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Its the same here and the gallery. The only difference I've found is that in the threads if you post a YouTube link, it posts the actual video. In the gallery it only posts the link to the video.
Yeah, I caught that.. after watching a few times.. haha. I was thinking wow, they have a punch that has two settings.. Wow! In my defense, I am blonde. ;) lol
Paper! For me it's pretty paper, interesting paper, old papers, vintage, guy themed papers, cool paper, lacey-girley paper, all paper with an interesting theme! I have a Pinterest board, Paper Crazy I am! Nuts about paper! I buy paper first, then I look for card sketches or Pinterest boards using that very same paper. I buy 6x6 paper pads because the paper is cool! I buy 12x12 pads if the paper is cool. I buy paper if the paper is cool! On my walks with the dog, I look for paper on the ground! Haven't found much that way, but I keep looking!!! That's my inspiration, PAPER!!!! And that's how I start my cards!
I finally broke my ice of making stuff again today...only took 7+ hours to make one card (organization, setting up the cricut, learning how to use it, relearn to use the desin space, not the application, all to cut a bunch of circles, since i didn't have a punch).
My senior moment today came, when I put striped paper on the mat, inserted it, and went "oh, I should have set it so that it would go up and down, not side to side"...and didn't realize until I peeled the paper off, that it didn't make a difference!
And Jill, yes, I know what you mean. I have a box, now, for random stuff...starting to save fake credit cards, either for the pretty designs, some, blank window envelopes from bills, a few casino ad cards, started to save the lids from pringles and the lays tubes, to punch pretty shapes from, the wrapper from *ahem* certain products that are pretty and purple...they are the same texture as a dryer sheet when they come out...in fact, i saw an instructional site, where you can make butterflies from them, and I am going to try them on those wrapper materials, to see...just ordered an envelope from the USPS to see if their "glassine" windows would be good enough for like shaker windows, if so, then I will ask my neighbrs to save them for me. (OH! finally found out they have boxes that are bigger than 12x12, and thin...perfect for mailing papers! AND they also have one that measures something like 14" x 24", for mailing game boards! I did not know this...the last time I tried to find the 12x12 size box....the one measurement was 11 7/8, and the paper didn't fit.
Have been tempted to save yoplait yogurt cups, to make "monsters" for halloween, treat cups for the neighborhood...but, i think i would have to make probably 75+. not sure. Just to tuck in a couple of small chocolates, and maybe a smarties or two?
But yes...i want paper. I would love to get some ephemera type paper...i have this type of mental block, of "just" printing it out...it doesn't feel right. If it were pre-printed (graphic 45, ginaK, etc), whether it's authentic or not, it still feels okay. But printing it...especially if you want a "yellowed" look on white paper. Not sure why I have that block...but it's going to limit me, I know, in some of the creation I want to do! bleh.
I wish right now, I could buy a few more paper packs. i would aim for christmas and halloween, but "background" types. Would also *love* to get Graphic45...but that's not in the picture for a LONG time.
[QUOTE=kittyn;21314223]I finally broke my ice of making stuff again today...only took 7+ hours to make one card (organization, setting up the cricut, learning how to use it, relearn to use the desin space, not the application, all to cut a bunch of circles, since i didn't have a punch). >>
started to save the lids from pringles and the lays tubes, to punch pretty shapes from, the wrapper from *ahem* certain products that are pretty and purple...they are the same texture as a dryer sheet when they come out...in fact, i saw an instructional site, where you can make butterflies from them, and I am going to try them on those wrapper materials, to see... >>[QUOTE]
Please share the brand ... I am down to just a few sheets and cannot remember which one to buy (that's my senior moment).
I also save the Color Catcher sheets but haven't done anything with them yet.
My newest thing to start saving is the clear cap to body sprays from Bath&Body Works to organize brads etc.
Thank you ALL so much for all the replies. Sadly, I am still blocked. :( I am not sure what I am going to do. I'm near tears. I want to be in my craft room SO badly... but I just. sit. there. Doing nothing... well, I might piddle around with this or that... but no real progress. :( I've got several packages coming of stuff I've ordered.. and I'm beginning to wonder if it's just a waste of time and $ for me. I truly thought that once I had my own crafting space, I'd be a whirlwind. I'm very disappointed and frustrated.
I have made two new cards since my tea stained one... one for my other sister and one for my brother. But they were for someone... I swear, now I know how writers with writer's block feel. Crummy. :( Help?
I feel your pain - been there, done that! My recommendation to you is to do what Lydia (Understandblue) refers to as "creating for the trash". You just play around with a technique or materials that interest you with no real end result in mind - just DO to be doing. I get stymied when I can't get something to match the picture in my head or come up with an idea for something or whatever, and this "creating for the trash" breaks that cycle and clears my head, more or less.
I think that we trip ourselves up by thinking that everything we create has to be share-worthy, when we should be enjoying the process, not just the end result. We can't just wait for inspiration before at least attempting something, I feel. Picasso said it best: "Inspiration exists, but it has to find you working".
By the way - I'm saying this at least as much for myself as for anyone else who is reading this... ;)
Jennifer, I agree about just fiddling around. (Did I mention my metallic embossing streaks on copy paper created by a randomly swiping a Versamark pad? Not ready for the MOMA.)
Or... maybe it's time to stop trying. If you want to keep a crafty feel going, watch youtube and blog videos of craft room tours and techniques. Or don't even do that. Take a break. Go to Starbucks and drink iced coffee, watch a movie, read a book, take a walk with the dog, borrow a dog to do that, notice color in clothing and nature.
You're locked into pressuring yourself and fighting back. Walk away and play.
Wellll...You could make me a birthday card. I will be 70 in October.
I have recently gotten the most inspiration from Pinterest, searching cards made from stamps I have. Then I don't have to buy anything to get started. You can search Stampin Up cards, Spellbinders cards, Verve Cards, etc.
Well it is usually my muse, -mojo when I have caffeine, when my cleaning fairy does not show up, and I have to clean the house, ya usually I get an idea or two and call it boredom. And the most random time I get inspiration is like 3 AM and then I don't remember my idea. So for me it is a "Timing sort of thing" KWIM;)
__________________ The quickest way for a parent to get a child's attention is to sit down and look comfortable. Practice safe eating always use condiments
kittyn, I found some awesome ephemera type papers at a flea market a few years ago, and they were some old Post Cards! It was just a few quarters for an envelope of ephemera. So fun to use on a card! One was a pretty vintage lady on the front and it said Nebraska on it. But she had the Victorian look, tiny waist, old style Victorian outfit. I used it on a card for my relatives in Nebraska! So fun! Keep your eyes open, some pretty papers will show up and inspire you, I know it!
I've still not found a way to just create... I still have to have a 'purpose'.. but I'm finding more purposes... xD lol
MOMA? (I need to bookmark that acronyms thread!)
I'm not sure I understand 'creating for the trash'... I don' think I can do it.. lol Play around with things, maybe.. but not with the intention of throwing it away. :P
Harvestmoon, I'd LOVE to make you a birthday card... but I'm not sure it'd be the caliber of your cards!!
I've still not found a way to just create... I still have to have a 'purpose'.. but I'm finding more purposes... xD lol
MOMA? (I need to bookmark that acronyms thread!)
I'm not sure I understand 'creating for the trash'... I don' think I can do it.. lol Play around with things, maybe.. but not with the intention of throwing it away. :P
Harvestmoon, I'd LOVE to make you a birthday card... but I'm not sure it'd be the caliber of your cards!!
The idea isn't so much having the intention of throwing it away; it's more like it's okay if you end up throwing it away. You trip over happy accidents and discover what you like/don't like and all the rest of it when you have no particular end goal in mind...
Sue's got it right. and Don't worry that you are wasting materials or time! I'm trying to learn watercoloring and just figured that the cost of a pad of watercolor paper and some drops of color will Not be wasted. Just enjoying the colors themselves is a treat, nevermind that I may never use that paper.
On the note of my 'caliber'...I consider myself as a beginner, still learning techniques and composition. I still copy all those I admire. But, thank you.
"Creating for the trash"...*know* that what you are making might not be good, and might end up being thrown away...but don't be afraid of trying to create. You never know what you make...i.e. you might try an ink technique...the ink run...but you might find a gorgeous paper to use as a background, or ability to cut some into a shape, from those colors. So it's not creating to toss, it's creating to try that technique, "solely"...in that you could go from there, if you want to.
Look for minor challenges, if you aren't up to a major one. If you feel you work better "under pressure", then go for one that has a deadline of sorts, like the birthday card one in August for the homeless children. If you want one with a deadline, but need a bit more time, think Halloween or Christmas. If it is just needing a "nudge", look at ones like the alphabet challenge (I made one that "accidently" fit it...and finding out about it encouraged me to make 2 more for it!). Or go with the "challenge" I gave you privately. I would like to make it a "public" one sometime...but not until I find out when I would qualify to do one, and also when I feel that I could truly back it up by being online for the encouragement/etc.
Haha, MOMA! rofl That's why that one looked familiar... eesh. :P
I see.. I might be able to do that. I did piddle around a bit today... tried an awesome technique I saw on youtube.. but failed. I didn't have the exact supplies she used, but thought I'd improvise.. oh well. I put the items she used on my wish list. xD But I did try some new embossing folders out that I've never used.. and a couple dies. I finished a card... uploading in a bit. And started a new one. So at least I'm 'doing'... more than I was before. That makes me very happy.
I still don't feel like I'm up to trying an official challenge. But, @Kittyn, I do need to go back over those messages you sent me the other night. There was a LOT of info in them.. and I was half asleep. haha xD
I'm not familiar with the alphabet challenge.. I rarely look at those boards. I might go peek.. just out of curiosity.
Choose a card you already have - your own creation or one you've received. Follow that design with papers & colors of your own choosing. Use a stamp set that seems to have images that will fit into that design.
Next time, turn that same card 90 degrees & do the same thing with different papers/colors.
Chances are, you're going to get your own ideas coming while you're making the two cards. Take action on those ideas on your next card!
If you have no cards at home with which to do the above, choose a card online and follow the same steps, just to get a 'start'.
Many times I go through my own previous creations and choose 2 or 3 for this type of mental process.
Allow yourself to take action on any ideas to come to mind. Some will be lovely! Some might not ... but that's how we learn and it's all okay!
Always remember: We can be our own worst critics. Be kind to self. ;)
Don't worry about any of the "official" challenges...none are "official" as in the sense that you *have* to do them over real work/etc. Some ask for a bit of a commitment, x amount per month or something...but some are weekly challenges, like that alphabet one. Some talk about they have to "catch up"....but that is a personal goal, I am taking it, and others like it, as if I can make one, these give me the ideas. I can go through old ones, also, because most say there aren't a deadline on them (other than ones that give a prize, of course). So don't let things be a pressure...let them be an encouragement. Look at that week "deadline" as a challenge, can you get it done in that time, but don't freak out if you didn't, or couldn't, or got 1/2 done, but was waiting for the mail for the other half. Don't make this a stress, look at the things that you can do, and try to find things within it. Such as the alphabet challenge. It's now "N". but it's also for a next event. You were probably going to make one for Christmas, right? What can you do with "N"...Navidad, New Year (not christmas, of course), naughty, nativity, nice, night, noel...So a lot to play with. And you don't have to do a "theme". Navy blue? or a play on words...new kid (birthday). Just have fun with it.
The ideas behind all of this, is to give you a fun time, and enjoyment. After all, that's why you picked up a hobby, right? no one "likes" stress....or what they perceive as negative stress. find the fun parts...and remove or reduce the less fun...if you don't like one step of the process...can you do it all at one time?...I know most people wouldn't...but let's say it's cutting squares? Either do a bunch, or ask your scrapbooking neighbor if she would do a bunch for you, if you would tie a bunch of bows for her.
*smiles* hey...that's what we are all here for...helping each other. And i believe that in helping you one of the nights, it had inspired me to make one of the cards.
We will keep trudging forward...some go at a crawl, some at a walk, some at a skip and a jump...and some fly, but we all work forward. *smiles*
