Wednesday, February 20, 2008

Back to Basics

Julee from Verve Visual wanted to do a Back to Basics Series on the Verve Visual Blog this month and asked us each to post a project that was very basic. As she put it, "something you would have made before your stamp collection took on a life of its own." When I thought back to when I started stamping and what got me hooked, I have to say it was the Versamark pad. I LOVED the watermark you could create with it! (I was also amazed by heat embossing, but we're talking before I owned a heat gun!) I love the subtle but elegant look the watermark gives. So in my beginning stamp days (BFT as I sometimes joke--Before Fancy Tools), when I didn't yet own every color of ink pad and a bunch of fancy tools to go with them, I had a Versamark pad and a black ink pad. I would use an image to watermark and then stamp a sentiment over it in black ink. I usually used a very simple layout like this and finished it off with some complimenting ribbon. Very quick, very easy. . .very simple! It feels good to go back to the basics sometimes! :) Thanks for stopping by! SUPPLIES USED: Stamps- Serenity (Verve Visual); Paper- Soft Sky, Basic Black, Whisper White (SU); Ink- Versamark, Onyx Black Versafine; Accessories- black organdy ribbon (Darice).

30 comments:

Unknown said...

LOVE this Charmaine - simple really is better sometimes! I think there may be trend toward more simple going on - love it!! :)

Lorie said...

Oh, my! That is so lovely! All the samples I've seen have almost talked me into that set! :o)

Jenn in GA said...

this is lovely, as usual. i like the mixed fonts used on the VV serenity prayer stamp. makes certain words, like "me", pop.

Marja Sch said...

Simple but very beautiful.I love the way the words are done.

Alex said...

This is absolutely beautiful Charmaine, very simple but extremely elegant! I forget about my versamark pad, but now I feel I need to get it out and play! Gorgeous card girl! *STAMPIN HUGS* Alex

Donna Baker said...

this is gorgeous; the sentiment takes on the focal point because of the subtleness of the flowers in versamark - love it.

Unknown said...

Your basic is beautiful! I love it!

Janine said...

How peaceful !! Love this card..

Chris Scrappin and Stampin in Texas said...

Very subtle, but Elegant..Gorgeous. Charmaine!!! Have a sonderful day!

Nancy Riley said...

WOW! Charmaine, this card is just lovely! A great example showing that a fabulous card can be created with some basic supplies! GREAT job!

Anonymous said...

I love the black and light blue together, very pretty!!!

Deborah said...

Simply stated, such a lovely card Charmaine! Hugs to all of your bugs! Deb

Michelle said...

I have really been loving the simple cards that I have been seeing & this one is no exception - it's gorgeous & I just love, love my Serenity set - I just made a bunch of cards for a friend that I will post later this week.

Have a great day Charmaine!

Bethany Paull said...

Gee whiz Charmaine! Even your simple is gorgeous. I hear ya on the Versamark though. Definately one of my first stamping purchases.

Stamp n Sparkle said...

Beautiful shadow effect very beautiful :)
Zee

Marlou McAlees said...

what a beautiful card, and love the serenity prayer :)

Alli Miles said...

Your cards are so beautiful Charmaine...I have to stop by every day to get my fix *lol*

Heather said...

I really like that you have gone in some new directions lately with your art. This is a very elegant card.

Jessie/knightrone said...

This is so gorgeous!!! Sometimes the simplest cards are the most beautiful. I know I sometimes try to use every tool I own on one card and I don't always like the end result!! Thanks for sharing!!

Lesli said...

That is an absolutely beautiful card!!!

Juanita B said...

BEAUTIFUL, BEAUTIFUL, BEAUTIFUL!!!
I could never imagine basic being so fantastic, TFS.

Anonymous said...

Gorgeous, Shortcake! That Julie is a smartie! Sometimes we do need a push to go back to basics -- it's amazing to see what we can do with just a little, isn't it? And I'm sure in your earlier stamping days, your sense of design, color, etc. weren't as developed as they are now. In the right hands -- like all of you amazing gals on the Verve team -- less really can be more.

And this would be a PERFECT sympathy card, don't you think. Dang. Am I gonna have to make ANOTHER Verve purchase?! I promised myself no more spending this month... You enabler, you! :)

Lila H said...

Gorgeous!!! so soft and soothing. When I first started stamping I did not find out about the VersaMark until about one year into it - how did I ever over look VersaMark - one of the most versatile and used ink pads in my collection. Your sample is awesome!!!

Anonymous said...

Absolutely beautiful!

Rose Ann said...

I'm really loving this beauty! From the simplicity, to the colors, and lovely sentiment!! Wow!!!!

Tammy Hershberger said...

Really lovely, Charmaine! Very elegant!

Tonya Klar said...

LOVE it!! I love the Serenity Prayer.

Lauren (mytime) said...

anlqdjThis is just stunning. I always love the simplest cards.
Thank you for my RAK!!! It made my day.

Anonymous said...

This is so pretty. I need to go back to basics! It's amazing what an impact such a simple card can make!

Unknown said...

oh somehow I missed this one - just lovely! somehow i always forget versamark. might have to break that out again one of these days, thanks for the reminder, and the beautiful inspiration!

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