Love Cupid

Welcome to Clear & Simple Stamps' Jan/Feb Release in Review . Today we wanted to show you just how to use Love Cupid. I went for a collage feel using several images in the set. I stamped off on scratch paper first before using the second generation to get this faded look. I stamped the Cupid image on a scrap piece of a manila office file folder. I stamped the lovely frame image on white paper and made it match by using my Y21 {buttecup yellow} Copic marker. I also colored this ribbon with the Copic marker to match my project. The ribbon was a sort of tan color. Close but not close enough until I altered it. Very easy.

WANT TO SEE MORE? Visit with CSS design team members all week long for additional {Release in Review} inspiration from the current collection, starting with:
Stephany Zerbe (you are here)
Lori Tecler
Dana Grothaus
Laurie Willison

Cupid Valentine's Day Bag:

     • stamps: CSS Love Cupid

    

     • ink: CSS haute red couture

     • ribbon and button: unknown

     • twine: CSS Yellow/White twine

     • die: CSS Party Favor 3

Thaks for stopping by,

steph

Do-Over Blog Hop

One of my New Year Resolutions this year is to participate in one challenge a month. This is my second! Go me!
Amber @ Damask Love challenged her readers to play along in her Do-Over Blog Hop.
The challenge is to go through your blog posts and find that project that left you thinking to yourself, "What was I thinking?!".

But first.... THE AFTER:

 

THE DO-OVER (aka: what was I thinking):

original post

 I think I was thinking color first then add designer paper. I think the colors here are so drab when all is said and done. What was I thinking?!

I decided I wanted a rainbow of colors. I like this version much better.

I used the same stamp sets as in the original.
Craft Room and Crafty Sentiments!

 Now I can invite a crafty friend over and be proud of my colorful card.

 

Thanks Amber for the unique and inspiring challenge!!

Valentine's Day Felt Bag

Valentine's Day is approaching! Are you making treat bags for your kiddos classes? For you girlfriends? For your Mom?

Today at Clear & Simple Stamps, the Design Team is showcasing projects with the theme "It's in the bag". Here is mine....

I designed this bag die to have changeable fronts. CSS has a ton of new dies in this Critters Collection. This little raccoon is just one of many 'Little Critters' that you can use to decorate this bag. You can find this super cute Build-A-Critter Raccoon die HERE. Be sure to get the 'base die' Build-A-Critter: Owl/Kitty. I used these dies to cut felt. Doesn't it look awesome?

Ok, so I added little notches in the bag die for you to add your own ribbon or whatever else you can think up. I used Clear & Simple Stamps Black Twill ribbon. I love the texture of this ribbon and it's the perfect width for the ribbon holes in the bag.

I kept the back side simple. One little felt heart will do. So cute!

I stitched together the side of the bag that you would normally add a strip of tape. I used CSS new line of, what I call 'candy cane' baker's twine. You may notice in the next photo that I cut the bag from chipboard as well and added it to the inside of the felt bag.

Inside is a little assortment of Little Critter cards. You can see all the details for these cards HERE and HERE. And for more felt Build-A-Critters check out this post, HERE.


Check out the rest of the team's 'It's in the bag'.....

Lori / Amber / Laurie / Steph / Kim / Dana / Laura / Tracy

Thanks for stopping by,
steph

Raccoon Valentine's Day Felt Bag:

     • dies: CSS Build-A-Critter Die Collection: Raccoon/Fox

     • ribbon: CSS Perfect Little Black Dress twill ribbon (designer mix)

     • twine: CSS Perfect Little Black Dress twine

     • other: walmart, creative cuts & more

Make It Monday #47

Make It Monday #47: a la carte

I thought Make It Monday #46: Any Die into a Folded Tag looked like a good challenge. I used my new favorite PTI set and dies.... Truckin' It.

Here's the folded pieces I cut from the die. I colored three separate die cuts to go on top of the folded pieces.

 Super cute tags for Back-To-School gifts for teachers or kids or even just for a boy's gift. 

 Can you see how there are two pieces here?

Traffic Jam. lol

Thanks for stopping by,
steph

Traffic Jam Gift Tags:

     • stamps: PTI Boy Basics: Truckin' It

     • ink: Clear & Simple Stamps Perfect Little Black Dress

     • cardstock: Clear & Simple Stamps A Blanc Check

     • other: PTI Truckin' It Die, Copics, Clear & Simple Stamps Twine

CSS Release Day

Welcome to the BIGGEST Release in history! Grab a cup of coffee and join all of us at Clear & Simple Stamps for an amazing release. There are so many new products in the store to include 12 stamp sets, 8 coordinating die cuts, twine, and more Copic markers!

For my project today I used some dies from the new collection of SIMPLE DIES called Build-A-Critter: Owl/Kitty

This is the bag I use when I take my craft supplies out of the house. I've been waiting to decorate it. Once I saw this owl cut in felt I knew where he had to go. I cut the owl die pieces from felt and assembled them with Unique Stitch glue. Then I adhered it to my Clear & Simple Stamps bag.

I also cut a few extra leaves to make this pretty flower hair clip.

Here are some more felt critters for you to drool over.....

 You will see the Raccoon that is MIA here on the 10th of January.

Bat.

Fox.

 Kitty.

& Mr. Bee. Aren't these little critters the best?!!!

Now, check out the Design Teams projects:

• Lori Tecler
• Laura O'Donnell
• Tracy Schultz
• Kim Duran
• Stephany Zerbe
• Amber Daigre
• Laurie Willison
• Laura Bassen
• Clear & Simple Stamps

 

Thanks for stopping by,

steph

Sneak Peeks Day 3: congrats card

It's Day 3 and I have another fun set to showcase. This set is called Little Critters.
The set includes 3 medium sized "critters" along with coordinating sentiments. I said 'medium' so that must mean there is a small and a large type 'Critter' something or other as well, huh? You might be on to something.... I guess you'll find out on the 5th. I'm certain you won't be disappointed.


On to the card:

Yep, that is a die cut owl and branch!!! :) I stamped the owl on the die cut then placed a clear bubble sticker thingy to each eye for added dimension. I love the fun and playful fonts in this set. One of which you can color in, if you wish.

I colored in the owl and the sentiment HOOT HOOT with Copic markers. Then I pressed my colorless Copic marker into the corner of a towel and dabbed the towel on both the owl and the sentiment. It makes a fun splotchy look. The name for this technique escapes me.

Well, that's all for me today. Stop by the CSS blog for more peeks at this fabulous January release. What do you think so far?

Thanks for popping in,
Steph


Congrats Card:

     • stamps: Little Critters, Critter Sentiments

     • ink: Perfect Little Black Dress, A Clean Slate

     • cardstock: A Blanc Check

     • other: Build-A-Critter Die Collection

Sneak Peeks Day 2: valentine cards

Day 2 of sneaks for Clear & Simple Stamps January line up is here.... I have 2 more little cards to share.

These sneaks are from the set called Taglines: Critters.

Well, that's it from me today. Now be sure to check out the other Clear & Simple Stamps Design Team blogs for more January sneak peek goodness...

Laura O’Donnell
Laura Bassen

Thanks for stopping by today!
Steph


Owl Miss You Card:

     • stamps: Taglines: Critters

     • ink: Perfect Little Black Dress

     • cardstock: A Blanc Check

     • other: Copic Markers




Love Bandit Card:
     • stamps: Taglines: Critters

     • ink: Perfect Little Black Dress

     • cardstock: A Blanc Check

     • other: Copic Markers

Sneak Peek Day 1: valentine cards

Are you ready for some sneak peeks of Clear & Simple Stamps January 2012 line up? I know I am.
From now until January 5th we get to visit the Design Team's blogs for sneaks.

Here is a little set of cards I made for you today.

You are gonna love this set. It's called Taglines: Critters
It will be available January 5th at Clear & Simple Stamps.

Well, that's it from me today. Now be sure to visit the  Clear & Simple Stamps blog for  Background Basics Preview!


Thanks for stopping by today!
Steph


Hey Foxy Lady:

     • stamps: Taglines: Critters

     • ink: Perfect Little Black Dress

     • cardstock: A Blanc Check

     • other: Copic Markers


Hi Y'owl card:

     • stamps: Taglines: Critters

     • ink: Perfect Little Black Dress

     • cardstock: A Blanc Check

     • other: Copic Markers


Love Bite Card:

     • stamps: Taglines: Critters

     • ink: Perfect Little Black Dress, You're Such A Gray-cious Host

     • cardstock: A Blanc Check