Sunday, September 27, 2009

Fixing Scale



I made this card in my first batch with Tree Trimmings. Everything looked great until I edited the photo. Looking at it large on the screen, I felt something was off. The ornament seemed so small. So alone. So sad.

I was sad. I had liked this card, but now, it just looked wrong.

So I fixed it:



Not bad, eh? I simply stamped another ornament, and now the whole thing feels so much more to scale. The proportions of the focal-point-to-white-space work so much better than in the single-ornament version. Of course, I was terrified I'd ruin the whole card because I couldn't use a positioner (the rhinestone would have made it impossibly awkward), but the gamble paid off.

And doesn't that Martha Steward lattice punch go perfectly with the snowflakes in the ornament? Yeah.

Supplies
stamps: SU Tree Trimmings, PTI Signature Christmas
paper: SU brocade blue; PTI white
ink: Versacolor atlantic; Palette noir
accessories: rhinestones, lattice punch

20 comments:

  1. ... and methinks the usual rule of odd numbers wouldn't have worked here as well - two seems perfect - TFS!

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  2. What a pretty card! And your improvement on it was excellent --- exactly what the first card needed. You know, I've looked at that PTI stamp set "Signature Christmas," and not been sold on it. But it's PERfect here, gives the card more substance than one without the cursive to it. And the blue color is perfect. I do have to admit, you've widened my choices of Christmas colors! Lovely card.

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  3. You have such a good eye for balance and color. Love the new version of this pretty card. I, too, agree - it's perfect!

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  4. Great improvement - it is the law of 3's I think that makes it balanced. Beautifully done!!

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  5. I love the addition of the second ornament. Perfect finishing touch! And i love the blue and white...I always think that's a great Christmas combo because I think of snow.

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  6. Simply perfect!! And quite lovely as well. :) Your creativity is such an inspiration. Question - is the card base white with a blue strip underneath or blue with the white on top? Thanks for sharing!! Blessings!

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  7. joyfuljan,

    It's a white card base, punched, with a brocade blue strip glued behind.

    Susan

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  8. Love seeing the before and after. I thought the card with one ornament was good until I saw the card with two ornaments. Definitely an improvement!

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  9. I agree that the two ornaments do make the card feel more finished. The punched border is a wonderful finishing touch.

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  10. Awesome save!

    PS. My word verification word is "depravor"--should I be worried?

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  11. I do this so often -- look at the photo and then realize something's off. (Of course, I've usually already dropped the card in the mail by then - thank goodness most recipients aren't so design-minded!) On an almost-related note, have you seen the EK Christmas ornament punch (of the folding variety)? It punches three ornament shapes, all of which remind me of this set. Tempted again! Thanks for sharing.

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  12. Thanks... this type of explanation.. sort of the 'talking out loud' that provides the why as well as the how... helps me improve my own card design thought process. Please keep this up! I enjoy it and I learn from it! If only you could critique my cards for me :-> I think that's what is missing in blog land... a place where you can get an honest opinion about your own work... sort of like a full circle evaluation....

    Thank you!

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  13. UH-OH, now we're all gonna want before and after card photos! ;)
    Nice save.

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  14. Okay, I SWEAR I am not a crazed stalker, but I once again have to comment. I've been reading your posts about scale (thank you!) and was finally able to apply the lesson to one of my cards. I was going for a CAS Yom Kippur card to do in assembly-line fashion for the ladies at the retirement home. The beautiful stamps from PTI's Mazel Tov set are G0RGEOUS, but small and swam on a sea of white on an A2 card. I took a hint from you and cut it down to 3x3 and it looks FAB! Oops-no envies, so I just put them at each place setting in the dining hall. Almost looks like I did it on purpose.
    Susan, you are a gift from Heaven.

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  15. That was brave to stamp that second ornament without a positioner. It turned out great!

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  16. if only my eye could do that... find and fix all of my errors!! you really are brilliant :-)

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Thank you so much for taking time to comment!