Clear Dollar Stamps Guest Designer Challenge September

The Clear Dollar Stamp Guest Designer Challenge for September HERE was a sketch and/or color challenge. You could use just the sketch, just the colors, or combine both. I chose to combine both. This is the sketch:


The colors to use were:
Not quite navy (warm muted blue)
Pumpkin pie (deep orange)
Chocolate Chip (dark brown)
OPTIONAL to add: Always artichoke (dark grayish green)

I chose to combine both. This is the sketch: As always, I have stories about my entry, but first pictures. If you want to read more, the story is below. You can click on the pictures to make them larger.

CDS Autumn Blessings Stamp Set used for this card.

CDS Wagon Wishes and Pumpkin Patch used for this project

When I first saw the colors, I thought "Fall" but then I thought, "I've just made about a million fall cards, maybe I'll do something different." Then this image of a Not Quite Navy sky with a Chocolate Chip Tree (oh, how I'd love one of those if they existed) and Pumpkin Pie pumpkins in the moonlight filled my mind. The only problem was I could NOT remember how to make the moon using Versamark. I knew I could mask off a moon, but I KNOW I saw a tutorial once upon a time about using Versamark. I did the logical thing: I asked on SCS! Guess what? No one else could tell me how to do it, either, BUT they did all seem to think masking it would be the best thing to do. They also suggested adding a hint of another color so the moon wasn't stark white. I have to say, I really liked that idea, but looking out my window right now, the moon is pretty stark white tonight!

I first punched a circle with a paper punch, then used the hole in the paper to put in some So Saffron color (yes, I did add an extra color---oops!). Then I stamped the tree and pumpkins from Autumn Blessings with Brilliance Black and embossed with clear embossing powder. My friend Karen (Miss Iowa 81 on SCS) had taught me to use a stippling brush with distress ink on the edges of images, so I used that technique to make the circle around the moon a bit "fuzzy." I then decided I really liked the stippled look, so ended up doing the entire sky with a stipple brush and Not Quite Navy Ink. I also stippled the grass with Always Artichoke. The tree branches and leaves, as well as the pumpkins, were colored with Watercolor Crayons and a Niji waterbrush. The word "Autumn" was inked with Brilliance Coffee Bean ink.

The image was large, so I used the largest of the Nestabilities Labels 3 dies. To get a border in the navy paper I traced around the largest die and cut it out. I sewed the image to the background/border with a dark brown thread. The little mini brads are some I got from CDS's clearance section. I love to browse to see what's new in there. The word Autumn & the brown oval were punched with the SU oval punches. I used the CM circles to get the big semi-circles punched for the edge. As you can see in the close up, I cut out the pumpkins a 2nd time and popped them up with pop dots to give the card some dimension.

For the envelope, I knew the card was too big for any standard envelope. CDS's Katie Renz has some wonderful tutorials and I wanted to use this one to make an extra large envelope. That would have been great, but the envelope I had was about 5.85" by 8" & my card was 6" x 6"! LOL! As you can see, I improvised. I added some strips to the edges of the envelope to extend it, then made the flap slightly larger than the size Katie said to use. It fits, and that's what counts! LOL!

For the little candy box, I stamped the wagon from Wagon Wishes and the pumpkins from Pumpkin Patch, masking them so I could have 3 pumpkins on that wagon. The little pumpkin that is popped up near the bottom (panel D in the sketch) has the words "Fall Fun" stamped in brown. The semi-circle was punched with a Nestablilities scalloped circle then embossed with the Cuttlebug Embossing Folder Pumpkins (which I also got in the CDS clearance section---I'm tellin' ya---go check it out!). I used a dark brown "belly band" to hold the pieces together and slide onto the box. Again, I used Miss Iowa's stipple technique for the edges of the main image. Then I added buttons for the wheels. Aren't they cute? =) Of course, I knew all along what candy I wanted to put in this box and was so happy to find some at Jo Ann's. I even used my 40% off coupon on them (tee-hee!!).

I THINK those are all the details. Now go to CDS to check out that clearance section, see all their NEW stuff for August, then to ClearlyIStamp to see all the good stuff coming on on Tuesday, September 1st! If you are or know a car enthusiast, I think the new car stamps are way cool. Of course, in my family, it's motorcycles rather than cars, so I have the CDS motorcycle set! I am totally in love with the Tea-RRIFIC Tea Set Stamp Set, and I don't even drink tea unless it's cold outside and it's herbal tee with NO real tea in it. I've been told it's illegal to not be an iced tea drinker in Texas. I think they're serious, so don't tell the sheriff, okay?

Thanks so much for looking. Have a blessed day!

CDS Weekend Color Challenge 8/30

This weekend's Color Challenge at Paper Craft Planet for Clear Dollar stamps was to use More Mustard, Night of Navy, and Basic Grey, with Baja Blue as an optional color, or similar colors. I found this ADORABLE tea holder on my dear dork friend Peggysue's blog. Click HERE to see her amazing tea bag and be sure to see all her wonderful art! She got the idea for the bag from THIS website called Double Dutch. For those of us who don't speak Dutch, the directions are in English, too! Of course, if you speak Dutch, then by all means, feel free to read it in that language! (Totally off topic, with my faded memory of German---it was my major for 2 years on college, but you'd never know now---I could actually read a few of the words.)

I used Kitchen Clutter to stamp the images. I stamped the images in Memento black, then colored with Copics & prismacolor markers. The Copic Mustard is a bit darker than the SU More Mustard, so I went back over it with a lighter shade, I think it was Atoli. For the teapot I used a darker blue, then used the Copic blender pen to lift off some color so it was closer to Not Quite Navy. Then I used a Prismacolor Cool Grey 60%. I inked the edges with Baja Blue. The dp is from my stash. I used Nestabilities scalloped rectangles to cut the background piece. However, since it didn't fit on one rectangle, I used the trick I learned ages ago (LONG before I had any nesties) on Gina K.'s blog, A Day in the Life.

This tea bag holder looks like a tea bag, but it is basically a long folded tube, so you can put tea bags or potpourri or maybe even hot cocoa in the little "pockets." I think I'll have to enlarge it to fit hot cocoa packs now that I thought of that! LOL! And, I must be honest & tell you, mine does not have anything in it yet. I wanted to get it finished & posted, so rather than putting an eyelet to close it up, I just punched 2 holes and put the ribbon in. Phew, I feel better now that I've confessed. ha, ha!

I can't WAIT to get the new Tea Set Stamp Set from CDS that will be out on Tuesday! Gotta save up some $ to get the new sets, but when I do I will be using this tea bag holder a lot, I can already tell!

Thanks for looking! I'll be posting my CDS Guest Designer Entry next!

My Clear Dollar Stamps Fall Cards

These are the fall cards that I've made using just Clear Dollar Stamps. There is a link to their website in the side column. Most of the cards I'm assembling use images stamped last year that I didn't get to finish. These 5 cards, however, use brand spankin' new images. I love their fall selection of stamps. These are just some of their fall stamps!

The cards above & below use a beautiful set called "Autumn Blessings." On the card above, I used designer paper by Daisy D's and a Cuttlebug border embossing folder for the edges.

This card incorporates paper from a fall stack and some Jesse James Dress It Up buttons.

This set totally cracks me up. It's called Eat More Ham. The turkey is clearly trying to be anywhere but on your dinner table! I can't wait to play more with this set. The paper is a single sheet I got at Hobby Lobby. Used brown eyelets on this one. The gold cardstock is embossed with a Cuttlebug folder.

Could this scarecrow be any cuter? I don't think he'll be scaring too many crows with that smile! This set is called Pumpkin Patch. I did some Paper Tole on this card. The pumpkin and haystack are raised with "pop dots." The hay stacks were created by stamping the single bale multiple times to create a stack. I used distress ink around the edges to give it an old fashioned or country look. Eyelets finish this card.

Another scarecrow from Pumpkin Patch. The word Autumn is included in this set. The corners are cut with a Cuttlebug die. The die is a celtic square, but I cut it in half to make corner "adorners."

Thanks for spending a few minutes with me and my friends. Um, I mean cards! LOL

Crafts everywhere!

When we moved into this house I was THRILLED that I would have a craft room. This past month, though, our crafts (mine and the girls') have seemed to take over the house. I am trying to get fall cards ready to sell, have fabric set out for making items, and I think the craft items multiply at night. I did finish most of the cards last night. I want to give you a glimpse into what we've been doing here.

Cards, cards, cards

Altered signs

Tools & Paper...and a DS case, and a toy passport, and who knows what else!

Fabric & patterns waiting for their turn to be used

Oh, yes, homeschool! Everyone keeps their handwriting & math books on the floor with a flashlight, right?

A few extra school type books. Note the TV dinner tray? I am not above serving microwaved meals! LOL!

A little squeal from San Antonio!

Did you hear me squeal? Lisa chose me as the "hostess choice" in the Papercraft Planet's weekend color challenge. It was my piggy stamp. Here's her blog: http://lisaslifelines.blogspot.com/2009/08/hostess-choice_24.html

I'll be snortin' & squealin' all day!

Something to Squeal about!

I'm squealing with excitement because I finished a card in less than 24 hours! LOL! I have been working furiously on this huge batch of cards to try to sell. The images were already finished, so it's been cutting, die cutting, gluing, etc.

This card is for the Clear Dollar Stamps Weekend Color Challenge found here: CDS Color Challenge
The colors this week are: Barely Banana, Pretty in Pink, Certainly Celery, and optional brown, turquoise & white. I used Patchpal Piggy (for sale HERE). I used black pigment ink, then clear embossing powder on watercolor paper. I used the Stampin' Up Watercolor Crayons to color the image. The sky is Tempting Turquoise and the mud (what pig doesn't love mud?) is Close to Cocoa. The background papers are from different sources. The banana/pink one is part of Basic Grey's 2 scoops paper pack. The brown/pink print is from Basic Grey's Bittersweet. The top one with the flower is one a friend gave me. The bottom right is from my stash of "slab" papers. The greeting is computer generated. I LOVE these little button brads! I used greens ones for the corners, a pink one for the flower center, and my favorite: a PINK BUTTON BRAD NOSE! The ribbon is a roll from Michael's---I think! LOL!

I have the perfect recipient in mind, so need to go add a note and address an envelope!

One last thought: don't color this piggy with a Pretty in Pink marker. He looks sunburned, which is just one step from bacon! ha, ha!

Thanks for looking!

My Red Hat Mom!

My mom has been part of the Red Hat Society for several years. My parents celebrated their 54th anniversary yesterday and my dad decided to give my mom the Red Hat Apron I made. Here's a picture of her modeling her new apron:
It's a bit fuzzy, but I think she looks smashing in her new attire! Of course, now we all want to go eat some of Mammaw's good cooking!

Happy Anniversary Mom & Dad!

Picking the Winner!

The winner of the blog candy is Miss Picky! Yes, Wendy, you have won this prize package valued at over $5000. Oh, wait, no, not really that much! I'll send this to you this week!

Thanks to all for playing along & giving us some great marriage tips. I will share these with my hubby when he's not out riding his motorcycle or fixing someone's computer! LOL!

20th Anniversary & Blog Candy!

ETA: I will close the giveaway on 8/16.

Today is my husband's & my 20th anniversary! We can't afford to do anything super special, but we'll go out to dinner (with a coupon!) and the girls will spend the night at a friend's house.

I decided I would celebrate by giving away some blog candy! Now, this isn't a typical stamper's/scrapper's/crafter's kind of blog candy. It's odds and ends from both my PC and crafting stashes. Odds, because marriage can get kind of odd at times, and ends, because our hope is that our marriages will all end well! First, there are stamps that say, "Hang in there." Enough said! Ribbons, because it's always good to tie up loose ends. A Pampered Chef small Mix & Scrape because at times things can get mixed up in marriage and someone has to scrape us off the wall. And some mini-spoons to remind us to always have a servant's heart in our marriage.

I once heard that marriage isn't 50/50 as some would say. It's 100/100. Both husband and wife need to give 100% to the other. Marriage isn't always "wedded bliss" but it is always being shaped more & more into what God wants it to be.

If you'd like a chance to win this blog candy, leave me a comment here with a marriage tip, and let others know about my crafting blog. I am trying to find a venue such as craft fairs to market my crafts so I can give my 100% to my family! I'll draw a random number in a day or so and let the winner know!

The LONG anniversary card

I don't know if you have trouble coming up with ideas for cards for your dh, but I do. The things that he is into are motorcycles, but sport bikes, not Harleys (and all motorcycle stamps are for Harley type bikes, not his type) and computers. I have one computer stamp set. He used to fly small planes, but doesn't do that, plus I don't have any sets like that. So, I looked around on SCS for some inspiration. I saw some that said, "I'm nuts about you" and I have a squirrel set that would work for that. I saw a few others that might work. Still, none of it was really THE card I wanted to make, if that makes any sense. Being a last minute to do something person, I got this idea right before our anniversary. I would use my Clear Dollar Stamps Wagon Wishes set and come up with 20 things about our marriage to put in the wagons. As it turned out I think there were more than 20, but I lost count!

I had to use computer images on some of the pages. I punched holes and used hemp to connect all the little wagons together. Sit back and enjoy the longest card on the face of the earth! LOL!

Front of card: Computer font words, TAC Happy Anniversary, There She Goes Cupcake Mix & Match

The whole wagon train!


Click to enlarge any of these. If you enlarge it & look at the moving boxes, you'll see that we reused our boxes and the items changed each time. Clear Dollar Stamps Wagon Wishes, Texas on my mind


Clear Dollar Stamps Wagon Wishes, computer generated graphics (we spent a year in Africa), Studio G $ set Family, SU Pocket Friends


CDS Wagon Wishes, Motorcycle Mania, Computer graphics


CDS Wagon Wishes, April Showers, Kitchen Clutter, Gina K. Designs Have a Cookie, SU fruit set
Unknown maker of sunshine stamp


CDS Wagon Wishes, Kitchen Clutter, Eat More Ham, Prayer Journal, computer graphics


Computer graphics, CDS Wagon Wishes

The cardstock used for the base is a textured navy I happen to have a LOT of (thus didn't mind using a lot on one card!). The background paper is from a stack my friend Kathy gave me. I used stazon black ink for the images. I colored mostly with SU and other dye ink markers, but did use some copics & prismacolors on a few. They don't work well with stazon ink, so I didn't do a lot like that.

I added my personal note on the back with a white gel pen. No, you can't see that! : )

I'm itching to get inkier, but am so tired I might just crash early tonight.

Thanks for stopping by!

More aprons!

These are the next 3 aprons I've made to sell. The full ones are $20 each and the half-apron is $15. If you can ignore the pudgy model with the very high waist, I hope you enjoy these styles. To see them larger, just click on the picture. Remember, I can also custom design an apron in your colors with a style you like. I am trying out different patterns to give you a sample of what can be done. I can mix different styles of tops with skirts, change the pockets, and other changes to fit your needs. Also, these can be made in different sizes as needed.

The first one is the one I think just cries out, "Aren't I so cute?" It has Mary Engelbreit sayings all over it with the typical Mary E. cherries and teapots. Rather than attaching the neck strap, I've put in buttonholes and buttons so the buyer can adjust the buttons, if needed, to fit. This one has jumbo rick-rack all around the border.



This next apron is an Apron Apron! The pattern is also in the Mary Engelbreit line, but is pictures of aprons all over it! The neck straps on this one have a buttonhole and button on the back. The waist ties are red. This is the one where it sits higher on me than "normal" people without mile long legs! LOL!



And the half-apron. This one has teapots all over it! What a fun gift this would be for a tea lover who enjoys wearing aprons!



If you are interested in purchasing an apron or adding a booth to your craft fair this fall, please leave a comment or drop me an e-mail. Thanks!

More sneak peeks!

Here are the 3 fabrics I used for the next 3 aprons I'll be posting tonight or tomorrow. It may look like I really love black and red, LOL! I've found with sewing if I can work on more than one item with the same fabric color it means less changing of the threads on the machine. Voila! Black and red thread only for these! I'll be moving to different colors soon.

Blog Candy from Grace!

A dear lady named Grace is giving away some blog candy on her blog here. Grace is a woman who is full of grace, God's grace. She also writes devotionals at times for this blog: http://womentowomensharingjesus.blogspot.com/ She also happens to make some beautiful cards! Have a super day!

Cute Little Red.....Aprons!

I have finished 2 aprons and just have a bit left to do on 3 more. I will be selling these aprons here, on Etsy or at Craft Fairs and Open Houses. If you are holding an Open House with vendors this fall, I would love to join you!

I will first list aprons here on my blog, along with other crafts, before listing on Etsy. Once my Etsy store is open, I will have a link here on my blog. Be sure to check back often to see what new items I have for sale!

Items listed here are ready to sell, but if you need a special order apron or craft, I can accommodate you. I have a selection of fabrics on hand and can purchase many different styles of fabric. I can make a different size pattern as well. I will be working on child sized aprons very soon, as well as some other fun items. I make my aprons in cotton so they are comfortable and easy to wash.

Here are my first two aprons. If you want to see a bigger image, simply click on the pictures here. These two use a fabric that is perfect for the "Red Hat Lady" in your life. Maybe that is you! Both have red waist ties. They are made in a size Large, and with the ties, they can be adjusted to fit most size women. Both have a cute red flounce on the bottom and a pocket. The half apron is $15 and the full length is $20 (plus shipping for either apron if needed). I have a potential recipient for one of these, but I wanted you to be able to see both styles.



I would prefer to show these to you on a model, but decided I could not be photographer and model at the same time. LOL! Next time I'll see if I can find a photographer in my house so you can see how they fit on a person. They hang so much more nicely on a body than on a hanger.

I can hardly wait to show you the next 3 aprons. If you are a fan of Mary Engelbreit, you will adore these aprons. They scream "CUTE!"

Thanks so much for looking and be sure to check back soon for more crafty items from Chef Mama!

A Sneak Peek!

I am 2 steps away from finishing my first apron to sell. I have a funny story about the fabric and am adding a picture here for you. I bought this at least 5 years ago to make something for my mom. I still want to make something with the part I have left, but decided an apron to sell would be a good thing to do. I've looked at it on & off for 5 years. I found some online because I can't buy more in the stores (and didn't pay the very high priced online stuff). I've looked at it while I cut out fabric. I looked at it while I sewed. It was only when I was about 1/2 way done with the apron that I noticed there were FACES with the hats! See if you can find them in the fabric swatch! Hope to be back with a FINISHED apron tomorrow!!

Three Cards in One Day!

I actually made 3 cards today! Well, I assembled one & made from scratch 2.

The first one has a total dork event to go with it. This was for Virtual Stamp Night at Splitcoaststampers. The challenges were posted last night, but you could enter your cards up til tonight. This challenge was to use NO INK. I was so tickled with myself. I used my Big Kick and Spellbinders dies to cut out leaves. I had this cool fall ribbon. I had pretty fall papers to use. I even made a fan fold flower for the first time. I posted it on Splitcoast and was so proud of myself. Then I went back just a few minutes ago, looked at my card & realized: I USED INK! I didn't color and I didn't stamp. However, I used ink to "distress" the leaves. UGH! Well, apart from that, it's a non-inked card! LOL!

Next we have a simple card using pieces I had ready to go. I stamped & colored severl Clear Dollar Stamp images last week to choose one for the Guest Designer challenge. This was one I didn't use. I also had this leaf cut out and forgot to put it on one of my cards for CDS, so used it here. It's been 100 or higher here for about 25 of the last 35 days. I am DREAMING of fall.
Finally, for the Clear Dollar Stamps weekend Color Challenge at Paper Craft Planet. You can find this week's challenge here. This week the colors were sage shadow, more mustard and regal rose. I used "knock off" colors (ha, ha!) for some of it, but stuck to the main color scheme. This paper was on clearance at Michael's, as were the flowers. I'm a frugal and sometimes downright cheap paper crafter on a budget, so clearance is always good. This card used CDS Thankful for you and Tag it sets. Copper was an optional color, so I added the copper paper clip.
Hoping to FINISH some aprons tonight or tomorrow and maybe make more cards! It makes me feel good when I can finish something & I don't do that often!

Have a super day!

Congrats to Karen Lynn!

Woo-hoo! Royalty has appeared at Clear Dollar Stamps. Karen Lynn, a dear "Dork Sister" on our Travelin' Dork Sister thread, and the "Queen Dork," has been chosen as one of the guest designers this month at Clear Dollar Stamps! You can see her creations at her blog here: http://karensdandypatch.blogspot.com/ Stop by and say Howdy to her royal dorkiness!

I'm so thrilled for her and look forward to her wonderful creations to come this month!