Thursday, May 31

Homemade Thanks - CSS Review


Welcome to the Clear & Simple Stamps: Release in Review.  Today we are focusing on a variety of shapes and label sets from Collection 3.

The Au Naturel Extras set is great for creating homemade gifts and treats.... everything from baked goods to natural candles or scrubs.  I whipped up a Coconut & Orange scrub... a fun and easy gift to say "thanks" to someone who deserves to put their feet up and relax.

For the "Thank You" card I used the Label 11 die stamped with Hexagons Plus to create a focal point.  The frame and flourishes are included in the Au Naturel Extras set as well.


For the jar of Bath Salts, I used Tag 1 to create a coordinating tag.  
The scrub recipe is basically:
2 parts sea salt to 1 part natural sugar (in this case - 1 c. to 1/2 c.)
1/2 c. of emollient/moisturizer - I used Coconut Oil.
20-30 drops of essential oil fragrance. (orange)


For an additional homemade touch, I made a label for the jar lid and tied everything up with Orange You Fabulous ribbon.  I love how easy it is to create something that has such a professional, boutique style without paying a premium price.  Can you imagine pairing this with nail polish for summer treats or making peppermint scented scrub for homemade Christmas gifts?


Be sure to visit the Clear & Simple blog as well as the other participating designers for more inspiration:


All products are CSS unless otherwise noted.
Stamps: Au Naturel, Au Naturel Extras, Hexagons Plus
Paper: My Mind's Eye - Indie Chic 6x6 Nutmeg
Ink: A-Muse Studio Buttercup; CSS Dish All the Dirt Brown
Tools: Labels 11, Tag 1, Shapes: Circles; PTI Doily Details
Sassy Somethings: Orange You Fabulous ribbon & buttons; KaiserCraft flower; Prima trim

Wednesday, May 30

Happy Hydrangea - Play Date Cafe #134


Hello friends... is it hot where you are?  Are the kids out of school?  I love how everyone kicks up their feet in the summer and life slows down.  Today, I'm sharing a pretty birthday card made with soft, sherbet shades (allllliteration!) for this week's Play Date Cafe challenge.

I have a sweet spot for hydrangeas and absolutely love the new Happy Hydrangeas set from PTI... a little bit modern, a little bit classic... it's a nice mix for me.  They seemed like a perfect fit for our beautiful color story:

Blush, Canary, Latte, & Rose


Put on your shorty-shorts and get crafty with us this week in the Cafe!  ;)  We have a fab prize from our stash of goodies and can't wait to see what you create!

All supplies are Papertrey Ink unless noted.
Stamps: Happy Hydrangea & Little Labels
Paper: Sweet Blush, Kraft, & Rustic Cream cardstock; My Mind's Eye - Follow Your Heart
Ink: Kraft, Sweet Blush, Lemon Tart, & Dark Chocolate
Dies: Banner Toppers, Happy Hydrangeas, Heart border, & Little Labels; MFT Fishtail Stax


Friday, May 25

CSS {App} Sneak Peek

I have a card featured on the Clear & Simple Stamps App today... 
I hope you enjoy the step-by-step instructions for this sweet card.

Click image above to download CSS App. 

Wednesday, May 23

I "Woof" You - Play Date Cafe #133


Today I'm sharing a little something I made just for my girlie.  Her first word was "mama"... her second, "dog".  At three years old she's still in love with all things puppy.  When the stamps for this week's Play Date Cafe sponsor, Mr. Cricut Crazy, arrived I knew she would love these little yorkies.

I used my Clear & Simple stamps Mini Tri-fold die-cut to make a sweet folded mini card.  I have a feeling that I'll be making a lot of these little notes when preschool starts in the fall. ;)

Our color story is bright and fresh this week... perfect for summer.
Cherry, Denim, & Baby Blue


We hope you will join us this week in the Cafe and support our fabulous sponsor, Mr. Cricut Crazy.  Tanner is a young entrepreneur, stamp designer, and all-around fun guy.  We can't wait to see what you create!


Personal Note: My personal AOL email address was recently hacked.  If by any chance you received spam mail from me, do NOT open it, and please accept my sincere apologies.  I am in the process of increasing security.  If you are subscribed to my blog this does NOT affect you in any way as those deliveries are handled by a 3rd party.  Thanks for your understanding.

Saturday, May 19

A Fabulous Day...


I'm sharing something soft and shabby with you today.  These sweet strawberries are from Market Street Stamps and can be found exclusively in their April kit: Vintage Spring Market.  I love them and think they are perfect for sending summer greetings!

The berries are paper-pieced then shaded with Prisma pencils. (Side note: I've had my pencils since approximately 1997 when Santa tucked them under the tree. How's that for a fun fact? ;)

I combined the Simple Circles & Heart border dies from PTI along the top then added a label and encouraging sentiment from Signature Series: Dress Form.  I really like everything layered up like this... lots of details to notice and enjoy.

I'm also adding this card to the PC Magazine Gallery Idol competition. (crossing my crafty fingers!)


I hope your weekend has been restful... I'm wishing you a fabulous day!

Stamps: Market Street - Vintage Spring Market; PTI Bells & Boughs, Fillable Frames # 7, Signature Series: Dress Form
Ink: PTI Fine Linen & Dark Chocolate; A-Muse Studio - Blush
Paper: PTI Sweet Blush, Fine Linen, & Vintage Cream; Echo Park - This & That 
Tools: PTI Simple Circles & Hearts border dies, Bells & Boughs dies; MFT Oval Stax, Fishtail Flag Stax, & Oval Decorative Doily die-namics

Wednesday, May 16

Sending Sunshine - Play Date Cafe #132


Hi friends!  This week at The Play Date Cafe is a favorite... it's Color Splash week!  I chose to create an encouragement card and send some sunshine to a sweet friend.   I'm also popping it as an entry into the Paper Crafts Magazine Gallery Idol contest.  

Black & White (or cream) + a "splash" of Mustard


I chose several of my Papertrey Ink sets to create with this week.  The background was stamped using Background Basics: Wrought Iron and my focal point is the  Garden Variety II frame combined with Simple Sunflower.  The flower centers are embellished with black pearls from this week's fabulous Cafe sponsor:


I hope you will join us this week at The Play Date Cafe.  The "splash" challenges always stretch me creatively and I have so much fun thinking in "black & white".  I can't wait to see what you create!


All Supplies are Papertrey Ink unless otherwise noted.
Stamps: Simple Sunflower, Garden Variety I & II, BB: Wrought Iron
Paper: Vintage Cream & Kraft; My Mind's Eye 
Ink: Summer Sunrise & True Black
Tools: Simple Sunflower dies, Seed Packet Frame 2 die, Tiny Tags die; CSS Butterflies 1 die-cuts
Sassy Somethings: black pearls from Want 2 Scrap; Prima trim; Crate Paper button; True Black grosgrain

Wednesday, May 9

You Bring Me Joy - Play Date Cafe #131


Hi friends... I'm popping in today with a card for the Play Date Cafe that reminds me of a garden party... green grass, bright butterflies, and sweet friends.  Plus, the sentiment was a perfect fit for the opening round of this year's PC Mag Gallery Idol competition : encouragement.  Isn't it always the best feeling to get happy mail from a friend?!

Our color story this week:
Seaweed, Algae, Goldfish, & Black


I am head-over-heels in vintage love with the new Au Naturel set from Clear & Simple Stamps.  I used the insect medallions to stamp a background using two shades of light green ink.  I sponged the edges with tea-dye inks for a bit of distressing.

I've noticed a lot of stacked pre-made embellishments in my craft store lately and thought I would try to create one myself.  The details on my layers: PTI Doily Details, double-ended banner, stamped butterfly from CSS Butterfly Garden 1, CSS Build-a-Flower die-cuts, and finally an orange button tied with twine.  I had a lot of fun piecing it together.


We hope you'll join us this week in the Cafe... we always love to see how our colors inspire your creativity.  Plus, we have Simon Says Stamp joining us again this week as a sponsor... can't wait to see what you create!

Simon Says Stamp

All Supplies are Clear & Simple Stamps unless otherwise noted.
Stamps: Au Naturel & Butterfly Garden 1
Ink: PTI Spring Moss; SU! Certainly Celery; A-Muse Studio Pumpkin; Memento Tuxedo Black
Paper: Kraft Like a Rockstar (original & cream), Glamazon Green
Tools: Butterflies 1 die-cuts & Build-a-Flower die-cuts; PTI Doily Details die;

Tuesday, May 8

CSS {App} Sneak Peek

I have a project on the CSS {App} today... I hope you'll check it out!


Also, stop by the CSS Blog for more Collection 3 inspiration.

Saturday, May 5

CSS: Collection 3 Release


Welcome back.  Today is release day at Clear & Simple Stamps and there are SO many amazing new things to share with you... sentiments galore, vintage charm, and lots of hexagons.  You can see all the sets in action by visiting the design team blogs... just start over at the CSS Blog for a dose of inspiration and all the details.

I used Hexagons Plus for the background and Au Naturel for my focal point.  The butterfly medallion was inked in two shades to blend and create interest.  The insect and nature images in Au Naturel are beautiful... a unique addition to any stamper's collection.

We invite you to spend some time being inspired this weekend by Collection 3... we know you will love it!


Wednesday, May 2

Flowers for You


Hi friends!  Please excuse my brief absence... I've been under the weather. Unfortunately, when the healthy mojo is lacking so is the crafty mojo.  ;)  Good news: The Clear & Simple Stamps girls are in full swing for the new Collection 3 release and previews are happening every day this week.  The release is on Saturday, May 5th.  SO many fabulous new things... and I'm giving you a peek at several of them via today's card for the new Play Date Cafe Challenge.

Our soft and lovely color palette in the Cafe:
Salmon, Dolphin Gray, & Sea Glass


My main panel uses the new Flowers stamp set from Clear & Simple Stamps.  It is a whimsical floral building set with tons of possibilities.  It pairs perfectly with the Flower Garden background set which is also part of Collection 3.  The new Edger 1 dies add a perfect touch of elegance.  Stop by the CSS Blog to get more details on the upcoming release and to see more previews.

I hope you'll join me this week in the Cafe for some crafty inspiration... can't wait to see what you create!

Stamps: CSS Flowers & Flower Garden background (available May 5th)
Paper: PTI Melon Berry & Aqua Mist; CSS Kraft Like a Rockstar (original & cream)
Ink: A-Muse Studio Seattle (grey); PTI Melon Berry
Tools: CSS Border : Fence; Butterflies 1 & Edgers 1 (available May 5th)