Hi everyone! Today I wanted to show you the cards I mailed off to Johanna as part of the final application process for the Odd Bird Planet Design Team, which includes a sneak of the January 2009 release. I also wanted to give you a peek into the DT application process. Grab a cup of something, this is a long post :)
The first part of the application process was to e-mail Johanna some pictures and a bit about ourselves. 12 of us made it to the finals. We were then all sent the same stamps (a snow globe, Birdhouse Row, Owl-Bert Little Owl, and two sentiments - For You and Sweetness) and given four challenges. I received the stamps on the 8th and mailed them off on the 9th I think - they had to get to California from Newfoundland no later than the 15th so I was really stressed and made all these cards so fast. I was worried that speed would affect the quality of my cards so the waiting process is not easy. These are the four cards I mailed in.
Challenge One: Working With Digital Images
The card you see above involved no stamping. We were e-mailed a digital file that contained images that haven't even been made yet - they will be released as part of a Special Deal in January of 2009, but I am allowed to show them to you now in this sneak peek.
Johanna wanted to make sure we could work with PDF files as sometimes we will be creating before the rubber is even pressed. I had never done this before - eek! We were given this challenge in advance so I had the most time to create this card.
I went to Staples to have the image printed onto cardstock using a color copy machine which printed with an embossing effect. I was really happy with the printing result overall.
The only problem from the printing was that there was a tiny bit of blur on the words. To cover that up I traced around the letters with a Copic marker.
I can't figure out how to thread my dang new Janome sewing machine so I hand stitched the image with some brown embroidery thread, and put it on red felt die cut with Nestabilities for a kitch-y kind of modern retro, home made look. The images were all on one sheet of paper so I had to make them work by cutting them out or covering them up.
Challenge Two: Create a Scene
For our next card we were to create a scene. I wanted to show different styles for each card. The last card was so layered and bright with primary colors. This time I wanted clean but quirky, with pops of color.
I used this chipboard flourish, colored with Copics and edges with Gold Leaf pen as a tree top. The treehouse stamps are popped up and hanging from the tree with some brown thread.
I colored under the popped up images too as I used a thick pop up dot.
I drew and cut the clouds and sponged them with blue ink. Paper piercing and a funky button makes the sun, velvet rickrack makes the grass.
Challenge Three: The Unexpected
This challenge was to create something unexpected with the stamps given to us. I knew I wanted to use the snow globe stamp, but as it's official name is Plain Perch Snowglobe CakestandI was in trouble when it came to creating a new use for it lol!
I tend to get complicated with my cards, and wanted the stamps to speak for themselves on this card. I turned the Snowglobe stamp into a tea cup on stark white background.
The image was stamped twice and embossed with a grainy textured coffee colored Embossing Powder. The cup was popped up with thick glue dots and colored with Copics. I tried very hard to create warm, glowing, honey colored tea in a clear teacup.
Finally, I cut a felt Fancy Pants flourish apart to make a handle, and cut leaves from May Arts ribbon to make green tea leaves. A cup of green tea with green tea leaves = green tea leaves.
Challenge Four: Showcase Your Coloring
I love coloring so you would think that this would be the easiest challenge for me. It was actually the hardest. The stamps were all quite small and didn't have a lot of detail to really go to town. I decided to use a coloring technique with my Copics to create a 3D snowglobe.
I used about 6 colors of blue to create a glowing water snowglobe, then carefully removed the ink's color in tiny little dots to create the look of falling snow in a watercolor type look. This took me two hours but it looked great. THEN I added the Papier Glass Finish in two thick layers (adding a bit of ultra fine glitter to the first layer) and lost the gorgeous watercolor falling snow look! I cried, yep I really did. It was too late to begin again, and if you looked close you could still see the effect. I had to pray Johanna would notice it in person.
I drew snow hills and covered them with ultra fine glitter. I love the font Johanna uses for her sentiments and wanted to showcase the word with a pretty pink tag. I pink heart bead dangles from the tag attached with clear jewelry cord. This one is the most typically "me" card, I let my love of pink run wild.
Application Tips
I hope this gives you a bit of insight into the whole Design Team process if you are thinking of applying for one. I have learned it is often the psychological pressure/stress I put on myself that ends up being the hardest part. I am a perfectionist, and my cards are far from perfect. I am trying to get better and to make what is in my head come out right on paper. So frustrating! I look at those cards now and see flaws and missed opportunities. The eleven girls are really amazing designers. Between the clock and the competition, my nerves started to get to me. I don't know how those contestants on Project Runway or Top Chef do it.
Here are some general points to remember when applying:
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Send in cards that fit with the company's style. If your style doesn't mesh, don't even apply. You HAVE to work with what you love, or it will show.
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Demonstrate Your Versatility.Try to send in different types of cards to show different styles and abilities.
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Don't rely on gadgets, patterned paper and embellishment alone.Companies need to see "you" in those cards. She with the most toys does not always win. It is very important that the stamp is the focus if you are applying to a stamp company. It is a different story if you are applying to an online retailer who sells the accessories - then by all means show off the pretty papers and trims.
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There are more talented designers than there are spots on teams. Do not be crushed if you don't make it. This is the hardest point for me. I do get crushed. It is not easy to put yourself out there, especially if you are a sensitive person. You have to decide if the chance is worth the temporary pain of rejection. Luck as well as talent will play a part in your selection. Add timing, the right design at the right time, your blog, your audience, who you are, where you are from - it is one big recipe and anything could make the person choosing go AHA! I want HER!
Whew long post. But I hope you enjoyed the cards and the process. Good luck to you if you apply for a design team! If you like to color and love "cute" images, be sure to take a look my post below regarding the Toodles & Binks designer call.
Suzy
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