Sunday, January 31, 2010

Have a Mice Day!

Good Morning! This is the last day of Clear Dollar Stamps Sneak Peeks and I have a really great sentiment stamp set to share with you today. "Cute Quips", containing many cute sentiments will be releasing on February 1st and is so handy with so many other CDS stamps, as you see here. The mice, Marcy and Marvin, as well as the cheese slice, is from Clear Dollar Stamps and when I saw the sentiment, "Have a Mice Day", I just knew the mice and cheese were perfect for it. This card layout concept evolved from my finding the EK Success Swiss Cheese Border Punch on a recent Michael's trip! That sort of set the stage for an orange theme, so when I saw another great Martha Stewart designer paper pad, called "Playful Blues", I thought that it would be a great fit with the orange to create this whimsical flavor. Although, I have to say that after looking at the Swiss Cheese "holes", the dotted Martha Stewart designer background paper, and the paper piercing holes, not to mention the Pebbles polka dotted ribbon...I was thinking I'm about circle and dotted out! LOL And second card using "Cute Quips" is featured below.

The DT member who have sneak peeks of this set are:

Okay, now for the deets:
Stamps: CDS Cute Quips, CDS Marvin Mouse, CDS Marcy Mouse, CDS Cheese
CS/Paper: Martha Stewart Playful Blue Paper Pad, DCWV Fun in the Sun Mat Stack, K&Co. Remake Ocean Blues Mat Pad
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black & Stampin' Up! Baja Breeze Inks
Tools: Cuttlebug, Regular Circle Nestabilities, Inverted Circle Nestabilities, Paper Piercing Tool, EK Success Swiss Cheese Border Punch, Tsukineko Sponge Dauber, Karen Foster Click-It Hole Punch Kit, Sewing Machine, Thread, Stampin' Up! Dimensionals, Pebbles Ribbon, Paper Trey Ink Button, KaiserCraft Self-Adhesive Pearls, Copic Sketch Markers: R11 Pale Cherry Pink, RV11 Pink, YR01 Peach Puff, YR16 Apricot, C1 & C3 Cool Greys, 0 Colorless Blende
Techniques: Basic Stamping, Sponging, Paper Piercing, Copic Coloring

A Little Birdie Told Me

Another card that I created using the Clear Dollar Stamps "Cute Quips", which is a great sentiment set and sure to prove versatile. This card was created from inspiration that I found in the Basic Grey Sugar Rush Pad...I just loved this lilac floral print and I drew colors from it to contrast and compliment, using Paper Trey's Blush Cardstock and Martha Stewart's Essentials Paper Pad for the solid green and lilac cardstock. The little birdhouse is another single stamp from CDS which coordinated beautifully with this Cute Quip, "A Little Birdie Told Me"...After gluing my card together and photographing it, I realized that I should've drawn a post or a wire from the top of, or the bottom of the birdhouse, because it is sort of suspended in the air. All-in-all though, the birdhouse is a supercute little single stamp and coordinates beautifully with "Cute Quips". Tomorrow, February 1st, all these fabulous stamps that I've shared this week along with the rest of the CDS Design Team, will be available for purchase at Clear Dollar Stamps! Hope that you enjoy your browing and shopping there...Okay, here's the deets:

CDS Stamps: Cute Quips, Birdhouse
CS/Papers: Basic Grey Sugar Rush Paper Pad, Martha Stewart Essentials Paper Pad, Paper Trey Ink Bitty Dots Paper Pad, Paper Trey Ink Blush Cardstock, Paper Trey Ink White Cardstock
Ink: Memento Black Ink
Tools: Cuttlebug, Regular Circle Nestabilities, Blossom Nestabilities, Fiskars Scalloped Paper Shaper Scissors, EK Success Scalloped Diamond Border Punch, Paper Piercing Tool, Sewing Machine, Thread, Stampin' Up! Dimensionals, EK Success Mini Flower Punch, Karen Foster Click-It Hole Punch Kit, Paper Trey Ink Button, Michael's Self-Adhesive Pearls, Michael's Satin Ribbon, Copic Sketch Markers: RV11 Pink, R11 Pale Cherry Pink, BV01 Viola, BV13 Hydrangea Blue, G20 Wax White, YG03 Yellow Green, C1 Cool Grey
Techniques: Basic Stamping, Paper Piercing, Machine Stitching

Friday, January 29, 2010

Praise God

Good Morning! Today, I'm sharing a card that is featuring a brand new single stamp AND! a stamp set from Clear Dollar Stamps -- both of these will be released on February 1st. The sentiment on this card is called "Praise God..." and is a single stamp that just resonates reasons I see to praise the Lord, and the florals on the card are from a stamp set called, "Bitty Botanicals". This set has several silhouetted clusters of flowers that are so versatile for any cardmaking occasion! Laurie Wilson, illustrated "Bitty Botanicals" and did a beautiful job and I promise that you will not be disappointed in this set and it will become one of your favorites to reach for, month after month. The whole color scheme for this card is from 2 coordinating papers from the K&Co. "Que Sera, Que Sera" designer paper pad, which I've had for months, but had yet to use. I thought that the pretty coral, yellow and pink color combo was just perfect to compliment the "Bitty Botanicals" along with the individual stamp, "Praise God...", which is also available through Clear Dollar Stamps. I don't have any sneak peeks to share with you tomorrow, but other Clear Dollar Stamps' design team members will, so please check their blogs, on the right sidebar, to check out what else is new at CDS. I will have 2 more sneak peeks to share with you on Sunday, January 31st, so be sure to visit back here then.

The DT members who have sneak peeks for "Praise God" are:
and
DT members who have sneak peeks for "Bitty Botanicals" are:

Okay, here's the deets:
CDS Stamps: Bitty Botanicals, Praise God
CS & Papers: K&Co. Que Sera, Sera Paper Pad, Colormates Medium Pretty in Pink Cardtock, Paper Trey Ink White Cardstock
Ink: Stampin' Up! Apricot Appeal & Regal Rose Inks, Memento Tuxedo Black Ink
Tools: Cuttlebug, Nestabilities Labels 4, Cuttlebug Morocco Embossing Folder, EK Success Postage Stamp Border Punch, Karen Foster Click-It Hole Punch Kit, Paper Piercing Tool, Stampin' Up! Dimensionals, Sewing Machine, Thread, Embroidery Thread, Paper Trey Ink Lemon Tart Ribbon & Buttons
Techniques: Basic Stamping, Paper Piercing, Dry Embossing, Machine Stitching

Thursday, January 28, 2010

Are You Ready for CDS Sneak Peek Week?


Good Morning and what an exciting and busy morning it is at Clear Dollar Stamps! Today, marks my internet return to CDS after a 3-month medical hiatus, although I've been stamping for a whole month prior, making February Sneak Peeks. So, I'm excited to be back designing along with the CDS Design Team! Clear Dollar Stamps has many, many new stamp sets as well as individual stamps releasing February 1st, so, if you visit the other CDS design team member's blogs, which are listed on the right sidebar, you will see many other stamps being previewed this week.

The first stamp set that I'm sharing today is called "Circle Somethings" and you talk about a fun and supercute set! The set contains half-circles and circles that have various geometric designs that you can stamp with, making different animals, plant life and such. It really is a lot of fun to stamp with and the combinations are endless, which will ignite your mojo!

I created this card, based on my inspiration from this designer paper (I often create my card designs based on designer paper inspiration). I was in Michael's looking to see what new and fresh paper was available, and ran across their "Recollections" line. The green argyle and orange spotted dots papers, really lent itself to this turtle card design. So, as soon as I got home with the paper, I got started on putting the whole thing together and I've got to tell you a story about the Martha Stewart Loopy Punch. Months ago, when everyone and their brother were making fabulous cards with the Martha Stewart Loopy Punch, and I couldn't find one anywhere, I had emailed my CDS designer team members asking them if they would pick up one for me if they saw one at a store near them...each one emailed back, saying how sorry they were that they couldn't find one. So, I was discouraged, thinking that I'd never find a Martha Stewart Loopy Punch, but that day that I was in Michaels...there it was! And on sale, yet! That just goes to prove that good things come to those who wait! Featured, below is another sample using CDS's "Circle Somethings".

The DT member who created samples with this set are:

Okay, here's the deets:

CDS Stamps: Circle Somethings
CS & Papers: Reflections Green Coordinated Scrapbook Papers, Paper Trey Ink Orange Zest Cardstock, Paper Trey Ink White Cardstock
Ink: Memento Tangelo & Tuxedo Black, Stampin' Up! Garden Green
Tools: Cuttlebug, Regular & Scalloped Circle Nestabilities, Martha Stewart Loop Border Punch, Karen Foster Click-It Hole Punch Kit, Paper Piercing Tool, Sewing Machine, Thread, Stampin' Up! Dimensionals, Embroidery Thread, Pebbles Ribbon, Paper Trey Ink Orange Zest Buttons
Techniques: Basic Stamping, Paper Piercing, Machine Stitching

Something to Celebrate

Here's the second card that I made from the CDS "Circle Somethings" stamp set. This set is so whimsical and again, it has so many possibilities...I just had to ink up the half circles to make this little mouse. I wanted to use the "Celebrate" sentiment from the "Circle Somethings" set and so the whole card concept evolved from "Celebrate. I found this delicious designer paper pad from Martha Stewart at Walmart, and loved the pink, greens and lavendars (can you tell I'm so ready for Spring?), so the layout concept came after I decided to stamp 3 vertical mice, making the third one the "Birthday Mouse". I just cut out a piece of lavendar coordinating polka dotted designer paper from the Martha Stewart pad and outlined the edge with a black marker, drawing a little pompom on top and then glued it to the bottom mouse's head. A fun set that will set your mojo free, "Circle Somethings" is available at Clear Dollar Stamps on February 1st. I have an individual stamp that I've paired with a soon-to-be-released stamp set below, so check that out, too. Okay, here's the deets:

CDS Stamps: Circle Somethings
Cardstock & Papers: Martha Stewart's "Playful Pink" Paper Pad, Paper Trey White Cardstock
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Stampin' Up! Pretty in Pink, Lovely Lilac & Green Galore
Tools: EK Success Diamond/Scallop Border Punch, Stampin' Up! Large & Small Oval Punches, EK Success Corner Punch, Stampin' Up! Dimensionals, Sewing Machine, Thread, Embroidery Thread, Pebbles Ribbon, Doodlebug Button.
Techniques: Basic Stamping, Machine Stitching

Sing to the Lord...

I have one last stamp to share with you today and it is such an uplifting stamp to use and to share. "Sing to the Lord..." is a single stamp from Clear Dollar Stamps, also to be released on February 1st. This card's layout and design sort of evolved as I went along. I didn't have a real plan when I started out making this one, but I knew that I wanted to use the "Bitty Botanicals" again from CDS and incorporate this Basic Grey designer paper that had multiple hearts within it's design. So, I pulled from the lavendar, red and green colors. I also used the Nestabilities Ribbon Tag Trio Die for the first time, although it had been sitting in my stash for several months...I wanted to use it to frame the flowers from "Bitty Botanicals"...so I cut an additional oval, stamped the flowers on that, then popped that on top of the Nestabilities' Ribbon Tag Die, coloring each dot that is embossed all around the oval, in red, to further carry out the red contrast. The hearts are made from a small older punch and a Cuttlebug heart die. "Sing to the Lord...", a single, sentiment stamp will be useful and very versatile to your stamp collection. Tomorrow, I'll have another Clear Dollar Stamp single stamp to preview as well as an awesome stamp set, so I hope that you visit here again.

The DT members who created with this single stamp are:
Cassie Trask
Nancy Grant

Okay, here's the deets:
CDS Stamps: Sing to the Lord Sentiment, Bitty Botanicals
CS & Papers: Basic Grey Sugar Rush Paper Pad, Paper Trey Ink Bitty Box Basics, Paper Trey Ink Pure Poppy Cardstock, Paper Trey Ink Sweet Blush Cardtock, Paper Trey Ink White Cardstock
Ink: Stampin' Up! Lovely Lilac & Certainly Celery Inks, Memento Tuxedo Black Ink
Tools: Cuttlebug, Cuttlebug Heart Dies, Nestabilities Long Scalloped & Regular Rectangle Dies, Nestabilities Ribbon Tag Trio 2 Die, Nestabilities Regular Oval Die, Sewing Machine, Thread, Stampin' Up! Dimensionals, Copic Sketch Marker: R29 Lipstick Red, Karen Foster Click-It Hole Punch Kit, Robin's Nest Dew Drops, Zots, Paper Trey Ink Spring Moss Polka Dotted Satin Ribbon, Paper Trey Ink Button
Techniques: Basic Stamping, Dry Embossing, Machine Stitching

Saturday, January 23, 2010

Some Chillin' Time


Who couldn't use some Chillin' Time? This card was created for Mo's Digital Pencil Challenge #15. The challenge was a color challenge using White, Bashful Blue, Almost Amethyst & Elegant Eggplant. Well, since I never buy any Stampin' Up! papers or cardstock, I had to "wing it" with the colors, but they're close, I think. I wanted to color this image for a while now and when I saw the colors in the color challenge, I thought, "Dang! This isn't going to work with those girlie/fairy type colors!" But I was determined and had my mojo on, so I rolled with it! LOL The image from Mo's Digital Collection is called "It's Hot" and boy, I wish it was! Anybody ready for summer? Count me in!! Okay, here's the deets:

Stamps: Mo's Digital Illustration "It's Hot", Computer-Generated Sentiment
Cardstock & Papers: K&Co. Remake "Lilac Lavendars" Mat Pad, Paper Trey Ink Spring Rain Cardstock, Paper Trey Ink Spring Rain Bitty Dot Basics Paper Pad, Paper Trey In White Cardstock
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
Markers: Copic Sketch - B00 Frost Blue, B000 Pale Porcelain, B24 Sky, B32 Pale Blue, B41 Powder Blue, BV01 Viola, BV13 Hydrangea Blue, V09 Violet, Y26 Mustard, G24 Willow, YG63 Pea Green, YG67 Moss, E00 Skin White, E02 Fruit Pink, E25 Caribe Cocoa, E31 Brick Beige, E34 Orientale, 0 Colorless Blender
Tools: Cuttlebug, Cuttlebug Spots 'n Dots and Bubbles Embossing Folders, Nestabilities Labels, EK Success Corner Porch, Stampin' Up! Small & Large Oval Punches, Sewing Machine, Thread, Stampin' Up! Dimensionals, Paper Piercing Tool, Robin's Nest Dew Drops, Paper Trey Ink Spring Rain Polka Dotted Satin Ribbon
Techniques: Basic Stamping, Dry Embossing, Paper Piercing, Machine Stitching, Copic Coloring

Thanks for visiting!

Monday, January 18, 2010

A Clean, Simple & Quick One!

Good Morning! Today I'm sharing a clean, simple and quick card that I needed to make for my sister-in-law, Nikki. I also wanted to ink up my Paper Trey Ink stamp set "Everyday Button Bits" that has never seen ink before, so this was the perfect occasion. It was so much fun to play with and selecting which buttons to use for each balloon was fun, but challenging...LOL!

The papers are all (except one, from Paper Trey Ink Lemon Tart Cardstock) from a paper pad made by Martha Stewart called "Playful Blue Paper Pad"...all the papers were beautifully coordinated and complimenting, and you talk about easy when that happens! I'm lovin' that and need to see what Martha Stewart offers in that line. Okay, here's the deets!

Stamps Used: Paper Trey Ink "Everyday Button Bits"
Cardstock & Papers: Martha Stewart's "Playful Blue" Paper Pad, Paper Trey Ink Lemon Tart Cardstock, Paper Trey Ink White Cardstock
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
Tools: Fiskars Zig-Zag Scissors, Sewing Machine, Thread, Stampin' Up! Dimensionals, Embroidery Thread, Robin's Nest Dew Drops, Doodlebug & Paper Trey Ink Buttons, Paper Trey Ink Polka Dotted Lemon Tart Satin Ribbon
Techniques: Basic Stamping, Machine Stitching

Friday, January 15, 2010

I've Discovered Digi "Stamps"!!!!

Happy Friday evening! My favorite time to stamp and RELAX! I'm a late bloomer to everything in general, and so it seems, again to Digi "Stamping". I've seen so many beautiful digi images that I caved in and experimented! (Still believing that this is not really stamping, but more pseudo-stamping! LOL)

Then I found Mo's Digital Pencil Challenge and store! Woot! Woot! I'm loving the whimsy of her images! She is such a gifted illustrator and I look forward to her future illustrations with lust! LOL

This card was created for the Mo's Digital Pencil Challenge #14 and I had a great time coloring "Sophie"...she was just too cute to not purchase!!! The sentiment was computer-generated as it seemed fitting. Okay, now the deets!

Stamps: Mo's Digital Pencil "Sophie" Digi Stamp, Computer-Generated Sentiment
Cardstock & Papers: Cosmo Cricket "Early Bird" Paper Pad, Colormates Medium Early Spring Green Cardstock, Colormates, Light Terrific Teal Cardstock, Paper Trey White White Cardstock
Ink: Stampin' Up! Mellow Moss & So Saffron, Memento Tuxedo Black
Markers: Copic Sketch - R02 Flesh, R11 Pale Cherry Pink, R27 Cadmium Red, Y21 Buttercup Yellow, Y26 Mustard, BG000 Pale Aqua, BG72 Ice Ocean, G20 Wax White, G82 Spring Dim Green, E00 Skin White, E02 Fruit Pink, E25 Caribe Cocoa, E31 Brick Beige, E33 Sand, C1 & C3 Cool Greys, 0 Colorless Blender.
Tools: Cuttlebug, Cuttlebug Swiss Dots Embossing Folder, Nestabilities Regular & Scalloped Oval Dies, Fiskars Scalloped Scissors, Sew Machine, Thread, Stampin' Up! Dimensionals, Zig Fine Tip Marker, Robin's Nest Dew Drops, Zots, Paper Trey Ink New Leaf Polka Dotted Satin Ribbon, Karen Foster Button Brad
Techniques: Basic Stamping, Dry Embossing, Sponging, Machine Stitching

Sunday, January 10, 2010

Snowbirds Welcome!

Good morning! As promised, I have another card that I created this weekend to show you. I can't believe that I made 2 cards in one weekend after that long card-drought! I was beginning to think that my mojo was gone forever! Instead, I am rejuvenated and on a roll! I pray that it lasts awhile.

Even though Christmas is over, we're getting lots and lots of snow here in Maryland, this winter. It is an abnormality in Maryland to get so much...it started the first weekend in December...and then we got 2 feet just in time for Christmas! That was really a once-in-a-blue-moon snow. So, with snow all around, I decided that we can still enjoy snowmen! Before I forget I want to thank my friend Joyce Casaldi, for the pretty transparent sparkly ribbon that she sent to me for my birthday last month...I have teamed it with the Michael's Pink Satin Ribbon on this card.

This snowman is called "Hamilton" from Whipper Snapper. I just loved the little bird standing on his head and the birdhouse hanging on his twig arm! The punched wavy, side border and the punched wavy, sentiment border was made using my new EK Success Dotted Wavy Border Punch. They are really coming out with some really neat border punches! Okay, here's the deets:

Stamps: Whipper Snapper "Hamilton" Snowman, Whipper Snapper Sentiment
Cardstock & Papers: Cosmo Cricket "Jolly by Golly" Paper Pad, K&Co. "Remake Berry Pinks" Mat Pad, Paper Trey Ink Ocean Tides Cardstock, Paper Trey Ink White Cardstock.
Inks: Memento Tuxedo Black, JoAnn's White & Stampin' Up Pretty In Pink Inks
Markers: Copic Sketch - RV23 Pure Pink, RV29 Crimson, Y11 Pale Yellow, Y21 Buttercup Yellow, Y26 Mustard, B000 Pale Porcelain Blue, B41 Powder Blue, BG11 Moon White, BG15 Aqua, C1 Cool Grey & 0 Colorless Blender.
Tools & Accessories: Cuttlebug, Cuttlebug Snowflake Embossing Folder, EK Success Wavy Dotted Border Punch, Nestabilities Curved Rectangle Dies, Tsukineko Sponge Dauber, Karen Foster Click-It Hole Punch Kit, Stampin' Up! Dimensionals, JoAnn's Snowflakes, KaiserCraft Pink Rhinestones, Robin's Nest Dew Drops, Zig Fine-Tip Black Marker, Michael's Pink Ribbon, Sparkly Clear Ribbon from my friend, Joyce
Techniques: Basic Stamping, Sponging, Dry Embossing, Copic Coloring

Friday, January 8, 2010

Everyone Needs a Friend...

Well hello faithful readers! I cannot believe that I have a card that I can show you NOW! LOL I've been working fervently on several Clear Dollar Stamps February Sneak Peeks, but I can't share those until the end of this month, so keep your eye out for those.

This card was made for Laurie Wilson's "Clearly Delightful Blog Challenge #1". Laurie has illustrated the cutest digi image of a darling rabbit, so her theme for her first blog challenge was "wabbits". Everyone who participates in her challenge receives her adorable digi image FREE through email! I have never used digital images before, but this "wabbit" is calling me and I'm thinking that I need to explore digital imaging.

This card also was meaningful to me, as I had so many, many faithful friends who prayed for my surgery, my father's surgery and for all the struggles that I faced during my hiatus from CDS. So, this card is to celebrate all those faithful friends! You truly have touched my heart and I am forever humbled by your love, concern and prayers. Okay! Here's the deets:

Stamps Used: Whipper Snapper "Cherish the Moment", Computer-Generated Sentiment
Cardstock & Papers: Paper Trey Ink Ocean Tides Cardstock, Paper Trey Ink Spring Moss Cardstock, Paper Trey Ink Ocean Tides "Bitty Box Basics" Paper Pad, Paper Trey White Cardstock, Cosmo Cricket "Early Bird" Paper Pad
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
Markers: Copic Sketch - RV11 Pink, RV29 Crimson, B00 Frost Blue, B41 Powder Blue, BG000 Pale Aqua, BG11 Moon White, BG72 Ice Ocean, YG03 Yellow Green, YG67 Moss, G84 Spring Dim Green, G94 Grayish Olive, E00 Skin White, E02 Fruit Punch, YR01 Peach Puff, E31 Brik Beige, E34 Orientale, C1, C3 & C5 Cool Grays, 0 Colorless Blender
Tools & Accessories: Cuttlebug, Nestabilities Labels Nine Dies, Martha Stewart Eyelet Dot Border Punch, EK Success Corner Rounder Punch, Karen Foster Click-It Hole Punch Kit, Paper Piercing Tool, Sewing Machine, Thread, Stampin' Up! Dimensionals, Paper Trey Ink Ocean Tides Buttons, Embroidery Thread, Paper Trey Ink Aqua Mist Ribbon
Techniques: Basic Stampin, Paper Piercing, Machine Stitching

I will have another card to share with you this weekend, so I hope that you visit again! : )