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what did you do as a beginner that you no longer do?
I was thinking about this question earlier this week, and another thread gave me the "umph" to post it. I think reading answers to this question could help many of us improve our cards: what did you use to do as a beginner that you don't do now?
For example....
---I used to 'eyeball' my layers or edges. I found out that having straight edges and corners really makes a card 'crisp' and neat so I measure now or use my perfect layers tool.
---I used to color every image with the exact same amount of color (paint, marker, etc). I'm trying to learn how to do some shading now (vary colors or amount of color), and it really makes a difference in the images.
---I used to use adhesives that 'set' immediately (tape, some glues) so I couldn't reposition my layers or images (thus leading to crooked edges at times); now I'm a huge fan of the Mono-multi...gives me a few seconds to reposition (AND it really does stick, so no layers peeling off later).
---I also used to always 'eyeball' words and phrases. I rely on a Stamp-a-ma-jig a lot more now to make SURE those words & phrases are exactly where I want them...and straight, not slanted.
---I used to be totally clueless about Splitcoast....can't imagine stamping without it now!
__________________ Betsy
"All that glitters is not gold; all who wander are not lost"....Tolkien
Great question! Here are my things that I don't do any more:
1. Score my cards. I use a bone folder now and love it!
2. Use patterned paper as a main part of my card design. Now I use it to accent MY design.
3. Use the same colors over and over (ie. pink & brown). I'm branching out!
4. Ditto for the eyballing sentiments or anything else that needs to be in a certain spot. Love my Stamp-a-majig.
5. DTP distressing. I use my sponges now, they look so much softer.
I'm sure there's lots more, but these are what I came up with first.
I used to fret that my cards were not pretty enough. It really made stamping stressful for me. Now I just do the best I can and tell myself "the card will not be perfect because I am not perfect". I'm a much happier stamper now!
__________________ *Haylie* The JOY of the Lord is my strength!
1) Used to do the same technique over and over and over again
2) would never try different color combos
3)Never would distress paper with sanding or ink or whatever
4) Over embellished!
__________________ Kate
�So many of our dreams at first seem impossible, then they seem improbable, and then, when we summon the will, they soon become inevitable.�
1.) I would either waaaay under-do it or waaaay over-do it...didn't seem to have a grasp on balance.
2.) I also had a thing for crappy paper...like construction paper...hey, it's colored!
3.) I totally didn't know what inks to use for what...the biggest beginner "tell" is when you use pigment inks and don't heat set them and wonder why it takes 3 months to dry? LOL!!
4.) I would say stamping on colored paper...while I know that's normal for a lot of people, it's not "my" thing...I've learned that I like my "white" background much more than a lot of color.
--using flimsy cardstock
--using lots of cheesy stickers
--no layering
I've come a long way, but these are the big ones
Cindy
This totally cracks me up because you described me perfectly! I "refused" to spend money on expensive cardstock (like I was getting one over on SU--lol!) until someone gave me some SU cardstock to use and now I'd never use anything else. Layers have added a huge difference, too!
You mean I have been doing it wrong for 15 years????? Thousands of cards and and sb page of mine are embossed! I don't think I can stop now, even if I wanted to!
Mary Beth
You mean I have been doing it wrong for 15 years????? Thousands of cards and and sb page of mine are embossed! I don't think I can stop now, even if I wanted to!
Mary Beth
Heavens, no!!!
When I first started, I thought I *had* to emboss everything, and then discovered that was not the case.
Nowadays I only emboss if it's essential for the result I want on the finished project. I'm a very lazy stamper . . . :p *chuckle*
__________________ Julie Ebersole (JulieHRR once upon a time . . . )julieebersole.com"So shines a good deed in a weary world." -Willy Wonka
Funny, I'm kind of the opposite of most I guess. I used to be obsessed with perfection. I could not let a little mistake go. I used my stamp positioner for everything.
After 10 years of stamping, I know the feel of my stamps and don't need a stamp positioner anymore. Plus, if it's a little off I think it adds to the character of the card. I now just enjoy the process instead of obsessing about what someone will think of it.
I used to put as much work inside as outside - cutouts, coloring, embossing, borders, you name it. Too much!
I still wish for really nice inside verse stamps - and of course they'd have to have perfectly matching outside sentiment stamps - but I've at least recognized that it's not necessary.
A personal note is probably much better. Right?
__________________ Malinda
Why did she make things? Well, she enjoyed it, of course; it also somehow helped her remember who she was and where she came from.
well the biggest things that I can remember that I used to do as a beginner are:
no layers (I was too cheap to use more than 1 layer of good paper)
all 2 step stampin' (though it was all I had at the time)
no techniques (thanks to SCS for showing me the way)
Years ago when I was in highschool I stamped and looking back it was bad. Looked like I was doing paper crafting as therapy. But now I know that's because the products weren't all that great and you never learned anything from the people that worked at the stores. Fast forward to three years ago and I get invited to an SU! workshop. Holy smoke, you mean you use more than one layer, all these stamps in the set match, somebody is making cardstock that isn't just red, blue, green, yellow...
Basically since I got back in to it and started using quality products and experiementing my work has improved, although some cards NEVER see the light of day after I make them. I cleaned out my old crafting stuff about a year ago, man was it dated, so much peach, dusty rose, dusty blue and ivory. You would have thought I was a middle aged lady livin' on the preirie(but I as only 15). But that was what was available then. Oh and my only embellisment was glitter, and cheap satin ribbon. We've come a long way baby.
__________________ Victoria
~Made of awesome
~My 6th Avon 39
--using flimsy cardstock
--using lots of cheesy stickers
--no layering
I've come a long way, but these are the big ones
Cindy
I am guilty of these! I have a ton of stickers that I have passed on to my kids. What was I thinking?
I also would add:
I am better at coordinating colors/ designs, I'm using embellishments, and I can visualize what it may look like as I am working.
I think the biggest mistake I made as a new stamper was to invest in stamps (or stamp sets) that I thought would be versatile whether they were my style or not. I quickly learned that I will not use a stamp (or set) if I don't really *love* it. I wasted a ton of money on stamps that I will probably never use!
Great question! Here are my things that I don't do any more:
1. Score my cards. I use a bone folder now and love it!
2. Use patterned paper as a main part of my card design. Now I use it to accent MY design.
3. Use the same colors over and over (ie. pink & brown). I'm branching out!
4. Ditto for the eyballing sentiments or anything else that needs to be in a certain spot. Love my Stamp-a-majig.
5. DTP distressing. I use my sponges now, they look so much softer.
I'm sure there's lots more, but these are what I came up with first.
Ditto on #2 and #3. I used to cover each card front (I bought premade white or cream cards that came with envies) with PP and then stamp something on another color (usually white), mat, and mount. That's about it. So boring! Now, it only took me, what 5 or so years, to improve (I improved drastically shortly after finding SCS) and took you, what, 6 months Shanan?! You're a diva!
This totally cracks me up because you described me perfectly! I "refused" to spend money on expensive cardstock (like I was getting one over on SU--lol!) until someone gave me some SU cardstock to use and now I'd never use anything else. Layers have added a huge difference, too!
When I was a beginner card maker, I used crayons (yes, crayons), coloured pencils, and markers. With markers, I had to wait until they were faded before I could use them as a "pale" shade. I never really got the hang of the blender pen, and I didn't know about gamsol.
Now I almost always use watercolours. It's much easier for me to shade and get the pale shades of colour. Also, it's easier for me to get the exact shade of colour I want with watercolours because I can just mix them.
I used to use perfect layers and the stamp a ma jig but now I dont anymore, I just eyeball it ;)
I used to measure everything. Not anymore I just wing it, for me measuring and using the positioning tools take up to much time. You wouldnt be able to tell if I used them or not.
The first card I made, I used a 3D sticker of a butterfly from EK Success and a 3D sticker that was a sentiment and slapped them on a piece of folded cardstock. It was god awful.
Ribbon-I didnt know people used ribbon.
Patterned Paper- I used to use them to cover the whole card.
I use to criticize my own cards/projects and I was very hard on myself. The more I did that the worse it seemed my cards/projects would be. Soon, I let that go (because I wasnt enjoying the hobby anymore) I became a better stamper.
I embossed everything ( like that made up for my lack of style)
I second guessed everything I did often adding too much or not enough
I came here and bothered whoever was up at 3am with me to get opinions on whatever I was doing....ok, I still do that one sometimes....
oh....and I religiously stayed with the stampin up 48 colors, afraid of what would happen if I tried to do it myself...now I use a bunch of patterned paper and bazzil from my LSS
I used to match everything - cardstock, papers, inks. Made for sort of boring cards. Then I got a quick tutorial on the color wheel and discovered how to use different color papers/cardstocks to make interesting cards.
I also used to just stamp on cardstock or paper, and never did coloring with markers or pencils. So I tended to stick to stamps that didn't require much coloring.
* emboss... nothing wrong with that but I just can't be bothered any more. :rolleyes:
* watercolour... I love the look but it takes too long (I, too, am a lazy stamper).
* shun pink... I simply gave in on that one and learned to go with the flow ;)
* hoard everything... now I... oh, wait, I STILL hoard everything!
I'm sorry to hijack... I don't know what else to use other than prepackaged cards and envelopes. :confused:
I'm learning so much from this thread!! Maybe I'll not be a 'beginner' for too long.
Hold up there, now, missy! :grin:
Plain, pre-scored and pre-packaged cards and envelopes are a good and time-saving thing! Not a darn thing wrong with using those, and I use 'em all the time!
Sheets of card stock are wonderful when you need to cut something to a specific size--for layering, or oddly shaped cards, etc.
But, when I started using pre-packaged cards, I was amazed at how much easier and faster my card making went! I didn't get into those until a very few years ago, and I've been stamping for 13 years! :shock:
So, you're ahead of the game, girl! ;)
__________________ Julie Ebersole (JulieHRR once upon a time . . . )julieebersole.com"So shines a good deed in a weary world." -Willy Wonka
When I first started stamping, I read and re-read and then re-read again every magazine I could get my hands on. Oh my goodness, the money I spent on magazines! Then I would carefully try to *case* my favorite cards from the magazine. I usually never changed a thing . . . I was in total learning mode.
Now, I NEVER hardly EVER look at a stampin' magazine. I never hardly ever *case* a card exactly. I use SCS as my resource and I use cards I see at SCS as inspiration, not as something I would case exactly. Although, once in a great while, I do still case something pretty close to exactly because A) I'm just so darn in LOVE with it or because B) I've lost my stamping mojo and just need to DO SOMETHING to get the juices going again.
- use "fibers" on everything, like yarn and embroidery floss
- I was an embosser too LOL DH thought it was "SO COOL!"
- use pre-packaged cards, cuz I thought they were "cheaper". 1/2 a sheet of good CS is much nicer IMHO
- stickers baybee!!
I'm sorry to hijack... I don't know what else to use other than prepackaged cards and envelopes. :confused:
I'm learning so much from this thread!! Maybe I'll not be a 'beginner' for too long. ;)
In the beginning I bought the prepackaged cards/envies too...because I couldn't find envelopes. Once I found envelopes I stopped doing that. Now, I have several hundred pre cut white cards...tried to give them to my 11 yr old daughter. She was repulsed, "Mom! why would I ever want to use these, I like colored cardstock!" So, the apple didn't fall very far from the tree!
Hmmm....maybe my 7 yr old daughter would like them...fat chance!
I'm sorry to hijack... I don't know what else to use other than prepackaged cards and envelopes. :confused:
I'm learning so much from this thread!! Maybe I'll not be a 'beginner' for too long. ;)
The pre packaged cards are card stock. Take one piece of 8 1/2inch x 11 inch cardstock and fold it in half and score it. Then cut on the score. You then have 2 pieces of cardstock. Then fold both of those in half and now you have to cards ready to go.
In the beginning I bought the prepackaged cards/envies too...because I couldn't find envelopes. Once I found envelopes I stopped doing that. Now, I have several hundred pre cut white cards...tried to give them to my 11 yr old daughter. She was repulsed, "Mom! why would I ever want to use these, I like colored cardstock!" So, the apple didn't fall very far from the tree!
Hmmm....maybe my 7 yr old daughter would like them...fat chance!
i mount *most* of my card-fronts to a white card base. anyway...
1- i used to case everything.. no original thought involved. lol
2- i didn't use a lot of "cool" stamping ideas like shading, colouring, masking etc that make a card have that WOW factor
3- i took crappy pictures
__________________
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I used to use cheap cardstock until I found SU's paper. I also used to buy one stamp at a time because I liked it, without much of an idea of how I would use it. Now I like to have a couple of ideas about a stamp before I buy it and I also tend to buy in sets, mostly SU. I also didn't know about how good a background stamp could look and how it could jazz up a card. Like some of the other posters, I didn't used to use my SAMJ - now I use it all the time (or regret not using it when I'm too lazy!).
But - the thing that remains the same - I love to make cards and I'm proud of my efforts each time. I know I'm not the same stamper I was 5 years ago, but I loved what I made then and I love what I make now. I'm always pleased to give my creations to the special people in my life and I hope that will never change.
what did you do as a beginner that you no longer do?
