Love/Hate rant

[babydal57]

Caitlyn, welcome! I'm glad you are getting some good advice. I'm not sure I have much to offer, but I'll throw this out there....

If there is a particular technique that you want to try, focus on the tools and supplies that you need to do it. For me, it was heat embossing. Watching the icky gray powder melt into gorgeous silver embossing was like MAGIC! After I got a heat gun, VersaMark pad and jar of embossing powder, I think I embossed just about everything for a month, LOL~ I was that into it. ;)

I also want to add that having a lot of "stuff" does not make you more creative, nor does it make your creations better. I have a room full of stuff and I'm no better than I was when I had a few Iris boxes of deco scissors and letter stickers.

And lastly, I have recently found distress inks. OMGoodness! With a heat gun, versa mark, clear embossing powder (all can be had for under $20 total), a few stamp sets, and distress inks, you can make white cardstock into any type and color of patterned paper that you want. The inks are on sale at Joann's this week for $2.99. I blend with foam cosmetic wedges (50 for $1 at the dollar store). Places routinely charge $2/sheet for paper that is pre-embossed, but you can make your own for next to nothing. And you get to choose the design.

Anyway, that got way long. Have fun with your hobby. That's what hobbies are for. Don't compare yourself to anyone else. Be the best YOU can be and that will be absolutely fabulous.

[Mrs Noofy]

My card making started out with nothing but the basics. I think I am the Queen of 'Make-do'. I didn't have a cuttlebug so I used my rolling pin instead. Worked okay until I could save-up. I still don't have all the bells and whistles. A few nesties is quite enough for me I really don't need every shape in the world..I'd have to make 16 cards a day to justify that! LOL Make a list of the basic equipment you would like. I think a heat gun is necessary for various reasons so that would be on my list. All those glitter/shimmer sprays are nice too but they can be made. As long as you are enjoying what you are doing and feel this is the hobby for you the rest of the 'stuff' doesn't really matter. We all started out just the same way with the same feelings and frustrations.. but each card you make gets a little better than the last one and you will see improvement every time you create. There are lots of threads here about substitutions and make-dos. It might be a good idea to read the threads on 'I wish I had never bought'......... learn from other people's mistakes... LOL I would agree with the others..CAS cards are gorgeous and the simpler the better. Sometimes too many embellishments just confuse the eye! There is always someone who will help or suggest because this is a great site full of wonderful people.

[Barbara Jay]

Quote:

Originally Posted by lylacfey

I got involved with a group of elitist stampers who used the top products, were on design teams or who had been stamping since I was in diapers. I am almost forty. That's saying something.

.

I think this happens more often than people would believe. It can be very discouraging to look at projects made by people who have been doing this for 10-15 years and have acquired a lot of experience. Plus the " Elitist Stampers" have the latest tools and $20,000 + scrap rooms. :shock:
Many either have a lot of money or are working for several companies to showcase their products and get this stuff free.

Instead of feeling discouraged " carefully study" these elaborate creations you like and find "one" technique or idea you can use. Is it a bow treatment you like or the colors they used or the way they layered the card? Take this knowledge and apply it to your creations.

Have you tried using sketches? They give you a layout to start with.

There are a gazillion here on Splitcoast .
Card Sketches Forum - Wednesday Challenge Ideas, Rules, and Submissions
the top sticky thread shows all of them so far. The other threads show examples of how people used them.

Another sketch blog is Mojo Monday. Every Monday they have a new sketch and show examples of how people used them . They also have an archive of previous sketches.
Mojo Monday - The Blog

There are many other sketch sites . But too many of anything can get overwhelming

Another person who does elegant yet simple cards is Sharon Johnson. Her gallery on Splitcoast is "notimetostamp" Just go to the Gallery and put "notimetostamp" in the search box
No Time to Stamp

When something doesn't turn out as you hoped Just remember a Baseball player who is batting 300 is considered a star, yet he is striking out 2/3rd of the time LOL

[Barbara Jay]

Here is Sharon Johnson's Gallery. She has over 100 examples in there. Look at some of her older entries. Simple yet elegant

notimetostamp's Gallery at Splitcoaststampers

Look at this one
CAS Christmas Card 1 by notimetostamp at Splitcoaststampers
Or this one
CAS Monochromatic Sketch CAS10, SC224 by notimetostamp at Splitcoaststampers

[Caitlyn Jordan]

Thank you so much for the advise and the links!!

I haven't looked much at the sketches but I think they may be helpful for me. When I look at other cards I try to see what color combination is used and how the card is put in order. I also try to find what made a card "special" that I could mimic at home with different supplies (paper/color etc.). With the sketches it would help me fill in the blank so to speak with colors or stamps I have and like.

I appreciate the links because sometimes I have difficulty finding my way to where a person may have suggested I go.

[jayandmag]

Everyone has given such great advice. I trashed a lot of my work in the beginning, after some time I found I didn't need a ton of supplies to create something beautiful. It took a little while put I found my own style of crafting.....between that and finding inspiration in other people's work, my projects flow pretty smoothly. I am sure in time yours will too.

[jansy]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Caitlyn Jordan

When I look at other cards I try to see what color combination is used and how the card is put in order. I also try to find what made a card "special" that I could mimic at home with different supplies (paper/color etc.).

That's exactly what I do. I have made tons and tons of copies of cards - not just from the SCS galleries, but other websites and blogs, that I keep as a resource when I've got "stamper's block." I don't duplicate the cards (because often I don't have the same tool or stamp), but if I see a color combination that I haven't tried or one that really "pops" I'll try and use it, or if I see an embellishment used in a different way I will see what I have in my stash that could be used in a similar fashion, or if I see a sketch that is new and different I like to try those, as well. That's what inspiration is all about, as far as I'm concerned...ideas that spark a new idea in ME. What I do with that idea is unique, but with homage paid to the original creator.

[Bumblebee Diva]

Quote:

Originally Posted by fionna51

Caitlyn...
I was in your shoes when I first started. I was trying to make cards that had a lot of features to the cards. I was trying to do lots of different techniques. I wasn't able to spend the money on the tools/supplies/embellishments that I desired. I got frustrated.

Later I had more money to spend. I tried to copy all the gorgeousness that I was seeing and still felt frustrated. If I just had _____ (fill in the blank) then I could do so much more.

Well, I gave up on that! I found that I would NEVER have all the latest and greatest. But I also found that I didn't HAVE to have all the latest and greatest. Sure, I have some of the popular things going on today...but only because I waited to see if it would stay popular, or would it disappear as quickly as it appeared.

Here's what I do. I browse the gallery daily. I watch the daily uploads. When I find something I like, I click on the little red heart to favorite it. But I look for the simple designs that catch my eye. Not the heavily embellished cards that I would have to spend mega bucks on supplies for, or that would take me hours to make. I find layouts that look good to me and I make several cards with that layout and the supplies that I have. I find cards that may use a stamp I don't have...but I have a different one that will work.

Then if there is a particular stamper (or 50 of them! LOL) that I enjoy their work, I may find several of their cards that I can copy with the supplies and stamps I have. I always am thinking of the supplies that I have...not thinking what do I have to go buy.

Just remember that everyone, yes everyone, starts with just one stamp or stamp set...and just a little bit of ink and a little bit of paper. Nothing else is needed. Well, let me qualify that. You need adhesive to stick things together if you are doing any kind of layers at all. And my particular ABSOLUTE NECESSITY is dimensionals. I HAVE to give that dimension to my creations. I saw things come more to life when I used dimensionals.

You can make some wonderful creations with minimal supplies. Just plan for simplicity and you will be much more satisfied.

If you would like to talk more about this, I'd be glad to talk to you...either post here or send me a PM. I'd be glad to help encourage you!

I just learned something new here..as you can see I highlighted it in red..now instead of trying find the favorite I can now click on the heart..never knew what that was for until now. THANK YOU!

[abange58]

I have to add that even though I have been stamping for 8 years now, I still feel this way sometimes. I think paper crafting has evolved in the last couple of years and there are a lot more tools/accessories being used on cards than when I started. I have a full room of stamp stuff and can barely find a card in the gallery that I have all the supplies for. But some of my favorite cards of all time are simple and basic with very little frill added.