back to basics | Clique Kits

Hey everyone!

Melissa here with you today and I’m sharing a clean and simple card using the July Travelers Notebook kit. It truly is a perfect kit to make some cards! Just the right amount of papers and embellishments that are designed for the smaller scale of a Traveler’s Notebook… so, naturally, it would be perfect for cards too!

To go with this post, I also have a process video I’d love to invite you to watch.

Now, normally for these Art Studio posts, I’m always drawn to creating with paints and other “artsy” and messy supplies. Mixed media is always a go to. As I was contemplating what to do for this post, my “teacher hat” came on. I realized, YES… sharing our thoughts and ideas using all that product is awesome but, maybe we need to take it back to the basics and bit and talk about where we go for making sure our projects look pleasing to the eye (while still embracing our individual styles!).

Artists have their founding with the Elements and Principles of Design. Elements are the components and Principles are we organize them… put them in to action, if you will. So, for a little review, here are the Elements of Design: Line, Color, Shape, Form, Value, Space and Texture. Principles of Design are: Balance, Emphasis, Movement, Proportion, Rhythm, Unity and Variety.

Each of these terms are a little self explanatory but, if you’d like to go deeper with their definitions, you can check out this awesome resource at Oberlin.

Here is the card I created using the July TN Kit and contemplating how I use using the Elements and Principles of Design:

It’s a very clean and simple card. But, I thoughtfully used each kit item to create a well composed card. By using symmetrical balance, I utilized the colors and patterns of the papers to also create unity and variety. The flower is clearly the focal point. I also was able to draw attention to the lines and shape of the card design by bringing in rhythm and texture. Where does the emphasis lie? I believe on the flower but, your eye also is taken on a brief journey to the sentiment and cute little heart up top.

For more thoughts, have a watch of my video below: