Does anyone have one of those nights...

[garfield1971]

Does anyone have nights when they sit down to stamp and just look at all their stuff and end up doing nothing? I find that happening to me a lot - I have time to stamp and I have so many ideas in my head, then I sit down and don't know what to do.

If so, how do you handle that? Do you have any tips to get me going or at least to stay focused? I haven't done the challenges yet - that would probably help.

Tonight was actually the first night in a while that I've completed a card (and in only 45 minutes).

Thanks in advance for your insites!!

[Cynamom]

I usually pull out a favorite card-making mag or book and start browsing. Or I look at swaps, or my ATC binders. It always works for me. If not, I'll do something else related, like cut some cardstock, organize a few things, stamp some images to color, etc. It happens. Good luck getting out of it!

Cindy

[cardmaker2]

Oh yeah, that happens to me too! I sit at my desk, get out a magazine, look over my stuff...and just sit there looking.

But I do find when the urge does strike, I can make several and have things come together in a great way. So on average, I figure I come out on top. At least looking at your stuff, or catalogues or whatever, still keeps it in your mind and you might know what you want to start with another time.

Challenges can help, for sure. So can stamping with a friend if you have someone nearby. Share your stamps for an hour or two and it can be very inspiring.

Good luck, and don't beat yourself up over it. It will come back!

[LeahsCreations]

CASE, CASE, CASE. Or think of someone to make something for. I envy you - no time here.

[jpmayo]

Quote:

Originally Posted by garfield1971

Does anyone have nights when they sit down to stamp and just look at all their stuff and end up doing nothing? I find that happening to me a lot - I have time to stamp and I have so many ideas in my head, then I sit down and don't know what to do.

If so, how do you handle that? Do you have any tips to get me going or at least to stay focused? I haven't done the challenges yet - that would probably help.

Tonight was actually the first night in a while that I've completed a card (and in only 45 minutes).

Thanks in advance for your insites!!

I have those montsh quite often:rolleyes:
I havent figured out how to get out of it but i'll be watching this thread for ideas and advice I try the CASEing thing and most of the time I am not even motivated enough to CASE a card!

[jpmayo]

that should say "months"...sorry!

[Donnarie]

I had one of those nights tonight as a matter of fact! I just fiddled around with a few things and didn't get much accomplished. I don't worry about it too much though. I feel more creative when I'm just fiddling around and trying new techniques and materials. Sometimes I actually stumble upon something really cool. It's all part of the fun. Unless, of course, you're trying to make a card because you need it for something -- that's a whole other thing entirely! ;)

[okstamper]

OMG! girl all the time...its rather disgusting..spend all the time, yet it sits there...I think I am compulsive shopper too. I love collecting more than I use...
shhh...

Bonnie

[karrieg]

Tonight! I had to make a new baby card and repeateded one I made for another friend this winter. Then instead of stamping some more, I started looking at stuff that was not yet mounted, so I mounted 6 sets instead;) Now I'm too tired to stamp!

Karrie G.

[Joan B]

yes! I've learned to step away from the table!! This avoids a huge waste of supplies and it stops me from going in to the stamper's pit of self pity!!!

[lezzels]

Im glad I am not the only one this happens too and when Im in that sort of mood so much stuff ends up in the rubbish bin .......... so many ideas running around in my head and just cant put them into anything

[cincystamper]

When this happens to me, instead of forcing myself to try to create something, I spend the time cleaning and organizing. I'm a messy stamper, but ironically stamping in messy-ness drives me nuts. (Yeah, figure THAT one out!) So I find that if I take an evening to clean and organize, it gets me thinking about ideas I had for that paper or this stamp set or that embellishment, plus it gets everything back in it's place so I feel free to get it all messy again. LOL

[nancystamps]

Don't know if I have advice for you, but I can tell you it happens to me all the time. And there's also times when I have ideas for cards (like at WORK) and I can't make them then. I try to jot notes or make a quick sketch before the idea leaves my brain, LOL! It's a great moment for me when the idea and the time to make it real happens at the same time!

[Miss Anthrope]

Quote:

When this happens to me, instead of forcing myself to try to create something, I spend the time cleaning and organizing. I'm a messy stamper, but ironically stamping in messy-ness drives me nuts. (Yeah, figure THAT one out!)

Oh dear, I finally don't feel so weird! When I actually get around to stamping something I end up yelling -- at myself of course -- about lost scissors, or snail tape since everything around me is in such chaos. And for someone with OCD, it tends to drive me insane!!
Normally I have to have a project in mind -- the gallery helps tons with this -- otherwise I sit there, get frustrated and find myself looking at the catalogue to see what else I 'must have'.

Definitely a collector here.

[SCEmily]

Happens to me all the time! Normally what I do, is just do some of the challenges. Sketch Challenge if I can't come up with a layout, or Color Challenge if I can't come up with colors. Normally that helps to get me rolling.