Splitcoaststampers.com - the world's #1 papercrafting community
You're currently viewing Splitcoaststampers as a GUEST. We pride ourselves on being great hosts, but guests have limited access to some of our incredible artwork, our lively forums and other super cool features of the site! You can join our incredible papercrafting community at NO COST. So what are you waiting for?
YOU ARE NOT ALONE!!! I am too addicted to patterned paper. I always buy the paper slabs from Michael's and Jo-Ann's since there is no guessing on coordinating paper. I like to have a huge array of patterned paper for various cards and projects.
I probably won't stop buying patterned paper, but as far as stopping yourself from buying too much of something? Well, I have a hubby who keeps me grounded on the finances so I don't go overboard - LOL! But he is generous enough during the holidays and my birthday and let's me go on a splurge and I try to buy as much stuff as I can get away with. But in all seriousness, with today's economy, I do have so much on my wishlist but take the time to do research on the product to see if I would really use it or not. Plus I don't have the room in my craft room so that keeps me from buying things that I don't need.
Ummmmmmmmmmmm......I have a paper addiction....If it's got a brown in the paper pack, I HAVE to have it! LOL....I can't tell you how many of the SAME K&Company Christmas 12x12 pads I have that are missing the blue/brown sheets....Okay....7!!!! And, all the OTHER sheets are still in them!!! OMGosh....I think we need to start a Support Group! LOL!
Count me in, too. New patterned paper that catches my fancy is like a siren song. I want to get my hands on both lines of the new Basic Grey, and I think I NEED it...but I have so much Basic Grey I haven't even touched that it is disgusting to think I need more. Sigh.....
I am so with all of you so in search and browsing the threads, I ran across Mishaloots card-a-thon colored-image swap. Then I went to her donations thread...then, I took my extra DP (a very large stack cut...I think I'll need to sort it by holiday/general use) and solid CS and cut it down to mat sized pieces. I'm sending them to her. I know that there are certain DPs that came in the paper pads that I won't use...I may as well make it a blessing for someone else.
I also went through my supplies and baggied up ribbons, some chipboard, and some brads to send along with some dimensionals. It felt good to go through my supplies and thin it out...just a bit...cause I'd probably need a truck to really thin out the accumulation of stuff!
__________________ ...I'm just meandering through life; trying to have some fun along the way!!!
I am so with all of you so in search and browsing the threads, I ran across Mishaloots card-a-thon colored-image swap. Then I went to her donations thread...then, I took my extra DP (a very large stack cut...I think I'll need to sort it by holiday/general use) and solid CS and cut it down to mat sized pieces. I'm sending them to her. I know that there are certain DPs that came in the paper pads that I won't use...I may as well make it a blessing for someone else.
I also went through my supplies and baggied up ribbons, some chipboard, and some brads to send along with some dimensionals. It felt good to go through my supplies and thin it out...just a bit...cause I'd probably need a truck to really thin out the accumulation of stuff!
You know, I've seen this card-a-thon on her blog...that is such a GOOD idea to go through the packs and send her the ones I know I won't use.
Whoever thought paper would become an obession.... I am right there with you. Last fall I actually went through my papers and took out the not so nice patterned papers and donated them to a local child care center, along with my unused/used sticker packs.
I have been pretty good about not driving to AC, Michaels or Joanns just to shop. The closest ones are 20 minutes away (I know that isn't far) but I generally end up talking myself out of going and that I don't need more stuff. I'm not saying I won't buy any of the Basic Grey or SU patterned paper but I just have to pace myself.
I had to restrain myself from ordering a ton of new DSP from SU because I have like like 5 unopened packs from the last catty! However, I am on my way to being a ribbon Ho. I ordered 1 stamp set and like 5 rolls of ribbon <g>
__________________ Kelley- Mom to 2 beautiful boys and a princess! My blog: returning from a deep sleep!
I also have too much paper, and so much else as well. Embellishments, ribbons, stamps, etc. I buy stuff, put it away, and then never see it again. It's really too bad because I'm running out of storage space. Everyday I think "I have to scrap" or "I should do another swap" just to use up my stuff.
Last night my friend and I went to AC Moore, where I managed to restrain myself. At Michael's, I picked up a butterfly stamp until my friend reminded me of the one I bought on one of our shopping sprees last summer. I've never used it!
I am shocked.......I don't have any designer paper at all .......well apart from the 2 foot of 12X12 paper and the urm 30 plus stacks of a mixture of 8X8 and 6X6.
I promise myself I will use it, but then I get it out and think oh but it's too nice to cut
Right now patterned paper is one of my last addictions - in particular, striped paper. I have stopped buying die cuts and embellishments and ribbon. And the only stamps I buy (which aren't many lately) are ones I really love and know I will use them lots. I have spent so much time cleaning and purging my craft room in the past year and have four huge boxes full of stuff I will never use and plan to sell or give away. My stomach is truly sickened with how much money I wasted on all that "stuff". But one thing I learned from it is what I actually do use and what I don't. I rarely use embellishments. And I have so many stamp sets that are similar. But patterned paper is something I really do use. I still have waaaay too much of it and I still need to pare it down some. But it's not my worst investment. I actually have had a hard time spending money on craft supplies lately that aren't the basics (adhesive, cardstock, cutter blades). In fact I had two 50% off coupons this week for AC Moore and I couldn't find a single thing to get with them because all I kept thinking about was how much stuff I already had. I ended up giving the coupons to people walking in the store as I was leaving empty handed.
I made a resolution three years ago when I bought SU's coordinated inks and papers for cardmaking that when I used up most of my huge stash of PP, I would only buy SU for scrapbooking, too. (I hardly ever use PP on cards.) I quit buying pp at my favorite scrapbook store, which closed last summer--that helped a LOT, LOL! I'm still nowhere near being authorized to buy more pp.
I don't have any answers for you, Ann, except to suggest donating what you won't use to a local preschool or children's hospital.
No answers here, but my guess is we buy it because it is not only pretty but cheap enough to buy with little guilt. ;)
Of course, that is before we realize what those stacks and piles all add up to. Ugh! Don't make me think about stopping. Perhaps I should just go make a pile of stuff with it all. lol
Location: Where the water meets the sand in So Cali
Posts: 1,309
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Quote:
Originally Posted by scrappinforNate
I had to restrain myself from ordering a ton of new DSP from SU because I have like like 5 unopened packs from the last catty!
ONLY 5 unopened packs! Ha, ha, ha, ha! I think I have about 50 unopened packs! Mainly because I like a DSP and when the catalogs are getting ready to retire, I'll order extra so that I still have it! It's a SERIOUS illness! SCARY! I feel like I should wallpaper a house (or 30!) with all my paper just so that it can be SEEN!
ONLY 5 unopened packs! Ha, ha, ha, ha! I think I have about 50 unopened packs! Mainly because I like a DSP and when the catalogs are getting ready to retire, I'll order extra so that I still have it! It's a SERIOUS illness! SCARY! I feel like I should wallpaper a house (or 30!) with all my paper just so that it can be SEEN!
One of the teachers at the school where I work wallpapered a bulletin board with DSP. It was the size that is about 20 feet long and 1 foot wide above the front boards of a classroom. The color added a lot of punch to the room, the kids loved it, and it showed a bit about the teacher's personality. I thought it was a terrific idea!
One of the teachers at the school where I work wallpapered a bulletin board with DSP. It was the size that is about 20 feet long and 1 foot wide above the front boards of a classroom. The color added a lot of punch to the room, the kids loved it, and it showed a bit about the teacher's personality. I thought it was a terrific idea!
Wouldn't it be fun to put a band of cork board around the top of the walls of a craft room and do the same thing...you could change it out as the urge hit, AND you'd be using the dp that otherwise would sit, unseen and unloved, in your paper storage. Hmmmm, I gotta think about this....;)
Location: prolly in my 'rubber room'... in the mid-west
Posts: 11,531
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Quote:
Originally Posted by LateBlossom
Wouldn't it be fun to put a band of cork board around the top of the walls of a craft room and do the same thing...you could change it out as the urge hit, AND you'd be using the dp that otherwise would sit, unseen and unloved, in your paper storage. Hmmmm, I gotta think about this....;)
When the wheels of your FOUR Iris carts are bent forever inward, you know you have too much paper (and that is just the DSP that is not SU! The cardstock is elsewhere too...). I noticed in another thread (sorry, cant remember which one) someone has set herself a challenge to create 100 pages AND 100 cards using her current DSP before she buys any new stuff. Well, I'm not *that* responsible, but I am trying to use some DSP up finally.
Yes, like so many others, I love the stuff, but am "afraid" to use it (that and I find it difficult to mix and match and so many of the talented folks around here make it look EASY!)
I have enough patterned paper, I am sure if I stacked it, it would reach from floor to ceiling! Whenever I've tried to organize it, it's just impossible, because much of it is color-coordinated. I do keep my BG, SU, and CTMH separate. I'll be retiring in September and hope to finally get down to some serious organizing. I've tried so many times to thin it out but I seem to love it all. Once I'm retired, I hope to finally have time to do some serious scrapbooking and card making. Thankfully, I live alone and don't have to worry about all of the money I've spent on supplies over the years.
I have though cut back seriously on buying DP, but only because most of the local scrapbooking stores have closed. They always had the newest and best paper grouped together that I could not resist.
I have at LEAST two floor to ceiling piles of paper. My hubby built me a shelf and it is full (tall shelf) then I have high piles in other places. I use a lot with all my many projects but dont think I would ever use all I have in a lifetime. The new Basic Greys should be on my doorstep any day. I also love SU and order a lot of that. I have lots of the stacks.
blessings.
I have serious problems with DSP too. One thing that's been helping me use it a little faster is that I'm trying to put a lot of it in my scrapbooks. That's helped some, but it's still not going fast enough. I bought four packages when SU had their buy three, get one free sale in May, and I vowed that I would not order any more paper from the new catty. I've only seen the new catty on-line, but I know I'll be breaking my vow. That Christmas paper and the new fall paper are just calling me!
In fact, all I can say is that I'm glad this catty lasts for a whole year. From what I've seen so far, my demo is really going to be loving me.
__________________ Julie my gallery
I can do all things through Him who strengthens me. Phillippians 4:13
Oh my goodness. You ladies love your paper!! I know the feeling -- sometimes I feel I have to have it because I just love the patterns and color combinations. But I also know my track record for using up DP is a bit sad. Now when I look at patterned paper I think about whether I can recreate some of it with stamps for background. (Cards only - don't scrapbook) Also, I have to really like 98% of what's in a pad. Basic Grey and Cosmo Cricket are my favorites and I'm rarely disappointed.
The other day I was at Michaels (very rare - it's at least an hour from me, this one was two) and I found the coolest little packs of K&Co. paper. They were sized and scored so you could fold the sheets in half and make a card. I doubt I'll use them like that as I need to have a cardstock base for weight, but I will certainly use every sheet in the two packs I bought and I'm sending another pack to a friend. They were marked down from 5.99 to 2.97! Love 'em. So that was a reasonable purchase
Now... in general.. how to keep from buying what you don't need: Don't look. I unsubscribed to a bunch of blogs and don't surf the gallery too much anymore. I also unsubscribed from some online store blogs. By looking in just a few places, I can find enough new now and then to keep it fresh ~ but I'm not tempted by everything I see. I used to click on every banner ad here . . . but stopped. Makes a huge difference in cutting back on anything related to my hobby, not just paper.
Also... I'm a purger. Not that long ago, I went through all my DP, took out anything I didn't love, and gave it all to my sister who has just started scrapbooking.
Having limited space is a big bonus for restricted purchasing!! Now... you ladies may think I'm crazy for worrying about having too much paper. Keep in mind, I'm sure I'm not as productive as some of you. But - I keep my stamps and paper in 12 x 12 plastic stackable storage drawer units. I have one drawer with scraps of DP, one with Basic Grey pads, one with some SU and sheets specifically for (maybe) future scrapbooks, and one with a pack of SEI and various Cosmo Cricket packs. Some PTI pads are in with my PTI stamps. My Crafty Secrets pad is in the drawer with CS stamps.
SO.... you all really have stacks of paper that could reach the ceiling? You see... I think I'm just easily overwhelmed. It's in my nature and it is my talisman against too much LOL!!!
I agree, the only way to not buy is to not look! But looking is so fun!!
I've also donated to a local preschool and they're very happy to have the supplies.
I'm currently trying to re-organize my room so it makes good use of the cabinets in here. I recently got a gutter-style ribbon organizer for the wall so one shelf is now empty since my ribbons have moved out. Anyway when I get all my unwanted papers together I will pick some of them out and try to use up everything I can -- I figure I can always fold some into envelopes and run some through the bigshot for some fun pieces. What I don't use up will get donated, once more.
Ideally of course, I will use up everything I buy, in a timely manner. Yeah right!
Ann, my checkbook always tells me when it's time to call a halt to my madness. I have purchased so much paper that will never be used: I hate it; i have no idea what I was thinking when I was out there spending all that money! I feel your pain, Ann.
__________________
Art Neko and Prickley Pear DTs
Former DT Dolce Designs, Rubbernecker, StampItCrazy,
I Brake For Stamps
DO U KNOW?
BRAK members love to send SCSers cards on their birthdays? Come join us.
"Do not go where the path may lead; go instead where there
is no path and leave a trail." ... Ralph Waldo Emerson
One of the teachers at the school where I work wallpapered a bulletin board with DSP. It was the size that is about 20 feet long and 1 foot wide above the front boards of a classroom. The color added a lot of punch to the room, the kids loved it, and it showed a bit about the teacher's personality. I thought it was a terrific idea!
I love this idea! We always have terrible paper to put on bulletin boards. I won't use my SU paper, but I'll get out some of those older stacks, and do my bulletin boards in the fall!
Just one other comment. Maybe a year or so ago, I remember reading a thread on here about papers. People were telling how much they had measure in inches! People had 6 inches, 20 inches, 40 inches of designer paper. It was pretty eye opening!
Hi, my name is Ann...
