I had a huge clearout late last year. As I enjoyed so many crafts I ‘needed’ everything to go with them . I started card making and selling them for charity, went on to scrapbooking, art journalling, collage….. anything that was a craft, I had to try it. I had the best pencils, alcohol markers, sprays, inks…… I had extreme overwhelm and every time I sat at the desk I felt paralysed by all the stuff I’d gotten out for one project. The clear out was the best thing I ever did and I really thought about what I wanted to keep, why I wanted to keep it, how much use would I get out of it. My daughter sold everything for me and I ended up with nearly £200 in my bank and lovely organised cupboards with stash I could use in multiple ways. I now enjoy crafts again and have gone back to my first love of card making knowing I can make as many as I like as they will be given to charity shops to sell.
I have a craft room that is overflowing with stamps and dies, paper, die cutting machines.. It s obscene and I can't even work in there. I'm in the process of weeding out things now. I haven't made a card for a couple of years. I started painting six years ago, as a way to deal with the chronic pain of fibromyalgia. I love it so much. So I completely understand the transition to the fine art side. Much success and I'll be watching!
I still buy a stamp now and then, but I was feeling like there was just too much stuff needed to make the cards I admired. I realized I didn’t need more stuff but rather more ways to use the stuff I already had. I always appreciate your take on the stamps because you always find some very unique way to use them when everyone else does the obvious. I also found focusing on my skills rather than my stuff provided much more versatility. So, I am definitely still a card maker, but I’m branching out. 😊
I make cards too and have found that so many of the new stamps being released are variations of previously made stamps. How many flower stamps does a person need? I have found that I am not good at drawing, but I do have an eye for colour. My first love is scrapbooking but I have made so many over the years, we have started to cull them and just save the best photos. Now I make albums, from scratch, but now I am collecting too many of those, too! I do try to sell them, but that is slow. Now I have discovered diamond painting so I do a bit of all of each.
Artventure feels like the only place I have for that. While I shouted out Reddit (and there are some lovely people there) there's also some pretty ugly interactions there! But we are all about kindness and encouragement in my group :)
I'm turns out that I was already on Mighty, on my old phone but I forgot to go there! Thanks, Sandy, for the refreshing! I tried to be a card maker. Two daughters and a daughter in law have been, and I even signed to to make cards with you. Sigh. I have loved listening to you but I've always been more of a painter than a stamper. I am glad you are doing well. I can understand getting out of the rat race. We are retired and I always look out for bargains. But, when my closest Tuesday Morning closed, I was relieved to no longer be chasing the big savings! I'm now dealing with all that I never really needed!
You are a woman of integrity. REgarding Facebook, I'm only on Facebook to use Messenger with a daughter and a friend. I'm appalled by the changes and thinking of leaving that platform altogether. Your tutelage has me using stamps less and art more so I'm very pleased. Keep up the great work.
Lately I've been avoiding creators who are pushing products. When I first started my art journey I was easily influenced into buying whatever was recommended. I didn't realize that there was something in it for them. It has become a turn off for me. So happy that you are staying true to yourself and following your passion!
I agree, there seems to have been a huge increase in product pushing lately🙁Although, most are just given the products to try and to show on their channel. There isn’t always as commission offered. I think the sales pushing was/is really big in the card making sector.
I didn’t know about Meta 😮 and I’m flabbergasted. Glad you’re enjoying your new path - it’s inspiring to see someone make their way through the muck and find happiness on the other side!!
This was a great video, doing what you love is always better for you. Thanks for the scam info, in this day and age we all need help with these kind of things. I agree with you on Meta. There is enough hate out there without platforms like these giving haters a free ride. 😮
I also cut my card making and moved over to my journaling and scrapbooking. I am enjoying it much more. Cards at Christmas and a few special birthdays. The stamps and dies go in the archives after a group are made so I don’t reuse for a while, if ever.
I completely understand the need to switch to fine art. Teaching a private art class for my friend’s daughter put me back in fine art mode and now I’ve set about learning what I would have learned if I had taken art classes in university.
Don’t take this in a bad way, but this is the first time I’ve seen one of your TH-cam videos, and now that I know what I missed (all that stamping), I’m very okay with it and I love that you are pursuing your passion to CREATE something every day. Signed, New Subscriber
Happy New Year (sort of). This one has already presented lots of challenges! Meta has gone off a cliff, so I need to severely curtail my activity there for sure. I'm so glad you're concentrating on what most makes you happy. Take care of yourself. 😻
I had 5000 stamps in which I included teeny ones and cheap/free foam ones, but yes quite a few!! Before my Fella and I retired to Az I sold darned near most of them and not a day goes by that I wish I had shipped them and then gave away/sold the bulk of them. While I have a light filled art room now and not a dingy damp basement I also have less room. All this is to say I miss the “word” stamps the most. I’ll never find them again and it makes me sad. I love your work and now I’m doing watercolor so I’ll check out your stuff though I think I’m already in Artventure. 😊
Thanks for this video, Sandy. I've often wondered how creators and artists on social media continue to feel inspired to create the various forms of arts and crafting...I wondered why I didn't feel as inspired as they appeared to be. I've resigned myself to the fact that stamping isn't for me because I enjoy drawing on my own. Also, I'm no longer finding joy in cardmaking for family and friends.... however, I do enjoy mass card making for organizations who distribute cards needed by charities, hospitals, etc. (plus, it's a great way to use up my huge stash of materials). And I still love scrapbooking.
Good for you Sandy! You got out of the rat race and did your own thing and that reflects in your work. Like Fleetwood Mac sang „You can go your own way“. ❤
I’m suffering release burn out too…one company starts it and they all have to do it to keep up! They are accelerating the demise of card making! No one likes things once they’re “too much” and we’re there…so sad. Not to mention the impact and sticker shock TARRIFS are going to have😳
With regard to your comment about things becoming "too much" (I'm taking this as if you mean that supplies are becoming more expensive), I'm Canadian, and I, too, have found that prices have gone up so it is hard to buy even here. Buying from American companies now is prohibitive with the exchange rate. I was going to purchase a kit priced at $59.99 USD but it works out to be in excess of $90 CDN.
It's just exhausting! Even Tim gave up. I wish other influencers would talk about it rather than just going to the bank to cash the checks. They're burning everyone out :(
I can only imagine what it costs to ship out of the US. Yikes! Take some classes to learn to create your own cards without all the stuff, it's lots cheaper :)
@@SandyAllnock1I wish I could like this comment 1000x! Why don’t they realize people are getting burnt out from these monthly releases and now “sales”? So exhausting!
I got off the hamster wheel of buying the latest craft craze about 6-7 years ago. I create what I want when I want with basic supplies. It is so much more fun!
I use 2 get approached, constantly 2b on design teams for several stamp/card kit companies that I subscribed to. The problem is I really wanted stamps mostly for the sentiments, not 2do a bunch of coloring for mass card production. Their stamps became 1 big image, a couple small images, and maybe 3 one word sentiments they kept repeating on each set in a juvenile font. The card kit stamp set of sentiments kept getting smaller. I loved their cardstock quality, but the other stuff in the kit was just outdated embellishments or junk that just didnt fit my cards esthetic. Every month it was getting harder to come up with designs 4 cards with the items included. When I moved 2 another house, I went thru the kits(30+) and said enough! I had already got rid of the stamp & die club the previous year. 2 years later, I still haven't touched those kits. I did go through and try to sell some of the stamps/dies, but nobody even wants to pay $5 for them. So I started adding them to stash boxes I would give away to other crafters. I say all this because I've learned that we can get so caught up in buying supplies & tools that it takes away all the joy of creating. I still have enough paper to last me 3 lifetimes, but I have quit all the clubs and try to look at each purchase for long-term functionality. Also, I'm happy to hear your not supporting META. I've been off FB for years due to its toxic environment. I still have my IG account, but rarely go on there either. Blue Sky and YT is all I guess we will have left once TT is gone. Thanks for sharing.
That’s why I created Artventure a couple years ago… I could see the writing on the wall with these platforms making everything worse. Feel free to join us. 🥰
Sandy, you expressed what I have been feeling for a while. I was strictly card-making. Now, as you are aware (!), I have moved more into artistry. I am so much happier! I am still working out what I'm going to do with it, but the creative juices are definitely flowing! Thank you for your bravery and your many gifts that you share so freely. Godspeed!
I love seeing you branching out! And I love that we can still make the things we love, like cards to send to friends and family, but we don't need "all the stuff" when we've got skillllllllz :)
Hello Sandy, just subscribed to your channel. You are a woman of integrity and I want to get to know you and your art. I’m an artist myself. I use art to manage pain. Watercolor is my favorite although I haven’t done much lately. I enjoy making cards also. I can’t wait to binge watch more of your videos! Thanks and take care ❤
Good info! I signed up at Artventure and support your choices very much! As a card maker it’s nice to know not alone feeling there is “too much”noise in that realm sometimes to feel creative but I’m here just for the fun of it all. 😉
I left all the DT teams I was on, as it took all the pleasure out of it. I have a studio of products but now I just enjoy your art content and learned many great tips. I ❤ you as an artist and a person. X
Thank you so much for this video. I am a Card maker, I am unable to do much fine art work due to health problems but I really enjoy watching you create. I avoid Honey when it appeared my gut told me it was off. I have been off Facebook for many years at it is so poisonous but as I watch creators on Instagram I did not want to close that account but I think I will have to do so. Thank you for shining a light when others don't hugs to you.😊
I don't know that I'll stop using Instagram entirely - I need it to keep in touch with some artist friends. But I won't be just scrolling the feed. I'll be going directly to the pages of people I care about. :(
I had to go back and watch the beginning that I missed because I joined late. All this makes sense! I am going to move my artventure icon to my homepage right now. Thank you for your inspiration!
Hello Sandy, I also make cards, which I love, but I have stopped watching a couple of creators that I used to enjoy because they are always pushing their new products and they are not cheap😢 Now I design and make my own ideas, using the supplies I already have and then I feel I have made something truly unique. I had never heard of Honey, if I do in the future I now know to steer clear of it. As for Meta, Facebook, instagram and any other platform, I am not on any of them and never will be.
Basically youtube pays me nothing so I rely on affiliate links to make a living. I preach about removing honey and others. It is messed up that they secretly steal from creators at the last second. Please tell folks and spread the word. Please and Thanks you.
I'm so sorry :( I've had to just remove any expectation that I'll get a thing from links since it's so hit or miss, so I focus on my classes to pay the bills. It's tons harder while not getting the affiliate income, but man. The thieves are everywhere picking our pockets. :(
@@SandyAllnock1 Preach it, I actually have done well with the amazon influencer program and just stopped with any other affiliate program. Have you tried the sponsorships? I know you talked about the free stuff they give you, but not the same as paying you. I must get 4-5 emails a day from people wanting me to review stuff but I assume most are scams and never do them. Cool you are doing good with classes, but I bet that is a ton of work. Your channel is awesome btw
@TarrinLupo I would have the same problem with even cash sponsorship- would they pay me for panning a product? Or giving it a halfhearted review? Lol. There’s art manufacturers in china getting artists to put their name on ridiculous brushes or paints-and I’m not signing on to that. I’m just sticking with classes; I’m in control of my own decisions at least 🥰
@@SandyAllnock1 Respect! I think that is a big reason I never do sponsorships, I feel it is dishonest if I don't LOVE the product. I only review stuff on Amazon I really love and use everyday. I never review stuff I am luke warm for.
I love this Sandy. I have been watching you a long time. I enjoy your classes and Patreon page as well. I got into stamping as a starting point until I could build my drawing skills to make things unique to me. Unfortunately, I got lazy and kept pushing off my fine art learning in lieu of the stamps. Your change over provide an organic push for me to change with you. Thank you.
I've never signed up for any of those coupon codes or extensions. Just another way (IMO) for other companies to get your info. I keep as low key as possible for that reason. "If it's too good to be true, it probably is". But thanks for the info - I'm sure a lot of others appreciate your explanations. TFS
I'm right there with you, Sandy, on no longer using stamps for crafting. For ME, cardmaking with stamps (and all the accoutrements) was too overwhelming. I can make a beautiful card with watercolor and no embellishments and am perfectly happy with the simple design that I can make.
I am mostly a card maker because I love it. However, I really enjoy learning about different mediums and how to use them. I would love to get to a point where I can create watercolor card fronts for my cards. Mixing the two together anticipating what can be created! You have been a wonderful source for me to learn from and I will continue to watch and learn! Blessings to you and your new adventures in the New Year ahead 💕
I enjoyed this video very much. I too am just disgusted about changes at Meta. I’m removing my accounts. But it’s harder for a creator, and I admire your integrity. Thank you!
Yeah, the niche communities are usually good places to hang out. Reddit doesn't deserve the bad reputation it got several years ago. Some of the best information on the internet is in old reddit posts.
I was so glad you switched! Using stamps just wasn’t satisfying my creative juices. Wait! You have an app??? How did I miss this? Can I watch my classes directly from your app????? I bet, YES! 👏👏👏
It’s good to hear this from you. I’ve never benefited from affiliate links but I spent YEARS reviewing books and came to HATE it. Now, when a book is sent for review, I almost fear opening it and I DEFINITELY fear posting an honest review. Lately I’ve been listening to audiobooks, mostly of books I already read in paper and enjoyed, and I read little apart from that. I’ve been thinking about refusing review copies and just finding my own books from libraries and bookstores, reviewing things I’ve been enjoying watching etc. I’ve NEVER made money from my website, it costs over $1000au every year to run but it is NOT a paying job. So I feel like I should enjoy it more but I’ve struggled between my passion and others’ expectations. And people being awful, including - for example - authors to whom I’ve given GOOD free publicity inciting internet pile ons with lies and half-truths to generate more publicity for their upcoming releases has been awful. I took the first half of last year off, planning to return after moving house in May/June but then the house is appalling. The first building inspector was either incompetent or on the take. Turns out this house doesn’t meet minimum fire safety regulations and probably should not have been sold as a freehold house (which costs more than a house with an HOA). And even if it was sold as a HOA-house the shared boundary wall does not meet fire safety regulations. So I’ve been mostly focused on trying to get that fixed and getting ready to take the multiple companies involved to court. So I haven’t yet resolved the issue of what to do about my website and what direction to go in. * I’ve been told that, because I’m disabled, I should accept not being paid for work, not being allowed to participate in communities and that I should kill myself. And this is from people who are either making money from the publishing industry that I’ve been supporting at my own expense and from their fans and followers.
PS even an honest 4 star review (out of 5 stars) has generated bile from some authors. Include one single criticism and some have harassed me, bullied me and incited others. I just can’t.
I'm sorry for everything you're going through. It's awful that you're facing such terrible treatment - those people deserve some karma slapping them back! It sounds like you should just prioritize what makes you happy, most especially because you're not getting paid - pay yourself in joy.
i have been wanting to quit FB for a long time. I rarely check on it anymore except that the nonprofit I volunteer for is on there - so I need to keep it. But I personally am totally checked out! I still follow you though!
I've only kept myself there because as a business you have to...but sheesh if I wasn't running a biz I'd leave for certain! I'm glad I've built Artventure to where it is today :)
I started watching TH-cam in 2015 and started wc painting. From there it added on card making. Then a couple years later a lot of creators were pushing everything and after a couple years I just stopped watching a lot of creators. I just want to do art and once in awhile cards and not be bombarded with products. I don’t mind occasional but not every vid. You do what makes you happy. You still have people who will support you by watching
I will always love card making, but I took up watercolor and also love that. Now I work on cards for a few weeks then I go to watercolor painting for a while. I’m always busy.
Hi Sandy your take on things resonated with me ..I have always been a painter it used to be canvases but I went onto card making because of limited space 😊 and im laughing as the card materials have seemed to take more space and cost! I have cut the card making down as I feel I just want the freedom to paint or Gel print or whatever I feel like doing ..
Get this - my mom wanted to start making cards and I sat her down at the start and showed her EXACTLY the few things to get. I said DO NOT GET MORE THAN THREE STAMP SETS (acrylic) TIL YOU USE ALL THREE for at least 3 cards each. She bought an iris cart and filled it. When she downsized she kept mailing ME box after box of her extra stuff!! YEEEEEPPPPPPP lol :)
The honey thing is particularly upsetting because the business model depends on being misleading. When I tried it, they replaced the coupon code I was using with a worse honey code. /uninstall For creators, there is ZERO chance you take a sponsorship where the company asks to take a cut of your income forever (and everyone else's income)
Sadly people don't research who they're partnering with. I saw a video by Hank Green, a VERY savvy creator, who said he has a team he relies on to vet sponsorships, and he knows a lot of people just say yes to everything. I get about 2 dozen emails a week from companies wanting to sponsor my videos - and I send them all to the trash folder. I don't know who's silly enough to just keep saying yes to collect a check. Don't they feel gross?
I stopped drawing when I discovered card making and think of how easy and inexpensive drawing is! Just need some pencils and paper. 😊 I also think of how much I would have grown if I had continued drawing. I may start again, but still use the zillion dollars of supplies Ive invested in over the past 10 years. 😂 Seriously, I have an insane quantity of stuff. If only ?i had known…
We all do. As someone said on here already, it would take me two lifetimes (maybe 3) to use the 1000’s of sheets of paper I already own. And I have a few hundred stencils to make my own backgrounds…where does it end?🥴
If you’re looking for a place for Art, there’s not a whole lot there. Most of the folks there are digital, but a few of us are traditional. I follow news and pets and silliness there. Best thing is you can customize which algorithm you feel like looking at right then. Some days I go to the Art one, another day to news, another to Olympics when they were being played. There are free-for-all algorithms and chronological ones of just the people you follow. For my art fix, it’s art entire and a couple subreddits for now. 👍🏻
Also- there are creepers and bots and mean people there too, but they have a good security team and they do their best. They have enough in the TOU that they can ban the worst of the crazies. 🤩
Creativity, creating of all kinds, runs in my blood. But I have become disenchanted with the constant “must-have’s” and release after release, leading to a frenzy of purchasing and “hauls” videos. But there didn’t seem to be any authenticity and a lot of copycats. And I wondered who was actually finishing a project. I appreciate your honesty and sharing. I’m right there with you. Best wishes to you and your artistic and personal growth.😊
Hi Sandy, nice to see you. At 2:43 in this video there is a card that shows a penguin "decorating" a polar bear with a string of lights and a star on his head. I would LOVE to make that card for next season. Can you tell me if it is a stamp? or can you tell me what I can do to make these cards?
It is a stamp - by Ellen Hutson. Unfortunately, they have closed their business. Some of their products are available through Amazon, though I don’t know about this particular one.
When stamp with die sets are 70-80 dollars it takes the fun out of card making. 😢 I used to buy so much more with my money and it was more enjoyable. I used to be on a design team and I know what you mean about the rat race. Yes , I got free product but I had to do it working full-time and it just was too much so now I’m thinking do I even want to keepto keep making cards not sure yet 😢
It's hard to feel excited about something that's no longer fun! But that’s what I find better about making other art. I can do big pieces, small ones, whatever I feel like at the time 🥰
Hi Sandy! So sad watching dehumanization on social media, we are regressing as human beings, a bad example for the new generations! I truly support your choices and I'm so thankful for Artventure, it's really a cosy, friendly environment! Everybody's very nice there, a true art community! For me you have always been a source to learn from, several years now, but much more focused in your Art- Classes courses in this point on my life, your are a wonderful human being! I've said it before but I’ll say it again: you're a light in this mess ! God bless you!!!
funny I am stopping watching alot of the crafters that see every month, I HAVE ENOUGH , so I too am not falling into the trap any more, I do love making cards but also doing more other crafts and now into embroidery ,,,my 2025 pledge ,
"But I'm a business owner, so I'll use them anyway." Are you kidding? How dare you pretend you give a damn. Meta needs to be ignored, and your profits are not more important. Unbelievable.
Love your work Sandy. I understand your stance on Meta etc but free speech is free speech. We cannot give the choice of what words are allowable to anyone if we want a free society. Being ‘offended’ by words is the price of liberty.
I'm fine with folks sharing all kinds of opposing opinions - I love nothing better than a good debate with both sides bringing actual facts. Like I said Meta's fact checking was pretty much a hot mess, and community notes are worse. But I draw the line at using heinous slurs to demean others. It's just more than I will help to promote by participating.
In any private area (your home, a classroom, a theater, a social media platform) standards of behavior can be set and enforced. This does not necessarily infringe on an individuals free speech rights. They can say what they want to say elsewhere. Zuckerberg doesn’t want to PAY ppl to do the moderation work and is pandering to the hate speech bullies who don’t like any rules or criticism.
Social platforms like FB and X are the new Town Square and are not private corps enforcing their own ethics. Majority of employees there are intelligence community folks anyway.
You lost me with your political speech. Remember the majority of people in this country disagree with you. There must be a good reason why. Unsubscribed!!!!!
You are absolutely wrong about the “majority”. That is fiction not fact. Perhaps it is 1/3 that disagreed (oddly) and 1/3 that cared and 1/3 that remained uncommitted- although they have found out their reticence to pick a side- picked it for them. Hope all of those folks reap the rewards. 😑
I had a huge clearout late last year. As I enjoyed so many crafts I ‘needed’ everything to go with them . I started card making and selling them for charity, went on to scrapbooking, art journalling, collage….. anything that was a craft, I had to try it. I had the best pencils, alcohol markers, sprays, inks…… I had extreme overwhelm and every time I sat at the desk I felt paralysed by all the stuff I’d gotten out for one project. The clear out was the best thing I ever did and I really thought about what I wanted to keep, why I wanted to keep it, how much use would I get out of it. My daughter sold everything for me and I ended up with nearly £200 in my bank and lovely organised cupboards with stash I could use in multiple ways. I now enjoy crafts again and have gone back to my first love of card making knowing I can make as many as I like as they will be given to charity shops to sell.
I have a craft room that is overflowing with stamps and dies, paper, die cutting machines.. It s obscene and I can't even work in there. I'm in the process of weeding out things now. I haven't made a card for a couple of years. I started painting six years ago, as a way to deal with the chronic pain of fibromyalgia. I love it so much. So I completely understand the transition to the fine art side. Much success and I'll be watching!
Thank you so much for sharing your truth and wisdom.
I could listen to your voice all day!
Thank you for the sane words about collecting supplies vs. doing art. 🌟
Exactly!
I still buy a stamp now and then, but I was feeling like there was just too much stuff needed to make the cards I admired. I realized I didn’t need more stuff but rather more ways to use the stuff I already had. I always appreciate your take on the stamps because you always find some very unique way to use them when everyone else does the obvious. I also found focusing on my skills rather than my stuff provided much more versatility. So, I am definitely still a card maker, but I’m branching out. 😊
You're one of those I love watching grow! We don't have to "quit" doing something we liked, but realizing we have capacity beyond that? Bingo! :)
Thanks for the meta info. I had no idea! I love your honesty and integrity! ❤️🙏
I make cards too and have found that so many of the new stamps being released are variations of previously made stamps. How many flower stamps does a person need? I have found that I am not good at drawing, but I do have an eye for colour. My first love is scrapbooking but I have made so many over the years, we have started to cull them and just save the best photos. Now I make albums, from scratch, but now I am collecting too many of those, too! I do try to sell them, but that is slow. Now I have discovered diamond painting so I do a bit of all of each.
@@vahodgins- I feel you. That’s one of the reasons I like making cards - I can enjoy the process and then can give it away.
Good for you Sandi, continue to do what makes you happy on a platform that doesn't encourage bad behavior.
I am so disgusted with Facebook and Instagram. I really wish there was alternate versions that brought kindness and respect back
Artventure feels like the only place I have for that. While I shouted out Reddit (and there are some lovely people there) there's also some pretty ugly interactions there! But we are all about kindness and encouragement in my group :)
I'm turns out that I was already on Mighty, on my old phone but I forgot to go there! Thanks, Sandy, for the refreshing! I tried to be a card maker. Two daughters and a daughter in law have been, and I even signed to to make cards with you. Sigh. I have loved listening to you but I've always been more of a painter than a stamper. I am glad you are doing well. I can understand getting out of the rat race. We are retired and I always look out for bargains. But, when my closest Tuesday Morning closed, I was relieved to no longer be chasing the big savings! I'm now dealing with all that I never really needed!
You are a woman of integrity. REgarding Facebook, I'm only on Facebook to use Messenger with a daughter and a friend. I'm appalled by the changes and thinking of leaving that platform altogether. Your tutelage has me using stamps less and art more so I'm very pleased. Keep up the great work.
I'm glad you're finding more creativity! Stick with me and we'll keep going despite the platforms blowing themselves up :)
Facebook messenger is kinda spy ware.
Lately I've been avoiding creators who are pushing products. When I first started my art journey I was easily influenced into buying whatever was recommended. I didn't realize that there was something in it for them. It has become a turn off for me.
So happy that you are staying true to yourself and following your passion!
I agree, there seems to have been a huge increase in product pushing lately🙁Although, most are just given the products to try and to show on their channel. There isn’t always as commission offered. I think the sales pushing was/is really big in the card making sector.
I didn’t know about Meta 😮 and I’m flabbergasted.
Glad you’re enjoying your new path - it’s inspiring to see someone make their way through the muck and find happiness on the other side!!
This was a great video, doing what you love is always better for you. Thanks for the scam info, in this day and age we all need help with these kind of things. I agree with you on Meta. There is enough hate out there without platforms like these giving haters a free ride. 😮
I also cut my card making and moved over to my journaling and scrapbooking. I am enjoying it much more. Cards at Christmas and a few special birthdays. The stamps and dies go in the archives after a group are made so I don’t reuse for a while, if ever.
I completely understand the need to switch to fine art. Teaching a private art class for my friend’s daughter put me back in fine art mode and now I’ve set about learning what I would have learned if I had taken art classes in university.
Don’t take this in a bad way, but this is the first time I’ve seen one of your TH-cam videos, and now that I know what I missed (all that stamping), I’m very okay with it and I love that you are pursuing your passion to CREATE something every day.
Signed,
New Subscriber
Happy New Year (sort of). This one has already presented lots of challenges! Meta has gone off a cliff, so I need to severely curtail my activity there for sure. I'm so glad you're concentrating on what most makes you happy. Take care of yourself. 😻
I had 5000 stamps in which I included teeny ones and cheap/free foam ones, but yes quite a few!! Before my Fella and I retired to Az I sold darned near most of them and not a day goes by that I wish I had shipped them and then gave away/sold the bulk of them. While I have a light filled art room now and not a dingy damp basement I also have less room. All this is to say I miss the “word” stamps the most. I’ll never find them again and it makes me sad. I love your work and now I’m doing watercolor so I’ll check out your stuff though I think I’m already in Artventure. 😊
Thanks for this video, Sandy. I've often wondered how creators and artists on social media continue to feel inspired to create the various forms of arts and crafting...I wondered why I didn't feel as inspired as they appeared to be. I've resigned myself to the fact that stamping isn't for me because I enjoy drawing on my own. Also, I'm no longer finding joy in cardmaking for family and friends.... however, I do enjoy mass card making for organizations who distribute cards needed by charities, hospitals, etc. (plus, it's a great way to use up my huge stash of materials). And I still love scrapbooking.
I love that you've found a way to keep your craft journey going but also do what you love!
Good for you Sandy! You got out of the rat race and did your own thing and that reflects in your work. Like Fleetwood Mac sang „You can go your own way“. ❤
That just brought back the nicest song memory. I can hear their harmonies 🥰
I'm glad you chose to do what you want to do and not what you have to do.
I learned about Meta this past week and was appalled 🤦🏻♀️. Thank you for sharing all this info, thank you!! 🤗
I think what you’ve stated re: card making and supplies resonates with so many people.
I’m suffering release burn out too…one company starts it and they all have to do it to keep up! They are accelerating the demise of card making! No one likes things once they’re “too much” and we’re there…so sad. Not to mention the impact and sticker shock TARRIFS are going to have😳
With regard to your comment about things becoming "too much" (I'm taking this as if you mean that supplies are becoming more expensive), I'm Canadian, and I, too, have found that prices have gone up so it is hard to buy even here. Buying from American companies now is prohibitive with the exchange rate. I was going to purchase a kit priced at $59.99 USD but it works out to be in excess of $90 CDN.
It's just exhausting! Even Tim gave up. I wish other influencers would talk about it rather than just going to the bank to cash the checks. They're burning everyone out :(
I can only imagine what it costs to ship out of the US. Yikes! Take some classes to learn to create your own cards without all the stuff, it's lots cheaper :)
@@SandyAllnock1I wish I could like this comment 1000x! Why don’t they realize people are getting burnt out from these monthly releases and now “sales”? So exhausting!
I got off the hamster wheel of buying the latest craft craze about 6-7 years ago. I create what I want when I want with basic supplies. It is so much more fun!
I use 2 get approached, constantly 2b on design teams for several stamp/card kit companies that I subscribed to. The problem is I really wanted stamps mostly for the sentiments, not 2do a bunch of coloring for mass card production. Their stamps became 1 big image, a couple small images, and maybe 3 one word sentiments they kept repeating on each set in a juvenile font. The card kit stamp set of sentiments kept getting smaller. I loved their cardstock quality, but the other stuff in the kit was just outdated embellishments or junk that just didnt fit my cards esthetic. Every month it was getting harder to come up with designs 4 cards with the items included. When I moved 2 another house, I went thru the kits(30+) and said enough! I had already got rid of the stamp & die club the previous year. 2 years later, I still haven't touched those kits. I did go through and try to sell some of the stamps/dies, but nobody even wants to pay $5 for them. So I started adding them to stash boxes I would give away to other crafters. I say all this because I've learned that we can get so caught up in buying supplies & tools that it takes away all the joy of creating. I still have enough paper to last me 3 lifetimes, but I have quit all the clubs and try to look at each purchase for long-term functionality.
Also, I'm happy to hear your not supporting META. I've been off FB for years due to its toxic environment. I still have my IG account, but rarely go on there either. Blue Sky and YT is all I guess we will have left once TT is gone. Thanks for sharing.
That’s why I created Artventure a couple years ago… I could see the writing on the wall with these platforms making everything worse. Feel free to join us. 🥰
I agree with you 100%. After 1000's of dollars of card making later, I've decided to focus on my joy, watercolor painting!
It's so freeing to be able to drop the weight of collecting and focus on the process itself, isn't it?
Sandy, you expressed what I have been feeling for a while. I was strictly card-making. Now, as you are aware (!), I have moved more into artistry. I am so much happier! I am still working out what I'm going to do with it, but the creative juices are definitely flowing! Thank you for your bravery and your many gifts that you share so freely. Godspeed!
I love seeing you branching out! And I love that we can still make the things we love, like cards to send to friends and family, but we don't need "all the stuff" when we've got skillllllllz :)
Hello Sandy, just subscribed to your channel. You are a woman of integrity and I want to get to know you and your art. I’m an artist myself. I use art to manage pain. Watercolor is my favorite although I haven’t done much lately. I enjoy making cards also. I can’t wait to binge watch more of your videos! Thanks and take care ❤
Thank you for sharing. I think many people feel the same as you, they just do not vocalize their thoughts. Have a great Sunday.
Good info! I signed up at Artventure and support your choices very much! As a card maker it’s nice to know not alone feeling there is “too much”noise in that realm sometimes to feel creative but I’m here just for the fun of it all. 😉
I left all the DT teams I was on, as it took all the pleasure out of it. I have a studio of products but now I just enjoy your art content and learned many great tips. I ❤ you as an artist and a person. X
DTs can be fun - but also so much pressure!
Thank you so much for this video. I am a Card maker, I am unable to do much fine art work due to health problems but I really enjoy watching you create. I avoid Honey when it appeared my gut told me it was off. I have been off Facebook for many years at it is so poisonous but as I watch creators on Instagram I did not want to close that account but I think I will have to do so. Thank you for shining a light when others don't hugs to you.😊
I don't know that I'll stop using Instagram entirely - I need it to keep in touch with some artist friends. But I won't be just scrolling the feed. I'll be going directly to the pages of people I care about. :(
I had to go back and watch the beginning that I missed because I joined late. All this makes sense! I am going to move my artventure icon to my homepage right now. Thank you for your inspiration!
I'm happy to hear that, you'll be glad you did! If an app isn't right in front of my face it just disappears...lol
Hello Sandy, I also make cards, which I love, but I have stopped watching a couple of creators that I used to enjoy because they are always pushing their new products and they are not cheap😢 Now I design and make my own ideas, using the supplies I already have and then I feel I have made something truly unique. I had never heard of Honey, if I do in the future I now know to steer clear of it. As for Meta, Facebook, instagram and any other platform, I am not on any of them and never will be.
Same here. I quite watching/following most card makers. If I don’t see it, I don’t need it or even want it.
cut the temptation....lol
Basically youtube pays me nothing so I rely on affiliate links to make a living. I preach about removing honey and others. It is messed up that they secretly steal from creators at the last second. Please tell folks and spread the word. Please and Thanks you.
I'm so sorry :( I've had to just remove any expectation that I'll get a thing from links since it's so hit or miss, so I focus on my classes to pay the bills. It's tons harder while not getting the affiliate income, but man. The thieves are everywhere picking our pockets. :(
@@SandyAllnock1 Preach it, I actually have done well with the amazon influencer program and just stopped with any other affiliate program. Have you tried the sponsorships? I know you talked about the free stuff they give you, but not the same as paying you. I must get 4-5 emails a day from people wanting me to review stuff but I assume most are scams and never do them.
Cool you are doing good with classes, but I bet that is a ton of work. Your channel is awesome btw
@TarrinLupo I would have the same problem with even cash sponsorship- would they pay me for panning a product? Or giving it a halfhearted review? Lol. There’s art manufacturers in china getting artists to put their name on ridiculous brushes or paints-and I’m not signing on to that. I’m just sticking with classes; I’m in control of my own decisions at least 🥰
@@SandyAllnock1 Respect! I think that is a big reason I never do sponsorships, I feel it is dishonest if I don't LOVE the product. I only review stuff on Amazon I really love and use everyday. I never review stuff I am luke warm for.
I love this Sandy. I have been watching you a long time. I enjoy your classes and Patreon page as well. I got into stamping as a starting point until I could build my drawing skills to make things unique to me. Unfortunately, I got lazy and kept pushing off my fine art learning in lieu of the stamps. Your change over provide an organic push for me to change with you. Thank you.
Hooray! Let's work on polishing our skills, and save ourselves a lotta money on product :) heehee
@ 😂❤️
have missed you out there. your color style was very enjoyable to watch, glad you got to go where you wanted to go , :) enjoy
I've never signed up for any of those coupon codes or extensions. Just another way (IMO) for other companies to get your info. I keep as low key as possible for that reason. "If it's too good to be true, it probably is". But thanks for the info - I'm sure a lot of others appreciate your explanations. TFS
It's good to be cautious! Good for you, for keeping your data safe.
I'm right there with you, Sandy, on no longer using stamps for crafting. For ME, cardmaking with stamps (and all the accoutrements) was too overwhelming. I can make a beautiful card with watercolor and no embellishments and am perfectly happy with the simple design that I can make.
Well said. Appreciate you.
I am mostly a card maker because I love it. However, I really enjoy learning about different mediums and how to use them. I would love to get to a point where I can create watercolor card fronts for my cards. Mixing the two together anticipating what can be created! You have been a wonderful source for me to learn from and I will continue to watch and learn! Blessings to you and your new adventures in the New Year ahead 💕
Just this morning I had added the Watercolor Backgrounds for Cardmakers to the sale page, if that helps :)
Wonderful! I will check it out.💗
I enjoyed this video very much. I too am just disgusted about changes at Meta. I’m removing my accounts. But it’s harder for a creator, and I admire your integrity. Thank you!
You are so talented in all mediums Sandy!! Thank you for inspiring me ~
Was pleasantly surprised to see you on reddit the other night!
I've been trying it out - while I've had a few trolls chase me down, lots of people seem quite nice :)
Yeah, the niche communities are usually good places to hang out. Reddit doesn't deserve the bad reputation it got several years ago. Some of the best information on the internet is in old reddit posts.
Being a 98% artist looks good on you ❤
I was so glad you switched! Using stamps just wasn’t satisfying my creative juices.
Wait! You have an app??? How did I miss this? Can I watch my classes directly from your app????? I bet, YES! 👏👏👏
Oh sorry not the classes. Just the social platform 🥰
@ Rats! 👍😊
Such great info on many topics. Thank you for all🎉❤
You are so welcome!
Wishing you all the very best in 2025……this was a really great video, Sandy !!
Well done ….on every count !!!!
🎉🎉🤩🤩💕💕
It’s good to hear this from you. I’ve never benefited from affiliate links but I spent YEARS reviewing books and came to HATE it. Now, when a book is sent for review, I almost fear opening it and I DEFINITELY fear posting an honest review. Lately I’ve been listening to audiobooks, mostly of books I already read in paper and enjoyed, and I read little apart from that. I’ve been thinking about refusing review copies and just finding my own books from libraries and bookstores, reviewing things I’ve been enjoying watching etc. I’ve NEVER made money from my website, it costs over $1000au every year to run but it is NOT a paying job. So I feel like I should enjoy it more but I’ve struggled between my passion and others’ expectations. And people being awful, including - for example - authors to whom I’ve given GOOD free publicity inciting internet pile ons with lies and half-truths to generate more publicity for their upcoming releases has been awful. I took the first half of last year off, planning to return after moving house in May/June but then the house is appalling. The first building inspector was either incompetent or on the take. Turns out this house doesn’t meet minimum fire safety regulations and probably should not have been sold as a freehold house (which costs more than a house with an HOA). And even if it was sold as a HOA-house the shared boundary wall does not meet fire safety regulations. So I’ve been mostly focused on trying to get that fixed and getting ready to take the multiple companies involved to court. So I haven’t yet resolved the issue of what to do about my website and what direction to go in.
* I’ve been told that, because I’m disabled, I should accept not being paid for work, not being allowed to participate in communities and that I should kill myself. And this is from people who are either making money from the publishing industry that I’ve been supporting at my own expense and from their fans and followers.
PS even an honest 4 star review (out of 5 stars) has generated bile from some authors. Include one single criticism and some have harassed me, bullied me and incited others. I just can’t.
I'm sorry for everything you're going through. It's awful that you're facing such terrible treatment - those people deserve some karma slapping them back!
It sounds like you should just prioritize what makes you happy, most especially because you're not getting paid - pay yourself in joy.
i have been wanting to quit FB for a long time. I rarely check on it anymore except that the nonprofit I volunteer for is on there - so I need to keep it. But I personally am totally checked out! I still follow you though!
I've only kept myself there because as a business you have to...but sheesh if I wasn't running a biz I'd leave for certain! I'm glad I've built Artventure to where it is today :)
Well done Sandy!
I started watching TH-cam in 2015 and started wc painting. From there it added on card making. Then a couple years later a lot of creators were pushing everything and after a couple years I just stopped watching a lot of creators. I just want to do art and once in awhile cards and not be bombarded with products. I don’t mind occasional but not every vid. You do what makes you happy. You still have people who will support you by watching
I will always love card making, but I took up watercolor and also love that. Now I work on cards for a few weeks then I go to watercolor painting for a while. I’m always busy.
Hi Sandy your take on things resonated with me ..I have always been a painter it used to be canvases but I went onto card making because of limited space 😊 and im laughing as the card materials have seemed to take more space and cost! I have cut the card making down as I feel I just want the freedom to paint or Gel print or whatever I feel like doing ..
Get this - my mom wanted to start making cards and I sat her down at the start and showed her EXACTLY the few things to get. I said DO NOT GET MORE THAN THREE STAMP SETS (acrylic) TIL YOU USE ALL THREE for at least 3 cards each.
She bought an iris cart and filled it.
When she downsized she kept mailing ME box after box of her extra stuff!! YEEEEEPPPPPPP lol :)
I really enjoy you!
The honey thing is particularly upsetting because the business model depends on being misleading. When I tried it, they replaced the coupon code I was using with a worse honey code. /uninstall
For creators, there is ZERO chance you take a sponsorship where the company asks to take a cut of your income forever (and everyone else's income)
Sadly people don't research who they're partnering with. I saw a video by Hank Green, a VERY savvy creator, who said he has a team he relies on to vet sponsorships, and he knows a lot of people just say yes to everything.
I get about 2 dozen emails a week from companies wanting to sponsor my videos - and I send them all to the trash folder. I don't know who's silly enough to just keep saying yes to collect a check. Don't they feel gross?
I stopped drawing when I discovered card making and think of how easy and inexpensive drawing is! Just need some pencils and paper. 😊 I also think of how much I would have grown if I had continued drawing. I may start again, but still use the zillion dollars of supplies Ive invested in over the past 10 years. 😂 Seriously, I have an insane quantity of stuff. If only ?i had known…
So true! We all got sucked in🤣
We all do. As someone said on here already, it would take me two lifetimes (maybe 3) to use the 1000’s of sheets of paper I already own. And I have a few hundred stencils to make my own backgrounds…where does it end?🥴
What is this Blue Sky I'm hearing about? Safe? Monitered? Pls LMK. TKS
If you’re looking for a place for Art, there’s not a whole lot there. Most of the folks there are digital, but a few of us are traditional. I follow news and pets and silliness there. Best thing is you can customize which algorithm you feel like looking at right then. Some days I go to the Art one, another day to news, another to Olympics when they were being played. There are free-for-all algorithms and chronological ones of just the people you follow. For my art fix, it’s art entire and a couple subreddits for now. 👍🏻
Also- there are creepers and bots and mean people there too, but they have a good security team and they do their best. They have enough in the TOU that they can ban the worst of the crazies. 🤩
Creativity, creating of all kinds, runs in my blood. But I have become disenchanted with the constant “must-have’s” and release after release, leading to a frenzy of purchasing and “hauls” videos. But there didn’t seem to be any authenticity and a lot of copycats. And I wondered who was actually finishing a project. I appreciate your honesty and sharing. I’m right there with you. Best wishes to you and your artistic and personal growth.😊
What brush did you use at 3:39?
Hi Sandy, nice to see you. At 2:43 in this video there is a card that shows a penguin "decorating" a polar bear with a string of lights and a star on his head. I would LOVE to make that card for next season. Can you tell me if it is a stamp? or can you tell me what I can do to make these cards?
It is a stamp - by Ellen Hutson. Unfortunately, they have closed their business. Some of their products are available through Amazon, though I don’t know about this particular one.
Those were all pulled from VERY old videos of mine - that particular one was an Ellen Hutson stamp, and she's no longer in business....
@@sherrywoods4630😱I had no idea Ellen Hutson was out of business. I bought great sentiment stamps from her!
100% relatable!
I'm going to make my meta accounts dormant 😢 I don't want to hang out in a playground full of bullies and bots!
I made all mine except the main ones private til I can screw up the courage to just delete. Gah. I spent so long on building community!
You're a sweetheart, I could never imagine you being mean. Also, I'm a cardmaker and I'm still here. ❤
You're the best! :)
When stamp with die sets are 70-80 dollars it takes the fun out of card making. 😢 I used to buy so much more with my money and it was more enjoyable. I used to be on a design team and I know what you mean about the rat race. Yes , I got free product but I had to do it working full-time and it just was too much so now I’m thinking do I even want to keepto keep making cards not sure yet 😢
It's hard to feel excited about something that's no longer fun! But that’s what I find better about making other art. I can do big pieces, small ones, whatever I feel like at the time 🥰
Thank you
You're very welcome!
Hi Sandy! So sad watching dehumanization on social media, we are regressing as human beings, a bad example for the new generations! I truly support your choices and I'm so thankful for Artventure, it's really a cosy, friendly environment! Everybody's very nice there, a true art community! For me you have always been a source to learn from, several years now, but much more focused in your Art- Classes courses in this point on my life, your are a wonderful human being! I've said it before but I’ll say it again: you're a light in this mess ! God bless you!!!
Aw thank you so much! I'm so glad we have you as part of the community!
@@SandyAllnock1 Your very kind, thank YOU Sandy, I wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for you !👍
Hello Sandy from chilly Phoenix!
funny I am stopping watching alot of the crafters that see every month, I HAVE ENOUGH , so I too am not falling into the trap any more, I do love making cards but also doing more other crafts and now into embroidery ,,,my 2025 pledge ,
browser apps?
It’s a little widget to install on a browser.
I am a card maker that never left.
Yay :) :) :)
"But I'm a business owner, so I'll use them anyway." Are you kidding? How dare you pretend you give a damn. Meta needs to be ignored, and your profits are not more important. Unbelievable.
Love your work Sandy. I understand your stance on Meta etc but free speech is free speech. We cannot give the choice of what words are allowable to anyone if we want a free society. Being ‘offended’ by words is the price of liberty.
I'm fine with folks sharing all kinds of opposing opinions - I love nothing better than a good debate with both sides bringing actual facts. Like I said Meta's fact checking was pretty much a hot mess, and community notes are worse.
But I draw the line at using heinous slurs to demean others. It's just more than I will help to promote by participating.
In any private area (your home, a classroom, a theater, a social media platform) standards of behavior can be set and enforced. This does not necessarily infringe on an individuals free speech rights. They can say what they want to say elsewhere. Zuckerberg doesn’t want to PAY ppl to do the moderation work and is pandering to the hate speech bullies who don’t like any rules or criticism.
Social platforms like FB and X are the new Town Square and are not private corps enforcing their own ethics. Majority of employees there are intelligence community folks anyway.
You lost me with your political speech. Remember the majority of people in this country disagree with you. There must be a good reason why. Unsubscribed!!!!!
Political? Calling kids the R word is political? I suppose it is if you want to use that word, so maybe. But oh well.
You are absolutely wrong about the “majority”. That is fiction not fact. Perhaps it is 1/3 that disagreed (oddly) and 1/3 that cared and 1/3 that remained uncommitted- although they have found out their reticence to pick a side- picked it for them. Hope all of those folks reap the rewards. 😑