Getting Out of a Crafty Rut

I don’t know about anyone else but I have got to a point where I struggle for ideas despite having a gazillion products. If anything the gazillion products hinders my crafting because there’s too much choice and it gets overwhelming! So I decided two things this year; 1) don’t buy things I don’t need – use my stash; and 2) come up with a system where I can challenge myself to use limited products/methods.

So, having said this I came up with a list of themes, techniques and styles where I can randomly pick out 3 things and then make a card incorporating whatever those 3 things are.

The numbers are out of order as I was initially going to close my eyes and point!

I made my list and ended up with 72 different options:-

1. Communication (mail, telephones, computers)
2. Coloured Panel
3. Black & White
4. Pattern Only (no critters/characters)
5. Art Deco
6. Torn Paper Stamping
7. Eclipse Card
8. Trees
9. Tartan/Gingham
10. 2 Colours Only
11. Framed
12. Layered Stamping
13. Text
14. Embossing
15. Shaker Element
16. Garden
17. Vintage
18. Butterflies
19. Die Cut/Punch
20. Quilling
21. Patterned Paper
22. Kraft Cardstock
23. Anything but A2
24. Travel
25. Floral
26. Texture
27. CAS
28. Weather
29. Stripes
30. Birds
31. Window
32. Ribbon/Twine
33. Tropical
34. Movies
35. Watercolours
36. Metallic
37. Paper Piecing
38. Tags
39. Use something non-crafty
40. Favourite Colour
41. Fairytale
42. Drinks
43. Tri-fold Card
44. Large Sentiment
45. Gel Plate
46. Night Sky
47. Circle(s)
48. Off the Edge
49. Washi Tape
50. Buttons
51. Polka Dots
52. Alphabet Dies
53. One Colour Only (besides white/black)
54. White on White
55. Black Background
56. Food
57. Chevrons
58. Stitching (faux or real)
59. Girly
60. Sparkle & Shine
61. Masculine
62. Hearts
63. Dogs
64. Alcohol Ink
65. Critters/Characters
66. Masking
67. Ocean
68. Background Stamp
69. Foil
70. Double Stenciling
71. Special Occasion (not Birthday/Christmas)
72. Stamping Only

Obviously this is a long list! But I tried to think of the different types of stamps/dies I had as well as any mediums I owned so I could actually create any one of these options as I had the tools to do it.

In order to pick 3 things randomly I just used an online random number generator:-

Whatever numbers come up, I have to use that option unless it completely contradicts the previous option (e.g. I get 61 – a Masculine card and then get 59 – a Girly card or 72 – Stamping Only and then 15 – Shaker Element.) When this happens I just generate another number until I get my 3.

So far I’ve got a few that I’ve picked and written down and I find it really helps to have a few ideas to choose from.

I’m loving my new system and I’m finding it’s really helped me get out of my rut!

These are the latest I’ve made using this system:-

FLORAL (25) GEL PLATE (45) TAG (38)

For this I made a load of Gel Plate backgrounds a while back and saved them. When I picked ‘Gel Plate’ I figured I didn’t have to do this technique from scratch so using an old background made that way is sufficient enough for this! I die cut the flowers and the main ‘Happy Birthday’ sentiment is on a vellum tag.

DOGS (63) ONE COLOUR ONLY (53) RIBBON/TWINE (32)

For this I stamped and heat embossed the dogs in white embossing powder then I inked over the top with Distress Oxide in Shaded Lilac. I added the sentiment and the ribbon then a few black gems in keeping with black & white being allowed in the ‘one colour’ option.

TRAVEL (24) STRIPES (29) SPECIAL OCCASION (not birthday/Christmas) (71)

For this, I painted the stripes on using a brush and some Lawn Fawn ink in”Soot” which I watered down. I then added the white lines with a gel pen. I stamped, coloured and die cut the cars and glued on to the ‘road’ stripes. I mounted it, added a sentiment and I think this is fine for someone who’s passed their driving test!

If anyone is having trouble finding inspiration, limiting yourself to using only a few things is really useful. I highly recommend it!

Sutz x

Products Used for Cards:-

• All white cardstock from Limetree Craft
• Pale green cardstock (on Car card) from Papermill Direct
• Floral Die Cuts from Altenew “Sakura” Stamp & Die Bundle
• Dog stamps from My Favourite Things “Lucky Dog”and Picket Fence Studios “Puppy Love”
• Car Die Cuts from Lawn Fawn “Happy Village”
• Stamps/Dies all bought from Seven Hill Crafts UK and Picket Fence Studios
• Ribbon from The Works

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