A Cozy Christmas Couch {Clear and Simple Stamps}

Hello there!  How is the week half gone already?!  How is December almost  half gone already?!  I am having a blast playing with all of the new goodies from Clear and Simple Stamps Collection 9 release.  Today, my card features my CSS faves, the Rag Dolls.

When I saw the newest installment in the Rag Doll series, Rag Doll House: North Pole, I started thinking about all of the wonderful possibilities!  I paired the North Pole set and a few of my other Rag Doll sets and created a fun living room scene, all decorated for the holidays!

I stamped the couch from Rag Doll Scenes 3 onto patterned paper and cut it out, adding some shading with Copics.  I stamped, colored and cut out the tree from the Santa's workshop image and adhered that behind the couch.  Then I stamped, colored and cut out a few of the sitting Rag Dolls and placed them on the couch.  (notice Emma's little bow in her hair?  That is the same bow from the top of the tree!)  Everything was adhered to the card base which I stamped with the Brick background.  The oval rug image is also from Rag Doll Scenes 3.  To create the Santa wall art, I stamped the Santa, and colored him, then added the "frame" with the wide end of a Copic Marker.  After everything was glued down, I inked the edges a bit with an ink blending tool to warm  things up a bit.

This one is for my sweet hubby this Christmas <3 p="">

Thanks for stopping by! :)

Warm Winter Wishes {Clear and Simple Stamps}

Good morning!  Happy Thanksgiving Eve!!  I am busy with holiday preparations here at my house, and that including dressing up some Christmas gifts!  Often times, I feel like I need "just one more little thing" to complete a gift.  I like to choose practical gifts when I can, or things I would enjoy receiving.  I am sort of addicted to fun socks.  Polka dotted, striped, fuzzy... so when I find cute socks for a steal, I pick them up and save them for gifts.  

I love making inexpensive little things look like so much more... it's all in cute packaging.  Clear and Simple Stamps just released Collection 9, which is FULL of AWESOME gift packaging stamps and dies!

For this little gift, I used the Flurry die, along with the new Flurry Days stamps and a sentiment from Cover Prints 1.  The Flurry die is quite large (over 5") and it was a little big for the tag design that I had in mind.  So I snipped off the longest "legs" of the snowflake to make it slightly smaller.  The smaller version layers beautifully with the larger snowflakes in the Flurries Combo and Furry Days set.

I die cut and stamped a little Rag Doll Spa girl to add to the tag.  I think she looks so cozy in her bathrobe :)

I hope the recipient enjoys her new fuzzy socks ;)

Lots more fun with Collection 9 is coming soon!!  Thanks for stopping by!

Printable Post Cards {Clear and Simple Stamps}

Hello there!  Today I am sharing a blog feature on the Clear and Simple Stamps Blog.  As soon as I saw the Rag Doll Jake: Pen Pal stamp set, I knew I wanted to make a little Pal Pal ensemble.  I asked if it would be possible to create a Post Card PDF to use as a template and to share with all of you (Thanks Nicki!!).  You can find the printable PDF that I used on the CSS Blog today.

I began by printing out the postcards, and then decorating them with the Airmail Stamp set and a little sentiment from Rag Doll Chloe: Love.

To make my postcards sturdy enough for mailing, I cut colored card stock slightly larger than the postcard image, and adhered the post card to it.  I then cut a piece of white card stock for the other side of the card and decorated it using the Rag Doll Jake: Pen Pal stamp set, the paper airplanes from Rag Doll Wesley: GR8 and the shadow image from Rag Doll Scenes 3.

To package them together, I used a bit of Red/White/Blue twine.

My boys are excited to send these to their grandparents! :)  I hope you enjoy this fun PDF!  There are so many possibilities!!

Thanks for stopping by!! :)

You Color My World {Clear and Simple Stamps}

Hey there!  Happy Monday!  It's party time over at Clear and Simple Stamps!  Today, the team is sharing some fun party ideas using new products from Collection 8.

For my party, I decided to go with a modern rainbow theme.  I used the diamond pattern from Designer Lines, along with Rag Doll Emma: Color to create a fun and colorful ensemble.

For the invitation, I used Party Elements: Critters and Designer Lines.

To make a gift tag, I used Tags 1, Designer Lines, and Rag Doll Emma: Color.

And finally, for a fun party favor, I used Party Favor 10.  I love how cute Emma looks holding her giant crayon along with the real thing.

Be sure to hop along to visit the other designers and see what they have in store for you!

Audrey - You are here! :)

Lori

Jennifer

Sarah Martina (Guest)

CSS

Thanks for stopping by! :)

Release in Review - Rag Dolls {Clear and Simple Stamps}

Hello there!  Today, we are revisiting the Clear and Simple Stamps Collection 8 Rag Doll release!  For my project, I used four of the new dolls; Emma, Willa, Jake and Wesley.  I paired them with the new Flashcard and Flashcard Filler sets to make a fun color book.  My two year old nephew is working on learning his colors, and I thought this would be a great help to him :)

I used paint swatch cards from the hardware store as pages for my book, and then cut front and back covers from white cardstock.  Each page features the insert from Mini Tri Fold 2 with the grid stamp from Flashcard Fillers.  The name of each color is stamped on a Favor Flag die cut using the Alpha Duo stamp set.

That's it for me!!  Be sure to visit more of the Design Team for Collection 8 Rag Doll inspiration! :)

Lori

CSS

Collection 8: Rag Dolls {Clear and Simple Stamps}

Hello there!  Collection 8 Release Week continues with Clear and Simple Stamps.  Today, we are focusing on my favorites of the release, the Rag Dolls!

This release, the Rag Dolls are going back to school, and are carrying giant crayons and pencils.  Each combo includes a Rag Doll, coordinating die, and an Art or School related sentiment.  I just think they are so adorable!

For my ensemble today, I chose to work with Emma: Color.  I love the "You Color My World" sentiment that comes with her.  I wanted to create something with an art-sy feel, and make it look like Emma was actually doing the coloring on my project *wink*

First up, my card:

(click to enlarge)

I used one of the heart images from the Hearts Combo for Emma's drawing.  Of course, I had to use the Rag Doll Shadows from Rag Doll Scenes 3.  To finish things off a bit, I added a hand drawn border.

I repeated a similar pattern with the heart and hand drawn border on a coordinating Party Favor 13 diecut to complete my ensemble.

(click to enlarge)

That's it for me today...  Be sure to visit these CSS girls for more C8 Rag Doll Inspiration:

Lori

Steph

CSS

Monochromatic Copic Coloring {Clear and Simple Stamps}

Hey there!!  I have a super fun tutorial to share with you today!  If you have visited my blog before, it is no secret that one of my most used crafty tools are my Copic Markers.  I love color, but you can create a striking effect with various shades of gray too.  I have a step by step tutorial to show you how to create a monochromatic image (I think it looks like a black and white photo!)

I chose to work with Rag Doll Willa: Enjoy, Rag Doll Scenes 2, Rag Doll Scenes 3 and Rag Doll: Tea Party.  People images are perfect for this technique!

Because there are so  many pictures, I have several collages.  Each will start in the top left, then go to the top right, then bottom left and bottom right.  You can click on each collage to enlarge the image.

1. I used various shades and tones of gray from the T and W families, plus 110 black and the colorless blender.

2. I stamped Willa on white card stock with Memento Tuxedo Blank ink.

3. I started with T0 and T1 for Willa's skin. I colored all skin areas with T0, then shadowed with T1 and blended over it again with T0.

5. For Willa's hair, I started with W5, making flicking motions with the marker where I wanted the darkest part of her hair (as seen in the top right photo).

6. Then using W3 and W0, I continued to color her hair, blending into the W5, and using W0 where I wanted the highlights in her hair.

7. Then I went back with W5 again to darken some areas that got blended out.  You can see her hair finished in the top right photo.

8. I used 110 Blank to color in the stripes on Willa's shirt.

9. I colored in Willa's skirt with T4, and then shaded her skirt a bit with T6.

10.  Using T0, I lightly outlined Willa's shirt for extra dimension.  

VIOLA!  A black and white Willa! :)  

I used the same colors to color in her coffee mug and then cut her out and sat her on top.  This is a really fun technique and a nice change from my normal brights.  If you find that you are having a hard time choosing appropriate shades of gray for certain areas, pull out a real black and white photo and take notice of the different hues and shading.

I hope you enjoyed my tutorial and will give it a try! :)  Thanks for stopping by!!

Love You the Mostest {Clear and Simple Stamps}

Hey there!!  Today I have a card to share with you that I made for my sweet husband to celebrate our 12th wedding anniversary which was this past Sunday.

This card has a few elements that are significant to us... the plaid couch... We had a red plaid couch once upon a time, and it was my favorite couch.  But with small children, it didn't stand the test of time.  I saw so sad when it was time for a new one.  And the rag doll boy is wearing a yellow shirt.  My husband has a yellow shirt (actually a few) and he looks great in them.  I love him in yellow, and so, a yellow shirt.  Finally, the sentiment...  Drew actually asked if I had the sentiment made special... I lucked out and CSS made a set with this adorable sentiment.  We often have disagreements about who loves who more, and so, this sentiment was made for us.

Supplies:

Stamps: Clear and Simple Stamps Rag Doll: Jake Dude, Rag Doll: Emma ROFL, Ragdoll Scenes 3, Rag Doll: Chloe Love, Designer Lines

Paper: PTI Scarlet Jewel, CSS Kraft Like a Rockstar Cream, DCWV Gingham paper pad

Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Memento Rich Cocoa, PTI Fine Linen, Tea Dye Duo

Dies: CSS Build a Critter Pal Basic (heart)

Other: PTI Scarlet Jewel Button, Rustic Jute Twine, Copic Markers, Popdots

Release in Review: Rag Dolls {Clear and Simple Stamps}

Hello there!  Happy Saturday!  Today, the CSS team is revisiting the Rag Dolls from Collection 7.  They are definitely my favorite part of the release in case you didn't notice *wink*

The project that I have to share with you uses the new Rag Doll: Spa set along with the new Bubblicious background.

I created a fun little gift card holder using the Bottle tag die to dress up a bottle of bubble bath.  I stamped the Bubblicious background in white ink.  Then I diecut, stamped and colored the Spa girl and added the sentiment on a Favor Flag diecut. 

One of  my favorite parts of this set is the little bunny slippers for the doll.  I decided that make a pair of bunny slippers out of washcloths to go along with the bubble bath.  The little tag on the bunnies is made from the Trendy Tags stamp set and the Tags 1 die.

For even more Rag Doll inspiration, but sure to visit

Elena

CSS

Thanks so much for stopping by!  Have a great day! :)

Wesley Swinging {Clear and Simple Stamps}

I have been having so much fun playing with all of the new Ragdoll goodies from Clear and Simple's Collection 7!  Today I have a card featuring Wesley: GR8 and Scenes 3.  I just LOVE that tire swing!

I started off cutting a card base to make a 3.5" x 5.5" card.  Using distress ink, I sponged the blue sky.  To create the leaves, I used the small solid leaf image from Taglines: Critters, stamping once full strength, and then stamping again without reinking, for the lighter shade of green.  I diecut the Grass border and attached that to the bottom edge of the panel and then, stamped Wesley where I wanted him.  I masked him off using a post-it note and then stamped the tire swing.  The sentiment, stamped on a Favor Flag diecut, is from Jake: Dude.

Thanks for sharing part of your day with me! <3 p="">

Bubble Gift Wrap Tutorial {Clear and Simple Stamps}

Hello there!  Happy Friday!  Today I have a fun tutorial for you!  First let me share with you my ensemble.  This little card and coordinating package were created using some of the great new goodies from the Clear and Simple Stamps Collection 7!  When I saw the little Spa Girl Rag Doll and the Bubblicious background, I new I wanted to make something using a technique that I learned way back in Girl Scouts *wink*

Grab a cuppa something and sit back... this post is going to show you step by step how to create that fun bubble patterned gift wrap you see here:

First you need to gather supplies.  You will need:

CSS Gift Wrap ( I used A Blank Check Gift Wrap)

Acrylic Paint in your choice of colors

Bubbles (I used 3 small bottles from Dollar Tree)

Drinking Straws

A baking dish or deep bowl

A cookie sheet (for overspill)

Butcher paper or newspaper to protect your work surface

I covered my work surface with butcher paper to protect the table.  Then I used a cookie sheet underneath the baking dish to collect any overspill from the bubbles.  I added my bubbles to the baking dish, one bottle at a time.  I ended up using 3 small bottles in a 9x12" dish.  You need about an inch of bubbles in the bottom of the dish.  Then you add your paint.  The darker the paint, the more obvious the bubbles.  I started off with a light aqua.  This is how your mixture will look as you begin to stir it.  Stir it until the paint is dissolved into the bubbles and there are no clumps of paint.

Here you can see how the pale aqua paint has mixed with the bubbles nicely.  I decided that I wanted the paint to be a but darker so I added some darker paint.  Don't be afraid to add a good amount of paint. The mixture should stay pretty watery though.  If you add more paint and it seems to get too thick, just add some more bubbles.  This definitely is not an exact science *wink*

With the addition of the darker paint, I got the color I was going for.  Here you can see everything mixed nicely. :)

Now for the fun part!  This issuch a fun family activity!  My boys couldn't wait to help!  For once, I told them that I WANTED them to blow bubbles through their straws.  They thought it was awesome!  LOL!  You blow through the straws into the mixture to make bubbles.  Continue blowing until you have a mound of bubbles that sort of dome over top of the baking dish.  Then simply press the wrapping paper into the mound of bubbles allowing them to pop on the paper.  Just move the paper around, pressing each side into the paper until you have gotten the look you are after.  As the bubbles pop, you will need to blow into the mixture again to create more bubbles.  DO NOT submerge the paper into the mixture.  Let only the bubble touch the paper so that it does not get saturated.

And here is the end result.  It is so fun!  You can even make bubble mixtures in a bunch of different colors and use them all on the same gift wrap!  This would be so fun in red and green for Christmas, or in school colors for a graduation, or even using metallic paint for a fun wedding gift wrap!!

And here is what my package looks like all wrapped up in the bubble paper we made.  I make the tag using Trendy Tags, Tags 1 die, Ragdoll: Spa Girl and the Bubblicious background.

To finish off the ensemble, I made a matching card using the same product mentioned above, along with Mia: ROFL, one of the new sitting rag dolls :)

That's all for now!!  I hope you enjoyed my tutorial!

Thanks for stopping by!  And don't forget to follow me on Blog Lovin'!  The link is in the left side bar. :)

Have a great day!!

Revisiting the Rag Dolls! {Clear and Simple Stamps}

Hey there!!  Today, the CSS Team is revisiting the Collection 7 Rag Doll release!  You can see all of the Collection 7 goodies here.

Today, my project features the new sitting rag doll, Willa: Enjoy, along with Rag Doll Scenes 2. I just can't get enough of these adorable little dolls.  They are so fun to play with!

Summer is the season of vacations, and this card and coordinating travel journal will be a perfect little going away gift for someone.  I got the journal in the Target Dollar Spot, and with a little dressing up using the Favor Flags dies, and some Red/White/Blue twine, it looks so much nicer!  

I just love the suitcase image from Scenes 2!  It is perfect for so many occasions and can be used with our without a Rag Doll.  I happen to think that Willa looks adorable perched on top :)

I hope you enjoyed my project today!  Be sure to hop around and check out more adorable Rag Doll projects with:

Lori

Elena

CSS

Also, today is the last day for Google Reader.  Be sure to follow me with Blog Lovin!  The link is in my left side bar!  Thanks for stopping by.... have a great day! :)

My Favorites from Clear and Simple Stamps!

Happy Tuesday!!  Today is a fun day for the CSS Design Team!  We are all showing off our most favorite CSS products!

 

 

I am sure, that if you are a regular visitor to my blog, you already know how much I adore the CSS Ragdoll line.  There is something so fun and whimsical about these little people that totally captures my heart.  And speaking of hearts, another favorite comes to mind - the Hearts Combo.  I just love the shape of these puffy hearts and the companion stamps are a great bonus!  Another favorite of mine is the Sterling Silver Cord.  With a little more pizzazz than regular cotton twine, this metallic cord is perfect for when you are wanting a little added sparkle and shine. 

 

Here is a little project sharing my favorites mentioned above, along with a few other products that I can't live without *wink*

 

(click to enlarge)

A closeup of the ladies (L-R: Emma: Happy, Mia: Sweet, Carlie: Hello):

 

(Click to enlarge)

 

And a close up of the boys (L-R: Jake: Cool, Wesley: Banner)

 

(click to enlarge)

 

For all of these tags, I also used the following:

Trendy Tags

Tags 1 die

Background Basics 1

Designer Button Mix

 

One more look at the gang! (There are 2 other dolls that don't live with me yet *wink*)

 

(click to enlarge)

 

Be sure to hop along and check out what the other ladies have to share with you today!

 

Audrey Tokach - **You are here**

Lori Telcer

Tracy Schultz

Laura Bassen

Kim Duran

Jennifer Rzasa

Elena Roussakis

Amber Kemp-Gerstel

Stephany Zerbe

CSS

 



Thanks so much for stopping by! :)



Mardi Gras Group Post {Clear and Simple Stamps}

Hey there!  It's group post today over Clear and Simple Stamps, and today we are showcasing projects from Collection 6!  All of our projects are in a Mardi Gras color scheme. 

 

 

Little Miss Emma is all dressed up for a Mardi Gras celebration!  Ragdoll: Emma Happy needed a mask for her celebration, and the Taglines: Critters fox mask was just perfect!  For the background, I used Background Basics I and the fleur de lis image from Medallions 2.  The sentiment is a combination of 2 different stamps from the special edition Celebrate stamp set.

 

 

Be sure to visit these ladies for more Mardi Gras and Collection 6 inspiration:

 

Audrey Tokach - *you are here*

Jennifer Rzasa

Kim Duran

Dana Grothaus

CSS

Fun with Favors {Clear and Simple Stamps}

Hey there!  Happy Tuesday!  Today is Group Project day with Clear and Simple Stamps and this challenge was to make a fun party favor using Collection 6 goodies.  I used the new Party Favor 7 treat box and Medallions 2 for my project, along with The Ragdoll: Shop and Cart Pals: Baby sets.

I diecut the Favor 7 box from  VIP Purple cardstock, and using the circle image from Medallions 2, I stamped a fun polka dot pattern (sorry that it is hard to see in the picture).  Using the Ragdoll: Stand stamp set and matching dies, I created a fun little Candy Shoppe for the front of my box.

(click for larger image)

Inside the box, there are quite a few pixie sticks!  This little box holds a ton of them, and they are a perfect fit.  With the way I tied the ribbon on the box, it was easier to slide the ribbon off of the bottom of the box that way the pretty box stays intact :)

(click for larger image)

There are so many possibilities with this box!  I can't wait to see what else fits!! :)

Be sure to check out these ladies for more Party Favor and Collection 6 inspiration! 

Laurie Willison
Dana Grothaus
Lori Tecler
CSS

Getting to know Clear and Simple Stamps...

Awhile back, Clear and Simple Stamps posted on their facebook page asking people what they wanted to know about CSS.  Of course, I always have questions.  I emailed them asking what the most popular CSS product is.  It really wasn't a real surprise to me that there is no one favorite (CSS has so many awesome products!) but rather, 5 different groups of super popular products:

• Rag Dolls
• Backgrounds
• Shapes Combo Sets
• Party Favors
• Builder Dies

The card I have to share with you today uses a little something from 3 of the 5 categories.

You will find two Ragdolls, Emma: Happy and Jake: Cool, as well as the Shapes: Heart Combo and Background Basics 1.

(click to enlarge)

Be sure to stop by the CSS Blog today for more info about the most popular CSS products!

I also have a Ragdoll project featured on the CSS APP today!  Click on the peek below to be taken to the full version! :)

Supplies:

Stamps: CSS Ragdoll: Emma Happy, Ragdoll: Jake Cool, Background Basics I, Cart Pals: Occasions

Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Memento Rich Cocoa, PTI Pure Poppy, Tea Dye Duo

Paper: PTI Kraft, White, Fine Linen, Pure Poppy & Fine Linen Pattern Packs

Dies: CSS Shapes: Hearts

Other: CSS Button Mix, PTI Rustic Jute Twine, Copic Markers, Popdots