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Monday, June 04, 2007

*Question for You*

I have a question and I'd love to hear all of your input on it....

For the last 5 years or so, I have kept one of every card I have ever made. I had wished that I had done it from the beginning so I could see how my work has changed.

Also, in the last 5 years or so, I've scanned or photographed each of the cards I've made and they are all saved on my computer and backed up.

The question is, do you all keep one of each of the cards you've made? For those of you who do... why? For those of you who don't... why?

I am feeling like it's silly to hang on to all of these old cards (and even older recent cards) instead of sharing them with people via mail. But then again it's nice to be able to pull out cards and remember when.

Totally waffling here.... need some good arguments!

To encourage some comments on this topic, I will be giving away a "Friend" Cuttlebug Embossing Folder that I have... unopened and unused! I'll pick a comment at random on June 4th and send out the prize.

**Be sure to scroll down for new posts as this one will stay up top for a few days**

75 comments:

  1. Nancy, since you have them scanned you should share them.. u r a very creative & talented person...share the beauty and make someone smile.

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  2. I haven't kept everything but I usually keep samples from classes, copies of favorite cards, etc. Ever now and then I go through and cull through them - but my reason for keeping them has been that I could go back if I want to make another one at some point. This does happen, so I keep hanging on, but I have some right now I need to get rid of.

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  3. Nancy, I have saved just about every card I have ever made. Mostly because it takes me so darn long to make a card, I end up keeping it to remember how I did it, and sometimes I actually get around to making a second identical card to give to someone.
    I think of them as miniature works of art; as a collection just as kids collect Barbie dolls or Dinky toys. OK -I'm really showing my age. I suppose it wouldn't hurt to go through them and share them with a seniors home or Ronald McDonald House! As I am running out of room-re: scrapbooking/card making supplies, I may have to make the plunge soon! LOL

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  4. I only keep a few that I really like - and even they are "fair game" if the perfect occasion comes up. Look at it this way - those three shoeboxes worth of card samples could be put to use holding more stamping stuff! I, for one, have far too little space for my 'wants' :o)

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  5. The only cards that I've made and haven't given away are ones that I now consider to ugly to give to anyone I like. ;-) I have an assortment of excess Christmas cards that I made and never got around to giving away.

    I figure once I've taken a picture of a card I have a record of it so I don't feel the need to hang onto the actual card. I don't regret not keeping one of every card I've ever made.

    Also, a lot of my cards are one offs. (is that even an expression? LOL). I don't often make more than one of the same card. Except for the last week I've been making 40 of one design, 40 of another, 40 of another... but that is another story.

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  6. I don't keep one of everything I make any longer because I do take pictures or scan them. Then if I want to go back and look at cards I have made I still have that option without storing the actual cards.

    I also recently went through a box of cards recently that were cards I had received in the mail. The ones with personal messages in them or the ones I would like to CASE at some point I am holding onto. The others I have put into a pile to donate. Maybe to a seniors home or someplace where they can be put to good use.

    So I guess what I am saying is yes, go ahead and send me a RAK! You need to share your artwork. :)

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  7. I give them all away...I don't know, I seem to hate clutter so it is not too hard. But, I love the fact that I have an archive of them all. I suppose one could re-create a previous one but I always want to do something new...

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  8. I scanned mine in the past and now take pictures of them and file them on my computer so no I don't have or keep one of everything I've done. I do though have almost all the xmas cards I've made in the past. Basically, having the time to do one to give away is all I have - to make a second to everything sounds like a lot of work.

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  9. I keep one of all the new techniques I try. That way I can show people and help them make one :) If I make a batter card I will get rid of one in my keep pile.

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  10. I always photograph each card I make but it wasnt until recently I have started making a duplicate of each. I have a box full more to flip thru or take to friends houses and compare and in case I lose my HD and backup-its happened before losing both.

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  11. I always take a picture, but I never save any...I Rarely make more than one of a card (swaps and Group RAKs are it.) I guess that means each one is One of a Kind, Having all those cards for Emergencies would be nice though :)If I have cards laying around I usually send them to a Cards for Troops or Children group

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  12. I USED to save them all...then I had WAY too many so I started to give them out. I recently just sent about 200 cards back to the states for my mom to give to folks in nursing homes for their use.

    I do try to take photos of all my projects now though so I can review them later for inspiration...but I rarely case myself!

    So...I say give them away...but share those photos with us! :-)

    Huggs,
    Jana

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  13. I have only been stamping for 2 yrs so I haven't yet accumulated the number of cards that some people have. I am planning on keeping just my favorites. I also have a lot of cards received in swaps and since I am running out of storage space, I have decided to sort through them and give some of them to my mother and some to her church. Her church sends out cards on a regular basis to the sick & shut ins. Since my mother is a part of this group that sends out the cards I told her that she could have some of my excess overflow. Their group usually buys these cards to send out and I know that they will be thrilled to receive some cards as a donation.

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  14. I take pictures of mine and save them and ones I recieve from other people are put away in photo boxes. I post my favorites in my SCS gallery.
    I love your blog banner BTW...

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  15. I don't save the cards that I make. I do take a picture though so I have a record. However, I do have relatives and friends that save everything I have ever given them, and then every several years they give them back to me. It is a great way to see how your style and skill has changed over the years. Even if they didn't give them back to me I probably wouldn't save them.(don't have space)

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  16. In some ways I wish I had saved one of each card I made, but I haven't. I'd have a box full by now---but I do think it's important to have a pic of each and every card I make. So--that's what I do.

    Thanks for sharing. I'm looking forward to seeing more of your work. I love it!

    Janet B

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  17. I keep a digital archive. That way I can see what I've made. Especially when I'm not feeling very creative.

    Smiles,
    NG.

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  18. I hardly keep any card I've made. For the most part the only ones I have are extra christmas cards which already has my family's name on the inside so I can't really give those away. But I do take a picture of every one and keep it on my computer and I have them uploaded at SCS. That way I can look back and think "what was I thinking!!"
    ~Melissa

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  19. I have a lot of the cards I have made, but that is only because I use to make so many of them in advance, now I find I make them for the occasions. I do keep a picture of every card I made and almost all get uploaded to SCS. I upload them for MY benefit, not for anyone elses. LOL.

    Great question!

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  20. I haven't made that many cards - but I only make one of each kind and then I always give it to somebody. I will take a picture of the card before I give it away, but I never keep it. I think it's very cute that you keep your cards thoguht - it shows just how much they mean to you!

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  21. I don't save the cards I make, I give them away and don't make copies.
    Claudia F.

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  22. I use to keep a lot of cards so that I could go back and look at them for inspiration. Now I just look at everyone's blogs for inspiration! A few months ago my MIL and I cleaned out our stash of cards and sent them to a lady that sends them to the troops over seas to use when writing home to loved ones!
    I was more willing to let go of some of my favorites since I knew that they were being used for a great cause! I'm actually getting ready to make some more cards to send to her!

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  23. When I have a surplus of cards they go to the church card rack and now some are going to the troops. I always make full size cards, no card fronts so they are ready to go where ever my heart leads!

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  24. I usually save one of each card I make (I make sets of four to twelve alot of the time of each design) and mail out the rest. In December I group the cards I have into sets and give them to close friends that don't live near where I am at. The sets mail out easily in a medium vanilla envelope and make great gifts. Some may already have a card or two that is in their sets and they usually enjoy getting one of their own to mail out. I also take a picture of all of my cards so I can look back and recreate if I wish. HTH

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  25. I keep all the cards I make from club. Those are always wonderful. But when I look back on mine from a long time ago, sometimes I think to myself
    "What the heck was I thinking when I made these."
    So they soon find a new home in the trash!!

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  26. Generally, I just make a scan of the card front and make a hard copy to keep in a binder. I use to keep them on my computer but I lost a whole bunch when the computer died (it was verrrry old). The new computer wouldn't take the old program so I lost the pics. I do keep an actual copy if the card involves pop-ups or other really intricate details that the scan won't be able to capture. I do keep duplicates of some cards for example: Sympathy, Get Well, you know, the types of cards you need at a moments notice. I also keep a scan and note who I send it to so someone won't get a duplicate.

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  27. Usually the only cards I make is at a class. The ones I have made on my own are CASED from split coast. If and when you decide to get rid of your cards you can send them to "Operation Glitter Drop" (cards for the troops to send) c/o Dawns Stamping Thoughts.

    Cheryl B

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  28. I totally battle with this same issue. I have cards I've made and I have them in my computer too! Plus, I also have cards from swaps and such. I have these huge piles of cards and poeple I love that need encouragement not getting any. So, I have been trying to mail out my cards but I'm sure to snap a picture first. I do try to make cards in usually 3's or 4's so I have one to keep and a couple to send. I look forward to having some time and reading through the other answers because I am having the same dilema. Good luck and I hope you gets lots of input.

    Have a great weekend!

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  29. I have a book where I saved the first few cards I made. I'm glad I saved them! Not that they are great, but its nice to look back and see how far I've come.
    I scan or photograph all cards now and save them on the computer. The occasional card I keep if I really love it. I should RAK more often, that would help whittle down the big pile o' cards I have!

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  30. I've only been doing this for about 1.5 yrs and really only the last 6 months by myself (meaning cards not made at classes.) I sent out all the cards I made at classes w/o taking pic or anything! I wish I had taken pics though. I've started taking pics the last 2 months or so mostly because I've started a blog. I don't actually back up pics of the cards (hmmm....maybe I shoudl) I consider the blog my archive.

    Still I mail practically all of my cards (there are some that I don't consider worthy of posting!)

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  31. I wish I made 2 of each of my cards so that I could keep one. But I do take pics of them and that way if I did like one I can always look at the pic again. It's nice to keep them, but I think that you would just have way too many just sitting around. They should be given a home ;0)

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  32. I give most of the cards I make away. I will usually make gift packages for friends and family. I have not in the past, but since reading these blogs now take pictures of them. I enjoy making the cards and just want to share it with others. In fact I usually get back a couple of my cards on my birthday from firends and family.

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  33. I always save a copy of mt card,But Im not sure why. I think its because then i figure I will always have a "sample". incase I wish to make that card again, How ever if I saved it on the computer,then I dont keep a card, since I have it on a disc. Love your stuff!!1 Judy

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  34. I use to keep my cards then it became overwelming how many I had. So I joined RAK'S on SCS now I send my cards away. I do however take pictures of my cards so if I need to I can look back on what I've done.

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  35. I don't keep but just a few cards (under 5) and they are the specialty type - slider, pop up, etc. so I can remember how I did them. All the others are saved on computer & can easily be called up to look at if needed. I can't imagine keeping cards - I'd be swamped!! Thanks for a chance to win the friends folder - I don't have that one.

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  36. I usually don't keep them...I scan or take a pic of them. I can then use the pic to make another one. I have tons of paper but have a tendency to hoard it..not wanting to use it up on 2 of the same cards.

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  37. I rarely keep my cards for long. I like to give them good homes. I chose to give mine away 1) to share with others 2) to clear my space. If I kept one of every card I made I would be in big trouble. I also like to donate my cards to local organizations, raffles, soldiers, you name it.
    I have a few photos of some of my first few cards but and of course all the cards featured on my blog but that is it.
    Good luck with this big decision. Do what is in your heart.
    Hugs,
    Alli

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  38. Nancy, I only keep the cards that I do in classes or something I find particularly unique or exciting. I prefer to share mine with others generally. Since you have all them on the computer, you would still be able to look at them and remember. Good luck.

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  39. I have personally taken pictures of every single thing that I have made in the last 4 - 4 1/2 years. I never started making a copy for myself...never thought of it till it was too late! but I think if you have them all scanned, etc...than you should be sharing your creativity...send them out...I'm sure everyone would love to receive a piece of you!

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  40. I do scan my cards, and have a gallery over at Splitcoaststampers. If you are feeling generous of heart, what about sending them to the troops, or to a nursing home....you would know they would be appreciated!

    Just a thought...

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  41. Once I have scanned or taken a picture I don't feel the need to hold on to a card. It feels so good to receive something beautiful in the mail; why not make someone's day and share them?!

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  42. I generally keep a sample of the cards I make; sometimes I ending up making a card at the last minute for an unexpected occasion and I don't take the time to make a 2nd one. I always keep favorites of the ones I receive. I'm not so organized and a lot of you, so I don't take pictures or scan.

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  43. I don't believe i have ever made more than one of any card, I do however, take photos or scan all my cards, 1. so I can see how far I have progressed with my cardmaking and 2. so I can put them on my blog or splitcoast and also just in case one day I do decide to make another!!!! he he

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  44. Once I have my photos of the cards I have made filed on the computer then transferred to a c.d. I don't worry about keeping the cards. I have Five boxes of cards that I keep for giving etc. Other than that I have a big big cardboard carton that everything goes into. My downline gets to pick first then my customers. What a free for all. They love the give-a-way box and it has helped keep them stamping.

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  45. I have a drawer full of ones from my "younger" stamping days. Now I mostly make them, take a picture and give them away. Once in a while I will keep my favourites hanging around on my card holder from Pier One Imports. I try to put my RAK's from people on the card holder as well. That way I always have a variety of inspiration hanging around.

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  46. I keep the cards I make in classes with directions so that I can make them again. If I know that I will never make the card again, I will send it to someone.If I don't keep a duplicate of a card I make, I keep a color copy in a My Project notebook with a notation of who I sent it to and when. It helps to put the dimensions and special instructions too, or things I would change if I made it again.

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  47. Hi Nancy, I dont keep them, but I take the photos. That way, I get to look back, and someone else gets to touch them! It does seem a shame to keep them, when there are so many people that would love to have one of your beautiful cards. Have a great day!
    Denise Bennett

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  48. I wish I had kept copies. I have some on a disk and every once in awhile I find an old one that I had. I do have all the cards that I sent to my mom. When she passed on and we cleaned her house, I found a box of the cards that I had made her that she kept. I do have the works to save them all, just don't. I have been making an extra card lately. They come in handy when I need a quick card, then I don't have a copy again!!

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  49. Great question - I'm curious too. I just recently starting photographing my cards so I don't have the older ones. My Mom has a little collection of them, though, so I can go back and look (No, they're not up on the fridge!!)

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  50. I can only wish that I had saved one of every card...that is hard to do!! I'd have an awful lot of cards sitting here if I did. Most of my cards are one of a kind ideas, so to go back and re-create a second doesn't feel right - but I wish I could do it just so I could take a picture and then archive it to look at!

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  51. What I try to do is take a photo of all my creations and then give them away. When the time comes to mail them, I definately have to remind myself that I have a picture to remember. My other tip is to change the name of the file of the photo to the name of the person you gave it to so that you don't duplicate. Then I could, if I wanted, check up to make sure they kept it!! :)

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  52. I scan the cards I make and send out. I generally keep the samples from workshops for inspiration although I do weed out those that I just don't care for along the way.

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  53. Nancy -- I too had been saving all my "firsts" and taking photos, so in effect, having duplicates. I guess I'm just a natural-born hoarder, as my mother and my grandmother were too. :) However, I've started giving my cards away, especially when I'm in a "crunch" and needing a card. If I have time, I make one especially with the receiver in mine, but we don't always have time to do that, do we? I take macro photos of my cards and post them on Webshots and save them to a CD. That way, I or any of my "students" can check the Webshots site and I always have the backups in case my computer crashes.

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  54. I started off keeping one of all of my cards. Then when I started taking pictures of them I decided if I needed to see it again I could just look at the pic. Now I don't keep them. Yeah, there are a few that I just love so I keep one but I normally end up using it eventually. I can see a big change in my work and I'd be shamed to send some of beginning cards now. And to think that at one time I thought they were so cute! lol

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  55. never did keep 'an extra' (mainly cuz i usually just make one for the event) but often wished i had...now i just photograph everything and store them on cds...i do have leftovers from camps and stuff that i will use to send in a pinch though.

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  56. I don't keep my cards, and although they are hard to let go of, I usually mail them out or sell them. However, I do photograph them all so I can remember them all!

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  57. WOW...you've kept so many!!

    I haven't kept many of mine...maybe a few. Mostly I used them or my mom used them up. I kind of wished I kept one of the ones I have made for my stamp groups...just b.c.

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  58. i used to keep 1 card of every one i made but since i've started blogging, i don't because i have a picture or scan of the card to remember it by.

    it is nice to go back and see how much better/improved my stamping has become and how my style has changed

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  59. Some I keep and some I don't. If it is a new technique or I do something really cool, then I'll keep a copy. But if it is something easily reproducible, then I don't keep them. Oh, and if you are thinking about not keeping the cards anymore, I know that many places are collecting cards for the troops so they can send their loved ones something homemade. Thanks!
    Cheryl KVD

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  60. I don't keep one of every card I make but I have them all saved on my computer for future inspiration if I should get stuck sometime.

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  61. I keep duplicates of my cards if I really LOVE them and I even decorate my "Arts & Craps" room (as my boyfriend calls it) with them. I also scan them all in my computer and save them on a CD. I don't want to loose all those precious works of art if my computer crashes. It's nice to look back and see how I've progressed over the years. Sometimes I even inspire myself!

    <3~The Stampin' Soldier

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  62. Nancy, I haven't kept ANY of my cards, and have taken a picture of only one that I thought was unique. I don't upload them anywhere, so once it's gone, it's gone! If I were you, I'd share your cards-I'm sure others would appreciate your designs and hard work! Janine R.

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  63. I take pics of all of my cards, but don't keep any of them for myself. I make cards to brighten others day and with all the stampin' stuff I have, I don't need to save cards to add to the stuff!!

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  64. Nancy, you are right on with this post. I think way too many people just blurf and never comment . . . me included! I always keep up with your blog (and lots of others) thru Google Reader whenever something new is posted but trying to keep up with so many doesn't always allow me the time to comment. So I will accept your challenge and try to be better at that -- thanks so much!

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  65. I don't know if I have kept any cards. Most of the time I'm making them to send out. I usually put a picture up on SCS so at least I have a reference of my cards somewhere.

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  66. I started out doing the same thing (keeping one of any card that I made) but found that I would need to buy more & more storage books if I kept that up. Since then I've been mainly just scanning my cards & printing out a copy of the card so that I have a record of them. If I really like a card & have only made 1 of it then I do tend to sometimes keep them around until I finally decide I am able to part with it. Ida

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  67. I don't keep duplicates of what I've made. Recently I've started scanning or photographing cards that I've made and saving them to a CD. Then I have a picture if I need it. Just think of the people you could make smile by sending or donating your extra cards. I say share your special talent.

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  68. In the past I have scanned just about every card I made just so I could keep my SU website up to date. And, I've kept many as samples. But now that such a huge number of my sets are retiring I'm getting rid of a ton of samples. I'll keep the ones I've made to give away to family and friends, the rest I'm offering to my small group of customers. As I've decided to give up my website, I think I'll continue to scan or take pictures of my cards, but I don't feel the need to keep one of every card I make as I have a record on my computer.

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  69. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  70. Give them away. I started keeping one of everyone but then I ended up not given any away. I take a picture and then the card is fair game when the occasion comes.

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  71. I used to be like that...but then I began to notice that it never motivated me to make any more cards because I already have so many! :) So I just end up giving them out to TONS of people, use them for prizes, etc. My customers LOVE it when they get a chance to have all my retiring stamp set samples! So if it makes others happy, then that's fine with me! This leaves me PLENTY of room to make more! ;)

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  72. I give all the cards I make away. I try to scan my favorites first though. Thanks for offering blog candy:)

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  73. Hey Nancy!
    I think you should decorate a beautiful photo album for yourself, take pics of the cards and write the measurements on the back of the pics.
    Then sell the duplicate cards...to me!!

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  74. Nancy, I have saved so many of my cards and projects over the past few years, that I am now becoming overwhelmed with all of them. As part of my "mission: organization", I have decided to start sending them... I also have alot of card-fronts from swaps that I've been in and I hope to make those into full cards. Happy Stampin! Debi
    PS - thanks for the positive vibes you posted on my blog!

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  75. I don't make an extra copy, in fact most of the cards I make are one-and-onlys. I get bored so easily that after one card, I'm ready to move onto something else. What I DO do, however, is post almost every card I make to my blog. That is MY way of keeping tract of the things I've done and if I do want to create another like one I've done before, I have a picture of it to refer back to.

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