CSS Group Post, Borders!

Hey there!  It's been a while, huh?  Well, there is a reason for that.  This is my very last post as a member of the Clear & Simple Stamps Design Team.  Wow, that was hard to write.  I've had an amazing experience with CSS, they are the BEST!  Lately I've just been feeling burned out.  It is hard work being on a design team and there have been a lot of days I just haven't had mojo, you can see how that can take it's toll.

Not only am I resigning from the CSS design team, but I'm taking a little blogging break.  When I come back, I'll hopefully be renewed and have my passion for all things crafty back.  

Okay, onto the card.  This card was created for the CSS group post, beyond borders.  I used the Edgers 4 die and stamp combo for my card.  I just love these colors!

The sentiment "Thank You So Very Much"  is really for Nicki and Reenee from CSS and all the design team gals I've come to know and develop friendships with.

I'm really, really, really going to miss you guys!

See you soon-ish!  Have a great day!

{Thank You}

Stamps: Edger 4 Combo, All Occasions 1 (Clear & Simple Stamps)

Card Stock: Kraft Like a Rockstar, Say Yellow to All Your Fans (CSS)

Ink: Dish All the Dirt Brown, Brown Leather Satchel (CSS)

Dies:  Edger 4 (CSS)

Accessories: Yellow/White Twine, Foam Dots, Mini Hole Punch, Button

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CSS Release Week 4...

I'm so excited to share the very last products that Clear & Simple Stamps is releasing this month.  Have you spotted what's new in the ensemble above?  Today I'm focusing on a new edger die, Edgers 4 Combo that you can see on the bottom half of the card (this is a combo set that includes stamps and dies).  The entire card is stamped with a new Doily stamp that is about 4.5" in diameter, it is beautiful!  And that cute little package next to the card is a new Mini Tri-Fold 2 die that is like a card and envelope all in one!  Here I used it as a gift card holder.  

 Let's take a closer look at the card.

I stamped the cream card base and the "Mr. & Mrs." panel with the Doily stamp and Say Yellow to All Your Fans ink.  I used Edgers 4 to make the curve along the bottom of each panel.  The yellow panel is also stamped with the Doily image using From an Anonymous Source watermark ink.

Here's a closer look so you can see the stamping on the yellow panel.  The "Mr. & Mrs." panel is popped up on foam dots and over top of the twine.  I used Perfect Little Black Dress ink to stamp the sentiments, but I stamped it lightly on scrap paper first to remove some of the ink before stamping my final image.  Now the sentiment is more grayish than black.  I just love yellow and gray!

I know you are dying to see the inside of this package!  I wanted it to be easy to open so I tied it closed with the same twine from the card that you can just slide off.

This Mini Tri-Fold 2 Die is two parts, it's the folding envelope and the rectangular panel you see adhered in the center, which is also stamped with the Doily image.

This card/envelope perfectly holds a gift card.  I can tell I will be using this A LOT!  

Please check what the creations the design team came up with, using even more newly released products.  You won't want to miss it!

• Audrey Tokach
• Elena Roussakis
• Lori Tecler
• Jennifer Rzasa
• Clear & Simple Stamps Blog

To see all the items released this month in one place, click here!

Hope your weekend is amazing!

{Mr. & Mrs.}

Stamps: Doily, All Occasions 1 (Clear & Simple Stamps)

Card Stock: Say Yellow to All Your Fans, Cre'me de la Cream (CSS)

Ink: Say Yellow to All Your Fans, Perfect Little Black Dress, From an Anonymous Source (CSS)

Dies: Edgers 4, Mini Tri-Fold 2 (CSS) 

Accessories: Gray/White Twine (CSS), Foam Dots, Stamping Sponge

Read more...

A {Congratulations} Card...

Hi there!  Just a quick post today.  This card is a CASE of this beautiful card I saw yesterday on Dawn McVey's blog.  I loved her card and had to see how I could make it using my stamps.

I'm pretty happy with how it turned out, although it still pails in comparison to Dawn's card, which is utter perfection.

I really do like the touch of black, it really grounds the card.

Thanks for stopping by for a visit, have a wonderful day!

{Congratulations}

Stamps: All Occasions 1, Love Cupid (Clear & Simple Stamps)

Card Stock: Cre'me de la Cream (CSS)

Ink: Perfect Little Black Dress, Purplicious, VIP Purple, Coral Necklace, Paint the Town Pink (CSS)

Accessories: Purple/White Twine (CSS)

Read more...

A {Mr. & Mrs.} Card...

Hello!  I had a clear vision for this card, just a one layer card with six squares popped up on dots.  Well, I had my 2 x 3 rectangle cut and stamped, then I accidentally made my first cut at a half inch instead of an inch!  Whoops!  I could have redone it, but I wanted to see how it played out.  I didn't intend to mat the rectangles (would be squares) on the gray card stock, but it was just easier to maneuver.  I laid them all out first, then adhered them with foam dots, then trimmed the gray card stock.

The design reminded me of stained glass that you might find in a church, so I thought this would be a perfect wedding card.  

I also have another card to show you, it's on the Clear & Simple Stamps App for the iPad/iPhone.  Here's a sneak peek...

Have a great day!  

{Mr. & Mrs.}

Stamps: All Occasions 1, Background Basics 1 (Clear & Simple Stamps)

Card Stock: Dare to Be a Diva, Cre'me de la Cream, Such a Gray-cious Host (CSS)

Ink: Perfect Little Black Dress (CSS)

Accessories: Foam Dots

Read more...

CSS Group Project! New Colors!!!

Good Morning!  I've been waiting for this day for quite some time, I'm finally able to share the NEW COLORS that  Clear & Simple Stamps is releasing today.  The design team is hosting a gift exchange and we are each focusing a NEW COLOR.  The color that I chose to work with is ROUGE RUFFLES.  It's red with a little brown mixed in, like an earthy red.  I love it!  

Here's a message from Clear & Simple Stamps regarding these exciting changes: 

Clear and Simple Stamps has made the choice to "go green" and revitalize the CSS current color line. You will see a few new colors and some vintage colors no longer being offered, in an effort to provide product made from renewable contents. All of the color coordinated products are made in the USA. The paper comes from mills that practice responsible, sustainable forestry while manufacturing the highest quality paper products on the market. These mills are powered by renewable energy sources, and our paper products are made of 100% recycled content with 30% PCW (post-consumer waste). We are very pleased to announce our commitment to incorporate environmental practices into our daily crafting.

These new colors don't just include card stock and ink, they also have coordinating envelopes (two sizes) and some have gift wrap.  Rouge Ruffles does not have a coordinating Gift Wrap, so I used the new Kraft Like a Rock Star gift wrap.  I love it!  The perfect weight for wrapping gifts and it accepts ink beautifully.  

(click here to download PDF)

Onto the details about my project:

For my card, I created two panels with a space in the center for some falling leaves using the stamp set Leaflets and coordinating dies.  I used Rouge Ruffles card stock to line the two panels, and Rouge Ruffles ink for some of the leaves and the sentiment.  The card is sitting on top of a coordinating Rouge Ruffles envelope.  I replicated some of the leaves along one of the edges so it would coordinate with my card.

Here's a close-up of the card.  You can see the subtle Distressed Linen background that I stamped using From an Anonymous Source watermark ink.  

I am the most excited about my present!  I replicated the background from the card on my gift wrap, just using Rouge Ruffles ink this time.   The bow that sits atop the gift was made using Rouge Ruffles card stock!  It's the first time I've ever made a gift bow!  It was pretty easy.  The trick to using card stock is to run each strip through your fingers to get it to curve on its own before you start manipulating it.

My tag looks like a sugar cookie!  This is a recipe I discovered last year when my kids and I made Christmas Ornaments.  Here's the recipe:  
--------------------
1/2 C. Salt
1/2 C. Warm Water
1 C. All Purpose Flour

Mix all ingredients, roll out dough.  Use cookie cutters to cut into desired shapes and use a straw to create a small hole to thread string through, transfer to a cookie sheet.  I like to roll my dough out directly on the cookie sheet so I don't have to worry about the dough getting out of shape when I move them.  If you want to stamp on your tag/ornament do this now.  You can also paint on them afterwards.  Bake at 250* for about two hours until they are hardened.
------------------

You'll have to check out the following designers to see all the colors being released today!  Have fun blog hopping!

• Lori Tecler
• Jaclyn Miller
• Kim Duran
• Tracy Schultz
• Laura Bassen
• Laurie Willison
• Jennifer Rzasa
• Elena Roussakis
• Stephany Zerbe
• Denise January
• Amber Kemp-Gerstel
• Debby Hughes (guest)

• Clear & Simple Stamps

Have a great day!

{Thank You Gift Ensemble}

Stamps: Leaflets, Distressed Linen, All Occasions 1, Well Preserved Jars Extras (Clear & Simple Stamps)

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

Ink: Rouge Ruffles, Dish All the Dirt Brown, From an Anonymous Source (CSS)

Dies: Leaflets (CSS) 

Accessories: Kraft Like a Rockstar Gift Wrap, Rouge Ruffles Envelope, Twine/Rafia, Foam Dots, Glue Dots, Salt Dough Tag

Read more...

A {With Sympathy} Card...

Hey guys!  Happy Friday!!!  Another busy week here, but that seems to be the norm these days.  I have a simple looking card share today.  The over all look is simple, but the design took a lot of pencil marks, a ruler and a good eraser.  

The rectangle image comes from the new set Well Preserved Jars: Extra.  It's designed to be stamped as a jar label, but I loved the simplicity of it and used it to build a background.  I stamped the rectangles in a light color so I could stamp the leaves and sentiment over top.  One more thing worth noting, the sentiment is two words that originally are next to each other on one stamp, I cut the words apart so I could stamp the sentiment with the words stacked.  I just love how versatile clear stamps are!

Well, that's all for me!  Have a wonderful weekend!!!

{With Sympathy}

Stamps: All Occasions 1, Leaflets, Well Preserved Jars: Extra (Clear & Simple Stamps)

Card Stock: A Blanc Check (CSS)

Ink: Brown Leather Satchel, Orange You Fabulous, Dish All the Dirt Brown (CSS)

Read more...

A Confetti {Congrats} Card...

I've been seeing these "confetti" cards popping up all over the blog-o-sphere!  I thought I would finally take a stab at it.  It was unintentional, but my card turned out pretty masculine looking.

Once I had all the circles punched, I simply smeared a little glue over a one wide strip of the card.  I sprinkled the larger circles first and then the smaller ones.  I saved the small black ones for last since they were a sort of accent.  

The sentiment is popped up on foam dots.  Now we wait and see if all the confetti holds up, fingers crossed!

Have a great day!

{Congratulations}

Stamps: Circles Plus, All Occasions 1 (Clear & Simple Stamps)

Card Stock: Such a Gray-cious Host, Orange You Fabulous, Perfect Little Black Dress, Say Yellow to All Your Fans (CSS)

Ink: Perfect Little Black Dress (CSS)

Accessories: Circle Punches, Corner Rounder Punch, Foam Dots

Read more...

A {Thank You} Card...

Hello & Happy Friday!!!  I have a fun little card to share with you today.  Once I picked the colors of card stock I wanted to use, the card came together rather quickly.  I used dies from the combo set Shapes: Squares from CSS.  It's a set that included stamps and dies.  I just used the dies here.  

The green layer and the green heart are popped up on foam dots.  This card was so plain until I added the heart.  The heart is from another combo set called Shapes: Hearts.  

Have a weekend!!!

{Thank You}

Stamps: All Occasions 1 (Clear & Simple Stamps)

Card Stock: Kraft Like a Rockstar, Trendsetter Blue, Creamsicle Cardigan, Glamazon Green, Orange You Fabulous, Green With Envy (CSS)

Ink: Orange You Fabulous (CSS)

Dies: Shapes Hearts, Shapes Squares (CSS)

Accessories: Foam Dots, Orange Gem

Read more...

Another {Mr. & Mrs.} Wedding Card...

Hey there!  I noticed that I was running a little low on wedding cards when my cousin asked me for one.  I had a bunch of "Congrats" and "Best Wishes" cards, but hardly any specifically for a wedding.

Obviously I'm loving the sentiment "Mr. & Mrs." from the All Occasions 1 set from Clear & Simple Stamps.  Actually I am loving that whole set, which is clearly evident by how many cards I've made using that set.   Also worth noting, I cut the sentiment apart.  In the set it is all one piece.

I think that the background building stamp I used is so elegant, perfect for a wedding card.  This card is 5" x 3.5, which is a size I am really loving.  Just a bit smaller than the regular A2 size I make.  

Have a great day!

{Mr. & Mrs.}

Stamps: All Occasions 1, Background Basics 1 (Clear & Simple Stamps)

Card Stock: Green With Envy, True Blue Fan, On the Catwalk Cream (CSS)

Ink: True Blue Fan, Green With Envy (CSS)

Dies: Tags 2 (CSS) 

Accessories: Green Floss

Read more...

A {Mr. & Mrs.} Wedding Card...

Just a clean and simple wedding card to share today.  It's been a while since I've used an embossing folder and I think this one goes so well with a wedding theme.

ETA: I just realized that the sentiment under "Mr. & Mrs." can't be seen in the above photo, whoops!  It's there, really.  Check out the bottom pic for the full sentiment. I guess lighting is everything.

I also like the cream on cream for wedding.  It seems to be timeless.

I sprinkled a few gems here and there to sort of glitz it up a bit.

Thanks so much for stopping by today!  Have a wonderful day!!!

{Mr. & Mrs.}

Stamps: All Occasions 1 (Clear & Simple Stamps)

Card Stock: On the Catwalk Cream, Perfect Little Black Dress (CSS)

Ink: Glamazon Green (CSS), Vintage Cream (PTI)

Accessories: Birds & Swirls Embossing Folder (Cuttlebug), Pink Gems, Pink Floss, Foam Dots

Read more...

A Baby {Congratulations} Card...

Happy, Happy Friday!  Three glorious days of no homework or getting children ready for school.  Transitioning into back-to-school mode is HARD!  It's been two and a half weeks, it should be getting easier, right?  

So, I enjoying making cards, but today I NEEDED to make a card.  I needed to chill out and be in my own little world for a while and not worry about packing lunches or if I signed the kids' agenda.  I was not in the mood to come up with an original design, so I turned to my Card Inspiration Pinterest Board. I've had my eye on this card for quite a while, today is the day I finally CASEd it!

I looked through my dies and punches to come up with something different than a butterfly so my card didn't look exactly like the original.  When I CASE a card, I try to make it my own as much as possible.  So, as soon as I spotted the giraffe die, I knew I was destined to make a baby card.  

I haven't used patterned paper in I can't even remember how long.  I've been enjoying creating my own backgrounds with stamps.  However, I was in a mood for something different today and gravitated toward patterned paper.

Since I was pleased with how the boy card turned out, I thought, why not make a girl version?  So that's just what I did!

 And here they both are together.  Cute, right?

I hope you all have an amazing holiday weekend!  Here in the Untied States we are celebrating Labor Day on Monday so the kids are off school and my husband is off work.  We are planning on spending some time with friends and family, so I'm hoping that will recharge my battery for next week.  

Thanks so much for stopping by for a visit!

{Congrats Boy}

Stamps: All Occasions 1, Baby Shower (Clear & Simple Stamps)

Card Stock: Your Style Blue Me Away, Kraft Like a Rockstar, Trendsetter Blue (CSS)

Patterned Paper: Basics Manila (Basic Grey)

Ink: Your Style Blue Me Away, Dish All the Dirt Brown, Trendsetter Blue (CSS)

Dies: Baby Shower (CSS) 

Accessories: Foam Dots, Blue Gems, Stamping Sponge

{Congrats Girl}

Stamps: All Occasions 1, Baby Shower (Clear & Simple Stamps)

Card Stock: Coral Necklace, Kraft Like a Rockstar, I'm a Princess Pink (CSS)

Patterned Paper: Basics Manila (Basic Grey)

Ink: Paint the Town Pink, Dish All the Dirt Brown (CSS)

Dies: Baby Shower (CSS) 

Accessories: Foam Dots, Pink Gems, Stamping Sponge 

Read more...

A {Happy Birthday} Card...

Hey friends!!!  You can't ever have too many birthday cards, right?  I made this super simple card today to share with you.  This card would be very quick to recreate, most of the time is spent wiping the ink off the stamp so you can use it again for the next color of ink.

This card would have come together a lot faster, but I spend a lot of time making a skinny rectangular panel for the sentiment that I was going to adhere to the lower right side of the card.  I got so frustrated about what color it should be, etc, that I finally just stamped the sentiment on the card, AND I LOVE IT!!!  Clear & Simple Stamps have the best black ink (Perfect Little Black Dress), just sayin'.

This card is one layer, which doesn't happen very often for me, but I love when it does happen.  

Thanks for popping in, have a wonderful weekend!!!

{Happy Birthday}

Stamps: Circles Plus, All Occasions 1 (Clear & Simple Stamps)

Card Stock: On the Catwalk Cream (CSS)

Ink: Glamazon Green, Green With Envy, Orange You Fabulous, Paint the Town Pink, Creamsicle Cardigan, Perfect Little Black Dress (CSS)

Read more...

A {With Sympathy} Card...

Hello!  Today is the last day of school for my kiddos.  I tried to squeeze a ton of card-making in this morning.  I'm hoping that I'll be able to sneak away for a little craft time (me-time) in the mornings this summer. 


This is a CAS card I made using All Occasions 2.  I just love the colors of the vases, I think that's what makes the card look modern.  I created a "shelf" for the vases using a thin strip of Dish All the Dirt Brown card stock with the the wood grain image from Background Basics 1 stamped over it in the same color ink.   

The center vase is popped up on a foam dot just for added interest and dimension. I stamped the flowers on the card base first and then adhered the vase.

Have a great day!

{With Sympathy}

Stamps: All Occasions 2, Background Basics 1 (Clear & Simple Stamps)

Card Stock: A Blanc Check, Dish All the Dirt Brown (CSS)

Ink: Orange You Fabulous, Dish All the Dirt Brown, Brown Leather Satchel, Simply Blue-tiful, Green With Envy (CSS)

Accessories: Foam Dots

Read more...