Taylored Expressions February Studio Challenge

(please scroll down if you're looking for my IHP February Design Team Challenge post)

It's time for the Baker's Dozen Studio Challenge.  This is a monthly opportunity for the Taylored Expressions team to share what makes our stamping studios hum.  Each month we  have a fun, crafty question so we can share our favorites, some tips and tricks, stamping advice and more.

The question for February is:

Recipe for success!  When you sit down to create a card just for fun, for the pure joy of stamping, without any type of assignment or deadline, what steps do you usually take?

Tell us how you get started and take us along on your creative journey.

1.  Unless I'm creating something for a particular type of challenge, my creative process inevitably starts with selecting an image.  I have so many uninked stamps ready and waiting for a little attention, I inevitably drift towards those I've purchased but haven't had a chance to use.  For example, for today's Studio Challenge, I couldn't wait to use the train image from TE's Life Is a Circus set; I think it's so fun & whimisical, and I know my 8-year-old train afficianado will get a kick out of it.

2. After selecting the image, my thoughts turn to what patterned paper I have that will coordinate best with the image.  If possible, I try to pick a pattern collection that is current (in other words, in the paper company's most recent release), but if I think there is a pattern in my stash (in other words, older paper no longer carried in stores) that's too perfect for the image for me to resist, I'll opt for what I consider the better fit over what's trendy. 

I want the card I make today to be a child's birthday card that can go unisex, so I selected some fun, bright papers from My Mind's Eye's new My Girl 6x6 pad.  (Despite the name of the pad, I think the papers will be fine for a boy, too.)

3.  Next, I hunt for a sketch that will fit the image I want to use.  I'm kind of lazy when it comes to sketches - if there's one out and about (especially if it's a current one) that fits, I'm happy to use it and give credit; why reinvent the wheel, you know?  Some of my favorite weekly sketch challenges include Mojo Monday (naturally!), the Sweet Sunday Sketch, and my fellow Baker's Dozen gal Jen Shults' Deconstructed Sketch.  I also have a bunch of sketches I've printed out over the years that I consider my go-to sketches, and I'll refer to those if need be.  (By the way, Taylor's got 161 AWESOME sketches that I refer to again and again that you can download by clicking on the TE Sketch Book badge on her blog's sidebar. One of my all-time favorites that I've used several times is TECC57.)

Because the train image is so horizontal, I opted to go with the sketch on the left of my clipboard versus the one on the right (it looks like it will be harder to fit my image with the circle feature of the right sketch than it will be to elongate the one on the left).

4.  Once I've got my stamp set, patterned paper and sketch figured out, then I start figuring out the rest of the card ingredients I'm thinking about using: cardstock (I am CONSTANTLY referring to the cardstock swatchbook I made last summer; it was a huge investment of time to make, but I can't emphasize enough how handy it's been), dies, embellishments, etc.  These inevitably end up changing as I make the card and figure out what works and what doesn't.

5. Next, I set about coloring my image.

Like my cardstock swatchbook, I keep my Copic or Spectrum Noir color guides close by when I'm stamping to select the markers I'm going to use.

6.  At long last, it's construction time...

For this card, I ended up modifying this week's Deconstructed Sketch by turning it from vertical to horizontal because it fit the train image better.  The baker's twine is supposed to resemble train tracks, and by laying the Small Scalloped Border die cut on top of the image panel, I was able to avoid creating some sort of grounding on the airbrushed sky background layer (score!).  I used a strip of yellow chevron washi tape at the bottom, but backed it with white cardstock so you wouldn't see the patterned paper show through underneath it.  If you look at the photo before my finished card, you'll see that I had originally planned to use white brads, but then thought better of it when I found the polka dotted red brads in my stash.

As I create my cards, I always keep a list of the materials I use so I don't leave anything out when it's time to create my blog posts or various gallery posts.

7.  I usually don't stamp or embellish the interior of my cards, but because I figure this will be a perfect one for a child's birthday (and I had the stamp set out in front of me), I thought I'd go ahead and stamp an interior sentiment.

8.  Something I ALWAYS do - sign my cards!  I'm a big believer in this, as I've expressed many times over the years on this blog...

I have lots of different stamps I use to do this, often corresponding to the company whose image I'm using.  This particular stamp is from TE's Signature Style set, which gives you 17 different ways to let recipients know you cared enough to make the very best. :)

9. Lastly, I file the card away into my card stash, because heaven knows if I leave it out, I'll spill something on it or mess it up some how.

I have four plastic stackable drawers for cards that I keep in a closet adjacent to my craft room.  They're divided by theme:

• humor/concern/love/baby/masculine
• birthday/thank you/congrats
• friendship
• seasonal

And there you have it!  That's how the sausage gets made here in Claremore, America. :)  Ready to see the mysterious inner workings of my fellow Baker's Dozen team mates creative processes?  I know I'm DYING to figure out their secrets...

• Carole Burrage
• Charmaine Ikach
• Jen Shults
• Kerri Michaud
• Lynnette Kauffman
• Sankari Wegman
• Shannon White
• Shelly Mercado
• Stephanie Kraft
• Tammie Edgerton
• Taylor VanBruggen
• Wanda Guess

Supplies used:

From Taylored Expressions: stamps - Life Is a Circus & Signature Style; paper - My Mind's Eye 'My Girl' 6x6 pad, Choice Snow White cardstock; ink: Memento Tuxedo Black; Dies: Small Scalloped Border; Cloud Duo(for masking off airbrushed background); Accessories: Copic Markers

Other: paper - Pure Poppy (PTI), Tempting Turquoise (SU); ink: Wild Cherry (MFT); Accessories: Aqua Divine Twine (TCP), My Mind's Eye Yellow Deco-Tape (IHP), Nestabilities Labels 17, Corner Chomper, Queen & Co. polka dot brads, Jody's foam boosters

Comments

[Wanda G (stampcat)]

Hi Ms. Thang! I totally enjoyed your process and LOVE this adorable card you made! What a fun challenge! Have a fabbie day my friend!

[Stephanie Kraft]

Fabulous and fun, Carole! I LOVE your card file - much better than my "throw it in a big bin" system!

[Robin Barwacz]

Carole - thanks so much for taking the time to share your creative process. Much appreciated. I actually went and printed out all the sketches you referred to in your post (and my printer is dog tired!). Hopefully, this is just what I need to get my rear into gear again. Always enjoy reading your posts. Take care and have a great week.

[Shelly]

What an adorable card! Love the twine track too, such a fun detail! Your card system is so organized...unlike my boxes and boxes of cards that get thrown in at the end of the month. *grin*

[Jami]

I love seeing how that mind of yours works!! Super cute card too! All around fun post!

[Davi]

Such a wonderful card, very fun :) Thanks for sharing the process.

[Glenda J]

Great post Carole! Love how you do things.. fabulous card!

[Tammie E]

Dang, girl...you are some kind of organized! I love your thought process and your finished card! It's stinkin' cute!!! The railroad track twine...brilliant!

[Shannon White]

Fabulous Fabulous Carole!! Wow! You are one super organized lady! Thanks for the peek into your creative process!! Your card is just Darling! Love the air brushed clouds and your bakers twine train track!! And Super way to store your cards!! I am definitely going to follow your lead on that!! ;-)

Hugs
Shannon

[Kelley_R]

Cute card, and another stamp set I need! :)

[Charmaine Ikach]

ADORABLE, Carole!! Loved your thought process! I totally need to take your tip on writing everything down as I'm creating. That's a great tip!

[Taylor]

Such a cute card, Carole! And so fun to see how you work! I need a card organizer drawer like you have.. I'm the type that leaves them strewn everywhere and then when I need a certain one I can never find it!

[Jen Shults]

I love seeing pictures of your work in progress! Your card turned out so so cute!

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ce un poste fantastique!