Does anyone have any SU sets they are just unispired by and do not use?
 

Now we've talked about color. Does anyone have any SU sets that just do not inspire them? I thought while we vented our frustration, we might help each other out with new ideas!

I have a few, but the two I struggle with most are...

Carte Postale. I love the images, but just get "blah" cards with them. I thought this would be one I'd use all of the time. Was I wrong.

My second, again a pretty set, but I don't get much out of it...Seasonal Whimsy. The colorful backdrop and black image isn't my style and when I try to color it, the image looks like a 5 year old stamped it.

Lots!
 

Alphabet Soup
big blossom
Christmas Classics
Collage Alphabet and numbers
Garden Collage
It All Adds Up
Love Ya Bunches
Noteworthy
Occaisionally
On Angel Wings
Something Marvelous
Travel Time

Gees... That's a lot! I used to be a demo, and I bought sets based on demo-ing and such, and turns out a lot of the above either aren't my style, or I just can't think of anything to do with them. "It all adds up" was the first one that popped into my mind... I have a hard time thinking of ANYTHING to do with that one!!!!

Several. But Garden Whimsy is the worst set for me. I love, love, love the images but can't make anything that truly makes me happy. But I can make Birthday Whimsy work for me. Go figure.

I have a few:

So many scallops- I don't know why but I can't do anything with this anymore:confused: I guess I never really loved it to begin with. Oh, and Lexicon of Love- I picked it up super cheap and have never used it once!

I like the rest of mine but I don't have all that many anyways.

Pretty much all of them :(

The stamps that just do not inspire me are in a box under my bed waiting to retire so they can be sold LOL!! I admire your perseverence!!

For Seasonal Whimsy, A Light Unto My Path, and other similar sets, there are two methods I've found to be great fun and reliable.

First - embossing the image: Here is one done with Classy Copper ep.

Another technique that works well is the baby wipe technique: This card and this one are examples; in the description for the second one, I have an explanation of how I modified the baby wipe technique slightly.

The regular baby wipe technique is used here.

And on this card, I didn't get as solid a stamp as I would have liked, but paired with the "Enjoy" stamp with a somewhat distressed look to the solid area, it looks acceptable.

Seasonal Whimsy is one of my favorite sets so I just had to pass along ways I like to use it and I hope you end up liking it, too!

And for Carte Postale... I have loved everything I've ever seen with it, but still haven't had a chance to ink it up! Isn't that awful?!! I'll see what I can do about that. Do you think the medallion would look good as faux metal or is it the wrong style?

If the gallery isn't giving you the inspiration you need, try going to "Resources" instead and maybe give a new technique a try!!

Good thread ~ I'll be interested in hearing the other replies :)

Bummer Scrappykat...hope you don't have too many! What are you having luck with?

LateBlossom:

You make me laugh...Birthday whimsy is was on the cusp of making my "boo" list. I only like it when I take punches of the images and block them together. Maybe you could try the same with garden whimsy. I find it takes something very curvy and "whimsical"...then limits it, thus taking some of the cutsie away. I would try stamping the images in coordinating colors, then square punching a butterfly wing, then another part of the body, a flower or two, etc. Mount them on a few different papers that coordinate, and do one large block with your small blocks. Maybe on a background of the whimsy roller if you have it, and a sentiment. I wonder if a curvy sentiment would look nice to repeat the curve in the set...have to try it. I'll bet that would look really cute. That's all I have for ideas tonight. :)

I find the medallion from Carte Postale very useful, and the swallow, and the spray of leaves... and the Merci - it's that funny flourish that I just don't know how to use. The medallion makes great tiles, as in this sketch challenge card - http:////www.splitcoaststampers.com/...&ppuser=133118, and I also like stamping it in a couple of colours and cutting the flowers out and layering them up.

Garden Whimsy, now that's one I find hard.

Interestingly, most of my uninspiring sets are SAB sets! One glaring exception is Paint Prints -my all time fave SU set.

Hey, thanks! I think I'll give that a try!

I have noticed that the SAB sets are usually the ones I just don't go to very often, either. I don't like any in the upcoming SAB mini....:(

I have a horrible time doing anything with stipple celebrations. I had to have it and now that I do just can't seem to find anything fun to create. It's like when I pick it up my mind goes blank.

I have to agree with Carte Postale and Stipple Celebrations. I loved them when I bought them, but can never make anything I like with them!

Right now, Stipple Celebrations is in my pile of stuff to sell at the local LSS garage sale, but I can be convinced to take it out.

Also, right now, Carte Postale is on loan to a friend.

Great thread! Thanks for starting it!

I have a few that are challenges for me. I think it helps to go to the gallery for that stamp set. I can always find at least one card I can case, or get an idea from.

I've got one I've had forever that I just stare at. It's old and discontinued, Sketch It.

I thought I'd love it, but I've never used it on anything and been happy with it. Heck, I even posted it on ebay once, but the buyer totally flaked and never paid me. So I still have it. I think I may remount it on EZ Mount and see if I can do something with it.

V

Looks like spring~(and the punch too!) I just don't like how the flower stamps. Every time I love an image (like Carte postale) they don't necessarily translate into being easy to make a card with. So many times I look at a stamp set and think, "what were they thinking?" and they end up making the greatest cards and then I'm mad 'cuz I didn't buy it!

hmmm ... sets that are just plain uninspiring ... I think my most difficult one has to be Garden Whimsy. I forced myself to use it until I finally "felt" it or at least that's what I think! (see these cards: one, two, three, four, five).

I know where my strengths are and what sets that while I love, I know I will not use. So, I try to spend wisely!

Wow, Sketch It is a tough one!!! I see scrapbook uses, and the sentiment is nice. I think it would be pretty with the "stamp off" technique as background. It doesn't seem like a strong enough image to hold its own as a focus though.

Crab & Company - I cannot make a decent card with this set at all. Every card that I have made with this set, I have thrown away.

The set I *hate* using is Flower Garden - when I bought it I thought it would be great for sympathy cards, and I do use it for that reason, but every time the box comes down I almost hear myself sigh! I don't have a very big stamp collection so I'm kinda stuck with it!:(

Our family camps a LOT...we spend 2/3 of the summer in campgrounds and part of winter in woodsy cabins..so I have to buy every set related to camping...

But I NEVER use them! Happy Camper is the one I have to say just does nothing for me....I love looking at it in the box but have yet to make a second card with it. It would probably get some use in a scrapbook...which hasn't been started yet. So when I saw that new Cabin set in the catty, I put it right on my list...and then later took it off...looks like I am learning!! :)

I love sketch it. I don't have a sample, but my favorite that I did with my old demo was we made a shaker card using the wreath as a sunflower and we filled the shaker with golden beads.

Great advice! ;)

Meantime, Nancy, I just wanted to pass along my congratulations on your line with CHF--the images are just beautiful and you are so talented!

Many wishes for success for a long time to come! :D

Natural Beauty. Like someone said upthread, I love the images but cannot make them work for me. I've used the set twice, but every time I'm tempted to sell it, something tells me I'll regret it.

I saw a great way to use Big Blossom with Pick a Petal (it was on a blog, but I can't remember which one, sorry!) - here is my case of the idea using an Inque Boutique set - http://niki.glover.tk/gallery/Recent...03_Big_Blossom

Another great way to use it is with the Faux Shaving Cream technique, there's a great tutorial in the resources section.

Cheers,
Niki

I do this too! There is always somebody out there that has inspiriation where I am lacking :mrgreen: My daughter is a Grace too :mrgreen:

Exactly! And it's totally not my prefered style of stamp. I tend towards outline stamps that let me color my heart out. :) If I don't get inspired by it soon, it's going back on the eBay pile for one more run.

V

Stipple Celebrations I see as a border. I was thinking the snowflakes along the bottom of a card evenly spaced...then maybe a white piece of cardstock stamped/colored with a snow theme mounted on some colored cs, layered on top?

I am having a tough time with Loads of Love. I bought it because I thought it would be great for kids cards or masculine cards. Now whenever I need a masculine card, it seems too childish and when I need a kids card it seems too old. KWIM. Can't do a thing with it.

Pamela

[QUOTE=Curly Chick;12831429]I am having a tough time with Loads of Love. I bought it because I thought it would be great for kids cards or masculine cards.


I know exactly what you mean, love the actual stamps, just can't seem to do a thing with them.

Any suggestions?

I don't have Crate Postale. But, it looks like a good set for sympathy cards. Nice background with the designs. Then vellum over with the bird stamped on it. Then some ribbon. In my little head this set might look more elegant with the darker tones.

[quote=jent;12831470]That's a bummer ~ I never considered that but have had it on my wishlist for a year, Maybe I should re-think that set...

I love Garden Whimsey! It is best used with juicy stampin' up pad. I have used it with Pacific Point. I think Cold Play is better used when stamping with younger kids, no inspiration for me.

Several. I have so many that I just had to have and now never use!

I don't have many SU sets, so there's only one I have and have never used- Tiny Talk. I bought it after I first learned to make shaker cards, thinking it would be fun to put those sayings inside a shaker, but I quickly tired of those particular cards and just have never used it.

For me its more of a lack of time thing. I have several sets that I had to have and have yet to use (upsy daisy for one). Its funny how everyone mentions stamp sets like Garden Whimsy, Carte postale, etc. as un-inspired I guess I'm inspired by them because I don't have them *LOL*

A Light Heart. I love that set, but I haven't been able to use it! *sigh*

Carte Postal defitely. I hate everything I make with it. I loved it in the catalog but I can't seem to make anything decent with it...any body have any ideas?

I was just making a list to sell and trade a little while ago.

Deer Friends is one I had to have that did nothing for me.
Baroque Motifs is another one, I just dont know what to do with it and see so many beautiful cards using it.
Upsy Daisy is one of the newest ones I have no idea what to do with, too.