Hey everyone! I have a really fun and I think useful post for you today. Before I share with you all the card inspiration I have I wanted to share with you some tips for creating a bunch of cards in a relatively short amount of time. I sort of figured this out by accident, but I have seen it happen many times like back in January when I posted all of these thank you’s I created.
3 Tips to Create More Cards in a Short Time
1. Minimize your supplies.
(says the girl that has SO MANY supplies) Seriously, only pull a few supplies to your studio table and focus on those. Don’t let yourself get up for anything else. Force yourself to work with those supplies. Card Kits take out the guess work for this. I love Simon Says Stamp’s Card Kit and I find when I sit down with JUST that kit I can create SO many cards. I only end up pulling ink pads, or glitter. For the most part I use JUST WHATS IN THE KIT. This will also force you to be a bit creative. You won’t get distracted petting all your other pretty supplies you have 😉 Instead you will be creating!
2. Carve out a chunk of time to work.
This may be the hardest part and trust me I know. We are all SO busy, but the cards are not going to drop from the sky already created 🙂 I find that if I block off a 2-3 hour creative session where I am JUST working with the minimal supplies I get SO much done. You get into the flow of creating and as you are making one card more ideas will come. This could be something you do in the evening after dinner and maybe once the kids are in bed. If you do a shorter amount of time then 2 hours I find that your creativity gets interrupted and you don’t hit that point where the ideas are just free flowing.
3. Don’t Give Up
This sort of goes with the above. When you have done step 1 and 2 and you start creating I can pretty much guarantee you aren’t going to LOVE your first couple cards. Keep creating. You already have all your supplies pulled and have the time set aside… SO don’t give up! Did you know that most artists start with a warm-up of sketches? Or that writers start by just writing whatever comes to their mind first to get warmed up? I promise if you keep at it and keep creating you will be happy with the cards you create AND the ones that you didn’t LOVE… that friend or family member that you send it to- they are going to LOVE it! I bet you can’t guess which were the 1st cards I made in my creative session with the December Simon Says Stamp Card Kit below. See?
A suggestion of supplies to start with if you don’t get a card kit:
- 1-2 stamp sets.
- 1 coloring medium (decided how you are going to color your images copics, watercolor, colored pencils etc)
- 2-3 ink pads. One basic one for the outline of the images and a couple colored ones for backgrounds and sentiments.
- A small pinch of patterened papers. For example the Simon Says Stamp Card Kit usually gives a small variety of 6×6 patterned papers and its the perfect amount to get cards created, but to not drown in paper. Break up a 6×6 paper pad into half, yes HALF, and work with that. OR take a few sheets of 12 x 12 papers from your stash and cut them down to 6×6.
- 4-5 solid sheets of colored cardstock OR 10 pre-made notecards
- A few embellishments. FEW. A few sequins, glitter, ribbon, enamel dots, bling etc. Not all that I listed, just a FEW.
Simon Says Stamp Card Kit
- If you are interested in looking into the Simon Says Stamp Card Kit you can find more details here. The great thing about this kit is it is month-to-month. You don’t need to sign up for a 6 or 12 month commitment and you can choose to skip a month when needed.
- You can see all of my posts where I have created something with a card kit here
Ok, as promised here is some inspiring eye-candy. Which card is your favorite?
Below each card I will also share the supplies I used that weren’t included in the December Simon Says Stamp Card Kit. This way you can see how I keep my supplies to a minimum 🙂
Extra Supplies Used:
- Lawn Fawn Ink, Lobster
- Lawn Fawn Ink, Mermaid
- Simon Says Stamp Ink, Smoke Gray
- Quickie Glue Pen
- Ultrafine Crystal Glitter
Extra Supplies Used:
- Simon Says Stamp Ink, Smoke Gray
- Simon Says Stamp Ink, Hot Lips
- Simon Says Stamp Ink, Melon
- Simon Says Stamp Ink, Jellybean
- Simon Says Stamp Ink, Scuba
- Lawn Fawn Ink, Juice Box
- Simon Says Stamp Ink, Duckling
- Stickles, Champagne
No Extra Supplies Used
Extra Supplies Used:
- Watercolor Pencils
- Tim Holtz Detailer Waterbrush
- Lawn Fawn Stitched Hillside Borders
- Simon Says Stamp Ink, Smoke Gray
Extra Supplies Used:
- Distress Ink, Hickory Smoke
- Distress Ink, Cracked Pistachio
- Distress Ink, Evergreen Bough
- Distress Sprayer
- Distress Watercolor Cardstock
- Lawn Fawn Scalloped Circle Stackables
Extra Supplies Used:
Extra Supplies Used:
Extra Supplies Used:
Extra Supplies Used:
- Lawn Fawn Ink, Mermaid
- Distress Ink, Twisted Citron
- Distress Ink, Peacock Feathers
- Distress Ink, Picked Raspberry
- Quickie Glue Pen
- Distress Glitter Dust, Vintage PlatinumÂ
Hope these tips and card ideas have gotten your creative juices flowing! Happy Creating!
Edited to Add: Simon Says Stamp just revealed their January 2016 Card Kit, and I’m tell you- it is the CUTEST!!! This would be a great time to treat yourself! Be sure to order soon as I bet it is going to sell out SOON!
Great tips. Gorgeous cards. Hugz
What a great variety of cards you have here, Jenn. They are so colorful and fun. I really need to schedule a card-making day. I haven’t made a good batch of cards in too long to mention. These are all beautiful. Thanks for sharing your fabulous tip.
These are all great Jen but I do have 2 favs. I like the stocking card and the cat going with the candy cane! TOO CUTE!
Merry Christmas!
Thanks for the idea and how *not* to use everything you have! I struggle a lot with design sometimes, but do love that Simon Says kits are all ready to use. Love the way you used yours, and now I’m on a mission.
Brenda
Hey Jenn, I love the card with the stack of presents! No surprise since Peacock Feathers is a favorite color. And the glitter on them is a great touch. I also like the stockings card. You know maybe I just like cards with repeating patterns! Seems that way. But, all of your cards are pretty and creative. Thanks for the tips. I am definitely learning as I get more and more into this hobby, from you and from my own experience. Back in September I knew I didn’t have much from last year in terms of stamps and dies, and then all of the major companies put out so many cute ones! What was I to do? LOL Naturally, I went overboard and bought too many! There are a few which I didn’t even use yet and now it’s time to put them away! Thanks for all your ideas and inspiration! Love this sharing community!
Should have read this before I did my cards! I think I pulled 90% of my Xmas stuff …plus the sss kit! I did manage to do 30 cards…might have to do a few more after seeing yours though …I like the trees I didn’t think beyond green..thanks for the tips and inspiration!
You are such an inspiration Jenn! Love your wonderful tips and techniques! All of your creations are just Fabulous! Thanks for sharing and how to do!
I have been anticipating this post since the IG photo of your desk. Great tips! I definitely pull out too many supplies and get overwhelmed (and want to hoard the paper.) Such a creative group of cards!!! My favorite is the first one.
Just watched the replay of your Periscope. So appreciate all of the details!
Thank you for such a great post Jenn, I love the SSS kits and part of my xmas gift from hubby is to get all the kits next year (lucky girl i know)
I love the card with the cat and also the first one with the trees, although all cards are great.
Have a lovely weekend xxx
IG banned me from commenting, but thanks for the tagging, Jenn! I really find it useful for you to suggest limiting supplies. I will try that out!! My favorite card is the one with the cat, where you really just used supplies from the kit. 🙂
Really cute and great tips! I think my favorite has to be the last one–Love me some bright, happy colors and I love how you stacked all the little gifts! 🙂
I love the last one! Thanks for the tips!
Wow. What a great set of cards and great tips. I agree having too many supplies don’t necessarily always inspire. You always have such great ideas.
Fantastic post…! I totally agree and had a blast with my SSS kit! I had been so sick for much of November and it was upsetting, because I love to make ALL my Christmas Card…this year I was not able to make them ALL but did well! Having this kit and making more CAS “easy peasy” cards, was the perfect solution! I’m a huge fan of the SSS Kits and have them ALL! And like you, a “Kazillion” other supplies..that do tend to overwhelm me at times!
Thanks for a super share!!
love your cards!
so pretty!
my favorite is this with cat!
yes,yes Im cat addict 😀
Bad Kitty’s Craftroom
>^.^<
Great article – fab tips and love the cards!!
What a very fun and helpful post! THank you!
I love these cards and its hard to say just one so my 2 fav are the last one with the stacked presents and happy Holidays Cat with candycane.