Everything I make looks the same, some pointers? Options

[sweetalacrity]

I've been having a horrible time desgining lately so I thought I'd ask for help, if I posted this in the wrong place sorry

I don't think I've improved at all, graphic wise, since the first layout I submitted here. (It's not up so don't look for it). Everything I make looks the same...I don't know everything just looks so blah. What am I doing wrong? Is there anything I can improve on?

All I really want is to make my graphics more interesting, and a bit neater. They seem very sloppy I think

I have paint shop pro and photoshop but I use paint shop pro more, since i'm more comfortable with it. Here's an example of the last graphic I made, can anyone tell me what's wrong with it?

click to enlarge

[sweetalacrity]

Honestly, it doesn't look that bad. I just think that you need to do something to the text. Maybe eliminate the stroke or something. But it's cute.

Thanks, but you're right about the font, in fact I was already thinking somehting about it already. I'm horrible when it comes to fonts though, I normally get stumped when it comes to text.

could you show other examples so we could see more of what you mean by "the same" ?

edit:
from some of the grapics you've submitted, all I can tell is that you like to use the same effects; maybe you could experiment more... maybe with colors, too; it seems like you like kinda the same colors schemes

You're right I don't experiment much, I work very much in my comfort zone I guess

I personally love your style, but if you're looking for some variety, switch up the content area like Abbey said. Maybe try one column instead of two, put the image on the site of the content area, give it a fixed height, etc.

Thank you! I like all of the suggestions you guys gave, I will definitely consider switching up the content area though. I tend to stick to the same coding since I'm not that good with html but it's definitely worht a shot

there's nothing wrong with that, it look great! its good that you have a certain style and you SHOULD stick to it no matter what others tell you. its hard to stick with one style but it really shows when you turn them into a whole collection of graphics on a site

that graphic is something i can never make, cuz first i'm not a fan of those colors, secont, i don't use those brushes or vectors. except for the bloodspots that's a style i can never ever do, but i know people who really like that style of designing and if they want something along the lines of that, than you're the prefect person, don't change your designing style.

inspiriation can come from anywhere, my lastest design came from a spongebob gaming site xD you just have to be creative and open minded and i don't see you have any trouble once you get started!

some people like simple stuff and they will tell you to tone it down but others are more into complicated so stay somewhere in the middle!

Thanks! I guess my style is very bright, I should probably make some more layouts with different color themes.

I love your stuff. I personally find nothing wrong with that graphic. If you want a change, try a new font or a new background texture. Actually, I recently switched up my style a little bit, and I got my inspiration for my site's header from a friend's site's header. I didn't copy it, but I looked at the elements I admired and changed them to match my own style. (:

Haha thank you! I agree that I could try some new textures or fonts definitely, I'm horrible at choosing them is the problem I think. But oh that is a good idea! You're header came out great btw