Simply Sunday…As simple as you want it…

EAch Saturday I usually do a Simply Saturday design but this week, because I had a Basic Grey Chipboard article…which was in essence a VERY long {C’est Bon} article 😉 ) I decided to switch my days around. 🙂 Today I’m sharing a simple Thomas Kindkade stamp design that was originally created for another Craft Critique article a few weeks ago.

This design is very simple and very easy to create. I just love these Thomas Kinkade stamps from Cornish Heritage Farms and simple or with lots of coloring, they are always stunning. I recently heard it commented on a forum how that some stampers were afraid to try them out because of the complexity of their image. If you do wish to color, yes, you can take as much time as you wish with them but….don’t be afraid to use them for simple designs as well. It is so easy to create a beautiful monochromatic design with them!

Monochromatic Foxglove Cottage

This Foxglove Cottage stamp is one of my favorites to date! I just love it! To keep this design simple, I quickly inked it up with a little Blue Bayou ink from Stampin Up and stamped it. This design is so pretty, it really didn’t need any coloring but I added a little yellow light glow from the windows by lightly applying some chalk after the ink was well dry. To give it a little bit of a frame look, the edges were sponged with Close to Cocoa ink. The design was then matted with white cardstock and adhere to a Blue Bayou cardstock base.

Quick Tip: When inking and stamping a large stamp block, make sure it is well and evenly inked. Keeping the block rubber side up, lay your cardstock on top and apply even pressure over the entire surface to get a good impression. You can use your hand or a clean brayer . Be careful not to move the cardstock and to lift straight up to avoid smearing.

In keeping with my simple design and to keep the focus on the gorgeous stamp, I chose to add a pure white hydrangea flower from Prima Marketing and set it with a designer eyelet from We R Memory Keepers. These eylets are so pretty and are easy to set with a Crop-a-dile. For my last little touch, a tiny addition of stitching on the top right hand corner of my design. It is almost like a little photo corner idea to balance the design and add one of my favorite touches. 🙂

Hope your day is simply wonderful! And don’t be afraid to keep it simple sometimes! Life is crazy enough as it is! 🙂