How often do you purge your stuff?

[maslex]

Ya know, I was down in my scrap area yesterday trying to organize a few things and I realized that I have WAAAAYYYYYY too much paper. LOL

The way that I organize my stuff is in these "bins" http://www.joann.com/joann/catalog/productdetail.jsp?CATID=cat323863&PRODID=xprd74098 What I do is, I label each drawer with a category (Summer, Cruise, Christmas, Birthday, Disney, Winter, Patterned paper, Solid Paper, etc) I have a total of 3 of these bins. And in each drawer I put all paper, cardstock, stickers, embellishments, etc that is related to each subject. That way, when I want to scrap a birthday layout, I just pull out the "birthday drawer" and everything that I would need would be in that one drawer. It may not be the best way to organize things, but it has worked for me for the past few years.

Anyhow, I was going through my "patterend paper" drawer and noticed that I have MANY papers that I just would never use. And I mean NEVER. I'm sure they came from different paper packs or something. I have some school related papers (don't need these as I already have my kids school scrapbooks done) I have some Stampin Up papers that I'm really not sure why I even bought. LOL And some that are just hideous (to me anyways).

So I got to thinking that maybe tomorrow afternoon after grocery shopping, I would go downstairs and start going through each & every drawer and start purging some stuff that I know I just won't use.

How often do you do this? And have you ever regretted getting rid of the stuff? I always have this fear that I soon as I get rid of something, I will definately find a use for it. LOL

And what would you do with the stuff you didn't want anymore? Ebay it? I mean it will probably mostly be a lot of paper with a few stickers/embellishments, I'm sure.

 

[SalandJeff]

I can't help you about whether to get rid of anything, because I never seem to be able to ... just keep adding more

I see you are in CT...if you do decide to sell things, there is a scrapbook store in Westbrook called Papercraft Clubhouse and they have tag sales where you can sell your stuff. I'm not sure how it works, but I think you get paid in store credit. The most recent newsletter said she is thinking of having one soon, so if you are close enough, you might want to give them a call. http://www.scrapbookclubhouse.com/

 

[MazdaUK]

I started a big purge -but couldn't bear to get rid of anything The closest I got was sorting through my CM storybox wallets and putting all the journal boxes in one and all the odd papers in another, then putting them with vrious "small" papers (why do I get them I know I always go straight to 12x12 for scrapping!) and put them aside for card making.

In theory I was going to give a load to our local Guide pack or my DNiece's church group

 

[disney-akj]

When I see the wasted money I have in some of the supplies I will never use (alphabet stickers, flat stickers, old paper, etc.) I cringe. What I have started to do, is I have a big tub that I put the stuff I will never use in for DD8 and DD10, so when they want to craft with me, they have their own supplies. They love messing with the stickers, etc. So whenever I stumbled across something unwanted by me, into the tub for them it goes.

 

[kawc1945]

The group that I go to scrapbook retreats with started doing a "free" table. Everyone brought their old unwanted stuff, put it out, and then everyone just browsed through it as the weekend went on taking things they liked and leaving their old stuff they didn't want anymore. At the end of the weekend, one of the teachers of the group took the extra papers and stickers for her class to use if they needed it.

It was fun to see what everyone didn't want anymore because there sure wasn't much left at the end of the weekend. "Unwanted' scrap stuff is another person's treasure!

 

[joyah]

a few post down from your's is a thank you all my dis girls thread check that one out for a great place to donate

 

[wdwmickey]

When DD2 started cropping I went through my stuff and gave her a stash of her own. I have a pile of stuff that I'm going to donate on Tuesday.

 

[BernardandMissBianca]

I usually purge every 6 months or so. some stuff goes to the kids, some I send off to friends, some I just toss.

Papercraft clubhouse is working on another tag sale, but it kind of a haul from your house. I'm not sure if inspiration Station has a tag sale but it might be worth a call, I think they are a little closer.
But with tag sales you don't make any money, they only give you store credit. I'm not sure if that's what you are looking for.

 

[hffmnheidi]

My LSS has a 'yard' sale in the spring and fall and that's where I take my stuff that I no longer want. I get store credit dollars for things to buy and I usually use those store dollars to buy Disney stuff, adhesives, and specialty things that I can't find anywhere else.

I try to purge once a month when I am done with a project or a specific scrapbook. I throw everything into a box for the sale. I have actually gone back through that sale box to use what I already have instead of buying new. I've actually used a lot of stuff from that box already this year.

'Shopping' at home has actually ended up saving me a ton of money.

 

[JandJ]

I did a big purge before SDV last year (the first purge in about 4 years!) and brought tons of paper I knew I would never use and passed it around for the ladies to take what they wanted - and a lot of it went to good homes Whatever was left I brought to work for a friend to see if she wanted any of it and she took some, too. If you have friends who scrap, pile it up and see if they want it. I considered selling it on e-bay but that just seemed like entirely too much work. I only had a few sheets left after the give-aways and I did end up using it in a gift album. You could donate it to a nursery school or kindergarten as I'm sure the kids would love paper to cut up and draw on!

 

[maslex]

OP here.

Well, I just started going through my stuff today. I decided I would give it to my mom. I'm sure she'll be happy with all the goodies. I have quite a pile already of paper/cardstock and also a big pile of different stickers and embellishments. It's a big mish-mosh of stuff but I'm sure she'll find plenty of things to use it on.

 

[czycropper]

I'm in the process of purging mainly because my DH is going to remodel my scraproom and put wood floors in I'm having a real hard time getting rid of the paper but not as much as some of the embellishments.

I have Junkitz stuff that I really don't know what to do with it and my DD10 says that she won't use it.

So if anyone wants some embellishments, please let me and I'll be glad to send them to you, no charge!!!!!!

 

[mommy2mrb]

I hadn't purge for quiet a while, usually gave stuff to Megan, I did one when Megan was in 2nd grade and gave a bunch of stuff to her teacher...we both just went through our stash's and donated it to Jennifer for her HARC group!

 

[pjlla]

I need to go find that thread with the info about donating. I spent some time cleaning up in my scrap area yesterday and I need to really purge. I put a big bag of stuff aside already, but I KNOW I could get rid of much more.

That said, my women's bible study group is having a craft day. Maybe I could take some of it there to share.

I have some free time tomorrow.... I'm feeling inspired to do some purging! I'll let you all know how it goes..............P

 

[MazdaUK]

I was inspired to do a good sort through of swap stuff and managed to find a small boxfull to donate. (My paper is still bursting the sides fo the rolling tote but hey, baby steps!)

 

[dzorn]

Purge No how no way.

Denise in MI

 

[disneychic2]

While technically I haven't purged, I did go through and give some stickers and papers to my 2 year granddaughter to play with. I had done baby scrapbooks for all three grandbabies for Christmas and had a lot of "baby" stickers I didn't need, so she had fun sticking them on the papers. What I have trouble with is throwing out the scraps of paper that I know would be just perfect later on. I have bags of them!! You've inspired me now. Good luck to all!