Need a card in a crunch? Here are my favorite tips on how to pull together a clean and pretty look in less than 10 minutes. Click here for more Stamping 911 samples.
MARY’S STAMPING 911 TIPS:
1.
Don’t start from scratch. Inventing the “wheel” takes a lot of time.
Find a basic sketch and copy (with proper credit to the designer if
you’re a blogger or are going to publish it).
2. Check out the
Splitcoast Stampers Daily Challenges (listed on my right side bar) for
color and sketch inspiration. Today’s posts uses the Featured Stamper
Challenge FS85 based on this card by Shannon.
3.
Get Organized. Paper, ink pads, tools and embellishments need to be
ready when you start your project (think like a firefighter). I like to
scribble my layout, colors and embellishments on a piece of paper.
4.
Develop a system for finding the right stamps quickly. I use a 3 ring
binder with stamped images of each set on 8.5 x 11 card stock pages. I
divided it like the Stampin’ Up! catalog (nature, greetings, holiday,
etc.). I can see my options all in one place and what stamps fit in my
layout. My sets are tucked in drawers alphabetically.
5. Pick a stamp that doubles as a focal point and sentiment (like “Celebrate You”).
6. Bookmark Stamping 911 for projects that can be recreated in less than 10 minutes. It’s a link so will update automatically when I add new ideas.
7. Punches. They create art in a snap.
8. Limit your layers. There is beauty in simplicity.
9.
Pretty paper pops. Designer paper or textured card stock can add a lot
of “wow” without the need for a lot of embellishment.
10. Edit
(I stole this from Tim Gunn on “Project Runway”). Focus on just a few
cool ideas to jazz up the card and resist the rest. On this card, it
was my red and orange square and the red brads.
