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If you could start stamping all over again, what would you tell yourself?
What would you do differently?
What would you buy all over again?
I would tell myself to play and experiment more; after all, it's just paper. I would tell myself to periodically clean up during a stamping session. (Oh, the time I've wasted looking for something when it's right in front of my face!) I would tell myself to try to accomplish something even if I only had 15 minutes to spare.
Changes? I would choose quality over quantity. I wouldn't buy something just because I had a coupon. NO paper stacks.
I would buy again: Genesis paper trimmer, Big Shot, ATG gun, ScorPal, Hug Snug seam binding, teflon bone folder, Copics, Gansai Tambi watercolors, and since I just did a major purge, I can safely say I would buy all my stamps, dies and most of my inks again.
__________________ Linda E
Caution: You are entering an artistic zone. This is not clutter - this is creating. These are not pajamas - it's my work uniform.
I would tell myself not to hoard ANYTHING - use it and enjoy it and have fun! I would also tell myself to buy things I knew I would use, instead of just things that I thought were cute or trendy. Then again - how do you know what you'll use if you're new and have no frame of reference? I guess the "wrong" purchases are part of the journey. Yeah - I'll stick with "no hoarding"!
I should have added: Knowing what you know now, if you could start all over again...
__________________ Linda E
Caution: You are entering an artistic zone. This is not clutter - this is creating. These are not pajamas - it's my work uniform.
You would not know it to look at my meager stamp "collection" or my mediocre skill level, but my stamping dates back to the early 1990s.
What I'd tell myself:
It is OK to "waste" paper and ink instead of saving it for something "special." (I still have a full package of D.O.T.S. Pansy Purple paper!) I would tell myself to have fun with my supplies, not to worry that I'd use them all up.
What I'd do differently:
I'd buy a few things that I really wanted instead of a bunch of clearance items that I only sort of liked. And I'd not buy any of those rag doll stitched-look kids, angels and hearts that Stampin Up sold in the 1990s. (what was I thinking?)
What I'd buy again:
Stampin Up "All Aboard" and "Sincere Salutations" stamp sets; ATG gun; COPIC markers; ScorePal; Big Shot; a few of my favorite punches and maybe my Bind-It-All and original Silhouette cutter (love them when I use 'em, but don't use them very much).
I don't think I would do anything differently, because all of the mistakes and searching and learning have brought me to this place, where I'm having the most fun, and I have learned to be accepting of whatever happens. Mostly :-)
They didn't exist back then, but I would tell myself to watch as many tutorials and take as many classes as possible – it's how I've made so many strides in my crafting in the past year or two. I would've joined SCS earlier! And I wish I had discovered the Big Shot earlier, but I've made up for lost time
I started out with Stampin' Up products and still feel they are some of the highest quality stamps and embellishments around. I have always bought what I've not liked but loved, and spent money on quality, with the occasional bargain bin cheapie thrown in. I still do that today.
I would tell myself to limit my stash (which I've mostly done) so I can rotate items in and out by selling them or giving them away, and make room for my changing styles. The stamps I bought 10 years ago and loved are simply not my style anymore, and that's natural and okay. I don't want to have any guilt about moving on. If I've got thousands and thousands sunk into it, I will be less likely to let it go.
Location: along the bluffs of the Upper Mississippi River
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Hmmmmmm.........not a lot different! I bought very slowly due to budget restraints. I suppose that helped.
I started with SU 10 yrs ago and I'm still about 90% SU. I didn't realize back then that attending something as simple as card classes would change my life! It's brought new friends, laughter, fun, creativity, accomplishment, and excitement.
I'd buy SU again, most of my SU punches, and SU paper. I'd buy my SU markers again. I've gotten a ton of use out of them. I'd still make use of Michael's coupons by getting things like my Martha S. scoreboard for 40% off.
__________________ All I want is the chance to prove money won't make me happy!
I agree that all my bad choices have lead me to this spot today, and I would not change anything to be here.
I would buy the Silhouette, copics, ATG, Big Shot and majestic Spellbinder dies, laser printer that prints on 100lb cs, CISS, and I would have gone much more heavily into digital.
I would have told myself " Don't become a demonstrator, even if you are tempted! You will buy things you do not need and accumulate stuff you didn't want."
I would tell myself "Know your style, and only buy what you love."
I would say "You will not miss a single stamp set you sell...not one! Even 'Lovely As A Tree!'"
And then I'd remind myself to experiment with different mediums, purge frequently, give away often, mail those cards, keep it small and manageable, buy that Big Shot sooner rather than later, and think carefully about every purchase.
I would have started sooner. (think of all the extra fun that could have been had)
I walked into a scrapbook store once and thought. ( oh my gosh these people who do this must be millionaires) :mrgreen:
I would tell myself learn about paper quality immediately and allow myself to play on real paper and not on xerox paper because I dont want to waste. (which my teachers told me 4000 times) Also invest in a good paper cutter up front and dont dink around wasting money.
Have a plan. Dont just buy stuff when it is on sale, even if you like it. You end up with a piggly-wiggly collection that's hard to use like 5 cute little girls but not a single Happy Birthday sentiment.
I might tell myself I have to use whatever I buy immediately and not just pop it in a bin. Nothing new till you use it. Good way to find out what really works before you buy more.
Take more classes and arrange more play dates. Come here sooner. Learn calligraphy and water coloring.
Resist trends and personal crushes. Remember that 70s haircut? Except this you dont cut off in an hour.
Lay off the damn ribbon. Dont care how cheap it is on sale! Same for embellies. And DP.
Be more selective about dies. Yes it's cute. Wait for the one you will really use and is expensive to be on sale though. A great BG die is way better than 5 specialty images you use twice.
MAKE CARDS. Find the time. Schedule it. Do what you have to do. Make it a non-negotiable part of life. Recover some time that always goes into the "black hole" daily.
Buy again: big shot, bone folder, scoring board, paper cutter, heat gun, EPs, glitter, inks, EFs, some basic dies, stencils, embossing paste, pop up foam, double sided tape, self healing mat/teflon mat/and spongy mat, TH scissor, stylus, pens...more but enough.
There isn't a lot I would do differently. I started out by going to an SU party a lady at my church was hosting. From there I became a demo pretty quickly. Even though I dropped two years later when we moved to another state; I had FUN those two years. I was working a full time job then as well; and as a demo I did buy full color collections "for business", and some stamp sets I didn't "love" but it gave me a chance to challenge myself creatively.
Maybe something I would change would be to be quicker to clear out the colors and stamps I didn't love. After dropping as a demo it took me a long time to sell off supplies I wasn't going to use.
Thanks, wavejumper, for my belly laugh of the day, and because I should have definitely told myself: "Lay off the damn ribbon."
That's why I'd buy the Hug Snug again, since I can color it with my Copics, to match whatever project.
__________________ Linda E
Caution: You are entering an artistic zone. This is not clutter - this is creating. These are not pajamas - it's my work uniform.
This is a great question. I need to put up a sign that says "STOP hording your Tim Holtz embellishment supplies" I buy them like crazy because I love them so much and then I don't share them. In other words They are mine, all mine! That is my worst habit and I need to learn to let go!!
Yes wavejumper that's exactly where I get it from. Showing my age for sure. I can remember my brother and me using "Hassan Chop" for ever and a day and my Mom yelling "Will you kids just stop it now!!" Thanks for a laugh before I leave for work, you made my day!
In reply to Wavejumper's comment, "Also invest in a good paper cutter up front and dont dink around wasting money,". Best tip ever. And your whole post was spot on!!!
I too would avoid the paper stacks.
Resist the "fads". Flocking, magic mesh, original bellas and Michael's dollar stamps that I bought just because they were $1, I'm looking at you.
Use it! Use It! Use it! Stop hoarding paper, supplies, etc for the "perfect" card or project
Self: You don't need to own the free world supply of ribbon and embossing powder.
Don't buy it just because it is on sale or clearance.
Avoid "group think".
Purchase less, so much less Stampin Up.
Use your paints, wet mediums, etc. before they dry up.
Don't be an early adopter. I am a regretful owner of Cricut v.1
Self: You will never use all of the tombow adhesive that you thought you "needed" to stock up on.
Get to "that" estate sale one hour earlier- I got there early but by the time I got there one woman was wheeling out boxes and boxes and boxes of rubber stamps. She bought them ALL. This happened 6 years ago and I am still upset.
Purchase less Tim Holtz and those perpetually brown, "vintage" embellishments. Looking at all that brown and sepia is depressing.
Watch the videos, read the blogs. Learn from them. DONT purchase the products. Use what you already have to apply the lessons and techniques learned.
Purchase again: My fantastic paper trimmer, more of the larger old school sizzix dies, more ranger color wash spray when they were full size bottles and less expensive, heat gun, tonic thin point scissors, the conference table that has been my work table for 6 years, Fiskars die cutting machine, awl from home depot, RIT dye to make my own spray ink, PSX floral stamps that I thought were soooo expensive at the time, funky, unusual stamps by companies that have long since gone out of business.
PSX floral stamps that I thought were soooo expensive at the time,
I have to share. At Goodwill a few weeks ago, they had 2 end shelves filled with rubber stamps. Usually they don't have many (or any). You could just tell that someone cleared out a craft room.
Well I started loading up my cart -- 50 cents, 99 cents...then I thought "Gosh I will never use all these". I weeded out a ton, throwing many back, but still ended up with more than a couple dozen. And in the batch I took were two floral PSX's for 99 cents -- when I saw them, I gave a little cheer because PSX stamps are so beautiful.
So jealous ,but good for you!!
Those PSX florals are gorgeous- and so detailed. I even like the wood they use for their mounts. I remember not purchasing them in retails stores when I saw them but because they were pricey. I really regret that now.
I am glad you were in the right place at the right time- and at the right price!
I would buy less paper, dp and coloured cardstock. I would look at stamps with an eye to versatility, but admittedly, I would probably get bored with them! Waaay less money spent on dollar store embellies, and brads in general, and buttons,ribbon,twine...Must buy again would be Big Shot, embossing folders, dies, SU paper trimmer, SU markers and double sided tape, lots of it!
Forgot to list my "buy agains"... Xacto guillotine paper cutter (with laser), MS small scoring board, Fiskars finger knife, colored pencils and OMS, Big Shot, ATG gun, foam mounting tape, heat gun and detail clear embossing powder, and - if Amber hadn't "gifted" them to me - the Perfect Layers mini rulers. Pretty much everything else in my craft room waxes and wanes interest-wise (except for a few stamps that are near and dear)...
Starting all over again...
