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How many sets in your stash have not seen ink? Please, make me feel better about myself. I am sitting here reading the ISO, finding things I have...pulling them out...yup, not even mounted yet.
It is my goal to minimize this year...really use what I have...then I notice probably 70% of my stamps have not seen ink! It actually horrifies me. I don't even know what is current/retired/whatever. I probably can't even tell you when I got it. Is this why they serve wine at my monthly card/scrapbooking events??! ;)
We won't discuss my problem with my Cricut cartridges! ;) Better to start in stages, right?
Am I alone here? Please tell me other people have this problem...
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LOL! I have "some" but surely not 70%. With a glass of wine at events it probably could have been 70%!
I'm just guessing but I'm sure not more than 5% and that's because my birthday cash I spent is just starting to come in the mail.
I'm glad you didn't say "how many have only been used once". That would be a shocking number!
How many sets in your stash have not seen ink? Please, make me feel better about myself. I am sitting here reading the ISO, finding things I have...pulling them out...yup, not even mounted yet.
It is my goal to minimize this year...really use what I have...then I notice probably 70% of my stamps have not seen ink! It actually horrifies me. I don't even know what is current/retired/whatever. I probably can't even tell you when I got it. Is this why they serve wine at my monthly card/scrapbooking events??! ;)
We won't discuss my problem with my Cricut cartridges! ;) Better to start in stages, right?
Am I alone here? Please tell me other people have this problem...
YUP...I'll reluctantly join this club....I probably have at least 50% of my stamp sets that have not seen ink. And yet, I still see things on sale and good grief I think, "Oh...it would be great to have that stamp or set!"
Part of my problem is that I am a sucker for a sale....
I buy so many sets of stamps that I bet I am safe in saying 50% probably have not been used...I want to...just not enough time in a day. I have over 1000 sets if you count SU, ODB, Flourishes, TAC, PTI to name a few...and lets not even talk about the single stamps...lol
blessings.
Holy cow, Amber YOU WIN!!! I don't have 1000 sets...but if I did, then only having 1/2 not see ink would still be an improvement!!
I think I am going to make it my goal to use TWO NEW TO ME sets a month to make something! I also need to seriously weed out my stash.
You know what I found...I too am a sucker for sales or freebies like Bellegirl! Many sets I don't use are hostess sets. They just were not my cup of tea but we get them regularly from our demo and by the rotating hostess club. I get almost 4 a year with the one catty. Then during SAB I end up spending more and getting sets I don't go on to use but HAD to have at the time!!
And that is just SU...we won't talk about the TAC club, the CM club I was in for 2 years and CTMH.....yes, I am an equal opportunity home show shopper! And yes, I gave up all but my SU clubs in 2011. Making progress...thank goodness DH is understanding...LOL But don't worry, he has his vices...one of which is a 84 Jeep CJ7 that is lifted and tricked out for rock crawling. I think one tire is the cost of my hostess clubs for a year!!! ;)
lol. I find it hard to grasp I have about 200 stamps, a good number of which haven't seen ink. I try to convince myself that I only buy stuff as I am going to use it, but mostly it just sits there for a good while. I bought some Inque Boutique sets before they went out of business several years ago, with every intention of using most of them, but have used no more than about 10. I have a very large SU stamp of a calendar that I swore black and blue I would use every year - it is the only stamp I have not unmounted it is too big - not inked once. lol.
Wasnt trying to win....lol. I just know I am always getting new stuff from the various awesome stamping companies and just dont have time to ink up all my pretty stamps. I am trying to pull a set that has not seen love off the shelf and try to use them these days...I am also TRYING to cut back on what I buy...lol please note the word TRYING...anyone who has been in my room knows that I have WAY too many stamps. Is there such a thing?
blessings.
I'll join you all. I must have 70 - 80% not inked. Maybe we need a challenge this year to 2 2 sets per month that are not even inked?? lol I'm turning in to a 'collector' not a user!! UGH! gotta get using them!
bettyjoanes, I was just thinking that this AM actually. My initial thought was to make a challenge blog, but maybe it would be easier and more accessible to do it here? Or both? ;) Humm...
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I have about 100 sets and about 50 single stamps...some of those Michael $ stamps have not seen ink. That doesn't really count in my book ;) I have some used sets I've bought off of the buy/sell/trade forum that I haven't inked up but others have ;) I have two new sets that need to be used.
One is Autumn Days and this just isn't the right time of year for me to use that set.
I certainly have some sets that need more love!
__________________ All I want is the chance to prove money won't make me happy!
I have too many stamps to count, but most of them have seen ink. That's because in January, 2009, I made a resolution to use them all (well, the image stamps). Seriously, I'm not done and have been plugging away at this resolution steadily for two years now. I highly recommend this as an excellent way to learn what styles of stamps you can truly, honestly enjoy using. It's really changed how I buy new stamps (and I do buy new ones!), and my buying is now smarter.
Of course, there is nothing at all wrong with just collecting. ;)
I have around 6,000 stamps and all but maybe 20 or so have all seen ink. The 20 or so are parts of sets and I probably never use them.
Last year I did a major cleaning and got rid of a lot of stamps I no longer used and now I only buy what I will use. I have a use it or lose it policy - if I don't use it then it has to go.
Now lets talk about Cricut cartridges - I must have lost my mind buying cartridges. I have probably 10 that have never been used. At least I bought them on sale but 40% off is still 60% on.
All of mine have seen ink, but that's only because I stamp each and every new image into my catalog.
I'd guess about 75% haven't yet been used on a card, but there are about 10% that get used over and over. I need to challenge myself to use different stamps.
I have more stamp sets than I care to admit that have never seen ink. You didn't want to discuss your cricut cartriges ... well I have the same issues with dies (spellbinders, quickutz, sizzix and cuttlebug).
I fell better after reading about your collections. I only have about 10 sets and maybe 30 individual stamps. Bu I've just started. some of the sets I got years ago and have never used. Maybe this thread will help mecotrol the urge to buy, buy, buy!
A lot. Most of them are single images, though, not stamp sets. I think I've used most (not all, though) of my sets because most sets were for dt stuff. I just haven't gotten around to using all the single images yet. So many stamps to love. :grin:
I've stamped every single stamp I own into my cataloque. But I bet about 80% haven't been used on a project yet. Don't even go into how many digi stamps I have that I haven't used. I've been thinking about this quite a bit lately (as I purchased another 9 stamps the other day). I have all my stamps unmounted and stored in binders (10 soon to be 11) and I think I'm going to go one binder at a time and use each stamp on a card or project of some sort. I might take me a few years, but I hopefully will get through them and be at the point were I am using them as I buy them.
<snort!> I'm not admitting that number, at least not in print where it can be used against me. ;)
But seriously, the answer is a lot. I get caught up in the sneak peaks/design team projects/reveal moment and buy things that I will never really use. :oops: I have been getting much better, though. I really, REALLY try to think through what I buy and have at least one project in mind before hitting that "buy" button. Now, not all of those projects go from concept to completion, but I'm working on that too.
I spent all day updating my Gypsy and Cricut software and learning to use them so that I can weld words instead of buying stamps and resize numbers instead of buying dies. My next project is to figure out the software for my KNK XL so that I can stamp designs, scan, then import instead of buying matching dies. I do systems engineering and develop algorithms and software that control roadway infrastructure for a living. I *KNOW* I can master this graphics software. I just need to sit down and *do it.*
This AM I went through my TAC sets and am getting rid of 9. It is a start. Seriously though, I have to curtail the "oh, this is sooo cute! I bet I will use it" mentality!!! What I really need to do is weed carefully through the wood mounted sets I have. They just take up so much room...but my fear is if I clear the room I will feel the need to fill it! ;)
Baby steps...with careful shopping...and I will recover! LOL
lol. . I have a very large SU stamp of a calendar that I swore black and blue I would use every year - it is the only stamp I have not unmounted it is too big - not inked once. lol.
Those are the best stamps to unmount! They are then easy to store and hard to lose! I store all my large backgrounds in a photo box, up on their sides, most with ez mount but I've since realized that I dont need it! I just put the stamp on the table, ink it, apply the cardstock to the stamp and press it with my hand for a vintage or potentially incomplete look or a brayer for a perfect image.
__________________ RebeccaEdnie Mixed Media Artist, Paper Crafter, Jewelry Designer SCSDirtyDozenAlumni Www.Boxofchocolatescrafts.Com YouNeverKnowWhatI’mGoingtoMake
Wow, I thought I was bad but 70% not seeing ink? Whew! I'm probably around 5% virginal sets but I Have way more 'one night stands!' I can't say I've used every stamp in the sets I've counting as used though. If you have to buy stamps in sets, sometimes you only use/need/want a few KWIM? I used to mark my cases with a tick mark everytime I used them so I could identify which I used least and try to use them or give away/sell them. But I don't store them that way anymore. I never did get rid of any. I'm too afraid I'll want them again and worse, forget I got rid of them and go insane trying to find them!
I also can get carried away with new stamp releases, thinking I want them because the DT projects are so wonderful but then not being really sure what to do with them. Which is why I make a list of what I want at release time, then don't look at the list until the next month. Then the newer releases always look better and I cross off all or nearly all from my list! Lather, rinse, repeat and you will buy way less. For those who like wine, for heaven's sake, order then drink! LOL!!
I never buy stamps anymore unless I can think of multiple ways to use them. I also look very closely at the style of the stamps. Is it solid or outline? Does the style suit the realistic coloring I prefer? I love the look of cutesy whimsical stamps but I know now I won't use them unless they make great kids card because colouring them realistically just looks funny. Can an image be used in a shabby or vintage or elegant card? If not, I have to have tons of ideas for it because otherwise it won't get used. Unless it is a set that suits scrapbooking my boys. I havent scrapped much lately so most virgins are stamps i bought for that purpose!
Believe me, it took a while for me to figure all this out considering I was a SU! demo and quite a few of their sets are cutesy. I counted my stamps years ago and I was at 1500 when I stopped. My collection has easily doubled! Fortunately, you'd never know it because so many are unmounted in CD cases
My larger problem is yummy paper! I have way more virginal and one night stand paper packs than stamp sets. And with my new eCraft machine, I have to stop buying so many dies and look for or design files I can use instead.
__________________ RebeccaEdnie Mixed Media Artist, Paper Crafter, Jewelry Designer SCSDirtyDozenAlumni Www.Boxofchocolatescrafts.Com YouNeverKnowWhatI’mGoingtoMake
I'm sure more than half my huge stamp collection hasn't seen ink, and I don't care one little bit. While I'm being careful to cut down on consumables like paper and embellishments that just linger in a drawer, stamps are another matter. Everyone is allowed to have a collection of something- my husband and 22 year old son really enjoy their trip to the comic store every Wednesday. My mother can never pass up a new tablecloth. Well, I love stamps. Clear one, wood mounted, doesn't matter. I love them and love collecting them. One of my great pleasures are the "yard sales" my two favorite craft stores have every spring. I'm makin' no apologies, they are an affordable little bit of happiness in an otherwise very complicated life!
I'm sure more than half my huge stamp collection hasn't seen ink, and I don't care one little bit. While I'm being careful to cut down on consumables like paper and embellishments that just linger in a drawer, stamps are another matter. Everyone is allowed to have a collection of something- my husband and 22 year old son really enjoy their trip to the comic store every Wednesday. My mother can never pass up a new tablecloth. Well, I love stamps. Clear one, wood mounted, doesn't matter. I love them and love collecting them. One of my great pleasures are the "yard sales" my two favorite craft stores have every spring. I'm makin' no apologies, they are an affordable little bit of happiness in an otherwise very complicated life!
I like that last line!!!! They are cheaper than therapy. ;)
I know I have well over 1000 stamps and most of them have seen ink - just not mine! I buy most of my stamps used (ebay) so they have seen someone else's ink!:-P:-P
I'm sure more than half my huge stamp collection hasn't seen ink, and I don't care one little bit. While I'm being careful to cut down on consumables like paper and embellishments that just linger in a drawer, stamps are another matter. Everyone is allowed to have a collection of something- my husband and 22 year old son really enjoy their trip to the comic store every Wednesday. My mother can never pass up a new tablecloth. Well, I love stamps. Clear one, wood mounted, doesn't matter. I love them and love collecting them. One of my great pleasures are the "yard sales" my two favorite craft stores have every spring. I'm makin' no apologies, they are an affordable little bit of happiness in an otherwise very complicated life!
Love that philosophy. I, too, am addicted to stamps AND tools. I just have to have multiples of tools that do the same thing, only in a different color or different brand. But, as you say, it's what makes me happy - that and my little rescued furbaby.
I belong in this category also. I have over 200 SU sets, around 70 to 80 CDS sets, 5 GKD's, the others, and I don't have a count are MFT's, Crafty Secrets, Inkadinkado, H&M I guess you get the drift. I'd say over 50% have never seen ink, and that may be on the low side.
I just got an unmounted SU set out the other day to use, of course I had to mount it first, it's one I have had for a while. I had a real hard time getting the paper off so the rubber would stick to the wood block, I think most of the sticky stuff stayed on the paper. This probably isn't the place to ask, but when I saw this link in the Weekling Inkling figured I'd give it a try. Has anybody else had this problem and is there an easier way to remove the paper when it has just been sitting around for a long time?
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I've inked all my stamps to put in my index at least. However I do have some that I haven't used for a card yet. At some point I'll have to go through and get rid of ones I don't really like, many of which were gifts or part of a mixed bag yard sale buy. I know I like realism and detail in stamps, so I will chose stamps with those qualities. I'm not fond of overly "cute" designs. I notice I have very few silhouette designs, so will try to find some of those. I'd like to find someone to trade stamps with, maybe they would like some of those I don't really care for.
I have WAY too many stamps that haven't seen ink! I don't even want to think about the number, it might shock me into reality and stop me from buying more. They just call to me when I'm in the store! Have to save them from the shelf and bring them home.
I also have the same problem with punches. I bought a six drawer 26" wide cabinet from Ikea to organize my punches, filled up five drawers! The other filled up quickly with Cuttlebug dies. A little scarey to see it all in one place!
And paper! They're all so pretty! The neighbor's love to come to my house when they need something....they call my craft room "Michael's Jr."
Glad I can be there to help!
I have a few sets that haven't seen ink and maybe a couple individual stamps. And by a few I mean maybe 3-4 sets... I can't bring myself to spend more money (and I don't spend a lot on crafting right now- tough times) if I have sets that are un-inked..
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