Today I have a great tip about creating a focal point on your handmade cards so you can focus all the goodness in one spot to make it really stand out. AND it saves you time and resources because you don't have to do anything else to the card when you've got a great focal point! First, take a look at the card I am using as the example:
See how that cluster of leaves with the greeting really POPS on the card? If you had additional designs or colors or even my favorite element – texture – those leaves and those words wouldn't have the same impact.
I wanted to add all of this cards texture, color and layers in a confined space to bring the eye directly to what I wanted to say. I added that Soft Suede circle as the anchor for my focal point and then concentrated all the design around that circle.
I dry embossed the Soft Suede circle with the deliciously realistic Pinewood Planks Dynamic Textures Embossing Folder because I wanted my leaves to “float” over it, like they can in real life. This adds a little lightness to the solid anchoring of the focal point. I then added a little more visual texture by layering the leaves and the greeting assembly.
I did some two step stamping for the green leaf and left the second leaf just die cut to keep the eye moving UP from the Soft Suede circle to the greeting. Then it was time for the sentiment and the layers beneath. I added in pumpkin pie under my sentiment and also used that color for my card base. Adding a layer in the same color as your card base somewhere in your designs makes a card really pop while also pulling it all together.
The final touch of texture comes from the fabulous 3/8″ Stitched Satin Ribbon. The image above captures a little of the luster of this beautiful ribbon but in real life it has a beautiful sheen without being so glossy that you couldn't send this card to a man without a second thought. Of course I always use my 10 Second Bow Maker because you are better off without a bow than you are with one that looks like your puppy tied it!
The other thing that is just so wonderful about this card is that it makes an outstanding Batch Card! Because all the cuts are easily done with the Sizzix Big Shot by Stampin' Up! and there's just a few ink-it-up-and-stamp-its you can make a bunch of these cards all at once or in stages as you are binge watching your latest addiction on demand!
Here's what you will need to gather together to make this card. And remember, you can swap out any of the fabulous fall colors, change the leaves out for another element or use any shapes that appeal to you – it's all about the focal point.
One thing I wanted to point out is that sometimes that white border around some of the Framelits cut outs annoys me and sometimes I am thrilled to have it – like with this project. Having that fine white border around that green leaf prevents it from “sinking” into the anchor and helps show off that “floating” look. Keep that in mind when you are choosing both the color you want to use to stamp on and what colors will be in your layers – it can make all the difference and in a super good way!
I hope this helps you see how using a strong focal point on your projects can be both visually stunning AND a huge time and resource saver. I LOVE cards with all-over texture or design but sometimes creating that one focal point makes all the feels you put into a card really stand out!
How do you determine where to place your focal point on the card, if at the left, right, up or down side?
I change it up all the time, just pick a point and start there.