A lesson in style with Colleen Dietrich!

My guest today is sweet Colleen Dietrich from Dietrich Designs. Colleen's style is the epitome of classic elegance. Her cards are impeccably layered with each element just perfectly placed. There is inevitably a lot of sighing when I visit her blog as her marvelous creations provide such a feast for the eyes. I am so glad that she broke down her creative process for us so that with practice, we could be such style mavens like her. She is also hosting a fabulous challenge with an amazing prize for one lucky player! 

But first, let's have a look at her gorgeous gallery....

Like many crafters, I sometimes need a kick-start to help get my creative juices flowing.  Maybe I want to be inspired by a gorgeous photo, or study a sketch.  In this case, I chose a Sketchbook Saturday example.  (I will often save sketches on my computer hard drive .)

For this project, I began by choosing the La Blanche Spray Flower stamp.   I am drawn to stamps that exude traditional elegance - botanical drawings, iconic images like fleur-de-lis, Eiffel Tower, fancy flourishes, and sentiments that have pretty fonts.

Choosing stamps with illustrations that have shading helps greatly with coloring.  The heavy lines tell you where to put your darker colors.  

After studying the sketch, and stamping and coloring my image, I chose the patterned papers.  Because I wanted my deep periwinkle flowers to be the star, I looked for lighter-colored papers that would enhance - and not compete with - them.  

Before I permanently adhere anything to the card, I audition elements together.  What you see here is not what made it to the final product.  The lighter cream patterned paper was too light beneath my rectangle, so I placed it at the bottom.  The deep lavender circle element also changed:  I did not like the scallops competing with the deckled edge of the rectangle. 

Another trick I use before permanently adhering anything:  lay your project on the floor and, while standing, look down at it.  This extra distance can help you see things with a more objective eye.

When it comes to sketches, I try to up the ante as I get my elements together.  Where there is a straight line, I add touches to give more interest, like this stamped-ruler, and a stretch of lace topped with tiny pearls.  For the circle, I used inks to distress its edges.

I love pairing all shades of white together.  The crisp white bow, button, twine and lace stand out against the creamy patterned paper, subtly-distressed white card base and deckled edge rectangle.  (Antique Linen and Walnut Stain Distress Inks by Ranger come out to play often!)  

Even though I try to put my own creative spins on a sketch, sometimes a suggested element happens to be just the right thing.  This sketch features a butterfly, and I tried to substitute other items.  Nothing else looked quite right:  a flower would compete with my floral image, a bow competed with the bow down below, etc.   I went with a butterfly.  I added a pearl for balance in the top right corner, and well, because I am hopelessly addicted to using them on my projects.  

My challenge to you:  make a card that incorporates the shabby-chic style, using pearls and lace.  Play along for your chance to win this prize package I am offering:

And my thanks to Yvonne, for the opportunity to host a challenge with you!  I'm completely honored!  It was a learning experience for me, to really study 'how I do what I do'.  
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Ready to play along? Please share your newly created shabby-chic style cards using pearls and lace via InLinkz located at the end of the post by Friday October 5.

As always, please leave a little love for my guest Colleen!