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I can say this is my favorite style of cards - I love looking at others creations, but I don't like flowers, patterned papers, etc.. I'm trying to break my obcession of symmetrical items too... but thats another story...
I layer - with paper - I don't like 3D embellishments..
I dont like ribbons..
I rarely use eyelets etc..
I guess I'm a rarety in stamping..
But Susan your gallery is awesome - definately going into my favorites!
I am so relieved to hear that it is not just me. I just recently started designing cards on my own. Before, my stamping friend and I cased just about every card that we made!!! We call ourselfs the Major CASE Squad!! When going through the gallerys looking for cards to case, I was always drawn to the simple cards, because to me they looked the easiest to copy. I have since found a love for embellishments, ecspecially ribbon!!!
If simple is your style, let it be!! It works for you and there is nothing wrong with it. Here is what I look for in a simple card that makes it beautiful.
(IMHO)
Clean cuts, no frayed edges unless you meant for them to be there.
Cleanly stamped images. Beautiful colors and coloring really do a lot for an image.
If you use ribbon, trim it too. It just looks better!!
Hope that helps you!! Dont be so hard on yourself, we are all out there having the same struggles!!
By the way, I have cased some of your cards before!!!
I love clean, simple, and elegant cards. I do like to look at the more involved cards on this site. For me its like seeing art but I just can't pull it off. Then I also wonder how many stamps it would take to mail those cards! LOL
Late Blossom, I just looked at your gallery. You make nice clean elegant cards. Your cards have a crispness to it that I like. When I make simple cards I think mine looking boring. I am making many cards to put in packets as Xmas gifts. I made a ton last week and this week my brain has just stopped working and I can't come up with any ideas on my own. I am going to CASE two of your cards tomorrow. Thanks for the ideas,
It's my favorite way to make cards, and the most rewarding for me personally, altho I adore and drool over the beautiful, more elaborate creations of others.
I am hoping to teach a class (online) this coming Spring on simple yet sensational card design. It is in development stage right now, but, I hope there will be interest in it.
I'm definitely interested in an online class, Julie!
I know, right? I'd have the same reaction of Julie bookmarked my gallery. :-D
Anyway, I looked at just the first page of your gallery and I had to wipe the drool off my chin. Your cards are beyond lovely! I can't wait to get home from work and start CASE'ing your work.
Someone just directed me to this thread -- thanks so much for the mention of my gallery/blog. And to tell you the truth, I am totally honored to be mentioned in a thread focusing on clean and simple -- it is a look I love -- and though most all of my work is definitely simple, I'm not so sure it's always clean -- LOL!!! The entire focus of my new Blog is to show people how SIMPLE it really can be, and if that is coming across, then I am totally thrilled!!!!
I'll offer a bit here on what works best for me, not that it is necessarily the right way, but it's *my* way:
1) I *think* better when working on a clean surface, no people around, absolute silence (aren't I the exciting one!!!) To me this is crucially important.
2) I start with color -- pull out the papers I want that coordinate perfectly with each other. And MY color does come from paper -- not from coloring.
3) I pull out the embellishments I think will go well with my papers and *type* of card I have in mind.
4) With everything I think I'll need right in front of me, I start. And the thing I probably pay most attention to as I put my card together is balance -- it HAS to balance properly -- both in terms of color and weight.
And here's a hint: DON'T hoard what you love (paper, embellies) -- USE THEM!!! When you use what you LOVE, your project will show it!!!
So, that's pretty much it -- how simple, huh???? LOL!!! Fun thread!!!
What wonderful advice, Sharon! It's working for you. . . everything you make is just beautiful!
I'm going to jump on the I-love-Susan's-cards bandwagon- really beautiful work!
I think an important thing to keep reminding yourself (this goes for anyone) is the difference between experimenting and forcing.
It's good to experiment with new styles/techniques/colors etc. that you wouldn't normally use- stretch yourself as an artist, flex those design muscles. However, everyone has a style- don't try to change that. When I find myself thinking that I 'need' to make a more <insert style that is not my own> card, that's when I find myself sitting and staring into space, but not in a good way! If you think you need to be doing things differently than what comes naturally all the time, you will not be able to create.
As far as the original question of how to keep simple from being boring, part of that is just personal mindset- are you telling yourself it must be boring because it is not over the top? If it really just feels boring to you though, that is the time to start trying new things. But just for long enough to get your creativity going naturally
Here it is! My little word document of all the tips and advice on this thread so far. If I missed something or someone, please let me know. My thanks to all who've given advice here (whom I tried to acknowledge in the attachment) and also to those who've chimed in with their support of Going Clean and Simple.
There are so many blogs and galleries I still need to visit of those who have contributed to this thread, but there is some really amazing "simple" stuff going on in the blogs and galleries I've already been to. Thanks to you all for making this thread WAY more than I hoped for!
Now your document is way AWESOME! Thanks for your time and effort!
Much apperciated!!
__________________ The quickest way for a parent to get a child's attention is to sit down and look comfortable. Practice safe eating always use condiments
Well, I think you have the clean and simple down to a science. Take the advice of the pros that have been involved in the thread.....great advice for everyone in Stampingdom! Watch out for Stalkers!
Thank you so much for starting this thread! I love the elaborately embellished cards, but my stamping time is unfortunately limited, and I'm a novice so I too practice the Coco Chanel design philosophy--"less is best." Great paper, simple design, rich color, that calls me more than buttons and bows. Thanks for the great links!
Here it is! My little word document of all the tips and advice on this thread so far. If I missed something or someone, please let me know. My thanks to all who've given advice here (whom I tried to acknowledge in the attachment) and also to those who've chimed in with their support of Going Clean and Simple.
There are so many blogs and galleries I still need to visit of those who have contributed to this thread, but there is some really amazing "simple" stuff going on in the blogs and galleries I've already been to. Thanks to you all for making this thread WAY more than I hoped for!
Wow, great document, thanks for sharing! Btw, where in OH are you? I'm east of Cleveland.
Great thread! All of my cards and scrapbook pages are clean and simple. Maybe because I am not creative enough to get more elaborate But I love all styles. There are so many cards and such in the gallery that just blow me away! In a good way ;)
Great thread and wonderful examples everyone. After scraping for several years (it is difficult to even look at those old CM pages!) I have discovered Simple Scrap Booking and love it. I feel like a huge pressure is off my shoulders when I work to simplify and get to the story I want to remember and share. Now that I am getting into stamping I enjoy all your ideas to make "beautifully simple" cards as well.
Judi,I don't have permission to view your link. Are you a demo? I'm not.... But I'd love to see your card!
Thanks for your kind words about my gallery and for reviving this thread!
Oops, it may be in the demo area. Here it is - (hopefully, I don't know what I'm doing!)
__________________ Judi 'Stamparooni'
If you can't eat it, drink it, or stamp it
you might as well throw it away!
I've been leaning towards clean and simple cards...it's a style I've always admired but one that I never seemed to be able to do because I have this *need *to keep adding things to my cards and never know when to stop! So I've been "practicing" doing clean and simple
What I've learned is that focusing on color is a really good way to stay CAS. I'll start by choosing my colors first...either two complimentary colors or monocromatic colors, etc. If my colors are working then it doesn't take a lot of embellishments or extra stuff to make the card cute.
Of course I'll always love cards with lots of stuff on them too. ha ha. ;)
I love the Sakura Stardust pen for adding a little extra pizzaz to simple cards.
Blessings.
I pulled mine out a few days ago and had fun with it. Those things are like magic for adding that perfect little extra something to an otherwise bland card.
I've been leaning towards clean and simple cards...it's a style I've always admired but one that I never seemed to be able to do because I have this *need *to keep adding things to my cards and never know when to stop! So I've been "practicing" doing clean and simple
What I've learned is that focusing on color is a really good way to stay CAS. I'll start by choosing my colors first...either two complimentary colors or monocromatic colors, etc. If my colors are working then it doesn't take a lot of embellishments or extra stuff to make the card cute.
Of course I'll always love cards with lots of stuff on them too. ha ha. ;)
You'd think CAS would be easier--I sure did! But it's hard, hard, hard and takes a lot of practice! I agree that color is so important. Judi's card above is a lovely case in point: a dash of bold brights on white makes a big impact without lots of stuff.
It is all about clean and simple. I found it recently and love it. Lots of great ideas and cards.
__________________ Martha
"When you recover or discover something that nourishes your soul and brings joy, care enough about yourself to make room for it in your life." Jean Shinoda Bolen
The Advice of the "pros" of SCS
