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.

Girl-y. Spring-y. Fun. 

For more inspiration visit the other CSS designers and see their die-cut creations:

Kim Duran

Laura Bassen

Lori Tecler

Stephany Zerbe

Jaclyn Miller

Tracy Schultz

CSS Blog

Stamps - Border : Fence die-cut combo

Paper - My Mind's Eye Love Me 6x6

Dies: Build-a-Flower, Border : Fence, Baby Shower (sm. birds), PTI Parisian Lace doily

French Country - Play Date Cafe #124

Bonjour friends.  I've decided to go "french country" this week for the Play Date Cafe. My new WaltzingMouse stamps arrived and there is nothing quite like receiving an envelope labeled "royal mail".  Makes me feel like a princess. ;)

Our color story this week in the Cafe is beautiful:

Raspberry, Harbor, and Honey Mustard

I combined the color story with the sketch from WaltzingMouse.  Lots of stamping for this one and be warned: the Chicken Wire background is going to get a workout.  Love it!

A note about the inks I used: My "honey mustard"is the new Lido ink from A-Muse Studio. It's a perfect gold.  The "harbor" is Eucalyptus.  I use a lot of distress ink on my projects and I have learned to distress the elements before I stamp images.  Ex: Die-cut oval, distress, stamp with frame and rooster.  I'm currently in love with Creamy Brown ink from ColorBox and typically add PTI Chamomile tea-dye ink on top as well.

We hope you will stop by the Cafe and enjoy a "cup of creativity" with us.  We have a very special guest this week that you do not want to miss!  Happy stamping!

Stamps: WMS - Chicken Wire, French Country, Cameo Creations; PTI - Text Style, Mat Stack 5
Cardstock: PTI - Rustic Cream, Kraft, & Ocean Tides
Ink: A-Muse Studio - Lido & Eucalyptus; PTI - Raspberry Fizz & Chamomile tea-dye; ColorBox Creamy Brown
Tools: PTI - Mat Stack 5 & Double-ended Banner dies; Spellbinders - Classic Ovals Nestabilities (lg.)
Sassy Somethings: PTI - Kraft buttons

CAS Crossword - Play Date Cafe #123

Bright... trendy... fun... NEON!  We're all those things this week at the Play Date Cafe... it's NEON week!  Have you noticed that the 80's are back in fashion?  I remember tight rolling my jeans, wearing layered socks (pink and orange of course), and totally rockin' a side ponytail.  They weren't my best dressed days but they sure were fun.

This week we hope you'll turn up the Tiffani, break out your old cassettes and join us in the Cafe for a week of fun colors:

Blue Jeans, Lime, Orange, & Teal

I kept it Clean & Simple because these colors can shine with simple elements and because every once in a while it's good to change things up.  We hope you'll join us in the Cafe... our sponsor this week is DRS Designs.  Break out the plastic bangles and stamp it up! ;)

Stamps: DRS Designs - Crossword Birthday
Paper: My Mind's Eye - On the Bright Side (two)
Sassy Somethings: PTI buttons & Dark Chocolate baker's twine

Orange IS Fabulous

Hi-ya crafty friends!  I'm joining in with the Clear & Simple gals today to create with the color orange... known over at CSS as "Orange You Fabulous".  Did you know that CSS has a whole line of cardstock, buttons, ribbon, and accessories?  I love it when things coordinate.

Today I decided to make a card that also holds a gift card... perfect for a little something extra at a baby shower or for sending to a new mom.  To hold the gift card I trimmed down the Party Favor 1 die and used thin foam tape around the edges.  The shape reminds me of a gift bag.  Pulling the ribbon back a bit allows the gift card to slide out.

Please take note of the darling nursery rhyme text background from the Sweet Dreams set.  I adore it. This set is so original and sweet... one of my favorites from the Collection 2 release.

Orange for baby cards.  Who would have guessed?  It works and it's fresh...  I encourage you to try it too. For more fabulous orange inspiration, visit the Clear & Simple stamps DT:

Kim Duran

Tracy Schultz

Laurie Willison

Dana Grothaus

Jennifer Rzasa

Lori Tecler

Jax Miller

Laura Bassen

Clear & Simple Stamps

Sweet Dreams 

Party Favor 1 (die cuts)

ALL Supplies are CSS unless otherwise noted.

Stamps: Sweet Dreams

Cardstock: Kraft Like a Rockstar (original) & cream, "Orange You Fabulous"; Patterned Paper: My Minds Eye (polka-dots), Crate Paper (argyle)

Tools: Favor It 1 (die cuts), PTI Limitless Labels 1-3/4"

Sassy Somethings: "Orange You Fabulous" buttons, PTI Orange Zest saddle stitch

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

Special Bundle - Clear & Simple Stamps Release Day

A bouncing bunch of stamps and dies are arriving today in the Clear & Simple Stamps store.  This collection is full of fun background building sets, versatile dies, and lots of sweet baby related images.

My card uses the stork from Special Bundle.  I adore this set and am so excited to tell you that coordinating dies are also available in the store.  I opted to paper-piece the stork and used foam tape to "pop" his wings.

The gender neutral color scheme is a fresh take on yellow and green, and I really indulged in mixing patterns and prints for the card base.  The Build-a-Flower die is a great accent, and I love that you can choose how to build the layers and therefore also choose the size that works best with your project.

Thank you all for your kind comments and congratulations this week!  Visit the design team's blogs for more inspiration using the new products and then head over to Clear & Simple Stamps to shop.

Kim Duran

Tracy Schultz

Stephany Zerbe

Laurie Willison

Dana Grothaus

Jennifer Rzasa

Lori Tecler

Jaclyn Miller

Laura Bassen

Amber Daigre

CSS Blog

Stamps: Special Bundle; Paper: PTI Harvest Gold, Ocean Tides, & CSS Kraft Like a Rockstar; My Mind's Eye - Miss Caroline - Fiddlesticks 6x6; Tools: Build-a-Flower dies, Spellbinders Basic Circles (lg.) & Basic Scallop Circles (lg.); Harvest Gold satin

Clear & Simple Stamps: Build-a-Flower Preview

Welcome to day 2 of the Clear & Simple Stamps previews for the March release.  Today we are showcasing dies.  There are some amazing dies in this collection... coordinating stamp & die sets, large dies perfect for specialty applications (banners, party favors, etc.), favor boxes, labels... it's a long list of goodness.  

I chose the new Build-a-Flower die set to create this wreath card.  This die set has: one large bloom, one small bloom, 4 leaves in various sizes, and 2 "button" floral centers (1 large / 1 small).  The leaves have a darling embossed detail and the floral blooms are perfect for layering.  Plus, the "button" centers have lots of applications aside from the flowers.

I used a 1 3/4" circle die to create the middle portion of my wreath then stamped a sentiment from Let's Celebrate to peek through.   I added a bit of heft to my blooms by backing them with thin chipboard (recycled packaging).  I adore these flowers and know they will show up on lots of my projects.

Visit the other CSS team members to preview more of the new dies... lots of wonderful inspiration:

Kim Duran

Tracy Schultz

Stephany Zerbe

Laurie Willison

Dana Grothaus

Jennifer Rzasa

Lori Tecler

ALL Supplies are Clear & Simple Stamps unless noted.

Stamps: Let's Celebrate; Cardstock: Kraft Like a Rockstar, PTI Spring Moss & Ripe Avocado; Patterned Paper: Echo Park Graceful collection; Tools: Build-a-Flower (available March 5th), Spellbinders Basic Cirlces (lg.)