Simple Does NOT Mean Easy

I so... admire simple cards. When I say simple, I don't mean easy, necessarily. Granted sometimes a simple card can come together quickly but the design process of a "simple" card (at least for me) can take much thought and planning. I am taking an on-line class from My Creative Classroom called Simply Great Card Design taught by the enormously talented Julie Ebersole. I have admired Julie's work for quite sometime (well, I've only been stamping for a little over 2 years but I "discovered" her early on) and one thing that I love about Julie's art is the ability to send a message with simple elements. This is the first week of the 5 week course and I am loving it! Julie is really stressing to us that this is a process so I don't have a completed card to share, yet, but I can say that I am really excited about what I have learned so far. What I do have to share is what I consider a simple card that I made for a SWAP. I feel Elzybells are so cute and well designed that by teaming them up with the right sentiment, you can definitely get a message across with little else needed. I made this window card using an a muse Popsicle Pink Mod Dots notecard. A muse notecards are another new discovery for me and I have to agree with Tracy at Eat, Sleep, Stamp- they are addictive! You can use them as notecards, pattern paper- just let creativity take over- teeheehee! Anyway, I used my Coluzzle to cut the circle from the center dot, then made the scalloped flower with a 1 3/8" circle punch then the SU scallop circle punch out of Bazzill Bling CS (I made 2 of these for each card so that I would have one for the inside, as well.) Before adhering the scalloped flowers, I used the window as a template to lightly pencil the circle on the inside of the card. This gives me an area for stamping the image. After I stamped the image with Andirondack Pitch Black ink, I erased the pencil marks with a white eraser. I colored the Girl on Swing image with Copic markers, added a paper pieced dress of American Craft paper then added some bling to her shoes with a Spica Glitter pen and to her hair with an a muse rhinestone heart. I finished the card off with some blue striped ribbon from May Arts and some pink polka dot ribbon from my stash. If you will notice, I did add a paper pierced corner in the lower right hand - yes, this is a process for me- simple does not come easy for me!!!! It's ALWAYS a Stampin' Good Time! Take care!

Stamps: Elzybells Girl on Swing, sentiment

Paper: a muse notecard, Bazzill Bling, PP- American Craft

Ink: Andirondack Pitch Black

Accessories: May Arts ribbon, pink polka dot ribbon from stash, 1 3/8 circle punch, scallop circle punch, mat pack, paper piercer, Copic makers, Spica glitter pen, Stampin' Write markers, a muse rhinestone