Time Saving HACKS that WORK

Save TIME by using some or all of these hacks/tips during your cardmaking sessions! I swear by them!

——— S U P P L I E S ———

• Easy Expressions Birthday | The Ton

• Easy Expressions Coordinating Die | The Ton

• Simple Strips - Friendship

• Simple Strips Die

• Colored Envelopes

• FROGTAPE 280220 Delicate Surface Painter's Tape with PaintBlock.94 inch...

• AmazonSmile: Fiskars 152490-1004 SureCut Deluxe Craft Paper Trimmer, 12...

• NEW VERSION Original MISTI – Catherine Pooler, LLC

• Altenew - Gel Printing Soft Washes - 6 x 6 Paper Pack - 24 Sheets

• Circles Dies by Catherine Pooler Designs – Catherine Pooler, LLC

Because art shouldn't be so serious!
#laurelbeard #cardmaking #watercolor #painting #usewhatyouhave

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——— D I S C L A I M E R ———
All of the products used in my videos are purchased on my own . I was not paid to make this video. I am affiliated with several companies, which means that I make a small commission when you shop through the links at no cost to you. I do not work for these companies.

[maxinemann]

I'm always very distracted about where I drop stuff on my desk. I always seem to be looking for covers etc. One of the MOST time saving hack is when I get a new stamp set, I use a piece of packaging tape to adhere the extra top piece of acetate to the piece that holds the stamps. I was CONSTANTLY looking for that darn piece so now, it stays with the set.

[janetingacollins]

My favorite is the circle cut from background paper. Simple, but so pretty.

[liveslisa]

Great video! I do cut down cardstock, mixed media paper, bristol, and watercolor paper to have ready when I'm in a creative mood. Huge time saver! I will now after your tip, spend some time scoring and folding some cardstock in different colors. That would be very helpful to have around and will save some time. A few weeks ago, I printed on my LASER printer some sentiments and for fun I foiled them with my laminator! They look gorgeous! For my test I used a rainbow foil. But afterward, I purchased different colored and metallic foil so I can do more of this technique. I have clear bins with pre-made sentiments, paper scraps, gel plate backgrounds, and various die cut bits and pieces. I also like to buy at the Dollar Store clear small bowls etc. which I use to catch leftover die cut pieces etc. when I'm working on projects. They come in very handy and they will stack with items in them or if empty. I always have a stack of bowls near my workstation. Thanks for sharing!

[kiminalaska]

Great video. I don't have a magic mug, I have "I Can't Believe it's not Butter" tubs that has that sort of things in it. Plus envelopes labeled water themed, flowers & leaves. When I first get a stamp and die set I like to play with them and then I put the extras in a small envelope and keep them with the set. Until they get too big then they move over to the clasp envelopes that go in the drawer with the premade card bases and premade card fronts. I don't have matching envelopes but what I do like to do is to prestamp my envelopes with a water theme, or birds, or what ever and I keep multiple sizes of white envelopes filed by theme so I can just grab them and I have a matching envelope. I love your made up words. My favorite one is swink. I thought that was funny on craft roulette they added that to the board. Thanks for your videos, they are informative and funny.

[kathywong]

My favorite tip you shared was putting all my made backgrounds into a box - DUH!!! I had them all over the place and was always thinking “didn’t I have a ….?”

I can’t have a just a magic mug - I have magic boxes. One for sentiments and one for colored diecuts. And I put my diecuts into baggies by theme. I just made 2 cards for boss’s day with a new box die. Both of them were impressed with the amount of work they looked like, but most of the time was spent playing with my new cool die - the cards were “incidental” due to the magic stash of office themed dies!!!

[brendamerchant]

My favorite is the cutting up the backgrounds, bases, etc. ahead of time. Something to do while hubby wants me to watch some war movie at home with him!

[PHALOMOON]

Great video ! Sometimes we get in a rush that every card has to be a major work of art, instead of being a thoughtful message. Hugs from Texas

[andrealavigne]

I totally agree about pre-cut/scored/folded card bases & pre-cut card fronts. Whenever I have a bit of crafty time but no mojo, I make card bases. When I have to pull out a full sheet of cardstock for one bit, I cut the rest into either A2 or 4x5-1/4" panels & file them in a bin with my card bases. (I do have labeled dividers between sections: card fronts, layering panels, and portrait & landscape card bases.) I used just to cut & score the card bases, since I didn't have room to keep the somewhat-bulkier folded format. But thankfully I was able to rearrange the stuff on my shelves & got a bin that's the perfect width for storing them. Great tips, Laurel! Thank you for sharing. Take care, & have an awesome day! :)

[cathhorlin]

Awesome ideas!. I colour, colour, colour my 2 million stamped images. Then when finished I fussy cut/ die cut images, pop them in a little cellophane baggies, store with the stamp & die cut storage sleeve or in a little box (coz I forgot where I put said storage sleeve for that particular image🙃) I have many I don't know what to do with! And as for cards, hundreds of them! Lol

[sheilacrace]

I MUST do some precutting Love your sense of humor

[surekhagalagoda]

I also hv everything pretty cut and separated as the magic mug concept does not work as I cannot get thick cardstock and my card stock gets tangled and torn.my precut are in small containers.i love your tips and tricks.tc stay safe

[rhondaallen]

I actually spend an entire day every 6 months or so doing NOTHING but stamping multiple sentiments (I have the one you used, plus about 5-6 other ones I have collected from various manufacturers). I do mostly white embossing powder on black card stock and black ink/clear embossing powder on white card stock. Then I die cut them, just as you did, but I file them in little dollar-store containers according to themes: bday, congrats, encouragement, numerous, etc. After labeling the little containers, I alphabetically store them right behind my work desk, and I RARELY have to stamp a sentiment when I am in a hurry!!! It has saved me much time!! Just thought I would throw that out there, although I am late to the game on this video!!! Thanks for your videos, humor, and laid back approach! You are a delight to watch!!!!

[glendadeah]

Instead of a Magic Mug, I use the 4x6x1 photo boxes for my pre-made sentiments, separated by theme. I also precut A2 mats but with specialty paper ( foils, glitter) I will cut an inner frame out and then die cut sentiments or such out the the inner portions to get the most out of it.

[b.a.blessingstitcher]

Great advice and tips. I’ve been in a card making slump, but now I can just make a bunch of things and they don’t necessarily need to have a purpose yet. Love these ideas! Thanks-hugs!

[jaytee]

I'm still fairly new to card making, and it is usually stressful to some extent.
I've realized that's because I'm starting from scratch EVERY SINGLE TIME.

From the conception, planning, gathering elements (after I find them...I KNOW I have a star stencil...somewhere🙄), and then starting in with the cutting and stamping etc etc.

I will absolutely cut some panels and card bases now.👍🏻 I have some embossing folders, so getting some panels embossed would certainly make it easier to pull a quick card together without it turning into a Stress Mess.😜

PS...I've been using an app called Color My Life for doing an inventory of my supplies, and that has lowered the stress level also.
I can scroll through my stamps, dies, stencils etc and easily see that I actually DO have a dragonfly die AND a stamp.
Entering everything was tedious, but it becomes rhythmic after a while.
And having the ability to see what supplies I have to work with, without having to open every drawer and cabinet is life changing.
Makes it helpful when standing in the craft store looking at ink pads, too....do I already have Distress ink in Tumbled Glass? Oxide?😄

[lynda]

I giggled at your "instant replay" of the Magic Mugs! 😂

[MsSuperklutz]

OH My Goodness Laurel...This was so much fun and once again you have left my jaw open and not flapping *LOL*
Oh Yes my dear I'm in Jaw Dropping Awe. LOVE Your stamping and die cutting phrases techniques it's cool, fun & Fabulous and YES It IS fun to be able to grab premade goodies from a cup or a binder and not have to stop and stamp & die Cut!!
I LOVE so LOVE your Time Saving Hack...it's incredibly Brilliant and Ingenious!! Thanks for your Outstanding Tutorial and Sharing your Tremendously Terrific Tips, Tricks & Techniques!! YOU SO ROCK!!

Joan Smith

[mamapillow]

When I die cut mirror card or glitter paper, I put the small circles and shapes I think I can use in a little tin from the dollar store. I use the bits on die cut birds and flowers and butterflies.

[sarahjcardsandcrafts]

Sounds dirty, but it's not....ROFL!! 😆 Love your videos. Thanks for all the great tips!

[janicehobbs]

Sentiment Stamping is the dream!! We don't seem to get clever stuff like that here in the UK - UK Designers that have the die/stamp sets tend to stick with the same ole same ole stuff e.g. flowers, leaves, cutesy animals... Very excited for the Ton to get these items back in stock. They will receive a large order from the UK soon!