Because I Care – Clean and Simple

Hi Everyone.  Happy Tuesday Night.

Tonight I have another card made with the Because I Care set – but this one is clean and simple.  I'll also show you how I prefer to use this set to get definition on the beautifully drawn flowers.

Firstly, I'd like to thank you all so much for your comments and emails on yesterday's post.  It really meant a great deal to me – and my mother would have been so incredibly touched by your comments.  It's amazing how many of us have been touched by depression or suicide.  In my Mother's day it wasn't something that was ever discussed.  Thankfully, today it is a little easier, although for many, it still feels like a tremendous weakness and it is rarely shared.  So thank you. 

Mmm… thinking about things that weren't shared.  I'm also of the age where my mother used to mention that someone was "pregnant" as "being in the family way" in a little tiny whisper!  Guess you can tell that my mother was born just after Victorian times and brought up by a mother who was very much a product of her generation :-)   It makes me smile to think about it.  Oh yeah… and my mother…the nurse… well, I remember the day that I started my period.  I shouted down the stairs for my mother, she came to the bottom of the stairs and asked me what I needed.  I told her.  Thump.  She fainted.  Yep, she fainted!  Serioiusly!  She never did say why… she said she "come over all queasy"… mmmm… and we never mentioned it again! Luckily my SIL was around and helped me out and got me sorted.  🙂

So, on to tonight's card.

Here's the third card I made with the color scheme of Pacific Point, Old Olive and, in this case, Marina Mist.

 

 

You can see that the flower really stands out and makes a great centerpiece when it is in a clean and simple card.

The key to this though, is that you have to create some level of definition.  Now, Ann left a comment saying that she had a way… I haven't checked what it is yet, but will definitely do that.

Why do you need to worry about definition with this stamp…. because it is very detailed and it is easy for the detail to get lost – especially on lighter colors.

Here's a pic showing three different ways I used Marina Mist with this stamp.

You can see that the flower in the middle loses a little definition and is lighter than the ones on either side.

The first one was inked using just my Marina Mist Marker.  I went over it a couple of times.  The marker really gets into all the nooks and crannies of the stamp… sometimes it's stronger than I am looking for.

The flower in the middle is inked up using just my Marina Mist classic ink pad.  You can see that there is not as much depth.

The third flower is inked up with the classic ink pad and then I have used my Pacific Point marker to "kiss" the inked up stamp.  This gives me definition and depth – but not everywhere.  It gives depth to certain areas – and isn't flat.  I really find the classic image ink just too flat.   OK… so… now I am starting to sound like Goldilocks!!!!

I really prefer the 1st or 3rd technique, especially with the lighter colors.  Marina Mist can hold it's own, but Bashful Blue really needs depth.

Here's the inside of the card.  For once, I decided to put the sentiment on the inside – and leave the outside blank.

You can see that I used Versamark to stamp the image on the inside and then stamped the sentiment in Pacific Point ink.

A really, quick and simple card and one that I think packs a lot of visual punch.  I backed the focal image with Marina Mist, because it is a softer blue than the Pacific Point.  I could have done a mat in Old Olive, but then it would have called too much attention to the leaves instead of the flower.

How you ink up your stamp is really a matter of horses for courses.  Some people may like the softer mor subtle look of image 2 – others may like the stronger, more pronounced image in picture number 1.  It also could depend on what you are doing for background….

I have another card coming up with this stamp set later in the week…. it's a very different card.  I really enjoy being able to show you multiple cards using the same stamp.

On a personal note, it rained AGAIN today.  Yep, we are now at 13 out of 14 days.  Even then, we are still behind on where we should be for the year.  We did get to have a quick lunch on the deck before it started to rain again and we are hoping that we might be able to eat out tonight.

Thoughts and prayers for Germaine who goes into hospital tomorrow and Trish who has her treatment again tomorrow – and to the rest of you!

Cherie – I am so pleased that you had such a wonderful flag day and got to drink some SA wine and wear your new jersey.

Chris, I am so pleased that my post last night inspired you to start a memory book.  I think that is such a wonderful idea!

Rach, I did think about you and the "club" when I wrote my post last night.  Hugs, my friend!

Teri and Doris, hugs to you both, too.

Dee – phone your mother this instant and tell her how wonderful she is and how much you love her 🙂

Germaine, hugs to you – and your daughter!

To the rest of you who commented and sent me an email…(Marge, Kadie, Beth, Lynn, Missy, Ann)  thank you.  You really all did make my day.  And I know my mother is smiling.

As always, thank you for spending time in my little area of the stamping blogosphere.  You all know how much I appreciate you all.

So… my new tag line…

Remember to share a smile with a stranger – you never know the effect it will have 🙂

Hugs

Jaydee