Need Some Creative Inspiration?

Hello lovely peeps,

Do you ever feel like you have just simply run out of artistic inspiration and time? You have your stamps your inks and all your lovely coloured paper all around you and just can't seem to get anything to work?

And what's worse is you NEED to make a special unique card for someone, and you need to make it NOW!

Well, I have.

And it's not fun.

In fact, it happened to me just last week...

I have decided to think of ways to never be in this situation again. So here are some of my ideas. (Please message me if you have some other useful solutions, I'd love to hear them and share with the group.)

1.MAKE A STACK OF CARD CANDY

When creating a card or paper project and are stamping images, sayings or using your Thinlits & Dies, make some extras in whatever colour you are using, or use up some scraps in different colours. Put these aside ( I put mine in a small plastic basket and eventually file them into categories into Fat Stamp Cases ie. Christmas, greetings/ words, Flora & Fauna.

Card Candy

When you get stuck for ideas or time, card candy can be your friend.

2. USE NATURE FOR INSPIRATION

Step away from your crafting space, grab a cup of tea and go outside. The fresh air, and the exercise can do wonders for the brain! I find it recharges me, especially if I have been sitting down for hours working.

But the other reason is to take a look at the simplistic beauty of nature. I find I tend to complicate my cards too much sometimes. And by touching base with mother nature, it helps me see how simple true beauty can be.

The colours from this common peutina gave me an instant idea just the other day. Two colours...Green and White. Easy.

I used the colours and the idea of different types of foliage and textures to create 3 cards and I did it within 10 minutes!

Tip...I used pre cut CARD CANDY I had in my basket and the card bases where already cut and scored.

The composition was random, quick and easy. I didn't spend hours agonising over where to place everything.

I even used the negative cut outs from the Swirly Bird Die (in white near the bottom of the card.)

Time wasn't wasted on tying the perfect bow...I just stuck down some Linen Thread for interest, texture and colour.

3. PRE CUT YOUR CARD BASE AND DSP

I always have Thick Whisper White card stock cut and scored and ready to go . I also have DSP cut into Card front sizes and store them in a Fat Stamp Case with coordinating coloured card stock. By putting these elements together, I find I have already have the start of a card!

By using the pre cut Card base and DSP, the colour tone for the bike was pre set for me.

4. MAKE A STACK OF CARDS WITHOUT THE GREETING

If you make time to sit and create a stack of cards without the Birthday, Wedding, Sympathy Greeting, then you have a choice of cards that you just need to add the appropriate saying.

5. USE CARD TEMPLATES & SKETCHES

These are templates with ready made designs that speed up the layout process of your card.

They are easy to find on the internet, Pinterest has thousands! I have created a board on Pinterest just for this purpose. HAVE A LOOK!

This Sketch was from stamparadise.blogspot.com

6. USE PINTEREST FOR INSPIRATION

I know.. this tip is pretty obvious, but well used by thousands.

7. CASE A CARD

Stampin'Up! support and encourage everyone to Copy And Share Everything. (If you are displaying your CASED card on social media, it is considered good etiquette to acknowledge the original artist.) It certainly takes the pressure off a card idea when you hit a blank spot. Or you may simply just love a design and want to make the same card or use it as an inspiration.

8. USE DIFFERENT MEDIUMS

Who said your card just needs Cardstock and DSP? Why not have a go at watercolour - you can use it as a background and stamp an image or saying over the top..super easy, fun and quick.

Use watercolor as a background.

I used Gimmer Paper to wash my ink over with an Aqua Brush, then let it dry before stamping over the top. (I often use my Heat Embossing Tool to speed it up)

You can also use watercolour paper as both are quite tolerant to water.

You can also use Embossing Paste for something different..

These cute birds are sitting in front of clouds that I Embossed using an Embossing Mask (page 202) and while still wet sprinkled Stampin Glitter over the top.

You could also try Brusho, sponging or using the Daubers on (White Glimmer Paper) or

Embossing an image with Embossing Powder...the list goes on.

One more fun and effective idea is using an Embossed Image from an Embossing Mat!

Use an Embossed image as as background for your card.

You can always cut out some other shapes and place them over the top of your embossed image, just like I have done here.

9. GET IDEAS FROM A PHOTO

This can be a satisfying project, because of the nostalgic memories you may have of when the photo was taken. It could be a sunset, a waterfall, a forest scene, deset, floral and so on.

I hope some or all of these ideas are useful, if you have any you would like to share - send them in! We would love to see!

Thanks for visiting,

loves & hugs,

Sharni. x