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Hey, just wanted to share that I am in a stamping drought and I think its because I have too many stamps. I don't have nearly as many as those that have over 300 sets, as I have only around 40, plus some misc. But it seems the more I get, the more I can't think of things to do. I think I am overwhelmed by having too much... if that's even possible.
And just to think I am gonna buy more in March, thanks to the 50% off. Who knows what'll happen after this.
Whats a woman to do? Anyone else have this happen?
Have you checked out the gallery? I like to sit down with one set and CASE a few cards wtih just that set to get started. You could do that with a few of the sets that you haven't used much.........
I feel the same way. I have bee forcing myself to pick a template and make a card with several different sets using the same template. Usually that gets my creativity flowing. It is amazing how different a template looks when you change the colors and sets that you use. Good Luck!!
Just yesterday I was complaining to my husband about having "Creating Block". So, what I did was take a stamp set I've never used or haven't used in awhile and just sat down with that one stamp set and did a couple of cards.
The first ones were really boring and simple- but add a crimp there, an eyelet here, tie a ribbon to the top... Before you knew it, I had created 6 cards from 2 different stamp sets that I hadn't used before to add to my "pre-made cards" box. It was so great-- I'm going to try that again tonight.
I think it's the thought of all your choices. If you just simplify your choices I think you'd be amazed at what you can come up with. Try to make a card with one stamp set, pick two ink colors, and, say, 3-4 embellishment accessories and challenge yourself to come up with 2 or 3 different cards.
I am having the same issue, I still haven't used everything I got at my last party. Usually, I use everything right away. I was also thinking I have become less creative since I started coming to this site. I used to do mostly my own I ideas, now I see great cards in the gallery and use those ideas - I don't think my ideas are as creative!
I have the same problem, and I've been thinking about doing something like what klucas suggests,and pick out a couple I don't use much or haven't used in a long time, and make myself do three or four different cards with each. Kinda like the "limited supplies" challenge that's going on on another thread.
I am in on this one! I have been feeling the exact same way! I live on this site lately (as my husband tells me). And I am feeling very inadequate and overwhelmed about my stamping ability now. I just can't seem to come up with my own cards lately. I really like the idea about picking one or two sets and stamping with them. I have quite a few sets on my shelf from the last 2 1/2 years of being a stampaholic! I am so glad you started this tread! :lol: :oops: :lol:
Do the Sketch Challenges!! I think everyone who has done them has mentioned they have helped them get out of the stampin rut of only using certain sets or certain designs. Check out the sketch gallery Card & Scrapbook Sketch Library by SCSketches at Splitcoaststampers , pick one of those sketches and a stamp set. Take only that stamp set out and see what you can come up with using those stamps and putting them in your chosen layout. It is really surprising how not having the layout to think about really gets you going. Sometimes its hard to think of a layout, a stamp set, and use wonderful colors, and try to pull them all together, KWIM? This takes a little of the thinking out for you.
I am not trying to toot my own horn by recommending the sketch challenge thing :oops: but I can personally attest, and I know there are lots of ladies out there who would agree with me, that these definitly help you get out of whatever stampin rut you're in - be it design or set.
Me too! Me too! I just got TONS of new stamps and it has been such a struggle to get going with them. I have had to FORCE myself to create. I think I'm about to break out of my funk! (I sure hope so at least!)
I love the sketch challenges for that. And Jami's challenge is awesome for me because I just got a bunch of soft subtles and all natural so that will give me a good starting point! If you are blocked, those challenges are oh-so-helpful!
How did you guys read my mind??? I don't know if it's laziness or feeling inferior, but since I started going to sites like this one, I find myself CASEing someone's much better idea than forcing myself to sit down and play and come up with something on my own. I think it's also partly from now having 50+ sets where I used to have 10......too many choices!! Thanks for letting me see that I'm not alone!
Thanks to everyone for your encouraging words and ideas!!! I did try a month or so ago to make cards for different occassion, but couldn't come up with ideas, so just gave up.
Too many stamps = creative drought
