Arthritis has greatly limited my ability to use scissors. Hooray for dies that enable me to continue creating. Some (many?) supplies are too expensive, like alcohol inks and foiling. There are now work arounds for those so I can choose to add foil sentiments or purchase paper that looks like alcohol inks. My creativity is how I design each card, not in the execution. I want to design, make and send cards til I die. I can pick the tools that will make that a doable goal. How great is that!
It’s silly for people to question another person’s creativity. I craft and make cards for fun. I enjoy using premade ephemera but i also enjoy making my own. To each his own. I say do what you do and stop urging what others do. Love you, Laurel. ❤
Absolutely. If you don’t want to use the more “ finished” products, you do you. But don’t hate on what others are doing. Live and let live. There’s room for us all.
Three of my friends and I get together weekly for craft day. Only one of us would be classed as an artist but we are all crafters and all creative. Whether we use layering stencils, stamps or diecutting machines we are still using our creativity. We all started doing a mixed media course at our local scrapbooking store in Dubbo NSW about 10 years ago and have all changed & developed our own styles since then. Even if we started with the same paper, stamps and dies the end products would be totally different and all beautiful probably not perfect but great. And over the years we've had heaps of fun & spent heaps of cash and enoyed it all. Thanks ladies for the discussion 💕
Thank you Laurel for taking away the guilt .I have tremors and poor eyesight which gives me challenges when making cards, but now I feel vidicated! Bless you! I do love your cards and have used your background techniques for inspriration and love your videos!
I loved hearing your honest opinion, and yes ,I agree with you. Not everyone has the means or desire to spend all that money on new technology, only to find they don't like it and are now stuck with it. "You be you" is a wonderful mantra and great advice. It's your art and no too people will think alike. Love your channel, keep it up.
Wow, thanks for great options!! I am not a die cutter and just don’t have the room 9or $$$) for all that entails, so I buy precut from stores and Etsy. They are marvelous!! I just always remember it is the thought that counts in card making! I’m thinking of the person and so enjoy the making! I just wish i wouldn’t wait until the last minute to complete them!! Getting better at panning ahead. Thanks again for giving encouragement to so many of us! You are a dear!😃❤️
As a new card maker, I appreciate the pre-done “stuff.” It actually helps inspire me and see what style I like. Then, if I like it, I can buy the “stuff” to make my own. It’s really just like a testing period for me. ;) and thank you for providing inspiration also. We appreciate you!
Balanced, fair and reasonable. 'You do you' definitely applies here, if for any reason you need the pre-cut, pre-foiled and pretty papers then why not? The craft companies put us under huge pressure with the constant flow of new products, e.g. how many dandelion stamps, dies or patterned paper do I need? Not as much as could be bought, that's for sure. Liz in the UK.
Thanks for sharing this perspective. I sometimes feel like I'm "cheating" or feel guilty about using certain products, such as printed paper, or certain techniques. But then when I actually make cards, I'm still really stretching my creative muscles no matter what I'm using to do it! You still have to put all that stuff together in a cohesive and pleasing manner. That involves colors that "go together" and the balance of the elements on the surface of the card, etc. Anyway, there's my 2 cents. BTW, I'm copying and pasting this same comment to Ardyth's and Justine's videos. Sorry, not sorry! LOL! TFS!
It's so funny you told us that you were copying and pasting your comment. I did make three different comments but maybe because I started to get riled up. Never feel guilty. Maybe all these people who think it's cheating don't have a creative bone in their body. I actually didn't know this was controversial. But, hey, we live in a crazy world. Happy creating!
You are a true crafter. I totally agree. Of course these pre-made products cannot take away a person's creativity. We are all different. Even when I used to do 'make and takes' I didn't follow exactly the way they were doing the sample card. When I used to try selling my cards, some of my friends wanted me to make identical cards but I couldn't. I just didn't want to. There may be some similarities but each one was different. Thanks for the kind comments about not "needing" to rush off to buy the newest machines. I saw the new letterpress but it isn't anything I plan to buy either.
I love that cardmaking allows every cardmaker to create in whatever way speaks to them. Love to color? We've got you covered. Love intricate die cutting and paper piecing? Go for it. Are you more interested in design and less in creating every element in that design? Come on in, the water's fine. There's room for everyone and for everyone to express and explore their creativity as part of their own, unique journey. I'm never going to fussy cut. Ever. Hand me the die, friend.
This is a great topic. I watched all three in the colab... and it actually got me thinking and YEAH it does cut a lot of corners to use tools... no math, no coloring, or painting, no mess... GREAT... LOVE IT... but then sometimes I just want to get MESSY... thus my youtube handle.. MESSYHANDS... so yes I love having the tools when I want to try making a SUPER NICE card that looks store made... and other times I'm wanting to play and share my play time and creativity...
I had no idea that this 'controversy' exists! I agree with you 100%, Laurel, especially when you say 'Just do you!' Is using a card kit 'cheating' because everyone who has the kit has identical products to use? No! Just check out all the variety of inspiration that wonderful crafters make with, for instance, the SSS card kits! 'Nuff said, imo!!
I used to go shopping for paper crafting supplies and then struggle with how to use them all. Now I plan my projects and buy only what I need. I use the scraps to make cards. I use to buy ALL the things, but now we are downsizing and my new craft room is smaller. Yikes! I think you are right! ❤
I love stamping and coloring and die cutting for cards, but I am also just getting back into scrapbooking and I do like the ephemera companies offer for layouts!
I agree with you 100 percent. When I began making cards I depended on stuff like pre cut ephemera being available since I was still working out my style. Once I realized I enjoyed die cuts but wanted them to be in the color palette that I use (coordinating colors in my craft is important to me), I bought a die machine. I know my creativity today was rooted in shortcuts being available to me as I learned to create on my own. Another example: I explored multiple manufacturers for inks before deciding on which one I wanted to build my own palette around. You said it best….as creatives we all need to stay true to ourselves in whatever form that takes. Great video 👍
I think using pre-foiled sentiments or ephemera is like batching. Some people stamp and color 3 dozen critters in one sitting or stamp and emboss and cut sentiment straps so they're ready to go. If these things mean you'll sit down and create a card to tell someone you care, I'm all for it. 😊
I love being creative and making everything on a card from scratch. They can sometimes take me 2-3 days to complete. However, those are for special occasions or for those most close to me. When making 75-100 cards for a cause or organization, I do rely on some pre-made items. Don't feel as if it's cheating because I still put my very best into each one and make sure they are lovely and will bring a smile to the recipients' hearts -- this is what is most important at the end of the day. Blessings!
I LOVE ephemera, now that I know how to use it properly. It does help in the speed of making cards, but doesn't take away the uniqueness of the card. I have had a couple of brain injuries, of which I'm still recovering, so I am definitely slower on the card making these days... and doing too intense techniques wears my brain out.. so sketches and ephemera are a huge blessing to me.
There are endless, endless, ENDLESS options, and if I want to take a "shortcut" here and there, that's fine! If I don't, that's fine too! You're absolutely right, Laurel, they're all going to be different. We all want different shortcuts or we'd probably all still be using copy paper and crayons LOL! So may ways to be creative!
I'm here for all of it! I am a slow crafter and sometimes want to make a card but I want it to be stress free and a little easier but still made by me.
I have absolutely fallen in love with digital files that I print. I also love die cutting. I agree with doing what works for you. I mass produce for church cards. While I love making backgrounds, I don't always want to make 66 of them.
I was just thinking that all of these options in card making can fit into different categories, so to speak. Some supplies will make it extremely easy to make a card fast, just in case you need one. Other ones let you pick and choose your supplies to come up with a new style of card you’ve never made. New tools help increase your creativity I think. I’ve been frustrated my whole crafting career because I have difficulty with stamps on wooden blocks. I’ve never been able to get them to completely stamped evenly the first time. I think that the Misti is like the best tool I have ever used. It doesn’t make my card itself perfect, but it makes it so much easier to correct mistakes
I love this video- you make everything so easy and simple. That is one reason why I watch your channel. Plus I am not into the foiling stuff or the new stuff coming out.
I bought one of the original cricuts back in the day, because I felt like it HELPED my creativity. I could play with color combinations and combining different elements and not worry about the fact that if I tried to draw a shape then it would not turn out the way I wanted. There are different types of creative gifts and creative interests. What some might see as limiting creativity might feel empowering to others. There's enough room in this world for all types of crafters
Some friends and I had a crafting retreat recently, and we did a challenge where each of us had to use some ephemera pieces to make something. None of us made anything that even looked remotely the same, but each design was uniquely beautiful - we each have our own likes, dislikes, preferences, and innate creativity, and the industry simply gives us tools by which we can apply our creativity. If my cards and scrapbooks look “professional “, then all the better.
I think all of the goodies make it easier to be creative. You still pick and choose what fits your style and creativity. I also look at it from the perspective of those that maybe don't have the dexterity they used to and this helps them create cards they are proud to give out. Maybe some can't afford or figure out the latest greatest techniques and these can be a great way to experiment and see what you like.
I've been a card maker for 25+ years and I would like to think that my cards have gotten better. My skill as a card maker as grown and mature and my finished product reflect that. As my confidence increased, I tried more artistic and creative stuff like watercoloring, stitching and hand-drawing. I've also passed on trends that aren't for me (foiling). I don't think having products that make our crafting easier and/or less time consuming while still providing a nice polished look is a bad thing.
I just love your videos. You make me smile, laugh and give me all over good feels about card making. Thanks for coming into my crafty life dahling! Big Hugs!
To make a card from complete scratch and just use white cardstock would drive me nuts. I love using products. I enjoy buying collections that have cardstock, printed paper and embellishments and stamps all together in style and color. It's so fun to put those together into cards and scrapbook pages!! Learning how to layer those embellishments can be really tricky and I think is extremely creative. You are still choosing how to put these products together..
One of the challenges on the MB I belong to is that two people will swap identical supplies to make a card and rarely are they identical because each crafter has their own style. Also, a friend and I use the same Christmas card kits and we never have identical cards. I tell people that I am a crafter, not an artist. So, in order to be able to make cards that I would want to give to someone I need a lot of those supplies such as stamps and patterned paper etc. And I have added things to the premade die cuts such as shading flowers or adding glitter etc.
So agree. If a product makes someone's crafty time more enjoyable, get it!!! No one else defines YOUR creative process. Or, if someone has the time and talent to hand cut, color, paint, and all the things, hats off!
I agree. Then you add a Cricut, or Scan N Cut into the mix and it gets even more crazy. It's been hard to resist all of the goodies, but you got have limits. Thanks for the video!
Laurel, I agree with your opinion. I'm not an artist and don't have the budget for all the bells and whistles machines. But I love card-making and the people who receive my cards seem to be happy with them, too. So, I think it's all a non-issue and we shouldn't judge what others do. BTW, you are looking especially pretty today.
I think companies are releasing these products to really make cardmaking easier and faster. Because there are people who would really like to make their own cards with a limited amount of time. I personally love to color. So I don't buy layering stencils. I love foiling, so I invested in buying hot foiling supplies. The law of abundance apply to the art world, and its up to us to decide if we need them or not. Let's enjoy, craft, make art, and do whatever gives joy!
Amen Sista! Thx for saying that. I really would like to know how you use that laminator to foil…… i don’t want to invest in a foil machine and the special instruments to use it.
Agree agree X three. You were going to link the other two videos, or am I missing the obvious, which I’m good at? Guessing they’re Justine and Ardyth so will go see.
There’s always going to be someone who thinks other people are doing creativity wrong, but I don’t need to make my own paper from scratch and paint a unique image to make a beautiful handmade card. Using a pre-colored image and sentiment isn’t cheating. The funny thing is that some people out there are criticizing certain tools and products as being “dumbed down” or “cheating” at creativity and other people actually think that making a card or gift by hand is less valuable than buying something. A friend shared that her relatives hate anything handmade and genuinely believe that going to Target and buying a $5 card off the rack shows more love than sitting down and making a unique card for someone. I’m going to continue making what I love and buying what suits me, whether other people think it’s cheating or tacky or whatever.
For me, I have plenty of supplies to make many of my own things. Ephemera is made by visiting a royalty free database for printed images or cutting and layering scrapbook paper images on cardstock. I layer punched shapes and then stamp and ink them to make sturdy card embellishments. When I die cut, I pull several dies and spend an hour cutting. I made two sheets of pre-made sentiments in various sizes and fonts thag I can print and cut for later use. Everything is stored and available to me when I am ready to create. The pre-made items represent a monetary investment for little return, HOWEVER, that is my opinion because there are some truly wonderful goodies out there. I spend on metal gears, keys, etc., and brads. So I suppose there is an aesthetic choice that a crafter makes when deciding how to generate embellishments and pieces. Being in a current state of consolidation and reorganization of my papercrafting supplies, this was a great topic that really got me thinking.
Whatever people make by hand is creative ..we all have different reasons for what we use to make cards and some people may have a problem with their hands or wrists or some limitation so they use what works best for them but as long as we enjoy what we do that is all that matters .. I can no longer Gel print or die cut at the moment because it pulls on my back so for now I make cards without using them .. 😊
Thank you all for having this conversation but i truly dont know why you had to. For goodness sake everyone should live by the motto "you do you, Boo". We all create for our own reasons and in our own way. Thats enough. Thats perfect.
Well you all agree, and.. Me too, and you all say it so eloquent 👍. It is true, we are all different and eveeybody shoukd do what makes them happy, that is all that matters😁
For me, card making is the place to give me permission to be a little girl again. I remember when I was a child, I was not judgmental of the supplies. The pleasure was to let my imagination go. It did not matter if it was stickers, stamps, fabric… Card making is my grown up playground. I don’t care what you give me to create. For creative people, creating is a NEED, the medium is just a vehicle to make stuff. I’m so sorry if the community is now becoming judgmental.
I think you are right. You could give 3,5,10 people a card making kit with papers toppers ribbon sequins etc included we would all make something different the likelihood we make the exact same card is next to nothing. Creativity is how you use these products to make something wow. It make you challenge you imagination more to make something that is wow.
There’s plenty of room for all types of card-markers. We should do and use what works for us and not worry about someone else’s opinion- in my opinion 😉
If it is fun for you and is fulfilling, then do what makes your card-making heart happy. I don't care what others use, and wouldn't look down on them for whatever they do! Why be judgemental?
This is a crazy controversy. To those of you who think you need to comment that someone isn't creative because of the tools they use, I say STOP JUDGING. Just get out there and create and make and enjoy the fact that there is a plethora of tools at our disposal to aid in the process. I love hot foiling. I do both kinds. I also use gilding flakes and gold leaf. No one technique inhibits my creativity. It's the final result that matters.
I think the already made sentiments or diecuts are just time savers. They are not stifling to your creativity. Same thing goes for ephemera. Time saver and could also double as a cover up for a booboo you made. Of course i meant for that flower to go there. It was all by design. I haven't got into foiling but i do have a laminator and foil so when i get ready i won't have to buy anything extra.
I think no matter what products people use to make cards they still have to decide what the card is going to look like so I don't think that it takes anything away from the card
Paper crafting is Expensive! Yes, I love all the new gadgets, but I certainly don't buy them. I made my own misti for less than $20. I still use my Cuttlebug. I have enough supplies to make cards for the rest of my life and hopefully they will be donated when I'm gone. The sad fact is ~ is that people don't send out cards anymore. Hallmark stores are closing. Our cardmaking craft is dying, so why would one invest more money for new gadgets, when they are too expensive in the first place. I love making cards and I will send out as many as I can, but I have to say no to purchasing anything more than what I already have.
Excellent video, but I'm baffled that this is an issue. If I enjoy making a card, and the person I give it to enjoys getting it, why should anyone else care what tools and products I used to create the card?
Funny think about all these ?! The recipients of those cards have no clue what is the new trend on card making . They have no clue about a brand or other . They have no clue if is a pre-cut or the maker has a die cutting machine , etc Just make cards that are pleasing to the eyes , that send the right message and as well are affordable so you can sell them and make a good profit . Fear going to a Sunday market/ fair and maybe run into another crafter using same supplies as you did and display same items as yours ?! Well , it's called competitive marketing for some reason , right ?! Back to what Laurel said and what I agree with 100% , each person is a entire whole and different world , even using same tools and supplies , the personal touch would change everything . Some one says something about must buy everything that matches together from paper to inks ...hmmm .. i don't think so . I buy my papers from a company based in Holland , non branded inks or inks made for Hobby Craft , they are very cheap and great quality , stamps and dies made in the UK or non branded made in China . Tools from Sizzix or WRMK as well non branded , from stationery shops i would buy my alcohol or acrylic markers , i foil with my laminator or I use stencils , sticky medium paste and cheap foil and the foiling final result is neat . I would like all those gizmos ?! Of course i would ! Can I afford them ... probably yes, but in time . Do I need them all ?! No ! Definitely no ! Unless i decide to became a You tube demonstrator and I would make more money selling these products than from making cards , actually . Last night ; five cards , "designer"paper for backgrounds ...papers i create using my gel plates .The dies and stamps; from a pile of crafting magazines I've purchased this week . Gel plates were bought to create unique patterns on fabrics for my tote bags , pillow cases etc , only later i started using them for cards . Amassing tens and tens of tools and supplies because they are a Must of because they are " recommended by " , in my opinion , does kill creativity .
I dont get it....Back in the day we wished for certain things to make our lives easier...some of them are here now and people are still having issues!!? Like I said, I dont get it. You asked a question so I am going to answer. No, these game changers are not ruining my creativity. I do use a die cutting machine. I do have pattern paper. No one is going to use these things the same way I will (like you said). So, why now are crafters concerned? What made us crafters in the first place? It was our creativity! Does it enhance the things we create? Yes! Does it cut the time down? Depends on what you are creating. I love taking my time on the cards I create. I dont own a foil press and being frank, I dont want one. It's nice for those who do, however I don't. I am me. I create the way I do because it is my creativity, my style, my way. Keep creating your own way everyone. Nothing or no one can take that from you, it is uniquely yours. Blessings for your day.
Arthritis has greatly limited my ability to use scissors. Hooray for dies that enable me to continue creating. Some (many?) supplies are too expensive, like alcohol inks and foiling. There are now work arounds for those so I can choose to add foil sentiments or purchase paper that looks like alcohol inks. My creativity is how I design each card, not in the execution. I want to design, make and send cards til I die. I can pick the tools that will make that a doable goal. How great is that!
It’s silly for people to question another person’s creativity. I craft and make cards for fun. I enjoy using premade ephemera but i also enjoy making my own. To each his own. I say do what you do and stop urging what others do. Love you, Laurel. ❤
Absolutely. If you don’t want to use the more “ finished” products, you do you. But don’t hate on what others are doing. Live and let live. There’s room for us all.
Three of my friends and I get together weekly for craft day. Only one of us would be classed as an artist but we are all crafters and all creative. Whether we use layering stencils, stamps or diecutting machines we are still using our creativity. We all started doing a mixed media course at our local scrapbooking store in Dubbo NSW about 10 years ago and have all changed & developed our own styles since then. Even if we started with the same paper, stamps and dies the end products would be totally different and all beautiful probably not perfect but great. And over the years we've had heaps of fun & spent heaps of cash and enoyed it all. Thanks ladies for the discussion 💕
Thank you Laurel for taking away the guilt .I have tremors and poor eyesight which gives me challenges when making cards, but now I feel vidicated! Bless you! I do love your cards and have used your background techniques for inspriration and love your videos!
I honestly think that buying all the goodies still makes cards unique. I love them. I still have to think and plan how I want them to look.
I loved hearing your honest opinion, and yes ,I agree with you. Not everyone has the means or desire to spend all that money on new technology, only to find they don't like it and are now stuck with it. "You be you" is a wonderful mantra and great advice. It's your art and no too people will think alike. Love your channel, keep it up.
Wow, thanks for great options!! I am not a die cutter and just don’t have the room 9or $$$) for all that entails, so I buy precut from stores and Etsy. They are marvelous!! I just always remember it is the thought that counts in card making! I’m thinking of the person and so enjoy the making! I just wish i wouldn’t wait until the last minute to complete them!! Getting better at panning ahead. Thanks again for giving encouragement to so many of us! You are a dear!😃❤️
As a new card maker, I appreciate the pre-done “stuff.” It actually helps inspire me and see what style I like. Then, if I like it, I can buy the “stuff” to make my own. It’s really just like a testing period for me. ;) and thank you for providing inspiration also. We appreciate you!
Balanced, fair and reasonable. 'You do you' definitely applies here, if for any reason you need the pre-cut, pre-foiled and pretty papers then why not? The craft companies put us under huge pressure with the constant flow of new products, e.g. how many dandelion stamps, dies or patterned paper do I need? Not as much as could be bought, that's for sure. Liz in the UK.
Thanks for sharing this perspective. I sometimes feel like I'm "cheating" or feel guilty about using certain products, such as printed paper, or certain techniques. But then when I actually make cards, I'm still really stretching my creative muscles no matter what I'm using to do it! You still have to put all that stuff together in a cohesive and pleasing manner. That involves colors that "go together" and the balance of the elements on the surface of the card, etc. Anyway, there's my 2 cents. BTW, I'm copying and pasting this same comment to Ardyth's and Justine's videos. Sorry, not sorry! LOL! TFS!
It's so funny you told us that you were copying and pasting your comment. I did make three different comments but maybe because I started to get riled up. Never feel guilty. Maybe all these people who think it's cheating don't have a creative bone in their body. I actually didn't know this was controversial. But, hey, we live in a crazy world. Happy creating!
Agree with you both.
You are a true crafter. I totally agree. Of course these pre-made products cannot take away a person's creativity. We are all different. Even when I used to do 'make and takes' I didn't follow exactly the way they were doing the sample card. When I used to try selling my cards, some of my friends wanted me to make identical cards but I couldn't. I just didn't want to. There may be some similarities but each one was different. Thanks for the kind comments about not "needing" to rush off to buy the newest machines. I saw the new letterpress but it isn't anything I plan to buy either.
I love that cardmaking allows every cardmaker to create in whatever way speaks to them. Love to color? We've got you covered. Love intricate die cutting and paper piecing? Go for it. Are you more interested in design and less in creating every element in that design? Come on in, the water's fine. There's room for everyone and for everyone to express and explore their creativity as part of their own, unique journey. I'm never going to fussy cut. Ever. Hand me the die, friend.
This is a great topic. I watched all three in the colab... and it actually got me thinking and YEAH it does cut a lot of corners to use tools... no math, no coloring, or painting, no mess... GREAT... LOVE IT... but then sometimes I just want to get MESSY... thus my youtube handle.. MESSYHANDS... so yes I love having the tools when I want to try making a SUPER NICE card that looks store made... and other times I'm wanting to play and share my play time and creativity...
I had no idea that this 'controversy' exists! I agree with you 100%, Laurel, especially when you say 'Just do you!' Is using a card kit 'cheating' because everyone who has the kit has identical products to use? No! Just check out all the variety of inspiration that wonderful crafters make with, for instance, the SSS card kits! 'Nuff said, imo!!
I used to go shopping for paper crafting supplies and then struggle with how to use them all. Now I plan my projects and buy only what I need. I use the scraps to make cards. I use to buy ALL the things, but now we are downsizing and my new craft room is smaller. Yikes! I think you are right! ❤
I love stamping and coloring and die cutting for cards, but I am also just getting back into scrapbooking and I do like the ephemera companies offer for layouts!
I agree with you 100 percent. When I began making cards I depended on stuff like pre cut ephemera being available since I was still working out my style. Once I realized I enjoyed die cuts but wanted them to be in the color palette that I use (coordinating colors in my craft is important to me), I bought a die machine. I know my creativity today was rooted in shortcuts being available to me as I learned to create on my own. Another example: I explored multiple manufacturers for inks before deciding on which one I wanted to build my own palette around. You said it best….as creatives we all need to stay true to ourselves in whatever form that takes. Great video 👍
I think using pre-foiled sentiments or ephemera is like batching. Some people stamp and color 3 dozen critters in one sitting or stamp and emboss and cut sentiment straps so they're ready to go. If these things mean you'll sit down and create a card to tell someone you care, I'm all for it. 😊
I love being creative and making everything on a card from scratch. They can sometimes take me 2-3 days to complete. However, those are for special occasions or for those most close to me. When making 75-100 cards for a cause or organization, I do rely on some pre-made items. Don't feel as if it's cheating because I still put my very best into each one and make sure they are lovely and will bring a smile to the recipients' hearts -- this is what is most important at the end of the day. Blessings!
Ahhh… such words of wisdom! You are definitely an out of the box free thinking creative soul!
I LOVE ephemera, now that I know how to use it properly. It does help in the speed of making cards, but doesn't take away the uniqueness of the card. I have had a couple of brain injuries, of which I'm still recovering, so I am definitely slower on the card making these days... and doing too intense techniques wears my brain out.. so sketches and ephemera are a huge blessing to me.
There are endless, endless, ENDLESS options, and if I want to take a "shortcut" here and there, that's fine! If I don't, that's fine too! You're absolutely right, Laurel, they're all going to be different. We all want different shortcuts or we'd probably all still be using copy paper and crayons LOL! So may ways to be creative!
I'm here for all of it! I am a slow crafter and sometimes want to make a card but I want it to be stress free and a little easier but still made by me.
I have absolutely fallen in love with digital files that I print. I also love die cutting. I agree with doing what works for you.
I mass produce for church cards. While I love making backgrounds, I don't always want to make 66 of them.
I was just thinking that all of these options in card making can fit into different categories, so to speak. Some supplies will make it extremely easy to make a card fast, just in case you need one. Other ones let you pick and choose your supplies to come up with a new style of card you’ve never made. New tools help increase your creativity I think. I’ve been frustrated my whole crafting career because I have difficulty with stamps on wooden blocks. I’ve never been able to get them to completely stamped evenly the first time. I think that the Misti is like the best tool I have ever used. It doesn’t make my card itself perfect, but it makes it so much easier to correct mistakes
I love this video- you make everything so easy and simple. That is one reason why I watch your channel. Plus I am not into the foiling stuff or the new stuff coming out.
I bought one of the original cricuts back in the day, because I felt like it HELPED my creativity. I could play with color combinations and combining different elements and not worry about the fact that if I tried to draw a shape then it would not turn out the way I wanted. There are different types of creative gifts and creative interests. What some might see as limiting creativity might feel empowering to others. There's enough room in this world for all types of crafters
Some friends and I had a crafting retreat recently, and we did a challenge where each of us had to use some ephemera pieces to make something. None of us made anything that even looked remotely the same, but each design was uniquely beautiful - we each have our own likes, dislikes, preferences, and innate creativity, and the industry simply gives us tools by which we can apply our creativity. If my cards and scrapbooks look “professional “, then all the better.
I think all of the goodies make it easier to be creative. You still pick and choose what fits your style and creativity. I also look at it from the perspective of those that maybe don't have the dexterity they used to and this helps them create cards they are proud to give out. Maybe some can't afford or figure out the latest greatest techniques and these can be a great way to experiment and see what you like.
I've been a card maker for 25+ years and I would like to think that my cards have gotten better. My skill as a card maker as grown and mature and my finished product reflect that. As my confidence increased, I tried more artistic and creative stuff like watercoloring, stitching and hand-drawing. I've also passed on trends that aren't for me (foiling). I don't think having products that make our crafting easier and/or less time consuming while still providing a nice polished look is a bad thing.
I just love your videos. You make me smile, laugh and give me all over good feels about card making. Thanks for coming into my crafty life dahling! Big Hugs!
To make a card from complete scratch and just use white cardstock would drive me nuts. I love using products. I enjoy buying collections that have cardstock, printed paper and embellishments and stamps all together in style and color. It's so fun to put those together into cards and scrapbook pages!! Learning how to layer those embellishments can be really tricky and I think is extremely creative. You are still choosing how to put these products together..
For someone who is partially blind like myself, I say bring on all the help I can possibly afford lol!
One of the challenges on the MB I belong to is that two people will swap identical supplies to make a card and rarely are they identical because each crafter has their own style. Also, a friend and I use the same Christmas card kits and we never have identical cards. I tell people that I am a crafter, not an artist. So, in order to be able to make cards that I would want to give to someone I need a lot of those supplies such as stamps and patterned paper etc. And I have added things to the premade die cuts such as shading flowers or adding glitter etc.
EVERYONE, YOU DO YOU!!
So agree. If a product makes someone's crafty time more enjoyable, get it!!! No one else defines YOUR creative process. Or, if someone has the time and talent to hand cut, color, paint, and all the things, hats off!
I agree with you 🥰 do you and be you ❤️ thanks for sharing and happy crafting Hugs xx
I agree. Then you add a Cricut, or Scan N Cut into the mix and it gets even more crazy. It's been hard to resist all of the goodies, but you got have limits. Thanks for the video!
Thank you Laurel 👍
With pre-colored images, I actually still color over them to make them look less manufactured. They still end up looking like something I did.
Laurel, I agree with your opinion. I'm not an artist and don't have the budget for all the bells and whistles machines. But I love card-making and the people who receive my cards seem to be happy with them, too. So, I think it's all a non-issue and we shouldn't judge what others do. BTW, you are looking especially pretty today.
Thank you for your honesty. X
Loved your video. It really makes you think....do I really need every thing to make a card. 🥰
I think companies are releasing these products to really make cardmaking easier and faster. Because there are people who would really like to make their own cards with a limited amount of time. I personally love to color. So I don't buy layering stencils. I love foiling, so I invested in buying hot foiling supplies. The law of abundance apply to the art world, and its up to us to decide if we need them or not. Let's enjoy, craft, make art, and do whatever gives joy!
I loved your video. We all should just use what we want to. Period.
I love your take on this!
Amen Sista! Thx for saying that.
I really would like to know how you use that laminator to foil…… i don’t want to invest in a foil machine and the special instruments to use it.
Agree agree X three. You were going to link the other two videos, or am I missing the obvious, which I’m good at? Guessing they’re Justine and Ardyth so will go see.
Totally agree with your comments 💐💐
I've even bought cardmaking kitsch but never make them like the instructions indicated. How we combine the product is more important than what we use.
Agree with you on all points! To each his or her own.
Love the video, and I agree with you.
Totally agree!!!!!
Bottom line, I do what brings me joy and fun. That’s my motivation. I hope that’s true for others.
There’s always going to be someone who thinks other people are doing creativity wrong, but I don’t need to make my own paper from scratch and paint a unique image to make a beautiful handmade card. Using a pre-colored image and sentiment isn’t cheating. The funny thing is that some people out there are criticizing certain tools and products as being “dumbed down” or “cheating” at creativity and other people actually think that making a card or gift by hand is less valuable than buying something. A friend shared that her relatives hate anything handmade and genuinely believe that going to Target and buying a $5 card off the rack shows more love than sitting down and making a unique card for someone. I’m going to continue making what I love and buying what suits me, whether other people think it’s cheating or tacky or whatever.
I think that anyone who has the gall to question if it’s creative or not is just looking to argue! To each his own!
For me, I have plenty of supplies to make many of my own things. Ephemera is made by visiting a royalty free database for printed images or cutting and layering scrapbook paper images on cardstock. I layer punched shapes and then stamp and ink them to make sturdy card embellishments. When I die cut, I pull several dies and spend an hour cutting. I made two sheets of pre-made sentiments in various sizes and fonts thag I can print and cut for later use. Everything is stored and available to me when I am ready to create. The pre-made items represent a monetary investment for little return, HOWEVER, that is my opinion because there are some truly wonderful goodies out there. I spend on metal gears, keys, etc., and brads. So I suppose there is an aesthetic choice that a crafter makes when deciding how to generate embellishments and pieces. Being in a current state of consolidation and reorganization of my papercrafting supplies, this was a great topic that really got me thinking.
Whatever people make by hand is creative ..we all have different reasons for what we use to make cards and some people may have a problem with their hands or wrists or some limitation so they use what works best for them but as long as we enjoy what we do that is all that matters .. I can no longer Gel print or die cut at the moment because it pulls on my back so for now I make cards without using them .. 😊
Thank you all for having this conversation but i truly dont know why you had to. For goodness sake everyone should live by the motto "you do you, Boo".
We all create for our own reasons and in our own way. Thats enough. Thats perfect.
I agree. Everyone has different likes and talents. Something for everyone.
You look great. I like you hair
I agree with you on all of this …..💐
Well you all agree, and.. Me too, and you all say it so eloquent 👍. It is true, we are all different and eveeybody shoukd do what makes them happy, that is all that matters😁
There is room for all styles of cardmaking... People need to stop judging
For me, card making is the place to give me permission to be a little girl again. I remember when I was a child, I was not judgmental of the supplies. The pleasure was to let my imagination go. It did not matter if it was stickers, stamps, fabric…
Card making is my grown up playground. I don’t care what you give me to create. For creative people, creating is a NEED, the medium is just a vehicle to make stuff. I’m so sorry if the community is now becoming judgmental.
I think you are right. You could give 3,5,10 people a card making kit with papers toppers ribbon sequins etc included we would all make something different the likelihood we make the exact same card is next to nothing. Creativity is how you use these products to make something wow. It make you challenge you imagination more to make something that is wow.
There’s plenty of room for all types of card-markers. We should do and use what works for us and not worry about someone else’s opinion- in my opinion 😉
If it is fun for you and is fulfilling, then do what makes your card-making heart happy. I don't care what others use, and wouldn't look down on them for whatever they do! Why be judgemental?
An you let me know more about your laminated that foils ☺️
This is a crazy controversy. To those of you who think you need to comment that someone isn't creative because of the tools they use, I say STOP JUDGING. Just get out there and create and make and enjoy the fact that there is a plethora of tools at our disposal to aid in the process. I love hot foiling. I do both kinds. I also use gilding flakes and gold leaf. No one technique inhibits my creativity. It's the final result that matters.
I think the already made sentiments or diecuts are just time savers. They are not stifling to your creativity. Same thing goes for ephemera. Time saver and could also double as a cover up for a booboo you made. Of course i meant for that flower to go there. It was all by design. I haven't got into foiling but i do have a laminator and foil so when i get ready i won't have to buy anything extra.
100%!
I don’t feel like I am cheating or that I am infringing on my creativity. To each their own.
I'm disabled and I do me and I don't care what people think. I've been like this since I started making cards just before the pandemic.
Totally agree
I think no matter what products people use to make cards they still have to decide what the card is going to look like so I don't think that it takes anything away from the card
Paper crafting is Expensive! Yes, I love all the new gadgets, but I certainly don't buy them. I made my own misti for less than $20. I still use my Cuttlebug. I have enough supplies to make cards for the rest of my life and hopefully they will be donated when I'm gone. The sad fact is ~ is that people don't send out cards anymore. Hallmark stores are closing. Our cardmaking craft is dying, so why would one invest more money for new gadgets, when they are too expensive in the first place. I love making cards and I will send out as many as I can, but I have to say no to purchasing anything more than what I already have.
Excellent video, but I'm baffled that this is an issue. If I enjoy making a card, and the person I give it to enjoys getting it, why should anyone else care what tools and products I used to create the card?
❤️❤️❤️
Funny think about all these ?! The recipients of those cards have no clue what is the new trend on card making . They have no clue about a brand or other . They have no clue if is a pre-cut or the maker has a die cutting machine , etc Just make cards that are pleasing to the eyes , that send the right message and as well are affordable so you can sell them and make a good profit . Fear going to a Sunday market/ fair and maybe run into another crafter using same supplies as you did and display same items as yours ?! Well , it's called competitive marketing for some reason , right ?! Back to what Laurel said and what I agree with 100% , each person is a entire whole and different world , even using same tools and supplies , the personal touch would change everything . Some one says something about must buy everything that matches together from paper to inks ...hmmm .. i don't think so . I buy my papers from a company based in Holland , non branded inks or inks made for Hobby Craft , they are very cheap and great quality , stamps and dies made in the UK or non branded made in China . Tools from Sizzix or WRMK as well non branded , from stationery shops i would buy my alcohol or acrylic markers , i foil with my laminator or I use stencils , sticky medium paste and cheap foil and the foiling final result is neat . I would like all those gizmos ?! Of course i would ! Can I afford them ... probably yes, but in time . Do I need them all ?! No ! Definitely no ! Unless i decide to became a You tube demonstrator and I would make more money selling these products than from making cards , actually . Last night ; five cards , "designer"paper for backgrounds ...papers i create using my gel plates .The dies and stamps; from a pile of crafting magazines I've purchased this week . Gel plates were bought to create unique patterns on fabrics for my tote bags , pillow cases etc , only later i started using them for cards . Amassing tens and tens of tools and supplies because they are a Must of because they are " recommended by " , in my opinion , does kill creativity .
How to foil with a lamination machine…?
I have a video up on that already. Just search "foil" in the search bar.
The people who criticize or complain about others probably aren’t doing any card creations I don’t listen to the negativity
😇💖🙏🙌
Do you Boo!
I dont get it....Back in the day we wished for certain things to make our lives easier...some of them are here now and people are still having issues!!? Like I said, I dont get it. You asked a question so I am going to answer. No, these game changers are not ruining my creativity. I do use a die cutting machine. I do have pattern paper. No one is going to use these things the same way I will (like you said). So, why now are crafters concerned? What made us crafters in the first place? It was our creativity! Does it enhance the things we create? Yes! Does it cut the time down? Depends on what you are creating. I love taking my time on the cards I create. I dont own a foil press and being frank, I dont want one. It's nice for those who do, however I don't. I am me. I create the way I do because it is my creativity, my style, my way. Keep creating your own way everyone. Nothing or no one can take that from you, it is uniquely yours. Blessings for your day.
Yes yes
What the hell?? I loved cardmaking because it was basically drama free and there were no rules. What are we doing here???? Just do what pleases you!
I don’t think it’s cheating ,
I think maybe you are disappointed with the mainstream of these things