Apr 14 2009
One Stamp Wednesday: Clean and Simple
I hope these aren’t too clean and too simple, or maybe they aren’t simple enough to qualify as “clean and simple”. I’ve never been very good at clean and simple, but I do want to get better at it.
I remember being introduced to the CAS (clean and simple) style when I started seeing Tracy’s cards on Splitcoaststampers. She had and still does have the most amazing knack for creating interesting and appealing cards with simple images and plenty of white space. It’s just her style and I’ve always admired it. Recently, I was visiting Heather’s blog and saw this absolutely perfect card, and that post sent me here and to a blog called Simplicity (the name speaks for itself). If you’d like ideas for CAS, these are some great places to visit. I also came upon Gabriela’s card here and Sharon’s card here. It seemed I was seeing a lot of clean and simple that day and I was loving it.
Maybe it’s because Life gets so cluttered up all on its own sometimes that I find this smooth, sleek, simple, clean style so appealing and refreshing. It’s easy and restful to look upon and satisfying to accomplish. It’s like the “weekend” of cardmaking, a break from the usual routine.
These certainly were quick cards. I just wheeled a single border along each side with my retired Stampin’ Up! Leaf Prints wheel and centered my 5 1/2″ x 3 1/4″ image panel with ribbon over that. The tulips — SU!’s retired Watercolor Garden II — were very easy stamping with a pretty result. I’ve always loved this tulip image. It’s a two-step stamp with the stem and leaves being separate stamps. It was very refreshing to complete three cards so quickly in these pretty Spring colors.
I used Very Vanilla cardstock, though in the second photo it appears more white than vanilla. There’s a vanilla lining in each card with a coordinating sentiment. The Thinking of You is a sympathy card. All supplies are from Stampin’ Up!
No extra postage is required to mail these cards, which is why I’m sharing them on One Stamp Wednesday. Color combos and other ingredients are listed below.
I’m really happy you could stop by today. As always, you make my time here so very worthwhile. Have an absolutely wonderful Wednesday, and I’ll see you again soon!
Stamps: Watercolor Garden II, Sincere Salutations, Leaf Prints wheel Paper: Very Vanilla Ink: Apricot Appeal/Pumpkin Pie, Barely Banana/Certainly Celery, Blush Blossom/Pretty in Pink, Close to Cocoa Accessories: Apricot and Pale Pink grosgrain ribbon, Olive polytwill ribbon
Oh my these are all lovely. That tulip image is one of my all-time favorites. These cards are all so graceful and would be an absolute treat to receive. You’ve inspired me - I must get out the tulip image. I’m not good at clean and simple at all but you’ve certainly done a wonderful job with it. Thanks for the many links, too.
These are all absolutely lovely, Leslie! I love CAS these days as well, and a 1-stamp card is always good, too!!! Beautifully done in lovely colors!! TFS!!!
Leslie these are beautiful. I have such a hard time with CAS and every time I try to make a simple card, I feel it belongs in the garbage. However, you have done a fabulous job!!
Three very pretty cards, Leslie. I am enjoying the challenge and satisfaction in doing some Clean and Simple stamping also. Thanks for your encouraging words and all the inspiration you share.
Oh, Leslie… When I was making a card yesterday, I was remembering you: “Oh, I wish I will be as talented as Leslie, I love her cards. They are always so fresh looking, everyhthing is on its place…”
For me you are on the one crafters who represent clean and simple style! And elegant! That what I like the most!
And this card is very-very pretty! The colors are so nice, light, gentle… Thank you for the inspiration you are sharing!
Not too clean and simple for me, absolutely fabulous, gorgeous cards!
I love CAS, although I seem to have a few layers on my cards lately. Maybe because I do some challenges and they usually have layers. Love the tulips-gorgeous cards! tfs
Leslie, these are so pretty. They look refreshingly clean and simple, and yet so very pretty. I need to do this with themes of cards I want to have on hand. TFS!
Love your colours! This was one of my favorite stamp sets, and seeing this gorgeous creation makes me wish I still had it! Beautiful!
Leslie - What lovely cards you’ve created! I do believe you’ve captured the true essence of CAS and I’m really loving your cards. Thanks for the links to Tracy’s, Heather’s, and Sharon’s blogs. Thank you for your oh so kind yet underserved words.
Absolutely beautiful.
I love your cards. They are not too simple, yet simple enough and elegant. I love them! It’s a shame the wheel is retired. I really like it. I’ll have to look and see if I have it. I never think about using my wheels. I don’t think I have it though. Thank you for the beautiful cards you shared.
Beautiful cards, it is funny how I have a hard time doing simple, guess I feel I need to add so much but these are just right!
They are all so beautiful! I just had that set out last week:)
These cards are all so pretty!! Love the colors and the softness they express.
I must thank you for this post,i followed the links and this style has hit a cord in me.I have done many crafts but only started doing papercrafts last year but i was starting to wonder if it was for me because most of the cards i see are so busy and it didn’t appeal to me.I love the sincere directness of the simple cards i see now…thanks again!
Adorable!! Every one of ‘em. Got to go back to basics and give this another go!
You’ve ROCKED these Lesley!
Viv xx
Hi Les, that is a beautiful card, and yes so simple, it has inspired me to get my stuff out and do a couple. Yay! Trudy
Beautiful CAS cards. It does help unclutter the mind to create cards like this occasionally. Also so nice to have simple cards on hand. TFS
Those stamps certainly create lovely tulips, and I love your clever designs and color combos!! I think they qualify as CAS, which doesn’t have to be plain to be simple! Beautiful job, Leslie!
I love that you are using these wonderful retired sets - they are classic. With the economy today, you are helping to breathe new life into them. Hope you continue to gift us with them and your awesone talent. TFS
Leslie,
I love your blog and always look forward to receiving it. Anyway, I just *have* to leave a comment on these absolutely stunning cards! They are beautiful examples of simple cards. I also have a reason to bring out my long unused wheel stamps.
Thanks again for sharing!
Jeani
Leslie, these cards are soooo beautiful!! I love the colors you used and the layout is great. It really makes the tulips pop! I’ve always enjoyed too that you pull out older sets or stamps from companies and give them some love
I remember this one, it’s such a gorgeous set. So I thought of you the other day because I was picking out some of the flower sets from Kitchen Sink Stamps. I got the pansy set (because of your gorgeous cards with it) and the tulip sets. I debated on the Lily one but didn’t wind up getting it. Then, what do I see on your blog…. the most awesome Lily card using the KSS set!!! I was kickin’ myself for not getting it after I saw what you did with it!! 
:) Well, I hope all is well with yours. It was very sweet of you to mention me on your blog today. It really gave me a spring in my step and made me smile. 
Leslie, everything you create, simple or not, is beautiful! Everything!
…and we’d really MAKE these!
Leslie, these are just stunning! So soft and yet striking! I love coming here to see what you create… always a guaranteed oooo’ and ahhhhh!
I really like these! It looks like you’re already good at CAS!
Oh these are so gorgeous, Leslie!!! Perfectly put together.
I certainly love the CAS style too, and it is so much more difficult
than it looks… but yours are awesome!
It is amazing how simple these cards are and yet they are sooo very elegant!! I just love the soft colors you used and the fact that they are ‘mailable,’ meaning you do not have to add extra postage when you mail them. As always Leslie, your art work makes me smile
What they are is beautiful Leslie!! *STAMPIN HUGS* Alex
Leslie, these are beautifully CAS!!! I adore the flat ribbon treatment for easy mailing and the borders you stamped. I’m saving the pics to my idea file and am planning on casing them soon! Thanks, also, for the callout for Simplicity. You are so sweet!
Oh these are all so pretty! I love the variations and softness-gorgeous!
So soft and beautiful!!
Very pretty cards. Loving the elegant simplicity. Thanks for the links!
Hi Leslie! My heart skipped a beat when I saw these! They bring back such good memories of the CAS eye candy made with this set and the fact that it was my very first SU floral I bought as a demonstrator. I still love it and love seeing the colors you used with that awesome wheel. I don’t remember seeing a layout quite like these so way to think outside of the box on an oldie but goodie! I love how you pull out your retired sets years later and still knock us dead with ‘em!!!
I love these! These are perfect clean and simple cards–not fussy, but certainly not boring either. Well done!
I love clean and simple designs and these are so serene. Perfect for get well cards.
These are all just lovely.
[…] begun by exploring the art of “clean and simple” (see this post). Perhaps I’ll write shorter blog posts once in a while. Today, it’s all about […]
All of them are so fresh and beautiful, Leslie!! I love the tulips, and the pretty colors you’ve used!!