Gratitude

Decluttering Craft Supplies

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March is National Craft Month. If you are a hard core crafter, occasional crafter, or even if you used to do crafting you probably have a lot of supplies stored in various drawers, containers, or closets.

yarn_&_needlesIf you enjoy multiple crafts like I do that can add up to a lot of supplies. Over the years my interest in different crafts have changed. Many times those supplies get stashed away in a container, not seeing the light of day for a long time.  If this has happened to you it may be time to declutter some of those supplies.

Clipart from Clipartheaven.com

Unused supplies and unfinished projects are a red flag telling us it is time to make some tough decisions.  Here are few questions to ask yourself when trying to determine if you should keep them or not.

  • Do you love this kind of crafting?
  • Is this unfinished project due to you not liking this particular project or the kind of craft?
  • Did you used to love this kind of crafting but are no longer interested?
  • Do you feel bad about wasting good supplies and don’t want to throw them out?

If you have decided you no longer enjoy a particular kind of craft then it’s time to declutter those supplies. You don’t have to throw everything out in the trash. There are plenty of places you can donate them.  This includes those half finished projects as long as you have the materials to finish them. You will be blessing others while at the same time cleaning out your craft area.

Here are some suggestions on where to donate.  I’m sure a few phone calls will give you several local places happy to take those craft supplies.

  • Local schools – nursery schools through colleges.
  • Nursing homes, assisted living, and retirement homes.
  • Women’s shelters – both children’s and adult craft supplies are wanted.
  • Certain charities (see below).

 

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Clipart from Clipartheaven.com

 

If you enjoy sewing or knitting and have a lot of extra supplies/materials there are several ways you can use your skills and supplies for a good cause.  Many charities donate finished projects to help newborns, children, cancer patients, and elderly people. I have done this before by sewing bibs, burp pads, and changing pads for my local Newborns In Need chapter. These small projects helped me clear out some extra fabrics I had sitting around.  If you don’t want to do the sewing or knitting these kinds of charities would love to have your fabric and yarns so their members can make the projects.

It feels good to use your skills to bless others. Here is a site that lists charities that are looking for donations of finished projects.

http://www.craftforcharity.com/charities.html

It’s time to get your creative juices going or pass those supplies on to someone else so they can get their creative juices going. Either way you’ll be clearing out some of that craft clutter laying around the house.

To a lighter load along the way.

Janice

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Giving The Gift of the Holiday Spirit

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From the news reports about Black Friday and Cyber Monday people really got an early start on the shopping.  The numbers were up from last year. People are in a buying mood and gift giving mood.  That is all part of the holiday spirit.

I was reading an article in my local paper that talked about ways to enjoy happier holidays by spreading that gift giving to help others not so fortunate. It doesn’t mean just buying things for others it also means giving your time, your compassion, and your friendship.

It can also mean giving your unused things that are gathering dust and cluttering up your home to someone who can use them. Many churches and synagogues have coat drives, food drives, and toy drives at this time of year. You’ll feel happier knowing your unused things will make holidays a little brighter for someone else.

How To Bless Others For The Holidays

Here is a list of some things you can do to make the holidays a little happier for others. Get your family involved. Create a new family tradition of giving.

  1. Write a “Letter from Santa” to a child. Check your post office, local church, or charity to see if they sponsor this kind of program.
  2. If you have an elderly neighbor you can offer to help them put their decorations up or help clean up their house for the holidays.
  3. Visit a nursing home with your children. Have your children make ornaments or other small decorations to give the residents. This is a creative way to use up some of those craft supplies. Be sure to call the nursing home first to get permission. This is also a great activity for girl scouts or boy scout troops. I still have fond memories of doing this when I was a girl scout.
How To Bless Others Year Round

There are lots of little things you can do that don’t take any extra time on your part. But they could have a big impact on both the recipient and you.

  1. Smile at someone. It just might change their mood if they are having a bad day.
  2. Hold a door open for someone who’s arms are filled with packages, a child, etc.
  3. Tell a fast food employee or other hard worker that they are doing a good job. They rarely hear this.
  4. If you see someone struggling to get an item off of a high shelf offer to help if you can. They will appreciate it and you’ll feel good helping.

There are plenty of other things you can do to help give the holiday spirit to others. If you have any suggests to help brighten someone’s holiday spirit, please share in the comment section. Thanks.

For it is in giving that we receive. ~ Francis of Assisi

No one has ever become poor by giving. ~ Anne Frank

Generosity is giving more than you can, and pride is taking less than you need. ~ Khalil Gibran

To a lighter load along the way.

Janice

 

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Honoring Veterans on Veterans Day

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Note: I want to let you know that I went slightly off my normal topic of decluttering and organizing in the following post. The website links are for info and ideas to help you celebrate Veterans Day. My opinion below is something I just had to write.

This Friday is Veterans Day.  It’s also 11/11/11. I didn’t really know much about the significance of the date (11/11/11) but after looking it up on the internet I found some interesting facts. Here are a few links if you want to find out more.

http://www.timeanddate.com/date/11-11.html

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/45195313/ns/technology_and_science-science/#.TrlajLLZeuI

Maybe because this Veterans Day  is 11/11/11 it seems more special.  It also might be because of the current withdrawal of our troops from Iraq. Whether you are for or against the withdrawal is not what we should bring up on Veterans Day. We should honor all of our military, past and present, who have sacrificed some of their own freedoms to protect the rest of us.

It also doesn’t matter whether you are for or against the wars we have been in. What does matter is that we treat these returning soldiers with honor and respect. 

I remember back in the mid 70’s when I was attending a local junior college that many of my classmates where veterans of the Vietnam war. Because the war had been so unpopular the veterans were taking the heat from their fellow citizens. It was hard to understand how people could treat these veterans in such a bad way. Although I never said anything bad I hate to admit that I felt uncomfortable around some of these classmates. I was guilty of being influenced by the media into feeling like these classmates were more like ex-cons instead of United States War Veterans. 

Many of my classmates did not even want to talk about the war. I’m sure the horrors they experienced where bad enough but I also believe they kept the facts private out of fear of criticism from their fellow citizens.

It was a double whammy!  There was no way of knowing whether they had enlisted or were drafted. It didn’t matter to the protesters. They blamed the veterans as much as they blamed the politicians.

Although we didn’t have a draft during the current wars many people enlisted at a time we were at peace. None of us had a clue we would be attacked on our own turf. And those who enlisted after 9/11 did so to protect their fellow citizens.

So let’s celebrate this year’s Veteran’s Day by honoring all veterans. Put the blame and the heat on the politicians who decide whether to go to war or not. Don’t blame the veterans. They are our neighbors, fellow workers, teachers, etc. who have experienced things we ordinary citizens have not.

Here are some sites for you to read more on Veterans Day. Share this information with your family and friends. As the saying goes, “United we stand, Divided we fall”. This is one day we can show our unity.

http://www1.va.gov/opa/vetsday/

http://www.enchantedlearning.com/crafts/veterans/

http://www.teachervision.fen.com/veterans-day/teacher-resources/6674.html

http://www.butlerwebs.com/holidays/veterans.htm

To a lighter load along the way.

Janice

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Mother Nature Can Clear the Clutter the Hard Way

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Mother nature sure has a way of reminding us of what is important. The pictures of the wind and flood damage from hurricane Irene show how quickly all our belongings can be destroyed.  But ask anyone who has survived a disaster what they are grateful for and it’s always that their loved ones are safe, not the loss of their “things”.

I remember a few years ago when heavy rains caused flooding and sewer back-up at my mother-in-law’s condo basement.

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She had a lot of photos, clothes, and other things she stored down there. She also had a lot of clutter that she never got around to getting rid of.

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After it was all cleaned up she missed the photos and other memorabilia but that was all. She even felt relieved to be rid of all the junk. But she also felt bad because a lot of the things could have been given to a charity to bless others. Instead those items were wasted and ended up in the dumpster.

Now is a good time to take a look around your home and see what you can get rid of. Ask yourself a couple of questions.

  1. Would you miss this item if it was destroyed in a disaster?
  2. Do you even use this item or can you get rid of it now?
  3. If you aren’t using the item would it be something that someone else could use?

With all the flooding in the east coast I’m sure there will be many families in need of some of your extras you aren’t using.  Check to see who is gathering up donations of clothing, household items, etc. in your area.

This is a great way to get rid of some of your clutter and share your good fortune and abundance with those who weren’t so lucky this past week.

To a lighter load along the way.

Janice

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Clutter Free Mother’s Day Gifts

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Mother’s Day is this coming Sunday. Have you bought her a gift yet?

Mother’s Day is one of the most commercial holidays in the United States. Lots of cards and gifts are given on this day to honor our mothers. The problem arises when these gifts add clutter to their homes. When celebrating the holiday this year think of all the things you can give or do that don’t add clutter. Here are some ideas.

You may want to pass this list to your own children and/or spouse and ask them not to buy you anything that adds to your clutter. It’s the thought that counts. And even more important it is to honor mothers for all they do.

  • Give flowers. They are beautiful to see first thing in the morning and last about a week.
  • Take her out to eat or have her over for brunch. Spending this precious time together is what counts.
  • If you want to buy a gift make sure it is one she either wants or is something she can use up. Bubble bath, candles, or lotion would work.
  • If she likes candy but is watching her diet than look for a small but special candy she wouldn’t buy for herself.
  • You can give her a gift card for the theater or a movie. No clutter there.
  • Print out gift certificates for services you can do for her. You can promise to wash her car or trim her hedges. Make it things you can easily do for her when she turns in the certificate for your service.
  • You can buy a gift certificate for a day spa so she can pamper herself.

There are lots of things to do or give your mother without adding clutter. The best thing you can give her is your time.

To a lighter load along the way.

Janice

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