Taylored Expressions Stamp of the Month Blog Hop

Hey, crafty friends!  Welcome to the third day of the Taylored Expressions Subscription hop!  The first day the Key Ingredients team along with the Baker's Dozen showed you inspiration for the TE Deluxe Subscription Kit.  Yesterday we showed you inspiration for the Key Ingredients Kit, and today we are showing you inspiration featuring the Stamp of the Month kit.

The little owl in the SOTM set called Cute Hoot is just adorable to me.  My kids say I made him look a bit more like a penguin in my card, and that is quite possible.  Since I was shooting for a more manly card, I don't mind that our little hoot looks arctic.  He still looks adorable in those little blue specs.  Taylor also has a darling die called Curly Cute Hoot to match this adorable set.

Stamps:  Cute Hoot SOTM

Ink:  Distress Black Soot, Distress Faded Jeans, SU Real Red

Paper:  Choice Buttercream, OA Thrift Shop

Accessories:  TE Curly Cute Hoot die, wood veneer stars, Buttercream liquid Pearls, washi tape, green satin ribbon, foam tape, glassine bag 

Check out the SOTM

Be sure to hop along and see all of the wonderful inspiration using this darling set:

Amy Crockett

Carole Burrage

Cassie Trask (me)

Charmaine Ikach

Jen Shults

Kerri Michaud

Monika Davis

Sankari Wegman

Shannon White

Shelly Mercado

Stephanie Kraft

Tammie Edgerton

Taylor VanBruggen

Tracy Clemente

Wanda Guess

Taylored Expressions Key Ingredients Blog Hop

 

Hey, crafty friends!  Welcome to day 2 of Taylor's subscription hop.  Yesterday the Key Ingredients team along with the Baker's Dozen showed off some inspiration using the Deluxe Subscription Kit, and today we are showing some inspiration featuring the Key Ingredients Subscription Kit.

I've always had a love affair with the Key Ingredients Kit, because I love all things match-y in the papercrafting world.  It gives me calm when I don't feel like or have time to make things match on my own.  Taylor's kits are perfect for those souls like mine :)

I paired up that delicious kit with Taylor's Happy Heart stamp set and the Quatrefoil Cutting Plate.  I cut out part of the die by hand and fit my sentiment in there all nice and snug like they were born to be together.  I love that sentiment because I am always telling my kids and husband that exact thing.

Stamps:  Happy Heart

Ink:  SU Craft White

Paper:  July 13 Taylored Expressions KI Kit

Accessories:  ribbon from kit, TE Quatrefoil Cutting Plate, white embossing powder

Check out what you get in the Key Ingredients Kit:  lots of cardstock, a paper pad, and ribbon = bliss!

Check out what the rest of the TE KI team and the Baker's Dozen has to inspire you:

Amy Crockett

Carole Burrage

Cassie Trask (me)

Charmaine Ikach

Jen Shults

Kerri Michaud

Monika Davis

Sankari Wegman

Shannon White

Shelly Mercado

Stephanie Kraft

Tammie Edgerton

Taylor VanBruggen

Tracy Clemente

Wanda Guess

Taylored Expressions Deluxe Key Ingredients Kit Blog Hop

Hey there, crafty friends!  Have you been enjoying the new Taylored Expressions store?  I know I have been. . .I bought some new goodies during the unveiling, and I've been having fun with my new stash!  Speaking of new stuff, have you seen the July Key Ingredients Kit?  If not, you're in the right place to get hopping to get some inspiration.  For the next couple of days the Key Ingredients team and the Baker's Dozen have joined forces in a 3 day hop to show off the kit and the Stamp of the Month to really get your creative juices going.  Today's hop is featuring the Deluxe Subscription Kit.

I'm a big fan of big bold sold stamps, and this month's SOTM has some beautiful ones.  Check out that flower!  I stamped it twice and cut it out for dimension, by only cutting out and sponging the petals on the second one.  Then I used some foam tape to stack them up.  

The set is called Cute Hoot and can be purchased as a monthly Stamp of the Month Subscription, which is separate from the Key Ingredients Kit, or you can buy them both in the Monthly Deluxe Kit.  It's such a great combination because the set is made to match the papers in the KI Kit. . .genius :D  Each month, Taylor also designs a matching die set that can be purchased separately, and this month's die is called Curly Cute Hoot.

Stamps:  Cute Hoot

Ink:  SU Crushed Curry, SU Rose Red, SU Sage Shadow

Paper:  July 13 Key Ingredients Kit

Accessories:  ribbon from kit, TE Curly Cute Hoot die, TE Tags Stacklets 1 die, TE Ric Rac Borders die, sponge, foam tape, corner chomper, Buttercream liquid pearls

All of those bold bright colors in the kit are just fabulous.  Check out what come in the Deluxe Subscription Kit:

As I said before, the KI team has joined forces with the Baker's Dozen to showcase the awesomeness that the kits have, so be sure to check back over the next few days and get hopping!

Amy Crockett

Carole Burrage

Cassie Trask (me)

Charmaine Ikach

Jen Shults

Kerri Michaud

Monika Davis

Sankari Wegman

Shannon White

Shelly Mercado

Stephanie Kraft

Tammie Edgerton

Taylor VanBruggen

Tracy Clemente

Wanda Guess

Judge the day by the seeds you plant. . .

There is a celebration going on over at the Color Throwdown Challenge Blog!  They are celebrating 250 challenges, and that is definitely something to celebrate.  Over the course of the 250 challenges, I've participated in few here and there, and I've even been featured over at their lovely blog.  Their weekly color challenges are always a wonderful source of inspiration from the colors themselves to the super talented design team.

I went to a luncheon yesterday hosted by my husband's boss's wife, and needed a card to thank her for the lovely time we had.  I chose the colors for this week's CTD as my source of inspiration along with a Papertrey Ink set called Garden Variety II with matching dies.

The sentiment was a great choice considering how she mentored me yesterday.  

 Stamps:  Garden Variety II

Ink:  Memento Espresso Truffle, SU Melon Mambo, SU Bermuda Bay, SU So Saffron, SU Crumb Cake

Paper:  kraft, PTI Rustic Cream, SU Melon Mambo, SU So Saffron

Accessories:  Swiss Dots embossing folder, SU Bermuda Bay ribbon, foam tape, PTI Garden Variety II dies

Thanks for stopping in today!

Taylored Expressions: Share Joy Campaign

Welcome to the Taylored Expressions Share Joy Campaign Blog Hop!

The Share Joy campaign is an invitation to celebrate the joy of card making and to share that joy with others.  The gift of a handmade card can bring a smile to anyone’s face, and we want to bring as many smiles as we can to the faces of people around the world!  Please join us in creating and sending handmade cards that will make a difference in the lives of others. 

 

This is just the beginning and we will be donating the cards to various charities as time goes on!  We are going to kick off the campaign by sending this first batch of cards to hospital chaplains throughout the U.S.  

**You don't have to use TE stamps on your cards, unless you want to be considered for the opportunity to have your card featured on the TE Store homepage.**

Head to the TE Share Joy Page for all of the details!

For my card, I chose to use the In the Word set by TE.  The set itself blankets so many occasions in my opinion, and this particular verse is pretty awesome to me.  As you know if you've received a handmade card, it can make a day.  Verses, to me, are little reminders from God that all is well.  I often feel like I'm blessing someone when I make a card, but I'm pretty sure that I am the one that is the most blessed.  I find such joy in creating them, and it's my little time to take a breather.  I turn on some Christian music and the creative mojo flows while I sit in my Craft Cave, a.k.a my closet ;)

Stamps:  In the Word

Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black, SU Baja Breeze, SU Summer Sun, SU Bravo Burgundy, cream, Distress Vintage Photo

Paper:  PTI Rustic Cream, EP dp

Accessories:  TE Tag Stacklets 1 dies, waves die, sponge, black liquid pearls

 

Why not join us in sharing some joy!

 

Check out the rest of the what the TE crew has made to share a little joy for the new TE campaign:

Carole Burrage

Cassie Trask (me)

Charmaine Ikach

Courtney Kelley

Danielle Lounds

Jami Sibley

Jen Shults

Joan Ervin

Kerri Michaud

Lori Craig

Melody Rupple

Monika Davis

Rachel Sztonyk

Sankari Wegman

Shannon White

Shelly Mercado

Stephanie Kraft

Tammie Edgerton

Taylor VanBruggen 

Tracy Clemente

Wanda Guess

Taylored Expressions has a new Look!

Hey everyone!  Have you heard?  Taylored Expressions has a brand new look to the store, and in celebration they are giving a free set called Summer Love to all orders (while supplies last) over $20 before shipping, handling, and tax.  Pretty sweet deal, huh?  Not only that but they are giving away 10 $25 gift cards to random people just for creating an account at the store :D

I don't have a card to show off the exclusive free set, but I do have a card that I made for submission to Designed to Color back in December.  It was accepted, I shipped it off, and then they closed their doors.  Booo!  So my card didn't get to see the light of day or even make a recipient smile.  For that reason, I'm showing it here.  It uses the set called Up a Tree.

I made it so long ago that I can't tell you all that I used on it, but I hope you enjoy it anyway.  Now, go create an account over at Taylored Expressions so you can throw your name in the hat to win a prize!

Happy Independence Day!

Happy Independence Day, America!  Golly I love my country and all that it stands for.  I pray that we always strive to be better and keep freedom strong.  I am so grateful for all that this country has afforded me, and I'm grateful to the men and women who serve in our military to keep freedom alive.  

I guess that sums up my card. . .Grateful.  I'm so grateful to live here.  We won't be doing anything super special, because it is raining here and will most likely be raining all day.  However, my husband is home from work today and having had him gone for several Independence days due to deployments or field time, we are just happy to have him home.

I'm entering my card into the Simon Says Patriotic challenge.  My card uses paper from My Mind's Eye, some wood veneer stars that I bought from Simon Says Stamps, and my Papertrey Ink Counting My Blessings Dies

Thanks for stopping in today!  If you are celebrating today, be safe :)

Mojo 300 with Simon Says

Hello crafty friends!  I have noticed a trend this summer. . .not sure if you have, but a lot of those that I follow aren't posting as regularly.  That includes me, and I blame summer ;)  I've discovered a new love!  It's not one that would replace my love of cardmaking, but one that gets me outside and super active.  I am head over heels in love with tennis.  I took a 101 class back at the end of May, and now I'm hooked.  As soon as 101 was over I signed up for 102 and talked my husband into taking 101.  He was reluctant, but he's just as hooked as I am.  We both joined a mixed team and I joined a ladies combo team as well.  It has been such good exercise!  My only regret is that I didn't start playing sooner.

With all that said, I do have a card to show you that I made just for fun following the Mojo Monday sketch challenge.  I used a Simon Says stamp set called Cupcake Party along with this month's kit paper from Lily Bee.  That cupcake is a ton of fun to stamp.

It's so sunny outside that my card is a bit bright, lol.  I've been making stuff, but I will be showing that all later.  Hopefully I'll get more stamping time today :)

Stamps:  Cupcake Party

Paper:  Lily Bee Sweet Shop, white & blue cs

Ink:  SU Pool Party, SU Summer Sun, SU Pretty in Pink, SU Real Red, SU Lucky Limeade, Memento Tuxedo Black

Accessories:  foam tape, Circle Nestabilities, white floss

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!