Four for One

The Genevieve layered butterfly dies are amazing, and they fit with my white-on-white style as well as color-with-white. Take a look at these two cards: one white and wonderful and the other cool Caribbean and wonderful, too.

This card is pretty, but it has one simple design flaw...lack of contrast.  The cool Caribbean from StampinUp is such an awesome color, but just using a few pops of that color--with some amazing sparkly bling--doesn't provide adequate contrast with all that white.

As you can see when you look at the second card, which has more color and spots of black, contrast truly enhances design. The second card fills more of the rules of good design...from contrast and color balance to scale.

This card makes me happier...even though it's got a colored card base. There's just so much harmony and bold color. The corners were rounded with old-school scallop scissors, and the pretty pearls come in two sizes for additional visual interest.

In the past few weeks, I received a couple of cards that I must share! First up, a Valentine from Michele K. Check out her excellent combination of colors and textures in a fabulous design.

Note how she brings the green into the stamped focal point, but then gives the card a pop of very bright pink/red. This complementary color combination gives the card so much energy to balance with the harmony of the monochromatic backdrop. Perfect!

Janet E. sent her card in response to my Wonderful World card...and included a stamp with the line from the song! Janet used this delightful floral designer paper that includes lots of labeled flowers for the background of the stamp sentiment, and then she picked out two complementary colors from the paper (purple and yellow) for the base and mat. The effect is harmonious and ever so pretty and feminine!

Janet embossed the sentiment on the designer paper in a lovely soft green color, and the effect is delightful on the black background!

Many thanks to Michele and Janet for thinking of me and sending cards. Many thanks to Joan for the butterfly (and other) dies and Janet for the stamp. All three of you are such sweet, generous people!

Mercy, grace, peace, and love,
Susan