May 2, 2014

ReDesign on a Dime: Laura Bassen

First, the card and then the talk!



Thanks so much for the comments on my last post, where I expressed frustration with my stamping.  Read them, pondered, and eventually settled on a new-for-now approach.  I'm calling is ReDesign on a Dime (sounds like a HGTV show, doesn't it?).

It marries my limited design skills and budget with my desire to stamp.  I take something another stamper has made and make it with my own supplies. 

Today I took this card made by the so fun and talented superstar Laura Bassen.  It is intimidating to put her card next to mine, but Laura graciously agreed so here goes!


Isn't Laura's card gorgeous?  Loved the colors and the gray triangles on the background.  If you look closely, you'll see that Laura wrapped some white twine under the popped up flowers.

My ReDesign on a Dime Process:

1.  I have one floral outline set with single flowers big enough for this design.  (How did that happen??)  Colored the flowers with Copics, hand cut, and edged with Ranger Distress inks.

2.  Since I did not have a background like Laura's and don't have pale gray ink, I substituted some patterned paper.

3.  I did not wrap any twine under my flowers because I would have made a hot mess. 

4.  Added the exclamation point by hand because the sentiment was not centered.  Looks better in person!

Thanks to Laura for her talent!  Laura's card is better and here's why -- the green leaves are darker and provide more contrast.   She clustered her flowers closer together, which works to form a better focal point. Plus, her flowers have same colored centers to pull them together.   And, the gray and white background is lighter and trendy.

But, I didn't spend any money buying new things to make this card and it was much easier to have Laura's card as a model and I learned a few things.  A win!

MOOD WHEN DONE = Intimidated but Happy!  

Supplies:

Stamps:  Simon Says Stamp  Best Mom Ever!
Ink:  Memento Tuxedo, Ranger Distress
Paper:  Base card is white Recollections; patterned paper is unknown
Other: Copics, adhesive, dimensionals

22 comments:

Hannelie said...

Your card is JUST AS beautiful!
Great job!

Barbara V said...

This comment has been removed by the author.

Barbara V said...

I LIKE your card!

merryf said...

Your card is gorgeous! I love your new Redesign idea!

SherylH said...

Great card and great idea as well -- more please!

Janet said...

What did they call that HGTV show where designers came in and rearranged a home without buying new stuff? Your Redesign idea is like that but better since I have more stamps and paper than furniture!!!

Laura B. said...

Love your beautiful card! Your Copic coloring is gorgeous! Don't be so hard on yourself....you're starting to sound like me:) I'm just glad you were inspired and found stuff you already had on hand to work with. Hugs!

Sara Mac said...

I love your card Joan! This is a great re-design of Laura's card. Such a good idea to help jump start creativity and use what you have on hand.

Noukie said...

Yay! so I ´m not the only one! :) unfortunately, creativity is definitely NOT my thing. Coming up with an original idea can tak me hours and I ´m never quite satisfied with the results but when it comes to re-designing!! (I hope you don ´t mind if I borrow your words...) well, it makes me happy because it removes the stress of creating and allows me to craft as much as I want with whatever I have :) my motto is, if you put your projects out on the net you consent to inspiring someone else... (obviously, I don ´t sell anything I make, so nobody send me death threats concerning copyrights, I am more than willing to gove credit to the Creatives...) Thanx for sharing

Erica said...

Well, at the very least, I like your BG a lot better. It goes with the flowers. Yes, possibly the flowers could be closer, but I think that it is a matter of style. It's a great re-design and saving $$, and possibly storage space, is important. Have a great weekend.

Debbie Olson said...

Hey, Joan, I'm a huge Laura B. fan too, and you did a great job! I have often been tempted to write a blog series on how to use what you have instead of feeling like you have to place "one more order" before you can make anything, but my husband thinks that it probably wouldn't be great for my job longevity. . . ;-D Kudos to you!

Joan B said...

LOL Debbie. Good point. Your job is to sell. Mine is to avoid bankruptcy!

Michelle said...

So, SO pretty.... and, hey, I have that stamp too! Off I go to make a Mother's Day card. Thanks for the inspiration!

Meg M. said...

I am grateful for what you are doing and how you are sharing, Joan. While I think that I would love to be able to buy whatever I want to - I can tell you that from doing that for a year or so I can see my creativity suffering and other parts of my life because I am drowning in *stuff* now. You are a wise woman and a beautiful artist. I appreciate you.

Kathy D said...

Joan, I love your ReDesign on a Dime card! Don't be so hard on yourself. And I'd make a "hot mess" out of the twine, too. ;-)

Becca G said...

Laura's card has just the right touch of everything.Yours is getting there -- I like! don't give up love your new approach

Susie said...

Great idea. I love Laura's work very much. Your card turned out so beautifully. I rarely make anything that's originally mine but rather rely on skilled stamper's samples for inspiration.

Joyce said...

What a clever and catchy name for what you did. I love your card, and think that you are being much too hard on yourself. It is beautiful.

Julia Aston said...

I love your card Joan B - great background pattern and lovely blooms (personally - I like YOURS better!)

Leslie Miller said...

They are both beautiful, Joan! Different flowers and paper, but very similar -- I see no negatives on your card -- only beauty. Too many supplies and stamps can be overwhelming and actually impede creativity. I like your "redesign on a dime" idea!

Kelly Bee said...

I think they're both equally lovely!

Tanis Scott said...

Cool idea, Joan! I love Laura B. Looking forwarding to seeignwhat else you have in store.

I chose Laura last year for Clear and Simple Stamps' Spread the Love campign, so I totally know how intimidating it is to post a card next to one of hers. I also see what you mean about the specific elements of her card that worked really well, but yours turned out really nice, and the recipient will just be looking at that, not making a comparison!