I think I liked the idea of this card more than the end result! Is it in good taste? Or is it just too busy!?! I’ll walk you through my process if you’ll give me your thoughts and ideas of how to make it work better. Stay with me…I really want to hear your ideas!
This Designer Series Paper, In Good Taste, has all sorts of home decor items ~ tiles, hardwoods, carpets. While looking closely at this blue damask tile, I noticed the very subtle grout lines. I thought I would make them a bit more pronounced, so I cut on those lines and separated the tiles out a bit. Then I puzzled them back together onto a Night of Navy card base.
The print looked familiar! Where have I seen it before? In Country Home! There is a tiny tile in that stamp set that looks very similar. And in my imagination, I could see a blue watering can filled with flowers sitting in front of this tile backsplash. That thought process brought me to this design. But like I said, it looked less busy in my head!!!
Here is that tile stamp on the inside with one of my favorite sentiments. I used Night of Navy and Seaside Spray ink pads.
My Challenge For You
What do you suggest? I would love to hear your thoughts! I’ll try a few of them and see what resonates. Meanwhile, I’m going to keep playing with it and see if I can tone it down a bit.
If I choose the design idea that you send me, I will feature it in a blog post and send you a thank you gift! Like I said, I would love to hear your ideas! Be specific and leave me a comment below or email me at karenshallam@gmail.com. The deadline will be Monday, June 15. Can’t wait to hear what you’ve got!
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Hi Karen! I found your blog because the card on your team blog hop blew me away!! Simple and elegant and speaks to everyone. In doing so, I found this card and I love it as well. You are brave asking for feedback, but to me that is a true sign of an artist. Your design concept is spot on. I think your vase would stand out better minus the light blue cardstock layer, and simply POP the color in the flowers with maybe a red. Otherwise…LOVE your design style.
Thank you very much for the encouragement, Tarina! I love your suggestions! I’m going to try a few of the ideas submitted and see what resonates. Check back next week for the final “reveal!” 🙂
I think the flowers come up too high, making it look too busy in that area.
Thanks, Eileen. Yes, I agree. They fight against each other. So I need to figure out another background or as some have suggested, put a different shape behind the flowers. That might solve that problem. Thanks for your input!
Try removing the small tile and just center the flowers. Less is better? I also love the blue.
I usually subscribe to less is better, so worth a try! Thank you for the suggestion.
Karen, I’m thinking the blue diamond is the main issue. I would try making that base layer the navy then add a WW layer leaving a narrow navy border that mimics the blue lines in the tile DSP. Might add some darker blue shading on the watering can too. The small tile would still look nice on the white layer. You might play with a different shape than the diamond too, just to see how it changes the look. Good luck, I know you will come up with the perfect solution!
You’ve given me lots to think about! Thank you!
I love the card in general. The seaside spray layer needs to be smaller. The inside sentiment gets lost in the tiles. Maybe stamping the tiles in opposite corners instead of on top of the sentiment. What does the card look like on a light background. I think that this same look on a card base of that “wood” colored paper might also look fantastic.
You mean change the DSP to wood instead of the tile? The flowers certainly wouldn’t fight with the wood. I think that is my big issue, but I really want to do something with the blue and white tile! I think we’re talking two cards instead of one now! Ha! Maybe…? Thanks, Donata!
You know how much I value your design aesthetic so I am loathe to suggest a change to your layout, but for me, it is the diamond repetition that might be too much: I would replace the Seaside Spray/Night of Navy diamond with a skinny rectangle (same colors, thinner border, maybe set off to the left more rather than centered). Or the navy diamond over a tall seaside rectangle. Or maybe we are all just over-thinking it! It’s a great card no matter what~I’d gladly receive ANYthing you design.
By the way, good catch on the tile from the Country Home set—I missed that! And, like Nancy F says, I need to work more on the insides of my cards. Thanks as always for being such an amazing source of creative inspiration.
Thanks, Linda! Perhaps a variety of shapes. I might even try a circle. This card could keep me busy for weeks, haha!!!
Thanks for asking! I am not sure what colors to use, but the blue squares behind the blue watering can/flowers is too much. Perhaps copper or silver foil to show off what the tin tile ceilings were made of.
Thanks for the suggestion, Gayle. Maybe some foil as you suggested, with the Tin Tile Embossing Folder. That could look good!
Karen, you are such a fantastic paper crafter! I look forward to your creations! For my taste, the background fights with the focal point which is so pretty. Yes, the card benefits from supporting singers, but perhaps a subtler DSP or even a gentle embossing folder would allow that focal point to be the soloist!
Thanks for the ideas, Hope! I was trying to make the background the main player, but if I put my can of flowers in front of something more subtle, they would stand out.
Well, I love blue, so the card is a winner right there. I do not think it is too busy and I love the stamped tiles on the inside. I will have to work on my “insides”. Maybe the Seaside Spray layer is too wide, maybe just a little peeking out . . . but I do love the card.
Have a blessed day.
Thank you, Nancy! I love the blue too. Perhaps just a little tweaking will make the difference. Thanks for the suggestion!