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???

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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

Last of the Valentines

Again, sorry everyone

that I've been slack on posting, thought I was better but my body was just tricking me for the day....

Here are some more Valentine cards I made. Did them for Jen's Limited Supply challenge where she wanted us to use background stamps and limit the rest!! Well, I have this beautiful Anna Griffin background stamp but I rarely ever think to pull it out.

I decided to do some lavender based valentine cards!!

Supplies: Cardstock-Basic Black, Elegant Eggplant (I think or maybe it is the 07 Ink Color Purple which I can't remember the name of...)Whisper White (SU), Ink-Lovely Lavender, Basic Black (SU), Stamp- Anna Griffin background, Circle of Friendship (SU), Fancy Flexible Phrases (SU), Lavender ribbon (Making Memories), Black organdy (SU), silver wire, Silver Suruko Gel Pen, Designer lable punch (SU), hobby knife.

Thanks for visiting.

Donelda

Challenge to make a TEEN BOY's VALENTINE!!

A co-worker asked if I could make some valentines for her to give to her teen sons!! Yikes!! But of coures, it was a challenge so I definantly said "sure, I'll give it a try!!". So, tonight I made a few. he only needs 2 but I wanted to make a few so she could choose, that is, if she likes any of them. I kept them all pretty clean and simple!! What do you think??? Supplies: Paper-Kraft, Basic Black, Chocolate Chip (all SU), designer papers- black encorce (the Paper Company), Pirate Bandana (Sandy Lion), Creative Imaginations; Ink-Basic Black, Versamark; Stamps-Everyday Flexible Phrases (SU); Accessories-corregated cardboard(unknown), wire (Michaels), rub-ons (Dee's Designs), Braiding Cord (Bead Party), rhinstones (unknown).

Thanks for visiting!!

Donelda

Sharon's Challenge and Beate's Challenge

Sharon's Challenge:

I wanted to play Sharon's Stamp Simply challenge #18 - TEAR IT UP (ssnotime18)! I love the look of torn paper on cards. It gives it an elegant feel!

So, as I continue to make valentine cards, I decided to go with the red, black and white color combo. I also used another silver metal wire heart that I made. On this heart, I added some red seed beads and a bit of black ribbon.

I hope someone will think this would make a nice card for their sweety!!

Beate's Challenge:

And Beate had a really cool sketch on her blog too that I really wanted to make!! So I did it too!!

I really love the Beautiful Blooms stamp set from Papertrey Ink. I had yet to use these cute flowers so I thought I'd use them for Beate's challenge.

I didn't have a brad that I really liked to go with the sentiment so I got to wondering if I used my Versamark pen and dabbed on little dots, could I cover them with white embossing powder?? I tried it and I think it turned out pretty good. What do you think??

Well, thanks for visiting my blog. I have a million cards and projects that I have finished and can't wait to share with you!!! Make sure you come back soon!!

Donelda

( )_() (='.'=)

(")_(") The Bunny (my son helped me create this)

Darn Snow!!

Laying in bed .... sore back ... husband has put some Japanese Oil on it....darn snow!! We got our first amount of snow today and I was the first one home so I got to shovel!! Enough whining....on to my cards.

Sharon over at No Time to Stamp? asked us to make a Tall and Thin card for her Stamp Simply Challenge #17. That is where the first card of this set came from and then I just kept going. I saw an outfit in a magazine....beige crop pants and a purple tank top... and I loved the color combo so I decided to give it a try. On my tall and thin card, I made a faux metal heart to put in the bottom right corner. It is really easy, just cover a square of cardstock with versamark, cover with embossing powder, repeat until you have a good layer, push stamp into liquid embossing powder until cooled, remove stamp and voila...faux metal heart!! This particular heart is from a Stampin' Up retired set called Sketch an Event -- very versatile!

A few special bits on the other cards. I made the heart on the left card out of silver wire. That was interesting and fun. I have a ton of wire in whole bunch of colors and I'm always trying to find new and fun things to do with it!! On the middle card I used my 2 sided glue strips to put glitter on...been meaning to try that!!

Here are some close-ups of each card.

Well, thanks for visiting!! Enjoy your stamping evening... and if your back is feeling fine...take a moment and appreciate that!!

Donelda