Musings on Stuff

There have been lots of threads at SCS lately lamenting the massive quantity of stuff we papercrafters collect, and then my PSF, the totally awesome Joan B, started a thread about how none of the new products companies are releasing wow her. Lots of people agree with her. Including me.

But then, I'm into extreme clean. I've been stamping for almost a decade, and if you consider my AR/OC tendencies, you can just imagine how I was in the early days...needing to try every single technique, every single stamp I could buy, every single product I could sneak into my house. I made paste paper, stamped with bubble wrap, and tore wet mulberry paper. I added acrylic paint and dish detergent to water, blew bubbles in it through a straw, and made bubble paper. Heck, I pounded flowers with a hammer onto paper. I had no shame.

After a while, though, I found out that what really made me giddy was a clean-and-simple style, largely free of techniques and very sparse in product. I don't need a bunch of what I have to achieve my style and have slowly been purging the unneeded supplies. Designer paper doesn't do much for me (though if I start scrapbooking again, that might change). I don't have or want a die cut machine, and the embossed look isn't something I've ever been able to carry off well.

I've found fabulous cardstock, inks, and cutting tools, and it would take A LOT to make me change any of them. I love my Scor-Pal but don't feel the need to upgrade it. Now, the products that get me most giddy are stamps. I have tons of them, but new ones still excite me, still make me giddy enough to reach for my check card. And yes, I recently placed a couple of orders for new stamps. I love buying new stuff and will certainly continue at the controlled and reasonable pace I've set for the past three or four years.

But all this talk about too much stuff and nothing wowwing people has got me thinking. I know, I know. Thinking is dangerous, but I just can't help myself. And it's led me to add a new resolution to my crafting goals. I will quite consciously drag out those older supplies and stamps and use them. My plan is to get excited about what I have, get creative with it...HAVE FUN.

Yesterday's cards that combine new stamps and old ones are a good start. Today, the stamps are all old. The flower stamp and sentiments are discontinued Hero Arts stamps I've had for years. The first card looks pretty fresh to my eyes, not dated at all. The second card looks dated because of the font of the sentiment, but only those of us who stamp AND keep up with trends would know that. The person who receives that card will have no idea.

Do any of you care to join me in this resolution?

Supplies
stamps: Hero Arts discontinued
ink: Memento
paper: PTI white, SU pixie pink
accessories: rhinestones