Taylored Expressions Sneak Peeks ~ Day 2!

Hi everyone! Today is day two of sneak peeks from Taylored Expressions and I think you're going love these sets as much as I do!  Half of the Baker's Dozen is peeking a new Cuppie set called Udderly Sweet along with the coordinating Udderly Sweet Project Pantry Kit.  The other half of the Baker's Dozen is peeking two new sets, Summer Afternoon and Care & Comfort. I have two projects using Summer Afternoon and Care & Comfort. 

Summer Afternoon is a set of 11 beautiful silhouette stamps designed by Nancy McKinney for the Whimsical Wishes Line. Care & Comfort is a set of nine beautiful sympathy sentiments and Bible verses that also coordinates perfectly with Summer Afternoon. All of the sets you have and will see this week will be available for purchase at the Taylored Expressions Store on Friday June 4th @ 8:00 am PST.

Let's get to the samples now, shall we?

This card uses the new Summer Afternoon. The silhouettes in this set are so gorgeous. I used these colors the other day on a card for the Embellish Magazine Color Challenge with Butterflies and loved it so much that I decided to use it again on both of my cards today. The flower silhouette was stamped in Spring Moss ink and was cut out with Classic Square Nesties and layered on a black Big Scallop Square Nestability. The diamond scored background was done with a Scor-Pal and I think I'm addicted to my Corner Chomper because I can't stop rounding the corners of my cards! The Corner Chomper ROCKS!

Here is a close up of the sentiment! It reminds me of summer when I was young and didn't have any responsibility. Ahhhhh......I also ruffled my ribbon and added a button with some twine.

This card uses the new Care & Comfort (sentiment), Summer Afternoon (large flourish) and Garden Party Critters (butterfly). Most of the sentiments in Care & Comfort fit inside the large flourish from Summer Afternoon. I used the same colors as the first card and just find this so soothing. I rounded all of the corners with the Corner Chomper, ruffled the ribbon, and added some stitches with rustic jute twine. Do you ever have a card that comes together so easily and that you really love? That's how I feel about this card.....

Don't forget to check out what the rest of the Baker's Dozen has done with the new sets peeked today!

Alex Maldonado

Carolina Buchting
Charmaine Ikach

Donna Baker

Jami Sibley
Jeanie Witmer

Jodi Collins

Karen Giron

Karen Motz

Melissa Sauls

Nancy McKinney

Sankari Wegman

Taylor VanBruggen

Thanks for stopping by!

Taylored Expressions Sneak Peek ~ Pet's Place

Hi there everyone!!  Welcome to day one of the Taylored Expressions sneak peeks!  We've got four days of incredible peeks lined up, you won't want to miss a thing! 

Taylored Expressions supports various charities through the TE Giving Tree Program. There is a new stamp set introduced every 3 months to support a new charity. We are proud to bring you Pet's Place, the newest set in the Apple Doodle Ink line, to support The Humane Society of the United States.

The Humane Society of the United States is the nation's largest and most effective animal protection organization. The HSUS seeks a humane and sustainable world for all animals—a world that will also benefit people. They are America's mainstream force against cruelty, exploitation and neglect, as well as the most trusted voice extolling the human-animal bond. HSUS is also the lead disaster relief agency for animals, and they provide direct care for thousands of animals at sanctuaries and rescue facilities, wildlife rehabilitation centers, and mobile veterinary clinics. Read more about HSUS here http://www.humanesociety.org/about/overview/

Pet's Place will be available in the TE Store on Friday morning at 8 am PST. $7 from the sale of each set will be donated to HSUS. Please remember that sets in the Giving Tree Program are the same high quality deeply etched pink rubber on EZ Mount as all other TE stamp sets, however unlike our other sets you will need to trim these images yourself. This allows us to cut production costs and donate more to our charities.

Here's the card I made with this DARLING new set, Pet's Place!  There are so many CUTE images in this set and I finally, after much deliberation, used this image!  The sketch is this week's sketch from Mercy Kerin. MTSC76.  I paired it with the soon to be released AMAZING Pet's Place Project Pantry featuring the Basic Grey Max and Whisker's line!  The Project Pantry Kits give you enough supplies to make 12-20 cards!  Taylor hand picks all of the products that go into the kit to coordinate perfectly.  I love that all of the thinking is done for me!  All I have to do is sit down and create!

The Project Pantry kit includes all of the following for $22.95:

20 sheets 6x6 double-sided patterned paper (Max &Whiskers)

~12 sheets of cardstock (Buttercream neutral)

~5 yards of ribbon

~Dog Bone clips

~Fish/Paw/Bone brads

~Coordinating mix of buttons

~Basic Grey Brads

~Basic Grey 12x12 cardstock sticker sheet

~Clear Rhinestones

~Sparkling Coffee Fluff

You can also purchase the Max and Whiskers Project Pantry Kit along with the new Pet's Place Giving Tree Set for $44.90.  Such a deal.....

Looking for more?  Don't forget to check out the rest of the Baker's Dozen for some amazing projects made with Pet's Place!

Alex Maldonado

Carolina Buchting

Charmaine Ikach

Donna Baker

Jami Sibley

Jeanie Witmer

Jodi Collins

Karen Giron

Karen Motz

Melissa Sauls

Sankari Wegman

Taylor VanBruggen

Sending Well Wishes

Hi there everyone!  Happy Sunday to you!  I had some more time this morning, so I took a little time to do one more card for Joanne's Sketch Plus Three challenge!  I used the only Pure Innocence set that hasn't seen any ink so that means I can buy some more!  If you're wondering what I'm talking about, I told myself that I couldn't buy any more Pure Innocence images until they had ALL seen ink at least one time!  So a new MFT order is in my future!  YIPPEE!!

Here are the "Plus Three" elements on my card:  Denim, Twill, Kraft, Text Printed Papers & Stitching......

I REALLY wish Joanne would make challenges a normal thing on her blog....she does the best challenges!! 

Well, we're going to be barbecuing in just a bit, and I hope all of my American friends have a fantastic Memorial Day.  We can never forget the sacrifices all of the brave men and women make to allow us our freedoms!!  God Bless!

Stamps:  Better Get Better (My Favorite Things)

Paper:  Kraft, Pure Poppy, October Afternoon Thrift Shop DP

Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black, Copics

Accessories & Tools:  Medium Scallop Die (PTI), Oval and Big Scallop Oval Nesties, Pure Poppy Buttons, Twill Ribbon (SU!), Corner Chomper, Vintage Jute Twine, Mat Pack and Piercing Tool, Foam Tape

Embellish Magazine Color Challenge & Joanne's Sketch Plus Three Challenge!

Hi there everyone!  I have had such a CRAZY and BUSY week and there literally has been no time to sit and make anything!  I've been NEEDING to sit down and create, so after dinner tonight, I did just that!  It felt so good!  I hadn't stamped since Tuesday!  I rarely go that long.....but I digress...

Two things on my "Hope to do" list this week were to play with the Embellish Magazine Color Plus Butterflies Challenge and participate in Joanne Basile's Sketch Plus Three Challenge.  Well, for the sake of time, I combined the two!  I used a new set from Taylored Expressions (designed by Taylor herself), Garden Party Critters.  I used the colors from the Embellish Magazine challenge and for Joanne's Sketch Plus Three I used Kraft, Stitching, Gingham, Paper Piecing and Bling! (wow, I didn't realize I used 5!!)  I have the HARDEST time photographing Kraft cardstock....it always seems so gray!  I am very happy with how this card turned out!

That's all from me tonight!  I hope the remainder of your weekend is fantastic!  We are finally experiencing some beautiful weather!  YIPPEE!!

Stamps:  Garden Party Critters

Paper:  Kraft, True Black, Spring Moss, Bitty Box and Bitty Dot DP

Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black

Accessories & Tools:  Classic Oval and Big Scallop Oval Nestabilities, Gingham Ribbon, EKSuccess Scallop Punch, Adhesive Gems (KaiserCraft), Sewing Machine, Foam Tape

PTI May Blog Hop ~ Fun with Felt!

Hi there everyone!  I'll keep this short as I'm sure you're all busy hopping around!  I went pretty easy with the felt and made two felt ric rac strips with Vintage Cream felt!  Surprise Surprise.....I also used Year Of Flowers: Daffodils!  Well, in all fairness, it was already sitting on my desk from the card I made yesterday!  That's my story and I'm stickin' to it!  LOL!

I used this week's 2Sketches4U sketch.  It's actually my first time participating in their sketches!  Anywho....there is a supply list at the end of this post in case you're wondering what products I used!

Have fun hoppin' around and thank you for stopping by!!

Stamps:  YOF: Daffodils (Papertrey Ink)

Paper:  Kraft, Vintage Cream, Ripe Avocado Bitty Dot DP

Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black, Copic Markers

Accessories & Tools:  Vintage Cream Felt, Ric Rac Border Die, Dark Chocolate Buttons, Corner Chomper, Foam Tape

DeLovely Daffodil {MTSC75}

Hi everyone!  It's Tuesday and it's time for another one of Mercy's sketches!!  I couldn't resist again this week and pulled out, well it actually sits front and center on my desk, Year of Flowers: Daffodils from Papertrey Ink.  Did I mention that I think this is one of the best sets I've ever ordered from Papertrey?  I did?  Well, I'm just reiterating it again!  I REALLY {heart} this set!

I paper pieced the daffodil using some new Cosmo Cricket DeLovely dp that I picked up the other day at my LSS.  This paper is really bright, but I think it's so pretty!  I paired it with what seems to be my new favorite Kraft cardstock.  I used to use Kraft every once in awhile, but I reach for it almost every time I make a card now!  I made the diamond pattern with my Scor-Pal, sponged the edges with Tea Dye distress ink and rounded the corners with my Corner Chomper.  A ric rac border, some stitching and a button finished it off!

Don't forget to check out the other Muse's did with today's sketch!

Cindy Haffner

Crystal Birr

Jessica Diedrich

Julie Lacey

Pam Spiedel

Pam Varnell
Torico (May's Guest Muse)

and of course, Mercy!

Meghan's Diaper Cake

Hi there everyone!!  I just wanted to pop in this morning to show you what I've been up to the last couple days!  My cousin, Meghan, is pregnant with her first child and yesterday we went to her baby shower!  On Friday, my youngest dd, Sarah, and I made this diaper cake for her.  Sarah loves to help roll the diapers!  This is the third one I've made as a baby shower gift and they are always a big hit!  I used this awesome tutorial from Susan Liles! 

Meghan is having a boy and the nursery is done in lime green, chocolate!  All of the dp is October Afternoon Fly a Kite and the Chocolate cardstock is Dark Chocolate from Papertrey Ink.  The rolled diapers surround a bottle of baby powder and a baby bottle!  I purchased the letters at my LSS.  She really loved it and it was a big hit with everybody!

You can check out my other two diaper cakes here and here!

I hope you have a great Sunday! 

Center of Attention Product Spotlight ~ Stickers

Hi there!  This month half of the Baker's Dozen Design Team will be showcasing all of the different stickers that Taylored Expressions carries and different ways to use them!  I will be showing you the October Afternoon Fly a Kite Word Stickers today!  They are made to coordinate with my new fave October Afternoon Fly a Kite DP!  Here is what they look like:

I am not one to use stickers when I make cards, but I always relate stickers to scrapbooking!  Now it's been a LONG time since I've made a scrapbook page, but back in the day when I first discovered scrapbooking, I couldn't get enough stickers!  So let's get on to today's focus!

Now go easy on me!!  I have not made a scrapbook page in what seems like forever, but man did I have fun with this page!  The October Afternoon stickers are fantastic!  They are a wonderful cardstock weight and are very easy move if you decide to change placement!  If you carefully lift them from one side to the other they don't rip the page.....ask me how I know!

Earlier this year I had the wonderful opportunity to travel to Los Angeles and attend my first Craft and Hobby Association Trade Show (CHA) courtesy of Taylored Expressions!  (Thanks, T!) I had the most fun meeting and spending time with the fabulous women of the Baker's Dozen DT!  I thought it only fitting to scrap a couple of the pictures from that MOST FUN time not so long ago!  I {heart} these ladies!

Here is a close up of two of the stickers I used.  The pink sticker that reads "Just the 7 of Us" actually says "Just the 2 of Us".  I merely wrote the number 7 on a piece of cardstock and punched it out with a small cirlce punch and placed it over the number 2.  You can also see my sewing machine went a little wonky here!  The journaling was created on my computer and was cut out with Curved Rectangle Nestabilities.

And here are two more stickers.  I only used four stickers from the sheet and there are oodles and oodles left for me to use on other projects!  These would also be great on a card.

Each of our Center of Attention products will be on sale for a limited time following our product spotlight (May 20 - 23). This time we'll be offering a 15% discount on all Stickers!

Don't forget to check out the other stickers that were used for this product focus!  I can't wait to see myself!

Alex Maldonado

Carolina Buchting

Jeanie Witmer

Karen Motz

Sankari Wegman

Taylor Van Bruggen

Thanks for stopping by! 

Verve's Sizzlin' Summer Fun Project Parade!

Hi everyone!  I just wanted to pop in here to let you know that this month's Verve Project Parade kicked off on Monday over on the Verve Blog.  This month's theme is Sizzlin' Summer Fun!  Today is my day to post and here is what I made:

What makes this Sizzlin' Summer Fun you ask?  Well, you can't have Sizzlin' Summer Fun until you graduate, right?  LOL!  You can find all of the details on my card over at the Verve Blog! 

You also know that it wouldn't be a Project Parade without prizes, right?  To find out all the details on how you can win by....you guessed it.....heading over to the Verve Blog!  And while you're there why don't you check out the awesome projects that Charmaine and Jen have already created!!

Thanks for stopping by!  I hope you have a great day!

Stamps: Happy Days, Hibuscus Plain Jane (Verve Stamps)

Paper: Kraft, Vintage Cream (both PTI), October Afternoon Thrift Shop DP

Ink: Summer Sunrise (PTI), Not Quite Navy (SU!)

Accessories & Tools: Circle Nestabilities, Summer Sunrise Satin Ribbon (PTI), Corner Chomper, Adhesive Gems (KaiserCraft), Foam Tape

TE Blast From The Past Blog Hop!

Hi there!  Welcome to the first ever Taylored Expressions Customer Blast From the Past Blog Hop where we are featuring any Taylored Expressions stamps that were released in 2008 and 2009!  You will see cards from the Baker's Dozen and many of Taylor's customers!  You will find a link list at the bottom of this post!

I used my MUCH LOVED Beary Special set!  This was one of my earliest purchases from Taylored Expressions before I became a member of the Baker's Dozen and I just love it!  The teddy bear was stamped in Memento Black ink on Choice Buttercream and colored with Copic Markers. I paper pieced the bear's patch, feet and ears.  He was cut out and popped up on foam tape.  The DP is a mix of October Afternoon Fly a Kite and Thrift Shop.  I rounded all of the corners with the Corner Chomper! 

Don't forget to check out all of the amazing creations from all of the particpants!  I can't wait to hop around!

Stamps:  Beary Special (Taylored Expressions)
Paper:  Kraft (PTI), Choice Buttercream, October Afternoon Fly a Kite & Thrift Shop DP

Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black, Copics

Accessories & Tools:  Circle & Blossom Nestabilities, Martha Stewart Punch, Buttons, Twill Ribbon, Corner Chomper, Sewing Machine, Foam Tape