How Do You Design?

Happy Monday to all!  My wish came true and we finally had a weekend without rain so I was in the garden from early in the morning till late in the afternoon each day.  I’m completely redesigning the garden this year; only the most mature shrubs and trees will remain.  New contours, plants, walkways, steps, walls, new everything.  It will be easier to care for and able to withstand the occasional 100 lb Golden Retriever chasing a ball through a flower bed, but still a peaceful and beautiful sanctuary.  My plan is to finish it this summer, but by the end of Sunday I was wondering if I’m up to the task.  Ouch!  I will prevail, though.

Saturday evening I felt like stamping.  I knew what I wanted to stamp, but the plan for how I would stamp it had not yet developed.  My cute little Spellbinders Charms Custom Dies (made for JustRite) were calling to me, and I wanted to use them with a sentiment from the JustRite A Warm Hello set.  Here’s the card I ended up with:

You can’t really see it’s a die cut charm since I covered up that part by tying the ribbon through it.  You can tell it’s hanging, though, can’t you?  At any rate, despite the layering, the stitching, the die cuts, the embossing, and embellishing, this was a relatively quick and easy card to make and, best of all, I like it!

Long about the time I was adding the finishing touches, I got to thinking how you, as fellow stampers, might enjoy a peek over my shoulder at the design process.  I often wonder how other stampers work, and mostly I wonder how some folks can do it so quickly.  I’m a certified slow poke and that’s even with certain methods I’ve devised to help speed things up.  I’m hopeless! 

In this case, I started by leafing through my sketch notebook.  For the most part it’s filled with printed photos of cards I’ve made in the past which I felt had a layout worth using again.  The sketch to the left is one I made quite a while ago.  It was used for a sketch challenge on SCS, but I’ve forgotten the number it was assigned.  There have been so many since. I recreated the sketch in cardstock form since I’m currently clueless as to how to create sketches on my computer.  It’s primitive, right down to the bare bones, but that’s where your imagination comes into play.  I used the sketch as a jumping off point for today’s card and, though the finished product is quite a bit different, perhaps you can see the points of similarity.

I don’t always start with a sketch, and these days I don’t always see my cards in terms of sketches, but since sketches were on my mind I decided to recreate my JustRite card as a sketch.  So, here it is, a whole new sketch:

It will now go into my book to be used again in the future.  Please feel free to use either sketch if you feel them CASEworthy, and simply link back to me if you post online.

One other tidbit – I have oodles of shapes sitting around in my scrap basket, cut for a card and then rejected.  Some are used eventually, but until then they serve as stand ins when I’m working on a layout.  Today’s card, for instance, did not start out with the square behind the horizontal strip.  I had the card all finished and knew there was something missing, so out came the scrap basket to search for ideas.  I slipped a Lacey Square die cut behind the ribbon and it sealed the deal.  Just what it needed.  Of course, I had to cut a new one in the desired color, plus add an embossed Classic Square, but that’s all part of the process.

Here’s a peek at some of those die cut and punched shapes that come in so handy.  This is just a drop in the bucket:

And, finally, another bit of pretty in case you forgot where we started after this lengthy post.

I’d love to know if you have any helpful hints as to how you go about designing a card.  I need all the help I can get!  Have yourself a wonderful Monday!

Stamps:  JustRite A Warm Hello  Paper:  Bashful Blue, white, Wild Asparagus designer paper  Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black, Copic Marker G20 for shading “you” Accessories:  Ribbon, crochet trim, rhinestones, JustRite Charms Custom Dies by Spellbinders, Spellbinders Lacey Squares (S4-295) and Classic Squares Lg (S4-126), Cuttlebug Swiss Dot embossing folder

Comments

[Glenda]

When I make a card, I go at it backwards from most everyone else. I start with the image and then tear apart my craft room trying to find embellishments to match...I keep thinking I need to go in the other direction but it just doesn't happen. I look at an image and decide how it think it should look and it all starts from that end. I love your card and the beautiful background papers...Just Gorgeous!

[Denise (peanutbee)]

Oh my! GORGEOUS colors and papers, Leslie!

[Karen W]

This is just beautiful, I love it all, the colors and papers are perfect.

[Tammy Hair]

Beautiful card Leslie and thanks for letting us peek over your shoulder to see how you go about making such gorgeous cards.
Good luck finding plants that can withstand a Golden's romp through them. Even dandelions struggle in my yard.

[Bev J.]

Love the blue on your card and I like the design though I have no tips for you. I used to do the SCS weekly sketch challenges but haven't for awhile. In fact, I am in a stamping slump right now but know that will change. I also have a die cut/punched pile. I keep them in a plastic container and rummage through from time to time-helpful at times.

As for gardening, I am taking out one large flower bed because I just can't keep up with the weeding and I really dislike seeing weeds growing! It has been too rainy to get much done on the project but hopefully will get some more done later in the week.

[yogi]

beautiful card.
I'm like Glenda above, I start from the image first.

Most of the time, the card, layout etc is designed in my head and then altered as I'm working it and seeing this fits better than that etc.

Rarely do I use a sketch, I find them very constricting, even simple ones.

I have tons of rejected die cuts and punched elements neatly sorted in drawers and rarely go to them. I'm always making new ones for just this card...

Thanks for the glimpse over your shoulder.

[SueB]

I'm not at all organized when it comes to one certain way of designing a card. I guess I'm more of a fly-by-the-seat-of-my-pants-stamper. :0) There are so many places I can use for inspiration and still, when it comes right down to it - many times I just fiddle around until I'm satisfied with the results. I do like to do challenges, though. When I have time. I also use Sketches but lots of the time I change something. I also like to CAS cards and utilize tutorials. Like your tutorial on water coloring. I used that the other day, plus some inspiration from a Debbie Olson card. Really loved the results. Thanks for all you teach us.

[Diane Hover]

Very pretty card...pretty colors!! I too, am an avid gardener...and have been working every chance I get when we have "sun"....its hard work but the payoff is so worth it...I can't imagine redoing it all though...what a task!! Nellie isn't a problem, but the deer sure are....6 of them in it last night!

[deb mills]

how i'd love to see that new garden. if we didn't live on opposite sides of the country, i'd offer to come over and help, lol.
just wanted to let you know i still drop in regularly to see your wonderful artwork. i haven't done a lot of stamping lately, but still have my fingers in the pot and hope to get back into the thick of things soon.
enjoy your digging! :)

[Lynette]

It sounds like you had your perfect dream weekend, Leslie - awesome! Beautiful card! I never know which direction my cards will take. I just start with one element and build up or down from there! :)

[Lisa Dolson]

Lovely card, Leslie, and lovely to see your sketches and design process.

[velta]

You amaze me Leslie...all of the work you do.....and then your art work too...Big congratulations to you...with your very special (to me)...creations !!!

[Sandy O]

I seem to design as I go. I kind of have an idea of what I want to do, but it always ends up different. I keep telling myself to use sketches to make it easier, then never think of it when I start a project. Kind of like coupons, always forgetting them when going to the store, lol

[Conniecrafter]

very pretty layering and love the lace and ribbon combo

[nancy littrell]

I find if I am making a card for a specific person and occasion my cards go together way easier. I usually at least have colors and a stamp set or embellishments in mind, but then so often my cards just take on a mind of their own. I love it Leslie when you share the "real" story behind your cards. I can not wait to see what you doing to your beautiful gardens too :-)

[Lenoria]

I usually make cards for something specific such as a family members birthday or something and I try to find a stamp that would "fit" the person and occasion first and then I never know what will happen. I love it when the people who know what they are doing and whose blogs love to browse give specific info on their creations! I have followed your blog for a few years now and enjoy it greatly. Thank you for sharing your art work as well as pictures and stories of Wally.

[Linda E]

Beautiful card today, Leslie. I, too, am a slow poke when it comes to creating. lately, it seems that my designs have been a little more accidental. Something (even a reject)that is left on my table from the project before unavoidably finds its way onto my current project. Lots of happy accidents happening here! I love your idea for "stand ins" and will have to give it a try. Lately, I've been trying to cut down on the clutter and have been storing my ideas on Pinterest. (If you would like an invite to this free site, let me know.) It's like a virtual bulletin board although it can become a little addicting. Then again, what about this wonderful hobby doesn't!