Guest Post: Approaching Minimalism

Happy Thanksgiving to all my American friends! Enjoy your turkey today! I will be joining all of you- feasting on some turkey, watching the parade and seeing a football game! Today I am very thankful for great friends (who guest post on blogs) & a little vacation time with my husband.

As mentioned in Tuesday's post, I'm taking a little blog vacation this week and have invited some friends to share on the blog for the next few days. 

Today my buddy Cathie is here to give you a glimpse into how she uses her stash. Cathie is constantly inspiring me on her blog with coffee in hand and her classes at The Paperie. Cathie is also on the design team at the store and watching what she creates never ceases to amaze me.

Take it away Cathie...

Hey everyone! My name is Cathie Reed and I’m excited to be here guest posting for Krista. 

Today, I’m going to share a project I’m working on called “Approaching Minimalism”. It’s like a “use it or lose it” kind of challenge.  And it’s fitting that I should talk about it on Krista’s blog because she helped inspire me to create it and go for it.

Krista and I are both creative members for our LSS, The Paperie . As I’ve come to know her, I’ve been inspired by her style, her ability to “kill” a kit and her minimalist approach to supplies.  She is always the quickest to set up and tear down at a crop and that means more scrapping time. I’d rather scrap than set up, too.  So, I’m on my way to minimalism, people! I’ve purged, sold and donated boxes of stuff. Now I am on a mission to actually use what’s left. If it’s a supply currently in my stash and I haven’t used it by this time next year, I lose it. (eeek!)

I started my project at The Paperie’s Fall Retreat a couple of weeks ago.  I used product from my stash and made a couple of scrapbooking kits.  Then I took my new Studio Calico and Paperie kits and added extra stuff from my stash. It worked out great and most of the pages I made at the Retreat have a little something that I was hoarding.  Here are two of my favorite layouts…

This page is a combination of Amy Tangerine’s new Ready, Set, Go collection, SC wood veneer stars, and Simple Stories paper with some much older Basic Grey Eerie collection, pumpkins from a pack of Bazzill Borders, vintage book paper and googly- eyed bats.  I love how all of these products work together  - nothing feels out of place or looks “old”.

Here’s the other layout.

Most of the paper on this page is from October Afternoon’s new Witch Hazel collection but the green polka dot background sheet is actually from the Bloom & Grow paper kit from MME that I bought in 2009!  True story. And you’ll probably recognize more of the BG Eerie collection and some more Bazzill Borders pumpkins on this page, too.

I know I’ll never be a true minimalist and I’m ok with that but I’m happier with supplies on my page instead of in my stash. So my challenge for you is to dig out your favorite, most hoarded supplies and use them.  What are you waiting for? And if you’re not sure you’re ready then come on over to my blog, with coffee in hand  and follow along.  I’ll post one page or project each week featuring the stuff that’s been languishing in my stash.

Thanks for stopping by!

Cathie