Running With Scissors…

I was visiting Laura at The Stampin’ Soldier the other day when I saw that she’d posted this sketch challenge.  I’m not sure why I took to this particular sketch, but I had an urge to use it.  As always with challenges, I’m late but I still wanted to do the sketch.  The only thing extra I added was the ribbon and brad.  Gosh, after spending all that time sorting my ribbon I just had to use some!

This is the same paper I used on my tin and ribbon gift set yesterday.  Regarding colors, sketch, theme, papers, etc. I was asked by Jodene, Dianne, Melissa, Michelle R. and Kim B. if I would explain a little something about how I get started on a card.  I was asked where I get my inspiration and how I decide which papers to select and combine.   Sue suggested I take you through the creative process of designing a project.  I thought about those questions and suggestions as I began yesterday’s project.  It is interesting (to me, at least) to read about the stamper’s thoughts as they create their work, how they reach that end and what occurs along the way.  Some folks hope to find the technical details in the content of a post so I try to provide that, too.  Since so many people asked about this, I’ll make an effort in the future to express some of the thought process.  Sometimes it’s more a feeling than a thought, like the feel of a color, for instance.  There’s not always time to go into a lot of detail and I cringe at the thought that I’d be rambling on like a know-it-all and boring you to tears.  Truly, we all go about this in our own way and all I can do is tell you how I do it and what goes on in my head.  It’s not necessarily the right way or the only way.  Okay?

Today I thought I’d just narrow it down to the paper. 

Paper selection:  When I started these last two projects I had unfinished stamp room cleaning still on my mind but I thought, gee, it would sort of be cleaning if I used scraps — one of those justifications — we have a million of them, don’t we?  So I went to the new and improved scrap drawer (devoted only to DP scraps) to see what was at hand, figuring to select papers I could come closest to finishing off.  If you click on the thumbnail you can see how my papers are clipped together in pairs.  Whenever I buy individual papers (as opposed to packs or pads) I always buy two coordinating sheets.  Three is ideal but that’s how I discipline myself to use my stamps for backgrounds — it doesn’t always work that way, though, and I may “borrow” a piece from another pair sometimes.  By the way, they’re only clipped after they’ve been cut into — all the scraps from the two coordinating sheets are clipped together so I can quickly grab a pair of papers to work with.   It’s just one of those time saving necessities because I’m usually stamping on the run.  So that’s how I chose the papers for my tin, ribbon spools and Halloween card — they were the smallest possible pair, and we all know how everyone loves a purple, orange and green color combo, right?  Kidding…

When choosing paper pairs, to my mind’s eye, color is the most important consideration.  This is made easy in most places we shop because collections are grouped and there are always coordinating colors in collections.  As long as each piece picks up the colors in its companion you can be wild and free with the patterns — almost.  I’ll combine a big pattern with a smaller, opposing pattern such as a big plaid with a small polka dot (see the blue papers in the photo).  Or I’ll combine two bold but opposing patterns (see the big dots with the wide stripes).  A busy pattern with a quieter, more open pattern works, too, such as the two papers on my Halloween card.  So…opposing combinations of big/small, bold/bold, busy/quiet — that’s one way to get started.  It’s possible to combine large and small polka dots, stripes in opposite directions and lots of different patterns.  Just look at the colors and lay them out together.  You might just say “yep, by golly!  That works!”  Well…maybe you wouldn’t say “by golly”…

So that’s just a little something about how I decide on paper combos.  I’d love to think that this information is helpful to someone — any little part of it.  We do read a lot of tips and tricks and glean from those what’s adaptable to our own way of doing things.  Whatever you do, I just hope you have fun doing it!  Have a wonderful new week!

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