A Study in Clean and Simple

After days of rain and gloom and cold, we finally have lots of sunshine and blue skis.  It makes for a very pleasant day.  The kind where you want to throw your windows open and breath in the clean air.

But, it also finds me in somewhat of a dilemma.  I'm entering a new challenge for me and also trying out for the Design Team at the AAA Cards Clean and Simple Challenges.  As many of you know I love clean and simple cards.  There is just something very elegant about them.  I've made two cards for the challenge but I can't decide which one I like the best so I'm including both in this post.  That's my dilemma so I guess you could say, dilemma solved.

Here is the first card I made using a negative from a die-cut label and my Clarity Stencil Brushes.  I love those brushes.  I used temporary adhesive to hold the stencil in place and used the brushes to add color and fill in the negative space.  Once done, I stamped the image and sentiment in Tuxedo Black Memento ink and the card was done.

Stamp Sets:  In the Meadow (Stampin' Up!), Wetlands - sentiment (Stampin' Up!); Inks:  Cucumber Crush, Marina Mist, Soft Sky (all Stampin' UP!); Cardstock:  Whisper White Thick (Stampin' Up!); Other:  Labels Collection Framelits Dies (Stampin' Up!), Clarity Stencil Brushes (Clarity Stamp)

For my second card, I used some Stamping Mask Paper, another product that I love.  I just recently learned there was such a paper when I took a class at Taylored Expressions all about the Clarity Stencil Brushes.

I die cut the word sunshine from a piece of the Stamping Mask Paper and attached it to the front of the card.  Then, I used the Clarity Stencil Brushes to add the color.  I stamped the sentiment from the Sunshine Sayings stamp set in Old Olive ink.  The dot over the i has a drop of the White Blizzard Glitter Drops.  And, there was another done.

Stamp Set:  Sunshine Sayings (Stampin' Up!); Inks:  Daffodil Delight, Old Olive, Pumpkin Pie (all Stampin' Up!); Cardstock:  Whisper White Thick (Stampin' Up!); Other:  Sunshine Wishes Dies (Stampin' Up!), Stamping Mask Paper (Inkadinkadoo); Clarity Stencil Brushes (Clarity Stamp), White Blizzard Glitter Drops (Nuvo)

I've entered my cards in the AAA Cards Clean and Simple Challenges.  For all the challenge details and to share your project, click the image below.

Thanks for stopping in at the Coffee Pot Stamping Cafe,

Marsha