paper scrapping supplies

[blhdvm]

I really want to make the switch to digital!! But I have a TON of paper scrapping supplies!! I live in RURAL Montana so my "local" scrap store is 90 miles away. Consequently, I stockpiled BIG TIME!! It makes me feel quilty to look at them!
Anybody else deal with this?? What did you do??

[sarahorton]

You can always do hybrid scrapbooking and combine the best of both worlds

I use my old paper scrapping supplies to make greeting cards, gifts and school projects for my son.

[bcgal00]

I'm in the same position as you. I taught scrapbooking for 5 yrs and not only did I stockpile huge amounts of paper, embellies and tools, I had multiple amounts of lots of stuff b/c I needed them for classes. My stamp and paper collection is gigantic.

I will be selling off some stuff on Craigs List and at scrapbook store garage sales over the next yr. I'll keep some of it tho b/c I'll still create cards and mini albums so will use some supplies. I know you said the nearest scrap store is 90 miles away but if they have garage sales it might be worth the trip to try to sell off some stuff.

Instead of focusing on the hundreds (thousands) of dollars of stuff not being used now, I am focusing on how much less I am spending b/c digi stuff is so much more affordable and re-usable so I am only spending a fraction of what I did before.

[Megs78]

I use my paper stuff for cardmaking. Granted, I have more than I would ever use for a decade worth of cards, but I can't quite let it go yet...

[carollee]

I never got into paper scrapping, but how about ebay.

Or if you feel you'd like to donate it, rather than sell it, maybe an old people's home for craft days? Or the local school for their art classes?

[esther_a]

I've read similar questions on paper scrapping sites and they've mostly done what's been suggested above. Elementary Schools or kindergartens are other places that would make good use of supplies. I only ever had a box full of papers, but I have the guilts over that, too. I've put aside some to donate to the school and my daughter asked the other day if she could use some for a school project. I used to be SO protective of it all, but now I say "go for it!!"

[kikimama]

I gave a lot of my papers and flowers to the toddler group my daughter was attending, they always need craft supplies.

I keep intending to sell some too, but doubt I'll ever get round to it.

Apart from that I'm happy to keep some supplies as I still take moods for altered art projects, though I doubt I'll ever do another paper scrapbook page.

Also, my daughter is getting to the right age to enjoy playing with my supplies. Like Esther, I've stopped being precious over it, if I haven't used it by now, the money's spent anyway so Amy may as well get use out of it.

[earlofoxford]

I had a huge paper stash when I switched to digital. I sold some alpha dies and books on eBay and gave the rest to my nephews's wife who's a paper scrapper. She loved it, and it got the stuff out of my house. The best of both worlds!

[ashleygg]

I donated everything and took the tax write off!

[anke]

I still have my whole stash, I am still thinking I might use some of it There is a lot of stuff in my attic, that's for sure!

[ValerieP]

I sold most of mine! A lady came over and just kept buying!! She filled up her mini van and went off most happy, I kept some, because I teach and my student use some of my supplies for fundraisers

[dugarner]

I only had a handful of paper, one personal trimmer, one pair of scissors, and a pack of page protectors. I gave the paper to my daughter and I use the trimmer and scissors for stuff around the house. I only bought things as I needed them---I would take the pictures for the LO I was working on to the scrapbook store and buy just the paper I needed for that particular LO.

I could have become a compulsive spender/hoarder had I not controlled myself this way---and it took a LOT of effort! In that way, I am grateful I only bought what I needed so that when I transitioned to digital, I didn't have to sell/give away what I have.

Surely there is someone else in your area that would buy some of it? Can you network somehow, put an ad in your local paper, etc.? Garage sales are a good idea; if you know someone in a nearby town or city they might be having a sale and would let you piggyback on their sale. Or a church having a trunk sale or rummage sale? Lots of times those places would let you rent a table and sell your wares.

I felt so liberated when I switched to digital, it was such a load off my shoulders not to have to buy and store all the stuff. I know some people love it and thrive on it, it just isn't for me. I used to sweat when I cut into good paper (like Basic Grey) for fear of making a mistake, and because it was so pretty, I didn't want to cut it up! I still go sometimes to local paper crops and see people wheeling in, literally, thousands of dollars of supplies and stuff. And they keep buying and buying, and not really using. I have an acquaintance who last estimated she has $4500 worth of supplies and she has not completed an album in the five years she's been scrapping. We've actually not ever seen her do a page. It's bizarre. She piddles and walks around and looks at everyone else's stuff, then buys some more stash and the process starts all over again. Just another benefit of digital---it's less expensive and non-consumable!

Let us know how it goes!

[USMCWifey]

I kept some of the things that I htought I would use later, which I do, like scissors and round photo corner cutters and things like that. But then I donated everything else that I had to my local scrapbooking store. Which is funny because most of the things that I had bought were from them

[blhdvm]

Thanks for all the GREAT advice!! I think I will make it a goal to sort through my stuff and sort hard!! I do still enjoy "getting my hands dirty"!!! So I probably would not just sell the whole room! But I need to cut back. I have never been an eBay-er, but I may have to look into it!!

[HeatherPrins]

I had a massive stock pile too, I sold it on Kijiji in lots and made money for more digi supplies

[JesseEdwards]

I give mine away to people that are heavily into paper scrapping, and I've donated some to schools, I've also sold some at a garage sale. I have a lot

[curicogirl]

Sell it all off on Craigslist.org! Include shipping in the cost!

[arimacias]

i am using mine to scrap the picture i already have printed. once i get a good printer i may do a bit of hybrid.
i WAS going to sell it all but had second thoughts.

[maureenreynolds]

I never did paper so it wasn't an issue but someone here DID sell her stuff and bought a camera. A good one. Think about that... and let....it...go.