you need cake to make it a party.

Welcome back to another day of CSS inspiration!

I came across this quote by Julia Child and just had to create a whole card & gift box set inspired by it:

"a party without CAKE is just a meeting."

I'm obviously mourning the loss of party season in our home, and with no excuse for baking a cake, I turned my attentions to the paper kind.

The cake decorating and cake dome sets were perfect for highlighting the sentiment that I created and printed on the computer.  But a flat cake would have been so boring...

With just a few strips of patterned paper, I easily created a fun, 3-D cake image.

Here's a close look at the folded tabs that hold it all down.

And what's a birthday without a slice of cake box?  (a meeting, apparently.)  The birthday gift could easily be tucked inside for a very fun set.  I used leafy dies (in the same patterned paper as the 3-d card cake) and created a soft flower by following my own tutorial. (grin.)  I used build-a-flower dies and *this technique* to get 'er done.

yum! 

sweet dreams {my CSS faves!}

The entire CSS design team is showing off projects made with our favorite CSS products.  Sweet dreams is the set that made me fall in love with CSS stamps.  I couldn't help but mix it up with my favorite dies for a little baby ensemble.

It was so hard to narrow down my fave CSS products!  But here's what I came up with:

The favor flags were stamped with the nursery rhyme text border, and I gave the card-base a stripey look.  

For the main image, I die-cut the label die (also tracing around the die and hand-cutting a brown mat for it) and stamped the sleepy moon image onto the label.  I love a book-wormy-moon.  I paper-pieced the images (I love the soft texture that you can get with monochromatic papers), and added some fun glitter touches to the moon.  I don't think you can tell in the pictures, but I added a foam square to the middle of the label, and then firmly glued the outline of the label to the card base.  It gives a bit of texture and dimension without having it stand out too much!

Ever since CSS came out with their envelopes and matching liner die, I don't think a card is complete with a matching envie.  I stamped the liner with the nursery rhymes, and then stamped the moon in a very soft brown ink directly over-top.  Look, ma - no masking.  ha.  I very carefully dabbed some copic color into the moon image, being careful not to smudge the (non-memento) brown ink in the process.

What's a baby card without a baby gift?  I whipped up a little gift box using my favorite CSS favor die - and that's saying a lot, since CSS carries so many different options!  I stamped the box in the same stripes as the card, and included a matching favor flag.

I paper-pieced the cow-jumping-over-the-moon.  Isn't he the cutest?  (designer tip: adding a tiny bit of copic coloring is a fun way to dress up your patterned paper...)

I hope you like my baby-themed CSS faves!

The rest of the DT is showing off as well:  

Audrey ♥ Lori ♥ Jennifer ♥ Laura ♥ Steph ♥ Tracy ♥ Kim ♥ Amber ♥ CSS blog

mmm.... thank you

With American Thanksgiving just days away, the CSS team is showing off our best "thank you" cards.

I thought I would make a little something to send to the gals who participated in the cookie exchange party that my sister and I hosted together.

If you missed seeing the full party, click *here.*

And it all started with an invitation - click *here* to see the beginnings of our cookie exchange paperie.

If you host a party, and prep all of your own decorations, here's my best tip for you: use parts of the decoration to create quick and easy (and matching!) thank you cards.

I deconstructed the candy cane striped background from one of the leftover voting cards, found an extra tree-shaped cookie image that I had never used, and gently peeled the "mmm..." banner from one of the cookie labels.  Even the holiday twine was re-purposed!  I removed it from a voting card, and used it to thread a festive red button.

The only stamping I did was to stamp the text background on the main panel, and add the "thank you for coming" sentiment, from "favor flags."

Just for fun, I added a snowflake pattern to the envelope - which is A4 sized, to match the thank you card.

So, happy thanksgiving!  And also, see?  creating thank you cards can be so quick and easy!  I hope I've inspired you to create and send out handmade thank you cards after your next party.

Grab a mug of hot something and enjoy your visit to these blogs:

Lori ♥ Jaclyn ♥ Tracy ♥ Dana ♥ Laurie ♥ Jennifer ♥ CSS

christmas cookie exchange party

Candy cane stripes, forest green banners, and softly-browned cookie colors were my inspiration for creating the decor for our Christmas cookie exchange party:

 If you are thinking about hosting your own cookie exchange party, here are the details to remember:

- invite more people than you think: not everyone likes to bake, or will be available to come.  I invite a dozen ladies, and ended up with 8.  (If you missed yesterday's post, click *here* to see the party invite.)

- each guest should bring 1 dozen cookies for each person in attendance, plus an extra dozen for sampling at the party.

- pull out some of your own Christmas decorations to set the festive mood, and have the platters set out before your guests arrive.

- since we hosted our party very early in the season, I encouraged my guests to bring cookies that would be suitable for freezing.

- do what we did, and turn the party into a fun contest!  I created voting cards and award ribbons... in the end, "best tasting" went to my sister, for her yummy peanut butter buckeyes...

- it was a very fun-filled evening with friends & sweet treats, and I have a fully stocked freezer ready for holiday gifting, as well as 7 new cookie recipes.


And, if you are crafting your own cookie swap decor, here is a link to the stamp sets you'll need from the Clear & Simple Stamps store: cookie bake, designer lines, favor flags.

If you have a minute, I'd love to know if you'll be participating in your own holiday cookie exchange party!

Thanks for stopping by to take a peek at ours :)

cookie exchange party invitation

I hosted a cookie swap over the weekend!  I'm showing off the invite today, as kind of a teaser, before I show off the whole party tomorrow...

When I put out the idea for a cookie exchange in November, I thought my friends would think I was crazy, but apparently we're all smart ladies, who would rather take it easy come December... you know, relax and enjoy the holidays and all that... *wink*

So, right now, I have 9 dozen cookies freezing comfortably, waiting to be defrosted for gifts or whatever (and by whatever, I may mean just for me...) It's like the heavens open up every time I peek into my freezer - all of those beautiful cookies!

As with any party decor, repetition is key to creating a pulled-together look.  So, this invite is the jumping off point for all of the decor you'll see tomorrow.  I used 3 CSS stamp sets to make Christmas come early: "cookie bake," "designer lines," and "favor flags."

I created a candy cane-striped base, and added a texty layer overtop (I adore that background strip from "cookie bake" - it just lists all kinds of different cookies!  What could be more perfect if you're hosting a cookie exchange?)  

My favorite part of this card (and I love it so) is a toss up between the green sentiment favor flag, and the white enamel accents on the christmas tree cookie image.  It looks like those edible pearls you'd see on a yummy gingerbread cookie.  It's the little things that make me happy :)

I tucked the when-what of the party onto a second tag shape... I love the personal touch of handwriting on a card, but I don't think everyone needs to see it front-and-center, either... hee.

If you are thinking of hosting your own cookie bake party this season, do it!  Here are the cookie swap basics:

-your guests come with their pre-baked cookies and the corresponding recipe (1 dozen x the number of party guests, plus an additional dozen for sampling at the party)
-you get to spend quality time with your best lovely ladies before the holiday rush, eating delicious treats
-you leave with enough cookies to gift out to teachers, neighbors, yourself (did I really just write that?  i have no shame...)

And, you can do what we did and turn it into a fun contest!  I won't give away too much, but I was voted best looking.  Er, my cookies were...

Hope to see you back here tomorrow!

just a little something...in a treat box...

Sometimes, a friend deserves "just a little something."  I whipped up a little treat box for a time like that :)

I die-cut the CSS cube die, and also create a folded tag out of one of the banner flag dies.  It becomes the perfect tiny card.  The box was stamped with the honeycomb pattern from background basics 1, and topped with a flouffy handmade flower.

mmmm.... mint chocolates...

I love that included in the favor flags and fillers set, you get both the banner outline, and the filler images:  I stamped the outline in brown, the filler image in a very light ink (antique linen distress ink) and stamped the sentiment over-top (from rag-doll Willa's banner set.)  I then stamped in the little flower from background basics 2.  I inked one end in a dusty pink ink, and the stem in green.

I'm including one more image, of the box without the hanging tag, so you could see how I closed it up.  I love being able to untie a bow to open a box!  I punched a tiny hole in the lip of the box, and ran a length of twine around the box and through the hole.  The twine is secured to the top of the box, under the flower.  I love the look of it, even without the tag... I just think it would be beautiful to see 40-50 boxes lined up for a bridal shower or some other special party's favor...

Have a great weekend, all!

Clear and Simple Stamps: white out challenge.

There is something so chic about all white... just look at a bride on her wedding day... glorious! And all-white-parties are supposed to be the height of all things glamorous (or is that just what Diddy wanted us to think...)

In any case, with all-white, you have to rely on textures and layers to create that show-stopping look.  From the catwalk, to the score-board, here's my take:

I scored, I die-cut, I embossed... and I conquered.  Oh yeah.

I used my scoreboard to create the horizontal lines on the top half of my card.  Then, I cut 2 differently-sized favor flags.  On the wider one, I adhered a strip of score-tape onto each side and then gussied it up with glitter.  Even an all-white card can use some bling, am I right?  On the thinner flag, I white-heat-embossed a pattern from background basics 2 for another layer of shine.  A few buttons (one tucked in under the layered flags and one over) added even more clustered interest to the top of the card. 

The bottom half of the card got the die-cut treatment.  Sticking the individual letters (from the uppercase alphabet dies) onto a strip of barely tacky painter's tape ensured that the letters were evenly spaced both times.  After running my fancy french thank yous through the die-cutter, I added a piece of vellum to the inside of the card, giving a sleek, translucent effect.

I hope you like my all white card!  Click the links below to be inspired by more all white chic-ness:

Lori

Jaclyn

Kim

Tracy

Dana

Laurie

Jennifer

Laura

Suzanne

CSS  

Clear and Simple Stamps Release in Review: Sweet Treats + Favors

Did somebody say sweet treats?

Guys, I will use any, and I mean ANY excuse to whip up a batch of cookies... because, cookies will not bring on comments like "aw, mom - do we have to eat this?" and "it looks disgusting, but I'm sorry if that hurts your feelings!"  No, with cookies I get squeals and giddy whoops and "these are the most delicious cookies ever" and even "baby, you're the best!"

So yes, I did use my project today as an excuse to make a batch of butterscotch chip cookies... hee.

It's always fun to think of different ways to display treats at a party.  Here, I grabbed my daughters' jewelry stand, and clipped up cookie sleeves (made with the mini tri-fold die.)  I layered some favor flag die cuts in fun patterned papers over the lip of the tri-fold die, and created a medallion that is only adhered to the top portion in order to allow access to the favor inside.

To create the main image, I started out by stamping the fabulous damask background in a sunny yellow ink.  Next, I curved the sentiment (from the favor flags stamp set) and stamped a tiny aqua heart (from wrap-a-round) before adding my stamped plate of cookies (from the apothecary set.)

 After all the stamped and assembling was done, I wrapped the cookies in plastic wrap, and used a tiny bit of tape to stick them to the inside of the tri-fold die cut.

All that's left to do: un-clip, open, and enjoy (and trust me, I did.)

More sweet inspiration for you at these lovely blogs:

Laurie

Jennifer

Laura

Denise

Kim

Lori

CSS

Clear and Simple Stamps Release in Review: shapes + backgrounds

We're re-visiting all of the CSS goodies released last month, showing them off again and hoping to inspire you!

The little tag hints at what's inside the glassine bag: a card set created with the "sunburst" stamp, a sentiment made up of one stamp (from "sweet sentiments" - I've done the unthinkable and cut away the "you" from the "you deserve a treat" sentiment... yikes!  but I love how it looks and I know I'll get even more use out of it like this) and another from "favor flags" (I adore that the "for" in this set matches the font of the "you" in the other set - talk about easy mixing and matching!)

 

I used the alpha duo set (love that it comes with a solid & an outline alphabet!) to spell out a-m-a-z-i-n-g.  I then cut a strip of masking paper (I didn't want the mask to be perfect - I wanted some space between the letters and the sunburst to give it a vintage poster vibe) and stamped the sunburst over-top.  The card base was covered in water-marked stars (from the "playroom" set.)  

To complete my scrappy set of cards, I did a little color mixing and matching:

 Hope you like what you see!  The other designers have stuff to show off as well :)

Dana

Jaclyn

Amber

Jennifer

Laura

Laurie

CSS

CSS release day 7 - rag dolls

I am so excited to get to share today's projects - I'm in love with this line of rag dolls!

Everything about it reminds me of the handmade dolls I lovingly created for my kids last Christmas :)

But since we're in the dead heat of summer right now, what's better than ice-cold lemonade?  I created a gift ensemble of a stand-shaped card, a stand-shaped notepad, and a mason jar filled with.... what else than lemonade sachets?

For my lemonade-stand notepad, I cut a stack of computer paper with the rag doll house die.  I then die cut a cover and end stand out of kraft cardstock.  I stamped the rag doll house: stand, and created a lemonade stand (if you'd rather, there are images to create a produce stand instead!)  I masked off the "fresh squeezed daily" sign to be able to stamp a row of lemonade glasses in behind.  After some light coloring, I took my unbound notepad to my local office supply store and let them do the rest :) 

I created a little card to go along with the notepad.  I die-cut a full stand, and then created a folded white card-base that was slightly shorter than the height of the stand.  By passing it through my die-cutter, but not allowing it to cut at the top, I ended up with a perfectly-shaped card base.

And the little guy manning the lemonade stand?  His name is Jake, and he usually sits on a fun greeting, but I cut him out and popped him into the stand.  Isn't he so cute??  I can't stand it.  I will buy all of your lemonade, little boy.... and keep the change...

I paper-pieced the lemonade stand, but colored Jake and the lemonade glasses in with copic markers.

To complete my ensemble, I had the hubs drill a hole through the top of a mason-jar lid.  I crammed as many lemonade sachets as I could into the jar, and topped it off with a stripped straw, a favor flag and image from the favor flags set.  This mason jar is the perfect way to enjoy a tall glass of cold lemonade without the summer bugs getting inside :)

I hope you enjoyed what I've created!

Click over to see what the other girls have made with these adorable rag dolls!

Laurie

Kim

Tracy

Lori

Dana

Laura

Stephany

Amber

Suzanne (guest)

Ryann (guest)

Virginia (guest)

CSS