Question of the Week: How do you get started creating?

[Miss Meowy]

It's Tuesday, and it's fitting that this question has to do with starting things.

Starting to create, that is.

I've been having such a hard time sitting down and creating and it's no wonder that I want to know how you actually start.

Last week's question was all about where you get inspiration. This week's question is about what to do with all the inspiration.

Do you pull out paper and mix and match until you come up with a combination you like and then go from there?

Or do you start with a stamp or picture and will yourself to "go"?

Inquiring minds want to know.

[LSN]

For me...I generally need an end goal or challenge of some kind. For example, I have three birthdays coming up, the first being for my oldest son.

For him, I want to have some kind of cute banner to display in the house along with maybe a banner to hang on his birthday cake (in addition to the obvious card).

Challenges are also great just to get me crafting when I don't have a specific purpose.

Linda

[jmasse]

If I'm really stuck and just sitting there staring at my supplies, I generally will pull out a magazine or go to the web. It may be a challenge I decide to try, or a card in the magazine that sparks a thought, but I need to have something in mind - I don't do well just stamping something and "seeing what happens"! LOL!

Great question!! I can't wait to see what helps you all get started!

[susiestampalot]

I usually start with a sketch or challenge of some sort. Then pick the stamps, then a patterned paper or two or three, then grab solids to match and start thinking about embellishments. I work with a large sheet of grid paper on top of a cutting mat on my desk, so then I just start sketching the card out on the paper, and note what papers I want to use where. It helps me "see" it in my head all finished if I know what colors will be where.

[Stolynn]

As dumb as it sounds, I need to organize my area...and then I get excited to do something.

[nancyt]

That's not dumb Lynn. Sometimes chaos can really mess with your mojo. And often, when I organize, or at least clean and straighten up, I find something I forgot I had or had misplaced!

I usually start with the stamp set I want to use, then select papers. I go ahead and color/paper piece my image even if I don't have a specific layout in mind yet.

[cindy_canada]

99% of the time, my starting point is a sketch or a new item I just purchased. If I want to use new stamps, I'll go through my stash of patterned papers to find something that would be a great match and then I find a sketch that will work with those elements. If I want to play with a sketch, then I'll go through my stamps and find something that is the right size to work with it.

Now that I think of it, stamps, papers and sketches always seem to be the first steps involved in creating. I guess those are the items I couldn't live without!