Ever feel like you are in a rut? Ever look around at all your craft supplies and not know where to begin?
The above card is being made by my local club members during March. This was a compilation of several cards and techniques I found online. The main image (from Spotlight on Nature) stamped over script (I used Elements of Texts, although the original was Very Versailles). I choose to pop that panel up on an embossed layer instead of just on the card base. Finding inspiration for cardmaking or scrapbooking can be a fun and creative process!
I usually choose one item to work with, like a stamp set of a DSP pack. It can be significantly easier if you narrow down the field.
Here are several ways you can find ideas for your next card project:
1. Social Media and Websites
- Pinterest: This is a goldmine for cardmaking ideas. Search for specific stamp set, DSP, themes, seasons, or techniques (e.g., “spring card designs” or “handmade birthday cards”) to get plenty of visual inspiration.
- Instagram and Facebook: Follow cardmakers, scrapbooking influencers, or brands. Use hashtags like #cardmaking, #handmadecards, or #papercrafting to explore creative posts.
- YouTube: Watch cardmaking tutorials to see the process and get ideas for techniques, color schemes, and designs.
- Cardmaking Blogs: Many of us cardmakers share our projects online, complete with step-by-step tutorials, which can spark new ideas.
2. Nature and Surroundings
- Flowers, Seasons, and Colors: Look outside for seasonal blooms, trees, or even the sky for inspiration. Nature often provides rich color schemes, textures, and motifs.
- Travel: Pictures from your travels or favorite places can inspire color palettes and designs, like beach-themed cards/scrap pages or rustic, mountain-inspired creations.
3. Craft Stores and Supplies
- New Supplies: Browse online for new supplies. A beautiful stamp, die-cut set, or paper pad can spark an entire design concept. At the very least, there are lots of samples pictured with those items.
- Paper Packs: The patterns and colors in DSP packs often suggest card themes or styles, such as holiday cards, vintage designs, or modern minimalist looks.
4. Mood Boards and Sketches
- Create a Mood Board: Collect images, textures, and color swatches that resonate with you. Pin them to a board or collage them for inspiration.
- Use Card Sketches: There are many websites and blogs that provide card sketches—layouts with suggested measurements and placements for card elements. These can be a great starting point to add your own creative flair.
5. Holiday and Seasonal Themes
- Holidays: Think about upcoming holidays like Christmas, Easter, Valentine’s Day, or birthdays. They often have traditional colors, symbols, and themes to draw from. But also think of the more obscure ones like National Chocolate Day, Coffee Lovers Day and more!
- Special Occasions: Celebrate milestones like weddings, baby showers, graduations, or anniversaries with relevant designs and sentiments.
6. Use Your Own Creativity
- Mix Techniques: Combine embossing with stamping, watercoloring with die cuts, or even make interactive cards like pop-ups or shaker cards.
- Challenge Yourself: Try to create something with a specific theme, like “monochromatic” cards, “clean and simple,” or using only “recycled materials.”
7. Cardmaking Communities
- Challenges and Contests: Join cardmaking challenges where you’re given a prompt, theme, or technique to inspire your card. Sites like Splitcoaststampers, Hero Arts, or Simon Says Stamp often feature challenges.
- Card Swaps : Participate in card swaps, where you exchange cards with others. Seeing others’ designs and receiving new cards can inspire your own creativity.
The following card was created during a Team Shoebox Swap that we had early in January. It was created by my teammate, Gay Toomy. I loved it so much, my local clubs are creating it during the month of March! (Thanks Gay!)
8. Personal Touch
- Personalized Cards: Think about what would resonate with the person receiving the card—consider their interests, hobbies, or favorite colors. This personal connection can make a great guide to the design.
- Sentiment Focus: Sometimes, a specific sentiment or message can be the inspiration for the card design. For example, a punny phrase or heartfelt message might inspire playful or elegant designs.
Use a combination of these sources to continually refresh your creativity. But choose one at a time and focus on it so that you do not get overwhelmed!
I try to offer a wide range of cardmaking ideas so be sure you follow me on Facebook, Instagram and Youtube!
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