Where do you start with your card design?

[diane speed]

Do you start with a colour,a design paper,a stamped image, some pretty ribbon or some other type of inspiration? This is apart from the obvious challenges of course. I most often work my design around a stamped image,but i don't colour it in until i've chosen which design paper i'm going to use so it will tie in with the colours.

[pjw2855]

I start my planning with Who will be receiving the card and for what occasion. That way I can decide the image(s) and colors.

Patti

[buggainok]

I start with the stamped image, and try to think what colors would look good on it. When I have that in mind, I find the papers to coordinate, usually a pattern and a solid cardstock. Ever so often, I start with the paper, especially if it's new and I love it. Then I find the image and colors to go with the paper first.

I stamp the image and color it, then decide how to mat it, i.e. with a Nestabilities shape, or just plain borders around the image.

Then I get a layout figured out. The last thing I do is add embellishments to the mix. I've accumulated enough of those, like ribbons, buttons,dew drops, bling, etc. that I usually have what I need to coordinate.

[tesno]

Sometimes I choose my card stock and paper first, then pick the image to use with them. Other times I find a stamp I really like, then pick the cardstock and paper. Once I have that much of the card figured out I decide on embellishments.

[jeannie barron]

If I know who I am making it for I start by thinking about the things I know about them. If am just playing I start with the stamp set.

[chispirit]

This is a GREAT thread.
I am subscribing to it.

[fura]

I have to look at card sketches. Once I find a card sketch I like, it becomes a lot easier for me to come up with ideas. I also use the color combos from previous challenges.

[JenWI409]

It depends. Usually I start by thinking about the person and what they would like. Sometimes it's a stamp that I really want to use and then I try to be creative with colors.

[mtgchic]

I, too, start with the person (I find it very hard to make a card without someone in mind), then the stamps, then usually layout. After that paper and ribbon/brads. I usually base my colors on the paper I choose, so I do that before I color in the image.

[momis mama]

the reason or theme is first for me

then i work from a sketch/layout that will work with the image i have in mind

[mariekay19]

Thanks for the ideas. Great for a newbie

[RedInLove]

Once I know who the card is for and what the occasion is, I start with either a stamp set I want to use or I pick my colors first.

[lnl96]

For some reason, it's actually harder for me to create a card with a specific person/occasion in mind. I think it's because I put so much pressure on myself to make that particular person a super-fabulous card, that I don't really enjoy the process - I just end up stressing, getting creative block, and running out of time. Lately I've been having way more fun by making cards just to make them - usually by starting with a stamp I really like, and letting it flow from there. My creative process seems to work much better this way, and as a result I'm building a stash of cards that I feel good about and that will fit a variety of people/occasions!

[Ellibelle]

I start with an image, then decide what colors to use. Sometimes I have a specific designer paper in mind, then I color my image according to the paper.

[SayStampsPlease]

Depends...If I get a new stamp then everything revolves around that. If I went shopping and found some cute DP the I work around that.

[SuzyQue]

You don't want to do what I do. ha Last week I was working on cards for our card club. I chose designer paper and solid, I cut it to size, enough to make six cards, and didn't like it at all. So...back to step one...this time I chose an image, stamped it, colored it, then had a heck of a time coming up with papers that would compliment what I had done. Finally finished a card I liked. My process needs tweeking!:confused:

[missiowa81]

Quote:

Originally Posted by pjw2855

I start my planning with Who will be receiving the card and for what occasion. That way I can decide the image(s) and colors.

Patti

This is how I start: Who is getting the card, and what is the occasion?

Then I choose the stamp image, followed by colors.

[diane speed]

Quote:

Originally Posted by lnl96

For some reason, it's actually harder for me to create a card with a specific person/occasion in mind. I think it's because I put so much pressure on myself to make that particular person a super-fabulous card, that I don't really enjoy the process - I just end up stressing, getting creative block, and running out of time. Lately I've been having way more fun by making cards just to make them - usually by starting with a stamp I really like, and letting it flow from there. My creative process seems to work much better this way, and as a result I'm building a stash of cards that I feel good about and that will fit a variety of people/occasions!

This is exactly how i feel.

[GinaLin]

It really depends on my mood for they day. Sometimes it's the image and sometimes it's paper. A lot of the time it will depend on what medium I am wanting to work with. Some images work better (for me) with pencils or watercolors and some I prefer to color with Copics. I like to play along with challenges and depending on the type of challenge, that's where I start.

[chef2die4]

Depends on why I am creating that particular card. If it is for someone, I think about who they are to me and why I am making this card for them. Then I put together images and cardstock, and color appropriately. If it is just to put in my card box, I start with the image or set, and go from there. But occasionally I will discover a beautiful ribbon or something at my LSS, and use that for inspiration. I also cruise the galleries regularly, especially those of my favorite sets.

[cindyl_00]

Ditto here

Quote:

Originally Posted by diane speed

This is exactly how i feel.

[cindyl_00]

Ditto here too ... lol

Quote:

Originally Posted by lnl96

For some reason, it's actually harder for me to create a card with a specific person/occasion in mind. I think it's because I put so much pressure on myself to make that particular person a super-fabulous card, that I don't really enjoy the process - I just end up stressing, getting creative block, and running out of time. Lately I've been having way more fun by making cards just to make them - usually by starting with a stamp I really like, and letting it flow from there. My creative process seems to work much better this way, and as a result I'm building a stash of cards that I feel good about and that will fit a variety of people/occasions!

[sprtchick]

I have different ways of starting depending on my mood....Sometimes I look through my papers to get an idea, sometimes start looking through stamp sets, sometimes just looking through drawers I have not opened in awhile will give me an idea. I just love to create...blessings.