Each month we get a glimpse behind the scenes of our Scrap Girls Club designers, and this month’s designer is Brandy Murry!
When you started working on your club, what was the first thing you did?
I created the papers. I always do that first because it is the basis for the rest of the collection. Sometimes I think I know where I am going with it, but it takes on a life of own. Each collection is a journey and an enjoyable one at that.
What inspired the colors in your club?
Over several months I begin gathering things that interest me in a folder on my computer. I start with an initial color palette, but after the papers are complete, the final color palette emerges. It may even change again once the layouts are started. (this happens often with me!)
What was your favorite thing to design?
The Masks, they are the cornerstone of the collection. I really like these because they are layered. My intent is that they be templates for use with not only this collection, but other collections too.
About how long did it take you to design this club?
From idea initiation to completion, it took me 8-9 months or so, but really from begin of design to turning it over to Scrap Girls, It took about 5 months. Of course I didn’t work on it continuously.
How did you come up with the name of your club?
Funny thing, Menagerie was one of the first collection names I had reserved. I originally reserved it in the summer of 2008, with the intent on a animal inspired collection.
Menagerie means: a collection of wild animals kept for exhibition or the place where such animals are housed. A menagerie was mostly connected with an aristocratic or royal court and was situated within a garden or park of a palace. The aristocratic menageries are distinguished from the later zoological gardens since they were founded and owned by aristocrats whose intentions were not primarily of scientific and educational interest. These aristocrats wanted to illustrate their power and wealth, because exotic animals, alive and active, were less common, more difficult to acquire, and more expensive to maintain. It took 5 years for it to come to fruition. What can I say, took awhile!
Where did you find the inspiration for this club?
Parts came from all over. But the inspiration for the Wood Block Titles Word Art Mini came from a poster designed for the East Valley Children’s Theater. It was the poster for Pinocchio design by Tunnel Bravo.
While I loved the deep shadow of the original idea, when working with it in layouts it didn’t translate as well. So I adjusted it to work better with the club allowing it to be used anywhere on the page and not just in the top areas.
Thanks Brandy for a glimpse into your design process!
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