Guess what? I’m learning how to create my own video tutorials! up to now, my dd has created all of my vids, but she’ll be leaving me in the fall…(sniff) to go to college, so I figured I’d better learn how to do this stuff before she’s GONE! lol………..here ya go!
It’s that time of year again, when FCD will begin it’s search for a new Design Team!! The submissions will open July 15th, and will close Aug.15th. More details will be posted as we get closer to July. So if you are interested, stay tuned! In the mean time, here are a few tips!
These FEW TIPS were put together by members of my DTs. I hope they help for future submissions.
1. Be sure to scan/photograph your art STRAIGHT, and CROP them…a poorly scanned or crooked image will not be viewed with friendly eyes. We want to see your art, not the table, not your pretty wood floor, etc…cropping is important…..
2. If it’s too far away, we won’t be able to SEE the details. If you are taking a photograph, make sure you are close enough that we can see what it is.
3. Watch things like lighting, shadows, glare, and blurry images. FIX these things with your photo software. If you can’t fix it, retake the photo. Blurry images show either you don’t know how to use your software, or you don’t care enough about your work to present it in the BEST way!
4. Focus on STAMPING!! FCD tip: This is a stamping DT, we want to see how you use your stamps, it’s great if you can use patterned papers and put together a card, but this is a stamp team, so you need to showcase the stamps.…not those pretty papers. (you can USE the papers, but be sure to include stamped images, not just die cuts). Good tip here, be sure for what ever team you are trying out for that you pay attention to the products requested.
5. Don’t apply for a team, if you don’t really LOVE their stuff…..if you DO love it, shout it out loud!! Enthusiasm is a key part of any design team!!
6. Design Teams mean COMMITMENT! Pay attention to the length of time the team will run, and what the submission requirements are. If you are spread too thinly, your work will suffer. If you have major events coming up in your life that may prevent you from finishing your DT obligation, .reconsider trying out; or ask to submit for an Artist Spotlite position. (Many vendors, including FCD use Guest Designers for special occasions, spotlite art, etc) We vendors rely on YOU to help us get the word out!!
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tips from Jen:
-create balanced projects, use the “rule of 3″
-make sure all your stamped images are stamped cleanly. if you mis-stamp, try again.
-if you stamp something crooked, start over. don’t try to fix it, don’t leave it, just redo it.
-have a nice sharp blade in your cutter to get crisp cut lines with no cardstock fraying. cut STRAIGHT.
-keep layer borders even and straight (for layers that should be straight!) (I can’t stress this one enough!! If you are submitting for a DT, DO your BEST work!!! and watch for adhesives peaking out behind layers!!-PC)
-SCORE, SCORE, SCORE. especially with SU cardstock, it will crease and crack in the wrong spots if you don’t score it and those flaws are visible.
-make sure your coloring is even and stays inside the lines {unless that’s not what you were going for}
-watch your dirty fingers! adhesive and ink transfer easily onto skin, and back to your card where you don’t want it. {glitter does too, LOL}. pay attention or you may be very upset when you get a big smudge at the end of a 3 hour project.
-sometimes if I’m having trouble making a project end up “just right” I walk away from it - either literally, or I start on something else for awhile. don’t force it. you’ll probably find that you will come back later and know just what you need to make it PERFECT.
-always do your best work. if you wouldn’t be willing to post the card you make for all the world to see, then you probably don’t think you have done your best work and maybe you want to revisit the design process.
-however, don’t feel like every project you make has to be a Picasso, or use a special technique, or whatever. if it is a good project, that will come through no matter how many techniques you use. there are times that less is more. (FCD tip: this is a stamping DT, altho techniques are not required to submit, they do show you are not afraid to get down and dirty…lol-PC)
-also, I got a good tutorial from WAYYYYY back off of Keri Serika’s blog on making your own infinity board for photographing stuff (not like it’s hard, more of the “lightbulb” moment for me). $0.79 and viola, no more background clutter, and no more cardstock-propped-together lines either in your picture backgrounds.
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tips from Brenda:
Only two of the DTs I’m on did I submit work. (The other 2, I was asked, so didn’t have to.) So, take a look at what the company’s images are to see if you think you’ll fit. No one will be happy if you can’t work w/ the style of images. But also, don’t be afraid to stretch yourself. I always thought I was terrible w/ cute images. I don’t think I’m quite as bad as I originally thought, and working w/ cute now and then helps me.
Also, if you have some of the images from the company you’re submitting to, then by all means, use them. For the 2 I submitted, I didn’t have any, so I don’t think it’s a real drawback if you don’t. Just make sure you submit your best work. Pick items that really showcase your talents and play up your strengths. Like I’m pretty good w/ water coloring, so I want to include a card that showcases it. But also, pick some that are a little different from each other. Different techniques or compositions. Different coloring methods. You want to show your versatility and creativeness. Don’t rely totally on designer papers to pull you through, but it’s ok to include them on a card or two. Same goes for embellishments. If you’ll notice, I don’t tend to use a lot of these. I have some, I just forget. Then when I remember, I think, hmmm, that would be overkill. Make sure your work can stand on its own. All the wonderful embellishments in the world will not save a mediocre card. Embellishments should enhance, not overwhelm. And maybe it’s just me, but I suggest picking your colors carefully. You want to attract the viewer. If you’re not sure if colors will go, use a color wheel or get inspiration from cards you really like.
Well, that’s all I can think of right now; that’s my philosophy on cards and I’m sticking to it, lol.
Hey you wanna see a bunch of ways you can use Coffee filters?
Ursula posted a whole list of ways on her blog…here…
have fun!
I can add one to the list:
Use a coffee filter to clean the glass on your scanner/copier. Doesn’t leave any lint behind, and works great!
This is an oldie but a goodie,and maybe something you’ve not thought of….lol….I use an old mouse pad and place it under my paper, to poke holes in my paper, with my paper piercer.
Don’t have a paper piercing tool? Pick up an embroidery needle the next time you are at a store with a sewing department. The embroidery needles are wider and make a better sized hole; excellent for pushing your brads thru too.
Pierce holes for brads, thread ribbon, or try the old fashioned pierced tin look!
Stamp sets used: Teen Chat, Be Mine Paper: CluB Scrap silk, Basic Grey, Halcraft card base Inks: Archival-Black, Adirondack-Lettuce, Chalk A Lots ( a dark red) Extras: Prima flowers, Shimmerz (angel wings) White Gel Pen (Hobby Lobby) Flower Brad (JoAnns) Bling-Target dollar bin Paper punch border-Multi Punch Lace Colors: wc pencils
Valentine's Day Card,Teen Chat, Be Mine
Actually I have two tips for ya….one is pretty basic, but maybe it never occurred to ya….and the other is one of those AHA moments….lol
the simple tip…when you are working on a card, and ya get a little schmutz on the back of the card, take an ink pad, and using the DTP (direct to paper) swipe the ink lightly all over the back, add a ‘made by’ stamp, or some other fun quote on the back, and you’ve ‘finished’ your back. Makes your card look very professional, instead of stained up…lol Heck, use two colors and mix em up a bit…lol
See how I got a bit of red ink on the back there?
Here’s how I fixed that…I’ve also added stamps from the Made by Me, and Innies and Outties-1 Everday quotes. lol
Tip number two.
Sometimes when I buy scrapbook paper collections, esp. Basic Grey, I get this cover sheet in the set, usually has little thumbnails of what the paper in the set looks like….know what I’m talking about? Why not cut those thumbnails up and use them on a card??
AHA moment!! Here’s my card to show you what I mean! I made this for my youngest sister, hopefully she does not read my blog….lol The thumbnail paper on this one is from well, I don’t remember what it’s from, cuz I cut it up some time ago, so I could share this tip with you all, but I’m only just now making some time to do it…lol…………but, I’m pretty sure it’s BasicG….altho..it COULD be DCWV…cuz I do have a couple of their sets too…hmmm…………Bueller? Bueller?? ANYONE?? lol
Stamps used: Happy Hour, Teen Chat (phrase) I used the ice cubes in the Happy Hour set, and colored them brown, with a white nut accent on top, to look like pieces of chocolate…he he he Isn’t this card just TOO fun!?
