Please do not click me off because this card is sooooooo boring…..
there is a story behind ii!
Last evening after James finished work, I needed to take him to pick up his car that was being worked on. When he hopped out of the car he said that he needed to stop at CVS to pick up a card for his intern that is having his last day today.
I looked at him and said…”James – what am I CHOPPED LIVER…..do you remember what your Mom does???” We both laughed and he said that he didn’t want anything fancy as it was for a young man around 21.
As I drove home I planned this simple card in my head and I knew exactly what to do ~ it was just killin’ me…no ribbon or twine…no punches…no dashes or dots….just a “Plain James” card.
Well…I must admit – it is really not that bad. I think that it is super hard to come up with clean and simple Masculine Cards and I will say that this paper is very fitting for a masculine card. The DSP is Typeset and it is just a very neutral collection.
The card is an good old A-2 size and then the “grid design” is just ¼” smaller = 5 ¼” X 4” . Here is a tip on how I decide what size of the vanilla paper I will need for the sentiment. Because I used the stamp-a-ma-jig, after I stamped it on the clear plastic piece I took my ruler and measured it roughly to determine the size I would need.
Now I know you are going to ask me what the size is…and I will add it to the post in the morning – I am sitting in bed with ice on my ankle and now my knee to as that is hurting from the “hobbling around” I then added ¼” to the size for the black piece.
Yesterday I had a comment on how do I do my envelopes with DSP. I am so glad that I was asked this. Sometimes I think that we take things for granted and heck….if you do not ever ask, you will never know so I am thrilled to do a quick run through.
It is so simple. If I am covering the back flap I cut a piece of DSP or cardstock to 2 ½’ wide by 6” long. The pictures below will help you and then I take the “green glue” and run a small bead of glue all the way around.
TIP ALERT: The best way not to get too much is to never “lift” the tip of the green glue up….just gently squeeze to get a thin bead of glue. IF you do get TOO MUCH – no worries, just set it aside and let it dry or set up a bit….it will just get a bit firmer and then when you put your DSP on it….it will not ooze out!
Simply rub a dub dub….and then flip it over and trim away the excess. ANOTHER TIP: – PLEASE DO NOT STRESS about getting a perfect cut. Trust me, just do the best job that you can and no one will ever know the difference. That is it my friends!
Now to the next funny thing….after James and I went through this whole thing about the card…I ended up making (6) of them for James to keep at work as he truly is wonderful in writing notes to people ~ John walked in the door and saw the cards on the Kitchen table and said…”Now I like these, can I take them to work!”
So the moral of the story is don’t underestimate keeping it simple. I know that it is not one of my usual cards but at the same time, it is true to my style!
This weekend I have a treat for you….when you see tomorrow’s card you are going to say – THAT IS NOT SIMPLE….but I will help you see that it really is simple.
It’s like looking at a recipe, many times if we see a recipe that lists a ton of ingredients we pass on it….and when you see the card tomorrow you will say, that looks hard…but I am here to help you!
Then….I already have the “stepped up version” ready for Sunday and I think that the little changes will make you smile! I was super pleased with it.
Thanks for being simply the best! Please remember that shopping away in your jammies is totally normal!!! (hint-hint) – as my Mom always said, referrals are the best form of advertisement so please share my blog and passion I have with my paper crafting fun!
Woot-Woot – the weekend is here…I hope that you will be able to pop in over the weekend and I hope that “MY GUYS” card today showed you that less is best and it works!
Until tomorrow!
I think it is a perfect masculine card! The simplistic design is elegant and classy! I am definitely going to CASE it. Love how John wanted them….just shows you he has good taste, too! Your son sounds like a very thoughtful young man…must be how he was raised. Be careful with your knee and ankle….take it slow and don’t overdo it.
I really like the lay out of this card. Will definitely put it in my “Idea” book for when I need to let the paper and the sentiment be the star of the show. Looking forward to your weekend posts.
I love the way you put the dsp on the envelope flap. This makes so much more sense to me than lining the envelope where no one can see it. This way, even the postman/woman can enjoy it.
Thanks for sharing.
Great card ! You can change the colors and it can be a “girl” card . Lucky James…and John . Tailored made cards right in their own home !!
First of all, no one would click you off as your cards are always such an inspiration and this card is no exception. I really like the clean lines and is just perfect for this occasion. Have a wonderful weekend.
I don’t think your card is boring at all. Often I find that the more minimal the card, the greater the impact. My son is also very good at sending TY notes, and I’m going to make some of these. BUT, is the stamp set, 129690, still available? I didn’t find it online. If it isn’t, I’m sure there are other TY stamps I can use. Thanks, Susan!
Manly yes, but I like it too! Why do they do away with all the great sayings in commercials that you remember like this for Irish Spring Soap. Of course, with that soap, maybe it isn’t made any more.
Anyway, I LOVE this card and it is a totally me one! Did you notice it does have little dots on it though on the sentiment? I love grid paper and one time I was making a card just almost like this only a different stamp – I Xeroxed a piece of grid paper though the original grid paper was that funky light greenish lined it came out a nice gray lined with sort of a very light gray background due to the paper being the light green. I matted it with the black and it looked so good! I even used it several times and blinged it up a bit. I had some red little heart brads and the bottom of the exclamation point received the little brad. Or, I used a rhinestone. One even had 3 black brads at the top. I didn’t do anything to the envelopes though. Wow, that was so long ago and probably the second stamp I bought from this shop in Houston.
Love the idea that James asked for several of these and that John wanted them too. This is just a SSS card – simply, special Susan card! You bet if I don’t have this stamp set I will be getting it. I have a piece of this paper from a share and will be ordering it eventually if I don’t have anything similar. I don’t think I will Xerox any!
Loved the card Susan! I am going to make some today!
Really like this masculine card. Because my schedule can get busy, like so many others, I find the simple cards perfect when I am in a rush. If I have time, I try to make a bunch of them to have on hand. Thank you for the instructions for decorating the envelope flap. I so look forward to your emails. Keep up the beautiful work and be kind to your ankle and leg!!
Great card, Susan. Sometimes the simpliest things are best. Thanks for the tip about doing the envelope. I haven’t done one but I had imagined it to be more difficult. Now I know!!
I love this card!!! I like very clean and simple cards and this one is wonderful.
Love everything you do!! Thank you so much for posting the envelope flap how to for me. You are so kind, have a wonderful weekend:)
I LOVE it Susan. I know that’s where my block is. I sit down thinking I have to create the “ultimate” card. and then I walk away usually creating nothing! then I look at the work of others and am in awe of cards that “keep it simple”. I’ve got to do better at wrapping my head around that concept. love your blog. hope your ankle & knee are feeling better!
Great card! Glad I finally got to get on email and look at your blog!
I’m sorry you are sore again/still! Take it easy! No over-doing it!!!
I hope to catch up on your last few posts soon.
Cyberhugs!
Your “Plain James” card is great! I think it’s wonderful that James is so good at writing notes…even the shortest, most simplistic handwritten note can make such a huge impact on someone. His mama leads by example and taught him well. 🙂 It sounds like John is the same way, so high five to your family.
Can’t wait for your “normal” weekend routine again. Hope you are feeling better. You take such good care of everyone else and I’m glad to know you listen to your body and take care of it too.
Thanks Mary Ann….James is a GREAT person…I always say, “If there were more James’ in this world, it would be a happier place” – He truly is a wonderful person with such an amazing heart!
Simple layout but it gets the job done! For those that are timid to use patterns of DSP….this is a great layout for a bold pattern and then let the sentiment shine!
You made me smile…I like to think that the mail carrier enjoys seeing my lined envelopes!
You will laugh at this one….I called to check on Hannah in Boston with her big brother and Will said to me, I should have brought back a stash of cards when I was home….
Then he said, I need a wedding card for some friends by next weekend – I laughed and said…email me a list of cards that you would use and I send you a selection!
You are soooo sweet! Thanks for making me smile!
Hi Betty – I used the stamp set One Big Meaning for this card. It is in the annual catalog and the number is 139420. I think that it is a fabulous stamp set!
You could use so many different sentiments with this layout. I think that having it positioned on the lower corner is also key to making something rather plain… a bit more interesting!
1st….they still do make Irish Spring – those commercials are now stuck in my head!!!
I agree that this is a great stamp set – and those dots are what I call PERFECT dots!!!
I know exactly what you are talking about when you copied the paper….sometimes things like this work out!!! This paper is so much thiner than other paper….you can see the black coming through!
Yippee-Skippee – I just LOVE to hear things like this!It is a great one to keep on hand….”just in case”
You are sooooo right that it is great to have a stash of simple cards ready to roll when you need one! This is also super easy to “mass produce”
I am being a good girl with my ankle!
It is soooo darn easy and will make you smile! Please try it. It also is a great way to use up paper!
You are always so sweet to pop in! This is a “Susan card – clean and simple”
You are so welcome. I hope that you make one…so fast and easy and I really do prefer the green glue over snail as I can get it all around the edge and get a super strong hold!
When I “sit” like you were saying….I develop BIG BLOCKS – most of my ideas come from “out of the blue” – I am famous for taking to Siri and putting a note in my phone when I think if an idea or layout.
There are sooooooo many times that I think that I need to be more elaborate but I will say that when I do that – I stress…to me = less is best!
Hello my buddy!!! Where are you….still in the states or are you back over the big pond? I am doing ok – I just want to get going on therapy!!! HUGE hugs!
You would be amazed at the words that James writes…he has always, always written beautiful and oh so thoughtful notes. I guess that being a “stickler” when they were young paid off….
Sometimes if I am having “blue” day…I will pull out a card that James wrote to me – it always brightens my mood!