for the birthday boy {CSS instant replay}

It's the last day of CSS replay week - I hope you've enjoyed it!  Today, we're featuring the new rag doll sets and dies.



I don't want it to be all tutus and tea parties on the blog, so this one's for the boys.  Also, Thomas would like you to know that it's his truck that I borrowed for the photo.  The truck there on the left.  The red one.  I took it without asking, but he forgives me. (He also dictated all of that for me to write on the blog.)



I did a bit of masking to get Jake onto the stool, the trucks stamped onto the rug, and the sunburst in behind. The balloon got popped up on the card, and also on the tag:

Same balloon, same sunburst, same colors..... but.... glossy car.



I won't lie - that little car was so fiddly to cut out.  My pudgy fingers were having some trouble (ha!) but it does look cute all glossy.

I hope you like it!  More rag dolls on these blogs today: Audrey ♥ Lori ♥ CSS blog

hang in there ♥.

When I saw the new Mama Elephant set, "up and away," I had to have it.  It is just so darn cute!  It's been awhile since I've crafted with something other than design team stuff.  So this one's just for fun:

Actually, more than just fun.  I mentioned awhile ago on my blog that Sofia will have to undergo double knee surgery to correct a congenital problem.  We've been on the waiting list for about 9 months, but come end of August, our whole family will be turned upside down a bit.  Double casts, with a bar in between, for about 6 weeks.  My heart is breaking just thinking about it, but I know it will improve her quality of life in the long run.  I'm committing to craft a whole slew of cards for her, to brighten her spirits while she's bedridden.  They might not all be as elaborate as this one, but they will all be heartfelt.  You may see a series of "get well soon" cards pop up on the blog...

I stamped, colored and cut out the little animals, and stamped the balloons flat onto the white mat.



that little monkey is my fave ♥.

Have a great day!

you're one of a kind {CSS instant replay}

It's a crittery kind of day!



For the CSS instant replay of all things critter, I created this googly-eyed card set using the critter collage set.  As soon as I saw this set, I knew I had to have it.  Doesn't it look like that scene in ET, where he's adorably stuffed into the closet full of plush toys?  hee.  it's just hilarious.

I stamped the critter collage and only colored the one lion.  I stamped him again onto a separate piece of cardstock and cut out his head so I could prop it up on foam squares.



I hope you like it!  It makes me smile-slash-makes-me-nervous-with-all-those-staring-eyes.  ha.

More crittery clicks here: Audrey ♥ Lori ♥ CSS blog

a bun in the oven {CSS instant replay}

Happy Monday, and welcome to another week of CSS inspiration!  This week, we'll be doing an "instant replay" of the sets and dies released last week - in case you need a second look at anything new!

I created a "bun in the oven" gift (as an aside: I'm pretty sure that every single time I am invited to a baby shower from here on out, I will be bringing the gift in a paper oven. Also, the rag doll that I made for Maia's birthday is the perfect background prop, no?)

It is just so.very.sweet.  Enamel dots for stove knobs and sequins for burners.



A floral-patterned oven mitt.  I used to have one of those before I burned a hole in it.  big sigh.  that's for another day...



Can you get a peek at what's cooking?  A little gift for the soon-to-be babe:



A rolled up onesie, tucked into a felt cupcake liner, with a little floral embellishment in the middle.

I hope you like what I created today!  See what the rest of the team has baked up for you:

Audrey ♥ Lori ♥ Jen ♥ Jean Martin (guest designer) ♥ CSS blog

rag doll card kit {CSS new release}

You've already seen some rag dolls pop up on the blog this past week - click, click, and click - but today is the official new rag doll release over at Clear and Simple Stamps!  There are new, sitting rag dolls, background sets, and dies to build your own plush rag doll - so cute!

Here's my thing:  because of all the card-making that goes on at my house, the kids are always asking if they can get in on the action.  I love it.  But sometimes, choosing the stamps, stamping, cleaning it up - that's the not-fun part for them.  They like coloring, glueing, adding glitter - that kind of stuff.  So, with my kidlets in mind, I created a little rag doll card kit for them to enjoy (and believe me, they have already been enjoying...)

I created a fully assembled card so they could see what could be done with their kit.  Jake and Mia, sittin' on a log together.  So cute.

The kit includes: 14 card-bases in different colors, 14 "scenes", too many die-cut and stamped rag dolls, favor flags with all kinds of different sentiments from the different rag doll sets.

I packaged the cardbases in a clear box, and the rest like this:

You could easily fill the box with crayons instead - wouldn't that be fun?  But for now, card accessories.  The mini-sized Willa doll is adorable, yes?  I love her.



Here's  a look at what kinds of scenes you could stamp with the background sets:

I created 7 designs, and stamped 2 of each (no fighting between children, that's always my goal...) At the top, you can see the empty scenes, and I just plopped some of the rag dolls into the scenes at the bottom to give you a better idea.

My girl gets fancy for crafting:

and Thomas uses both ends of the glue-stick...

I thank CSS for teaching my kids their new word-of-the-week: BOOYAH.  ha.



And in case you didn't know, Jesus loves rag dolls:



More rag doll on these blogs today: Jen ♥ Audrey ♥ Stephany ♥ CSS blog

whimsically framed {CSS new release}

It's day 4 of the Clear and Simple Stamps new releases!  Today, we're introducing tags, labels, ovals, new background stamps, and my favorite of the bunch: the curly label frames 1 stamp set.  I already used it *here* but you will see it pop up too many times in the next little while.  I absolutely love it.

A handmade doll and his matching card - hilarious, non?  (the bow-tie is making me switch to french, and give it a snooty accent to go along with...)

I stamped the gingham background with just one image from our large create a plaid stamp set.  I then stamped the new curly label in black on top of the gingham, and then again onto a piece of white cardstock.  Once the rag doll was stamped and colored, I fussy cut the oval and pieced it onto the gingham mat.



Lookit his matching bow-tie.  hee hee.  And, the sentiment is from an upcoming new set!

You already saw the little lady I sewed for Maia's tea party, and you'll find out more about these handmade rag dolls from CSS on the weekend, but for now...

He's not perfect.  I know it.  I am such an amateur with my sewing machine... but he sure is sweet.





Here are the rest of the clicks for today: Jen ♥ CSS blog

a little bit woodsy for Jessika's 11th.

This past weekend, I set up decorations at Marlyn's house (of Montreal Confections) for her daughter's 11th birthday.  I also provided the party entertainment: the kids made altered notebooks and bookmarks with lawn fawn stamps that matched the party decor and my collection of copic markers.  I hope you enjoy the party:



You may remember that wood backdrop from *this party* - it pays to keep party things!

Forest tree drink labels - they were so excited to drink out of these mason jars!

Do you see who the lawn fawn fox is checking out?



It's our foxy, in cookie form.  I was so excited when I saw these!  And, the frame too!

Isn't the owl adorable?  I love that Marlyn didn't cover the whole thing in fondant - the texture from the buttercream matches the whimsical feel of the party so much better...

woodgrain wings!





Marlyn's sweets are just so beautiful:

The party craft was to alter a notebook.  Here's my original:

The birthday girl, holding her bookmarks.  I love that she painted her nails so fancy for the party.

I hope you enjoyed looking at our woodsy party pictures!  It's Jessika's actual birthday today - happy birthday, sweet girl! I hope you have a great day ♥.