Homemade in a Jar: CSS Release Day 6

Hey-hey crafty friends!  It is the final day for the Collection 5 product debuts at Clear & Simple Stamps.  Today's sets just may be my favorites because they focus on such a sweet trend: Mason Jars.  Well Preserved is an extensive collection of jars in a variety of sizes with chic fillers, sentiments, and coordinating dies.

I worked with the large set of Well Preserved Jars.  I stamped and paper-pieced to create my goodie jar.  Some things to note:

• "Our House": I love that some of the sentiments are geared towards being "from us".  
• The cutie bow is from the Well Preserved Jars: Extras set.  You do not want to miss the "extras" set if you choose the large jars... bouquets, thread bobbins, and bows are just a few of the things included.
• I used the Toppers (die-cut combo) on each side of my card.  The coordinating dashed stamp gave it a nice faux stitched look ('cause this girl can't sew).  So when you're not topping treat bags with these great dies, try them on your cards! 

The theme for my post today was "Homemade" so I decided to fancy up a Rag Doll House for my treats.  I attached my happy home to the front of a Favor 3 box and added some gingersnap cookies. 

Now, I know you are all wondering... "What's in the jar?"  It's Pumpkin Pie dip, and it.is.yummy.  I'm inclined to eat it with a spoon and skip the cookies when the kids aren't looking. I used the large jar dies to create a tag... I think the size is perfect and they don't need a lot of fussing to be cute. (aka: quick & easy)

I also want to mention that my color combo for today was not only inspired by the orange-ness of the pumpkin dip, but also by the Play Date Cafe Challenge.  Their inspiration board is beautiful:

I hope you love the Well Preserved Jars as much as I do... 

I'll be back tomorrow to recap some of the products I've used over the last week and to share the recipes  you've seen featured.  Until then, go visit the DT gals for lots more "inspiration in a jar".  Ha!

Clear & Simple Stamps blog

Kim Duran, Stephany Zerbe, Elena Roussakis, Laura Bassen, 

Laurie Willison, Dana Grothaus, Lori Tecler

Additional products used:

Tools: Rag Doll House (die cut), Shapes: Hearts (die-cut combo)

Paper: My Mind's Eye - Vanity Fair 6x6

Sassy Somethings: Prima trim

CSS Party Hop: For My Girlie

Are you a hostess at heart?  Do you love to add special touches to everyday get togethers? The Clear and Simple Stamps designers are celebrating today with our Collection 4 Party Hop.

As the kids get older I find that I'm more prone to spend time adding extra details to everyday events... especially for my sweet girlie who loves things to be "just so".  We decided to have a few of her gal pals over for cupcakes and crafting (and the inevitable mess making). ;)

I used the Mini Tri-Fold 1 die to make a mini invitation.  Rag Doll: Willa adorns the front of our sweet note and I cut a Favor Flag for her to hold as a banner.  Even though I only had 3 of these to make, I wanted to keep it simple.

On the inside I added the celebration details by using the new Party Elements: Celebration set.  For a fun twist, I filled a Clear Candy Bag with confetti.... perfect for 4 year olds. ;)

We will plan to craft and play and have mini cupcakes for a snack.  The girls will go home with a little coloring book and a new package of crayons.  I stamped a few different Rag Dolls onto some die cut tags and tied them together with ribbon.  (Note: This would also be a fun idea to send to a crafty/stamping friend.  They could color, trim, and use on projects.)

These ideas can easily be expanded to make a larger spread or kept simple for a small get together.  Enjoy the CSS Party Hop... be sure to visit all the designers for inspiration and fun new ways to celebrate the everyday!

Coffee with Carlie - CSS Rag Doll Review

Have you fallen in love with the new Clear & Simple line: Rag Dolls?  I absolutely adore them and have so much fun each time I pull them out.  I decided to make a set of coffee themed treats... perfect to leave on a favorite teacher's desk, as a morning treat for your coffee lovin' co-worker, or as a sweet way to spoil a neighbor.

The Rag Doll: House die-cut is a perfect fit for the Party Favor 3 treat box.  I stamped the Rag Doll: Shop onto a house cut from cream cardstock.  I added the sign and stack of cups.  Then I stamped the shop image again onto patterned paper from the My Mind's Eye Emma's Shoppe collection and pieced the awning and stand... trimming out the window to show off my cafe scene.  The coffee cup is disposable so I kept it simple and added a paper wrap with a jute band.  Blooms created with the Build-A-Flower die were a quick and easy addition.

For my card I let Carlie shine.  She is just too cute leaning up against "hello".  I love that many of the Rag Dolls come as a combo set of stamps and a coordinating die to perfectly "trim" their silhouette.  Paper piecing the clothes but coloring the skin and hair is a fun way to create cohesion and not stress too much about perfect coloring. ;) (see my supply list for Copic colors)  I added a small strip of woodgrain and a scallop across the top to mimic the cafe awning.  I hope you love her as much as I do!

For more Rag Doll inspiration, please visit the CSS designers:

Clear & Simple Stamps blog

Elena Roussakis

Kim Duran

Lori Tecler

Laura Bassen

Stephanie Zerbe

Additional Supplies:

Copics: (Skin: E31, E33) (Hair: E33, E37, E29) (Shirt: BG11, BG13)

Dies: CSS Borders: Scallops;