inspired by - yourself!

Sometimes, when you finally get a minute to spend time with your stamping supplies, the inspiration (a.k.a. mojo) doesn't hit. You stare at your project, you want something to happen, but come up with nothing. At times like this, you need to take a break and figure out a way to get inspired... When I run into times like these, and everybody does, my favorite paper crafting books and magazines are something that I like to turn to. Sometimes just organizing and browsing through my supplies sparks something. An sometimes I just need to get out and get inspired by the things around me. Not that long ago, it dawned on me that I have a whole pile of inspiration from myself, right in front of me, in my stacks of samples and baskets of cards that I have created. I took the time to grab a handful and sit down with my sketch book to draw out some quick thumbnail sketches of the different card layouts that I have done. Putting together a project from one of my sketches was so easy and fun!

 

This is just a tiny bit of my samples and so I know that I have pages and pages of potential inspiration. You can be as detailed or as simple as you like when you sketch out layouts. I tend to keep things pretty simple and just get the general idea of the card layout down on paper.

I choose to use the sketch from this purple card for my new card layout. Once I decide on a layout, I find that the card making time goes pretty quickly.

 

You might feel intimidated by drawing/using sketches from your own card designs, but I think you will be surprised at the good variety of sketches that you will come up with. You can definitely do your sketches from cards in magazines, idea books, or from blogs that you read too. Hana's been in swimming class for the past several weeks and working on filling my sketch book with thumbnails has been something I have been doing during that time.

 

Okay, so this card has a shorter top cover. I decided on my base color, cut my top flap shorter and then added the Dark Chocolate polka dot (stamped with the new Polka Dot Basics II set!) on the edge of the back flap. I had stamped this for a project from this month's release, but it didn't end up being used on the project. Already the card has taken on a new look, but I am still following the general idea of the layout.

 

Instead of doing a 3-d flower like on the original card, I stamped this leaf branch from the Beautiful Blooms set.

 

Adding some ribbon... you could totally do something different here: a stamped border, a strip of cardstock, a row of buttons. The sketch is just a guide!

 

Added the scallop border trim here - different from the original card.

 

I did pull out the Heartfelt Basics set and wide oval punch for the sentiment. That is one thing about using your own samples for inspiration, it inspires you to pull out stamps or other supplies that you haven't used for a while.

 

Just a peek at the original card and the new version. One great layout, 2 great looks!

 

And sometimes, when you are in a rut, using your favorite layouts and techniques is the way to go. If you love it, do it. It's sometimes nice to go out of the box and challenge yourself, but it's just fine to stick with the tried and true too.

 

I am hoping that you will take the time to visit your own card samples and be inspired to come up with something new. I know you won't be short of inspiration...!

supplies:

Wishing You Card

stamps: Beautiful Blooms, Heartfelt Basics, Polka Dot Basics II (Papertrey Ink)

ink: Fresh Snow, True Black, Ripe Avocado (Papertrey Ink)

cardstock: white, kraft, Dark Chocolate (Papertrey Ink)

other: Ripe Avocado saddle stitch ribbon, Rustic Cream button twine, Rustic vintage button mix (Papertrey Ink), wide oval punch, scallop edge punch (Stampin' Up!), dimensionals