Let's go through the basics set out in the badge:
1. "Two different designs."
What do we mean by "two different designs?" For that matter, what does "design" mean? Here is the definition from Dictionary.com:
DESIGN: To prepare the preliminary sketch or the plans for (a work to be executed), especially to plan the form and structure of an object, work of art, decorative scheme, etc. To plan and fashion artistically or skillfully. To form or conceive in the mind; contrive; plan. To make drawings, preliminary sketches, or plans. (Noun: Such outlines, sketches, or plans.)
So just as the definition says, think of design as the sketch, layout, or blueprint of your cards. We are looking for you to stretch your design skills by creating two distinctly different design layouts for your cards, rather than having you make two cards the same or very similar.
Twofer is a DESIGN challenge.
It is not a style challenge or a technique challenge.
Once you've come up with two distinctly different design layouts,
you are free to use the same or different styles and techniques on your cards.
Once you've come up with two distinctly different design layouts,
you are free to use the same or different styles and techniques on your cards.
Style. Style refers to terms like "clean and simple" or "clean and layered" or "shabby chic" or "mixed media," etc. There is a challenge in Blogland with an emphasis on style and that's The Card Concept. On the tabs there you will find an excellent description of common card styles and many of you will be familiar with them. I won't repeat them here because Twofer is a design challenge and whatever style you use is up to you.
➤Players may think they need to change their "style" of card making in order to play in this challenge and that makes them uncomfortable. That is definitely not the case. You do not need to use two different "styles" when you create your two cards. You may use your normal style, or change it up, as long as the underlying designs are different for each card.
Technique. When we speak of technique, we are referring to elements such as embossing, smooshing, ink blending, masking, embossing paste, sewing, etc., and there are a number of challenges that do focus on techniques.
➤Players may think they are following the rules of Twofer if they use two completely different techniques on their cards even though the underlying design layout is the same. That is definitely not the case. You may use the same or different techniques when you create your two cards, as long as the underlying designs are different for each card.
Here are some Twofer challenge examples of different designs I made recently using the same stamp. Under the photo is my hand-sketch to show you the underlying design of each of the cards:
and
Both of the above examples when drawn out like this very clearly show that I created two different designs with each set of cards, regardless of the style or techniques I used. This is what the Twofer Card Challenge is about.
If you have trouble getting started when creating a card design, there are several card sketches available to you via Pinterest and Google. There are also sketch challenges so if you use one of their current sketches for one of your cards, you have the bonus of entering their challenge as well as the Twofer Card Challenge! A few examples are: CAS(E) This Sketch, Freshly Made Sketches, CAS Colours & Sketches, Fusion Card Challenge, My Favorite Things, and STAMPlorations.]
Once you have chosen your stamp, die, or stencil, think about the layout you are going to use for each of your two cards. You may find it helpful to sketch out your designs as I have here. Most of the DT use this approach to ensure their two designs are distinctly different from one another, which is the basic premise of Twofer.
If you use this method to design your Twofer cards (even mentally), you’ll learn to recognize that two different designs requires more than simply changing the location of a sentiment, changing the colors, or making one card portrait and the other landscape.
2. "Two different occasions."
Often a prompt will automatically fit a particular occasion, such as "balloons" for a birthday card, "wreaths" for a Christmas card, or "hearts" for a Valentine's Day card, so sometimes it becomes a real challenge to use the prompt on your second card! But you want a challenging challenge, right?!
Don't forget you may leave your card front without a sentiment, but you must tell us in your post for what occasion you have designed your card.
3. "Using the same stamps, stencils, and/or dies."
Make sure you use the exact same stamp, stencil, or die for the prompt element on both your designs, not just the exact same SET. You may add other elements (even from the same set), but the prompt element should be prominent on each of your cards.
~~~
Conventional / Unconventional.
When our challenge first started, a few players and members of the DT were very creative in how they used their same stamps and dies to make their second card. They turned butterflies into flowers and hearts into fishes, etc. As a result, I heard from many of you that you had trouble being "that creative" and you weren't playing as a result.
I would like to reassure you again that this challenge has no rule about making one of your cards "conventional" and the other card "unconventional." That is strictly a personal choice. We welcome your entries that use the prompt in conventional ways on both of your cards, as long as your cards have different design layouts.
Miscellaneous Reminders.
- Computer-generated images/digis cannot be used for the prompt element of your designs, though they can be used for secondary or tertiary elements.
- Gallery photo. We need to see both your cards in one photo for the link up.
- Card challenge. We are a card challenge, so your two designs must both be cards.
- Commenting. Please leave an encouraging comment for at least three other participants.
- Follow this blog.
Thank you for taking the time to read this! You may also want to check out the FAQ tab at the top of the home page, if you haven't read it before. If you have additional questions, please use the contact form on the side bar to let us know what they are. The answer to your question just might help someone else!
Darnell