If you didn't get a chance to read Part 1 of How to Create a Collection, click on over here first to get caught up!

How to create a collection : Part 2 - pull elements of your sketches together.

Once you've established your idea and and decided on what elements, styles and colours you'd like to use, the next step is to sketch, letter, draw and bring your ideas to life on paper.  

Be free with this process.  The more work you have to choose from, the better.  You won't use all of your sketches for various reasons.   You'll find that some elements simply won't work or you won't love some sketches, so more is always better in this case.

This part of creating a collection should take the longest.  Whether it's a few hours, a few days or a few weeks.  When I was creating my sketches and lettering for my recipe cards I spend hours throughout the span of 2 or so weeks getting stuff out on paper.  Don't limit yourself here unless you are on a tight deadline.  And take a break from it so that you give yourself space for fresh ideas and a fresh perspective.

Once you have what you feel is enough {trust me, you'll know when you have enough rough work to start with}, then you can begin pulling elements of your designs together.  What will compliment one another?  Where will you introduce colour?  

Start making stacks and bringing the collection together visually.

In my case, I love, love, love black and white and can create anything in black and white for days. But I've been working on bringing in colour to our designs and have learned to break the collections into 2 groupings.  

What you can also do is have a look at what sketches compliment each other.  Kinda like putting an outfit together.  Lay them out side-by-side and even try using contrasting elements in a grouping and see how it goes!

More about finalizing your design in Part 3 of how to create a collection.  I hope you're enjoying the process so far!

xo