What Does "One Layer" Mean?

Let's start with an example of a one-layer card that makes me utterly, completely happy.

This card makes my minimalist heart go pitter-patter. But for some of you, if you made a card like this, you might respond by breaking out in hives. "Is that it?" you fret. "Doesn't it need something else?"

Not for me. But for you, it might need more to feel finished. And that is okay!

I recently had a great lunch with Leslie Hanna of The Crooked Stamper blog, and we had another marathon gab-fest about all sorts of things but mostly stamping as I rarely get to talk in person with another obsessive dedicated stamper. She's taking a one-layer design class online, and we discussed differing opinions about what constitutes a one-layer card.

Have you ever noticed how such questions can lead to pretty extreme responses in people? On the one hand, you have the legalists (or, as I like to call them, the Pharisees) for whom a rule is law and if you break it you're going to hell. On the other hand are the "it's all good" hippies who do their own thing no matter what.

And then you have the LateBlossoms of the world. We're in the middle. We recognize that rules help the world run smoothly so we respect them, but we're not about to let them become oppressive either. Sometimes they need to be broken in the interest of truth, justice, and the American way.

Or just because it makes more sense in a particular situation.

In other words, we middle-grounders consider the big-picture perspective, and often, we feel there's not a lot of point in getting worked up about these things.

Leslie makes cards on a quarter sheet of card stock and then mounts that on a card base. This saves her having to do what I have to do, which is have a drawer of scraps that are mostly the backs of failed cards. I like my scrap drawer and use the scraps well, but just because I do something doesn't mean everyone should do it. Leslie does what works for her, and I do what works for me. In spirit, we end up with the same result.

My personal commitment to one-layer cards is extremely minimalist because that's what makes me jump up and down like a giddy schoolgirl. I don't consider a card of mine one layer if it has washi tape or punched shapes on it. In my mind, those constitute additional layers.

But an extremely valid argument can be made that washi, punched shapes, and die cuts are embellishments, not layers at all.

At the One-Layer Simplicity Challenge, we stick to stricter standards of one layer (no washi, no punches, no die cuts) for one reason only: it's a CHALLENGE. The whole point is to push people outside their comfort zone to try something that is surprisingly difficult and surprisingly satisfying. That doesn't mean we're establishing the definition of one layer for all time and all people. It's just a simplicity challenge, and I hope people take it that way. I also hope they'll jump in and play along. Certainly we've had excellent participation so far!

We still have four days left in this month's challenge, hosted by Karen Dunbrook. I'm going to post a few more cards for the challenge tomorrow that I couldn't have made without Leslie's generosity.

Thanks, Leslie, for lunch, the goodie bag, and excellent conversation!

Supplies
stamps: Papertrey Dot Spot, Gina K sentiment
ink: Hero Arts soft blue, Memento tuxedo black
paper: Papertrey white
accessories: rhinestone