A Simple Style

Here are a couple of cards I made late this afternoon after the little boys went home. Both are very simple, which as much as I sometimes try to change it, appears to be my signature style.

This first card includes products from several companies - Kraft cardstock from Stampin' Up, Ponderosa Pine cardstock and ink from Close To My Heart, the tree stamp from an acrylic Impression Obsession Set, and the sentiment, a wood-mounted set from Whipper Snapper Designs. I love the saying, and with the weather the way it is, it's a fact that I'm reminding myself of frequently these days. This particular card is "serious" and would be appropriate for someone going through a rough time. The next time I use this stamp, I'm going to use it with some whimsical spring flowers to create a "happier" card. To make the card, I measured my sentiment, created a stencil, and sponged over it with Ponderosa Pine ink. I stamped the sentiment and trees with the same ink, distressed the edges of the Kraft cardstock lightly with an old, very well seasoned Bamboo ink pad, and mounted 4 by 5-1/4 inch Kraft piece on a 4-1/4 by 5-1/2 inch piece of Ponderosa Pine.

My second card is a spin-off of a sketch I used for a card I made last weekend. It's made with Dutch Blue and Winter White textured cardstock. The stamp sets are Close To My Heart's Little Boys and Happy Birthday. The ink pads I used were Hydrangea, Topiary, Brown Bag, Holiday Red, and Black for the sentiment. I filled in details on the images with Breeze, Citrus Leaf, and Black markers. I really like using textured cardstock for simple cards such as this one. It adds interest.

It's 7:15, and I'm yawning. It's always so quiet after the little guys leave, which is sometimes appreciated and other times, kind of depressing. We had a fun afternoon that included making M&M cookies. Warm cookies and a glass of cold milk are about as good as it gets on a cold afternoon. Maybe I need a couple more cookies . . . for the sugar and hopefully, the energy. Later . . .