My SCS New Year's resolution

[muscrat]

With the new year approaching fast I thought I would see if anyone else would care to make a resolution for 2014.

My resolution this year is to leave a comment on every card I favorite and on those I view, as time permits! Care to join me?

[muscrat]

Also hope to comment on cards in challenges in which I participate....

[gregzgurl]

I'll join you! My resolution - the ONLY one I'm making - is to carve out time and dedicate it EXCLUSIVELY for creating and gallery-gazing (with comments, of course). I have let so many of the things that recharged my batteries fall by the wayside this past year, and I'm definitely feeling the effects of that. I want to get back to finding joy in creative expression and appreciation for others' creations as well! Good thread to start - thanks!

[fionna51]

Since I get on a guilt trip when I use superlatives in my resolves...I can't say "every" or "all" or such stuff.

I AM going to resolve to:
...comment more
...play in more challenges
...and like Sue, MAKE time to create.

That last one is the key. I will have to put it on my schedule.

And yes, thank you for starting this thread...

[fionna51]

What? This got posted double. Ignore me here.

[smhtwin]

My SCS resolution is to make cards that are "different"......I'm one of those people who love making multiples of one card design. That works well for the monthly swap I'm in but I need to start using up all the ATC's/inchies/scraps I have and that means making cards that are all different.

Eeekk!!

[Oddesigns]

I try very hard to leave comments on every card I view, but I don't give myself gallery time. These days, the time I might devote here is spent browsing Pinterest.

So I will join you, but my resolution will be to set aside a little gallery-gazing time each week.

[StamperDea]

I resolve to keep my craft room cleaner. Note: I didn't say clean - just cleaner than my usual chaos. Besides feeling less guilty and stressed, this will also give me more creative time since I'll spend less time looking for things. Wish me luck. Neatness doesn't come naturally for me.
Dea

[harvestmoon]

I "want to" resolve to use products I bought and have never used...Stamps, embellishments, ribbons, certain paper pads. I DO resolve to use more stamp images and not just rely on printed paper and dies, with a sentiment only....I have not been challenging myself.

[littleladybug3]

My plan is to try to spend less time LOOKING at cards here and on some blogs and more time actually CREATING them

[Barbara Jay]

My 2014 goal for my hobbies including stamping is to reduce my stuff and work toward a more minimalist life.

I don't have a scrap room or the storage space for a lot of this stuff. Plus I get overwhelmed with too much stuff to choose from or in view .

As I use things up I am not replacing them if I can do without them.

Beginning this year I stopped buying CS and pattern paper in packs and I only bought it by the sheet . I only make about 30 + cards a year.

In January I am going to purge my CS down to a realistic amount and give the rest of it to the Sunday School. I am also going to thin the ink pads. I have quite a few SU ink pads ( old style) that I never use . I even have reinkers for them

As I used up adhesives or glues I did not replace it . I am down to Scor-Tape, Scotch Quick Dry and Glossy accents . When the glue pen went dry I found I could get by without it by putting a blob of Scotch Quick Dry or Glossy Accents on a small piece of wax paper and using a tooth pick for tiny areas

Last year I bought a Silhouette Cameo so I only bought a couple of dies this year .
I thinned my stamps collection and gave a box of them to the Good Will.

I am thinning the rest of the stuff in my life too.

I want to go back to my minimalist way of life . Wish me luck

[muscrat]

I wish you luck, but I don't think I could do it! There's too much I've given away already and then said Oh why did I get rid of that? So I'm just much more careful in what I buy instead.

[Arlene_C]

Hooray Barbara!!!! I am so excited to hear another crafter wanting to go minimalist! I have been reading and wrapping my mind around this for about a year.
DH and I are selling our larger home and will be looking for a much smaller home to retire in and move closer to the kids and grandkids. I am still dealing with a lot of stuff from my mother's house (we cleaned out last year - she has Alzheimer's and is now in a home), but the STUFF is driving me CRAZY! (my mother was a collector/hoarder of lots of stuff!) and I have decided that I, too, need to downsize and minimalize. For years I lived a minimalist lifestyle (a single mom of 2 for 17 years) more as a necessity, but I really liked it. I remarried 7 years ago and the stuff that we have accumulated! My craft room is overwhelming - don't stamp as much as I did when I had less stuff and since I will not have as much space when we move - I'm going to pare it down now.

I have not been replacing things when I use them up either. I have been thinning out the ink pads and will be looking at the unused stamps and DSP. I have taken several car loads (crafting and household items) to Salvation Army donation center.

So my goal for 2014 is much like yours - trim down the crafting supplies and go back to a minimalist lifestyle.
Good luck to everyone on their goals!

[Chris Pearce]

Try to use stuff I have and not buy as much. Wishful thinking!

[shazsilverwolf]

Like a lot of you, I want to use , and use up, stuff I have without buying more! I have pads of paper that have not seen the light of day since I bought them, a lot of DP I haven't used because' its the only sheet I have'- how daft is that? Stamps that have only seen ink when I was stamping up my stamp catalogue- you all know the story. Possibly, it would help in my crafting time if I spent less of it on Pinterest too, looking for inspiration .
Proof I spend too much time there:

[Oddesigns]

I had a dream last night that I was giving away stuff I no longer use, and then I was started to second guess my decisions. I came across a leather piece that I had abandoned, started to give it away, then decided to keep it for SCA garb. Sigh. I can't even part with things in my dreams.

I've certainly been thinking about simplifying as well, so much so that it's creeping into my dreams.

I don't think I'm ready to minimize my craft stuff, but I don't have an overflow situation yet. At best, I'll go through and find some stuff I bought when I first started that is no longer even close to my taste.

But, my real resolution is to get rid of STUFF that I don't need and never use.

I've already gone through my closet and gifted stuff I no longer wear to a few coworkers. One was overjoyed when she tried on a few of my old pants, in a size smaller than she wears, to find that they fit her really well. It feels good to pass on things that I've been neglecting to people who will appreciate them much more.

[tessaduck]

How about resolving to post your favorites? This week's thread is up:

http:////www.splitcoaststampers.com/...l#post20458846

[shazsilverwolf]

Sue, I got rid of a load of stuff I bought when I first started this hobby, back last Christmas when I moved all my stuff to a new room. I'd held onto so much, mainly because of how much money I'd invested in it, that I hadn't touched for years, and in all honesty, knew I never would again. It was when I got the 'lightbulb moment', that the money was spent, and whether I just hoarded the stuff or gave it away, I was never going to get my moneys worth out of it. In fact, I'd gain more by giving it to someone who would use it, I'd gain the space & the knowledge it wasn't just gathering dust anymore.
I think if I was giving advice to someone new starting this hobby, it would be to try out loads of new styles/techniques etc, before buying a lot of stuff. What you like/enjoy when you start up can change quite quickly.

[Pat in Ohio]

Goals for 2014:

1) Reorganize craft room so it is a usable, creative space once again.
2) Purge, purge, purge. Regardless of what it cost, that money is gone. If I'm not using it, get it out of here. See #1.
3) Make cards for the various card drives - like Jennifer McGuire's Caring Hearts or Taylored Expressions' Share Joy campaigns.
4) Find a local recipient for my cards and paper projects - maybe a nursing home. I'd love to make seasonal gifts and decor for the residents.

That's it. That's enough. We'll see what I can accomplish. I've started going through and organizing stamp sets so at least #1 has started.

[Oddesigns]

Quote:

Originally Posted by tessaduck

How about resolving to post your favorites? This week's thread is up:

http:////www.splitcoaststampers.com/...l#post20458846

Fantastic idea! I know from experience that being including with the favorites can really make someone's day.

[muscrat]

I think I am also going to try to use every stamp set I own. I may not get to every stamp in the set, but I want to at least use something from each set!

[ange2k25]

Quote:

Originally Posted by muscrat

I think I am also going to try to use every stamp set I own. I may not get to every stamp in the set, but I want to at least use something from each set!

This is one of my resolutions too!

[jan31]

My resolution is to use what I have, especially the stamps, I'm not into stamping but I'm going to persevere with them next year, and join in more challenges.

[StamperDea]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Oddesigns

I had a dream last night that I was giving away stuff I no longer use, and then I was started to second guess my decisions. I came across a leather piece that I had abandoned, started to give it away, then decided to keep it for SCA garb. Sigh. I can't even part with things in my dreams. <snip>.

You must have been channeling me in your dream. Sounds so like me.
Dea

[Arlene_C]

I have listed more items on this thread - it's free for the asking!

//www.splitcoaststampers.com/forums/general-stamping-talk-f17/pay-forward-thread-2-a-t553128-30.html#post20460053

[Dragonwold]

Since we will be moving into a new house this summer, I want to organize and use everything at least once lol

[Mrs Noofy]

Last year I made the resolution to use up my scraps before venturing into a new piece of card stock. I am so happy to say that each and every card I made last year contained as much scrap as possible. Whew!! I am not sure about this years resolution but I am sure I will find one. Happy New Year All.

[JoBear2]

One of my New Year's Resolution for 2013 was to use my stash of designer paper rather than buying a whole lot more - but also being realistic and allowing myself to buy the occasional sheet or pad - I am pleased to say that I did very well This is again my Resolution for 2014.

My other Resolution was to not be such an impulse buyer and use Wish Lists more. And this again is another Resolution for 2014. I think I did really well this year with this Resolution and it is amazing how you get excited about something, pop it on a Wish List (or Pin it to your Clip Boards) and then you forget about it. Saved me a lot of money!

[klh54]

Quote:

Originally Posted by JoBear2

One of my New Year's Resolution for 2013 was to use my stash of designer paper rather than buying a whole lot more - but also being realistic and allowing myself to buy the occasional sheet or pad - I am pleased to say that I did very well This is again my Resolution for 2014.

My other Resolution was to not be such an impulse buyer and use Wish Lists more. And this again is another Resolution for 2014. I think I did really well this year with this Resolution and it is amazing how you get excited about something, pop it on a Wish List (or Pin it to your Clip Boards) and then you forget about it. Saved me a lot of money!

Great, great idea! I'm going to adopt this resolution if you don't mind. Wish listing instead of instant purchase will be a huge blessing for me!!

[JoBear2]

Feel free Kathy - I hope that it helps you as much as it helped me. Of course, I still bought things but it just took away that "gotta get that now without thinking whether I will actually use it!" mentality. The year before last, I tried to go Cold Turkey on buying new things but that didn't really work for me as I would end up having a big splurge after the drought of not buying. I find the "Wish List" (or "Pinned Wish List") worked better for me.

My other New Year's Resolution (which I forgot to share on my previous post) is to do at least 1 card for the SCS Christmas Fan Club (monthly - starts on the 1st of each month). I started doing them in July this year and it really made a big difference to the stash of Christmas cards that I had ready. For some of the challenges I made 2 or 3 so the pile of cards really added up.

[shazsilverwolf]

For those wanting a good shareable wish list, can I recommend Amazons? It doesn't only apply to stuff on Amazon, you can wishlist any item, on any website. There is a downloadable button on Amazon, which sits in your toolbar, and you just click it when there is an item on screen you want to wish list. You have the ability to add notes to it, such as size/colour etc, and when you visit your wish list page, you can change the priority order of the wish list too. We all use it in the family, and it made Christmas shopping so much easier, and people got things they really wanted. You can e-mail the link to it to others.

[Glitter Gypsy]

This is timely topic for me, and not just because of the new year. DH and I recently became empty nesters so I now have a craft room and more time to enjoy using it. Here are my resolutions:

1. Finish setting up and organizing my craft room by December 31, 2013.
2. Participate in 2 challenges each week during 2014.
3. Send cards/letters to loved ones each week during 2014.
4. Post photos of my creations to my SCS gallery each week during 2014.

Here's to a wonderful new year!

[DianneB1030]

I have a lot of things to work on, but two projects I want to do early in the year:

1. "Inventory" my supplies. Throw out dried up glues and other used up stuff. Replace the things I use regularly and order thins like Stampin' Dimensionals, glue dots, colored pencils that are stubs and cardstocks that are low.

2. Finish adding my tools (stamps, punches, embossing folders, dies) to Evernote.

Ongoing resolutions:

1. Make monthly cards to send to a few select friends and family members.

2. Improve my card stash so I have a card to send for an occasion that comes up if I don't have time, motivation or inspiration to make one in a hurry.

3. Make more cards to donate to various causes.

4. Improve my cards, use more sources for inspiration. I do pretty well, but am stuck in a "rectangle on rectangle on rectangle" mode. I think using card sketches will help. I may try some challenges, have never done that.

5. And as always, continue to improve my crafting space and make it more organized and easy to use.

Thanks for starting this thread and for all the great ideas. I have thought about these things, but putting it out there as "RESOLUTIONS" should help as motivation.

[ohmypaper!]

I WISH I had the time, and tendons to comment on every card! I hate seeing "0 comments" under anyone's card! Alas, only so many hours in the day, and unfortunately my left arm has been tingling for months so I have to be careful but I plan to continue to comment on as many cards as I can.

I DITTO what tessaduck said, The favorites thread is a lot of fun. It's an easy way to make someone feel special and doesn't cost a penny!

[mamaxsix]

Great ideas ladies!
First priority for me has to be organization. I got started on my paper last year, but never really made headway....time to purge then get a system in place. My biggest issue is scraps so I am determined to go through and get things in some semblance of order.
Second would be to make a non card item at least once a month. I have canvases, frames, books to cover, boxes, etc just waiting to be altered. The shop where I sell my cards just offered me more space so I want to set up a shelf with some of these items and it would really cut down on my stash to put some of these items to use.
Third is to set up a list of people I want to SEND cards to each week-I make so many more than I ever get into the mail.
Fourth is to get my sewing stuff into order as well. I've let this completely slide for years so that the only action my sewing machine gets is the occasional repair or stitching on a card. My family wanted to get me a new machine for my 50th and I never did the research to pick out a machine (taking recommendations if anyone has thoughts)
My most important resolution this year is to remember why I started stamping in the first place and just enjoy the craft without getting too caught up in the rest of it all.

[mamaxsix]

I really like the idea of using every stamp set at least once...wonder if we could start a thread and link what we create to encourage each other to keep at it.

[shellebelle]

I'm going to try to post all the cards I make in my gallery. Also to get my craft room under control so I can create in there.

[shazsilverwolf]

mamasix, I have been unmounting the last of my wood backed stamps this week, putting them into folders with all my unmounted. What shocked me was the number of stamps I thought 'I'd forgotten I had that',and the number of stamps that have only seen ink when I catalogued them!
Diane, if you have a lot of Tim Holtz stuff, he's just released an app for tablets- someone posted another thread about it, and its great. As well as all his products( including Discontinued ones,) it has tutorials and stuff as well. You can just click on each item, either a tick on the right to say you have it, or a heart on the left to wish list it. Trouble is, the whole thing is just one enormous wish list, lol. Found out about it just after I'd made an Evernote list of all his stuff I had

[DianneB1030]

Shaz,

I already finished my TH stuff with his app. There is also another app I just found called mymarkers which has markers, pens, colored pencils, pastels, and ink pads. You just click like in the TH app. It has most brands listed.

[shazsilverwolf]

Thanks for that Diane- I shall go find it! The thought of listing all my markers by company & colour was not appealing in the least,