Staging your cards
 

I began with scrapbooking and learned how to stage your scrapbook page. Does anyone stage your cards? Start with your idea add your paper, embellishments etc? How do you start your cards?

I generally start with picking the stamped image I'm going to use. Then I plan in my head the general color scheme for the image.

Then I pick the cardstock that will coordinate with the colors I'm using on the image. I use quite a bit of pattern paper, so the colors in the pattern figure in there also.

After I get my image stamped and colored, I usually mat it with a die cut shape. I cut my cardstock layers, and then I can play around with how I will actually arrange the elements on my card, which embellishments, ribbon, etc I will use with it.

staging???.....I just fly by the seat of my pants....

Staging...isn't something I do.



I pick a stamp and then color it. Then pick out everything else.

Sketch the layout first, colors/paper second. Once the sketching is done, you pretty much have your edgings, layers, embellishments and designer paper in mind. From there, gather supplies and create!

Ditto! If I'm doing a challenge it may provide (or at least trigger) a starting point, but otherwise... Probably why it takes me a couple of forevers to make a card, lol!

I generally have an idea of a technique I want to use, a stamp set or paper set. ONE of those gets me started. The rest is kinda winging it!!!

I start with an image I want to use, choose patterns and colors and then fly by the seat of my pants just like some of the others do! I love a good sketch, though, so when using a sketch I find an image that would work and go from there.

Same for me plus I may have a card sketch/layout that I like.

In the current issue of Where Women Create there's an interview with Maxwell Gillingham-Ryan, (Apartment Therapy | Saving the world, one room at a time). He said that if you are unsure where to begin, copy from someone. It's a form of flattery and it will lead you to your own style. I think he's correct, that by looking at other people's cards and making them over for yourself, little by little you'll change something here and there, an image, a color, the placement of a mat. Before you know it, you'll have your own style.

If I am having trouble getting my creative juices flowing I refer to the sketch challenges here on SCS. It gives me a basic layout then choose the image and everything else just falls into place...well most of the time. LOL

I have to have that spark and then everything else is experimentation.

Occasionally a card will jump full blown into my mind, all I need to do is recreate the image, but that's not common.

my process is this - decide on the focal image. decide which patterned papers to use. choose copics that match the papers to colour in or if it is a stamp not requiring colouring, choose which colour ink goes best.
then either case a layout or make it up as you go along. then i decide if it needs embellis and spend hours searching thru my stash for something that goes!!!!

It varies for me. Sometimes I start with a stamp I want to use, other times with a technique. For example, today I want to play with inks and SCS's Wrinkle Free Distress tutorial. So I'll see what background pieces I create and then choose stamps that suit them. Other times, I'll decide to use up some dp and start with that. Just keep experimenting. And LateBlossom, a very wise SCS stamper member, once wrote on her blog that it's only paper so not to worry if you don't like what you create and have to throw it away - I keep that in mind!

Even when I do have it staged, seems there is always a character that improvises! LOL

There are some great ideas here to get you started, though.

Ditto here too! In fact if there weren't any challenges I probably wouldn't have made many cards!

I am usually a "fly by the seat of my pants" girl. Yep. Most of the time I end up colouring the image I'm using FIRST and then hunting to find paper that works.

I just look for cards I like and use them for inspiration. Sometimes it is the technique that inspires me but it might be the layout or the colors. Once I am going, my own ideas take over and I'm full of ideas. When you have "card makers block" the challenges and the gallery are so perfect to get you going!

If you are just beginning making cards, I would recommend copying someone else - you'll be off and running in no time!
Marti Crapo

I almost always start with an image. I pick one to use for all my cards for a particular month. Then I try to use it in as many ways as possible by trying a new technique on one, following a sketch on another, using up some papers, colors, scraps or embellishments on a different one. Sometimes it all falls together perfectly and other times it may takes days. Regardless, I enjoy the process any way it happens!

This is exactly how I learned to make cards even though you start off copying somehow your own style does work it's way into the card.

I'm am such a CASE'r that I just look in the galleries for inspiration and adapt from there.

I've never heard of staging except in regard to photography. My understanding of staging is how you arrange your project for photographing-props, backgrounds etc. I've read dozens of scrapbook magazines and never heard any technique referred to as 'staging'. Hmmmm....

When I first started card making about 5 years ago, I only had a small collection of bits and pieces ( a few small punches, a couple of stamps and some cheap ink pads and 1 pack of coloured paper). It was not hard to get started, I did not have much to work with. It all fitted in 1 shoe box lol. I have trouble getting motivated now, as i now have a large cupboard full of boxes, and it is such an effort to pull them all out. I take photos of all my cards I have made, and electronically place upto 12 per A4 page. I also copy card pics i like off the net and do the same thing. All these sheets are in my "card making ideas" clear file folder. When I cant "wing it" I open my book to get ideas, taking a bit from this one or that one and building from there. Hope this helps. Not looking forward to my 18 year old to leave the nest, but have my eye on her room for my crafting in years to come.

I also have pictures I've saved for inspiration when my Muse is taking a nap. Once I have decided on the main image, I pick my DSP and my ink and CS colors come from that.