March TE Key Ingredients

Have you seen the Taylored Expressions March Key Ingredients Kit, or the March Stamp of the Month, or perhaps the Deluxe Subscription?  I have to say, I think these papers and that stamp set are a stunning way to make a debut.  I have had so much fun playing around with both.

The flowers in the set gave me a folksy feel when I stamped them on one of the Label Stacklets 3 dies.  The medallion was stamped onto some of the dp and then I used my Circle Nestabilities to cut them out.  You may not be able to tell, but I tried to use the rock n' roll technique on my flowers.  This is where you ink your image on a lighter color and then ink the edges of that image on a darker ink.  All of my edges were distressed using a brown ink.

Here is what the stamp of the month looks like:

There is also a matching die set that can be purchased separately.  Check out the different kits available and be sure to check out the gallery for more inspiration!

Just a Note

I've been a bit busy lately, which is why I haven't posted as much as I normally do.  Most of you probably haven't noticed, because I'm sure you are busy with life too.  I did have some time over the weekend to play a bit in my 'craft cave'.  I made a card using the sketch from the Retro Sketches.  I absolutely LOVE those sketches, and when I can play those are the ones I'm drawn to.  

I pulled out my Vintage Dreamer set from Taylored Expressions along with this gorgeous Studio Calico paper.  I think I'm in love with the prima flowers too. . .even if I am a few years too late on that trend, they are still gorgeous.

 Stamps:  Vintage Dreamer

Ink:  PTI Ocean Tides, SU Pumpkin Pie

Paper:  kraft, PTI Rustic White, Studio Calico Everyday dp

Accessories:  cream twine, prima roses, foam tape

And here is why I've been busy:

Those two amazing kids have had me running with their Little League commitments and other school functions.  I'm so proud of them and their accomplishments as young people, athletes, and young academics.  My daughter took first place in her age for the Spelling Bee in our area this year.  My son had an amazing last game. . .a 3 run home run, a triple, and a single, plus a few amazing defensive plays.  Our daily devotions are my favorite part of the school day as I watch them grow in their faith.  Plus, they have been impressing me with their daily school work as well.  Most days I just can't believe how blessed I am to be their mom and their educator.  God is good.

I just thought you might like to see the beautiful faces that have taken a chunk of my time, and I wouldn't have it any other way ;)

Clearly Inspired Challenge #71 -- Anything Goes

I can't believe that it's Friday, and that this is it until after the summer for the Clearly Inspired Challenges.  They want to go out with a bang, so the challenge is Anything Goes.  That is easy enough, right?!  I used the featured digital image called Little Octopus from Clearly Digital Stamps for my card.

The 'water' was made with a clear envelope that housed a stamp set.  I just cut it apart and used a mostly dried out (booo) blue Stazon ink pad to make the marks on it.

Images:  Little Octopus

Ink:  Blue Stazon

Paper:  Neenah Solar White, Lawn Fawn dp

Accessories:  Copics, Lawn Fawn stickers, oval punch, acetate sheet

Thanks for stopping in!

I have a Winner!

The winner from the Clearly iStamp Sunday Blog Hop is:

Natalie from Delightful Details

Thanks, everyone, for hopping along with me!  See you next month :D

Spring Cleaning -- CDS Blog Hop

Happy Sunday, crafty friends!  It's time for the monthly blog hop for Clearly Digital Stamps!  You should have made your way here from Jennipher's blog, but if not head back to the beginning from Clearly iStamp.  A couple of months ago we changed things up as far as the prize goes, so you will want to make sure and comment on every participants blog for a chance to win.

Each month we are given a theme to follow and this month the theme is Spring Cleaning.  We were to use something from our stash.  Believe it or not the image I used was from my stash.  It's an older set, and I like to print out my digitals to have on hand.  I even color some up to have on hand.  This image from the digital set called I Love You Beecause happened to be sitting in my stash just itching to be used ;)

Images:  I Love You Beecause

Paper:  pink cardstock, Lawn Fawn dp, Neenah Solar White

Accessories:  brown bag, paper clip, green twill, Lawn Fawn stickers, Copics

Would you like to win this set?  Make sure you leave me a comment to throw your name in the hat, and I will pick out a winner by Thursday!  Now that you're done here, continue on with the rest of the hop by heading to Sarah's blog!

CDS Release Day!

It's Release Day over at Clearly Digital Stamps!  There are lots of wonderful sets and inspiration for you to see, and I have a couple of fabulous samples to show you!

The first sample is from a set called Cool Cameras.  Don't you just love that little image?!  I decided to make a little notecard from the image by putting a card base on the back of my colored image.  It makes a good note for just about any occasion.

 Image:  Cool Cameras

Paper:  Neenah Solar White

Accessories:  Copics

My next sample uses the new Spring Trimmings set.  I used just one of the images and sentiments, but this set has plenty of great images to use.  You won't believe all that is included!  Now I have a fun winter card for next year. . .I feel so ahead of the game ;)

Images:  Spring Trimmings

Paper:  turquoise, Neenah Solar White

Accessories:  washi tape, Copics, Flamingo Liquid Pearls, Icicle Stickles

Thanks for stopping by today!  Be sure to check out Clearly iStamp for full displays of the sets and the rest of the DT (links in my sidebar) so you don't miss a bit of inspiration!

More TE KI Kit Inspiration

If you've stopped by my blog at all lately, you saw that Taylored Expressions has made a few amazing changes to their already awesome Key Ingredients Kits.  You still have a bit of time to enter for a chance to win the Deluxe Kit by commenting on the Blog Hop, so scroll down so you don't miss it!

I have another card showing off the wonderfulness of the Key Ingredients Kit.  Taylor always does such an amazing job picking out papers and matching cardstock and ribbons.  There is so much potential creativity in one kit.  

I used my kit along with the In the Word set, the Large Layering Doily Die, Silhouette Stems 2, and the  Mark Your Spot Bookmark Die.  I have to say that making this card was a lot of fun.  I cut the bookmark smaller than the actual die, and used some inks mixed with waters to create my background. That set is just so fantastic, that it really doesn't require a whole lot but I couldn't stop there.  I had to add the Silhouette Stem all around it.

Stamps:  In the Word

Ink:  Espresso Truffle, SU Crushed Curry

Paper:  March 13 TE KI Kit

Accessories:  ribbon from kit, TE Mark Your Spot Bookmark Die, TE Large Layering Doily Die, TE Silhouette Stems 2 Die, foam tape

Here is a peek at the gorgeousness of this month's TE Key Ingredients Kit:

If you like that, then you'll love the idea of the Stamp of the Month Subscription or even the Deluxe Subscription (which comes with some fantastic benefits).  Be sure to check them out and all of the inspiration in the TE KI Gallery.

Thanks for stopping by!

TE Stamp of the Month & Deluxe Kit

I am so excited about today's post, which happens to be a hop for the new Stamp of the Month from Taylored Expressions!

Many of you know that Taylored Expressions offers a Key Ingredients Club as a subscription.  That kit includes a 6x6 paper pad, 12 sheets of cardstock, and 5 yards of ribbon all packaged together in a clear storage case. 

Another option that Taylored Expressions is now offering and that I am super stoked to tell you about is the Stamp of the Month Club.  It will be a new exclusive stamp set that will ship directly to you!  The neat thing about the set is that it will coordinate with patterned papers in the Key Ingredients Kit, which brings us to our next kit option.

The Deluxe Key Ingredients Kit is the best deal of all!  This will include a subscription to both the Key Ingredients and the Stamp of the Month at a discounted price.  PLUS you'll get a 10% discount to the TE store ALL MONTH LONG!  How's that for ya?!

Here's a little something I made with the kit and the SOTM:

Stamps:  Make it Memorable SOTM

Ink:  light & dark yellow (rock 'n roll technique), lime green, razzleberry purple, Memento Espresso Truffle

Paper:  March 2013 TE KI Kit

Accessories:  ribbon from kit, white translucent paint dauber (for the background stamping), foam tape, purple Viva Pearl Pen

I have always loved the idea of coordinating papers and stamp sets.  Life gets so busy sometimes, and so for me having everything that matches takes the guess work out of it without taking away any of my creativity.  Here is what the SOTM looks like:

Cute, huh?  Taylor will also be offering a matching die to be sold separately, and I can't wait to get my hot little hands on that.

Okay, now that I've wet your appetite for some matching goodness, how about a chance at a prize?!

**Prize Alert**

We're giving away a March Deluxe Key Ingredients to one lucky winner! The winner will be chosen at random from all of the comments left on our blogs between now and Thursday evening at 9pm PST. The more comments you leave the better chance you have of winning! The winner will be announced on Taylor's Blog on Friday, March 15th. What are you waiting for? Hop along to check out the rest of the fabulous inspiration and leave your comments.

Amy Crockett
Cassie Trask 
Charmaine Ikach 
Debbie Carriere
 Jen Shults 
Kerri Michaud 
Monika Davis
 Regina Mangum 
Shannon White 
Shelly Mercado 
Stephanie Kraft 
Tammie Edgerton 
Taylor VanBruggen
 Tracy Clemente

CIC70 -- Die Cuts

Hey there!  I know I haven't posted in a bit, but it has been crazy around here doing some solo parenting while the hubs in enjoying an international business trip.  I do have a card to show that I made for the Clearly Inspired Challenge over at Clearly iStamp.  The challenge is die cuts. . .easy, peasy!  I use two Circle Nestabilities for my darling octopus image from the featured set called Little Octopus.

Images:  Little Octopus

Paper:  BG Sweet Threads, kiwi cardstock, Neenah Solar White

Accessories:  Copics & airbrush, oval punch, Circle Nestabilities, ribbon, Kiwi Viva Pearl Pen

Copics:  BG10, BG13, RV52, RV55, BV02, BV09

All right come play along, because I know you've got some die cuts around your craft space ;)

Anything Goes

My babies are back from their mission trip, and my house is filled with their sounds again, so this mother is content.  I did have a productive time while they were away, but I'm certainly happy to have them home.  I didin't even mind doing all of the bags of wet laundry ;)

I have an 'anything goes' card to show you for the Simon Says Stamp Challenge.  I used my Simon Says March Card Kit that has the Flower Friend stamp set in it.  I don't have a lot of Distress Inks, but I wanted to try to do a background with dye inks anyway.  I may have to invest in some more Distress Inks.  Plus, I did this background on something other than watercolor paper, but I think it still looks all right.

Stamps:  Flower Friend

Ink:  SU Bermuda Bay, SU So Saffron, SU Old Olive, SU Craft White, Black Soot Distress Ink

Paper:  SS March 13 Card Kit

Accessories:  washi tap & clip from kit, white embossing powder, foam tape

Thanks for stopping in today.  It's a busy week since I am doing this parenting thing solo, but we've done that before many, many times.  I just have to find my groove :)

Sending Hugs

Do you hear that?  Shhhhhh. . .hear it?  No?  That's the sound of silence.  I had the house completely to myself last night and today.  My husband is on an international business trip and the kids are on a mission weekend.  Don't misunderstand me, I miss them all terribly, but this has never happened before.    I'm not going to say that I could get used to it, because I do like the sounds of my sweet babies in the house, but it was nice for a day.  I look forward to my little ones (that aren't so little) being home.

What did I do with everyone gone, you ask?  Well, I stamped and it was pure bliss.  

One of the things I made was this sympathy card using my new Card Kit from Simon Says.  It's a good kit.  I'm not super fond of the papers, but the set is darling, and the embellishments are right up my alley.  It came with washi tape, and I'm sure we're all in love with that stuff right now.

That little glassine bag came in the kit, and now I want more, hehe.  I guess that's the purpose, right. . .make me want more ;)

Most of the rest of the stuff I made was for a few obligations, so you can't see that yet.  Thanks for stopping in.  I'll enjoy my evening watching movies, stamping, and whatever else I want to do.  I'm sure I'll be bored with this silence very soon ;)