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I admit it.. I don't know how to make a "WOW" card everytime.
Sometimes I'll make a card and I'll think "WOW" and I'll photograph it and think "WOW" and then I upload it and...... NO COMMENTS!
Then, sometimes I'll make a card and think "eh" and upload it and "WOW!" After which I think "Really?? You like THIS card??"
Now I have been around for a while (nearly 4 years) so I know that timing is everything (don't upload a card on Christmas or New Years eve and expect a lot of comments/feedback), I'm not talking about the number of comments. Really, I'm talking about the "Wow-factor" the "Je ne sais quoi" that makes people take notice of the work that you are doing..
You'd think that after 4 years I'd have it figured out, but clearly I don't..
Comments?
__________________
{Gallery}{Blog}
I design for: Stampendous!, There She Goes, Technique Tuesday,
SRM Stickers and Deconstructed Sketches.
I know what you mean Tobi! To me, the WOW factor is all in the details. Wether you like to pile stuff on a card (like me) or prefer a CAS style, you can make anything WOW! One person who never ceases to drop my jaw is Amy Scheffer (PickledPaperDesigns). I study her work daily, lol! Her designs are amazing and she always adds JUST the perfect emellishments. She sews on alot of her cards which to me is one of the "WOW" factors I see on her cards. She uses embossing folders/edge punches alot which when used in the right combination is a KNOCK OUT! Also, her ribbon/button embellishments are amazing. So I doubt I really helped answer your question, but I think the WOW factor is different for everyone. You have to develop your own style so that when someone sees a card in the gallery they're like "THat's JAZZYTOBI'S" gorgoues card! KWIM? And for what its worth, I think you're cards are VERY WOW, BABY;)
Amber is right you have to develop your own style. That's often harder said than done though. Aside from card making I'm a graphic designer and a painter. What my training has brought to card making is really the basic elements of design. Things like scale, balance, color theory, etc all play a very big part in the overall finished look. Often these things are natural or what we all call "an eye for". Even reading just a beginner book on design can add to your overall skill set as you hone your eye.
As for finding your own style, I've started an inspiration book. I save anything that screams "ME", from cards I love to paintings I love, even things that I just love the color of. I scribble notes in the margin about what I liked about it and why. After doing this for a few months I can now easily define what is and isn't my style, as well as know when I buy something how I'll use it and what it'll look good with. Saves me from buying a lot of stuff that I think is cute but will never really use!
Above all have to learn to be less critical of your own work. This was hard when I first started painting. Had to teach myself that it doesn't have to look perfect. Sometimes the beauty is in the quirks and the flaws.
That said I think your cards are beautiful. It looks like you're not afraid of color or of playing with layouts. And your cards are fun and whimsical (which in my book is the best!)
For me a huge part of a WOW card is the colouring, and you've got that mastered!!!
In some cards that I see in the gallery, I become so enamoured of the colouring that I nearly forget to look at the rest of the card.
This is an age old question around these parts, Tobi.
What is a WOW to one person, may not be so to another, kwim? With the growing number of members here, it's even harder to get cards noticed even if they are a WOW. For instance, back a couple years ago, I could sit and go through the gallery additions for the day in just about an hour. I could comment on tons and I followed my favorites daily. Now, there are so many uploads, I rarely even try to get through them all. I MISS a lot! I am thankful that Jan does the favorites thread on Sundays so I can at least catch a few that I missed.
Personally, I think you DO have the WOW factor figured out. I just think the majority of people are missing them :( . I am going to try harder to view and comment more in 2010. I have found some real gems in the gallery that way!
LOL....funny you should ask this. I was JUST talking about this today with some co-workers of mine! Yanno, I can work HOURS and I mean HOURS on a card and get done with it satisfied that it will get a WOW response. Then I get minimal comments. But! I do a CAS card? and I get WOW! LOL I'm like REALLY??!! You like THIS one? but, it goes back to the old adage "it's all in the eyes of the beholder" or something like that.
I've only been cardmaking for 2 years but, love it. I have resolved to the fact that this is MY style, MY way of doing what I love best. It's nice to know that cards that get WOWED all the time are out there. Because it drives me to do the best work I can. In the end, no matter what, as long as I'm satisified with it and it brings a smile to the face of the recipient? then it was all worth it. Just my...
I have been wondering this a lot myself. Sometimes I get lots of view and no comments - even though I am asking for advice.....
fwiw I just paged through your gallery and you have LOTS of wows in there - your work is amazing!
What is a "WOW" card is in the eye of the beholder. What is a nice card to one person, will not be to another. It's all in what you like, what your taste is and what your personal style is.
I admit it.. I don't know how to make a "WOW" card everytime.
Sometimes I'll make a card and I'll think "WOW" and I'll photograph it and think "WOW" and then I upload it and...... NO COMMENTS!
Then, sometimes I'll make a card and think "eh" and upload it and "WOW!" After which I think "Really?? You like THIS card??"
Now I have been around for a while (nearly 4 years) so I know that timing is everything (don't upload a card on Christmas or New Years eve and expect a lot of comments/feedback), I'm not talking about the number of comments. Really, I'm talking about the "Wow-factor" the "Je ne sais quoi" that makes people take notice of the work that you are doing..
You'd think that after 4 years I'd have it figured out, but clearly I don't..
Comments?
I just checked out your gallery and there is a whole lot of WOW there. I know I can work for hours on something and up load it and it might get a couple of comments then I do something easy and fast and it gets noticed. I think timing is everthing and how fast cards come on. That's why I like to do the gallery comments, I see things that just went right through. This year I am going to try and comment on at lest 10 cards a day.
I am inclined to agree with Joan. If it's WOW to you, then it's a WOW card regardless of views, comments or being favourited. And it's also very subjective. Not saying that comments and so on aren't great , but the real WOW factor for me isn't in other people taking notice, but in me thinking gosh, I am so happy and pleased with this one.
I doubt if anyone can do it every single time - card-making is a creative process not a formula.
WOW! - I just went to your gallery. Your cards pack a big COLOR PUNCH and your coloring is gorgeous! I have to say, I've missed a lot of your cards, I just don't get through all the gallery each day. Your cards get a lot more comments than mine, that's for sure! Just keep doing what you're doing!!
I am inclined to agree with Joan. If it's WOW to you, then it's a WOW card regardless of views, comments or being favourited. And it's also very subjective. Not saying that comments and so on aren't great , but the real WOW factor for me isn't in other people taking notice, but in me thinking gosh, I am so happy and pleased with this one.
I doubt if anyone can do it every single time - card-making is a creative process not a formula.
I like that.. "It's a process, not a formula." And you're right, it's not always about people taking notice, but man, it feels good when you've made a great creation and it happens consistently, not just by accident.
__________________
{Gallery}{Blog}
I design for: Stampendous!, There She Goes, Technique Tuesday,
SRM Stickers and Deconstructed Sketches.
I gave up trying to figure out what the WOW factor because it seems to change with your audience.
I was curious so I just checked my SCS gallery. I got the most views/ comments on my punch art but the punch art cards I submit to SU don't even make it to Stamper's Showcase.
My stationery box has a minimal amount of views/comments in the gallery but has been the most popular project on my blog.
I made some cards last year for the stampin' success contest. The one card I deemed too ugly to enter was the card that won. Go figure.
Lots of food for thought from everyone. For me personally, I don't create wow cards every time. I think we all tend to be critical of our own work. Oftentimes, my personal favorite cards are not those that get the most comments. Maybe I have bad taste! lol Seriously, it is in the eye of the beholder and timing of when things are posted.
Finding your own style can sometimes be challenging I think. I struggled a little bit with this (trying to find my style) when I first started stamping. Finally, I realized my style is eclectic. Sometimes I like to create CAS cards and other times it's tons of layers and embellishments. It changes from card to card and is usually the result of my mood or how the stamp set inspires me.
Tobi, your cards are beautiful, btw! Fun thread to get us thinking!
I admit it.. I don't know how to make a "WOW" card everytime.
Sometimes I'll make a card and I'll think "WOW" and I'll photograph it and think "WOW" and then I upload it and...... NO COMMENTS!
Then, sometimes I'll make a card and think "eh" and upload it and "WOW!" After which I think "Really?? You like THIS card??"
Now I have been around for a while (nearly 4 years) so I know that timing is everything (don't upload a card on Christmas or New Years eve and expect a lot of comments/feedback), I'm not talking about the number of comments. Really, I'm talking about the "Wow-factor" the "Je ne sais quoi" that makes people take notice of the work that you are doing..
You'd think that after 4 years I'd have it figured out, but clearly I don't..
Comments?
Tobi, your cards are some of the most beautiful cards in this gallery. If yours aren't WOW cards, then I have never seen a WOW card. The end.
__________________ Be polite to those who are rude to you. Not because they are nice, but because you are.
Owner- Gina K. Designs
1- great photograph (this can make a so-so card look outstanding!)
2-attention to detail- by that I mean good clean cuts, straight layers, nicely stamped images
3- color scheme- is huge I think. Combining colors is an art- and a science too I believe, but makes a world of difference.
4- layout design that is pleasing, balanced (not necessarily symetrical), proportioned etc.
5-Also, something that makes a card a WOW to me is a bit of something unexpected. This might be a use of ribbon or embellishment that is unique, not commonly done. Or a way to put the sentiment on or a new way to use a common product like a punch. Something that I wouldn've have thought of in a million years.
Following these steps doesn't mean every card will be a WOW, trust me! But, this is just what I find on the cards that make me stop and want to stare for a while!
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Cammie... I'm with you on making family pay compliments... except in my case it's my husband. I remember him saying to me not so long ago... it's a nice card - but... I wouldn't buy it! So now the question I ask him every day... would you buy it? :-)
As for WOW.... it is so subjective, but I agree on the photograph and something unique about the card. I think about the things that make me stop and go look at a card in the gallery...... Interesting colors, unique ways of using embellishments and a photograph that I can see clearly. I love looking at the way other people color their images - and you do a great job of that btw, Jazzytobi - lots of wow in your gallery!
When I judge how my cards are doing on SCS, I check the number of people who have "favorited" the card, more so than the number of comments. Having said that, I do try to leave comments every day and will try and do more in 2010.
jaydee
Cammie... I'm with you on making family pay compliments... except in my case it's my husband. I remember him saying to me not so long ago... it's a nice card - but... I wouldn't buy it! So now the question I ask him every day... would you buy it? :-)
As for WOW.... it is so subjective, but I agree on the photograph and something unique about the card. I think about the things that make me stop and go look at a card in the gallery...... Interesting colors, unique ways of using embellishments and a photograph that I can see clearly. I love looking at the way other people color their images - and you do a great job of that btw, Jazzytobi - lots of wow in your gallery!
When I judge how my cards are doing on SCS, I check the number of people who have "favorited" the card, more so than the number of comments. Having said that, I do try to leave comments every day and will try and do more in 2010.
jaydee
Me too. But number favorited can be misleading. I used to favorite cards, but now I "collect" entire galleries. I save links to my favorite galleries, but that means NONE of their cards get "favorited" by me, even though I like them all enough to favorite them all. (Which is why I started collecting entire galleries in the first place - not to overwhelm my Favorites)
ETA: I mean, I CAN'T be the only one to do this, can I? I'm assuming that lots of other gallery viewers do the same thing, which would mean that number favorited doesn't always reflect how much a card is loved (by the viewer).
No clue---so I just stamp what I feel like and then make my kids pay me some compliments!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Works every time ;)
ha ha ha I'm going to have to try that, Cammie!:mrgreen: My son is one of my biggest supporters, though. He always wants to keep even the cards that end up in junk file.
I know I have favorited some of your cards. When I'm scanning through each day's admissions of cards, one of the first things to catch my eye is the layout. If I don't like that, I won't like the card. Another thing I like are layers and interesting borders. At the same time, there are many CAS cards I like too!
Great thread ladies.....you just never know what others are going to like. It is such an individual thing. Cards that I have made that I thought were so-so, people loved and vice versa. There is no rhyme or reason. It may be the amount of time people have to spend in the gallery or not. I personally can't stand to see many beautiful cards sitting with zero comments so I always try and start there. It is hard when my time is limited and there are SOOOO many cards every day. So fun though......and so inspiring.
I don't get many comments, either, but, to me, my "Wow" is when I give a personally made card to someone and I get the "You made this? Wow!" That's good enough for me... So, looking at your cards, I KNOW you get the same response, so "Wow! You made those?" :mrgreen:
__________________ ~ Michele I'm an USAF L&D nurse and a SU demo in my "free" time! Let's keep 'em all in our prayers...until the last one comes come!
The people I give/send my cards to are truly appreciative. My latest upload is for a dear friend. I spent HOURS making this card for her. I know when she opens it she will say"wow". For her, it is a wow card. That is what is important to me, making my friends happy. I wish I had more time to comment in the gallery. I'm going to make a concerted effort to do so. And Tobi, your cards are scrumptious! I wish I could color like that(WOW!!), alas not a strong point for me!
__________________ <----- meet Sally, one spoiled rotten black lab.My GalleryMy Blog DALE JR ROCKS!!
Not to sound incredibly dumb, but what are the two 'favorites threads'?? I've never heard of them before!!
btw, this is a great thread - I truly think a 'wow' card really depends on the person looking at it!!! But it is food for thought....
Check this forum on Sunday. There will be 2 seperate threads. One will be labeled "Favorites for week of Jan 4" the other will be labeled "CAS (Clean and Simple) favorites for week of Jan4. Anyone can post their favorite cards they viewed in the gallery for that week.
__________________ <----- meet Sally, one spoiled rotten black lab.My GalleryMy Blog DALE JR ROCKS!!
I know what you mean Tobi! To me, the WOW factor is all in the details. Wether you like to pile stuff on a card (like me) or prefer a CAS style, you can make anything WOW! One person who never ceases to drop my jaw is Amy Scheffer (PickledPaperDesigns). I study her work daily, lol! Her designs are amazing and she always adds JUST the perfect emellishments. She sews on alot of her cards which to me is one of the "WOW" factors I see on her cards. She uses embossing folders/edge punches alot which when used in the right combination is a KNOCK OUT! Also, her ribbon/button embellishments are amazing. So I doubt I really helped answer your question, but I think the WOW factor is different for everyone. You have to develop your own style so that when someone sees a card in the gallery they're like "THat's JAZZYTOBI'S" gorgoues card! KWIM? And for what its worth, I think you're cards are VERY WOW, BABY;)
WOW you are so right. Amy Scheffer's work is stunning!!! I wish I had even 1/10 th of that kind of talent.
Tobi, I read this thread with great interest. In my world you are a known, fabulous stamper. I guess you don't know how others may view your work. Your coloring and your eye is just fantastic. I can't always favorite your cards as I know I just can't create like that. I want you to know that what you share (and many others here on SCS) have helped to make me a better stamper. Do what your heart tells you and every card will be a WOW! I promise to make more comments this year. Kathy
Tobi, I read this thread with great interest. In my world you are a known, fabulous stamper. I guess you don't know how others may view your work. Your coloring and your eye is just fantastic. I can't always favorite your cards as I know I just can't create like that. I want you to know that what you share (and many others here on SCS) have helped to make me a better stamper. Do what your heart tells you and every card will be a WOW! I promise to make more comments this year. Kathy
WOW! Thanx for your post! {{hugs}}
This thread has shown me that not all people share their "Wow's" the same way! (Some people comment, some people view, some people bookmark whole galleries) And what I am taking away from this is I'm gonna just keep on doing my own thing, and savour the WOW's that are said, AND unsaid!
__________________
{Gallery}{Blog}
I design for: Stampendous!, There She Goes, Technique Tuesday,
SRM Stickers and Deconstructed Sketches.
What does it take to make a "WOW" card?
Just my... 
