Clean and simple cards are not my usual, but I wanted to play with the Paper Players this week. You may see clean and simple abbreviated as CAS. But what does it mean? A CAS card has minimal layers, minimal, if any, embellishments, and lots of blank space. The clean and simple challenge from the Paper Players this week was a birthday card. Here’s what I came up with.
A Masculine Clean and Simple Birthday Card

I started with a base of Thick Very Vanilla card stock. The next layer was an experiment. I used the Natural Touch DSP. This paper has a woodgrain texture already embedded in it. I wasn’t sure how it would do being embossed, but it held up really well. Using the soon to be retired Woodland embossing folder was a nostalgic moment for me. I think this is the first embossing folder I ever bought from Stampin’ Up! and I love it.
Next, I used a 2″x5″ strip of Very Vanilla and stamped it using the Rustic Retreat set in Cinnamon Cider. I used my Stamparatus so I could ink and stamp both images at once. I left a lot of blank space at the top as part of my Clean and Simple design. Using Mossy Meadow, I did color in a few spots of grass under the deer to add a spot of contrasting color. For the final touch, I added a simple knotted Cinnamon Cider ribbon between the sentiment and the deer.
I enjoy creating cards for challenges that stretch my creativity. I’m so glad The Paper Players continue to issue great challenges and I thank them for letting me play along. Do you like Clean and Simple cards? Have you experimented with your craft supplies lately? Let me know and happy crafting!
Masculine cards are hard and then for me making them CAS on top of that is even harder. You however did a great job with your card. The woodgrain texture and deer are always a great combo. Thanks for playing at The Paper Players this week.
It’s alway so great to see a fantastic masculine card idea. Love it! Thanks for sharing with us over at The Paper Players.