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I like both extremes. As much as possible or as little as possible. I think the most striking cards are one or another of these extremes. But both are more difficult to pull off than the middle ground!
I agree I think it depends on the occasion and person you are making the card for. And for me wether or not I am mailing the card. I hate paying that extra postage and have had trouble with the cards getting there intact.
__________________ Barbara SU! Demo with a Blog
Procrastinators of the world unite... tomorrow!
When I mail a card, embellishments and bling are less.
I am soooo tired of paying way over $1.50 for postage for one card!
__________________ The quickest way for a parent to get a child's attention is to sit down and look comfortable. Practice safe eating always use condiments
I really like to bling things up, so I use whatever I think looks good, and a lot of it!
I've decided that I deserve to spend money on extra postage when necessary, because making my cards look pretty makes me happy! And the people who get them are usually happy, too.
It's not like I send out 50 cards a week or anything. So if you figure the cost of extra postage for a year, it's really a drop in the bucket, compared to the good feelings.
__________________ Bugga in OK
"Be kind whenever possible. It is always possible." Dalai Lama
Location: along the bluffs of the Upper Mississippi River
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Well, I'm not sure what you define as "blinging it up", but I almost always have to have ribbon, a few rhinestones or pearls, a couple layers, and embossing. I think I'm middle of the road on bling!
Also, I never mind paying extra postage since I figure each card cost about $100.00 with all I've invested in card-making!!! Hahaha!
__________________ All I want is the chance to prove money won't make me happy!
Less! I mail the majority of my cards and keep them under one ounce so I can use one first class stamp on them. I will sometimes add more if the card is being hand delivered or going in a box or package.
My style is simple-very fancy, embellished cards are actually harder for me to make.
I seem to have brain-freeze when it comes to embellishing cards. I'll add a small amount but I just can't seem to add lots and lots of things like flowers, and rhinestone flourishes etc. - my cards just look too busy to me. I would love to be able to add lots of flowers and all the other embellishments like the UK designer, Bev Rochester (of All the Things I Love blog), but I just CAN'T! I have a drawer full of flowers that just sit there sadly neglected :(
I'm all over the place - it just depends on where the design leads me. But whatever amount the embellishments I add, they have to add to the beauty of the card. I dislike cards where it just looks like a ton o' stuff was added and you can't tell what the focus was supposed to be so it's just confusing and busy.
I really like to bling things up, so I use whatever I think looks good, and a lot of it!
I've decided that I deserve to spend money on extra postage when necessary, because making my cards look pretty makes me happy! And the people who get them are usually happy, too.
It's not like I send out 50 cards a week or anything. So if you figure the cost of extra postage for a year, it's really a drop in the bucket, compared to the good feelings.
I agree with you Buggainok! It's actually a gift of love and I'd spend a lot more for any other gift so extra postage is nothing really compared to buying a card and gift elsewhere, you can't put a price tag on making people smile. Trinity.ranch in Oklahoma
Hmmm, that's a hard one. I rarely make ones with a lot of embellishment, but I do so love the way they look. I guess I'm not confident with doing those type. But they sure are pretty!
:oops:I see what you mean. I don't send so many cards. I usually hand deliver most of mine. If I sent a lot, I couldn't do lots of postage either. I'd rather spend my extra money on my punches and paper than postage. I am sorry for the insensitivity. Have a Blessed Day
My design style is more artistic, less crafty. I try to make sure my cards are 90% hand made, so I do a lot of ripping, stenciling, coloring, and thinking hard about how I can make the card "sing" without adding manufactured stuff from a package. This leaves my cards more light and flat, because most of them are nothing but various layers of different papers. Cheap one-stamp cards!
Postage is too much for those cards with lots of bling/embellishments! I even got charged extra because there was a bump felt through the envelope (It was a ribbon)!
I like bling a lot...but I have to be very careful. It is like decorating a room...too much is too much! lol. And I am not that person who can put a half dozen picture frames on a table...it just looks cluttered if that makes sense? Probably b/c I don't have the eye that picks 6 frames that go together? I would just use 6 random ones I like and feel go with the picture.
Perfect example: I have a friend who has little if any wall space left. She has literally covered all her walls with framed art, big and small. And it works! It is attractive. I could NEVER do that. She did say she will leave a new piece on the floor till she gets a feel for where it should be. That would be never for me. I can squeeze stuff in based on just fitting but not in terms of aesthetic harmony across the whole wall.
Cards are the same thing. I see cards that have tons of ribbons, and big flowers and stuff and stuff...I could not do that in an attractive way if I wanted to LOL. So I am spared that. I dont even try.
For bling lovers who dont want the dimension that causes extra postage...remember your stencils like dreamweavers! Put it on sticky paper and fill with glitter and lift. Will sparkle like mad but be flat! Fill the neg with white or clear glitter to make the image pop more And then just layer it if needed.
Using heavier envelopes or a piece of flat foam will help with stuff "moving" during postage..and may even "hide" those slightly bigger rhinestones from testing fingers looking for bumps lol. Ribbon knots...just have to use really lightweight ribbon so the knot is much smaller. Grosgrain is going to be lumpy vs satin or sheers.
Sometimes a single rhinestone is a "sweet note" and very pretty.
It totally depends on who I am creating for. I totally agree with Buggainok in that it is a labor of love and my "gift" for them.
My mother for example is a, "The more bling the better" kinda person and would be offended if it was not over the top GAUDY...but that is her and what she likes so that is what I do and I don't care how much the postage is b/c that is my gift.
My BFF on the opposite extreme is hard for me b/c creating for her is kinda like creating a masculine card. She like things muted, gurngy, browns, tans, blues.
If I am creating for a child/kid what probably won't appreciate the work, I will use glitter or stickles and generally easy layouts.
I thought that I would mention for those who are concerned about the cost of mailing bulky cards but do like a bit of bling. Hot off the Press carries Dazzles that are small round stickers. I think there are around 500 of them on one sheet w/ 3 varying sizes. They come in like a dozen colors for around $2 a sheet. I did see them recently at Joann's and they happened to be sale for 40% off. I have heard them being referred to as, "The BLING without the BUMP."
It totally depends on who I am creating for. I totally agree with Buggainok in that it is a labor of love and my "gift" for them.
My mother for example is a, "The more bling the better" kinda person and would be offended if it was not over the top GAUDY...but that is her and what she likes so that is what I do and I don't care how much the postage is b/c that is my gift.
My BFF on the opposite extreme is hard for me b/c creating for her is kinda like creating a masculine card. She like things muted, gurngy, browns, tans, blues.
If I am creating for a child/kid what probably won't appreciate the work, I will use glitter or stickles and generally easy layouts.
I do the same thing for kids' cards. I have many grandchildren, and usually make their cards with stickers or something I found on the internet that reflects what they currently are "in love with." This year, a bunch of them are loving Mario themed cards. I usually apply Stickles liberally, too.
__________________ Bugga in OK
"Be kind whenever possible. It is always possible." Dalai Lama
I thought that I would mention for those who are concerned about the cost of mailing bulky cards but do like a bit of bling. Hot off the Press carries Dazzles that are small round stickers. I think there are around 500 of them on one sheet w/ 3 varying sizes. They come in like a dozen colors for around $2 a sheet. I did see them recently at Joann's and they happened to be sale for 40% off. I have heard them being referred to as, "The BLING without the BUMP."
I have something similar to this, very holographic in silver. I just color them with my Copics.
For me, less is more, but it has nothing to do with the cost of mailing a card.
__________________ Linda E
Caution: You are entering an artistic zone. This is not clutter - this is creating. These are not pajamas - it's my work uniform.
So hard to decide....sometimes I use alot of embellies and other time very little. It depends on who is getting the card and whether or not it gets mailed. My favorite embellie??? BLING!! I love adding sparkles and rhinestones!
I think it depends on the overall design of the card... how big the main image is, the pattern of any DSP etc. I tend to make the main image and the papers the focal point of the card, and use embellishments sparingly to enhance the card and make it look more finished, without being overwhelming. Great question and post!
When it comes to embellishments or bling on a card, to you like more or less.
When I first started out I was actually afraid of putting to much stuff on my cards. Then I got into the mind-set of more is better.
Now it just depends on what the card seems to need on it!
I completely agree that it depends on the card. But I'm actually the reverse of you -- I used to do a lot of layers, ribbon, embellishments on a card... and now I tend to keep it more simple. Well.... sometimes lots of layers ;) .
I think I'm middle-of-the-road for bling and embellishments. I love sparkle. I also love ribbon, but can't tie a bow to save my life. I sometimes do a lot of layers, and I sometimes do cards without any stamping. However, I usually include a stamped image and I really like to color.
You need to check out the 10 second bow maker. It give's you "Perfect" bows everytime with any size ribbon. I absolutely love the concept of this thing. You can check it out at: 10 Second Bow Maker Check out youtube too. They have tutorials on how to make your own bow makers as well as videos on how to use them. You won't regret checking into this. Nothing looks sweeter than a perfect bow!
Lol!! Each of my cards must cost about $100.00 too!! I don't mind the extra postage. People really seem to love homemade cards, and it is worth it to me too. I usually embellish depending upon who is receiving the card. I'm probably middle of the road with it, overall.
More or Less
