Thanks, Coach

Summer has us so busy, as I'm sure you are too.  Because of that, I'm not posting nearly as much as I wish I was.  We've been running from sports camp to sports camp, to All Star Softball practice, to tennis matches. . .oye!  One thing is for sure, I think I've lost some inches with all of the hustle and bustle.

This card was made for one of my daughter's softball coaches using the June Taylored Expressions Key Ingredients Kit along with the New Beginnings stamp set by TE.  While they didn't have a winning season, they did have a learning season, and I thought this saying was a great way to say thanks.  

Stamps:  New Beginnings

Ink:  Craft White, SU Bermuda Bay, SU Regal Rose, SU Lucky Limeade

Paper:  June 2013 TE KI Kit

Accessories:  ribbon from kit, doily, sponges, TE Label Stacklets 3 die, Mini Leaves die, foam tape

This kit is just gorgeous.  I added the doily, but all of the papers and the ribbon are from the kit, and those kits are such a great value.  Check out the options for the June Kit HERE, and then check out the gallery for this kit HERE.

I need to run and grab some kids from camp. . .never a dull moment around here in the summers!

TE Key Ingredients -- New Baby

The weekend got away from me, and believe it or not I had actually made this card for a particular challenge (although I can't remember which one now!).  Our weekend got away, because we spent it at the beach with some great friends.  We didn't plan it, and we only went down early Saturday morning and came back last night.  Quick, but super fun!

I made this card for Taylor of Taylored Expressions.  I'm not sure if you heard, but she is having another little girl :D  Using the June TE Key Ingredients Kit was an easy choice, because the little butterflies were perfect. . .those papers are super divine.  I've used the kit so much that my papers are just about gone.  That stamps I used are from the Welcome Little One set. . .which just happens to be on sale!!

If you're not a subscriber there are 3 options that you should check out HERE.  Plus, you can get lots of inspiration from the Gallery, so you'll never run out of ideas for using your kit :)

Stamps:  Welcome Little One

Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black

Paper:  June 13 TE KI Kit

Accessories:  distressor, TE Medium Layering Doily Die, Copics, Petal Pink Liquid Pearls

Overlapping Ombre

I tried something a bit different today, and I'm diggin' the results.  Over at the Papertrey Ink blog for Make it Monday, they are challenging us to make an overlapping ombre card using images.  I love all of the samples they have and everyone's cards so far.  I used the Watercolor Wonder set and the Simply You set.  Both are great sets.

If you've never tried the overlapping ombre technique before, you should give it a try.  It is definitely one I'll be using again.

Stamps:  Watercolor Wonder & Simply You

Ink:  SU Real Red, SU Regal Rose, SU Pretty in Pink, SU Pink Pirouette, Craft White, Memento Tuxedo Black, SU Crumb Cake, SU Soft Suede

Paper:  PTI Rustic Cream, black, MME Kraft Funday

Accessories:  white embossing powder, black buttons, paper piercer, sponges

I better get running.  I have a lot to do in a short amount of time today, but I hope to have more to show you tomorrow.  Thanks for stopping in!

Taylored Expressions SOTM & Key Ingredients Hop

Hey there crafty hoppers!  Are you joining us for June Taylored Expressions Stamp of the Month and Key Ingredients Blog Hop?!  I hope so, because there is lots to see!  As you all know, if you've spent any time around my blog, I'm a long time fan of the Key Ingredients Kits that Taylor offers.  She started offering the Stamp of the Month only a few months ago, and I've been over the moon for each one each month!  She even offers a matching die!  Eeps!  For someone like me who likes everything to match, it's just match-y heaven!

Check it out:

This month's set is called You Make Me Happy, and the matching die is called Rainy Days.  I love how beautifully it all goes with the Key Ingredients Kit. . .gorgeous!

If you're new to the Key Ingredients, you'll want to check out the Subscriptions page for the three options.  If you're already a subscriber, just grab a cup o' joe and enjoy the SOTM & KI inspirations :)

Stamps:  You Make Me Happy

Paper:  June 2013 TE KI Kit

Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black

Accessories:  ribbon from kit, TE Rainy Days Die, foam tape, T7 Copic marker, Petal Pink Liquid Pearls

You're not done yet!  You'll want to be sure and check out the rest of the fabulous designers for more TE KI inspiration:

Amy Crockett

Cassie Trask (me)

Carole Burrage

Charmaine Ikach

Debbie Carriere

Monika Davis

Regina Mangum

Sankari Wegman

Shannon White

Shelly Mercado

Stephanie Kraft

Tracy Clemente

Taylor VanBruggen

Once you're done hopping, you should check out the TE Gallery for even more fabulous KI & SOTM ideas :D

Vellum Roses

Well folks, it's raining because of the Tropical storm that went through Florida, and I'm a bit bummed right now.  I'm not bummed because of the rain, even though that does put a damper on my running plans and possibly my tennis plans this evening.  I'm bummed because our AC is out.  Even though we had them fix a small problem the other day, and by small I mean $400, that didn't fix the big problem.  We have a choice to make.  The unit is roughly 10 years old and the free-on is going obsolete and there is a leak.  To fix it could run between $1000 to fix the coil, or much more to replace the unit.  So I may be crafting this afternoon to replace the blah feeling that I'm feeling right now.

Okay, enough yuck.  I did make a card using some vellum, and I am just loving the results.  I embossed the images in white and then colored the back with Copics.  What a pretty look, don't you think?  The trick with vellum is that attaching it with tape shows through.  I know they make specific adhesive for vellum, but I don't have any.  Do you see the white strips of paper?  I put that over the top to cover the one strip of adhesive that I used to attach my vellum.  It works, and I think it looks fairly pretty.

Stamps:  Best Mom Ever from Simon Says Stamp

Ink:  Craft White

Paper:  vellum, Neenah Solar White, designer paper

Accessories:  white embossing powder, Elle's Custom cutouts, Copics

Thanks for stopping in today.  I didn't make this for anything in particular. . .I just made it.  Sometimes that is the most fun :)

Mojo Monday

Hey stampy friends!  I have a quick post today to share a card I made for the Mojo Monday challenge.  It uses some Papertrey Ink products that were available only last year.  I honestly can't find them on the website, so I'm going to assume that they are no longer available.  Sorry about that.  I used a paper kit from Simon Says that was available just a few months ago.

I'm just trying to use what I have, and that's a good feeling :)

We may be doing some dissection today. . .I'm not sure if I have one of the two convinced quite yet.  The other is super excited, because she wants to be a vet.  My oldest is completely disgusted by the idea, haha.  For a little summer dissection fun you can check out Home Science Tools to pick up a kit.  I think the price was pretty reasonable for what we got :)

June Taylored Expressions Key Ingredients

June?!  Yes, June, ladies & gents!  It is now officially June and it is time for a new Taylored Expressions Key Ingredients Kit!  I'm kinda in luuurve with this one (I know, I know. . .I say that every month).  However, I really am.  The colors and papers are just perfect!  The kit all coordinates and comes with a 6" x 6" pad of Simple Stories Vintage Bliss. . .and it really is some bliss!

I saw Jen's Deconstructed Sketch, and really wanted to play along.  I grabbed my Fruity Friends set from TE, and got inky.  It's been super busy with end of the school year parties, work promotion parties, military stuff, and so on, so I haven't gotten as inky as I have wanted to.  I plan on getting pretty inking in the next couple of weeks, believe me!

Stamps:  Fruity Friends

Paper:  June 2013 TE KI Kit

Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black, SU Regal Rose, SU Bermuda Bay, Distress Peeled Paint

Accessories:  ribbon from kit, TE Labels Stacklets 3, sponge, Copics, foam tape, cream twine

If you haven't checked out the Taylored Expressions Key Ingredients Kits, head on over the Subscriptions page to check out the three options!  When you're done there, you can check out the Key Ingredients Galleries for tons of inspiration that gets added to throughout the month :D  It's a win/win peeps!

Now I need to get ready for some end of the year baseball/softball parties. . .fun in the sun on the lake!