Please join me in the Use-Your-Stamps Challenge!
The Very Simple Rules
First, you must work through your stash of stamps and actually use every image stamp you own. If you want to use all the sentiments, too, have a nut, but I find that many sentiments in sets are rather useless.
Also, how you keep track of which stamps you use is up to you. The first time I did this, I had a stamp index, so I just put a check mark next to each stamp as I finished using it. Now, I don't have an index, so I'm working through storage boxes instead. I'll keep each box out on my desk until I've used every single image in it, then put a post-it inside the lid saying "You DID IT!" Use whatever accounting system works for you.
Second, there is no deadline. Some of you have huge stashes that will take years to work through while others might finish in a few months. It took me over 2 years the first time I did this! But when you finish, you're invited to comment on the new tab for the Use-Your-Stamps Challenge on Simplicity announcing your victory!
Helpful Tips
As you use your stamps, pay attention to how you like working with each stamp or set. Is it worth the space it's taking up? Do you want to get rid of it or keep it forever? Perhaps you're not quite sure if it's a keeper or purge fodder. If so, put it in a box in your basement or closet for six months or a year. After that time, you'll either be ready to say goodbye or welcome it back into your stash. Time lends clarity.
As you purchase new stamps, I suggest you use every image immediately. Only after stamps have been used do I put them in my stash. This keeps me from accumulating unused stamps in the first place. That's why you always see a flurry of cards made with any new sets I buy. I'm using them right off the bat!
Are you signing up? Let us know! Also, if you have any tips or solutions to keeping track of your used stamps, please share. I think that could be the most challenging part of the challenge for some people!
I am going to try and do this. Very scary.
ReplyDeleteI've been thinking about doing this as a way to see if I really "need" all the sets that I have. Great idea!
ReplyDeleteOooh! I've been thinking of doing something like this myself - this is definitely the kick I need. I think I'm going to try stamp sets rather than each individual stamp as most of mine are clear stamps in a set with several others, then I'll put them at the front of my drawer when I've used them. Anything languishing at the back after several months can go! Thanks Susan!
ReplyDeleteBeth xx
I am so wanting to try this. It's a bit scary - I might actually have to look at how many stamps I have and whether I really should keep them.
ReplyDeleteDoes stamping them to create an index count? I still need to get that done......
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure if I like this idea or I am just feeling overwhelmed by it! I wouldn't want my card making to turn into some regiment where things MUST be done "SIR, YES, SIR!" kinda style. Hmm..
ReplyDeleteEver since I learned about you doing this I've been wanting to try. I *need* to - my set of stamps is too large and overwhelming to keep them all and I love the idea of actually using them to see if I like it. HOW do you get over the "but what I need this image later"????
ReplyDeleteCraftilicious, no.
ReplyDeleteHannah, that's why there's no deadline. You can work this into your regular crafting in whatever way feels most natural to you. The key is just to keep going with it as you can.
carefree creations, the only time I've regretted getting rid of something, it was for a challenge. But then, working around the "missing" stamp became an exercise in creativity. It's all good!
Oh my golly gosh! What a fab idea! Is anyone going to dare to tell us how many stamps this amounts to ...!
ReplyDeleteYou know I was thinking of setting myself this same challenge! I'll give it a go, Jo x
ReplyDeleteI began doing this (inspired from you) last year but after doing a few sets I slacked off. I'll try to buck up and join you.
ReplyDeleteI am going to join this challenge but I do need to modify it a bit. I am going to shoot for use every "stamp set" vs. every stamp in the sets. I have a list of all my stamp sets and have been marking them off as I used them. Thanks for challenging us.
ReplyDeleteI love this idea! I am already attempting this with my Christmas stamps, so this is a great excuse to start working through my other stamps.(like June I am going to go by stamp sets, not individual stamps)
ReplyDeleteI have an Excel worksheet that I keep all my stamp sets listed on, so for now I just plan on printing out a copy and checking off the ones I use.
I accept your challenge! I finally sat down earlier this year and made an index and sorted all my stamps into categories. It was a daunting task. I discovered that I had "new" stamps to play with. :) That is always a good thing! I will have to find some color challenges to help me use some of the less favorite inks.
ReplyDeleteGreat idea Susan, I think I'll try and do this too. I need to make an index of my stamps first. I know I have images I've never used!! I'll mark off the index once it's used.
ReplyDeleteHi Susan, Thank you for the challenge! I had planned to purge some of my large "collection" and this gives me the incentive to get started! I have an index of the sets I have, so I can check them off when finished...like several others, I will do sets instead of individual images.
ReplyDeleteI have been working on this idea myself. When I first started my blog, I used at least one unused item (stamp, die, punch, whatever) on each challenge project. It lasted about 2 months. In recent months, I've been working mostly with newer purchases (equally important, and fun) but you've reminded me that I should get back to using some of the dusty items now, before my next PTI order arrives!
ReplyDeleteThe idea was to sort out stuff to purge, and see if I liked any of them enough to keep them, and even if I was still wanting to part with them, I would likely feel less guilty about it having used them first.
As you said, I do like to dump new purchases in a basket on the end table and not store them in their proper place until they've been used at least once. Seems to be working pretty well so far.
This just may be the challenge I need to start re-evaluating my stash. I'm in with the others who talked about doing this on the stamp set level rather than individual stamps.
ReplyDeleteAs overwhelming as this sounds, COUNT ME IN TOO~ [really? what have I done???] I started tonight with a SU set~ Now, to figure out how to "mark them" as DONE.
ReplyDeleteThis may be just what I was looking for. We are in the middle of a move and I won't see any of my stamping stuff for at least a month. I really need to organize and reduce.
ReplyDeleteI am in. I'll do each set, not each individual stamp. Admittedly, when I make cards, I tend to make more than one/session, so I'll try to use all the images in each set. One of my criteria for deciding whether to keep a set is how many stamps in each set I use. If a set has 5 stamps and I only use 1, it's time for it to go.
ReplyDeleteI use a spreadsheet on the computer to keep track of my sets. There's a column for Date Last Used.
I saw this on your blog a few years ago and thought it was fabulous! Not sure how long it will take me, but I am in.
ReplyDeleteI love this - sort of . . . I am just putting the finishing touches on my new craft (card-making) room -- and realize I have sooooooooo many stamps (most unused). This will take me a lifetime to go through -- but I may also save some $$ if I do this challenge -- I'll keep you posted!
ReplyDeleteI had gone through my stamps just last week to determine what I could sell at a 'craft supply garage sale'. It was quite an experience. Wouldn't you know it though, as soon as I had my 'large' stash ready to go, I saw on some blogs several lovely cards using some of my old 'going out' stamps. I resisted and did not put them back into the 'keep pile' but it was sooooo hard.
ReplyDeleteI will give this challenge a try but on a limited basis. Unlike others, I have more individual stamps than sets. In fact, I have boxes and plastic drawers filled with stamps. It will take me several years to go through them all as I don't have a great many opportunities to make cards.
Thank you for this incentive. I think I am going to enjoy this.
The gauntlet is down - lol! I am very happy there is no deadline...so I'll be back in a few years :)
ReplyDeleteGood luck to everyone who has risen to the challenge!
I have been a lurker and love your blog. I accept your challenge! Hopefully your blog will still be around in 10 years so I can post the results.
ReplyDeleteI have been a lurker and love your blog. I accept your challenge! Hopefully your blog will still be around in 10 years so I can post the results.
ReplyDeleteI'd like to say that I have a 'medium' amount of stamps. And about 2/3 to 3/4 seem to be sentiments than images. I read and reread your posts, especially about topics like this. You've inspired me to really evaluate what kind of crafter I am. Over the last few days, and after examining my stash of cards, I'm seeing that I tend to use embellishments, dp, and other "things" more than image stamps. For whatever reason, crafting with intricate (and sometimes just regular) images doesn't work for me. I will definitely try to attempt your challenge, and in the next couple of days add a page to my blog where I will keep track. This idea may help me improve my use of image stamps. Not sure if it will, but without even trying there is no chance of success. Have a wonderful weekend. Bev
ReplyDeleteI am going to take part! I have too many stamps but find it hard to part with any. I like the idea of the box you put away for 6 months. My plan is to start with Christmas images as I need a lot of Christmas cards. I'm also going to keep track of the sentiments I use - I have an index of them so I'll tick next to them each time I use one, and hopefully at the end of the day, I'll see which ones I never use.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Susan, for setting this up to inspire me to do this.
Count me in! I have been thinking for awhile that I needed to do this. I have so many sets that have not been used. It doesn't help that I have been pretty sporadic with my stamping this last year, which hasn't stopped me from buying more stuff. I will probably do it by stamp set versus each image. I swear it would take me forever to use each image. Hoping this will help me see what sets I really do use and what to get rid of. And maybe help me be smarter in what I buy in the future. After writing this, I realize I sound like I need a 12 step program for stamp addicts. Thanks for the challenge.
ReplyDeleteI'm in! I am SO overwhelmed by the number of sets that I have and many of them have never been used. This is definitely my kind of challenge! Thanks for the accountability. : )
ReplyDeleteI did not read all the comments so someone might have said this already but stamping each image stamp on a sheet of paper (filling the sheets as you go) and keep it in a folder. That way you can always refer back to your "scrap" sheets when in doubt
ReplyDeleteI'll do this at the set level. Just this morning, I went through my PTI sets and marked the ones that I no longer want. This is going to take me a long time, and I'm okay with that.
ReplyDeleteI read another blog a while back with this same challenge and I have really been wanting to jump in and try. But, at the moment, life is not cooperating. I'm in Colorado and live in the area affected by the Black Forest Fire that has been making the news this week. We were evacuated on Tuesday afternoon and even though we got to come back to our house (thank God we still have one - 480 homes completely destroyed in the past 5 days) today, we are still on "pre-evacuation" status so must be ready to run at a moment's notice. My goal right now is to try and stay calm since the burning area is just down the road from us and is only 55% contained so far. As dry as it is out here and with the winds we have anything could still happen. So, as much as I would love to be stamping with all of you immediately, for now I have to be prioritizing things and getting better organized than I was when we had to make the run last Tuesday. As I laid there in the hotel room each night not being able to sleep and wondering if we'd have a home to come back to, one of the things I thought so much about, of course, was my collection of stamping and papercrafting tools. So much of my stash has never been used, so I NEED to do this challenge. Since there is no deadline, maybe if things calm down around here and get back to some sort of "normal" I can join in the stamping down the road.
ReplyDeleteColorado Crafter...ohmygosh. Thank you for sharing your experience with us. Please do keep us posted as well. The situation WILL get better, but the uncertainty of now is just terrible for you and so many people. This challenge will be here waiting for you when you can use it. Until then, know that my prayers are with you and everyone else affected by these fires raging right now.
ReplyDeleteBig hugs,
Susan
I'll join in. Though it will take me years. Not because I have so many stamps but because I just don't have much time for crafting. Will be fun with company!
ReplyDeleteI really have to think about this. One of the reasons I haven't used a lot of my stamps is because I rarely am able to create a card with my own ingenuity -- I am an unabashed copier of ideas and colors! My first thought was - how can I link up with all the people who will be selling their unused stamps!!! And.... you realize that you have just committed yourself to blogging for several years to accommodate the people who will be doing this challenge long term! Yeah!
ReplyDeleteI am going to try this. I've already started a journal where I put a picture of the sketch, little bits of the papers, and stamp the images in the color ink I use. I'm only using the journal for cards I make.
ReplyDeleteHi Susan, I've followed your blog for a while now and I really enjoy your wit, your design tips, and how to's. I did this challenge on my own in 2011-2012. It took me a year and a half to complete. I scanned in each card I made, put it in a folder on my pc. I also put a 'done' sticky note on the stamp set. I did it to justify the number of stamps that I had. I will join you in this challenge because while I do it, I want to decide which one's I want to purge. I know that I have stamps I don't want anymore, it's just a matter of finding them. I will probably do it by stamp set, rather than by each stamp. I think I'll make an index as I go. Thanks for the challenge. Good there is not deadline.
ReplyDeleteA worthy goal. I'm in!
ReplyDeleteI'll try to come up with a tracking system this weekend so I can get started...
I just found your UYS challenge. I'm jumping in late, as usual.
ReplyDeleteI haven't stopped by in forever and I've missed you and your blog so much! I am late to this party but I want to join in too. Even though I do purge stamps from time to time I don't really try to make the most out of the ones I have or challenge myself to use them all. I think it sounds fun and not having a deadline is great so there isn't pressure.
ReplyDeleteA friend and I exchange cards often and I'm impressed by how often she uses her stamps over and over. Yet, I don't ever feel like I'm getting the same card from her. She uses her stamps in such different ways with different color combos. She says it is because she only keeps stamps that are near and dear to her heart. Like you, she uses her stamps as soon as she purchases them and then challenges herself to make several card designs with them. Right away she makes the decision if it is a keeper or not. That would freak me out to buy a new stamp, use it, and then immediately decide it had to go. I'd feel obligated to at least keep in the house for a few years. Totally silly.
Anyway, I am hoping this challenge will help me weed out those ones I'm keeping due to an imagined obligation.