For my card, I decided to put the dragonfly in one of the "sweet spots" on a card: the upper left third. Imagine that the card is divided into nine equal sections by two vertical and two horizontal lines. Well, don't imagine it. Look at this:
There. That's easier, isn't it? The two sweet spots are the upper left third and the lower right third. Don't ask me why these spots are sweet. I only know they are. But keep in mind that graphic design tips such as this are guidelines, not absolute laws. Sometimes things look better all nice and centered. Sometimes not. Play and have fun with placement. That's what I do!
OLW6 Rules
1. A one-layer card is defined as a single piece of cardstock folded in half.
2. Overlap the sentiment and image (or images) in some way.
3. As always, keep it simple. If you absolutely will die if you don't embellish, go ahead and embellish. But try not to.
4. Whatever you do, have FUN!
Give-Away Drawing
I've mentioned that I'll be drawing four random names from the May entries for the OLW challenges to receive four small give-aways, courtesy of Stampin'Treasures. The deadline for entry for the drawing will be midnight, Eastern time, May 31, 2010.
Supplies
stamps: PTI Pond Life, Pond Life Sentiments
ink: Brilliance poppy; SU river rock; Palette dark chocolate
paper: PTI white
accessories: corner rounder
It's such a clean, crisp design--even though it's overlapped! Thanks for clarifying the "sweet spot" with a visual...I needed that!
ReplyDeletelovely card....just goes to show you how uninformed I am....never knew about 'sweet' spots except the chocolate store!! It all relates back to that.
ReplyDeleteWhat a cool card! You know I'm in for the challenge -- yet another great one!
ReplyDeleteLove your card. Tough challenge, though.
ReplyDeleteCute card, and what a great tip. Thanks for sharing this! Going to have to play this week. Need. to. Make. Time.
ReplyDeleteThanks Susan, I have just tried 'overlapping' but discovered that you need to be really careful about how the text cuts the image! Jo x
ReplyDeleteAgain, you have created a masterpiece! Your card is beautiful, thanks for sharing. Off I go to peruse my wall of stamps! Thanks for the tip, and for another fun challenge.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful card. And thanks for the lesson re the sweet spot!
ReplyDeleteAmazing, Susan, that there's an actual mathematical basis of why cards can look nicer or not, depending on stamp placement. I do love sentiment stamped over an image. Your card is lovely.
ReplyDeleteMy first two attempts only had sour spots....nothing sweet about them!! Great challenge, as usual. Back to the drawing board.....Susan G.
ReplyDeleteLove this - look at all that glorious white space (I got that quote from a fabulous CAS stamper!)
ReplyDeleteOooh, I like this card and this challenge. I might be able to do this one! :P
ReplyDeleteThank you for the "sweet spot" diagram...it really helped me visualize the "rule of thirds". I love this challenge and will submit tomorrow. By the way, I really love your card!! I just realized I have those stamps! Score!! Thank you for the continued inspiration.
ReplyDeleteLove that Poppy ink, what a great colour. Will try to play along again but this week is so far, turning out to be pretty hectic.. fingers crossed, I'll have some time early next week to have a play! My nana used to say similar things about design placement when it came to arranging flowers in her vases, she was always particular about what went where and they always looked stunning.
ReplyDeleteGraphic design tips like yours will stick with us far longer than anything I found by Googling "Graphic Design". Your tips are concise and to the point and illustrated besides. Who could ask for more?
ReplyDeleteYour dragon fly is such a clever way to use that sentiment and others I have that are long and skinny and seemingly too light-weight for the front of a card. This is gonna be fun!
Your sample card is beautiful. And what a fun challenge! Thank you for a tip about "sweet spot".
ReplyDeleteYou have such beautiful CAS cards! Here is mine:
ReplyDeletehttp://want2scrap.blogspot.com/2010/05/cas-day.html
love your card, and the simplicity of it! interesting to learn about the sweet spot!
ReplyDeleteOoohh, sweet indeed! Thanks so much for the inspiration!
ReplyDeleteGreat card! Your style is not as easy as it looks, which I've learned from this challenge...
ReplyDeleteWoo Hoo! I made one. I won't embarrass myself and say how many practice ones I had to make.
ReplyDeleteBeen enjoying your blog for the last week or so. You crack me up.
I hope to play in your challenges weekly! It is seriously FUN to make these easy cards~~Thanks for doing what YOU do - AWESOME~~
ReplyDeleteI had great intentions of participating but then went and added some layers. I thought I would share anyway.
ReplyDeletehttp://basementstamper.blogspot.com/2010/05/embellish-magazine-blog-hop.html
I found this one so hard - not sure why! Thanks Susan for the challenge!! :)
ReplyDeletethanks for the challenge! I was so glad to have some time this weekend to play along. lots of great submissions, too!
ReplyDeleteI ws so glad finding your blog over my friend's blog. Then this is the first time I join your challenge. Pretty take on one layer this week, Susan..
ReplyDeleteI am so happy too like Dwita finding your blog over Dwita's blog and this is too my first time join your challenge..your card is so elegant love that sentiment and that dragonfly.my card using Dragonfly too here is my take on http://creativewithmonika.blogspot.com/2010/05/dragonfly-again-ten-minutes-card.html hope you like it :)
ReplyDeleteHi Susan! I just stumbled upon your blog and I LOVE IT!!!!! You have inspired me to FINALLY create a one-layered card. Thank you for your inspiration! I'll surely be back...
ReplyDeleteYour OLW creation is FANTASTIC. I have so much to learn about creating this way. I love these challenges. Thank you for the inspiration!
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