Last of the Sneak Peeks!

That's right, this is the last day for sneak peeks from Clear Dollar Stamps because tonight at midnight (central time) they will be available for purchase...and you're gonna want them ALL!!! Today I am previewing the Flower of the Month set for December, the poinsettia. May I say I absolutely love this stamp! For this card, I heat embossed the flower with white powder on kraft cardstock. Then, I misted the image with water, dipped my aquapainter into ink refills, then touched it to the area I wanted to add color. Because the image was embossed and already "wet," the ink spread out and filled in the petals or leaves. I love the effect it gave. Some of the colors ran into other areas (you can see green on the flower petals) but that's the way they are in nature, so there's no messin' with it! Yep, I then cut it out and popped it up. This card measures 5" square and fits the sketch and distressing challenges we were given. That Basic Grey Wassail DSP was screaming for some extra sponging!

This poinsettia is stamped in brown ink onto kraft cardstock, filled in with Copic markers, then glitzed up in the center with some yellow Stickles. I then cut out three circles with my nesties. I still had some Basic Grey Wassail DSP on my desk so I used it on this card as well. And I've gotta tell ya, that burgundy taffeta ribbon is delicious! I pierced the holes on either side and sat in front of the TV while I cross-stitched with linen thread! This card also measures 5" square. Some other wonderful ladies are showing off this stamp set, so check 'em out: Angela,

Trudy, Katie, Stacy, Candy, and Laurie.

Drivin' on in With More Sneak Peeks!

If you are a classic car and truck enthusiast, these Clear Dollar Stamps are for you!!!! The six individual stamps to choose from are the 1939 Coupe, 1968 Corvette, 1957 Chevy, 1969 Camero, as well as what I'm previewing, the 1956 Pickup and 1965 Mustang. There is also a set of sentiments called Cool Ride that work great with these stamps as well as a vintage gas can. Please check out Lori's blog for all the details.

Tea-rrific Sneak Peek

I know I'm late posting, work has a way of interfering with stamping!!! Today is day 2 of the Clear Dollar Stamps sneak peeks. This fabulous set is by our Design Team Leader Laurie Wilson and is called Tea-rrific. I love it!!! I am a big tea drinker myself, hot or cold, all year long, which is why the sentiment on this card "Iced or Hot, Tea Hits the Spot" is so true! This card I stamped the teapot and cup and used my Copic markers with it. I used the tea bag stamp out of the set, using a marker to highlight only the string and tag on the end so I could give you the impression the tea bag was in the cup. Some sewing and lots of dimensionals have become my favorite things to do on my cards! I added "just a few(!)" rhinestones for that added sparkle. The ribbon is from the Clear Dollar Stamps store. Colors include Bravo burgundy, So saffron, Kiwi kiss, Regal rose, and DSP (Delicate Dots and Bella Rose).

I found this gift set on someone's blog, wish I had written down who's, because I love it and plan on making more. Slide the ribbon down to open up the flap and the box will lay flat, showing the four cards and envelopes that fit nicely inside. I decided to go very simple with the cards, using the same nestie shape but a different image and sentiment from the Tea-rrific set. The DSP is SU's Ski Slope and colors include Chocolate chip, Real red, Old olive, and Baja breeze. You can see how I maintained the same layouts but changed up the embellishments. I see Christmas or teacher gift out of this. Now other ladies are also previewing this set, please go check 'em out: Angela, Trudy, Katie, Tricia, Cassie, Stacy, Candy, and Laurie.

CDS Sneak Peek Day #2

This adorable set by Shawne Arnold that will be available Sept. 1st is called Get Off Your Tuffet. I love Little Miss Muffet and so many sweet sentiments. Check out Lori's blog for the stamp sheet. Miss Muffie was stamped with memento black ink and colored in with Copic markers. Cardstock colors include scarlet jewel (PTI), pink pirouette, more mustard, mellow moss, and Basic Grey's DSP Sugared. Pearls ended up along the circles, rhinestones on the sentiment, and a crocheted flower with leaves and rhinestone center embellish this card up.

Now this one is also colored in with copics then to my Cuttlebug for some nestie cutting and embossing. The DSP is by Memory Box, Rhubarb Tart to be exact. The silver photo corner can be found at the Clear Dollar Stamps store. Cardstock colors include white, green galore and riding hood red. I punched out 3/4 inch circles from the green to layer underneath the large silver brads. You really need to check out all the other blogs of those showing off this set: Angela, Sarah, Cassie, Candy, and Shawne.

PCP Clear Dollar Stamps Color Challenge

My super quick color challenge card for the Clear Dollar Stamps weekend color challenge over at Paper Craft Planet. Cassie gave us some great colors - Not quite navy, Basic grey, More mustard, Optional Baja breeze and Neutral White or Vanilla. I used the adorable Cute Critters set because the animals are so sweet and I love all the sentiments within the set -- so versatile! I pulled the two blues in thru the Urban Garden DSP by Stampin' Up. Only a little bit of mustard shows up too thru a layer, the skunk's flower, and the little rhinestones.

More sneak peeks will be shown tomorrow. You will see mine in the afternoon as I have to work. Check out Lori's blog for more sets being released Sept. 1st.

September Clear Dollar Stamps Sneak Peeks

Okay, how could I resist this set created by Kim Teasdale called Hockey Time - after all, I live just outside of Pittsburgh, PA and watched our Penguins win the Stanley Cup!! Very exciting!! This jersey I stamped the "USA" from the Patriotic Nuggets set (it's 30% off till the end of the month for the Grand Opening of Clear Dollar Stamps new blog!). Color was added thanks to my Copic markers. I found the designer paper in my scrap bin (yes, I have a very full scrap bin!!) and added one of the wonderful quotes found in the set. To see the stamp sheet of this great set, check out Lori's blog.

I made a Canadian hockey card here by adding the maple leaf from the Hockey Time set. I created my own little squares of designer paper by using the leaf, puck, star, and "goal" also from the set. Not much coloring needed, just a red Copic marker! I added a few little pearls, lots of dimensionals, and some gingham ribbon. Check out other sneak peeks of this set that will be available Sept. 1st - Kim, Angela, Sarah, and Stacy.

Romans 8

This is my second sneak peek for you today, a single stamp of the Bible verse Romans 8 from Clear Dollar Stamps. We are presented each month with challenges and I was inspired by the leather embellishments on a purse, reminded me of a cross. I used the wide chocolate chip satin ribbon to re-create it. Colors on this card include tangerine tango, crushed curry (I LOVE this color!), very vanilla, and Basic Grey's Stella Ruby DSP collection. I ran the DSP thru my Cuttlebug to emboss it with Swiss Dots then layered it up to the curry and ran it thru my sewing machine in a rather haphazard, but fun, way!! The ribbon cross was then created and the verse popped up over it. Several buttons adorned with linen thread were added for that final touch.

A very simple card for my second sample using Romans 8. The colors include old olive, chocolate chip, very vanilla and another sheet of the Stella Ruby DSP by Basic Grey. This card actually fits one of the color challenges the Design Team was presented with - green and brown. I stamped the verse a second time on olive paper then cut snippets out and popped them up over the original. Such a fun effect. I used my nesties to cut out the long rectangular verse as well as the scallop layer underneath. There is a swirl of rhinestones on the bottom right corner, might be hard to see so click on the pic to enlarge. The ribbon is from my friend Peggy - thanks girlfriend! Check out the other DT Members' blogs for more samples of this wonderful stamp: Angela, Cassie, Stacy, and Candy.

Remember, this stamp will be available September 1st. Check out Laurie's blog for other sets being released next month.

A Clean and Simple Swap Card

I have a hard time with clean and simple cards but PaperTrey Ink stamps scream simplicity! I held off ordering this Everyday Button Bits set because... well let me think, why because? It is totally adorable and helps use up the endless number of buttons I've been collecting. I still don't have an answer as to why I waited to order this!! While on vacation I sat at the pool crocheting these flowers to use on this card. We needed to pick a sketch from the Clean & Simple Stamping blog and I chose FTL52. I really have a hard time keeping cards simple, I desperately wanted to add additional layers to this but restrained myself.

Everyone, Meet Sydney!

We picked up our new kitty today and her name is Sydney. She is all of 4 months old and dreadfully shy right now. We named her after our Stanley Cup champs, the Pittsburgh Penguins' captain Sidney Crosby. I love the itty bitty patch of black under her right chin (you can barely see it in this pic). She LOVES being held, and I am the right person for that job!!! We introduced her to our other cat in small doses today and all they did was hiss at each other. I'm hoping this too shall pass.

Pray Without Ceasing

I enjoy the Featured Stamper's challenge every Sunday on SCS. This week's stamper is jo-jot; check out her gallery for some real inspiration. I cased her card, Sunshine Blooms, changing up the colors and stamps. My stamps are by Clear Dollar Stamps: Song Bird Silhouettes and Charlie Praying. I used two colors of Versamagic on the bird, Turquoise Dew and Tea Leaves to bring out the colors in the leftover piece of Offbeat DSP by Basic Grey found on my desk. Other colors include chocolate chip, kiwi kiss, buckaroo blue and baja breeze. I used my sewing machine to do all the paper piercing, just wish I didn't have the "stitches" so close together. Once that needle goes thru the paper though, there's no turning back!! I added a ribbon slide and brads from a hodgepodge hardware kit. Thanks for stopping by, I really do appreciate all of you!!

Check Out the New Clear Dollar Stamps Store!

You really must go visit the new Clear Dollar Stamps store! It is totally SWEET!!! They have lots of Grand Opening specials that you really need to check out. And what do you think of the new logo? Isn't Charlie adorable?! I think so too.

We are home safe and sound from vacation - now it's time to get caught up on everything. I've already done a load of laundry and sifted thru all the 387 emails!!! Traveling on Sundays is definitely the way to go, very little traffic. The only problem -- we have to be at work tomorrow!!!!!!! I need to get some stamping done tonight, my stamps are feeling unloved!

Saturday Fun at Clear Dollar Stamps

You don't want to miss the fun planned for this Saturday at Clear Dollar Stamps. More details and some fun give-aways can be found on Lori's blog, Clearly iStamp. Go check it out!

More Fun in the Sun!

Pool, hot tub, beach...ahhhh, life is good!!!! I'd like you to meet Kevin, my youngest. He LOVES the water! He takes after his Mom and took to swimming early on. I'm hoping he wears himself out again today like yesterday and takes another nap -- that way I can too!!!!!!! Or get more scrapbooking done! Now don't think we only spend all our time at the pool, we do hit the beach, but I keep forgetting to take the camera! Maybe we'll take a walk this evening and I can show you the beach. Stay tuned!

What a Fabulous Vacation!

We are here at the Outer Banks in North Carolina having a wonderful time!! This is a picture of my oldest son, Phillip. He got his braces off two days before leaving for here, so now he's more than happy to smile for pics!! It took us only 9 1/2 hours to get here -- and as soon as we got to the house the boys were in the pool!!! Today the high reached 97 while yesterday was 98!! I think in rained in Pittsburgh!!!!!!!!! I brought some stamps to mount as well as images to color when a little down time is needed. I finished up some beach scrapbook pages too that have been sitting in a pile waiting to be paid attention to. Now why didn't I remember to bring along all my pictures??!! I have a bad habit of making the pages and not putting pictures on -- weird, I know! Hope you are having a good day, will post more fun pics later.

Lemons, Life, Love

We leave next Sunday for vacation -- so what am I doing stamping?? Enjoying myself, that's what I'm doing!! I played along with this week's Featured Stamper Challenge at SCS - VA.sunshine has a beautiful gallery. I picked her Thinking of You to case. I recently purchased my first set of Flourishes stamps (GASP, I know!!) and wanted to ink them up. This set is called Life, Love & Lemons and how fun it was to use! I used my Copic markers on the lemon tree and sponged around the edges with Creamy caramel ink. The colors of cardstock I used are Pacific point, Wild wasabi and Crushed curry - I went the "In Color" route, past and present. I pulled my Score-Pal out to make the curry layer. So much fun, now off to buy some school clothes for DS - gotta use my 40% off your entire purchase at American Eagle before it expires!!!!!!!! Imagine that, he's 14 and won't let me buy clothes from Wal-Mart for him anymore!!! Spoiled brat!!!!!!!!

Nothin' But Scraps!

I can't believe how quick this card went together!! I already had the image colored in (I had received it thru Wish RAK) then just went thru my scrap bin for the papers. The flower is glittered up with Stickles. The sentiment is from TAC while I think this is a Penny Black frog. I have a friend with a birthday coming up so this is the one for her!

The Life of a Cat

I'd like you to meet Moonstruck. She is the reason I couldn't get any stamping done tonight! After all, how could I possible disturb this sleeping angel!! It's not like I don't find her in other silly places asleep like the bathroom sink, on my lap, on DH's recliner that she has now turned into her chair!! Moonie is very precious! The other day I bought her a really fun toy (well, at least I thought it was fun) with a stuffed bird and feathers and a bell at the end of a string. Well, being the silly kitty she is, she could have cared less about the bird and feathers, but boy that string gave her hours of entertainment!! A girl I work with, her neighbor's cat had kittens a few weeks ago, and she has promised me one of the cutest, most friendliest of the bunch so once we get back from vacation, we will be a two cat family again!! I'll keep you up-to-date!