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Friday, August 19, 2011

Before, Before, and After: Evolution of a Bling-Worthy Card

You know how sometimes you have an idea? It seems like a good one, to make the sentiment the focal point and have the flower in the background, and so you dive right in. And something like this happens:

What NOT to Do.

Ahhhhhh!!!!! My eyes!!!!! Too busy, too heavy, too blech. So you try again, figuring that a different layout and color balance might help:

Still What NOT to Do.

Ewwww. Not so much. Only now do you realize that this particular sentiment will NEVER work with this particular flower because the sentiment is too heavy and the flower too whispy.

It was a good idea that shouldn't have seen the light of day.

So you fall back and punt. (Yes, I'm mixing metaphors. Sorry about that.)

Ding! Ding! Ding! We have a winner!

Now you're onto something! Something worthy of bling. The flower, not the sentiment, is the true focal point, and the sentiment takes its proper place. Balance, harmony, and pretty lines. What isn't to love?

Thanks so much for all the emails and advice regarding my friend. I've passed some of them on to her and will pass others later. Blessings to you all.
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16 comments:

  1. Glennis FAugust 19, 2011 at 9:29 PM

    Hi Susan, I love your explanations of why something doesn't work - I am learning all the time - thanks

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  2. LindseyAugust 19, 2011 at 9:42 PM

    The flower didn't really seem like "your" kind of image until the last card... NOW it's a Susan image! ;)

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  3. Sheila HAugust 19, 2011 at 9:48 PM

    Wow-I understood the design flaw inthe first two cards. The third is beautiful. Thanks for the lesson.

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  4. SueAugust 19, 2011 at 9:57 PM

    Love your willingness to show us what you did that didn't work! It makes us more willing to go out on some of those limbs, too --- not everybody has a winner every time. I also admire your sticking to it until it was right instead of chucking the whole thing. Your final product is lovely! It was worth all the trouble, wasn't it. Plus, those other two cards will be cut in half, turned over, and recycled onto another card!

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  5. Mynn xxAugust 19, 2011 at 11:58 PM

    These are so wonderful and cute! The color is amazing!!!

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  6. MarisaAugust 20, 2011 at 1:15 AM

    I've got that same image and your final option is fabulous :) Love seeing the thought process you had working with it.

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  7. shirleyAugust 20, 2011 at 2:41 AM

    I understand why you don't like the first two cards. I think they are all wonderful creations!

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  8. SusieAugust 20, 2011 at 4:16 AM

    Great progression. I do like the middle one and last one.

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  9. Anita &/or CharAugust 20, 2011 at 7:34 AM

    Thanks for sharing & explaining the experimental process...

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  10. Vicki DutcherAugust 20, 2011 at 9:34 AM

    Now I kind pf liked that first one -- I guess I wasn't suppose to? - LOL I do like the last one though - awww the things I learn here.... :)

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  11. DoneldaAugust 20, 2011 at 9:52 AM

    Wow, what a great exercise! and you ended up with a spectacular card! Love the bling!! You are truely my go to bling girl!! Hey, that's it - you need to be the next GoTo Gal!!

    I wonder what would happen if you re-tried card 1 but stamped the image off first and then stamped it to the card and added the sentiment on top. While your 3rd card clearly has the flower at center stage, a stamped off image might allow you to use the flower but still have the sentiment at center stage and not the conflice you had. Anyway ... just a thought!!

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  12. SandyAugust 20, 2011 at 10:54 AM

    Thanks so much for showing the progression of your card. I do learn so much from you!

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  13. BlogsAugust 20, 2011 at 3:39 PM

    Thank you. Simply, thank you!

    d

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  14. GirlGeek101August 20, 2011 at 3:57 PM

    I just LOVE the way you explore and explain design principles. You make reading your blog so educational as well! Thank you!

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  15. leslie (crookedstamper)August 20, 2011 at 5:58 PM

    Thank you for posting your "what was I thinking?" cards. Now I'm not the only one. ;/

    And I think that first card would work if you stamped off the flower, maybe even twice, so it's just a shadow behind the sentiment. HOWEVER, I do like it with the smaller sentiment. :)

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  16. LindaAugust 20, 2011 at 11:52 PM

    I've done line image stamps in the background using very light or neutral colors followed by the sentiment in a stronger color right over the line image. My favorite combo for this is sahara sand in the background and cherry cobbler on top!.

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Thank you so much for taking time to comment!