Last Day to get the September TE Key Ingredients Kit

I hope you had a lovely weekend, friends!  We have been celebrating my husband's promotion with his parents and our military family around here.  It's been a fun weekend, which is why it has been a bit quiet around here. 

I did have this card to show you to remind you that if you haven't ordered your September Key Ingredients Kit from Taylored Expressions, today is the last day!  I used the kit along with the Stamp of the Month and those darling matching Dies.

 Stamps:  Sending Smiles SOTM

Ink:  SU Pale Plum, SU Lucky Limeade, Memento Tuxedo Black, Craft White

Paper:  September 2013 TE KI Kit

Accessories:  TE This Way to Smiles die, TE Label Stacklets 3 die, ribbon from kit, white embossing powder, white pearl pen, foam tape

Here is one last sneak at the kit (that you know you want):

Tomorrow a new kit comes out, so get this one while you can!

September Taylored Expressions Key Ingredients

Hey there crafty peeps!  This has been the craziest and busiest week, and it has only just begun.  Yesterday, I had the total honor of getting to 'pin' my husband's new rank on him.  If you are familiar with military terms, you know what I mean.  Regardless, he now has his new rank and we are so proud of him!  The rest of the week is party planning for a party on Wednesday that I am helping hostess and my husband's promotion party on Friday.  Not only that, but his parents get into to town on Friday as well.  Busy, busy, but I'll make due.  I can crash or lock myself in the 'craft cave' after his parents leave.  That isn't why you came to the blog.  You came to see some craftiness!

This card features the September Taylored Expressions Key Ingredients Kit along with the September Stamp of the Month.  Both are fabulous and look so good together, because that set was literally made to coordinate with the papers.  Not only that, but Taylor designed a die to match!  Eeeeee!  The set is called Sending Smiles, the die is called This Way to Smiles, and I used the From the Heart Frame die as well.  There are 3 different Kit Options that you really should check out if you aren't familiar with them.  There is something for everyone!

 Stamps:  Sending Smiles SOTM

Ink:  Craft White, Memento Tuxedo Black

Paper:  September 2013 TE KI Kit

Accessories:  TE From the Heart Frame die, TE This Way to Smiles die, Copics, foam tape, Mint Liquid Pearls

Thanks for stopping in!  I want to say I'll have something more to show later this week, but I'm not sure.  For sanities sake I really need to try ;)

Taylored Expressions Share Joy Campaign: Birthday Photo Inspiration Challenge

 Hey there, and welcome to the final day of the Taylored Expressions Share Joy Inspiration Challenge Week!  Today, like the rest of the week, a few of the TE Design Team, Key Ingredients Team, and alumni are teaming up to bring you some birthday inspiration.  Today's challenge is a Birthday Photo Inspiration Challenge!  Check out Taylor's Blog for all of the details so you can play along.

Let me tell you a bit about Share Joy before we get too far in the post.  At the heart of Taylored Expressions is a mission to share joy by helping their customers live creatively. This is by no means an original idea. Since the first greeting cards were made and exchanged back in the 15th century, the making and giving of handmade cards has been the mission of a long line of creative people who intentionally share joy through the creation of these little bits of happiness. Those of you who make and share cards can certainly attest that it brings great joy to put a smile on someone's face with a work that you created by your own hands.

The Taylored Expressions 5th Birthday Bash is continuing this week with a new Share Joy Campaign, benefitting the Union Rescue Mission of Los Angeles , Prodigal's Home of Phoenix, and Iowa Homeless Youth Shelter of Des Moines . These wonderful charities work tirelessly to bring comfort and care to many homeless individuals and families throughout the year. One way they are sharing joy each and every day is by celebrating the birthdays of their participants, and you can help by sending in your handmade birthday cards! 

That photo is so super gorgeous and vibrant!  The bright pink flowers were screaming at me, so I decided to use the Taylored Expressions stamp called Zinnia Bouquet.  I got lost is coloring it with my Copics, as I usually do with my coloring.  Those vibrant pinks were a blast!  The sentiment was stamped on a TE Designer Mini Tags die.

Stamps:  Zinnia Bouquet

Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black

Paper:  kraft, Choice White

Accessories:  Chevron embossing folder, green ribbon, TE Designer Mini Tags die, foam tape, Copics, watermelon baker's twine

So come play along and share some joy!  Head to Taylor's blog for all of the details!

Taylored Expressions Share Joy Campaign: Birthday Technique Challenge

Hey there, and welcome to the Taylored Expressions Share Joy Inspiration Challenge Week!  Today and the rest of the week a few of the TE Design Team, Key Ingredients Team, and alumni are teaming up to bring you some birthday inspiration.  Today's challenge is for a Birthday Technique Challenge!  I think you'll really love participating in this one!  Check out Taylor's Blog for all of the details so you can play along.

Let me tell you a bit about Share Joy before we get too far in the post.  At the heart of Taylored Expressions is a mission to share joy by helping their customers live creatively. This is by no means an original idea. Since the first greeting cards were made and exchanged back in the 15th century, the making and giving of handmade cards has been the mission of a long line of creative people who intentionally share joy through the creation of these little bits of happiness. Those of you who make and share cards can certainly attest that it brings great joy to put a smile on someone's face with a work that you created by your own hands.

The Taylored Expressions 5th Birthday Bash is continuing this week with a new Share Joy Campaign, benefitting the Union Rescue Mission of Los Angeles , Prodigal's Home of Phoenix, and Iowa Homeless Youth Shelter of Des Moines . These wonderful charities work tirelessly to bring comfort and care to many homeless individuals and families throughout the year. One way they are sharing joy each and every day is by celebrating the birthdays of their participants, and you can help by sending in your handmade birthday cards! 

This Brayer and ink technique really is a fun and easy technique to try out.  I liked it so much that I will be doing again!  I used an embossing folder called Victoria from Cuttlebug along with my brayer and some ink.  Isn't that a beautiful background?  The stamp set I used is the free set from this last release for spending $50 called From Me to You and it's matching die.  I also used the Bless Your Nest Dies from Taylored Expressions and papers from a previously released TE Key Ingredients Kit.

Stamps:  From Me to You

Ink:  SU Pool Party, SU Crushed Curry, Memento Espresso Truffle

Paper:  July TE KI Kit

Accessories:  ribbon from the kit, TE Bless Your Nest dies, Victoria embossing folder, brayer, Candy Buttons, TE From Me to You die, foam tape

So come play along and share some joy!  Head to Taylor's blog for all of the details!

Taylored Expressions Share Joy Campaign: Birthday Sketch Challenge

Hey there, and welcome to the Taylored Expressions Share Joy Inspiration Challenge Week!  Today and the rest of the week a few of the TE Design Team, Key Ingredients Team, and alumni are teaming up to bring you some birthday inspiration.  Today's challenge is a sketch! Check out Taylor's Blog for all of the details so you can play along.

Let me tell you a bit about Share Joy before we get too far in the post.  At the heart of Taylored Expressions is a mission to share joy by helping their customers live creatively. This is by no means an original idea. Since the first greeting cards were made and exchanged back in the 15th century, the making and giving of handmade cards has been the mission of a long line of creative people who intentionally share joy through the creation of these little bits of happiness. Those of you who make and share cards can certainly attest that it brings great joy to put a smile on someone's face with a work that you created by your own hands.

The Taylored Expressions 5th Birthday Bash is continuing this week with a new Share Joy Campaign, benefitting the Union Rescue Mission of Los Angeles , Prodigal's Home of Phoenix, and Iowa Homeless Youth Shelter of Des Moines . These wonderful charities work tirelessly to bring comfort and care to many homeless individuals and families throughout the year. One way they are sharing joy each and every day is by celebrating the birthdays of their participants, and you can help by sending in your handmade birthday cards! 

Pretty great sketch up there, huh?!  I decided to make mine a long card, because well. . .I had an image that I was fixed on using.  That image is Taylored Expressions stamp called It's Your Birthday A la Carte.  I paired it up with this month's Taylored Expressions Key Ingredients Kit, because it's that awesome!  Every month I love the kits more and more.  I added some Prima Flowers and the TE Mini Leaves die as my embellishments.  The balloons and star were colored in using some Liquid Pearls.

Stamps:  It's Your Birthday A la Carte

Ink:  Craft White, SU Pool Party

Paper:  Sept TE KI Kit

Accessories:  white embossing powder, Prima Flowers, TE Mini Leaves die, scallop border punch, Mint Melody, Petal Pink, & Buttercream Liquid Pearls

So come play along and share some joy!  Head to Taylor's blog for all of the details!

Taylored Expressions Share Joy Campaign: Birthday Washi Tape Challenge

Hey there, and welcome to the Taylored Expressions Share Joy Inspiration Challenge Week!  If you stopped by yesterday, you probably know what's going on.  If not, keep reading.  Today and the rest of the week a few of the TE Design Team, Key Ingredients Team, and alumni are teaming up to bring you some inspiration for some challenges.  Today's challenge is a Birthday Washi Tape Challenge!  Check out Taylor's Blog for all of the details so you can play along.

Let me tell you a bit about Share Joy before we get too far in the post.  At the heart of Taylored Expressions is a mission to share joy by helping their customers live creatively. This is by no means an original idea. Since the first greeting cards were made and exchanged back in the 15th century, the making and giving of handmade cards has been the mission of a long line of creative people who intentionally share joy through the creation of these little bits of happiness. Those of you who make and share cards can certainly attest that it brings great joy to put a smile on someone's face with a work that you created by your own hands.

The Taylored Expressions 5th Birthday Bash is continuing this week with a new Share Joy Campaign, benefitting the Union Rescue Mission of Los Angeles , Prodigal's Home of Phoenix, and Iowa Homeless Youth Shelter of Des Moines . These wonderful charities work tirelessly to bring comfort and care to many homeless individuals and families throughout the year. One way they are sharing joy each and every day is by celebrating the birthdays of their participants, and you can help by sending in your handmade birthday cards! 

I don't have a ton of washi tape around, but what I do have I luuurve.  That stuff is fun to make borders out of, backgrounds, you name it!  I went with some borders on my piece and used the Oh Snap! stamp set from Taylored Expressions along with the matching Oh Snap! camera dies and Film Strip Border die.  I just realized that I paper pieced again. . .I must be on a kick or something.  That camera does make me think of how fun it would be if we could have designer cameras :)

Stamps:  Oh Snap!

Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black

Paper:  Choice White, light blue cs, MME Bright Side dp

Accessories:  various washi tapes, wood veneer heart, TE Oh Snap camera dies, TE Film Strip Border die, paper piercer, foam tape, copics

So come play along and share some joy!  Head to Taylor's blog for all of the details!

Taylored Expressions Share Joy Campaign: Birthday Color Challenge

Hey there, and welcome to the Taylored Expressions Share Joy Inspiration Challenge Week!  Today a few of the TE Design Team, Key Ingredients Team, and alumni are teaming up to bring you some inspiration for a Birthday Color Challenge!  How fun is that?!  Check out Taylor's Blog for all of the details so you can play along.

Let me tell you a bit about Share Joy before we get too far in the post.  At the heart of Taylored Expressions is a mission to share joy by helping their customers live creatively. This is by no means an original idea. Since the first greeting cards were made and exchanged back in the 15th century, the making and giving of handmade cards has been the mission of a long line of creative people who intentionally share joy through the creation of these little bits of happiness. Those of you who make and share cards can certainly attest that it brings great joy to put a smile on someone's face with a work that you created by your own hands.

The Taylored Expressions 5th Birthday Bash is continuing this week with a new Share Joy Campaign, benefitting the Union Rescue Mission of Los Angeles , Prodigal's Home of Phoenix, and Iowa Homeless Youth Shelter of Des Moines . These wonderful charities work tirelessly to bring comfort and care to many homeless individuals and families throughout the year. One way they are sharing joy each and every day is by celebrating the birthdays of their participants, and you can help by sending in your handmade birthday cards! 

As I mentioned earlier, today's challenge is a color challenge!  For my card I used the Life is a Circus stamp set from Taylored Expressions along with the Build a Scene - Sunshine Die.  Paper piecing is one of my all time favorite ways to make a card, so I couldn't resist paper piecing that darling elephant.  I added some Petal Pink Liquid Pearls to his ears and some Bumblebee Enamel Dots to the sun.

Stamps:  Life is a Circus

Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black, SU Crushed Curry

Paper:  green & gold cs, various dp

Accessories:  scallop punch, Swiss Dots embossing folder, corner rounder, Petal Pink Liquid Pearls, Copics, sponge, TE Build a Scene - Sunshine Die, Bumblebee Enamel Dots

So come play along and share some joy!  Head to Taylor's blog for all of the details!

Taylored Expressions SOTM Blog Hop & Blog Candy

Hey there, and welcome to the September Taylored Expressions SOTM Blog Hop! I'm sure you're enjoying the crafty goodness that you've seen so far, and there is more to see.   Every month the Key Ingredients DT and the Baker's Dozen join up for a blog hop to give you some inspiration using the latest Stamp of the Month that Taylored Expressions offers.

September's SOTM is called Sending Smiles and it has a matching dies set called This Way to Smiles, which is sold separately.  I am so excited about them, that I can't seem to put them down.  I literally get giddy at the idea of how well the stamp set, dies, and papers from the Key Ingredients Kit matches!  Speaking of papers, this Monty's KI kit has the We R Memory Keepers 6 x 6 papers called Chalkboard...eeeeee!

I went with something a little different this month and decided to make a Joy Fold Card.  I'm not sure why it's called that, but it certainly brought joy to my face when I made it ;)  As you can see from my picture of it's inside, that it opens a bit differently than a traditional card.  That's sorta fun.  When I close the card, my small panel tucks nicely under my Copic colored flowers on the outside of the card.

Stamps:  Sending Smiles SOTM

Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black, SU Pool Party, SU Calypso Coral, SU Lucky Limeade, SU River Rock

Paper:  September 2013 TE Key Ingredients Kit

Accessories:  ribbon from kit, TE This Way to Smiles Die, sponges, foam tape, Copics

Take a gander at what comes in the TE Key Ingredients Kit:

If you're intrigued and are new to the idea of the Taylor's different kit options, then you must head over to her KITS page to get all of the details of the 3 different kits that she offers.  If you end up opting for the Deluxe Kit option, which is the best deal, you'll get some amazing benefits!

*Blog Candy*

As we continue the month-long Birthday Bash at Taylored Expressions, we have some fun birthday gifts to give.  Each of the designers on today's hop will be giving away the card they are showcasing to one lucky reader.  If you like the card I've made for today, simply leave a comment here on my blog before 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, September 12th and you'll be entered into a drawing to win it.  Winners will be announced on the TE blog on Friday morning.

There is more hoppy goodness to be seen, so be sure to check out the rest of the blogs for a chance to win!

Amy Crockett

Cassie Trask

Charmaine Ikach

Jen Shults

Joan Ervin

Monika Davis

Shannon White

Shelly Mercado

Stephanie Kraft

Tammie Edgerton

Taylor VanBruggen

Tracy Clemente

Deconstructed Sketch

 

Good morning everyone!  It seems to be a beautiful Friday morning here in Columbus, GA, and despite the fact that I am fighting a chest cold I'm planning to have a good day.  We were all pretty sick yesterday, so we didn't do school, but I did manage to get in the 'craft cave' for a bit.  I made this card for the Deconstructed Sketch.

Those sketches are always a treat, and I'm sad I don't get to participate every week.  I keep them in the memory banks. . .namely Pinterest, so that I can participate later.  I used a PTI set from last year called Sunflower Bouquet and its matching die.

It's such a gorgeous set, and so fun to color.  I need a bit of practice stamping it onto the die cut.  It works, but I could still use some practice.  I've been taking to decorating the insides as well.  I really love the look of it and feel it finishes it off nicely.

Stamps:  Sunflower Bouquet

Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black, SU River Rock

Paper:  PTI White, Simple Stories dp

Accessories:  Sunflower Bouquet die, ribbon, foam tape

Thanks for stopping in.  We have some make up school work from yesterday, so it will be a busy busy day :)

September Taylored Expressions Key Ingredients Kit

Hey there, crafty friends!  After a four day weekend, yesterday was a rough day back to school for all of us.  One of my kids was sick, and now I am certain that I now have said sickness.  Life must and does go on!  Speaking of going on. . .have you checked out the newest Taylored Expressions Key Ingredients Kit?!  I say it every month, but this kit is divine, with that amazing 6x6 pack of We R Memory Chalkboard papers.  I luuuurve it!

I paired my kit up with a couple of wonderful Taylored Expressions goodies.  I used the Make it Amazing stamp set that I am certain will always be popular, along with a few dies:  Tags Stacklets, Elegant Butterflies, and Elegant Butterfly Overlay.  They all just went so lovely with the piece of patterned paper that I chose for the Tags Stacklets.

Stamps:  Make it Amazing

Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black

Paper:  September 2013 TE KI Kit

Accessories:  ribbon from kit, Tags Stacklets, Elegant Butterflies die, Elegant Butterfly Overlay die, button & twine, corner rounder

Here is what the Key Ingredients Kit looks like:

And here is what you get with the kit:

Each month you will receive a fresh mix of these ingredients:

6x6 Patterned Paper pad

12 sheets of coordinating 8.5" x 11" cardstock

5 yards of ribbon

-Your card will be automatically charged on the 1st of each month.

 

-Kits are shipped via USPS on or before the 15th of each month. There is no additional charge for shipping.

 

-You will receive your kit in a plastic storage case. This $3.25 value is yours FREE!

There are also two other kit options to consider from Taylored Expressions and you can read about those HERE.  Plus, every month the Key Ingredients Design Team provides lots of wonderful inspiration for your kit right HERE in the TE Gallery!  You'll always have fresh ideas to go along with your kit!

Thanks for stopping in!

Paperclay Fun

Hello September. . .I can't believe that we are meeting again so quickly.  The older I get, the quicker the time goes. . .sad.  I hope all of my American friends are enjoying a lovely Labor Day.  It is quiet in my house, as everyone is sleeping still.  I'm letting them, and enjoying the noiselessness before the chaos.  I feel rather productive this morning.  I got a few obligations taken care of, and now I'm posting.  It's a good Monday morning :)

I have a card that I made for the Papertrey Ink Stamp-a-Faire that I didn't get to post during the actual event.  It uses paperclay, which I hadn't used in forever!  This stuff really is super fun, and I am hoping to get to play with it a bit more this week.  I paced myself by just rolling it out, letting it dry, then running it through my die cut machine using the Seed Packet Frame Die from PTI, then stamping on it with my Garden Variety Stamp Set from PTI.

It's a pretty simple card, that was a lot of fun to create.  The sentiment was stamped first in white ink, then in Scarlet Jewel PTI ink using this gorgeous Signature Greetings II stamp set.

 Stamps:  Garden Variety, Signature Greetings II

Ink:  Hero Arts White dye ink, PTI Scarlet Jewel, PTI Smokey Shadow, PTI Simply Chartreuse, SU Bermuda Bay

Paper:  kraft, MME dp, PTI white

Accessories:  paperclay, PTI Seed Packet Frame die, PTI Garden Variety Die, cream twine, circle punch, foam tape

Thanks for stopping in. . .the quiet is gone now.  My oldest just woke up to tell me he feels sick :(  Have a great day everyone!

How to make Coffee Scented Embossing Powder that actually works!

Yesterday I told you that my attempt at making coffee scented embossing powder was unsuccessful.  Today I want to tell you why it was unsuccessful and why I believe today's attempt worked.  To make your own scented embossing powders you need a ratio of 1:2, which is 1 part scented sugar free powder to 2 parts clear embossing powder.  Yesterday's attempt used 1 part coffee, like the recipe requires, but I noticed that the consistency of my 'powder' was not powder like, but more clumpy.  My coffee was too chunky.  For today's powder I decided to put my already ground up coffee through the grinding process again to creating a finer powder.  It worked beautifully, and now I have a very nice coffee scented embossing powder that actually works when you scratch it!

For my card I used a combination of sets from Papertrey Ink.  One of them is a newer set that I bought with the Stamp-a-faire kit that won't be available to the general public until September called Sent-imentals, along with yesterday's set called Latte Love.

Stamps:  Sent-imentals, Latte Love

Ink:  SU Pool Party, SU Real Red, Memento Espresso Truffle, Versamark

Paper:  PTI White, SU Domestic dp

Accessories:  coffee scented embossing powder, Circle Nesties, foam tape, corner rounder

Here's what the set looks like. . .I'm kinda lovin' it!

My Unsuccessful attempt at making Coffee Scented Embossing Powder

Last weekend was Papertrey Ink's Stamp-a-Faire, and I had total plans to play along all weekend.  Unfortunately, I was unable to play along with everyone else, because the weekend before our plans got foiled by the weather.  That was my daughter's 12th birthday, and we had plans to head up to Atlanta, go to Six Flags, spend the night, and wake up and head to the water park.  It rained all that weekend, so we changed our plans to this last weekend.  The things we do for our babies ;)  

So I didn't get to play along with everyone else, but that is okay with me.  My kids will only be living in our house for a few more short years and they may not want to hang out with me for every one of their bithdays, so I will take what I can when I can!  I did, however, still want to play along with the PTI fun.  One of the things they did was create their own scented embossing powders.  I decided to make some coffee scented embossing powder, and my first attempt was not so successful.  I'll show you my second attempt tomorrow and tell you what I did differently.

Stamps:  Latte Love

Ink:  Craft White, PTI Ocean Tides, Memento Espresso Truffle, Versamark, PTI Simply Chartreuse, SU Melon Mambo, PTI Lemon Tart

Paper:  pink cs, PTI Rustic White, various dp

Accessories:  white embossing powder, PTI Simply Chartreuse twill ribbon, coffee scented embossing powder, aqua paint brush

I attempted to watercolor on the PTI Rustic White cardstock, but as you can see it was a bit unsuccessful.  Granted, I was trying to go out of the lines a bit, but that just looks messy and not what I was going for.  Thanks for stopping in!

Added to my SALE items!

I just added some ink pads and stacks of paper to my FOR SALE page!  Go check it out!  I'll be adding to it as I find more stuff in my stash in need of a good home :)

Forget the Cake

Happy Saturday morning friends!  I'm playing some tennis right now and then we are headed to Six Flags to celebrate my daughter's birthday!  We were supposed to do this last weekend for her actual birthday, but the weather was super crumby.  I thought it was fitting to show you this birthday card that I had made for my time on the Dirty Dozen for Splitcoaststampers.  That adorable image is from The Cat's Pajamas and it's called Forget About the Cake.  

I watercolored him on some Papertrey Ink Rustic White cardstock. . .not traditional I know, but it worked, and used a Martha Stewart punch to get the dripping icing effect.  The papers are from Studio Calico.

Hopefully the weather cooperates today and we'll be screaming our brains out on some crazy rides.  Wish me luck :D