I typed this up on my ipad and when I went to post it told me I had to log in!
So I'm on my laptop now typing this up. Warning its long and rambly!
In Heidi's spending thread, several of us mentioned having stamps that aren't our style anymore.
I went through my stamps recently and pulled several aside that just don't work for me anymore.
When I first started stamping, I had no clue to what style I liked. I had been scrapbooking for a while and my style on that has always remained very clean and simple. My pages aren't/weren't trendy but I'm okay with that because it's what I like and tells the story that I wanted them to. I often did stamping on my pages so I have stamps that are more for scrapbooking but I have used them in cardmaking and other paper crafts.
So when I went into card making/stamping, I first purchased some sets that I had seen online that I really liked. I still find myself going back to those same ones.
I also purchased lots of stamps from craft stores and yard sales that I got for pretty good deals. Some have been a good fit, some not. It's all a part of learning and figuring out what I liked. I've held on to those stamps for a while but some I have never used. I've decided to give some of them out as RAK's.
There are so many styles for paper crafting and I'm intrigued by all. I'm not sure what my exact style is but I know what it's not.
One thing I noticed is that I like pretty much any stamp that Hero Arts makes and those are my most inked up stamps. After surveying my collection, I've learned I can't say no to a butterfly, floral, bird or pumpkin stamp. I probably should since I have oodles of each but those are ones that I really enjoy creating with.
I have a small collection of wildlife/outdoor themed images. While it's not my personal style at all, it is for loved ones that I make cards for so it makes me happy to use them.
I don't own hardly any people stamps. It's not that I don't like them(but in all honesty, some of them creep me out!). I struggle with how to use them and color some of them. I've always been intrigued by the Primal Doll stamps. I think because they remind me of paper dolls that I had as a child. I was excited to see some of them at Hobby Lobby a while back and was able to get one for a few dollars on sale. While it's not my typical style, I've enjoyed experimenting with it and paper piecing with it.
As most of us here, I have a crafting budget and I've always been frugal with it. That said, I do have an embarrassing amount of uninked stamps! Mostly, it's due to time. Some due to I'm not sure how or what I want to use it for.
As I looked at some cards I've made and my stamp collection I was surprised as to how it reflects on my own personal style. I'm not a trendy dresser and don't keep up with all of the latest crazes. I'm pretty plain and simple but love color. I rarely wear pastel colors, there aren't any pastels in my house and it's rare I make a card with them. I think the look of shabby chic is so pretty but have a hard time pulling it off. When I think of how shabby chic translates into fashion, I think of lace and ruffles and pearls. I don't feel comfortable wearing any of those.
So let's chat! How has your stamping style evolved? Does it reflect your personal style too?