Do you let people borrow your things?

I've never been much of a lender of anything, but let some friends borrow a Bunch of things and that was the last time. I am way to anal to let anyone borrow my scrapping things. I worked hard to get them.
Do you lend out your scrapping materials? If you do are there special rules when you lend?

Not anymore. I let a friend borrow my Mickey font cartridge more than a year ago and I still haven't gotten it back. When I mentioned it, it resulted in a huge fight so no more lending.

I have a small group of friends that are scrappers (about 4 of us total. When we get together we usually share our tools etc or play with ones we don't have but someone else does.

We have borrowed cricut cartridges and sizzix dies before on an extended basis-haven't had any issues with this and always returned/recieved items when asked for and always in great condition.

I think if you are having issues with items being returned damaged its time to speak up--we all know that these tools etc are NOT cheap! As a guideline I would say you can borrow an item if its returned in a timely manner (let me know if you need to keep it longer) and that it must be returned in the same condition it was lent out. If the item is damaged etc during the borrowing time period it is to be replaced or just stop lending out items to that person.

I grew up extremely poor and I believe in sharing the wealth. I share, give and gift my scrappy things all the time. With my scrappy friends it's created a sense of community between us. So while we share, in the end we get so much more back.

I also feel like I cannot teach my daughter to "share share share" if I'm not willing to do the same thing.

The issue never really came up until recently, when my friend who owns a store borrowed all of my house mouse stamps (50+). We made a list of all of them and I kept a copy and she kept a copy. She wanted to use them for an event at her store and I knew I could trust her to return them and make sure they were treated well. I also knew that she'd replace any that got damaged, because she's good and trustworthy like that. Anyway, she didn't end up using them, but noticed that I had not cleaned them well and spent a bit of time cleaning them all up for me. Sweet.

Ya what is up with that? Why would the person borrowing get so mad when you have to ask for your things back? Especially if its been over a year? I am in the same situation too. I thought it had been over one year, but It's going on two now. I have asked for It back 3 times and now she wont even talk to me. I even took the things to her because she was prego at the time and wanted to make her thank you cards from her baby shower. So I drove 30 min to drop it off for her. I'm a little bitter about it. It's really been getting on my last nerve lately. I need to let it go, but I'm having a hard time with letting it go. I should ad that I also don't like borrowing things from other people either. Ever. I like having my own things.

When I moved from Texas back to Illinois I let my friend use all my scrapping booking stuff and gave her free use of everything (tools and supplies) while I got settled which took about 6mo. I got most of it back, and created a friend who now loves paper crafting. Now I buy cricut carts put them on my gypsy and long term loan her the actual carts. I am normally quite anal about my tools also, but with this particular friend we both can freely take anything we want from each others stash. She more takes from my stash then I do her's but I don't mind at all. On the other hand I would probably not let anyone else do the same.

I don't understand Lilly, what does she say? Is she claiming you gave it to her? I'm so curious as to what a "friend" could possibly have to say about something like this. I can't imagine this!

I have borrowed things out and have not had an issue. I know who I can borrow things to and who I can't. The ones that I have borrowed things to and in return I borrow her scrappy tools, takes really good care of her things. I have tried borrowing other things to others and have had issues tho. Things not being returned, then when you ask, they say they don't have it. So, now we are just pickier about who we borrow things to.

That's the thing penny she won't return my calls or emails nothing. I have seen her a couple times at get togethers and I didn't bring it up because I didn't feel it was appropriate, but it's like she would rather keep the things instead of being my friend anymore. I guess that isn't a true friend huh? I mean if someone really needed something of course I'm there for them, but I really feel like I've been used in this situation. It has made me not trust anyone anymore with my scrapping items. I do have some friends that don't scrapbook that if they asked I would definitely lend to them because I trust them, but they would probably never ask anyway.

I think this is it. Just knowing who you can and can't trust.

I don't have any one to scrap with in my town. I took pictures of some of my husbands family last week and his cousin asked if I could email the pictures to her before I put them on a scrapbook page. I wish we had a craft store where I could meet other scrappers. However, I'm very happy for this site because I get to meet all of you talented Ladies!!!

• Penny Lane Said:

I agree. I have loaned things out and gotten them back in the same, or sometimes better condition. I can't teach my kids to share if I'm not willing to share myself. When I have my friends over to scrapbook, my stuff is also their stuff. As far as I'm concerned, I have more stuff than I could ever possibly use so if someone else has a use for it before I do, then they are welcome to it.

On the other hand, there are also people that will ask to "borrow" tools that I will either invite over so they can use it for their project, go scrap with them, so I can bring it home with me right away, or if it's not an item I really use a lot, I will give to them because I know I won't get it back.

• lillygirl7 Said:

I would send her an email that says this! I can't imagine a friend that is worth a cartridge!

Just my sister. I'm very anal about my *stuff*, scrapbooking or otherwise.

I don't really like anyone, even my sister, taking my paper. Cuz...what if I need that sheet later?

I love to share my stuff, I do it all the time. I am always lending/giving stuff out.

But I am very protective of my things so I'd be really upset if someone borrowed something and never returned it!

I bought a Cricut once and had a crop and one girl sat the entire night cutting titles out. That annoyed me ... because she didn't bother to scrapbook, just cut ... it was there if you needed a title ... not to plan the next year of your layouts!

• peenut_23 Said:

LOL I did this with my friends cricut before I got one of my own. I would just cut out titles! It was very handy. LOL!

I don't tend to lend my tools out, because no one would want to borrow them!! I don't have any scrappy friends that I see on a regular basis. I do attend crops and retreats and I am MORE THAN willing to SHARE items while we are there. I let people use my cricut, my carts, my tools, my paper if they need a piece, anything and everything. I also know that if I was to ever need anything they'd be more than willing to share with me. So in way I don't mind sharing, but I do mind borrowing..if that makes sense!

Well, I look at this the same way I look at lending money - if I can't see myself doing without it - I don't lend it. And this would mainly mean tools - any of the other stuff paper or glue or embellishments - I would easily share/give.

There is a group of us that scrap together and we often lend each other stuff if we need it!

I don't have many friends that are local and scrap. I do work with a woman that we trade Circut Cartridges and I trust her completely. Whenever I borrow something (rarely) I always try to get it right back.

It depends what it is, if I'm in my own room and I know the person then yes I will lend out my tools-but they don't leave the room. If I'm at a crop no one I don't know gets to touch my tools-I know it sounds cruel but someone broke a brand new punch of mine that I'd used about 3 times and they barely said sorry. Although if they are at my table and I can surreptitiously keep an eye on them then I am a little more lenient!

Since I moved to TX a year ago, I have yet to make any SB friends. When I lived in UT I had several and we were very generous with each other. I'm pretty protective of my stuff though, so I don't know how that would work. I don't have any expensive tools or die cutting machines so I'd probably just give them the stuff.

I have never had a problem and like so many others here I am fortunate to have a scrappy group of friends who scrap at each other's houses and we all share everything as needed.
Tools, stash - why I even try to share my photos - how else will I ever get them all scrapped?

We even go so far as to shop for each other if we see a good deal or spot that item we know another is looking for.

I think it is sad that you have had this experience and hope that you find that it is just that one person ... I think most scrappers are much too nice to do that.

I only lend me craft stuff to me mum and sometimes to me sis in law. I know they are both careful with the items as they do crafts aswell. They know the value of the materials. I also lend things from them in return. What we also do from time to time, if 1 likes a certain item a lot and the others just wanna use it from time to time, one buys it and other lends it. For intance, I love anything Halloween n goth like so I bought the spiderweb border punch from Martha Stewart, me mum likes it but not to buy it. So she borrows it when she needs it. Just an example tho..lol... Me sis in law bought a Christmas punch set that also embosses. She took them over for the evening n we spend the time punching n embossing. Its a great evening with the 3 of us and it saves a bit on the money too. Have to say tho, we only do it with the 3 of us.

I don't have any local people to lend/borrow scrapping stuff from, but I'm not sure that I would if I did. You know what they say, "Neither a borrower nor a lender be." I'm really picky about who handles my tools since they are so expensive -- and since I don't want their germs! When I did go to a local crop convention, the only person I would loan to was the person next to me. Thank goodness no one else asked so I didn't have to say no! I had visions of lending someone across the room something and never getting it back. And I don't want to put my names on my tools. I'm just selfish, I guess. (I'm glad I don't have kids to be an example for!)

we borrow & swap all the time in our small group (6 of us "regulars") I hold monthly crops at my house. We did have a problem once with a person taking something she thought was her (it wasn't) and I sided with my bff (known her much longer & completely trust her), needless to say I'm no longer friends with the theif and my bff had to buy that tool again. It was something I never would have imagined happening in our group, but that person is no longer a part of our group.

I've loaned one friend all of my cartridges and two months later asked that she return them, she drove them to my office since she couldn't make the crop! THAT's a friend :-)

I have no problem letting friends use my supplies during a crop (I take so much with me that there are times I'm glad someone is using it!) The upside of a Silhouette is that it's not a very easy thing to share--part of that is because then someone would also have to borrow my laptop!

I've never been asked to borrow something when not cropping, but I'd be hesitant on most of my things just because I do scrap during the day when possible and unless it was something like my BIA, I'd probably need it myself!

There's a difference between sharing and lending ...

At a crop, I will share anything and everything ... you can use my punches or Cuttlebug or Cricut, no problem. I'll even share things I have to replace like paper or flowers.

BUT, I don't usually lend my scrappy things out to other people. Then again, the issue really hasn't come up.

I have a close group of friends that go to crops together a few times a year, we all sit together and share all our toys and supplies. I know that if I need to borrow something I can call any one of them and same goes for them to borrow my stuff.

• madmatter Said:

YES this. I share anything at a crop - we all do, from cricuts to paper and embellies to ideas. I only lend to one close friend. I voluntarily lent my baby bug to her and ended up getting an expression so she bought the baby bug, then I bought a Gypsy so she is happily borrowing my cartridges.

• madmatter Said:

I agree with this. I use to go to crops but I don't anymore, but I would share my stuff if someome needed something. However, my tools are very expensive and I don't lend them out. If someone wanted to use one of my tools, they can come over to my house and use it. I would be ok with that, but then again, that's sharing.

I'd loan stuff out, if asked, sure why not?

But I never loan out anything that I would cry if it came back damaged.. or never came back at all. Cause you have to accept that might happen.

Heck, I loaned SIL the Mists of Avalon book 10 years ago.. and I've never seen it again. Which sucks.. but I guess if I really want to read it again, I'll just go get another copy.

I'm very protective of my scrap stuff. I don't want people even touching it and moving it around. I kind of buy everything with the idea in mind of want I want to use it for. So if I give it away, (like paper/embellishments, ), I won't have what I need. I'm a little obsessed with buying everything I need. Kind of like a hoarder. If I see a video with a new technique, than I have to buy everything the person on the video had.

Never. If I let somebody use something they use it here get to keep what they made, and I frisk them before leaving.

I do like to share...most things. for some reason I'm picky about sharing stamps...probably because I like to keep them really clean and have found tha when I share them they come back dirty and that bugs me!

I don't lend...except to my sister and somethimes not her. Not because she'll break it but because if it goes to her house...ah, never mind...lol!

I'm all for sharing, but not letting others borrow. I've had several BAAAD experiences (and none positive that I can recall) when I let another person borrow X Y or Z.

The friend I've known since I was five held onto my baking goods for a year and a half. She also has (I hope) my son's infant clothing that I let her borrow for her only son because I understood money was tight...In that time, she also asked me to join her in a Mom-to-Mom sale. I told her (in the email conversation) that I was going to decline because I wanted to keep DS's stuff in the event we had another child...and PS, I'd be happy to free up space in her home and store the clothes I loaned but her son had since outgrown. She stopped talking to me then.

Maybe I came across as too brash. I'd own that. Maybe she had already planned on selling the things I'd loaned to her. I don't know. She won't talk to me. Either way, I don't loan anything out BUT BUT BUT, should someone want to come over and scrap with me, I'll share whatever they need.

Never and lender or a borrower be. I absolutely do not lend out my scrappy tools. I have an aunt who always insists that she will borrow my things and each time she says this I'm thinking "over my dead body". I've just had too many situations in the past where I don't get my stuff back or when lending money I never get paid back.

I don't have too many scrappy friend to lend to- but also- my stuff is mostly not tools. maybe my ATG and my gazelle- but i doubt any one would be bold enough to ask bowering them.

It depends on who it is. I am very giving and tend to give things away that are expensive. I feel like it comes back to you in other gifts even if it's not material.

Last night I gave my Mom a toaster oven, British craft magazines and other misc things. I let her play with my scrapbook tools. She was eyeing something in my stash and I wouldn't let her have it, lol. It's precious to me and one of a kind. I can't get it again.

I tend to buy doubles if I hit a great sale so I can make gifts of things and freely give them away so a friend, family member or cropping buddy can have a new pretty too and really enjoy it.

I was a street kid so I had to fight for nice things and safety. Now, I always want everyone around me to have luxuries and pretty things.

I've never been asked to loan anything, so I can't say for sure. But... my mom (who is very responsible and trustworthy) was talking last weekend about having me take my sb stuff over there to help her start on her backlog of photos. That gave me a panicky moment just thinking of not having my expensive stuff under close supervision all the time! Maybe she'll have to bring her pics here... lol.

A friend of mine is putting her daugher through college by making and selling page kits. She has done this for 3 years. I love to help her come up with the ideas and bring my new carts/punches/tools to her house to borrow. She always returns them and gives me two kits of every kit we create. It benefits both of us and I love to help. However a teacher at school borrowed one of my cartridges in August and she hasn't mentioned it for 2 months. I hate to say something, but I am anal about my stuff. She is a nice lady, so I am sure she just forgot.

Not if I want it back.

I lent a co-worker a movie and she lent me one...same week she was fired. sigh. It was one of my fave movies. Lucky it's backed up on the computer. (I HATE previews and hitting play mulitiple times, finding the dvd/blue ray, dealing with cases, ect. When we buy a dvd/blu ray we put it on the computer, that way we have it anywhere (bedroom, living room and any computer, anywhere).

• SunnyAB Said:

Well said....I am like tthat with everything. If I get something back, I view it as nice but I lend to friends and have only been burned a time or 2...


...as for scrappy stuff, It has not come up yet as one person who I scrap with has a lot more than I do. She has given me a lot of stuff she had extra and some paper when I did not have but I am the type to give back. I got her an ATG as a thank you and she (and her daughter) are so nice. I would not worry about anything II would lend them.

I share my tools and scrappy stuff at crops, but don't lend them out. Then again, I've never had reason to lend them to someone. I do put my names on all of my tools. Some of the crop spaces I've been in are really small. It's easy to have someone else accidentally pick up my tool, thinking that it is theirs. Having my name on things has come in handy a few times.

A woman at a crop recently asked if I wanted to borrow a great cricut cart. It was a tempting offer, but I didn't want to deal with trying to figure out how to get it back to her.

With non-scrappy items, I have rarely had anything I've lent out be returned. That always surprises me, because I am careful to return things myself. I've learned to not lend out things that I would like to have back someday.

• MelissaW Said:

hum, although i agree we need to be an example to our children,,,,,,I think there's a DIFFERENCE between SHARING and LOANING,,,,,

sharing implies allowing the person to use the item, in reasonably equal time amounts,,,,,,

you SHARE the blocks,,,,the bicycle, etc,,,,

LOANING implies the person takes the item HOME and returns it LATER.

I don't know if I'd want my 6 year old LOANING her 150.00 game system to someone,,,,,sharing YES,,,,,loaning NO. For the basic reason, that a 6 year old little friend may NOT be responsible enough to return the item,,,,,

so, having said that, It DEPENDS on who the person is,,,,,,if they're responsible enough,,,,

have they borrowed things and returned them in the past? Am I willing to RISK the item? (because there is ALWAYS a risk, even if it's unintentionally damaged!)

I don't have many scrappy buddies in this area,,,in fact, ONE I can think of,,,,,and I'd be willing to loan her items, because I KNOW she'd return them,,,,,,,at least to the best of my knowledge,,,,,,HOWEVER, there are items I'd NOT loan, simply because I NEED them,,,,,

I would be perfectly willing to SHARE them.