The
best cards are the ones that have been truly thought out, with
the designs evolving over time, thought will make a card work
and make a card sellable,
Looking back at my early attempts at card making I often laugh
at the designs, thinking how hideous my first attempts were
compared to what I am doing now, of course this is natural yet
how does one know when one is on the right track?
How can one judge whether you are getting there or simply turning
out cards for the sake of it?
When
card making, try to achieve something unique and original, experimentation
and thought are the key ingredients to achieving a look that
is unique and original to yourself.
If
you have come up with a clever idea through thinking and experimenting
it will be hard for others to copy your idea.
So
can this be achieved by utilizing bits that stick on? well yes
you can but by utilising your brain and experimenting often
you can come up with a much more unique and original idea.
For
example most people tend only to utilise the center of the card,
sticking their artwork bang in the middle, why not try the left
hand side or see how it looks on the right etc., experiment,
anything goes in card making there are no rules to break, it
just has to work.
Research
Research
will make all the difference to your card designing, studying
and close examination of objects will inspire you to find the
small detail that will make your design work far better than
before, study a fully blown up balloon or a champagne bottle,
you will be amazed at what you pick up from this, the shape
of the label, how the light is reflected etc.
Different
scenarios
Take
a photo of a champagne bottle being uncorked - what does it
really look like?
What details can you pick up from this, try it and see, hopefully
you will find textures, depth and decorative ideas you never
noticed before.
Take
a good hard look at things you commonly use in your card making,
take photos of picture postcard scenes and keep them for your
reference you will be amazed at how this spills over into your
card making in many clever little ways and it will inspire you
no end.
Also
go out to the shops and check out what the professionals are
doing, this is very inspirational, rather than copying any of
the designs take inspiration from a small part of the design
and build on it, by using your brain you can come up with your
own clever idea which will be different again.
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