I need opinions please... I have just spent the last few hours packing up my scrapbook room. IMO, scrapbooking is no longer enjoyable. Somehow, I have managed to collect way to much stuff. I've out grown my stuff and it is too big of a hassel to sit down and create. Most of the time spent is looking for stuff. As organized as I would like to think I am, I'm not! My room is about a 10 by 10. I've done everything I can think of to get creative with the stuff but simply can't.

With that said, I am not selling anything but just taking a much needed break away from it all. In order for me not to feel guilty having the stuff sitting collecting dust, I am packing it all up and putting it in storage. It is a sad day but I feel it has to be done. When scrapbooking becomes stressful it is time for a change.

So, what do you guys think? Am I doing the right thing or going too far?

Thanks in advance!

I agree, sometimes you just have to walk away....but, I wouldn't put anything in storage yet. Just shut the door and stay away until you feel ready to start again. DOn't put pressure on yourself...scrapbooking is supposed to be a "fun" hobby"...don't stress!

Maybe you just need a scraper rom makeover. Maybe if your DH paints it and you organize it together, it might be a great space to be in. Maybe you could just make a home dec project for it to get started. I know I have so m y supplies it gets overwhelming sometimes. Sometimes, seeing how people organize their rooms helps too. I know I have so many carts that I got rid of the boxes a long time ago. That saved me a lot of space. I hope you give yourself some time to think about what you'd like in your room to help you be organized and creative. I scrap in my living room and it has taken over to the dining room too. I think the scrapping supplies just multiply at night when we are asleep .

Listen...er...read...we as moms, grands, wives, ...women have always put too much pressure on ourselves! After teaching with a young lady for 4 years she decided to go back to college to be a lawyer! We were so close she called me her second mom. I had a lot of pictures of our 4 years together so I decided to make a scrapbook for her. That's how I got started! My sons were in middle school when I started on their baby books. I stressed because I didn't have the same pictures of one as the other. I made myself a nervous wreak! When I finally finished, they loved their books and never said a word about their pictures not being the same. My husband got tired of scrapbook stuff in the bedroom, so he built me a room in the basement which I had to share with the furnace and hot water tank! I am a window person, but did not have a window. I made myself sick by looking at other rooms that were large with windows and curtains....that Chrismas my sons bought me a TV with built in DVD player! I decorated my little room and thanked God for my blessings! This fall I started moving into a larger room. I painted it pink first bought more JetMax cubes as in the first room, and started moving into it. I was overwhelmed with how much stuff I had! I found stuff I had forgotten about! I still have not finished moving and both rooms are a mess and I still don 't have a window, but, I am thankful for having a room to call my own! We are going to have highs and lows. Don't throw in the towel. We all understand and we all have your back! I lost my mom and have not been able to scrapbook her. You take some time to figure out how you want to redesign your room, pick out the paint, laugh at yourself for all your supplies you don't have to buy for a long time!

You ladies are giving me such wonderful advice. I think that purging is a great way to start. Maybe I should put away things I have not used and probably won't use anytime soon. Today I have been browsing online for scrapbook organization ideas and furniture. The key is finding the right fit for my room. I love the color but really need to make the room my own, sorta speak. It was our computer/home office then I turned it into my scrap room. I didn't get a new desk, pictures or anything. A desk with some drawers would be nice, I'm thinking a wall unit would help with some of the organization issues and just get rid of things I don't use. Plus since I am really not a card maker I need to not try and make cards. On rare occasions I may make a home decor project or personalize a gift for someone, but I really need to put those things aside.

What is important is that I document my family history and have fun.

I'm just wondering if right now is a good time to make the changes. I've packed up 7 crates of paper and 3 crates of cartridges. Both my E1 and E2 machines and cuttlebug. Hopefully if I clear everything out and take a visit to ikea, I can get my creative juices flowing again

Thanks guys your the BEST friends ever!!

I just want to say, DON'T STOP! I love your creations, advice and insight. You inspired me to decorate the dollar-store cake carriers---I did 10 for Christmas. Before that, I had never walked into my local dollar store; you opened my eyes to the possibilities.

So on that note, I understand if you've in a slump and want/need to stop for a while. But please come back and know that you're appreciated and your stuff is awesome :)

If you love scrapping or crafting in any way you shouldn't stop, but if your overwhelmed because it takes you too long to find stuff you need, then get rid of the stuff! don't bog down your room with too much stuff! Lighten the load, maybe get rid of things you might have two of, do you really need so much paper! so many Carts! It's easy to buy stuff just because you think it's pretty and some people spend too much time buying rather than creating. Re-organizing is great, but then your spending time and money again. If nothing else maybe pack up the stuff you seriously don't think you'll use anytime soon, that way you can clear out some stuff from your room, but still have it later. I once took a break for a couple of weeks because I had no desire to create anymore, so I just stopped going into my craft room, after those couple of weeks, I really missed it and now i'm back in the swing. Good Luck to you whatever you decide.

I was just going to post the same thing - Tiffany's challenge is great (although you wouldn't know I tried it last year based on the look of my space). The bit of organizing/purging that I did manage to do, really got me wanting to scrapbook more. OH and if you do facebook, she has a facebook page and people constantly have new ideas on how to store & purge stuff. scraprack org challenge on facebook

I scrapbook as a stress relief and a way to reconnect with friends. If I didn't plan monthly scrapbooking sessions, I'd never see my friends - even though our lives are crazy busy, for some reason, we manage to squeeze in 1 Saturday a month to scrapbook (and eat and chat).

I'd be leery of putting everything away, because I need it for stress relief.

Good luck

Edited by user Saturday, December 29, 2012 10:12:44 AM(UTC)  | Reason: Not specified

Lots of good ideas you have been given here...i was, and i say was because i haven't been shopping in weeks, accept for food. I have way to much stuff, I do Freecycle, so have given away lots of stuff, mostly clothing but then some craft things as well..but not my Cricut stuff, certainly not my card stock,lol...but other things that i've seen other people doing and i just knew id try it and well didn't. My daughter likes to organize, but she hadn't time to come help me, but this past month she got me some Besta units from Ikea and now i'm getting orgzanized..actually today she and her husband are out there in my living room putting up some units, that I will be able to store some things in, well lots of things in...so i said all that to say instead of putting your things in storage, like someone else said donate some of it. Sounds like you need to get some storage and get organized, i have a unit in my craftroom that is nothing but papers, then i have another with my Cricut stuff on it. I bet once you get organized you'll feel much better about doing crafting.

I don't think I can really add much to what has already been said. I think that if you really have too much stuff, then PURGE by all means! Especially if you have stuff you don't think you will use. Then ORGANIZE what you do have and try to keep the expense to a minimum. Once you purge, you'll find space you didn't have previous that will be used. It seems that with crafting,or anything else,we never get done with organizing.

I definitely wouldn't put everything away out of sight out of mind though. Just give it a little time and work on the purge and organize for now. Then once that is done, you may have an all new outlook on things! I actually have all of my stuff packed up in anticipation of moving. It is awful! I miss it soo much. But had to do it because of selling house. And it is a maybe to move. Just don't know where things are going right now.

GOOD LUCK!!

I totally understand how you feel ... been there before myself (more than once). Taking a break is a good idea. Purging is a good idea. Donating what you honestly don't believe you will be using is another great idea ... there are so many wonderful places to donate the supplies you are not likely to ever use again (like your church, schools, senior centers, youth groups) ... they would enjoy your unused items and put them to great use. Having a yard sale to help reduce your inventory and make a little cash at the same time, is another good idea.

Box things up if you feel you need to ... it would give you the chance to re-vamp your craft room with a little makeover. Sometimes having a new space to work in (or re-vamped space) helps to energize our creativity and gives us new inspiration and enthusiasm.

However, I'm not sure I would go so far as to put your boxed items into storage, that just seems too permanent. For me, when I put something in storage, I do it because I don't believe I will have any use for it anytime in the forseeable future ... and that means very possibly YEARS and maybe even never!

Give yourself a break, take the pressure off. There is no need to stress and feel guilty that you are not creating at the moment. Allow yourself some time to breathe. Just because you have something, doesn't mean that you have to use it all right this minute. Your desire to create will return ... when YOU are ready.

In the meantime ... go slip into something comfy, get a cup or glass of something soothing to drink, turn on your favorite radio station or TV show, snuggle into a comfortable place and ... RELAX!

I've been where you are. Didn't craft for a long time, probably 6 months or longer but I still bought stuff. I had so much stuff I was embarassed and overwhelmed.

A couple months ago we had new carpet for the house installed, had to empty all the rooms so that the carpet could be put in. I vowed that 50% of what left my scraproom was not coming back. I used this opportunity to give things away.

It worked for me. I gave away tons of stuff, it all fits in my room and is organized. I no longer buy things spur of the moment. I have to think of at least 3 ways to use whatever I am considering buying before it comes home with me.

I took an online class that talked about kick starting creativity. A lot of that class talked about organizing. Here is the link if you are interested. I love these classes and have taken several.

http://www.onlinecardclasses.com/

I also make lists of what I want to do. It gives me a sense of accomplishment to work through those lists I make.

I hope you find something that works for you and will be able to enjoy yourself again.

Happy New Year,

Barbara

I agree with others that a make over will help the room feel like your own relaxing retreat. While you are purging, instead of just throwing away things you don't think you will use you could contact a local school, community center, church or nursing home to see if they would like a donation of your no longer wanted craft supplies.

YAY for you!!!!! I'm glad that you are not packing everything up.

My craft room is one of those catch-all rooms, too, but at least I have a room that I can shut the door to that can catch things.

And besides that, my poor machines will have a month off, as we will be out of town, unless my two DD's that live here decide to use them. I will miss my bugs while I am gone.

GOOD LUCK with your makeover!!!