My slightly humorous article about our hoarding habit, how many will see themselves ?

[fabyon]

Here's my latest article about us paper crafters :D

http://www.broowaha.com/articles/11929/paper-crafting-bankruptcy-what-they-dont-tell-you-

[Carol J]

Funny, but true. I have more paper in my 'craft room' that I can use, but there is always new paper to purchase. : ) I don't do much else that is a money eater so I don't really worry about it to much. I was out of town this weekend and didn't even go to Michaels or Hobby Lobby ! - so now it is time to do a PW order and use my 20% of coupon. lol

[Irishlady]

Fab, loved the article. You are so right. I order some thing then when I get it, I either can't make up my mind what I'm going to use it for thus saving it for that special card or just because its so darn pretty I don't want to use it. I really have to start making those special cards just to make room for more papers & stuff. Judi

[fabyon]

Just learnt from a lady on Facebook and all her stuff has got damaged by the mould and damp she didn't realise a pipe burst behind her wall so water seeped through and created the problem. I felt so bad for her :(

[Bootsie]

OMG Fab, I loved your article and had a good laugh!!!

[Patti Prince]

Super Article Fab. so funny but So TRUE

[SamB]

O.M.G.

I'm a HOARDER.

ACK!!!

[AmzdByHsGrace]

My son often says if our house were to catch on fire forget about calling the fire dept... they would never make it in time!!! lol...
My name is Nyoka ... and I am a hoarder....
God bless
Nyoka

( Sam, LOVE your Noel cow!!! )

[pennyd]

Wonderful story Fab. I've been moving things around in my scrap room and I have come to the conclusion that I have more than enough of everything! Will that stop me? Probably not...:D

I'm really hoping to focus on using what I have, especially the "special" stuff I tend to save and never use (I'm with you Judi!). I love to use dies, embossing folders, embossing paste, stencils, templates etc., but with so much to choose from I often end up using none if it. I'm sure I can make incredible pages and cards if I just "go for it". I'll let you know!

[MsPat]

Was sitting here thinking about this & decided that I can blame it all on Sam (who is my sister)! She took me to my first place to buy stamps ~ then after i returned home from Texas, and contiunued "buying up everything in sight", Sam & her hubby came to WV to visit & don't you know, he put up shelves in what was then a basement family room. The family room has long disappeared & stamps(over 10, 000 of them); paper; punches; ribbon; dies, embossing folders & you name it have taken over!
But, as I said, IT'S NOT MY FAULT ~ IT IS ALL SAM'S FAULT!! :D
But are we horders? Of course not!! We just have an interesting hobby!!!

[supermum]

Oh I love it Fab! Just think though of all the money we have ahem saved on therapy by crafting!! Yup girls I agree with the box of "special" papers maybe one day I be brave enough to break into it!

[kittykat]

This is a wonderful article. I enjoyed reading it and laughing at parts of it. You are very good with words.

[SandersNan]

Oh, it's me alright!

[PJmeemaw]

Oh my goodness! That is SO ME!!!!! I had to send this to my kids so they would understand me. LOL. Thanks, Fab for the fantastic article!!

[SamB]

heeehee did you send your Christmas craft wish list along with it????

[Cheryl]

I don't know what you all are talking about. I'm certainly not a hoarder -- I'm a COLLECTER!!! (And I have a GREAT collection of crafting supplies filling my craft room.) :D

[SamB]

like the way you think Cheryl!!!

[fabyon]

Thank you guys, it means a lot to me, apart from wanting to be an Air Steward (don't ask lol) my other dream when I was a kid was to become a writer. Since I'm totally self-taught in English, I'm glad my wonky syntax isn't putting people off so far ! :D

I really enjoyed reading your comments, it brightens my day. I've lined up a list of family/relatives and close friends for my Xmas cards and will do again this year 10 random on top as I can't possibly afford to send 500 cards this year (yep that's all the peeps from two forums, facebook and twitter). The postage from Royal Mail makes you groan, even the lightest of card would set me back at 1 buck a pop so you can understand despite how much I want to send cards to all of you, it's not even a remote possiblity in my case :( I hope you'll all understand my predicament.

[SamB]

Fab, you'll just have to make a 'board' card and post a pic of it on all your forums to send your greetings! completely understand your situation though!!!

[Cheryl]

I know what you're saying, Fab. The cost of mailing cards really adds up. That's one of the reasons I enjoy doing the challenges rather than always doing swaps - after all, the postage comes out of my craft budget! :eek:

[SandersNan]

Absolutely understand Fab! I face the same dilemma. Since I've started making my own cards, I've actually removed some of my more distant family from my list and added my special crafting friends - I know they appreciate the handmade cards more! :)

[pennyd]

I definitely make a list and check it twice when I start making/sending cards! Unfortunately, I have 5 people on the list that don't much appreciate my cards - they tell me they liked it and when I ask to see it, I get "Ummm, I left it in my other pants, sorry" this is code for "I haven't a clue what I did with it". Of course they continue to get my cards year after year - after all they are my sons! What's a mom to do?:rolleyes:

[Carol J]

Penny - very funny and I can relate. Thanks for the smile on that one.

[karenliz]

My name is Karenliz and I'm a hoarder...no a collector....no obsessed with paper, inks, glue, stamps....Oh no, I need professional help!

Great article Fab. I was just looking at all my stuff last night and questioned myself...What was I thinking? I still haven't answered myself.

[SamB]

well, let me share what you should NEVER do....get your hubby/significant other to HELP you when you have the whole mess spread out trying to reorganize, LOL...when it is all tucked away in its various little bins and cubbyholes doesn't look like NEARLY as much as when you've pulled it out of everywhere and it is covering every conceivable surface in your home...:p:rolleyes::eek:

[gstone]

I guess that this is something common to people in the hobby of crafts as they usually would think that whatever small stuff they have left will still be used sometime in the future.

And true enough, they will always have their purpose but most of the time, the time you will find it useful is a little too late already to find yourself with a huge pile of materials you obviously do not need already.

[pennyd]

Good point gstone (and welcome to the MB)! I've forced myself to get rid of scraps I know I won't use, although it pains me, b/c they "might" come in handy some day. Of course, I really do have enough now to scrap my entire life, the 6 kids lives and however many grandchildren I end up with (2 and counting). Will this stop me from buying more? NO! LOL

[lovinggran3]

we always need to have the new items, especially the beautiful paper packs!!!

[JudyH]

Of course, I really do have enough now to scrap my entire life, the 6 kids lives and however many grandchildren I end up with (2 and counting). Will this stop me from buying more? NO! LOL

Oh, I can SO relate!

What makes it even worse is I've started doing some digital scrapbooks too. So now, in addition to all the stuff in my craft room, I have a ton of digital paper and embellishments, three digital image editors, several other graphics related utilities and two different scrapbooking programs on my computer. I'm going to need to upgrade it soon because it can't handle all my toys.

[SamB]

I'm fairly certain I could complete an entire scrapbook A DAY and not run out of paper...or embellishments...{sigh}...

but as Penny says - will that stop me from buying more?:eek::rolleyes: NO :cool:

[fabyon]

I promise I'll never stop buying papers ever, ever and never ! lol

[MrsTmuzik53]

I like to look at my "illness" as my "Grown up Christmas Wish list". As a child I absolultely loved it when once a week the art teacher stepped into the classroom. She brought with her a talent for bringing out the creative juices in me. I continue to possess those pleasures of playing with papers & inks, of cutting, pasting and all that accompanies them. Now I don't have to grow up! I can continue my childhood love of paper crafting. It's art class any time I want it to be!