Confused about cardstock? Interested in inks? There is no question too big or too small and the Damask Love Office Hours is your place to get those questions answered! Send me a question and you may just see your’s pop up in an Office Hours post.
Crafter’s Course on Color: Hues, Tints & Shades
Have you ever been curious about strategies for combing color? How to get out of the color rut? Have you ever been told that when it comes color & design, “You’ll just…“know” when it’s right.” Yeah…ummm…go ahead and file that under “Statements That Are Not Helpful.”
Now, I do think that there comes a point when you get comfortable with color and develop a “knack” for knowing when things are well combined. That doesn’t mean that we all have to sit around waiting for the color fairy to anoint us with magical design powers. After doing a fair bit of reading on interior design and art, I think there are plenty of tips, strategies and theories that can be super useful for us paper crafters and DIY-ers.
I am far, far………far from an expert on design, but I have attended the University of Google and I have read ten too many issues of House Beautiful and BHG. I’ve learned lots, so I thought I’d share.
Over the next month (and maybe more) – I’ll be posting lessons on color for crafters. There will be projects, tutorials and lots and lots of resources for you to file away .
Today, we’re gonna talk about the all mighty color wheel and the differences in the terms, “hue,” “tint” and “shade.” It’s interesting stuff …or maybe I’m just a nerd. Either way, I hope you enjoy!
{1} Clear & Simple Stamps Say Yellow to Your Fans {2} Amuse Papaya {3} Amuse Orange {4} Amuse Poppy {5} Amuse Cherry {6} Amuse Berry {7} Amuse Grape {8} Clear & Simple Stamps Purple Crushed Velvet {9} Clear & Simple Stamps Your Style Blue Me Away {10} Amuse Mermaid {11} Clear & Simple Stamps Emerald Bling {12} Amuse Wasabi
There’s Hefner, there’s Grant…and then there are inkpads. We’re gonna talk about the latter of these “hues.” A few week’s ago, I used the terms “hue” “tint” and “shade” interchangeably. I thought they all were synonyms for “color.” Welp – it turns out that in the world of design & artsy people, these words have very different meanings.
“Hue” refers to the traditional color wheel as we know it…the rainbow. Twelve hues make up the color wheel, including the three primary colors: red, blue and yellow.
In the world of paper crafting & DIY – “hues” are very common. The bold, heavily saturated look of these colors is perfect for creating cheerful cards and party decor. For interior designers, an entire room of hues might create a jarring environment…luckily we crafters don’t have to worry about that! Cards and other paper crafts are small and can be packed with color. Use the entire spectrum if you’d like – or just select a few (more on how to select colors will be coming up in a later post!)
All this theory is great, but how does it work in practice? Here’s a quick & simple card that I created with hues.
Bright and bold is my favorite look, so this ikat card is right up my alley! Most of the cards and crafts I create feature bright hues.
SUPPLIES:
Papertrey Ink Irresistibly Ikat | Papertrey Ink Inside & Out: Thank You | Amuse Berry Ink | Amuse Orange Ink | Amuse Grass
{1} Amuse Lemon Whip {2} Amuse Buttercup {3} Clear & Simple Stamps Creamsicle Cardigan (2nd generation impression) {4} Amuse Apricot {5} Amuse Watermelon {6}Amuse Berry (2nd generation impression) {7} Amuse Heather {8} Amuse Colbalt (2nd generation impression) {9} Amuse Sky {10} Amuse Ocean (2nd generation impression) {11} Amuse Pistachio {12} Amuse Lime
Adding white to any of the hues in the color wheel creates a “tint.” In most cases, “tint” is synonymous with “pastel”, but this may depend on how much white is added to the hue. If only a teeny bit of white is added, the color may still appear quite vibrant.
Unless you use paint or other mixed media in your crafting, it’s unlikely that you’ll come across many opportunities to mix your own colors to create pastels. For paper crafters like you and me, pastel inks are easy to find and a great way to add soft tints to your project. Another way to create a pastel shade is to use a second generation impression of your ink. For example, a vibrant orange hue becomes a pastel color if you first stamp off the page and use the second generation impression in your project.
For me, pastels are great for soft feminine projects or for creating a springtime feel.
This simple card features a soft pastel ombre that I created using Faber-Castell Gelatos. They blend beautifully! This layout and pastel color scheme is a perfect feminine stationery. Sidenote: I am obsessed with these gelatos. I want to paint my walls with gelatos!
SUPPLIES:
Faber-Castell Gelatos Gift Set | Papertrey Ink Headline Alphabet | Paper Presentation Ginger Cardstock
{1} Amuse Saffron {2} Clear & Simple Stamps Golden Tiara {3} Clear & Simple Stamps Orange you Fabulous {4} Clear & Simple Stamps Rouge Ruffles {5} Clear & Simple Stamps Maroon Maven {6} Amuse Currant {7} Clear & Simple Stamps Purplicious {8} Clear & Simple Stamps Purple Crushed Velvet {9} Amuse Navy {10} Amuse Eucalyptus {11} Clear & Simple Stamps Kraft Like a Rockstar Green {12} Amuse Fern
“Shades” are basically the opposite of “tints.” Shades are created by adding black to any of the twelve hues in the original color wheel.
“Shades” are probably my least frequently used colors. Even when stamping out the above color wheel, I noticed that several of these inks were unused! At first, “shades” seemed a bit “dingy” to me, but after thinking about it more they are perfect for a wide range of projects. Choosing a few shades from this color wheel can create very masculine projects, which is something that I struggle with. Shades are also great for autumn themes.
Even delicate images like these feathers can become masculine when stamped using “shades” rather than “pastels.” I’m sure you can image how the feeling of this entire card would change if created with soft “tints.” For me, the “shade” color wheel is super helpful for tackling masculine projects that are often so difficult.
SUPPLIES:
Studio Calico Oh Snap! | Studio Calico Frame & Feathers | Amuse Fern | Amuse Eucalyptus | Clear & Simple Stamps Orange You Fabulous
Interested in a few more samples that show today’s ”lesson” in action? Here we go:
- Perhaps my most favorite use of hues…ever!
- Bold teal and yellow make this a fabulous sample of hues in action.
- I love the simple layout!
- This paper crafted wreath is so well executed and the the pastel color palette is so pretty.
- Debby Hughes of Limedoodle blog does such a great job with shades on this card.
- Add pastels to your next gift with this simple idea.
- {DID YOU KNOW?} Damask Love now has a “Cardstock & Ink Photo Library” where I will be posting photo samples of some of my favorite color collections! I’ll update it over time so keep checking back. Today, I’ve updated the library with a photos of the A Muse Studio ink collection. Just click the graphic on the sidebar.
Did you make it through?! When it comes to colors, do you have a “go-to” color wheel? Which of these color wheels best represents your own style and preference?
How to Take Blog Photos: Editing & Saving for Web
The magic happens post-production. That’s my attitude about blog photography. I’ve heard many other bloggers say that they never go into a shoot planning to making edits to the photos. I wish I was that good. I’m not. I know that almost every photo that I take will need to be edited. Sometimes I get lucky and the photo doesn’t need much help – but usually it does. As a result, I have a pretty systemized, albeit, simplistic routine for editing my photos.
Today, we’re wrapping up “The Non-Photogs Guide…” with what is perhaps the most blasphemous of all the posts in this series. I’ve said it before, but I’ll repeat myself – if you are a professional photographer or if you have a reasonable knowledge of photo editing techniques – I suggest you turn back now. I am neither of these things and I am probably doing this all wrong…but I’m cool with that. In the end, I just want photos that look pretty to me. With that disclaimer out of the way, let’s get started.
Here’s an example of what editing does for my photos. What first looked like a good photo, looks dingy, muted and overcast once the editing process is finished. 
Click through for the full post on editing!
The Non-Photog’s Guide to Blog Photos: Equipment
Disclaimer: Let’s get this out of the way. If you are a professional photographer, I you might wanna avert your eyes and turn back now. Go back to whatever you were doing before coming here. What’s about to happen might make you cringe. I am not a professional photographer, I have never taken a photography course…but I did skim through a photography book once, but I got bored and decided to go watch reruns of RHOA. I’ve also read my fair share of blog posts about photography. Mostly, though…when it comes to blog photos, I go by the “looks-like-a-good-photo-to-me” school of thought. So, consider yourself warned.
If you’re still reading, I’ll assume that you accept that I am not an expert! That said, I have gotten quite a few emails about how I take photos for this blog. Now mind you, these emails have only started coming in recently because if you take a trip into the recesses of Damask Love, you will see some photos that look like they were taken with that old-school camera thing…you know…the one where the guy goes under a black curtain and holds up a flash and smoke comes out of it. Yeah…that thing. That’s the quality of my older photos.
This office hours will be series of posts over the next few weeks and in this first installment I’ll be covering equipment. Each Thursday, I’ll take you on a walk-through of each component of a typical photo shoot for any given Damask Love post. Given the amount of photos and graphics that will be included in each of these posts, you’ll need to click through to see it all!
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Office Hours: Finding Inspiration
We took a week away from Office Hours for this post for the Clear & Simple Stamps Review week, but I’m back today to answer a question from Vicki Dutcher.
First, I have to say “thanks” to Vicki for helping me get hip to the lingo…I had never heard of “ABC” projects before receiving her email!
Now, the answer to Vicki’s question is simple. Everywhere. I get ideas from everywhere. Fabric patterns, billboards, architecture. I find inspiration in it all. That said, there are certain strategies I use to translate my inspiration to paper, and I have a project to share with you to give you an idea of what I mean.
I am particularly in love with this card set. It’s simple, but so pretty! It’s so ladylike, right? Well – there’s a reason for that. While reading through some of my favorite blogs, I came across the line of custom floral handkerchiefs by Lucky Luxe and I immediately thought to myself …how can I make that? I guess you could say I have a “Make That Mentality.” I am bound and determined to figure out a way to handmake everything. My thought is: someone else had to make it…so what’s stopping me? Here are a few things I consider when I turn inspiration into handmade creation..
Anything that inspires you draws you in for some reason. I try to figure out what that is – and ignore the rest. Whatever it is that I love is that part that I want to mirror in my own design. For the vintage handkerchief cards, I loved the vintage florals on the border and the scalloped edges. I was not a big fan of all the text included on the original handkerchiefs, so I kept my design simpler. I also scrapped the square shape and chose a rectangle for my cards. Challenge yourself to hone in on the elements that are most inspiring and use those in your design.
IMAGE CREDIT: LUCKY LUXE (left) DAMASK LOVE (right)
I love to study designs. Break them down into their components and figure out how I can reimagine them for my own creations. For one of the calendars that I recently posted, I was inspired by the modern leaf pattern on a coffee mug. The pattern includes simple leaf shapes and straight lines as the leaf veins. That’s pretty much it. Once I broke it into those pieces, I started looking through my stamps to find supplies that could mimic those elements of the pattern. Since it’s unlikely that you will own exact replicas of any inspiration item, it’s helpful to break it down into pieces and build from there.
IMAGE CREDIT: RUCHE (left) DAMASK LOVE (right)
No matter how much you love an inspiration item, you may not want to copy the design exactly. I strive to add my own spin on each design, unless I am making something like a simple gift box – in which case, it’s usually the technique that’s unique rather than the look of the finished product. In the case of the modern leaf print above, I added my own spin by injecting a bold color palette into the pattern, which is something that is definitely my style. If your style is more rustic or vintage, think of ways you can show that by altering the inspiration design.
My DIY Market Tote project is another example of taking an inspiration piece and making it my own. I was initially inspired by a market tote bag that I saw at Williams-Sonoma (I’m obsessed with that place)! The bag was a little to muted for my taste, so I decided to use my own supplies to create something similar – but more true to my own style and preferences!
IMAGE CREDIT: WILLIAMS-SONOMA (left) DAMASK LOVE (right)
My true “Make It Mentality” comes out when I start creating non-card projects. Often, I see a product – usually some sort of gift packaging and I think “How can I make that with what I have?” From there, I study it and break it down into it’s components and start playing with my supplies to see what I can come up with. In the case of these petal envelopes, I’d seen the product before and decided to give them shot. I broke the design down into it’s components: four half circles with a square in the middle. That’s doable, right? Turns out it’s totally doable and with a few easy steps, you can customize them for any color scheme or occasion!
IMAGE CREDIT: LCI PAPER (left) DAMASK LOVE (right)
No one likes a unitasker…which is why I was very excited to discover I could make cupcakes in my waffle iron! The same goes for crafting supplies. No one wants a one-trick tool in the craftroom, right? Which is why I force myself to come up with at least three projects for any supply before I purchase it! Not only does this help me stretch my dollar, but it also stretches my creativity, like with these two crayon box projects! The designs are almost identical but their function is totally different! Yay for multitasking!
IMAGE CREDIT: DAMASK LOVE (left) DAMASK LOVE (right)
So, do you have a Make It Mentality? Are you constantly coming up with ways to replicate designs with your own supplies?!
Thanks for stopping by for another session of Office Hours! If you have a question that you’d like answered here on the blog, send me an email!
Office Hours: The Blog/Life Balancing Act
Joan’s question is a good one…I wish I had the definitive answer for how I am able to juggle work and blogging. Most days I go with the ”Chicken with Her Head Cut Off” technique. It’s tried and true, but it’s not always the best approach if you want to maintain some semblance of sanity.
On days when I’m feeling less like a chicken and more like a productive person, I do a pretty decent job of managing life, work and blogging. Emphasis on the word “decent,” because I am far from having mastered this balance.
So first, to answer Joan’s question – yes, I do work full-time. I am a child psychologist here in Miami and my day job includes clinical work and research. I love what I do and it challenges me. I also work with a bunch of brilliant colleagues who are also lots of fun to be around!
Blogging is my second full-time job. I love it, but it is work . A lot of work . A ton of work. Anyone who tells you that it’s easy to host and grow a blog is lying…or has a slew of assistants at her beck and call. Even then, she’s still lying. You’ll never hear me complaining about the amount of work that goes into Damask Love because I love it. It’s my creative outlet, it’s my passion and on weekends, I wake up bright and early, excited that I get to walk straight into the craftroom and create. I love sharing my creativity with you and I love the idea that I can inspire others to get crafty!
But how does it all get done? I ask myself that question everyday…right around 8:00pm, when night has settled in, dinner needs to be prepped and there are a bunch of chicken scratch notes all over the place reminding me of the things I want to accomplish for the blog! Here’s how I get it done:
The “Blogitorial” Calendar
When I began developing the new Damask Love, it wasn’t long before I realized that I would need some sort of editorial calendar to keep myself organized and on task. I work best when I have a plan. Magazine editors plan their issues months, if not an entire year in advance. For me, it makes sense to treat my blog in the same way. I like to know what I have coming up, what features need to be posted and what blog obligations I need to fit in (e.g. design team posts, guest designer spots, etc). So – about two months ago, in true Damask Love form, I took on the task of designing my own blog editorial calendar…or Blogitorial Calendar as I call it…here it is:
This thing is my best friend.
Inside, the calendar is divided into months with one page that allows me to organize my posts at a glance…
…and by week. This may seem like overkill, but for me it’s very helpful to use the month pages to get a good look at how the month is shaping up. Do I have some gaping holes? Do I have enough variations in projects? Do I need to block out an entire week for a certain obligation? Is there an upcoming event that I should blog about (e.g. Winter CHA)?
On the weekly pages, I can make notes about the supplies I may need for a given project, which is SUPER helpful! As you crafty girls know, there always seems to be that ONE supply that you need to finish a given project. Every week or so, I take a look at this section of the calendar to see what supplies I may need to order for the upcoming projects on the blog. This approach takes a load of stress off my brain since I know I’ll have what I need!
The other nice thing about using an editorial calendar is that I’ve pretty much put the kibosh on last minute crafting. Instead, I’m constantly creating for future posts that are already in the calendar. Right now, I’ve got Damask Love planned well into 2013, which takes off all the pressure of “coming up” with something to blog about! Sometimes, I have such a hard time fitting in a certain post, that I decide to toss it or share it “off campus” on Facebook or Instagram.
Now, of course I want to share this info with all of you bloggers who may want to implement a similar editorial calendar system, which is why I came up with this:
This 11×17 printable calendar is a great way to sketch out your blog all in one place! Pencil in the post theme for each day and get a sense of where you’d like to schedule certain posts. Hang it on your wall or bulletin board to keep yourself on task.
2013 BLOGITORIAL WALL CALENDAR
Keeping an editorial calendar is just one of the tips I have for staying on task as a creative blogger. Some of my other strategies include:
CREATE WHEN YOUR EXCITED ABOUT IT
This is something I learned from the Altitude Summit blog and it’s oh so true! When I come up with an idea that I’m excited about, I prioritize it! Make it as quickly as I can. If I let the idea sit, my excitement will fizzle and I won’t get it done – because I’ll come up with something else that I’m excited about! Also, if I’m excited about the project as I create it and photograph it – that will come through on my post!
SKETCH & COLLECT INSPIRATION LIKE IT’S YOUR JOB
As creative people, we are typically visual thinkers. When I come up with an idea – I sketch it out so that I can execute it once I’m back at the crafting table. In the same vein, I look for inspiration everywhere. I’m that weirdo who is taking photos of detergent bottles at Target because I like the font they used!
SIMPLENOTE
I love Simplenote. So bad. I use it to keep a list of…a list of everything. Most importantly though, I use it to keep lists of my ideas for post topics, themes, collaborations, product features, blah, blah blah. Simply put, Simplenote is my brain.
GOOGLE READER
Every morning, I catch up my Google Reader while I take the train to work. I get to visit my favorite blogs and if I’m alert enough to tackle the touchpad keyboard – I might even leave a comment! Part of my goal with the new Damask Love is to be a better blog neighbor to all the other creatives out there, and to stay in the loop on what’s going on in blogland. Google Reader keeps me in the loop.
THE “FEATURE” APPROACH
You’ve probably noticed that I’ve added several “features” to the new blog. Class Field Trips. Office Hours. Craftroom Crush. There’s a good reason for this . As much as I love creating tangible projects to share on this blog, it’s not feasible to do that every single day. Features allow me to engage with you guys more, talk to you in a “conversational” sort of way and give myself a break from the project-centered posts, that are typically more labor intensive.
There are lots of ways to balance life and blogging and mine may not be for you. Here are a few extra resources:
- This interview shows a more laid back approach.
- A beautiful blog and a beautiful discussion of balance
- A whiteboard will always keep you organized!
- Dry shampoo made it onto the “must have” list of this busy blogger!
- Join me on Facebook & Instagram today to see some photos of my actual editorial calendar and tips for making the most of yours!
