When you build your cards

I usually look at my toys...stamps, embossing folders, embellishments. I pull those first, then paper. Once I have all of that I'll color my images using Copics.

I browse all the talented card makers such as you all and shamelessly scraptlift !!!!!! LOL!

I guess mine start with what I need, and lately that has been a lot of thank yous mostly. Since I needed a bunch of them, I bought some cute preprinted blank imprintable cards with envelopes and just added a stamped sentiment and some extra little stamped designs in a coordinating color onto them around what was already there. Cute and fast but not really all that creative.

I want to build up a stash of kid birthday cards, and those can be more fun. I have a lot of great kid stamp designs (robots and stuff for the boys, princess stuff for the girls) so I'll start with that. Stamp and color with colored pencils and/or markers and hopefully use up lots of paper scraps in the process! I really love the look of those cute cards that have loads of layered papers and stickers and stuff, but I can't justify using $5 or more in supplies for a card that a kid will look at for exactly five seconds before ripping it to shreds looking for the gift card inside, LOL.

I do the same as you do, oldcrow.

This would be me.  I also take a shortcut by using pre-cut bases that have matching envelopes.  I use ideas but tailor them to my own colors and supplies I have one hand.

I go to my pinterest board that I have for cards for inspiration. I don't usually scraplift, because I won't have the exact same stamps or supplies, but I get ideas on what I can do with what I have.

I start with my latest set of stamps, that I can't wait to use! Then I check my list of people I need to make for, and try to fit the stamps to the person. Sometimes I can't, and I still make a random card out of the new stamps, and then have to make another for the birthday person. {insert smack-my-head smilie here}

Then I check out challenges, sketch sites and it builds from there.

That's a great question oldcrow! I've never thought about it but I guess I start with patterned paper. I have a love affair with patterned paper and I love mixing patterns. After that I would choose some kind of embellishment.

I'd have to say I look for a stamp set that interests me first then I come up with a concept.