everything away.
I don't like to get rid of craft supplies unless it's something that I've had for several years and never used.
But if you keep it well organized, at least it looks less cluttered and won't make you feel guilty or feel like you have to purge.
I do make resolutions not to buy new supplies or learn new crafts though - all the time. I don't seem to be very good at keeping my resolutions :(
I have the same problem - but with beads, wire, and shells instead of paper and stickers :) I like your idea of 15 mintues a day. I tend to get started on trying to organize my craft room on one Saturday and after 4.5 hours am so sick of finding stuff I bought (and had to have because it was on sale), that I don't try to organize again until the next month. I've opened a destash shop on both etsy and ebay, but selling little bits of beads individually do not seem to me making a big dent in my entire pile. I keep looking for somewhere to get rid of a much larger stash and will have to come back later and check on comments to see what others are suggesting.
So funny, b/c last night I was card-making. I was trying to use stuff I "forgot" I had. It was so fun to create.
I do the same, create, create, create. And leave a mess as I go. But I find it inspires me. And then I know where my stuff is!! (Even if my work space gets smaller and smaller--till I find myself sitting in the one foot square open on the floor!! Ha!!)
Here's a good motto when crafting:
Don't put it down--Put it away!!
Trying really hard to do that when finished with a product/item/creation.
I like to use little things--boxes, small hardware cabinets, I even use the artsy letterpress boxes. My hub's mother visits from taiwan and brings cookies in tin boxes in which each cookie type is divided in small sections. I use those--I am cheap.
Think about containers that you buy your food in--you can up-cycle. Esp small, clear jars--then you can see what's inside. I would love to have everything spread out--I like to SEE my options--but who has space for that?
Watch for sales and try thrift stores (if you have those).
Have fun, Kimberly!!
I attended a seminar on decluttering your office/home some years back. The 1 tip I still use (not as much as I should is the 4 box project.
You can use as many as you need but they suggested 4. 1,Throw away; 2, belongs in another room; 3,give away; and 4, keep. Once this is done, you tackle one box at a time. Its a good help when things get out of hand.
Tricia, your beads sound like my scrapbook embellishments! Perhaps we can work on not purchasing new stuff together...thank you so much for your comments!
Shore Debris said
I like your idea of 15 mintues a day. I tend to get started on trying to organize my craft room on one Saturday and after 4.5 hours am so sick of finding stuff I bought (and had to have because it was on sale), that I don't try to organize again until the next month.
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Yes, Vicky, I found myself in the same boat trying to "power organize" and got so worn out I wasn't successful, so I will see how the 15 minutes a day goes. I was thinking I might need 2 15-minute sessions for this mess I've got on my hands!
Krista's Paper Cafe said,
So funny, b/c last night I was card-making. I was trying to use stuff I "forgot" I had. It was so fun to create.
Here's a good motto when crafting:
Don't put it down--Put it away!!
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Krista, great idea! I keep saying I'm going to have a card-making day, I need to find some local crafty friends to do this with, I think that would be so much fun! And that is a good motto; need to designate some of my crafting time as clean-up time only =)
Jean said
You can use as many as you need but they suggested 4. 1,Throw away; 2, belongs in another room; 3,give away; and 4, keep. Once this is done, you tackle one box at a time. Its a good help when things get out of hand
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Got it Aunt Jean! I had my 3 piles yesterday, but will add 4. Many thanks for your insight!
Wished I was organized and I do work at it just not good at it..
Just became a new follower..Would love it if you decided to follow my blog.
Minta
http://mintascreations.blogspot.com/
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