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Been there, done that! There is no explanation, creativity pops up when it is meant to. You can not force it. If you try it seems redundant and superficial.
Do you have images of your stamps in an index of any kind? When I leaf through my stamp index I seem to have one or two ideas smack me upside the head. Of course, it's always when I have ZERO time to execute!
I definitely know what you mean. I can often get my inspiration from cards that I save as my favorites. I just need to remember to revisit the cards I've saved as my favorites...
For me it usually meant that MY style had changed and/or evolved and I didn't have stamps to suit it. I think our tastes change over the years..from reading blogs, lurking galleries and pinterest. We learn how to use different coloring mediums or change them altogether. Our card making style could have just changed.
When I made cards a lot, I would sell stamps and buy new ones at least every couple of years if not more often.
Maybe you need to to sell off a few older ones and buy some new inspiration.
OHH
here's another thought too. ( guess my coffee is kicking in LOL)
On-Line card classes has a "stretch your stamps" class. That might help you look at your stamps differently.
I purge and purge and can't seem to like what I have. I have a few stamps left, like a shoebox full, and it seems like these are stamps that I enjoy using over and over again, but then things get stale and I wish I had different images. Good luck in finding the inspiration to create!
Ah yes... that is such a common problem! I find sometimes it helps to search a particular set on Pinterest and WHAM! tons of ideas and away I go. Or I pin for future knowing that when I have time or further inclination, I will create something inspired by said card.
I find Pinterest more useful to me than favouriting here because I can make as many boards/topics as I want to keep things organized.
I know, I know and then I sit there looking at all my sentiments, first the ones I pre stamped in that folder then the digital ones that have been printed up and stored in the next folder then the pre cut die cut sentiments all in their own little bags then the sentiment stamps all on their storage sheets together....... Ohhh then I have to leave the room, do something else and come back and repeat.
Do you have images of your stamps in an index of any kind? When I leaf through my stamp index I seem to have one or two ideas smack me upside the head. Of course, it's always when I have ZERO time to execute!
This is how I get my mojo going. I have all my stamps indexed in binders. I leaf through it when I don't know what to do and I usually find an image that jumps off the page and tells me to do something with it.
Oh. That's what I call a "flappy day". I am flappin' around and cant decide what I want to do or use. Time to walk away and come back.
That happens around the house too but that's another thread. lol
You dont have any stamps you have never used? If you do, just go stamp them on scrap. It might do the trick. Knowing you have a thing but never having used it...you may not have fully engaged it in your mind yet. I know I have a pile of books waiting for me..but till I pick one up and starting reading it...I may not be motivated to do it. If that makes sense.
I definitely know what you mean. I can often get my inspiration from cards that I save as my favorites. I just need to remember to revisit the cards I've saved as my favorites...
Do you have images of your stamps in an index of any kind? When I leaf through my stamp index I seem to have one or two ideas smack me upside the head. Of course, it's always when I have ZERO time to execute!
Actually, I came up with this brilliant idea years ago and started stamping all my stamps onto acetate so I could hover the image over an area of placement to see if it worked with my project. Then I got overwhelmed and never finished it. Sigh. It's a amazing idea and I should really just do it.
I think I'm avoiding really knowing just how many stamps I own. When we moved here a month ago my craft room was the most, and also heaviest boxes of all the rooms in the house. My stamps are unmounted and I had three moving boxes full of them.
:shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: :oops: :shock: :shock: :shock:
__________________ Shannon
"We don't see things as they are, we see things as we are." - Nin
Considering I bought 270 stamps the other day... Thousands is easy (of course those 270 are 9 Studio G $1 alphabets!!!)
When I count mine, I count alphas as 1 whether they are upper, lower or both, include numbers or punctuation. Essentially you use them as one. Many years ago, at least 6, I stopped at 1500 or so. Couldn't bear to continue. And now...
I try to keep up a stash of cards so when I have a 'flappy day' I can just make what I want and not have to make a specific card on a day when I'm not inspired.
__________________ RebeccaEdnie Mixed Media Artist, Paper Crafter, Jewelry Designer SCSDirtyDozenAlumni Www.Boxofchocolatescrafts.Com YouNeverKnowWhatI’mGoingtoMake
When I count mine, I count alphas as 1 whether they are upper, lower or both, include numbers or punctuation. Essentially you use them as one. Many years ago, at least 6, I stopped at 1500 or so. Couldn't bear to continue. And now...
I try to keep up a stash of cards so when I have a 'flappy day' I can just make what I want and not have to make a specific card on a day when I'm not inspired.
Oh definitely. it was a TIC comment, but just pointing it out and you would be surprised at how many Craig List/ Ebay type listings would have a listing for 270 stamps and they would be 9 Studio G alphabets.;)
I also have binder of stamped images of all my stamps and flip through that when looking for ideas (I can't stand to count them, but let's say that my 3 in binder is busting a seam) - but i also keep Pinterest boards by category (birthday, holiday etc) of just ideas for stamps/dies that I already own so i can see all the different ways people have used that stamp. I tend to only make cards when I need them at that moment (which means that on occasion I have been up until 2am the night before) - - but my goal is to create a small stash for when i have a dry spell or am too busy
I also have binder of stamped images of all my stamps and flip through that when looking for ideas (I can't stand to count them, but let's say that my 3 in binder is busting a seam) - but i also keep Pinterest boards by category (birthday, holiday etc) of just ideas for stamps/dies that I already own so i can see all the different ways people have used that stamp. I tend to only make cards when I need them at that moment (which means that on occasion I have been up until 2am the night before) - - but my goal is to create a small stash for when i have a dry spell or am too busy
WOW!! we are so alike!
__________________ Shannon
"We don't see things as they are, we see things as we are." - Nin
I also have binder of stamped images of all my stamps and flip through that when looking for ideas (I can't stand to count them, but let's say that my 3 in binder is busting a seam) - but i also keep Pinterest boards by category (birthday, holiday etc) of just ideas for stamps/dies that I already own so i can see all the different ways people have used that stamp. I tend to only make cards when I need them at that moment (which means that on occasion I have been up until 2am the night before) - - but my goal is to create a small stash for when i have a dry spell or am too busy
Wish I had catagorized my cards on Pinterest! It's way too hard to browse through a file with more than a thousand cards to look over to find the perfect one to use as an inspiration that particular day! Someday maybe I'll take some time and move the cards into separate files..............maybe.............someday!
I had the same problem with Pintrest. Instead of stressing it, I decided to start the new categories from now on and go back and sort the others when I was sitting in front of TV. I'm almost through them now.
__________________ There is no such thing as lack of sleep, only caffeine deficiency.
Wish I had catagorized my cards on Pinterest! It's way too hard to browse through a file with more than a thousand cards to look over to find the perfect one to use as an inspiration that particular day! Someday maybe I'll take some time and move the cards into separate files..............maybe.............someday!
I did take the time to split mine onto separate boards, and I am SO glad that I did. You can look at mine by clicking on Pinterest in my signature below.
What I did was create almost all my new boards first. I did some by topic like christmas, sympathy, celebrations, etc. I did some by style like sentiment based, masculine, trees, leaves, etc. My floral ones had to be split up into several boards. But name them all with the first word the same so that they are in your alphabetical list together. Like, "Cards...masculine" and "Cards...floral diecuts" or however you choose.
Then I began at the top of my cards board and edited card after card to change the boards. Believe it or not, it doesn't take that long. Just think, "I'll do this for half an hour, then go about my business." In a half an hour you can probably do 100 or more. With only 1000...well, you'll be done in ten days or less!
What I've been doing the past several months is to reach my hand in one of the stamp drawers and pull out a stamp set. (I took my stamps off the wood and store them in Stampin Up's dvd cases. They are in two two-drawer file cabinets on end with title of set showing. Alphabetized, of course. :-)). Anyway, I reach in and randomly pull out a set, then search on splitcoast gallery to see what others have done with that set. I get inspired and then can create one of my own. I've used a lot of stamps that I had never used before by doing it that way.
ha, love it! Need a wheel to spin and randomly pick a stamp. I have Pinterest boards split out by about 8 categories (birthday, christmas, get well, floral etc) for pinning cards I see. Then I have another set of boards specifically for ideas for stamps/dies that I already own. I have those broken by same general categories, and then a few by manufacturer for just the top 6 that i normally buy from (memory box, impression obsession etc). It makes it much easier when i have a stamp I know I want to use but need ideas on what to vs just general browsing for new ideas.
Out of hundreds...
Card Inspiration
