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!

Wordless Wednesday

Hey there crafty peeps!  I don't have anything super special to share with you today, I just wanted to make a card.  We've had some transitions happening around here, and so crafting was halted a bit.  We're in the process of shifting my 'craft cave' to another part of the house, but I need to do some painting on the walls in those places before the shifting is complete.  With that being said, I'm waiting on my husband to have a bit of time off.  I did get in there, in the midst of the mess and chaos, and made this wordless beauty.  I just luuurve that Life is Sweet set from Papertrey Ink.

I'm entering my pretty roses in the Simon Says 'Anything Goes' challenge.

Stamps:  Life is Sweet

Ink:  SU Melon Mambo, SU Lucky Limeade

Paper:  PTI white, blue

Accessories:  Gold Viva Pearl Pen, TE Label Stacklets 3 die, foam tape, corner chomper

Thanks for stopping in to check on me :)

October Taylored Expressions Key Ingredients

Hey everyone!  It's been a few since I posted, but that is not from a lack of creating.  We are in the process of moving things around in the house getting prepped for a big move next year.  We have to make this place presentable, and I've been informed that a 'craft cave' out of my closet may not be the most appealing to potential buyers.  I say, those probably aren't the people I want to buy this home anyway ;)  Needless to say we're busy, like everyone else but I assure you I am creating. 

I'm showing you another card using the latest Taylored Expressions Key Ingredients Kit!  I decided with Christmas around the corner, yes right. . .around. . .the corner, I should use the kit to make a Christmas card.  Nontraditional Christmas colors have always been my favorite, so pinks and teals, yes please!  I used the Winter Wonderland set along with the Winter Wonderland Snowflakes die and the Instant Photo Frames die too.

 Stamps:  Winter Wonderland

Ink:  craft white, SU Rich Razzleberry

Paper:  October 2013 TE KI Kit

Accessories:  ribbon from kit, TE Winter Wonderland Snowflakes die, TE Instant Photo Frames die, white embossing powder, white Sharpie, foam tape

If you haven't seen it yet, here's what the Kit looks like:

Pretty awesome stuff, huh?!  There are only a few more days that it will be available, so you may just want to get over to the Taylored Expressions store and order yourself one.  Think of all of the possibilities!

Taylored Expressions Key Ingredients Kit

Happy Monday!  Today is another beautiful blessing from God filled with lots to do, however, I don't think I'm going to get around to doing much more than laundry.  We have sick one in our house, and that always breaks my heart.  Both her and I are a bit tired from being up all night.  School pictures were supposed to happen today, but that probably won't now.  Send prayers for healing if you think of it :)

Onto my card, which uses the October Taylored Expressions Key Ingredients Kit.  Those papers are so rich a beautiful and come from Webster's Pages Recorded line.  I scrunched up my ribbon over the Banner Stacklets 2 die and used the Let's Chat stamp set from TE along with the matching Let's Chat die.

 Stamps:  Let's Chat

Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black

Paper:  October 13 TE KI Kit

Accessories:  ribbon from kit, TE Let's Chat die, TE Banner Stacklets 2 die, Circle Nestabilities, Copics, foam tape

As you can see the kit is pretty awesome (as always):

If you've never heard of the kits, you really need to check out all of the benefits that the kits have to offer along with the 3 different kit options.  Not only that, but there is a Gallery filled with inspiration, so you'll never run out of ideas for the kits!

Thanks for stopping in. . .I need to tend to poor little sick one :(

Another HYCCT Card

This is as caught up as I am for the Hope You Can Cling To challenges going on over at Splitcoaststampers.  I was hoping to have a few more, but yesterday was filled with tennis and friends.  Today will be quite the same :)

Today's card was for Sabrina's 'Cover-Up' challenge, which was to create a card with a hidden message on the front.  What a fun challenge!  My card has an opening flap and uses a couple of Paper Smooches stamps; Chubby Chums & Word Salad.

Don't look too closely at the sentiment, because it's just a tad messed up :/  I did, however, think that the sentiments I chose go perfectly with the images.  Who wouldn't love a duck with red glasses?!

Stamps:  Chubby Chums, Word Salad

Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black, Rocket Red Brilliance, SU Baja Breeze

Paper:  Choice White, random dp, SU pink note card

Accessories:  Copics, TE Quatrefoil Cutting Plate, foam tape, blue half pearls

Thanks for stopping in, and have a very blessed Sunday!

2 Cards for HYCCT

I have two more cards to show for Hope You Can Cling To, the challenges going on over at Splitcoastampers!  I am now a few cards behind, because of school and this being a four day weekend for my husband.  Monday I'm hoping to get a bit more caught up :)

My first card is for Misti's the Many Colors of Cancer challenge.  I chose to use the color Lilac, which is for all cancers.  I'm blessed that cancer does not run in our family, but we have had way too many friends affected by this horrific disease.  For that reason, I chose lilac to symbolize all of them.  This card uses a Simon Says Stamp called Very Special along with a Simon Says Stencil called Moroccan Stencil.

 Stamps:  Very Special

Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black, SU Wisteria Wonder

Paper:  Choice White

Accessories:  Moroccan Stencil, sponge, purple half pearls

My other card for today is for Lori's Peaceful Leaves challenge.  It uses a couple of Papertrey Ink stamps called Friendship Jar and Friendship Jar Fall Fillers, along with the August 2013 Taylored Expressions Key Ingredients Kit.

Stamps:  Friendship Jar, Friendship Jar Fall Fillers

Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black

Paper:  Aug. 13 TE KI Kit

Accessories:  ribbon from kit, Friendship Jar die, Jar Toppers die, foam tape, Copics

I need to run.  We have a couple of my son's friends over for breakfast this morning, and teenage boys equals food :)

4 New Cards for Hope You Can Cling To

I'm almost entirely caught up with the Hope You Can Cling To challenges going on over at Splitcoaststampers.  If you're new to HYCCT, you really need to check it out.  It's an amazing opportunity to use the talents that God has given you to benefit others!

The first card I'm showing you is for Lydia's first challenge to us, which was to create an card with a dimensional image on the inside that can be seen from the outside.  I used the new October Stamp of the Month from Taylored Expressions along with the Key Ingredients Kit, to make a retro card.  I loved mixed tapes as a kid, and creating them was so super fun.

 Stamps:  Instant Love

Ink:  SU Cameo Coral, Memento Tuxedo Black

Paper:  October 2013 TE KI Kit

Accessories:  ribbon from kit, cream twine, TE Remember When die, TE Ric Rac Border die, TE Label Stacklets 3 die, Tape Deck Charms, Copics, Tags Nestabilities, foam tape

My second card is for Jeanne's challenge to make a card to put a smile on someone's face.  That chicken from the Paper Smooches set called Green Acres puts a smile on my face, hehe.  The background paper was made with some Distress Tumbled Glass ink and some water misters.  I finished that off with some gold powders in a water mister too.

 Stamps:  Green Acres

Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black, Distress Tumbled Glass

Paper:  kraft, Choice White, watercolor

Accessories:  copics, water misters, foam tape, orange ribbon

My third card was made for Bridget's PINKterest challenge, to create a card from one of the Pinterest pictures she posted as inspiration.  I chose one that had beautiful oil paints in these colors painted in blocks of color.  I used a couple of Papertrey Ink sets called Signature Greetings II and Happy Harlequin.

 Stamps:  Signature Greetings II, Happy Harlequin

Ink:  SU Rich Razzleberry, SU Pale Plum, SU Pink Pirouette, SU Melon Mambo, SU Pretty ink Pink, SU Crushed Curry, Memento Tuxedo Black

Paper:  PTI Rustic White

My final card for the day is for Lee's Pink Camo challenge.  I used 2 Paper Smooches stamp sets called Circle of Honor and Good Gab.  I went pretty simple on it, although I wanted to be more creative.

Stamps:  Circle of Honor, Good Gab

Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black

Paper:  SU Kaliedoscope dp, Choice White

Accessories:  Copics, foam tape

I have more, but I'm going to pace myself on posting them.  I really do hope that you'll join me and many others in the challenges over at Splitcoaststampers!

Taylored Expressions Stamp of the Month Blog Hop

Hey there my crafty friends!  Welcome to the monthly Taylored Expressions Stamp of the Month Blog Hop!  If you stumbled over here, cool!  If not, I hope you're enjoying the hop.  Grab some coffee and enjoy the inspiration that is being brought to you by the Taylored Expressions Baker's Dozen and Key Ingredients Teams :)

October's Stamp of the Month (SOTM) is called Instant Love and it's matching die set that is sold separately is called Remember When.  Both are simply awesome, and I know I'll be using them over and over again, because I just love how retro they are!

Taylor offers 3 different Kit options, so there is something for everyone:  The Stamp of the Month, for those that just want stamps, The Key Ingredients Kit, for those that want just want papers and ribbon that match, and The Deluxe Key Ingredients Kit, for those that want all the matchy goodness and the best deal out there!

For my card I used both the kit and the SOTM.  I'm a freak for things that match, and Taylor's kits take all of the guess work out of it.  My image was stamped using the Rock 'n Roll technique, where you stamp your image in one lighter color and then just roll the edges around on a darker color.  As always, I'm in love with the papers in this kit from Webster's Pages Recorded.  Of course I used the matching dies, and topped it off with the Lily White Doodlebug Sprinkles that Taylor has in the shop.

My card was also made for the Hope You Can Cling To challenge, 'Punch Out Breast Cancer' going on over at Splitcoaststampers.  I used the new dies as my 'punches' since I actually don't own anymore punches :)

Stamps:  Instant Love

Ink:  SU Crumb Cake, Memento Tuxedo Black, SU Cameo Coral

Paper:  October 2013 TE KI Kit

Accessories:  ribbon from kit, TE Remember When die, Lily White Doodlebug Sprinkles, foam tape

Here's a sneak at what the kit, SOTM, and die look like:

If you're new to the idea of Taylor's Kits, then you'll need to go and check out all of the option on her Kit Page.  Plus, there is a gallery set up every month that gets filled to the brim with ideas in the Key Ingredients Gallery, as well as the Stamp of the Month Gallery.  You'll never run out of inspiration!

There is more hoppy goodness to be seen, so be sure to keep on hopping!

Amy Crockett

Carole Burrage

Cassie Trask

Charmaine Ikach

Jen Shults

Monika Davis

Shelly Mercado

Stephanie Kraft

Taylor VanBruggen

Tracy Clemente

Thanks for stopping by!

Hope You Can Cling To

It's that time of year again, and my company has left so I am making time to get cards made for the Hope You Can Cling To Challenges going on over at Splitcoaststampers!  You can read all about what a wonderful campaign it is HERE.  

I'm behind by two already, but I may remedy that later on.  To start I used Lori's challenge of Courage and Strength.  Red and Orange are the colors of courage and strength, so I inked up my background with both colors, and topped it off with a sentiment from a Taylored Expressions set called Happy Heart.

Stamps:  Happy Heart

Ink:  Craft White, Distress Barn Red, SU Pumpkin Pie

Paper:  watercolor, black

Accessories:  water mister, white embossing powder, white twill ribbon, TE Banner Stacklets 2 die

My second card was made for Beate's Flat and Fabulous challenge.  I used one layer of kraft cardstock and stamped those flowers from the Reflections set by Paper Smooches.  The sentiment is from Good Gab.

Stamps:  Reflections & Good Gab

Ink:  Craft White, SU Always Artichoke, SU Cameo Coral, SU Apricot Appeal, SU Pumpkin Pie, Distress Black Soot

Paper:  kraft

Accessories:  corner chomper

Get over to Splitcoaststampers and check out the challenges!  There will be new ones everyday and an opportunity for you to make a difference with the gifts that God has given you :D