I don't think I have ever made a card in less than an hour. That being said, it most often takes me many hours sometimes over several days. I stamp birthday cards for a month by theme. (ie November was mums/Thanksgiving was deer and December is perfume/pocket knives/Christmas snowflakes). Therefore I look through all my ideas for those themes and use them to spur the actual card. I rarely make two cards alike---unless I am really pleased with one that is not too time consuming and I need a thinking of you or other occasion for my stash that would be appropriate. I love techniques and I try to use as many as possible for the different cards. I also teach a technique class every month, so need samples for that. In that case, I use the same technique in as many different cards as possible. The only time limits I have is to have the cards done by the time they go out, but I'm always working 1 to 2 months ahead and have cards for other occasions in my stash, so rarely, if ever, have an immediate deadline for a specific card. That way I can enjoy working as I absolutely love the process, am retired and don't care if I take days to get a card done, or end up playing with a technique until it pleases me. Since the theme drives my card making, it cuts down on much of the thought process. As many, I've had those cards that take on a mind of their own and come out way different than intended, but if I'm happy with it, great. I have agonized over the card that does come out as imagined and I look at it knowing it is not quite right, needs something, or I just don't like it. If I can't get it to my liking, it gets set aside for another time or trashed.
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