Went on a crafty shopping spree before my recent surgery (it's the new hidden cost of health care!), and wow, I have a lot of new-to-me things in the house. So, when I needed a thank you card, of course I reached for a set that I've had for a long time because nothing I bought sang to me.
I have limited ability to shop smart. I take a long time to decide what to get, often filling up shopping carts at multiple stores (sorry), and then very carefully pressing spend. And I still make mistakes! Some of the stamps I bought are much larger (or much smaller) than my brain processed. Or they don't seem as versatile as I first thought. Or, I try them and am not happy with the results.
---> Minor life issue, but I would love to hear how you wade through the onslaught of new products. It's not just that there are so many products, but I miss being able to eyeball the products in a brick and mortar store.
In any event, for this card, I masked off a space for a watercolored background and then stamped images and a sentiment from Flora & Fauna's Graphic Flowers set (which appears to be retired) on watercolor paper. No coloring required with this technique.
And then I was done.
MOOD WHEN DONE: Good! All quiet over here. Recovery is going well...
12 comments:
I love the colors in your background. Love the design of this card. I too buy things that don't always work out. I've learned never to buy right after a blog hop for a new release. I make myself wait at least 1 week. If I get something I just can't make work I sell it. I don't want it in my crafty space mocking me...lol.
That is a lovely blend! I have a pinterest board called "My Wish List" that I use to pin all the things I like during a new release. Then I wait. My goal is order once a month only from the list. Sometimes when I go back there are things on the board that I think "meh" so they come off. Sometimes I cheat but I do think it helps a little with impulse buys (and helps at holidays when someone wants a gift idea for me!). It is sad to not be able to see things in stores now - I basically just count on looking at samples online to get an idea of size.
thanks. good ideas!
You know I wait too, and yet still seem to make costly mistakes!
I've had this set for a long time and always loved it--your design turned out beautiful!
Well, I'll tell you, this looks great with one of your old favorites. Beautiful, smooth color blend in the background and crisp stamping, nice clean design. The old familiars always make for the quickest cards. I generally have to dance around a set for a while after I buy it, which is why many of my stamps are aging before I even use them the first time. I guess it really doesn't matter, does it? It's not because I don't love them. Anyway, the onslaught... I do the wish list thing or I try to avoid going to the online store after viewing the awesome DT cards. However, as in recently, I've been struck by some things that felt so right to me I bought them right away. I have to be careful about seasonal or holiday stamps. I've made more mistakes with dies and am trying hard to wise up about that. You always make me think.
I've made mistakes in the past about buying a set cause I love the card samples but realize when I get home I don't use those products that made the samples or that its a technique I suck at. I'm getting better about not buying until I have collected a dozen or more pins/links/images of cards I could case using that set. I use Evernote for everything (inventory, inspiration, recipes, etc) because I love all the ways I can name/label/tag/search. I have a master wish list (instead of trying to maintain lists with each store), with best price found so far and where, and images of the stamps used by others. If/when I buy, the note or file easily gets moved to my Inventory notebook. Evernote has saved me so many ways... I don't buy dups cause I have my inventory on both computer and phone. And if I see another (say) butterfly stamp set I want (or sloth, unicorn, *insert trend here*) I can see how many sets I have with that image already cause sometimes the one I have my hands on in the store is close to or not as good as what I already own but forgot I had. And the master wish list keeps me from buying something twice on a weekend with crazy sales everywhere. I used to just check inventory, and buy if I wanted the new thing. But I accidentily bought the same set from both SSS and MFT once, and WPlus9 and EH another time. Who remembers to delete it from ALL lists when you purchase it elsewhere?!? Not me! So now, master list. Add something once, mark it as ordered, delete it from the list when it comes in and move the inspiration note for it to inventory! BUT its not until we all get a better grip on our credit cards that stamp companies might slow down on all the dang new releases! We're mentally inundated, financially broke, and have no mojo cause we are swimming in more products than we can possibly use. That reminds me, I try to envision at least 3 ways to use a set (and put it in my note or wish list) so that when it comes in I have instant ideas for it! All that said, I still sometimes make trash with a set I was sure I'd love.
Oh my gosh, Joan! LOVE this so much!!! And wishing you all the best for a quick recovery! Glad to hear it's going well. And I like your "craft supplies are the new hidden cost of health care" -- LOL! I got some new watercolors before my last surgery so I'm totally with you! BIG HUGS!!!
you are way more organized that I will ever be. I am so impressed. These are good ideas!! thanks
my Christmas sets are the most disappointing. I am still looking for the perfect versatile one!! Thanks
My mistake is not reading my emails in a timely manner then realizing that the sale is over! Today I placed 2 orders...one from MFT which most people will know had a sale yesterday for 30% off...and from Doodlebugs (first time purchase did save me 15% but of course I placed the MFT purchase first and didn't save a dime!)
I am glad to know others make a purchase and then are disappointed about size of images, unless I get a ruler out I really can't comprehend the size!
All in the days work of crafting happiness.
Thanks for making cards and sharing your talent.
This...I've done this more than once. I hate missing a sale when there was something I wanted. I am trying to be more careful.
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