Clear Dollar Stamps February Sneak Peek Preview Day 2!!

Another day of sneak peeks! :) Yippee skippy!! Are ya ready?!

Don't forget that you can run over to Lori's blog to see the sets and to see the the other samples from the design team. I promise that you will love them. They are stupendous!



What a perfect time for this wonderful set ...Scriptures of Hope. The verse is set deep inside a frame giving a lot of depth and dimension.








Stamps - Scriptures of Hope
Paper - amethyst, black, gray, white
Ink - black, amethyst
Copics - none
Accessories/Tools - SCAL, Cricut, flowers, brads, pearls, pop dots






You're Eggs-traordinary is such a fun 'egg' set. With the SVG file, I welded two eggs together to make an egg-shaped card. Then, I added several 'eggy' layers and colored the egg with Copics. An easy and fun Easter card.












Stamps - You're Eggs-traordinary
Paper - budding lilac, powder puff, blue, gray, white
Ink - black, white gel pen
Copics - BV00, R81, YR61, G00, B00
Accessories/Tools - You're Eggs-traordinary SVG file, SCAL, Cricut, pearls, ribbon, Tabs & Tags dies, pop dots
Technique - shaped card








And for FREE, you can get this super stamp set with a qualifying order. Isn't it cute??? I just LOVE this bunny. Normally, I don't aim for the bright colors - especially on animals - but I found this paper and used it for inspiration. What a fun card this turned out to be!












Stamps - Flower Bunny
Paper - Turquoise Gem, Bee Pollen, Grape Jelly, white, The Paper Studio dp
Ink - black, white gel pen
Copics - BG01, BG05, G21, G24, R32, R37, BV08, Y17, Yr04
Accessories/Tools - Tabs & Tags dies, Cuttlebug, folder, circle punch, flowers, brad, sewing machine
Technique - sewing and faux sewing



So what do you think? Aren't February's sets fantabulous?! I just love 'em all!! You'll want to grab them as soon as they are released tomorrow at Clear Dollar Stamps.



Enjoy your marvelous Monday and have a great, big, beautiful tomorrow!


~*Shell*~

Clear Dollar Stamps February Sneak Peek Preview Day 1!!

I LOVE sneak peek days, don't you?!!! Today is the first day of our February previews, and the design team members have some fantastic sets to show you!

Remember, these sets will be available for purchase on February 1 at Clear Dollar Stamps.


Ok ... let's get on with the peeking, shall we?? :)

Oh, Hoppy Day, Hoppy Day!!! :) This little frog set is SO cute. I know that I'm going to use this set sooooo much!

Using the SVG files, I was able to cut the frog and the shadow, as well as the shape for the sentiment and it's shadow, with the Cricut. Isn't it exciting that we can purchase these SVGs?! No more cutting out the stamped shapes by hand! :) Excellent.




Stamps - Hoppy Frogs
Paper - spring leaf, black, white, The Paper Studio dp
Ink - black, olive
Copics - G85, G28, G21, R46, Y38, G24
Accessories/Tools - Hoppy Frogs SVG file, SCAL, Cricut, flowers, Cuttlebug, folder, sewing machine, pop dots






Sentimental Flowers is such a wonderfully versatile set. Along with the stamps, I used the SVG files to cut the flowers out. This set is so cute because the flowers have a cute little sentiments that can be used as stems. I masked part of the sentiment so that I could stamp part on the top line and part just under it. The little leaf stitch on my sewing machine couldn't fit this set any better. I couldn't resist adding it to the edges of the Raging River layer.





Stamps - Sentimental Flowers
Paper - raging river, brown, gray, white
Ink - black
Copics - G21, G24, Y000, Y02, R81
Accessories/Tools - Sentimental Flowers SVG file, Tabs & Tags dies, Cricut, SCAL, sewing machine, water, pearls, pop dots
Technique - distressing, sewing





Bold Butterflies and the Butterfly die set ... oh my word. This set and the matching dies are so gorgeous! When I got my hands on them, I KNEW that I had to use them on a scrapbook page, and the page formed in my mind. This page turned out a little different than I planned, but most do! :) Butterflies remind me of the changes in our lives. I wanted to reflect that change with the page I was creating. I chose to think about the changes in my 5 year old daughter. The first picture was taken the day she was born and the other was taken just a few weeks ago. So many changes, but still my precious princess .... then and now.






Stamps - Bold Butterflies
Paper - Tickled Pink, black, The Paper Studio dp
Ink - saffron, celery
Copics - none
Accessories/Tools - Bold Butterflies dies, Cricut, SCAL, crystals





Make sure you head over to Lori's blog to see the full sets and to check out the other preview samples that this amazing design team have put together. Then, go on over to Clear Dollar Stamps on Tuesday to get them all.


Come on back tomorrow for day 2 of our sneak peeks!!

Have a great Sunday and a great, big, beautiful tomorrow!!




~*Shell*~

She's a Winner!!

We have a winner for our first monthly Blog Hop!

Our winner is:

Marsha from http://grammasroom.blogspot.com/

Marsha was randomly picked from all of the blog hop comments.

Congratulations to Marsha! Marsha ... if you check here first, head over to Lori's blog for details on how to claim your prize!

Our next hop will be on February 20th!! Join us for the fun, creativity, and prizes.

What's Happening??

Ok ... so, some great stuff coming up on here.

Sunday - January 30, we'll have day 1 of our previews for the Clear Dollar Stamps February stamp release.

Monday - January 31, we'll have day 2 of that preview.

Sunday - February 13, this will be the day of our monthly Clear Dollar Stamps blog hop! You won't want to miss it - there will be prizes!

In the next few weeks, I'll have more samples of the new February sets and fun projects to share. In fact, I'll soon be sharing the projects I've been creating for my QSS (Quacker Secret Sister). That reveal is on February 22nd. How fun that will be!


VSN will be on SCS on February 25 and 26. I'm making plans to be home to create that weekend - what about you??? :) Hope you'll join us over there.



So, lots of fun stuff coming. I hope to have something fun to show you tomorrow night, but it might be Saturday before I get it done.




Stay tuned, hang on, chillax, and wait for it. Great stuff coming right here soon!




~*Shell*~

Helping Katie ... Part 2

On January 10, I posted about a wonderful opportunity for you to grab some amazing digi images (available here) while helping a very special person and her family (Katie Renz). Jak Heath still has those amazing images available on her site ... as well as a fantastic contest - with prizes! Go get the images and get to work on something for the contest!



Whether I made a card or not, I planned to post about this contest. Tonight, though, I was able to make a quick card to highlight this great opportunity.



Made with the digi set, Sew Grateful, this card expresses thanks for a special friend. The white background was embossed with an inked paisley embossing folder. The Spring Leaf layer was embossed on the edge with that fantastic ruler edge folder. Really looks cute for a 'sewing' card. :)





Stamps - Sew Grateful (digi set)
Paper - white, Spring Leaf (Clear Dollar Stamps), gray, rose
Ink - rose, printer
Copics - E31, E33, R81, C1, C3, W1, W3, B000
Accessories/Tools - ribbon, Cuttlebug, folders, pop dots


I hope this, in some way, honors Katie. She's such an amazing woman with such fantastic courage and humor. Visit her blog and leave her some love. Then, get to work in your Haven and make a card to enter into Jak's contest!! Good luck!!




Have a fantastic evening and a great, big, beautiful tomorrow!!



~*Shell*~

VSN Baby ....or, uh, VSN MINI! :)

This month, SCS hosted the VSN mini event. The event was on the evening of January 21st. I didn't make it for the actual event, but I was able to complete a challenge or 2 before the deadline. The first challenge was 4-fold ... color, use punches, sketch, and limited supplies.


As per the thread ....

1. It’s a sketch challenge. You need to follow the sketch (you can change the layout but it must consist of all elements-flower, circle sentiment, punched edging, ribbon). 2. It’s a color challenge; Cherry Cobbler, Regal Rose, Kiwi Kiss (May sub with Riding Hood Red, Pink Pirouette, Pear Pizzazz or any non-SU! similar colors.). 3. It’s a punch challenge. You can use any punches to make flowers on your card. (Dies are okay to use for this part of the challenge.) 4. The only stamp on this card is the sentiment.


How fun!


This card was created with the Blooming Bouquet dies (Clear Dollar Stamps) and a lot of layering!! There are 3 layers of the Pucker Up flower and 2 more of the rose on the main flower. Twine was added to the Spring Leaf ribbon to give a little more of a garden/outdoorsy feel.

The sentiment - the only stamping allowed on the card - is from Loving Critters - a stamp set released by Clear Dollar Stamps on January 1.




Card Recipe -

Stamps: Loving Critters

Paper: rose, pucker up, spring leaf, white

Ink: black

Accessories: Blooming Bouquet dies, shinies, ribbon, twine, corner rounder (without corner guard), Cuttlebug and folders

Let me know what you think. VSN is so much fun!! I can't wait for the real event (the VSN weekend) on February 25 - 26 over at Splitcoaststampers.com! Join us for the fun.


Remember - this weekend, I'll have some great sneak peeks of the new sets Clear Dollar Stamps is releasing on February 1. I can't wait to show you!!!




Have a fantastic Monday and a great, big, beautiful tomorrow!!!


~*Shell*~

Blog Hop : New Beginnings

Woohoo!!! I LOVE blog hops!! I was SO excited when Lori announced that Clear Dollar Stamps was going to have one on the 3rd Sunday of every month. I hope you are, too!! Blog hops are so fun and can be terribly inspiring. And to make it even better .... One random winner will be chosen from all of the comments to receive one free stamp set of their choice!!! Super duper cool!!!

If you're following the hop, you should have come here from Jan's blog - after having started at Lori's. If you didn't come here from Jan's, just head over to Lori's to get started on this great hop!



New Beginnings.... I tossed this name around in my mind over and over. I knew that everyone would go with the typical new baby, new marriage, wedding, home, etc. for their project, but I wanted mine to be a little bit ... different. :)

I went with New Life In Christ. What better "New Beginning" could there be?!

I used white craft ink for the cross. It is quite pretty on there in real life. :)




Card recipe -

Stamps - Prayer Journal, Beautiful Scriptures
Paper - apricot, black, white
Ink - black, white craft
Accessories/Tools - Cricut, SCAL, oval punch, Cuttlebug, folder, pearls, pop dots, ribbon





Comment on this post for a chance to win ... and remember, you don't have comment on every blog in the hop, but the more blogs you comment on, the more chances you have to win!!! So, from here, head on over to Jasmin's blog and check out what she has for you. I know she's got some great stuff!! Or just click the blog hop badge at the top to be taken to the start of the hop. Someone will win!!!


Have an awesome Sunday and a great, big, beautiful tomorrow. I hope to have some fun stuff for you this week! :)


~*Shell*~

Clearly Cuttin' Up!

It's awesome when a great company comes out with a great new product, isn't it??

Clear Dollar Stamps has done it again!! Today, CDS is releasing their first group of .svg files made to use with ... their STAMPS!! :) How awesome is that?! No cutting around the stamp images to get dimension, anymore. You can cut them on the Cricut (using SCAL), cut a shadow for them, stamp the main layer, put it on the shadow, and build your card. WOWZERS!! How coolllllll!! I think ... no, I KNOW, you're going to love everything we've got for you today. AND ... not only is CDS going to have shapes to use with the stamps, but also other shapes to use to enhance your cardmaking. :)


Oh ... just in case you don't already have SCAL, CDS has got a *great* deal on that, too!!!! Just run on over to Lori's blog and take a peek at all she's got to offer today!



This card is made with the brackets' file that CDS is releasing today. Don't you love that frame around the hippo and frog. The oval is cut using the middle shape of the scalloped shaped files that are being released today, too.


Crystal effects was used for the 'splatter,' along with some Tear Drops to add some dimension. The oval was embossed only on the sides to match the embossing on the black layer.




Card recipe -

Stamps - A Friend In Need
Paper - Deep Sea (Clear Dollar Stamps), black, white, gray
Ink - black, fog
Copics - R81, R83, B97, G21, G24, B00, B21, B24, B29
Accessories/Tools - Cuttlebug, folder, .svg files (Clear Dollar Stamps), flowers, Tear Drops, crystal effects, pop dots, Cricut, SCAL, sewing machine


Ah ... the .svgs for the stamped images .... I love this beaver ... and the fact that I did NOT have to cut him out by hand! With him cut out and popped up on the front of the card, there's a lot more depth to the card. There is even a separate image that can be cut for the balloon - which I cut, colored, and embellished with Crystal Effects.


Card recipe -

Stamps - Loving Critters (Clear Dollar Stamps)
Paper - apricot, amethyst, white, dp (super slab)
Ink - black
Copics - E31, E33, E37, G21, G24, BV13
Accessories/Tools - .svg files (Loving Critters by Clear Dollar Stamps), Cricut, SCAL, circle punch, crystals, Crystal Effects, pop dots




You'll want to head over to Lori's blog to get the scoop on all these great new releases. Go on .... head on over there .... yep, right now!!! :)



Oh .... but just in case you've missed it before now - there's a blog hop starting at Lori's blog tomorrow morning. Don't miss the chance to WIN!!! :)



Hope you have a great Saturday and a great, big, beautiful tomorrow!!!



~*Shell*~

Baby Sweet

Ooooh, this is such a sweet, sweet set to work with. I found the designer paper in my stash and thought it would be beautiful with the new Baby Bundle set from Clear Dollar Stamps.


Isn't the paper perfect for a baby girl card? I just loved it and thought the plum ink would go wonderfully with it. The white layer with the booties was sanded across both horizontally and vertically to give it a linen-type texture.

I embossed the top layer of designer paper with the tiny hearts folder and the Cuttlebug. (I sure wish they put the name of the folder on the folder for future reference!!!)





Stamps - Baby Bundle by Clear Dollar Stamps
Paper - dp, white, moss
Ink - plum
Copics - none
Accessories/Tools - sanding tool, pearls, oval punches, ribbon, Cuttlebug and folder, pop dots
Technique - sanding/linen texture on booties layer




Special release that you won't want to miss tomorrow and a BLOG HOP on Sunday!! Make sure you check back right here this weekend.




Have a fantabulous Friday and a great, big, beautiful tomorrow!!



~*Shell*~

Technique Challenge

TLC307 ... A great Technique Lovers' Challenge. Join us!

We were to choose 3 other challenges (one sketch, one color, and one technique) and combine them to create this challenge. The challenges I chose were .... TLC304 (sewing), CC276 (soft suede, apricot appeal, almost amethyst), and SC215. These can be found in a search on SCS.



I used Heart Hugs for this challenge. Don't you just love that bear?! He's sooooo snuggly.

Around the edge, I sewed using a 'honeycomb' pattern (to accent the circles on the sketch) and added those great crystals as the embellies.

Stamps: Heart Hugs by Clear Dollar Stamps

Paper: amethyst, apricot, and white

Ink: black, copics (E33, E37, R81, C5, BV11)

Accessories: scissors, circle punch, sewing machine, ribbon, crystals, pop dots

Techniques: sewing

Don't forget to check out jakheath.com to grab those great digi stamps that benefit Katie!!


Have an amazing Wednesday and a great, big, beautiful tomorrow!!! We still have snow on the ground. We may not thaw out until Friday or so ... and I'm in GEORGIA!!!!


~*Shell*~

Digis for Katie

As mentioned last week, our friend and design team leader, Katie Renz, has stage 4 gastric cancer. To help Katie's family financially, Jak Heath (at jakheath.com), is donating all proceeds from several select digi stamp sets to Katie's family.

I've never used digis in my paper crafting, but for Katie, I had to give it a try. I hope you like the samples!

I've used Recipe for Love and Sending Love in my samples, and I thought about Katie the entire time I created them.


This sample uses the set Sending Love. Wow... what a CUTE set!! Love it.

Stamps - Sending Love (digi set)
Paper - Billowing Clouds, black, white
Copics - B00, BG01, B34, BV11, E31, E71, E77, C5, R83
Accessories/Tools - Printer, crystal dragonflies, pop dots













A bowl of chicken soup helps everything, doesn't it?? It's just plain good for the soul. This is a great set to use to let someone know that they are special to you or that they, indeed, warm your heart.




Stamps - Recipe for Love (digi)
Paper - Mat Stack red checks, black, white
Ink - caramel
Copics - E43, E47, C3, C5, R59, BG10, C1, Y26, E31
Accessories/Tools - corner punch (for scallops), ribbon, flowers, pop dots, Cuttlebug and folder



Visit Jak's site (jakheath.com) and pick up all 3 of these wonderful sets. Use them to show folks in your life how much you care. :)


Have a very special Monday and a great, big, beautiful tomorrow.



*~Shell*~

Clearly Inspired Challenge #21 - Love is Sweet

Woohoo!! Another Clearly Inspired Challenge. Don't you just love these?? The theme for this one is "Love is Sweet." How fun! You don't want to miss the chance to WIN!!


I chose to go with love for a friend with my 'love' card. This set - Loving Critters - works SO well for that!! Love it!! Isn't this pig, like, the cutest?! Another fun element on this card is the Tabs & Tags die cuts and coordinating stamps. Super fun!







Card Recipe -

Stamps - Loving Critters, Tabs & Tags (both sets from CDS)
Paper - Sweet Pea (CDS), white, gray, brown
Ink - Cocoa, Rose, Black
Copics - R81, R83, BV00, 0, C1, BV04, G21, G24, E00, E02, BV23, G94, B21
Accessories/Tools - Tabs & Tags dies, Cricut, Scal, twine, pop dots, wire dragonflies, crystals, Cuttlebug and folder.

Here are the basic details for our challenges, they are sweet and simple and not just ONE of you will win a prize but FIVE of you will win a prize.

• These challenges will occur the 1st Friday of the Month
• You have until the following 1st Friday of the next month to link your project on the Clearly iStamp page.
  
• Challenges will vary each and every time
• Your work is important so there will be 3 Inspirational Cards/Projects chosen to be featured here.
• New requirement is to use CDstamps in your project. If you don't have any we are offering a FREE DIGITAL DOWNLOAD.
• Click ---> HERE <--- to be taken to the store and your FREE Download. We will have a different FREEBIE each and every month.
• FIVE random winners will be chosen to win a $10.00 gift certificate good towards any Clear Dollar Stamp(s).
• If you upload to Splitcoast Stampers or another online gallery please use CIC21 as one of your keywords
• Multiple Entries are welcome.

Head on over to Clearly iStamp to join in the fun!! :)


Have a fantastic Friday and a great, big, beautiful tomorrow!!



*~Shell*~

Cards for Katie

Katie Renz ... she's an amazing person and an amazing Design Team Leader. Recently, this wonderful lady was diagnosed with stage 4 gastric cancer. The quick diagnosis has stunned all of those that love her, including the design team.



Today, Lori is dedicating her blog to cards for Katie. Many of us have sent cards to Lori to be used on her site with our special messages to Katie. I encourage you to head over to Lori's blog to read the messages, view the cards, and to leave an encouraging note of your own.



My card and message for Katie....

Katie ... You are loved, and you are loved by so many. Most of all, you are loved by our precious Lord and Creator. He promises to take care of His children regardless of what we're going through and promises to be with us through everything. I pray that you have His comfort through every step of this ordeal and that you feel His love in your every breath.

You are an amazing person, Katie. You are so creative, so inspiring, and so strong. You are constantly in my thoughts. Please know that I'm praying for you, and I love you.




~*Shell*~

Tag! You're It!!!! Blog Hop

Remember playing tag as a kid? Chasing, running, tagging....what fun. And what a great way to run off energy. Gee, I wish I had kept that energy for later (NOW) use!! LOL!!! I sure could use it.


Today, we're playing blog tag. Hopefully, you came here from Trudy Sjolander's blog. If not, head back over to Lori's blog to get started on the hop.



We're introducing a fantastic new die set and 2 ... yep, *2* coordinating stamp sets! How cool is that?!


My first card shows the wonderful new Tabs & Tags die set. There is SO much you can do with these dies ... so many combinations with which to create. FUN!

The dies were used in the bottom corner here. Layered in white and blue. January ... perfect time for a snowflake theme, right? :) Of course, I live in Georgia, so it's not likely that I will see any of the real snowflakes.





Stamps - Tabs & Tags (snowflake)
Paper - blue, white
Ink - blue
Accessories - Tabs & Tags dies, ribbon, crystals, Cuttlebug, folder, pop dots







Yes, I know that Christmas is over, but we ALWAYS need to think about our Christmas cards, don't we? Well, this is an easy, fun card for the holiday. The bottom green layer on the bottom set of dies is stamped with one of the stamps from Tabs & Tags Additions, and another one is used on the white die behind the top green layer.



Stamps - Tabs & Tags Additions, Merry Christmas
Paper - $1 pack from Target, red, green, white
Ink - green, versamark, Memento black
Accessories - Tabs & Tags dies, silver cord, clear dots, pop dots







The little tag hanging on this card was made by cutting off the end of one of the die cuts. Makes a perfect little tag for your card! Behind the sentiment (from Tabs & Tags stamp set - as well as the adorable butterfly) is a great little pattern for the dies. It's from the Tabs & Tags Additions stamp set.

The big flower was colored with Copics. Worked great with the colors in that background paper, don't you think?! Love it. Behind the flower is a layer cut with the Cricut and embossed with the Cuttlebug and script folder.




Stamps - Tabs & Tags Additions, Tabs & Tags
Paper - Paper Slab, gray, caramel, white
Ink - caramel, brown, Memento black, Copics (E04, Y26)
Accessories - Tabs & Tags dies, ribbon (Ripe Olive), pearls, twine, Cuttlebug, folder, Cricut, SCAL, glitter pen, pop dots, flowers, brad
Technique - aging



I TOLD you the new stuff was awesome!


Now .... would you like to WIN these fabulous dies and matching stamps - Tabs & Tags Die Set, Tabs & Tags Stamp Set, and Tabs & Tags Additions Stamp Set?? I know you would !! How can you do that??

It is very simple: all you have to do is go and comment on each of our Design Team member’s blogs about our new Tabs and Tags Die and Stamp sets. We will give you 3 days to do this and at the end of the 3 days we will randomly pick our winners from all the comments on all the blogs to discover who our lucky winners are for our Tag, You’re It Blog Hop! You don’t have to comment on all the blogs, but the more comments you make, the more chances you have to win!

So simple, so fun!

How easy is that?? So, comment here -tell me how you like these new dies and stamps, and let me know what you'd like to see more of on my blog- and hop to the next blog. You won't want to miss all of the fabulous samples we have for you today!


From here, you should head over to Linda Anderson's blog. Remember, if you didn't come here from Trudy's blog, head back to Lori's blog and start there. :)


Oh, Linda ..... Tag! You're It!! :)




Happy New Year!!!


~*Shell*~