Does this need something more?

So this is my first submission to this blog and I'm really hoping someone is still around :) Please be gentle.

I've made this card for a swap with the requirement that the colours used be only pink and black. It's one of those cards that grew as it went along and is nothing like the card I originally planned. The main background is alcohol ink. (I don't know if it's my scanner or my monitor but the pink does not seem to have reproduced well - it's quite strong & looks fine.)

Overall I'm not too unhappy about how it turned out. The swirl didn't stamp very well but I'm more concerned about the layout and if it is balanced. I think it needs something on the left but nothing seems to work. Any ideas? Actually any suggestions at all for any part of the card would be welcome.

Elizabeth

Updated post

I updated my "Should I throw this away" post below. Please let me know if I am on the right track. Thanks!

A beautiful card is lurking here somewhere... (and AFTER)

This card (at least the pieces of it) has been sitting on my worktable for a few days. I used scraps of some Colorbok paper that were laying around my work area. I really like the 3 squares concept but I think my layout is off. I tried it with 1 square each in the 2 left corners being centered by the 3rd square but I didn't really like that either.

Does the circle work? I thought it highlighted the greeting a bit but I'm open to ideas.

FYI The actual card is a white base, the peach layer behind it is a manilla folder I put the card on to take the photo. Don't worry- even I wouldn't use peach with those colors!

All comments appreciated. I learn so much reading your critiques.



Here is the final card. It didn't turn out exactly as I had envisioned it but I like the 4 large squares. I'll need to experiment again with that type of layout.

Should I Just Throw This Away? - UPDATED 4/29

It seemed like a good idea at the time.

I started out sewing on a die-cut piece of turquoise card stock, then I decided I'd had enough, so I cut off the one side that was stitched, and then it went downhill from there.

First I took a scrap of textured yellow card stock and punched it with a border punch. Then I added the yellow die-cut piece behind the turquoise. Then I looked for a scrap with yellow and blue in it, and I found that patterned piece of tissue paper. Then I added the Groovy Guava patterned paper to try and pull out the orange in the piece, and I mounted the whole thing on a piece of Basic Gray.

Then I rested.

Here is the piece next to a card so you can see the relative size of the thing.

So what do you think? Should I put it out of its misery and just throw it away? or does it have at least one redeeming quality? And if you think it DOES have a redeeming quality, would you please tell me what it is?

I thank you.

Update 4/29:

Thank you for all the suggestions. You were, of course, correct in thinking the yellow was WRONG, so it has been removed to the circular file. Is this one any better? (Personally, I think the blue in that paper is wrong for the turquoise stitched piece ...)

Masculine Birthday

I took your original design and did a bit of tweaking. I hope it is o.k. It is just easier for me to take the original and make a card to see if I can work with it. I do not have the stamp set you used but tried to keep the elements about the same size. I did change the card from Horizontal to Vertical to start with because it just was not working for me.

The major change was more layers. It seemed that helped the focal point to stand out more.

I did use retired designer paper because I wanted the brown color, but......you could use any patterned roller wheel to get the same background coverage or something like the canvas, twill or polka dot background stamp. That will give the card some added texture. I also added ribbon. Chocolate Chip ribbon right down the middle just adds more texture. I purposely did not add a bow. I put your focal point at the top of the card and left room for the sentiment on the bottom. I used the ticket corner punch like you did as I like the effect you gave your card. Really the only thing I did different was add more layers and put the sentiment onto a different piece of cardstock. I like your card and really there is nothing wrong with it. I just had to play.....LOL! In fact, you card forced me to do something as I have had a stamp block for the last two days, did not even want to pick up a stamp. Thanks for helping me get energized again. Rubber Hugs, Paula

How to finish this card

I like this background and I like the chocolate cupcake. What should I do for the birthday sentiment?
Vertical?
Large Circle?
Any ideas appreciated- this has been sitting on my stamp table for a week.

Help Baby My Card Layout! (updated 9-19)

Updated 9-19-08
I actually finished the card last week and my husband sent the gift today. No big rush... the baby was born 8-30.

I ended up getting rid of the scallop but I lightened up the carriage, brightened it up by adding more DP and while this is by far my favorite card of all time... I'm ok with it ;)











I really like the scallop with the carriage. I have tried this layout 2 different ways but I really don't like either. Is it that the large panel is too overpowering? I just don't know what is wrong so I'm asking the experts (or people who think they are experts!)

Need help with this

I made this card for You Know You Rock's Metal challenge. I am not sure if I really like it.
What do you think it needs done to it or taken away?

You can see a little more about it at www.stampndaly.com/?p=853

Thank you
Sue Daly

Edited Post- 08/29/08 Ok, I took the comments that I received on the original card which is the one in the bottom right hand corner and came up with the other three versions. Please tell me which one you like the best or should I try again. Note: This is all done before breakfast and I am now really hungry :).

Show Us What You Did!

Hey, Ladies! I would love to see what you changed, if anything, based on the comments you received on your posts. Please show us what you did by posting an updated photo of your creations! That's part of the fun! ;-) Thanks!

Ribbon winner

Ladies- thanks for the creative art and critique for the month of June.

As promised, each artist who posted artwork in June was entered into a drawing for a custom selected ribbon grab bag.

The winner is:

Sue Daly

Congratulations Sue!

Please send me an e-mail:
alces.alces at g m a i l dot com

Easy Embrace Life Card

Brenda,

I love the simple card you did, but you gave me a big challenge....

how.....by needing a simple card....I had not done this in ages so....

just for the fun of it..... I challenged my self to use mostly white card stock with one other color. I only used markers. The flower is colored with Apricot Appeal then I used close to cocoa for the stem. I did cheat a bit and used my aqua painter to dab Groovy guava ink from the pad onto the flower. I scored the bottom of the card three times at 1/2" intervals then added flower brads. You could add ribbon instead, they were already out so I used them.

Now......here is my challenge to everyone else. Make a card with a white background and one color card stock. Only use one embellishment and markers to color your images. Use the stamp set Embrace Life. Lets give Brenda lots of ideas to send off to her cousin. Thanks for playing along. Paula

Soda can Embellishment- bare or leave alone

Hello there, I am Susan Daly and I am new to Stamping Critique. This is my first post.

I made this card for Card Positioning System's weekly sketch. My main focus in this card was the oval embellishment that I made out of a soda can. I wanted to highlight how the embellishment turned out.

My question is should I add more to this card or leave it alone. It may look a bit bare.