The tree is colored with Bic Mark-It markers, accented with lavender bling, and simply layered on a gable green matte and lovely lilac card base.
The feel of the second card is completely different from the first, with a matte ink finish, more subdued colors (khaki and atlantic blue), and a completely flat profile for easy mailing.
The layout for the tree card is pretty straightforward, but for the bird, certain factors influence placement. First of all, the bird needs to be grounded on something so he's not just floating around in empty space, and the flourish does the job prettily. Second, the bird must be on the bottom right side of the card, looking into the card, because the direction of his gaze guides your eye on the card. If he were on the left, he'd take your eye off the card. Instead, his gaze takes your eye straight to the sentiment.
Personal Stuff: Check out the pictures of Baby Grady on this post of Questioning my Intelligence. Isn't he just the cutest baby?!?
Ok, love both cards ESPECIALLY the first one (made me draw my breath in when it loaded on my screen) - you reminded us about grounding (thank you as I forget and continually have floaters) but my question is - on the first card, is the tree grounded to the sentiment? I'm not being facetious.
ReplyDeleteAnd I forgot to say that Baby Grady is adorable. What a sweet smile.
ReplyDeleteOh my, do I love today's cards! The purple and green card made me really sit up and say "oh!" The color combination is obviously beautiful, and the coloring of the tree really sets the whole thing off. I love that you gave the reasons for what you did in the second card, and they all make perfect sense. I love that bird! Beautiful cards, as always, Susan. Thanks for the inspiration. Now I need that tree stamp......
ReplyDeleteOn the first card, the tree seems to me to be big enough to ground itself, if you know what I mean. Also, the placement of the sentiment helps anchor it on the card, too. Adding a ground under it would be distracting (I know because I tried a long time ago to use a shadow stamp under it with the sentiment where it is, and it just looked crowded). The bird, on the other hand, is smaller and needs something to stand on. I hope this makes sense!
ReplyDeleteGorgeous cards, especially the lilac one!
ReplyDeletePetra
what a lovely way to start my morning. wonderful cards!! especially love the green and purple together. thanks!
ReplyDeletemarty ferraro
lovely cards. the blue and khaki are awesome together!! It's a wonderful thing that cardstock has 2 sides!!!
ReplyDeleteOnly you would have the genius to "ground" the bird on a flourish. How perfectly perfect!
ReplyDeleteAnd the Kakhi with Atlantic Blue? Who woulda thunk it? Even my color wheel was no help last time I tried to pair Atlantic Blue with something other than a lighter blue. If the Kakhi ink isn't SU, please say whose. I MUST have it since that color combo is so great for male cards.
Thanks,Susan.
I love both cards, wonderful job! I also had to comment and say THANK YOU for facing the bird the right way. Animals or people facing the wrong way is one of my biggest pet peeves! Sigh. Now I feel better getting that off my chest. :)
ReplyDeleteYou are making me NEED this stamp now. Grrrrr.
ReplyDeleteTwo gorgeous cards Susan - you're so right about the way the bird is facing, love that colour combo too! Have a good weekend! Kate x
ReplyDeleteHi Susan, I have a question for you: What's your method for writing inside a card when the base of the card is dark? Every once in a while, I'll make a great layered card with a dark base, only to realize that when I go to write my personal message inside, I have to use a white pen (which typically doesn't work very well), or place a piece of white paper inside. Do you have any other ideas?
ReplyDeleteKristen,
ReplyDeleteI usually line the inside with thin white cardstock, cut slightly smaller than the card (4 x 5.25 for a standard A2-size card). I actually glue it down on all sides, and often stamp a little something in one corner, say a small image from the front or some other coordinating image.
Bahb, the colors are atlantic and khaki from VersaColor. The cardstocks are SU's brocade blue and river rock. I used versacolor rather than the SU inks because these stamps are clear and the thicker inks work better. Plus the colors match so well.
Hope this helps!
Love both cards. Especially love the color combo on the first and your image.
ReplyDeleteI love the purple and green and the bling really makes it special.
ReplyDeleteThe colors of the other one are great. I like the bird perched on the flourish
Love both cards but especially the first one - I love that color combination!
ReplyDeleteI'm lovin' the bird card best, and thank you so much for sharing your thought process. This kind of on-line mentoring is exactly what I need. You Rock!
ReplyDeleteLove the colours -- and that stamp! -- of the first one, and, well, pretty much everything about the second card, too.
ReplyDeleteHi Susan!
ReplyDeleteI love your tree card! I went to check out baby Grady. O M G!!!That baby is adorable! You must be so proud (and blessed) to have such a great nephew!
Your cards were very inspiring Susan. It is nice to see how you can 'fix' a gorgeous card that you weren't happy with in the first place. I like being less afraid of trying something different as if you're not happy with the results, you only have to remake it. I took a page from your blog and created these cards. Thanks!
ReplyDelete