So here's a little sneak-peak of today's Easy-Peasy project:
Have you joined the Kraft paper craze yet? I'm so on-board! I just love the look and feel of the brown-paper-bag-inspired cardstock, and I love that it requires a totally different color palette than...say white, or cream cardstock would, so it provides unique challenges to the papercrafter. -Not sure who decided to change the "C" in craft paper to "K"...or when, but it seems to have stuck, and that's what the scrapbooking community calls it these days.
I purchased my blank Kraft paper cards from Michael's...(love that they come with matching Kraft paper envelopes) and set out to make a simple little "Love" card that could be used as easily for an engagement, wedding or anniversary, as for a Valentine. My only criteria was that it be easy-peasy...I wanted to see how quickly I could put one together.
I chose a pretty printed scrapbooking paper that I have had in my stash since the beginning of time, but possessed the color scheme & graphics that I had in mind, and gathered various elements and tools that may be useful.
I cut out the rose graphic and inked the edges (except for the "cut" edge on the left that will be lined up with the edge of the card). Colorbox makes a fabulous Chestnut color Cat's Eye ink pad that is perfect for this type of distress inking.
I wanted the Kraft paper background to be more interesting, so I stamped it with a pretty acrylic background stamp using a soft watermelon pink chalk ink.
Papercrafting guru Tim Holtz has been using Kraft paper for his projects long before I have, and he markets many interesting elements that go particularly well with the no-nonsense, organic qualities of brown Kraft paper. I chose a ticket from one of his collections with the word "Love" on it, crumpled it & inked it with the Colorbox Chestnut Cat's Eye to add dimension & interest.
I then adhered the rose image onto the front of the card, at the exact angle that I had planned, overlapping it a bit to the back. Love the way this is turning out!
Next, I decided to work on the inside of the card. I stamped the "Hugs & Kisses" image with Tim Holtz's Distress Ink in "Worn Lipstick"...so appropriate for a love-themed card, don't you think?
So cute, but just not interesting enough. This is exactly what I meant when I referred to the unique challenges of working with Kraft paper. As fabulous as the rustic brown of the paper is, it accepts ink differently than light-colored cardstock. So I made a little change in my plans and cut a piece of slightly distressed ledger paper to fit inside that would add a stunning detail...
...once it was inked with some interesting stamps.
And then distressed the edges with the Chestnut brown...just look how good this looks against the Kraft paper!
Now to spend a moment on the envelope... I just LOVE personalizing the envelope!
Now for the final touches...I added a little wrap of hemp twine in the perfect shade of wine, the "Love" ticket & a lovely paper flower from Prima Marketing.
Drum roll please...
See...Easy-peasy...just like I promised!
Passing on the Kraft paper love, Enikö
