How does one know when its time to take a break from stamping?
 

I ask because ... I've been stamping for 10+ years. The first time I went to a SU party I was hooked and never looked back!

I was a stay at home mom for 18 years and just recently went back to work about 2 years ago. Its been getting harder and harder to find enjoyment in stamping. I look at blogs, I look at pinterest, I try to stamp and ... NOTHING is looking good.

What is wrong with me? Should I take a break for awhile? Has this happened to you? What did you do? And did it help?

I am a total loss of why I am like this. I haven't stamped much since Feb and so far, I just have no interest in going back to it. Do i pack up all my supplies? Do I sell all my stamps? I just don't know what the answer is and I'm hoping someone can shed some light on this for me.

Thanks so much!

PS I did recently start making my own envelopes and I am having a blast with that :).

Sherri

I think we all have times when our creativity is up and down - maybe you're just going through a "down" phase?

With going back to work you presumably have less time for other activities so if you're still trying to keep up the same level of output, making cards for all occasions etc, then you're probably putting more pressure on yourself to keep up and it almost inevitably starts to feel like an obligation rather than a joy.

You might want to try backing off from looking at too much of other people's stuff for a while too, I think we can get overloaded and feel nothing we make compares to what we've seen on blog X or Pinterest board Y.

In your place, I'd probably give myself permission to stamp just for the heck of it, not necessarily to produce something to send to others etc. Having time and space just to play often makes us feel more creative, I think. If you're finding more pleasure in other creative activities then just run with that for a while and see how you feel in a couple of months' time.

HTH!

Sherri, I follow your crazy work schedule when you post on FB, and that has to be a big part of it.

Having the responsibility to get up, get yourself dressed and ready and be there at a certain time for an outside job really changes your priorities.

I'm sure, knowing you, that you still do all the special things at home for your family that you did when you weren't working.

I think a break might be good. If your supplies are in the way, pack them up, but I wouldn't sell anything. Give yourself some time and don't feel guilty about NOT being creative for a while. :)

Online Card Classes has a great class called 'Kickstart' which is about kickstarting your creative urge when you're in a creative slump. It's reasonably priced and the artists are wonderful - you can read all about it here: Class Info | Kick Start. I got a lot out of it, maybe you would, too :)

I took a break from stamping for a while. November was the last time I stamped until recently. The last couple weeks, I've finally been feeling like I want to stamp and create cards again. For me, I definitely just needed to take a break and be able to do something else for awhile.

I find making backgrounds relaxing. There are lots of videos on Youtube showing how to make all kinds of wonderful backgrounds using inks, paints and other art supplies. Try experimenting with some of those. Then when you're ready to make a card, you'll have lots of backgrounds already prepared.

Other than my monthly card swap in my stamp group, I try not to set any "production" goals for stamping or scrapbooking. After all, this is what I do to relax. If I want to be stressed, I can just go to work. ;)

Good luck.
Dea

Sometimes you just need a break. If you don't really feel like stamping anything...don't.

As others have said, looking at lots of stuff online may be putting to much pressure on you whether you are really aware of it or not. Give yourself permission to go on "hiatus" from things stamping related. Only look at stamping blogs or sit down to "play" with your supplies if you really WANT to do that. If not, that's okay.

I would not sell anything at this point. Just pack it up, label it well ( maybe even with the date on the outside )so you can find it in a pinch if you need to; then put the boxes somewhere out of sight. Relax, Breath...enjoy the open space that packing up your supplies has provided. You can always get them out again if the mood strikes.

Do you have any friends that you can get together with. Could be your trouble with ideas is that you don't like the trend that people are creating. Maybe try some swaps with people who have similar interests. Maybe take some classes at your local stamp store or online. If you follow a certain stamp company maybe try some new ones.

I suppose it is time you take a short break. If you are afraid that the short break will make you don't feel like making card anymore then you can cut down on the volume. I have been going through a long period of bottle neck, more than 2 years, due to making too many cards. Currently I am taking a break and only make cards when there is a need. Don't give yourself any restriction or pressure. This is suppose to be your hobby and help you relax.

Sherri, when it becomes a chore its time to change gears...
nope, don't sell it all.
if envelopes are making you happy. make envelopes.
if something is gathering dust and you need the room. put it in a box and put the box in a closet or something...

sometimes having less "out there" makes it easier to play. maybe put a time limit on how long the box can live rent free in the closet... if you don't get into the box and take things out of it say in a year then maybe those things can go. but, I don't see why you cant use the things you have for making cards to alter envelopes.

and yes, I think eventually it happens to everyone.
I tend to play with paper things more in the winter when we are forced indoors. during the summer it's harder to stay inside and play so I am way way behind with the Christmas card challenge, and its OK because, really its only July and I did get some done during the winter and spring.

100% agree with Joanne- we all get highs & lows of creativity- the absolute last thing you need to do is 'make' yourself craft, you will start to find it a chore, and we all know how we feel about those! Tell yourself its ok to ignore all your crafting for a while- sooner or later, something will fire you up again,(even if its starting to pack it away) and the interest will spontaneously come back- everyones Mr Mojo takes a holiday once in a while.

I take a break all the time. I went back to work in April, so I didn't do anything with my stamping for a coulple months. I was a guest DT for the month of June so I made 5 cards, but other than that I didn't touch my stamps.

I'm taking a bit of a break this summer. I'm stamping a little bit, but not near what I was doing. It was feeling like a chore to me, too. Instead of quitting cold turkey--I have found that just take a step back was enough. And I'm finding that I'm wanting to scrapbook more than make cards again, which is a good sign that I haven't totally lost my creative vibes. :D The past few days, though...I can't seem to focus and am on a big cleaning spree. Going to start on my stamps and paper next. I hope to clear out what I know I won't use....

Don't be afraid to take a break - but don't sell all your stuff, either. I have a touch of crafting ADD, and right now I'm doing very little stamping except when I go to my demo's 10 for 10's. Instead, I'm on a kick where I'm knitting dishcloths. But history shows that I'll get tired of those and I'll go back to stamping, or maybe beading, or something else. Then in a few months or maybe even a year, I'll think knitting sounds like fun again . . .

Like previous posters have said, it's a hobby. It's supposed to be fun and relaxing. When it becomes work, or a source of stress, it's time to step away for a while. It's the same reason that I don't sell any of what I make. Making money from it turns it into a job, and then all the fun is gone.

I went from 3 days a week to full time nights. Yuck, no time for anything extra. I know that I'm happiest when I get to create something so nothing is sold or packed up (I have a craft room). Hopefully, I can learn to make time, but right now supper and laundry and picking up the house is all I can handle. In the meantime I check out the galleries here and pinterest to feed my creative side. Hope you find what makes you happy.
Kathy T

I go through streaks of stamping then I do polymer clay and don't touch any stamps, copics or card stuff for a couple of months. Then it's back to cards... These breaks refresh me. Don't sell you will regret it.

Sometimes I sit down to craft and end up 'sorting out' my Craft supplies for a couple of hours, not vey productive but I enjoy it and I figure it wil make it easier to find things when I do feel creative.

Ruth

By asking this question it looks like you do need a break from stamping for a variety of reasons.

However I would agree with others that it would be unwise to sell or give away your equipment and supplies.
Pack it away if you don't want to look at it and only give away or sell things you have used and don't want to use again.
Out of sight out of mind .
Enjoy other activities.

You may find in a year or more that you do want to get back into stamping and will not do so because the cost of starting over would be too great.

If after 5 years everything is still packed and you have no interest in stamping again then you can give away or sell the things
Just my 2� worth.
Barbara

I think it just happens. I took a break also and am just getting back into it after almost a year. I never thought I would leave stamping and for a while I doubted I would get back into it.

Sometimes pushing it makes it worse. I hope it works out!

So glad to see you!

Thanks, Joan! It's great to see you, too! :D I'm glad to hear you're back to stamping, too.

It is so nice to see you back, Niki!

I agree.... sometimes you just need to get away for a bit.

I had just started stamping and even became a SU demo for awhile. I began crocheting and ended up starting a FB page to sell my items and designing patterns. I took almost a 2 yr break from stamping and even considered selling some of my supplies. Thankfully, I didn't though. The past few months I've been sort of burnt out with crocheting and have gotten back into scrapping. I've figured out that I'm probably going to go back and forth with my hobbies, and I just need to do what feels right at the time and not force myself to do anything. That takes the fun and creativity out of it. ;)

Thanks, Nancy! :D I think it was a good idea for me to take a break because I'm actually feeling that need to stamp and color like I used to.