Monday, July 7, 2008

Happy Birthday and a Few Questions

Rarely do the cards I make create questions in my mind, but this one did, almost from the get go. I'd really like to know what you think too, so be sure to weigh in with a comment.

First, do I like the main image? I think the girl/young woman has a very sweet face, and I enjoyed being able to create her outfit. HOWEVER, would YOU like to receive a card with this image on it? Am I the only one who might wonder what the person sending it to me was trying to subtly communicate if I opened an envelope and this is what I saw? I know how sensitive girls are about their body images these days...

The image is one of a few sent to me by Nicole Cooke at stampin library girl. I don't have the cool Copic markers everyone else has, but I still like how this turned out. The company that makes this and other images in this same design vein is scrapmagasinet, the Norwegian stamp company I referred to in this post last week. Oddly enough, most of the girls are drawn this way, while the boys are stick thin.

The layout was inspired by this card I saw by Jen del Muro. So much going on with design and color and pattern, it made me want to imitate it. This leads to my second question: did I succeed? I'm thinkin' not exactly. I created my own strip of card stock that looked sort of like her Cuttlebugged (is that a verb now?) dry embossed paper, but I didn't have a large piece of patterned paper that matched the color scheme I'd chosen days before when I colored the image. Also, I think her card is bigger than mine, giving her more space to work with. Oh well...it inspired me and that's really what counts. What would you have added though?

So, what are your thoughts about the questions I posed? Let me know what you think, okay? Your feedback really helps.

We had a nice holiday weekend. Went to Alpharetta to see GINORMOUS fireworks Friday night, went out on our boat tubing with a friend Saturday night, went to church Sunday, and ate homemade chocolate brownie ice cream (that Bob made) later that night. Friends of mine are in town from PA all week, so I'm looking forward to seeing them at some point. I've met my girlfriend's family, and she's met mine, but our families have never met each other. Should be sweet! Have a great week.

12 comments:

kat said...

Yeah, I have to agree with you about the image. As a woman who has struggled with weight all of my 62 years, I don't think this has a very positive message. I like her face, her stance, etc. Why couldn't they have just made her normal sized, I wonder? Maybe that's considered a good size in Norway [???].

strent said...

Oh, yeah... I would not be overly thrilled to recieve this card. Regardless of what it said, I would see 'my' thighs and hips staring at me and wonder if that's what the giver was seeing!!!! Of course, I could use it to do a scrapbook page about the ups and downs of dieting!!!

Theresa said...

The card is cute...the coloring is great....everything about both cards is adorable. The images? they are not talking to me!!!! I agree - the image of the standing girl is rather insulting. I look like that normallly and don't need a card to remind me! lol!

Anonymous said...

I don't like these images, either....my body is pear-shaped, I don't need it to be the same on a card! I agree, maybe in the Scandanavian countries they're ok with the pear shape! (didn't mean to stereotype)

Lydia Fiedler said...

I think it's cute - maybe it's just a cultural thing - I dream of a world where it's okay to have a bigger butt than your man!! :) Maybe I will relocate to a Scandinavian country - it sounds wonderful! I also love her jeans - something about this image reminds me of the 70's. The way you colored them is perfect. I think it's cute.

Kim Williams said...

I think I worry more about some of the stick-thin girls we see on some stamps out there today. I really love my Hannas and the "She's All That" series, but I would hesitate sending those to a teenage girl because of the same body-issue type thing.

I think it has to do with culture more than anything, and I have to second the motion that perhaps in the Scandinavian countries they like their girls a little more "Rubenesque"...makes it easier to get through those long winters and you know the girl can cook...lol!

Great job with the layout and the coloring on your card, Jenn!

Anonymous said...

Hahaha! Yes, this girl looks just like me.. and yes, I am norwegian ;) So you don't like my figure? Well, that's your problem! I love my butt and so does my boyfriend! Better with a big butt than a butthead!

By the way: do any of you guys even know where Norway is? No! It is not the capital of sweden!!! ;)

Lenes stempelkrok said...

I can't see the problem using image who represent the average size in the whole world? (not just Scandinavian)!!
If you are afraid insulting people,I have to ask you; Don't you think you insult somebody with the image of a cow from Penny Black? Well, I think so, If I think like you... The image represent the receiver?
Luckily, I don't think like that... I make card and hope someone think they're nice, with or without an average girl...Personally; I love Krilla!

roterommet said...

I have the same rubber stamp, and the same body.I have no problem with it.I have never heard any negative comments about it.It is like a cartoon,so its supposed to be a funny figure.....how about the old people from art impression.. they are OLD....maybe your aunt will be angry if she receive a card with an old lady on????? lighten up....it`s only a card....
And yes...I am Norwegian.

Desirée said...

I like the image, if its insulting... I dont think so. I have that shape, I dont like it, but I dont care if I got a card with that motive. I think that its says that its ok to have that body. What about the thin thin girls on other stamps? That is not healthy, and I think they give a really wrong massage to people. And in a country like USA where it is so much heavy people, I had thougt that this was a perfect image. Where are your self humour? If you got a cow on a card... you are not that...are you? ;)
Sorry my english :)

Ann said...

I'm just laughing my way through these comments ;) Doesn't it say more about the card giver than the receiver if you are that concerned..?

I really like this motif just because it's different than most girl images, and as one of you mentioned it really is a counter weight to (among others) the Hanna stamps. If you take the time to look at the other stamps designed by Scrapmagasinet you will see that there are many different body types represented. This particular "character" is named Krilla and her best friend in the stamp world is a girl skinny as a flag pole! Put them together on a card and you have a perfect card for an unsecure teenager: people come in all different shapes and sizes - both in the US and in Norway :)

Kjersti said...

I love the Krilla-stamps, and I think it's wonderful that Scrapmagasinet has created a character that represents a great amount of the women in the world when it comes to body-shape. I wouldn't think twice about it if I received a card with this motif, I'd just see the humour in it and be grateful for a wonderfully made card. She looks like a healthy, strong woman, and I can very much relate to her apperance!

Lighten up, girls! :)