PTI Colors and the Rule of Thirds

Yesterday, I played along with a sketch challenge at Papertrey Ink.  I posted my card but told you that if I had time to remake it, I would do a better job of the Rule of Thirds.  So for today's PTI color challenge, I basically made the same card, different colors, but did a better job of the Rule of Thirds!!

Some of you asked about the Rule of Thirds.  Basically it is a design guideline that says a card (or a photo, or any image) will be more interesting to the eye if you place the focus in an area where the card is divided into thirds - the red dots...

A quick google search on "rule of thirds" will bring up tons of photos where the focus is in one of these sweet spots and you quickly see how truly interesting they are.  Various sites refer to it as more lively, interesting and energetic!

An unfortunate side effect of the eye's tendencies to prefer these sweet spots is that it gets quite confused when the focus is slightly off of these points.

First, let me show you today's card - then I'll compare the two.  This is the same layout as I used yesterday, but it uses colors from today's PTI color challenge.  I actually measured to make sure that the butterfly ended up in the sweet spot!

Now look at the two side by side.

I really don't have the words for what exactly is wrong with the star card - I just know that it makes me uncomfortable.  The star isn't in the center and it's also not in the 1/3 sweet spot, so the eye and the brain get confused.  Guess what the difference between the center of the butterfly and the center of the star is.  They are only 1/4" different!  (There's a little optical illusion going on because of the direction the butterfly is facing - but they are truly only 1/4" different!)I am not trained in design and I've never before measured a card to follow the Rule of Thirds, but I can look at that star card and just feel that something is wrong.  Hope this helps you analyze cards that you aren't quite happy with!Here are the details on today's card:

• Stamps: Papertrey Ink Faux Ribbon, Beautiful Butterflies
• Ink: Papertrey Ink New Leaf, Hawaiian Shores, Summer Sunrise, Orange Zest, Raspberry Fizz
• Paper: Papertrey Ink New Leaf
• Accessories: Papertrey Ink butterfly dies and button, Martha Stewart Fine Crystal Glitter