Saturday, July 25, 2009

Verve Divine Details/VLV July's Week 1








I have to tell you. I was afraid of this sketch. I am a straight line type of person. Everytime I see some crooked panels on the sketch challenges on SCS, I run fast and far. But since it is Verve, I thought I would give it a shot. And I'm glad that I did!

So this post will be a bit different. I will be describing step by step, what my design process entails for the Verve Divine Details entry.

1. First off, I almost always start with a sketch. Today I used the Viva La Verve Sketch for the first week of July posted on Splitcoast.




2. Next I pick out my color combo. This can sometimes put me at a standstill. So many choices!!! I confess, I do usually go for pink first. I use my homemade color swatch. I punched out all of my SU and PTI cardstock and have it on a ring.




I ended up finding my color inspiration from some left over patterned paper that I had from my previous card. Using Patterned paper helps so much when choosing a color combo.

3. The next major decision is which stamp set to use. Since this is for two Verve challenges, I pulled out all of my Verve stamps. I don't own too many yet, but I'm working on it! {I do not have a good storage system for them yet. Any tips would be appreciated!!}

I ended up starting off with my very, very favorite flower image from Because of You. Since I decided to use the Top Note die on my first panel, I thought this image would have a really nice flow in the corner. I stamped it with Versafine Sepia ink and then added some clear EP and heat set it.

4. Since the twist on this sketch was to use distressing, I wanted to ink the sides of the patterned paper. I took some left over pieces and experimented with ink colors. I ended up going with SU's mellow moss. At this point I didn't have a panel on top of my card base. I decided to use matching Mellow Moss cardstock and embossed it with a Cuttlebug folder that I haven't used yet.

5. At this point I have no idea what else I am going to be stamping. I have nothing planned. Just going by the seat of my pants! I loved the cute birds in the CB folder so I decided to match that by using a bird image from PaperTrey Ink's Anniversary set.


6. Then I started planning my layout. This is where I use my Basic Grey Magnetic Mat. I love this thing!!! It allows me to keep my paper in place and hold it down with the magnets. Because most likely, I will get called away at some point and who knows when I can return. When I'm ready to adhere, I sometimes like to use Scotch's temporary tape. It helps to keep things in place while I turn them over to add adhesive. There is nothing more annoying than placing each and every bit in the right place then it gets moved around while trying to adhere it. So this helps to prevent that frustration.

7. Sometimes in the process, I get to a point where I need a break from one project and off I go and start a brand new one. Actually, I've recently realized that if I have more than 2 ongoing projects, I can focus better. Go figure!! This is what I am working on for the Anni-Verve-Sary Blog Hop on August 1st. So you'll have to come back then to see what I created. ;)

8. Following the sketch, I chose some ribbon and started tying a bow around the pink panel. I must have tied and retied that bow about ten times until I decided that I should hide that angry looking knot underneath a nice little button. I bought some buttons at Hobby Lobby and surprisingly they match all of my cardstock nicely. I found one close to Mellow Moss and tied some twine through it.


After all of this work, I need a little chocolate break. Ahhh!! Go ahead, admit it. You have some chocolate stashed nearby too. ;)















9. So I put everthing together to see if it needs any more embellishments. Since this sketch was so not my type, I hemmed and hawed about what to do next. I thought the card at least needed a sentiment. But I wasn't sure where to put it. So I placed it on the acrylic block and moved it all around until I was satisfied with how it looked.




10. Since I had already adhered dimensionals, I had to stabilize the paper so I could stamp the sentiment. I put the sheet of dimensionals underneath the paper and stamped the image. Viola, card is complete. Completely nothing like I had envisioned though! But it's nice to get outside of my little box once in a while.






Thanks for visiting me and reading about my creative process. I had fun sharing!

Stamps: Verve Because of You & , PTI Everyday Classics
Ink: Versafine Sepia, SU Mellow Moss
Paper: SU Chocolate chip & Mellow Moss, PTI Sweet Blush, My Mind's Eye DSP
Misc: SU Pretty in Pink Taffeta Ribbon, Paper Studio button, twine, dimensionals, EP, Cuttlebug Folder

14 comments:

  1. This is gorgeous! And what a neat tour of your creative process--thanks for sharing.

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  2. Very pretty card Susan. Thanks for this step through of your creative process :) Loved it.

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  3. What a wonderful post, you did a great job with this one;) Your card is amazing, going in my must CASE file.

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  4. I love your work process! Your card is amazing! I too reach for the Because of You set! It is fabulous!

    As for Verve Storage, this is the best way to describe it to you:

    http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=416317

    This is how I keep my stamps together. And WalMart has some really great 3 ring binder colors right now with school getting closer to starting!

    If you want to do this, and would have some of the small stamps (plain janes) let me know and get me your info and I will mail you some baseball card protector sheets cause I got like 50 sheets in a packet and so far I am using 3 pockets!

    Rachel B
    rabogner@cableone.net

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  5. Ah, you shouldn't be afraid, you rocked it! I love how you used the top note die as the main panel. Brilliant! I liked seeing your creative process through the pictures and words. Thanks for sharing!

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  6. Great card and thinking outside the box with the top note die going beyond the card base.

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  7. I only have a few Verve sets myself, but I use CD cases to store mine.

    I love your card! The colors flow nicely and the ribbon/button was a gorgeous way to tie it all off!

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  8. That is really gorgeous, Susan. I LOVED your pictures along the way too with your divine details. Great job!

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  9. What a beautiful card! We have almost identical processes for our creations!!

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  10. What a fabulous process and beautiful card. I especially love the time out for chocolate - a must in every designer's process! LOL Thanks for sharing all your details!

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  11. Just wanted to come back again and say Congrats on winning the other stamp set in the Divine Details contest - I really enjoyed your post, Susan!

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  12. Lovely card! And I love your little breaks - chocolate is a MUST! =D

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  13. Yeah for your win! You totally deserve it- I LOVE this card!

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