TIPsy Tuesday - Graceful Exits

Are you like me?  Do you crave new designer papers, pretty ribbons and more and more chipboard even though the cupboards are a bit full?  Many new papers are on their way to our favorite scrapbooking retailers this month.

I just can't resist a few new papers and ribbons even though I still have some older collections.  Some of my collections are also well used so there just aren't that many papers - certainly not whole sheets left.  But I feel so guilty just throwing out that lovely paper I once craved!  And embellishments, too, get used partially up particularly those chipboard letters.  What to do with the remainder?

Here are some ideas to help your old products make a graceful exit from your scrapping space:

1. If you are normally a scrapbooker, make cards!  It is a great way to use up scraps or sheets of paper that just didn't work for a page.  Use extra DSP to line a matching envelope for an extra special card.
2. Divide and conquer!  I normally keep paper by collection but eventually I'll take the whole sheets I want to keep and put them with another collection they coordinate with.  Mixing collections really breathes life into your stash.  Scraps can go in a bag to give away.  Look at the B sides of your holiday papers, can they be used for general purpose?
   Also, I have some of my older chipboard alpha sets arranged by letter rather than by set so I can do a mixed alpha title.
3. Give away to friends!  At your next class or crop, bring along a bag of goodies to share.  Or do you have a friend who might put them to good use?  I have a friend who does remarkable cards from the tiniest of scraps and found items.
4. Donate.  Find a teacher or school that wants some free art supplies.  Caution:  I would not give away to preschools personally.  A lot of embellishments just aren't made for little ones to handle.
5. Make your own scrap box for your die cutter, Cricut or Silhouette.  Aren't you always needing to test a cut shape to see if it is the right size?  

The photo above are some items that I've had for years - some well used, and some never out of the package!  Later in the week, I'll share the finished layout using some of the supplies above.  I have something very shabby chic in mind so I can use lots of things from different manufacturers and styles.

Thanks for visiting today!