Release Day: Collection 5!!!

The day is finally here!!!  I get to share with you the awesomeness that is Collection 5 from Clear & Simple Stamps!!!  Today I'm sharing one of the newest additions to CSS's shapes collection.  It's rounded squares!  You can see my project below using all kinds of rounded squares.  

Such a cute gift to give someone you love!  I paired my card with a small jar of apple jelly.  I didn't forget about a coordinating tag.

For my card, I started with a card base of Glamazon Green.  I used the new Rounded Squares Trio die to cut 3 rounded squares equally spaced on my card.  I attached a piece of On the Catwalk Cream card stock behind the three openings. Rounded Squares Combo is a set of all different sizes of rounded square dies with coordinating dashed line stamps.  I used those dashed line stamps on the perimeter of the cream squares using Dare to Be a Diva Red ink.  Then I took some Green With Envy card stock and die cut 3 small rounded squares and attached them to the cream squares using foam dots.  

CSS has another new set that you'll see later this week that includes these apples and a coordinating apple die.  I cut and stamped the apples and attached them to the light green squares.  

The sentiment "love you to the core" comes from an older CSS stamp set called "Icon Sentiments".  I punched a small hole on both sides of my card and tied some Red/White/Green Twine.  

For the tag on my jar I simply cut an extra of all the dies but adhered them together a little differently and punched a hole to make it a tag.

You won't want to miss what these designers have in store for you!

• Laurie Willison
• Kim Duran
• Stephany Zerbe
• Jaclyn Miller
• Denise January
• Laura Bassen
• Tracy Schultz
• Jennifer Rzasa
• Lori Tecler
• Amber Kemp-Gerstel
• Clear & Simple Stamps

Have a great day!

{Love you to the core...}

Stamps: Icon Sentiments, Rounded Squares Combo, Perfect Harvest (Clear & Simple Stamps)

Card Stock: Glamazon Green, On the Catwalk Cream, Green With Envy (CSS)

Ink: Dish All the Dirt Brown, Glamazon Green, Dare to Be a Diva Red (CSS), White

Dies: Mini Fruit, Rounded Squares Combo, Rounded Squares Trio (CSS) 

Accessories: Red/White/Green Twine, Foam Dots, Mini Hole Punch

Read more...

A {Sending You Smiles} Card...

Today is the fifth day of our cruise and our kids opened this card:

This is one of my favs and it was one of the easiest to make.  It totally looks like it's one stamp or at least two stamps from the same set.  The sun and clouds is one stamp from a limited edition set from Clear & Simple Stamps (you get it when you take their copic class at CKC) and the sentiment stamp is from their set called Icon Extras.  I just love happy accidents!


Today we are on the island of St. Thomas.  Not sure what is in store for us but I'm sure it'll have something to do with the beach, exploring the island, and drinking of frozen adult beverage.


Have a great day!

{Sending You Smiles}

Stamps: Icon Extras, Smile/Limited Edition (Clear & Simple Stamps), 

Card Stock: A Blanc Check (CSS)

Ink: Perfect Black Dress (CSS)

Copics: Y32, Y35, Y38, B93, B95, W1, 0

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A {Happy Fall} Card...

Hello Hello!  I hope you've recovered from your holiday weekend!  We had a very lazy day yesterday and that's helped so much.  It's been so cool here the last two days.  Four days ago it was in the 90's and now it's in the 50's.  Bizarre!  So in celebration of cooler weather coming, I made an appropriately themed card.

I used my Silhouette to cut out the white rectangle of card stock and also the circle shapes.  If you aren't familiar with the Silhouette you might not know that you can design your card right on the computer and simply hit "cut page" and it cuts your card out for you.  Once I had it cut, I simply adhered strips of colored card stock behind the circle openings.  Easy peasy and most of the work was done on the computer.

Once I was done cutting the page, I saved the image I created so I can make this card over any time and simply change the colors.  I think the circles were meant to be used as a border, but I think they look kind of retro here.  I really like the button and how it's placed directly over a circle.  It looks like it was designed that way, but it was really just a happy accident.  

Thanks so much for taking a peek at my card!  Have a great day!!!

{Happy Fall}

Stamps: Icon Extras (Clear & Simple Stamps)

Card Stock: A Blanc Check, Kraft Like a Rockstar, Dare to be a Diva Red, Orange You Fabulous, Say Yellow to All Your Fans, Glamazon Green, Espresso Your Style (CSS)

Ink: Espresso Your Style, Dish All the Dirt Brown (CSS)

Accessories: Digitally Cut Shapes (Silhouette), Button, Cork Sheet, Foam Dimensionals, Stamping Sponge (CSS)

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A {Birthday Greetings} Card Re-Do...

Hey guys!  I have one more card re-do to show you.  This is another one from 2008.  Click here to see the original post (including a trip down memory lane when my daughter graduated from preschool).  I think the end result is better than the original card, but I'm not in love with it. I don't know, I think it might be too far from my style.  

Original Card 2008

Updated Card 2011

I pretty much just changed the paper, the flower is the same style but punched from paper.  I decided to not round the edges of the sentiment panel and instead I distressed all the edges.  I added a yellow pearl in the corner.  

I think this card is just a lit bit too busy for my liking.  I think this would be a great card for a girly girl.  

That being said, I have to tell you that it's not very often I use a paper pad until nothing is left but little scraps.  Well, that's what happened with the pad of paper I used for this card.  It's from the Gertie (Stella Rose) collection from My Mind's Eye.  I think I only have one full sheet left.  I love that MME's papers are double sided.  If you don't like one side, most likely you'll love the other side.

Have a great weekend!!!

{Birthday Greetings}

Stamps: Icon Extras (Clear & Simple Stamps)

Card Stock: Simply Blue-tiful, Paint the Town Pink (CSS)

Patterned Paper: Gertie (My Mind's Eye)

Ink: Simply Blue-tiful (CSS)

Accessories: Pearl, Yellow Ribbon, Flower Punch (Paper Shapers), Circle Punch (SU), Scallop Edge Punch (SU), Edge Distresser, Foam Dimensionals, Stamping Sponge

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A {Hippity Hoppity Greetings} Card...

Hey guys!  I was looking through my stash of stamps today and realized that I actually do have an Easter stamp.  The bunny came from Icons and the sentiment came from Icon Extras.  I totally forgot that there was a bunny image.  I think I've used them all except the bunny.  What perfect timing!

I love how this card turned out.  It was quick and easy to make, but it looks really cute.  The rhinestone for the bunny's eye is blue, that may be hard to see in the photo.  This card is 3.5" x 4.25".  I've been making a lot of cards this size lately.  I'm not sure why, but I really like this size.

Make sure you stop by tomorrow for a special Earth Day post.

Have a great day!

{Hippity Hoppity Greetings}

Stamps: Icons, Icon Extras (Clear & Simple Stamps)

Card Stock: Kraft Like a Rockstar (CSS)

Patterned Paper: Gertie (My Mind's Eye)

Ink: Simply Blue-tiful, Coral Necklace (CSS)

Accessories: Blue Rhinestone, Yellow Floss (DMC), Foam Dimensionals

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A {Happy Spring} Card...

Would you believe that I haven't been in my studio since last Friday?  Crazy, huh? Well, I thought I would start off simple, like making a card that uses 20 small flower punches!  This is one of the bling-iest cards I've ever made (if that's a real word, but you know what I mean).  I used a ton of black rhinestones, 24 to be exact.

I created the frame with a ruler and fine-tip sharpie.  The double-lined frame is something I've been seeing a lot around the blog-o-sphere.  When I started this card I wanted to arrange the flowers in a gradient fashion, starting with the dark red at the top and getting lighter and lighter you move toward the bottom.  But when I arranged the flowers I just didn't have a broad enough spectrum of colors to make the gradient thing work.  So, I just mixed up the colors.

This card definitely says SPRING!


Have a great day!

{Happy Spring}

Stamps: Icon Extras (Clear & Simple Stamps)

Card Stock: A Blanc Check, Dare to Be a Diva Red, Paint the Town Pink, I'm a Princess Pink (CSS)

Ink: Paint the Town Pink (CSS)

Accessories: Black Rhinestones (Kaiser Craft), Mini Glue Dots, Black Fine Tip Marker (Sharpie), Flower Punch (EK Success)

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A {Sending You Smiles} Card...

Good morning!  Can you believe I managed to make a card and get it posted before noon?  Well, after sleeping in and taking it easy yesterday, I woke up bright and earlier today.  The kids have been so good playing by themselves (actually I can hear them arguing right now, but they are leaving me out of it).

Anyway, I made this card using today's sketch challenge from SCS.  I've been using my glue gun quite a bit lately and finally made one of these flowers for a card.  It's just some twill tape twisted and glued into place.  It's so easy.  

Another thing I've been loving is coloring clear rhinestones with copic markers.  Really, I don't think I'll need to buy colored rhinestones again as long as I have a copic marker that can do the trick.  These rhinestones were colored using a yellow/orange copic marker.  So easy and they dry so quickly.  


Thanks so much for stopping by today!!!

{Sending You Smiles}

Stamps: Icon Extras (Clear & Simple Stamps)

Card Stock: Kraft Like a Rockstar (CSS)

Patterned Paper: Hattie (My Mind's Eye)

Ink: Your Style Blue Me Away (CSS)

Accessories: Natural Twill Tape (SU), Glue Gun, Stamping Sponge, Foam Dimensionals, Edge Distresser, Clear Gems, Yellow Copic Marker

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A {Happy Birthday Jacob} Card...

Hello!  I'm starting to wonder if I'm ever going to recover from this whirlwind weekend.  I think I could crawl into my bed and sleep until tomorrow.  So, as some of you know I attended CKC in Louisville on Friday.  Unfortunately I didn't get to see much outside of the Clear & Simple Stamps classroom, but I still had a great time and learned a lot about copic markers.  Nicki and Reenee were so nice and I learned a lot about the company.  Would you believe I didn't take any pictures?  I could kick myself.  We were just so busy it just didn't occur to me.  Hopefully the CKC in Cincinnati will be a little less crazy.

So, once I returned from CKC I was itching to use my Silhouette.  I made this card for my dear friend's son who just turned one.  The number one, the letters spelling Jacob and the rectangle around it were all cut from the Silhouette.

I really love the argyle paper for a little boys card.  This card uses four different pieces of patterned paper, all from the Hattie collection from My Mind's Eye.  There's a lot of dimension to this little card that you can see in the above photo.


Thanks for stopping by today.  Have a great day!

{Happy Birthday Jacob}

Stamps: Icons Extra (Clear & Simple Stamps)

Card Stock: Kraft Like a Rockstar (CSS)

Patterned Paper: Hattie (My Mind's Eye)

Ink: Your Style Blue Me Away (CSS)

Accessories: Foam Dimensionals, Circle Punch, Stamping Sponge, Digitally Cut Images (Silhouette)

Read more...

Surprise Birthday Blog Hop!!!

Good Morning!  Today we are surprising Reenee, one of the fearless leaders behind Clear & Simple Stamps.  She is going to be so surprised!  If you have made your way here from Sarah Martina's blog, then you are in the right place.   If you are visiting with me first then you will want to start this special birthday blog hop from the beginning at Clear and Simple Stamps.

I am so fortunate to be meeting Reenee and Nikki in person on Friday.  They will be in Louisville which is only about a two hour drive for me.  We'll all meet at the CK Scrapbook Convention.  I've never been to one so I am super excited.  I'll also be learning a thing or two about using copic markers.  Anyone else attending?

I was so lucky to have some new paper pads delivered right before I started making this card.  I pulled out a few sheets I liked the best and created this card.  My son was quick to point out that I did not make three-in-a-row in my tic-tac-toe.  For the hearts I used a much neglected set "Love Notes".  I am in love with the hounds-tooth heart stamp, simply awesome.  Can't wait to use this set again.

There are many layers to this card.  I love mixing and matching patterned papers and I love the green accent.  This was my first time using baker's twine.  I've been looking for it in stores for a while and they either didn't have it or it was out of stock. I finally broke down and bought some online.  I knew I would love it. 

We can't have a blog hop without a fabulous prize- a surprise package of CSS goodies. In order to qualify for the prize, participants must leave a birthday wish for Reenee on our Facebook and/or Clear and Simple Stamps birthday blog post.  CSS will pick {2} winners - one winner from FB and one winner from the CSS Blog. And for fun - CSS will gift everyone a 15% off coupon good for that day only when shopping at CSS. You will just need to enter birthday15 in order to receive the discount. This coupon will not be valid with other offers and is good for one day only.


Now on to your next stop at Beth Matson's blog.  Here's a list of all the participants just in case you get off track.

Clear and Simple Stamps

Kim Howard

Cristina Kowalczy

Heather Pulvirenti

Jen Tapler

Susan Raihala

Sarah Martina

Dana Grothaus

Beth Matson

Tracy Schultz

Viola Mahr

Ryann Salamon

Simone Pursiful

Sue Berker

Eva Dobilas

Ayana Posadas

Maria Levine

Stephany Zerbe

Ashley Newell

Regina Mangum

Lori Tecler

Clear and Simple Stamps {FB}

Thanks so much for sharing in Reenee's birthday fun!!!  Have a great day!

{Birthday Wishes}

Stamps: Love Notes, Icons Extra (Clear & Simple Stamps)

Card Stock: Kraft Like a Rockstar, On the Catwalk Cream, I'm a Princess Pink

Patterned Paper: Gertie (My Mind's Eye)

Ink: Green with Envy, Dare to be a Diva Red

Accessories: Baker's Twine (Jillibean Soup), Foam Dimensionals, Corner Rounder Punch, Heart Punch (Paper Shapers), Stamping Sponge

Read more...

A {Happy Birthday} Card...

Hey Friends!  Hope you all had a great weekend.  Today starts a super busy week for me.  I hope I can juggle everything.

I wanted to make a CAS card using an interesting color combo.  I created a strip of stars using Kraft Like a Rockstar card stock, Brown Leather Satchel ink, and the star stamp from Icons I.  I matted the strip with A Clean Slate and I'm a Princess Pink card stock.  My ribbon was a little too wide for this card, so I simply folded it in half before I tied the bow.

The sentiment is stamped in Dare to be a Diva Red, although it looks brown in the photo.  I wanted the sentiment to match the rhinestones.

Have a great day!

{Happy Birthday}

Stamps: Icons I, Icons Extra (Clear & Simple Stamps)

Card Stock: Kraft Like a Rockstar, A Clean Slate, I'm a Princess Pink (CSS)

Ink: Brown Leather Satchel, Dare to be a Diva Red (CSS)

Accessories: Red Rhinestones (Kaiser Craft), Edge Distresser, Light Pink Sheer Ribbon (Offray)

Read more...

A {Birthday Wishes} Card...

Hey guys!  I've been having some computer issues this week.  I turned on my laptop yesterday morning and it went straight to an error page and wouldn't boot up.  Until that gets fixed I'm using my husband's net book.  It's really small and I really don't like it.  I miss all my programs and shortcuts I have on my computer.  So, I made this card today and had to download photo editing software so I could crop it and adjust the lighting.  Hopefully my computer will get fixed tonight if all goes right.


So, here is my card.  I'm combining two SCS challenges.  The first one is the "Ways to Use It" challenge where they wanted you to use polka dots on your card, I think mine has more than enough.  The other one is a "sketch challenge".  The layout is pretty unique that I just had to give it a try.  

Here's another view so you can see all the dimension.  


Thanks so much for stopping by today for a visit!  Have a great day!

{Birthday Wishes}

Stamps: Icon Extras (Clear & Simple Stamps)

Card Stock: Kraft Like a Rockstar, On the Catwalk Cream (CSS)

Patterned Paper: Love Me Do (My Mind's Eye)

Ink: Dare to be a Diva Red, Simply Blue-tiful (CSS)

Accessories: Heart Punches (Paper Shapers), Stamping Sponge, Blue Rhinestones (Kaiser Craft) 

Read more...

A {Thank You} Card...

Hello!  I'm so glad to be back after a little unexpected hiatus.  Nothing happened, just the everyday things that pop up that you have to deal with.  Anyway, I'm happy to be back.

I used this week's CPS Sketch for my card.  I didn't intend for this card to be monochromatic, but I really like it.  It sort of adds to the CAS of it.   

Those heart stamps come from one of my favorite stamp sets, Icons I from Clear & Simple Stamps.  It was hard to chose an image to use since I really like them all, but the hearts really complimented the background paper.  Those stamps also work perfectly with this sketch. 


Have a great day!

{Thank You}

Stamps: Icons I, Icons Extra (Clear & Simple Stamps)

Card Stock: Kraft Like a Rockstar, On the Catwalk Cream (Clear & Simple Stamps)

Patterned Paper: Offbeat (Basic Grey)

Ink: Dare to be a Diva Red (Clear & Simple Stamps)

Accessories: Red Floss (DMC), Foam Dimensionals, Small Hole Punch, Red Rhinestones (Kaiser Craft), Stamping Sponge

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A {Congratulations Friend} Card...

Hello!  I made this card this morning, I was really itching to use my Silhouette.  I have always loved the cards that have letters with patterned paper behind it.  Is there a word for that?  I thought it would be really cool way to make a stack of cards for a gift and it would be quick and easy as well as clean and simple.  Some day, some day!

Anyway, I used the Silhouette to cut the kraft rectangular shape along with the letters for "friend".  After I punched out the letters, I glued the center of the "d" and "r" with glue to the patterned paper.

Here's another view.  The gems didn't photograph very well, it looks nice in real life.  This card is really giving me a masculine vibe with the earthy colors and lack ribbon and flowers.  


Take care!  Thanks for stopping by!

{Congratulations Friend}

Stamps: Icons Extras (Clear & Simple Stamps)

Card Stock: Kraft Like a Rockstar, Espresso Your Style (CSS)

Patterned Paper: Origins (Basic Grey)

Ink: Espresso Your Style, Emerald Bling (CSS)

Accessories: Digital Cuts (Silhouette), Edge Distresser, Stamping Sponge, Light Green Rhinestones

Read more...

A Sweet {Thank You} Card...

Hello!  I hope you are all having a great day.  I mentioned last week that I've been running lately.  Well, walking and running in small spurts.  I'm using a program called "Couch to 5K".  I've been running on the treadmill in the morning right after dropping the kids off at school (every other day).  I've noticed that my days have gone so much smoother on days that I run/walk.  Even though I'm squeezing exercise into my busy schedule, I'm getting so much stuff done.  I don't know if I have more energy or just my attitude is different.  Not sure, but I know I'm loving it.

How about I talk about my card?  Well, this one was created using today's sketch challenge at SCS.  I chose to use that particular patterned paper because it was already scattered all over my desk from the card I made yesterday.

Thanks so much for stopping by and brightening my day!

{Thank You From the Heart}

Stamps: Icons Extras (Clear & Simple Stamps) 

Card Stock: On the Catwalk Cream (Clear & Simple Stamps)

Patterned Paper: Be-Loved (My Mind's Eye)

Ink: A Clean Slate, Dare to be a Diva Red (Clear & Simple Stamps)

Accessories: Foam Dimensionals, Sheer Ribbon (Offray), Stamping Sponge, Heart Punches (Paper Shapers)

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OCC Challenge - Color Challenge w/ a Twist

Hey guys!  We have a fun and unique challenge from Our Creative Corner for you today.  I've seen color charts before, but I've not made a card based on complimentary colors.  You can see the color chart to the left.  The challenge is to use three colors in order from the chart.  


For my card, I used three colors in the lower right quadrant.  I chose a medium blue, aqua blue, and green.  You can also use black and white. I love how the colors pop off the white card stock.  

I actually used three stamps from three different stamp sets. Each layer is popped up on foam dimensionals.  


Be sure to check out the other samples at Our Creative Corner.  You'll find lots of inspiration from all over the color chart.  

Have a great weekend everyone!!!

{You're a Lucky Star}

Stamps: Icons I, Icons Extras (Clear & Simple Stamps), Around & About Sentiments (Papertrey Ink)

Card Stock: Blanc Check, Glamazon Green (Clear & Simple Stamps)

Ink: Simply Blue-tiful, Green with Envy, Your Style Blue Me Away (Clear & Simple Stamps), Fresh Snow (Papertrey Ink)

Accessories: Swiss Dots Embossing Folder (Cuttlebug), Foam Dimensionals, Rhinestones (Kaiser Craft)

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A {Happy Heart Day} Card...

Hello!  Today I'm playing along along with CPS's 200th Sketch!  I chose to use these papers because they were still sitting out on my desk from the card I made yesterday.  I just adore the colors of the Love Me Do collection by My Mind's Eye.

The stamps I chose are from Clear & Simple Stamps.  The hearts are from Icons I and the sentiment is one that I created using Icon Extras.  To get extra mileage out of my sentiments, I sometimes cut the words apart.  The word "heart" came from the phrase "from the heart". Since they are acrylic stamps, they are super easy to line back up on the block when you want to put the phrase back together.  


Today Colin celebrated his birthday at school and the clown cake pops were a hit!  All the kids loved them and said they tasted great.

PS.  I ordered an actual light box so I can take better photos of my cards.  They are so hit or miss lately.  The card today is totally cute and the photo doesn't do it justice.  Ugh.  Can't wait till it gets here.  I would love to consistently take good photos indoors.


Have a great day!

{Happy Heart Day}

Stamps: Icons I, Icon Extras (Clear & Simple Stamps)

Card Stock: Dare to be a Dive Red (CSS)

Patterned Paper: Love Me Do (My Mind's Eye)

Ink: Dare to be a Diva Red (CSS)

Accessories: Corner Rounder Punch, Light Blue Rhinestones (Kaiser Craft ), Stamping Sponge, Foam Dimensionals, Red Rhinestones Strip (Michaels)

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