Thursday, April 19, 2012

The Not So Clean Simpleton.



Look, I am not going to lie...I stink at Clean And Simple (CAS) cardmaking.  So much so that it's kind of funny.  I try and I try to stick to the pristine hand required to effectively execute the CAS style, but no cigar.  This card base started life as piece of Papertrey Ink's Vintage Cream card stock and look at it now. This base has successfully integrated into the Witness Protection Program for paper.   It is definitely going to be at the courthouse on the day to testify and I'm going down.  

I used a mélange of Tim Holtz Distress Stains, Distress Inks, a few unwieldy squirts of Tattered Angels Glimmer and Chalkboard Mists and Mister Huey's Calico White.  I am sure the "less is more" mantra should have been more prominent in my thoughts when I took my hand at attempting to go CAS, but my evil crafting twin took over and the more grubby, stain-loving crafter in me was away.

Seeing that I had already gone off the rails as far as keeping things clean, I figured what the heck...I might as well add another layer seeing my chances of this being a truly CAS card has clearly gone to hell in a handbasket. The sentiment is from Embellishments stamp set from Papertrey Ink and the die-cut and the white embossed die-cut frame are both from Papertrey Ink's Photo Finishers stamp and die sets.   The real hero of this card though is the Bahama Blue dye ink from Memento.  What a killer color.  Without it, I am not so sure those wonderful butterfly stamps from Darkroom Door would have remained so crisp and vibrant post the onslaught of the "too many to name" mists and stains used.   But all in all, I had fun trying.  I, somehow, suspect that true CAS is not on the cards for this crafter.  But that's okay.  I'll just have to live vicariously through you crazy cool CAS gals and enjoy your beautifully executed projects all the more. *wink*

Thanks a huge heap for stopping by.  I enjoy your visits so.  Here's to a great day!

17 comments:

Deb said...

Oh Jen, you make me smile!!! I think this card is fab and your attempt at CAS is even more fab. It is very simple: one layer and beautiful at that. You'll never believe that I tried my hand at a shabby Christmas tag for the latest PC call. Yep, sawdust on my pants. Boy was it fun!

Cathy Weber said...

This gorgeous stamped paper came from a piece of vintage cream cardstock? Well, not CAS, but stamping genius! I love the butterflies and your splatter with Mister Huey looks so perfect it could have been a splatter stamp. I am laughing so hard as I picture you trying to make this CAS!

carol (krillsister) said...

I love your CAS style. This beautiful card reminds me of a watercolor painting.

Joyce said...

You crack me up--witness protection program! I never would have recognized that paper, but the card is really beautiful. Those blue butterflies are so pretty.

Craft Addicts - Tracy Evans said...

Fabulous muted inky background and I love the butterflies. The addition of the little tag/strip at the bottom is perfect. Thanks so much for joining in the Simon Says Stamp and Show Challenge. Tracy x x

Candy C said...

If you stink at clean and simple...keep that up!! Your card is lovely. I love the muted colors of your background and the distressed effect you've achieved with this one! Love your butterflies. Thanks for joining us at Simon Says Stamp and Show. <3 Candy

Mariana said...

I love your card, it is definitely gorgeous! I will testify in its favor at the trial for sure, but it guilty of being CAS and vintage shabby for sure!!

Heather Rogers said...

This is beautiful Jen. :)

Hugs~

Marybeth said...

Oh you crack me up ! I think I will take your work for it that you used vintage cream cardstock. :) Hey this is a beautiful one layer card and that is not easy to do. You made that paper look gorgeous. How are those seven children of yours?

Cassi said...

i think this is a gorgeous CAS card done in true Jen-style!!

Karen C. said...

Great card, Jen. The layers of inks, stains and mists really do camouflage your vintage cream card stock, but in this case, that's a good thing!! I never make a CAS card either ... I just can't keep my inky hands off of a white card base. (It often makes me think that I'm sending out my cards in white underwear, so out comes the sponge and ink!!)

Regina Easter said...

I think this is BEAUTIFUL...love your style...hugs

Kara said...

so magical!!

Terri said...

I stink at CAS cards too. This one is beautiful!

Jill said...

Vintage Cream?! I would swear at the trial that it's kraft! And oh so very cool looking too! I want a stamp of your white spatters, I just love them! I think this is *Jen Style* CAS, a new and sure to be popular category!

Sara Mac said...

You are too funny! This is one stunning card. Love the white splatters.

cards by cara said...

Wow, that ink can really stand up to some layering! I totally thought you had used Zing's aqua embossing powder!! Great job on this one. <3