Thursday, February 22, 2007

A bit of a snoozer...and a give-away

I had high hopes for this card, but it's left me feeling a bit let down... There's nothing blatantly wrong with it, but it's not too exciting either. The tag inside the card is from this set and says, "sending warm thoughts your way." The steam is done in gray and is stamped a couple times and stamped-off, then stamped again a couple of times so there are layers of steam. I'm going to switch the ribbon out for a darker chocolate-colored ribbon, and Ky suggested the Crystal Effects for the cup and beans (which DID help), but now, I'm out of ideas.

If you have suggestions for some changes to make it more visually interesting, I'd love to have you comment on this post. If you give a suggestion by the 24th (Saturday) at noon (mountain standard time), I'll put your name in the hat and you could be the recipient of this card and a couple of other little goodies. Thanks for looking!

You can click the image above for a more detailed view.
Pre-Crystal Effects:
Interior view:



20 comments:

AT said...

You could go with a chocolate colored ribbon, or a turquiose ribboin would make it pop. I like how simple it is.

doverdi said...

I think I'd go with something that makes the "steam" pop - maybe embossing it or glue pen & glitter? Also possibly try a chocolate or cream ribbon to pull out the colors on the matting. Regardless, it's a nice card.

Deborah said...

Add some mini brads. Like 3 in a row on the right hand side. :0)

Love that paisley background.

Unknown said...

I think your cup should be a different color to make it pop, then the steam would need to be a little darker. I really don't know, but right now it is too much the same color without much contrast. I like your layout. Please know this advice is given with love and I didn't intend it be critical or to hurt your feelings.

Jackie said...

It's just too much brown - go with a patterned paper that has another color in it along with brown and pick up that color in the ribbon - maybe pink or blue, or even a pretty shade of aqua. Lime green would be pretty, too - everything goes with brown. It just needs a little "pop"!

PS- I found your blog from Stampin' When I Can :-)

Unknown said...

Thanks for sharing with us, your critics. I hope you know these ideas are given with love and you asked for them. I think the cup should be a shade darker plus a solid color or even a different color. If you do one of these, the steam should be a little darker.

amymom24 said...

I would do one of two things:
a)Switch the ribbon and put in a wide dark coloured organdy with a turquoise grosgrain over top (is that Tempting Turquoise or Cool Caribbean layered there?) or silver or gold cord tied with the organdy.
b) Put in the chocolate grosgrain as planned and put maybe a small prima or button, etc. on the bottom right of the card to give it a bit more balance.
That's my two cents. Great card though - I love the crystal effects!
~Amy H.

Anonymous said...

HHHmmm, such a pretty color scheme...I would put a thin (maybe 1/2 - 3/4") strip of Cool Caribbean behind the grograin for the full lenth of the card. For a little more punch paper pierce one edge of the strip all the way across. Then the ribbon would really pop on top of it.

Very pretty!

tyrymom29 said...

Love this card .....but i have to agree it might pop out more with a lighter colored ribbon Maybe (cool caribbean)TFS!!!!!!!!

Pat said...

I would switch out the brown ribbon for the Cool Caribbean colored ribbon and then you could use the brown ribbon as accents on the blue ribbon. Maybe a pop of some sort of Cool Caribbean eyelets or brads (maybe 3 in a row) on the lower right corner. Hope this helps.

Cindy @ Creating at Home said...

I like this card! But since you asked for ideas here's a few I thought of...

Put a brown brad in each corner of the white cs.

Put a small piece of turquoise ribbon through the center of the knot of the brown grosgrain.

Stamp a phrase in a dark brown across the steam or make the steam image a little darker.

Thanks for offering a give away. That was nice of you!

Cindy

dawnmercedes said...

I definitely things it needs some hardware...maybe like brads...in a corner.

bethtrue said...

How about some turqoise brads in the upper right hand corner; like 3 going across in a row?

Thanks for sharing - your creations are great!!

Anonymous said...

Lots of ideas. :o) I think you could add something to the right side. For me it looks a bit empty. Maybe stamp something in the corners, or add brads... But I love the brown color with that stamp set. :o) TFS!
(Thanks for your comment on my blog.)

Anonymous said...

Hmm...I always have the issue you are having! Blog would be an awesome way to get some help! Excellent idea! Hmm...food for thought!

Maybe something on the RH side. Some kind of brad or metal bracelet? Also could glitter up a the background bit or glitter on the steam? Different colour ribbon to bring it up a bit.

Jeanine Eckert said...

Melissa- it turned out super-cute!

Creative Expressions by Stephanie said...

I actually like it how it is...is that bad? Sometime simple can be so nice!

dawnmercedes said...

I'm thinking that you need a little more color somewhere else...maybe that blue...in ribbon...something...or maybe some red...yeah...RED is my favorite color!

Anonymous said...

What if you put just part of a tea pot in the corner so it looks like the coffee just got poured in…plus it adds something to the even out the look…I’m not sure how hard that would be though…

- Janet

Anonymous said...

My first thought was that it needed some black somewhere, like maybe 3 black brads of eyelets in the bottom right hand corner.