PURGE YOUR CRAFT ROOM! A Summer Challenge

[pat-czap]

I took pictures of my multiuse craft room, but I'm too embarrassed to post. Well, maybe too lazy at this point.

I did throw out ancient glue and all the craft paint I had, less TH. Those probably have to go as well. Recycled a bit of paper.

Now I have to focus on one bit at a time. At least my fabric stash is small. Sewing notions are another thing. My biggest issues are paper, stamps, albums, books and magazines. Do I need SB magazines that are ancient old? Heck no. If I haven't seen it for a year...bye bye. I've toted this stuff through 5 or 6 moves! I've lost track.

[Monica]

I recently got rid of the rest of my magazine stash, Pat. After lugging them around, fighting to find space for them, feeling nostalgic about the many companies listed no longer in existence... but letting them go was a huge relief!

[pat-czap]

Monica...

Mine are going out.

[pamcook]

I threw out all of my magazines except for the (overpriced) one from Becky Higgins that was all layouts using 4x6 photos. Still great basic page layouts.
It hurt a bit at first but then I looked at all that shelf space and then I smiled.

[paddlegal]

So I am posting two more photos here to keep me accountable to this challenge. These are the two main areas I want to really attack, pare down and improve it’s organization. Daunting but I know I can do this over the next two months or so. I really want to be happy with my room by September so I can enjoy “fall crafting” and the usual projects that come at the end of the year. I also want my desk to be more open and efficient. Some changes will have to be made with what is in the cases above it.

Oh and those plastic Home Depot cases lining the top are FILLED with my bead collection.

[pbp908]

I've really got to get back to this. I made great progress and then faded out. Time to get inspired again!

[pamcook]

Wait! Week 2 is just beginning! Somehow I felt like I lost a week.
Mia and I sorted through my stamps last night and then she and Zain did some stamping. I think my die cuts are next in my list. I can sort through them while we’re watching a movie.

ETA : I pulled out 20 packages leaving 70 in the box. Seventy. I haven’t even started on the sticker sheets (the 6 x 12” sheets) but I have all week. I plan to pull out any that are more than 5 years old and challenge myself to use what I still like on them - then ditch the rest by the end of the month. Should be doable?

Pam P - what is your focus this week?

Farley, I’ve always been envious of how much space you have!

[pbp908]

Stamps, ink and more of the closet. Ugh - that closet. It's always my downfall.

[Monica]

Stamps, ink and more of the closet. Ugh - that closet. It's always my downfall.

Just do one tiny bit of the closet.... that's what I have to do when purging my fabric bins... take one out and away or I just want to sit there and cry over the whole thing.

[paddlegal]

Wait! Week 2 is just beginning! Somehow I felt like I lost a week.
Mia and I sorted through my stamps last night and then she and Zain did some stamping. I think my die cuts are next in my list. I can sort through them while we’re watching a movie.

ETA : I pulled out 20 packages leaving 70 in the box. Seventy. I haven’t even started on the sticker sheets (the 6 x 12” sheets) but I have all week. I plan to pull out any that are more than 5 years old and challenge myself to use what I still like on them - then ditch the rest by the end of the month. Should be doable?

Pam P - what is your focus this week?

Farley, I’ve always been envious of how much space you have!

Pam I am quite lucky to have this room to myself. It was my step-daughter’s originally. After keeping it intact for a year with no one using it, I claimed it. It’s just off the living room so I can chat with Bob while I work and listen to whatever might be on TV. The large hanging cases Bob built changed everything.


WEEK 2! Yes, I am going after dies next too. This should be a lot easier than stamps. Many of the stamp sets I purged include dies. I decided not to bother with the COFFEE or BIRD stamps...they are all keepers pretty much. So on to DIES!

[nchoney]

Haven't been purging yet. But I've been sorting the dies this past week. Separating all the parts of sets and putting them on magnet sheets and into sleeves and into their appropriate containers. Almost finished. Had to order some more magnet sheets. Then, the dies and stamp/die sets will be ready for cardmaking for the craft fair and for Christmas cards!!

Today, I've been working on kitchen cleanup and organization. It's been a huge mess for far too long. Not sure when Mike will get motivated to build cabinets. But I bought some wire shelves and basket things so I can start storing more efficiently. Going a bit vertical so we can reclaim some of the counter space. I've done some purging in this project, so that counts!! Long overdue cleanup. Feels good to get things looking a bit more organized.

It's stormy outside right now. Keeping Chevie company on the bed til the thunder stops. Good time for a break.

[wannabescrappin]

Yesterday I started with molds...can't even remember what I bought them for (mixed media I think) so that was easy peasy! Tomorrow night is trash night soooo, out go the magazines! Some are so old, ones Pam C recycled to me when I started this journey some 13 or 14 years ago.

[ChristyB]

Haven't started my room yet. Ry decided to jump on board and do her room (she's the actual hoarder in the family)
So far 5 bags to donate, 3 bags of trash and under the bed has yet to be touched.

[paddlegal]

Haven't started my room yet. Ry decided to jump on board and do her room (she's the actual hoarder in the family)
So far 5 bags to donate, 3 bags of trash and under the bed has yet to be touched.

WTG Ry!


I did start on my dies last night and will get back to them tonight. I have a fridge bin of my most commonly used ones that I only removed one set from. But tonight I go after the less so. Not sure that many will be purged but you never know. Die however are not the offensive item in my room. It’s stamps and paper. So paper is next.

[nchoney]

Congrats to Ry for being so productive!!

And.... I found a new home for the Chalk Inks.... a co-worker is doing a Bible journaling workshop with folks at her church... so I'm going to loan her some stamps and give her the Chalk inks... yay!!!