Inspiration Station: Identifying Trends

We’ve talked about including trendy elements in your card designs as a way of attracting the attention of shoppers, but how do you identify trends? How do you figure out what’s hot and what’s not? Where can you find cutting edge designs to inspire your own creativity?

You’ll find cutting edge card designs in scrapbook and stamping galleries. It’s true. People who make handmade cards are leading the curve since commercial greeting card companies work 6 months to a year in advance. So if you’re looking for the latest and hottest trends, check out some of the resources below.

Oh, and why should you follow trends? Because shoppers like buying cards that reflect popular design elements.  For example, I recently made a series of cards inspired by an up and coming trend I’d identified in card composition and style from studying handmade cards. The same week the cards were approved on GCU, they began selling. Not like hotcakes, not yet, but early sales tell me that I’ve hit the mark.

So go forth and be inspired!

Scrapbook.com Gallery
Over 214,000 examples of handmade greeting cards for you to check out.

Splitcoast Stampers Occasions Gallery
Helpfully divided into categories so you can get straight to what interests you.

Stampin’ Up Gallery
Provides several examples of cards made from stamping sets.

Bridget’s Rubber Stamping
Scroll down a little to get to Items of Interest and the four big galleries of cards linked there.