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

Sweet Farewell - Play Date Cafe

Hello friends!  You may have noticed that things have been really quiet here at the beloved blog... or you may be out enjoying the summer sun and not miss my sassy self at all. ;)  Things have been difficult for me recently and I had to make some choices about how to best utilize my time and energy...  I'm crossing my (rusty) crafty fingers that you're still here and that we can pick up where we left off soon.

I'm joining in with the Play Date Cafe today and bidding a bittersweet farewell to my precious team.  I have loved being a part of the Cafe's team and have made dear friends.  While it is sad to step away from something that I truly enjoy, I am SO excited for the new team that Julie has put together... the inspiration is going to be amazing!!  I would be so happy if you would join us this week...

I'm so grateful for all the new people that have popped by the blog via the Cafe... so grateful for the opportunity to be a part of such a classy team... so humbled by our sweet, supportive leader, Julie Ranae... and so thankful for all of YOU.  Thanks for being part of my journey... crafty and otherwise. ;)

Stamps: CSS Cake Decorating Too & Damask

Just My Type - Play Date Cafe #137

Hey friends!  I'm popping in today with this week's card for the Play Date Cafe.  It's "splash" week... everyone's favorite!  My card this week is decidedly shabby and shows a more muted take on the color palette.  We hope you'll join us and share your own beautiful "splash" creations with us.

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

Our sponsor this week in the Cafe is Want2Scrap.  Aren't those fancy pearls pretty?   I thought the file folder edge was a cute addition to play up the vintage typewriter from My Favorite Things.

We hope you'll join us this week.  And just a reminder: the Play Date Cafe is having an open Design Team call through July 1st.  I can't wait to see who will be joining me on this fabulous team!

Stamps: My Favorite Things - Just My Type & coordinating dies
Ink: Memento - Tuxedo black  //  Tools: PTI Edgers #5
Sassy Somethings: pearls from Want2Scrap

Packed with Love - Play Date Cafe #136

Welcome to the Cafe for another week of color inspiration! This week we have a beautiful color story filled with rich berry hues:

Azure, Raspberry, & Blackberry

I was so excited to ink up a new set from WPlus9, Fresh Preserves.  The sweet jam jar reminds me of one of my most cherished childhood memories: picking blackberries with my grandmother.  She made the best jams and cobblers and they always tasted sweeter sitting around her kitchen table.

We hope you'll join us this week at the Play Date Cafe.  Simon Says Stamp is joining us again as our sponsor and it's always fun to play along for the chance at such a great prize.  

Big  News: We are also holding an open Design Team call at the Cafe through July 1st and we would love to see you apply!  This is an amazing team filled with caring and talented women - we are so excited to add some fresh faces and new designers to our team... we can't wait to see what you create!

Stamps: WPlus9 Fresh Preserves & Fresh Picked (sentiment)

Paper: PTI Kraft& Vintage Cream cardstock; My Mind's Eye - Fiddlesticks

Ink: SU! Perfect Plum; PTI Kraft & Autumn Rose

Tools: WPlus9 Preserves Jar die; PTI Mat Stack 3 & Doily Details dies

Sassy Somethings: Webster's Pages eyelet trim

Wheeeee! - Play Date Cafe #135

Hey, hey sweet friends!  Summer time is fun time and this week at the Play Date Cafe our color story is FUN!  Plus, we have a fabulous sponsor... The Craft's Meow!  I used the ferris wheel image from Life Is A Carnival and combined fun patterned papers to take advantage of the bright colors.

Aquamarine, Poolside, & Clay

I also thought it would be fun to play along with The Craft's Meow sketch challenge.  I turned the sketch and instead of a bow opted for a little banner across the top.  So many options when you have a great sketch & a fun color combo... things just craft themselves! ;)

We hope you'll join us this week in the Cafe... we can't wait to see what you create!! Note: You can use ANY stamps or products to play along in the challenge each week.  We always have a lovely variety of projects... cards, scrapbook pages, altered art, handmade jewelry, etc... make what you love and share it with us!

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

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.

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

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!

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;

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)

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

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