CSS is Awesome

Recipes

Copy-paste compositions of components, tokens, and mixins for the patterns you build most.

Writing one? The recipe format is the shape every recipe here follows, and the shape validate-recipes enforces on every push.

Recipe library

Full, accessible recipes with raw markup, SCSS wiring, and framework notes. Each opens its own page with copy-paste code blocks.

Admin Dashboard LayoutA CSS Grid admin skeleton — sidebar, stats header, content, optional footer — for a fixed back-office frame that should not reflow.layoutmediumApp ShellThe structural skeleton most apps need on day one — a top navbar, a sidebar-and-content control panel, and a footer — assembled from cia's existing layout mixins, with a settings modal wired in via the dialog recipe.layoutsimpleAuth FlowThe submit → loading → success/error flow around a login or register form — session model, redirect banner, and error handling, not field validation.authmediumBottom NavMobile-app layout — a fixed bottom dock whose slots open slide-up sheets, zero JavaScript on the Popover API.navigationmediumBreadcrumbAn accessible "where am I" trail — a labelled <nav> wrapping an ordered list, the current page marked with aria-current, separators drawn by CSS and never read aloud.navigationsimpleColor PickerA colour input that starts at native <input type="color"> and upgrades to a custom OKLCH picker — hue, chroma, lightness and alpha sliders with a text fallback and a live swatch.inputcomplexComboboxAutocomplete text input with a filtered suggestion list — native <datalist> for the simple case, ARIA combobox pattern for full control.inputcomplexCombobox MultiselectA tag-input combobox — the ARIA combobox pattern extended to multiple selections, each rendered as a removable chip in front of the text field.inputcomplexCommand PaletteA Cmd+K / Ctrl+K command palette — native <dialog> for the top layer, focus trap and Esc, plus the combobox recipe's input layer over a grouped, filterable command list.overlaycomplexConfirm DialogA small "are you sure?" pattern built on the dialog recipe, plus an inline popover variant for lower-stakes confirmations.overlaysimpleData TableA sortable, paginated data table — click a column header to sort, with a choice between a real HTML table and a CSS Grid role="table" layout for cases a table element can't handle. Closes one of cia's oldest queued gaps.datamediumDatepickerA formatted date field with an inline calendar-grid popup, built entirely on native Date and Intl — no date library, closing one of cia's oldest queued gaps.inputcomplexDialogAccessible modal dialog built on the native HTML <dialog> element.overlaymediumFile UploadA drag-and-drop file picker built on the native <input type="file"> — the input stays the source of truth, a labelled drop zone adds drag states, and a file list shows per-file progress, validation errors and remove buttons.inputmediumForm Validation AsyncThe "is this username taken?" pattern — debounced input, an abortable in-flight check, a loading spinner, and a success or error state, none of which a client-only schema can express.formscomplexForm Validation HTML5Zero-JS form validation using native HTML5 constraints and the :user-invalid/:user-valid pseudo-classes, plus a small submit-time error summary via checkValidity().formssimpleForm Validation React Hook FormForm state and validation with react-hook-form, error styling driven from formState.errors and cia's error tokens — register for plain fields, Controller for anything that needs a transformed value.formsmediumForm Validation Success StatesFour success-feedback patterns after a form passes validation or submits — an inline field checkmark, a summary banner, an optimistic UI, and (once you have a toast primitive) a redirect-with-toast — with the tradeoffs for picking between them.formsmediumForm Validation ZodValidate a form against a Zod schema on submit, map issues to fields by path, and reuse the same schema server-side or with react-hook-form's zodResolver.formsmediumI18n Date FormattingLocale-aware date and relative-time formatting with native Intl.DateTimeFormat and Intl.RelativeTimeFormat — no library dependency.i18nmediumI18n Number CurrencyLocale-aware number, percent, currency and compact formatting with native Intl.NumberFormat — no library dependency.i18nmediumI18n PluralizationLocale-correct pluralization with native Intl.PluralRules and a small pluralize() helper — English's one/other split isn't universal.i18nmediumLetterheadA print-only letterhead — a branded header (name, address, a rule) that appears only when the page is printed, styled with cia's print-only mixin and the themeable --print-* palette.layoutsimpleMobile NavHamburger button + slide-in drawer for mobile navigation — zero JavaScript, built on the native Popover API.navigationsimpleMulti Step WizardStep orchestration (current step, per-step validation gating, error summary) built on cia's existing stepper mixin.formsmediumOtp InputA segmented one-time-code entry field — per-cell native inputs with auto-advance, backspace-retreat, arrow-key navigation and full-code paste distribution.inputmediumPaginationA keyboard-accessible pager — first/prev/next/last plus a windowed page-number range with ellipses, built on cia.pagination and cia.pagination-item, collapsing to prev / "Page 3 of 12" / next on phones.navigationmediumPrint SpecTurn a live page into a paginated specification document on Ctrl+P — cover + table index, one page per section, printed sheet numbers — with pure-CSS page breaks.layoutmediumPrint to PDFPixel-faithful PDF export from any page using only a @media print stylesheet — no library, no server.layoutsimpleRtl LayoutShip a right-to-left (Arabic, Hebrew) layout with cia — what works for free from logical properties, what needs a dir="rtl" override, and how to flip directional icons.layoutmediumSortable ListA re-orderable list — native HTML5 drag-and-drop for the pointer, a grab/move/drop keyboard alternative on the handle, and every move announced through a live region.datamediumToastTransient notifications — a fixed, stacked region of auto-dismissing status messages with pause-on-hover, a close button and an optional action, announced through the right live-region role for their severity.feedbackmedium

Settings form

Stack FormField wrappers around Input and Checkbox controls; close with a primary Button. The labels, hints, and error ids are wired automatically.

We only use this for sign-in.

<FormField label="Email" hint="We only use this for sign-in.">
  <Input type="email" placeholder="you@studio.com" />
</FormField>
<FormField label="Password">
  <Input type="password" />
</FormField>
<Checkbox label="Remember me on this device" />
<Button variant="primary">Sign in</Button>

Form spacing uses --space-md between controls. Swap themes and the input chrome, focus ring, and checkmark follow.

Pricing card grid

A responsive three-tier pricing grid using Card with bodyAs="none" so each card can hold a price, feature list, and call-to-action.

Starter

$0 /mo

  • 1 project
  • Community support
  • Public themes

Studio

$24 /mo

  • Unlimited projects
  • Priority email
  • Private themes

Atelier

$96 /mo

  • Team seats
  • Design review calls
  • Custom brand kit
<div style={{ display: "grid", gap: "var(--space-md)",
             gridTemplateColumns: "repeat(auto-fit,minmax(240px,1fr))" }}>
  <Card title="Starter" bodyAs="none">
    /* price, feature list, button */
    <Button variant="outline">Start free</Button>
  </Card>
  /* Studio, Atelier… */
</div>

auto-fit with minmax(240px,1fr) collapses the grid to one column on narrow viewports without a media query.

Hero section

Display-font headline, soft deck paragraph, and a paired button row. Every value pulls from tokens so the hero re-skins with the theme.

Paint the page with one stylesheet.

css-is-awesome is a mixin-first design system. Swap the theme link and the whole site re-skins — no markup changes, no rebuild.

<section style={{ padding: "var(--space-xl) var(--space-lg)",
                    background: "var(--paper-raised)" }}>
  <h1 style={{ fontFamily: "var(--font-display)" }}>
    Paint the page with one stylesheet.
  </h1>
  <p style={{ color: "var(--ink-soft)" }}>Deck copy…</p>
  <Button variant="primary" href="/docs">Get started</Button>
  <Button variant="outline" href="/showcase">See examples</Button>
</section>

Type scale uses --font-display; the soft deck colour pulls from --ink-soft. Spacing steps through --space-sm, --space-lg, and --space-xl.

Dashboard shell

A two-column app shell: sidebar nav plus a main content region with a KPI row and a stack of cards. Below the md breakpoint the shell restacks to one column and the sidebar folds into a dropdown menu (cia.dropdown — zero-JS, browser-managed) — mobile is a different grid, not a squeezed sidebar.

12,487 active users+4.2% this week$84.2k MRR

Recent activity

  • Avery published the Sketchbook landing
  • Jordan shipped the Brutalist theme
  • Priya drafted the Recipes page

Upcoming

Design review on Friday covers the Icon authoring spec and the Token audit follow-ups.

<div style={{ display: "grid",
             gridTemplateColumns: "minmax(0, 200px) 1fr" }}>
  <nav aria-label="Dashboard">
    <a href="#">Overview</a>
    /* more links… */
  </nav>
  <main>
    <StatChip value="12,487" label="active users" />
    <Card title="Recent activity">…</Card>
  </main>
</div>

The active nav link uses --paper-sunk plus --ink to indicate state; inactive links fall back to --ink-soft.

Empty state

A focused empty-state panel centred inside a Card. Use it when a list is empty on first visit — a single primary action is enough.

No projects yet

Projects are where you collect themes, components, and copy. Start one and invite a teammate when you are ready.

<Card title="" bodyAs="none"
      style={{ textAlign: "center",
               padding: "var(--space-xl) var(--space-lg)" }}>
  <p style={{ fontFamily: "var(--font-display)" }}>No projects yet</p>
  <p style={{ color: "var(--ink-soft)" }}>Prose explanation…</p>
  <Button variant="primary">Create your first project</Button>
</Card>

Notification / toast row

All four Alert status variants. Note that Alert uses status="…", not variant.

Theme saved

Your theme "Studio Warm" was published to the CDN.

Heads up

Next release adds a new token group for motion.

Cache expiring

Your preview theme link expires in two hours.
<Alert status="success" title="Theme saved">…</Alert>
<Alert status="info" title="Heads up">…</Alert>
<Alert status="warning" title="Cache expiring">…</Alert>
<Alert status="error" title="Publish failed">…</Alert>

Data table

A small, sortable, hoverable DataTable. Click the Project or Updated header to toggle sort. Data is declared inline in the page — no fake API.

OwnerStage
Docs recipesPriya Pateldraft2026-04-23
Sketchbook landingAvery Chenshipped2026-04-21
Brutalist themeJordan Itoreview2026-04-20
Icon authoringMateo Silvareview2026-04-19
Token auditSasha Kimshipped2026-04-15
// columns declared once, reused across pages
<DataTable
  data={projectRows}
  columns={projectColumns}
  rowKey={(r) => r.id}
  defaultSort={{ columnId: 'updated', direction: 'desc' }}
  hoverable
/>

DataTable is a client component under the hood — importing it from this server page works because Next.js inserts the client boundary automatically.

Tabs panel

A three-panel Tabs group. Switch tabs with a click or the arrow keys; only the active panel is mounted.

A short summary of the project: goals, scope, and status at a glance.

<Tabs defaultValue="overview">
  <Tabs.List>
    <Tabs.Trigger value="overview">Overview</Tabs.Trigger>
    <Tabs.Trigger value="tokens">Tokens</Tabs.Trigger>
    <Tabs.Trigger value="changelog">Changelog</Tabs.Trigger>
  </Tabs.List>
  <Tabs.Panel value="overview">…</Tabs.Panel>
  /* more panels… */
</Tabs>

Modal is portal-rendered and always client-side, so the preview below shows the trigger plus a static rendering of the dialog shell. The live interactive version is on the components gallery — this recipe is the copy-paste wiring.

Delete project?

This removes the project and all of its themes. You cannot undo this.

// in a client component
const [open, setOpen] = useState(false);

<Button variant="primary" onClick={() => setOpen(true)}>
  Open dialog
</Button>

<Modal open={open} onClose={() => setOpen(false)}>
  <Modal.Header>Delete project?</Modal.Header>
  <Modal.Body>
    This removes the project and all of its themes.
  </Modal.Body>
  <Modal.Footer>
    <Button variant="ghost" onClick={() => setOpen(false)}>Cancel</Button>
    <Button variant="primary">Delete</Button>
  </Modal.Footer>
</Modal>

Modal accepts open and onClose — state lives in the parent client component. Keyboard focus is trapped while the dialog is open and returned on close.

Theme