How do you motivate yourself to do crafts instead of collect ideas?

I struggle with time management I can usually start something or at least buy the supplies, but then life gets in the way, lol. I'm a stay at home, army wife, not really by choice it's hard to find jobs when were always moving and stuff, anyway I have lots of time to do crafts because of it but I get distracted easily, when a craft gets boring or is taking to long I had to do something else. Play with my dog, bake/cook, clean, play video games, read comics, read books, search for more ideas for crafts. If I'm making something for someone else, I can get it done on time, but stuff just for fun or for myself really take effort to finish so that's my problem lol

I HAVE TO MANY IDEAS AND MATERIAL, AND GET NO WHERE?

Thank you both, I know where you're coming from, I've experienced a lot it's hard to finish, things get in the way, and it really takes effort, and too many materials without using them enough that is for sure! I have felt like I get no where a lot too. I hope your schedule gets easier with being an army wife, I know what it's like a lot to struggle with it with having physical problems. I do something else while during making a craft too, sometimes because the project is frustrating and not being like the instructions say lol.. I hope that's common. I looked at some of your projects Pamela and it made me glad some people really super-know the greatness of crafting, I do too because I have folders of craft ideas where a lot of them have blown my mind or are so beautiful, and make me so excited time after time that it is possible to make them! I think it is really tough that it is not balanced though, and hard to be completely satisfied without keeping up with the ideas.

I start projects ok normally (if you motivate yourself to get the stuff you need to make it that helps me), it's just finishing them!
I usually have to make deals with myself to finish making certain things before i do something else!
Today i made a point of telling my fiance that i was going to finish making something that needed doing, so i felt like i had someone to answer to if i didn't do it haha! (not that he would - he probably wasn't even listening!!)

LOL, I have this problem... I have tried making a list of projects I want to make, and a list of projects I need to finish. I just can't remember which projects are unfinished! -_-

I have exactly the same problem! I can spend hours watching online tutorials and scouring sites for inspiration.. all the while my own supplies just sit there. I hate the way that makes me feel. I have a habit of playing music on my laptop while I work, but I always give in to the temptation to search for ideas. So now my laptop has to stay shut. And then I can lose myself for hours in my craft. So my advice = no computers!

I have the same problem as Claire A. I start so many projects that I will swear up and down I will finish but I rarely do. I have to force myself to stop buying supplies for new projects at times in order to motivate myself to finish the ones I started.

Try with the easy ones first. Like storage idea or something. the easier the better is usually How I start. After that I usually have enough motivation to try some more complex like sewing a simple accessory. growing your ego with something simple is the easiest way in my opinion. Because instead of feeling bad about not finishing it, now you can say "yeah! I did it! I made that!"

I have this problem off and on. When I get motivated, I get through what I want really fast and then have nothing to do, so then I'm sad.

My biggest problem when getting things finished is when I am making something for someone other than myself. People like to change up everything they want, then I get a little pissy about it. Try finding some easy to make project that you can make for yourself that you REALLY REALLY want, and it might help boost you into a crafting mood.

It helps if you do a lot of different crafts, (cooking IS considered an art!) because then you can switch between things you feel like doing (complicated to more simple maybe). I personally have a collection of beads, chainmaille, charms/pendents, sketch books, yarn (I knit), and hand-me-down clothing to cut up. I also have a glass bead making kit, diamond glaze, an extra scrabble game, wood burning tool, an embroidery hoop, extra books/magazines I don't read, little glass bottles, tape, glue, black construction paper, ribbon, scrapbook paper... My room is not very neat because I keep all of this stuff around. However, HAVING it around really helps me be able to craft in my free time. I personally don't like watching TV because I can make stuff. Right now, if I had a bag of small bells from Micheals, I have 2 projects I want to do. But, right now, I don't, and I don't have the money for it.

I have all of this other stuff, but I want to finish my anklet and do some little bell hair thingy, and I'm more focused on those 2 things. I'm also discouraged right now because of some recent projects that didn't turn out.

So basically, all the advice I've managed to give you is to have a large amount of craft materials that you can at least TRY, (that's what I do, just try tons of different stuff) so you can find what you really LIKE to do, and to make yourself something easy and fast that you really want if you're making something for someone else. But at least I gave you advice? ^^ Hopefully I helped!

Also, I think you'll find that you want people who have this problem and ALSO have found a way to FIX the problem, instead of just people who have this problem. People who are crafty will probably have a crafty answer for you. Maybe they have always had an answer to this problem which is why they never have the problem. Don't cut out a source of information!

Oh yeah, I know what you are talking about. I have so many projects but--here I am looking at yet another web site for inspiration... or another project... or a class on something new... ADD anyone?
Anyway my best advice Is to just do one step in a project-- doesn't matter if it's just getting supplies together so you can easily start the next time you have a moment. Somehow it seems to motivate me.

Betsey

I collect lots of ideas all the time... it takes me forever to actually get up and make it, but sometimes I just tell myself that I'm not going to have that cool item if I don't make it *right now!*

I collect ideas and sometimes ill get the supplies if I see them.
Then I'll be dormant for a few weeks and then one day (usually when I have a lot of other stuff to do) BOOM I make an explosion of crafts one after the other, but if I stop one and say, "I'll finish it tomorrow" I totally won't bahahahah