Homemade in a Jar: CSS Release Day 6

Hey-hey crafty friends!  It is the final day for the Collection 5 product debuts at Clear & Simple Stamps.  Today's sets just may be my favorites because they focus on such a sweet trend: Mason Jars.  Well Preserved is an extensive collection of jars in a variety of sizes with chic fillers, sentiments, and coordinating dies.

I worked with the large set of Well Preserved Jars.  I stamped and paper-pieced to create my goodie jar.  Some things to note:

• "Our House": I love that some of the sentiments are geared towards being "from us".  
• The cutie bow is from the Well Preserved Jars: Extras set.  You do not want to miss the "extras" set if you choose the large jars... bouquets, thread bobbins, and bows are just a few of the things included.
• I used the Toppers (die-cut combo) on each side of my card.  The coordinating dashed stamp gave it a nice faux stitched look ('cause this girl can't sew).  So when you're not topping treat bags with these great dies, try them on your cards! 

The theme for my post today was "Homemade" so I decided to fancy up a Rag Doll House for my treats.  I attached my happy home to the front of a Favor 3 box and added some gingersnap cookies. 

Now, I know you are all wondering... "What's in the jar?"  It's Pumpkin Pie dip, and it.is.yummy.  I'm inclined to eat it with a spoon and skip the cookies when the kids aren't looking. I used the large jar dies to create a tag... I think the size is perfect and they don't need a lot of fussing to be cute. (aka: quick & easy)

I also want to mention that my color combo for today was not only inspired by the orange-ness of the pumpkin dip, but also by the Play Date Cafe Challenge.  Their inspiration board is beautiful:

I hope you love the Well Preserved Jars as much as I do... 

I'll be back tomorrow to recap some of the products I've used over the last week and to share the recipes  you've seen featured.  Until then, go visit the DT gals for lots more "inspiration in a jar".  Ha!

Clear & Simple Stamps blog

Kim Duran, Stephany Zerbe, Elena Roussakis, Laura Bassen, 

Laurie Willison, Dana Grothaus, Lori Tecler

Additional products used:

Tools: Rag Doll House (die cut), Shapes: Hearts (die-cut combo)

Paper: My Mind's Eye - Vanity Fair 6x6

Sassy Somethings: Prima trim

Gift Card Kit - CSS Group Post

Happy October!  The Clear & Simple Stamps gals are sharing some fun card kits today. You do not want to miss all the ideas for creating these fun sets that your recipient can use to assemble their own cards.  It's the gift that keeps on giving. ;)

I chose to use the Mini Tri-Fold die to create some sweet gift card holders.  The inside of the Tri-Fold cards are perfectly sized for adhering a gift card.... Starbucks or iTunes anyone?

I stamped the different cakes using Cake Decorating & Extras then embellished them with buttons and brads for a little sass.  Next, I used foam dimensional squares to adhere the finished cakes to a sheet of clear cardstock.  (I only pulled the backing from one of the squares to adhere it to the sheet and left the rest covered therefore making it easy to remove the cakes later.)

Also included in the kit are patterned paper labels and sentiment banners.  I included "birthday", "celebrate", and "love"... perfect for lots of occasions including showers, weddings, promotions/special achievements, or b-day wishes.  

For an added bit of cuteness, I stamped a "note" on the front flap and topped it with a scalloped border. Five little notes ready for gifting... ready for gift cards... ready for brightening someone's day.

Please stop by the other designer's blogs for more inspiration:

Clear & Simple blog

Elena Roussakis, Laurie Willison, Jennifer Rzasa, Lori Tecler, Laura Bassen

Kim Duran, Jaclyn Miller, Dana Grothaus, Amber Kemp-Gerstel, Tracy Schultz

CSS Stamps: Cake Decorating, Cake Decorating Too, Cake Decorating Extras, All Occasions 1 & 2, Party Elements: Baby (label outline)

Paper: PTI Sweet Blush, Aqua Mist, Kraft, & Vintage Cream; My Mind's Eye - The Sweetest Thing" Lavender 6x6

CSS Die-Cuts: Mini Tri-Fold, Cake, Favor Flags, Borders: Scallops

Sassy Somethings: Crate Paper buttons and brads, Jenni Bowlin enamel bows

Indulge Yourself

Today's card "indulges" in combining lots of Clear & Simple Stamps and dies for a beautiful card that would work for any birthday or celebration.

One of my favorite things to "indulge" in when stamping is creating my own background paper.  For today's card I combined the CSS Damask with the music image from Background Basics 1.  I trimmed my patterned paper to 3.75" and then added a decorative touch with Edgers 1.

I wanted an elegant and "wow" cake so I added sparkly Prisma glitter and a fancy jewel from Webster's Pages (that I have been hoarding saving for a something special).  Note: To add the glitter, I stamped the outline image from Cake Decorating for definition and followed with the solid fill image.  Then, I trimmed along the outline and used a light coating a spray adhesive and sprinkled on the sparkle.  I added this to the Cake die-cut where I had already stamped and shaded the cake plate.

I adore the font combinations in the Sweet Sentiments set... all those swirls and flourishes are definitely over-the-top.  I stamped it onto a curvy banner from the Banner 1 die set.

I hope you enjoy all the "Sassy Somethings" that were combined for this fancy card.  What are your favorite techniques to "indulge" in when you are creating?  Fussy cutting anyone? ;)

Stamps: All from CSS - Damask, Background Basics 1, Cake Decorating, Sweet Sentiments
Paper: PTI Melon Berry, Rustic Cream, & Vintage Cream
Ink: PTI Kraft, Melon Berry, & Dark Chocolate
Tools: CSS Edgers 1, Banners 1, Cake die-cut; PTI Limitless Layers 2.5"

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

Elena Roussakis

Kim Duran

Lori Tecler

Laura Bassen

Stephanie Zerbe

Additional Supplies:

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

Dies: CSS Borders: Scallops;

Floral Treats - CSS Review Day 2

Hi friends!  So glad to have you back for another day of the Clear & Simple Stamps: Release in Review.  Our focus today is on florals and butterflies.  Collection 3 is filled with beautiful floral images, nature inspired themes, and butterflies galore... perfect for spring and summer creations.

I thought it would be fun to make a sweet table setting for a friend.  This would also make a nice little package to take to a hostess, drop with a special secretary, or to gift as a small surprise to someone dear.

The Party Favor 5 die makes a small gable box from one sheet of 8.5 x 11" paper.  It is all one piece and easily folds for sturdy treat packaging.  TIP: To create the floral stamped wrap, I trimmed a strip of On the Catwalk Cream cardstock and adhered it to the die with low-tack tape.  When I ran it through the die-cut machine, I had perfect score lines to coordinate with the box corners.

A small notecard stamped with Flowers completes the ensemble.  I love the variety of blossoms included in this set... and I love the little strawberries.

We hope you'll stop by the other CSS designer's blogs today... lots of lovely projects filled with flowers and butterflies!

Clear & Simple Stamps Blog

Tracy Schultz

Laurie Willison

Kim Duran

Laura Bassen

Lori Tecler

All supplies are CSS unless otherwise noted.

Stamps: Flowers, Butterfly Garden 1

Paper: On the Catwalk Cream, Coral Necklace, & I'm a Princess Pink

Ink: PTI Berry Sorbet, Sweet Blush, New Leaf, & Pure Poppy

Tools: Party Favor 5 die, Butterflies 1 die,  Tags 1 die

Sassy Somethings: PTI ribbon; Crate Paper buttons

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

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)

Tweet Thoughts - Play Date Cafe #122

Welcome to a gorgeous new week in the Play Date Cafe!  Our color story this week is chic and mod... very on trend and a bit reminiscent of our adored 'color pop' challenges...

Charcoal, Ash, and Butter  

I love yellow these days... I think it's the promise of sunshine-y spring days.  I chose to make it my card's accent color.  The gray background was made using the 'special edition' doily stamp that was included in my Market Fresh Kit from Market Street Stamps.  I love getting all the coordinating goodies each month.  I also used their new Houndstooth background for my frame and a sentiment from Comforting Florals (adore the font).  The sweet bird is created from the Homespun Birdhouse die-namics via My Favorite Things.  I think it's a nice card to have on hand for sending a bit of encouragement or even kind sympathies.

Our sponsor this week in the Cafe is Simon Says Stamp... don't miss this chance to play along and win a shopping spree to their store... you know they have everything! (and you need it all! ;)

Stamps: Market Street - Houndstooth, Comforting Florals, & doily from Market Fresh Kit (February 2012)

Paper: PTI Smokey Shadow & Rustic Cream; CSS Your Such a Gray-cious Host

Ink: A-Muse Studio - Slate

Tools: My Favorite Things - Homespun Birdhouse & First Class Friend

Doily Hugs

I'm at it again -- more doilies.  I can't get enough.  Stamped doilies.  Die cut doilies.  Doilies on a plane.  Doilies on a train.  Wait... mom mode just merged with crafty mode (and Dr. Seuss).  Anyway, I love a good doily and my favorites are the Doily Detail sets from WaltzingMouse Stamps.

Every week WMS hosts a fab sketch challenge and it worked perfectly to combine this week's sketch with the color palette from CR84FN.  Here are those challenge details:

WaltzingMouse Sketch Challenge #82

CR84FN Color Challenge

Thanks for stopping in - Doily HUGS to you and yours.

Stamps: WMS - Doily Details 1 & 2, Say It Loud, Gingham & Co.; Cardstock: PTI Rustic Cream, Kraft, and Sweet Blush; Ink: A-Muse Blush and Cranberry, SU! Bashful Blue; Tools: PTI Scallop Border die (large) and Heart dies; Sassy Somethings: Crate Paper button

Follow Your Heart - Play Date Cafe #117

Hi-ya crafty friends!  It's another beautiful week at the Play Date Cafe.  Our color story this week is soft and creamy...

Robin Egg, Lilac, and Bisque

I inked up one of my favorite backgrounds from Market Street - Grace.  I sometimes struggle with getting a nice impression from really large stamps, but my A-Muse inks are perfect.  I used Eucalyptus and was thrilled with the even coverage.

My doily focal point uses lots of frilly bits. Pop in tomorrow to see how I re-worked this card for a different look after one of my sweet wee ones got a hold of it. ;)

We hope you'll play along with us this week in the Cafe.  We have a great prize up for grabs from Melanie Muenchinger, one of the talented designers behind Gina K. stamps.

We also have a fabulous new designer: Alicia Thelin.  Her work is gorgeous and full of fresh ideas.  We are SO happy to welcome her to the Cafe.  Pop over and tell her hello and then get crafty with us - can't wait to see what you create!

Stamps: Market Street - Grace background & Compass (sentiment), WMS Dainty Doilies 2; Cardstock: PTI Rustic Cream & Lavender Moon, SU! Baja Breeze; Ink: A-Muse - Latte & Eucalyptus, PTI Dark Chocolate & tea dye duo; Tools: PTI Parisian Lace die & Loopsy Daisy die; Sassy Somethings: Kaiser flower (from my Market Fresh kit - MSS), Webster's Pages & Authentique trinket pins

Make a Wish - Play Date Cafe #116

This week at the Play Date Cafe we have a very bold color story... which I softened a bit, but loved working with.  I used some of my favorite stamps from The Craft's Meow and really enjoyed creating this garden-y card.

Plum, Pear, & Moldy Cheese

(Moldy cheese!  How much do you love that for a great blue?!)

Two things I am currently loving:

Stamping my own backgrounds/patterned paper.

Shimmer mist.  Why am I the last person to get on the bandwagon with this stuff? Seriously, it is sassy and sparkly, and oh so lovely.  Plus, it elicits oohs & aahs from my 3 year old. ;)

This week in the Cafe is bittersweet as we say goodbye to two very talented designers and friends: Andrea Ewen & Michele Gross.  Andrea's style is one that I have loved and admired for.ever.  Her cards are beautiful and always perfectly shabby chic.  Michele's cards are always fun and she is the queen of clean & simple design.  Both of these ladies have become friends and I know that I will continue to be inspired by their sweet spirits and crafty creations. Be sure to leave them some love this week on their blogs and add them to your Google Readers - they both have SO much more to share with you as their journeys continue.

Please join us this week in the Cafe - we have a great prize from Sweet N' Sassy Stamps.  I can't wait to see what you create - make it sassy! ;)

Stamps: The Craft's Meow - Butterfly Kisses & Celebrating You, PTI - BB Woodgrain (fence) & Simply Jane (frame); Cardstock: PTI - Rustic Cream, Enchanted Evening, & Kraft / A-Muse - Heather; Ink: A-Muse - Heather & Grass / PTI - Enchanted Evening & True Black / Vanilla shimmer mist; Tools: PTI - Simply Jane dies, Picket Fence die / MFT banner

Sending Smiles - Play Date Cafe #115

Welcome to another week with the Play Date Cafe.  This week our color story includes 4 lovely neutral shades that remind me of nature and have a perfectly rustic charm.

Bark, Burlap, Moss, and Slate

Since I get distracted by sparkling things (and chocolate) around the holidays, I didn't get many Christmas cards made.  I did however purchase my fair share of holiday stamp sets and so I'm looking for versatile images to extend their life/usefulness through 2012.  My angel is from Papertrey Ink's Love Lives Here: Holiday set and she is just perfect for a little something "homey" any time of year.  The patterned paper is also from PTI's Turning a New Leaf collection.

We hope you will join us this week in the Cafe... and thank you so much for all the sweet comments you always leave me here.  I'm so blessed by your kindness and creativity!

ALL Supplies are Papertrey Ink unless otherwise noted.
Stamps: Love Lives Here - Holiday, Little Labels (sentiment), Mat Stack 1 collection (flourish); Cardstock: Kraft & Rustic Cream; Patterned Paper: Turning a New Leaf; Ink: SU! Always Artichoke & Chocolate Chip; A-Muse Slate; Tools: Mat Stack 1 (mega), Love Lives Here - Holiday dies, Journal Tabs die, MFT Layered Heart die-namics; Sassy Somethings: buttons, Prima trim, Webster's Pages (resin flower)

Special Delivery

Shabby chic... pastel... sweet.  I loved the inspiration over at The Shabby Tea Room... the vintage New York sign reminded me of traveling and far away friends... perfect for the First Class Friend set from My Favorite Things.  Lots of little elements and layers.

I hope to have a crafty weekend and lots of cozy time inside.  My littles are hoping to get some tricycle time outside... I'm sure we'll all end up happy. ;)

Stamps: My Favorite Things - First Class Friend; Cardstock: PTI - Rustic Cream, Kraft, & Melon Berry; Patterned Paper: Melissa Frances - 5th Avenue; Tools: My Favorite Things - First Class Friend dies, Mini Rolled Roses, & Decorative Doily; Sassy Somethings: PTI Melon Berry saddle stitch, Maya Road trinket pin, star from Memrie Mare on Etsy