MFT Creative Chat - The Creative Process

 

It's time for the MFT Creative Chat. The My Favorite Things Design Team Creative Chat is a monthly feature, where we are challenged to explore our creative spaces and share valuable organizational methods, tools, and shopping strategies with you. You'll be able to peek into our creative spaces, ask questions, and share your own ideas in the MFT forum.  This month, we were challenged with the following:  

Show us your creative mind at work. Take us on a journey through a card-making session, start to finish.

How do you select colors, layout, embellishments, and overall design?

Share your creative process with us.

 

Visit Kim's Blog for a full list of designers that have taken up the challenge and get ready to delve into the minds of our creative team.

How fun will this be???  Can't wait to see how my the minds of my fabulously talented team mates work!!  I took a bunch of pictures of my "process" - always a fluid thing :)

First things first - I ALWAYS start with a sketch, even if it is only in my head or inspired by another card.  Even if I know what stamp set I want to work with, I can always find a sketch that will work.  AND once you work with sketches a lot you can make almost any sketch work with the image/sentiment you want to use.  Rotate the sketch, change shapes, tweak the positioning, change the order of the layers, etc.

For my example today, I am using MFTWSC55.  I also had not inked up Pure Innocence - I Love You This Big from the January release, so I get that cutie out and stamp a couple images.  I generally color my images first once I choose a paper line.  I felt like working with Paper Heart from Crate Paper.  This image is perfect for some paper piecing, so I pick a couple patterns that are appropriate for the outfit.  I color first then paper piece.  In this case, I also trimmed my image out.  This makes working with images a lot more versatile, too :) 

I lay my patterned paper out on my desk with my image and move things around until I think I have an arrangement I might like.  I usually position the papers similar to how they will appear together in the sketch.  Here are a couple of my arrangements that I pondered for this card.

At this point I decide what size I want my card.  This mostly depends on the image or sentiment I am using.  I am making a square card, and my go to size is 5-1/2" so that is where I begin.  I start by cutting my bottom layer - in this case the ledger paper.  I use 1/8" mats generally, so I cut that first layer at 5-3/8".  If I decide to double mat or use a larger mat later I can always trim it, but you can't add back - KWIM :)  This is where I get real technical ;)  I hold my clear ruler up to my base and eyeball the proportions of the other panels in relation to the sketch.  Again, if unsure I generally will cut a 1/4" bigger and then trim until it looks right :)  Here is what I ended up with.

Note that it has probably taken me longer to type this thus far than to actually go through the process!!  See that Woodgrain Fence Die-namics?  I almost always lay my Die-namics right on my "card" to see how they will look :)  I had the idea for a little scene in the back of my head, and I am going with it :)  Hmm, now what color fence?  In hind sight, I probably would have used the paper that I pieced his pants with.  We can't have our pants the same color as our fence though - LOL!  So I pick up some Kraft paper and cut a fence.  I also know that every outdoor scene needs some clouds, so I go ahead and run the Cloud Trio Die-namics through my die cutting machine with some Puff Cloud White My Favorite Felt. (Sorry for the blurry picture, I was on a creative roll!)

Not sure how I am feeling about the Kraft fence, so I pull out some of the white ruled paper from the Paper Heart collection and cut a second fence.  Don't be afraid to NOT use something just because you don't want to waste it.  I keep a small plastic container at my work space that has extra die cuts.  I usually only keep large ones or ones that were cut from felt or cork.  Another great way to use up those pieces is on the INSIDE of the card.

I definitely am liking the white fence much better.  Now I am thinking perhaps I will add my sentiment as a flag pole?  I quickly stamp the sentiment on a scrap of paper.  I also pull out a flag pole from the Mini Pennant Die-namics that was in my cast off box :)

I also had a couple felt birds in my stash (from the Notched Tag Die-namics), so I stuck those on there as well.  At this point, it is time for me to go to bed.  I leave my pieces on my workspace.  I do this ALL the time.  I find looking at an arrangement with fresh eyes really helps me :)  The next evening I decided I did not like the flag pole idea, so it got scrapped.  However, without it I felt like there was too much space to fill.  I ended up cutting the overall card size down to a 5" square and I liked that much better.  I added my sentiment in one of my favorite ways with a Die-namics Tab - the File Tab Die-namics this time.  The last step in my process or one of the last steps is deciding on what color mats to use.  Oh, I originally was not going to include the top panel from the sketch, but I decided to sneak it on there with some vellum :)

90% of  the time I stitch my panels together, so I just apply a small amount of adhesive to the centers or to an area I know I will not be stitching over.  Do NOT stitch over adhesive - not a good thing :)  After stitching and laying out again to be sure I like, I realize this card needs something else and decide to add some ribbon and twine behind the main panel.  Even though you don't see much of it, I think it helps to ground that large panel.  I really felt like this was the finishing touch this card needed, that and a little bird!  Oh and a button! 

A close-up of the paper piecing and stitching.

For the inside, I arrange some scraps, stamp a sentiment, and add a couple Hearts a Plenty Die-namics from my cast off box.

So, if you stuck with me and my crazy mind this long - THANK YOU!!!  I hope you found some useful information.  Here is my best advice :)

• Use sketches :)
• Don't be afraid to change your mind or "waste" paper - I bet you have lots, I know I do!!
• Walk away from a project to get a fresh perspective.
• Don't forget the finishing touches - it is the small details that really make a card stand out.  Think bling, pearls, small die cuts (one of my go-to is the Notched Tag Die-namics - LOVE that set and could probably incorporate onto every card!), buttons, ribbon, twine, brads, etc :)

BTW, those red felt birds from my cast off bin ended up on my Kraft Journal card yesterday :)  See, no waste!

Be sure to stop by Kim's blog to see who else is participating in this chat. Don't forget - Teasers start tomorrow!! See you then :)

 

Love You This Big - 5" square
Stamps:  Pure Innocence - I Love You This Big (MFT)
Papers:  Paper Heart -Crate, Bazzill, Choice Snow White from January Key Ingredients kit (TE), Chocolate Fudge, vellum
Inks:  Memento tuxedo black (Tsukineko)
Accessories:  Woodgrain Fence Die-namics, Cloud Trio Die-namics, Notched Tag Die-namics, File Tab Die-namics, Hearts a Plenty Die-namics, Small Scallop Border Die-namics, Puff Cloud White My Favorite Felt (MFT), button (CTMH), Brown satin double band grosgrain ribbon, Peppermint Divine Twine (The Ribbon Carousel), sewing machine, foam tape