Help Me Help Me Help Me She cried...

Isn't this a line in a kids song? Anyways, I need help. I cannot figure out how to finish this card. I'm not totally enamoured with the large flower to start with. Not sure if it is the coloring or what.



suggestions?

Comments Please! Updated 02/26

Thanks for your comments. I've been playing around a bit...what do you think?

The leaves are crudely stuck in and can easily be removed.

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This blog needs a little attention and affection AND I need your help. There's something missing or ??? with this card.



(sorry for the bad photo but it was dark when I took the photo and even darker now...do you all use a photo light box?)

What are your thoughts and suggestions? Thanks in advance!

Masculine Birthday Card Assistance Needed

Fellow stampers, I need your help!!!! My neighbor (who's close to 82 and a delight) purchases custom cards from me and wanted one for her 25-year-old grandson's birthday. She likes very traditional-type cards and wasn't overly fond of my "Lovely as a Tree" designs in the past so I decided to stretch myself a bit. I think I overdid it and now have need of a bit of some assistance as I cannot stretch my poor brain any further.

She ended up taking this one as she said that he would be much more interested in what was inside the card (a check) than the card itself and so was "happy" with it. I'll say "happy" as she didn't gush over it but when I said that it was only partially done when we were having tea one afternoon and showed it to her, she told me to consider it finished as he would be happier to see the check. I have to admit that her telling me that he would be more interested in the contents than the card took some of the joy out of making it but I'm still thinking about it and want your opinions on how I can improve it. I'll make another with your suggestions and keep it available for another masculine birthday which we all know will occur sooner or later!

Thanks in advance for your suggestions!

UPDATED - YIKES! He's Backing Into the Driveway...

And his birthday card isn't finished. Believe it or not, my husband's birthday is today and here I was without a card this morning. Fortunately, he went running with his buddies before I woke up and since they were running a 13-mile route (yes, THIRTEEN), I had some time. Turns out that I didn't have enough though as I couldn't figure out how to put the sentiment on. I finally just slapped it on as he was walking in the door.

How can I fix it? Yes, I thought about ribbon, Leslie, but only have 5/8" chocolate chip grosgrain and none of the bows I tried worked. I did have a thought a second ago...maybe natural hemp. I still don't know how to best layer/make the sentiment...HELP!

Thanks to your comments, I've come up with this version.



I'm still not 100% about the shape of the sentiment (feel free to add input as I learn so much from everyone's comments) but I do like this version.

Thank you!!!!

UPDATED: Stuck on Chic Batik Card

I decided last night to play with a new technique and created this batik paper. I want to have this be the highlight of the card. It's a birthday card so I decided to use the sentiment "Celebrate!"



I love how the batik paper turned out but I'm just stuck as it doesn't look finished or special. Maybe I need to scallop the light rose border around the paper? I'd love everyone's suggestions.

Thanks in advance.

UPDATED 07/23/08:

I finally decided that I had to let go of this card and finish it off. I've spent waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaayyyyyyyy too much time agonizing over the design of this one little card...the recipient's birthday was weeks ago and I ended up making her another card.

(Sorry about the change in lighting. ) I tried a darker paper in back of the batik paper, a lighter color, white and nothing popped out at me. I liked Paula's suggestion of popping out a flower but I honestly couldn't figure out how to do it (love to hear more on how you would do it with the mulberry paper) so I ended up creating a new layout and adding eyelets. All I can say is that it's done. After agonizing over this for 3 weeks, I think it's time to start something new.

I still have another piece of this batik paper so if you have suggestions, keep'em coming.

Thanks again!

Advice Needed on Simple Birthday Card

I'd like to make a simple birthday card for a cousin who is just starting to stamp. She recently purchased the SU Embrace Life stamp set and a full set of markers. She doesn't have much colored cardstock so my thought was to make a card with a white background.



I apologize for the coordinating background but it just faded into the white background when I used that. I can retake the photo with a black background if that will help.

It is difficult to see but I used a Regal Rose Marker to edge all around the card as well as sponging around the main image. It's been so long since I've done a simple card that I'm having trouble deciding if I'm done or if it needs something else.

What is everyone's opinion? Thank you in advance for your ideas!