Anyway, if you get chance, download the Utah Baby Guide
My Frame Project in Utah Baby Guide! Read More »
You can also check out the freebies and sales here.
So go check out some of the fabulous new cards! Here’s a sampling of some of the new stuff! All these cards are created by Jen Allyson or myself! Click on the photo to go to that category at card nirvana!
The place card is on sale right now so check it out! I can’t wait to use them for my easter dinner!
You’ll also find our awesome wedding announcements when you click on the image above.
Thanks for looking! New cards are uploaded all the time so check back for new invites and cards!
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Spring Arrivals at Card Nirvana Read More »
How delectable is this?
Makes you want to go and make a beautiful cake, huh? Here’s a couple more to make your mouth water:
Felicity is turning two in April and I will definately be trying to use one of their cakes (there are 14 and I could eat them all right now!). Go take a look at how beautiful they are! I’ll be posting a little later on a book I found that makes me oh, so happy! A few pretty photos to boot for inspiration!
And a quick newsbite: I buckled down and painted my living room yesterday! The jury is still out on the color. I’ll be posting it once I have the room a little more put together! Still need to get the curtains up…
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Cake, cake, and cake Read More »
Here’s the Hybrid Project! I’ll be posting more pictures and instructions on putting together your own Tiny Town soon!
More Bella Bella 2! Links will be up soon for these! Just go to my regular 2Peas shop area for now!
I thought I’d give you a sneak peek at next weeks releases because I could also show you some great ways to use the Bella Bella Products (examples from the album!)
Here’s a closeup of the layout from some pictures I took of Siri on the playground.
More products for next weeks release: one more Bella Bella 2 accesories and a digikit—April Showers!
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Two Peas Releases Today! Read More »
So here’s my “springtime” moment for you! Flowers from the deco files at Domino Magazine! I found flowers used beautifully in rooms and on their own! Enjoy!
I am SO into this room…there’s something so homey, but COOL about it. You know what I mean? I just love the flowers…so casual but sophisticated!
I’m in LOVE with this arrangement….and the room!
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I just finished laying my two daughters down to bed and I sang our traditional, “Baby’s Boat A Silver Moon.” I was drawing on Siri’s back (my five year old), and when I finished the song, I told them good night, I love them, and was about to leave the room. Siri said, “Stop Mom! I need to draw a heart on your back so you will always remember that I love you!”
How sweet is that?
And that is why I’m a mommy. For moments like that.
Why Parenting is Rewarding Read More »
Basically, I tried to use things I already had around the house. I supplemented it with stuff from Ikea, Antique Shops, and Home Goods (for my budget). I tried really hard to stick to the basics—storage and lighting. I added the numbers because I was inspired by a page in a Pottery Barn decorating book. I REALLY wish I could paint the wall to give everything a nice pop…but since I can’t paint, I’ll try to bring in color other ways (for example, I’d love to paint that wood table I have that is acting as my desk).
My big bargain buy was a total accident! I got that new chair for $12 down from $150 at Home Goods. It’s a great basic color and I can see recovering it in the near future. I’m also in love with the lamp!
This is the top view of the shelves. I bought the shelves from Ikea. Since I have so little space, I worked my way up to utilize space.
My desktop…lots of sketching, facebooking, and designing happen here.
Here was my “number” inspiration to help tie things together a bit. It makes it all a little more graphic:). I printed numbers, used sign stickers, and house numbers.I need a seriously big number to put on the wall but haven’t found one yet.
Here’s the inspiration for the numbers: A Pottery Barn decorating book.
My tray on the desk keeps me “organized”. Well, sort of, I just dump things in it. It makes the desk less cluttered. It also holds my ugly hard drive (hidden under my Arts & Crafts book!).
Here are my easy-peasy tags for my jars. I used My Minds Eye Rub-On Alphas and printed out the tags from these templates I made. You can download them here:
They are the same tag, set up for print-ready.
These are the My Minds Eye RubOns.
Setting it up on my computer:
I love the rubons because they are so simple and really take all the work out of this project.
Hope you enjoyed! I’m sure I”ll be changing this minispace as I find more “stuff.” I especially want to add more color. Have a great Saturday!
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My New Mini-Office Space & Free Tag Download Read More »
To see the entire collection so far, click on the flickr slideshow to the right. There are brand new releases along with everything in the entire line (you can get it all at Two Peas in a Bucket!)
Link to entire digital Bella Bella Collection (1 & 2)
Link to paper Bella Bella Collection-Bellezo Paper Pack & French Flea Market Pack at 2Peas (You can also find these at your local scrapbooking store.
This weeks releases:
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More of Bella Bella 2 at Two Peas in a Bucket Read More »
Melanie, the Community Manager at 2Peas also just featured one of Bella Bella’s packs on here blog. Check it out here. I’m in seventh heaven right now!!!!!
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Bella Bella: Find it in Paper, in Digital, and at Two Peas in a Bucket Read More »
I was just on the Domino Magazine website and what do I find on the front page? That they will no longer creating this fabulous magazine. It’s right about now that I am SO glad I saved most of my issues (I told you they’d come in handy, husband!). I loved this magazine because it always showcased beautiful “stuff” with a sophisticated flair. My favorite thing about this magazine was that they told you where they bought everything and how much it costed. Do you know how invaluable that is? I don’t know how many time I’ve been reading a Martha Stewart or Dwell maggy and LOVE something but can’t find it on the web ANYWHERE! It’s maddening. So this is my sad farewell to Domino! You will be missed!
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My Disappointment | Domino Magazine Will No Longer Be Published Read More »
I just found out that my project (posted below) was selected for the kids division for the etsy/apartment therapy contest!!!!! I am SO thrilled! Please go give me a thumbs up!
Thanks for the support!!!!
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I’m on Apartment Therapy! Give me a Thumbs Up!!! Read More »
Cost (about) $35
Materials
Old Frame (bought at an antique store) ($10)
Large piece of white board ( 4′ x 8′) cut down to 24″ x 36″ ($13 from Lowes)
Staple gun, staples
Paint (2oz bottle of paint or enough to cover surface of the frame) ($3)
Paint Brush | Sponge brush
Roller
Paint Tray
Chalkboard Paint ($13)
Hanging Hardware
Hammer and nails (for hanging)
I like to have my kids in the kitchen with me while I cook (they are usually running back and forth between me and the living room). I needed an art area that didn’t require me cleaning up the table so I came up with this framed chalkboard piece. I’m in a rental so I needed a pretty way to display the board (I couldn’t just paint the chalkboard onto the wall), plus, who doesn’t like a pop of color that looks like art?
1. If you bought an older frame or something that had artwork in it, you’ll need to pull out all the staples. My frame was bought from an antique shop for $10 and had a lot of old staples that needed to be pulled.
2. Paint the frame the color of your choice (I went with a seafoam blue) with your paint 9I used acrylic) and sponge brush or paint brush. Let dry and cover with a second coat if needed.
3. Paint the chalkboard paint on the large piece of white board (mine was 24” x 36”). I covered it using the roller to get a smooth finish for the first coat. I let it dry for 24 hours and then rolled on a second coat. I touched up with a paintbrush.
4. After the chalkboard area has dried I stapled the chalkboard piece to the frame using the staple gun.
5. I added hanging hardware to the back (follow your hardware instructions) and hung on my kitchen wall.
Here’s the finished product. And here’s my girls enjoying it! Yesterday Siri was helping me cook dinner and she would run between me and the stove (I’m taking the picture from the stove/sink area) and was writing down the instructions (coloring little pictures) on the chalkboard as we made dinner. It was SO cute! I especially liked here picture of the strawberry!
Some of my helpful hints
The white board I bought was from Lowes and came in 4” x 8” sheets. I ended up with 2 other HUGE sheets that I just let the kids doodle on until I get around to framing them as well. From this $13 sheet you can basically get 3 great art areas.
I try to find frames at antique stores, thrift shops, and discounts stores like Home Goods and Tuesday Mornings because then I don’t feel bad about the price and painting it!
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Frame it! My Kids’ New Chalkboard for the Kitchen! Read More »
I only saw the little red salad plate, which I bought all 12 they had in store (now that I see the whole set, I wish they had the bowl in the store too! I would have grabbed that baby up!). I have a set of Crate and Barrel white dishes and this red plate is the perfect accent! How much did I get those darling little plates for? $1.50 a piece… $18 later I’m a happy girl!
At 11:00am, I was headed to the antique shop where I meandered for an hour. Oh happy, meanderings!!!! I love this artists date thing. I just love antique stores because you can really find unique and loved items that have so many uses…I like finding some new use for these old items! I ended up buying a monster frame that was hideous for only $10!!!! And I’ll show it to you soon (I promise) because ever since I bought it, I have been dolling it up for a fantastic kids/kitchen project.
So I would consider my first artists date a total success. I just like giving myself the chance to see something different and new. And I’m addicted now! I can’t wait for the next one!
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My First Artists Date: Antique Shopping Read More »
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Discount on My Digital Scrapbooking Products at Two Peas in a Bucket! Read More »
Happy Valentine’s Day! Read More »
So my question is, Why are people afraid of empty space? I have heard some of the following remarks: it’s boring, it doesn’t look like much time was spent on it, it’s too simple, or it makes it more interesting if it is all covered up.
It’s interesting that these are some of the reasons why “empty space” is a problem. First of all, empty space, or negative space or white space, as a designer would call it, is really important all on its own. Negative space allows us to focus in on what is important and to draw contrast between the foreground and background. The important thing is to make good use of your negative space.
What do I mean by this? I mean, make your “empty space” count. Make it important. You do this by really creating an interesting shape with your background or doing things in the design that makes the foreground that much more important.
I think the use of negative space and this question of “use of empty space” brings up the question of what a designer’s responsibilities are. Is our only job to to make things look pretty? I hope not. When I first got into design I felt like it was the perfect marriage between marketing and art. As far as I’m concerned, designers are organizers. We take visual information and organize it in a way that it is easy to understand visually. That’s why negative space is so important. We need it to help organize the different elements that need to co-exist and give accurate information.
One way to do this is to simplify your designs. Probably the most famous example of a designer who decided to simplify his design is Lucian Bernhard. This German designer entered a competition for Priester matches and started out with a design with multiple layers of information and imagery. He stripped away everything until all he had left was the brand name and image of the product.
He won the competition because the poster clearly showed off the product and brand name. As a designer, that’s our job. To create focal point, the area where the eye rests or concentrates, that is strong and lets the audience know right away what the message is.
Here are a few examples negative space used well. Look at them and think very carefully about what your eyes is drawn to. Is there a logically way that you automatically look at this? Are you reading it left to right? Top to bottom? Or does the designer push you another way.
Saul Bass (famous for his movie poster)
Milton Glaser’s Bob Dylan Poster
Ellen Lupton’s Thinking with Type Cover
BluLima’s Let Them Eat Cake Screenprint Poster
These are just a few examples to get you thinking about negative space. One thing to be aware of is that negative space doesn’t have to be completely solid…it can be a pattern, texture…as long as it acts as the background. I just got a Nordstroms catalog in the mail that does this very thing. Lots of little watercolored silhouettes make up the background and add interest to the cover without taking away from the foreground image.
Here’s an article that explains how to use negative space in your artwork. They show some truly minimalist work where negative space is the main event. Check out the image with the -1. See how the use of texture still acts as negative space? Visit Tutorial 9.
Resources that you should check out!
Here’s a short article from a web designer who has a similar perspective on use of negative space. I like his short story and advice. Check out MyIntervals.
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Why the Empty Space? Read More »
A note about the chocolate cards—we used a white gel pen to write on them! You can write on them with black ink, but it’s a little hard to read.
Want to grab these free cards? Grab them here from Card Nirvana, my digital invitation store!
**The Card Nirvana download is no longer available! You can now download them directly from this link:
https://carinagardner.com/valentineskiddiecard.zip
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Valentine Gifts for Preschoolers Read More »
First, download my heart freebie here. Print is out as your template. Then you are going to want to cute out hearts from 3 different types of papers. I actually folded my heart template in half and folded the scrapbook paper too so my hearts were symmetrical. Then you want to glue stick three of the hearts together so they look like so:
I then punched a little hole in each of these with a “baby” hole puncher. and hung then on string. I think ribbon would be cute too, but at the moment I don’t have ribbon thin enough for this project. So string it was!
I did tie a little crochet lace around the top of the vase. I love how graphic this paper is because it feels so organic. I’d also suggest painting the branches white. I didn’t because I like the natural feeling of the branches, but I think that it could be a cute alternative.
Here’s my Kitchen 123 Recipe card I made to file away this project (See the recipe card post).
Grab the heart template freebie at my 4shared link: Heart Freebie Template
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Kitchen 123: Valentine Project and Heart Freebie Read More »
So almost more for me than anyone else, I created a line with Jen Allyson at 2Peas that will be released on Tuesday (Feb 10) called Kitchen 123. It is a recipe organization system. I created 2 different types of tab systems and a holiday tab set that I plan on using for more than just kitchen recipes, but for projects too. I’ll post my valentine’s day project so you can see! But for now, here’s how I used the recipe cards:
First, you need to find a good “box.” I know if I do this, then it will make it special. I think it would be cool to make the box a project itself. If you do this, post a link in the comments to you photo or blog post on it! I decided to go with something really clean that would show off the design. I got this box from the Container Store. These were MADE to put something pretty in!
Here are my previews of the recipe sets I did along with the photos I took of the box I put together for me. I’m sure as I add cards to it that it will change and grow. But the best part? I plan to keep most of the cards digitally so if one gets oil or water on it, no problem! Just re-print! I did print extra cards with lines though so I could have one handy to write up a recipe. I don’t know how many times I’ve had someone over (or I’ve been over someone else house) and I asked for the recipe. They it would get written on a piece of paper and, inevitably, end up in my plastic sack!
The last one it my favorite! I plan on using it for projects AND recipes! I’m totally making a post on 2peas to get people to give me their holiday projects and recipes!
Kitchen 1 2 3: New recipe card sets coming to 2Peas…See How I Used Them Read More »
This coming week, you’ll also see this fun Valentine’s release from me (Released Feb 10th).
I love holidays and it was fun to put together this stuff for I {heart} you day! Here is the layout I did using the Sweetheart paper pack, Love Nest paper pack, Heart Beads, and the Paris & Co. French Frameups.
This is my little girl, Siri. Seriously, this picture makes me smile so much!
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So this is just a quick entry about the morning pages I’m doing for the Artist’s Way. Today was the second day of doing them. It was VERY hard to get myself to do them. The first day it was exciting and fun to do them (and therapeutic). But this morning, well, this morning I had to get up at 6am to do them. I think most of my sentences said, “I’m so tired. Going to back to sleep for a second.” I am glad I did them. I think they helped.
Second Day of Morning Pages Read More »
A Couple of My Digital Scrapbooking Layouts Read More »
So I buckled down and finally started this morning. I must have subconsicously been trying to avoid it because I meant all weekend to get a pretty notebook to write in and it never happened. I also hemmed and hawed about making an artist’s date for myself…and just generally avoided this thing that I have committed myself to do.
But somehow this morning, I was compelled to start my week a little differently. After a rough weekend, I KNEW I needed to do my morning pages. Because I didn’t need to get into work until 9am, I was able to sit down at the kitchen table as my kids watched Dora and really get out my 3 pages. I didn’t have a notebook, so I just grabbed 2 loose leaf papers and wrote back and front on them
I won’t tell you what I wrote, but I will say I feel much better this morning. It was like venting before my day even happened. I really took it out on that paper!:) I did feel a little of my anxiety release itself into those pages. Whether that happens everyday…we’ll have to see. It would definitely compel me to continue writing them!
Either way, I’ve begun. If you want to do this with me, grab your spiral bound notebook and start sometime this week! Keep me posted so I’ll be motivated to continue too. I’ll continue to write each morning and I’ll post when I’ve decided on my artist’s date this week! And I’d REALLY suggest reading the fist chapter of the book as you do this. It somehow makes the entire experience a little more meaningful, a little more…therapeutic.
My First Day of the Artist’s Way Read More »
This is what the files look like that you get:
Happy Heart Day! Have fun with the freebies! If you use them at all post the link here so we can see what you did with them! You can download from 4shared just one card. I’d recommend just going straight to Card Nirvana to pick all the freebies up at once though:).
**The Card Nirvana download is no longer available! You can now download them directly from this link:
https://carinagardner.com/studio/freedownloads/valentineskiddiecard.jpg
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Valentine Day Card Freebies! Read More »
My quick fix today may not apply to your kitchen, but I think you could use this technique on anything…a bathroom cupboard, inner door of an armoire, inside of a closet. I’m using fabric, but you could use vintage wallpaper or wrapping paper (you’ll see I use wrapping paper as my pattern).
So here is my dilemma, I have this alcove in my kitchen that I display some of my bigger porcelain bowls. The vinyl pattern on the back is hideous, and there is hardly any contrast between it and the white dishes.
So I decided to cover the back to create a high contrast between the dishes and the wall. I uses some wrapping paper to create my pattern. Just cut and fit to the size of the place you plan to cover.
I cut around the pattern with the fabric I had chosen. I left about an inch of space around the pattern as I cut. I loved this blue and chocolate toile. I picked it up for about $5 in a discount fabric store while with Jen in San Francisco. I bought half a yard to fit my space.
Here’s how I folded the corners. You could use masking tape to hold them down as you pinned it to the wall. i was too lazy though and just held it in place as I pinned.
I just used thumbtacks to put these on.
And there it is. Completely removable when I need to move and easy to get on. I did this with my two little girls in the kitchen and it took about 15 minutes. Plus, I can change it if I get sick of it!
Quick Fix—Kitchen alcove Read More »
Here’s my EQ3 find.
And here’s how I used it.
i
Just a little more cleaned up and easier to find things than before. Easy breezy!
Quick Fix: Bathroom Shelf Read More »
Have a Layer of Hell you want to share? Go ahead. Oh ya, one of my layers includes single cruises (sorry, this is a reference to the post called Airplane Conversations).
San Francisco Day 2 Read More »
Have you ever sat next to a conversation you NEVER wanted to listen to, but alas, there you were completely stuck. Tonight at the Long Beach airport (on my way to Salt Lake), I got stuck listening to a 20-something year-old conversation. It was like watching The Hills but in real life, and I hate The Hills. “Sarah from the airport” (as she referred to herself) managed to convince some guy that “Erica” had played him. It worked too. I slowly saw her convince him that he saw how “Erica” wasn’t a real person and had been a fake with him. “Sarah from the airport” could have written the book The scheming of womanhood. Her manipulation was so subtle and sly from the inside, while completely obvious from the outside(like watching a TV show). My analysis: “Sarah from the airport” liked the poor-manipulated boy and was jealous of “Erica.” Among “Erica’s” terrible traits: a drinker, a liar, and a player.
I’d like to meet this infamous Erica.
So there it is…the one thing I am FORCED to write about because I am STILL stuck listening to this ridiculous conversation about how “Sarah from the airport” hates drama, while she manages to create it. Classic.
Just be happy you are not currently stuck listening to this.
Airport Conversations Read More »
I have been on a part-business and part-pleasure trip to California now for 3 days. So I’m here to report on all the fun and fabulous things we have been up to. My girlfriend Jen lives in San Francisco (I am in Salt Lake City) and you can grab her perspective on this trip at theprojectgirl.
So Jen took me to her favorite cupcake place Sprinkles. I am a fan!
My favorite is white coconut frosting over chocolate, fluffy goodness! Who knew that happiness was so easily attained? I also had the red velvet (not at the same time…although I wanted to eat every cupcake they had there!). If you have a favorite, post it!
We spent the first day I was in town shopping the cool boutiques of San Francisco. Check out some of the shops we went to!
Why do I love pretty things so much? These shops were filled with the most adorable things! Ahh, you will like this one…
Hehee. Might be helpful, huh? Had to buy the book just in case…I’d hate to lose my soul! For some reason I am having trouble loading the photos of my very cute buys at the antique store, so I will have them up in the next post!
My first trip to San Francisco Read More »
So today I got on an airplane to visit my friend Jen in San Francisco. While on the plane, I started reading the Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron, which is my book of the week. I first heard about this book three or four years ago in a graduate class taught by Marilyn DeLong, which was about untended consequences in design. So I knew the concepts that this book proposed before I sat down and read it…and I have even tried some of these concepts based on my knowledge. Unfortunately, none of them stuck. Now, having read the first 33 pages of the book, I know why. Julia Cameron lays out two things that you have to do to help unleash your inner creativity…morning pages and the artist date. I have tried both without much success….here is why: I was uncommitted. I did them because I knew about them, had them explained to me, but I was praying for a miracle. That these two concepts would simply fix my creativity. Now that I am actually reading the book, I am realizing that the only way to do these, is to read the book and be committed.
Some of the concepts she has thrown out, definitely hit home. I think that you will find that it does too if you read it. So I am proposing the following: I am going to finish reading the book and try the experiment of doing morning pages and the artist date and report of what happens with me on the blog! How does that sound? I hope being the guinea pig will convince me (and you) that there are new avenues of creativity to be found.
So what are morning pages and the artist date? I am a little hesitant to tell you because I’m afraid you’ll do what I did…do them and not really be committed. But here they are so I can talk about some of the things she says in the book. Morning pages are three pages of stream-of-conscious writing when you first wake up in the morning. This is NOT a journal. It is a forum for getting all the “gunk” out of your head to leave you open for the rest of the day. Julia Cameron has a number of other caveats about how to do the morning pages, but for the purpose of my review, I think this definition works (again, you should read the book to get everything Julia Cameron says). The second tool she proposes are artist dates. You are suppose to dedicate a block of time (1 or 2 hours) to take your self on a date and do something that you really want to do or that would nurture you. Now, I don’t know about you, but this is VERY hard for me. Sure, 1 or 2 hours should be easy to come by during the week…but somehow those hours are never there. When there are kids, jobs, and cleaning to do, when is there time to ever take time for yourself? The sad part is, we with everything going crazy in our lives, probably need to take ourselves on a date the most. Agreed? Julia Cameron makes the argument that if you where in a relationship that you wanted to save, you would go to therapy, find a mediator, and try to save it. Why wouldn’t you do the same for yourself (and your creativity)?
So, I will start morning pages (I’ll find a beautifully designed book to make it more motivating) and I’ll set a time next week to do the artist date. Julia Cameron suggests 12 weeks of this. She says she’s been doing it for a decade. It helped her be more creative, perhaps I just need to give it a go if I want the same result? Man, I am so commit-a-phobic! I’ll report on the rest of the book ASAP and let you know what happens. If anyone wants to do this with me (always more motivating), please feel free to comment on this post and I’ll keep updates on this project going so you can post as well.
Initial Review of The Artist’s Way Read More »
Quick Fix for My Tote Bag Read More »
I am in LOVE with these candlesticks which are currently on my mantle…they accent the Anthopology planters which are blue, gold, and green and match the print which is blue and red. The best part? they were clearanced at $7.99 a piece! Hooray!!!
I also picked up this…not my usual choice…I don’t like photos in “wear” but I thought I would maybe do a cool project with this. Plus, it is a super-roomy tote. Discount: $14.99 at DownEast Home. It’s made by RedEnvelope.
For a bag that will fit my laptop and all my “junk,” can’t beat the price!!! In fact, I need to figure out what I’m going to do to it soon because I’m going to take it with me to San Fransico tomorrow! It’s the perfect airplane bag!
I actually ended up buying a red shirt last night too…LOVING red!
Foreground (also called figure-ground) is essentially the focal point, the area in the front of a space. The background is the area that surrounds that focal point. This can be easily shown with a letter.
Many times it is easier to see the background if the color is reversed out. As a designer, you have the be very aware of what the background is doing (also called negative space) because that may help you rearrange elements so that the foreground or figure is remembered BEST and the background is just that…background.
Take a look at this example.
This is a paper from my Bella BellaTM Collection at My Minds Eye. I’ve blocked out the background and foreground for you so you can see what I did. Even though there are several elements in this page, the two focal points both help create a dynamic background. The diagonal works both ways…from the bird to the tree as well as the blank space at the top moving between the two objects. It sort of makes an x. Do you see it? It’s what keeps this balanced. It’s not PERFECTLY balanced, which is what would have happened if the tree element had gone in the right-hand corner. Instead, it is moved away from the corner to give it a little more interest and to create that funky background-arrow (the negative space).
Many designers like to play with this idea of foreground-background. Check out this clip of 300. I am not promoting the violence (because wow, this is a bit violent for me!), but it does a great job of showing off (and extenuating) the foreground-background relationship. Be sure to pay attention when objects appear as one thing and then are transformed into another… Just watch the first 30 second to a minute of this and you will get the idea.
Did you notice the horse hair into grass (take a second look!) or the landscape into a face and helmet. There is such a high contract between the background and foreground in this that it makes the relationship prominent.
Here’s another one I love (notice how I am showing a lot of black and white? The relatioship is easy to see when there is such a strong contrast). Here’s Lemony Snicket’s end credits:
Designers really push the limits when they create illusions with the foreground and background. Check this out:
These is a classic examples of foreground and background used to create optical illusions. Do you see the young lady and old lady in the second one? I had to squint and squint to see the old lady and I even had to flip it in photoshop so I could stop looking at the young lady. Hopefully, you had better luck than me! (to see more images like this, go to
http://www.azhearing.com/optical-illusions.htm#yyy and take their test.
Okay, hopefully you get the gist of foreground-background. Just keep the background in mind as you build your images, patterns, and more.
Foreground and Background: Learning to see Read More »
Becoming ANYTHING takes work, dedication, and passion. I know many people who really are interested in becoming designers. They want to know what they can do to become one. Many times formal training at a university is not an option, so I have a few words of advice of people who are interested in becoming designers or at least learning how to “see” like a designer. Before I get to the advice, however, I feel like you will find my words more valuable (or at least where I am coming from) if you know how I became a designer.
I didn’t go the traditional route to become a designer. I got my bachelor’s degree in Marketing Communications. It was safe for someone like me…I never felt “creative” enough to really be a designer. My senior year in my BA, I took a “creative advertising class.” The only problem was that I began to feel LIMITED because I couldn’t execute anything (all those good ideas going to waste!). You see, I didn’t know Photoshop, Illustrator, Quark, or InDesign. Not only that, but I really couldn’t tell if something was designed well. I could tell if the advertisement was executed properly but that doesn’t matter if the design completely detracts from the goal (and my sad skills always did).
In my frustration, I met a design intern, Jen Allyson at Continuing Education while I was the marketing intern there. There was obviously magic as she taught me my first ways of “seeing” the world a little differently. She taught me to pull out the ugly and inconsistent while pushing me to find the beautiful. My eyes hurt (literally hurt!) for 2 months as she helped me get together a design portfolio for the University of Minnesota so I could go to grad school. Grad School had always been the plan…but not design grad school. Somehow, I made it into the Design Communications program and went on to get a Masters and Ph.D. in design. I taught foundations classes, theory, typography, graphic design history, and packaging learning more and more as I taught. I made plenty of mistakes and had a few successes too. However, after 5 years of teaching, I found that I missed being a designer and needed to get back to my own creativity. I now have many outlets for my creativity (you can see my shops to the side) along with freelance work and in event planning. I had forgotten how much I LOVE being a designer and the passion I feel about it. (BTW, Jen is STILL my best friend, eight years later…)
Which comes to this blog and the information I plan to divulge on it:). I have to say first that I am not an expert, but I will bring to this blog all the design theory, tips, tricks, and information that will help you to learn to “see” as I did. If you are really, and I mean REALLY interested in becoming a designer, here are my first (and very broad) tips for you as you begin this journey. If you don’t want to be a designer, you just want to better decorate your home, energize your own creative spirit, or create a better scrapbook page than this is still the blog for you! I’ll have interviews with designers of LOTS of different things (graphic designers, industrial designers, interior designers) as well as posts on beautiful things, price comparisons for things I find absolutely delightful, design book reviews, and of course, previews of products coming to 2Peas, Card Nirvana, My Minds Eye, and more!
OKay, I’ve put it off enough….My Advice to get started designing!
1. Choose your medium
Are you completely passionate about your home? Do you move around furniture every chance you get? Do you doodle designs on napkins at the restaurant? Do you like the lines on a piece of clothing and want to imitate it? Finding your first medium is an important step. I say your first because design is like ivy: it creeps into every part of your life! I am primarily a graphic designer, but I love interiors too. I admire clothing designers, but I don’t feel the same passion for it as interiors and graphics (although believe me I will be glued to the TV for Project Runway like the rest of you!). So much of the design theory I add to this site comes from a graphic design background, but you’ll find it applicable to many other areas of your life you design.
2. Find ways to learn | Educate yourself
For most of you, formal training is out of the question. However, some tools are necessary and completely FRUSTRATING in this technology age. So if you want to learn how to digital scrapbook or design professionally, you may need to take a class on Photoshop or Illustrator. Believe me, it is way better than doing it the way I learned to do it: on my own. You can check listings at your local community college or rec center for classes or there are a myriad of online opportunities. I will try to scrounge up a list for you guys soon for those of you who want to go this route. I’d recommend for any designer to get your hands on magazines in your chosen field…so Communication Arts and PRINT for graphic designers. I don’t know what the official interior designer’s magazine, but for just pure eye candy I like domino magazine, dwell, and architectural digest. I will be adding several book reviews and recommendations over the coming blog entries so keep your eyes open, which brings me to my next point, which is
3. Surround yourself with Beauty
What I really mean is to become a designer, you have to re-learn how to see. Those of you who are designers, know what I am talking about. The only way to know the difference between good and bad design (a topic much too extensive to explore here: look for it in future post!) is to surround yourself with GOOD design. Now, I know you are thinking, how do I know if something is “good” design. For now, just try to spend time looking for things in your life that are beautiful to you…we’ll get into the “theory” of it soon enough. Is there a card you think is exceptionally beautiful? A couch that just makes you happy? What is it about these things that make you like them? Is it the way they look? How they function? Really think about the objects you have surrounding you and decided why you like or dislike those things. Check out websites for function (was it easy to navigate?) Did you like the colors? Did you like the shape? Read beautiful and inspiring magazines and books, buy pretty things to place in your home, decorate…in essence, LIVE BEAUTIFULLY! This is a tall order (I know, with two little ones and work, I feel lucky if I can get to the dishes), but what I am asking is SMALL steps. I plan on trying to take small steps to make my life more meaningful too…and I’ll share what I do with you and I can’t wait to hear what you share with me!
4. Practice. practice. practice.
Brillant design doesn’t come the first day of trying, nor the second. Even now, when I am working on a design, many times it is the 50th thumbnail that sticks, not the 10th. It sometimes takes getting through a lot of BAD design to get to something really good. Or I should say that sometimes it even takes a lot of good design to get to something great. So you are going to push your self. As Champ Bear would say, “Practice, Practice, Practice.” My designwork is certainly better now than it was 8 years ago when I first started out. Practicing your design work, whether in a scrapbook page layout, a furniture rearrangement, or wall-color choice are all ways to PRACTICE what your creative spirit needs. I say your creative spirit because WE ALL have creativity waiting to be released. Hopefully, with projects to come you will be able to do this! I certainly want to as I am ALWAYS needing new ways to develop as a designer.
Okay, so I gave you some tips, but the meat is to come. Welcome to design! Learning to “see” will give you more meaning in your life…don’t believe me? Continue to read and we’ll see. Perhaps all you need is a quick lesson on 1920s design, an inspiring interview with a designer turned successful business owner, or a post on the golden mean and how to use it. These are the little lessons that helped me learn how to be a designer and I hope they will make your life more meaningful.
Ready, set, design!
How to Become a Designer Read More »
Hi everyone! I just made the move from my blogspot site to this site (carinagardner.com). A little more freedom of design! You’ll find several new improvements on this site including image previews of my digital scrapbooking products coming out at 2Peas a week before they premier there (special sneak peeks for you!) and recent cards from Card Nirvana. I’ll hopefully get a lovely list of my favorite things going too (not just for your benefit but really for MINE…love to keep track of those pretty things). I’m also hoping to add some fun content for scrapbookers and designers alike. Some design 101,design book reviews, interviews with innovative designers…other fun things like that. Josh has taken over the family blogging (http://www.mormonmistermom.blogspot.com), but you’ll probably get posts from me every now and then about my family as well. I just know that Josh tends to have a more comical view of things:). Who can compete against that?
Anyway, I’ll keep you updated! Hopefully, many things on this site will be up and running within the week and I’ll be able to post on my Monterey trip soon!
here’s her blog: http://www.heatherbailey.typepad.com.
My second obsession that i keep meaning to post about is Madsen Bikes. I MUST have one of these bikes in the spring (I am totally going to get one come march). The buckets in the back can hold kids or groceries. I love them! Take a look!
Heather Bailey and Madsen Bikes Read More »
BELLA BELLA at My Minds Eye! Read More »
I don’t really have time to post and hopefully Josh will blog about Siri’s b-day party yesterday….but I just had to post Siri’s random comment of the day:
Siri (very slowly and deliberately): “You know that EvilLyn is one of the minions on Snake Mountain.”
Can you tell she has a stay-at-home-dad?
Siri’s Random Comment of the Day Read More »
And seriously, if you don’t feel like you can run 100 miles, but just want to walk or run a little and be motivated by everyone else doing it , join the facebook group and give us your miles or join the Nike Plus challenge anyway!
Facebook Group—Run 100
Nike Plus Website
Jen’s Princess Card from Card Nirvana
Anyway, it’s great in a tight spot! (Siri’s b-day is on Wednesday and we have to drop off cards today).
Siri’s Princess Party Read More »
