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What's the best bit of advice anyone has given you regarding stamping and/or papercrafting?
For me, it was Joan's blog entry that said just buying the Copic markers would not make a person good at coloring. I took that to heart. I love what others do with them but haven't regretted my decision in the least. Joan saved me gobs of money that I might have wasted on them when I could (and did!) spend it on things more useful to my particular style.
After quite a bit of experience, I can see now that the best bit of advice was "Buy the best quality you can afford" whether it's paper, ink, tools, whatever. I've wasted a lot of money on inexpensive stuff that doesn't produce results like good stuff does.
That's a good one. I also had someone tell me when starting out to focus more on buying different stamp pads, accessories, etc. as opposed to lots of stamps. Then you can use the stamps you have in more different ways.
... I also had someone tell me when starting out to focus more on buying different stamp pads, accessories, etc. as opposed to lots of stamps. Then you can use the stamps you have in more different ways.
Wish this person had talked to me, too! I'm just now (after almost 8 years) starting to feel more balanced--like I've got enough other stuff to use my stamps more creatively.
Actually the advice I give to new stampers is not to be afraid to start over. I think sometimes people are afraid to start over because that piece of paper cost $.20 (or whatever). You can always turn the paper over to start again or put it away and take it out another day when it may then become appealing to you.
How about...."It's ok to throw it away". There comes a time in every paper crafter's life when you just have to throw it away. Be it that ity bitty scrap of paper to that stamp magazine that is just no help at all. This is the hardest thing for me to do. LOL
To enjoy what you are doing and if not...don't do it. Stamping and creating is about the wonderful experience of expression and not about the newest fad.
PS...I have the Copic markers and while they are great for lots of people...I still prefer my brush and reinkers. Joan's advise could have saved me lots of money..but I got caught up in how well other people worked with them and just had to have them myself. They are great to color white grosgrain ribbon any color you want!!! Expensive grosgrain, though!
PSS. Don't be afraid to throw your paper away. Give it all you've got and if it can't be fixed....toss! I hve a bin of my watercolor paper that has been ruined for a project but kept for the remaining clear areas for small images and sentiments. I mess up as many projects as I do upload. You can never improve your skills if you are afraid to throw out and start over.
-Always stamp on your scrap first before stamping on your paper (some stamps stamp unevenly and this will let you know first before trying on your stock. Has helped me a lot!)
-If you have good basic tools, stamps are secondary. Use a good cutter, have a great scissor, and a good adhesive.
-There are no mistakes in stamping. If you don't like it, put the paper in the recycle bin and start again.
-When you buy a stamp image, think of at least two cards you can make with it.
And finally, my favorite:
-Every time you mail/give a card, do NOT think of how much it cost you to make it but how much you saved by not going to the store to buy it.
Don't spend so much time cleaning stamps. Stained stamps do not hurt a thing. Once I got comfortable with that, I really used my stuff better and harder and more.
My best is a card should no longer than 10 minutes to create for a swap/large quantity (once you design it..).. means a lot since I have 7 crops due Feb 15!
__________________ Kelley- Mom to 2 beautiful boys and a princess! My blog: returning from a deep sleep!
My friend and Demo, when I started............." there are no mistakes in cards".
The way I always heard it is...
"There are no stamping mistakes, only stamping opportunities!"
(I quote this to my kids about life, they roll their eyes but get the point.)
I also love,
"It's ok that it's not perfect, it's not supposed to be, it's HANDMADE!"
I'm with you on the Copics. I have been resisting buying them. I see the beautiful results certain talented stampers are getting with them and it tempts me. But I just know I'd buy some and then have to keep buying more. I must
resist!
__________________ I LOVE being a SU demonstrator! my gallery my blog
When you place an order on-line, do not send it right away; if the cart won't hold your items, write the items down. But leave the order. Send it in a week. Bet you either do not send it or take half the items off.
Impulse buying is a huge issue for many of us stampers.
It is possible to make cute cards without owning every stamp out there; or every pad of paper from BasicGrey (and we are talking about a very addicted stamper here :rolleyes: )
Create things that you like and don't worry if someone else will like it or not. I've had to quit looking at the galleries, it was killing my own creativity.
Create things that you like and don't worry if someone else will like it or not. I've had to quit looking at the galleries, it was killing my own creativity.
When you place an order on-line, do not send it right away; if the cart won't hold your items, write the items down. But leave the order. Send it in a week. Bet you either do not send it or take half the items off.
Impulse buying is a huge issue for many of us stampers.
It is possible to make cute cards without owning every stamp out there; or every pad of paper from BasicGrey (and we are talking about a very addicted stamper here :rolleyes: )
This is really good advice for more than just craft supplies!
I'm with you on the Copics. I have been resisting buying them. I see the beautiful results certain talented stampers are getting with them and it tempts me. But I just know I'd buy some and then have to keep buying more. I must
resist!
Yes. I. Must. Resist. I already have so many ways of coloring (watercolor pencils, Prismas, sharpies, chalk, watercolor crayons, markers, blender pens, aqua painters, acrylic paints...) and yet half the time I stamp with block stamps anyway, so I don't use any of it. Cost analysis of the Copics for me just doesn't work out for me.
There's so much more out there to buy that I will use more...primas, for instance!:rolleyes:
I used to help out the art teacher in DS's school. She used to tell the kids all the time, "there are no mistakes in art; only opportunities to do something different." So many of the kids were so wrapped up in doing things perfectly that they refused to try or immediately said their art work was ugly. It was heartbreaking to me that these 5 and 6 yr old kids worried more about it being perfect rather than have fun trying it. I think many of us adults have the same issue. So, I try to remember to stamp because I enjoy it, it is time for me, etc and not worry too much making a perfect card.
__________________ Martha
"When you recover or discover something that nourishes your soul and brings joy, care enough about yourself to make room for it in your life." Jean Shinoda Bolen
I heartily second Denidill's advice about the on-line shopping carts. Fill them up, then leave them for a period of time. I find that I change my mind or realize that I have something similar. Let's talk about buying clothes for instance - just ask me how many plain white or cream colored t-shirts I have, well, on second thought, don't! If I like it, chances are I already have something similar. One stamper on this site summed it up for me very well. She said how many flower stamps do I really need anyhow?
When I get the new SU catalog, I look and dream for a month or two before I place an order. It always is the same, by the time I place the order, I've changed my list several times. ;)
Stamp first, glue later! LOL. That was the first lesson I learned. It seems so obvious, but as a complete newbie, it never crossed my mind that stamping one more image on a completed card might not be the best approach!
I think the next best advice is "stop hoarding". For the longest time I sat on all my brads, eyelets, and ribbon, afraid to use them up! Isn't that silly?
Use your "gallery that you have selected all th other members favorite cards for inspiration. Chances are that you already bought the stamps, embellishments, paper etc when you made it your favorite.
Don't buy something just because you like it. Think about how it will work with what you already have. (I soooo wish that it hadn't taken me years to learn this one! ;) )
Don't be afraid to play. Try new color combinations, swirl inks and paints together, try layouts that aren't symmetrical, etc.
When you place an order on-line, do not send it right away; if the cart won't hold your items, write the items down. But leave the order. Send it in a week. Bet you either do not send it or take half the items off.
Impulse buying is a huge issue for many of us stampers.
It is possible to make cute cards without owning every stamp out there; or every pad of paper from BasicGrey (and we are talking about a very addicted stamper here :rolleyes: )
This works for me for my SU orders too. When I get a new catty, I make up my order on what I would like to have - and then I set it aside for at least a week. In the meantime I try and remind myself about what I already have on hand, and I've found that I can usually drop several stamps sets - because I can achieve that same great look with something I already have.
So my advice is use what you have first!
Oh, and my advice for scrapbookers would be: Buy kits. Then you don't end up with so many mismatched odds and ends that you have to try and use up otherwise. If I was starting over, I'd buy nothing but kits.
Resist single images! After buying mostly SU stamps I've become so accustomed to having a full set that coordinates I don't use those random stamps often (some ever) because I don't have other stamps that go with them. Now I think really hard about how and what I'll use with it before buying, even if it is only .99.
Always use the rule of 3. Have three focal images that form a triangle (Sentiment, image, and embelishment), and stamp in a triangle pattern for random stamping to keep it looking random. Works like a charm everytime. I really learned that in design school in my pre-stamping days but it applies!
I also second the buy inks and embelishments over images when you're starting out. One or two all occasion sets can go a long way if you have things to change them up.
__________________ Sarah CAS Challenge Spring 2013 Design Team Member Visit my blog
Good Advice
