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I'll have another go at this - something went wrong with my upload last time and I lost my thread, both figuratively and literally!
Anyway, this is a sample card for our Christmas Card Challenge on Friday night. Each of our group will make six of these, so they need to be fairly quick and inexpensive to make.
The problem is, I think this card is lacking something. Despite the glitter on the ground and the snowflakes (which you can't see in this ropey old picture), it's still dull. What would you suggest? Red gingham instead of blue? A background stamp? Ideas please!
Sheesh - it's still not uploading (I think). Will have a go at making it smaller...
Well, I like everything about this card... the layout, the colors... maybe just a simple sentiment somewhere. Something small, cute and to the point. JMO.
I love that stamp! Haven't my Feb. cards yet so maybe I'll have to use that one.
My suggestion, for what it's worth, is to change the background paper from blue to red (to pick up the red in the snowman's scarf) and maybe a red gingham ribbon.
Cute card, though!
Good luck
Yes I like the idea of red gingham ribbon so will do that. I also like the idea of a small greeting - bottom left in dark blue? or on the dark blue in white?
I can't change the colours of the background card because everything is already bought, paid for and folded!
Yes I like the idea of red gingham ribbon so will do that. I also like the idea of a small greeting - bottom left in dark blue? or on the dark blue in white?
I can't change the colours of the background card because everything is already bought, paid for and folded!
I think I would change that gold?/green? mat to a red one and change the ribbon to red check. It will set off the red in the picture. I love red/black/blue together!
For me, I have a hard time with balance in a card with the image on the right and space on the left. If this were me making this card I would end up putting the image to the left and a sentiment to the bottom right. But that is just me...it doesn't mean that that would be better!
Cute card,would use versamark sentament and poss stickles on the snowflakes for jazz,...I love stickles,...what is the pattern on the blue? Is it a punch?
It's a really cute card, I'd maybe add a subtle background like Linen or Adida Cloth in versamark or move the image up and to the left just a bit.
You're getting lots of great ideas!
I think the red gingham will be the perfect touch. The only other thing I 'might' do would be to pop the focal image up on dimensionals (if it isn't already, I can't tell from the pic.)
First, let me say you are off to a great start!
I have to agree with some of the previous posters. Here is what I would do, if it were me and since you asked:
Move the image to the left side. Switch the ribbon to the red gingham. Keep the double line of piercings (very cool!) Do a sentiment in black in the bottom right corner.
And then I would mount the whole card (trimmed down a bit on the sides and the bottom edge) onto a quarter sheet of black. That will echo the black mat on the main image and really make the whole thing just pop.
I think all that is missing is a sentiment. Or it might look cool if you put ribbon below parallel with your piercing with a charm on it. After the VSN challenge with charms, I think they look really cool on a card.;)
Love the simplicity though, I always struggle with simple!
Thanks for all the great ideas! It's actually a CASE of a card on the bottom of p74 of the current catty, which is why the image is on the right. It's not what I would have done (left every time for me!) but I was trying to vary the designs.
For the record, the dark mat is navy. I have no idea why I put pale green and pale blue together - I think I was constrained by the colours available at my local cardstock suppliers and, again, trying to vary all the designs (I've done 11 for the Christmas Card Challenge).
I like the idea of a background stamp (I have Linen) and I like the idea of Versamark snowflakes, too. I might try both!
I think a charm would look cool, but it would be too expensive as we'd need 30 of them.
Thanks again for all the great ideas - I'll post the new, improved version, but it won't be until at least Friday!
Okay, here's Plan B. I think I used nearly all of your suggestions! ;) It's a bit rushed, so please forgive the smudges - and it is only a sample!
I Versamarked linen on the background, which you can't see in the photo.
Stamped the snowflakes from Happy Winter on the top half in pale blue (had to use marker, but a friend has the right ink pad). Joy is stamped in red, but I may use "Sparkle" from that similar set. Changed the ribbon to red. Added a strip of red with piercing because the piercing looked weird next to the snowflakes.
I really like the modifications....your original was good too, plain simple to the point, people like that....this jazzes it up a bit.
A thought...what if you swapped out the green for another color...it seems to flatten it out....maybe put red there too, or a poppier green....is that a word....
but we can nit-pick our way through our cards....wisdom is knowing when to stop editing.....
I now what you mean about the image on the left...I prefer it...we read from left to right...so it feels unnatural to me to have it on the right...and I really am not happy with the stamped images that face right....it's like they look off the card....and not direct your attention to the inside...just me.
A thought...what if you swapped out the green for another color...it seems to flatten it out....maybe put red there too, or a poppier green....is that a word....
I agree with changing the green, to either blue or red. I like the snowflakes on the top......but what if you stamped them on scrap paper first and then onto the card, for a softer look.
I'm still of the opinion of replacing the green with red, like several others here. Blue, black, red...three colors plus white. The fourth usually is too much.
I kinda liked the blue the way it was, with the piercing. But the sentiment really balances things out.
Although you may not want to use it on this card, I thought that I would tell you about a technique that I find I use a lot to create depth on a card or background when I think it "needs something". I have a roll of the rubbercoated shelf liner, the kind that has rubberized threads with spaces in between, a long time ago thinking that I would line my shelves in my kitchen cabinets with it. I ended up not using it (too annoying- kept wrinkling up), but a small piece of the shelf liner has an interesting texture for a background. My favorite way to use it is to dab it on my Versamark pad and smoosh it on the paper. Or dab it on a color. When I did an album for a trip that we took to Italy, I found the most wonderful paint chips in Tuscany colors (thanks Lowe's!). I punched them and added them to my layout, but they looked too flat and one dimensional, but when I dabbed some complimantary ink from some pigment pads on them, they really popped and looked so authentic that one person thought I had some how found really flat tiles to put on the page. I find that in that one roll of shelf liner, I have a lifetime supply of interesting backgrounds for next to nothing. ;)
Donna Cook and Fionna51: I'm not keen on the green either. I really don't know why it's there. :rolleyes: Might change it for red.
Krabearkub: I could stamp off with the blue, but I'll see how we get on with a real ink pad of the proper colour first. This was just any old blue marker, as I don't have a pale blue pad (but my friend does!)
Sharon: You probably can't see it, but the red strip is pierced, too. I'm worried about this - it might take too long to pierce 30 cards (between us) with one mat pack and one pin! ;)
I like the newer version better. Based on latest comments....
Could you stamp the snowflakes on top in Versamark? It would add the texture but be more subtle.
I would definitely try a red mat rather than the green.
I *love* the piercings, but if you are worried about the time factor (and that is a good thing to think about it when mass producing)....how about just crimping the red strip?
I like the newer version better. Based on latest comments....
Could you stamp the snowflakes on top in Versamark? It would add the texture but be more subtle.
I would definitely try a red mat rather than the green.
I *love* the piercings, but if you are worried about the time factor (and that is a good thing to think about it when mass producing)....how about just crimping the red strip?
Are we helping? :mrgreen:
The Linen is stamped in Versamark and barely shows up, so I think it needs something slightly darker for the snowflakes. Trust me, it WILL be paler when I use a real ink pad! ;) Am a bit concerned about stamping off as there is no room for error and someone is bound to mess up. We have other snowflakes - would the smallest one from The Snowflake Spot be too big? I think it would actually.
I'm convinced about the red - and will change it, promise!
Crimping is a great idea - I think we were just using the mat pack because it's new and exciting. Crimping would be much quicker.
And yes, you're helping! Although, please bear in mind I have now packed my bag in readiness for Friday night! :mrgreen:
What about getting a piece of Plastic Canvas and cutting it into "card size" pieces to use instead of the mat pack? That way you could have 4 or 5 things to use for the hole piercing. (Unless of course the idea is to sell the mat packs ;) )
I use the smaller sized holes, size 10 plastic canvas.
I was envisioning bigger snowflakes like in the Snowflake set or the Snowflake wheel or the Bold Snowflake jumbo wheel. Those would show up better with VersaMark too.
What about getting a piece of Plastic Canvas and cutting it into "card size" pieces to use instead of the mat pack? That way you could have 4 or 5 things to use for the hole piercing. (Unless of course the idea is to sell the mat packs ;) )
I use the smaller sized holes, size 10 plastic canvas.
Not selling anything in England yet but, seeing as SU ARE coming here and I plan to be a demo, I don't want to give them any cost-cutting ideas from now on! :twisted: ;)
I was envisioning bigger snowflakes like in the Snowflake set or the Snowflake wheel or the Bold Snowflake jumbo wheel. Those would show up better with VersaMark too.
I'll try The Snowflake Spot - my friend has that.
Thanks for all the suggestions! I'm going to bed now.
this sounds interesting....is there a sample to see some where.....don't tease us like this!!!
Quote:
Originally Posted by jutta
Although you may not want to use it on this card, I thought that I would tell you about a technique that I find I use a lot to create depth on a card or background when I think it "needs something". I have a roll of the rubbercoated shelf liner, the kind that has rubberized threads with spaces in between, a long time ago thinking that I would line my shelves in my kitchen cabinets with it. I ended up not using it (too annoying- kept wrinkling up), but a small piece of the shelf liner has an interesting texture for a background. My favorite way to use it is to dab it on my Versamark pad and smoosh it on the paper. Or dab it on a color. When I did an album for a trip that we took to Italy, I found the most wonderful paint chips in Tuscany colors (thanks Lowe's!). I punched them and added them to my layout, but they looked too flat and one dimensional, but when I dabbed some complimantary ink from some pigment pads on them, they really popped and looked so authentic that one person thought I had some how found really flat tiles to put on the page. I find that in that one roll of shelf liner, I have a lifetime supply of interesting backgrounds for next to nothing. ;)
I would love to be able to show you what it looks like, but I don't have a working scanner! I gave my DH one of those four function thingies for Christmas (fax, printer, copier, scanner) but he keeps "forgetting" to set it up - and he's an engineer! I guess I'll have to get my son to do it. I was thinking of doing a RAK with some of the extra liner that I have, but I don't know the RAK ettiquette. Do you send me a SASE? I have a roll of it that I could share, but don't know how to go about it. ;)
Finally... I think I've cracked it! Well, I say "I", but I mean "you" - thank you all so much for your invaluable help. I think I used almost all of your suggestions. Here it is.
What's missing from this card?
