Back in the old days...

Do you yearn for the simpler times? When it was just you, your stamps, some ink, and some paper. Remember those times? Occasionally, I get so caught up in adding "more" to my cards, that I forget that simple can sometimes make a big impact. Not to mention that is can be much easier to mass produce!
I used no embellishments on these cards. Only, ink, paper, stamps and adhesive. Using just white CS and one other color (thyme green here), I created a simple Mother's Day card. Repetative stamping can make pretty patterned paper. If I wanted, this card can easily be added to, using some ribbon, brads, glitter, etc.

I then took the same idea and made a Father's Day card. Simple. Quick. Unadorned. But lovely all the same.

Paper: white cardstock (PTI) , thyme CS (SU), tan CS (Bazzill)

Stamps: Serenity, Happy Thougths (Verve Visual)

Ink: Dark Moss, creamy brown (Colorbox liquid chalk)

A Quick and Easy Gift Set

I have been hoarding these super cute eyelet notecards from the Martha Stewart collection at Michaels for quite some time. Probably a month? While cleaning my stamp room last week, I came upon them and immediately thought of the new Verve set Happy Thoughts. What a great little gift set this could make! So I went to work!

Each card was first stamped with the "scripty" version of Happy, then a different sentiment for each one. There are six cards in this set, and I didn't even ink up all the combinations!

I then stamped a medium sized flower from Fancy Florals, which will be remixed and released in clear photopolymer this month as well. Each one was inked up, stamped first on scratch paper, then stamped over the sentiment. The edges needed to be a little softer, so I ran my waterbrush over the image to make it bleed just a smidge. The finishing touch is a Swarovski crystal in the center of the flower for a little bling.

The notecards were then mounted on the appropriate card base colors, and the finished product measures 3 1/2" x 5", just a little smaller than a normal A2 sized card.

I'm so excited...this will be a perfect birthday gift for my mom, who is always wanting me to make cards for her to send to her friends.

Stay tuned this week for more eye candy from the rest of the Verve team...and have a fabulous Monday!!

Stamps: Happy Thoughts, Fancy Florals Remixed (Verve Visual)
Paper: Eyelet Notecards (Martha Stewart), Purely Pomegranite, Sage Shadow, Perfect Plum (Stampin' Up!)
Ink: Versafine Onyx Black (Tsukineko), Purely Pomegranite, Sage Shadow, Perfect Plum (Stampin' Up!)
Accessories: Swarovski Crystals, Quickie Glue Pen (Sakura), Niji Waterbrush

Happy Thoughts!

You've seen two sneak peeks with the Serenity set so far. I thought I'd add to that for you! Instead of using the inspirational sentiments that are in the Serenity set, I paired the flowers up with a sentiment from the Happy Thoughts set. Happy Thoughts is a set of 9 interchangeable sentiments! "Happy" and "Mother's Day" are two separate stamps. I thought the font, the flowers and the colors of this card came together for a happy and modern Mother's Day card for those mothers on your list that would prefer bright and retro to classic and old-fashioned. I added some pink rhinestones for a little sparkle!

If you haven't visited the Verve Visual store lately, be sure and check it out! All stamps are 15% off in February, including the four new sets! These sets are available for pre-order on February 5th! There's also free shipping to the US and Canada for orders of $40 or more. Lastly, don't forget about the Honorable Guest Sketch Challenge Contest! There's lots going on that you don't want to miss.

SUPPLIES USED: Stamps- Serenity, Happy Thoughts (Verve Visual); Ink- Onyx Black (Versafine), Certainly Celery, Rose Red (SU); Paper- Wild Wasabi, Basic Black, Whisper White (SU), Rose (Magnolia); Accessories- gingham ribbon, paper piercer, brads (Making Memories), circle punch