We've talked about why we make cards, what we need to make them, and today and Friday, we're going to talk about the how of making a card. Today we'll look at how to translate outside inspiration into a design, how to use what you already know works for you, and how to let go and create a simple card. Over and over again, the word simple came up. That makes me happy because I can do simple. I don't freak out at simple.
First up is scraps. Nearly everyone mentioned that they use scraps for their cards. Much less daunting to cut up a small piece of paper than to cut into a nice big old sheet of 12x12 paper. I have lots of scraps. I think I could do this. :) Don't clean up after you've completed a layout is Sarah Hodgkinson's suggestion. Make a card with all the same things you know worked on the layout you just finished. Danielle Flanders , Angie Hagist, Shelly Jaquet, Kim Hughes, and Reneé Morris-Dezember all echo that sentiment. You don't have to rework something that already works, just create again with the scraps.
Next is design. This is another area that nearly everyone agreed on. START SIMPLE and have fun! Isn't the reason you are here, a fan of write.click.scrapbook, because you gravitate toward simple scrapbooking? I know that's why I'm here. Teri Anderson notes that your card style should be the same as your scrapbooking style. Clouds Shadler has some interesting thoughts on this:
First things first, figure out what your card making style is, this is key. There are so many places that can help guide your style - Card magazines, people who have blogs and share their cards, card classes etc. And yes, there are many different styles out there (don't be overwhelmed), for example- shabby, clean and simple, vintage, etc ... For me, it's mostly clean and simple ... Start there with a style, see what style appeals to you.
card property of Clouds Shadler
Rae Barthel agrees:
Stay true to your creative 'style' when designing your card. You may love how a shabby chic/vintage card looks, but if you are a graphic scrapper by nature, it may be a challenge to pull off shabby!
Kelly Marie Alvarez, Angie Hagist, Valerie Mangan, and Allison Landy also encourage you to stay true to your style. It's OK to go simple. If you come to the end of your card making and feel like you need something more, it's also OK to add something at that point. Add some bling, flowers, scallops, or ribbon to fill out the card a bit more. Rae uses this technique a lot. Or a layer or two can work wonders like Mary Kay Seckinger shows us in the below example.
card property of Mary Kay Seckinger
Not quite fitting into design, but still kind of applying, is this fun suggestion from Sarah Hodgkinson, which I took to heart in the video:
I am all about corny sentiments. Sometimes the sentiment is my starting point (i.e., Love You Snow Much, Happy Holly-days, Happy Turkey Day).
And finally how about inspiration? Well if you were here last week, Celeste had a number of places you could reap inspiration from for your scrapbooking pages. The exciting news? You can also translate that inspiration into cards as well! Rae Barthel's thoughts on where to get inspiration is actually one I use often. Go through card magazines and online galleries. When I'm stuck in a tailspin, I'll pull out the Stampin' Up! catalog and just soak in the cuteness. My end results never look like any of the cards, but at least it focuses me on the task at hand. Kelly Marie Alvarez of Lawn Fawn advises you look everywhere for it:
I don't really have a go-to design, but I do tend to love scenes. I like to create little scenes in my cards, even with inanimate objects! It goes with my fun and cute style. Also, I think drawing from what you see around you in your home or in nature can help that design just come!
Sarah Hodgkinson suggests if you need help with your color choices, head over to ColourLovers.com and check out the Palette section. Kimberly Neddo likes to carry a sketch book and gather design ideas from places like Hallmark. It makes total sense!
Supply list:
- blank card base
- scraps!
- journaling card or similar small block (if you don't have the same journaling card as I do, you can print a picture of a fish from the internet.)
- adhesive runner
- brad
- small alphabet stickers
Directions:
- Fold card base in half.
- Cut a rectangle to be framed by the card based (mine is about .5" smaller on each edge). Apply with adhesive.
- Apply journaling card with adhesive.
- Cut a small pointy triangle out of scrap paper for the birthday hat.
- With a needle or pin, poke a hole at the top of the hat, insert brad.
- Apply letter stickers to create your sentiment.
