Do you share?

[Shopping Diva]

I'm just wondering, when you get together with friends and aquaintances if you share your stamps and supplies? I'm very protective of my stamps, and I have to admit, I don't like to share my embellishments either....there expensive! Oh, and I would never share my copics!

What do you girls do?

[rsalamon]

I share with my stamping friends and they share with me. There are times when one forgets a coloring medium or doesn't have the right shade of purple buttons. I would never not share!

[roxy64]

We share our stamps all the time. But we all are very carefull with them. I don't like to share my copics....but then again my friends have their own. I would, however, share them with a friend if they were at my house and had never used them before. I would let them play with them so they could see if it was something they would like to purchase for themselves.


I have heard that stuff can get a bit beaten up at stamp camps.

[Curly Chick]

My friends and I always share stamps, as a matter of fact, we will often check with each other before buying to see if someone else has the same set! We sometimes borrow consumables, but not as often, we just all seem to have our own stashes. HTH.

Pamela

[Shopping Diva]

Wow, I'm a stingy girl! LOL!

[babydal57]

I'm happy to share anything I have with fellow stampers/scrappers. Stamps, paper, cardstock, embellishments, Copics, SU markers, ink pads, whatever.

I think it's somehow easier to share when you know you can replace it. I let my 9 yo use anything in my room except my Copics and trimmers. I don't want her cutting a finger off with the guillotine trimmer and Copics bleed through and I don't want in everywhere. She can use them under my supervision. Tips can be easily replaced and the are refillable.

I just wish I knew more people locally who like to stamp.

[Pinky66]

I share with my friends, they share with me. It all works out in the end.

[Scrapjanny]

Of course, I share. What's the point of getting together if you don't share your toys? I can't imagine ever telling someone that she couldn't use something I had.

[Mel H.]

Yep, we all share. I bet if we pooled everything we could open our own store, LOL! BUT I will say we all understand the expense of this stuff and know that if we ruin anything of anyone's its understood that we would replace it. (that statement makes sense in my head, I swear, LOL).
I have taught a few classes where there were some non-stampers that trashed a couple of sets. I just learned not to do things with my "new" stuff. I break out my well loved stuff instead.

[Clownmom]

When my sister and I get together (we live four hours apart), the one who is traveling takes only those things she knows the other one doesn't have! Then we share and share alike! We figure it evens out in the end!

[peeps321]

Originally Posted by babydal57

I just wish I knew more people locally who like to stamp.

Me too!! I hardly have any local friends who stamp. But on the rare occasion when I've gotten together with others we do share stamps and other stuff. I had a couple of friends over who didn't know about Cuttlebugs, Nesties and I was more than happy to share and show them how they work and let them have fun. I have so much stash that they're welcome to use what they want. I guess when I've gone to a friend's house I try to bring over paper, adhesive,etc so I don't use all of theirs.

[LidaB]

I get together with some girls from work every few weeks. Some will be stamping, some will be scrapbooking - we all bring our own stuff and do our own thing. However, it's understood that if one person needs something, they're basically free to dig through everyone else's bags/bins to find what they need, whatever it is - paper, embellishment, tool, etc.

Usually one person will bring her Cricut, one will bring a Cuttlebug... It's fun - no stress at all over what's being used, how much it costs, whose it is. To me, and I assume, to my friends, it's all about being together and doing something we all enjoy. Nothing gets ruined, and as far as I know the "costs" all come out evenly in the end.

[GinaLin]

In my stamping group we share pretty much everything. But it is a group that has been crafting together for a while. No one takes advantage of anyone else. Someone always forgets something so others will always share. I regularly craft with my two nieces (6&9) and the use everything too, except the guillitine trimmer. The younger one loves coloring with Copics but the older one isn't patient enough to learn.

[stampininthesun]

Yes, I share with my stamping friends and vice versa.

[inkn'paper]

I share everything - even consumables and my friends share theirs as well. I figure it all works out in the end. Also, the Golden Rule thing applies here I would think. There have been times that I forgot something or didn't have the exact color I needed and I had to borrow it. I'm happy to extend the same courtesy to others.

Obviously, I am out of the loop - but what are Copics?

[AmberAKAmom]

I share everything, and even GIVE stuff to my bff. =)

[pinkstampergirl]

Originally Posted by AmberAKAmom

I share everything, and even GIVE stuff to my bff. =)

yep - I can vouch for that! =)

[Bellegirl]

Well, when my sister and I get together to stamp, we usually each have brought our own stuff to use. Yet, we share what we have with us too. ALTHOUGH, I am (I know) a little more **** about my stamps than she is. Mine, when used, I want cleaned soon after their use. Also, I just don't share my Copics....they're just too expensive....sorry sis!!! Yet....for her upcoming B-Day, I bought her a set of the 12 new Copic colors.

[nanajl54]

If anyone has crafted alone and longed for others of like mind to craft then you enjoy the opportunity to get together and share. I know I love showing the other ladies my new gadgets and we all pick things up for each other. We meet at the same persons house every week and try to bring plenty of baby wipes, wax paper, paper towels etc so we dont tax her supplys. Its fun to share. Loosen up, if you close your hands then they arnt open to recieve. Janet

[allee's]

I happily share with anyone I am stamping with, but I never lend out my stamps or tools. If it come in the door with me, it is leaving with me.

[garagesalediva]

I host a monthly scrapping/stamping group in my home. We share EVERYTHING. With that said, I've learned a couple of things...

1. Label everything with your name, initials, a color dot sticker, or something. Sometimes people honestly forget that they borrowed something until they start packing up and say, "Oh, wait.... here's your ________."

2. I always ask someone what they are planning to do with my stamps then I tell then I'll clean them myself. For example, if they are using embossing medium, I want to clean them differently than if they are using chalk inks.

3. If you don't want to share something, don't bring it to a crop.

4. I don't usually ask to borrow expensive embellishments. That's just me... I might yell out, "Does anyone have a pinkish, purple flower?" If someone offers one, then fantastic, but if not... that's okay.

[TeeGeeDee]

Absolutely ... sharing increases the fun and cements friendships! It also makes a wishlist grow longer and longer and longer as you find out about new stuff you want/need!

I will admit that it easier to share when you have, for example 100 lime green brads instead of just 20 but if your friends used all 20 then you have a reason to go shopping! And it's likely they shared stuff with you and everyone had fun and that is priceless, imo!

[jazzytobi]

Originally Posted by babydal57

I think it's somehow easier to share when you know you can replace it. I let my 9 yo use anything in my room except my Copics and trimmers. I don't want her cutting a finger off with the guillotine trimmer and Copics bleed through and I don't want in everywhere. She can use them under my supervision. Tips can be easily replaced and the are refillable.

I just wish I knew more people locally who like to stamp.

Remember Joey from friends? "JOEY DOESN'T SHARE FOOD!" Well, that's me, kinda. lol!!!

I will let people use my copics, but that's because it's pretty hard to wreck them. Even my 7 y/o can play away... But I have a few friends that like to make a card here or there, or my hubby likes to play around and these are my rules: use any stamps/ink, and use paper and ribbon from the scrap bin (which are VERY plentiful). Usually I buy only 1 of a patterned paper and often with a specific thing in mind, so i don't like people cutting into it..

I too wish I had stamping friends. I know there are a bunch of people on here in my area, I'm just too shy to ask anyone out. hahaha... It's like high school all over again.

[armadillo]

Originally Posted by Shopping Diva

Wow, I'm a stingy girl! LOL!

I don't think you are stingy. I will not share my Prisma pencils or the watercolor crayons because of their cost.

Markers, pencils and such really shouldn't be shared anyway since everyone holds then differently and then the point is never the same for you, so I've been told.

[Shopping Diva]

Originally Posted by armadillo

I don't think you are stingy. I will not share my Prisma pencils or the watercolor crayons because of their cost.

Markers, pencils and such really shouldn't be shared anyway since everyone holds then differently and then the point is never the same for you, so I've been told.

Thank you. I probably should have worded my post better. I share everything with my daughter and a couple of very close friends. However, if I'm getting together with a group that I really don't know, it's hard for me to share my loot. I'll show it and stuff, but for the most part, in situations like this, I think people should bring their own and share their works of art.

[GinaLin]

I think one of the differences would be the group you are stamping with. The group of us have been stamping together off and on for a couple of years now and we know each other pretty well. Occasionally new people join us for a while, some stay and some go but for the most part it is the same core group. A lot of the time the sharing goes the other way...someone will find a great deal on something and then bring it in and pass it around and share that way. Or someone will look at someone else's project and offer the perfect embellishment to finish it.

[LuckyGirl]

the people I craft with I consider friends so I would share everything. Especially because I know that I'm never going to personally use everything I have... and if a certain pack of print paper gets used, I know another one equally nice will be made... in my mind, I have this stuff to be used, not to sit around and collect dust.

I practice the law of abundance like one other person said: "If you keep your hand closed, it's not open to receive".

Nothing I have is that precious that I won't share it. In the unlikely event I use up an entire prismacolor pencil or crayon, I know I can buy another. And if I can't, well, I'll improvise and blend some of the other colors together until I get the shade I want.

I'm just not that worried about it.

But I do understand that these items cost money and I can totally understand if someone is not as willing to share. It's your stuff, you share/not share as you see fit and there is nothing wrong with that.

[diane617]

Originally Posted by TeeGeeDee

Absolutely ... sharing increases the fun and cements friendships! It also makes a wishlist grow longer and longer and longer as you find out about new stuff you want/need!

I will admit that it easier to share when you have, for example 100 lime green brads instead of just 20 but if your friends used all 20 then you have a reason to go shopping! And it's likely they shared stuff with you and everyone had fun and that is priceless, imo!

What she said! and we have some very generous stamping friends! I think some would share their last brad, or sheet of CS-well maybe not the last one, but they'd cut it in half and we'd each make a card ;^)

[momis mama]

<--------- for sure shares! stamps, ink, markers, tools, CS & papers, ribbon, buttons, brads, bling... what ever...

that's what it's all about if you ask me!

[wagleg]

I have more than I could ever really use, so I share Lots.

[Allistamps123]

My friends and I just get together at our monthly SU workshop. We used to get together and stamp at my place of work but it just morphed into the monthly SU get-together. At that time we didn't really share unless someone forgot something. I have twice borrowed a stamp set from two different friends and it made me nervous...I didn't want to get any ink on the wood. The one set I just borrowed was for my daughter's wedding shower card and my friend hadn't even cut out and mounted the whole set yet. That really made me nervous- cutting out someone else's rubber! It was an older SU set and she wasn't real worried I ruin it.

[tchk]

I always share whenever we get together- I even encourage others to use my stuff. It is, after all, "stuff" and people are always more important than stuff.

I've been to large weekends with some crafters who are very "protective" of their stuff and refuse to let anyone else use it. Our group makes it a point not to sit with or near anyone like that- it kind of puts a damper on the fun of playing and sharing.

[susiestampalot]

share? yes, especially since i recently "let go" of that issue with my daughters who are 17, 8 and 5. it just got to hard to keep our stashes separate. i figure if they help me use up my stuff, i get to get *new* stuff later!

I've actually had someone contact me through my blog who i didn't know but apparently lived in my area that wanted to "rent" my stamps from me! if you are willing to pay to rent them, why not just buy them? now that time, i didn't share. was that bad?

[rsalamon]

Originally Posted by susiestampalot

I've actually had someone contact me through my blog who i didn't know but apparently lived in my area that wanted to "rent" my stamps from me! if you are willing to pay to rent them, why not just buy them? now that time, i didn't share. was that bad?

I don't think that was bad. I wouldn't do it either. It's one thing to share your stuff with friends or family members - people you know how they take care of their possessions and the items are used with you there. It's something totally different to have your stuff leave your sight! What if they don't take care of your stuff? Lose it? Let someone else borrow it? No way!

[peggy-sue]

I share all of my stuff. If it's there, it's to be used. Just don't tell my friends I have 2 sets of markers . That way I know I will have markers always in good condition. If I don't know them well, they can come and use my stamps or dies but they don't leave my house. My good stampin' buds share when we are at their houses too!

[Jaxs1971]

We have a weekly get together at my house and the joke around the group is if you forgot it then go look downstairs 'in the store'. I don't actually have a store in my basement but I have so much stuff that I might as well and if I'm not using it then at least someone else is. We all do that with each others stuff but we do ask in case the paper or embellie was for a specific project or it's the last one. It's worked out with using each other's stamps as well as we are all pretty **** about keeping them clean.
I have been to groups where the sharing was not so nice and people were pretty childish, I no longer go to those groups. I figure if you respect me then you will respect my things and if you can't well....

[stampfunny]

My best friend & I got into Stamping at the same time. I too am MOST particular about my
stamps. I think in the beginning it was mostly with still raising 6 kids that something was
"mine" for a change and that I finally found through stamping that I was making time for
myyself. I made for my kids their own stamping box - washable markers, ink pads & stamps.
I just having something to call "mine" for a change. Beng one of 8 kids growing up there were few things that were "mine" that I didn't have to share.

I was picky about keeping my stamps nice from day one. Of course I shared them with my best friend when we stamped, and when she caught on as to how particular I was, she'd feel terrible when we stamped & she got ink on the wood and I would cringe inside. But her being my best friend, I eased up - never would I want her to feel badly about anything.

BUT....I loaned my sets out to her and "Oops, I guess one of the girls used it" (3,5, & 9 at the time) Then it was her not returning them when promised, and that in turn eventually led to me sitting down to make a card and realizing that I didn't have the stamp I wanted to use after starting a card because it wasn't returned. So....iin short, I was being kind in
sharing them because it's just what you do as a friend. But later, that same kindness was
actually harming our friendship. I knew from the beginning how she was with her own things and she in turn knew how I was about my things.

We knew each other well enough that it was never even discussed. We always stamped at my house & I can't remember how it came about but she would just stamp up a whole sheet of whatever images she wanted before she left - she had what she wanted & I in turn had my stamps available to me all the time. Ten years later and it's still the same way.
I love her to death but if she were to borrow anything....no matter what it was, she's just
bad on returning things.

Ink pads, markers cardstock, embellishments.....anything she wants....what is mine is hers as well. She doesn't have to bring a thing except her own "mono-adhesive"......when she
remembers! LOL!

So, maybe not everyone on here has felt a bit "possessive" of their things, but those of us
who have may have "been in my shoes" and understands. Don't worry how you feel about it.....and don't think of yourself as selfish. If you dig a bit deeper into yourself, chances are
there is a reason for why you feel that way. Don't ponder on it any longer - set your own
"rules" and get back to just enjoying stamping!

Blessings,
Debbie

PS.....sorry for such a long "winded" reply....then again, I'm glad I had more wind in me than I thought possible - lol !

[RubberLady603]

I wish I had someone to share with! I don't have any local stamper friends. My mom and I borrow sets from each other once in a while but we live 2.5 hrs. apart so don't always get our sets back right away. Luckily we are both very particular in caring for our stamps so that is never an issue. I have so much stuff that sharing and actually using something up would just be a perfect excuse to shop for more. LOL.

[Scrapjanny]

Sharing doesn't necessarily mean lending out. I will share with anyone in the group, but I am particular about lending things out. For instance, at one of our scrapping get-togethers, someone I didn't know very well wanted to borrow one of my Cricut cartridges. I politely told her that I didn't lend those out. I would lend anything to my close friends, though.

[nanajl54]

Not to go off track but if you are shy and want people to share with then I suggest going to your local independent stamp or scrapbooking store and strike up a conversation with the people there. Thats what I did, I had to force myself but I was tired of crafting alone. You can do it! Then you will have lots of people to share not only things with but ideas and who knows what else you might have in common. Janet