Sassy Stampin': April 2012

Wednesday, April 18

Spring Showers - Play Date Cafe #128

The Play Date Cafe is bright and fun this week! Shades of watermelon and orange are sure to perk up your crafty space and create a cheerful greeting. With "shower season" for spring/summer weddings around the corner, I thought it was a perfect opportunity break out Scattered Showers. After all, what sassy bride wouldn't love a HOT pink umbrella?!

Flaming Pink, Bright Orange, & White

I'm not typically a "brights girl", but it's nice to walk on the wild side every once in a while. ;) The colors can be toned with the addition of white... add a little or add a lot. My favorite part is definitely the tone-on-tone background made with the PTI Quatrefoil die.

We hope you will join us this week in the Cafe. We are excited to announce that Donna Bowman is joining our team... we can't wait to share her beautiful designs with you!

Until next time... be crafty... be sassy... be bright! ;)

All supplies: Papertrey Ink

Stamps: Scattered Showers

Ink: Hibiscus Burst, True Black, & Raspberry Fizz

Cardstock: Hibiscus Burst, Raspberry Fizz, Orange Zest, & SS White

Dies: Quatrefoil Cover Plate, Scattered Showers, Journal Tabs

Sassy Somethings: Raspberry Fizz ribbon and buttons

Clear & Simple Stamps - {App} Sneak Peek

I've got a project on the CSS {App} today... be sure to check it out!

Saturday, April 14

Spring in Bloom - CSS & Card Patterns

I hope the weather is fabulous where you are and that you are out enjoying the spring sunshine! This week Clear & Simple Stamps is sponsoring Card Patterns.

Here is the sketch for inspiration:

All die-cuts and no stamps for me today. So fun!

I'll give you a list with links for what I used:

Build-a-Flower die-cuts

(Note: I also used one of the leaves to give the bird a wing.)

Border : Fence (die-cut combo)

Baby Shower Large die-cuts

I hope you'll join the Card Patterns girls this week. We would love to see you use CSS on your projects... or play along for a chance to win a gift certificate for some new Clear & Simple goodies.

My Mind's Eye : On the Bright Side paper collection.

Thanks for popping in!

Wednesday, April 11

Sending Smiles - Play Date Cafe #127

Lots of sweet elements and sassy somethings decking out this card today for the Play Date Cafe. I love the bright color inspiration, but it took a decidedly softer direction under my hand today. I love the flexibility to tweak our beautiful color palettes to fit our own crafty moods and interpretations... today I felt "shabby" and opted for just a subtle pop of cherry.

Daffodil, Hydrangea, Kiwi, and Cherry

My card is also inspired by this week's Waltzingmouse Sketch Challenge. Again, I tweaked it a bit but I loved the little banner element and used the Roses in Bloom set with a frame from Cameo Creations.

Our sponsor this week in the Cafe is one of our favorites... Simon Says Stamp. We hope you'll join us for a chance to win a great prize... can't wait to see what you create!

Stamps: WMS - Roses in Bloom & Cameo Creations; PTI Text Style & Little Labels

Paper: PTI Rustic Cream & Kraft CS; SU! Soft Suede CS & designer series paper

Tools: PTI Banner Builder & Journal Tabs dies; MFT Butterflies die-namics

Sassy Somethings: Prima trim; PTI Fine Linen ribbon, buttons, SU! Basic Pearls

Tuesday, April 10

Sending Our Love

Have you noticed that more and more people are waiting to find out the sex of their baby until delivery day? I personally don't have the patience for this... as a mother or as a card maker. I mean really, a girl needs to prepare for these things! ;) So, having a stash of "gender neutral" cards is a great idea (and maybe not just for babies).

Today, Clear and Simple Stamps, is showcasing a soft and natural color palette inspired by this photo:

I used the Baby Shower stamp set and coordinating die-cuts. How cute is that alpha-print elephant? Love him (or her). ;)

Join the design team for lots of "gender neutral" inspiration...

...you can find all their fabulous projects by visiting the CSS blog.

Stamps: CSS Baby Shower (elephant) and Cart Pals : Baby (sentiment)

Paper: MME; CSS Kraft Like a Rockstar (original & cream); SU! Soft Suede

Tools: CSS Tags 1 die-cuts; PTI double-ended banner and doily dies

Sassy Somethings: Prima trim, buttons

Wednesday, April 4

Milk & Cookies - CSS Party Hop

You can find my Play Date Cafe post HERE.

Welcome to a sweet celebration! Today I'm partying with Clear & Simple Stamps for their Collection 2 Party Hop. I chose to host a Milk & Cookies baby shower, and I am so excited to share the fun invitation and coordinating goodies with you.

A great party needs a fabulous invitation and the Party Elements : Baby stamp set is perfect for putting together a polished invite. I created a long invitation and added a belly band with the cute cow from Sweet Dreams. The curly frame is one of my favorite images from Party Elements : Baby and it also coordinates with the Mini Tri-Fold 1 die-cuts.

It's easy to whip up labels for individual milk bottles using adhesive sheets. The "Let's Celebrate" and "Thank You for Coming" are both from Party Elements : Baby... the set is packed with great sentiments that can take you from invitations to thank you notes. My party favor is a bottle of Milk Duds and cookies wrapped in treat bags.

Tip: The Starbucks frappuccinos that you can buy at the grocery store are the perfect size for individual servings of milk at the shower and for packaging favors. They are perfectly reminiscent of old-fashioned glass milk containers.

I wanted to share a few more Cookies & Milk party ideas... I really love this theme and hope you are inspired!

Create wraps for milk chocolate bars... use as cute decorations around your cookie bar and as favors.
Use "chalkboard" labels on your milk bottles for guests so they can label their drinks.
If any young children are attending the party, have a cookie decorating station to keep them busy and happy.
Hang cookie cutters from ribbon across the mantel or above the cookie bar for decoration.
Consider "Cookies in a Jar" from Bakerella.

Don't miss any of the fabulous party ideas that the Clear & Simple gals are sharing today.

Here's a list for our Party Hop:

CSS Blog

Please Note: One of my projects is also featured on the

CSS Daily App for iPhone and iPad users today, April 5th.

ALL Supplies are CSS unless otherwise noted.

Stamps - Party Elements : Baby, Sweet Dreams, Alpha Classic
Paper - On the Catwalk Cream & I'm a Princess Pink; My Mind's Eye - Paris & Co. 6x6
Tools: Mini Tri-Fold 1 die-cuts, Border : RicRac / Pinking die-cuts, Tags 1 die-cuts, MFT Fishtail Banner die-namics

Happiness - Play Date Cafe #126

Welcome back for another week with the Play Date Cafe! We have a beautiful color story for you this week that is sure to inspire:

Avocado, Blue Mist, & Grey Wool

I stamped the small blooms from Rosie Posie to make a background and added Text Style on top for more subtle interest. The ornate frame and sentiment are from Simply Jane. (all Papertrey Ink) The butterfly was an afterthought... but I like the extra dimension.

We hope you will join us this week in the Cafe... can't wait to see what you create!

Sunday, April 1

Clear & Simple - Die-cuts Review

Hi friends! I'm excited to join the Clear & Simple Stamps gals today with our "Release in Review". CSS releases new products bi-monthly... we focus on introducing all the fabulous goodies during 'month one' and then review the products sharing more ideas and inspiration in 'month two'.

Today we are focusing on the Collection 2 die-cuts. I love the Build-a-Flower die-cuts and consider them essential. They are perfect for focal points or embellishments and they cut felt or fabric beautifully.

I wanted something with lots of dimension because I plan to add this to the top of a little gift. (I refuse to be constrained by whether something will fit comfortably in an envelope. Ha!) To make the bloom I punched a small hole in the center of the flower then cut a slit with scissors from one petal to the center hole. I then overlapped and adhered 2 of the petals to form the small, conical bloom. A brad through the center is a nice touch.

I also made a cute pink picket fence with the Border : Fence die-cut combo and added some small birds (Baby Shower die-cuts) to the bottom corner.