Reduce, Reuse, Recycle CardMaker Style!

A new year always has me looking at my storage space, all the STUFF in my home and how to coordinate them; my crafting supplies are included.

As we packed away the holiday decorations and put away all the gifts, I felt the urge to organize all those closets and drawers. So, my husband and I moved out some of the toys that the kids don't play with anymore, earmarking them for friends, saving them for a garage sale or donating them to Goodwill. The same thing needs to happen to my craft "mess." We are all guilty of holding onto supplies that we just don't use anymore or having a big pile of cards that we've made and not sent. It's time to do something about it so consider the following ideas.

Donate unused or partially used supplies to schools, churches, nursing homes or a young friend that is just starting to paper craft.

Get together with some friends and sell those extra magazines or stamps in your next garage sale or hold a supply swap. Have friends bring over things they aren’t using and swap them with each other. You might be able to get a "new-to-you" stamp sent in trade for an idea book that is gathering dust on your shelf.

Send out those cards! I am one who loves to create and ends up with many cards that don't have a loving home to head to. There are many wonderful groups that accept handmade cards. Check out CardMaker magazine's Readers Reach Out section to get some ideas of where to send those cards.