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Not 15 minutes ago, my daughter was here helping me brainstorm a design for the front of the Christmas bulletin for our church. Between the two of us we came up with a design. I wanted to use real pages from an old hymnal that a neighbor had given me and she tore them on a diagonal so I could glue them to the front of the bulletin.
As she was tearing them she was crumpling up the "leftover" section of the page and tossing them in a pile. I said, "Oh, you don't have to do that." She said she liked crumpling them. [My intention was that I WANTED to USE the, in her mind, "discarded" pieces for other projects.] Then I realized that "crumpled" was good and I could work with those! I started to smooth them out and she asked what I was doing. I told her I was going to save them for another project.
That's when the BIG QUESTION came out of her mouth..."Mom, WHEN do you stop saving stuff and where does it end?" I said, "Do you want to see my supply of empty Kleenex boxes?" She flipped out! I told her I was going to make some great cards with those one day.
I know that there is a thread around here about recycling, but I guess I'm not so much wondering about recycling as I am about my inability to toss ANYTHING. I told her we ALL knew that it was an illness, but we supported each other on this site!
It never ends!
But I did throw out my empty kleenex boxes a few years ago, LOL
My plan next year, is to use up what I have been saving....I need to cover all those little plastic boxes(chocolate milk, frosting, ice cream...) so they are ready when I need them.
And to die-cut all that clear plastic that is mounded up and threatening to collapse like an avalanche!
I want to do that before I save anything else....clean out some and make something!!
Last year, my oldest son mercilessly teased me about the "trash" I had saved. He was referring to pieces of cardboard and orange juice cans (aka candle molds). Christmas morning, he made a big show out of saving torn bits of paper. "Oh don't throw that away," he said to his brother. "Mom might want it for her trash collection." <rolls eyes>
I finally got rid of the juice cans. I'd had them for 12 or 13 years and hadn't used them. But I kept the cardboard! LOL
Oh, and I wanted to add that I'm now saving my Blue Diamond Almond containers. They have such a feminine shape and when you remove the wrapper, the container is clear. I think they'd make cute button containers. LOL http://www.amazon.com/Blue-Diamond-R.../dp/B000ZSX4GE
I'm realistic - I know I won't use half of what I think I could keep and might use, so I don't bother . My dad is the pack-rat to beat all pack-rats, so some of it is also because I dread the thought of becoming like him.
In the last 2 years I'd saved a lot of odd boxes, etc - every container seemed to have a very high potential for getting converted into something creative but when I cleaned my craft space a few days back I realized that it was time to throw them away! If I hadn't used them in the last 2 years there was no way I was going to use them now. I'm one of those who would do anything for a de-cluttered space so throwing away those boxes didn't hurt at all! And I was so happy to get all that space back
My thing is shoe boxes. I really want to gesso them and then stamp them. I did one a couple of years ago, promised myself I would get a pile ready to sell, but all I have is a mountain of shoe boxes. lol. My daughter was working in a shop that sold shoes and she would bring me home loads of boxes.
Sso my 2012 resolution is to at least gesso them.... :-)
I have to say that there is a real sense of purpose and pleasure when you are able to purge and de-clutter. I don't keep very much of most things. I don't have good storage in this old house and that keeps me accountable. Usually
however, I do seem to keep ribbon and things that can pass for embellishments. They don't take up much room.
It never ends... I chop my kleenex boxes up to slightly smaller then envelope sizes so i can use them ( kraft side facing lumpy card) to help keep the lumps in the card when the post office smooshes them anyways even though I write please hand cancel on the envelopes and pay the extra postage... :mrgreen:
It never ends... I chop my kleenex boxes up to slightly smaller then envelope sizes so i can use them ( kraft side facing lumpy card) to help keep the lumps in the card when the post office smooshes them anyways even though I write please hand cancel on the envelopes and pay the extra postage... :mrgreen:
Me, too, Stacy! As well as cereal boxes, and Hamburger Helper boxes, and....and....add..........
I just mentioned hoarding on the last thread I just posted at, lol.
I don't hoard. I panic about hoarding. I come from a family of hoarders that literally should be on show. I am tempted to put one of them on there now. Don't think I am joking. When she passes away she has no insurance, no burial, no nothing. My DH & I already got a quote what it will take to clean up her place and pay off her bills. Let's just say my DH is furious right now. Oh, I almost forget she takes things from others homes to put in her home. I have made a promise to everyone to return their rightful belongings to them. Yes, I have talked to her about it. She is in a right frame of mind. She thinks it's all a big joke and it's no big deal to her because her excuse is that we all have money (meaning her friends and me). End of rant!
Trust me I don't hoard. I am so bad I give things away my DH & I need. I am getting better. I do have all those little crafting things to repurpose like shoe boxes, containers, bottles, etc. I keep them in a small area designated for those things. My DH & I are always digging through that area. We are always running out of things to put in there. I don't consider that hoarding since crafters do use those things.
Just remember if you decide to get rid of it you can recycle it! I take loads to our recycling center. I'm trying to downsize even how much recycling we have however, by recycling I know that I am using it for the benefit of the community. It is a different use than a crafting use but it is still positive rather than filling a landfill/dump.
.My in-laws are pack rats...serious pack rats. My husband�s ex-wife is a HUGE pack rat. She has bags full of things the kids had from K & first grade...and so on and two of the children have lived with us for almost 3 years now ( a whole other story)..Like every paper they ever scribbled on. Her issues isn�t so much as taking over the house but enough to where her children comment on it...My two step sons could get that way quickly but I keep a handle on making them clean their stuff out.
Well I grew up a minimalist. I had LOTS of art supplies but I used them so it was a continuous turn - over. I am still that way. Now that is not to say I don't have excess dp...And stickers (what was I thinking?)...but those are contained to one box and one tote...I have a hard time keeping things. I never really have "collected" trinkets and what nots. I have an obsession about not having clutter b/c I have seen it take over my in-laws...loft/attic/garage/bedroom...etc. I just won�t have it. It drives me nuts. I NEED thins to be organized.
And honestly, I got "real" about what I would actually use. As I don't yet have a die cut machine...I never saw the point in saving all those boxes. I know the likely hood of me ever making candles is slim to none (I know this b/c I was going to do it a couple years ago for Christmas gifts...bought the stuff...read a bunch of books...and sold the stuff at a yard sale ). I just don't keep things. Now I will keep pieces of plastic. They are thin and easily stored together...and I KNOW I will eventually get a machine so I keep those.
Now art supplies are a whole different animal for me. I have TONS of sketch books. TONS. Do I really sketch? NO. Never have actually. I just kinda sit down and draw and use whatever to "color". So I have been letting my kids have random sketch books... (Not the expensive ones...I am "going to use those for an art journal" in the New Year. I figure I it is better to let them have them than for them to turn yellow. I also have been letting them use up some of that ridiculous stash of dp I will never use. It is kind of liberating to see them cut it up.
Oh ..and here is a total shocker. I am really bad about saving scraps too. I usually don't. Here is why. When I first started stamping I actually BOUGHT a huge bag of scraps. YEs you may laugh now. OK. I have enough scraps to use until 2014. Easily. Now I will keep pieces of paper that are large enough to actually do something with...but that is it. I just can't stand clutter...and well I don't need 10 lbs of scraps (oh the things we learn after being "seasoned" huh?)
After the 1st I will be on a couple of DT's..and will need to order some current papers, so I need to get rid of some older ones that people can't buy anymore. This isn't a DT requirement..just mine. I want to show people ways to use what they can actually get their hands on...so I will be going through my stash and taking stuff to my kid�s elem. school. I am sure the art teacher will be thrilled to get stickers...and paper. If not then she can do something with it LOL...
I was okay until I had kids. Then I started saving little things like different colors of milk jug caps to use for counting and colors and crafts with them. That was the beginning of the end. Now, I've gotten into mixed media and that just adds to the problem (don't seem to want to get rid of items I never kept with the kids' projects). Were my kids ever really as interested in doing the projects as I was - no. Luckily a few of their teachers now have put out a request for those types of saved items, so I'm passing them along. I've finally realized that my kids just don't have the creative interest in things the way I do.
I don't think it ever ends. It's like an addiction. You can stop drinking, smoking, or whatever your particular addiction is, but it never really goes away. You have to be on your guard at all times not to fall back into those old bad habits. I'm getting better about the crafting stuff. Part of it is making sure I have a definite project for most of the items instead of a "I might make" type of thing - that and keeping what I do decide to keep organized immediately.
The reason I save what seems like goofy stuff is precisely because I DON'T know what I will/would/could use. I can't predict the future of my craft life. My crafting path took me in directions I never thought I would go just a year ago. I also can't tell how quickly new skills will develop or even what new skills I'll want to learn in six months. I have copper brillo pads I may use some day in mixed media in a box with other metal household items, springs, washers, etc. that I just may use sometime soon! I save bits of fabric, string, packing material, much of which I do use at some point but I can't say when. If I could say with certainty "I will never use this," crafting wouldn't be as much fun for me.
There is not glory or pride in hoarding things you never use. Good intentions are a waste if you don't do anything about them. There was an earlier suggestion of sending all that garbage to a proper recycling program - something that WOULD help the community at large. That would be more productive and purposeful than a closet full of garbage in your living space.
Personally, I would rather know that my water bottle is made from recycled materials than have a shoe box or kleenex box covered in modgepodge.
I find myself picking up the mailing envelopes from the post office every time I go in to mail out something or buy stamps. I am planning on covering them with Christmas cardstock next year, and give them to my girlfriends at our Christmas party next year. We all make our Christmas cards, and there are 9 of us in the group, so we all exchange handmade Christmas cards. When we are done at the party, we have 9 beautiful Christmas cards, so I thought the covered mailing envies would be a good way to carry home our beautiful cards. These envies are free at the post office, and a nice size. So a project for me this year is to collect 9 of them and cover them with Christmas cardstock, add a few embellishments, and make them pretty to hand out!! Yeah...this is really a sickness!! LOL.
I keep thing in containers and when the containers get too full - I give the excess of all my containers to some worthy organization like Ronald McDonald House. I know the stuff goes to somewhere that will actually use it, and I can keep collecting to my heart's content!
__________________ Louise Bergmann DuMontAuthor, Speaker, Serious About Her Coffee, Lover of all that is Chocolate...Worshiper of El Shaddai (The All Sufficient One)
it ended for me a year ago when I threw out or gave away about 11 hefty garbage bags of stuff, including tons of empty boxes. Oh, things still get messy and a normal person (meaning a non stamper) would think I have 10 times more than I need, but I am in much better shape!!
__________________ Dear Paperlicious is my blog...with a series on how I'm learning to improve my cardmaking by studying others.
I knew that I had tipped over the edge when I started saving empty toilet paper rolls to make mini albums! Oh my.........what next?
Dee,
NOW you're talking MY language! I had a canvas tote half filled with TP rolls because I had seen them made up into cute little albums. I was going to make one for each of my friends. Yeah, right! After realizing that I had too many other projects in my brain, I finally tossed them a few months ago. Now, if I could just stay in that "tossing mode!"
If you declutter your TP rolls ask a friend if he/she wants them. Gardener's use them to start seeds. Rodent, Rabbit, Guinea Pig owners always want TP or Paper Towel rolls because our animals like to munch on them. It helps keep their teeth from growing too long. I use TP rolls for gardening and my animals. I am thrilled when I get a bag full.
I thought you might all like to see the front of the bulletin that started this conversation. Everyone at church commented on them. Each one had a different hymn on the front since I tore original pages out of an old hymnal.
Thanks for looking and for commenting on this thread.
Beverly
The idea of using toilet paper rolls gives me the heebie jeebies! All I can think about is backsplash and dirty hands that haven't been washed yet taking them off the holder to put on a new one. Has anyone put a blacklight on those to see how much urine actually gets on them from being so close to flushing toilets with open lids?
The idea of using toilet paper rolls gives me the heebie jeebies! All I can think about is backsplash and dirty hands that haven't been washed yet taking them off the holder to put on a new one. Has anyone put a blacklight on those to see how much urine actually gets on them from being so close to flushing toilets with open lids?
The idea of using toilet paper rolls gives me the heebie jeebies! All I can think about is backsplash and dirty hands that haven't been washed yet taking them off the holder to put on a new one. Has anyone put a blacklight on those to see how much urine actually gets on them from being so close to flushing toilets with open lids?
RavioliGirl- Beautiful! Your bulletin turned out beautifully. Thank you for sharing.
Mindykid- I am sorry that is just making assumption's about people. I found that kind of insulting. My DH & I both have OCD. Our TP holder is no where near any backsplash. I NEVER EVER change a TP roll unless I do have clean hands. My DH is the same way. Since my animals eat those TP rolls I do not want to give them anything with bacteria. I am sure the lettuce they eat has more bacteria than the TP roll.
I dont collect any recyclable items myself. Even dd is told that anything she makes out of the recycling box has a two day life, and then its rubbish. I guess I have enough things to do without adding to it with organising recycling items. Besides, I know its something I'd never do.
If you declutter your TP rolls ask a friend if he/she wants them. Gardener's use them to start seeds. Rodent, Rabbit, Guinea Pig owners always want TP or Paper Towel rolls because our animals like to munch on them. It helps keep their teeth from growing too long. I use TP rolls for gardening and my animals. I am thrilled when I get a bag full.
I chuckled at this use of toilet paper rolls -- because, when my son was in grade school, he had two gerbils. And my mom used to save toilet paper rolls for him to put in the cage. So I knew right where you were coming from!!!
I thought you might all like to see the front of the bulletin that started this conversation. Everyone at church commented on them. Each one had a different hymn on the front since I tore original pages out of an old hymnal.
Thanks for looking and for commenting on this thread.
Beverly
This is really awesome. Your creativity gets an A+!!!
__________________ Louise Bergmann DuMontAuthor, Speaker, Serious About Her Coffee, Lover of all that is Chocolate...Worshiper of El Shaddai (The All Sufficient One)
So the toilet paper topic kept me searching because I know I have seen a video of what happens when you flush a toilet with the lid open - it sprays as much as a person sneezing. Now for those of you who say "I ALWAYS" close the lid, just image what the back of your shirt looks like under blacklight when you raise the lid after the person before you is finished, then you sit down, and lean back. And, have you ever wondered what's lurking on that flushing handle BEFORE you wash your hands?
I also found one of an experiment about how contaminated your hands get depending on whether you fold your paper prior to wiping or whether you scrunch it and how many layers it takes to prevent contamination. (I guess I never considered some people "fold" it) Long story short - every method, up to 9 layers deep contaminated hands enough to grow bacterial cultures.
Yummy, no wonder rodents like to chew on those empty rolls - they can tell what's still on them!
I also have to agree that the lettuce you get from the stores, not to mention other fruits and veggies, are FILTHY! Think of all the hands that have touched it on its path to your kitchen table. [shudder]
I don't save much. I do keep neat little boxes and I use them. I have a big pile of chipboard I've saved cutting up cereal boxes etc because I love to make books. Other than that I try not to save junk. I'm too OCD for the mess of it all. I like clean and organized.
So the toilet paper topic kept me searching because I know I have seen a video of what happens when you flush a toilet with the lid open - it sprays as much as a person sneezing. Now for those of you who say "I ALWAYS" close the lid, just image what the back of your shirt looks like under blacklight when you raise the lid after the person before you is finished, then you sit down, and lean back. And, have you ever wondered what's lurking on that flushing handle BEFORE you wash your hands?
I also found one of an experiment about how contaminated your hands get depending on whether you fold your paper prior to wiping or whether you scrunch it and how many layers it takes to prevent contamination. (I guess I never considered some people "fold" it) Long story short - every method, up to 9 layers deep contaminated hands enough to grow bacterial cultures.
Yummy, no wonder rodents like to chew on those empty rolls - they can tell what's still on them!
I also have to agree that the lettuce you get from the stores, not to mention other fruits and veggies, are FILTHY! Think of all the hands that have touched it on its path to your kitchen table. [shudder]
The idea of using toilet paper rolls gives me the heebie jeebies! All I can think about is backsplash and dirty hands that haven't been washed yet taking them off the holder to put on a new one. Has anyone put a blacklight on those to see how much urine actually gets on them from being so close to flushing toilets with open lids?
Yay, I'm not the only one. I see beautiful art made with them, but all I can think about is where those things came from.
Did you all see the post from the woman who wanted ideas for what to do with her parents' Ensure bottles. All I could think was, someday your folks won't be here and you'll want to remember them by something other than those Ensure bottles.
I stopped hoarding a long time ago. I think emptying out my parents' houses after they were gone re-inforced to me that it's all just stuff. If you really need it, you can go buy it. Storing that stuff comes at a price. Unless it's really sentimental to me . . . it's gone.
I don't save things like the rest of you do. I can't be bothered and I'm also not obsessed like the rest of you. Trash is trash and needs to be thrown away. I would never reuse a toilet paper roll.......that gross!!!! Food containers can grow mold and smell over time.
Use your trash cans for what they were intended for, don't be so cheap!
What is cheap about recycling and reusing? Sounds like the sort of comments people get when they give handmade cards to those that don't understand that they probably cost twice as much as a normal card.
BTW - those salad bar containers Recycle 6 - apparently similar(same) plastic as shrink plastic...
Last edited by RiverIsis; 12-29-2011 at 11:03 AM..
I'm also not obsessed like the rest of you. Trash is trash and needs to be thrown away.
Use your trash cans for what they were intended for, don't be so cheap!
Patti
I'm hoping you didn't mean to sound as harsh as your reply seems to be. There are lots of great items that can be reused safely and beautifully. The key, as in all things, is to find balance in our "collecting." Allot a space for recyclable materials and then don't let your stuff outgrow the allotted space. Take stock on a routine basis and see if the stuff you're saving still seems worth keeping. Enjoy your crafting in a way that doesn't take over, but by all means keep a few of those pretty Kleenex boxes and make a card with them Circle of Thoughts save that twine from the loaf of bread gifted to you and use it along with those coffee sleeves Happiness by the Cup and take that gift bag and ribbon you saved and turn it into something else Ticket to Love. I'm sure I could find more examples, but you get the point!
Will it ever end? Anybody have an answer?
