Category: Clean and Simple

Clean and Simple · Gifting

Thanks in the Bag

susanfoxbowenLeave a comment

We’ve made it to Friday and that means that, for my kiddo, we’ve also made it to the end of another school year. It always feels like the second semester is on fast forward because we sure get from January to May super quickly!

This week, we’ve used the new School Days stamp set to create some cute clean and simple card designs. And we’re finishing things with a bag full of thanks.

We get started with a base of Basic Black cardstock. The background panel is a sheet of Pumpkin Pie with a border a pencils stamped in black. The focal section starts with stamping the backpack image in Poppy Parade onto the background panel. I stamped the small stack of books onto a scrap of Pumpkin Pie using Misty Moonlight ink and then fussy cut with paper snips before adhering onto the background panel with dimensionals so that there is a slight overlap over the backpack. I stamped the sentiment in Misty Moonlight above the pile of books. A few Timid Tiger pearls add a shimmery pop. I tied some twine around the focal panel towards the top and then adhered it to the card base with dimensionals.

It’s been fun to design cards with our talented teachers in mind. Hopefully you’ve pocketed a few ideas for next year.

Next week we’re going to explore some goodies from the new catalog. I hope you’ll drop in to check it out!

Products used in this card:
Basic Black cardstock
School Days, With You in Mind stamps
Textured Notes dies
Dimensionals
Gold textured dots

Clean and Simple · Gifting

Pack in Thanks

susanfoxbowenLeave a comment

Anybody else a little floored by the fact that it’s already Wednesday?! This is one of those weeks where time is flying by at Mach 10! And I’m pretty sure the teachers and students are absolutely hoping that this last week of school flies by.

This week’s designs are all about honoring those special teachers who give our kiddos 150%. And we’re using the current School Days stamp set to create clean and simple designs that show the appreciation they all deserve.

Today’s card keeps the punches of color to the focal elements. We get started with a base of white cardstock. The focal panel is diecut with the largest Textured Notes die. The sentiment from With You in Mind is stamped in black toward the bottom-right corner of the panel. I stamped the backpack from School Days in Poppy Parade on a scrap of white cardstock and then fussy cut with my paper snips. It’s adhered next to the sentiment with dimensionals. The apple is stamped in Garden Green next to the backpack. Things are finished off with some gold textured dots.

Designs don’t have to be overly complicated to have a big impact. And this card definitely brings home the thanks. I hope you’ll continue to follow along this week as we create more teacher appreciation designs.

Products used in this card:
Basic White cardstock
School Days, With You in Mind stamps
Textured Notes dies
Dimensionals
Gold textured dots

Clean and Simple · Gifting

World of Difference

susanfoxbowenLeave a comment

Welcome to another installment of teacher appreciation. As we wind down this last week of school, I know that students and teachers alike are counting down the days with gleeful excitement as their much-anticipated summer break is fast approaching.

We continue to use the new School Days stamp set to create our designs, and today we’re pairing it with the Timeless Plaid paper pack.

We get started with a sheet of Poppy Parade cardstock. I used a leftover strip of the blue plaid sheet from the Timeless Plaid pack to serve as the backdrop for our focal elements and then stamped the stars from School Days with Versamark on the card base on top. The book stamp was inked up in a variety of colors and then stamped onto white cardstock before being fussy cut in pairs. I stacked them up and adhered them to the backdrop with dimensionals. The apple is stamped in green onto Granny Apple Green cardstock and then fussy cut and set atop the tower of books. The sentiment from School Days is stamped in black and placed just next to the apple. A scattering of drusy embellishments adds a fun sparkly element.

I hope you’ll continue to follow along this week with all of the teacher appreciation designs.

Products used in this card:
Poppy Parade, Granny Apple Green, Basic White cardstock
Timeless Plaid DSP
School Days stamps
Dimensionals
Drusy embellishments

Clean and Simple · Gifting

Bushel of Thanks

susanfoxbowenLeave a comment

Happy Monday, everyone! So glad to be back after an unexpected little hiatus. Between a crazy busy work schedule and prepping for and chaperoning my kiddo’s National Academic Pentathlon meet, I ended up having no time in the craft room last week. I’m pleased to report that the Texas teams represented the state well and my son’s school came home with 3rd place overall and a whole host of medalists in each of the 5 individual categories.

But never fear because all of the ideas for teacher appreciation gifts are still swirling around in the old noodle and need a place to go! So this week, the last week of school for us, we’re going to be exploring all of the ways we can use the Online Exclusive set called School Days to create some awesome designs to honor all of those teachers who have worked so hard all year. We’re starting our series with the old tried and true repeated pattern technique to create a sheet of patterned paper.

We start with a base of Mossy Meadow cardstock. To create our sheet of patterned paper, I used the apple image from School Days to create the quarter sheet of apple paper using Real Red, Old Olive, Poppy Parade, and Garden Green. After cutting the panel down, it’s mounted on Old Olive glimmer paper to leave a large shimmery border on the bottom. A strip of gold trim serves to divide the apple pattern from the green glimmer below. The sentiment from School Days is stamped in Real Red on white cardstock and then diecut with the smaller sentiment die from Beautiful Butterflies. The sentiment panel is adhered to the glimmer panel with dimensionals. A few iridescent discs finish things off with a little extra twinkle.

I hope you’ll continue to follow along this week as we honor our hard-working and dedicated teachers.

Products used in this card:
Mossy Meadow, Basic White cardstock
Old Olive glimmer DSP
School Days stamps
Beautiful Buuterflies dies
Gold trim
Dimensionals
Iridescent discs

Clean and Simple · Winter

Woodsy Thoughts

susanfoxbowenLeave a comment

I don’t ordinarily post twice in one day or even on Sundays, for that matter. But sometimes our schedules get a little off-kilter and we have to make some quick adjustments. I returned to working full-time in September, and as things are beginning to pick up at work, maintaining a good balance has become a little challenging. So hopefully you guys will bear with me as I work to find that perfect balance between enjoying down time with the family and time doing things I love, like crafting.

This week, we’ve been designing around the theme of in the woods. And I wanted to finish off with a really simple design that combines paper, a die, and ephemera.

We get started with a base of Mossy Meadow cardstock. Our focal panel has a sparkly backdrop of white glimmer paper with a panel of Garden Green diecut with the Winterly Treetops die and mounted with dimensionals to give us the look of peeking through the evergreens. Two reindeer from the Joyful Images ephemera pack are standing in the open glen as snow is softly falling (represented by the iridescent faceted gems). Our sentiment comes from the Joyful Sayings ephemera pack and is matted with a textured gold banner. I just love how simple and elegant this design turned out.

This next week will be a little hit and miss with card designs as I have to fly out of town midweek for some training. Our new design theme will be stopping by on a snowy evening. I hope to give you some fun ideas for working with this theme with some unexpected product combinations.

Product List
Mossy Meadow 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock
[133676]
$11.50
Garden Green 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock
[102584]
$11.50
Textured Metallic 12" X 12" (30.5 X 30.5 Cm) Specialty Paper
[163772]
$8.50
Berry Burst, Old Olive & White 12" X 12" (30.5 X 30.5 Cm) Glimmer Specialty Paper
[163769]
$6.00
Joyful Images Mix & Match Specialty Ephemera Pack
[164110]
$9.50
Winterly Tree Tops Dies
[164065]
$36.00
Joyful Sayings Mix & Match Ephemera Pack (English)
[164109]
$9.50
Iridescent Faceted Gems
[163368]
$8.50
Stampin' Dimensionals
[104430]
$4.25
Add All to Cart
Clean and Simple

He Will Direct Your Paths

susanfoxbowenLeave a comment

This week we’re venturing into the woods with our card designs. One of my favorite things to do is build scenes, and I love it when a scene comes together with just a few simple elements. For today’s card, we’re combining a stamp set, two die sets, and a patterned paper pack. And what a stunner this one turned out to be!

Our card design starts with a base of Pretty Peacock cardstock. A piece of Thoughtful Journey designer series paper sets the stage for our sunrise lake scene. The line of trees in the foreground is cut from Blackberry Bliss cardstock using the Frosted Forest dies. The deer is cut from Early Espresso using the Grove dies. The large sentiment from the You Are Beautiful stamp set is stamped in Blackberry Bliss and hangs beautifully in the sunlit sky.

This design literally comes together in minutes. I love how the Thoughtful Journey paper makes it so easy. Do you have products in your stash that can make easy scenes? Sometimes you just have to take a second look to see things a little differently.

Product List
Pretty Peacock 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock
[150880]
$11.50
Early Espresso 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock
[119686]
$11.50
Blackberry Bliss 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock
[133675]
$11.50
Thoughtful Journey 6" X 6" (15.2 X 15.2 Cm) Designer Series Paper
[163303]
$12.50
You Are Beautiful Cling Stamp Set (English)
[163704]
$24.00
Blackberry Bliss Classic Stampin' Pad
[147092]
$9.00
Grove Dies
[157844]
$39.00
Frosted Forest Dies
[164136]
$36.00
Transparent Adhesive Backed Dots
[163432]
$8.00
Mini Stampin' Dimensionals
[144108]
$4.25
Add All to Cart
Clean and Simple · Saying Hey

Miss You

susanfoxbowenLeave a comment

We are continuing our look at the Stampin’ Up! photopolymer stamp set called Saying Hey today. Thus far, we’ve paired these stamps with patterned paper, other Stampin’ Up! bundles, and sketches to make an assortment of fun card designs.

Today, we’re tweaking a sketch to make another lovely clean and simple card design. The inspiration sketch from Global Design Project caught my eye for both its simplicity and large focal panel. A simple orientation change of the sketch layout makes today’s card come together in a breeze. Let’s take a closer look at how it all comes together.

We begin today’s card with a base of Misty Moonlight cardstock. I chose this beautiful prairie setting patterned paper from the Meandering Meadow paper pack as the large focal panel. To bring out the more subtle colors in the patterned sheet, I matted it in Petal Pink cardstock. I stamped the HEY sentiment from Saying Hey in Misty Moonlight on white cardstock and then heat embossed in clear embossing powder. I cut out the sentiment with paper snips. The second sentiment from Friends for Life is stamped on white cardstock and then diecut using the Happy Little Things banner die. Both sentiments are adhered over iridescent striped ribbon using dimensionals. I added a few Pretty in Pink shimmer gems for a bit of added sparkle.

Tune in tomorrow for a fun encouragement design.

Products used in today’s card:
Misty Moonlight, Petal Pink, Basic White cardstock
Meandering Meadow DSP
Saying Hey, Friends for Life stamps
Happy Little Things dies
WOW embossing powder
Iridescent striped ribbon
In Color shimmer gems
Dimensionals
Adhesives

Product List
Misty Moonlight 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock
[153081]
$11.50
Petal Pink 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock
[146985]
$11.50
Basic White 8 1/2" X 11" Thick Cardstock
[159229]
$11.25
Meandering Meadows 6" X 6" (15.2 X 15.2 Cm) Designer Series Paper
[162735]
$12.50
Saying Hey Photopolymer Stamp Set (English)
[163697]
$17.00
Happy Little Things Dies
[163709]
$12.00
Misty Moonlight Classic Stampin' Pad
[153118]
$9.00
Versamark Pad
[102283]
$9.50
Basics Wow! Embossing Powder
[165679]
$21.00
Iridescent 1/2" (1.3 Cm) Striped Trim
[163299]
$8.50
2024–2026 In Color™ Shimmer Gems
[163781]
$8.50
Mini Stampin' Dimensionals
[144108]
$4.25
Add All to Cart
Clean and Simple · Saying Hey

Miss Your Face

susanfoxbowenLeave a comment

We’re already halfway through this week. Hard to believe, isn’t it?! This week, we’re working with the Saying Hey stamp set by Stampin’ Up! to create card designs of all kinds. Today’s clean and simple card design pairs our featured stamp set with the Friends for Life set. This card also works in my favorite color family and uses some of my favorite techniques.

We get started with a card base of white cardstock. Our focal panel is matted with a panel of Pretty Peacock cardstock. Only a small border peeks out around the edges to really help our center focal section pop. Our focal panel of white cardstock has a strip of text as the backdrop for the focal panel. This one sentiment is stamped in a repeating pattern of Pretty Peacock and Coastal Cabana inks across two lines, which is just enough width to nicely frame the focal point panel. Stamping part of the sentiment as a backdrop is one of my favorite techniques for repeating the card theme.

Our focal point consists of two large font sentiments. I stamped HEY from the Saying Hey stamp set tone-on-tone on Coastal Cabana cardstock. The sentiment is then punched with the Heartfelt Hexagon punch. A second hexagon is punched from Summer Splash glimmer paper, cut in half, and then mounted behind the sentiment panel to serve as an eye-catching mat. The word FRIEND from Friends for Life is stamped in Pretty Peacock on Coastal Cabana and heat embossed with clear embossing powder for an extra pop and twinkle. Each sentiment element is mounted on the panel with dimensionals. Things are finished off with In Color glimmer gems to draw the eye across the card design.

TIP: you can make any ink color sparkle with clear embossing powder. This is one of my favorite ways to punch up text on card designs when I really want them to stand out. Want to know more? Tune in to this week’s episode of Terrific Tuesdays to catch it all in action.

Tomorrow we’ll be using a sketch but with a twist. Tune in tomorrow to learn all about it!

Products used in today’s card:
Basic White, Pretty Peacock, Coastal Cabana cardstock
In Color glimmer paper
Saying Hey, Friends for Life stamps
Friends for Life dies
Heartfelt Hexagon
In Color shimmer gems
WOW! embossing powder
Dimensionals
Adhesives

Product List
Basic White 8 1/2" X 11" Thick Cardstock
[159229]
$11.25
Pretty Peacock 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock
[150880]
$11.50
Coastal Cabana 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock
[131297]
$11.50
2024–2026 In Color™ Glimmer 12" X 12" (30.5 X 30.5 Cm) Specialty Paper
[163771]
$11.00
Saying Hey Photopolymer Stamp Set (English)
[163697]
$17.00
Friends For Life Photopolymer Stamp Set (English)
[163359]
$25.00
Friends For Life Dies (English)
[163364]
$34.00
Heartfelt Hexagon Punch
[162888]
$23.00
Pretty Peacock Classic Stampin’ Pad
[150083]
$9.00
Coastal Cabana Classic Stampin' Pad
[147097]
$9.00
Versamark Pad
[102283]
$9.50
Basics Wow! Embossing Powder
[165679]
$21.00
2024–2026 In Color™ Shimmer Gems
[163781]
$8.50
Stampin' Dimensionals
[104430]
$4.25
Mini Stampin' Dimensionals
[144108]
$4.25
Add All to Cart
Botanicals · Clean and Simple · Country Flowers

Bunches of Thanks

susanfoxbowenLeave a comment

This week, we’ve been using the Country Flowers bundle by Stampin’ Up! to make some lovely cards. Today, we’re rounding out the series with a clean and simple design. This is a layout that could be used over again and would work beautifully with a larger floral image, as well.

We get started with a card base of Basic White cardstock. Our focal panel is a pairing of Pretty Peacock and Moody Mauve cardstock. I stamped a repeating floral image in Versamark using the Country Flowers stamp set. The sentiment from Something Fancy is stamped in black on white cardstock and then diecut using the Unbounded Love set, which is then matted with a circle diecut using the Spotlight on Nature set. A pair of faux bows using Pretty Peacock & gold metallic ribbon and iridescent striped ribbon are adhered by the sentiment panel. To draw the eye across the design, I’ve used pink and peacock sequins from the Sequins Trio for some sparkle.

I hope you’ve been inspired by this weeks Country Flowers designs. Tune in next week as I give you a sneak peek at one of my favorite upcoming Online Exclusives bundle set to release on July 3rd!

Products used in today’s card:
Basic White, Pretty Peacock, Moody Mauve cardstock
Country Flowers, Something Fancy stamps
Unbounded Love, Spotlight on Nature dies
Pretty Peacock & gold metallic ribbon, iridescent striped trim
Sequins trio
Dimensionals
Adhesives

Product List
Basic White 8 1/2" X 11" Thick Cardstock
[159229]
$11.25
Pretty Peacock 8-1/2" X 11" Cardstock
[150880]
$11.50
Moody Mauve 8 1/2" X 11" Cardstock
[161723]
$11.50
Country Flowers Photopolymer Stamp Set (English)
[163405]
$24.00
Something Fancy Cling Stamp Set (English)
[160416]
$23.00
Unbounded Love Dies
[163383]
$36.00
Spotlight On Nature Dies
[163580]
$35.00
Versamark Pad
[102283]
$9.50
Pretty Peacock & Gold 3/8" (1 Cm) Metallic Ribbon
[162588]
$8.50
Iridescent 1/2" (1.3 Cm) Striped Trim
[163299]
$8.50
Adhesive Backed Sequins Trio
[161206]
$8.00
Tear & Tape Adhesive
[138995]
$7.00
Stampin' Dimensionals
[104430]
$4.25
Add All to Cart
Clean and Simple

True Blessing

susanfoxbowenLeave a comment

Thus far this week, we’ve been exploring how a sketch and a few supplies can give you to terrific cards in no time flat. Today’s card is a slight variation on yesterday’s card design with a slightly wider designer paper section that begins on the edge of the embossed panel.

I really love this particular sheet of the Thoughtful Journey designer paper pack. The cedars set on the hill with the wildflowers down below reminds me of the prairie that was behind my childhood home.

This card begins with a base of Berry Burst. I cut an additional quarter-panel and embossed with the Eyelet embossing folder then cut the panel down to be one-quarter inch smaller, leaving just a small border behind on the base. I wanted to ensure that the beautiful embossed pattern stood out to compliment the soft white in the patterned paper, so I used my finger to rub a thin layer of silver ink over the top of the pattern. Then I adhered the designer paper panel to the right side of the embossed panel before adhering the full panel to the base using dimensionals. The sentiment from Unbounded Love is stamped on white cardstock diecut using the coordinating Unbounded Love dies. To draw the eye to the sentiment, I finished the card with tinsel gems and silver trim tied in a small bow.

Tomorrow, I’ll be rounding out this series with one final variation. I hope you’ll come check it out!

Products used in this card design:
Berry Burst, Basic White cardstock
Thoughtful Journey DSP
Unbounded Love stamps & dies
Eyelet embossing folder
Tinsel gems
Silver trim
Dimensionals
Adhesives