Sassy Stampin': August 2012

Tuesday, August 28

CSS {App} Sneak Peek

I've got a sweet card using Rag Doll: Emma on the CSS {App} today.

I hope to see you back here soon... lots of fun things to share! ;)

{Click on the above graphic to learn more & to download the CSS Daily App.}

Saturday, August 11

Are you a hostess at heart? Do you love to add special touches to everyday get togethers? The Clear and Simple Stamps designers are celebrating today with our Collection 4 Party Hop.

As the kids get older I find that I'm more prone to spend time adding extra details to everyday events... especially for my sweet girlie who loves things to be "just so". We decided to have a few of her gal pals over for cupcakes and crafting (and the inevitable mess making). ;)

I used the Mini Tri-Fold 1 die to make a mini invitation. Rag Doll: Willa adorns the front of our sweet note and I cut a Favor Flag for her to hold as a banner. Even though I only had 3 of these to make, I wanted to keep it simple.

On the inside I added the celebration details by using the new Party Elements: Celebration set. For a fun twist, I filled a Clear Candy Bag with confetti.... perfect for 4 year olds. ;)

We will plan to craft and play and have mini cupcakes for a snack. The girls will go home with a little coloring book and a new package of crayons. I stamped a few different Rag Dolls onto some die cut tags and tied them together with ribbon. (Note: This would also be a fun idea to send to a crafty/stamping friend. They could color, trim, and use on projects.)

These ideas can easily be expanded to make a larger spread or kept simple for a small get together. Enjoy the CSS Party Hop... be sure to visit all the designers for inspiration and fun new ways to celebrate the everyday!

Thursday, August 9

Coffee with Carlie - CSS Rag Doll Review

Have you fallen in love with the new Clear & Simple line: Rag Dolls? I absolutely adore them and have so much fun each time I pull them out. I decided to make a set of coffee themed treats... perfect to leave on a favorite teacher's desk, as a morning treat for your coffee lovin' co-worker, or as a sweet way to spoil a neighbor.

The Rag Doll: House die-cut is a perfect fit for the Party Favor 3 treat box. I stamped the Rag Doll: Shop onto a house cut from cream cardstock. I added the sign and stack of cups. Then I stamped the shop image again onto patterned paper from the My Mind's Eye Emma's Shoppe collection and pieced the awning and stand... trimming out the window to show off my cafe scene. The coffee cup is disposable so I kept it simple and added a paper wrap with a jute band. Blooms created with the Build-A-Flower die were a quick and easy addition.

For my card I let Carlie shine. She is just too cute leaning up against "hello". I love that many of the Rag Dolls come as a combo set of stamps and a coordinating die to perfectly "trim" their silhouette. Paper piecing the clothes but coloring the skin and hair is a fun way to create cohesion and not stress too much about perfect coloring. ;) (see my supply list for Copic colors) I added a small strip of woodgrain and a scallop across the top to mimic the cafe awning. I hope you love her as much as I do!

For more Rag Doll inspiration, please visit the CSS designers:

Clear & Simple Stamps blog

Additional Supplies:

Copics: (Skin: E31, E33) (Hair: E33, E37, E29) (Shirt: BG11, BG13)

Dies: CSS Borders: Scallops;

It's a Date - CSS Sweet Treat Review

This week the Clear & Simple gals have been creating some amazing goodies using the Collection 4 release items. It was a huge release and this is our opportunity to share more ideas for using the sets and show the product's versatility. Today, we are focusing on Sweet Treats. I chose to work with the Cake Decorating sets and whipped up a birthday card for my hubby. (Feel free to send me cyber high fives for getting a card done a whole week before his actual b-day.)

Have you seen the "Important Date" wall hangings and framed art pieces floating around Pinterest? (see bottom of post for examples) The idea is that you create art by using the dates of significant events for your family. I think the dates and meanings you could choose are endless. Instead of making a large piece, I scaled it down and used the numbers from Cake Decorating Too on a card front.

I felt like the simple graphic nature would be perfect for a masculine card but also have a lot of impact. I wanted to dress it up a bit so I added a vellum flag over the number art and topped that with a cake die cut. A small red button was a perfect 'pop' and the washi tape along the bottom helps to anchor the sentiment from All Occasions 1.