Happy Easter!

Happy Easter!  I just love Easter Sunday with the white Easter lilies around the altar, the joyous music, and celebration that Christ is risen indeed, Alleluia! 

I used the Floral Cross image, colored it with Copics, cut it out, and mounted on some pretty background paper using foam tape.  The sentiment is included in the Floral Cross digi set at Clearly Digital Stamps (Clear Dollar Stamps).

Card supplies:
Image:  Floral Cross from Clearly Digital Stamps
Papers:  white, dp from K & Co. "Susan Winget Floral Mat Pad"
Other:  Copics, foam tape, Nestabilities oval die
Card size:  A2

This is my last post as a design team member for Clearly Digital Stamps (Clear Dollar Stamps).  I'd like to thank everyone at CDS for being so great to work with during my 7 months with you.  It was a great opportunity for me, and I appreciate all of the hard work that goes into each new release.

Thanks for stopping by!
Blessings,
Sarah

Easter Greeting

Easter is quickly approaching, and I found time to color this adorable little Easter chickie.  It's still snowy and cold here in Wisconsin, so it felt good to use some bright colors!  I think it will be a while before we get any natural spring color this year.

Card supplies
Image:  You're My Peep from Clearly Digital Stamps (Clear Dollar Stamps)
Papers:  white, pink, patterned paper from "Thoughts of You" digi set at CDS
Other:  MS edge punch, Nestabilities oval dies, turquoise organdy ribbon, Bow Easy, Recollections mini roses, Copics
Card size:  6" square

Thanks for stopping by!
Blessings,
Sarah

Happy Birthday!

I needed to make a birthday card, so I turned to this image from Clearly Digital Stamps called "Turtle Greetings."  This little turtle is a lot of fun to color!

Card supplies:
Image:  Turtle Greetings from Clearly Digital Stamps (image), sentiment also from CDS
Papers:  white, pink, black, dp from "Thoughs of You" digi set at Clearly Digital Stamps
Other:  Copics
Card size:  A2

Short post today, I need to do a LOT of studying today for my Pharmacology class!  I'm hoping to be very productive so I can squeeze in a little stamping time too.  We'll see how that goes......
I hope you have a nice weekend, and thanks for stopping by!
Blessings,
Sarah

New Release Day at CDS!

Today is a new release day at Clearly Digi Stamps (Clear Dollar Stamps)!  There are sooooo many cute images.  I know I say that every month, but I think these might be the cutest ones yet!

The first set I used is called "Cool Tape." If you use the png version of the images and sentiments (this will not work with the jpgs), you can layer the opaque images and sentiments.  Pretty cool, huh?

I layered the gingham tape with the sentiment and then cut out the tape by hand leaving a narrow white border.  The heart and polka dot paper is a digi paper that is included in this cool set.

Card supplies:
Images and sentiment:  Cool Tape digi from Clearly Digi Stamps
Papers:  black, white, digi paper from Cool Tape
Card size:  A2


The second set I used is called "Thoughts of You."  I used one of the colored images along with one of the three patterned papers that are included in this set.

Here's the promo picture of the full set.

Card supplies:
Image:  "Thoughts of You" by Clearly Digital Stamps (Clear Dollar Stamps)
Papers:  white, yellow, pink, dp from the "Thoughts of You" digi set
Other:  Spellbinders circle and scalloped circle dies, Favorite Findings buttons (I cut the shanks off)
Card size:  A2

If you want to see the new release in its entirety, stop by the Clearly Digital Stamps (Clear Dollar Stamps) blog HERE.

Thanks for stopping by!
Blessings,
Sarah

Anniversary Celebration!

March is an exciting month for Our Daily Bread Designs as it celebrates its fifth year anniversary!! Kelley so appreciates the customers of Our Daily Bread Designs and is excited for the opportunity to celebrate with them today with the ODBD Anniversary Linky Party celebration!!! Below are the links of several fans and customers that have created cards or projects using stamps from Our Daily Bread Designs.


To make the linky party even more fun, Kelley is offering one random participant/ hopper a $15 gift certificate toward stamps!!!

• The party will run from 2pm EDT March 10 until 2pm EDT March 11
• Winners will be announced on the ODBD Blog March 12 at 7 am EDT
• There will be one prize including a $15.00 Gift Certificate toward stamps which must be claimed within two weeks!!

Simply stop at each link on the link below , leave a comment and return to the ODBD Blog to tell us you completed the hop and let us know if you had any problems along the way! That's it! Enjoy!

1.	Brigita -- GDT	6.	Sarah Nelson GDT	11.	Lisa Somerville
2.	Mary Marsh - GDT	7.	Barbara Washington GDT	12.	Gerrie Johnnic GDT
3.	Karen Wallace GDT	8.	Chris Olsen	13.	Sandee
4.	Lee Ann Barrett- GDT	9.	Grace N	14.	Sabrina Jackson
5.	Connie Griffin GDT	10.	Angie Crockett	15.	Jennipher GDT

First of all, my apologies for publishing my post a couple of hours late.  I have been having problems with Blogger when I try to do scheduled posts.  I have checked and rechecked the time setting and scheduled post time, and I have no idea what is wrong.  I was at a Girl Scout event all afternoon with no Internet access, and I couldn't check if it had gone through as a scheduled post.  Sorry!

I was having a really hard time with these 2 patterned papers from Basic Grey's "Euphoria" collection.  I don't know if it was the color combinations or the amount of contrast, but they were really challenging for me to use.  So, I decided to alter them by sponging on some Vintage Photo Distress Ink.  Here's what my papers looked like before I sponged them:

Here's my card combining the newly altered papers, and one of the newer ODBD stamps from the "Chalkboard" series. 

Card supplies:
Stamps:  ODBD "Chalkboard Amazing Grace"
Ink:  Vintage Photo Distress Ink
Papers:  Brown, dps from Basic Grey Euphoria
Other:  Prima flower (originally cream colored), SU! Purely Pomegranate (to dye flower), MS leaf punch, Sizzix leaves die, sponge
Card size:  6" square

Here's the card with the before papers (there were 2 sheets of each print in the 6 x 6 pad, so guess what will soon be happening to those other 2 sheets of dp!)

Happy Anniversary, Kelley!

Thanks for stopping by!  I hope you enjoyed my creation.
Blessings,
Sarah

Happy Brr-thday

This cute little penguin was part of the Clearly Digital Stamps (Clear Dollar Stamps) December 2012 release, and I just hadn't gotten a chance to use it yet.  I decided to make a birthday card using a color combo inspired by these fun Basic Grey papers.  I'm also entering the Anything Goes challenge (challenge #88) at Basic Grey Challenges.

Card supplies:
Image:  Penguin Pals from Clearly Digital Stamps (Clear Dollar Stamps)
Papers:  kraft, white, black, dps from Basic Grey "Shine On"
Other:  Copics, Nestabilities circle and scalloped circle dies
Card size:  6" square

Trying to decide which things to finish from this week's to do list.  Should I do errands today or finish stuff around the house and do errands tomorrow?  Then there's also some medicinal chemistry and pharmacology that I need to finish reading....

I hope you have a great day and get to relax and enjoy the day or have the satisfaction of getting some things done!  :)

Thanks for stopping by!
Blessings,
Sarah

I Love You Beary Much Mojo Monday!

How funny is it that Carole's old Mojo Monday was "just right" the other day for my hydrangea card, and last night her newest Mojo Monday sketch was "just the right layout" for my teddy bear?  I just love it when I can look at a sketch and know immediately what I want to do.  :)  I'm also entering my card in the Anything Goes challenge at Papertake Weekly. 

Here's my interpretaton:

Card supplies:
Image:  "Heart Hugs" digital image and sentiment from Clearly Digital Stamps (Clear Dollar Stamps)
Papers:  Dark brown, dp from Simple Stories "Generations" 6 x 6 pad
Ink:  Vintage Photo Distress Ink (sponged)
Other:  sponge, Nestabilities circle and scalloped circle dies, Recollections flower
Card size:  6" square

Thanks for stopping by!
Blessings,
Sarah

Spring Hydrangea

I was drawn to this pretty colored hydranged image from Clearly Digi Stamps, but I hadn't found just the right layout for it.  The other day I was sorting through some sketches I'd printed a while back, and I found a Mojo Monday sketch that was just right. 

Here's Carole's "just right" Mojo Monday #274 sketch:

Here's my interpretation:

Card supplies:
Image:  Spring Hydrangea (colored digi image) from Clearly Digi Stamps (Clear Dollar Stamps)
Papers:  black, white, dps from Basic Grey "Wistera"
Other:  Black satin ribbon, May Arts 1.25" black silk ribbon, Bow Eay, Recollections mini rose, Spellbinders circle and scalloped circle dies
Card size:  6" square


Thanks for stopping by!
Blessings,
Sarah

New Releases for February at CDS Today!

Today brings lots of great new digis at Clear Dollar Stamps (Clearly Digi Stamps) for the month of February!  You can see all of the new items over HERE on the CDS blog.

The first set I used was Monster Mash.  I opted for a pretty clean and simple design so that this card would be suitable for a little boy's birthday.

Card supplies
Image:  "Monster Mash" from Clearly Digi Stamps (Clear Dollar Stamps)
Papers:  White base, blue for mats, dp from DCWV "The Glitter Stack"
Other:  Copic markers, Nestabilities circle dies, star punch
Card size:  A2

The second set I used was Bird in Hand.  My first impulse was to use the cardinal in this set, but then I thought I could use the hummingbird along with some pretty flower paper that I've been hoarding.

Image:  Bird in Hand by Clearl Digi Stamps
Papers:  White base, green for base, dp from K & Co. "Susan Winget Spring Blossom Spring Mat Pad"
Other:  Copic markers, foam tape
Card size:  A2

Be sure to stop over at the CDS blog to see the rest of the new digis!  They will be available for purchase HERE at the Clear Dollar Stamps website.

Thanks for stopping by!
Blessings,
Sarah

Happy Bear-thday!

I hadn't gotten around to trying the colored digis available at Clearly Digi Stamps, and since I've been battling a nasty stomach bug this week, it seemed like a good time to try one.  A card certainly goes together faster without having to take the time to color an image!  I do love coloring the images though so it seemed a little strange to leave out that step!

I used this cute bear scene from CDS called "S'mores Bears."  I just cut it out with a circle die, layered some dps and I had my card.  It was one of the quickest cards I've made in a long time!

Here's the inside.

 
Supplies:
Colored image from CDS "S'mores Bears"
Papers:  white, kraft, and dps from My Mind's Eye
Ink:  Vintage Photo Distress Ink (on Bear-thday phrase)
Other: Nestabilities dies:  circle, scalloped circle, oval, scalloped oval; s'mores accent from Recollections (a camping themed bag), sponge
Card size:  A2

Thanks for stopping by!
Blessings,
Sarah

A Tweet Hello!

What a wild ride our Wisconsin weather has been!  Last week we were getting wind chills that put us at over 20 below 0, and yesterday our temperatures were in the 40s and 50s.  We would have been buried in snow again if it hadn't been so warm.  It definitely felt more like March than January yesterday, but today we are forecast to have rain changing to snow with 5-8" snow predicted.  Ariel and the dogs will be happy to have a fresh batch of snow on the ground!

I just love it when I sit down with a sketch, and I know exactly which papers I want to use, and I even have some scraps that are nearly the right size for my card.  That's what happened for me on this little bird card, and despite the layering, it came together really quickly for me.  I started with Julee's Mojo Monday sketch #275 and turned it sideways.

I used some My Mind's Eye dps from a big 12" x 12" stack that weren't too large in scale for my little birdie.

I did just a little sponging on the sentiment as I thought the all white was a little too stark against my background papers.  I just love that little birdie peeking out of his house!  It's kind of how I've felt the past few days going outside, checking to see if it is still raining before venturing outdoors.

Supplies:
Image:  "Tweet Houses" from Clearly Digital Stamps (Clear Dollar Stamps)
Papers:  White, kraft, dps from My Mind's Eye (just a big stack, no collection name, think I got it at Hobby Lobby)
Ink:  Vintage Photo Distress Ink (sponged)
Other:  Copic markers, Spellbinders circle and scalloped circle dies, MS leaf punch, button from stash, thin twine, SU! sentiment punch
Card size:  A2

Thanks for stopping by!
Blessings,
Sarah

Happy Birthday, Dad!

My Dad celebrated a milestone birthday earlier this month, and I'm finally getting around to sharing the card that I made for him.  He's a farmer, and I knew as soon as I saw this farm image when I joined the CDS digi design team last fall that I'd use it for his birthday card.

Since the image panel was fairly large, I opted not to use a sketch with lots of layers of papers.  I really wanted my weathered wood paper to show up in the background and not be entirely covered, so I just added an angled sheet of red paper that I embossed with a paisley design, some twine, and a few stars.

Here's a look at the inside of the card.

 

Supplies:
Image:  Digi from "Farm Critters and Barn" set by Clearly Digi Stamps (Clear Dollar Stamps)
Ink:  Vintage Photo Distress Ink (sponged)
Papers:  White, red, dps from My Mind's Eye "Miss Caroline - Fiddlesticks"
Other:  Copic markers, paisley Cuttlebug embossing folder, Tim Holtz distressing tool, the 3 little stars are leftovers from the MFT Western Star Border duo die, thin twine, tiny stars are the punch outs from the MFT die, sponge, SU! punch for sentiment tag
Techniques:  distressing, sponging
Card size:  6" square

Thanks for stopping by!
Blessings,
Sarah

New Release Day at CDS!

Today is the latest release of digis from Clearly Digi Stamps (Clear Dollar Stamps)!  There are soooo many cute images and sentiments perfect for valentines and anniversary cards along with a fruit set, a cute dinosaur set, and that's just the beginning! 

The first card I made uses the new set "Monkey Love."  I decided to have my monkey couple sitting out on the beach in a tropical paradise. 

I used Sketch Saturday #239 for my layout.  I loved this sketch!

Here's a peek at the inside of the card.  The sentiment is also from the new "Monkey Love" digi set.

Supplies:
Image:  "Monkey Love" Clearly Digi Stamps (Clear Dollar Stamps)
Papers:  White, green, dp from My Mind's Eye "Quite Contrary"
Other:  Copics, Prismacolors, odorless mineral spirits, blending stump, pale pink organdy ribbon, Recollections flower, Hero Arts heart pearls
Card size:  5.5" square

On my second card, I used "Ladybug Love."  I wanted to make my ladybug couple look like they were sitting on one of the mushrooms in the cluster on my dp, so I decided to put the sentiment on the inside.

Here's the inside.

Supplies:
Image:  "Ladybug Love" Clearly Digi Stamps (Clear Dollar Stamps)
Papers:  White, bright pink, teal, dp from DCWV "Berry Sweet"
Other:  Copics, pale pink organdy ribbon, Bow Easy, Spellbinders oval and scalloped oval dies
Card size:  A2

I hope you've enjoyed seeing the new CDS digi images.  I know I had fun making my cards!

Thanks for stopping by!
Blessings,
Sarah

Operation Write Home cards

Today I have 5 cards that I made for Operation Write Home to share with you.  I made these cards using sketches provided at the OWH blog.  It was very satisfying to make these cards as not only was I able to make a contribution to the card drive, I also used up the very last of some Hero Arts paper scraps that were just too big to throw away!  (I still have just a few scraps of Basic Grey Sultry left, in case you were wondering!)

I used OWH layout B-28 for these 2 cards as the little pennants were just the right size to use up some long narrow paper strips.

Card supplies:
Stamps:  left:  Verve "Birthday Bash" cupcakes and sentiment and right:  Verve "Fabulous You" images and sentiment
Papers:  white, colored papers from Hero Arts
Ink:  Versafine Onyx Black
Other:  Spellbinders circle die, SU! "Calypso Coral" baker's twine, CM heart punch
Card size:  A2

I made a couple of Valentines in this next batch.  I've missed getting them mailed to one of the distribution centers for 2013, but I'll send them later this year when I've made enough cards to send at least a shoe box sized box of cards all at once.  If you decide to join in this cause, you will want to check out the calendar for OWH as they have to work quite a bit of time ahead of upcoming holidays so the troops receive the blank cards with enough time to get them written and sent home.

Supplies:
Card on Left
Stamps:  Left:  Verve "Hearts on Fire"
Papers:  white, red from Hero Arts
Ink:  Versafine Onyx Black
Other:  CM heart punch
Layout based on OWH sketch B-14
Card size:  A2

Center card
Stamps:  sentiment from Verve "Hearts on Fire" and images from Bo Bunny "Crazy Love"
Papers:  white, colored papers from Hero Arts
Ink:  Versafine Onxy Black
Layout:  SC386 from Splitcoaststampers
Card size:  A2

Card on right
Stamps:  Verve "Birthday Bash"
Papers:  white, colors from Hero Arts
Ink:  Versafine Onyx Black
Other:  Cuttlebug embossing folder, Hero Arts button, twine
Layout:  OWH sketch B-6
Card size:  A2

I had a lot of fun using up my scraps making these cards!

Thanks for stopping by!
Blessings,
Sarah

Garden of Life

One of the things I'd like to do in 2013 is more volunteer work.  I've started clearing out some of the excess fabric in my sewing room by having Ariel sew pillowcases for Conkerr Cancer.  Now that she can sew a straight seam with a consistent seam allowance, she is a slow and steady production assistant!  I'll take some pictures when we get a few more pillowcases finished.  We're also planning to make some quilts for Project Linus. 

Today I have the first of a few cards I've made for Operation Write Home.  The guidelines call for the cards to not have much embellishment/thickness as they do not make it through the mail from overseas as well.  So I went very CAS on the card and used one of the OWH bonus layouts for my first card.  The layouts are found in a PDF file that you can download here by clicking on the link for 32 bonus sketches.  I used sketch B-29 along with an image from Clearly Digi Stamps called "Garden of Life."

Operation Write Home supplies a stamp to use on the back of the cards you make.  You just request it from their website, and they mail it to you free of charge.

Card supplies:
Image:  Garden of Life from Clearly Digi Stamps
Papers:  white, pink
Other:  Copic markers, Hero Arts ribbon
Card size:  A2

I've finished a few other cards to send, I just have to get them photographed so I can share them with you. 

Thanks for stopping by!
Blessings,
Sarah

Happy New Year 2013

Happy New Year!  We are still living in a winter wonderland here in Wisconsin.  Our temperatures have dipped into the single digits for the highs, so it really feels like winter!  Looks like the snow will be here for quite some time yet, and Ariel has been so happy to be able to go out and play in the snow and go sledding every day over Christmas vacation.

Today I have card made with one of my favorite Bible verses from Clearly Digi Stamps (Clear Dollar Stamps).  The verse is part of the set "Scripture Occasions."  I used a recent Sketch Saturday sketch for my layout.  This is the same sketch that I used for this card a couple of weeks ago, but this time I used flowers and flipped the sketch.

It's a little hard to see in the picture, but I zigzagged around the border and also did some distressing.

Supplies:
Image:  Clearly Digi Stamps  "Scripture Occasions"
Papers:  white, pink, dps from My Mind's Eye "Sweet Girl"
Other:  Sewing machine, Spellbinders circle and scalloped circle dies, Recollections flowers, satin ribbon from stash, Bow Easy, Tim Holtz distressing tool
Card size:  6" square

Thanks for stopping by!
Blessings,
Sarah