I so admire...

[StampRev]

...those of you who can whip out your projects in no time! Got any tips for this slowpoke? Have you always been speedy or have you gotten faster over time?

Thanks!
Traci

[Beate]

Traci,
That's a good one! I am joining your "Slow Poke" group! I am not a fast stamper. It takes me a while to color, then it takes me even longer to turn an image into a card.

Hugs and smiles

[krystie lee]

I admire those people, too. I am very S L O W. I haven't gotten any faster over the years, it still usually takes me hours to make a cas card.

[NikiE]

I'm a slow poke, too. The majority of my cards take at least an hour to make (longer for more complicated cards). With a newborn, my cards now come in stages. First stage is often picking stamp and paper and stamping the image. Next time I get a chance to stamp, I usually color the image or part of it and so on. Some cards end up taking days. :grin:

[mouseprints]

Isn't making a card in an hour very fast? I would be very happy to get a card done in an hour.

No answer on this, just impressed with getting a card done in that amount of time.

[StampRev]

Quote:

Originally Posted by NikiE

I'm a slow poke, too. The majority of my cards take at least an hour to make (longer for more complicated cards). With a newborn, my cards now come in stages. First stage is often picking stamp and paper and stamping the image. Next time I get a chance to stamp, I usually color the image or part of it and so on. Some cards end up taking days. :grin:

If you have a newborn, you're not a slowpoke, you're a mommy with her priorities in the right place! I do remember those days of doing everything in stages... *sigh* Still there to a point now, but not as much as when my kids were babies and toddlers.

[StampRev]

Quote:

Originally Posted by mouseprints

Isn't making a card in an hour very fast? I would be very happy to get a card done in an hour.

No answer on this, just impressed with getting a card done in that amount of time.

An hour is fast in my book too!

[StampRev]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Beate

Traci,
That's a good one! I am joining your "Slow Poke" group! I am not a fast stamper. It takes me a while to color, then it takes me even longer to turn an image into a card.

Hugs and smiles

Welcome to the club! haha

[pigtail1]

well i started out slow..but now i can do a card in 30 min or less...same as dinner...lol
what i do is pick my stamp then build a sketch around it (except for sketch challenges then i have the sketch first)...the more you cut cs the more familiar you are with dimensions...for me that's a time saver...i can eyeball a stamp and know the size of the cs layers i'll need...as for dp and embellishments...well i have a small stash so i know what i have memorized pretty much...i don't color alot so that saves me time...but when i do i stick to what i've practiced...and i practice as time allows...watching tv or when the boys nap...it really just boils down to experience and your style...jmo and hth

[criminalgrace]

Don't sweat it! For me, it really depends on the card. Some come together in less than 10 minutes, but others can take days! I've gotten quicker by keeping my tools close at hand and sketching card designs when I'm away from my craft desk. You just have to figure out where in your process you feel slowest and find ways to improve that.

My sketches usually include notes on colors, papers, embellishments, and stamps. I find that if I make a lot of my decisions before I get there, I can dive right in and finish more quickly. There's a lot of tweaking and compromise, but it saves a lot of wasted design time. A good sketch, color challenge, or CASE can do the same thing.

I have a revolving tool caddy (Pampered Chef) right on my stamping surface, full of my most frequently used tools. And my other supplies are in plastic drawers and shelves within an arms reach of my desk, including my secret weapon: pre-made card bases. Everything is labeled, so I don't waste time hunting things down.

I still get slowed down by pawing through my overflowing paper and scrap storage and testing ink colors, so there's still plenty of room for improvement.

[JulieHRR]

If I'm doing a simple, few or no layers card, I can design one of those in 10-15 minutes (or copy one of those that I've already made in 5).

But, developing a design that goes BEYOND that can often take me 1-2 hours, if I'm just flying by the seat of my pants with nothing else to guide me.

One design that was commissioned for a publication actually took me 12 hours, I'm embarrassed to admit . . . 12 hours on one design??? Nobody in their right mind would do that. LOL!

So, yeah. I'm slow, too.

[willosmama]

Quote:

Originally Posted by krystie lee

I admire those people, too. I am very S L O W. I haven't gotten any faster over the years, it still usually takes me hours to make a cas card.

I happen to think CAS are harder though- the thought process alone that goes into them first to achieve that phenomenal finished product, kwim?
You can't always crank out a rocking CAS card!

[Isaiah40:31]

Total slow poke here, so no advice. Just enjoy the process! The longer it takes me to make a card, the harder it is to give it away though...unless it's going to someone that makes cards!

[jactop]

If I didn't have a clock in my craft room I could delude myself into thinking I'm fast. Does that count?

I'm always shocked at how the time flies when I'm stamping. I'm even slower at making videos.

[FiStevens]

Oh I am so happy to find out that I am not the only one that thinks they are slow! It can take me a couple of hours to create a simple layout. Mind you if I could stop myself looking at all the wonderful cards on thus site - the process might go a little faster.

[53queenbee]

the first one of anything is slow...the first card, the first scrapbook page. But at least with card the second is really fast if it is the same design. I try to do at least 6 of any card for my stash.

Scrapbook pages? Hard to copy unless you are making 5 album of the same thing. I just did for the bridal party.

I have worked on one card for 2 hours...last years Christmas card and that will not be repeated this year! I made 35 and each one took that long.

[jhtpa]

I also admit I am in the slowpoke club. However, I do enjoy the creative process and the finished product.

[br3n]

i am slowpoke also.i love the process tho,and sometimes i dread finishing a card that i really like.i am working on doing a tryptic card and this is my first of these so i am messing up a lot and having to start over several times but what i finished this last time i really liked and am looking forward to sending it to a very special younger friend and his wife.they are having major problems and will appreciate the effort i put into the card.dont ever beat yourself up because of trying to create something enjoyable.remember to have fun
br3n

[br3n]

i am slowpoke also.i love the process tho,and sometimes i dread finishing a card that i really like.i am working on doing a tryptic card and this is my first of these so i am messing up a lot and having to start over several times but what i finished this last time i really liked and am looking forward to sending it to a very special younger friend and his wife.they are having major problems and will appreciate the effort i put into the card.dont ever beat yourself up because of trying to create something enjoyable.remember to have fun
br3n

[Toy]

My name is Holly and I am a slow poke. Even in the best situation, with a sketch in mind or a color combo, I'm celebrating if I finish under an hour. More often than not, it's closer to 1.5 hours. Especially since I tend to walk away mid way to make sure I like what I'm doing. Besides, I like that hour of solitude. My boys have learned over the years that if I am in the studio, they stay clear.

Oh and I agree with AJ, the simpler the card (CAS), the longer it takes me.

Slow pokes unite!

[StampRev]

Y'all are awesome! So glad to know I'm not the only one!

You know the quote, "It's not about the destination, it's about the journey" (or something like that) ? Well I think I'm a destination kind of girl who needs to learn to appreciate the journey - even if it takes longer than I think it should!

[ctorina]

I am in the slow poke club, it takes me like five hours to make a card!

[jpmayo]

I would say at least 80% of my cards are 30 minutes or less, any longer and I just don't have the time for them.

I used to come home from work and literally go straight to my stamping room and stay there for 3-4 hours, with a break in between to make some dinner or make it as I stamped and come out with 1 card...
Now, I seem to have lots of other things to do (TV shows, bike rides, golf, tennis, shopping) and I don't feel like I have hours to stamp anymore.

I also think about and design cards in my mind at work all day...so that helps, I usually write a note or scribble a design for a card at my desk at work and then hurry home and whip it up, I even make them when I go home for my lunch break (for example, the 2nd one on my blog today was made on my lunch break yesterday).

Not sure if this is a good or a bad thing....

[TexasGrammy]

Full-fledged member of the Slow Pokes club here!! ;)

What's all this chatter about less than a couple of hours?? :shock:

[Gatomom]

This thread is so funny..I always thought it was just me that took hours to make a card! So glad to know I'm not alone. I think the thing I struggle with the most is my paper selection. I agonize over it and change my mind a ton of times. Somedays it seems to take all day just to put one card together!

[Browneyed Girl]

Sticking my hand up asking if I can join the "SPC" too.

Unless I am making a card "on spec" meaning a friend has said exactly what they want from me, I generally have no idea what I'm going to do when I sit down to make a card.

Sometimes I pick the stamp first, sometimes a colour, sometimes I reach in my "bin o stamps" and just close my eyes pull something out and go with that.

As long as you're having fun I figure that's all that counts right. Though this thread has made me feel much better and know I'm not alone in the "slow lane".

[wahinelei]

Well if Im CASE'ing a card I can get it done lickety-split! If Im designing my own, it can take HOURS. For some reason I need to see everything cut out or stamped before I know if it'll work or not. So in addition to it taking a lot of time to make a card, I also have a lot of scraps everywhere. ;)

But you know, I can't tell you how proud I am when I design my own card. I be giving myself high-fives and pats-on-the-back whenever I get one done!!

[lmcgraw01]

I separate the looking for ideas and the making a card into different categories, I guess. When I am tired and not at all into scrappin, I veg on the couch and look in the galleries and save designs that I would love to recreate into my favorites. Then, when I need to make a card, I only have to scan through some in my favorites to get inspiration, or to jog my memory. I don't usually copy, but I can see how some paper I have would work with the technique. Seems like a long winded explanation for what I do.
Leah

[RIRed2]

Put me in the slow poke category also..Some people do 4 and 5 cards a day I am lucky to get 3 done a week. I work full time, I have to sleep, I have to cook, clean and do laundry, I have to enjoy life especially in the Spring and summer

[JoBear2]

I have no idea how people turn out a card every day esp. with all their commitments - I am full of admiration for them. I am a bit of slowpoke for the most part even with CAS cards, although I had noticed recently that I colour quicker (ie: I use the Gamsol Magic aka Magic Colored pencil technique) than I used to which I put down to experience.

I do find that if I plan ahead how I am going to make a card, ie: choose the image, then work out the layout by either using a layout from a Sketch Challenge or draw my own layout on a sheet of paper, pick the ribbon + dp's and match up the cardstock, THEN colour my image (so it all matches), I am much quicker 'cos it's all there ready to go - much like getting the ingredients together for a recipe. If I go to my Craft Room without a plan, I seem to fiddle-fuddle around because I will colour in an image and then can't find the right colour dp's or ribbon or embellies to match - which makes me crazy and frustrated!! :mad:

I do have a folder of "go to" Layouts for when my mojo is low and I find this helpful for being a little quicker as I know the layouts work well - I guess like using an old fav recipe that you know will always work.

[FaithCaitlin]

Add me to the slow poke club..!

I just starting stamping. I made two cards the other day and they took me about an hour a piece-- but they were basic, silly cards that don't even compare to the some of the ones I've seen in the SCS gallery!! Wowzers!

Anyways, I do enjoy the whole process! I think part of my problem is that I have an idea, cut everything out, stamp away, and then realize I don't like how it comes together.. sooo, I start over.

Glad to know I'm not alone though!

[stamphappy1650]

I'm all over the place with how long it takes - I've done cards in 10-15 minutes to days. If I'm doing a CAS or using a minimum techniques and the mojo is working I become Speedy Stamper (action figures available (not)). However, when I'm learning or developiing a new technique or my mojo went to Maui without me, it can take days to finish a card.

Bottom line is I really don't care how long it takes so long as I'm having fun. I think I prefer cards that take longer just to enjoy the process that is until I get frustrated because it won't come together and I feel the need to flip thebutt ugly card card into the trash and join my mojo in maui.

[SuzyQue]

This is going to be a large group, but always room for one more slow poke. Count me in. Sometimes I do like FaithCaitlin said "I think part of my problem is that I have an idea, cut everything out, stamp away, and then realize I don't like how it comes together.. sooo, I start over.":( for instance, the card I made for stamp club for this coming Saturday took me about a week and a half. 1. Plan 2. cut 4 sizes of nestie ovals 3. stamped image. 4. colored images 5. Tried layout. 6. redesigned card, only using two sizes of the ovals. 7. Decided to cut out the main image. 8. Assembled one card. 9. Gave myself the "go ahead". Cut out the images. 10. decided to stamp a little bit of background. 11. Put cards together. 12. Bragged to two friends that I finished before the morning of stamp club. ( I made 10 cards)
In the past I have stressed over it until I took all the fun out of it. I have decided to give that up and have fun.

[StampRev]

So thankful for all the ideas and the company!

And stamphappy1650 I want to join your mojo in Maui the next time it goes! One of my top favorite vacations! (...that I took 8 years ago and still haven't scrapbooked... doh!)

[stamphappy1650]

Quote:

Originally Posted by StampRev

And stamphappy1650 I want to join your mojo in Maui the next time it goes! One of my top favorite vacations! (...that I took 8 years ago and still haven't scrapbooked... doh!)

Oh no you've been sucked into the "I'll scrapbok it someday" vortex. I have 5 vacations to Hawaii that are each stored in their own box with paper and embellishments waiting for me to get on it. Maybe we just need to go to Maui and forget taking pictures... nah, sorry the vortex sucked some more of my few brain cells!!

[mwkids]

Add me to the slow poke club! I will figure out paper and my image then walk away to think about it, then I colour, then I cut and try to figure out my layout and embelishments. I'm sure it takes me 2-3 hours at least!

[leelulumpkin]

You are sooooo not alone! A friend I have made here recently on SCS (Harvey's Mum) used the perfect expression for this dilemma, the subject we were discussing just the other day!

When I moaned about being so slow at making a single card her response was "I don't make a card - I give birth to it!" This is so funny and true as my card gestation period equals that of an elephant NOT a human being!

[StampRev]

Quote:

Originally Posted by leelulumpkin

You are sooooo not alone! A friend I have made here recently on SCS (Harvey's Mum) used the perfect expression for this dilemma, the subject we were discussing just the other day!

When I moaned about being so slow at making a single card her response was "I don't make a card - I give birth to it!" This is so funny and true as my card gestation period equals that of an elephant NOT a human being!

hahahahahahahahaha!!!!! That's hilarious! Thanks for the perspective!

[minstrel]

This is a very reassuring thread!! I, too, am a member of the Slow Poke Club. I'm jealous of those who can whip a card up in 30 minutes. I usually pick my image, then my paper/CS, then pick my colors to color my image (I'm usually a colored pencil/Gamsol girl), then figure out my layout - then decide if I like it! LOL - and sheesh! It takes me 2-3 hours usually to get one card done. But at the end of the day, I enjoy the process, so it's totally worth it.

[RubberLady603]

I'm so happy to hear there are other wicked slow pokes too!! Sometimes I whip a card right out (in an Hour or so) and sometimes it can take days and several attempts before I'm happy with it. Glad I'm not the only one.......