Thursday, April 10, 2014

Jury Duty



The jury in my head is out on this card.  This is the type of card I have been making for years and there was a time when I would have liked it.  White space, pretty colors, and all that.

Now?

I'm bored by it.  My tastes have changed and I find myself wondering why I find this boring.  I like the Hero Arts Flower Dauber image.  I like the scribbled feel to it.  But there is nothing special or interesting or clever here.

I'm posting this not to whine or belabor the point but simply to share that I'm sort of at a crossroads with this hobby.  But not sure where the road is going!

MOOD WHEN DONE = I will not say bored.  I will say thinking and invite comments on how you feel about what YOU are making.

18 comments:

  1. Your card is pretty. PERIOD. Whether it is your esthetic at this point in time, only you can say. I am finding that I get overwhelmed every month during release week with the countdowns for NEW BETTER PRODUCTS ("you have to have this!"). I can't possibly keep up, I might as well throw in the towel. But I enjoy the creative process, so I am not giving up the hobby.

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  2. Thanks Kathy. I do agree that the card is pretty. But I guess I want something other than pretty? HA HA. I also agree about the daily onslaught of new products! It is amazing how creative these companies are. They keep coming up with more beautiful things. I can't keep up either but that part doesn't bother me a wit. Glad you are not giving up the hobby. I'm not either!

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  3. Joan, I am glad to hear you are not giving up the hobby!

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  4. I think after years of cardmaking each of us definitely has a style that we tend to create. For me, when my designs start to feel a little stale, I change up what kind of fold I use or the size of my cards.
    If you took the hello panel and mounted it on a gate-fold card, for instance, it might make a difference in how you see it.
    Thanks for sharing, I look forward to your creations!

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  5. for what it's worth; I really like this card. I think the colors are bright and happy and I like the font of the "hello". Plus I think you really nailed a CAS layout beautifully.
    I am without stamping MOJO since I finished Christmas cards last November. At first I thought I was just busy doing all the holiday stuff; then my mother became ill and was actually hospitalized for a week and went straight to rehab after that for a month. This brought us up to Valentine's Day when she came home. I struggled to stamp a card for my husband.
    Now here we are and still no MOJO. Instead I have been creating a file card system of stamps by theme. I mostly wanted to group together sentiments like "birthday", "thank you", "miss you" etc. just so I could see them all at once and be able to mix and match better if my MOJO ever returns.
    So that is where I am at about what I am stamping. I WANT to stamp, but I want to feel some excitement about it. Perhaps still dealing with my Mom who is back home but slightly less functional than before is weighing me down. I am about to move on to boxing up some stamp sets and supplies that I don't think I want anymore and stashing them far away from my craft space. Maybe going through them all will spark some excitement. In the mean time I am enjoying your projects a lot!

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  6. Well, Joan, I love it...especially the pink edging.
    I lean toward appreciating and creating the CAS look myself. I try to keep it fresh...anyone for speech bubbles and chevrons? But there's a big part of me that wishes I could do those multi-layer shabby-chic, or is it vintage cards? I make an attempt now and then, but it's never quite "it". Besides, I have found that the two or three customers I have for my cards seem to gravitate to CAS when I show them samples. Conclusion, it must be what I do best. I have decided to never buy a machine again in life. I wasted $$ on my Cameo Sil. It's a pain in the butt to fiddle with and I really don't like dedicating the space needed to pair it up with my laptop. I am going to bite the bullet and sell it. My Provo Cuttlebug is my workhorse and I'm totally dedicated to it.
    I'm going to make you smile. When I saw the title of your post, I groaned first for you...poor baby, jury duty, then I remembered you're a lawyer. You can't be on a jury panel. And then I read happily, and realized never assume, just read on.

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  7. Joan, I absolutely love this card, and I love that I can expect to see this kind of card when I come here. I know I can see tons of layers and chunky flowers when I go to one blog, and I can see simple watercolors somewhere else. When I come here I can see vivid CAS cards. I guess I never thought of it from your perspective. I make all kinds of cards in all different styles and I enjoy them all. I guess that's what keeps me from getting bored.

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  8. Great card! I don't have a style really. I just keep trying different techniques or going back to old ones to change things up. Are you tired of CAS white space? Or just the white 'white space'? Have you tried kraft or coloured cardstock instead of white cardstock? Colours can still pop on those and make great CAS cards. Or try a totally different style. right now I am trying to use patterned paper in order to reduce my hoard, er, stash of the stuff. The cards still look good! ;-)

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  9. Your card is very pretty Joan. I think you should make the type cards that make you happy. So if your newer style is what makes you happier then stick with that. :) I love your cards either way.

    Mary

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  10. I love it -- the colors, the layout, the white space. I look forward to seeing what you come up with next, but in the meantime, thanks for an idea to bring back MY mojo! :)

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  11. Boy, I can relate! It is a really pretty card, no doubt about it, and my favorite CAS kind. Lately my own CAS cards seem rather naked without a scatter of sequins or enamel dots. I'm not getting into the embossing paste/stenciling thing, but I do like a smattering of bling these days. If you are at a crossroads with your style, I know that whatever you create will be terrific!! Hugs, Darnell

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  12. I think this is a great card. I like the stamp, I like the ink colors used - a splash of color is always good - I like the placement of the stamp, and I like the white space, so this member of the jury says "perfect!"

    Perhaps you need to purchase some new stamps?

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  13. You are much too hard on yourself. This is a fabulous card, and not boring at all. Love the placement and angle of the flower, and the way you have sponged the edges of your square focal point. That jaunty font on the 'hello' is the perfect sentiment for this card.

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    Replies
    1. Joyce, this is one time when I don't think I am being hard on myself. I think the card is pretty, I just don't think I want to make it! Hard to explain. Maybe it is spring fever.

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  14. I think I get what you are trying to convey. Not bored, but not satisfied/fulfilled from the creation itself. It's like having a good dinner but still wanting just a BIT of something else, whether it be a sweet or different taste to end the meal on (can you tell I just ate one of those lunches?! :)

    My own personal solution is to venture and try some new creative projects. I made a jewelry piece. Keep thinking about attempting another. I have also pledged to try and work in my art journal more. Not that those pieces will be worth sharing, but hoping that the experimenting and learning not to over think each and every element might lead to more freedom in my creative endeavors.

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  15. I think it's pretty cute, but I totally know what you mean, Joan. I made a couple of cards last nigth for show and tell with my stamp club tonight, and there's nothing wrong with them, technically, but from my perspective, there's something missing. I, too, felt that maybe it was the element of surprise that was lacking. I suppose I am at the same crossroads as you. I will be tuning in with great interest to see if you sort it out. Maybe you can push me out of my rut?!

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  16. i dont usually end up with white space so i dont really know how to play with it but to me the awesome bold image looks a bit too strong to sit atop so much empty space. maybe something slim towards the bottom edge of the card in a coordinating color, like a floss wraparound bow? it will fill the space a bit more, give some balance & add a little interest to the card

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  17. I really like the flower off the edge a tad there! I've just started working with Mixed Media - completely different than my usual CAS style with cards and I'm enjoying the creativity and challenge of it - so maybe a slight change in approach will give you your spirit back?!

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