Clean and Simple???

Well I had to ask the question, all because of a challenge on SCS, clean and simple. Is that what life has been for me over the past few days? A little yes and a little no!

I have been very grateful for the privilege of celebrating Easter and with my family. The weather, although cold has been fairly nice. My husband is feeling much better (thanks to any of you who have been praying for him!) Everyone has been in really good moods.

But I forgot how much more work it is with even one more person in the house. Living in a parsonage very, very close to the church we have a lot of people stop by often. Mind you not all the same people!! We are also on a main highway, so very visible and people passing by who need help will frequently stop too. So keeping the house at least in some semblance of order is important to me. I'll admit it, I can be a clean freak!! Not a "no clutter" freak. Just a clean freak. Hey a girl has to have some clutter!! But dirt and grime, eeewww!!

We even have lots of our boys friends stop by often, like this week. They just pop in to say hi and often stay for quite a while. I really like that, but like I said, I tend to forget when I am all settled into my routines how much more work it is to have extras around.

Then I remember what a blessing those "extras" are! I'll take the messes, the increased clutter, the dirty pile of dishes, a few more shoes behind the couch than usual any day!! Having those around me reminds me of just how blessed we are as a family to have so many wonderful friends who are like family to us. I am so thankful!

So what made me think of all this? Well the SCS Clean and Simple Challenge! This week we were to make a card that is monochromatic. I was excited because I have been saving a few special scraps of paper for ages (one of those small bits of clutter a girl has to have!). So I finally used them and love what came from them.

I don't remember where most of the paper came from, but some is origami paper, and some from Creative Memories. Both of the lighter dp's have little dragonflies on them.

Both of the stamps I used are from Hero Arts. I love the dragonfly!! I have used him a lot and it looks like it. The wood of the stamp is quite discolored from all the use. Both the dragonfly with Chinese script and the sentiment are Stamped in Stazon Jet Black.

I water colored just a little and then accented with colored pencils. And to spice up the card a little I added just a touch of clear embossing powder on his wings. I used Ranger Super Fine Clear Embossing Powder.
I hope you like my card today! I also hope you are thankful for all the "extras" that happen at your house. Let them remind you how blessed you really are!!
Have a wonderful day and thanks for stopping by again!