Kylie Bertucci

Do you ever sit down to craft and feel a little overwhelmed by all the choices?

I know I can have so many ideas going around in my head that sometimes having a few parameters actually helps me create. Rather than looking at everything in the craft room and wondering where to begin, I really like the idea of choosing one bundle or collection of products and seeing how many different ideas can come from it.

That was my approach with these two cards using the Simply Leaves Bundle. I absolutely love how differently they turned out, even though they share many of the same elements.

Starting with the Simply Leaves Bundle

The Simply Leaves Bundle is such a lovely one to sit down and simply play with. You've got the beautiful leaf images along with sentiments, which gives you plenty to work with without feeling as though you need to pull out half the craft room before you can make a card.

For these projects, I kept coming back to a fairly neutral colour palette and added lots of texture. I also pulled out some products I haven't been reaching for as often, including Gray Granite. Sometimes using something that's been sitting quietly in your craft room is all it takes to make an old favourite feel fresh again.

I also brought in the Textured Tree Embossing Folder. The embossed backgrounds add so much interest without competing with the leaves, and I love the way all that texture looks with the softer, earthy colours.

A Soft Gray Granite Thinking of You Card

The first card is probably my favourite example of how beautiful a simple card can be.

I used a mostly Gray Granite and Basic White combination, allowing the embossed background to do a lot of the work. The cluster of three leaves gives the card a strong focal point without filling all that lovely open space.

Behind the leaves, I added loops of twine. It's such a small detail, but it adds softness and another layer of texture without needing another colour or patterned element.

The “Thinking of you often” sentiment sits across the leaves, and a few pearls finish everything off.

I really love the tone-on-tone look of this one. It's understated, but there's still plenty to look at when you get up close — the embossed background, stamped leaves, twine, sentiment and those little pearls all work together beautifully.

A Little More Colour and Pattern

For the second card, I kept the same earthy feeling but introduced a little more colour and pattern.

The embossed Gray Granite background gives us that gorgeous texture again, while the strip of dotted patterned paper across the card adds some contrast.

I layered the stamped leaves with a delicate white die-cut piece and added twine across the patterned paper. The “I'm grateful for your kindness” sentiment then becomes the main focal point across the centre.

I love how the warmer brown leaf works with the neutrals. It gives the card just enough colour while still keeping the whole design soft and cohesive.

Let Your Supplies Do More

One of the things I really enjoyed about this crafting session was seeing how many ideas started appearing once I'd chosen my products and colours.

That's something worth trying if you sometimes struggle to know what to make. Instead of choosing new supplies for every single card, try stamping and die-cutting several pieces at once. Choose a small colour palette, make a few sentiments and then start moving those pieces around.

You might make one card and suddenly see three more possibilities sitting on your desk.

It's also a lovely way to make the most of the supplies we already have. We don't always need another product or a completely different idea. Sometimes we just need to give ourselves time to explore what's already in front of us.

Simple Cards Can Still Have Plenty of Detail

Simple doesn't have to mean plain.

These two cards are a great example of that. Neither design needs lots of complicated techniques, but the combination of embossing, layering, twine, die-cut pieces and a few small embellishments gives them plenty of interest.

And if you wanted to simplify them even further, you absolutely could. Leave off a layer, use fewer embellishments or let the stamped leaves and sentiment become the focus.

That's the lovely thing about card making — you can take an idea and make it work for the time, products and creative energy you have available.

I still had plenty of stamped leaves ready to play with after making these, and once I'd found a colour combination and style I loved, the ideas kept coming.

Sometimes getting started really is the hardest part. Choose a bundle, choose a few colours and give yourself permission to simply play.

Which of these two designs is your favourite?

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Shop the Stampin' Up! products used in this project.

Simply Leaves Bundle (English)	Textured Tree Ring 3D Embossing Folder	Moonlit Flora Dies	Words Of Beauty Dies (English)
Basic White A4 Cardstock	Gray Granite A4 Cardstock	Crumb Cake A4 Cardstock	Everyday Essentials 12" X 12" (30.5 X 30.5 Cm) Mix & Match Designer Series Paper
Gray Granite Classic Stampin''' Pad	Pecan Pie Classic Stampin'' Pad	Crumb Cake Classic Stampin'' Pad	Baker'S Twine Essentials Pack
Antique Pearls	Tear & Tape Adhesive	Stampin'' Dimensionals