"Simple" card

If you asked me which part of the card making process I spent most of the time, it is NOT the execution but the design. For some reason it takes me ages to come up with a proper sketch, then another chunk of time to do colour/pattern paper matching, before I can actually start making it. Then of course, depending on the technique, sometimes I may spend another big chunk of time to experiment, or need to do something over again when mistake happened.

So you would think if I come up with simple design (e.g. one layer card) then it would be easier? NOT REALLY. For some reason I found it even harder to design simple card!

Recently I got a request for simple (and less expensive) card. At first I was hesitate to take this order but I still decided to challenge myself.

Talking about the cost, card making is a hobby rather than money making. Each card often consists of a few layering paper, stamped image, and few others embellishments such as ribbon or flower, also maybe some kind of dry embossing. Let alone time spent on it. The total cost of card may seem huge but handmade cards just cannot match the cost of card you buy from manufacturer say Hallmark.

Anyway, in order to be simple and cost effective, I am thinking of one layer card. It should be versatile and unisex because it's targeted to send to different clients. So of course it shouldn't be too girly, or cute in this case.

Maybe it's just me, even though I have 5 drawers of rubber stamps, I still have tough time designing a card that meets the above "requirements".

After a few trial and error and some serious thinking, this is what I come up:



Material
Stamps (all HA):
Starburst Lace S5317
Sentiment: Birthday Messages CL139
Rangers distress ink: peel paint (green), weathered wood (bluish gray)
Other ink: Memories brown/mulberry, Close to your heart (berry-dark red)
Rangers stickles: silver
My Studio G: copper glitter glue