Something Simple ...

I do love simple cards ... well i love making just about any card, but sometimes clean and simple is just best.  

Sometimes when i sit down to create I get a little overwhelmed with my stash ... so here's my secret ... I pick two pieces of paper that work together, one accent colour and then i sit myself down to create.

In this case i choose Early Espresso and Crumb Cake card stock.  I also knew that my accent colour would be some form of blue.  This trio of colours always works ... so it's my favourite "go to" colour palette.

For each card, i ran the card front through the honey comb embossing die.  I then place a doily on each card front and worked from there.

I stamped a couple of hummingbirds on this doily as well as a sentiment. I wrapped the card front in bakers twine, tied on a bow and a fabulous clock charm ... and done!  Two cards in very little time, and i did it without hauling out my entire stash ...

So give it a try, limit yourself to three colours and see what you can come up with in 20 minutes or less.
Thanks so much for stopping by, and hope you all had a fabulous Easter!

peace, love & paper
Jo

and now for something completely new ...

Well, my dear friend finally convinced me to join the Stampin Up! family as a demonstrator ... and I have absolutely no regrets!!!  Stampin Up! is a fabulous company that creates some beautiful paper crafting products ... and every thing coordinates!!!

Right now I am smitten with creating cards that have that "chalkboard" feel ... so I have done a whole series of them ... these are so easy to make, and so much fun!  They really dont require too much embellishment as they are supposed to resemble chalkboard art!

Here's what I came up with.

 "your amazing" was stamped with versamark.  I covered the lower portion of the word amazing with pool party embossing powder and the the rest was covered with white embossing powder.  The edges were inked with white craft ink ... such fun and so easy!  Stamp set used:  You're Amazing

"thank you" and the rest of the cards all use the same technique as above ... just stamp, heat emboss and ink edges.  on this card i added a little bottle cap that was flattened out with the my "bigshot" and i put a tiny fish in the center!  Stamp sets used:  By the Tide and You're Amazing.

"celebrate" ... so easy .... and i ran the blue background through and embossing plate.

"oh hello" ... i actually smudged off some of the embossing powder before I heated it.  I also inked a bit of the centre of the card ... just to make it extra smudgy! Stamp sets used: Oh Hello, Feel Goods and Established Elegance.

Thanks so much for joining me here!  If you have any questions about Stampin Up! or want to check out the catalogues, just click on the button on the right side bar.