Designer Q & A: Val C

[Madi]

If you haven't checked it out yet, Val of ValC designs,
has a wonderful spotlight going on with 4 challenges (first one is posted already) and ​

fantastic new additions to her Art Book product line in her store. ​

You can read all about it in the Designer Spotlight thread​

Now, we have the chance to get to know Val a little better.​

She is ready to answer some of the questions you have for her! :blabla:
Ask away, and Val:whoo: will pop in periodically to tell us about herself!​

 

[Madi]

I will start with an easy question: Are you the only creative person in your family?

 

[Ellen]

DO YOU SET ASIDE a SPECIAL TIME FOR DESIGNING or does it happen in between looking after your family?

 

[val]

oh.... interesting questions ladies!

So Diane,
Well I might be the most messy creative soul at home, but my sister is a ceramic artist.
and I am pretty glad/proud to say that my daughter is so willing to create...
she wanna scrap ( and collect all kind of ribbon, and fun stuff she can)

I actually organized a workshop with her class, and we made a Owl Exhibition with them, and it was a blast to see all those little kids (8 years old) were doing such a fab job. ( Ill try to bring pictures tonight from home)


Ellen,

No I design mainly when the kids are in bed/asleep or not at home, (I am lucky enough, they go to sleep around 7:30)
( I also do some stuff from work, like now, ... hum ... but don't say it ) )

It actually can happen that I designs while kids are awake and home, but I always ask them before...

so I mainly design on my me time

val

 

[val]

oh, I found a copy of the Layouts I made to give them a book covering the whole story

this is the book cover -
on this project they had to make a Owlusing only black pen of 2 diffrent size

this is the "painted Owls"
there they had to use paint with all kind of tools, even brushes but were not allowed to use in a normal way.
so they were spreading, using sponge, sushi stick or what ever to "paint".

this is THE master piece a Owl in mosaic of Little Owl
the little owl are made of recycle fabric, button, ribbon ...

and finally the recycled Owls, : an idea picked on Pinterest

anf this is a pick into teh 5 workshops I was hosting on sundays ...

( I used Anna Aspnes template for the kids photo organisation - Thanks Anna)

v

 

[Madi]

Wow that is some project Val! I love all the creativity there. Such a great collection of owls!

 

[faerywings]

Val, you are so darn creative, and I love the Owl Project!

What inspires you to create most of your kits, family, nature, an occasion?

 

[Dumpty]

Hi there Val
Do you have a list of themes planned ahead of time for your futures kits or bundles, or do you just wing it ?

 

[Ellen]

that class must have been such fun, I love the painted ones and the doodles ones. great collection

 

[val]

Val, you are so darn creative, and I love the Owl Project!

What inspires you to create most of your kits, family, nature, an occasion?

thanks!

well you know what Chris... this as changed SO muchin the recent months
I first was designing "aiming " at something (like topic was set), so it was kind a "lock" field to grow in...
Now, I just don't mind... I let things come, and at somepoint the kit turn into an obvious direction... then I decide the topic I wanna go and look for original element addition to complete the product.

I am not quite sure it make sense to people, but I think that is the way I work best

starting with now limit... and let it grow... within some limit....like a kid

v

 

[val]

Hi there Val
Do you have a list of themes planned ahead of time for your futures kits or bundles, or do you just wing it ?

hey lady! finally out of your train

like to can guess from my previous post..
NO, I have NO plan...
Sometime I can find inspiring things, on the web .... so I put it in a folder and start looking around this base... related photos, color association ...

and then... it comes... or not ( and if not I delete the folder.... LOL)
but don t ask me why ...
if it doesn't work... I need to get on something else,and bad drafts are not to be stored.
v

 

[val]

yes Ellen, these workshop werefantastic!
I got lucky that the school let me used their ARt room, and that the parents (and my colleague) did collect a long or stuff..
I got the kids on 4 Sundays, ( they are 18 kids) and I just spent 100$ or so for the paint, the glue, and the black background for the doodle Owls.
that is it, everything else was left over, recycled or collected from the bush in my garden

v

 

[faerywings]

thanks!

well you know what Chris... this as changed SO muchin the recent months
I first was designing "aiming " at something (like topic was set), so it was kind a "lock" field to grow in...
Now, I just don't mind... I let things come, and at somepoint the kit turn into an obvious direction... then I decide the topic I wanna go and look for original element addition to complete the product.

I am not quite sure it make sense to people, but I think that is the way I work best

starting with now limit... and let it grow... within some limit....like a kid

v

That sounds similar as to how I scrap!LOL

Do you enjoy scrapping with your kits or do you prefer to scrap other designers?

 

[val]

Hum,

I love both.
I like scrapping with my stuff, because I can make in an LO what I was thinking of while designing ... you know those small elements you make, with a special idea in mind.

and since I join the digiDare team, I am scrapping much more with other designers stuff... and I discover fantastic artists.
I believe the digidare is a great opportunity to get to know some designers... I love every Layout I made there.

v

 

[faerywings]

Who is your favorite O-Designer to scrap with?

 

[Madi]

Can you invite your CT here, or introduce them to us?

 

[faerywings]

Yes, I would love to meet your team!

 

[nessita]

hello girls, one of them is present

I'm in the team since (hmmmmm.....) - let's say - ages

and if i'm here, i may ask.... Val, do you follow any concious tendency in designing?

 

[Nickel]

I'm here too! I'm a ct member since about a year

Do you have any animals?

 

[val]

Diane, Chris.. are you curious??
Who is able to cope with me? LOl

Thanks ladies for dropping by

Agnes,

That is a good one, but like I said above, about inspiration,... I don't design along a line, I just get on something and let it grow... and then it become a product.
This said, even if it is not conscientious, I may be inspired by everything around me... which include digiscrap...
and then get into some tendency...
but I think it is pretty much the same for everyone.
I don't know 1 designer who keep designing everything the same way over and over again... that must be super boring, if you ask me.


Hieronique, didn't you join the team at last year Bday Party?

No I don't have animals anymore.
well I have an husband and 2 kids does that count?

more seriously, DH has a fish tank and some fish, but that is NOT my problem at all!!!
I grew up with dog, and got a cat when I first left home to my own place... but moving in iceland is not an pet's trip ( quarantine is quite hard, 40 days on an isolated Island (basically no visit...)
And it also would get us stuck in iceland for holidays as we don't have familly to drop it while gone...
We left our cat to my mum house, when we moved to iceland.

xoxo

v

 

[LaurieW]

Hey- I am here too! I was on Val's CT for a long time- she sought me out and I was astounded about that. I asked to step down for a bit and she said I could come back if I wanted to. I am back. I am loving Val's style of kit development for my art journal type layouts.

Question for you Val- Do you have places in the world you would love/wish to travel to?

 

[Nickel]

Diane, Chris.. are you curious??
Who is able to cope with me? LOl

Thanks ladies for dropping by

Hieronique, didn't you join the team at last year Bday Party?

No I don't have animals anymore.
well I have an husband and 2 kids does that count?

more seriously, DH has a fish tank and some fish, but that is NOT my problem at all!!!
I grew up with dog, and got a cat when I first left home to my own place... but moving in iceland is not an pet's trip ( quarantine is quite hard, 40 days on an isolated Island (basically no visit...)
And it also would get us stuck in iceland for holidays as we don't have familly to drop it while gone...
We left our cat to my mum house, when we moved to iceland.

xoxo

v

Yes I won the spot last year

I can imagine that you left your cat behind. Long quarantine and no Cat sit..

 

[tropt]

When do you design (a set time, whenever the mood strikes, only in the morning)?

 

[IntenseMagic]

Another of Val's team here! I've been on her CT for about 2 1/2 years or so and she tolerates me pretty well, especially this time of year when my schedule is so crazy! LOL

I have a question...Are there any colors that are your favorite to design with? Or colors that it's really difficult for you to use?

 

[val]

so hapy to see you around ladies!

as for answer sweetie,

I mainly designs in evening night, when kids sleeps.
can happen in day hours for a bit, if I need to get stuff finished... but that is rare.
(and definitivly not in morning lol...)

Jan,
Color is really a mood thing.
I have hard time with some of them, but if I try to skip them, it is not for long... there are always collab, or some common work where to colors are included.
I am not a pink lady tho ... but I wasn't a yellow one either... and that was before .. because it seems like yellow in getting in my color combo... very often, for a year, now ...

But I REALLY love the neural brown cardboard colors .... but you have noticed that, don't you?

v

 

[IntenseMagic]

But I REALLY love the neural brown cardboard colors .... but you have noticed that, don't you?

v

Yes, and I really love that about you!

 

[ulina]

And here is another CT Member. Finally found some time and this tread
I'm in since january last year and I'm loving it. We're having such a great CT and Val sure understands us all and supports us where we need to be. So do the other team members.
Val sure is creative and busy. She's gone through a rough time last year but she manages to come back and how. At the moment I'm jealous about your energy. How do you do that? Combine your job, kids, hubby, designing and even finding time to scrap?
Great reading this Q & A and yes I also do love your owl project.

 

[oldvwblues]

I'm also lucky to be on Val's team! Would have posted sooner but was on vacation and trying to play catch up now that I'm home! It's a fun team to be on..Val is great to create for and I love her designs! I've been on the team since around the time her Zen-itude - Kit came out! :smile:

 

[val]

thanks ladies.

Ulina,no magic skill, so super power... I just love what I do.
but I learned to take care of myself,the hard way, last year, and I will have make sure I slow down sometime )

xoxo

Vicki, you are a magic artist sweetie!
v

 

[Madi]

So, now it's time for some silly questions!

How cold is Iceland? does it live up to it's name?

And how is Pollapunk doing in Iceland, are they nr. 1 in the charts?
I read you love neutral colours, but this band is a great inspiration colour wise!!