Ever have those mojo lows? I know I’ve had a couple over the last few weeks, and having talked to some of you on Facebook and Twitter, it appears that you often have the same problem. I therefore thought that I would start a little mini-series of mojo busting techniques that I sometimes use in the hope that it will help you too :)
Now, I don’t know whether it is my age, or just the need for something tangible in my hand however I have been reaching more for magazines lately than I have the internet. Are you the same? (Seems a bit weird asking that as you are reading this on the internet…)
Anyway, I recently wanted to do a bit of stamping but really didn’t know where to start (that mojo was M.I.A) so I started flipping through my stash of magazines when I came across some great designs from Stephanie De Geus (cool name huh?) in Issue 14 of Creative Stamping magazine…
The best thing about the article was that Stephanie had used the stamps that also came free with the magazine so I decided that I would use the stamps but try and put my own little twist on the ideas that I found in the magazine.
By the way, this is Issue 14. You can see some of the free stamp designs on the cover – they were a cool eclectic bunch of things – which was a help in itself.
Anyway, I started playing around with layouts using the knife, fork and spoon stamps from the set with black ink and white paper – and finally settled on this design.
The pencil drawn circle that I had marked on the design was so that I had a guide against which to cut the design. In the end I just used my Brother Scan N Cut to cut the design out with a simple circle shape so didn’t really need it.
For my next move I thought that I would also try and use the stamp in conjunction with my old fave the Inkadinkado Stamping Gear and just went with a simple repeat pattern, keeping the black and white style to the design.
The next step was fairly obvious and just involved a bit of matting and layering. I used the Brother Scan N Cut to make the layer for the circle and my Perfect Layers rulers for the square border but of course, if you have them, you could also use dies.
I should also mention at this point that the RSVP letting was cut using the Brother Scan N Cut, but it could equally have been a peel off, die cut or printed version.
As I’ve mentioned in a few posts recently I am hopelessly addicted to adding little gems to my cards – don’t know why, I just do. This was no exception and you can see how I included them in the design below.
That was about it. I didn’t really go on to add anything more as I liked the simplicity of the design. Here is the finished result.
And a little closer …
I always give my designs a little critique or review after have made them and I think that when (not if) I do this again I would actually try and use the offset technique with the stamping gear in order to create a “spiral” style to the knives and forks. Look out for that on Facebook and Twitter in the future.
I did also go on to make a very simple second card which I also thought that I would share with you. This time I just stamped out multiple copies of the knives, forks and spoons and used the Brother Scan N Cut to cut them out with a circular frame and also to create the black layers.
I then tiled them together and added a few faux pearls.
Here is that card.
And a little closer …
Result! Cards made, mojo kicked in – now if only I had the time to play some more – come on lottery, surely it’s my turn soon?!
Right, so that’s it for this post. If you have the unfortunate circumstance to end up with a lack of mojo in the future, I hope that the magazine mojo motivation method will help!
As ever, if you have any questions, comments or ideas about this project that you would like to share, please feel free to use the comments section at the bottom of this post.
Thank you for reading.
See you again very soon.
John :)
GENTLEMAN CRAFTER 
Love it & funnily enough my Mojo was at a real low & after reading your blog I went out dancing & fell in love with the pattern & colours of a lady’s skirt So I feel a project coming on to use the exact same colouring & with Serif I can make a match!
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Hi John
Thank you and the crew for great entertainment and advice today at 6. As I work from home now after a year of illness I decided to give up full time work last year to set up my own small business Its like having a teacher and friends in my studio at home so I never feel lonely. Im addicted to Create & Craft.
Ive bought the Bother scan and cut it will help immensely with my business as I intend to combine both card and sewing together in my projects Needless to say Im like a child waiting for xmas :)
I will email you a photo of my first project that i make with the help of the scan and cut.
Regards
Chrisi (Fairytale Quilts).
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I look forward to seeing your creations :)
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John
Can you please advise when Create and Craft will have further stocks of the ScanNcut accessories?
Tom
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Tom, this is being worked on as we speak. I would say to check the website regularly as I am not directly involved in this of things so it might be added before I get to know about it.
J :)
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Hi John just watched you on C n C with the scan n cut,i don’t believe you ever get idea problems,can you solve a problem for me? I use craft artist pro and would like to use it with my silhouette cameo cutter but cannot get it to recognize it,but it works fine with its own software. Now that should give ya mojo some work out thank you John regards Allan another gent crafter.
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Hi Allan,
I don’t have a lot of experience with the silhouette so don’t really follow the question.
It might be worth looking up Hayley West on Facebook as she is the expert on that machine.
J :)
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Wonderfyu idea, i have that stamp, must give it a try. Hugs Txx Thank you for Sharing with us at Crafty Bloggers Network Facebook page too
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Fabulous cards!
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Very inspiring John, have recorded all the shows, the 4pm one today was great, I am learning a lot from you and Mel
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This design would make brilliant place mats done in plastic !!
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it was my computers templates that gave me the idea to do card making then I found a magazine the rest is history now I have enough mags to stock a shop and find it impossible to get rid a lot of my ‘stash ‘ is now made up of freebies from these mags. as we have no local craft shop so yes my ideas come from these mags I find it hard to copy them but it certainly helps. Do like the cards John you’re very talented
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This card is so cool, sometimes the simplest of designs turn out to be a real winner John – love it
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Evening John, yes I am like you and prefer to browse through my stash of magazines for inspiration. I must say that I do love this RSVP card it is fabulous! Thank you for sharing
Hugs
Linda xxx
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Good after noon John! Love your blog. Can’t wait for the ScanNCut to arrive – roll on next week. Like the simple black and white images. I have 4 birthday cards to make this month, so I am going to get my Papercraft Inspirations magazines out and have a look for some mojo!
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Fabulous use of the stamps.
Moira xx
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Hi John
Loved the card & the inspiration behind it. Having had pneumonia since Christmas my mojo has not only left, it has got up & well & truly gone! Hopefully when I start to feel better the creative side will return & I can have a go at playing with my inkadinkado sets which are sat in my craft room looking at me.
Please keep up the blog & the great demos that you show as they really cheer us all up & give us great ideas to try.
Regards
Pat
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Reblogged this on allisonbarrow and commented:
This guy is amazing love to watch and read his blog check it out for inspiration
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Fabulous card John. When I can’t think of what to do I often look at magazines or even at your blog as you are truly inspiring. I love to read your blog and then feel re-energised. I love that you can also sew and I have often wondered how you find time to fit everything in!
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Fiona, I wonder how I find the time also, lol.
J :)
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Great as alway John. Just waiting for my ScanNcut to get here.! My husband now wants me to make things for his model train layout. Any ideas greatly received! Keep. up the good work and HAPPY PLAYING.
Yvonne
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Small buildings?
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Great blog, John! Like your style. I did spot the deliberate (?) mistake, though: your stamped image with the pencilled circle shows the cutlery handles, whereas your finished image shows the ‘business’ ends! Had to keep checking as I thought my eyes were deceiving me… ;) lol
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Hehe, well spotted. I did change the design half way through but wondered who would spot it ;)
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I always eagerly call over to your site when I get an email, I am never disappointed. I am always inspired by your work (or play!) x
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I can not throw my mags away and quite often look back over them, trouble is I have a large pile of them and never know where to start. Now thanks to you guess what I will be doing today. Thanks John, you really are a great man
Lynne
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Well done for getting your mojo back, though I don’t think a set of cutlery would do it for me. I’m not buying the Brother either, so I’d use my Spellies etc. instead.
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Great cards, I feel inspired too, if only I didnt have to go to work :(
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Yes i have also been reading magazines, one called Inspire, another called Flow which is beautiful & just found Daphne’s Diary which i needed to get, it is so tactile! Got all from WHsmith except for DD wbich was from Sainsburys.
So glad am now following your Blog, love both the IADADo Gears & the Brother S&C. Have the Gear sets & stamps, won’t be getting the S&C as vot a Pazzle Insp which i love, perhaps when that no longwmer works…
Thanks for all your enthusiasm & inspiration:-) xxx
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Wow – fantastic cards.
Thanks for the inspiration John.
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My very first visit to your site and you have inspired me already. Thank you!
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Welcome Liz :)
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