Clearly iStamp

Final Day of the countdown to December 1st!

Don't miss out on Clear Dollar Stamps Blog Candy....Monday at 9:00 am is the last day to qualify to win! Check it out!  Here's the link:  Blog Candy

Here is the last sneak peak before the December 1st stamp sets are available to buy!

These samples were designed by Candy Fosta


The ornament is attached to the top of the box....too cute!



These samples feature:
Ornament Accents
Ornament String
Available for purchase on December 1st

I'll be busy tonight getting the New Products Email ready and all the products ready to go!  Talk to you soon!

Hope your day is filled with blessings and stamping galore!
Lori

Tissue Card and Gift-e-lope

Don't miss out on the blog candy post right before this one! Check it out!  Here's the link:  Blog Candy

Why not create a card out of a gift bag? What would that be called?  A Gift-e-lope! Isn't it cute!  I thought of this idea over a year ago, so I thought it was about time I use it....what better time than when we are introducing gift stamps!

 

ALL CDSTAMPS LLC STAMP SETS USED: Spots A Plenty, Tree Delight Tag

CARDSTOCK AND PAPERS: SU Green Galore and Positively Pink

INKPADS: SU Basic Black

MARKERS: SU Green Galore

ACCESSORIES AND EMBELLISHMENTS: Pink Stickles, White embossing powder, Versamark Watermark pad, white gift bag and tissue paper

COLORING MEDIUM (if any): Colored with SU marker and Stickles

Let's get started on our project! 

Preparing your bag to be your envelope:

1.  Cut the bottom off of your small gift bag.  I cut mine about 3/4 inch below the crease in the bag.

2.  Fold the bottom of the bag up twice.

3.  Stitch the bottom of the bag shut or close the bottom with double sided tape.

4. Embellish your bag as shown in the pictures, or create your own design.  For mine I used a 5x5 square of SU Positively Pink, 4.75 x 4.75 of Green Galore, 4.5 x 4.5 of White, 4.25 x4.25 of SU positively pink.  I stamped the Spot a Plenty on it with Versamark and embossed with white embossing powder.  Cut a couple of scalloped circles, embellish as show, and you have your "envelope"!

Preparing the inside tissue card:

4.  Prepare a two 4 1/2 square cards.  I used Spots a Plenty to make the background on white cardstock (4.25x4.25). You can either use a punch, or follow my bound button hole tutorial to create the button hole insert for your gift card.  One of your cards will be solid and one of your cards will have an opening for a gift card if you would like.

5.  Cut pieces of the white tissue paper in 5x5 pieces...I used 4 pieces.  I stamped my tissue paper with the Spots a Plenty CD Stamp.  Gather it as shown with your fingers.

6.  Tape the tissues puffs as shown on the top of one card.

7.  Line the second card up with the first card with tissue paper taped to it.  Use double sided tape or stitch the pieces together.

8.  Sew or tape a piece of ribbon on to the top of the card as a pull to get the card out.

Tissue Card inside of Bag-elope:

Coordinating gift bag:

Give it a try!  I think this card would be EXTREMELY cute with CD Stamps Monkey Surprise set!

Hope your day is filled with blessings and stamping galore!

Lori

The Countdown Continues to December 1st!

Don't forget to look at my blog candy and make a comment for a chance to win!  Deadlines are listed in the post!  Here's the link:  Look at CD Stamps blog candy!

Here are some more sneak peeks to get you ready for December 1st!

These samples were done by one of my Senior Design Team members, Candy Fosta.  She has been with me the longest and is just awesome!  When she makes her 3D projects, many times, she gears them towards things my girls would like.  When her box comes, I have to hide everything or my girls have it carried off and hidden before I know it!

 

All the makings for an adorable snowman fit in the tin!  How cute is that!  Now I want snow!  These tins can be found at Hobby Lobby and Michaels.

Name of sets to be available December 1st:  Snow Diamonds and Snowflake Tags

Candy also designed this next sample using the December Stamp of the Month.  This stamp of the month is 33% larger than previous stamps of the month...free with the same $50 order.  You won't want to miss Cookie Creations (available December 1st)!

This pouch opens up to reveal a cookie mix!  The inside sentiment says:  Here's a little extra dough for Christmas!

This is a cd envelope!

One more day until you can purchase these fantastic stamp sets!  I don't know about you, but I am making the majority of my Christmas presents this year.  What better way to make presents than with stamps!  I'll be showing them to you as I get them completed!

Don't forget, Clear Dollar Stamps does offer Gift Certificates!

Hope your day is filled with blessings and stamping galore!
Lori

Black Friday Blog Candy

What better way to start the Holiday Season than with FREE STUFF!

Almost a $100 VALUE!

Blog Candy includes:

All of the new stamps being introduced on December 1st at CD Stamps!

Treats for My Sweet
Gum Drops and Lollipops
Snowflake Tags
Snow Diamonds
Spots A Plenty
Christmas Tree Delight
Tree Delight Tag
Ornament Accents
Ornament String
Beaded Chain
Asian Plants

I will also include these papercrafting supplies:

Cuttlebug Charms die
Full jar of Flower Soft Ivory
1 yard each of 10 different ribbons

TO ENTER:

Participants with a US or Canada mailing address are eligible. 

Make a comment on THIS POST and tell me what kind of new stamp set you would like to see in the future at CD Stamps.... is that easy enough?  Clear Dollar Stamps loves to hear customer ideas....so tell us yours!  **Please do not add links to other companies stamps.**

Comments will close on Monday, December 1, 2008 at 9 AM.

I will use Random.org random number generator to select a winner from the comments on Monday, December 1, 2008.  I will post the winner no later than Tuesday morning, December 2.

Good luck and thanks for entering my FIRST blog candy!

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Here is the SECRET CODE to get 20% off of all your clear stamp purchases November 28th to November 30th!  (Make sure to tell all your friends your secret code :-)

Coupon Code:  thankful4u

Go to Clear Dollar Stamps now!

I am so thankful for each and every one of you!  Happy shopping!

Lori

December 1st Release sneak peeks - Day 2

Happy Thanksgiving!

I hope everyone is having the pleasure of having turkey today...at least I consider it a pleasure.....think we'll get to sneak away for a few minutes of blissful stamping?

Today you will see one of my favorites!  Great for wrapping Christmas presents, Valentine's presents, and gifts for your kids....and more!

Gum Drops and Lollipops Wheel/Stamp and Treats for My Sweet Stamp Set

both available December 1st at Clear Dollar Stamps

 

See you tomorrow!  Don't miss out on my first ever BLOG CANDY!  I will also be announcing my sale for the weekend!

Hope your day is filled with blessings and stamping galore!

Lori

Clear Dollar Stamps December 1st sneak peek!

By December 1st, what do we HOPE we are doing?  Wrapping some presents!  Clear Dollar Stamps is here to help with that very thing.  We have created wheels/stamps for you to cover paper or bags with and tags to match!  Keep watching now through Sunday to see samples of what you will see on Monday when they release!

Christmas Tree Delight Wheel/Stamp and Tree Delight Tag
Spots a Plenty Wheel/Stamp
both available December 1st at Clear Dollar Stamps

Spots a Plenty Wheel/Stamp

Purse Template:  Created by Lauren Meader http://laurenm.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com/

Talk to you tomorrow to show you another wonderful sneak peek!
Lori

What are the ins and outs of being Clearly inspired?

Hi Everyone!  I want to introduce myself since I am not Lori.  My name is Katie and I am lucky enough to be one of a fabulous group of Design Team Members for Clear Dollar Stamps.  She has graciously asked me to help with the Clear Dollar Stamps blog aka Clearly iStamp.  I will be contributing to Lori's wonderful blog here and there and I can only hope I do it and her justice.

Today, I want to focus on you, the stamper that maybe be new or curious about the world of Clear Stamps.  I want to share some pictures of exactly what you get and what you should do with your Clear Dollar Stamps when you receive them. 

The stamp set that I will be focusing on today is the FREE set with any $50 purchase at CDStamps for the rest of this month.  Next month will be another great set - trust me I've seen it and its 33% larger than the past sets, but don't miss out on this month's set.  It's so cute and would work perfectly for your holiday cards.

Here is a picture of the way you will receive your free set or any larger set from CD Stamps.  You will receive a printed version of what the stamp set looks like, a cling sheet with your clear stamps on it, all enclosed in a zip lock bag.  

This next picture contains everything that you will need to make a custom holiday card handmade by you! 

Ingredients:

• Stamp set
• acrylic block
• ink
• Stamp cleaner or Non alcoholic baby wipes
• Cardstock for card base (cut your own or buy pre-cut)
• Additional cardstock for image and mat
• An eraser for "conditioning"
• Thin foam mat if necessary

The first thing you want to do is remove those beautiful stamps and peel away the thin protective plastic covering the stamps.  I personally don't keep that and just chuck it.  Next, all you need to do is gently peel your choice of stamp right off the plastic.  When you first peel a brand new stamp from the plastic its best to gently bend the plastic sheet and again gently peel the stamp upward.



The next step is to grab your acrylic block and place your stamped image right on it.  It will stick to the surface like magic. You can find any size you need at Clear Dollar.  If you are on a budget, try to find a size that will accommodate several size stamps, but for ease of stamping you will want to eventually get a variety of sizes.  If your block is too large for your image it is more difficult to create the right pressure for a perfectly stamped image.


 
 Some questions that tend to surface have to do with a solid stamped image.  All clear stamps (at least with all the brands that I have personally purchased need to be "conditioned" before stamping that perfect image on your work. 

Conditioning just means that you are getting your clear stamps ready to stamp nice crisp images.

The way I generally condition my stamps is to literally just stamp several times on scratch paper.  This has worked for me with all my Clear Dollar Stamps.  The lesser quality clear stamps definitely need more conditioning which might even mean getting your sanding paper out.  But no worries, not with Clear Dollar!

Another way to "condition" your clear stamps is to run an eraser across your stamps before stamping.  In my case, I use the eraser on the end of my mechanical pencil.  I only use the white eraser because they seem less gritty in my opinion.  You can purchase large white block erasers at your office supply store or you can find white erasers in the pencil form which just means that they are the same shape as the one in my mechanical pencil, but with no pencil part.

All you do is gently run the eraser over the stamp and then gently wipe away any excess eraser either with a baby wipe or on your stamp scrubber.  What you are doing is literally "dirtying" or "roughening" your stamp surface so ink will "stick" better to the stamp.


 Now you are ready to stamp.  Many of the stamp sets are perfect for coloring in with markers, colored pencils, or watercolor pencils, but as I stated above, I want to focus on the beginner stamper so I've chosen some colored cardstock and ink instead.  I chose brown ink for my stamp and stamped it on brown cardstock.  My piece of brown cardstock is exactly 2"x2".  The wonderful component of clear stamps is that you are able to see exactly where you are stamping. 


















Another item I would like to mention that may help with achieving a nice clean crisp image is something you probably have lying around your house which means its free.  It is the foam layer that you are seeing under my cardstock.  It often comes in packaging and if you've been good and not purchased anything recently, head on over to your local grocery store to the floral department and they just might have some extra foam for you.

So your question - why?  Well, if you noticed, wood mounted stamps come with cushion attached to the wood, but clear stamps do not.  The foam acts as that cushion when necessary.  The extra foam is something that I like to have on hand, but isn't something that I use all the time.  It just depends on the stamp and the surface I'm working on.

In the case of this card, since it is pretty simple I decided to stamp my own background with one of the stamps in this set.  Again, due to the "clear" factor I was able to see my spacing and exactly where to put the snow on my card.



Next I adhered my stamped mailbox onto my card and got ready for the finishing touch - the sentiment.  Sentiments have got to be the hardest stamps to keep straight and aligned on your card.  Again, the "clear" factor comes in.  Just ink up, see the placement, and stamp.
















So here you have it.  It is possible to create your own hand made creations without a lot of expense.  This is a great way to start your stamping adventure with Clear Dollar Stamps.



Last but not least is clean up.  As you might have noticed in the very beginning, I used baby wipes.  Non-alcoholic wipes work well, but I prefer using a stamp scrubber.  Don't forget a nice cleaning solution to spray onto your scrubber. Since I added it to my stamping collection I wouldn't give it up.

And finally, clear stamps can lose their cling for a variety of reasons.  Sometimes, they loose cling from the very oils in our skins as we are handling them, or just from frequent use, or even a drop onto the floor where our favorite pet resides.  Restoring cling is so simple - warm water and if necessary just a pinch of liquid soap.  Just gently wash and let air dry.  If this does not return the cling, you will need to put a little rubbing alcohol on a paper towel and wipe the back of your stamp.  Make sure to rewash your stamp with soap and water to remove the alcohol.  Simple as that! 

So that's it for my contribution to Clearly iStamp.  I hope you learned something informative whether you are a new or old stamper.

If you have any questions regarding Clear Dollar Stamps please ask away.

Thanks so much for stopping by.

Katie
for Clearly iStamp Blog

Creating Paper Chenille

Does anyone, besides me, remember creating chenille fabric jackets and blankets with plaid fabrics?  I have been thinking about all of the sewing techniques I used to use and how I can apply them to my current love, paper crafting!  So after a BUNCH of experimenting, I have come up with this awesome technique!

Supplies needed for Christmas Card:
Stamps:  Merry Christmas Stamp
Cardstock:  Olive CS and Brocade CS
Papers:  Natural Mulberry paper and  Wassail by Basic Grey  (isn't it painful to actually cut it!)
Embellishments:  Cinnamon Stickles
Tools:  Sewing Machine, Oval Scallop Punch (I used McGill, Nestibilities also work), Snowflake punch by Martha Stewart (Walmart)

Supplies needed for Faith Card:
Stamps:  Gigi Giraffe and Sewn Sentiments
Cardstock:  Stampin Up Certainly Celery
Papers: Pink Mulberry paper and  Euphoria by Basic Grey
Embellishments:  Brads
Tools:  Sewing Machine, Oval Nestibilities to fit your image, Scallop punch by McGill

How to create Paper Chenille

1.  Create your background card.

2.  Decide on the area you want covered by the chenille.   My area is 3 7/8" tall and 1-1/2" wide (finished size of card is 4x4).  Cut FIVE layers of mulberry paper to the area to be covered.  Clip on to your background piece with paperclips or clips as shown above. 

3.Stitch your first row of stitching 1/4 inch from the edge of the mulberry paper. 

4.  With a pencil, draw lines every 1/2 inch from the first stitching line.  Stitch on each line.  Once all the lines are stitched, make sure the amount of mulberry paper after the last stitching line is 1/4 inch.

5.  With sharp pointed end scissors, carefully slide your scissors under all the layers of the mulberry paper and clip in the center of the two stitching lines.

6.  This is what your project will look like when you have all the paper slit between the stitching lines.

 

7.  Pick up both sides of the paper pinching it together. 

8.  Begin slitting your paper as shown.

9.  When you have all your paper slitted, here is what it will look like.

10.  Begin ruffling and scruffling (this is my made up word :-)) until you get the papers roughed up and fluffy as shown in picture 11.

You now know how to create Paper Chenille!

I would love to see any projects that you come up with using Clear Dollar Stamps and Paper Chenille!  We could  even start a special gallery for them!

How to create Shaped Paper Chenille

 

1.  Set up your Nestibilities ovals as shown....these are 4 sizes apart.  I made sure Gigi fit in the smallest one.  I put a piece of double sided tape on my C plate to hold them in place.

2.  The sandwich goes like this for your Cuttlebug plates:  A, C, Nestie ridge side up, 5 sheets mulberry paper, white cardstock (I used the center piece from this to stamp Gigi on), B plate.

3  You will be using the outer circle of mulberry paper.

4.  Create your background for your card.

5.  Place your shaped mulberry paper on your background paper where you would like to create the chenille.  Stitch 1/4 inch from the edge of the inside.

6.  Stitch 1/4 inch from the outside edge of mulberry paper.  This may vary with the size of cut out you make.

7.  VERY CAREFULLY, insert your pointed edge scissors through all the layers of mulberry and start cutting down the middle of the oval between stitches.

8.  This is what it will look like when you are ready to start slitting your paper.

9.  Go around all the edges of the oval making little slits.  Start scruffling it until it is the fluffiness you would like!

 

Isn't Gigi perfect in this little ring of ruffles!

Hope your day is filled with blessings and stamping galore!

Lori

Bound Buttonholes with paper

What do you give a father that has everything?

What do you give a father that you give gift cards to and he either looses them or stores them in his wallet until they break?  Well, I figured out the answer!  Food and entertainment for him to share with his granddaughters!  O.D.'s (Old Dad) birthday is today, so he gets the blog candy!  Take a look at his present:

Contents:
1 movie
8 Packages of cutely packaged instant diet cocoa (Ha!  Add marshmallows and that takes care of that!)
1 Package of popcorn cutely packaged
1 Package of crackers
1 Block Cheddar cheese (to be picked up on the way)
1 Card
Various jars of jellies and sauces

 

The stamp set used on this card is Everyday Encouragements.  The fiber is Pinecone Jute.  I will be making a bound buttonhole to form my closure.

How to make your Bound Buttonholes

Supplies needed:
Pencil
Ruler
Exacto knife
Embossing stylus
Cardstock (I used Cinnamon Stick, Blue Jeans, and So Saffron by SU)
Designer paper (I used Basic Grey Granola)

1.  I made a 1 in button hole.  Draw button hole on your project where you would like it.  1" x 3/4".  Draw lines at a diagonal and cut on the diagonal lines with your exacto knife.
2.  With a ruler and stylus score your rectangle lines.  I laid mine on my mouse pad to score.
3. Fold your flaps in on lines.
4.  Front view of card with flaps folded in.
5.  Tape flaps down on back of project.
6.  Cut two pieces of your designer paper 1 1/2 x 1 1/4 inches.
7.  Draw a line on the center of your hole.  This will be your alignment guide to get your two pieces lined up in your hole.  Tape your two small pieces of designer paper over the hole with the folded edges touching in the center.
8.  Front view....check to make sure they are centered.
9.  Sew around the edge of your rectangle and you have a bound button hole! 

 

Items used in addition to those listed above:  Coffee Cup and Popcorn stamps

How to assemble your slider pouch:

 

1.  Figure out what size cardstock you need to fit around your pouch of whatever.  Center and create a bound buttonhole in cardstock.  Score lines on either side of your pouch so it folds nicely.

2.  Insert your ribbon into the bound buttonhole from the inside to the outside.

3.  Lay your pouch on top of the ribbon and loop over the top side.  Apply two sided tape as shown.  Fold cardstock around the pouch and seal.

4.  Push the pouch out about 2 inches and slide any slit punch that you have that fits your ribbon size...or cut slit with your x-acto knife.

5.  Loop ribbon through slit.

6.  Set your pouch upright and get everything lined up....tie a knot or bow at the top.

7.  You have a slider pouch!

I am now done just in time to go to O.D.'s (Old Dad) birthday party!

Hope your day is filled with stamping and blessings galore!

Lori

Creating Polka Dot Paper with Copic Blender Solution

Hello Everyone!

My second post.....woo-hoo!  A blog is a wonderful excuse to force myself to make time to stamp!  I did another nugget set for this week.....I mixed a couple of techniques in with it to keep it interesting!  Next week I am working on some new sewing techniques I'm really excited about!

I am working on a schedule of what days of the week will be techniques, blog challenges, and our favorite....BLOG CANDY!  As soon as that is decided I will post the schedule so you know when to check back!

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Isn't Rodney adorable on top of a little nugget and gift card?

   

Supplies: 

• Stamps:  Rodney Deer Clear Stamp and Too Sweet Clear Stamp set
• Copic Markers:  G14, B32, E31, E35, E37, Blender Pen, Blender solution
• Cardstock:  White Neenah Cardstock (coming soon to CD Stamps), Red Cardstock
• Ink Pad:  Momento Black Ink
• Embellishments:  Stickles Christmas Red and Star Dust, Nugget Box, red and white polka dot ribbon
• Punches:  Martha Stewart snowflake punch....purchased at Walmart!

 

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Simple coloring technique for Rodney

The most frequently asked question I get is "how is that colored" and "what did your DT use to color the picture".....so here is how I colored!

 

Step 1:  Color around edges with Dark Brown (I used E37)

Step 2:  Color in with the center with the Medium Brown (I used E35) blending it into the dark brown on the edges.

Step 3:  Last, take the Light Brown (I used E31) and color the center of his face and body....it just gives him a little more shading, as you can see in the last picture.  As you are coloring these three colors together, it "pushes" the ink outward, which may cause it to bleed outside of the lines.  If this happens, use your blender pen to erase unwanted ink!

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Assembling your Rodney card 

 

Making all the parts:

 

1.  Color around Rodney in blue....trim Rodney out as shown.

2.  Take your first layer CS and color edges with copic blender pen and then over that with your blue copic.  The center won't be seen, so don't waste your ink!

3.  Sew the blue and the second layer red cs together with green thread.

4.  Glue this layer on to card and then put dimensional foam pieces on the back of Rodney and attach to card as shown.

5.  Color piece of cardstock with blue copic.  Punch out a small circle...this one was 1/2 inch.  Punch a hole in the center for the brad to go through.  Clip the circle as shown.

6.  Punch out snowflake and adhere over Rodney as shown with a dimensional foam piece.  Put Brad through the middle of the blue circle in step 5 and attach on top of snowflake with glue dot.

7.  Now for the fun part!  Take your Star Dust Stickles and coat your snowflake with it....I also did Rodney's tail....because I have no flock!  Take your Red Stickles and give him a nose!

You're done!

Cardstock measurements: 

Card - fold in half:  1 5/8 x 7 - Red

First layer: 1 3/8 x 3 1/4 - Blue (White cardstock colored blue)

Second layer:  1 1/4 x 3 1/8 - Red

Third layer:  1 x 2 5/8 - Green (White cardstock colored green)

Rodney Nugget

1.  Stamp on Avery label 8160, get some here

2.  Wrap around nugget.

3.  Punch out snowflake and apply to nugget with glue dot.

4.  Stamp Rodney and color as shown above.  Cut out head only and apply with glue dot.

5.  Add a little Stickles for his nose and you are done!

6.  If you wish to put them in a nugget box as shown, you can make the blue nugget covers that same as the green ones sampled above.

I hope everyone enjoys this tutorial.....talk to you next week!

Hope your day is filled with stamping and blessings galore!

Lori