My goal was to create a long, loose border on the left third of the card to echo the elongated ascender on the h of the sentiment, which is from Hero Arts. The idea is to offer, visually, tall thanks. I was totally hooked on Baja Breeze and River Rock as a combo...very soothing and peaceful. But I think this would look awesome in bright colors, too.
My resolution from two years ago to use every image stamp I own has been so much fun. I'm not quite done, but I am focusing more and more on new acquisitions...most of the old stuff has been used already. I've even started putting new stamps in a basket to hold them until I use them. It's so fun to dive into that basket, make a bunch of stuff, and then add the stamps to my collection. It feels much more responsible than my previous method of hiding new stuff in my stash.
Do you have any tricks you use to USE your stuff?
beautiful cards! I've been meaning to comment the last few days. Thanks so much for your wonderful blog -- full of so much good advice on design. It is near impossible to get this commentary any where else. Have a great new year!
ReplyDeleteps. while I have an enormous stash of stuff, I don't have a lot of stamps. So it isn't hard to use what I have. That said, a few sets have not seen ink so I need to fix that...
Susan - these are fabulous! Love how loose and "flowy" the green is on the left and then anchored with the soft blue!
ReplyDeleteI second what Joan said. But, I truly wish I had some of your enthusiasm for this craft - I lost it all when John had his stroke. I vacillate between selling everything and keeping everything until I finally decide.
ReplyDeleteGreat cards, love these colors myself!
ReplyDeleteI have a lot of older stamp sets that other people gave me, or I might have bought them at someone's used stamping sales. Often times I only use one piece of those sets, very sad.
When I see a layout that I like (like yours today), I usually try to see which of my stamps would work with that. Most times I don't have the same stamps as other people, because I haven't purchased anything new lately, but it's a good way to dust off some of the old stuff!
Thanks,
Petra
Lovely cards! That's definitely a color combo I'll try out soon. Lately I've been breaking up my older SU sets and reorganizing them -- sentiments together by occasion, images together by subject and style...hope that helps me use them! If not, into the next craft garage sale they'll go!
ReplyDeleteI love the idea of putting your stamps in a basket to be used before putting them away!! I have a basket like that but I don't seem to acutally use what is in there!! sheesh!! I'm going to have to consider my crafting resolutions seriously this year!! Love your cards, the border is a perfect element to go with that sentiment!!
ReplyDeleteSetting new stamps aside for use is a great idea - thanks so much for sharing. Your cards are lovely as always.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful cards and a great idea for that new basket I received. However your cards remind me of old stamps I haven't used in a long time. Maybe they should go in the basket Hmmm, now will I just follow through on any of this?
ReplyDeleteLovely simple cards!! One thing I do to make sure I use my stuff is this: Make sure I do not over stuff drawers. Because for me, if the drawer is over stuffed and difficult to open, I'll just push it shut and not even get out what I wanted. And it is easier to see what you have and what you are out of. So, this requires picking up a new drawer stacker now and then.
ReplyDeleteI love the soft blue and green of your cards and the way the layout echoes the "h" of the sentiment.
ReplyDeleteYour post is a timely reminder that I have some new stamps I haven't yet used. For example, I received SU's Greenhouse Garden as a Christmas gift not this Christmas but the one before and I have yet to use it - shame on me. With a SU set what helps me use it is to go to the SCS gallery for that set and get some inspiration. So you've prompted me to do that today and come up with something using Greenhouse Garden - new, as in unused, but already a year old!
So delicate! You are inspiring me to do some CAS cards soon!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful cards! You are my favorite craft blog, by far!
ReplyDeleteWhen I sit down to create, I always make more than just one card. So I make myself use at least one un-used stamp everytime I sit. I also make myself not use the same stamp twice in one day (unless Im intentionally making two of the same card).
I will admit, I have un-used stamps. When I buy a stamp set its because I like MOST of the stamps in it, it usually means a stamp here and there that will inevitably by un-used because I just dont like it! C'est la vie :)
These are such pretty thank you cards. :)
ReplyDeleteSusan
ReplyDeleteThese are such lovely cards. You make them look so elegant.
Myrna
I've been absent for a couple of weeks beacause of the Christmas rush but it's so good to come back and find a calm voice with some great suggestions! Don't think I have the numbers of stamps you have !! I'm sure there would be a few that haven't seen ink yet!!! Good resolution for 2011. Happy New Year.
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