simple dreams

Backgrounders - what makes them special?

It was with great interest that I learned the story of Cornish Heritage Farms (CHF) and the details regarding their backgrounders. My little discovery in backgrounder history started about a year ago. It has been an absolute privilege and delight to be able to work with and get to know Richard and Liz Pomeroy, the owners of this family owned business, over this past year. I am VERY much looking forward to meeting them at CHA in a couple of days! I hope that you enjoy the tale of the road to backgrounder discovery that I have followed.

I fell in love with background stamps as a Stampin' Up! demonstrator. It was one of my passions to "collect" background stamps and use them to create distinctive papers and looks. I do believe that I owned almost every Stampin' Up! background available - LOL! One of the details that intrigued me greatly was the discovery that SonLight Impressions was the manufacturer of the first background stamps that Stampin' Up! carried. When Stampin' Up! grew they decided to open their own plant and manufacture their own backgrounds. DId you already know this? It was one of those "duh" moments for me - no wonder I loved the CHF backgrounders! Backgrounders were actually "the" first backgrounds created - LOL!

CHF purchased SonLight Impressions in 2005 and they have strived to provide their customers with well-made, high quality products at fantastic prices and with great service. There are little details that we as consumers don't really pay much attention to, but it is this attention to detail that makes a deep-etched red rubber stamp completely distinct from acrylic stamps or lesser quality rubber stamps.

So what makes this difference? It all begins with a metal master plate which is usually made by an engraving company. This is typically done with a chemical etching process - the deeper the etching the higher the rubber image will stand up away from it's background. This is where the "deep etched" part comes in to play. It costs more to make a deep etched master plate, but the difference truly shows in the detail. Cornish Heritage Farms uses this deep etch process to create their stamps.

Then the metal plate is used to make a matrix board. This is a negative plate of your images. There are different materials used to make these matrix boards - some withstand a little pressure and others withstand a lot. Well, CHF wants their images to stamp with precise detail and therefore they use the materials that will withstand a lot of pressure.

The rubber comes on big rolls. Guess what - there are different types of rubber. The denser the rubber, the better your stamped image detail will be. This of course costs more as well, but CHF continues with their pride in quality by selecting the densest rubber available. This rubber is cut to fit the plate size and put into a vulcanizer with the matrix board which has the stamp images impressed into it. Heat and pressure are applied. The greater the pressure, the greater the certainty that the rubber will get squeezed into each and every crevice of the matrix plate.

Therein lies the beauty of a red, rubber stamp - detail. Detail that will not be lost or damaged when the stamp is inked repeatedly or heat is applied for special background techniques.

I believe that Cornish Heritage Farms has achieved their mission and so it has been with great delight that I accepted their invitation to be a part of educating, selling and using backgrounders on a daily basis. Their new designs continue to be innovative and current - I am thrilled to be able to work with CHF!

Yesterday I shared the first of my new Lockhart image designs - today I wanted to share another new design and a different way to use your background stamps.

I began by coloring the image of the Leaves Backgrounder with Lyra Watercolor Crayons. Stampin' Up!s Watercolor Wonder Crayons are the exact same and I believe that Lyra probably makes them for Stampin' Up!

I then use a Mini Mister filled with water to lightly spritz the surface. The fine mist from this spritzer seems to be perfect for use in creating special effects when stamping. Next I placed my cardstock face down on to the colored stamp and rubbed my hand evenly over the entire surface. The look that results reminds me a little of those tie-dyed/marbled Easter eggs that Katrina likes Ü

This is where I decided to try something a little different - I wasn't certain if it would turn out, but I thought I will never know if I don't just try it. The jury was definitely still out once I had stamped the image, but after watercoloring in the cute little carrots and composing my card - I think I like it!

It is difficult to see in this photo, but the image from the background stamp is ever so light in behind the colored in pattern of the carrots. It really is ubber-cool in person!

Once again I selected an idea from Dave's book when composing this card - this one is from page 43. So many of you have purchased this wonderful book and I really want to help you put it to good use - thus the page references for you to be able to see his original idea and the twist I have used with his design. I am hoping to encourage you to begin looking at ideas you see in a new way.

Below is another sketch for you to try. Each of the little circles represents an embellishment, with the focal point layer separated by a small "gap".   

OK - so what is with the bright red lines on this sketch? I wanted to share with you how it is that I select the positioning of my focal point when designing a new layout. Many times I use the rule of thirds. Divide the project into thirds both vertically and horizontally with "X" marking the spot where you are trying to lead the viewer's eye. This is the approximate position that you should try to place your focal point image.

This will be my last creative post for a few days. I will try and find some time to log on from Anaheim. I have so many thoughts I have wanted to share with you regarding trends, what I think will be new, yada, yada, yada. Why is there just not enough time in the day (or night) to do all of these things? Here's to hoping for a few minutes here and there to bring you some of the fabulous creativity that will be my viewing pleasure over the next few days!

COLOR...

it heightens our perception and intensifies our emotions and psychological reactions. To become proficient with color, you must spend time studying it and working with it. There have been numerous color “systems” developed in an attempt to put order to color; to try and make it easier to understand. Some are simple and others are technical. I’ll try to keep it simple, yet bring you in to why I find it so very fascinating.

After studying color I realized that I would never take my eyes for granted again – they are amazingly complex… way too complex for me to even begin to understand. Hopefully this information will help you begin to understand how we perceive color and therefore give you a basis on which to build your knowledge.

It is the color system of white light that mystifies me, yet intrigues me. It is important for artists and designers to pay attention to the “source” of light in which they work. Different light sources (natural-sun, incandescent, fluorescent, halogen) will change the color perception.

What is most amazing to me is that the color our brain perceives is not tangible, it’s not real. Light information is carried to our brain through the optic nerve via wavelengths – so what we see is not actually color, but vibrating wavelengths that are emitted from the surface of every object. Each color “hue” has its own wavelength. These wavelengths also determine a color’s intensity. The intensity of a color will change dependent on the amount and type of available light.

This is why many have such a difficult time picking colors for painting walls – what is perceived as “the color” on a north wall will be different from what is perceived on a south wall. This is because the light source varies in type and amount. Color selected under halogen light will be perceived differently under incandescent light or natural light.

So, is it important to truly comprehend and understand this perception of color? Most likely only if you want to pursue a career in the visual arts – LOL. BUT, knowing a little of what is behind these theories will help make it easier for you to make decisions when it comes to selecting and understanding color combinations.

The point of this dialogue is… if you want to have consistency when you “see” color be certain to use good light, consistent light. This will allow you the freedom to look at your colors with the “same eye” each and every time.

My next attempt will be at starting to break down some of the color information by sharing examples – thus I will need to write up information as well as “create” examples. This will take some time, but hopefully the waiting will be worth it in the long run. Following is my first real “lesson” in color. It’s kind of tricky trying to break down four years worth of education into little information packed capsules – I hope I do this all justice. Especially when I run around like a chicken without a head trying to keep up with all I have heaped on my plate Ü 

I would also like to thank those of you who have taken the time to let me know that you are excited about this, that you are looking forward to what it is that I will try and share. I hope I can keep up with you all and I thank each of you for sharing in my excitement.

THE MANY MOODS OF COLOR!

Color psychology – it sounds so profound. How does color make us feel? Did you know that the color wheel was developed more from the perception of humans and their psychological reaction to color than any scientific theory? I’ll explain the whole color wheel concept at some point, but it is the “moods” of color that I find compelling.

Color evokes feelings, it represents ideas, and so, if you learn to choose appropriate colors for the feelings you are trying to convey it will bring your work to a new level. Knowing the association will inform your color choices.

PURPLE – is the color of royalty, spirituality, bravery and sophistication. It can feel mysterious and even threatening when mixed with black. When mixed with white it is romantic, nostalgic and dainty.

BLUE – communicates trust, confidence, serenity, and reliability. It can also convey a feeling of loneliness or sadness. The lighter shades of blue are lighthearted and positive. Blue is the most favored hue.

GREEN – for some is a kind, generous color, which represents loyalty and intelligence. It symbolizes fertility, growth, life and healing. Yet for others it invokes feelings of envy and greed.

YELLOW – brings about a feeling of optimism and happiness. It is a cheerful, energetic color that can stimulate your imagination.

ORANGE– is vibrant, exotic, and flamboyant – it gets your attention! It cheers and it stimulates appetite and conversation.

RED – is HOT! Passionate, festive, exuberant, romantic are all words used alongside the color red. Other feelings brought out by the color red are danger, aggression and excitement. Pink is a feminine, tender, affectionate form of this color.

WHITE – brings life to other colors. It is clean, pure, youthful, simple and innocent.

BLACK – can be sophisticated and mysterious. It can also show authority and discipline.

GRAY - is a lifeless color. It depicts practicality and sadness.

BROWN – represents stability, simplicity and comfort. It is a conservative color.

When you become stumped with a project that you are working on – not knowing what colors to even start with think about the feeling or “mood” you want your work to portray. Think about each hue and what it means to you. Your definition for each of the colors above may be entirely different then mine. I challenge you to take out a piece of paper right now and list all of the colors above and then write down what feelings these colors bring forth in you. Then when you go to create a project think about what feeling you would like to represent. Are you sending an exuberant, happy birthday card, or do you need to convey your heartfelt sympathy to a special friend? Do you want to invite guests to a sophisticated black tie affair or a jumpin’ kid’s party?

When I actually take the time to think about the feelings that I want a card to portray my cards improve dramatically. For example when I created this slipper card – brown was used to convey comfort, soft yellow to show happiness and optimism and soft blue trust and confidence. The colors go hand in hand with the sentiment.

Here is another example – it is EASY to see where I was going with this design Ü

Pink – totally feminine - Hmmm – to you think it’s for a girl – LOL! But the green adds in a feeling of life – newborn life.

This scrapbook page has a story behind it – to me it is a meaningful, sentimental story. This page was created in honor of my father-in-law. Many of you have seen this page, but I have never explained the choices behind my selections. I might use it again for other parts of the “lessons” I’ll be sharing just because I did put a lot of “emotional” thought behind this creation.

When I sit down to create a page, a card, a project I don’t get all “theory” oriented, but I do think about what it is that I want to reveal. Being that I wanted to see the “soul” in these pictures I removed all the color from the photos – I wanted to draw the eye in to the faces in each segment. I then picked two colors – Not Quite Navy and Brown. The blue symbolized trust and confidence, but more so, it denoted the sadness I was feeling at that time. Losing two fathers in less than a year truly does something to ones spirit - it was a difficult emotion for me to accept. The brown brings forth the sense of comfort that creating this type of piece brought to me. By thinking about my father-in-law and putting my feelings on paper it brought a sense of healing to my heart.

The loss of my own father is still too fresh – I can’t quite bring myself to do something like this yet. But I do know that when I am ready I will allow myself to express my feelings, my moods, and I will use color to portray what it is that I am thinking.

As you design your cards, your scrapbook pages, and your paper craft projects, think about the feelings you want to evoke and perhaps selecting colors will become an easy part of the process. You won’t need to look at what someone else did – all you will need to do is think “what feeling do I want my card to bring out in the person I am sending it too?” and the decision will become apparent. Explore your many moods of color!!!

Elements and Principles of Design

I'm not certain why this fascinates me so much, but it does. In fact I notice it fascinates my DD's too. As little girls they were perfectly infatuated with "Donald Duck in Mathmagicland" - LOL. Math and the arts go hand in hand - you might find it rather odd that Math was a simple thing for me and I found it rather interesting - LOL. So much for the blonde excuse now I guess :D

The teacher in me wants to share everything I know, but the realist knows that it will take me hours to do so. Therefore I'm going to try and do this in a series perhaps, or get as much out as I can in as short a statement as possible. Thus I'd better quit jabbering and get down to it. Tonight I'm going to try and list the Elements and Principles and then I'll work my way through them as I find the time.

THE SEVEN ELEMENTS OF DESIGN

Design - it's an arrangement or a way of organizing things. The elements of design are what our eyes see and then our brain decodes. These elements effect our senses - they are what we organize in design. The Elements of Design are the building blocks of your artistic creations.

1-Color - has three properties:

• hue - represents a specific color or light wavelength in the color spectrum. Red, yellow, green, blue and back to red again.
• value - lightness or darkness of a color - measured from white to black
• intensity - brightness or dullness of a color.

2-Line - boundaries or connections in your layouts. Line has many variables - size, shape, direction, position, number, and density.

3-Space - the area between and around objects on a layout. Positive AND negative space.

4-Shape - circles, squares, rectangles - if you can draw the shapes, you can draw anything Ü

5-Form - 3-d shape. Create an illusion of form in your artwork.

6-Texture - surface characteristics that you can see (visual) and feel (tactile); rough, smooth, glossy -etc.

7-Value - again the lightness or darkness of color. Artists devote years of study to this one element which creates 3-dimensions to your 2-dimensional art.

THE FIVE PRINCIPLES OF DESIGN

The principles of design are the tools by which you can arrange the elements of design in your layouts. It is the organization of a work of art.

1-Formal and Informal Balance - it's a physical symmetry. When the elements of design are brought together to create a sense of unity it will be more visually pleasing.

2-Emphasis/Variety - dominance - giving an object more importance than any other part of a layout creates a focal point or emphasis - a point on which to rest your eye. Variety keeps it interesting. Variety or contrast can be created by the juxtaposition of opposite elements (i.e. line - straight/curved; color-red/green) in close proximity of one another.

3-Rhythm & Movement- repetition of elements of design to create agreement. Repetition can be one element of design repeated at consistent intervals. Gradation - progression of size, color, direction - causes your eye to move around a layout.

4-Proportion - the relation of one part to another in a layout.

5-Harmony/Unity - when all objects in your layout give you a sense of oneness or the work is presented as a whole, not in separate little sections it has Unity. Harmony in music results in a pleasing tone to the ears; harmony in art results in a pleasing work to the eye.

WOW - that took me a LOT longer than I remember it taking me in the midst of my studies. I even had to drag out some of my old notes - LOL! The good news is that I will try and break down each one of these over the next while. Please let me know if you find this helpful, so that I will continue on this merry pursuit. If I don't hear anything I'll know that it's pretty boring stuff to most of you and that I'm an oddity for certain (insert big grin). OK- I'm off to get some shuteye. Talk to you all tomorrow.