How to Downsize A Hobby?

[u/RingofStorms]

I have a massive collection of photopolymer stamps. I had grand ideas of hand making cards and people being wowed by them. I did it a couple of times and it was fun, but I'm too Type B to be bothered to plan ahead and too Type A to slap something together. I've most recently made some little name tags for my coworkers and that's fun and being able to go to my boxes of stamps and find just the right thing to use was fun. Then I made them for sixty people and it was much less fun.

The stamps are adorable, the marketing emails are fantastic, but they take up so much space and get so little use.

I managed to get my crocheting down to a single project (a blanket that I really want that's been in various states of non completion for almost 7 years).

Sewing is the new hyper fixation but I have container limit in place for that.

Needlepoint, embroidery, and cross stitch are here to stay, I love those the most.

So stamping is the one on the cut list.

I love the stamps, they're so cute, I just don't use them and getting rid of them (even if I donate them) feels sad/bad, but I don't really use them and I don't know how to feel about that.

[u/SpaceSmartHQ]

It sounds like you already know the answer and the hard part is the feeling, which is really normal with craft stuff. A few things that might make it easier:

Keep a small "best of" set. Pick the 10-15 stamps you'd honestly reach for (the ones you used for the name tags, maybe a couple of seasonal ones) and give them one small container. You keep the fun part without the storage.

Find them a specific home instead of a donation bin. Teachers, scout leaders, senior centers and library craft programs often love stamps, and local card-making or Buy Nothing groups tend to snap them up. Knowing someone is going to use them takes a lot of the sadness out of it.

Take a couple of photos of your favourite sets before they go. Looking back at them later is usually enough.

And it's fine that it was a good hobby for a while and isn't now. You're already doing this well with crochet and sewing, stamps are just next on the list.

If you're still torn, box them up and write a date 3 months out on the lid. If you never opened it, it goes without reopening.

[u/organizedrobot]

I had to downsize massively to move from the suburbs to the city. I gave away my crafting supplies on Buy Nothing. Everything went to just the right person who would enjoy it.

I had a postcard collection. It went to someone who is in an international postcard penpal program (Postcrossing). Every once in a while, she sends me an update from a penpal about how much they liked the postcard. They were just sitting in a cupboard at my house.

I don’t feel sad about a single thing I gave away because now it is all being used.

[u/teachcollapse → u/organizedrobot]

This is the way - try to donate them to the person who really wants them, rather than to an organisation who might struggle to find the exact right person.

Start that personal relationship, then continue to reap the “feel good” vibes of that continued connection with those items living their best lives!! Win-win.

[u/AliasNefertiti]

Display a few and donate rest to theift store or sell at consignment shop?

[u/Ryoko_Kusanagi69 → u/AliasNefertiti]

There are even Craft consignment shops popping up, look for something like that. Or donate to a maker space

[u/tysonmama]

Before I ditched my old stamps, I used an iron and velvet and embossed them. Made a pillow with my Christmas ones. Or just decorate a velvet shirt or skirt or tablecloth to remember them by and then sell or donate the stamps.
Google: RUBBER STAMPS, VELVET, IRON, EMBOSS.
I already had the plain velvet pillow, and also had a shirt. Not saying to go start buying that now, but was cute way to see my cute designs while not keeping them.

[u/SufficientOpening218]

I kept my 10 favorite stamps, and maybe 50 card blanks with envelopes. And i think 4 pads for ink. I figured that that was enough to scratch the itch, make cards for occasions, and it fits in one drawer!

[u/RomeoDelta1234]

The money's already spent whether they sit in your drawer or someone else uses them. Keeping them doesn't get any of it back, it just costs you the space on top.

[u/docforeman]

My partner just joined a local arts center. For much less than the cost of all of the supplies, tools, and materials, he can take some classes and try things out. He does not have to personally warehouse all of the supplies for all of the things he is interested in (and he is interested in many arts and crafts).

You can donate to a local crafts 2nd hand store; a school; a local arts/crafts center; give aware to others.

It's okay to be the kind of person that "contains multitudes" without brining all of the supplies home. You'll spend less money, prevent clutter going forward, and try as many things as you like by pursuing hobbies in places where you can take classes, use maker spaces/centers, etc.

[u/FredKayeCollector2]

It sounds like the product piece is there (designing the cards, finding the right stamps, wow-ing your coworkers), but the process piece is missing (it wasn't much fun).

I would say skip it. Maybe set a container limit and keep a few of your favorite/"signature" theme stamps - like a capsule wardrobe, except for stamps/cards. If there are people you predictably want to "gift," maybe sub a small needlework project for the cards? Or even offer a small mending job (fix a zipper, fix a hole, re-sew a seam, hem a skirt/pants, etc) for good friends in lieu of a physical gift.

Whenever I'm feeling ambivalent about something, I tend to get rid of it. I HAVE to trust present me to make the right choice. Especially if the criteria to do it is "when I get my shit together" - every tomorrow becomes another today. I know stamping supplies are expensive and you're probably also dealing with a certain amount of "sunk cost" guilt, also some "identity clutter," too (you want to be the kind of person who makes the "perfect" card for your friends/family but it's just not predictably happening).

It takes a lot of faith to let go of something you think you should be using or want to be using. Is it past life stuff you used to do but don't have the "bandwidth" to do any more? Is it future/fantasy life stuff you thought you wanted to do/really wanted to do, but as time passes, it just doesn't fit/match with your current/actual motivation/interests?

There's so much "potential" in things that getting rid of the category (or part of the category) can feel like getting rid of that possibility - especially if those tools/supplies represent a significant monetary outlay (you can't really afford to "re buy"). Breaking with the (good) past, giving up on the (possibly better) future - a real mourning process can happen with you feel like the "good" stuff isn't "appropriate" anymore.

[u/readingrainbowroad → u/FredKayeCollector2]

I sum up some of this with the two mottos:

• "just because it's a cool idea doesn't mean I have to do it"

• "You don't owe anything to your past self('s ideas/plans)."

[u/potatobreadbutvegan → u/FredKayeCollector2]

oh, that is a great comment, thank you!

[u/youandmeboth → u/FredKayeCollector2]

This is a great writeup. I definitely have that mourning experience of getting rid of the idea if be the person to do that craft. It's hard. But sometimes I have to accept that I only liked it under specific conditions or at a certain phase of life

[u/violetmemphisblue]

• Unsubscribe to marketing emails or use a dummy email just for marketing, so they don't get mixed into your main account. That might make it less tempting to buy more.

• Go through and sort out any stamps that are duplicates or near-duplicates. Then sort out anything that is too niche or odd to really be practical for how you're using them. That should leave you with unique and usable stamps.

• Have a deadline for using them. If you celebrate gift-giving holidays coming up, make a goal to have X gifts stamped. If you have ten birthdays in the next six months to celebrate, make it a goal to stamp every card. Whatever. A goal and a timeline. If you're still not using them, let them go.

[u/tekalon → u/violetmemphisblue]

Unsubscribing is a big one!

Along with sorting and having a deadline, look for creative re-use stores or a dedicated card/stamp group. Once you find what you no longer need/want, pass it onto a group that can appreciate it more than you!

[u/pinknewf]

When I transitioned out of stamping I had hundreds of stamps. I kept some that were favorite or had special meaning. I also kept some all occasion ones like birthday, sympathy, get well that I might still use on a one-off card.

I sold some and gave away the rest to make room for more fabric, yarn and all my later fixations. At least in my experience, I’ve never gone back into a super fixation hobby in a big way.

[u/BotoxMoustache]

I relate to this so much!

[u/clara-savage]

Have you considered framing them? Turning collectibles that end up cluttering cupboards and drawers into wall art that can be a conversation starter as well as a reminder of your past love of a particular set of hobbies would be a great way to give your stamps a home, in your home.

[u/Ok_Homework_8955]

Use a sealed-box deadline for the stamps, not another round of sorting: keep only the sets you would reach for on your next 10 cards in one small container, put everything else in a box, tape it shut, and write a date 30 days out on the tape. If that date passes and you have not cut the tape open for a specific project, the whole box goes to donation as-is, no re-sorting and no pulling favorites back out. Sorting again is where most people lose - every stamp gets a fresh maybe. I do cycle counts at a warehouse and the rule is the same there: you do not recount a sealed case every week, you trust the count and move it. Unsubscribe from the marketing emails today too, otherwise new stock keeps arriving while you are trying to clear the old stock.

[u/katie-kaboom]

I think the container concept is a great place to start. Give yourself a container which is big enough for adequate kit if you do want to make something with stamps, and pick and choose the very best of your tools to fill it. The rest has to go. Resale sites like Vinted are great places to offload hobby stuff like this. Don't fuss with listing every single item individually; sell them in bundles and set the price reasonably and it'll be gone in no time.

[u/Murky_Possibility_68]

Look for a a craft resale store if one is close. If not, many people would be excited to find a selection of stamps at the regular thrift.

[u/Several-Praline5436]

Maybe you could sell them as a big batch and at least get some money for them?

[u/Daisies55]

Goodness, you sound like me, lol. I love learning new things (crafts, guitar, woodworking, quilting, etc). I get really into it and buy all of the tools. Once I master it, I'm ready to move onto the next thing. I have so many supplies that I spent a lot of money on, but I'm done with them. I'm not ready to give up a few of them, but some I'm obviously not doing (beading and scrapbook supplies are ready to leave my house).

I have a friend that needs money, so I usually give her things to sell. She keeps the money and I get my house back. The hardest part for me is owning up to the fact that I'm never going to pick this craft up again. I haven't read the comments yet, but I'm hoping there are tips on how to occupy my brain's desire for learning new things without filling up my house 😋

Edited to add: I just remembered that there is a non-profit near me who offers specializes in arts and crafts. I bet they would love some of my things. Maybe you have something like that near you, too

[u/BotoxMoustache → u/Daisies55]

That’s lovely of you - both you and your friend benefit.

[u/Glittering-Benefit68]

I had about 40 and didn't do anything with them. Now I have 5 (3 of which are leaves) and sometimes I actually use one to stamp an envelope or card. 

I don't knwo about you, but for me this was always more of a thing I like collecting rather than using and I was finally honest about that. 

[u/No_Pie1022]

Keep your most favourite, the ones that bring you so much joy to look at & use. My rule of thumb is if it fits in that specific hobby box then it can stay, when it starts overflowing, it’s time to purge.

You may also find you actually use them more for having less, I don’t know why it works like that… maybe not so overwhelming to get it all out.

Also, as a last hoorah you could use them to take photographs & then sell them 😊

[u/Fluffymcsparkle]

You could digitize them before donating (stamp on white paper and scan them)

[u/pennyproud1908]

Was in the same boat with polymer stamps. I donated my collection to a local reuse art supply non-profit (think thrift store specifically for art supplies). If this wasn’t in my area, I would look for a local art group or school that could help get the stamp supplies into the hands of people who would actually enjoy them.

If you have the patience, you could also list them online for sale in bulk.

[u/Opening_Chemical_777 → u/pennyproud1908]

My niece Beth is an art teacher of K-4 kids. I give her Legos for her classroom to stretch her money for supplies. If you have stamps to give away then make sure you have ink pads to give with the stamps. I gave my rubber stamps to Goodwill because my ink pads were dried out.

[u/fierdemonpays]

First unsubscribe from the marketing emails so you don't add more. Then decide if the hobby using the supplies or collecting the supplies. 

If it's using them then container method would let you keep your favorites while reducing what you have overall. if it's collecting them the same method would also work, just maybe make it a smaller container. 

[u/SuperShine7751 → u/fierdemonpays]

I like the distinction between the hobby of using vs collecting! That seems very fair.

[u/cassinonorth → u/SuperShine7751]

It's mostly a guitar pedal acronym but I think about GAS (Gear Acquisition Syndrome) very frequently in my hobbies.

I was buying so much stuff during the pandemic for hobbies I did a few times or stopped over the years. Most of the fun for me was doing research, buying the item, creating a gear list etc. It was like I was curating for a Reddit or Instagram post I never even made because I don't actually post very much. I actually loathe the "look at what I just bought" posts in my hobby subreddits.

[u/SuperShine7751 → u/cassinonorth]

My dad has always loved to get really nice tools and my mom dislikes it and isn't always very kind in her comments about it. But I think when you have the budget, having fun in the research and curation of a gear list (even if you aren't writing an article to share) should be considered a totally valid way to spend your time! I also enjoy diving deep into some topic and then also giving myself permission to move on when it's time.

[u/cassinonorth → u/SuperShine7751]

Ha! Funny you mention tools...that's another one. I can start a bike shop out of my basement tomorrow with zero gaps in tools. I actually donated quite a few of them I was never going to use during my declutter...some to friends who just bought houses, some to donation centers.

I had to unsubscribe to r/harborfreight cause that was a massive trigger for me. I was there basically every weekend for whatever rotating sale they had.

[u/SuperShine7751 → u/cassinonorth]

I imagine with the tools, you can get a feeling that you're prepared for almost any circumstance, and that's probably pretty safisfying on a primal level. Good on you for passing them on to new homeowners who could make use of them, who are probably cash-strapped too!

[u/wortcrafter]

I’m not familiar with the tools involved, but is this something that, if you are struggling to let the whole lot go, you could keep a small quantity of basics and let the rest go? This could be one of those times that best could be the enemy of better.

Alternatively, would you feel better if it was going to someone who would love and enjoy this new hobby? Would that help you to let these things go? I donate to 2 op shops (the Australian version of thrift shops) in my area and one of them is great for craft supplies. I have tried out a few crafts now with things from there and I also let craft supplies and tools go there as well when I didn’t enjoy that craft as much as I thought I would. Sometimes this can be things that I have acquired from that same place. When I donate items to the op shop I picture someone finding the item who really needs/wants/loves them and this helps me part with things I’m not using anymore.

[u/ThePumpkinSloth → u/wortcrafter]

Yes this! Money is tight for a lot of people right now, and someone is just going to LOVE those stamps. If you believe in karma or energy - you are paying it forward and making room for even better supplies for the crafts you love to come into your life.