Pinterest Inspiration...Adapted

When working with sources of inspiration, it can be hard to feel your way to something satisfying if you adhere rigidly to the original. Today's card demonstrates one principle of problem-solving inspiration: pay attention to visual weight and be willing to change it as needed.

My card is very top-heavy, but it's pretty, nevertheless. (Well, at least I think so, or I wouldn't share it here.) Note that the bulk of the weight is focused on the large, dark-red rhinestone at the center of the flower...and that focus is in the upper-right sweet spot based on the rule of thirds.

(Remember the rule of thirds? Divide your space into thirds with two horizontal and two vertical lines. The intersections of lines are sweet spots for focal points. Most designs utilize the upper-left or bottom-right sweet spots, but really, any of the four intersections can be a great place to put your focal point.)

Now, take a look at the inspiration piece for my design.

Source

Ignore the branch and brush...focus on the painting. It's a top-heavy design that relies on the sentiment to create balance. And it's beautiful! Absolutely gorgeous.

When I decided to adapt it, I struggled to find a sentiment laid out similarly to the inspiration. Without the weight of the sentiment, I couldn't make my version work. So I added the leaf to the right of the flower...the biggest leaf in the set to balance the biggest flower in the set.

But what to do about a sentiment? I experimented with placing a smaller sentiment on the right of the stem under the flower. That looked okay, but only if I tucked it close to the flower...which REALLY made the design too top-heavy and weird.

The namaste sentiment, as visually light as it is, enhances the unity of the design and creates some eye movement. It's the same color as the rhinestone and scribble outline of the flower, so your mind automatically links the two. Plus, it gives some red on the left side of the stem that guides your eye toward the bottom of the design.

There are, of course, lots of design choices that would lessen the tension created by the top-heavy design, but I like the tension. Plus, the translation of namaste is "I bow to you."

That flower is bowing. 

How utterly cool is that?!?!

My final decision was to round the two opposite corners, which gives a bit more movement and interest to the design.

With the changes I made, the design works for me...yet you can still plainly see the influence of the inspiration art. Don't be afraid to tweak an inspiring design as needed to suit your personal design agenda. Sometimes, the result will make you happy!

Namaste.

Supplies
stamps: My Favorite Things Circle Scribble Flowers, Simon Says Stamp One with Nature
ink: Impress Fresh Ink merlot, celery, mojito; VersaMagic pink petunia
paper: Papertrey white
accessories: craft foam, corner rounder, glue, rhinestone