What do you do with cards you make that are flops?

[debjc]

I made 4 or 5 of the same thank you card last night and I just don't like it. I hate to toss them out, but I also don't really want to give them to people. I guess I should have made just one before I went ahead and made a bunch.

Anyway, when YOU make a card you don't like, to you give it anyway, toss it, or somehow recycle it?

Thanks,
Deb

[Deb Za]

I have a couple of friends I will show it to, and get their opinion. I've found that I am much more of a critic on what I am making, and that most of the things I think are flops are actually quite nice in their eyes.

[dlm]

Sometimes I will attempt to carefully dismantle the various pieces of a card and save them for another project. If I feel that the various elements are just to dreadful to even attempt to salvage, I'll toss it in the rubbish bin.

[gadget19]

I donate the cards to local nursing homes. They love them! I also do this with swap cards that aren't my personal taste... if I am not going to send it to someone, I want someone to get some use out of it!

[Erin K]

If it's really bad, like total failure of technique and it makes me want to cry I jam it deep in my trash can.

If it's just not a favorite I use it anyhow.

I sent one that I thought was painfully boring to a magazine and they published it! I was shocked.

But generally if they are horrid I toss them, if they are just not great I send them to friends. I don't think anyone makes ONLY masterpieces, and I think my friends KNOW I don't only make awesome cards.

[steubner]

I rip them apart and salvage what I can (ie. ribbon, extra cardstock, etc.)

[kmccullo]

I give them to people who I need to give cards too, but just don't appreciate a pretty homemade card This include my non-stamping friends and boys in general (well boys without stamping wives)

[frogwoman]

I give them to my boys to play with. They write notes to their teachers and display them in their room.

[UrgentCookie]

I've noticed that the ones I really don't like are the ones that others just rave over. So even though, I may not like it, it still gets used.

[lesliespringer]

Save what I can and throw out the rest! THEN start over:p

[SDiegoGal]

I do what most people have been saying. I salvage what I can, then throw away/recycle what is left. Usually though, I have been designing a card in my head for a few days before something actually goes together. Then I cut out all the pieces and put everything together without adhesive. That way, if something just doesn't "go" then I can move or omit it.

[Cammie]

Yep...me too....I kill em and use their parts for other cards that need a brad, a ribbon, a kidney, etc!

[McStamper]

I have made so many ugly cards and would get so frustrated because I would have already glued everything together and then realized how bad they were. I was never able to salvage much. I was introduced to the Herma Dotto removable tape by SheStampsHeCamps. Now I use that to put a card together before I make my final decisions, I can't believe how much more freedom I feel because everything is still easy to redesign or reuse. If I'm still not sure I will take a picture of it and look at it on my computer. For some reason looking at it on the computer makes it easier for me to see the changes that need to be made or what and where I can add embellishments.

[Stampin' Adventurer]

I let my mom look at them to see if she wants to keep them or put them in the card box at the assisted living where she works, and toss them if even she doesn't like them (which doesn't happen often because she's easily impressed =-)).

Smiles,

[sassyat30]

I toss 'em.

[RJP111]

I recycle what I can and toss what's left.

[kimberlite]

Boy, I'm just relieved to find out that other people make ugly cards too!

[sf9erfan]

I salvage pieces from the really bad ones, but if they are just not up to my normal standards I save them in a shoebox and sell them as $1 cards. They are usually much better than anything at the store for a buck and people buy them all up! Just sold 37 of them on Friday!

[marymn]

I usually find that the cards I don't like and think are flops are appreciated by someone else (esp. if they don't know anything about stamping and cardmaking). I just make sure I send the"flops" to someone who doesn't stamp or make cards and usually get great compliments from the people who received what I thought were "flops".
Doesn't change my perception of the card, but makes me feel good that someone appreciates it!
Mary

[annieht]

I usually either give them to my mom (because she loves all my cards*giggle*) or I just recycle them and use their parts for other cards.

[Margaret Wilburn]

I hate to say that I send them to a particularly disliked SIL and two several elderly aunts that think I waste my time and maybe can't afford to buy cards. I figure they wouldn't appreciate a good one. I am a bad person aren't I?
Margaret

[Minneapple]

I'm adopting the philosophy of a stamper in a New Year's Resolutions thread last week. She said: "A card is not finished until I love it...otherwise, its a work in progress or trash." I like that! I make several trials of a card before I decide on the final design, then I make a dozen, or as many of a dozen that turn out. My demo taught me "its only paper."

[ebethneu]

I perform a cardectomy and salvage anything I can. And then it goes into the recycle.

I remember reading something Kittie said, and to paraphrase " You have to be willing to waste paper and supplies to get better." It's made me feel a lot better about the stuff that goes into the bin.

[MaryPack1]

There are several ladies on this site that turn card fronts into full cards, and send them to the soldiers, or take them to hospitals and give them to sick people and children. I'm sure they would take any cards you have, and make changes to them. They add stickers and stuff to them for the kids. They don't care if they are SU or michaels stamps. I can give you the gal's info if you are interested. Just pm me.

[Quiltnstamper]

If I don't like a card I've made I hate to give it to someone because I don't want my work judged by that card. I try to salvage what I can from it and toss the rest.

[greetingsbydebra]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Quiltnstamper

If I don't like a card I've made I hate to give it to someone because I don't want my work judged by that card. I try to salvage what I can from it and toss the rest.

That's exactly my thinking as well! If it goes out there with my name on it, it has to be "good." I don't want people to see a not so good creation and think I'm generally a bad stamper, KWIM?

[Stamper for fun]

If I really hate the card, I toss it. If it's kinda "ok" but I don't really like it, I save it in the back of my stash and dig it out later to donate.

[Glittergal]

My teenage daughter retrieved a batch of my early rejects after I'd tossed them and continues to torture me (as a joke) on every occasion that warrants a card - I'm still getting them for my birthday, Mother's Day, etc. and it ALWAYS brings a laugh! I have another batch that I don't dare toss, so I think I'll follow Kelly's (Gadget 19) lead and donate them to a nursing home.

[JulieHRR]

I throw my rejects away. And, I'm OK with it. ;)

Wasn't always. But, the older I get, the more crap I realize I could, and should, live without, so might as well get it outta' here. So there's more room for good crap. :mrgreen: *chuckle*

[GarnetJ]

I should be more like you, Julie. I "never" throw anything away. My really bad cards just sit there in the basket along with all the rest and never get mailed to anyone.

[jlinsenman]

They go into "the circular file"

[Skilo]

Is that like File "G" or File 13?? lol

[jlinsenman]

Yep...that is what it means...don't need any reminders of the crappy stuff I have done...lol...

[krystie lee]

I don't have many dud cards, because I don't glue until I'm pretty satisfied with it. What I DO have is a box of abandoned parts and pieces that weren't working. This is called the "hot mess" bin.

I revisit them occasionally for inspiration, but if I don't use them in a while, they go in the trash.

[lazylizard]

Recycle as much as I can and throw out the rest.

[Joan B]

Flops????
You mean like a card gone bad? Never had one!

[katskastles]

If I really don't like a card or set of cards, I will put them in a box I put samples in. I let my friends pick a card if they need one for an occasion and usually get rid of the ones I don't like.

[wendykins]

More than likely---I will send it to my MIL---she loves all the cards i make(or so she says;) ) If i really hate it and can't salvage anything off of it, i will throw it away!