A {Sweet Dreams} Card...

Happy Friday!!!  Yay for the weekend!!!  My kiddos are on spring break next week so it'll be a little quiet around these parts, except for a couple posts that I have scheduled.  

I'm in love with this simple card I made using the Sweet Dreams set from CSS.  It looks simple, but that's a little deceiving.  There's a lot of masking going on, although they are all straight lines so that did make it quite a bit easier.  My post-it notes really came in handy on this one.

First I created a grid using a ruler and pencil, then one at a time I put post-it notes around each square and sponged the ink in the center.  It really was easy, but just a little time consuming, but well worth it in my opinion.

After all the squares were sponged, I stamped the sentiment and stars (aren't those drool-worthy???).  This is a one layer card that packs a punch!

I hope you enjoyed today's card!  Have a great day!

{Sweet Dreams}

Stamps: Sweet Dreams (Clear & Simple Stamps)

Card Stock: A Blanc Check (CSS)

Ink: True Blue Fan, Green With Envy, Say Yellow to All Your Fans, Orange You Fabulous, Your Style Blue Me Away (CSS)

Accessories: Stamping Sponge

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New Video! 3D Wall Treatment+Vinyl Quote

This video has been a long time coming.  I filmed it right before Christmas (hence the decor in the video) and am just now learning how to edit the footage.  You'll see that this video is a lot better than my previous card video.  It has titles and instructions throughout and things are sped up, so fancy!

This project all started when I saw this photo on Pinterest.  I used straight pins instead of nails so it would not ruin my walls if I wanted to remove it.  This project took 2 hours and 18 minutes.  I managed to shorten the video to under 6 minutes.  Some of the parts are long, but I wanted to leave in the whole process so you get an idea of what is involved.  If you have any questions, feel free to leave them in the comments section.

I didn't think I'd be totally comfortable filming myself, all frumpy with no make-up on, like I am everyday, so I'm really keepin' it real!  I have to say I am little bit more slender now days, so there's that!  Anyway, here you go!



I cut the vinyl on my silhouette using a font that was already on my computer.  I used masking paper to transfer the quote onto my wall.  I believe that product was from Cricut.

Let me know what you think!!!


Have a great day!

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A Crafty {Happy Birthday} Card...

Hello!  This card started with inspiration from a card I found on Pinterest.  I won't even link it because my card looks NOTHING like it.

I started out with the background and the colored circle punches, then I got stuck.  I picked out the sentiment from "Craft Room Sentiments" and saw the button stamp, once I stamped the buttons on the circle punches (that were already glued in place) there was no turning back.

So, I decided to incorporate the jar of buttons, even though I didn't have the exact matching colors.  I finished up the card and then took the jar of buttons off, dipped the jar in versamark and clear embossed it.  I gives the look of glossy accents without the drying time.  Here's a look:

In the end I think this card is just so-so, KWIM?  

Have a great day!

{Happy Birthday}

Stamps: Craft Room, Craft Room Sentiments, Circles Plus (Clear & Simple Stamps)

Card Stock: On the Catwalk Cream, Coral Necklace, Orange You Fabulous, Simply Blue-tiful (CSS)  

Ink: Perfect Little Black Dress, Orange You Fabulous, Simply Blue-tiful, Paint the Town Pink, From an Anonymous Source (CSS)

Accessories: Circle Punch, Clear Embossing Powder, Foam Dots

Copics- R85, B95, W1, Y38 

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A {Happy 25th Anniversary} Card...

I have a classy anniversary card to share with you today!  Twenty-five years is the silver anniversary, so silver embossing powder was a no-brainer.  This card has a lot of shimmer and shine to it, even the pattern paper has a reflective element.  


Here's a little trick I discovered while making this card.  I love the labels image that comes with the CSS set Party Elements:Baby, but I just needed it to be bigger, like twice the size bigger.  Here's what the card looked like without all the embellishments.  I simply stamped the label image twice! Then you just cover up the center with a layer of whatever your heart desires.

Here's a shot I took in the sun so you can hopefully see some of the shimmer from all the silver.

Thanks for visiting today!  I hope you have a fantastic weekend!!!

{Happy 25th Anniversary}

Stamps: Number Blocks, Party Elements: Baby (Clear & Simple Stamps)

Card Stock: A Blanc Check, Perfect Little Black Dress (CSS)

Patterned Paper: Silver Valley (SEI)

Ink: From an Anonymous Source, Perfect Little Black Dress (CSS)

Accessories: Shapes: Circles Dies (CSS), Silver Embossing Powder, Mini Circle Punch

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A {Congrats on Your Growing Family} Card...

Hello!  I'm not going to hold back, I think I'm in love with this card.  It was so fun to make.  I'm in need of girl baby cards so that's where the whole idea for this card came about.  

Clear and Simple Stamps has a really cool new die called Circle Trio.  It was so easy to perfectly space all of those circles.  It's a simple die with three circles, but they are all three attached.  I ran this card through my cuttlebug three times, not nine.

My sentiment has a cool detail.  Behind the sentiment strip in the center circle, I used two foam dots to pop of the sentiment and I used own foam dot behind the outer sides.  This created a sort of arch.


Thanks so much for joining me here today. 

{Baby Congratulations}

Stamps: Baby Sentiments, Shapes: Circles (Clear &Simple Stamps) 

Card Stock: ABlanc Check, VIP Purple, Purplicious (CSS) 

Ink: VIP Purple, Purplicious (CSS)

Accessories: Circle Trio Die (CSS), Foam Dots

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A Video {Hello World} Card...

EEEEK!  I made a video!!!  I have to tell you this was so much fun.  Please keep in mind that this was my first attempt and next time I promise it will be so much better.  There are no frills in this one.  I filmed and edited it on my iPad thinking I could change it more on my computer when I finished but no such luck (I'm sure you can do it, but I've spent way more than enough time on this).  So, here ya go!


ETA: I forgot to post the inspiration for this card, it's this card I pinned a while ago from Laura Bassen!


Two things to note:

• I always stamp on a mouse pad, always!  I've found that I get a good, solid image every time.  
• I always stamp on a scrap piece of paper before stamping on my actual card stock.  Some stamps require a gentler touch than others and this is a good way to find out.  The other reason is that you may have a little fuzzy stuck to your stamp and not know it that will get inked up and will show up on your image.

Next time I'm counting on having titles and little notes from me during the video.  Let me know what you think!

Wow, I sure have learned a lot over the last few days.


Thanks so much for stopping by and watching my first video.  Have a great day!

{Hello World}

Stamps: Baby Shower, Baby Sentiments, Shapes:Circles (Clear & Simple Stamps)

Card Stock: True Blue Fan, Brown Leather Satchel, Trendsetter Blue, Dare to Be a Diva Red (CSS)

Patterned Paper: Silver Valley (SEI)

Ink: True Blue Fan (CSS)

Accessories: Stamping Sponge, Foam Dots, Tag Die (CSS), Shapes: Circles Dies (CSS)

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A {Happy St. Patty's Day} Card...

Wow, I didn't think it would take so long to make this simple card.  I've been playing in Silhouette Studio all morning trying to figure out how to make this card.  I couldn't figure out how to connect the shamrocks to the card so it wouldn't cut out separately, make sense?  Anyway, it was really easy once I figured it out.    I just need to use my Silhouette more often so I'm not rusty when I do use it.

The sentiment "st. patty's day" comes from the CSS set Lucky Charm.  The "Happy" that comes with that set was written in a really fine/skinny font and I just knew it wouldn't show up with white ink.  I choose another "happy" from the CSS set A Guy Thing and it also kept with the whole lowercase thing.

So this is one of my favorite color combos.  CSS's Glamazon Green is my absolute favorite color and I think it looks so good paired with Green With Envy, and so appropriate for St. Patrick's Day.

Exercise Update: I finished the Jillian Michael's 30 Day Shred!!! I finished on March 13th, I worked out 30 days in a row!  Most days I also did the elliptical for a half hour afterwards.  I didn't lose any weight, which was both disappointing and frustrating, but I did go down a pants size and my shirts fit better.  I wish I would have taken my measurements before I started because I know I lost inches.  For once I finally feel that my core is strong and my sides are not flabby.  I'm also a lot more confident in what my body can do.  Those workouts are HARD, but if you stick with it, your body will respond and you'll be able to keep up.  Level 3 is where you see the best results.  That's when my pants were so baggy that I needed to buy a new pair.  That's a nice problem to have.  Here's a link to the video if any of you are interested: DVD and Instant Download.  You do each level for 10 days, even if you don't think you're ready to move up.  Each workout is about 22 minutes.


Have a great day!

{Happy St. Patty's Day}

Stamps: Lucky Charm, A Guy Thing (Clear & Simple Stamps)

Card Stock: Glamazon Green, Green With Envy (CSS)

Ink: Vintage Cream (PTI)

Accessories: Silhouette, Clover Ribbon/Border (Silhouette Image), Foam Dots 

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A {Happy Anniversary} Card...

Hello!  I had so much fun playing with these elephant die cuts yesterday, that I just had to make a second card, but this time using the negative image of the elephants.

I chose two coordinating pieces of patterned paper (the one on the right is cream in real life) to put behind the negative die cuts.  The patterned paper is adhered directly to the card base and then the slate color is adhered over the patterned paper using foam dots, for a 3D look.

I added a little heart between the two elephants to symbolize love.  The sentiment could also be changed to "I love you" as well.  


I hope you are having a great day!!!

{Happy Anniversary}

Stamps: Number Blocks, Hearts Plus (Clear & Simple Stamps)

Card Stock: A Clean Slate, Brown Leather Satchel (CSS)

Patterned Paper: Ancestry (SEI)

Ink: A Clean Slate, Dish All the Dirt Brown (CSS)

Accessories: Baby Shower Dies (CSS), Foam Dots, Brown Floss, Silver Brads

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An {Oh Baby} Card...

Hi there!  I had a glorious time playing around in my studio this morning.  Halle and I spent some time sketching out card layouts last night and I really think that got my mojo going.  

For my card today I paired up some fun patterned paper with CSS's Baby Shower stamp set and dies.  This would make a cute baby boy card.  I had so much fun with that little elephant that I made a second card that I'll share tomorrow.

This card is pretty straight forward so I won't go into much detail.  The patterned paper was a bit flimsy for me so I die cut the elephant a second time using card stock and adhered the two die cuts together for a more sturdy piece.  


Have a great day!

{Oh Baby}

Stamps: Baby Shower (Clear & Simple Stamps)

Card Stock: Dare to Be a Diva Red, Trendsetter Blue (CSS)

Patterned Paper: Silver Valley (SEI)

Ink: Dare to Be a Diva Red, True Blue Fan (CSS)

Accessories: Baby Shower Dies (CSS), Foam Dots, Silver Brads

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Clear & Simple Stamps: Group Project

Each year Pantone, the leading color enthusiasts of the design industry, selects the coveted color of the year. For 2012, the lucky winner is Tangerine Tango...better known around CSS as Orange You Fabulous.  For this month's group project, we are working with the color orange! 

I had so much fun creating this card for my niece.  I started off by stamping the entire card base using a stamps from Circles Plus with Orange You Fabulous ink.  I covered the center of the card with a piece of cream card stock.  I stamped the sentiment on this piece of cream card stock using the same ink.  


I created a panel using Creamsicle Cardigan with the numbers from the new Number Blocks set.  

Orange Baker's Twine added a nice finishing touch.  I can't wait to give this too my niece, but I hope I remember since her birthday is in July.


Be sure to check out the rest of the Orange You Fabulous creations:

• Lori
• Jax
• Kim
• Tracy
• Laurie
• Jennifer
• Denise
• Laura
• CSS

Have a great day!

{12 Fabulous Years}

Stamps: Circles Plus, Number Blocks (Clear & Simple Stamps)

Card Stock: On the Catwalk Cream, Creamsicle Cardigan (CSS)

Ink: Orange You Fabulous (CSS)

Accessories: Orange Baker's Twine (CSS), Foam Dimensionals, Mini Hole Punch  

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CSS App Sneak Peek!

Just poppin' in to let you know I have a really cute card featured on the Clear & Simple Stamps App for the iPhone/iPad.  For more info about the app and how to get it, just click here.

Have a wonderful weekend everyone!

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A {40 and Fabulous} Card...

Hello!  I made this card for a challenge.  It's been a while since I've participated in one of those.  It's for this week's Runway Inspired Challenge.   I chose to use the colors of the clothing on my card.  I ended up loving the layout of the card, but I'm not quite to keen on the color combo, which I don't necessarily understand in the clothing either.  

Maybe next time I'll be inspired by the feel or the elements used in the clothes themselves.  Thinking about it now, I should have used RUFFLES!

Thanks so much for joining me today!

Have a great day!

{40 and Fabulous!}

Stamps: Circles Plus, Number Blocks (Clear & Simple Stamps)

Card Stock: A Blanc Check, Your Style Blue Me Away, Paint the Town Pink, Dare to Be a Diva Red (CSS)

Ink: Your Style Blue Me Away, Paint the Town Pink, Dare to Be a Diva Red (CSS)

Accessories: Rhinestones (Recollections), Stamping Sponge, Foam Dots

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A {Good Luck Charm} Card...

Eek!  I'm not sure how this photo turned out so blurry?! I hope you can get the gist of it.  It's pretty much a one layer card except for the pink heart, that's die cut and popped up on foam dots.

I started with stamping the white card stock with the tag outline and then the inside polka dot tag design.  I then masked off the tag and stamped the text.

This photo is a little better.  Next I stamped the sentiment, added the baker's twine and then the heart.

A simple St. Patrick's Day card!

Have a great day!

{Good Luck Charm}

Stamps: Lucky Charm, Quotes II (Clear & Simple Stamps)

Card Stock: A Blanc Check, Glamazon Green, I'm a Princess Pink (CSS)

Ink: Glamazon Green (CSS)

Accessories: Foam Dots, Green Baker's Twine (CSS), Stamping Sponge

Read more...

CSS Release Day!!!

Hey everybody!  It's a really exciting day around these parts.  It's Clear & Simple Stamps release day!!!  Tons of new stamps and dies are being revealed today, a whopping 41 new items!!!  I won't be listing them all here, just showing the products I used for my release day card.  You can see all the new items by clicking here.

For my card I used a bunch of new items.  Here's my card, scroll down below and will take you on a little tour of what new items I used.

I started out with a plain piece of A Blanc Check of card stock.  


I used the new Circles Trio die to die cut the circles.  This is such a quick way to get precisely spaced circles on your card.
I chose an adorable circular image from the new set Baby Shower.  Then I lined up another piece of white card stock behind the circle windows, then stamped the image using Glamazon Green, Dare to Be a Diva Red, and Your Style Blue Me Away ink, then removed the piece of card stock.

I cut squares from scraps of coordinating card stock and die cut a circle image just slightly smaller than the Circle Trio circles using Shapes: Circles dies.  I used the negative image of the circles create a border for each circle window, then I adhered them to the backside of the card.  I lined up the white card stock with the stamped images and adhered that as well.  ARE YOU STILL WITH ME?

Here's the easy part.  I stamped the sentiment from Baby Sentiments in Perfect Little Black Dress ink, punch a notch on each side of the card then wrapped and tied Red Baker's Twine around the card.




Have a great day!

{Best Wishes}

Stamps: Baby Sentiments, Baby Shower (Clear & Simple Stamps)

Card Stock: A Blanc Check, Your Style Blue Me Away, Dare to Be a Diva Red, Glamazon Green (CSS)

Ink: Perfect Little Black Dress, Your Style Blue Me Away, Dare to Be a Diva Red, Glamazon Green (CSS)

Accessories: Shapes: Circles, Circles Trio, Red Baker's Twine, Mini Hole Punch

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CSS Preview Day #2

Hello!  It's Preview Day 2 at Clear & Simple Stamps!!!  We are showcasing new die cuts and die cut combos.  I choose Shapes: Circles.  It's a combo so that means it's there are a bunch of circle dies as well as a bunch of coordinating circle stamps.

You can see the circle dies as well as the stamps on my card.  The largest circle is adhered directly to the card and then the rest is popped up on foam dots.   I also used my scoring board to create a frame around the perimeter of the card, although it's a little hard to see in the photo.

The sentiment is from a fun new set as well called Baby Sentiments.  


Are you getting excited about this next release?  All will be revealed on March 5th and I am dying to share the rest of my projects with you.  


Want to see some more sneak peeks?  Head on over and check out some of these designers:

Kim Duran

Tracy Schultz

Stephany Zerbe

Laurie Willison

Jennifer Rzasa

Denise January

Lori Tecler

Clear & Simple Stamps

Have a great day!

{Thank You}

Stamps: Shapes: Circles, Baby Sentiments (Clear & Simple Stamps)

Card Stock: Glamazon Green, Kraft Like a Rockstar, Your Style Blue Me Away, Trendsetter Blue, Simply Blue-tiful (CSS)

Ink: True Blue Fan (CSS), Cream

Accessories: Shapes: Circles Dies (CSS), Foam Dots, Scoring Board

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Blogher Book Review: The Weird Sisters

The latest book chosen for the Blogher Book Club is "The Weird Sisters" by Eleanor Brown.  I was really intrigued by this book since I grew up with two brothers and no sisters.  I didn't really understand the sister relationship until I had sister-in-laws, it's really something special.  This is a fun read about three sisters that are all grown up returning home to deal with a family matter.  They are a quirky Father that speaks almost entirely in Shakespearean verse and named all three of his daughters aptly.  This book is about how the sisters reunite and all struggle to communicate with each other and their loved ones.  This was an enjoyable, easy read.  


I hope you'll join us over at Blogher Book Club where we'll be discussing this book.

Have a great day!

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