Creative Strategies to Let Go and Love Your Craft Space Again
Let’s get real about your patterned paper stash! From my experience, this is the biggest source of frustration for paper crafters.
Can you relate?
You:
- love paper
- buy paper
- have learned that buying paper in packs is better for coordinating than buying sheets individually
- love some of the paper in the pack… but not all of it
But you hold on to ALL of it — not just some, but ALL — because you feel like you have to. Because one day, you might see an idea that magically turns that “ugly” paper into a beautiful swan.
That “beautiful swan” moment hasn’t happened in all the years you’ve been crafting… but you still have that paper. You’ve even watched my very long YouTube video on using ugly paper (watch it here) — but you haven’t used it all.
Then you see more paper you want to buy… but there’s this guilt. This weight. This overwhelming feeling of: “I have to use what I have before I buy more.” That guilt hangs over you like a dark cloud.
So you reluctantly buy new paper, hang on to the “ugly” paper — or the paper that might be just right for something eventually — but now’s not the time.
Fast forward a few years… You’ve got bins and bins, boxes and boxes, drawers and drawers or overflowing shelves of patterned paper. And there you sit, staring at all of it, knowing full well there’s no way you’ll ever use it all — and feeling awful.
Sound familiar?
Yes? You’re not alone.
Let me share some ideas (or shall we call them strategies?) with you. They might be a bit unpopular and maybe even a little confronting — but they’ve saved my sanity more than once.
I’ll be honest: it took me a while to embrace these ideas, and yes, some tears were shed. But now? I thrive on them and never look back.
Craft Rule #1: Craft Supplies Are Meant to Be Used
This rule underpins everything. Your supplies are meant to be used. We often joke that buying craft supplies and actually using them are two different hobbies — but they don’t have to be. And honestly, they shouldn’t be.
Craft supplies are meant to be used — just like clothes are meant to be worn.
The Clothes Analogy
Let’s explore that clothes analogy for a moment…
We buy clothes — sometimes more than we need. We also hang on to clothes for sentimental reasons (hands up if you’ve still got a worn-in tee from the ’90s or your mum’s dress from your sister’s wedding in 1977). And of course, some things just don’t fit anymore — thanks to dessert, age, or both.
We all have those “goal size” outfits that still have the tags on. We hope we’ll wear them one day, but deep down… we know we probably won’t.
Eventually, it all adds up. And we’re forced to declutter. For clothes that no longer fit or suit us — we let them go.
The same goes for our patterned paper.
You know you’ve got paper you’ll never use on a card. You know you’ve bought paper that was adorable online, but when it arrived, you thought, “What was I thinking?”
You’ve got paper that matches nothing else in your stash.
So… what now?
Take a big gulp of coffee (or wine — no judgement here) and bear with me.
There are two ways to tackle it — but be prepared: a lot of it needs to go.
(Don’t panic! I’ll cover what to do with the “to go” pile — like gifting or selling — in a future post.)
Gentle Reminder: Craft Supplies Are Meant to Be Used!
If you’re not honestly going to use it, it creates guilt — and dare I say, it holds you back creatively. You’re not making your best cards because you’re weighed down by guilt paper!
And just to clarify — while I’m a Stampin’ Up! demonstrator, I’m writing this as a crafter, not a businessperson. This is coming from my creative brain, not my business brain. That’s important.
When you’re happy creating and not overwhelmed by your craft stash then I’m truely happy for you.
How to Tackle the Patterned Paper Situation
Step 1: Sort Your Papers
Grab three boxes and label them:
- Next 6 Months
- Pretty but Unsure
- To Go
Start with a manageable stack — about 1″ of paper — and set a timer for 5 minutes.
Sort quickly based on gut feeling:
- Papers you know you’ll use in the next 6 months → Box 1
- Papers that are pretty but you’re unsure about → Box 2
- Papers you know deep down need to go → Box 3
Do not overthink it! Just sort rapidly.
You can do your whole stash at once, or set aside 5–10 minutes a day for a week or two.
Your “Next 6 Months” box should be realistic. For reference, I personally keep no more than 1″–2″ of 12″ x 12″ patterned paper. If I have more than that, I haven’t culled enough.
When you’re done sorting:
- Store Box 1 where you usually keep your usable paper.
- Seal Box 3 and label it: “Patterned Paper to Go – DO NOT OPEN.” Trust me on this.
Step 2: Deal with the “Pretty but Unsure” Stack
Here are three practical and fun ideas to use up those papers:
Idea #1: Make Envelopes
Invest in an Envelope Punch Board (We R Memory Keepers make one — they also manufactured the old Stampin’ Up! version).
It’s about AUD$50 and well worth the investment if you’ll use it!
For C6 size envelopes, cut 12″ paper down to 8″ x 8″. Set aside the offcuts in a “to go” box.
Pop on your favourite movie and make a batch of envelopes!
But wait — do envelopes really have to match the card?
Only if you want them to. There is NO written rule that says they “have to match”! Remember, people keep cards, not envelopes. The envelope does its job and gets tossed. And that’s OK!
Tip for writing on patterned envelopes:
Use 2″ x 3″ Avery labels — easy to write or print on, and they stick beautifully.
Make a stash of envelopes for Christmas, and one for all-occasion use — done!
Bonus: You’ll save money over time, easily covering the cost of the punch board.
Want more? The 123 Punch Board (also We R Memory Keepers) makes envelopes, boxes, and bows — it’s more expensive (around \$67), but does multiple jobs.
Idea #2: Make Gift Bags
Use your pretty paper to make custom gift bags for things like jewellery, gift cards, or small treats.
You can find heaps of tutorials on YouTube — just search for ones that store flat.
Pro Tip: Use a strong adhesive like Tear & Tape for durability.
You can buy a dedicated Gift Bag Punch Board — but since we’re decluttering, I’d suggest using what you have and learning from someone like my friend Meg, who has an excellent online class on this!
Idea #3: Make Crinkle Paper
Crinkle paper for gift boxes is expensive — but you can make your own! You’ll need:
- A paper crimper ($35AUD/$15 USD)
- A straight-cut paper shredder ($25.99 USD)
How:
- Cut your paper into strips that fit the crimper.
- Crimp a small batch at a time (10 sheets max).
- Run them through the shredder in the opposite direction.
Done! Crinkle paper for all your Christmas, Easter and Birthday packages. And you’ve used up stash paper that was otherwise sitting idle.
Bonus Tip: Create a Tool Box
Grab a clear storage box and keep your:
- Envelope Punch Board
- Paper Crimper
- Shredder
…all in one spot, clearly labelled. You won’t use them daily, but when you do, you’ll know exactly where they are.
Let Me Hear From You
Did any of this hit home for you? Inspired? Excited? Feeling called out? 😅
Let me know in the comments below — it helps me know if this kind of post is helpful, and I love hearing your thoughts.
Next up in this series: dealing with scraps (you knew it was coming). XOXO,
Until next time… happy creating!
Chrissy
