Focal points

Last week I won the random drawing over at Our Daily Bread Designs, Yay!  This meant a 15.00 gift certificate in their store.  In the event I would win the drawing I had a stamp set picked out. So when I won the drawing I had the new set ordered in about 15 minutes and it shipped that day which meant I would have it in time for this weeks drawing!! I was a little busy last week so the card Just got made and I will enter it in this weeks challenge!  
I don't enter a lot of challenges- about three a week, I see some cards are entered in a dozen or more, that is not for me.  I try to keep my card making on track with purpose - to encourage others, whether it a bible verse or just a pretty card I try to stay true to purpose. 
 I love  card making; it is a small scale art form that I can do and maybe teach others.  The whole process is very relaxing and gives me an opportunity to express my self, I like the idea of helping others to do that too!
Teaching is one of the purposes of this blog, I try to offer tips on card making, supply recommendations, and just fun random artsy stuff. 

Approaching card making as an art form gives the card maker a framework for creativity.  It isn't just slapping together papers, coloring a rubber stamp image schlocking it on a card base and adding a 'thinking of you' sentiment.  It may be that at first, but if this craft gets a hold of you, it becomes so much more!

There four basic elements I will be teaching a online class on in the near future :
Focal points
Composition
Color
Quality
To produce beautiful cards you have to invest some time in understanding  these basics and then making them happen.

My card today (and entry in the Our Daily Bread Designs ), using my new stamp: I used the verse as the cards'  focal point.  This card is pretty simple when you look at it, but it contains layers and textures and a unique gate fold that makes this card very nice ( in my opinion).  I'll have to make an envelope to mail this card, and that will give me another opportunity for creativity.


When I started making cards I really had no style (that takes time) and I tried making cards at card classes, I just never felt happy with them ( I still go to card classes and think my cards flunk every time)  It really does take some time to develop as an artist and enjoy the process.  I still make lots of duds, but I have a great deal of fun in it along the way!
Stop over to the ODBD challenge and make a card, enter and you might win a stamp set too!  ODBD has lots of beautiful quality stamps in sentiments and images!


Here are two images for you that I think would make a beautiful focal points, two very different styles.




Thanks for stopping by!
Ginny M

Comments

Alshandra said…
Another wonderful card Ginny. Love the rich tones in the layers and the embossing. Beautiful verse to use too. Thank you for joining the ODBD Shining the Light challenge again. Elizabeth
Jan Castle said…
Well said Ginny....Congrats on the win!
Paper Hugs,
Jan
Congrats on your win, Ginny!!! I am so glad you had the opportunity to place your order for stamps and make a card for the challenge with the beautiful verse!! Your framing is so pretty in the gold and embossing! Gorgeous layering and design!! It certainly makes the verse the focal point and it will indeed be an encouragement to the recipient!! Thanks for joining us again this week at ODBD!!
blessings,
Chris

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