Tuesday's Tip at Ten: Designing Cards with the Everyday Thanks

Tuesday's Tip at Ten

How do you design your cards? Do you make a sketch? Trial and error? 

These are the steps I use while designing cards. 

1. Pick at Stamp Set or Designer Series Paper. That will help determine what kind of card or the color scheme. 

2.  Next, I usually start with an idea (my own idea, from a swap, or Pinterest inspired) and sketch it on a piece of printer paper. If I designing more than one card with the same stamp set I will fold the paper to make 4 sections.  

3. Then I get measurements. Either I make my own if they are unknown or I measure the swap I have with my Paper Trimmer. 

4. After I have the measurements, I cut the paper and die cut pieces I need (labels & shapes). 

5. Finally I get stamping! But I don't glue anything down until I like it. 

6. Once things are glued down, I decide if I "really" like it. I look at the colors I used, the embellishments and may switch it up. My first card is rarely the same as my final product. 

7. If I happy with it, I take pictures and then write up a tutorial for others to love it too! 

 

For my Everyday Thanks card I started with the card on the left. I loved Pretty Peacock and wanted to try that color first for my stethoscope.  But I wasn't sold on it. I used lots of embellishments but didn't love that either. So back to the drawing board, but with the same layout. 

So I decided to drop the Linen Thread and try heat embossing instead of just stamping. I even tried a different cardbase color and placement of the saying. 

I started with the card on the left and ended up with the card on the right as my final favorite. All are good cards and I will send all of them to my Mom, but it took me 3 tries to find the one that made me the most happy. 

What do you think? Do you have a favorite from these 3 and if so, why? 

Click HERE to see the Tutorial on how to make the card above. 

Happy Stampin' Everyone!!!