Decluttering, Life and The Lorax

Warning: This will no doubt end up as a slightly incoherent ramble so feel free to depart now!

I was reading the kids a bedtime story the other night and little e chose The Lorax. I love that book, the eco message, the words, the pictures, all of it. Tonight it struck me that the message behind The Lorax is exactly what has been niggling me about my craft room - I think I am turning into a Once-ler (he uses precious trees to make tneeds that no one needs but everyone wants)! So in an effort to redeem myself I am planning a mass clear out.

If you are not familiar with The Lorax the message is that if we use all the worlds resources on making needless 'stuff' then one day there will be nothing left and the world will be a mess.

This is how I feel about my craft stuff.

Why do I need all this stuff to make more stuff ? I don't need (or want to anymore) to do All The Crafts so something has to give. I think most of my paper crafting stuff will be first to go.

I have another pile on top of this unit as well...

Same goes for fabric, why do I need to make everything I like, I wouldn't buy everything I like and all that will happen is I will have a wardrobe full of 'stuff' that doesn't get worn. Even if my fabric is secondhand or fairtrade/organic it doesn't justify using precious raw materials to create more than I need - my very own 'thneeds'. So, if anyone sees me hint at making another party dress stop me - please!

I will keep my fabric stash though. I cleared it out recently and donated the fabric I will never use so am left with a useful stash. Great for days like today when at 7.09am little e announced she wanted to go to school as Little Red Riding Hood and needed a cape...!

Hopefully that clearing the unused/underused things from my craft room will reduce some of the stress/guilt about having all this stuff. Life is stressful enough at the moment so this clear out will be like yoga for the craft room. It's funny how as life gets more stressful I am less able to deal with the little niggles, I just hope I don't regret this clear out in the future when life is 'normal' again!

Now to actually make a start. Has anyone else done a mass craft clear out? Any tips?