So I put the ribbon on a New Year's diet, added a third bling (but made the bling smaller), and it looked better. The thin lines of the stamped leaves from Growing Green by StampinUp were just too weighted down and unbalanced by the heavy grosgrain. Using the satin-and-sheer ribbon lightens up the line and balances the single word so much better.
If you're struggling with a design, try photographing it. Seeing it in two dimesions on your computer screen may help you identify what's out of balance.
And for those who want to know how I adhered the sheer ribbon...it was a pain. It's wrapped around and stuck down with a one-inch strip of 1/8" Scor-Tape. It looks okay, not great, on the inside. I may cover the inside with a piece of cardstock. The grosgrain has a strip of Scor-Tape across its whole length and is cut flush with the edge of the card, which results in a neat, tidy, and non-fraying edge.
So the lesson here is to use a solid image on the top third of the card so the grosgrain ribbon isn't too heavy.
The end.
Happy New Year Susan. Looking forward to another year of wonderful and inpiring creations.
ReplyDeleteI totally agree with your comment of photographing then seeing what needs to be changed....I do it all the time.
hugs,
K
Great visual thanks for the tip...now maybe I'll use the ribbon stash I have!!!!
ReplyDeleteLove the "The End" You always make me chuckle...It's the gift of joy you have received.
blessings
patti moffett
I'm amazed at the difference in the 2 cards. I looked at the first card, and didn't think that the top was too heavy........until I looked at the second card. It's obviously better! Thanks for another lesson. And BTW, when I bring a ribbon to the inside, I tape it in the middle, and then plunk a stamped inchie on that spot, with something coordinating with the stamp on the front. Not rocket science, but it works.
ReplyDeleteWow! I really see the difference after viewing both cards together. I do appreciate today's lesson. Thanks again.
ReplyDeleteHi Susan.!
ReplyDeleteLooks like you are off to a great start for the New Year,! my resolution is to get back at it.
I love your 'lesson' and "the end" :)
Your knack for the K.I.S.S is so awwwww inspiring.
as always, thanks for sharing.
If you don't have your camera handy to photograph your card, I find it works quite well to look at the card through a mirror. It gives a different perspective. I love your cards, mine are usually so 'busy' but I love the idea of white space and am experimenting with C+S which I'm really enjoying. Thank you for the inspiration.
ReplyDeleteWow! It really did make a big difference! Great lesson!
ReplyDeleteYou are absolutely right on the photos! It's quite routine for me to think that I am done with a card, photo it, download it to my computer and then see it - and I find that I need to change something. I need to invent an adhesive that stays removable for the 15 minutes or so that it takes me to do this! I find the photo is particularly helpful with placement, i.e. the rule of thirds. I can tell in the photo that the balance just isn't right!
ReplyDeleteHappy New Year to you - and I thank you ever so much for your blog. I love your cards and I learn so much from your discussion of each card.
Hi Susan, you're perfectly correct, it looks so much better after the diet. I love that beautiful SU stamp and have been lusting after it but have to act with restraint. This year I plan to be much more circumspect with my purchases, I will follow your brilliant advice, given last year, not to buy it if I can't use it more than 1 way, Thank you :0) xxx
ReplyDeletep.s I'm sure this fits many occasions but I have something just like it and that was another reason not to buy, see I'm learning:0)
It's amazing how much difference it makes to the card, but you're absolutely right, the lighter ribbon works so much better. Looking forward to more design tips.
ReplyDeleteGreat idea about photographing the cards, Susan - I will try that. And, although I like the "dieted" version of the card, I think the first one would work with a weightier sentiment - perhaps your HA "Simplicity" stamp (which I covet)!
ReplyDeleteLove seeing your thought processes, Susan. Knowing that one of my cards is not quite right is easy - but it is hard for me to figure out what is wrong and how to fix it so your idea of photographing it is a good hint.
ReplyDeleteBoth cards are wonderful!
ReplyDeleteI liked both cards.
ReplyDeleteIt's lovely to see that I'm not the only one that takes a card back to the craft table once I've seen it on the computer screen,it's amazing how big some flaws look magnified! To attach ribbon to my card fronts I tend to cut a piece of card just a fraction narrower than the ribbon and fix the ribbon onto this before gluing it to the front of the card,this way I have no inside tidying up to do and because the cut of card is a tiny bit narrower it doesn't show that it's there!Happy New Year to you,Julie.x
ReplyDeleteCan I please reserve a desk at the front of your class!!!!
ReplyDeleteAnother point well made and illustrated perfectly........Thankyou.
Now if I had made that first card, I would have been quite proud of myself. Then you take it and show how it can be even better!
ReplyDeleteYup, I agee! Seeing photos of my cards usually makes all the difference.
ReplyDeleteat first I thought the card was great .. but you are right, it looks even better on a diet!!
ReplyDeleteI like the makeover! Even though initially I liked the first card too but after looking at the second one I realized that it looks much better!
ReplyDeleteMy, I really like the 2nd one. Thanks for the lesson. Love the colors.
ReplyDeleteThank you Susan for another great lesson!
ReplyDeleteI have always wondered what people did with the ribbon on the inside of the cards... I laboriously (is that a word) layer my cards so that ribbon doesn't show on the inside, but it makes it heavy. would love to see some of what you do on the inside of cards, too!!
ReplyDeleteTo adhere ribbon, including sheer ribbon, I usually use my little Xyron 150 (the one that looks like an X). It coats the back of the ribbon with adhesive and then I just place the ribbon where I want it. I cut the ribbon a bit longer than the card before I put it through the Xyron. That gives me something to hold on to as I'm placing the ribbon. Then after I place the ribbon on the card, I snip off the ends so that they are flush with the edge of the card. I recommend the repositionable adhesive cartridge over the permanent one.
ReplyDeleteJanet