In a nutshell – use what you’ve got to make beautiful things and spread joyfulness.
The whole nut – I, like many of you, love all the amazing tools, papers and products that are available to us in our paper-crafting pursuits. In fact, I have amassed a stash over the years and even embarked upon different ways to store my supplies. Along the way (having made a plethora of projects), I of course have tried to stay tuned to current trends and the awesome makers active in this industry. In all honesty, that has made me discover (and feel) the pressure of a constant push to buy brand new tools and use only those new tools in creating new projects. This is something that I severely warn against because I learned and still believe in literally using humble papers and embellishments to make the pages look a little more beautiful or enhanced. I am not opposed to spending for quality tools and supplies, but I definitely want to use them completely once I’ve got them.
I move at a slower pace than many, but I still strive to work economically and beautifully.
I have found that I most certainly utilize scraps and tend to use my older supplies. I’ve even gotten to the point where I’ve updated some of the older printed embellishments to make them more like modern ones that are available for purchase. Having said that, I do realize there are many new tools that I prematurely love and of course I want to acquire as soon as I learn of them. Truthfully, I can’t afford to buy every single new product that comes out in the world of paper-crafting, not to mention my pursuits in other crafting disciplines. So, I am steadfast in my propensity for using what I already have and still love.
The projects I create often use products and tools I have owned for a long while alongside those newly acquired and I hope to inspire other creators to do the same. Whether you’ve grown your stash for many years, inherited a hand-me-down stash, or found some things at a great tag sale or thrift shop; it is entirely possible in my opinion to create beautiful pieces of art with what you’ve got. I’m talking of course about beautiful things you can put in your scrapbooks, handmade cards, and other projects (like wearable art or home decor) for yourself or to give to others. Make someone happy! One day, perhaps you’ll hand your supplies down to another crafter who will love them and continue making beautiful things for loved ones. Good creating is further enhanced through the sharing after all.