With this monogram card, I wanted to use the CAS34 color challenge, which I had not done yet. I used both my initials in brown, then stamped the butterflies all around in pink, green, and blue. The first version of this card used larger butterflies, which completely overwhelmed the monogram, so I redid it with smaller butterflies, and now the monogram stands out a bit more as the focal point.
This is different, certainly, from standard monogram cards. Something seems a bit off, though I can't put my finger on it. Perhaps fewer butterflies spaced wider apart? Or a slightly larger alphabet? White ribbon rather than the blue? (I wanted pink but didn't have the right shade.)
No matter its flaws, this card made me happy anyway just because I made something so out of the ordinary (for me, at least). I think this is a really good idea whose full potential has yet to be met. I'm not done fiddling with it, and if you give it a go, please share a link to your version.
I double-dog dare you!
Supplies
stamps: PTI Trajan alphabet, Leave Memories unmounted rubber Spring Garden set
ink: various VersaColor
paper: PTI white
accessories: ribbon
This is really cute! Have fun figuring out how to perfect it. :)
ReplyDeleteSusan, this is beautiful! What a breath of fresh air from the formal monogrammed cards we usually see. This is a much lighter version, and will be perfect when you want a notecard that doesn't overpower a light, simple message. My DIL's will love this version of the more formal sets I gave them last year for Christmas! Thanks again for your creativity! BTW, I wouldn't change a thing on this card!
ReplyDeleteYou are such an enabler. I don't have large enough alpha's for monograms! Off to the store...
ReplyDeleteSusan, I really shouldn't venture any design thoughts to you, since you are a demonstrated CAS design genius and I am a demonstrated not, but . . . When I first glanced at the card, I didn't even notice the monogram letters--they just blended in with the butterflies *on first glance.* If you wanted them to stand out a bit more, maybe they could have a little more white space around them, or maybe they could even be separate from the swoosh of butterflies (perhaps in the upper left instead of the ribbon?). Also, and maybe this is just totally me and no one else, but to me the movement of the butterflies is UP and to the right, while the movement of the initials is DOWN and to the right. That struck me as a bit of a conflict, but maybe that's just me. (But I'm not meaning to say the R should be higher than the S. Perhaps the R could still be lower if they are both in the upper left corner.)
ReplyDeleteWhat I like about it is that it feels fresh and breezy and does have movement, whereas most monogram things have stasis.
Your huge fan, Sharon
I love all of your pretty, colorful butterflies...Susan!!
ReplyDeleteSharon D,
ReplyDeleteThanks for giving me some food for thought. I'm still ruminating on this one, and appreciate all suggestions!
Susan
Great fresh take on a monogram card Susan.
ReplyDeleteI love the placement of everything but thought maybe a little dimension for the monogram to help lift it in front of the butterflies?
The monogram on a punched circle and then pop dotted or a rim of colour on the edge of the circle to lift it.
Its CUTE! Sometimes I make a card and then keep walking by and looking at it because theres something about it that I feel its not done yet...It has to feel right to me...guess thats what keeps me thinking...so I know how you feel...I thought the same thing as jaki maybe put the letters on something so they stand out on their own a bit...pop them up...but I am just a pop dot freak! Whatever you do or not do its CUTE!!
ReplyDeleteHey it just hit me why you wanted to use the different color ribbon...I bet if you would do the letters in the same color as the ribbon you have on the card it will give you a nice balance...I know how much you like balance :D
ReplyDeleteIt's cute, but I think the monogram needs some adjusting. Perhaps a larger font or different color of ink? It kinds of blends in with the rest of the images the way it is now.
ReplyDeleteI love it the way it is. I would love to see it without the ribbon (because despite the fact that I have about 1000 spools of gorgeous ribbon, I NEVER use it on cards). I love the non-traditional, whimsical take on a monogram card - maybe a more whimsical font would echo the butterflies' movement? I could see a set of these cards being a really cute gift for a teenage girl - personalized but not at all stuffy!
ReplyDeleteLove this card! The butterflies make me feel happy!
ReplyDeleteThis is such a pretty, light-hearted card. It's pretty darn perfect as is, but... I'm a bit with Ardyth. What woul dhappen if you took the ribbon off and put one more butterfly in the top right corner?
ReplyDeleteAnd I'd love to CASE this, but no little butterfly stamps and no monogram alphabets, so I'll leave it in your hands! :P
I like that you included a mongram. Makes great personalized stationery. I like the size and spacing of the butterflies. I think I would have been tempted to stamp the letters on a matted circle to make them stand out a bit from the background.
ReplyDeleteman, a double-dog dare!! Tempting for sure but I just don't "get" monogram cards so I am not going to take your double-dog dare!! (believe it or not, you are usually so good at daring me - says a lot about my feelings toward monogram cards) but I am really enjoying yours :-)
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing your design thought process. It really helps me think about design. On this one, I agree with Ardyth that I might take the ribbon off. The feeling of the butterflies is open and free and the ribbon limits their "sky". I might also make the monogram in one of the darker butterfly colors for emphasis.
ReplyDeleteRefreshing card! I just love the exchange of ideas about the card - the two-way suggestions help me better understand design balance.. Thank you, Thank you. P.S. For my 2-cents worth... I'm with a few of the others - I would have popped the initials onto a separate piece of cardstock, or perhaps embossed for a raised effect.
ReplyDeleteSusan, here are a few of my ideas - may not be anything you like - but at least this got me inspired and stamping!!
ReplyDeletehttp://www.splitcoaststampers.com/gallery/photo/1502966?&cat=500&ppuser=18530
http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/gallery/photo/1502967?&cat=500&ppuser=18530
http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/gallery/photo/1502968?&cat=500&ppuser=18530
Harriet
I first looked at this DARE last night and thought I would frame and pop up the monogram, but others' comments today convince me that's why YOU'RE the genius.......it's perfect as it is. I too like the notion that it's less formal than the usual monogram, yet personalized.
ReplyDeleteIs the MS triple butterfly punch the one you used, or did you buy more than one punch? ( Loving your Blog so much is costing me a fortune and gonna make Ellen Hutson, PTI, and SU wealthy!) :-)
Bahb,
ReplyDeleteI didn't use a punch on this one at all. The Leave Memories unmounted set Spring Garden has about twenty different butterfly stamps. That's the set I used.
But I love that MS butterfly punch. It's a total fave of mine and I've used it a lot.
Susan