Cardmaker's and Scrapbooker's Inspiration Sticks: Never Run Out of Ideas Again

Earlier this year I wrote about "Inspiration Sticks". I learned of the idea from a video put out by Claudia Rossi. Her Inspiration Sticks were made for art journaling and it was such a great idea that I thought it would also be very useful for card-makers and scrapbookers. I would just have to make a list of ideas related to those topics to make the sticks work for me. 

Below are the ideas I chose to write on my Inspiration Sticks and I add ideas as I discover them or think of things I've overlooked. Also preceding the list are two examples of using the sticks for an entire project and it can be quite fun going through your crafting materials to see what you have to work with.

1. Plaid paper
2. Add a die cut that you've decorated
3. Glitter
4. Bows are for more than little girls
5. Star

1. Two patterns or more
2. Tie it up with some twine or string
3. Embossing powder
4. Let's see some stitches
5. Tree

Card-making/Scrapbooking Inspiration Sticks
NOTE: The sticks below can be further separated into categories such as paper, shapes, etc. Click on a highlighted phrase and it will take you to an example card in a new window.

1. Reach for the small stamps
2. Feeling Blue can be a good thing
3. Make it look older than you 
4. Make some embellies to use
5. Add a die cut that you've decorated
6. Freehand cut a shape ( i.e. tree branches and trunk)
7. Use two embossing folders
8. Sing it pretty with Sheet Music
9. Tie it up with some twine or string
10. Bows are for more than little girls
11. Don't scream, it's just a Ladybug/Butterfly/Dragonfly...
12. Two patterns or more
13. It looks bolder with a banner
14. Add something unusual (i.e. feathers)
15. Button it up
16. Greenery makes it look more alive (plant/flowers...)
17. Make it a gift set
18. Digital Image
19. Special fold card
20. Let off some steam and "punch" it
21. Make something hang
22. Layers, layers, layers
23. Tag it
24. Generation Stamping
25. Where's the bling
26. The hills are alive...(Create snowbanks or hills from ink or paper)
27. Silhouette
28. Burlap
29. Lace it up
30. Go for the glitter
31. Doily
32. Let's see some stitches (sewn or drawn stitches)
33. Quilting is not just for grandmas (add many papers in squares to front of card)
34. Make it two-toned
35. Bird
36. Textured paper
37. Add an ornament or wooden piece on the card
38. Book page
39. Stack die cuts
40. Masculine
41. Black and White
42. All White (one color)
43. Incorporate pearls and/or gems
44. Pretty in Pink
45. Stamped Image
46. Homemade patterned paper is perfect
47. Flowers aren't just for a vase
48. Polka-dots
49. Tree
50. Plaid paper
51. Wrap it up with a wreath
52. Vines
53. Don't forget the swirls
54. See through it
55. Messy torn edges 
56. Border or fancy edge or two or three
57. Embossing powder
58. Don't be so afraid of watercolors
59. Dryer sheet
60. Embossed border with ink
61. Tissue paper
62. Lots of texture
63. Ribbon
64. Something made of wood
65. Numbers
66. Add a tag
67. Shape the corners
68. Incorporate some quilling
69. I'm stuck with Sticker(s)
70. Parchment paper or Vellum
71. Special shaped card (i.e. The Gardening card)
72. Leave it looking good (leaves)
73. Being square isn't a bad thing
74. Round and round we go (circles)
75. Make it a shaker
76. Hearts
77. Snow
78. Moon
79. Sunrise/Sunset
80. Star
81. Three or more solid colored papers
82. ...anything you can come up with

Categories

I have a small separate holder for these sticks and only use them when I'm drawing a complete blank.

1. Birthday
2. Winter/Christmas
3. Spring
4. Mother's Day
5. Father's Day
6. Halloween
7. Special Friend
8. Thank you
9. Fall/Thanksgiving
10. Love/Valentines Day
11. Red, White and Blue
12. Sweet 16
13. New baby
14. Tag
15. Layout
16. Wedding
17. Anniversary
18. Hello
19. ...and whatever else you want to include

Happy crafting! Thanks for stopping by. Stop back again to see new projects.

Bring Nature Indoors with these DIY Wood Slice Snowflake Ornaments

These do-it-yourself ornaments are fun, simple and inexpensive to make and will give your tree a rustic touch. They also make great gifts, wintry tags, and name plates for a winter wedding.  

Tools and Materials:

• Wood slices (2 1/2" diameter)
• Drill (to make the holes for the twine in the wood slices)
• Bag of wooden snowflakes
• Rubber Stampede Ink in Fresh Mint (any light bluish color will do)
• Colorbox Ink in Frost White (to lightly sponge over the Fresh Mint color)
• Glossy Accents (to cover the snowflake once it's colored)
• Strong glue to attach the snowflake to the wood slice
• Twine to hang the ornament

Directions:

1. Use a sponge to apply a coat of Fresh Mint colored ink to one side of your snowflake. 
2. Sponge the white ink over the top of your Fresh Mint ink. Don't try to completely cover the bluish ink, you're just trying to give the snowflake an icy appearance.
3. Add a coat of Glossy Accents over the ink to give the snowflake a shine. You may notice the white ink begin to swirl which is just an added bonus. Allow to dry.
4. Place glue onto the unfinished back of your snowflake, center on your wood slice and adhere. Let dry overnight.
5. Use your twine to hang your ornament.

Note: If you don't have ink or want to make this a family project with smaller children you can easily substitute markers or acrylic paint to color your snowflakes. The ink just gives your snowflakes more depth in color and has a softer appearance.

Check back for more projects and tutorials.

Happy Crafting and thanks for stopping by!