4th and Final Sneak Peek Day!

Good Morning! Today, is the 4th and final day for the June Clear Dollar Stamps Sneak Peeks! I'll be sharing sneak peek samples from two different stamp sets. The first stamp set is called "Pretty Perches" and if you're a bird lover, as I am (I buy every bird stamp that comes down the pike!) and if you love birdhouses, bird feeders, bird cages, then I've got a set for you! "Pretty Perches" is a lovely set that will satisfy all your bird lover stamping needs. It includes: a bird house, a bird cage, a bird feeder, a branch, leaves for the branch, flowers for the branch, bird seed for the bird feeder, a squirrel for the bird feeder (and we all have those! Grrr!), and 4 birds in various and different poses. There are two sentiments included in the set and all this is only $12.99 for the whole set! That's 12 stamps for a little over a $1.00 each! Now, that's a deal!! To view the stamp set illustration, please visit Lori McCroskey's blog. You can purchase "Pretty Perches" on June 1st at Clear Dollar Stamps. To see other samples of "Pretty Perches" by my CDS Design Teammates, see: Katie Renz, Cassie Trask & Laurie Wilson.

Stamp Sets Used: CDS "Pretty Perches"
Cardstock & Papers: SEI "Black Orchid" Designer Paper Collection, Color Mates Terrific Teal Cardstock, Black Cardstock, Paper Trey White Cardstock
Ink: Stazon Black Ink, Stampin' Up! Baja Breeze Ink, Memento Peas Tart Ink
Markers: None
Accessories: Cuttlebug, Nestabilities Regular Square Die, KF Click-It Hole Punch Kit, Martha Zig-Zag Border Punch, EK Success Flourish Die, Paper Piercing Tool, Computer-Generated Sentiment, EK Success Flower Punch, Adhesive, Hero Arts Mini Pop Dots, Stampin' Up! Dimensionals, Spare Part Flowes, Glitter Brad
Techniques: Basic Stamping, Paper Piercing

You know that you're absolutely bonkers over cardmaking and stamping, when you base a whole card design around some designer paper that you went "ga-ga" over! LOL This is absolutely the case with this card. It also satisfies an "Inspiration Challenge" that was given to the CDS Design Team. Although, if you were to see the photo of the inspiration piece, you'd be scratching your head, and saying, "Whaaatttt???"" The inspiration piece was a lovely floral and paisley bedspread done in burgundy, plums and I forget what else. LOL But this paper had burgundy and plum, and I just had to use it, so, in my mind, it satisfied the inspiration piece. Silly girl! Here's the deets:

Stamp Sets Used: CDS "Pretty Perches:
Cardstock & Papers: American Crafts "Amplified" Designer Paper Collection, Color Mates Deep Raspberry Cardstock, Paper Trey White Cardstock
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black & Summer Sky Inks, Stampin' Up! Baja Breeze & Rose Red Inks, Adirondack Expresso Ink
Markers: Signo White Gel Pen
Accessories: Cuttlebug, Nestabilities Labels 2, Marvy Corner Rounder Punch, Marvy Circle Punches, Karen Foster Click-It Hole Punch, Cloud Template, Sponge, Paper Piercing Tool, Sewing Machine, Thread, Adhesives, Stampin' Up! Dimensionals, Zots, Doodlebug & Hero Arts Buttons, Computer-Generated Sentiment, Paper Trey Satin Ribbon
Techniques: Basic Stamping, Sponging, Masking, Machine Stitching

My third sample of "Pretty Perches" was inspired by bluebirds. Even though the little birdhouse in the stamp set is a typical wren house shape, I couldn't get bluebirds off my mind. So, blue, the color scheme was! I began this card stamping a "bird background" on the bottom, but by the time that I added my layers (the Cuttlebugged "Dotted Swiss" upper panel, and the Martha Stewart border punched blue trim on the left, the "bird background" became obscure. Sigh! This was supposed to satisfy the CDS Design Team "No Designer Paper" Challenge -- so I continued on with the making of this card, but not really crazy about it, but decided to finish it. I guess, we all have those kind of cards, don't we? LOL But, I still love the "Pretty Perches" stamp set! Just not crazy about this card. Don't forget! "Pretty Perches" releases June 1st at www.newcleardollarstamps.com

Stamp Sets Used: CDS "Pretty Perches"
Cardstock & Papers: Color Mates Deep Belgium Blue Cardstock, Paper Trey White Cardstock
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black & Summer Sky Inks, Stampin' Up! Pacific Point & Mellow Moss Inks, Adirondack Expresso Ink
Accessories: Cuttlebug, Nestabilities Regular & Scalloped Octagonal Dies, Cuttlebug "Swiss Dots" Embossing Folder, Martha Stewart Dot Eyelet Border Punch, Paper Piercing Tool, Nestabilities Tags Trio Die, Cloud Template, Marvy Corner Notch Punch, Karen Foster Click-It Hole Punch Kit, Sponge, Sewing Machine, Thread, Adhesives, Stampin' Up! Dimensionals, Zots, Doodlebug Buttons, Gold Cording, Offray Satin Ribbon, Pebbles Grosgrain Ribbon
Techniques: Basic Stamping, Background Stamping, paper Piercing, Sponging, Masking, Dry Embossing, Machine Stitching, Ribbon Stacking

A FREE Stamp Set!

Are you ready for a supercute stamp set that you can get FREE? Yes, FREE! Every month, Clear Dollar Stamps offers a Stamp of the Month stamp set that is FREE with every $50.00 purchase. The Stamp of the Month (SOM) for June is called "Just Shellin' " and is an adorable set of 6 illustrations and 8 sentiments! So many possibilities exist for "Just Shellin' "!! I enjoyed stamping and coloring so much with this set, that I made 3 sneak peek samples -- I guess you could say, I got carried away, and you will, too! Too see all the cute elements in this set, please visit Lori McCroskey's blog and don't miss all the other cute sneak peek samples by my CDS teammates: Kim Teasdale, Angela Thomas & Laurie Wilson. "Just Shellin' " will be available June 1st at Clear Dollar Stamps, only.

Stamp Sets Used: CDS "Just Shellin'" June 09 SOM
Cardstock & Papers: Jillibean Soup "White Bean" Designer Paper, Color Mates Medium Merri-Gold Cardstock, Black Cardstock, Paper Trey White Cardstock
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Stampin' Up! Bashful Blue Ink
Markers: Copic Sketch Markers - Y13 Lemon Yellow, Y15 Cadmium Yellow, YG03 Yellow Green, YG67 Moss
Accessories: Cuttlebug, Nestabilities Regular Round Die, Nestabilities Pinking Round Die, Martha Stewart Round Punch, Paper Piercing Tool, Cloud Template, Sponges, Martha Stewart Zig-Zag Border Punch, Karen Foster Click-It Hole Punch Kit, Sewing Machine, Thread, Adhesives, Stampin' Up! Dimensionals, Pebbles Grosgrain Ribbon, Doodlebug Button
Techniques: Basic Stamping, Sponging, Masking, Machine Stitching, Paper Tole, Copic Coloring & Blending

I was enjoying this "Just Shellin' " stamp set so much that I made another sneak peek sample. For this one, I was itching to break out my new Nestabilities Dahlia die -- when I saw the turtle in this cute stamp set I knew it would be so cute stamped and framed with the Dahlia dies. This card also satisfies another CDS Design Team Challenge: to create our own Designer Paper, and not to use any other Designer Paper. I created the left and right panels using the glass of pink lemonade that is included in "Just Shellin' " and colored them with Copic Sketch Markers. I also added the sentiment "Just Shellin" overtop each glass of pink lemonade to tie it all in with the main stamped turtle with the pink lemonade glass on his back. I added black zig-zag machine stitching to add some whimsy to the design. Here's the deets:

Stamp Sets Used: CDS "Just Shellin" June 09 SOM
Cardstock & Papers: Color Mates Medium Grassy Green, Color Mates Medium Pretty in Pink, Black Cardstock, Paper Trey White Cardstock
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
Markers: Copic Sketch Markers -- RV23 Pure Pink, Y13 Lemon Yellow, YG41 Pale Colbalt Green, G07 Nile Green, Black Signo Gel Pen
Accessories: Cuttlebug, Nestabilities "Dahlia" Dies, Karen Foster Click-It Hole Punch, Sewing Machine, Thread, Adhesive, Stampin' Up! Dimensionals, Pebbles Ribbon
Techniques: Basic Stamping, Background Stamping, Copic Coloring & Blending, Machine Stitching

This is the a third sample that I made for the June 2009 Stamp of the Month stamp set -- this card was made to satisfy a CDS Design Team Challenge to create a card with a non-square, non-rectangular shape. I used my Nestabilities "Blossom" die to make this little card -- it's not very large -- it measure about 4" in diameter. I thought that it would be a cute card to have for one of those times when you just want to send someone a "Hello", or send just a short note to someone. The turtle was stamped twice, colored twice, and one cut out and popped up overtop the underneath image. This was a quick easy-peasy card to make! Don't forget you can receive this cute stamp set FREE with a $50.00 purchase from www.newcleardollarstamps.com.

Stamp Sets Used: CDS "Just Shellin'" June 09 SOM
Cardstock & Papers: Imaginesce "Twitterpattered" Designer Paper Collection, Color Mates Medium Pretty in Pink Cardstock, Paper Trey White Cardstock
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black & Summer Sky Inks
Markers: Copic Sketch Markers - RV23 Pure Pink, RV29 Crimson, G21 Lime Green, YG67 Moss, 0 Colorless Blender
Accessories: Cuttlebug, Nestabilities Blossom Dies, Paper Piercing Tool, Cloud Template, Sponge, Karen Foster Click-It Hole Punch Kit, Adhesives, Stampin' Up! Dimensionals, Paper Trey Poppy Red Satin Ribbon
Techniques: Basic Stamping, Sponging, Paper Piercing, Paper Tole

Sneak Peek - Day 3

Good Morning! This is Day 3 of Clear Dollar Stamp's Sneak Peek Week. I'm afraid that I do not have any stamp sets to share (again -- sniff, sniff!) with you today...BUT! there are Sneak Peeks to behold! My fellow CDS designer teammates are previewing the following 3 STAMP SETS today! Make sure you see the following:

CHARLIE HORSE "LEAN ON ME" - Sneak Peek Samples:
Stacy Morgan, Kim Teasdale, Angela Thomas, Cassie Trask, Tori Wild & Laurie Wilson

MOTORCYCLE MANIA - Sneak Peek Samples:
Nancy Grant, Stacy Morgan, Katie Renz, Kim Teasdale, Angela Thomas, Cassie Trask & Laurie Wilson

SASSY SCALLOPS - Sneak Peek Samples:
Nancy Grant, Sarah Taylor, Cassie Trask & Laurie Wilson

All stamp sets previewed during Clear Dollar Stamps' Sneak Peek Week can be purchased on June 1st at www.newcleardollarstamps.com. If you'd like to see the complete illustration for each previewed stamp set mentioned above, please visit Lori McCroskey's blog. Tomorrow will be Day 4, the final day of CDS Sneak Peek Week, and I'll have two more stamp sets to preview and share with you tomorrow -- one is a beautiful set and one is an adorable set! See you tomorrow!

Sneak Peek Day 2

Good Morning! This is an exciting day for Clear Dollar Stamps and we have several new stamp sets that we're previewing. I'd like to share a lovely new stamp set, called "Peony" by CDS. This set is such a joy to have and I know that it will be inked up frequently as it will prove to be a versatile stamp set. The peony is a gorgeous illustration and such fun to color, as you will quickly learn the first time you color it. The stamp set also includes 4 sentiments, one of which is featured on the card sample above. "Peony" will be released at Clear Dollar Stamps on June 1st and to see the complete stamp set illustration, please visit Lori McCroskey's blog. For this sample of "Peony" I used an orange and black color scheme to satisfy a CDS Design Team Color Challenge. The challenge was to design a card using orange & black or using red & blue. I immediately invisioned "Vermillion" (well, close enough to orange -- wink, wink) for the peony and ran with the orange & black choice. White was an optional netural that we could use, and I used it for "eye relief" from the intense orange & black and for contrast. I popped up the peony after coloring it twice and cutting both images out as you can see the cross-section view in the other photograph above. Although I wasn't initially crazy about the colors posed for the CDS Color Challenge -- I concluded when finishing this card, that they were a beautiful combination. What do you think? Other CDS design teammates that are featuring sneak peek samples of "Peony" are: Kim Teasdale, Angela Thomas, Tori Wild & Laurie Wilson. Here are the deets:

Stamp Sets Used: CDS "Peony"
Cardstock & Papers: Making Memories Black & White Polka Dot Scrapbook Paper, Paper Trey White Cardstock
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
Markers: Copic Sketch Markers - YR01 Peach Puff, YR04 Chrome Orange, R08 Vermillion, R27 Cadmium Red, RV29 Crimson, YG03 Yellow Green, YG67 Moss, G94 Grayish Olive
Accessories: Cuttlebug, Cuttlebug "Swiss Dots" Embossing Folder, Scor-It, Nestabilities Regular & Scalloped Round Dies, Martha Stewart Zig-Zag Border Punch, Adhesives, Stampin' Up! Dimensionals, Doodlebug Decorative Trim
Techniques: Basic Stamping, Dry Embossing, Scoring, Paper Tole, Copic Coloring & Blending

This is the second sneak peek sample that I created using Clear Dollar Stamps' "Peony" stamp set. This set is a must have and it is only $7.99 for the whole set! You can purchase it here at Clear Dollar Stamps. Since I created such a warm hued peony card on the other sample, I wanted to do something "cool" hued -- and I had this luscious designer paper from the Paper Company that has a fantastic shimmer to it, IRL. My camera did not pick up that quality very well, but it's gorgeous paper, just the same. The peony was stamped, colored and cut out for the paper tole effect again and the card was embellished with a shower of scallops! Here's the deets:

Stamp Sets Used: CDS "Peony"
Cardstock & Papers: The Paper Company Studio "Spring Stained Glass" Designer Paper, Paper Trey White Cardstock, Swarthmore Watercolor Paper
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
Markers: Copic Sketch Markers - BV01 Viola, BV11 Soft Violet, VB13 Hydrangea Blue, YG03 Yellow Green, YG67 Moss, G24 Willow, Sakura Gelly Roll Stardust Clear Pen
Accessories: Cuttlebug, Nestabilities Regular & Scalloped Octagonal Dies, Martha Stewart Dot Eyelet Border Punch, Karen Foster Click-It Hole Punch Kit, Sewing Machine, Thread, Adhesive, Stampin' Up! Dimensionals, Offray Satin Ribbon, Robin's Nest Dew Drops
Techniques: Basic Stamping, Machine Stitching, Paper Piercing, Paper Tole, Copic Coloring & Blending

Introducing "Patchpals"!

This stamp that I'm previewing is an individual stamp that is part of a new design line of stamps at CDS, designed by my CDS teammate, Shawne Arnold. The line is called "Patchpals" and there are several "Patchpals" animals: a Puppy, a Lamb, a Giraffe and a Pig. All of them will be very versatile to use and I have to say I had a ball coloring my "Patchpal Elephant" image. All "Patchpal" animal images will be available from Clear Dollar Stamps on June 1st. I am previewing the "Elephant" single stamp today. To see all the other "Patchpal" animals, please visit Lori McCroskey's blog for an illustration of them all -- it will be diificult to choose just one, so why not get them all? LOL Other design teammates that have sneak peek samples of "Patchpals" are: Shawne Arnold, Stacy Morgan, Katie Renz, Sarah Taylor, Cassie Trask, Tori Wild & Laurie Wilson.

The first card that I made with the "Patchpal" Elephant stamp was made for a baby shower card and geared more for a girl (although, there is green and yellow in it and it could be used for a boy -- well, maybe? LOL). Here's the deets:

Stamps Sets Used: CDS "Patchpal Elephant"
Cardstock & Papers: Making Memories Yellow & White Gingham Scrapbook Paper, Paper Pizzazz "Lisa Williams" Designer Paper Collection, Color Mates Medium Pretty in Pink Cardstock, Paper Trey White Cardstock
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
Markers: Copic Sketch Markers - RV13 Tender Pink, Y15 Cadmium Yellow, G21 Lime Green, Signo White Gel Pen
Accessories: Cuttlebug, Cuttlebug "Argyle" & "Bubbles" Embossing Folders, Nestabilities Regular Round & Pinking Round Dies, Marvy Jumbo Round Punch, Fiskars Paper Shaper "Pinking" Scissors, Karen Foster Click-It Hole Punch Kit, Paper Piercing Tool, Sewing Machine, Thread, Adhesives, Stampin' Up! Dimensionals, Zots, Doodlebug Buttons, Pebbles Grosgrain Ribbon, Computer-Generated Sentiment
Techniques: Basic Stamping, Dry Embossing, Machine Stitching, Paper Piercing, Paper Tole, Copic Coloring & Blending

The second card that I'm sharing is another one made with the "Patchpal Elephant" stamp. This card was made for our CDS Design Team Sketch Challenge and Laurie Wilson always designs the layouts for these, and she did a great job on this one, as it really lent itself well to the "Patchpal Elephant". I wanted to make another baby shower card geared more for a boy and had orange, green and blue on the brain for some reason. But all-in-all, I think it turned out pretty cute. Here's the deets:

Stamp Sets Used: CDS "Patchpal Elephant"
Cardstock & Papers: Making Memories "Chloe's Closet" Designer Paper Collection, K&Co. "Remake Grassy Greens" Mat Pad, DCWW "Animal Crackers" Mat Pad, Paper Trey White Cardstock
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Stampin' Up! Glorious Green Ink
Markers: Copic Sketch Markers - YG41 Pale Cobalt Green, YR 16 Apricot, B32 Pale Blue
Accessories: Cuttlebug, Nestabilities Scalloped & Regular Square Dies, Nestabilities Scalloped Circle Dies, Karen Foster Click-It Hole Punch Kit, Tskukineko Sponge Dauber, Sewing Machine, Thread, Adhesives, Stampin' Up! Dimensionals, Zots, Doodlebug Buttons, Making Memories "Chloe's Closet" Collection Button, Green Jewelry Twine, Pebbles Grosgrain Ribbon.
Techniques: Basic Stamping, Sponging, Machine Stitching, Paper Tole, Copic Coloring & Blending

It's Sneak Peek Week!

Good Morning! Today is a very special day! It is Day 1 of Sneak Peek Week for Clear Dollar Stamps! Are you excited yet? We sure are! I don't have any sneak peek samples to share with you today (sniff, sniff), but I don't want you miss the beautiful samples that my CDS Designer Teammates are previewing today. I hope that you come back to visit tomorrow, as I will be sharing two soon-to-be-released stamp sets by Clear Dollar Stamps -- so you won't want to miss that! But for now, enjoy the 6 NEW STAMP SETS, previewed by my CDS fellow designer teammates:

COLONIAL CARVINGS - sneak peek samples:
Nancy Grant, Stacy Morgan, Sarah Taylor & Laurie Wilson

HAPPY 4th of JULY- sneak peek samples:
Stacy Morgan

GOD BLESS AMERICA - sneak peek samples:
Nancy Grant & Stacy Morgan

JUNE ROSE - sneak peek samples:
Stacy Morgan, Katie Renz, Sarah Taylor & Laurie Wilson

ROSEBUD PRINCESS - sneak peek samples:
Shawne Arnold, Nancy Grant, Kim Teasdale, Angela Thomas, Tori Wild & Laurie Wilson

ROSEBUD SCROLLS - sneak peek samples:
Shawne Arnold, Nancy Grant, Kim Teasdale & Laurie Wilson

AND! For a complete illustration of each stamp set, please stop by Lori McCroskey's blog for more detail. All above mentioned stamp sets can be purchased at www.newcleardollarstamps.com on June 1st!

Want to be a Guest Designer for CDS?

I've got some exciting news to share! Today is the start of the Clear Dollar Stamps' Guest Designer Challenge! Every month, CDS selects someone who enters the Challenge and they have the opportunity to design card samples and other projects for Clear Dollar Stamps, using their stamps, that they receive for FREE! How cool is that?

If you're interested in submitting a sample to be considered as the next Clear Dollar Stamp Guest Designer, click here and follow carefully all the instructions that Lori McCroskey lists on her blog. Remember, there is a deadline to submit your entry and who knows? You may be designing along with me next month! Good luck!!

"Let Freedom Ring!"

Well, I bet you thought that I evaporated off the face of the earth, huh? In a sense, I did! LOL My sister, Dianne, who lives in Georgia, was here visiting for 2 weeks, and we had a great time catching up and visiting, as mentioned in my previous post, then my son, Christopher just finished his first year of college (away on campus). He came home on Tuesday and I've been busy sorting, laundering, packing up and putting away all those things that college kids bring home at the end of the school year. It has been a big transition for Christopher and Tom and me this year, as Christopher is an only child and he pretty much filled our days since the day he was born. But, I am thrilled that he has the chance to experience living in a dorm away at college and will continue on next Fall. It is good to have a complete family home again.

I've also been busy as bee making June Sneak Peek samples for Clear Dollar Stamps' upcoming stamp releases -- this month I've made 10 samples and I don't know where I found the time to do them, but they were such fun to make, and I'll be sharing all of those samples starting next Friday, May 29th! But, other CDS team members will be sharing some samples earlier on Thursday, May 28th, so be sure to follow their blogs and you can find their links on my right sidebar under the CDS Design Team List.

I created this card for the CDS Weekend Color Challenge over on Paper Craft Planet. I haven't played this challenge for quite awhile, so with Cassie Trask hostessing (she so graciously took over my spot as hostess when I needed more family time), I just had to play along to show her my appreciation. The challenge colors were Riding Hood Red, Night of Navy and Creamy Caramel with White as an optional neutral. I decided to make a Memorial Day Celebration Card that could also be used for the 4th of July. The little flag top of the baby moose's head was hand drawn and the sentiment was handwritten. I have to say that cheated with the colors that were given, as my only Creamy Caramel is in the colored baby moose! Here's the deets:

Stamps Used: Clear Dollar Stamps "Moose Friends"

Cardstock & Papers: Retired Stampin' Up! Night of Navy Stars Scrapbook Paper, Making Memories Red & White Stripe Scrapbook Paper, Color Mates Medium Autumn Red Cardstock, Paper Trey White Cardstock

Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black & Summer Sky Inks

Markers: Copic Sketch - RV13 Tender Pink, RV29 Crimson, G07 Nile Green, G24 Willow, B39 Prussian Blue, Y26 Mustard, E00 Skin White, E25 Caribe Cocoa, E31 Brick Beige, E33 Sand White and Navy Signo Gel Pens, Micron .01 Black Felt Pen

Accessories: Cuttlebug, Nestabilities Regular Round Die, Nestabilities Pinking Round Die, Nestabilities Tags Trio Die, Martha Stewart Zig-Zag Border Punch, Karen Foster Click-It Hole Punch Kit, Sewing Machine, Thread, Sponge, Adhesive, Stampin' Up! Dimensionals, Star Brads, "Bobbin" Satin Ribbon, Offray Satin Ribbon

Techniques: Basic Stamping, Copic Coloring & Blending, Sponging, Machine Stitching

Color Abounding

Good Morning! I wanted to share a photo that my husband Tom, took of one of our Azalea bushes. After 9 straight days of pouring down rain, and I mean pouring down rain, the Lord has blessed us with an array of beautiful color and green all over the place! We have several Azalea bushes around the front and sides of our house of all different color and this is just a sample of the color that abounds in Maryland right now. I just love Spring and I just love Azaleas, only wishing that they would stay in bloom a little longer than they do.

I apologize that I haven't had any new creations to share with you since I last posted my Clear Dollar Stamps' sneak peeks, but I do have a valid excuse. My only sister, Dianne, is here, visiting from Georgia for 2 weeks and when she is here, we have a "Gabfest" and enjoy shopping, eating and "catching up" with each other. I have created a few cards while she has been visiting, but I'm afraid that I cannot share them with you, just yet, as they are sneak peek cards for June! But, I may just be able to get a card made that won't be a sneak peek later on this week or this coming weekend. So, come back to visit a little later this week and maybe I'll have something exciting to share! LOL

Hope your Mother's Day was filled with much love and joy!