10 Tips to Keep the JOY in Crafting! [+ Many Cards]

01.10.23

Hello! Today’s video shares my top 10 tips to keep the JOY in crafting… along with lots of cards!

[If the video isn’t showing up, click HERE to watch it. All supplies are linked to multiple sources in the thumbnails at the end of this post. Compensated affiliate links may be used at no cost to you and product disclosure is below. As always, I appreciate your support of my videos!]

I hope the tips were helpful! If you want to skip to just the chat about the tips, you can check out these time stamps:

    1. Think about what you buy – 1:56
    2. Use what you have – 4:15
    3. Watch crafty videos… carefully – 8:37
    4. Inspiration over comparison – 11:27
    5. Focus on your crafty love language – 17:38
    6. Take time to prep- 22:08
    7. Embrace crafty businesses – 28:28
    8. Make crafty friends – 36:50
    9. Mail your cards – 39:53
    10. Crafting is a guilt-free zone – 41:29

Here are the cards from my video along with the main products featured. For the full supply list, scroll down to the thumbnails at the end of this post.

View Card Bookmark Card HELLO FRIEND CARD – Creating a template from dies for best placement.
Size: 4 1/4″ x 5 1/2″
Featuring:
• Concord & 9th Love Quilt Top Die (C&9 | SSS)
• Concord & 9th Friendly Florals Dies (SSS)
• Concord & 9th Perfect Match Stamps (C&9 | SSS)
• Additional supplies linked in the thumbnails at the end of this post.

View Card Bookmark Card LOVE LOVE LOVE YOU CARD – Using old backgrounds on new cards.
Size: 4 1/4″ x 5 1/2″
Featuring:
• Concord & 9th Potpourri Bundle (C&9)
• Concord & 9th Potpourri Dies (C&9 | SSS)
• Concord & 9th Double Stripe Card Front Die (C&9)
• Concord & 9th Love Lines Dies (C&9 | SSS)
• Additional supplies linked in the thumbnails at the end of this post.

View Card Bookmark Card XOXO HUGS CARD – Creatively using dies.
Size: 4″ x 5 1/2″
Featuring:
• Concord & 9th XO Quilt Top Dies (C&9 | SSS)
• Concord & 9th Sweet Sayings Dies (C&9 | SSS)
• Ranger Glossy Accents (SSS)
• Tonic Aqua Shimmer Pens (SSS)
• The Color Cubes (SRH)
• Additional supplies linked in the thumbnails at the end of this post.

View Card Bookmark Card SO NICE CARD – Using die cuts creatively.
Size: 4 1/4″ x 5 1/2″
Featuring:
• Concord & 9th Potpourri Bundle (C&9)
• Concord & 9th Potpourri Dies (C&9 | SSS)
• Concord & 9th Happy Rays Stamps & Dies (C&9)
• Concord & 9th Love Lines Turnabout Stamp (C&9 | SSS)
• Concord and 9th Turnabout Jig (C&9 | SSS)
• Concord & 9th Enamel Hearts (C&9 | SSS)
• Additional supplies linked in the thumbnails at the end of this post.

View Card Bookmark Card THE BEST CARD – Ink blending die cuts.
Size: 4 1/4″ x 5 1/2″
Featuring:
• Concord & 9th Potpourri Bundle (C&9)
• Concord & 9th Potpourri Dies (C&9 | SSS)
• Concord & 9th Potpourri Stamps (C&9 | SSS)
• Concord & 9th Double Stripe Card Front Die (C&9)
• Tim Holtz Distress Ink (SSS)
• Concord & 9th White Cardstock (C&9)
• Concord & 9th Dew Drops Sequins (C&9 | SSS)
• Additional supplies linked in the thumbnails at the end of this post.

View Card Bookmark Card LOVE AND HUGS CARD – Inside pop up feature.
Size: 4 1/4″ x 5 1/2″
Featuring:
• Concord & 9th Sweet Sayings Dies (C&9 | SSS)
• Concord & 9th Potpourri Bundle (C&9)
• Concord & 9th Potpourri Dies (C&9 | SSS)
• Concord & 9th Potpourri Stamps (C&9 | SSS)
• Concord & 9th Just The Ticket Bundle (C&9)
• Concord & 9th Just The Ticket Dies (C&9 | SSS)
• Concord & 9th Love Lines Turnabout Stamp (C&9 | SSS)
• Concord and 9th Turnabout Jig (C&9 | SSS)
• Concord & 9th Dew Drops Sequins (C&9 | SSS)
• The Color Cubes (SRH)
• Additional supplies linked in the thumbnails at the end of this post.

View Card Bookmark Card LOVE LOVE LOVE YOU CARD – Small gift boxes.
Featuring:
• Concord & 9th Perfect Match Bundle (C&9)
• Concord & 9th Perfect Match Stamps (C&9 | SSS)
• Concord & 9th Perfect Matchbox Dies (C&9 | SSS)
• Concord & 9th Just The Ticket Bundle (C&9)
• Concord & 9th Just The Ticket Dies (C&9 | SSS)
• Concord & 9th Dew Drops Sequins (C&9 | SSS)
• The Color Cubes (SRH)
• Additional supplies linked in the thumbnails at the end of this post.

View Card Bookmark Card LOVE AND HUGS CARD – Using scraps on cards.
Size: 4 1/4″ x 5 1/2″
Featuring:
• Concord & 9th Sweet Sayings Dies (C&9 | SSS)
• Concord & 9th Pinwheel Quilt Dies (C&9 | SSS)
• Tonic Aqua Shimmer Pens (SSS)
• Additional supplies linked in the thumbnails at the end of this post.

View Card Bookmark Card HUGS AND LOVE CARD – Mixing old and new.
Size: 4 1/4″ x 5 1/2″
Featuring:
• Concord & 9th Quilt Dies Collection (SSS)
• Concord & 9th Love Quilt Top Bundle (C&9)
• Concord & 9th Love Quilt Top Die (C&9 | SSS)
• Concord & 9th XO Quilt Top Dies (C&9 | SSS)
• Concord & 9th Pinwheel Quilt Dies (C&9 | SSS)
• Concord & 9th Happy Rays Stamps & Dies (C&9)
• Simon Says Stamp Brushed Flowers (SSS)
• Concord & 9th Enamel Hearts (C&9 | SSS)
• Additional supplies linked in the thumbnails at the end of this post.

SUPPLIES

Want to find the products I used? I have listed them below. (Compensated affiliate links used at no cost to you. Thank you for your support! Affiliate and product disclosure can be found  at my disclosure page. All products were personally purchased except most of the C&9 products which were provided/sponsored by the company with no expectation. As always, I was not paid to do this post nor am I on any design teams. I only use products I love!) Click on the icons below each product picture to go to a favorite store.

Concord & 9th Quilt Dies Collection
[ SSS ]
Concord & 9th Love Quilt Top Bundle
[ C&9 ]
Concord & 9th Love Quilt Top Die
[ C&9 | SSS ]
Concord & 9th XO Quilt Top Dies
[ C&9 | SSS ]
Concord & 9th Pinwheel Quilt Dies
[ C&9 | SSS ]
Concord & 9th Friendly Florals Dies
[ SSS ]
Concord & 9th Perfect Match Bundle
[ C&9 ]
Concord & 9th Perfect Match Stamps
[ C&9 | SSS ]
Concord & 9th Perfect Matchbox Dies
[ C&9 | SSS ]
Concord & 9th Happy Rays Stamps & Dies
[ C&9 ]
Simon Says Stamp Brushed Flowers
[ SSS ]
Concord & 9th Sweet Sayings Dies
[ C&9 | SSS ]
Concord & 9th Just Saying Dies
[ SSS ]
Concord & 9th Potpourri Bundle
[ C&9 ]
Concord & 9th Potpourri Dies
[ C&9 | SSS ]
Concord & 9th Potpourri Stamps
[ C&9 | SSS ]
Concord & 9th Double Stripe Card…
[ C&9 ]
Concord & 9th Double Stripe Card…
[ SSS ]
Concord & 9th January Release Bundle
[ C&9 ]
Concord & 9th Love Lines Bundle
[ C&9 ]
Concord & 9th Love Lines Turnabout…
[ C&9 | SSS ]
Concord & 9th Love Lines Dies
[ C&9 | SSS ]
Concord & 9th Just The Ticket Bundle
[ C&9 ]
Concord & 9th Just The Ticket Dies
[ C&9 | SSS ]
Concord & 9th Just The Ticket Stamps
[ C&9 | SSS ]
Concord & 9th Be Mine Paper Pack
[ C&9 ]
Concord & 9th Dew Drops Sequins
[ C&9 | SSS ]
Concord & 9th Enamel Hearts
[ C&9 | SSS ]
The Color Cubes
[ SRH ]
Anna Griffin Empress Die Cut Machine
[ SSS | UQH ]
Gina K Connect Large Bottle Glue
[ SSS ]
Gina K Fine Tip Bottles
[ SSS ]
Share Handmade Kindness Paperweight
[ JSC ]
MISTI Stamping Tool
[ SSS ]
Tim Holtz Trimmer
[ SSS ]
Ranger Glossy Accents
[ SSS ]
Tonic Aqua Shimmer Pens
[ SSS ]
Tim Holtz Distress Ink
[ SSS ]
Waffle Flower Mini Stencil Mat
[ SSS ]
The Ink Stand
[ SSS ]
Mini Ink Blending Tool
[ SSS ]
Concord & 9th White Cardstock
[ C&9 ]
Concord and 9th Turnabout Jig
[ C&9 | SSS ]
Share Handmade Kindness Facebook Group
[ FCB ]


Leave a Comment

38 thoughts on “10 Tips to Keep the JOY in Crafting! [+ Many Cards]”

  1. Thank you Jennifer! So inspiring. My personal drawback is not having enough space and it continues to shrink as I purchase more. I try to reorganize (something I feel pretty confident at) but it seems to be an ongoing processs. I do appreciate your videos. Keep them coming.

    Reply

  2. Thank you, Jennifer. I love watching your videos and these tips are wonderful. I often feel like I’m not that creative especially watching you and others! Can you tell me what tape it is you use to hold down your die cuts? I have some I’m using from another craft site, but it doesn’t hold very well. I do appreciate your videos.

    Reply

  3. Thanks Jennifer! You are so inspiring. I ordered the color cubes last week. They should be here any day now. Can’t wait to get them. All your ideas and tips are amazing. So appreciate everything you do!

    Reply

  4. This is a wonderful video. It really gave me the courage to forgive myself for not being good at certain techniques. Thank you for being honest and up front about being creative and not competitive.

    Reply

  5. I really loved your ideas of how to keep the joy in crafting. Thank you, and I am going to implement some of these this year. I love all your videos Jennifer.❤️

    Reply

  6. Just wanted to thank you for all the information you share and explain so well.
    I´ve learned sooooo much from you in the last years and though I try to follow my style, your ideas and videos always inspire me.

    In a way you´re a permanent resident in my craft room. Thank you!

    Greetings from Germany, Christine

    Reply

  7. Thank you so much for this video! It certainly helps me to remember the reasons I craft. Doing something I love and creating something beautiful. What more can we ask for?
    I have a highly stressful job, I work in a prison, and crafting helps me keep a positive and proper balance. Work has become a place to share some of my handmade kindness.
    Thanks for sharing your wonderful talent!

    Reply

  8. Thank you so much for this encouraging video!!! I want you to know that I got a lot from it, but I didn’t see any “thumbs-up” to show that. God bless you, Jennifer!

    Reply

  9. Jennifer, I too really enjoyed this video. You put so much thought into your messages. The cards were wonderful too. I’m nearly 80 now and still love to make cards. I’m needing to downsize my supplies as I will be moving to a smaller apartment this next year. It’s really hard to do! I think your tip about new and needing to use bins is a good idea for me. It’s difficult to let go of older stamps but needs to be done. Thank you again for all the time you put into preparing your videos.

    Reply

  10. Thank you so much for another great video and one that I really needed to hear. The ‘guilt free’ crafting really resonated with me because I often feel like I should be doing other things (housework, grading papers, etc). I needed someone to tell me that I’m ‘allowed’ to have that time for myself. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

    Reply

  11. Thank you Jennifer for such a wonderful video when most needed. And your encouraging tips, particularly #10!!! Sometimes what I need is not a “normal” video for inspiration and lifting spirits and I have put this one on my favorites list. Plus you used some gorgeous stamps and quilt dies from Concord and 9th.

    Reply

  13. Thank you for this “unconventional” video. Finding your videos a few years back is what has inspired me to move my creativity into card making. We all experience creative blocks and I’m thankful for your insights, knowledge and sharing in your videos to help me and other crafters to simply enjoy the fun of creating!

    Reply

  14. Thank you for another wonderful video! What great tips. You really got me with tip 10 a guilt free zone because I always free guilty over not having a clean craft room. Thank you for the tip.

    Reply

  15. I always enjoy your videos and learn some thing but the video on tips to keep enjoying crafting really resonated with me. I started keeping a gratitude journal recently and I wrote tonight that I am grateful for the reminder not to compare myself to other people and crafters & enjoy joy the process. To look to videos for inspiration, and not comparison. I also really appreciated the last tip of not feeling guilty if you have a bunch of products, but don’t use them frequently. Lately, I’ve been on a buying binge and have been feeling guilty but I haven’t used them. I have enjoyed just looking at everything though and coming up with ideas. I am grateful for what you do and providing inspiration.

    Reply

  16. I loved all of your cards and especially your tips! This was very inspirational! I actually made a card similar to your “The best” card. After inking up the card, I cut out a tropical scene and glued it onto a card front, then stamped “just a note to say” and die cut 3 hello cut outs. Glued them together for some bulk, than glued it onto the card. I then was admiring my work when I noticed the card opened up backward! I laughed at myself, then cut the front off and cut it down just a sliver, then put a black background on it and glued it onto another card front. It looks better now! One tip should be not to take yourself too seriously when crafting!

    Thanks!

    Reply

  17. Hi Jennifer,
    You do so much good, giving us wonderful ideas and taking care of all your crafty friends. Even the ones you’ve never met.
    I’m really proud of you. You’re one of the good ones. Thank you.
    Dawn Collins

    Reply

  18. Wow! What wonderful video! I felt like you were talking straight to me! Thank you for the inspiration to be who I am in my craft room and not to ever feel guilty!

    Reply

  19. Hi, Jennifer – I think this is one of your best videos in a year. I love that you are taking the time to remind us that we should not feel guilty about this aspect or that aspect of crafting. I also had never considered certain things that you were saying (I knew that videos are sometimes highly edited and I have a full-time job that consumes me many weeks a year, so summer is really my only crafting time). I really feel validated and have to tell you how much I appreciate your straight talk!! I ordered a bunch from C9 and used your links to do it.
    Lori S in PA

    Reply

  20. Thank you Jennifer; I really needed to hear your tips on joy. I love so many types of crafts and feel guilty if I haven’t done a type of craft for awhile. No more❣❣

    Reply

  21. Your videos are always so inspiring but this is one of the best. The tips are all so important and a great way to start off the new year. I keep my new items in a bin, but putting older items that need some love into another bin is a great idea and will inspire me to use the old with the new. I am grateful for the online crafty friends I have made who encourage me. I have to remember that my craft area is a guilt free zone.

    Reply

  22. To keep the joy in crafting, I think it’s important to remember why we craft – 2 reasons – for the enjoyment and to share what we make with those we care about. I think we worry too much about perfection … making ‘the perfect card’ or whatever the project is. Every time we obsess about finding that absolutely perfect birthday stamp and spend loads of time searching, instead of using one of the 5 already on the table, we are making it more difficult that it needs to be. We are adding a hint of frustration and being too picky. Maybe it would be incrementally nicer, who knows, BUT the person you make the card for will never know that you MAY have had a better stamp. No one looks at a card and thinks that !! What they see is the time you spent and the love you are expressing. They will love that card ! And you will have enjoyed the experience more and maybe had time to make several cards. So I think we need to relax and not treat every project as a test or something to be judged. It’s all meant to be fun and an expression of caring. So win/win !!

    Reply

  23. Great video and Great timing! I have been in a major slump with my card making, mainly because I get overwhelmed with so many projects I could do but where do you start! This definitely made an impact for me! I made up a sign with your tips for my craft room to remind me! Thanks again!

    Reply

  25. Thank you so much for this video! I can use several of your tips. Those tips mean so much to me. One of the take-aways, is to send the cards and not save them. About a year ago, I started taking pictures of the cards and put them in a photo book. Thanks again for such useful information as always. You have inspired me in many other of your videos!

    Reply

  26. Jennifer, your video was so inspiring, thank you from the bottom of my heart for the well-thought-out tips, encouragement and inspiration.

    Reply

  27. I love watching your videos. Thank you for making them. Will you please recommend places to donate homemade cards?

    Reply

  28. Thanks Jennifer. The timing is perfect because after making lots of Christmas cards, it feels like a let down time. Great suggestions for keeping the creative juices flowing.

    Reply

  29. What a great video! You’ve given me a couple of great ideas for using all the supplies I already have, and for evaluating possible new purchases! My goal this year is to get my supplies inventoried (and purged) so I know what I have, and use what I have! Thanks so much! I’ve learned a ton from you over the years.

    Reply

  32. Hi Jennifer, I could not find contact information for you email, private message. I have a question and I am not sure I am in the right group or not.

    Reply

    1. You can fill on the Contact Form on this site with any question. Messages from that form get sent to Jen and are not visible to anyone else on the blog.

      — Mike for Jen

      Reply

  33. Jennifer I’m looking fo something you used in a vellum you tube. It is a paper or something that holds your card in place while working on it. It isn’t a permanent stick just holds it in place.

    Reply

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