Monday, February 1, 2010

A Study in Contrast: Subtle and Bold

Today starts the Papertrey Anniversary Celebration, so it's appropriate that I have a couple of cards with PTI stamps today.

The little tree from Through the Trees (Papertrey) stumped me at first, but I soon realized it would be perfect for a grid card. Brilliance Pearlescent Beige ink is so lovely and subtle and shimmery when stamped on white cardstock, I just had to make a go of it with the little rhinestones that match so well.



I tried several sentiments before finding one that was the right scale (note: the three-line sentiment in Through the Trees is TOO BIG!). This one from Floral Frenzy (another PTI set) fit perfectly. It also allowed me to decorate the inside of the card:



I really, really like subtle cards like this, but sometimes I like to cut loose with bold, bright color. So I made this:

I should have stuck with the Floral Frenzy sentiment, but otherwise, this card works for me too.

Subtle? Bold? In general (not just in this instance), which do you prefer? Inquiring minds want to know.

Supplies
stamps: PTI
paper: PTI white, SU passion pink, basic black
ink: Brilliance, Palette noir
accessories: dimensionals, square punch, rhinestones

24 comments:

  1. For me it is the subtle version, so soft and serene.

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  2. I love both, but I'm loving the pop of bright and cheery colour that the pink one gives. I've been meaning to try hot pink and black for ages now but never got round to it!

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  3. Can't choose - love them both. I just read Nichole's newsletter - she writes as well as she designs. I have her first set and you've inspired me to use them today.

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  4. I LOVE both cards, and would be hard-pressed to have to choose between them. The first is a classier, more formal, elegant, etc. version of the second (which just POPS with feeling). I love them both. I was wondering if PTI's Mixed messages would work as the sentiment square?

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  5. Susan,
    both of your cards are great. You definitely know how to make white cards look stunning.
    Myself, I made colorful cards foe a while and just recently started with more white backgrounds. As gift sets white cards are great. If I make cards to send to someone in particular, then I tend to chose colors.
    Petra

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  6. I tend to like subtle....earth tones and warm colors but I too like to punch it up with some bright colors. I do find them much more difficult to work with. I am so glad to see these cards because that little tree had me totally stumped as well. Of course it is perfect for inchies!! Why didn't I think of that??!! That is why I come to you my friend :o)

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  7. I tend to prefer bright pops of colour - they are so cheerful. But there are times when subtle is more appropriate. Both of these cards work really well, imo.

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  8. I prefer subtle ... but, if I'm making a cards or cards specifically for someone else, I try to gear them towards their tastes :o)

    Blessings on your day!

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  9. LOVE them both, but subtle is my go-to. :-)

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  10. As much as I love color, the elegance of the first wins my vote.

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  11. Great examples to showcase one stamp with different looks. I like bold and subtle, just depends on my mood at that moment.

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  12. Once last year I made a hot pink, black and silver card that I photographed for the section in my computer I reserve for memorable cards. Every time I run across that photo I'm shocked.....as shocked as I was by your hot pink one. That's sort of like I might feel listening to Andrea Bocelli sing Adam Lambert's latest song. Does not compute! :-)

    But I love, love, love the first card and how you made use again of a stamp I couldn't think I would ever like.

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  13. I don't know whether to say in general I like subtle or bold better, lol. What I love is lots of white with pops of color, so you can see why I like your style so much. In this case I like the top card better, because I don't quite like the pink trees (love the pink base though). But in general I don't like brown, so I think I would like the top card even better if the trees and sentiment were green. I also love tone on tone anything, which I guess falls in the "subtle" category. I like bright colors, as long as they are tempered with lots of white.

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  14. I love them both - they are so different.

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  15. The light brown one is very elegant looking, especially with the bling. I really love the pink one!

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  16. Lovely card but I prefer the subtle....super job.

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  17. In general, I prefer subtle, but that can get boring, so I like a pop of color once in a while. Between these two cards, I like the bold one this time! Both are lovely.

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  18. I go for subtle because I always find it difficult to work with bold. However, when YOU do bold I love it so I think it must be your designs that 'speak' to me as much as the colour.
    As ever thanks for my daily dose of Simplicity it makes me very 'happy'.....

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  19. I like them both and depending on the purpose, would reach for either one. Out of curiousity - I was wondering how black rhinestones would look on the pink card instead of pink ones? Would you be able to change that using photo software just so that we can see? Thanks for teaching us!

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  20. Fabulous on all of them. Just wanted to say thanks for all your work. I used many of your inspriations yesterday at an afternoon making cards for the troops...so thanks for the connection, Sue, as well.
    Have a blessed day!
    deb

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  21. I too had been thinking about how to use this tiny tree image and had a similar idea as yours. So now I get to see a preview and know that I definitley want to give it a try. I do prefer the more subtle one because that's more my style.

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  22. I have to say the subtle card cause I LOVE how you layer white on white - you have such a knack for doing that perfectly!!

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  23. LOVE THIS! When I grow up I wanna stamp like you! Thanx for the inspiration!

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  24. Bothe fabulous but the white just pops, love it. Thanks for sharing.

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Thank you so much for taking time to comment!