12/30/17

Sending Lots of Love

Hi Everyone! It is the last day of 2017. There is something exciting about starting a new year, the clean, fresh start to new memories and adventures. To be honest 2017 has been a year with beautiful moments and some very difficult times.  One of my beautiful daughters got married to a wonderful man. The planning, the shared times with my four girls, the shower, and all the fun events meant the world to me. And seeing the joy and love in my daughter's face is priceless. But I also lost both my mother this year. She had a long life, made a difference in world, was a wonderful role model to me, my siblings and her 13 grandchildren. We really can't ask for more than that but I miss her.

I want to thank each and everyone of you who stop by my blog and follow me on Instagram, leaving sweet comments and encouragement. It really does mean a lot to me. I love designing. I love the creative process and all the wonderful people I have met through this craft. 

I am finishing off the year with a happy card created with products from Pretty Pink Posh. The Pretty Pink Posh Store will be re-opening on January 4! I am working on projects for the new release this week! 


I created the rainbow with the Sparkle Dot Patterns 1 stamp set and sequins from the Fresh Garden, Berry Bright, and Autumn Harvest Sequin Mixes. This stamp set is such a creative idea! I cut the window in the card front with the Window Frames Die Set. 


The clouds are die cut with the Rainy Days Die Set. The sentiment is from the Everyday Greetings Stamp Set. I stamped in a white pigment ink and embossed with white embossing powder. The scallop edge is die cut with a border die in the Scallop Border 1 Die Set. 

Thanks for stopping by and Happy New Year!!


12/18/17

Merry Christmas Gift Card Holder

Hi and thanks for stopping by! Today I am sharing my last Christmas card for this season with some great products from Pretty Pink Posh! I always find it a little sad when the Holiday creating season is over. It is one of my favorite times of year to create. My card today is a gift card holder. Sometimes a gift card is the best gift but I love the way a handmade card can make the gift card a little more special!


I cut a piece of watercolor paper for my card front and used the PeekaBoo Windows Dies to cut a pocket in the card front to hold the gift card. Then I used a blending tool to create a night sky with Distress inks in Blueprint Sketch, Chipped Sapphire, and Black Soot. Then I splattered on gold paint. 

Next I stamped the holly branches and birds from the Winter Woodland Stamp Set and the ornaments from the Angels Friends Stamp Set. I colored the images with Copic Markers and die cut with the coordinating Winter Wonderland Die Set and the Angel Friends Die Set


I hung the ornaments with gold twine and die cut the sentiment from gold foil with the Merry Christmas Script Die Set.  Then I attached the card front to the card base with double stick tape being sure to leave a pocket open to insert the gift card. Lastly, I added a few Metallic  Gold Confetti Mix

Thanks for stopping by! And thanks for all your sweet comments and support throughout the year! 

Merry Christmas! 


12/15/17

The Final Curtain Call Inspiration Challenge

Today I am sharing my project for the FINAL Curtain Call Inspiration Challenge. I was so excited when Stacey asked me to be part of the team and I have been honored to design along side so many creative and talented designers.


Here is my project based on the inspiration photo. I created my own wrapping paper and handmade tag with products from Pretty Pink Posh


To create the gift wrap I cut a piece of Kraft paper to the fit the package and then used the berry stamp in the Autumn Blooms Stamp Set and the Evergreens in the Holiday Greetings Stamp Set to create the pattern. 


I added a few gold highlight lights with Tonic Nuvo Crystal Drops in Metallic Bright Gold. 


The base of my tag is die cut with the Scallop Square Tags Die Set, The sentiment is in the  Holiday Greetings Stamp Set. I created the flowers with the Wild Rose Stamp Set and die cut with the coordinating Wild Rose Die Set. I embossed the flowers with gold embossing powder and colored with Copic Markers. I love the look of these pretty, contemporary flowers! The stamped berries are die cut with the Autumn Blooms Stamp Set

Thanks for stopping by! Stop by the Curtain Call Inspiration Challenge for more inspiration!


12/12/17

Christmas Joy

Hi Everyone! I am up on the Pretty Pink Posh Blog today for Christmas Theme and Giveaway Week!  Be sure to stop by the PPP Blog for all the detail and lots of inspiration!



I have a soft, elegant Christmas card to share with you created with the Joy Shaker Die and the Winter Woodland Stamp Set.

When I saw the holly branch in the Winter Woodland Stamp Set I just thought it was so beautiful. For me, it allows me to take a cute animal stamp set and give my card a more elegant feel. And the Joy Shaker Die is one of my favorite dies from the newest release. 


To create the background I cut a piece of watercolor paper for the card front. I used the solid snow stamp and stamped snow several times in a white pigment ink and then embossed with white embossing powder. Then I used a blending tool to add Oxide Ink to the paper. I misted the paper with water and splattered on white paint with a paint brush. 


I colored the stamped images from the Winter Woodland Stamp Set with Copic Markers and die cut with the Winter Woodland Coordinating Dies. I splattered a little white paint on the branches too. I cut the Joy Shaker Die twice, once from a glittered cardstock and again from a lightweight chipboard, and then glued the two layers together. This gives the die cut a little more dimension. Behind the die cut I add a circle of vellum. 


The stamped sentiment and evergreen branches are from the Holiday Greetings Stamp Set and I die cut the edge with the Stitched Borders 2 Dies

My card is finished off with a few sequins from Marshmallow Confetti Mix

Thanks for stopping by today! 

12/7/17

It's Release Day at Taylored Expessions!

Hi and thanks for stopping by! It's December Release Day at Taylored ExpressionsAll the new December products are available at the TE web store NOW.  

Today I have two pretty cards to share with you created with two of my favorite products from the new release. 


First up is my card using the new Mandala Cutting Plate. LOVE!  Here I die cut the plate from watercolor paper and used a blending tool and distress inks to add the rings of color. Then I cut a piece of vellum to fit behind the cutting plate add and distress inks to the back of the vellum to create the soft look. 


I cut the Hello Script Die twice and adhered the two layers together to add a bit more depth to the sentiment. The word "friend" is from the Friendly Phrases Stamp Set and die cut with the Double-ended Flag Stacklets. 



My second card is created with the Big Blooms - Rose Stamp Set. I stamped the flower with Versamark Ink and embossed with gold embossing powder. Then I colored the flower and leaves with Copic Markers and then hand cut the images. 


I stamped a sentiment from the Friendly Phrases Stamp Set on vellum and die cut with the Double-ended Flag Stacklets. I added the water droplets with Clear Nuvo Crystal Drops. The background is embossed with the Dotted Lattice Embossing Folder. 


Thanks for visiting! If you'd like to see more projects and new product information, please head over to the TE Blog for a complete list of our participating designers!




12/6/17

Taylored Expressions December Sneak Peeks Day 3 - Mandalas

Welcome to Day 3 of Taylored Expressions December Release sneak peeks! Today I have two fun projects to share with you. All the new products will be available on Thursday, December 7th at 7:00 PST. 


First up is the Mandala Background 2 Stamp. I will admit that this is one of favorite cards I created for the December Release. I stamped the Mandala in gold ink and embossed with gold embossing paper on watercolor paper. Then I used my blending tool and sponged on distress inks in Picked Raspberry, Worn Lipstick, and Spun Sugar. 


I cut the heart with the Stitched Heart Stacklets and added it to the card with foam tape. I stamped a sentiment from the Friendly Phrases Stamp Set and die cut with the Double Ended Flag Stacklets. I finished off the card with three gold sequins. 



My next card is created with the Sitting Pretty - Valentine Accessories. I die cut the shelf with the die in the Sitting Pretty Die Die Set. The coordinating envelope is stamped with the new Love Mail Stamp Set. 


The bottom of the card is embossed with the Bead Board Embossing Folder. The sentiment is from the new Simply Said - Valentine Stamp Set. 



Taylored Expressions is celebrating Release Week with a giveaway during each day of sneak peeks! Visit the TE Blog to answer Taylor’s Question of the Day for a chance to win one of the latest products before you can buy it!

Thanks for stopping by! I will be back tomorrow with my Release Day Projects. 



12/5/17

Taylored Expressions Sneak Peeks Day 2 - Happy Valentine's Day

Hi and welcome to Day 2 of Taylored Expressions December Release sneak peeks! I have two cards to share today created with the new Watercolor Panels - ValentineAll the new products will be available on Thursday, December 7th.


I think my card and the favor box, die cut with the new All Tucked In Die, makes a special Valentine gift! 


I painted my cards with a combination of Zig Clean Markers and Kuretake Gansai Tambi Watercolor Paints. Next I created a frame with the Inside Scallop Rectangle Stacklets and the Stitched Rectangle Stacklets. 


The sentiment is from the new Simply Said - Valentine Stamp Set. I added a few Enamel Hearts in Lollipop. The cute polka dot paper is from the new Playful Patterns - Valentine Paper Pack


All Tucked In favor box fits Ghirardelli chocolate squares, small square post it notes, and other small treats. So cute!





Here's a look at one of the other Watercolor Panels - Valentine. There are four different designs in the set. I personalized the envelope with the new Love Mail Stamp Set. 


I added the bottom border of hearts with the Filled with Love Stamp & Die Combo and added a few Snow Flurries Sequins. 


For a limited time, earn DOUBLE CRAFTY POINTS on our All Tucked In die! If you're not a Crafty Points member, it's free and easy to join. Just create an account at the TE webstore and you're automatically enrolled to begin earning crafty points with every purchase. You'll earn 74 Crafty Points on the purchase of our All Tucked In die! Offer valid on qualifying purchases made between 9am CST on Thursday, December 7, 2017 and 11:59 pm CST on Sunday, December 10, 2017 and only while supplies last. Crafty Points are only available on purchases made via our retail site: www.tayloredexpressions.com.



Taylored Expressions is celebrating Release Week with a giveaway during each day of sneak peeks! Visit the TE Blog to answer Taylor’s Question of the Day for a chance to win one of the latest products before you can buy it!

Thanks for stopping by! I will be back tomorrow with another sneak peek. 





12/4/17

Taylored Expressions December Sneak Peeks Day 1 - Love Ya!

Welcome to Day 1 of Taylored Expressions December Release. I will have a variety of products to share with you over the next four day. Today is all about love with a couple of Valentine's Day Projects. I know we haven't even celebrated Christmas yet, but we work ahead in the design team world! All the new products will be available on Thursday, December 7th.


My first card is created with the If Cupid Could Talk Stamp & Die Combo. I stamped the sweet cupid in Oreo Ink and colored with Comic Markers. I die cut the frame with the new Inside Scallop Square Stacklets and the Stitched Square Stacklets. The sentiment is included in the stamp set and is die cut with the Double-Ended Flag Stacklets.


The background is embossed with the Conversation Hearts Embossing Folder. The small hearts are die cut with the new Little Bits - Hearts




Check out the background on this card! I stamped the new Luv-a-Doodle Background Stamp in Cupcake Ink on Sugar Cube Cardstock. Such a quick and easy way to make your own patterned paper! The envelope is stamped with the new Love Mail Stamp Set. 


I created the heart with the new Pierced Heart Stacklets, designed to work with Heart Stacklets. I strung Silver Twine though the heart and added a vellum heart in the background. The flower embellishment is created the the Mini Bloomers 2 and the Bloomers Greenery Dies. The sentiment is from the new Simply Said - Valentine and die cut with the Double Ended Flag Stacklets. The arrow is die cut with the Follow Your Arrow Die from Silver Foil. 


Taylored Expressions is celebrating Release Week with a giveaway during each day of sneak peeks! Visit the TE Blog to answer Taylor’s Question of the Day for a chance to win one of the latest products before you can buy it!

Thanks for stopping by! I will be back tomorrow with another sneak peek. 



11/29/17

Wild Rose Thank You

Hi and thanks for stopping by! I have a thank you card to share with you created with the pretty Wild Rose Stamp Set and the Wild Rose Coordinating Dies. I really like to have thank you cards ready to go so I have them when I need them!

I started by stamping the flowers and leaves from the Wild Rose Stamp Set in Delicata Silver Shimmer Ink and then embossed with a silver embossing powder.


I used Copic Markers to color the stamped images and die cut the flowers and leaves with the Wild Rose Coordinating Dies


To die cut the sentiment I used the Thank You Script Die. I cut the sentiment two times from a gray cardstock and glued the two layers together. This adds depth to the die cut and helps the sentiment stand out more on the card front.


I used two patterned papers. On the strip of paper that go across the middle of the card I added a strip of silver foil to the top and bottom and then attached the strip to the card front with a double sided foam tape. I wanted to leave a little room to slide a few of the flowers and leaves under the center strip and the foam tape gave me the space I needed. I arranged and attached the flowers and the leaves and finished off the card with a few sequins from the Sparkling Clear Confetti Mix

Thanks for stopping by!