Hi Stampers!
Have you ever found yourself in a card making rut? You pull out cardstock, ink, stamps, and maybe a bit of patterned paper. You create the card base, stamp, maybe even do a bit of die cutting, put it all together, and call it good. The card looks nice, but you feel it looks just like the last ten cards you’ve made. What to do? What to do? We are going to answer that question today, and it all begins with the cards. Let’s take a look:
VIDEO
CHANGING THINGS UP
When it comes to card making we all have our comfort zones, but sometimes the comfort zone starts feeling boring. Not to worry. It is easy to put some zip and zing back into your cards. Here are a few things I do when I feel I am in a rut.
1. Use the supplies I have on hand in a different way, or a way I’ve not used in a while.
2. Add metallics - spatter some gold, mat a greeting with metallic cardstock, add a strip of gold or silver glimmer paper, use metallic embellishments, etc. (I sometimes forget about my metallic supplies.)
3. Use something new with something you have had for a while. Most of us have more supplies than we need, but a new stamp or die set, a new embellishment, or a new ink color can jazz things up a bit. The new item might remind you of something you have, but have not used in a while.
4. Try a new to you technique. Trying something new gives you a fresh perspective, and energizes your creativity.
5. Get out those embossing pastes (and similar products). Yes, they can be messy and you need to have a plan for clean up, but it is so worth it.
6. Clean your crafting space. As you go through drawers or bins, or clean off a shelf, you just might run across a supply you forgot you had! And you just might find that card making rut is long gone.
USE YOUR GO TO SUPPLIES IN A DIFFERENT WAY
Embossing folders are an easy way to add texture and dimension to any card. I use them often, but rarely do I add to the embossed panel. I tried something different with this embossed panel. Instead of embossing on plain cardstock I embossed an ink blended panel. After embossing I used a sponge dauber and a bit of brown ink to lightly go over each leaf. Next I used a glitter brush (clear) to highlight areas of the leaves and add a bit of shine.
(Supplies - Glitter Brush - Scrapbook.com; All other supplies Stampin’ Up!)
ADD METALLICS
(Supplies - Hello dies - Scrapbook.com; Gold spatters - Gansai TAMBI; All other supplies - Stampin’ Up!)
SOMETHING NEW & SOMETHING OLD
I have had Distress Oxide inks for two or three years. For some reason I don’t use them much. I bought a great set of leaf dies, and I realized those inks would help me create lovely fall leaves. I love the results!
(Supplies Leaves dies - scrapbook.com; Greeting - Dare 2 B Artz; Blended inks - Tom Holtz/ Ranger; All other supplies - Stampin’ Up!)
TRY A TECHNIQUE YOU SAW DEMONSTRATED
Oh my goodness! How did I not think of this? Just spread glitter glue (Stickles, Pops of Color, etc.) over a stencil! Let it dry, and you have a great background. Trying something new is invigorating!
(Supplies - Stencil -The Crafter’s Workshop; Greeting - Scrapbook.com; Embellishments - Simple Stories; All other supplies - Stampin’ Up!)
TRY A (DIE) CUT AND PASTE
I had these die cut leaves sitting on my table. I almost put them in my leftovers bin, but for some reason I did not. Instead I pulled out a stencil, and right there beside the stencil file sat this prism paste! So, I used it, and I loved the background with the leaves.i was so excited.
(Supplies - Leaves - Scrapbook.com; Prism paste - Sizzix; Greeting - Trinity Stamps; All other supplies -Stampin’ Up!)
TODAY’S CARDS
When you find yourself feeling like you are in a card making rut try mixing things up a bit. Use your supplies in a different way, try a new technique, use supplies you might have forgotten you have, add something new to your stash and pair it with something you have. If you feel you are still in that rut - clean your craft space! I promise you will have a renewed enthusiasm and be out of that rut!
That’s all for today. Until next time …
Stamp Happy!
Kim
