Friday, August 26, 2011

Before and After: Color Contrast

Sometimes the mess in your craft space can lead to inspiration. This apricot appeal card base was already cut and lying on my table, as was the Think Big #7 set from Papertrey that came with my order on Monday. I looked in my orange embellishment drawer and saw a package of Hero Arts paper flowers...and this card was born.
Before

It's not the best card I've ever made. In fact, the more I looked at it, the less appealing that apricot was. At first, the lack of a mat bothered me, which made me wonder why sometimes mats look better and sometimes they don't. Which made me think of color contrast.

In the card above, the apricot isn't dark enough to provide adequate contrast to the white panel...there's simply not a stong enough break in color. Plus the giant orange brad in the center of the flower doesn't quite match the pumpkin pie ink or the flowers and just stands out like SU's ugly only orange color.

Which explains why the card above does not work and the card below does.
After

I wish I had a button dark enough to match the pumpkin pie exactly, but alas, I had to use a lighter shade. Please repeat after me: "I will not go out and buy more buttons. I will not go out and buy more buttons. I will not go out and buy more buttons."

Thank you.

At least the button is not that dreadful only orange color of the brad! Anyway, the flowers look a tad washed out in the picture but aren't in real life. I wish the flowers hadn't jumped into my cart a few months ago (it was a moment of weakness and they were on sale!). Fact is, I don't really enjoy using paper flowers...I just like looking at them, especially when other stampers use them so wonderfully. But they work for me on this card, so it wasn't a total waste of money.

Have a lovely weekend!

Supplies
stamps: Papertrey Think Big #7
ink: SU pumpkin pie
paper: SU apricot appeal, pumpkin pie; PTI white
accessories: Hero Arts paper flowers, giant brad, button, white DMC floss, glue dots

13 comments:

  1. Susan!
    Wow such a difference! I really need to start using colored backgrounds! They pop!

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  2. First card -- good; second card -- wow, what a difference!

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  3. You make me crazy! I'm going to have to learn to scroll down to see if there are two cards. Tee hee. I was thinking that card number one was not bad at all, that the colors were just fine, and that I totally was diggin' that apricot CS. THEN....I scrolled down, and saw card number two. BINGO!!! You're right. Again. Always! Hugs...have a great weekend :)

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  4. I *like* SU's Only Orange, but hate Apricot Appeal. You're right, the second card is SO much better. The paper flowers worked for you!

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  5. The difference in these two cards is amazing! There is so much to learn. TFS I have to remember CONTRAST! :) Thank you for the time you put into your blog.

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  6. I like both of them. I like the way others use flowers, too, but they don't work for me either. They sure worked for you on these cards, though.

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  7. You are the queen of one layer cards Susan, I would have just been a little miffed and left it at that but you stuck to your guns and sorted it. What a difference, love it, Gay xxx

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  8. Just a thought....you could have colored the button with your sharpies to make it a little darker. I use my Copics to do that, but I imagine the sharpies would work just as well. I do think the contrast on the second card is better. I must admit, ~gasp~ I'm surprised that you layered several flowers on the card...THAT is very different for you...but I like it!

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  9. I beg to disagree (Did I actually say that?), but I like the first card better although changing the brad would help. It may be the way the color is coming through on my computer or maybe it's because Pumpkin Pie is not one of my favorite colors. Anyway, I think both cards are lovely and I really enjoy your blog.

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  10. You know, of course, that most people would be THRILLED to receive the first card. Just getting a handmade card is an honor. Most people are way more appreciative of the effort than they are critical of our art and esthetics. We are our own worst critics!!!

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  11. Great lesson in using colours!

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  12. I liked both but definitely gravitate to the second. Thought you would be interested in this tool I saw on SCS so you could get that perfect button match!

    Thread -
    http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/forums/tool-product-talk-f128/whats-called-new-product-t536082.html

    Direct link

    http://epiphanycrafts.com/_catalog_14197/Our_Products

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  13. I too color lots of embellishments with my copics, including the edges of flowers, rhinestones, brads and pearls. Another way to change a brad is with versamark, or equivalent, ink and embossing powder or hot set powder and glitter. I liked them both (minus the brad) but might have added an edge strip between the apricot and white.

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Thank you so much for taking time to comment!