One Layer cards

I'm sharing two one-layer cards today - one I like better than the other.  Let's take a look at the better one first:

It is based on the sketch from Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge:

I've used one stamp set, sorry I can't find the name, but it is a clear stamp set by Hero Arts that was designed for Operation Write Home.  I've used the three stars and the sentiment in the set.  I like the stars in blues and greens and there are a total of 5 colors.  They are all Color Box chalk inks:  Ice Blue, French Blue, Prussian Blue, Lime Pastel and Olive Pastel.  At first I thought I might overlap the stars so chalk inks will be nice but did the stars overlap?  Oh well, I still like the color combo.

I have seen many cards that say "I think my lucky stars for you" and am totally in love with this sentiment.  Glad that I found this stamp set and can make a card from it.  You know, masculine thank you cards are not always easy to make.

I'm linking up this card to:
Atlantic Heart Sketch challenge - see sketch above
Catch the bug challenge - Anything Goes
All sorts challenge - Anything Goes
Avenue 613 challenge - Anything Goes
Challenges for everybody - Anything Goes
One-Layer Simplicity Challenge - whatever we need in stock

Now onto the one-layer card that I don't like as much.  It is just so plain:

Super simple, right?

Just like many other cards I have made, this one evolved to be quite different.  I got a new background stamp that I wished to ink up in different colors but after a couple of epic fail I gave up and came back to this Envelope pattern background stamp.  I masked off the label with masking tape while I stamped the background image, then peeled it off, inked up the label stamp in bright pink and the sentiment in navy blue.  With just a little baker's twine, the card is done.

The part that took me quite a while was to center the label.  Some simple math was involved but the placement was difficult.  The sticky mask has in fact lost its tackiness after I've moved it a gazillion times. 

I had actually finished this card before the one with the stars.  The blog post was accidentally saved rather than published so I thought, why not make another one that I like better?  Then the star card was born.

The new one-layer card challenge will run for almost a month.  I can't wait to make more one-layer cards when I recover from this nasty cold.  One-layer cards may appear to be simple but I often struggle with them.  This challenge provides an excellent opportunity for me to practice!

Thanks for stopping by!