Getting out of that rut

If you are like me, and from what I read in your comments, a lot of you ARE, you sometimes get into a rut as far as the cards you design.

YOU know. I have a distressing tendency to stick to certain colors, favorite layouts, and techniques. It's really hard to break free of this tendency. The standard way of doing this is to look at what other people are making and maybe copy some of them. My readers come HERE to get new inspiration and that's fine for YOU, but where do I go? What about me? Eh? Eh?

I don't surf as many blogs as I used to, because I just don't have the time and I'm not really fond of copying other people's stuff anyway. I like to maintain the thin illusion of originality, after all, (cough, cough...ahem!) I have a certain rep to maintain, of being this glorious stamping goddess that just pulls new ideas out of her...em...HAT, yeah, that's right. So when I go looking for inspiration, I sometimes have to look in places others might not.

This past week I was cruising through a large discount chain store, heading for the food aisles to buy those items that I like to call "kid chow", that is, chips, crackers, cups of yogurt, etc. There's a distressing tendency of these items, after I buy them, to disappear with astonishing rapidity. So as I'm cruising around the store, I find that, of course, this store has put out all the Christmas stuff for sale, including their cards. I stopped to look because occasionally I get an idea from looking at commercial cards, although I wouldn't DREAM of buying them. I mean, I MAKE cards for Pete's sake! If I run out of time or energy at Christmas time, I don't buy commercial cards. I simply don't send any. But I digress...

This display had some pretty fancy cards. The commercial makers of greeting cards are onto us, ladies. They see us making these GOJUS handcrafted creations and they want a piece of the pie too. So today's cards, at least the pricier ones, feature, ribbon, die cuts and sometimes hardware in an effort to get those people who want the look of handcrafted, but they don't want to do it themselves. I took pics of quite a few of these, with the idea that I would rip-off...er I mean "borrow some inspiration" from them. After all, these companies have ripped off...I mean BORROWED the idea of this kind of card from us, haven't they? Turn about is fair play, I say.

And of course, anything *I* make myself is bound to be much more GOJUS than the one in the store. So I decided I would rip off...I mean BORROW this idea first:

 

I liked the color scheme. I liked the die cut snowflake on it. So I set out yesterday to create my GOJUS take off of this idea. Lookie:

Ingredients: Stamps - Holiday Best, Bella Toile; Paper - Sahara Sand, Brushed Gold, Very Vanilla; Ink - Versarmark, Encore Gold, Sahara Sand; Other - Snowflake #2 Sissix Originals Die, Ticket Corner punch, Eyelet Border punch, Scallop Circle punch, 1 3/8" circle punch, Very Vanilla taffeta ribbon, sponge wedge, dimenaionals, gold brads, gold EP, Iridescent Ice EP

OMGojus!!!! (YILM!) I'm thinking this card has got that commercial card licked, but good. Because not only is it a beautiful exercise in tone on tone, it's also blingy. Lookie:

To do the backround, I stamped with Encore gold on Sahara Sand, then embossed using Iridescent Ice embossing powder. It gives this card a SUMPTUOUS quality, doesn't it? Dang, I'm good! (YILM!)

The best part is that it is fairly easy to make, which brings me to the bestest best part: I'm going to be teaching this card at my next class! So if you're in the area, sign up! My next class will be at my house on Monday, November 30th at 7 PM. The theme is All That Glitters! And don't forget about the Christmas Stamp-a-Stack, scheduled for December 5th, with a deadline for paid registrations by the 29th of November!

Well, despite the fact that my card has a big ole snowflake on it, the outside temp here is 64 degrees! I'm going to go rake up the rest of the leaves while they are still dry and it is still warm outside! Ta!

Comments

[Wendy W.]

Ooo! Ooooo! Am I FIRST??? This IS beautilicious, my friend! I may just have to steal, er, BORROW it myself!! LOVE that gold embossing on the Sahara Sand!! GOJUS!! Ya done good with the non-round sentiment, too! :)

[Darlene L]

Wowza! This is just too stunning for words! I am in awe!

[Dixie Finn]

This is so beautiful. Wow the Queen has done it again. And of course you have my addy, so I can't wait to receive it for Christmas. : )

[Kathy Mc]

Jan, this is by far one of the most beautiful Christmas cards I've seen. You have outdone yourself on this one ~ simply GOJUS!

[Jenny]

Hi Jan. I just found your site and I LOVE IT!!! You are very Talented and creative. I love all of your cards!! GOJUS!!!! This is a beautiful Christmas card. I may have to borrow it also. HE HE. Have a wonderful Sunday. :)
JENNY L

[lesliemommy]

ohhhhh aaaahhhhh, I may 'borrow" this from you. LOL

[Leonie Schroder]

awesome card Jan ... love it and it IS so much more GOJUSS than the shop one ... and some ;)

[Diane Garlets]

Love the card, Jan! I just cased it and it WAS easy! And GORGEOUS!!! Thanks for the inspiration! I needed it today :)

[Nancy Johnson]

You're good, Jan. Really, really good. You have those Hallmark folks beat by a mile. But then again, I always knew that. Love your snowflake card!

[Shelly Schmidt]

Lovely card- the embossing is very pretty! Still waiting for the tutorial you promised...

[Britiney]

HOLY CARP! This is spectacular! Beautiful rip-off, Janine! Wish I could come to your class!!!!

[Lisa]

Wow - eeeee! It's beautiful! TFS.

[Alicia]

Yours is SO much better than the store's, and I think that should knock it out of the BORROW category.

[Toni Santanello]

this is off the hook...gorgemous!!

[doris]

WOW! So you noticed that tendency in the card stores too??? Nice CASE of a case! (They don't deserve caps because they don't give credit for their ideas.)

[Cheryl]

Wowzer, that's a beauty!! Fabulatasic job on that one!

[Connie Collins]

Oh Jan,
Your card is much more fabulous than the one in the store. Beautiful!

[Samantha]

Gojus! I love checking out the Target cards and using them for inspiration. I wish I was closer so I could join your classes. Sadly CA is a long way away.

[Kelly]

Jan... If I lived in the same country as you, I think I'd pay to take this class!! GOJUS is definitely what this card is!! :)

[Yvonne L,]

Ok Jan, I just LOVE your blog not only are you one of the most creative people I have seen, but your writing is AMAZINGLY entertaining. Your blog is the one of my favorites. Thanks for all your inspiration and humor. You brighten my day You're the best! :) Yvonne L.

[Carmen]

Stunning, Janine! Absolutely stunning! Thank you so much for sharing. We will certainly be making this card at my November club.

[LisaCat]

Ah, "Kid Chow" aka "Boy Food". I know where you shop! LOL! I was gazing their cards this week too, but I missed that one! You rock!

[helene]

Hi Jane,
Judjing from your name you have roots in the Netherlands? Anyway....apart from your really stunning cards I enjoy your writing style. If you would by any chance get bored of making cards you should try writing. I had the same fun with your videos. So...please listen to your buddy Dawn5377. You are really funny to read and watch! Thank you for making my day!

Greetings from e dutch women living in Sweden

[Gail Kirby]

Yours is definately more GOJUSer!

[Antje]

I only know your blog since a short time... but since then, I did not only fall in love with your creative ideas, I also love the way you write... and make all of us smile - thanks for that!!!
Your card came out gorgeous and the idea is definatly worth a borrow ;-)

[Trina Caraway]

Cool!

{kid chow} Love it!

[Jan Hoyt]

wow, you rocked the idea as usual....sooo much prettier than the storebought inspiration! Jan

[Jen]

Beautiful!

[Debra]

Yes, you ARE good Jan! That's a fantastic rip off..er, CASE of that store mass produced one. Looks much better than the mass produced one too! I think I may have to rip off - uh, I mean CASE that card as well!

[Sherry]

Your is more GOJUSer than the retail version. I love your writings, they always bring a huge smile to my face!

Sherry

[sheila]

Absolutely GORJUS!!!! This is going to be a case for sure! Thanks for all you inspiration and your talent. You are one of the best out there!

[Connie Seifert]

Jan, I looked at your inspiration and thought "I guess that is nice", then saw your creation and thought "WOW, that is gorgeous!" Great job Jan!
Connie

[Ida]

Fabulous Card!

[Mari]

Absolutely stunning! You really outdid their puny version... maybe they should pay you! :)

[JodyM]

Love you version better. Thanks for the idea!

[Kristen Poindexter]

Hi Jan!
I love that I'm not the only one who takes pictures of store bought cards to try to re-create them at home! Gorgeous Card!! :)

[Brenda]

Oooooo lovely :)

[Sally]

Jan it is GORGEOUS!!! Your is WAY better that the store bought version!
BTW, kid chow? LOVE IT! lol

[Desirée Spenst]

Seriously, stunningly BEAUTIFUL.

[Tracey]

I just did this background technique on Creamy Caramel with silver encore and Iridescent Ice... it's gorgeous! I used Gratuitous Graffiti. Thanks for the idea... hope to post it soon with a hat tip! ~:-)