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I keep going back and forth on this issue when I buy stamp sets and when I decide which I want to get rid of. Some I just LIKE so I get, and then I don't use them. Some I don't really like but I know they are useful so I buy them. Do any of you run into this? And then some I buy KNOWING they have limited use but when I do need them they will be great.
Do you buy stamps you like? That you can use? Both?
Here are some sets that I liked but just can't find a use for in what I do-- Tickled Pink (Flamingos), Monkey Business, the old Wanda set, Life Cycles and It's Academic. I know these are all specialized sets, so that's probably why, but it's frustrating because I KNOW they are good sets.
And on Monkey Business. I don't even like monkeys!!!! My son asked me why, and when we watched Jumanji yesterday I told him "THAT'S WHY!" Those monkeys are CREEPY!
Hi - this is so funny! The monkeys are valuable - ya know. I have the flamingoes and love them - but have only used for a couple of cards. I buy sets I like and sets I think I will use - and then don't use any of them enough. I am getting better though ( my cards still cost $25 plus each). I am working getting this cost down even though I am steadily buying more STUFF. Sorry I rambled - don't know if I answered the question. LOL
I stalk the gallery and try to make sure I can come up with at least one card design I would either CASE completely, modify or come up with something original for before I buy a new set... even better if I can "borrow" a friend's and try it out 1st!! I just talked myself out of getting headline that way - just had to admit, even though I REALLY like it; it is really close in size and almost identical to another i have. HTH!
I only buy stamps that I like and are useful. If I would only be able to make a few cards with a stamp I couldn't justify spending the money on it. My sets are few but my ideas are many.
I too am getting better at buying sets that I will actually use. I sometime get sets that I plan on using, but I am just not good enough to get the look I want.
Being that I'm new to stamping, I had the wan't list from (you know) where. I kept re-doing and re-doing. I think by going back and looking at certain sets I was able to not buy all the *wants* and more of the *will use*. I try to talk myself out of this stamp for just one thing too!
Hard to do with the goodies they pack in front of us!
Karen
__________________ Karen
...My life is like a stroll on the beach...As near to the edge as I can go...Thoreau...
I always buy stamp sets I like and just never do enough stamping to use a lot of them. Here's something I've started doing. When we go away for a weekend, or if I'm allowing myself some free weekend stamping time-I pick a set that I haven't used in a while (or haven't used at all!) and make a bunch of cards with just that set. It's been fun.
I absolutely do the same thing. And to top it off, I'm not willing to part with any of my sets. I have found that my tastes change, and I figure I might like some of those "what was I thinking" sets again. Sometimes I buy a set with great intentions, and then as I'm cutting it out I'm already drawing a blank as to what to do with it. The gallery on this site has really helped remind me why I even liked the set in the 1st place. On the bad side the gallery has also convinced me that I like a set, that I originally didn't think I needed.
I read a great tip recently, and I'm sorry I don't remember where I read it, or who's idea it was, but here goes....The idea is to use what ever craft item, especially stamp sets one use per $1.00 value, so if a set was $20.00 make 20 cards with it. Then you can justify the money spent, and it will also help in making the decision whether to buy a set in the future. I do think there are plenty of stamps that are so specific to a certain use, but if you can some how manage 1 use per $ spent then the set is worth purchasing. One thing I already try to do, is purchase sets that I can use for card making and scrapbooking. One of my goals besides following the $ use rule, is to go thru every stamp set and make at least 3 very different cards with it. The important thing is that the cards are all very different, because for me when I see a set I seem to have an idea of how I can see the set being used, but as we can see from the gallery here each set has limitless possibilities. I need to think outside the box.
So anyway, you are not alone. I have many unused stamp sets. This thread might be just what I needed to start implementing my goal, and actually use my sets. Thanks.
Dina
Liking stamps vs. using stamps
