Need Some CC

[PRINCESSLALA]

Ok... I did this layout for the DET contest and i'd like some CC on it... not just the good job or what you like. I want to know if there is anything i can do to improve it. Please help me!!!!

http://www.digitalscrapbookplace.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=52673&cat=1265&page=1

[skt494]

I saw your comments here and took a look at your layout. I really really like it and am at a loss as to tell you how to improve. However more experienced scrappers may be of more help ... and all the comments from the contest may be preventing them from commenting with cc (when you go to your layout there are so many comments it might look to some like you've gotten the cc you want already). You might try moving it here (http://www.digitalscrapbookplace.com/gallery/showgallery.php?cat=536) its the help and cc under the inspiration gallery. I'm not sure but moving it might delete the other comments which would help lookers to know that you still want cc for improvement. You may not want those comments deleted but your post sounds to me like you really really want some advice and my gut says that seeing all those other comments leads folks to believe you've gotten what you wanted. Luck to you!

[SuzanneUpton]

My only comment is that the alphabet that says "damek and the art of walking" (cute text, BTW!) is a little hard to adjust your eye to. You use the alpha one other place on the Layout and you don't use as much of a displacement on the letters, therefore it is much easier to read. My guess is that this is something you don't notice because you know what you wrote and your eye reads it correctly. Someone new looking at it has to adjust a bit as opposed to being able to take in the title quickly. It is minor, but I think it would make a difference.

Suzanne

[Meg]

Hi Laura! My only comment on your adorable LO actually comes from something the judges said last round. Your LO seems to be a cross between a graphic style page and a paper style page. You are using paper elements (bg's, tag, etc), but nothing is attached in any way and there don't seem to be any drop shadows on anything other than the tag (may just be how it's viewed here, since it's relatively small). Try using your cute foot elements as photo corners or tacks and maybe tuck the tag partially under a curved paper.

I know for the DET contest it's mostly paper stlye kits we're using, so look at your LO as if it were actually pieces of paper and how you would keep them together. I LOVE how you used the alpha, and your pictures are priceless.

Hope this helps!

[Lauren]

Ive also posted this in the comments section of the layout in the galler - I think that you have perhaps overused the alpha - just by using it on only one or 2 words would have drawn attention to those words but with it used so much your eye is drawn to the bottom of your layout and away from the important part which is your photos. I would also make your focal photos bigger - right now the eye is drawn to the poem and title and the patterned edge of the layout - you could have them big enough to overlap the curved edges.

[raynebair]

I posted a little CC in the comments of the layout, but basically said that same thing that's been said...tone down the use of the alpha in the journaling. Add some shadows to give the page a more paper-realistic look. I think if you add the right amount of shadows, especially to the gel feet, the page will really pop.

[Pam]

I edited my original reply under your layout but will also post here -- all IMHO! I would like to see some texture in your background papers -- like a linen or bazzill look. I agree with the others about the difficulty in reading -- maybe save the alpha for the title and use a font for your journaling (you can experiment with changing the color of your words to give it a similar effect to what you have).

Your balance is great and I love the flowing lines to go with the photos. The stitching, alpha and feet seem to have a slight shadow, the rest doesn't -- also the shadow on the stitching seems to be to the top and the alpha has the shadow to the bottom. A shadow comes from the light source - so they should all be the same.

You've created a cute layout that will be ultimately be loved by your family as is (it does, after all, record a very special event in Damek's life)! If you've saved this as a PSP file with the layers, experiment with the background layers a bit, trying texture and shading. Flip the stitching so the shadow is to the bottom like the alpha.

There is also a "magazine" concept with no shadows -- look at some ads in magazines. This would mean removing the shadows from the elements that have them. Try giving the top journaling box a bit more space around the journaling like in the bottom one (from my years as a desktop publishing editor, "white space" helps with readability).