Taylored Expressions Key Ingredients Kit: A New You Journal

Happy Monday everyone!  I hope y'all are having a wonderful holiday!  I can tell you we have been really busy getting our house ready to sell.  It has been such a blessing to have my husband home for this last week.

Have you seen the December Taylored Expressions Key Ingredients Kit?  It is absolutely gorgeous, and I have had the best time using up all of the goodies. One of my favorite things that I have made has been this New Year Journal.  I use journals for so many things, and I love to jazz them up.

Not only did I give my journal a make over on the outside, but I did on the inside as well.  I thought it would be fun to use the 'Bucket List' paper from the kit on the inside cover.

I also strategically placed the darling positive notes throughout the notebook for encouragement.  This journal will be wonderful for just about anything I choose to use it for.

I also used the Clip It On dies to make this great book clips for my journal.  They use a total of 4 sheets of cardstock, making them nice, thick, and durable.  The sentiments are from the Stamp of the Month called Going Places.  Aren't those fun?

My back cover uses some more of the awesome paper from the kit.  I have been so impressed with the different papers in this kit.  The only stamping I did on this project was on the clips :)

 Stamps:  Going Places SOTM

Ink:  Craft White, SU Concord Crush

Paper:  December 2013 TE KI Kit

Accessories:  ribbon from kit, TE Clip It On die, white embossing powder, journal

You only have a couple more days to order the kit, so if you're thinking about it you better get on it!  On January 1st a new kit will be revealed, so don't miss this opportunity.

Joyful Christmas

Hey there, friends!  I'm enjoying a bit of coffee with my man before we start the day ahead, and I thought I would share a Christmas project I made while I was on the Splitcoaststampers Dirty Dozen.  It uses a Saturated Canary image called Christmas Angel and the sentiment is from MFT.  I can tell you I had the best time coloring this :)  I hope you and yours have a very joyful Christmas!

Wishing You Peace

Hey there, friends!  I just wanted to share a bit more Christmas spirit!  I'll have a few more projects to share over the next couple of days before Christmas, and this is one of them.  I made it for my time on the Splitcoaststampers Dirty Dozen.  It was challenge to make a card and then make another with a bit extra.  I used Wreaths of Joy from Taylored Expressions with the matching Seasonal Wreath die.

Wishing Peace from my family to yours!

BeYOUtiful

One more week until Christmas break over here!  This is the first year in a long time, that we won't be going anywhere for Christmas or after Christmas.  To be honest, we are a little excited about being home.  Because we've been here for 9 years, which is almost unheard of, the kids really wanted to make this a traditional Christmas and stay home.  This is the longest we've ever lived somewhere, and for the rest of our time in the Army, it will be the longest.  Enough about that, you came for a card.

I made this card using the December Taylored Expressions Key Ingredients Kit along with the Stamp of the Month.  It's such a beautiful kit!  Along with those I also used a few other dies from TE:  Grass Border die and Clouds Border die.  As always the SOTM has a matching die, and this one is called Enjoy the Journey.  I made the road out of one of the beautiful pieces of ribbon that comes in the kit.  The saying is one of the many encouraging sentiments that comes in the paper pack!  This kit is filled to the brim with ideas.

 Stamps:  Going Places SOTM

Ink:  Craft White

Paper:  December 2013 TE Key Ingredients Kit

Accessories:  ribbon from kit, TE Enjoy the Ride die, TE Clouds Border die, TE Grass Border die, white embossing powder, foam tape

Here's a peek at the kit if you haven't seen it yet:

Thanks for stopping in today!

Deck the Halls with Paper Art

Hey all!  Once again, it's a busy day in our house with school, tennis, Civil Air Patrol, and more (hopefully crafting).  Before I got too far into the day, I wanted to show you a project that I made while I was on the Splitcoaststampers Dirty Dozen.  I truly had such a blast making this piece of art using the Taylored Expressions sets Peppermint Place from the Adorable Abodes collection and Banner Holidays, which coordinates with the Banner Day 1 die.

I just love how it turned out, and it's always fun to make something that you can display in your house or give away.  I think the coloring and assembling were my favorite parts of this project :)

Stamps:  Peppermint Place, Banner Holidays

Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black, SU Baja Breeze, Craft White

Paper:  Choice White, light blue

Accessories:  Copics, glitter, sponges, Swiss Dots embossing folder, bakers twine, foam tape, TE Banner Days 1 die, frame

Thanks for stopping in!

Taylored Expressions December Stamp of the Month Blog Hop

Good morning and welcome to the December Stamp of the Month Blog Hop for Taylored Expressions!  I hope you are getting super jazzed for the SOTM, like I always do.  The Baker's Dozen along with the Key Ingredients Team have some amazing things cooked up for you to see today.  You're sure to leave the hop feeling super inspired :)

This month's set is called Going Places and it's matching die is called Enjoy the Journey!  From the moment I laid eyes on this set, I fell in love.  Taylor always does such an amazing job of matching it all up!  The way this set and the dies go with the papers from the Key Ingredients Kit is totally swoon worthy ;)

 Stamps:  Going Places

Ink:  SU Pool Party, SU Concord Crush, Memento Tuxedo Black

Paper:  December 2013 TE KI Kit

Accessories:  ribbon from kit, Copics, TE Enjoy the Journey die, foam tape, Purple Viva Pearl Pen

Here is what the goodies inside the Key Ingredients Kit look like:

If you are new to the idea of the kits, you really need to check out the details and all of the BENEFITS on the Kits Page.  Not only that, but Taylor has a special Gallery for each month's kit and the SOTM :D

Be sure to make your way through all of the blogs in the hop, so that you don't miss a bit of SOTM inspiration!

Amy Crockett

Cassie Trask

Charmaine Ikach

Courtney Kelley

Jen Shults

Joan Ervin

Kerri Michaud

Monika Davis

Sankari Wegman

Shannon White

Shelly Mercado

Stephanie Kraft

Tracy Clemente

Wanda Guess

 Thanks for stopping in!

Trim the Tree

This is the first year in quite a while that I haven't had the time to make our Christmas cards, egads!!  I have made a few, but not near enough to send out to the masses.  With that being said, I've taken a bit more time on the ones I have made.  Like this one, for example, that I made using mostly dies and a paper kit.  Y'all know I love a good paper kit, and this one is currently on sale over at Taylored Expressions and it's called Bundled Up Project Pantry.  It's kind of hard to resist that price, isn't it?!

I had so much fun making this card :)  As I said, I obviously used mostly dies to make it.  I used the Shake it Up die from TE and the Trim the Tree die as well.  The sentiment comes from the Woodland Winter stamp set.  The blue snow was made with my airbrush, and I did quite a bit of sponging on my edges of the tree.  It turned out pretty fun I think :)

Stamps:  Woodland Winter

Ink:  Memento Espresso Truffle, Distress Vintage Photo

Paper:  Bundled Up Project Pantry Kit

Accessories:  ribbon from kit, TE Shake it Up die, TE Trim the Tree die, Tags Nesties, sponge, foam tape

Thanks for stopping in today.  I ordered a couple of goodies from the new TE release.  I'm hoping those come in today, so I can play!

December TE Key Ingredients Kit

Hey crafty peeps!  I'm finally recuperating from Thanksgiving and a couple of military functions, so I am here!  I'm so anxious to get into my craft room and make some goodies, hehe.  Giddy much?!  If you follow Taylor from Taylored Expressions, you know that tomorrow is a release day.  The Baker's Dozen has been showing off such cute projects that have totally wet my appetite for some new stamps.  This release is called Petite-a-palooza, which is always a favorite time of year.  You NEED to check it out, and even join Taylored Expressions on their Facebook page tonight to get the skinny.

I'm showing you the December Key Ingredients Kit today, which is available right now!  I made some wine huggers, which is what I like to call them.  This time of year, I'm always in need of a hostess thank you gift, and these little babies are perfect!  I used the gorgeous goodies in the December Kit along with the TE stamp set called Wine a Little along with the TE dies Bottled Up, and Wine & Dine.  These will find some good homes I promise :)

Stamps:  Wine a Little

Ink:  Craft White, SU Concord Crush, SU Barely Banana

Paper:  TE December Key Ingredients Kit

Accessories:  ribbon from kit, TE Bottled Up die, TE Wine & Dine die, white embossing powder, foam tape

Here's a pic of what the December Key Ingredients Kit come with:

Plus, Taylor has matching stamps called the Stamp of the Month that go perfectly with the kits.  Take a look at the kit options and the mounds of kit ideas in the Gallery!

TE: Happy Winter

It's beginning to feel a lot like winter around here. . .well, at least as far as winter goes down here in the South ;)  Next year around this time my family will be living up North, and possibly be experiencing some snow.  For my kids this will be their first real encounter with mass quantities of snow.  I grew up in the North, so a small part of me is dreading all the work that snow brings.  I've grown quite accustomed to the 50 degree days for our winter down here.

With winter here, I decided to make a winter themed card using the November Taylored Expressions Key Ingredients Kit.  This particular card uses the Woodland Winter stamp set along with the several Taylored Expressions die: Birch Tree Border Die, This Way to Smiles Die, and the new die Patio Party.  That little owl just brings a smile to my face with his little hat :)

 Stamps: Woodland Winter

Paper: Nov 2013 Key Ingredients 

Ink: Memento Espresso Truffle, Craft White

Accessories: ribbon from kit, Patio Party, Birch Tree Border die, This Way to Smiles die, Copics, sponge, white embossing powder

If you aren't familiar with Taylor's kits, you need to check out the Kits Page.  These would make great gifts for the crafter on your list.

Thanks for stopping in :)

Feel Better

Hey there!  Did you get a chance to hop with CardMaker and Taylored Expressions yet?  If not, you really need to scroll down, because there is a prize to be won ;)

We've been super busy in our house.  The kids are still working on school, but my husband took the week off.  That actually took some convincing on my part.  He hates to leave others to do his work, so getting him to take vacation when no one else is, is near impossible.  I think he became convinced when he saw how completely stressed out I have been about having to get our house ready to sell.  One of the things we've gotten done, has been transitioning our closet back into a closet from my 'craft cave'.  I'll show pics later this week :)

Onto my card. . .I made this because one of my uncles back home is very sick.  I haven't been able to get back to Nebraska in several years.  I love them dearly, and it's killing me not to be there.  I used the Paper Smooches stamp set called Healthy Vibes.  I really do love their whimsical stamps.  Who wouldn't feel better after seeing that darling bandaid?!  I also used one of the new dies from Taylored Expressions called Label Stacklets 7.

My card was also made using the Paper Smooches Sparks Challenge, which was a color challenge.  I went a bit darker with my blue, but stayed pretty true to the rest of the colors.  If you look closely, there are some light blue hearts on one of my papers, which was the first dp I picked out.  I just couldn't resist added the darker blue after I got started.  Sometimes you just move where the card spirits take ya ;)

Stamps:  Healthy Vibes

Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black

Paper:  Echo Park dp, Neenah Solar White

Accessories:  orange twill ribbon, TE Label Stacklets 7 die, Copic multiliner, foam tape

Thanks for stopping in.  I'll get some before and after pics taken of the closet and have more stampy goodness to show you later as well :)

TE - CardMaker SOTM Hop!

Hey there crafty peeps, and welcome to the Taylored Expressions - CardMaker Stamp of the Month (SOTM) Blog Hop!  You should have made your way here from Michelle Woerner's Blog.  If you didn't then you'll want to make your way back to the beginning of this hop, which is the Taylored Expressions blog, so you don't miss a bit of paper crafty goodness.  When you're done here, you'll want to follow the hop to Rosemary Dennis's Blog.

We have quite the combo for you today: CardMaker and Taylored Expressions are a good mix if you ask me ;)  It's an honor for me to be hopping amongst such company!  Taylored Expressions offers three different subscription choices, making it easy for every papercrafter to find the perfect fit: SOTM Subscription, Key Ingredients Kit Subscription, and the Deluxe Subscription.  The SOTM is an exclusive Stamp set that is only available through subscription.  The Key Ingredients Kit is a beautiful combination of coordinating patterned papers, cardstock, and ribbon.  The Deluxe Subscription is the combination of both the SOTM and the Key Ingredients Kit.  You can't go wrong!

My card uses a Deluxe Kit from the month of October.  The stamp set is called Instant Love and its matching die set is called Remember When.  Those gorgeous papers that I used are all a part of the kit that was available back in October, so it's a taste of how amazing the kits match.  Taylor does an awesome job of coordinating the stamp sets to the papers that are available for that month, so you always get a perfectly coordinated group of crafting supplies.  The only extra I added was some twine and a camera charm!

Stamps:  Instant Love
Ink:  Craft White, SU Cameo Coral, SU Bermuda Bay
Paper:  October TE KI Kit
Accessories:  ribbon from kit, TE Remember When die, twine, camera charm, white embossing powder, foam tape

**Giveaway Alert**

Taylored Expressions is giving away one stamp set from the Stamp of the Month Archives (plus its coordinating die) to one lucky winner! To enter, leave a comment on each participating designer's blog. Winner will be chosen at random from all comments. Comments close midnight PST on Friday, November 22, 2013.

Thanks for stopping in and commenting!  Here's the Blog list in case you get lost along the way:

Taylored Expressions Blog

Wanda Guess

Alice Golden

Jennifer Shults

Latisha Yoast

Tracy Clemente

Michelle Woerner

Cassie Trask

Rosemary Dennis

Amy Crocket

Stacy Morgan

Monika Davis

CardMaker Blog

Taylored Expressions November Stamp of the Month Blog Hop

Hey there my crafty little friends!  Welcome to the November Taylored Expressions Stamp of the Month Blog Hop!  Every month the Key Ingredients Team and the Baker's Dozen team up to bring you a ton of inspiration using the current Stamp of the Month.  This month the set is called In the Garden, and you are going to love what the teams have cooked up for you to see :)

Each month the SOTM is specifically designed to coordinate with the papers in the Key Ingredients Kit, and I have been blown away once again by how gorgeous they all look together!  I'm a 'matchy' person, in case you haven't read that on here before, so these kits are so perfectly for someone like me.  Not only that, but each month there is a coordinating die set that matches it all perfectly as well, and this month it is called Patio Party!

My card uses all the three: In the Garden SOTM, Patio Party die, November Key Ingredients Kit.  I also used the Banner Stacklets 2 dies on this card, which goes so perfectly with most any project.

 Stamps:  In the Garden SOTM

Ink:  SU Crushed Curry, SU Ruby Red, SU Pool Party, SU Handsome Hunter, Memento Espresso Truffle

Paper:  November 2013 TE KI Kit

Accessories:  ribbon from kit, TE Patio Party die, TE Banner Stacklets 2, foam tape, Espresso Liquid Pearls

If you aren't familiar with Taylor's kits, you'll want to be sure and check out the Kits page at the store to be sure and learn all of the options.  There are some amazing benefits to being a subscriber :)

 Check out with comes in the Key Ingredients Kit:

There is a lot more crafty, SOTM goodness to see, so be sure to check out the rest of the hop:

Amy Crockett

Carole Burrage

Cassie Trask (me)

Charmaine Ikach

Courtney Kelley

Jen Shults

Joan Ervin

Monika Davis

Kerri Michaud

Sankari Wegman

Shannon White

Shelly Mercado

Stephanie Kraft

Taylor VanBruggen

Tracy Clemente

Wanda Guess

Thanks for stopping in!

Taylored Expressions November Key Ingredients Kit

I'm not sure if you know this, but it is release day over at Taylored Expressions, and there is some  ah-mazing stuff that has just been released!  I'm salivating at the new stuff!  With all that going on, I wanted to show you the November Key Ingredients Kit, which is fabulous :)  The papers are beautiful, and I have had the best time using them to create all kinds of projects from fall, to everyday, to winter!

The first card I want to show you that I've made with the kit is an everyday card.  It uses the Life is a Circus stamp set.  I didn't go too crazy or fancy with this card, because the images really speak for themselves, but those papers were just screaming to be used with that set :D  I colored that darling lion, the tent, and the lion's stand with Copics.

 Stamps:  Life is a Circus

Ink:  Memento Espresso Truffle, Craft White

Paper:  November 2013 TE KI Kit

Accessories:  ribbon from kit, Copics, white embossing powder, foam tape

Check out what the Key Ingredients Kit comes with this month:

There are a ton of great benefits to be a subscriber to Taylor's kits and 3 different options for Kit subscription.  It's pretty much a guarantee that you won't be disappointed with any of the kits if you choose to sign up!

Christmas Tags

Hey there my crafty friends!  Check out all of those tags I made in preparation for Christmas!  That is in no way a reflection on the number of Christmas cards I have done, but I go as the spirit moves me ;)  I know it will hit me, and I crank out those Christmas cards like nobody's business.  Until then, I will create as I please.

All of these tags use products from Taylored Expressions, which just so happens to have a release going on tomorrow.  All of the papers from this tag project come from the Bundled Up Pantry Project Kit.  There is loads of paper and ribbon to complete so many Christmas cards, tags, you name it!  The images come from the Totally Tags line of stamps, and this set is called Totally Tags Holiday and uses the Totally Tags Dies.  The main body of the tags were made using the Label Stacklets 3 and Frame it Up 1 dies.  I topped it off with snowflakes made using the Make a Snowflake Die.

I really had so much fun creating and coloring these tags, and I'm excited to see how the recipients react to them.  My family sort of expects things like this from me, and I always think it's a sweet gesture when they want to keep them :)  I'm going to enter these in the Little Red Wagon Christmas Tags challenge!

Stamps:  Totally Tags Holiday

Ink:  Memento Espresso Truffle, SU Real Red, SU Handsome Hunter

Paper:  TE Bundled Up Project Pantry Kit

Accessories:  ribbon from kit, twine, buttons, Copics, Prismacolor Pencils, TE Label Stacklets 3 dies, TE Frame it Up 1 die, TE Totally Tags dies, TE Make a Snowflake Dies, circle punch

Thanks for stopping in today.  Be sure to come back tomorrow, because I'll be showing off the latest Taylored Expressions Key Ingredients Kit!