I have been crafting for well over 40+ years. This means I have amassed quite a collection of craft supplies; and since I love crafts of all kinds, I have a LOT of supplies for many different crafts. I also suffer from a condition called “have-to-have-it-all – itis”.

I want all the colors of any given supply. I want a rainbow of paint, papers, inks, pens, markers, gel pens, colored pencils, pastes, glitters, sequins, blending brushes, vinyls, and anything else that comes in rainbow colors. This means, I have a LOT of supplies.

In this 40+ year journey, I have also moved my craft room a handful of times, and every time, I say “I need to purge!! there is way too much stuff here!” But when I go to do that daunting task, I lovingly hold all my supplies and can’t part with them. Much like I have done (and still do) with my children, grandchildren, pets and cookbooks. It all sparks joy in my heart. Marie Kondo is of NO help in the craft room when it comes to purging…

But, what have l learned in all of the years of collecting, hoarding and making papery things?

1. Nothing lasts forever
2. Supplies do have a shelf life
3. Tastes change
4. Organization doesn’t fix everything
5. It’s good to share

Nothing lasts forever

A few weeks ago I was watching YouTube and became inspired to dust off my old Cricut Maker. I say “old” because since I bought her, a newer version has come out. And yes, I have tried to justify buying the latest and greatest model. Thankfully, I have realized that I do not need it. I barely use the one I have. We won’t talk about the other machines I have sitting around.

Nevertheless, I started to work on a project that included vinyl, my Cricut, and a long dormant computer. My sad computer (an iMac desktop bought when I was working my second masters degree) needed updates, and thus, the programs needed updating. I found myself increasingly frustrated because my computer just wouldn’t play nice with Design Space (Cricut’s free-to-use software). In reality, it was the reverse. The software was far more advanced than my tired iMac. In fact, Apple’s latest iOS was far more advanced than my iMac and the company no longer supported the computer’s iOS. After much deliberation, gnashing of teeth and a round or two of financial tears, I ordered a new computer for my craft-room. Moral of this story? Nothing lasts forever. To be honest, when I thought about it, my old trusty and still shiny iMac had given me over 11+ years of faithful service. It was past time for her to retire. But, there is more…

When the new computer arrived, I was so excited to take it out of the box, get it set up and start crafting again! My Cricut had sat on the shelf collecting dust for far too long and it was time. I set it up, loaded all my softwares, logged in to all the appropriate things and set to work. My workhorse of a Cricut cut out my vinyl easy as can be (YAHOO!), and I was thrilled to be back in business! Then disaster struck. Again, nothing lasts forever.

I laid out my perfectly cut design, got out my ‘old’ roll of transfer tape, cut it to size and proceeded to lay it on my design. When I peeled it up with my design, I noticed the transfer tape was kinda gooey. Not thinking much of it, I placed it down on my bottle and used my scraper to get the vinyl adhered down. Peeling up the transfer tape, I saw that it was leaving a very gooey residue on my freshly cleaned bottle. Of course, I was dismayed, to say the least.

I went back to my new shiny iMac and did a quick Google search and discovered that transfer tape, adhesive vinyl, and other like products have a shelf life. WHAT?! Who knew?! I thought to myself, this roll is brand new, never been opened and how on earth could it be past its best used by date?! Well, it’s true that it was an unopened roll, but it wasn’t exactly new. I had bought it and several other rolls back when I’d bought my Cricut Maker, the day it released in 2017. That means my transfer tape was 5 years old! I would venture to admit that the vinyl was about the same age.

In addition to the gooey mess the transfer tape left, one of my letters would NOT adhere down, while all the others went down perfectly. There was simply no more sticky on that one section of vinyl. I had let this stuff sit too long before using it up or passing it on to someone who would.

Supplies have a shelf life

In hindsight, I wish that I had given away, to a crafty friend, my vinyl stash when it was clear that I was not going to be using it during its lifetime. However, I will not beat myself up over this. I have learned something (several somethings if we are being honest) and now I know enough to share with you my experiences and thus, knowledge of hard learned lessons.

After realizing this shelf-life issue, I did address other areas of my craft-room that might have aged items. I ended up tossing out hundreds of dollars worth of vinyls, paints, ink pads, pastes, markers, and other things that were simply “dead” and no amount of doctoring would bring them back to life. I have also put a reminder on my calendar to do an investigation of supplies that might need to be used up by this time next year.

Tastes change

I have also realized that my tastes in craft projects, craft types (sewing, quilting, paper crafting, vinyl crafting, woodworking, etc.) have changed. Things that interested me last year (cross-stitching) don’t really interest me anymore. So I have several rolls of Aida cloth, skeins of embroidery thread, hoops, and other tools for this craft. Should I toss it, share it, or keep it?

I say, it depends. I may come back to that craft (especially in the winter months), but I have to do some deep soul searching on the subject. The answer is “not likely”. So, I will keep the hoops, tools and non-perishable items and donate or sell the rest. I will most likely not use the perishable items in a timely manner.

Tastes change. I use to be a seamstress by trade, but I have to tell you, when I discovered paper crafting, sewing didn’t hold its appeal anymore. I still do the odd project or commission here or there, but my main craft is now paper. I got rid of most of my fabrics, notions and items I no longer needed; the stuff that was cluttering up my craft room. I mean taking up space that I could use for paper crafting.

(Disclaimer- I am coming back to admit that I mentioned to my other half that I wanted to make a Dachshund quilt.. after I just admitted to you that I got rid of most of my fabrics. LOL You know this means a trip to the fabric store, right? <sigh>)

Organization doesn’t fix everything

Organization is my jam. I love a tidy craft room and clutter drives me to organize even more. However, too much organization can, and often does, create more chaos, thus taking up more space. I have realized that I do not need an abundance of scissors. Three or four pairs, for specific tasks, are sufficient. This makes the organization of my scissors, much easier to tackle. That being said, you DO need a pair for fabric alone.

Organization is important for most crafters. I am one of those. I cannot create or function in a cluttered messy space. Some can. Some thrive in chaos and find themselves their most creative when in a chaotic frenzy of “stuff”.

But, for those of us who can’t, we organize and tidy. Some crafters will tidy as they go (me) and others will make a mess and then tidy after it’s all said and done; if at all. Organization is probably a whole other post, but for this post, I keep all like things together as much as possible and as room allows. All my paper is in one cabinet, all my ink is in one drawer or wall hanging ink holder and so on.

When we organize too much though, things get spread out and space is eaten up, quickly. An example of this is my button collection. In the beginning I organized by color, then by size and so on… I went too far. I was on the hunt for a specific button type and it took me an hour to gather up all the “red” buttons to sort through and find what I needed. In the end, I put all the “red” buttons in one container and then next time I needed a red button, it was much easier to find. Plus I had freed up 3 containers for other things.

If you have endless storage and space, then this method of sorting to the nth degree is awesome! I can only dream of that kind of space! But, most of us have a corner desk, a closet, cove or a small room to create in. Space, for most of us, is at a premium. Then, when you factor in all of our “collections” of supplies, that space fills up fast!

My advice is to organize to a degree, but do what is best for your space and creative style. There is no hard and fast rule on this. It comes down to YOU and what YOU need to be creative. Organization will also evolve over time and through your creative processes. I have changed things up several times in my crafty life and even my home.

When it comes to your desk or workspace, some want everything within reach. This is nice if you have the space and layout for it. When I first started my paper journey, I was crafting in a cargo trailer. I put up peg board on the wall in front of my desk and hung baskets and pegs to hold my tools. This was PERFECT for that space. The space I have now, my desk sits in front of a window, so I needed a new system. It has taken a year to figure out a streamlined organization system for my work flow. I am happy with it, but sometimes, a lightbulb moment hits and I change things. I either love it or change it back. HA!

It’s good to share

I have always loved sharing my things with people. I like to give things away. If I know that something is going to not be used before I can get to it (that blasted vinyl!), I would have been happy to pass it to someone who WOULD use it up and enjoy it.

There are so many people to give or donate our things to. Teachers are a given, but there are Adult Care Centers, Senior Centers, Daycares, Sunday School groups, and many other places to share our crafty goodness with. In Eugene, a town near me, there is actually a craft store specifically for USED items! You can donate them to the craft store and shop their stash at the same time. What could be better? Perhaps your area has a similar store.

My favorite thing to do is find someone who has just gotten into the craft and doesn’t have the means to buy all the fun things. They are usually a willing recipient of all of my crafty things that I no longer enjoy, need, or now, can use before its shelf life date.

Some of my friends also join social media groups where they sell their items. This is brilliant if you have the patience and place to store your “sale” items. This is also handy if you know that what you have is highly sought after by others. I recently heard Tim Holtz talk about a die he created many years ago and didn’t have in his collection. He found it on eBay for a pretty high price. The point is, if you had that die, you could have sold it to Tim and had a pretty nice return on your investment!

Sharing is good. Knowing me, I would send Tim the die free of charge if I owned it! Which I don’t. But if I did…

Until next time,

look at your supplies and make sure they didn’t dry up, won’t leave an icky residue that isn’t normal, create a flow that works for your style, organize when it make sense and share what you no longer enjoy.

-Bonnie