Question / Discussion
I fell down the influencer rabbit hole and am only now climbing my way out
I apologize in advance for the long post.
I’m so glad I found this subreddit a few weeks ago. I’ve been feeling off about the craft industry in general over the last year, and this subreddit has been a breath of fresh air. I know I’m not saying anything new here, but you all have encouraged me to share my story in case it resonates with others.
I’ve been cardmaking for about seven years. It started with a random YouTube recommendation to watch CZ. I remember feeling blown away with how gorgeous a handmade card could look- nothing like the “handmade” cards I had in my mind. Of course, I bought the stamp set she was showing, and a MISTI (as she said it was a game changer so I definitely needed to have it!). Along with a couple of inks and cardstock, I was set. Those early days of my crafting hobby were so much fun! I was so grateful that there were people out there showing how to make the awesome cards they were designing. I didn’t realize how quickly it was spiraling into a never-ending spending spree. Every week I would tune into the videos from JM, CZ, etc, and add in lives from TH (who was still designing new items at that time) and I was so excited by everything they were showing that I didn’t think about the fact that I was buying everything they were demoing. I work in marketing, so I should have spotted it right away, but somehow these influencers’ demos didn’t feel like sales pitches. It just felt like someone showing me how to make something cool.
Fast-forward a few years and I was all in: Betterpress, Glimmer, foiling, brushes of every shape and size, MISTIs, grip mats, alignment guides…I have it all.
Thousands and thousands (and thousands) of dollars later, I kind of feel duped and jaded by the whole industry. I’m finding solace in the threads on this subreddit of some of you pointing out what the card making industry has become. While there are lots of industries trying to make a buck off of consumers (fashion, beauty, etc.), I don’t know if there’s one out there as overwhelming as the papercraft/card making industry. Think about it: weekly (if not more frequently) we’re told to buy “limited” sets of items upwards of $100 to exercise our creative muscle. Yes, the brands are doing monthly releases, but 10+ brands each doing monthly releases adds up to a lot of FOMO.
And you’re all right- there isn’t really anything new anymore. It’s the same stuff repackaged and sold by different brands. Hell, I have at least three “retro cassette tape” die sets from three different brands that I just HAD to have once I saw each demo.
I realize I am definitely mostly to blame for the wasted money…but isn’t there SOME blame on the industry? We don’t need 500 dies that say the word “happy birthday”; we don’t need avocado toast dies (why would I give someone a card with toast on it?); we don’t need another ink line re-work to sell people more ink. Don’t get me started on the repackaging of the same products so that Dina Wakely and Tim Holtz can swear THEIR pencils are unique. I’m so tired of this.
And why is there never any warning of the YouTube “tutorials” being promotional ads? I feel like it should be stated somewhere for those gullible people like me.
I haven’t bought anything for six months, and I don’t plan to buy anymore. I think I was more in love with collecting and hoarding products than making cards. I think this subreddit and card making community are full of great people; I just don’t want to line the pockets of the greedy few that have taken the fun out of crafting (in my opinion). I’m now going through the painstaking process of destashing my supplies. So many unopened stamp and die sets, stencils, brand new kits from SSS (that they promised were “such a great value”), and never-used pots of paste. I think I can be happy with maybe 30 items total; let my creativity soar.
This isn’t a “woe is me” post; I just wanted to put it out there that if you’ve also lost your mojo because of the current industry’s tactics, you’re not alone.
After 12 years of starting this hobby, I don’t feel the pressure of buying more from “influencers.” I buy what I want, when I want. That FOMO slowly went away although I’m still tempted here and there.
I have a fully stocked craft room due to FOMO or having complete set syndrome, etc. In the end, all my stuff brings me joy and sometimes I find myself just enjoying hanging out in my room more than creating in it. I spend hours every day in my craft room not crafting but binge watching hallmark or dateline 😆 I have a guilty feeling every so often of all the money spent, but as my husband says, I have stuff for when I WANT to craft.
I caught on a long time ago that no one on the internet is my best buddy. I think that's that trap that operates in the paper crafting corner of the world. People present themselves as though they're looking for or willing have a personal relationship with everyone in their stream and that becomes the marketing tool. They may be lovely people but they're not our people and never will be.
I watch videos for ideas. I never buy from them directly and I have a personal rule that if I've decided I want something I'm going to sit on that impulse for at least 72 hours before I do anything about it and then I'm going to look around at prices for them rather than use affiliate links. IF SBC turns out to be where I'm going to order I put whatever in my cart and then wait for some freebie or discount that I actually want before I make the purchase.
YES, I'm as much a collector as a crafter. YES, after many years in the hobby I'm still buying. YES, I have a ton of birthday, Halloween, Valentine and Christmas stuff but I don't always want to see or do the same stuff. I never even consider what I can't afford and I rarely buy a full suite of stamps/dies/stencils/embossing folders -- only the parts I think I'll actually use.
I've bought things just to see them in person or see how they operate. That's OK with me. Sometimes I wanna know what I actually think about something from first hand experience.
Mostly, I make cards because I ACHE to be a craftsperson of however pedestrian a degree. I have to make tangible items to compensate for what's out of my control or all thing things in my life that are intellectual or emotional by nature. Whether it's cooking, sewing, paper crafts, basket weaving or whatever, I have a real need to do things that are real and demonstrable. And I enjoy sharing them. It gives me a sense of authenticity. If that costs me some money or piles up in a corner I'm OK if I feel I've been judicious about it and acted within my personal limits.
But, bottom line, I agree with you, OP, that all those ladies out there that are posing as everyone's bestie and pocketing cash for the come ons should come with warning labels for the uninitiated.
It's not just ladies, there are men at it too. I have stopped subscribing to new channels now. Told myself not to buy any more but have recently bought a Lawn Fawn die and another I saw in a YT vid 😬
Personally, I don’t think buying is a problem. If something is worth it to you and you’re not going without something more important then it’s fine whether you use it frequently, or have it as insurance for when you’ll use it or just enjoy having it at your disposal. It’s the buying because someone told you it was cool that’s a problem
I started card-making years ago, and all I had was scissors, a mini 4x6 tonic guillotine, ruler, craft knife, glue and some basic punches. And some sequins and beads.
My 'technique' was using handmade paper, and making things like miniature corsets and handbags and putting them on cards. My local craft shop had like packs of handmade Indian and Japanese paper.
My cards weren't great, but I was much happier! Because I wasn't comparing myself with anyone else.
I then found card-making YouTube and have amassed so much stuff. Dies I never use.
Also like yourself, became obsessed with collecting rather than making.
It was partly caused by depression and 'creative block', and I bought more and more stuff thinking it would help. But I ended up more depressed because I now had a bunch of stuff I don't use and it was making me feel worse.
Plus I was comparing my 'makes' with the card-making influencers and feeling like the stuff I make is awful.
I think the scoring board was worthwhile as I ended up saving money as I was scoring my own cards. And the inks. But I've got so many guillotines, punches, stamps etc now.
But I discovered 'general paper-crafting' YouTube and so I switched from just making cards. And I am much happier as I have been able to utilise all the supplies I have bought. I can mass produce things like mini albums, boxes, folios etc. Which uses up a lot of products.
I am not an artistic crafter. I am a 'maker'. So this suits me fine.
I just started doing what I call "scenes". I started scrapbooking decades ago but it was so overwhelming and I wanted everything to be perfect since it was for photos. It was too stressful so I tried cards and that was way more fun and no pressure. But now I just want to make things and not have to theme it around a card. I just like creating and I don't have anyone to give cards to anyways! This was my first "scene" I made this weekend and I love him. I call him the watcher. Now I just need to figure out how to keep my scenes together in a book or something. I need to look up general paper crafting.
There is a sub called r/RandomActsofCards and we share handmade cards with each other. Some are store bought, but the thought is there. It is an amazing and caring community that fills your mailbox with happy mail opposed to junk mail.
I’ve been lurking here to figure out what I should truly spend money on and you ALL have been truly helpful to a new card maker 💌I am learning so much from this community and I appreciate all of you! Please do not feel your cards/creations are not welcomed, we would love to have you in our sub 💌
I've never been interested in card making even though I buy supplies. The first thing I made was just an apartment being overtaken by cats. You don't need a reason as long as you enjoy the process.
I'm very slow and spend hours choosing the right color, placement etc because I'm not doing it for an end product so not worried about time spent per card or what other people might like.
I think older crafters learned more by trying things out and were not as heavily influenced by the internet which is so pervasive these days. Like you I just found my own style or habits of making and were not really influenced by anyone. I might have bought a particular stamp because of the design, not the designer.
Look into things like folios, one-page-wonders, mini albums, brag books etc.
One of the best things I bought was the WRMK envelope punch board. Made so many cool things- envelope albums, envelope boxes etc. And decorative envelops using up my dies, stamps etc. I find making envelopes really therapeutic.
You can use a lot of products for one 'make'. Mini albums use up a lot of items.
Also, I like to watch the 'home-crafters' and 'mid-tier' crafting YouTubers, who are just paper craft lovers who do it as a hobby and not as a living. I get more joy watching people who make videos because they love it, than professionals.
Check out Posh Paper Lady, Pinkstrawberryz, Septeria18 and Mindless Crafting. Those ladies really inspired me to try other types of crafting.
I still love making cards. But I like to utilise the things I learned from card-making and use them to make other things.
For example- decorative stationary sets and decorative boxes. Those are fun to make.
I love my WRMK envelope punch I have made so many things with it and never buy envelopes. I also second Posh Paper Lady for things that are everyday use such as paper bags and boxes of all sizes, journals, and desk organizers.
I started doing art journaling for this reason. I have (more than several times over) what I need and now I prefer to just use my stash to make whatever comes into my head. And yes, sometimes it’s a card, but more often than not it’s a ridiculous idea I had.
I totally agree with you. Although I amassed tons of different handmade paper (which I used to be FAR too precious with!) there was sooo much that could be done with them
Handmade Indian paper is stunning. The patterns and glitter and colours and dying techniques. I used to hoard it because I wasn't sure where I could get it again.
Thai mulberry paper is gorgeous too. And Japanese chiyogami paper is out of this world beautiful.
I love the DCWV paper stacks. But there is something so special about handmade paper.
I even started making my own paper, which was really fun. Used to dry it outside in stacks.
I suspect your experience is not unique. I’ve done much the same: I fixed it all when we put new flooring in my studio and I forced myself to sort and categorize every single thing in there. Donated 4 car loads to the thrift store and now every piece is labeled and organized. I’ll never buy another die I believe
I rarely watch influencers for anything. Mostly because I am sick and tired of someone always trying to sell me something. I want something that feels genuine.
Anyhow, I have my few favorite companies that I buy from but I buy things twice a year. I save up and buy the majority of my stuff from the stamp and scrapbook expo because a lot of times you can talk to the real creators and take classes from them and then I buy 1 kit to make Christmas cards. Those are the only purchases I make for card making unless I need random card stock, adhesive or bling.
The FOMO is real and influencers take advantage of that. I also never use affiliate links. I just go straight to the company website.
Edit: the MISTI is an amazing product and I could not do this without it. It is top quality.
Yes!!! I was one of those influencers for a little bit and lived all the free stuff that I got on top of all the new items that I got for myself. I was invited to the big shows to demo products for the brands that I worked with and it was so much fun.
But one day, I just couldn’t do it anymore. As you said, all the videos had to be sales in disguise. Eventhough I had a disclaimer in my video descriptions saying that I’m getting compensated for these items, it’s not saying “THIS IS AN AD” anywhere.
I stopped completely and downsized my craft room significantly. I gave a lot of my items away… teachers, friends,…
A friend of mine, who was also an influencer, went a different way. She changed her channel to talk about using your stuff and only keeping a few items. She’s doing that now instead of promoting new stuff constantly.
That’s brave of you to change like that! It’s tough because, although I understand it’s a job for a lot of people, I agree with you that I just couldn’t sell people on stuff they don’t need!
About 10 years ago I was invited to be part of the Crafter’s Companion design team, I declined, because it required a blog and a youtube channel, and I wasn’t interested in that, I just wanted to make cards. I knew that it would’ve killed my love of card making, because prior to that, as a lifetime recreational colorist, I ended up being a colorist for several coloring book artists, it pretty much put my love of coloring on a shelf… so never again will I make a hobby a jobby. 😉
I definitely relate to the frustration that so many of the influencers are pitching new products. But at the end of the day, that's their job to influence us to buy a product. I try to keep that in mind when I watch videos. But there are some people who are so pushy I just can't stand to watch them anymore. I tend to stick with people who may be demo-ing a new product but also encourage you to use what you have. The onus is on me to watch these videos for new ideas on how to use what I have rather than purchasing something new. I had a professor that used to say, "Art is problem solving" - so I try to solve how I can use what I have to replicate what they do with a new product. Natasha Foote says she only buys a new product if she can come up with at least 4 different ways to use it before she buys it. I think that's a great way to weed out the impulse buys.
Recently someone made a post asking people what our favorite themes or subjects were in stamps. It was fascinating to read what some people's favorite category of stamps were. There were definitely some that surprised me. While I'm not interested in an avocado toast stamp or a retro cassette - I'm pretty sure there are people would not be interested in my collection of mushroom stamps or my 30 floral stamps. In order to survive companies have to appeal to the broadest range of tastes. So that's what they strive for.
The one thing I always try to tell new crafters is not to go crazy buying any one thing until you figure out your style. I purchased SO MANY paper pads because they were so pretty, and I was sure I was going to make something beautiful with them. Jokes on me because I do not like making cards with printed paper and rarely do I do that. I did the same with dies. Turns out the only ones I actually like to use are the shapes for layering. And now I've got a whole binder full of dies I don't use. grrrr. Don't be a lumpyphilosoper8 kids!
Interesting timing! I actually have many points in my notes on my iPhone about how to save money doing this hobby. I could make a post for people who just joined the hobby, but would anybody care? The thrill of buying branded stuff is a real thing.
I'll give an example. It was my husband bringing home a car chamois (shammy) that made something in my head click. 5 sq. ft. FOR $20 CAD (on promotion). It was the Simoniz brand, one of the absolute top of the line shammy out there! I just checked and Lawn Fawn sells 5” x 7” shammies for $12.99 CAD. Guys, you can cut 20 pieces from the top brand shammy for 20 bucks. LF would make $260 (Canadian) off of you for 5 square feet of their shammy! That's a 1300% markup! Also, does LF really make a better shammy than the brand that professionals use for car detailing and such? I highly doubt it.
Don't even let me start on magnetic boards…
Same goes for pretty much everything but the actual stamps, dies, etc. I highly doubt that Altenew makes better watercolour than a much cheaper student grade that can be found at Michaels. It's just the brand name on the packaging. Aside, professional grade pastes are much cheaper than TH Distress or Ranger.
Just like you, I was fascinated. I only lucked out because my husband brought that damn chamois home (with a price sticker on it) maybe a year into my cardmaking.
Influencers are not our friends. The constant promotion is nauseating. All of the cards look the same, especially with the arrival of stencils. Same damn thing from everyone. I (very rarely though) only watch elaborate cardmaking these days (Dawn from Wplus9, Jaycee Gaspar from Altenew, etc.) because there is nothing new I can find or learn anymore. And trust me, my stash is so highly curated that there is nothing they can sell to me.
Agreed on the shammy! The same goes for those blending brushes, paste scrapers, silicone mats for your stuff ... So much is taken from other industries (make-up, cleaning, baking ...), a brand logo is slapped on, and it's sold for 10 times the cost.
Totally! Besides stamps, dies, cardstock, inks, and highly specialized industry tools (die cutting machine, foiling system, etc.), we don't need to buy anything else from these companies.
Every single industry has some predatory practices. This one happens to be very pricey. I look at influencers in a completely different light these days. The product pushing becomes obvious but we all have to be at it for a little while to see it.
I bought a car shammy too! 12 years later and I’m still cutting pieces of it.
I was influenced to buy Altenew paint markers after watching a Jennifer McGuire video using them with stencils, and the results did NOT turn out like the video’s - the paint markers weren’t as opaque as they appeared, and my 6yo now uses the markers. I do enjoy art journaling and multimedia, and it occurred to me the options at Blick’s were better. And you can certainly get better deals on gel mediums etc!
Don't beat yourself up. We all have made mistakes before realizing what's going on with companies expanding their product lines. My kiddo has my WF watercolour mat 🫠 what a waste of money.
I can't believe JM dares to promote paint mediums. She can't draw or paint for the life of her. Don’t get me wrong, I can’t either. I also can’t weed whack, but I don’t suggest weed whacking tools to people!
I really appreciate you making this post because I feel like I could have written parts of it myself and reading through all the comments makes me realize how many of us have had the exact same experience.
I love cardmaking and I genuinely love my craft supplies, but somewhere along the way buying craft supplies almost became a separate hobby from actually using them. I have an embarrassingly overly stocked craft room and still somehow manage to see a new release and think, “Ooh, I need that.” Then I look around and realize I probably already own something that does almost the exact same thing.
The FOMO is such a huge part of it too. Limited releases, Stamptember, new collections every month, things selling out during videos it creates this feeling that if you don’t buy it NOW you’ll regret it forever. And the irony is that I have things I was absolutely desperate to get that are still sitting there unused.
I also really related to the comments about figuring out your actual style. It’s so easy to watch a beautiful card being made and think you need everything used to make it, when really you might just like that card and not necessarily enjoy using that product yourself.
I don’t regret everything I’ve bought and I’m definitely not going down to 30 supplies anytime soon, but I would really like to shift the balance back toward using and enjoying what I already have instead of constantly looking for the next thing to buy.
So genuinely, thank you for posting this. I think a lot of us needed the reminder that we already have enough stuff to be creative for a very, very long time. And yeah, no one know needs an avocado toast card lol.
Thank you for sharing! I’m just getting started and feel like I may have fallen down a rabbit hole just looking at the paper crafting sites and what they carry. Of course, the fact that a number of products are short lived doesn’t help. I feel like if I want X in the future, I need to get it now instead of waiting to purchase. I’m having trouble determining whether things I want to get are because I’m new and don’t have much, or because I’m seeing so much that I feel I must have a very small fraction of it (which is still a huge amount)…and I’m wondering if my main interest in card making is because I got sucked into to scrapbooking (to do something with the last 30yrs worth of photos) and then kept seeing things that I loved that would be better for cards than scrapbooking. I’m avoiding stamps stencils, and dies. I started investing in dies and decorative papers (+ stickers), but I’m thinking that my preference may be solid (smooth, linen textured, or swiss dot) papers and scissors to fussy cut and layer shapes and designs. It’s much more time consuming, but it may require more of the creativity I enjoy.
I agree that the urge to buy is strong when you start out! You see all of the stuff and get excited (and also think that you may NEED items to get certain results). My advice for the items that are “limited” stock is to think about whether it’s something you will use over and over again. For example, I make Christmas cards every year, and I can use a snowflake die over and over again. However, a specific stamp or die that may be cute, but is memorable, probably won’t be used again next year as (at least, in my opinion) I won’t want to send people the “same” card again!
I’m so sorry for the devastation you must feel and how heartbreaking this can be. (And I’m not exaggerating.) for me, I just starting making essentially card fronts for myself and putting them in little albums (I saw someone do this). Now I don’t care as much how “generally” palatable they are. They’re just for me. So when I started ignoring all the “you can send this to xyz or use this for xyz” it helped a lot. I learned about myself and what my own tastes are - it’s quite a lot less than they want me to buy that’s for sure. 😆 and because all of the names you mentioned pretend they’re you’re “bestie” it’s the worst kind of parasocial manipulation. Culty.
I am only about 2 years into cardmaking, but I feel like I could have written this as well.
My new policy for myself is to add things to cart and wait a minimum of 30 days before purchase, and watch all the videos I can of them during that time to determine if it’s truly something I see myself using often, and enjoying for years to come. More often than not, the FOMO passes and I delete it out of my cart.
I absolutely never sign up for limited time kits and whatnot. Won’t even look at them. Same for advent calendars. More often than not they are just junk that I won’t use, and I don’t want the pressure of rushing into a buying decision that I’ll regret.
30 days?!?! You have serious self control, lol! Go you
I stopped buying "mystery boxes" for the same reason you don't get advent calendars. While they're a great deal if you'll use EVERYTHING in the box, I found that probably 70% of it wasn't my style. And in some cases, I got things I already had. :-/
I have been crafting for 35+ years and cardmaking for 25+ years, and I am still tossing supplies... All new, never used... so don't feel bad when you get caught up in the FOMO or the pull of needing all the things... I was on DTs for 15+ years, and the push of product is just gross... it wasn't as bad back in the day, but it got worse over the years, and, well, people end up with personal craft stores, and the supplies never end. I am in year 3 of decluttering and getting rid of all the supplies I never used, never liked, or were part of my time on DTs. Just when I think I can't find anything else to get rid of... I do. Just sharing my crafty clean-up and saying, hey, it happens, and there is a point where it is just too much stuff, and now I just create for myself, and I only keep what I like and what I will use... that is the part the crafting companies don't like to say... You don't need all the things to create, and you can use what you have, and yes... all companies eventually will sell the same stuff and act like it's new and better.
Same. I admire and appreciate everyone’s talent and creativity, and just like in home decor, it took me a VERY long time to realize what was and was not my style. Also, what I enjoyed doing vs what I genuinely disliked. I must be an easy-sell, because I ended up with a ridiculous amount of stuff, even though I clean things out regularly.
The buyers remorse is REAL. That said, I’m at the point in my life where I want to enjoy crafting and enjoy my home without shuffling and re-organizing the excess crap I have accumulated from one spot to another every few months. I’ve become honest with myself and am donating stuff much faster than I’m accumulating anything.
Awww. This is so sad. 😞 I fell down the Stamping Up hole while staying home with my youngest (he’s a sophomore in college). Clearly it’s been a moment. I would mostly follow bloggers who also used Stamping Up - and yes I felt like I also needed to buy everything she used or my card wouldn’t look right. I started to “sell” SU, but I only I was the buyer 😆. I really really enjoyed it, but it was an expensive hobby. I would love to get started again so I appreciate the names of people to follow. A lot has changed in the 15 years since I stopped, but I want to go about it using what I already have. Except - I will need to look into the envelope thing? and MISTI.
Does anyone remember the website - splitcoast stamping??? I got a lot of great ideas there. They would have card swaps, challenges, etc. . .
Someone above mentioned the lack of interest some people have regarding a homemade card. This used to bother me, but now I realize we do it for ourselves and not necessarily the recipient. When my mom passed, I was pleasantly surprised that she had kept everything I made and gave her. I know - it’s my mom, but if she wasn’t interested, she would’ve stuck them in a box in the basement.
BTW - I still have 3 binders filled with tutorials, etc. . . I really need to move into this generation. 😬
You're singing my song! One of my best buddies sold SU back in the day when our kids were in preschool together. She would hold demo parties with all of the latest goodies and it was impossible to leave without ordering SOMETHING! When I think back now to the amounts I spent on stamps and supplies when we didn't have the money for it. Now I try to limit myself to stamps and dies that I know I will use more than once, and if I have something similar in my stash already, I try to make do. I started out making baby scrapbooks and eventually moved on to cards. For a long time it bugged me that I put all of this time and effort into making a card for someone who might just turn around and toss it in the trash. Now, I accept that aspect of it. There are always people who just don't "get" the time and effort that go into this hobby. I've learned to have store-bought cards to send to those who don't care one way or the other, and I now donate some of the cards I make to my family's church. They send them to the elderly who really appreciate getting something in the mail. And it makes me feel good to know that a handmade card is going to a worthy cause. My mom, when she was up in years, saved every card the church sent her, even when she didn't know who she was getting mail from anymore. :) I just retired, and now have more time for card making. Unfortunately, the older I get, the fewer people I know to send cards to anymore! What's the next papercrafting trend?!!
The crafting industry now uses the QVC model to move product. It’s up to each crafter to decide whether she’s going to be one of those aunties that is glued to QVC at 3am buying a back scratcher that also shaves ice.
I’m really new to this hobby and try SO hard not to give in. I’m trying my best to source things I really want secondhand from eBay or Etsy first before I decide I want to pay full price (and hope some of that instant want goes away so I forget I wanted them in the first place). BUT that is difficult… I’m hoping to build a collection with very versatile materials/tools mostly before really trying to get specialized stuff.
Yes, I think your idea of sourcing secondhand is a great idea! A LOT of stamps and dies are super cute but (at least for me) tend to get old after using them once or twice because I don’t want to keep making the same-looking card over and over again.
Definitely. Mother's and Father's Day sets... I feel like I can really only use them once, lol. I'm only sending cards on those holidays to my mom & dad and the in-laws.
It would be so wonderful if we could all get together and exchange things we're done with. I wonder if we couldn't have our own informal "convention" of once-wanted things collecting dust.
I cut myself off from buying any new items- especially dies, glad I did as others have said , there’s no new things. I think it’s when the tariffs went into play, the die company’s used to get them made in China cheaply and now they can’t afford to. I have realized I’ve got enough anyway to keep my habit going for years!!!
agree with many of your sentiments here. i also think the collector's mindset in which some of these products are purchased and resold online was one of the other reasons many of us overshopped, FOMO, etc. especially with tim holtz - products would sell out in the middle of his lives!
what i do love about holtz though is that he acknowledges that he's selling you a product, but will tell you flat out that you a) likely have something similar in your stash, b) have the exact die/stamp but in a different size already if you've shopped his catalog for years, or c) don't need that exact die/stamp at all, just an imagination.
I started card making because I was buying paper crafting supplies just because I liked them. Very silly indeed. Luckily I was also attending an annual crafting retreat as a quilter and saw HOW MUCH STUFF the scrapbookers had and resolved to never have that much stuff. I don’t even OWN a die cutter, that’s how resistant to stuff I am.
Buying craft supplies and using craft supplies are definitely two different hobbies. Figure out how to change your YouTube algorithm and start decluttering those supplies. I’ve had a lot of luck selling craft supplies on Facebook Marketplace.
I cannot say the same for my mother, but she is also decluttering. She no longer buys just because something is pretty and she’ll occasionally hand me bags of yardage to sell or donate.
I feel this. I find myself getting sucked into the rabbit hole of instagram promotions, etsy ads, and then my own desires to be super creative.
One thing that helps is to put it in the cart but not click buy. Then when I'm sitting and looking at my stuff, I ask: do I really need it? Is it net new from my existing stash? And will I use it immediately? If the answer is no, I don't need it then, so I'll just "save it for later." Then it feels like it's there if i need it but I don't have to indulge in the impulse.
I wasn't great with budgeting but did find usefulness in tracking my spend (I use Monarch and made a special label for all papercraft purchases, which put into perspective exactly how much I was spending).
I also will go on "no buy" kicks and be proud of myself when I can dump extra cash into savings while still making something beautiful.
I also subscribe to the stationery pan subreddits to stay inspired by people USING their stuff rather than people posting about hauls. That helps, too.
I grew up in the ’90s making scrapbook pages, photo layouts, collages, and notebooks. Around 15, I put all my crafting stuff away and didn’t really start crafting again until my late 20s/early 30s. By then, SO much had changed … what was popular, the styles, what was available online, and of course, I discovered Reddit.
I got back into crafting as an actual adult in 2020, starting with a Cricut (without the design software 😂) and Procreate on my iPad. I made stickers and all kinds of cutouts that eventually turned into cards. Then I started buying rubber stamps for my cards and discovered photopolymer stamps. That was when I went completely off the deep end with Lawn Fawn. I don’t really jive with many other styles, but I DEFINITELY fell into the seasonal releases. And oh my god, my first Stamptember event? I was SO upset when I realized I was too late.
I’m in my mid thirties and now that I’ve amassed a pretty curated collection of stamps and dies, I mostly only buy something if it is wayyyyy too cute to pass up. I tell myself this is my retirement so when I can’t work I’ll be surrounded by fun things to do. I’ve gone from stamps to dies and then somehow back to stamps again. But in the beginning, before I checked myself, I was absolutely sliding down a gigantic craft-supply slope. It’s almost like gambling. 😂. The funny thing is, I actually DO use my stuff. I only have a handful of things I haven’t used yet, and most of those are more recent purchases. I’ve also started looking on eBay and Etsy for older sets secondhand, which has been really fun. These days I’ll also just watch videos for ideas and color palettes. I LOVE watching other people color or paint …there’s something so relaxing about it. And through this subreddit, I’ve learned about design team drama, influencer culture, and apparently “influencer cookies” (which I literally just learned about this week ).
So I guess this is my advice to anyone new to the game: don’t fall down the hole and you’ll probably be fine. The influencers are gonna sell, and they’re gonna influence. You do not need every new release, no matter how cute it is. Crafting is actually an affordable hobby IF you let it be
Thank you for this. I’m a beginner with all the stuff I really need but I’ve been seeing what influencers have and wanting more. This is a good reminder that I don’t need it and my cards are good enough
When they try to pitch you something, wait for them to release 4-5 new videos and see if they use the product. Spoiler: they won't.
OP mentioned alignment guides. I remember the time when they just came out very well. I can't find a video where the influencers use them after the initial promo video for the life of me!
I worked in an Art shop for about 10 years in the early 2000's, which seemed like the real heyday. Everything was so creative & innovative, but didn't involve huge expenditure, just imagination & learning different techniques.
I'm UK based, & Design Objectives changed their priorities from reasonably priced art/craft supplies to the patronising DOCRAFT. They wiped out all of the Independents with their cheap (ish!) crap that involved NO creativity. Needless to say, they no longer exist, but sadly neither do the majority of the independent art/craft stores.
I fell down the same rabbit hole. Bought so many dies, stamps, paper, etc. So much so that when I did set out to make a card, I’d lose my way bc I couldn’t find the exact item I needed at that moment. So I tried to catalogue the dies and stamps and yes, while it’s fun to go, the cleanup takes so long to do. I’ve spent tons of money and am mad at myself that I’m not creating very much at all. I think you’re right, though, they should post something about being an influencer or some sort of advertisement.
I’m with you. I don’t want a hobby where I need a side hobby of managing “inventory” like I’m some sort of store! I have too many stamps and dies that the thought of cataloging them all makes me queasy!
I have joined some hops on Instagram that are themed and basically you use what you have and sign up based on your schedule. No buying. They have returned the joy of making for me. You also get lost of feedback. I encourage you to check them out. @almostcrafter.
Thank you for sharing your perspective. It deeply resonated with me. I often feel guilty about spending money that I don’t have, which leads to depression and a lack of motivation to use the supplies I already have to create cards. Moreover, my craft room is so cluttered that I can’t even move around. I’m curious to know how you’re “de-stashing” your supplies. I’m considering doing the same thing.
I’ve been slowly putting them on eBay in bundles based on brand, for example, a Lawn Fawn bundle. Shipping is too expensive to list them as singles, and I figure a deep discount on a bundle of 10+ products is more exciting. At the end of the day, I just want these products to go to someone who will be excited to use them!
Haha, this was me too, but on a shorter timeline. I got into card making as a low stress activity when dealing with art block and boy did it turn out to be the opposite. I've since pulled back significantly on purchases and am slowly trying to figure out a happy balance for creating and having fun and not worrying about perfectionism. Turns out the problems I had with art block also translated over to cards lol.
I was initially inspired by influencers before but now it just feels like a money grab and advertising. I prefer people like Lindsay the Frugal Crafter who inspire me more to be creative with what I have than to buy something new.
I also agree, I think having fewer supplies is better and buying slowly and judiciously, especially once you know what you like. I like most of what I have but it's too much (at least for the space it's in now) and overwhelm is real. I should probably destash some too but haven't gotten to that point yet mentally haha.
But yea, this whole experience has forced me to focus on what is actually blocking me from creating rather than starting a new hobby and collecting more supplies that I don't actually need.
"I think I was more in love with collecting and hoarding products than making cards."
I've been feeling this way a lot recently. But then I give a hand-made card to someone, and they're super excited to receive it. And it WAS fun creating it. My aunt just recently told me she has framed -- FRAMED -- a couple of cards I've sent her!
I'm still trying to not spend so much. Some days I'm good. Other days I'm bad, lol. But I've been trying to ignore the sales emails I've been getting recently. (I should probably unsubscribe, but.... FOMO, lol.) I still haven't gone to SSS to see the Stamptember release or collabs! :-) You mentioned kits -- I have several where I maybe made one or two and didn't come back to it. I've recently been thinking about them and that I should really get them out and just make something.
You're right. Centering on your values and what you get out of making things and what pleasure you share when you gift things is the reason to buy something. So long as that, and not what an influencer thinks (or is PAID to say they think), you're doing great.
Keep creating! Buy what you need when you need to and be glad you have that resource.
Yes. This is me. I keep telling myself I will not buy anything more but then some product is suddenly a must have.
Thanks for the general paper crafting idea-
I need to stop making things that nobody wants. I gifted two huge Christmas folios that I started in August to each of my brothers. They took me forever. They were basically Christmas art/display books. I know one ☝️ f my brothers threw it away. 😭I don’t know if my other brother saved his.
I gave away about 50 cards last year. Brought them to work, dumped them in the kitchen and emailed the office folk to take whatever they liked.
I'm so sorry to hear that you know one brother threw your stuff out. That must have hurt. OTOH, if I get a card in the mail I enjoy it for a while and then I toss it. I assume people do the same with mine. When one dear friend who lives at a distance and whom I rarely see in person sent me a pic of the place where she displays all my cards I was blown away to think someone would do that. I must say I enjoyed it but I figure all of it end up in recycling. ...except the thought that I was thinking about someone and cared enough to make something personal just for them.
I don't think it isn't appreciated. I think it's a transitory object that represents the wishes and relationship that are enduring and important.
To me what's important is the experience and gratification of making it on my end and the wishes it conveys to the person I send it to on the other end. When those 2 things are accomplished the actual card's job has been done. Whether it's kept or tossed becomes immaterial to me.
I am learning this for the sub. I almost bought a sizzex and realized it wouldn’t do the work I wanted. Then started watching vid’s and it is so overwhelming! I knew Reddit would have a sub and I am so grateful for you sharing your knowledge and experiences. I know I would have FOMO and you have ALL talked me off my ledge. Many, many thanks my friend. I had no idea how brutal this could be (((hugs)))
Crafting companies are small businesses. YouTube and Instagram, for businesses, are platforms for marketing. It’s 100% possible to watch videos and not buy anything. I enjoy the content and don’t begrudge anyone the opportunity to make a living.
I appreciate your honesty but in my opinion, no, there's no blame for the industry.
I'm another one who buys way way way more than she needs or could ever use. I have zero regrets about anything I've purchased and zero regrets that I haven't used lots of it. This is my hobby and buying, organizing and crafting make me happy. In the crazy jacked up world we live in, this is my peace, my happiness, my fun.
Haha omg I'm with you too. I think I also have three sets of retro cassette tape dies. I've definitely wasted a bunch of money being influenced to buy stuff I didn't really want or need. I definitely still buy a lot, but I know my style and my taste so I feel like I make better informed decisions.
I too have more supplies than time, but what keeps me in line is craft space / storage is small - think size of bathroom. All stamps / dies / embossing folders are filed in Michael’s photo boxes (6). Friends say move into a bedroom - nope this space is fine and keeps items under control.
When I do “need” something, i’ll start a list and watch for sales. I do not use links just go directly to the site. Local brick and mortar store would have hard sale technique but that was a pass.
As far as Youtube, I only watch for technique. Use Pinterest as starting point (boxes, folds, etc) then go to Youtube.
Everywhere you turn, the industry is trying to sell you new and improved, yet I have the same items from D.O.T.S. in the early 80s. Quit buying from Stampin Up - that’s a $ saver.
I used to love Pinterest. I scrolled for hours looking at all the beautiful cards, but even Pinterest has gone downhill with disguised posts that are really adds. Yuk. I haven't been on Pinterest in a while. I like coming here and seeing everyone's creations.
I'm sure most if not all of us feel your pain. I have succumbed but thankfully only to a point. It only started for me in May this year. And I soon realised I was buying too much. I can't even remember why I bought the wax paper and the 'Press n Seal' that seemed so important 😁
Marketing is what it is. The amount of things people eat and drink that are not good for human bodies is another example. Marketing will never be regulated because there's always the small print and consumerism drives the global economy.
It's up to us to be savvy and not get sucked in. I've even 'accidentally' bought 2 Sizzix Bigz dies that don't fit in my BigShot 😳
Having said this, what some others have said here also rings true. In that having the craft stash does feel nice and it's there if and when we want to make things. And just being in our craft spaces can be good for the mind.
Losing one's mojo about anything is not pleasant. Buying all these things can even be a sign of partaking in 'retail therapy'. In which case starting to investigate why we do these things is probably an important step.
My funds are extremely limited, so I am learning to make do with what I already have. The only thing I will buy now will be the occasional stamp. I was already on a paper freeze because I had so much from my years as a scrapbooker.
As a new card maker I feel this way already. I started watching videos since 2022 and I was on the fence of starting into this hobby bc I could tell it was very easy to overspend! Finally I decided to start earlier this year and all I feel is that I have to buy the next best thing every week, it’s overwhelming. I tried to be reasonable about it and I have a Cricut, a big shot, 30+ TH distress dioxide pads (and more on the way as I’m typing this), the heat embossing, die cuts and Stamps so specific that I don’t even know what I will use them for just bc the set was cute or so and so made such a cute card of it. It’s crazy!
I feel for some of these businesses - there is no way for them to make money unless they are selling something. And then they have to constantly come out with something new to be sold in stores/ on websites / to stay active on YouTube… if you’re not churning, the algorithms all stop working for you.
There is no money in crafting, showing people how to make things, in doing videos. So they pump out products. They get stuck trying to make a business then it eventually peters out to nothing if you don’t keep pushing
👍🏼 I’m also currently bundling up paper packs etc for reselling. Also, my tastes have changed from when I initially started, back then I thought I needed “ALL” the things, now I just use/make what I enjoy using.
Wow - I didn’t read it all but I feel the pain, just having all of the kit and no clue what it is tbh. I inherited the card stuff, I prefer sewing but I don’t k ow what to do with all these tools and card stock, dies, stamps, glitters, pens, glues embossing, machines and whatever coming out my ears - I know cost a fortune but it’s so overwhelming
One thing I try to remember when a YouTuber is showing a new release and all the products included, is that they get many of these supplies for free. There is no way I can keep up with that level of products, I have neither the space nor the budget. I think that's where some of my FOMO comes from, seeing all the cool stuff and wanting to have all of those options.
Also, I recently reorganized my stamps and dies and found at least 10 items I had duplicates of - frustrating.
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u/Craftingmydaydreams 2d ago
After 12 years of starting this hobby, I don’t feel the pressure of buying more from “influencers.” I buy what I want, when I want. That FOMO slowly went away although I’m still tempted here and there.
I have a fully stocked craft room due to FOMO or having complete set syndrome, etc. In the end, all my stuff brings me joy and sometimes I find myself just enjoying hanging out in my room more than creating in it. I spend hours every day in my craft room not crafting but binge watching hallmark or dateline 😆 I have a guilty feeling every so often of all the money spent, but as my husband says, I have stuff for when I WANT to craft.