clean & simple ideas 6/7 * charming critters

Hello crafty people, Nicole here.

This is part six of my clean & simple cardmaking series about "how to spice up clean & simple cards". I hope you're still interested in some more tips :-)

For todays card I picked one of my favorite critters. This turtle with the heart is just so cute.

Clean and simple cards are super fun but because there is so much white (or blank) space on them, you don't want them to be boring, right?! I made a little series about my favorite ways to keep clean and simple cards interesting :-)

My sixth tip is CHARMING CRITTERS. It's a super easy one, right? ;-) Just pick stamps with amazing, sweet, super cute or very funny critters. They'll almost do the work for you, because they're such an eye-catcher.

Just go through your stash and pick those charming looking little sweethearts, give them a ground to stand on and you're almost done.
Here are some cards I made in the past... All of them are quite simple but the star of the show is an adorable critter.

   

   

 for the card on the top

• create a background using the stencil and some Distress Inks. By moving the stencil arround, you get that wavy look.
• die cut the background, stamp the sentiment and adhere the banner to your card using foam tape
• stamp your critter and color it. I used colored pencils.
• fussycut your critter and place it on the background using some foam tape
• add some interest with some clear droplets and a tiny bit on white gel pen

Stencil: Waves
Stamp Set: Lovely Critters
Die: Stacked Pierced Banners
Embellishments: Clear Droplets by Pretty Pink Posh

We LOVE to see what you create! Join us on Instagram using #createasmilestamps :-)

Thanks for stopping by!
Have a happy day :-)
Nicole

clean & simple ideas 2/7 * beautiful backgrounds

Hello crafty people, Nicole here.

This is part two of my clean & simple cardmaking series about "how to spice up clean & simple cards".

I love making series and I asked what you would like to see on this blog in our Facebook group "Create A Smile Friends & Family". Many of you were interested in tips on "how to spice up clean and simple cards". So here we are :-)

Clean and simple cards are super fun but because there is so much white (or blank) space on them, you don't want them to be boring, right?! I try to add an eye-catching element to my cards to keep them interesting. I picked ten of my favorite ways to spice up clean & simple cards.

What's a clean & simple card? 
I made a mini series on that too. You can find part one here -> clean & simple 1/4

My second tip is BEAUTIFUL BACKGROUNDS. I did some pretty basic coloring but the backgrounds really give the cards some extra interest. So lets spice up your clean & simple cards with happy and eye-catching backgrounds! :-)

I love Birkas Videos and she just made a new one about Distress Inks and stencils. She shows, how easy is it to make fun backgrounds with supplies you might already have on hand.

Look around you and get inspired! :-) Just try something new once in a while and take your time. A clean and simple card is not always a quick card ;-)

• pick and immage and color it the way you like it. You don't have to choose a special technique, basic coloring is absolutely fine for this type of card
• pick one or two Distress Inks colors and start with a soft blending with one of them
• take a stencil you like and add the same color but with more pressure or the second (darker) color
• arrange your card and add a fun sentiment

It's that simple ;-)

Lovely Critters / Kroküsse * Crokisses / cool cute: birthday tripple * Geburtstags-Tripple / stencils: focal point & waves

... to check out the CAS Video team! Here's Birkas Video I was talking about: in English and in German.

Thanks for stopping by!
Have a happy day :-)
Nicole

Ahoi! * clean & simple 1/4

Hi there, Nicole here.

I'm finally back with new projects for you! Because I love series so much, I prepared some for you. To start off, I'm gonna have "clean and simple" cards for every Thursday in April. So let's get started with no. 1 :-)

I got asked many a time how I make my clean and simple cards. To be honest, I do not have a recipe. It's just the way I love making cards, it's kind of "natural" for me. But I found some guidelines/instructions for you that might help :-)



If you want to make "clean and simple" cards, try to stick to (some) of these points.

• one focal point
• a lot of open space
• only one (or two) layers
• no or minimal embellishements
• minimal color palette
• simple, uncluttered and easy to recreate

If you want to improve your clean and simple cardmaking, try playing along CAS challenges. You'll find many inspiring ideas and get to practice at the same time.

1. stamp the boat and color it with watercolor pencils and a bit of water
2. take the stencil and apply pigment ink with a sponge dauber
3. move the stencil and add a second shade of blue
4. additional: add clear and matte texture paste to give the ocean a bit of texture
5. add accents like gloss on the windows
6. let everything dry and add your sentiment

Underwater Love / Waves / clear droplets

Create A Smile is moving and they are taking a break. The shop will be closed from April 8th to May 7th.

Thanks for stopping by! See you soon :-)

Nicole

The ocean is calling........

Hi folks, I hope you are all doing well and enjoying the summer so far. I've been on holiday for two weeks and now back on crafting.

Here is today's card....

 






A friend celebrates his birthday next week and he wants to start diving so I had to make him a card with fishes shouldn't I?
And ofcourse a little underwaterscene would be nice too. Since we have the perfect supplies the card was easily made that way. Hope he likes it.


 
 







I started with a white topfolded cardbase. Used the double stitched rectangle dies to get a smaller rectangle out of vellum and another out of white copic friendly cardstock. First I stamped the under the sea cling stamp several times with versamark watermark ink and white heat embossed it. Then I took out the waves stencil and some distress ink to build the background. White heat embossed the sentiment on black cardstock and made a fishtail. Colored the two fishes and cut them leaving some white space. Diecut a circle out of vellum and stamped the sentiment and the bubbles and adhered the fishes onto the vellum. To give it some extra interest I used wiggly eyes and wink of stella glitterpen.






Stamps;

Under the sea, All Hands on Deck, Friends and couples and Underwaterlove.



Cool cuts (dies);

Double stitched rectangle dies;



Stencils;

Waves;









Come join us over at Facebook, instagram and show us your projects we love to see what you create with the lovely Create a smile products.

Have a great week and thanks for watching,

Hugs Anja

Video: Monster-Sweets for you

Hi everybody,

Birka here. Today I wanted show you something different than cards... Monster-Sweets :-)

Everybody likes to recieve a pretty card. But what is better than cards? Yes, Sweets :-)






This is a good possibility, to use frame-dies, you use very seldom. Try different sizes, shapes, everything is working on these bags.  









Watch my video in english




Hier ist das Video in Deutsch









Are you also sad, that there was no release in June? BUT I can tell you, the July-Release is HUGE and AWESOME! So make sure that you follow create a smile on Facebook and Instagram, especialy in the friends-and-family-Facebook-Group, so you woun't miss anything :-)

Hope you enjoyed my little tutorial, have a sweet day, bye bye,