OK here we go again - 2011 is our year!!!

craftingmad

Hello again everyone.

Well I'm back and this year I really mean business.

2011 is the year which will see me make big changes in order to help OH pay off our mortgage quicker. (No really I mean it this time!!!)

OK here's my goals for this year:-

1. Stop spending large amounts of money on crafting items (in the past I have spent well over £5000 a year on stuff resulting in a craft room bulging at the seams).

2. Tidy and organise the above mentioned craft room so I actually know what I have and can actually get to it to use it.

3. Raise £3000 in order to start up my own online business.

Sounds simple eh? Not when you see my craft room. Its full from floor to ceiling!!!! Oh well at least I should'nt need any more stash for a while! Mind you all crafters know that you can never have to much stuff and when something new comes out you just have to have it! Guess I just have to ban myself from watching the tele, gointo craft shops and looking online for a while. Oh help what have I done!!!

We already overpay an extra £700 on the mortgage each month (thanks to OH salary) and at the minute I am going to put all the money I earn from my crafting, Quidco etc towards the start up fund for my new business as hopefully this will be the way I can earn a reasonable amount (whilst still being at home to look after our two kids) to also help become mortgage free.

I have set up a blog ready to record my epic journey at www.thecraftingcritter.blogspot.com and as somewhere I can post pictures of "Operation tidy up" and my latest creations, but of course I shall also try and post regularly on here. I know I can rely on you to help keep me motivated.

Happy new year everyone - here's to us all becoming MF very soon.

tootallulah

Craftingmad, I always enjoy your diary and laugh at your crafting supplies, I am about the same with fabric, there is never enough. Good luck in your overpaying and saving. I am intrigued by your business and look forward to hearing what you are doing.

[Deleted User]

Hi there
looking forward to reading the updates- Im getting really into crafty and arty stuff so I can understand the compulsion to buy new pretty things great if you can make some money from it tho!
will look forward to reading about your progress

yukkibear

You remind me of my Mum, she has a craft room she can barely get into to craft. Look forward to reading your progress

Catslovelycats

Good luck, craftingmad. I have NYR to sort through my craft stuff too - any maybe sell some on eBay. I've got loads and just not enough time anymore to use it all! I know how addictive it can all be though.:o I've cancelled all my email subscriptions to online craft shops so that I didn't get their emails telling me about their sales... That has helped me not buy stuff in the Christmas sales for the first time in a long time! :TAll the best.:beer:

craftingmad

yukkibear,

Are you sure I'm not your mum?

Good idea catslovelycats, I'm signed up to at least 10 online craft shops newsletters and have already received email from them this year trying to tempt me and break my willpower! I'm off to cancel right now xx PS good luck with your sorting too. Shall we make a pact now - if you don't hear from us after say 5 days can you phone the rescue services to say that I'm buried under a pile of crafting goodies!!!

Thanks to you all for your encouragement so far - it means a lot and helps me stay motivated (as previous followers know - it takes a lot for me to stay on track!)

yukkibear

craftingmad wrote: »

yukkibear,

Are you sure I'm not your mum?

Good idea catslovelycats, I'm signed up to at least 10 online craft shops newsletters and have already received email from them this year trying to tempt me and break my willpower! I'm off to cancel right now xx PS good luck with your sorting too. Shall we make a pact now - if you don't hear from us after say 5 days can you phone the rescue services to say that I'm buried under a pile of crafting goodies!!!

Thanks to you all for your encouragement so far - it means a lot and helps me stay motivated (as previous followers know - it takes a lot for me to stay on track!)

If I thought my Mum knew about MSE and could actually use it, I'd be impressed lol.

Catslovelycats

craftingmad wrote: »

Good idea catslovelycats, I'm signed up to at least 10 online craft shops newsletters and have already received email from them this year trying to tempt me and break my willpower! I'm off to cancel right now xx PS good luck with your sorting too. Shall we make a pact now - if you don't hear from us after say 5 days can you phone the rescue services to say that I'm buried under a pile of crafting goodies!!!

OK!
Ironically for me, I've moved into a 3-bed house and it's just filled with crafting stuff and not used for anything because I STILL haven't sorted it all out. Only shoved it into boxes. Don't know where most things are!! :eek: We've got a mammoth task ahead, but won't we feel great when sorted it out!:A

I'll follow your blogg :cool:

craftingmad

Hello everyone,

I'm still here and have managed to move a few mountains (well craft stash piles) in my craft room into boxes sorted into catergories. I now have 23 boxes filled but there still does not seem to a gap in the room yet. OMG what have I started? (Its a good job I choose to use the stacking vegtable boxes or I may well have lost my daughter as I'm borrowing her room to put my stuff whilst I'm sorting.

A big plus is that I have managed 3 whole days without spending any money on craft - thats a massive acheievment for me. Especially with all the mega sales on at the moment.

One job for today is to book a few craft fairs in my area so that I am motivated to make more stuff and hopefully earn something towards to business fund. That and more sorting and tidying of course - yippee!

Caroline73_2

Crafting is a serious addiction. I'm a woolaholic. I have £80 in Hobbycraft vouchers that I got from the IL's for Christmas, but I'm not even spending those until I have finished my current project. Whereabouts are you based?

craftingmad

Wahoo - 4 days of not spending.

My name's Emma and I'm on the road to becoming a recovering craft spendaholic!!!

I have booked 9 craft fairs spread throughout the year - I've paid the deposits so theres no going back now!! First one's in April so hopefully that will give me enough time to get tidy & organised and make some stuff to sell!

Have also done more tidying today - getting a bit bored but am determined to carry on. Hubby tells me hes got 4 days off starting from Monday so am now wondering if I can manage to get the room totally clear so that he could lay the floor and we paint during this time? Thats encouragement enough for me - I'm off to do 10 minutes more tidying before retiring to my bed (well after I've rambled for a while more - sorry!).

Not looking forward to getting back into the school routine tomorrow. I'll miss my little girl - it will seem very quiet!!! Another good excuse to do more tidying though - as long as my little lad is in the mood to help by playing Postman Pat (he posts all the items through the slots of the boxes while they are stacked up!!!) - if not looks like I'll be playing Maters Tall Tales on the Wii again - wow what a fantastic life I lead!!!

PS: Caroline 73 - I'm based in Norfolk, near Norwich where a new Hobbycraft store has just opened up I beleive. I am having to use all my willpower not to take just a little look inside (I just can't do window shopping - especially when it comes to craft!!!). Enjoy spending your vouchers xx