MPE: My Box Challenge #2 Embossing Folders

 

~ THOUGHT FOR THE DAY ~

Did you know that clutter ends up costing you money? Example: you can't find something you want to use, or you forgot you purchased a specific item, so you go out and buy another one.

Ask me how many times I've done that. Go ahead, I dare you.

(This applies to everything, BTW - not just your craft stuff.) 

 

⚓️ ⚓️ ⚓️

 

So did anyone attempt to put their lesser used tools into a box for safekeeping?

Are you ready to push the envelope just a tinge? (C'mon, now, people! Stiff upper lip and all that! This isn't going to hurt one bit because you're not actually giving anything away, right?)

Let's talk about... embossing folders.

Embossing folders are a wee bit insidious. Many companies make them, so there are probably more than 300 hundred choices out there. They tend to be less expensive than are the other tools and supplies (especially if you have one of those dandy 40% off coupons).

And speaking of those coupons, have you ever bought something just so you could use the coupon? (I suspect that half the world's embossing folders were purchased with a 40% off coupon when the purchaser couldn't find what she really wanted.)

We should stop doing that, probably.

I have a lot of embossing folders. And you know what? I barely use them. Oh, I use some of them, but it's always the same ones - they've seen enough action to justify their living in Crafty Village, but the others are really just unemployed squatters who are creating overcrowded and unpleasant living conditions for the proper residents of Crafty Village.

So here's what I'm going to do. I'm going to allow less than 10% of my embossing folders to stay in their current housing unit. The rest of them are going to be evicted (they'll be joining the tools over in Box Town). If I need a folder, I'll retrieve it because it's an easy commute, right? At the end of six months, any folder that wasn't retrieved will be emigrating from Deborah's House to Somebody Else's House where I hope it will become a more productive member of the society therein!

I made a spreadsheet of the embossing folders that are staying, and each time I use one of those, I'll put a check by its name. Any folder without at least three checks at the end of six months will also have to go.

There is only one exception to this particular purge: I'm leaving the holiday and seasonal folders alone for now (I don't have very many of those, anyway). However, those babies aren't safe from relocation; they better inspire me or its the heave-ho for them!

So who made the cut?

• Cuttlebug:

1. Swiss Dots
2. Tiny Mosaic Texture
3. Divine Swirl
4. Tiny Bubbles
5. Birds & Swirls
6. Distressed Stripes (on the fence about this one)

        

      

Tim Holtz Alterations:

1. Bricked
2. Woodgrain
3. Rays
4. Retro Circles
5. Bubble
6. Honeycomb
7. Notebook
8. Clocks
9. Spring Background

So! There it is. My contribution to scrap sanity.

What are you going to do to recapture your wits?

Thanks for stopping and have a blessed day!

Oh, and... HAPPY PSEUDO-PURGING!!!

Deborah

This is a series of articles concerning some changes I've made to increase the quality of my papercrafting experience. I hope something here will speak to you!

• Maximizing the Papercrafting Experience
• MPE: Cardstock and Ink Reformation
• MPE: Box Challenge #1 - Tools
• MPE: My Box Challenge #1 Tools

Related articles

Memory Box Card: Christmas in July!

Hampton Art Card - Today Let's Celebrate

Memory Box 2015 Holiday Release

Comments

[Judy Jung]

Good for you!! I continue to feel guilty about having way too much "stuff" in my craft room. And that is very much like the guilt I have about way too many clothes in my closet ... and way too much stuff in the attic ... looks like a theme here!

[leslie]

Yay for purging! If I get to my embossing folders this week, they'll go to Tina's crafty yard sale. Wheee! I'll let you know if I pull that off. :)

[Paula B]

Deborah... you really have inspired me to "purge"! Although I couldn't start with my lesser used tools (no box yet to put them in and no place to put the box if I had one, LOL)

So, to at least get started, I worked on the closet first... and I'm happy to say I've only got 2 more shelves to complete! I even cleared out closet floor space to accommodate 2 paper racks that now hold the unopened packages of extra card stock that replace colors I have out on my shelf in the craft room. Moving the racks into the closet freed up space in the room! Yay!

My hubby was amazed! When I had him come look, he disappeared inside the closet and stated "Wow! You can even walk in here now!"..... LOL

Doing the happy dance!!... Thanks for the "push" :)

[Lizzy Hill]

Oh GOLLY GOSH......I only have, like 20 or so.....& you're right. I rarely use any. Except the dotty spotty ones. But I'm not ready to do this. Yet. However, it's great to read you have. My Muse;)!!!!

[Deborah]

Judy, I have this theme in every room of my house. I have this feeling it will never be caught up. That's why I'm focusing on my craft room - I feel like I may have a shot at winning that battle - lol!

Leslie, I'm so craft-backward that my first thought upon reading your comment was... I wonder if I can drive to Tina's for her yard sale? Oh, I am a sick, sick girl....

[Deborah]

Paula, that is amazing! Everybody give a HUGE round of applause for Paula B!!! THAT"S WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT!

Seriously, I'm so impressed. I've only filled one lousy box - lol! I bow to your purging prowess. Keep up the good work!

[Deborah]

Lizzy, if you only have 20 embossing folders I suspect you don't need to be ready to purge yet - lol!

[ionabunny]

I like my embossing folders. Even the ones I never use. I'm not really getting with the programme am I?? Bwahahahahahahaha. Hugz

[ionabunny]

OMG. That was wierd. First time I hit the post button it came up with an error saying head and body had not been found. Whose head? Whose body!! Dead crafter! Must be buried under the crafty stash. It's obviously a sign....... Hugz

[Paula B]

Thanks Deborah!.... I think I'm on a roll, even if it's a very slow moving one! (Some days my heart just won't let me do anything at all, so what I get done on my 'good' days is truly an accomplishment for me.)

My BFF is lending a hand to help me. She's as excited to help me purge/reorganize as I am! And I'm extremely grateful for her help since I hate asking my hubby for help on his only days off, when he needs to rest. He does so much for me already. Such a sweetie :)

Anyway, we're going to be tackling the last 2 shelves in the closet later today (after I get some sleep tonight, LOL)... Then, if I can keep going, I'm going to have her help me out in the craft room.... going to get started on those tools!! YAY!!.... I am really EXCITED about this!! Long time overdue. I just hope that once it's all complete, I don't have a relapse and start filling up to overflowing again, LOL! We'll see how that works out :)