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Do you make the same style of card over and over again? Does it still feel okay to you, because that is your style and you are happy with it?
I know what my style is and I cannot seem to deviate from it. I could not do a shabby/chic card if my life depended on it. I often wish I was more into 'everything', making many different styles of cards. Is this possible with cardmakers? Or do you think most people revert back to what they do best?
I don't know about others, but I always revert back to my style (distressing - shading, etc.). I make different types of cards, but they leave me feeling a little empty, as if I shortchanged the card, and most of the time if a card I made is not my style (even if it is what the recipient asked for and loves) I will usually think that it's butt-ugly, and if I have time, I make a "proper" version of it just to make myself feel better. So I always revert to get the good feeling back.
I totally agree. I always stick with my style, because when I try to make something that isn't, it feels forced and I hate it! I just go with what works for me, but I still admire other styles. For instance, Papermoon, I love her style, but when I try it, it looks contrived, because it isn't me. I don't feel bad making all my cards the same, I just hope people don't stop liking them because of it!
I think almost everyone has their own style. I know I have been trying to think out of the box and try new things. It does depend on my mood and how the creative mojo is flowing. Some days I can tackle new ideas, some days everthing I try I mess up. I love to try new layouts, techniques, color combos, etc, so I think that helps. But when all else fails it is back to the old stand by.
I totally agree. I always stick with my style, because when I try to make something that isn't, it feels forced and I hate it! I just go with what works for me, but I still admire other styles. For instance, Papermoon, I love her style, but when I try it, it looks contrived, because it isn't me. I don't feel bad making all my cards the same, I just hope people don't stop liking them because of it!
We would NEVER stop liking your cards, they totally rock!
I'm the same as these girls, I always go back to my own style, it's what I know and what I do! I wish SO badly that I could make shabby chic cards but it never really looks right to me! SO, I'll stick with what I know best
I do think I revert back to my *style* however taking the challenges helps me to think outside my comfort zone. That being said, often my challenge cards are in my style anyway, but perhaps with different colrs than I would have chosen or a different sketch or materials used. Thanks for the thread Denise, you always give us a thought provoking question!
Wow, I feel so left out! :confused: I have not figured out my style yet! I seem to bounce around depending on what I am feeling like at the moment. I have seen some styles that I know I am not, but considering just how many styles there are, that does not help to narrow it down. :rolleyes:
Sandy O
Good question, Denise. It took me years of experimenting (and money wasted) to figure out what I am NOT. My style is definitely clean and simple. If it takes a long time to make or involves lots of layers or embellies, I never like my end result. It's just too "forced" and doesn't feel like me. But I love Beate's cards, for instance, esp the ones so layered and popped they could be doorstops, LOL. She makes it work! I don't. Took me a long time to accept that.
Now, I just struggle keeping "clean and simple" from being "plain and boring." There are lots of cool blogs out there that are helping me--and Julie's design class--but I'm such a slow learner!
Lately, I've been trying to match the card more to the style of the recipient. That being said, I still tend to do some of the same things over and over - distressing, swiping, coloring, limited layers and just a few embellishments. I would like to spend some time learning some new techniques, and I would like to incorporate more drawing and calligraphy in my cards.
*BTW, I second NancyRuth; you always start great threads, Denise! Thank you!!
Marcy
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yup! i make what i like... and i like what i make.
i am clean and simple.
some time ago a gal told me... you could probably sell some of your cards in my sisters shop if you made them 'this style' and at first i thought $$$. then i thought but that is not me.
i am not in this to make money. if i sell some along the way, WOOT WOOT! but i do it for LOVE! i love love love to make cards. my style of cards.
even when i do get requests for cards. i ask for a color preference, pretty or cute and reason/season/theme. and i ask that the design be left up to me. they are asking for 'MY" work!
I tend to stick with a few styles and it's due to time constraints. I just don't have time to sit down and experiment and design and learn right now.
Mary Beth
I just wish there was something about my style that stood out. I'm still working on that. Kind of like how when I see a Markie's Mom card or a Zindorf card - I know it's theirs without even looking at their user name.
I don't think it's bad to have a refined style. But I do think there's lots of benefits to working outside of that style, too. Creating things outside of my favorite style helps me understand what it is about my favorite that really appeals to me and why it appeals to me. I've been asked to make a ton of things I'm not too fond of... and sometimes it is a serious challenge. But it does help me keep the rest of what I make feel fresh. I do love to make things in my preferred style, but I don't want that style to get tired or too repetitive, either. I want it to feel new somehow each time.
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I know there are a few styles that just are not me - vintage, distressed, very arty, but apart from that I think it's a real mood thing. But I defnitely think that if you are comfortable with what you are doing, it's you - then it will probably turn out better than trying something you are not so comfortable with. I like being pushed out of my comfort zone, though, and will try almost anything once!
I too wish I had a style. I often feel like my cards are all over the place -- definitley not recognizable as "mine". Then again, I get bored easily, so that's probably why I can't settle down on just one thing.
For me, it changes but the "bones" are still the same. I change the feel of the card based on the stamps & colors I'm using. Some days I do clean and simple with white space, other days I make doorstops, and other days it's vintage with lots of sponging. I feel like I have an identity crisis sometimes, but it sure is fun!
We would NEVER stop liking your cards, they totally rock!
I'm the same as these girls, I always go back to my own style, it's what I know and what I do! I wish SO badly that I could make shabby chic cards but it never really looks right to me! SO, I'll stick with what I know best
Gee, thanks!!!:rolleyes:
I really appreciate that, I am in a semi slump right now, and it is nice to hear!!
I too struggle with this. My style tends to be simple and clean, but when I look at some of the incredibly gorgeous and elaborate cards on SCS I feel kind of untalented and boring. I feel like all my cards start to look the same, but I do sell tons of them so I must be doing something right. I think making cards for sale also limits my style because the faster I can make cards, the more money I make.
Last year I joined the Dirty Dozen challenge and had so much fun. It was the first time I had stamped for pure fun in a long time. The year, being part of the Divine Secret Sisters group is giving me the opportunity to stamp for fun and to try to stretch my comfort zone. Great thread topic!
I definitely bounce around with styles. What I make is determined by what kind of mood I'm in and what I feel like playing around with. No one could ever look at one of my cards and immediately say it was made by me.
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I'm a comfort zone kinda girl too. I'm always paranoid of over-doing my card and also tend to over think what I'm making so keeping it clean and simple is less stressful. :rolleyes:
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I always end up with same style,but do try others,ie seeing something on someone elses blog and think "great" i can do that,but it still ends up the way i usually make a card
Wendy x
I guess my style is eclectic. I make what feels right at that moment.
HA! I like that....maybe that is my style. I never thought that I really had a 'style' but one SCSer was cruisin the gallery and said that she knew it was my card even before she looked at my name. HUH! Now exactly WHAT my style is.......I haven't a clue......I just create!
__________________ Ann Here is my oily blog! CLICK HERE Certified Copic Instructor - Local ClassesI love cars, stamping and essential oils!
I'm not sure what my style is. I know I sometimes use the same technique for a couple of projects. Right now I am into paper piecing.
I'd love to see everyone post what their style is so I can get a grasp on how to sum my style up.
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For me, it changes but the "bones" are still the same. I change the feel of the card based on the stamps & colors I'm using. Some days I do clean and simple with white space, other days I make doorstops, and other days it's vintage with lots of sponging. I feel like I have an identity crisis sometimes, but it sure is fun!
I have many doors that would love to be stopped by your cards!!!
__________________ Dear Paperlicious is my blog...with a series on how I'm learning to improve my cardmaking by studying others.
For me, it changes but the "bones" are still the same. I change the feel of the card based on the stamps & colors I'm using. Some days I do clean and simple with white space, other days I make doorstops, and other days it's vintage with lots of sponging. I feel like I have an identity crisis sometimes, but it sure is fun!
i'm with you, shannan, it's whatever strikes me that day! sometimes i feel like doing shabby and others, clean and sometimes just kind of scrappy-kim hughes style! however, none of mine become doorstops!! I've said it before---my trash may be someone else's treasure!
For me, it changes but the "bones" are still the same. I change the feel of the card based on the stamps & colors I'm using. Some days I do clean and simple with white space, other days I make doorstops, and other days it's vintage with lots of sponging. I feel like I have an identity crisis sometimes, but it sure is fun!
Yep, I'm pretty much like Shannan. Different things for different stamps and different days. :mrgreen:
I like to try different styles, and play. I know what I personally like though in a card, so if those things are missing then to me it isn't complete or may even suck!
I've learned to be ok with knowing that I want to fit a lot of things on a card, and trying to figure out how it will work.
Well I'm a little late jumping in here, lots of good chatter.
I actually try to keep pushing the limits of my style....extending my fence so to speak. Right now I am on a combining fabric and stamping kick.... I am always intrigued with education and new techniques and trying what I haven't done before, yup, the hobby gets expensive!
I don't think I have a "style" at all :( . I do different things depending on what the stamp image *says* to me, I suppose. I think I'm always trying to step outside of my comfort zone a bit or most of my cards would have an earthy feel and maybe would be too dark. I think I make a conscious effort to brighten things up a bit more than my natural tendency.
I'm going to visit some galleries from this thread and get a feel for your styles!
I did not read every post but I just wanted to add my take... Your "style" is what makes each one of us an artist, it is what seperates us from one another, it is what makes our projects OURS! If you look at ANY artist in any medium, papercrafting, painting, drawing, sculpting even music, they each have their own "style" that repeats itself. This is why we love them! I love Toby Keith because he sings/writes bada** songs that is his "style". We will all deviate from our "style" every now and again but if we LOVE ribbon then we will go back to ribbon it is just what we do! So keep using those same sketches, colors and embelishments it is what makes you the amazing artist you are! LOVE and EMBRACE YOUR STYLE, because it is YOU!!!!!!
I pretty much stick to the same type of cards. I would LOVE to create cards like Beate, I love to look at her cards, but I could NEVER make one to look like that. It's just not me...but I do LOVE to see everyone's style. I recently sold a stamp set that I had for a while that I could not do anything with. No matter how hard I tried, it turned out like crap. The woman (now friend) I sold the set to sent me the most beautiful card with that stamp set! I would have never been able to pull it off!
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Okay I feel like one of those people on What Not to Wear when asked what their style is and they say: I don't have a style!!! I look at my gallery and I don't see my "thing"... Like Zindorf.. we could spot her cards a mile away... mine? nope... I don't know if this is a BAD thing... but is it? do people like card-makers with a certain "look"?
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SRM Stickers and Deconstructed Sketches.
I have a design style but not a technique style. I love to try new techniques, some I repeat, others never again. I find that some design styles just don't fit me (anna griffin, house mouse, hedgehog, etc) but I do make cards in these styles so I can give it to someone who will like it.
When I make things to sell I may add a few of the other styles, but generally I stick with what I like because I like it and I do it better. If I don't like what I'm doing, I'm not having fun, and if I'm not having fun, why bother?
what an interesting question, Denise and great comments! I think I have a *style*, but don't ask me to describe it! wink! wink! I approach each challenge with an open mind...I'm creating art based on the challenges' parameters and in that case, each card should end up being unique...
Just like when you say MarkiesMom you think dots,layers,ribbon and Zindorf brayered bg's and Kittie sets the scene and Cindy Hafner scallops and coloring and Sparklegirl white space...is that the style you are referring to?
oh and if anyone would care to describe my style, I would be ever so thankful!
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same style, all the time?
