Monday, October 31, 2011

Mojo 213 -- Make a Wish

Hello! It's time for a brand new Mojo Monday sketch (#213).. I hope you will join us for Round or Square week!


Here's a look at Julee's fun sketch options:


I hope you will play along with us this week! Please visit the Mojo Monday blog for all the details and to see the wonderful creations by the Mojo Makers! You can also visit their individual blogs for more details:


Thanks so much for stopping by!

Supplies ~
Stamps: Birthday Phrases (Verve)
Paper: Sidewalks (October Afternoon), Hawaiian Shores (Papertrey Ink), Classic Crest Classic Natural White (Neenah)
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black (Tsukineko)
Accessories: A Cut Above Verve Dies: Loopy Blooms, Charming Oval (Verve); Crochet flower, Felt, Pearl (Pizzazz Aplenty), Foam tape, Thread, Sewing machine.

Saturday, October 29, 2011

CR84FN41 Week 2 -- Have a Great Day


Hello! It's week 2 for the current CR84FN Challenge! If you haven't played along yet, you have just under a week to play in CR84FN41. Our color palette is Steel Blue, Gray and Yellow. Photos courtesy of Leslie at A Creative Mint.

I'd like to say a big thank you to our fabulous October Guest Designer, Cheryl Lea!


I stamped and embossed the larger butterfly from Inspired by - Butterflies with some Star Dust embossing powder, then I added some color to the butterfly by sponging on some Stormy Sky distress ink. My sentiment is from All Smiles. This is also for the November MFT Guest Designer contest (the challenge is to Bling it On!).


For sketch inspiration, I used this week's WSC Getting Sketchy #43 from My Favorite Things. All the challenge details can be found HERE.


For all the CR84FN challenge details, please be sure to visit the CR84FN blog HERE. I hope you will join us this week.. I can't wait to see what you create! For more inspiration, please visit my fellow design teammates:


Thanks so much for stopping by!

Supplies ~
Stamps: Inspired by - ButterfliesAll Smiles (My Favorite Things)
Paper: et cetera (Bo Bunny), Blueberry Sky (Papertrey Ink), Classic Crest Classic Natural White (Neenah)
Ink: Stormy Sky Distress (Ranger), Versamark Watermark (Tsukineko)
Accessories: Star Dust embossing powder (Stampendous), Rhinestone swirls (Zva Creative), Blue flatback rhinestones (Pizzazz Aplenty), Organdy ribbon, Button, Twine (May Arts), Foam tape, Thread, Sewing machine.

Thursday, October 27, 2011

TE October Key Ingredients


Hello! I'm just popping with a quick post today. I thought I'd show you a simple card that I made with this month's Taylored Expressions October Key Ingredients kit. Earlier this month, the team posted some wonderful projects that are sure to inspire you. You can check it all out on the KI blog, HERE.


If you're not yet a Key Ingredients subscriber, I hope you'll consider joining us! Take a peek around to find all the information you need to know about our kit club! Click here to learn more about subscribing or click here for our FAQ page!

Thanks SO much for stopping by!

Supplies ~
Stamps: Branching Out (Taylored Expressions)
Paper: October Key Ingredients
Ink: Memento Rich Cocoa (Tsukineko)
Accessories: Medium Scallop Border Die, Birds and Branch Dies (Taylored Expressions),
Pumpkin Mum Trim, Brads (October Key Ingredients); Foam tape, Thread, Sewing machine.

Tuesday, October 25, 2011

TE Holiday Hoopla Blog Hop!!


Taylored Expressions is hosting a Holiday Hoopla today, and I'm excited to be a part of it! You should have arrived here from Nancy McKinney's blog. If you didn't (or if you get lost along the way) you can head back to the beginning at Taylor's blog for the full list of participants. There are 22 designers showcasing Christmas/Winter/Holiday stamp sets from TE with samples that include all sorts of projects from cards to gifts and beyond! We want to inspire you to get your holiday crafting and card making into high gear! Be sure to stick with me all the way to the end of the post to get a coupon code for 25% off all holiday stamp sets at Taylored Expressions!

The set that I'm showcasing is Wings of Joy. I love it because the images and sentiments are so sweet and whimsical! They are perfect for cards, tags and all sorts of holiday projects! Today I chose to make a 8.5" x 11" scrapbook layout.


I had a few photos of my DD, Sabrina, from last year that I have been wanting to capture on a scrapbook page. Each year she receives a multitude of gifts from generous friends and family, and each year our little family is blessed by her infectious smile and sweet disposition. The two smaller photos are of her testing out her new camera (top) and karaoke machine (bottom). Along with the photos, I added a few of the happy images and sweet sentiment from Wings of Joy, which I thought were a perfect compliment to the story that I wanted to tell.

Here are a few details shots:

Title of Christmas Joy -- "Christmas" created by using Thickers (letter stickers) left over from the TE May Key Ingredients (I have used these on a lot of projects and I still have plenty left for make more cards and layouts!). "Joy" created by stamping the sweet image from Wings of Joy, coloring it with Copic markers and die cutting it using the Take Note 3 die. The Take Note label is popped up with foam tape for a little added dimension. I added some rhinestone flourishes under the label for some festive bling.


Birds holding garland image and sentiment:


Here's a complete look at Wings of Joy:


Creating for this hop caused to me to go back and look at some of my previous creations, and I wanted to share one of those with you today too. One of my first TE stamp set purchases was Home Sweet Home and to this day it is still one of my favorites! I was honored to be a Featured Cupcake Sampler of the week nearly 3 years ago and made a couple of cards and a layout using Home Sweet Home.



To see my original post and for more details, please click HERE to go back to my original blog post.

Are you getting in the mood to stamp? Be sure to check out Taylor's 12 Days of A Handmade Christmas Video Series for lots of easy gift ideas.

Now, who loves a SALE? Use Coupon Code HOOPLA2011 to get 25% off the following holiday stamp sets (released in 2009 and 2010) at Taylored Expressions now through November 2:


The coupon code is case sensitive. Follow these instructions to apply the discount to your order:
1. Add the desired stamp sets from the above list to your shopping cart.
2. Insert the coupon code into the Promotional Code box.
3. Click the Update Cart button. Your discount should now be applied.
4. Proceed to checkout to finalize and submit your order.

Your next stop on the hop is to the fabulous, Lori Craig's blog. You will not want to miss what she has to show you!

Thanks SO much for stopping by!

Christmas Joy Layout Supplies ~
Stamps: Wings of Joy (Taylored Expressions)
Paper: Choice Snow White (Taylored Expressions), Everybody Loves Christmas (Echo Park)
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black (Tsukineko)
Accessories: Take Note 3 die (Taylored Expressions), Circle punches (EK Success), Markers (Copic), Thickers letter stickers (TE May Key Ingredients), Rhinestone flourishes, Foam tape, Thread, Sewing machine.

Monday, October 24, 2011

SCRSC66 - No Coloring Challenge


It's time for an all new Sparkle Creations Rubber Stamps Challenge! Each week we will post an all new challenge at this time (9 PM PST on Mondays). For all the details, please visit the SCRS blog. This week is a no coloring challenge.

In DT news, Piali Biswas has decided to step down from the team. This is also the final challenge for October, so we bid farewell to our wonderful guest designer, Amy Tsuruta. Thanks to both of you for sharing all of your Sparkle Creations with us... we wish you both well!


I'm still not totally comfortable with the "no coloring" option, but here I used Football Josh to create a card for one of the PE teachers at school. I didn't add any frills to his card, but just some brads and stitching around.

For more SCRS inspiration and details, please visit the SCRS blog to see the design team's wonderful creations and their individual blogs for more details:

Amy Tsuruta, October Guest Designer

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Supplies ~
Stamps: Football Josh (Sparkle Creations), Sentiment from First Place Ribbon (My Favorite Things)
Paper: Free Bird Nest Endless & Fair-Weather (Authentique), Orange Zest (Papertrey Ink), Classic Crest Solar White (Neenah)
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black (Tsukineko)
Accessories: Standard Circle Nestabilities (Spellbinders), Brads, Foam tape, Thread, Sewing machine.

Mojo 212 - Sunny Days

Hello! It's time for a brand new Mojo Monday sketch (#212).. I hope you will join us this week!


Here's a look at Julee's fabulous sketch:


I hope you will play along with us this week! Please visit the Mojo Monday blog for all the details and to see the wonderful creations by the Mojo Makers! You can also visit their individual blogs for more details:


Thanks so much for stopping by!

Supplies ~
Stamps: Sunny Days (Verve)
Paper: Picadilly (Basic Grey), Classic Crest Solar White (Neenah)
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Memento New Sprout (Tsukineko)
Accessories: A Cut Above Dies: Leafy Sprigs, Loopy Blooms (Verve); Long Rectangle Nestabilities (Spellbinders), Scallop Sentiment border punch (Fiskars), Brads, Divine Twine, Charm (CTMH), Felt, Foam tape, Thread, Sewing machine.

Saturday, October 22, 2011

CR84FN41 -- I Support You


Hello! It's time for another CR84FN Challenge! Thank you to all who joined us for the last challenge! For the next challenge (CR84FN41), our color palette is Steel Blue, Gray and Yellow. This challenge will last for 2 weeks. Photos courtesy of Leslie at A Creative Mint.


I used PI - Have Hope to create a card for Sabrina to send to her Uncle Ron. I colored the ribbon light blue in honor of his fight against prostate cancer. He successfully went through treatments a year ago, but we continue to be thankful for and keep praying for his continued good health.

For sketch inspiration, I started with this week's WSC Getting Sketchy #42 from My Favorite Things. I flipped the sketch. All the challenge details can be found HERE.



For all the CR84FN challenge details, please be sure to visit the CR84FN blog HERE. I hope you will join us this week.. I can't wait to see what you create! For more inspiration, please visit my fellow design teammates:


Supplies ~
Stamps: PI - Have Hope (My Favorite Things)
Paper: Lost & Found 2 Sunshine (My Mind's Eye), Elephant (Bazzill), Classic Crest Classic Natural White (Neenah)
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black (Tsukineko)
Accessories: Die-namics Oval Tab (My Favorite Things), Markers (Copic), Foam tape, Thread, Sewing machine.

Thursday, October 20, 2011

Taylored Expressions October Key Ingredients Blog Hop!!


Hello! Welcome to the October Taylored Expressions Key Ingredients Blog Hop! Today, we are showcasing the October Key Ingredients! Each month, the team shows you 6 days of projects on the Key Ingredients blog to get your creative juices flowing. In case you missed any of this, please be sure to check out the Key Ingredients blog HERE. This month's kit features patterned paper from the Crate Paper Farmhouse collection, coordinating cardstock, ribbon, flowers and brads (both regular and fabric).


In case you think your eyes are deceiving you, they are not... these patterned papers are from the Farmhouse collection! In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness month, I wanted to use this sweet Moka Hope petite stamp set. I chose the pink patterned paper and one of the neutrals to make my card this month.

Throughout the month of October, Taylor will donate $1 for each set sold to Susan G. Komen for the Cure. Here's a look at the sweet little set:


For sketch inspiration, I used the latest Taylored Expressions Sketch #148. Not only is it a sketch challenge, but TE is also a proud sponsor of the Hope You Can Cling To card drive on Splitcoast. The extra challenge is to send your card(s) to the UT MD Anderson Cancer Center. More details can be found HERE.

Please be sure to check out the other Key Ingredients designers for some wonderful inspiration! Here's the complete hop list:


If you're not yet a Key Ingredients subscriber, I hope you'll consider joining us! Take a peek around to find all the information you need to know about our kit club! Click here to learn more about subscribing or click here for our FAQ page! You can also visit the Taylored Expressions Key Ingredients Gallery (click HERE) for more projects created with this month's and previous month's kits!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Supplies ~
Stamps: Moka Hope (Taylored Expressions)
Paper: October Key Ingredients (Taylored Expressions)
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black (Tsukineko)
Accessories: Long Rectangle and Scalloped Long Rectangle Nestabilities (Spellbinders); Markers (Copic), Ribbon (part of October Key Ingredients), Foam tape, Thread, Sewing machine.

Monday, October 17, 2011

Sparkle Creations Rubber Stamps Challenge #65


It's time for an all new Sparkle Creations Rubber Stamps Challenge! Each week we will post an all new challenge at this time (9 PM PST on Mondays). For all the details, please visit the SCRS blog. This week is an inspiration photo challenge.


I combined this week's challenge with Card Patterns Sketch #137. Sparkle Creations is sponsoring this week's challenge. Play along this week for a chance to win Fall Charlotte and Farming Oliver. All the details are HERE.


For more SCRS inspiration and details, please visit the SCRS blog to see the design team's wonderful creations and their individual blogs for more details:

Amy Tsuruta, October Guest Designer


Thanks so much for stopping by!

Supplies ~
Stamps: Sunflower Charlotte (Sparkle Creations)
Paper: Harvest Market (Lily Bee), Classic Crest Classic Natural White (Neenah)
Ink: Memento Rich Cocoa (Tsukineko), Antique Linen Distress (Ranger)
Accessories: Standard Circle Nestabilities (Spellbinders), Corner Chomper (WRMK), Markers (Copic), Ribbon, Button, Twine (May Arts), Foam tape, Thread, Sewing machine.

Mojo 211 - For the Cure

Hello! It's time for a brand new Mojo Monday sketch (#211).. I hope you will join us this week!


I used Believe on my card today. I first stamped the pink ribbon, then the sentiment over it and added some layers to my sentiment panel. Please note that $10 from the sale of every Believe set is donated to Susan G Komen for the Cure.

Here's a look at Julee's fabulous sketch:


I hope you will play along with us this week! Please visit the Mojo Monday blog for all the details and to see the wonderful creations by the Mojo Makers! You can also visit their individual blogs for more details:


Thanks so much for stopping by!

Supplies ~
Stamps: Believe (Verve)
Paper: Free Bird - Nest - Blush & Delight (Authentique), Smokey Shadow (Papertrey Ink), Classic Crest Classic Natural White (Neenah)
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black (Tsukineko), Tattered Rose Distress (Ranger)
Accessories: A Cut Above Dies: Classy Label Die (Verve), Petite Oval Nestabilities (Spellbinders), Seam binding, Open roses (Wild Orchid Crafts), Foam tape, Thread, Sewing machine.

Saturday, October 15, 2011

CR84FN40 Week 2 -- Happy Bird-day


Hello! It's week 2 for the current CR84FN Challenge! If you haven't played along yet, you have just under a week to play in CR84FN40.  Our color palette is Red, Brown and Kraft. Photo credits (L to R): floral by Flower Talkcherries: Photography by Chantel Marie Photographyapple: Photography by Aaron Delesie).


It's been a busy week and my mojo is a bit on the low side, but it's the registrar's birthday next week, so I sat down and made this card for her yesterday. I used MFT's newly released Die-namics Contempo Cage and Stamp set to die cut my bird cage and bird.

For sketch inspiration, I started with this week's WSC Getting Sketchy #41 from My Favorite Things. I flipped the sketch. All the challenge details can be found HERE.


For all the CR84FN challenge details, please be sure to visit the CR84FN blog HERE. I hope you will join us this week.. I can't wait to see what you create! For more inspiration, please visit my fellow design teammates:


Thanks so much for stopping by!

Supplies ~
Stamps: Die-namics Contempo Cage and Stamp set (My Favorite Things)
Paper: Paris & Co., Lost & Found Union Square (My Mind's Eye), Dark Chocolate, Kraft (Papertrey Ink)
Ink: Memento Rich Cocoa (Tsukineko)
Accessories: Die-namics Contempo Cage (MFT), Twine (May Arts), Pearls (Pizzazz Aplenty), Foam tape, Thread, Sewing machine.

TE October Key Ingredients Peek

Hi there! Have you seen the new Taylored Expressions October Key Ingredients? The team has been showing some fabulous projects this past week on The Key Ingredients Blog this week! Today is Day 6 (the final day) of October projects, and it is my day to show what I've come up with..

Here's a little sneak peek of my project (if you'd like to see more, please click HERE and you will be taken directly to my post on the KI blog!)..


If you're not yet a Key Ingredients subscriber, I hope you'll consider joining us! Take a peek around to find all the information you need to know about our kit club! Click here to learn more about subscribing or click here for our FAQ page!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Monday, October 10, 2011

SCRSC64 -- Find Joy in the Simple Moments


It's time for an all new Sparkle Creations Rubber Stamps Challenge! Each week we will post an all new challenge at this time (9 PM PST on Mondays). For all the details, please visit the SCRS blog. This week is a sketch challenge -- sketch courtesy of Kim!


For more SCRS inspiration and details, please visit the SCRS blog to see the design team's wonderful creations and their individual blogs for more details:

Amy Tsuruta, October Guest Designer
Shaela Odd (taking the week off)


Thanks so much for stopping by!

Supplies ~
Stamps: Fall Charlotte, Digital Sentiment (Sparkle Creations)
Paper: Stella and Rose Mabel (My Mind's Eye), Kraft (Papertrey Ink), Classic Crest Classic Natural White (Neenah)
Ink: Memento Rich Cocoa (Tsukineko)
Accessories: Classic Rectangle Nestabilities (Spellbinders), Die-namics File Tab (My Favorite Things), Markers (Copic), Foam tape, Thread, Sewing machine.

Mojo 210 - Your Time to Shine

Hello! It's time for a brand new Mojo Monday sketch (#210).. I hope you will join us this week!


Thanks for all the sweet comments on my last post! Sabrina did great during her Cinderella ballet performance. It was a wonderful show and all the kids really did shine! The local news even did a little segment on the production, HERE. I made this little card for her, keeping it fairly simple and using a few different patterns from the Pink Paislee Vintage Vogue collection. The only stamping I did was for the sentiment, which is from Verve's Let it Shine.

Here's a look at Julee's fabulous sketch:


I hope you will play along with us this week! Please visit the Mojo Monday blog for all the details and to see the wonderful creations by the Mojo Makers! You can also visit their individual blogs for more details:


Thanks so much for stopping by!

Supplies ~
Stamps: Let it Shine (Verve)
Paper: Vintage Vogue (Pink Paislee), Plum Pudding (Papertrey Ink), Classic Crest Classic Natural White (Neenah)
Ink: StazOn Jet Black (Tsukineko)
Accessories: Medium Scallop border die (Papertrey Ink), Dots embossing folder (Provo Craft), Vintage Vogue Ephemera pack (Pink Paislee), Twine (May Arts), Roses (Wild Orchid), Foam tape, Thread, Sewing machine.

Saturday, October 8, 2011

CR84FN40 -- A Cinderella Thank U


Hello! It's time for another CR84FN Challenge! Thank you to all who joined us for the last challenge.. it was fun viewing all of your fabulous creations! For the next challenge (CR84FN40), our color palette is Red, Brown and Kraft. This challenge will last for 2 weeks. Photo credits (L to R): floral by Flower Talkcherries: Photography by Chantel Marie Photographyapple: Photography by Aaron Delesie).

We have a new Guest Designer this month... please welcome Cheryl Lea!

My post is a bit long tonight, so I hope you will bear with me! I have two cards to show you, one using the colors of the color challenge and one that does not. These are for two individuals who have helped Sabrina during the last several weeks in preparation for Cinderella 2011, a ballet production that took place earlier today. I am writing and scheduling this post in advance, and I am hoping that all goes well. This is Sabrina's first performance on the "big stage"!

My first card is for the ballet production's fearless leader, Caroline. She is an amazing woman and has been extremely generous and supportive during all of our rehearsals.


I used the same image on both cards. It is sweet Jolinne from the MFT set, Ballet Recital. I used similar supplies on both cards, but I just changed up the layouts a bit. I used the Die-namics Decorative Doily behind my image, which I stamped, colored, fussy cut and popped up with foam tape. I also used the Die-namics Faux Crochet Border which compliments the doily. I used the Die-namics Notched Tag Die and Stamp set to create my little tag. I stamped the tag, "thank u" and stitched on a felt heart (heart die included with the set).

As much as I love this image, I would love to see the little Pure Innocence girl as a ballerina, wouldn't you?! :)

Here's a look at the inside of my first card. I stamped "Bravo" (from Sweet Spring Jolinne) and the bunch of flowers (from Ballet Recital).


For my second card, I changed the colors a bit to match the soft pinks that I've seen so much during rehearsals. This is for Claire, who plays the part of Cinderella. She helped Sabrina during all the rehearsals. Without Claire's assistance, Sabrina would not have learned all of the moves so well! I know that Sabrina will miss seeing her every week as there are some days she does not stop talking about Claire. :)


I finished the inside of this one similarly:


These will be hand delivered, so I simply put each card and a little gift inside a clear box, added some seam binding, a rose and a simple office tag to each:


And, finally a picture of my Sabrina ballerina that I managed to sneak during one of the rehearsals:


For all the CR84FN challenge details, please be sure to visit the CR84FN blog HERE. I hope you will join us this week.. I can't wait to see what you create! For more inspiration, please visit my fellow design teammates:


Thanks so much for stopping by!

Supplies ~
Stamps: Ballet RecitalSweet Spring JolinneDie-namics Notched Tag Die and Stamp set (My Favorite Things)
Paper: Lost & Found Madison Avenue, Lost & Found 2 Rosy (My Mind's Eye), Dark Chocolate, Rustic Cream (Papertrey Ink)
Ink: Memento Rich Cocoa, Memento Tuxedo Black, Memento Rose Bud (Tsukineko)
Accessories: Die-namics Decorative DoilyDie-namics Faux Crochet BorderDie-namics Notched Tag Die and Stamp set (My Favorite Things); Markers (Copic), Twine (May Arts), Swarovski crystals, Felt, Foam tape, Thread, Sewing machine.