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Does anyone else feel they are just completely lacking any natural creativity? I started this hobby last September. I LOVE to stamp and make cards, but if it weren't for all the wonderfully creative people on here I would be sitting at the table staring at blank pieces of paper! I have created very few original designs. I spend a lot of time looking for cards I like here and on blogs. I can recreate those cards beautifully! My demo keeps telling me it will come, but I'm not so optimistic!
I've only been stamping and cardmaking 2 mths now but I find my designs at their worst when I am either:
1) tired or
2) disturbed by some other worry, concern.
Sometimes I don't even realise I am tired or upset until I actually start making something and halfway through If I am 3 hrs in and still trying to figure out what goes where, I know something is not right and i either need to get some rest or work on what's bothering me.
I dunno if this is the case with you- it could also be just one of those creative block days. :-) It'll get better!
Well I've been hangin' in there for 9 months, and I seriously am no better than when I started! lol I have a serious stampin' up habit though. I've spent thousands (gasp!) so I signed up to be a demo just recently...as a hobbyist, but it's just so frustrating. I think that part of my brain didn't develop somehow! :confused: I'm just sincerely grateful to all of you who share such lovely work, that people like me can replicate!
Location: Margaritaville - I wish, Southern Indiana for real, but a Parrothead at heart.
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Whenever I find myself in a "creative blah" I start looking at the challenges for that week. Whether it be the technique, color, or sketch challenge, it always starts the teeny, tiny wheels in my brain turning. Sometimes the challenge doesn't always turn out the way I had imagined it would, but at least I'm heading in the right direction. As my favorite art teacher always said, "sometimes what you start out thinking is a mistake, is really a happy accident." Don't give up.
I felt like this for the longest time, too. It wasn't until I found my own style that I started really liking what I made. I just kept looking at blogs and the gallery until it started to click, until I saw cards that really grabbed me.
For me, personally, it was a CAS style that called to me, but it is different for everyone. Don't give up - it is out there.
It also could be that you're looking at too many designs by others. Sometimes, in order to let our own creativity shine through, we need to just make what we like and not try to be "as good as" we think others are. I think the suggestion to just be simple is a good one. Limit yourself to one or two embellishments. We are often our own worst critics. I'm sure that after 9 months of stamping, your cards are quite good. If you enjoy what you're doing, don't worry about it. Just have fun, practice what you'd like to become really good at, and keep doing what you like to do.
Does anyone else feel they are just completely lacking any natural creativity?
All the time! I've been doing this for 5 years and I still feel very confused and insecure when I start a new project. Patterened papers send me 'round the bend! I love them but they scare the heck out of me. LOL
I'll echo everyone else's comments to continue to draw on galleries and blogs for inspiration. It's really just to get the creative juices flowing and your own natural talent will kick in.
__________________ �:*�*:�My next house won't have a kitchen. Just a bunch of vending machines and garbage cans.�:*�*:�
I felt the same way for the longest time. I couldn't even copy cards well for a long time. Sadly, they are still on my blog for the world to see. I found that by copying different designs I was able to slowly start to find my own style. Participating in challenges was a great way to find inspiration. And I say, if you are enjoying the process whether orginal designs or not just go for it.
I am a total clean and simple girl on my cards and scrapbooks. However, I have found nothing more inspiring that art journaling. I just throw paint and anything I can find on paper with no rhyme or reason. It isn't beautiful, but it makes me so happy.
Like everyone has said, just keep at it and enjoy the process of creating!
I've always been a creative, artistic person, but with not having time for quiet awhile now to really sit down and do anything creative or artistic, I feel like I couldn't come up with a decent design of my own or do a good job painting, drawing if you paid me! I totally agree with those that said you can't compare your work to others. It's like in anything, you need to improve on what you've done before - not what others have done. I find if I remind myself to do that and to find the time to work at it, I'm definitely more at ease and the creativity starts to flow. Trying to be as good as whoever else doesn't work. Trying to improve on what I've done (whether it be improving my running times or my drawing technique or card making designs) gives me much more satisfaction and enjoyment.
Thanks for all your input I definitely know the kind/style of card I like when I see it, and I'm definitely 'good' at recreating it. As for the patterned paper, I love it SO much but, I am a total and complete loss on how to incorporate it myself....but I still love it.
At least you've made me feel as though I'm not a lost cause! lol I guess I'll just keep plugging along, but again I want to thank everyone who is generous enough to share their beautiful work! <3
I have been stamping for 2 years, but I hung in there, I am no where near what I want to be and still have trouble, but it is fun trying. Since I have all this STUFF, I plan on using it all. ;)
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Rebekka
Gosh, it took me years to be happy with the work I did on my own. Natural talent only gets you so far -- it really does take a lot of practice and experience to get really good at something. So just keep creating until you do feel more comfortable and confident in your talents. And there's no shame in recreating a craft project, especially if it makes you happy. It's what drives the crafting industry.
i started stamping years ago but havent done any for a few years.we had a fire ,lots missing and destroyed but a lot survived too.fighting the insurance company just stressed me that i felt no creative feelings at all.i am getting back into it and have lots to catch up on but looking on this site at resources,techniques and just general stamptalk helps a lot.then add the gallery to the list and there are ideas there to copy,expand,alter whatever.just relax and enjoy.
i am reading about ATCs and finding them and inchies fascinating and very challenging.but for me it is fun therapy
br3n
I have not been doing this for very long. My first card was CASED. Then I decided I wanted to do my own layouts so I practice and practice with challenges. I may see an idea for an element or technique such as an easel card and use it. But I start all of my cards from scratch.
Sometimes it will take me a week to finally get something I like, but it is original
And each time I get a little better and faster at it.
I find that the ideas or colors in my heard frequently don't work out that well on paper :(
Cut a piece of DP you like the size of your card or stamp an image . Then try to figure out what you will put with that. Don't glue anything down . Just keep shuffling stuff until something clicks . When you get stuck leave out what you have done so far in plain view so you can look at it often. An idea will pop into your head.
Keep playing with it and don't rush. This is not a race.
When you finally complete a card YOU designed you will feel accomplished!
__________________ "I have not failed . I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work" --Thomas A. Edison
Yup... I felt that way about a lot of things. I am a musician and I saw the development of my jazz musicianship and improvisation/creativity take wing once all of the technical mumbo jumbo was really under my fingers and in my head.. The same with stamping. You gotta get the technique, colour theory, design rules SOLID before you can improvise!
I never drew that parallel before today, but it totally makes sense! (to me anyway....) lol... Keep it up!
__________________
{Gallery}{Blog}
I design for: Stampendous!, There She Goes, Technique Tuesday,
SRM Stickers and Deconstructed Sketches.
Yup... I felt that way about a lot of things. I am a musician and I saw the development of my jazz musicianship and improvisation/creativity take wing once all of the technical mumbo jumbo was really under my fingers and in my head.. The same with stamping. You gotta get the technique, colour theory, design rules SOLID before you can improvise!
I never drew that parallel before today, but it totally makes sense! (to me anyway....) lol... Keep it up!
Does anyone know of any books on card design theory??
__________________ "I have not failed . I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work" --Thomas A. Edison
I know how you feel--I can catch up on my Google Reader and see all the amazing cards on these fantastic blogs then go into my studio and think WTH?! What am I doing? It's important to not compare yourself to others BTW hahaha
I feel I do better when I have a color challenge or sketch to start me off...and a deadline! I love all the challenges!
I also agree with what everyone else has posted as well--hang in there!!
__________________ Hi I'm Dana--Professional Laugher, Admiral Obvious, Foodie, Perpetual Organizer of Art Supplies www.darthsunshine.com
There's a lot of great advice here. Don't be too hard on yourself. I find that the daily challenges here on SCS are a great way to get the "creative juices flowing". Whether it be the color challenge, the sketch challenge...or any others...they really help by giving you a starting point.
Well, I have not made a card since Easter. Didn't even make mother day cards either!
No inpiration, no mojo. I finally made a bday card, cased of course. But then I made another bday card and wiped it out pretty fast, and no inspiration from SCS-I did this baby on my own!!
Have you tried the sketch challenge thread. There are 335 differnt sketchs and this wed will be 336!
This is my downfall with card making, the doggone layout! Cheeck out all the layouts here Totally Awesome!
__________________ 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
When I started cardmaking I had no idea about blogs and it's good thing too because I might not have kept stamping if I had compared my cards with what's on the internet. You're one step ahead of me because I couldn't even copy cards well... I tried copying a couple from a woman's magazine and they were horrid. :oops:
In the end it just took practice. It's difficult when you compare your own stuff with others but try not to be hard on yourself and just enjoy the process . I agree with Shadow's Mum, try some of the card sketches on Splitcoast to get you going with your own creativity. Maybe combine a Splitcoast sketch with a colour combination from the Stampin' Up! catalogue to see what you come up with.
I felt like this for the longest time, too. It wasn't until I found my own style that I started really liking what I made. I just kept looking at blogs and the gallery until it started to click, until I saw cards that really grabbed me.
For me, personally, it was a CAS style that called to me, but it is different for everyone. Don't give up - it is out there.
What she said.
I'll say it took me almost seven years of plugging away to get to my CAS style. There are times when it really pays to be obsessive, LOL!
I'm with all of you.....really enjoyed the craft but was not pleased with the results.
It took me a very long time to find my niche too.....love cas....
I would stress out about making the elaborate cards....I do like changing it up sometimes though. Keep with it....lots of inspiration here.
lack of innate creativity
