Taylor Swift #2
Designing this card was a journey that, embarrassingly enough, consumed far more time than I'd care to admit. While its appearance may not reveal it, my perfectionist streak was in overdrive with this creation. An homage to the Travis Kelce Rookie card #192 from the 2013 Panini Rookies & Stars set, this piece is a nod to the dynamic duo of Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift—arguably the reigning power couple of the town. Move aside, Brangelina; it's Traylor's moment in the limelight!
This project had been brewing in my mind for months, but I was determined not to repeat the fate of my Shohei Ohtani rookie card (thanks, Karen!). I aimed for a delicate balance—capturing the essence of the Kelce rookie card while incorporating alterations substantial enough to evade the internet trolls' wrath. This endeavor involved significant modifications, from tweaking the Kansas City Chiefs logo in the upper left corner to bidding adieu to the RC emblem altogether. Oh, and that tiny portrait of Travis Kelce in the bottom right? Let's just say it was quite the challenge. Finding a high-quality photo of Travis, gazing upwards with a loving expression? Not an easy feat. I reckon the man doesn't tilt his head skyward too often.
Now, let's talk about the title on the back of the card. Frankly, I'm still not entirely content with it, but I settled on it—for now. Let's clear the air: Taylor "Tight End" Swift's moniker has absolutely nothing to do with her derrière. I simply sought a football-related nickname that flowed well, no innuendos intended. Speaking of which, did you know "innuendo" translates to an Italian suppository? Okay, okay, that's a jest that never fails to amuse me when I hear the word. Back to the card—honestly, I'm not thrilled with the rest of the text on the back either. When I first conceptualized the card back template for this Pop Culture Icons set, I failed to realize I hadn't allocated enough space for a text description between the card title and the skyscraper. It's a tight squeeze—I can barely fit 4 to 6 sentences before the text starts overlapping the building, making it a hassle to read. My only options at that point are either trimming down the text or reducing the font size. In this instance, I opted for the former. I admit, the joke about a diss track was incredibly corny, but trust me, it was the least cheesy quip in my repertoire.