Lawn Fawn. Birthday card challenge. First blog post since 2009 😱.  Testing, testing!

Swing for the Fences with Clear and Simple Stamps' Latest Release!
As promised, here's my second card using one of Clear and Simple Stamps' latest releases, "Baseball". This set is part of the big August release, the School Days Collection (see my previous post for details).

I couldn't ask for a better opportunity to use my new Martha Stewart "Picket Fence" border punch, espe-cially considering the sentiment I chose...and even Martha's "Embossed ZigZag" border punch puts me in mind of baseball diamonds! Here's a list of all the other products I used:

Stamps: "Baseball" - Clear and Simple Stamps
Inks: SU "Chocolate Chip"; Ranger "Old Paper" Distress
Cardstock: Papertrey Ink "Vintage Cream"; SU "Chocolate Chip"
DP: Papertrey Ink Bitty Box Basics, Bitty Dot Basics
Dies/Punches: Nestabilities Tags 5 (?); Martha Stewart "Picket Fence" & "Embossed ZigZag" border punches
Accessories/Embellishments: Basic Grey "Periphery" ribbon; foam adhesive

One more "Baseball" card to show you comin' up soon! Thanks for checkin' in!

It's Big Release Day at Clear and Simple Stamps!

Today's the day that Clear and Simple Stamps releases their brand new School Days Collection, and it is AWESOME...all kinds of great images to get you geared up for another year! And for the very first time, CSS is offering a "Want it All" option, where with one click, you can buy ALL the sets inluded in this great new release. And...you can still use the special code - DTBlog809 -to get the A+ Darling set, which is the stamp of the month. Here are the links to each set in the collection, as well as the "Want it All" option:

A+ Darling

ABC...123

School Days

Teacher

It's Greek

Football

Baseball

Basketball

Lacrosse

Autumn Sentiments

Basketweave

Want it All

Now, check out what all the CSS dt members have been busy making with these new goodies:

CSS Blog, Sue Berker, Kim Howard, Maria Levine, Beth Matson, Neva McMullen, Jen Tapler, Lori Tecler, Robyn Weatherspoon, and Guest Designer Millie Dawson-Hardy

And I'll be posting in just a few minutes another of my cards showcasing the "Baseball" set from this collection, so stay tuned! And thanks for the visit!

Clear Dollar Stamps' Charlie with Some Big News!

It's fun, fun, FUN over at Clear Dollar Stamps this week, August 10th through the 15th. Check out owner Lori McCroskey's blog, ClearlyiStamp, for some teezers leading up to the big party on Saturday (be sure to scroll down to get ALL the goods, as I'm a little late in posting!).

Leave a comment on Lori's blog for a chance to win some great blog candy...then be SURE to go back again on Saturday for lots of fun!

Sneak Peek - Clear and Simple Stamps

The big news here in Western PA these days is that Steelers Training Camp is in full swing...so that means Fall, football season, and back-to-school are right around the corner. But that doesn't mean it's too late for baseball (in fact, most areas have "Fall Ball" for those kids not wanting to take part in all that Mom-scaring tackle business!). So to celebrate baseball, here's card I made using a soon-to-be-released set from Clear and Simple Stamps called, quite simply, "Baseball"! We all know there are tons of sports-related stamps out there, but I just LOVE the clean yet retro feel of this one! You'll be able to purchase this set come August 15th over at the CSS website, so start thinking about all the sports fans in your life you want to celebrate with a card or a scrapbook page! Here are the details on my card:

Stamps: "Baseball" - Clear and Simple Stamps

Inks: Staz-On "Jet Black"; SU "Bravo Burgundy" & "Brocade Blue"; Ranger "Black Soot" Distress

Cardstock: SU "Bravo Burgundy"

DP: SEI "Grandpa's Attic" (yeah I know...I'm going waaaay back!)

Dies/Punches/Embossing: Nestabilities Large Petite Ovals; Cuttlebug "Argyle" embossing folder

Accessories/Embellishments: Making Memories brads & oval frame

Misc. Tools/Supplies: Paper piercer; foam adhesive

I've got two more "Baseball" cards to post over the next few days...hope you'll stay tuned!

It's Apple-Pickin' Time!
And here's a most ADORABLE template project to help you celebrate! Designed by Clear and Simple Stamps' template guru, Sue Berker, this would make a WONDER-FUL back-to-school gift for a new teacher, tutor, etc. Or make a tassel to use as party favors! You can download the template right here. Here's what I used to make mine:

Stamps: "Sweet Tooth" - Clear and Simple Stamps
Inks: Staz-On "Timber Brown"; Ranger "Frayed Burlap" Distress
Cardstock: SU Kraft & "Ruby Red"
Accessories/Embellishments: Wooden handle (available at Clear and Simple Stamps); Pebbles, Inc. "Chocolate Brown" Candy Dots; Offray ribbon

Be sure to check out my fellow CSS dt girls' blogs for their interpretations of this super-fun design:

Sue Berker, Kim Howard, Maria Levine, Beth Matson, Neva McMullen, Jen Tapler, Lori Tecler, & Robyn Weatherspoon

And don't forget the Clear and Simple Stamps blog, as well. I hope after seeing all these beautiful samples you'll be inspired to build your own basket! Thanks for stopping by today, and I'll see you when I return from the beach!

Post Script: So much for scheduling ahead with Blogger :-( This post was SUPPOSED to have been published on August 1st, but the posting fairy was apparently asleep on the job! Hope you enjoy it anyway, and my apologies to Clear and Simple Stamps!!!

Alien Invasion!

Just a quick post today, as I'm packing and otherwise preparing my family to take off for the beach on Friday...so many things to do beforehand, I'll definitely need some down time on the sand! But before I go, one more card showcasing Clear Dollar Stamps' "Lost in Space", re-leased earlier this month. Here are the full details:

Stamps: "Lost in Space" - Clear Dollar Stamps

Inks: Staz-On "Jet Black"; Ranger "Fired Brick" & "Peeled Paint" Distress inks

Markers: Copic #s B01, B02, B05, C1, R14, R17, W1, W3, Y02, Y06, YG21, YG25

Cardstock: SU "Kiwi Kiss" & "Whisper White"

DP: Basic Grey "Cupcake"

Dies/Punches: Nestabilities Tags 5

Accessories/Embellishments: Foof-a-La by Autumn Leaves buttons; Papertrey Ink white twine; Making Memories brads

As I mentioned in my last post, the "Posting Fairy" will be stopping by here on the 1st to put up a really cool template project... I hope you'll stop by and take a look! And thanks for checking in with me today!