Advice on using things up????

[krzylittlecara]

Okay so I haven't been stamping for years like a LOT of you ladies............but I have seemed to accumulate TONS of stuff in the short time I have been adicted to this hobby.

I'm a paper junkie! I've got two huge bins full of 12X12 paper (All kinds). I've got a ton of embellishments (that i "just had to have").......etc. you get where I am going with this.

So I need some advice on how to use some of this up!! There are only so many bday's in my family, and mday and fday only come around once a year. Also I'm pretty sure theh lady who watch my son is sick of getting Thank You and Just Because cards...............lol

TIA
Cara

[DLS881]

make all kinds of cards and donate them to someone who send boxes of blank cards to the troops. There are quite a few of us on board.,

[Mahloumel]

My approach:
1. stop buying any more (or much more) paper and focus on using what you've got! I occasionally indulge in special packs of paper from Basic Grey or 7 Gypsies, but only occasionally and definitely no more Slabs!

2. make multiple cards from the same papers at a time. If you have a lot of 12x12 pp like me, you can make nine 4.25 square card backgrounds from one sheet. Then you can mix up the embellishments, stamps, design slightly or a lot between the batch of cards.

3. if you haven't already, to use up eyelets, get a crop a dile. That sucker's awesome and I actually got to buy more eyelets now because I've used up a good chunk of what I've accumulated.

4. give batches of papers from The Slab to your mother and sister until they are sick of getting paper from you.

That's all I can think of through this headache; good luck using your stash up, and I will be reading this thread to get tips on how to use up all my misspent cashola.

[Mahloumel]

5. join the RAK Group or the stamping pen pals or something, and once you've built up a stash of cute cards you can send them out to other stampers who will love them!

[yankeewifey]

Buy small gifts and wrap them with 12x12 paper.
Make coordinating tags and fill 'em with embellies.
Make all of your Christmas cards.
Donate stuff to a pre-school, kindergarten class, hospital, other children's services.
Create all heavily layered, lumpy, bumpy cards. (My preferred method.)
Sell stuff on the 'bay or at a yard sale.

[Mahloumel]

Make your own white envelopes from the fuglier pieces of pp from The Slab III, IV, and VI. Works well for odd sizes or shapes if you have templates from Kreate-a-lope; iirc Anna Griffin also has a pack of mylar envelope templates at Michaels. Just put the white side out and the patterned side in, and even if it doesn't match the card exactly, the recipient still gets a pleasant surprise when they open the envie to see unexpected pattern. Read this just last night (by TexasGrammy??)

[Leticia]

When I organized last year, I donated a bunch of 12x12 paper to my son's preschool - they loved it.

I have a ton of embellishments that I've been hoarding so now when I whip up a few cards I pull out one kind and make sure I incorporate into the cards somehow. Lately it's hardware!!

[krzylittlecara]

Great ideas ladies!!!

Yes most of my paper is b/c i couldn't resist buying the big slabs (like at Hobby Lobby, etc.) I think i've had one of them about a year and have used 1 sheet out of the ENTIRE thing.

I love the idea of making envelopes out of them.................I need to get some templates though.

Donating is a great idea also! Although my son is only 1, my boss's wife is a librarian at a public elementary school, she might really like some of this paper......................great ideas! Keep them coming.

[kikikaren]

If you need a quickie envie template, just take one the envies you already use, take it apart and lay it over a piece of scrap cardboard. You can then trace it, cut it out, and use it as a template. Or, you can use the envie itself as a template; it's just not as sturdy as the cardboard. And, if the paper stacks have a cardboard backer, that's a good way to use up that cardboard!

[Judyw]

I found apost here at SCS where someone was collecting suplies for our troops overseas, so I sent a box of stuff to her. I can't remember her SCS name, but I have her address, if you'd like to send her extra supplies to ship over.

[Momofoneson]

Great idea!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mahloumel

Make your own white envelopes from the fuglier pieces of pp from The Slab III, IV, and VI. Works well for odd sizes or shapes if you have templates from Kreate-a-lope; iirc Anna Griffin also has a pack of mylar envelope templates at Michaels. Just put the white side out and the patterned side in, and even if it doesn't match the card exactly, the recipient still gets a pleasant surprise when they open the envie to see unexpected pattern. Read this just last night (by TexasGrammy??)

[scrappincanyon]

I too have tons of everything! I packed up a box for the stamper sending supplies to the military ladies in Kuwait! But I have tried to be good and not go shopping. Trying to force myself to use what I have! I have been semi-successful.....I have used alot of my supplies, but then when Hobby Lobby had a ton of paper and stuff 50% off I couldn't help myself!

Sherry

[krzylittlecara]

Quote:

Originally Posted by scrappincanyon

I too have tons of everything! I packed up a box for the stamper sending supplies to the military ladies in Kuwait! But I have tried to be good and not go shopping. Trying to force myself to use what I have! I have been semi-successful.....I have used alot of my supplies, but then when Hobby Lobby had a ton of paper and stuff 50% off I couldn't help myself!

Sherry

I definately tried to stay away from that place when i saw them throwing that sale!

[PMR]

One of our local sb stores collects for the Ronald McDonald house, so I donate extra stuff there! I was at Joann's yesterday and was about to buy the rock star stack, but there were only a few pages that I needed. I decided it would be best to buy a few sheets than the whole pad. In the past I have sold misc. bags of 12x12 patterned paper at the yard sale at my local sb store. I think I sold 20 sheets for $1. I more than made up for the cost of the pages I actually used from the stack!

[Laurie FW]

You can donate it to your local church, or any pre-school would be glad to take it! My son's Sunday school class had cut-up pieces of slab sheets and glued them together to form a "quilt," he loved it! (He asked to do several different "quilts.") The lesson was on blanketing the world with kindness, I believe. I asked the Sunday school coordinator where she got the 12 X 12 paper and she said she used up all the colors she didn't like out of a couple of her slabs, all the kids (Preschool to 5th grade) loved this activity! (They made squares of various sizes and let them design their own "quilts") I saved my son's and am going to use them for a pages in his own scrapbook!

My daughter won a scrapbooking basket at a charity event. In it where 50 or 60 flourescent (sp?) yellow CS 12 X 12 sheets, I couldn't believe it! I have donated 10 each or so to several preschools where they use it for stars and moons to put around the pre-school walls.

Even local elementary school teachers can use paper you don't want!

I agree with the poster about making multiple cards, great idea!

[Laurie FW]

Here is an example of how one clever lady used up a lot of background on several different colored cards!

http:////www.splitcoaststampers.com/...y/photo/617786

[krzylittlecara]

That's a good idea!

[deeth1]

I use up my stash to make cards for the Keiki Cards charity that sends out 400 a week to seriously ill children. Lately I have made lots of cards for the troops too.

To get rid of excess stuff your not using, there are plenty of gals in the military overseas that would love your stamping and card making supplies so they can make cards and pages.

[twyant]

These are great ideas! I am going to have to donate some of my stuff too. I join lots of swaps to use up my stuff, and then I get nice cards in return too!

[marciad]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Laurie FW

Here is an example of how one clever lady used up a lot of background on several different colored cards!

http:////www.splitcoaststampers.com/...y/photo/617786

Thank you for the link. I have this set and love it. Lots of scraps so I can CASE the layout. Also, I never thought of turning over the dp and making envelopes. I love making my own envelopes and have plenty of templates. Thanks everyone.

[wagleg]

If you know someone on the PTA at your child's school I am sure they would love for you to make stuff for the teacher's like nugget boxes or candy bar wrapper's for teacher appreciation day.

[look-inkgood]

My DIL's Grandma gets craft classes at her senior living apartment. They take donations of craft supplies. Or you could offer to lead cardmaking classes if you have time, that is!!! LOL!

[Cynamom]

Yep. I'd say donate some OR start making lots of sets of simple notecards for gifts. You can cover the front with the patterned paper and then stamp an image and just throw it on there.... I do that and it looks nice. I will do a set of say 5 cards, use up the sheet of paper, and then do the same image on the front, just switching out the color of the image.

Have fun using it up...

[babyz mommy]

I decorated clear canisters for birthday gifts. The stuff I put inside included ribbons that I barely used or never used. I mixed up all the eyelets I have
and divided it up to go in the canisters, keeping just a little for me. Last, since my primas are all mixed in one jar, I put a handful in a cellophane bag
for each canister and completed the gift. Now, I can get new stuff to replenish my stock. Plus, my gift came out to be only the cost of the canisters from Walmart..... about $7.00 each!

[michelleaz]

What about making mini books?? Not as huge of a project as making 12x12 pages and a lot more fulfilling because it has an end. I've been able to use up a lot of paper and embellishments that way.

[BrightIdeas]

Donate supplies to a local children's terminal illness hospital unit. A coworker of mine, for example, is currently collecting supplies for 5200 Duke. They help kids scrapbook memories and keep spirits lifted. I was able to unload a huge amount of stuff and didn't make a dent in my supply.

[greatgrammy]

Also, a lot of scrapbooking stores have die cutting machines with envelope templates. Just take your paper in (if they allow this) and die cut the envelopes in a jiffy. Then buy some more paper and go home and make cards.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mahloumel

Make your own white envelopes from the fuglier pieces of pp from The Slab III, IV, and VI. Works well for odd sizes or shapes if you have templates from Kreate-a-lope; iirc Anna Griffin also has a pack of mylar envelope templates at Michaels. Just put the white side out and the patterned side in, and even if it doesn't match the card exactly, the recipient still gets a pleasant surprise when they open the envie to see unexpected pattern. Read this just last night (by TexasGrammy??)

[AZMom]

Issue yourself some challenges to use up your stuff. Challenge yourself to use x amount of eyelets on a page. Challenge yourself to use 4 pieces of your most undesireable paper on a layout.

I've had to use some paper that I really didn't like - but I love how the layout turned out - just by using pieces of it at a time rather than the whole sheet.

I teach 1st grade Bible study. I take some of my excess paper to class and we make little books and projects. It feels good to know that I am using up the stuff I spent my money on rather than it sitting around and eventually getting tossed or ruined.

[yankeewifey]

Quote:

Originally Posted by AZMom

I teach 1st grade Bible study. I take some of my excess paper to class and we make little books and projects. It feels good to know that I am using up the stuff I spent my money on rather than it sitting around and eventually getting tossed or ruined.

I should have added that to my earlier post.... I've used up a ton of the really old (kinda freaky) slab papers by making VBS decorations. Last year, I made tons of kites to hang from the ceiling. This year I used some really *bold* crackled wood and leather look papers for our Ranch theme. Used 'em for bulletin boards, the 'donation request' board, etc.
I used my Sizzix to cut letters out which helped tone down the pattern and I was able to use a ton of it.

[DeniseW]

Make the one page wonder cards with your paper - then you get lots of cards made up. Use patterned paper for scrapbook pages. I love paper can you tell?!

[NoGrinchHere]

Quote:

Originally Posted by krzylittlecara

Great ideas ladies!!!

Yes most of my paper is b/c i couldn't resist buying the big slabs (like at Hobby Lobby, etc.) I think i've had one of them about a year and have used 1 sheet out of the ENTIRE thing.

I love the idea of making envelopes out of them.................I need to get some templates though.

Donating is a great idea also! Although my son is only 1, my boss's wife is a librarian at a public elementary school, she might really like some of this paper......................great ideas! Keep them coming.

Librarians, teachers, principals at elementary schools are always in need of thank you cards to give to people who donate items, help out, PTA staff, etc. Teachers need thank you cards to give to their students. If you feel like making cards to donate!!

[vdoyle8]

great thread - great ideas! I love the envelope suggestion!! And thanks to the person who suggested making your own template.
I, too, have too much stuff. I'm trying to plow through what I have and not buy (too much) more for a while. It's not easy - I think part of the pleasure of paper crafting is buying the stuff.

I recently used up a ton of paper by making monogrammed note cards and folders for them and giving them as little gifts.

I've also used paper that I didn't care for on altered items like paint cans, etc. It's amazing how paper you think is WAY fugly for a card of scrapbook page makes a cute container.

[sharlottsweb]

I have a rule that I never use a new sheet to make a card(s). I can only use from the scraps (that I have sorted into bins by color). I also never keep anything smaller than a playing card.

I have a friend that I scrapbook with once a week on a set night. We have a box in her craft room that is considered "community" property. We use from it when we need inspiration or that one "special" thing. I put paper in there that I don't use at home - One of us almost always find a use for it there, usually as matting on another page or if nothing else - we use the white back.

[bumpercropper]

you could also line gift boxes or cover the outsides of the boxes. As someone else said, it is amazing how a fugly piece of paper can look on something else.

Regarding donations, girl scout troops would probably love them, too. I know there is a scrapbooking patch.

Finally, I second the challenge idea, too. There are some "way to use it" challenges here, and 2Peas has a regular challenge for using up your stash.

Last, if you hang out on this board, you may as well get used to the idea that your stash will continue to grow

[jeanstamping2]

Quote:

Originally Posted by krzylittlecara

Okay so I haven't been stamping for years like a LOT of you ladies............but I have seemed to accumulate TONS of stuff in the short time I have been adicted to this hobby.

I'm a paper junkie! I've got two huge bins full of 12X12 paper (All kinds). I've got a ton of embellishments (that i "just had to have").......etc. you get where I am going with this.

So I need some advice on how to use some of this up!! There are only so many bday's in my family, and mday and fday only come around once a year. Also I'm pretty sure theh lady who watch my son is sick of getting Thank You and Just Because cards...............lol

TIA
Cara

I made a pack with myself, That I would use up most of my Scrap Cardstock and pattern paper, Before I would purchase or use any other Cardstock and pattern paper.

I love buying and not using my Pattern paper...Cause it's just to pretty to use. So I'm a hoader on that.

But so far I have done very well with using older scrap cardstock and pattern paper. My Bin has a lot less in it now. Because I started using it.

[Mahloumel]

Quote:

Originally Posted by jeanstamping2

I made a pack with myself, That I would use up most of my Scrap Cardstock and pattern paper, Before I would purchase or use any other Cardstock and pattern paper.

I too have been focusing on using up the old CS and PP that I keep in my desktop hanging file folder, and try to use that up. I've done really well with it and had used up or tossed most of the smaller pieces. I was soo happy to have accomplished that much, then I found a bunch of baggies full of assorted small pieces of paper! :-p So now I'm making a bunch of 3x3 cards and using my punches for them. I find that is a great way to use up smaller pieces.

[Momofoneson]

I also love the idea of envelopes out of slabs. That was a great idea on the other thread.

[stamp2stamp2]

I like the idea of making envelopes out of paper - never thought of that before. Any suggestions on finding a good template?


rita

[willosmama]

SU sells two envelope templates (maybe more, can't remember which are still available) and they are super to use! One is the five in one template, and the other is a mini template (with 5 patterns) I believe.

[Kathryn Mullins]

I just recently held a stamp camp where the ladies purchased the on board 5x5 art journal and the spiral punch. To keep costs down I just put out all my hoarded designer papers, on board stuff and ribbons. I had made an example of what the project would be and just let me them go for it with their own personal choices for their creation. It turned out that everyone really had a great time doing what they wanted with their project.

Hope this helps for suggestions to use up stuff you have been hoarding. I would add that people did pick the newer stuff, so don't hoard it, use it or share it.