CASual Friday #48 and Less is More #63 - Hugs

Hello.  Nice to see you again LOL!

Today I have a card that again (2 days in a row) fits for 2 challenges.  The first one is CASual Friday #48 where we were to use opposite colours on the colour wheel for our Clean and Simple card.  I chose orange and green.   The second challenge is the Less Is More Challenge #63 - doodling.  Well, I love to doodle and I had seen Godelieve do some amazing doodled birds a while ago .. and the idea popped into my head to make an orange doodled bird.

And here is my card.  The picture didn't turn out so great, for some reason he is really shy and did not want to cooperate and take a nice photo. 

The sentiment is from Jibber Jabber - The Alley Way Stamps and all the other images are hand drawn ... or doodled!!  FUN!!

Okay, off to see everyone else's doodles....

Donelda

April 1 - Design Basics Lesson #13 (no fooling!)

Today is the 13th lesson in my own exploration of Design Basics. I am using a book called Design Basics Index by Jim Krause. It is an excellent book and I am learning so much. If you can find it, I would totally reccommend it!! If you have missed some or all of my previous lessons, you can check them all out conveniently by checking on the right side of my blog. Have fun!! Today we are continuing on the concept of FLOW. In our last lesson, we learned how certain images can DIRECT THE FLOW within a layout. We looked at images where the animal or person is looking off the card will direct our eye that way whereas if it is looking into the middle of the card it will keep our eye within the layout! This lesson is on CIRCULATING FLOW. When a card has a variety of elements, Jim says it is important to arrange the items in a way that keeps the eye moving within the element. This top card does that since the items are arranged in a circular shape. (I have read before about arranging items in a triangle shape....to me this is the same thing!!!) Again, this is also a concept that is applied in scrapbooking!! So, when looking at this top card, the eye tends to start with the strawberry images, to the sentiment, then down to the flower and back up again. Now, on this second card, the same items are arranged in what Jim calls a "visual landslide" and previously referred to it as "stair stepping". Jim says this type of layout is never a good idea and expalins that this leads the viewer's eye down and off the page at the bottom. Thus, the eye does not continue to circle within the layout but goes off the page. Additionally, there is so much white space on the bottom corner of this card that it also detracts from the whole card!! Yuck!! Supplies: Stamps-Green Thumb (Papertrey Ink); Cardstock-Mellow Moss, Very Vanilla, Ruby Red (all Stampin' Up) and Cosmo Cricket designer paper; Ink-Ruby Red, Mellow Moss (Stampin' Up); Accessories-flower (prima), brad (Stampin' Up). Note, the flower was a plain beige flower which I stamped with the strawberry image making it polka dotted and creating harmony between elements within the card! Also note how pretty that Cosmo Cricket paper is...I saw it on everyone's blog who went to CHA and I just knew I'd have to get my hands on some. AND, I already cut into it!! Wow, no hoarding these days for me :-) Thanks for visiting. Donelda

March 25 - Design Basics Lesson #12

This is my 12th lesson in my own exploration of Design Basics. I am using a book called Design Basics Index by Jim Krause. It is an excellent book and I've learned a lot. If you are interested in the 11 previous lessons, you can check out the list on the right side bar!!

The next few lessons are about FLOW! Not a new concept but interesting to read about and really focus on when making cards and making scrapbook pages. In his book, Jim talks about how there is visual flow in a piece and that learning to see and create flow within a piece is important! Jim talks about obvious elements that create flow (e.g., arrows) but that there are other means of influencing the eye's exploarion od a design that is more subtle.

Today, the lesson is about DIRECTING THE EYE. Jim talks about the obvious importance to keep the eye within a layout vs. sending it off the edge.

Interstingly, Jim talks about those of us who have been exposed to "Western" languages which read left to right tend to strongly perceive visual direction from left to right as being forward and fast! Images that move from right to left is perceived as backward and slow. Very intersting.

Sorry for the simplicity of the cards today!! I had to whip them up really quick!!

On this first card, the fish is facing to the left.... according to Jim's lesson this makes the eye move off the edge of the card. And I agree!! When I look at this card, my eye doesn't easily go to the sentiment...I look at the fish and then move off the card to the left. Weird!!

Now, on this second card, everything is in the same place, except the little fish are facing the other direction - to the right! Just like Jim says, this totally makes me move my eyes to the right and on to the sentiment thus keeping it within the layout!! Weird :-) LOL

I know that for many of us who also scrapbook, this is a well known technique that we keep in mind. However, I've never really thought of applying it to card making! Cool!

Please be aware that this will be my first of 2 posts today. You see, tonight is the Papertrey Ink's BLOG HOP!! Yeah!! That means I will be posting my challege card(s) tonight for everyone to check out!! So I'll see you all again for my second post later tonight!!

Donelda

March 18 - Design Basics Lesson #11

Hello again and welcome to my next lesson. This is my 11th lesson in my own exploration of design basics. I am using a great book called Design Basics Index by Jim Krause. If you are interested in seeing all the other lessons, feel free to check out the links listed on the right.

For the last 3 lessons, I've been exploring the idea of heirarchy in a visual layout. The visual heirarchy is the idea that your eye is drawn to the item that is at the "top" of the visual heirarchy and then moves to the supporting elements. We have already explored how this element at the top of the heirarchy can be there because of it's size and also because of it's color. Well, today we are going to consider an item that is the most conceptually intriguing element.

I've got to say that this card was so much fun to make. Look at that stamp image....it is actually one of my crocuses that grew in my garden last spring! There is this great web site that allows you to take images and frame them, including a stamp frame! When you look at this card, there are lots of rectangles, but the most intriguing element is clearly the stamp (on which I applied the cracked glass technique). When your eye looks at this card, what is your eye instantly drawn to?? For me, it is that stamp - hands down!!

Supplies: Cardstock-Kraft, Elegant Eggplant (Stampin' Up!); Ink-White Pigment Ink (Rubber Stampede), Basic Black(Stampin' Up!), Stamps-Paper Tray, Borders & Corners {rectangle} (Papertrey Ink); Accessories-ribbon(unknown), photo paper (Kodak), clear embossing powder (Stampin' Up), Scallop scissors (Provo Craft).

I would be very interested in seeing your cards made with an intriguing element at the top of the heirarchy! Thanks for dropping by!

Donelda

March 11 - Design Basics Lesson #10

Hello and welcome to another one of my lessons on design basics. I have been using a book called Design Basics Index by Jim Krause to teach myself about this topic. If you are interested in seeing the previous lessons, feel free to check out the list on the right column of my blog!

Lesson #10 - Visual Heirarchy - Color

Today we are continuing the lesson on visual heirarchy. On the last lesson, we considered how size makes one element become the "top" item in the design with all the other elements having a supporting role. Today, we are looking at how COLOR can make one element be the initial item our eye is drawn to ... or the top element in the visual heirarchy. Here, this lovely pink butterfly stands out upon the mainly black card. This card was extremely difficulty to photograph so in real life, the butterfly is so much "pinker" (it is actaully Pixie Pink from Stampin' Up! so if you know that color you can see how it is washed out in the photo). So, this whole lesson may not work / make sense if you are just looking at the picture here. I wish I could bring the real card into each of your homes so you can see how the pink automatically draws your eye to it!! Perhaps instead, you should make a similar card....just so you can see :-).

Thanks for visiting.

Donelda

March 4 - Design Basics Lesson #9

Hello and welcome to my 9th lesson in my exploration of Design Basics. I am being guided by a great book called Design Basics Index by Jim Krause. I am learning so much!! If you are interested in reading the rest of the lessons, they are all listed along the right side of my blog! Enjoy.

Today's lesson is a continuation of the concept of Heirarchy. In the previous lesson, I learned that there is a "visual heirarchy" where your eye follows whatever element is at the "top of the heirachy" and down through the supporting elements. There are many ways that this heirarchy is created -- size, placement, color, or a conceptually intriguing element.

Today I am going to focus EMPHASIZING SIZE to create the heirarchy of a visual piece.

--------> On card #1 you will note that the size of the candles is much larger than the text! Thus, the visual picture on this card is emphasized making it the element you look at first! Then your eye might travel down to the text below and then maybe the box enclosing the image. Thus, these are the supporting elements. This design idea is almost totally cased from My Paper Creations blog except I don't own the great Papertrey Ink stamps that she used (which make the candles) so I had to improvise!!

------> On card #2 you will note taht the size of the sentiment is much larger than the candle image. Thus, the text "HAPPY" is emphasized because it is larger (and specifically the word Happy) making it the top element of the heirarchy. This word is what your eye likely looks at first, and then through the rest of the supporting elements, the word birthday, the candles, and the box enclosing the image.

------> Finally, on this 3rd card, there is no clear emphasis to any one element. The candles and the sentiment are about the same size making it difficult to see one as being more "important" than the other. (Color might make the candles be emphasized -- I will be covering color with this concept in a following lesson -- might be able to use this card again).

Jim says that "a lack of clear visual ranking between elements is perhaps the single most common failing of a design". He goes on to explain that when there is no visual heirarchy, the piece looses the interest of the viewer!

Well, what do you think. Do my first 2 cards have more interest?? than the 3rd card?? Does the 3rd card look boring in comparison?? I find this whole concept very interesting! I will be exploring this further!!

Supplies:

Large Image: Stamps-Text Box, Beautiful Blooms, Paper Tray (all Papertrey Ink), Ink-Brilliant Blue, Real REd, Glorious Green, Summer Sun, Only Orange, Basic Black, (all SU!), Versamark (Tsukineko); Cardstock-Whisper White (SU!), Accessories-White Mailing Labels 8160 (Avery), White embossing powder, Black marker (Zig)

Large Sentiment: Stamps-Simply Stamps (Plaid Enterprises), Beautiful Blooms (Papertrey Ink), Fun with Shapes (SU!); Ink-Glorious Green, Not Quite Navy, Ruby Red, Pumpkin Pie (all Markers from SU!), Baisc Black, Summer Sun, Ruby Red (Pads from SU!); Accessaries-Black marker (Zig).

Card 3: Stamps-Fun iwth Shapes (SU!), Paper Tray (Papertrey Ink); Ink-Glorious Green, Not QuiteNavy, Ruby Redm, Pumpkin Pie, Summer Sun, Basic Black (all SU!), Paper-Whisper White (SU!); Accessaries-Black marker (Zig).

Thanks for visiting. I hope you enjoyed this lesson and that you are learning as much as I am!! Donelda

February 26 - Design Basics Lesson #8

Hello and welcome. This is my 8th lesson in my own exploration of design basics. I am using a book called Design Basics Index by Jim Krause. You can explore the earlier lessons by clicking on the links on the right side of my blog if you are interested!! Enjoy.

Today's lesson is on Hierarchy. Defined as "a system of graded ranks".

Jim expalins that when looking at something, we will naturally be drawn to the item at the top of this "visual hierarchy". Sometimes it is the largest item, a well placed item, or because of the color of the item, or even because it is the most conceptually intriguing element. Then, our eye should follow a "visual pathway" of supporting elements.

I like this concept!! I'm thinking back to some of my favorite cards from people like Nichole Heady, Lisa Johnson, Sharon Johnson, and Debbie Olson and I can clearly find the eye-catching element or "the element that is the highest on the visual hierarchy". Cool!!

Now my turn!! Here are some cards that I made in the past where you can (or at least I can) clearly see my eye doing that...finding the element that is at the "top of the visual hierarchy" and then moving down the elements:

See this page from the valentine I sent my parents ---->

When I look at this, I totally look at the photo first (a good sign since it is a mini scrapbook) and then I find I move to the cluster of the flowers and heart in the bottom right, then up to the word angel and finally to the vertical red ribbon.... wow!! When I made this bage back in January, I didn't realize this but I keep opening and closing this image and every time I open it, my eyes do the same thing!! Did that happen to you when you looked at it???

<--------------

And here is another card where I can really see the visual heirarchy when I look at it. I totally look at the wire swirly charm. Then I look at the tiny sentiment and then the bold black bow. I keep thinking that I would move to the bow second becasue it is so much more intense...but I don't seem to. What does your eye do with this card???

Last card ------->

When I look at this card, I instantly go to the middle of the leaves, where there is more white inside the rectangle. Then I move out to that dark brown strip and finally on to the sentiment. Maybe not the best route (shouldn't the sentiment be more important than the strip???) But that is what my eye tends to do. Does that happen to you too??

Supplies:

Angel Valentine: Paper-Blush (Basic Grey), Ribbon (Making Memories- red, Michaels dollar bin - ivory), Flowers (Primas), Buttons (sm. heart - Teresa's Hand Dyed Buttons, brown - grandma Mary's stash), letters (Blush by Basic Grey), photo corners (dollar store), dauber (Stampin' Up!), Close to Cocoa Ink (SU!) sponged around edge. Note-the red outlined heart is cut from cardboard and covered with basic grey paper.

Wire Pendent Charm Card: Paper-Tempting Turquoise, Orchid Opulence, Basic Black (all Stampin' UP), Ink-Basic Black (SU!), Versamark (Tsukineko), Stamps-Deligt in Life, Fancy Flexible Phrases (SU!), Accessories-oval chipboard(Fancy Pants), Black organdy ribbon (Michaels), Hobby knife, wire (Michaels). Note - this pendent was made based on a website that made wire pendents and the wire pendent I made by hand. I can't find the link but if I do find it, I'll edit it in here.

Masking Card: Cardstock-Whisper White (SU!), Ink-Creamy Caramel, Close to Cocoa, Chocolate Chip (SU!), Stamps-Beautiful Blooms, Paper Tray (Papertrey Ink), Dauber (SU!), Post It notes (3M). Note - this card is all masked -- it is a one layer card !!

Thanks for visiting. Let me know what you think about the lesson!

Donelda

February 19 - Design Basics Lesson #7

Hello and welcome. This is my 7th lesson in my own exploration of Design Basics. I am using the book Design Basics Index by Jim Krause. He has the best book!! See the list along the right side of my blog where you can access all the lessons if you are interested! Lesson #7 - Harmony by VISUAL ECHO. This is actually a continuation of my last lesson. In that lesson, I read that it was possible to create harmony (or agreement between elements) by using the background paper and borrowing the same colors and design in the entire card. You can check it out HERE. Today, I am continuing working with Harmony through VISUAL ECHO, however, today my focus is on echoed TEXT and echoed STYLE. On my first cards, I designed a very pretty purple card with elegant flowers in the same purple. However, on one card (the one on the left) I have used a plain serif style text. This text does not match the elegance of the card!! However, on the other card (the right) I have used a more script and italisized font which is more elegant and matches the style of the card better. What do you think? Do you think the card on the right looks more harmonious?? On this second card, I am looking at Harmony and Visual Echo by considering the style of the elements. The card on the left features an image of a little cute fish with a relaxed sentiment - a simple "hi". These elements match the cute colored circles of the backgroud paper. However, the card on the right shows a very elegant bird flying gracefully through the air and a very fancy sentiment "Bonjour". These elements do not appear to match the simple and basic background paper as well as the other image. I am sure that this is probably a personal preference but I really think the cute little fishy matches the background much better than the fancy bird!!! What do you think?? Supplies: Cardstock-Whisper White, Orchid Opulance (SU), Dark Green (Bazzil); Designer paper- (Provo Craft); Ink-Basic Black, Orchid Opulance (SU); Stamps-Carte Postale, Everyday Flexible Phrases, Fancy Flexible Phrases, Fishy Friends (all SU), Beautiful Blooms (Papertrey Ink); Accessories-ribbon (Michaels dollar bin). I hope you enjoyed this lesson as much as I did. Off to create more cards using visual echo. Thanks for visiting. Donelda

February 12 - Design Basics Lesson #6

Today is Tuesday and we know what that means!!!!

If you haven't been following along, I've listed the previous lessons on the right side of my blog for you to easily find and read! Enjoy.

This is the 6th lesson in my own exploration of Design Basics. I am learning lots of great stuff from a book called Design Basics Index by Jim Krause. Welcome to my learning.

Lesson #6 - Harmony by VISUAL ECHO.

This lesson is a continuation of understanding how Harmony making agreement between elements of a design. Today the focus is on VISUAL ECHO.

When using visual echo, Jim says it "...establishes and eye-pleasing sense of unity between elements of a layout". In this card example, I have taken the design of the backgroud paper and borrowed both the colors (red and brown) as well as an actual repetition of the desgn which you can see on the diamond on the front of the card.

I made the diamond element on this card using Papertrey Ink stamps. You can see them under the card in the picture. This is one of the reasons why I LOVE Papertrey Ink stamps. Nicole adds a ton of little stamps which you can use to make some great designs. It took a bit of work to distress the element to make it actually match the background paper but I really like the end result!

Supplies: Cardstock-Rose Red, Very Vanilla, Chocolate Chip (all SU); Designer Paper-Stella Ruby (Basic Grey) Ink-Regal Rose, Close to Cocoa, Chocolate Chip, Creamy Caramel, River Rock (all SU); Stamps-Borders & Corners {oval} and {square}, Text Box, and Faux Ribbon (all Papertrey Ink), Everyday Flexible Phrases (SU); Accessories-corner rounder, dauber.

Can't wait to see your cards with Visual Echo in them!! Thanks for visiting!!

Donelda

February 5 - Design Basics Lesson #5

Sorry I'm a bit late posting this!!

This is the 5th lesson in my own exploration of Design Basics. I am basing my learning on a book by Jim Krause called Basic Design Index.

Lesson #5 - Harmony by REPETITION Today's lesson from my friend Jim Krause is about Harmony! This section of the book is pretty basic and straight forward!

Jim says that harmony is "..agreement between elements" in your design. He goes on to explain that this agreement is "...achieved through repetation of elements and through echoes of theme, color and style"

Today I am featuring cards that express Harmony through REPETITION. As you can see on my first card, I have repeated the flowers. You can see the small flowers are repeated on the strip of vanilla paper. And then, the same flower, except larger, is repeated at a focal point on the right.

On my second card, I am using REPETITION again to get harmony by using circles. On this card, the centers of the flowers are plaid circles. Then, the circles are repeated as a background design - same color as the flower circles and same size! It seems to pull the card togehter.

This is a pretty basic lesson and I know that I see this element in many many cards out there!! Even without reading this chapter, I think I had this idea of repetition figured out!! Do you agree?? I know I've seen repetition in YOUR cards :-)

Next lesson will be a continuation of the element of Harmony. Can't wait to see you then!!

Supplies: Cardstock-Groovy Guava, Very Vanilla, Buckaroo Blue, Purely Pomegranate, Whisper White (all SU), Ink-Groovy Guava, Close to Cocoa, Purely Pomegranate, Buckaroo Blue, Summer Sun, Wild Wasabi (all SU), Stamps-Beautiful Bloosoms, Faux Ribbon (both Papertrey Ink), Accessories-Fiskars cutter and template (to make large scallop), corner rounder (unknown), Chocolate Chip taffata ribbon (SU), small scallop scissors (Provo Craft), double stitched ribbon (SU).

Thanks for visiting.

Donelda

January 29 - Design Lesson #4 - Grouping

Well, it is time for another lesson that I have learned from the book Design Basics Index by Jim Krause. This is the fourth lesson. If you are interested in the first three lessons you can read them HERE, HERE, and HERE. Today, Jim is talking about grouping. I found this section very interesting!! Jim expalins that "grouping" items on a layout helps the "viewer make useful connections between elements". So on a card or scrapbook page, I interpret this as meaning that when you put certain things together they become connected or related to each other. Below I have designed 2 cards. The sentiment on the card on the RIGHT is seperated. When I look at this card, my mind kind of says that the FLOWERS are JUST FOR YOU since that part of the sentiment is closer to the flowers making me "connect" those elements. The sentiment on the card on the LEFT is not seperated as much. There is a bit of a seperation only in that the second part is placed on the green strip of paper. However, the different pieces of the sentiment are close enough together to be connected and clearly on this card it is the BIRTHDAY WISHES that are JUST FOR YOU. What do you think?? Interstingly, I asked my "non-card making husband" which of the 2 cards he liked better and he said "I like the one on the left. The other one looks like everything is all over the place, like things are all grouped randomly"....and that was before I had filled him in on the title of the lesson! So, one last bit of information. Those flowers are actually flower transpariencies. I got the idea from Shari Carroll at Hero Arts Online. It is like making a photo transparency using packing tape. Only for this technique, you stamp on cold laminate (like a transparancy with a sticky side) with StazOn ink and then stick the cold laminate to some colorful designer paper. Then with water, you "wash off" the white side of the paper leaving a colorful transparancy look to your flowers. It is really hard to see it in these photos (even the close up I've included) how cool this looks in real life, you'll just have to trust me on this one!! Supplies: Carstock-Wisper White (SU), Color Me Silly Green and Striped (Basic Grey); Ink - StazOn Black (Tsukineko), Baisc Black (SU); Stamps-PaperTray (PaperTrey Ink), Delight In Life (SU), Accessories - Cold Laminate (I got this from a wonderfully kind person Jean in Austrailia. She kindly sent me a few sheets. I've been meaning to look for it here in Canada but I haven't found it yet. Does anyone know?? I've looked on line at Staples but could not find it.) Well, I hope you have enjoyed this lesson on grouping. I know that I certianly did. I think I am going to go and see what else I can "group" together!! Thanks for visiting.

January 22 - Design Basics Lesson #3

Hello and welcome to my third lesson. If you are interested in the previous 2 lessons, you can find them HERE and HERE. Today's lesson is a bit different - no pictures...just an activity for you to do!!

Today, I read about the Fibonacci Series and The Golden Section! Jim is really confusing me at this part but I do clearly remember talking about this when I was waaaaay back in High School. The Fibonacci series (which is mentioned in the Da Vinci Code) is an aesthetically pleasing division of space often used by artists. It is found frequently in nature (i.e., I remember my high school teacher telling us about conch shells and pineapples). In my book (Design Basics Index by Jim Krause) Jim shares how the divisions are obtained using math and a value known as Phi. At this point in the book, Jim offers an exercise to make a Golden Section ruler so I've done just that. Although Jim explains how to use vector-based software (whatever the heck that is...) I've just used good ole' cardstock!! In his example, he directs you to make a 13" long line and mark at 8". Well, that size of ruler is just not helpful unless you are a 12" x 12" scrapbooker (which I am not, I only work on *" x 11") so I cut is in half so my ruler is 6 1/2" with a mark at 4". I added 2 contrasting colors of designer paper on the 2 seperate sections and made 1/2" marks along the back.

What has been very interesting about this ruler is that I've taken it and layed it against some of my previously made cards and guess what.... the main images or panels usually fall at Phi!! Wow, now that is cool! Go make your own ruler and check some of your cards. I'll bet you find the same thing!

I know I haven't really expained this very well but Jim says that if you google or search for more information about Phi you will find tons.

Thanks for visiting. I have some really fun cards for the next lesson so make sure you drop back next Tuesday!!!

January 15 - Design Basics Lesson #2

Well, here is my second lesson on Design Basics. For those of you who missed the first lesson, you can read it HERE. I am using a book called Design Basics Index by Jim Krause and learning a thing or two about design so that I can feel more confident in my card and scrapbooking creations!

Today, I was continueing to read about The Principal of Unequal Spacing - dividing space. I intrepret Jim to mean that if the spacing of a design is unequal it will look pulled together and more interesting.

Here I have made 2 cards that include the same components but I've applied what I learned from Jim to the one on the left and kept spacing equal on the right. What do you think?? Cover one up with you hand and look at the other and then do the same to the other card. I've got to agree with Jim, the one on the left definately appeals to my eye more!! Especially the two different sized spaces (designer paper) on the left.

Also, while I was tying the hemp onto the bottom shapes, I realized that they fit the Principal of Unequal Spacing - point placement (lesson #1) as well. See WHERE the hemp is tied on the left card...it is off to the side. While the hemp on the right side I tied in the middle and knotted it in the middle - YUCK!! It is amazing how once you really start thinking about this principal, you realize how often you actually use it.

A few notes about making these cards. The stamp I used actually has 2 boys and a dog on it but I only wanted one cowboy. So I partially inked up the boy I wanted with my ink pad and then finished it off with my black marker (SU). I made sure to "huff" on the stamp and then put it to cardstock - Voila, one boy. He is dressed in his awesome polkadot shirt and jean shorts - did this by stamping this part onto the designer paper I wanted to use, cut it out and attached it in the correct location! It is called paper piecing and there are a ton of great samples in the SCS gallery. Finally, if you are looking for this cowboy from the supplier, you will not find him with a cowboy hat! Those stars totally screamed COWBOY to me, but I don't have any cowboy or western images but that never stops me. When a roadblock like this happens, I often turn to CLIP ART....and that is where I got that cute cowboy hat!! I printed it on vanilla cardstock, cut it out, sponged it with some more mustard and Voila, a cowboy! I love that kind of creativity!

(Supplies used: Cardstock: More Mustard, Very Vanilla, Basic Black (SU), Designer Paper: Scenic Route's Cape Town - Warren Hill and Multi Stars by Sarah Milne and jean paper (unknown), Ink: More Mustard, Basic Black (SU), Stamps: Justin and Kyle (Me&My Big Ideas) - note how I only used part of the stamp!, Accessories: hemp, clip art (the cowboy hat - I don't have any western stamps but this paper screamed Western to me!!)

I hope you've enjoyed today's lesson as much as I did. I must admit, I am looking at cards totally different than I did before I started reading Jim's book!!

Thanks for visiting.

January 8th - Design Basics Class #1

Hello and welcome to my Design Basics Class #1. I am hoping to learn about designing effective compositions and would love you to join me. I will be posting what I've learned on TUESDAY nights. I also hopeing to post different examples of each lesson throughout the week or I might continue a lesson into a second or third week if I feel I still need to learn or practice that specific concept. The book I will be using is an excellent one by Jim Krause called Design Basics Index. I am hoping to use his concepts to apply to my card making. I haven't read the whole book yet but what I've read is awesome and I am surely hoping that Jim can teach me a thing or two!! I would really love you to join me in my own learning journey! I thought this might be a fun way to use my blog other than simply posting my creations!! Here is a general introduction: Jim says there are 3 C's of Design: Composition, Component, and Concept and a design works when these three 3's are each present and working. Well, Jim is making a lot of sense to me so far!!! Here is lesson #1: Jim says that Composition is the way in which the components of a design are visually combined and arranged. Composition takes into account placement, grouping, alignment, visual flow and the divisions of space within a layout. Wow, that is A LOT! My cards start as a blank space and when I add something to that space, I need to consider "its relationship to other elements in the design" Again, Jim is making a lot of sense to me at this point!! Placement of Elements The first thing I will be working on is effective placement and divisions of space on my cards. I interpret Jim's discussion in his book to say that the card will convey the "feel" you are looking for best when the placement and division of the space on your card is effective! That makes sense to me! In his book, he is actually using advertising as his teaching tool....but I am trying to apply this to what it would mean in card making... mmmmm. Principle of Unequal Spacing - point placement Variety in spacing adds interest and encourages the eye to look around the card. I know I've experienced that when I have looked at many of the awesome cards in the gallery at SCS. Jim explains that it is important to place an element at a point where horizontal and vertical spacing is different from each --> varied spacing. And the Principle of Unequal spacing can be applied to more than one element at a time. When you are making a card, this suggests that it is important to consider how the main items on the card relate to each other and to the edges of the card. Jim says that varied measurements around points-of-interest tend to heighten the visual interest and energy of the piece and convey a sense of creativity. Okay, my turn to apply this in the wrong and right way so I can see the difference on a card. <<----------------- Here is an example of a card where the spacing of each point (item of interest) is equal and the elements are all centered.... ------------>>>> Here is the same card, except I've tried to alter the spacing. Note how the band on this card sits at a place that adds visual interest instead of being placed dead-center like the previous card. As well, the added elements (the twine {specifically the knot} and circle sentiment) are off set on this card at unequal distances whereas the previous card had these added elements dead-center again. So, what do you think?? I really like the second card better than the first card. I'm not so sure I've gotten the whole idea as I believe the twine placement and the sentiment placement are equal distances from the edges of the card. However, I wonder if because I've place the knot near the upper part of the band and the sentiment nearer the bottom of the band if that makes it more "unequal"??!! Heheheeh, this is going to be FUN!! Off to try this Principal of Unequal Spacing on a new card attempt :-) Thanks for joining me!!