Shannon...and other complusive deleters

N

newfiemountiewife

New member
HELP ME!!!!!!!!!!

I just checked my Scrap folder....I have 135 GB of stuff. Ouch. So I need to cut back, it's no wonder I have no idea what I already own!!!

So tell me, how do you delete, do you have any particular thing you follow? I haven't scrapped with half of this stuff! I can't even think about how much money I wasted. :cursing:
 
If I KNOW I'll never use it again..I just send to recycle bin lol

Sometimes I save bits from kits before I get rid of them..I'm an alpha and bow/ribbon brat!

If it's a dear kit that I just never use, but don't want to part with, I burn it to a DVD before I delete it...
 
It's been a while since I purged, lol. I'm going to do a major backup to my 2nd EHD tonight or tomorrow. Then I'll probably go through and purge from the main ehd.

I think if there's something specific about a kit that makes me want to keep it (man I love that paper, or element or whatever) I'm gonna start a "random scrap stuff I like" folder, and put things in there. And then if I still don't use them, tough they're getting deleted.
 
Jamie -

I went through all the freebie stuff first. You know - kits you collected early on because it was free, and you thought you'd use it, and you know you won't. I also did it for purchased kits early on that were just no longer my style, or things that the quality just isn't up to par.

I also converted all of my templates to tiff from psd. If you haven't done that, do it - it saves TONS of room (be sure to choose LZW and Zip options - that's what saves the room). I deleted any template that I'd used at least twice.

I also realized a few things about HOW I scrap and got rid of stuff accordingly. I am, by nature, a kit scrapper. I do like to shop from my stash for finishing touches, but I'm not one to start with a paper here, a paper there, a piece here, a piece there. So I created a paper folder with a few basics (a couple of good kraft, black, blue and brown papers) and deleted any other paper packs I knew I'd never really use.

I went through alphas and deleted alphas that I KNEW I would never use - which was the hardest thing ever for me because I'm such an alphaholic. I have a serious stash of alphas. But some I just knew I'd never use, so I toss'd them.

You can do it! Don't get drastic your first try. Make sure you've copied things over so if you do toss it and decide that you really want it again, you can get from a disc if you're so inclined. I tend to toss and forget :) I haven't regretted one, yet.
 
I just cleaned up my hard drive yesterday. I basically deleted all that freebie stuff that I NEVER used. I also deleted most of anything that I haven't used or really didn't care for anymore. If I haven't used it in 6 months chances are I am not going to use it ever.
 
For stuff that I'm not ready to let go of completely, I weed. I look through the files and keep the stuff that still speaks to me and toss the rest. I will also toss some of the multi-color items or items that I have in various other versions in tons of kits (buttons, fasteners, ribbons, etc.). Then, depending on what's left (some kits are really picked over at this point), I may move the files (based on my highly technical organizational system LOL) up into broader categories like just SSD rather than SSD - Misty Cato. Not that I've trashed anything from Misty. ;)

That method is a little harder when you're primarily a kit scrapper, but I really enjoy mixing and matching, so it works well for me.
 
I have no problem tossing stuff...I toss stuff on a weekly basis lol...if I KNOW I won't use it again out it goes. I only download freebies from my favorite designers and only if it's something I'll use.

To help me use every kit I buy, after I download and sort the kit or whatever I move it to a TO SCRAP folder and it doesn't leave that folder until I've used it at least 2 times...I had to do this b/c I felt like I was throwing money away on things I never used.
 
I have found that for the most part, I am a kit scrapper, and I have SO many embellies that I've never used. I already purged my old freebies, so I really need to get tough with myself and the stuff I've purchased. I have old kits from over a year ago that I will probably never use again, so I want to toss it...so why am I so hesitant?

I appreciate all the ideas, something needs to be done over here LOL
 
Maybe burn those really old ones to a DVD Jamie. Then you still HAVE it, but it's not taking up so much space? If I go that route I'll probably keep a folder in my scrap stuff for the previews of the kits I've burned to DVD, so I can look through them and see if I want to use them, KWIM?
 
What Col said.

I have 35 DVDs of scrap crap because I just can't let go. I never know when there will be a famine, ya know?
 
I would get rid of all your freebies first. Then I would open up all the kits and really look at them. If there is anything in there that just grabs you...cool stitching, a great piece of paper...whatever, make a folder of misc stuff. Then you can burn the kits to a disc. That way even if you never go back and touch them...you'll never feel like you wasted money. I'm in the same boat. I have some that I know I will never use, and I really dont know why I bought them!
 
I honestly do what Darcy says...
I started with the freebies...then went to the paper packs....I NEVER use them...I felt bad for about two seconds, because I had a lot. Then the alphas...I mean how many do I need?
Now I delete as I use...If I use it, and I know I won't again-It's gone. Immediatly. I don't hesitate...or it would never get done.
YOU CAN DO IT JAMIE!
 
I'm not a kit scrapper at all, as you can tell from my layouts. I don't organize by kit, as soon as I unzip it, it gets torn apart. I have everything in folders: paper by color, elements all broken out, alphas, etc. So it's easy for me to go through and weed out the items I know I'll never use - like flowers and flowered paper, I only save the ones I really love. Because every kit I've bought has at least a few things I really like and use - I can't imagine deleting a whole entire kit.
 
Eeek. That's a lot. I also have problem deleting, so I've kind of taken the coward's way out. I started a folder of stuff I don't want. Whenever I come across things that I know I just won't use, I dump it to that folder. When I have enough to put it on a DVD, I'll burn it and put it with my backup stash, then delete it from my HD. This way, it's off my HD and not bogging down my system, but I haven't completely gotten rid of it either.

I just might actually use it sometime, you know??? :blink:

I feel your pain.
 
We'll talk you through this difficult time, Jamie.

(01) Delete freebies. This includes freebie site collabs, blog freebies, etc. You are ONLY allowed to keep a freebie if it somehow coordinates with something you have purchased from the same designer(s). If this is the case, stick it in with the appropriate kit and continue your purge.

(02) Delete anything created before 2007 unless, and only unless, it is something you have used on 2 or more pages since January 2008. THIS IS CRUCIAL.

(03) If you own 3 or less kits from a designer and this is NOT a designer who just started in the last 6 months, go through and pick out the bits you like. Delete everything else. This happens to me when I pick up a couple kits from a designer I have a passing fancy for... and then realize she is not my style or she changes stores 8 times or stops designing or is just not on my 'go to' list of designers.

(04) Apply the same 'pick and pull' method to any other 'maybe' kits you own. Do you honestly need 20 pet kits? 20 Halloween kits? Etc. Especially since you know the industry quality is always changing and new things come out all the time... just keep your 4-5 favorites in each of these type of categories and delete the rest.

(05) Create a 'Building Blocks' folder on your computer HD. Duplicate copy these 'pick and pull' treasures into this folder so they are handy 24/7. For example, I am unabashedly addicted to Anna Aspnes' overlays and have used one on every page I've done for the last two months. All of her overlays that I especially like are in my 'Building Blocks' folder. When I purchase other types of element packs like this, I make a copy to put in this folder.

(06) Before purchasing new things, ask yourself the following questions: Is this type of kit/element just like something I already own or have gotten from a CT? Am I buying it because it's pretty or because I will use it? Will I feel bad in 3 months if I buy this and haven't used it by then? Act accordingly.

(07) Don't buy ANYTHING at first sight unless it is on sale for 40% or more off. Kaboodle it, and come back in a week.

Good luck! :)
 
Now I delete as I use...If I use it, and I know I won't again-It's gone. Immediatly.
Click to expand...

this. LOL though my deletion habits kinda make some people crazy :D :D I'm prolly way overboard compared to everyone else LOL
 
YIKES that's a big folder!

I've tossed most of the freebies from my early scrapping days...I think most of us accumulate tons of cr*p freebies when we first get started. So most of those have been tossed without a second thought.

Everything else gets backed up on disk and then onto the EHD. Once I've made back-up copies, I delete it from my hard drive unless I plan on using it in the near future.

The one thing that I DO need to do is start converting templates to TIFF format. If there's an action for that, I'd be sorely tempted by it...I've got tons and tons to convert.
 
well, I delete, but not like Shannon. LOL I have a Designer 1 folder and a Designer 2 folder. If it's sat in that designer 2 folder for 3 months and i haven't touched it, it goes in the trash. :)

Good luck Jamie!!!
 
Jamie, the way I think of it is this...

YES, I bought it, and it cost me money... but so did the clothes in my closet that I know I will never wear again. Or the cans of food in the pantry that I bought cause they were on sale. I feel NO regret tossing those things, because I know that I don't need/want/use them.

Same with things in kits that I don't want. If they've been in my "closet" or "pantry" (ACDSee), and not being "worn" or "eaten" (used on a LO), then out it goes. I will periodically go through my kits and delete elements that are not my style, that I know I will NEVER use. Especially the surprise bags. Lots of times there are only a handful of things I like, so the rest hit the recycle bin...
 
(01) Delete freebies. This includes freebie site collabs, blog freebies, etc. You are ONLY allowed to keep a freebie if it somehow coordinates with something you have purchased from the same designer(s). If this is the case, stick it in with the appropriate kit and continue your purge.

(02) Delete anything created before 2007 unless, and only unless, it is something you have used on 2 or more pages since January 2008. THIS IS CRUCIAL.

(03) If you own 3 or less kits from a designer and this is NOT a designer who just started in the last 6 months, go through and pick out the bits you like. Delete everything else. This happens to me when I pick up a couple kits from a designer I have a passing fancy for... and then realize she is not my style or she changes stores 8 times or stops designing or is just not on my 'go to' list of designers.

(04) Apply the same 'pick and pull' method to any other 'maybe' kits you own. Do you honestly need 20 pet kits? 20 Halloween kits? Etc. Especially since you know the industry quality is always changing and new things come out all the time... just keep your 4-5 favorites in each of these type of categories and delete the rest.

(05) Create a 'Building Blocks' folder on your computer HD. Duplicate copy these 'pick and pull' treasures into this folder so they are handy 24/7. For example, I am unabashedly addicted to Anna Aspnes' overlays and have used one on every page I've done for the last two months. All of her overlays that I especially like are in my 'Building Blocks' folder. When I purchase other types of element packs like this, I make a copy to put in this folder.

(06) Before purchasing new things, ask yourself the following questions: Is this type of kit/element just like something I already own or have gotten from a CT? Am I buying it because it's pretty or because I will use it? Will I feel bad in 3 months if I buy this and haven't used it by then? Act accordingly.

(07) Don't buy ANYTHING at first sight unless it is on sale for 40% or more off. Kaboodle it, and come back in a week.
Click to expand...

WOW LA! I have never seen such a concrete, useful stash de-cluttering plan EVER! Brilliant!
 
:blink:
OMG, LOL, I so cannot delete a full kit I've paid for... But I'm still pretty new to scrapping, and only have 27 GB. I've long since deleted all the freebies I franticly dled when I first started out, now I only dl freebies I KNOW I'll use. I might delete off my ehd someday when I get all my kits backed up to disc, I've fallen behind again - like the kits I haven't used in a while. I just can't imagine deleting a kit and not having it to use again - I'm a little uptight about that! :p
 
Well here's my tips:

1. Treat digital space the same you would physical space - I think of my hard drive the same way I would a closet in my house. There's only so much room in a closet and in reality if I don't care enough about the item to fit it into the space I already have, it's probably not important enough for me to keep. This tends to be true of digital files as well. If I don't love the product enough to keep it on my computer with all my other supplies, odds are I'll never go back to it once it's been moved off.

2. Set yourself a space limit - I know disk space is fairly cheap but in reality there's only so much time in the day and odds are you already have way more than you could ever use. Purchased stuff, freebies, CT stuff, all of that is included in this. I don't include layouts because those are stored off of my computer once I print them. If you do burn to DVDs include them in this total too - they take up space as well. You have to give yourself limits or else everything will quickly takeover your space. The key is to find a good balance between what is enough for you to be happy but not so much that you get overwhelmed when you need to find something.

3. Go with your gut - If your first instinct is that you won't use it, DON'T try to talk yourself out of it. If you find that you're using the phrases "but I..." throw it out. With all the fabulous products out there, odds are if you don't already love it, you never will. This goes for freebies, CT products and purchased stuff - everything is fair game. We're not talking about million dollar products here, if you at some point realize that you really DID need some product you deleted, you can almost always buy it again for a few dollars. That for sure is much cheaper than a new HD or EHD.

If you're overwhelmed by the thought of getting everything organized/deleted, start small. Just 15 minutes a day over a period of a week or two will make a big difference. If you're scared to just start deleting, maybe start by getting rid of two items for every 1 new item you get - this includes CT products. It's really rather liberating once you start and I think you'll find it becomes much easier to be more ruthless as you go. :D
 
I do a lot of what LA doe to weed things out. I do need to implement that 2007 cut off. I know I have a bunch of stuff I haven't used at all this year that needs to go, but becuase I have used it inthe past I don't really consider deleting it.

For new stuff I have a 6 month cut off time, if it is more than 6 months old & I haven't used it at all I delete it. I also have a 'undecided' folder. That's where I drop things I'm undecided about - they are more than 6 months old & I haven't used them yet but I feel I might use them. I put them in the undecided folder. If they are still there in 3 months I delete them.
 
I think I am the opposite. I have a ton of kits I have never used, but I really do like them and I may use them some day. lol I will not waste money by just throwing them out. That said i do delete if I no longer like it, like if its an old kit, the papers have no texture etc. Gone. But I have a 500 gb ehd so i have a ton of space, whats the rush of deleting. Its not like its going to get filled up tomorrow... But now I do not just buy buy buy, like I used to. We are tight on money so if I do buy something it has to have a couple criteria. I have to LOVE it, I have to want to use it right away, and it has to be on sale! I don't shop now if its not on sale i can wait, same as IRL we shop the sales. We have to with the way dh job is right now. Good luck!
 
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