My recent post about going through your jewelry and other crafting supplies and "de-stashing" started an interesting conversation concerning what you do with supplies you may no longer want or need. Because I'm doing it some of it myself on Etsy and I've seen other jewelry makers doing it over there as well as discussing it on this site's forum, I assumed a lot of people consider reselling their supplies, not always with the intent to make a profit but to at the very least maybe break even and roll the money over into other supplies. However, a number of comments posted suggested giving supplies to charities as well.

As it happens, I do this pretty regularly, and while I go through everything, I have a box set aside for a particular group from the Emily Griffith Opportunity School who I know is always in need of jewelry making supplies. You can read about them as well as find an address if you'd like to send supplies at their weblog, A Little Something. Sharon, who works with them, is a regular on our forums.

Comments from the previous de-stash post include some other excellent ideas for donating such as local schools and nursing homes. Other ideas might be boys and girls clubs or any other non-profit groups who work with children and/or the elderly.

Have you donated supplies before? If so, how was your experience? Maybe you can add some more place to this de-stash charity list.

If you've made jewelry or participated in any type of crafting for an extended period of time, then there's a good chance you have a significant stash of supplies. While I think more is always better when it comes to having supplies on hand for creating, I do agree that at some point you have to ask yourself if you really plan to use those string of beads you bought fifteen years ago or that pendant you can't even remember why you bought. When many of us start asking these questions as we organize or weed out our supplies, the idea of "de-stashing" often comes to mind. Often there isn't really anything wrong with these leftover supplies. We just didn't have the time we thought to use them, or maybe our tastes have changed and we have taken a different direction in our jewelry designing.

We've talked about this issue on this site's Jewelry Making Forum, and I've seen it mentioned more than once over at the Etsy forum. Since someone else's old-stash may be someone else's treasure, it is tempting to tryto sell off some of our supplies. And the sooner the better. But, is this always possible, and if so, is it even a good idea? What do you gain or lose through de-stashing?

First of all, is it possible? Of course, anything is possible, but from what I've read on the forums I mentioned and from my own experience selling supplies as well as just selling jewelry in general, there is no "quick way" to make a buck, ever, in any legitimate business. I actually read one post where the crafter was upset that she had her store open for four days and hadn't unloaded her stash yet, 4 days! If you are thinking along the same lines, then forget about it. That just isn't going to happen. Selling your stash on-line is similar to selling your jewelry on-line: it takes time to create a customer base.

So, if you are ready to spend the time to sell of your stash items, is it going to be worth your time? That depends, of course, on what you hope to gain, which is something you need to ask yourself. If you have the time, it may be worth it because you may be able to create a long standing business this way, maybe even be able to create some kind of small niche craft business for yourself.

The gains and losses are negligible. I don't think anyone, especially with the economy the way it is now, will be able to post on Craigslist, Etsy, Ebay, or even open a web site and sell his/her stash for a profit or at least break even in just a few days. Those who think that will be disappointed. Even a garage sale or ad in the paper may turn up low results. So think long and hard before you go this route. It may be worth sitting on that stash awhile longer as you try to figure out what you hope to gain from de-stashing. What are your thoughts on de-stashing? Is it worth your time or not?