Final Sneak Peaks for Clear Dollar Stamps January 1st Releases!

It's the last day of the year, the last day before you can buy the January Clear Dollar Stamps new releases! Today's set is called Heart Flutters and there's a coordinating wheel stamp called Fluttering Fun. I made one of Lauren's timeless template purses so I could use the Fluttering Fun wheel stamp on the top part. My picture isn't as good as I'd have liked, the colors are much more vibrant IRL

I used both sets for this next card. I promise I'll stop using that sketch! (told you I was obsessed...)

Making this card was really fun. I love hearts and I like butterflies too, the set comes with a "body" so I had to try it out! I also used the Fluttering Fun wheel stamp to make some designer paper and the Cuttlebug Swiss Dots embossing folder with some stitched black grossgrain ribbon from Clear Dollar Stamps. The rectangle Nesties dies and Stampin' Up! oval punches.

This card uses both Clear Dollar Stamps Heart Flutters and Fluttering Fun too. I used Versamark on the background so it's just barely there. I made another butterfly and used my Nesties dies, I like the new Pinking circles but haven't used them much yet. The corners are a Spellbinders die too, I didn't have my new Wizard machine yet so they aren't embossed as excellently as they will be in the future!

I have a new Spellbinders Wizard machine from Christmas I've been playing with. What an awesome die cutting system, the embossing is fabulous! I'm getting the hang of the Copic ABS1 too, it's fun! Have a wonderful day~

Clear Dollar Stamps Farm Critters Sneak Peak

Good morning, I'm excited to share today's sneak peak with you! This Clear Dollar Stamps set is called Farm Critters and I also used their new Farm Sounds Wheel stamp. My first project is a backpack using Kraft cardstock, Versafine Onyx Black ink and the Farm Sounds Wheel stamp. These are really cool stamps! They fit on a wheel so you can roll them or they fit on a long acrylic block, I prefer the long acrylic block. The design team was challenged to make a charm for one of our projects.

I made my charm using shrink plastic and the cow from the Farm Critters set. I used a Spellbinders Nestabilties Tag die I bought at Clear Dollar Stamps to cut out the Shrink Plastic and stamped the cow with Stazon Jet Black ink. I used my heat tool to shrink the plastic. It was really fun to watch it curl and shrink and flatten out again into a perfect minature! It's been a long time...

My next card is the pig from the Farm Critters set and the Farm Sounds Wheel stamp and that sketch I was obsessing about. It looks like the color challenge too!

This card above was our sketch challenge, I had a lot of fun making this one! I really like the Black and White look. I used that cute cow from the Farm Critters set, a Cuttlebug embossing folder, a Nestabilities Square die set, grossgrain ribbon and a couple of matte brads. Did you notice I used the spots off the cow for the bottom panel on my card? It was nice that this stamp set had those two elements separate so I could.

My last card today is the chicken from the Farm Critters set. I colored this image as well as the pig above with my Copic markers, I used a Spellbinders Nestabilities Oval and scalloped Oval and one of their tag dies on this card. I also used the Farm Sounds Wheel stamp.

I hope you'll stop by Clear Dollar Stamps on January 1st and check out the store, they don't just have great new stamps! There are Spellbinders dies, Cuttlebug embossing folders, Zutter Bind It All products, yummy ribbons, Basic Gray paper packs, brads, etc.

Did I tell you I got a Copic marker air brush system for Christmas? I was able to play with it last night for a few minutes. It's going to take some practice!

I'm trying to wrap up the loose ends around here, I have unfinished projects and ideas that need to be completed and put away until next year. I've been taking pictures as I go so hopefully I'll be sharing those with you after the first of the year.

For now, I gotta go! My children's dad and grandparents are picking them up around noontime and I need to go get ready for the day. I don't want my former husband or inlaws finding me "crafting" in my pajamas at noon!

Have a great day!

Clear Dollar Stamps Sneak Peaks Day 2

Good morning! I have more sneak peaks of the new January 2009 Clear Dollar Stamps for you. This set is called Cowgirl Charliene, I think she's too cute!

I made a gift card holder using an idea I saw on someone's blog. It uses a rectangular shaped Nestabilities die to cut into the inside so you can slip a gift card in it. The designer paper is from PapertreyInk.

I colored Charliene with Copic markers and used the rectangle Nestabilities dies regular and scalloped to cut her out and matte her. One of our challenges for the month was to use something clear so I used a piece of a clear report cover and put it through the Cuttlebug swirls embossing folder. What fun!

My term for being on the Clear Dollar Stamps design team is coming to an end. It was a 3 month commitment and I've had a lot of fun. I'd like to thank Laurie and Lori for the cool opportunity I've totally enjoyed it!

I hope you had a nice Christmas! It's been very busy at my house with the kids out of school and friends stopping by. My kids will be going to visit Grandma and Grandpa for a few days and it's going to be way too quiet around here. I hope to have time to open the Copic Air Brush System I got for Christmas and play with it. But, until January 1st I'll be showing you sneak peaks of the new Clear Dollar Stamps!

Have a great day, I'll be back with you soon!

Clear Dollar Stamps January Sneak Peaks

It's sneak peak time for Clear Dollar Stamps again! This cute set is called Cowgirl Charlene and I also used the new Clear Dollar Stamps Farm Sounds Wheel stamp. These stamps will be available for purchase January 1st, 2009. I also used the Cuttlebug Paisley embossing folder and wiped my black ink pad over it after embossing. Charlene is colored with Copic markers and the cardstock colors are Basic Black, White, Real Red and Kraft.

I'll be back soon with more sneak peaks and hopefully more to say!

Christmas At Our House...

The tree is trimmed, the lights are hung... and there's a cat in there! My youngest cat is a real character. Our tree has been up for a couple of weeks, so far she's been good with it.

She just couldn't help herself tonight though...

I've been taking an unintentional break from blogging lately. Christmas is difficult this year being the first without my Dad. So many things remind me of him and all the old traditions that just don't apply anymore. I'm happy and sad all at the same time, it's weird. I'm pretty sure it's part of the mourning process.

The kitchen a.k.a. craft room cabinets are still an ongoing saga so that is anxiety causing too.

I'm currently waiting on a bid from a different contractor to see what it will cost for him to finish this job.

The best part is I have people around me that love me and care about me and can help me pull my head out of that dark place I tend to put it.

January sneak peaks for Clear Dollar Stamps are coming soon, I'll see you then!

Merry Christmas!

I think I have a sketch obsession...

Have you ever made a card using a sketch and then feel the need to make that same sketch with different paper and stamps again and again and again? Me too...

In my travels blog browsing I saw a card on Nichole Heady's blog Capture The Moment and really liked the simplicity of the layout. I decided I needed to try it and that's where my second card below started. I had a class and we used the sketch for the Stampin' Up! Polar Bear card and now I can't seem to get it out of my system!

This card above uses Stampin' Up! Wintergreen designer paper and the snowman family by Cornish Heritage Farms. The cardstock colors are Bayou Blue, Basic Black and White. The stitched ribbon is Stampin' Up! Bayou Blue. The Stampin' Up! paper is retired, unfortunately I can't keep up with what is current or retired there. So much good stuff out there, I can't use it up when I first collect it. My second card is from the class I had Tues/Wed. The Polar Bear is from a retired Stampin' Up! set by the same name that is well loved and used! I also used a PapertreyINK set called Holiday Treats and a new Verve Visual set called Snow Wonderful. I LOVE the snowflake background stamp and had to have it for this card for the class project.

I have something else on my mind today. I'm thinking about aquiring a Spellbinders Wizard, I love the Spellbinders dies. My Zip 'E Mate and I have a love/hate relationship. We've never worked through those issues completely. The Zip 'E Mate is no longer available and getting the cutting mats for it isn't easy either. WHAT'S ON MY MIND? If anyone has a Wizard please leave me a comment and tell me what you think of it.

I gotta go! We're having a yard sale this weekend and I have to go sort! Have a super weekend!

Polar Bears Revisited

I had my first class in a long time last night and this morning, what fun to get together with friends that love stamping as much as I do!

Below is a picture of the 3 cards we made using the retired Stampin' Up! set Polar Bears. In all the construction going on in my kitchen/craft room I've uncovered so many stamp sets that have been neglected. I think it's time to break them out and use them again!
In this batch of cards we also used PapertreyINK and Verve Visual sets. The images are colored with Copic markers and we also used Cuttlebug embossing folders for some texture.

We also started a new Beth Moore, Daniel bible study this evening in our small group that meets at my house. The kids are in bed and the house is quiet again, time for this Mom to go relax. Have a great day!