Hey my friends! Today is a different post, something I’ve been thinking about for awhile. Finally, I sat down to write it.
Beware! This is a long post, grab a cup of coffee and sit in your favorite chair!
I belong to several cardmaking Facebook groups and one particular post stood out to me, enough that I read a bunch of the comments. One reply resonated with me which sparked me to write this post.
The original post was from a cardmaker that had become discouraged that her cards never look like the ones she sees on YouTube, Facebook, IG, Pinterest, etc., from other crafters.
She mentioned she feels like she just collects supplies but can’t make decent cards. I’ve so been there many times!! I see all these beautiful creations and then I look at my “poor rendition” and I wonder why am I crafting at all? Can you relate?!
All Crafters Started from the bottom
Here’s the thing: every cardmaker/crafter started from the bottom and worked their way up, spending countless hours into days, weeks, months, years honing their skills to get to where they are now. It takes time practicing and doing the same things over and over again until it finally clicks.
I remember the same thing when I was learning to knit with needles (I was a loom knitter first and crocheter). My fingers could not get the hang of using two needles when I was used to 1 crochet hook or a knitting loom. It took a long time (months, in fact) but I kept at it , eventually I learned and made hats, scarves and even blankets.
I’m not sure why it was so hard, for me, to understand the same thing applies to paper crafting, cardmaking in particular. My theory is because the end result is quicker than yarning, I wanted to see instant gratification. When it didn’t look like what I saw someone else make, I felt failure and became discouraged.
Don’t Let Frustration take you out of the game
I’ve even stopped crafting for months at a time because of frustration and I believe this is the worst thing to do. When you’re trying to learn a new skill, you should never stop midstream. You could be on the precipice of a breakthrough.
The reply comment which stood out to me was from a lady who said there are certain techniques in cardmaking that she doesn’t particularly enjoy. She doesn’t like to watercolor or color in fact (i.e., Copics) and she won’t buy products that requires coloring because it doesn’t resonate with how she crafts. BINGO! That’s it! She figured out the type of cardmaker she is and she works only in that arena.
So, what Type of Cardmaker Am I? What kind of cards do i like to make?
In the Beginning…
I started my cardmaking journey seriously in 2019 by watching tons and tons of YT tutorial videos. And, I bought products enough to arm a small country! 😀 I didn’t know what I needed to get started and wanted to try every technique. And for the following 3 years, I tried to keep up with the crafty industry only to fall flat on my face.
The reality was, I was purchasing 95% of my products on a tight budget that I really couldn’t afford to do. Suddenly, I couldn’t keep up with the latest machines, tools, stamps/dies/stencils releases, inks, blending brushes, organization, etc., the industry was leaving me behind.
When did it turn around?
That’s when I sat down, with tablet and pen in tow, and asked myself; “what kind of cards do I like to make?” “What kind of cardmaker do I want to be?” After all, I took up this hobby to be a source of income but also be my happy place. It was supposed to be my refuge to calm down my anxiety. Instead, it had become a job I dreaded.
And worse, when I shared my cards, I was using older products while other cardmakers were sharing cards with the newest products and I felt I was so behind the times. Compare it to technology. Everyone around you is using the latest iPhone and you’re trying to get by with a phone 3 or 4 generations back.
So after sitting down and giving this more thought, I started writing down what I like/love and don’t like:
What I enjoy:
- Florals (stand-alone dies, stencils including layering stencils)
- Birdhouse/butterfly/birthday-theme dies
- Nested shape dies (arches, rectangles, circles, ovals, diamonds, etc.)
- Word dies (Alpha letters, phrase builders)
- Pattern papers
- Pre-die cut ephemera and sentiments
- Stickers (3D especially from Dollar Tree)
- Border dies (florals especially)
- Washi Tape/die set
- Alcohol Inks (use them on acetate, yupo paper)
- Gel Press
- BetterPress plates
- Fun Fold cards (Gatefold, Easel, Tent Toppers, Shaped-cards, etc.)
- Belly bands
- Shaker cards
- Ornaments and tags
- Gift Boxes
- Cross Stitching on Cards
- Dry Embossing with Embossing Folders
- Embellishing (sequins, flowers, gems, enamel dots, etc.)
Cards I’ve Enjoyed Making
For more of my favorite projects, check out, “My Best Ever Cards & Paper Projects of all Time”
Learn your Style
I enjoy making cards for holidays (particularly Christmas) and special occasions. I don’t make cards for all seasons and holidays especially if I don’t have enough supplies in my stash.
Die cutting is my Jam! I can do that all day long because I really enjoy ink blending over floral dies or using stencils and layering stencils because they provide such realistic results. I also enjoy alcohol inks for making backgrounds or die cutting florals with.
Cross Stitching on cards is a therapeutic practice and I need to do more of it!
AND, I LOVE my gel press. It’s one of the easiest, fastest ways to make beautiful backgrounds. Another technique I love is layering pattern papers. I enjoy mixing and matching different patterns and adding a simple sentiment on top.
BetterPress is another new favorite. I got it with a huge discount so it didn’t break my wallet.
So, What I don’t excel at:
- Stamping to Copic Color/Watercolor/Colored Pencils. I’m not good at this and I get mixed results which has frustrated me. I will add that I like Copic coloring critters, I’ve had success with that but not with florals, large images, etc.
- Heat Embossing/Distress Resist. I love seeing cards with this technique but it just doesn’t work for me.
- Scene Building. I LOVE a good scene but I struggle with this and never feel my end results are great.
- Pastes/Gels over Stencils. This is just something I’m not interested in and that’s okay.
Once, I figured all this out, it was easier for me to create. I know what I like and there’s enough design ideas that I will never get bored.
What do you like to make?
What genres or occasions do you like to craft for? Know what seasons you like and work to get supplies for that. It’s important to know what makes you happy because you’ll have so much more success and you’ll also enjoy your crafty sessions when you’re working with products you like.
Do you like digital stamped images that you can print, cut and color? Whimsy Stamps has a wonderful collection of cute digital images. Another great place for digital stamps is Graciellie Designs. They both also offer freebies!
You don’t need the latest products to create beautiful cards
Even if you don’t have the latest, greatest equipment and tools use the products you have. Just because something is 6 years old doesn’t make it worthless! I had to learn this for myself. We shouldn’t buy these craft products, use them once or twice and then let them rot in drawers.
What if I’m a new Cardmaker, what do i need to get started?
This is a very good question, when I got started I didn’t know any crafters to ask. I just started watching YouTube and that’s a great place to learn techniques. It’s just that there’s so much information that it gets overwhelming. And, when you don’t know what type of cards you’ll like making, you can easily end up with products you hardly or never use like I did.
That said, I have a section at the end of this post with some of my favorite recommendations for products that are useful including monthly card kits. Card kits are an excellent option for new cardmakers. You get all the supplies in each kit to make a bunch of cards. Also, check out my post, “My 10 Most Used Crafty Tools”.
And here’s my Best 8 pieces of advice:
- Keep progressing. My first piece of advice is don’t give up altogether. If you enjoy making, keep making. Practice, practice, practice! You will get better if you keep going.
- Learn how to save cards with a Plan B. When I first started, if I made a mistake, I would angrily throw away the card! It took me awhile (several months) to stop letting my frustrations get the better of me. It’s just paper and it can be salvaged or repurposed.
- Don’t pay attention to your social media and/or blog stats. The numbers don’t matter and can really depress you.
- Don’t compare yourself to others. We are all unique and when you try to be too much like someone else, you become a copy of them and you rob the rest of the world the gifts that only you have.
- Seek support and get involved. The cardmaking community is full of crafters who support and encourage each other, more than any other industry I’ve seen. I’ve met so many wonderful crafty friends. Join some Facebook groups, I recommend Jennifer McGuire, WPlus9 or Gina K. Designs groups. Instagram is another awesome place mingling with other crafters.
- “Always get back up”. Luke Skywalker told Grogu this in his training session. And that’s a lesson for all of us. Don’t give up and lay down. Get back up and try again until you get it! If you quit too soon, it’ll take that much longer to master your design style.
- Know your strengths and weaknesses. Play up to your strengths. Stick with what you succeed at. Create the style(s) that makes you happy. And, don’t judge your creations so harshly, we can be our own worst critics!
- Don’t feel bad if there’s a technique you struggle at. I love watercolor, but again I’m not good at it. So, I donated 90% of my paints only keeping a small set. There’s so many ways to make a card. There’s enough methods for anybody to make cards and they’re all unique.
I hope that my post encouraged you today especially if you find yourself struggling to know your place in your craft. And, it doesn’t matter if you’re into cardmaking, paper crafting, fabric/sewing, fiber arts, writing, painting, etc., there’s a place for you to shine through your creativity. Don’t be afraid to share it with the rest of us. I’m cheering you on!
Here’s a few of my recommended products for cardmakers:
- Die Cutting Machines: Gemini Jr. Embossing & Die Cutter here or here, get the new Gemini here, Spellbinders Platinum 6 Die Cutting/Embossing Machine here or here
- Stamp Positioner: Misti here, here, here or here
- Paper Trimmer: Tim Holtz here (Ranger), here (Scrapbook.com) or here (AZ)
- Inks: I love Pinkfresh Studio’s inks and Simon Says Stamp Pawsitively Saturated Ink Collections. I also use Distress Traditional Inks; browse all the Distress lnks here and Distress Oxide Inks (Collections and Bundles available too)
- Scrapbook.com Stencils: They are inexpensive and fun to create with!
- Bearly Art Liquid Glue
- Accents 100 lb. White Cardstock (excellent cardstock for cardbases and die cutting)
- Clear Double-sided Adhesive Tapes
- Simon Says Stamp “Intense Black” ink pad
- Glassboard Craft Mat → Use my Code → KIMCARDS20 at checkout
- Craft Reverse Tweezers by EK Tools (great for picking up die cut pieces)
- Pinkfresh Studio Jewel mix (beautiful set of colorful gems)
- Scor-Buddy Scoreboard
- Waffle Flower Crafts “Additional Circles” Nested Dies
- Waffle Flower Crafts A2 Layers Die (Rectangle Nested Dies)
- Monthly Card Kits and Clubs: Spellbinders has a plethora of monthly club kits that are loaded with goodies for making cards quickly. Hero Arts, Simon Says Stamp and Altenew have monthly card kits too.
