January Creative Chat-Creative Process

It's time for the MFT Creative Chat. The My Favorite Things Design Team Creative Chat is a monthly feature, where we are challenged to explore our creative spaces and share valuable organizational methods, tools, and shopping strategies with you. You'll be able to peek into our creative spaces, ask questions, and share your own ideas in the MFT forum. This month, we were challenged with the following:

• Show us your creative mind at work. Take us on a journey through a card-making session, start to finish.

• How do you select colors, layout, embellishments, and overall design?


• Share your creative process with us!

Every card of mine starts with a good sketch....or something close to one. I almost always start with a sketch I have found on my travels through the internet on my trusty Acer. Sweet Stop Sketch is one of my faves, but I have LOTS of faves!

Next, I try to pick a stamp set that I either haven't used, or will best fit my sketch....not always easy!! I have this wooden crate CD holder on my desk at all times, and it holds the latest releases from the companies I work for. I pick my stamps usually based upon what is new...but not always. I try to let the sketch inspire me, along with my mood. Sometimes, I feel like coloring, and sometimes I don't...I NEVER try to force it...it never works!!

Next, I chose a paper...I have a TON of paper(and more on the way...I'm weak) so I try to use a different paper pack everyday, as not to let them overlap. It doesn't always work, but I try!! From there, I chose my paper colors. I always get comments on my color choices, but honestly, I let the paper chose for me. It may seem crazy and off the wall, but if the colors are there, I use them...no matter how wild and crazy it gets!!



So that I can pick my colors, and make sure they match, I used my Copic coloring chart. I use it to pick everything from my marker colors, ribbon colors, to my card stock colors. It's nice having that kind of color reference at your finger tips!! As for choosing embellishments, I just go with what feels good. My staples are silver...everything, and lots of ribbons. I love brads, and try to use them on every card.....it's a sickness. Ribbon is my FAVORITE...I like lots and lots of it. I have two Ribbon Carousel's FULL of ribbon, and its SO nice having it all right there. My other loves are paper piercing...can't live without it, and LOTS of layers.



When all else fails, I turn to YOU, my fellow stampers. I surf through the galleries at Splitcoast and Two Peas and I can get lost for hours!! Blog surfing, and my Google reader are constants in my search for inspiration.

So basically my process goes something like this:

1. Chose a sketch or layout.
2. Chose my stamps based on new releases, new purchases, and what fits. If none of that applies, I go with what feels good.
3. Pick a paper to work with.
   
4. Chose card stock colors based upon those papers.
5. Color image based on paper colors.
6. I build my card from the image and base, up. I layer and embellish as the card goes along.
   
7. Embellish until it feels right!! Sometimes I like a lot, sometimes a little!!

Well, that is it for me for now!! Thanks for taking a look inside my crazy stamping brain!!

Visit Kim's Blog for a full list of designers that have taken up the challenge and get ready to delve into the minds of our creative team.