Last week a beading group on Facebook held a "destash for cash" event. Basically, you could post your beads and related items that you couldn't use and see if someone else in the group wanted to buy them. It was so much fun! I sold a couple of items that had been cluttering up my bead drawers for almost a year (such as the chain pictured here). It felt great knowing that these items were going to a good home.
Brenda Sue's recent post on The Destash Dilemma talks about organizing as a first step before deciding to get rid of your craft materials. Here's my checklist of items that might be good candidates:
What to Destash
Items Purchased Online
It's hard to judge size and true color online, so sometimes you might receive items that are not going to work for your original project. You might come up with a new idea for these items, but if they hang around long enough, you might want to get rid of them.
Gift Items
This could include items that you won in a giveaway, swapped with another person, or were given to you by a well-meaning friend. ("Uh, gee, thanks for the neon plastic pony bead set. You're right. I didn't have one.")
Items Purchased As a Beginner
You might have outgrown some of your early purchases. I still have a lot of stretchy cord that I bought when I first started beading, but it's been years since I've used it. This can be a tricky category. Sometimes you need to grow into a tool or your artistic style might change. When I first started metalworking, I bought a rawhide hammer because a teacher recommended it. That hammer sat for a couple of years unused, but lately I've been using it daily with my hand stamped metal pieces.
Items Purchased on Sale
Maybe you've gone to bead shows or shops and seen something and thought, "That's such a good deal!" Me, too. Never mind that I never use 20mm orange crystals in my work. My "saving" instinct kicks in and I buy enough to cover The Great Pumpkin. Remember that it's only a good deal if you actually use the item.
How to Get Rid of Your Stash
Now that you know what items you're getting rid of, what do you do?
Return Them. If you still have the receipt and original packaging for a recent purchase, you can often return items. If you have a large amount, it might be worth it, even if you do have to pay return shipping. In the case of metals (such as sheet metal or wire), you could also check into recycling it. Rio Grande, for example, will buy certain scrap metals.
Swap or Sell. One beader's trash is another beader's treasure. It's fun to trade or sell beads in person or online.
Make a Teaching Kit. Your unwanted beads might be just the thing for someone who wants to learn to do what you do. I have a little plastic box with dividers with beads sorted by color that I use when someone wants to learn beading. It's less overwhelming than my entire stash and I don't have to worry about what they pick out. (You don't want to have to explain to an 8-year-old why she can't make a necklace out of 1,000 Swarovski crystals.)
Donate. There are plenty of craft programs at schools, libraries, and senior citizen homes that would love your leftover materials. (See a previous post on Where to Donate Unwanted Craft Materials.)
Are you destashing? What are your tips?