Clean and Simple "shadow" cards

This technique is an oldie-but-goodie if you ask me!  The simple art of taking a plain piece of paper, cutting a shape out of the CENTER of it, and then using that opening as your framework for your card...like so:

 Look how the flowers jut POP in the little window frame you made.  HINT: make sure your template leaves plenty of room around the outside of your window so you do not get ink on the card when sponging.  I used a craft sponge to add the color to both of these cards first - and then stamped the remainder of the design over the frame. 

I love the tone-on-tone look of this card.  I think it looks elegant. I suppose it might be helpful to take a picture of the actual template I made - but then I would have had to take a picture of that before I threw it out.  I'll have to work on that for you!  Give it a try and let me know how you like it. 

Clean and Simple Card Designs

Sometimes it is easy to get carried away with adding too many layers or too much "bling" to a card - and we as ladies just can't help ourselves.  BUT - even though the US Post Office loves charging us for the extra postage to mail our "fat" cards - it is a good reminder that our art can be just as beautiful if we keep it simple.

 This card uses the Art Philosophy (AP) cartridge for the Cricut Machine (WOW - did I mention to you at all that CTMH now has their very own cartridge for the Cricut...oh yah!). The beauty of the AP cartridge is that so many of the images are designed to coordinate with our wonderful stamp sets.  SO...I cut the flowers out of 2 different colors of cardstock, and then stamped the image, lightly inked the edges to give them depth, and added a small black button brad to the center.  Fast, Simple, and Beautiful.

This card also uses images from the AP cartridge.  So not only are your cards simple, they truly are fast.  The flower is made by cutting 4 circles out, in 1/4 inch increments.  Crumple the paper, layer, secure in the center with a brad - and then add a light layer of what I call glimmer mist (made by adding our pearl paint and water to our spritz bottles) for a beautiful finishing touch.