The choices we make can change the way we see things. Sometimes, choosing to look for the good is a small decision that can make a big difference.
Today, STAMPgirl Sue is featuring Simple Expressions: CHOOSE, pairing its encouraging message with bold paper goods to create two different cards. Both put the words front and center, but each shows a different way to make the sentiment work with the artwork around it.
Layer Different Paper Goods
For her first card, Sue combined two different Paper Goods designs. She started with Botanical Beats Collage Paper, trimming it to fit a cream A2 card base. She stamped CHOOSE to see the good directly onto the collage background in green ink.
Then she brought in a Pop Art Faces A2 Card Front, cutting out the eyes and matting the piece with black cardstock. She ink blended around its edges with Frayed Burlap Distress Ink before placing it at an angle over the collage background.
I love the combination of the eyes with the sentiment here. The imagery reinforces the idea of choosing what we see, while layering two different paper goods designs creates a card with plenty of visual interest.
Let the Artwork Make the Statement
For her second card, Sue chose another Pop Art Faces A2 Card Front and let that striking artwork do most of the talking. She trimmed the card front, matted it with gold cardstock, and adhered it to a cream A2 card base. For the sentiment, she heat embossed CHOOSE to see the good in gold on cream cardstock, fussy cut it, layered it onto gold cardstock, and fussy cut it again before placing it in the center of the card.
The gold matting and embossing connect the sentiment to the artwork without competing with that dramatic face. The result is bold but wonderfully simple.
Creative Takeaway
Sue’s cards show two useful ways to work with paper goods when you want your sentiment to remain an important part of the design.
First, don't be afraid to combine paper goods from different collections. On her first card, Sue layered a portion of a Pop Art Faces card front over Botanical Beats collage paper. Rather than competing with each other, the different designs create depth and help reinforce the meaning of the sentiment.
Second, when your paper goods already have a strong focal image, you don't need to add much more. Sue's second card lets the artwork take center stage and gives the sentiment just enough emphasis through heat embossing, fussy cutting, and coordinating gold layers.
Look at the artwork you already have and ask what the words suggest. Sometimes the best pairing isn't just about matching colors or styles. It's about finding an image that helps the sentiment say a little more.
Discover What's Possible
That's the fun of Simple Expressions. Each set gives you a meaningful word and coordinating phrase that can become the starting point for your card.
Pair CHOOSE with bold artwork like Pop Art Faces, mix different paper goods together as Sue did, or find another combination that gives the words your own interpretation.
And when you purchase a Simple Expressions stamp set with a qualifying Paper Goods Pack, the Paper Goods Pack is automatically 40% off.
Explore Simple Expressions and our Paper Goods in the STAMPlorations store and find your own way to create with words that matter.
Until next time, keep creating with words that matter.
