9.13.2010

i need your opinions: button design

OK, this is the only time I will ask for constructive criticism on my blog. :-) I am a sensitive person, and if someone left a comment saying "ewwwww! That's awful!!" ... I really might start to cry. No kidding.

Most of you know I have a little button business, but funnily enough...I have no button for my blog! I am sooooo not a designer, so it has been a little tough for me. I came up with something, and wanted to get your opinions.

Photobucket

Here are my thoughts:

I love the picture, but it is too hazy, too grey, too blah?
This is a shot of only one of my kids; we have three. Is that weird?
The font doesn't tie in to my blog...but I could change that. I don't like the font in my header right now anyway. I could also add this picture to my header slideshow to make it tie in.
Is this font too boring? I didn't want to use something too scrolly or fancy because it might be hard to read. I wanted it clean, simple and easy to read.
Does the text look like it's cutting off her legs? Normally with text, I'd lower the opacity, but I didn't want to do that here because it would be hard to see on such a small button.

Sooooo...(I hesitatingly ask)...what do you think? If you hate it, please tell me gently or I will be sad. ;-)

Edit: My mom just called and said I'm never going to get an honest opinion since I came across as such a PANSY! I promise, just this one time, I won't be sad. Promise! I don't want to have an ugly button. :-) LOL! Let's say this...how about you leave me a comment saying one or two things I might change. I would really appreicate your feedback! :-)

Happy Monday!

17 comments:

Discovery School at First Baptist Heath said...

It is a great button....Post it so I can get it on my blog...

PS I agree with your Mom, but I gave an honest opinion, anyway...

PSS I just left ya an award on my blog...m'kay?

Aleasing said...

NOW mom, you are #2 ^_^
The picture is perfect!!!

Ashley Sisk said...

I'm trying to be constructive here...I do love that picture but I don't know that it completely represents your blog. I would have used the font you use all over your blog - well at least in your header. I'm not even sure it has to be of your kids. I kinda like that shot of the apples with one of your kids giving it the bunny ears. But honestly, I'd love it regardless, I was just trying to be someone who'd give you more than a "I love it" comment.

Karli @ The Bonnie 5 said...

Yeeeeeeesssss!!!! Thank you Ashley! That's what I'm talking about!! See, and I'm not crying! LOL! Alright everyone else, give it to me straight! :-)

Discovery School at First Baptist Heath said...

okay.. See here is where we are gonna have a prblem.. I do love the button.. but you have been to my blog and I have no good style ideas.. I am mismatched and backwards in a lot of things..I jsut happen to take great SOOC photos.. that is why you do not see a lot of textures and creative stuff...it is not me.Ashley, on the other hand is a great designer and a great photographer.. Her opinion in this case is way better than mine. and to answer your question that you left me in comments.. I would tell ya the truth...IMO.. and i would not hurt your feelings while I did that. so there.. and now I wonder if you like my photos or not???hmmmmm.. and for the bug.. I think it would be dun dun duuun!. Love ya girl

Jodi said...

I'm a relatively new follower, so I don't really "e-know" you that well - but I am a religious stalker now, because I love love LOVE your photos.

Do I love that picture? Absolutely yes! As the mom of a boy, your blog post with that photo-shoot made me have such girl envy . . .

But I think I'm in agreement with Ashley here. I want it to fit in with your header more - both in terms of the font and the vibrance and clarity of the other images. I absolutely the hazy vintage feel, I just don't know that it fits exactly right.

Just my two cents as a relative newbie! :)

Casey Martinez said...

Personally I think the picture looks retro, vintage and that is so totally my favorite editing style right now so I don't think it's even so much about what we think as it is about is this button speaking to you? I have a friend who wants to edit a picture of me and have me use it on my photo blog in my about me but, I told her...if you edit it in your style then it isn't representative of me is it? That being said, I like your button a lot, it's adorable and it represents your style and your flair! You could include all of your 3 kids or all 5 of you since it says Bonnie 5 but, I don't think you have to. Plus, you can always change the button as your style changes:). That didn't help at all did it. lol Your mom cracks me up!

Natalie said...

It's a great picture and the button looks cute. You could totally go with it. I agree with Ashley that the apple/bunny ear picture could be a fun option too.
You know what could be a fun idea? You are so good at taking pictures of clever objects, what if you found a "5" somewhere - on a sign, building, toy, etc. and then used the 5 as your picture and put "the bonnie" text on the picture. So the 5 in the picture would be the 5 in your title. Make sense? Just an idea, not a criticism of the button you have now cause I like it too. :-)

P ♥ said...

I love it! It's so what's "in" right now with the retro feel and bottom legs shot! Keep it, it's great!

Mandy@ a sorta fairytale said...

I really like it. I love the haze. But I do agree with Ashley that I think the text should tie in with your header. But then again, I'm a strong believer that you should do what YOU like and now what every one else likes. Sorry, I probably wasn't too much of a help. He he.

Karli @ The Bonnie 5 said...

OK....I'm LOVING the feedback - this is so helpful! I'm kind of liking the apple and the bunny ears idea too. I played with it in Photoshop a bit and because of the dimensions, I can't get it to be a perfect square; it would be a rectangle...Hmmmm... I wonder if that would bother me. I'm really liking that idea though! Keep 'em coming!

Jess said...

Although you know I love the shot of Tiny Tornado, and it makes me want to put my Bean in high-tops and a tutu and take pictures of her... the editing with that haze is so trendy right now and I agree with Ashley that it doesn't really represent your style.

The apple picture would really scream "Bonnie 5" to me. Cropping is soooo hard with some shots! Keep at it Karli. :)

Or what about the marble shot you have in your header?

Tracy said...

I think it's a good button, but I see your other thoughts...I tend to agree that it doesn't quite POP enough for me and I would probably go with a font that's more scripty that ties into your blog. I am nototrious for changing my header pics back and forth and don't really think having only one child on the button is a bad thing, it's just a matter of how you feel abou it. I would tend to think it's not quite the pic I would use to describe you or your blog...although I do LOVE the picture. :)

Lindsey Clair said...

I love it, maybe do a cute feet shot of your kids for a blog button, I think that would be adorable. But whatever you choose I am sure will be great :)

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http://www.peacefulislandmother.yolasite.com

Unknown said...

Hmmm.. I *love* that pic! But, I agree with Ashley and Jess and others.. it's not totally your style. I think it's the different font. I don't mind the font - but I do think it should be the same font you have on your blog. Which I like, by the way. ;)

It's not weird to use a pic of only one of your kids - especially since you feature the Tiny Tornado quite frequently. ;) And, you can always change up the picture later!

Mindy McGrew said...

I tend to agree with the consensus here....love the shot, just not sure it would give someone who has never seen your blog before the best "snap shot" of where they would be headed should they click. Could you crop the apple/bunny ears pic down to 3 apples (red, V, red, green) to make it a square? (I'm a sucker for odd #'s) I think you are right about the font and making it something clean, simple and easy to read. And YES! you need your own blog button 'o) love you!

Mama Hen said...

I love this button! This is so cute! Then you can add it to the In the Nest! Have a great night!

Mama Hen