Taylored Expressions Sketch Challenge #102

Happy Friday! The weeks are just flying by lately...I can't believe the weekend is here already! But who's complaining about that!? Not me! That means it's time for another Taylored Expressions Sketch Challenge! Here's the sketch:

Just create a card using the above sketch as inspiration (you're not required to use TE Stamps in your sample)! Link your creation using Mr. Linky below by Friday, March 5th at 8am PST. I'll choose the most clever and creative cards to be included in the TESC Top Crops on my blog! And you definitely don't want to miss the Sketch Crew inspiration below...you can click on any of these cards to read more about the details of these creations!

Created by Sherrie Siemens: Card Creme

Created by Rachel Sztonyk: Gingerbread Gallery

Created by Monika Davis: M.A.D. Stamper

Created by Melissa Sauls: In Stamping Mode

Created by Lynn Mercurio: Stamperosity

Created by Lori Craig: Make A Difference

Created by Lisa Hjulberg: The Craft's Meow

Created by Jami Sibley: More is More

Created by Alice Wertz: Alice's Little Wonderland

Created by Taylor VanBruggen: Taylored Expressions

TESC102 - Sweet Shoppe

The weekend is here again! My back has started to feel a little better which is good because I've got big plans tonight! :) My sister-in-law and I are heading to the Iowa State fairgrounds for a huge craft fair. There will be over 300 vendors! Sounds fun, huh? I am always so inspired to see the amazing variety of creativity displayed at these events! You should know by now that I'm always in the mood for sweets so I grabbed the Sweet Shoppe from Downtown Diva. I stamped the image in Memento Tuxedo Black and colored it with Copic markers. The windows are highlighted with Glossy Accents. I embossed the brown background with the Cuttlebug Swirls embossing folder and chalked the embossed portions with white pigment ink. The sentiment is from Bakery Business and I finished the card off with some Cotton Candy velvet ribbon and Mint Glimmer ribbon. That was short and sweet, but I better be off! Thanks for stopping by today!

Stamps: Downtown Diva, Bakery Business (Taylored Expressions)
Cardstock: Frosted Teal, Suede Brown Medium, Razzleberry Light, Choice Snow White
Patterned Paper: My Mind's Eye Quite Contrary
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, VersaMagic Cloud White
Accessories: Cuttlebug Swirls Embossing Folder, pewter brads, Cotton Candy velvet, Mint Glimmer, foam tape, Copic Markers,

It's a Love Thing

Peek-a-boo! Guess who? I've been missing in action this week! I hadn't been feeling well over the weekend, but by Tuesday I was starting to feel like myself again and decided to play volleyball in the league I'm a part of on Tuesday night. And I was feeling fine until I totally wrenched my back! Now poor Jon has been helping me out of bed just to go to the bathroom for the past two days. I was going stir crazy this afternoon and I had to get down to my stamp space and create something... anything! I was inspired by Mallory...err...I mean Karen (*wink*) and the beautiful brayered sunset she created on this card. I started by stamping the Flamingos in Love in Memento Tuxedo Black ink onto Choice Buttercream cardstock. I stamped the same image onto Eclipse masking tape and cut out the flamingo masks. With the masks in place I used Stampin' Up Apricot Appeal, Pumpkin Pie, and Really Rust ink to create the sunset for the flamingos. Then I removed the masks and colored the flamingos with Copics. The sentiment and row of hearts are from Animal Love Sentiments. After stamping the row of hearts I highlighted them with Carrot Smooch. I love the fine-tip applicator on Smooch because it makes it easy to add these small details. I also added Illuminate Top Coat Smooch to the pink flamingo...I thought the gal could use a little extra glitz! The patterned papers are from the Girl Friday Card Kit and the ribbon is from my stash. Thanks for stopping by today! Hope to see you here for the sketch challenge tomorrow!






Stamps: Animal Love Sentiments, Flamingos in Love (Taylored Expressions)
Cardstock: Island Mist Light, Island Mist Medium, Choice Buttercream
Patterned Paper: Cosmo Cricket Girl Friday
Ink: Apricot Appeal, Pumpkin Pie, Really Rust (Stampin' Up), Memento Tuxedo Black
Accessories: Ribbon (Bazzill & May Arts), Carrot Smooch, Illuminate Top Coat Smooch, Copic markers (RV32, RV34, B52, BG72), foam tape, EK Success border punch, Eclipse masking tape

TESC100 Top Crops & Prizes

Good morning! I hope you all had a wonderful weekend! I wish I could say I had a wonderful weekend, but I've just been feeling 'off' for the past couple days. I did take some time this weekend to check out all of your amazing submissions to the TESC100 Challenge a week ago! It was so hard to narrow it down, but the Sketch Crew and I have come up with the following TESC100 Top Crops who will each receive a $25 gift certificate to the TE Store!








Do you recognize your card as one of the Top Crops above!? If so, congratulations! Just send me an email at tayloredexpressions@gmail.com and I'll send you your gift certificate! I know you'll all want to see the full picture of these amazing cards so just click on each photo above and you'll be taken to the designer's blog for all the details. While you're there give them a big congrats on being selected for the Top Crops!

You may also remember that we were offering a $25 gift certificate to one random selection from among all who posted our TESC100 badge in their blog sidebar. The winner of this is Sammi Betbeder! Sammi, please email me and I will send your gift certificate code to you!

Thank you again to all who participated in our big milestone sketch celebration! It was so much fun we just might have to make it a regular occasion! :)

February Key Ingredients Subscription Challenge

Today the Baker's Dozen and I are excited to share some inspiring projects using the Taylored Expressions February Key Ingredients subscription kit! This month's kit features the classic black and white color combo. We've challenged the Baker's Dozen to add a crisp pop of color into their black and white cards. I'm showcasing a brand new download available in the TE Store today: Many Marvelous Monograms! I know how much I love creating quick sets of cards to give as gifts. And monogram cards are the perfect way to show the recipient that you were thinking about them with your gift! So we've designed this download to make it easy for you to print only the letter you need when you need it. The monograms are sized to be punched out with a 1 3/4" circle punch or a Spellbinders square die. Each page includes 20 of the same monogram with various borders and we've also included a bonus page of borders for you to use with alphabet stamps or stickers you already have in your collection! All of the cardstock, patterned paper, and ribbon on my cards are from the February Key Ingredients kit. I also use the butterfly from the Discover Your Wings set to create a little more interest on the cards without adding any more dimension...keeping them thin and easy to mail! I also added Sassy Pink Smooch to the butterfly bodies along with Tiny Twinkle accents on the wings. On the second set of cards, I decided to use the bonus border page and add Thickers Black and White polka dot letters. I added the same butterfly from Discover Your Wings and highlighted it with Kiwi Smooch and Tiny Twinkles. That's it for my creations, but I have some good news to end with! It's not too late...you can still order our Key Ingredients Subscription and find this black and white kit on your doorstep in just a few days! You can see all of the supplies included in this month's kit and find all the details on how you can become a subscriber RIGHT HERE! Thanks for stopping by today! Don't miss the rest of the February Key Ingredients inspiration from the Baker's Dozen:

Dawn Easton
Karen Motz
Alex Maldonado
Jackie Pedro
Laurie Schmidlin
Sankari Wegman

Dragonfly Card Drive - TESC101

One of the most rewarding things about this hobby we love is to see the joy that a handmade card can bring to someone you love! And even more touching is the comfort of a handmade card during a difficult time, perhaps received from someone you don't even know. In an effort to be a blessing to families experiencing a deep loss, Taylored Expressions is excited to host the Dragonfly Card Drive! My sister-in-law and a high school friend both work as labor and delivery nurses at Sanford Medical Center in Sioux Falls, SD. When they told me about the wonderful work they're doing for parents suffering the loss of a newborn, I knew we could help! The cards we gather will be donated to the Neonatal Intensive Care nurses where they use the dragonfly as a symbol of hope for families who have lost a child during delivery or in the early stages of life. Families are given a dragonfly card while they are in the hospital as something to hold on to, cherish, and comfort them after the quiet time spent with their son or daughter. In addition to a card, the parents receive a small ring with a poem, a prayer shawl for the mother (to symbolize God wrapping his loving arms around her), along with baby footprints and baby molds.

And now we need your help. Would you consider making and donating some cards that feature a dragonfly image? You may use stamps from any company - they do not need to be from Taylored Expressions. As a thank you for participating I will enter your name into a drawing for a $50 gift certificate to the TE Store. Here are the details:

• Create cards (1 or as many as you'd like) that feature a dragonfly image (from ANY stamp company.) You can create several of the same design or several unique designs - it's up to you! Sentiments can be things such as "thinking of you", "with sympathy", "praying for you", Bible verses or inspirational quotes or they can be blank.
• If your cards are standard A2 size (4.25" x 5.5") Taylored Expressions will provide the envelopes. If your cards are any other size then we ask that you please send a blank envelope along with each card donation.
• The more entries we receive, the more prizes there will be. We'll give away 1 $50 Gift Certificate for every 50 cards we receive. So - there will be 1 GC given if we receive 99 cards or less. For 100 - 149 we will give 2 gift certificates, for 150 - 199 there will be 3 gift certificates and so on.
• You will be entered into the drawing once for EACH card you send in with no limit. The more entries, the better your chance to win.
• Mail your doantions to:

Taylored Expressions Card Drive

924 NW 33rd Street
Ankeny, IA 50023

• Cards must be received by March 25th.

And now we have a sketch challenge to get you started! You're not required to use this sketch for the card drive, but perhaps it will provide just the inspiration you need! The Sketch Crew has beautiful cards to share as well and you'll see the theme this week is dragonflies! You can click on any of the cards below for more details:

Created by Alice Wertz: Alice's Little Wonderland

Created by Jackie Pedro: The Scalloped Edge

Created by Jami Sibley - More is More

Created by Lisa Hjulberg: The Craft's Meow

Created by Lynn Mercurio: Stamperosity

Created by Melissa Sauls: In Stamping Mode

Created by Rachel Sztonyk: Gingerbread Gallery

Created by Sherrie Siemens: Card Creme

Created by Taylor VanBruggen: Taylored Expressions

Created by Lori Craig: Make a Difference

Created by Monika Davis: M.A.D. Stamper

If you use this sketch to create a card then just post a link on Mr. Linky below by Friday, February 26th and you'll be in the running for the Top Crops, where I choose the 5 cutest cards to showcase here! Thanks for stopping by today! Hope you all have a wonderful day!

TESC101 - Out of Difficulties Grow Miracles

It's time to ring in the weekend with another TESC! And this Friday is extra special because of the Dragonfly Card Drive that we're kicking off today! I hope you'll read the details above and consider sending in a dragonfly card. For my dragonfly card I immediately grabbed the Discover Your Wings stamp set. One of the driving forces behind the design of this set was the card drive for Sanford Medical Center and I'm excited to finally be able to use the dragonfly for this purpose. I started by embossing the silhouette flower scene with brown embossing powder. Then I used my brayer to apply Tangerine and Yellow Ochre chalk ink to background. The chalked piece was cut out with Spellbinders Labels 1. The dragonfly is stamped in Memento Rich Cocoa and colored with Copic markers. Then I went back and highlighted parts of the wings and body with the new Carrot and Kiwi Smooch and added Tiny Twinkles to the 'head' (do dragonflies have heads?). I used cardstock and patterned paper from the Bloom & Grow Card Kit and finished it off with some Brown w/Cream double edge dot ribbon and a little faux stitching along the bottom.





Stamps: Discover Your Wings, Faith & Hope (Taylored Expressions)
Ink: Memento Rich Cocoa, Colorbox Yellow Ochre, Tangerine, Versamark
Cardstock: Suede Brown Dark, Papaya Puree Dark, Spring Willow Medium, Choice Buttercream
Patterned Paper: My Mind's Eye Bloom & Grow
Accessories: Tiny Twinkles, Carrot Smooch, Kiwi Smooch, brown embossing powder, brown w/cream double edge dot ribbon, foam tape, Labels 1

Baby Shower Invitation

My mom is helping to plan a baby shower for a couple from church so we sat down last weekend to create a few invitations. I wanted to use a duck on the invitation, but none of the duck stamps I have were fitting the vision in my head. I tried to sketch a duck in order to create a template and my efforts can be summed up in one word.... laughable! So I asked my mom to try sketching a duck and she came out with this perfect little duck on the first try! Apparently I didn't receive that gift from her! :) So we traced her duck template onto cardstock, cut each one out, and chalked the edges with Yellow Ochre chalk ink. Then we added Orange Sparkly Fluff to the beak and a tiny Black Pearl for the eye. The patterned paper is from the October Afternoon Ducks in a Row collection and the "You're Invited" stamp is from the $1 spot at Michael's. I just love how these turned out and my mom said the baby shower guests loved them too! Thanks for stopping by today! Hope to see you tomorrow for TESC101! There's still time to enter your card in last week's sketch challenge for a chance to win a $25 gift certificate to the TE Store! Hope you all have a wonderful day!

P.S. Remember the Mouthwatering Monster Cookies recipe I shared a while back? I received an email encouraging me to submit the recipe for a contest at Foodista.com so I did! Now I need your help... click on the image below to vote for my Mouthwatering Monster Cookies!







Stamps: You're Invited sentiment (Michael's $1 Spot)
Ink: Memento Rich Cocoa, Colorbox Yellow Ochre
Cardstock: Sunflowers Medium, Frosted Teal, Choice Buttercream
Patterned Paper: October Afternoon Ducks in a Row
Accessories: Real Juicy Orange Sparkly Fluff, foam tape, May Arts ribbon, Kaisercraft black pearls

Mojo Monday - Pamper Yourself

I had some time this morning to sit down and create so I thought it would be fun to try my hand at a Mojo Monday sketch. It has been way too long since I used one of Julee's fun sketches! I still had patterned papers from the October Afternoon Report Card collection scattered across my desk from my Impressabilities projects yesterday so I decided to use up some scraps on this card. I started by stamping Cuppie in the bathtub from the Sweet Indulgence set. I thought she deserved a polka dot tub so I paper pieced that section of the image and colored the rest with Copics. Did you see my announcement yesterday? New SMOOCH colors have arrived at the TE Store! I was so excited to try out a new Smooch called Illuminate on this card. This fun glittery mixture is an amazing top coat to any image! I used it on the bubbles in the bathtub...I wish you could all see it in person because the photo just doesn't pick up the shimmer. I added a 'tile floor' in the bathroom, cut the image with Spellbinders Labels 9, and added a Tiny Twinkle outline. My mom stopped by right as I was finishing up the image and she added her idea to do a list of pampering. She has the best ideas...I just love how that part turned out! I printed the list from the computer and added Tiny Twinkle Stars to each item. It was easy to finish off with some Ruby Red Liquid Pearl dots and a layered flower. Thanks for stopping by today! Don't forget to check out our Impressabilities product focus and SALE below! Hope you all have a wonderful day!





Stamps: Sweet Indulgence (Taylored Expressions)
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
Cardstock: Classic Red, Vibrant Teal, Frosted Teal, Choice Buttercream
Patterned Paper: October Afternoon Report Card
Accessories: Copic Markers (R81, R83, R27, BG10), Amore Felt Flowers, Spring Flowers, Spellbinders Labels 9, Stampin' Up scalloped border punch, Ruby Red liquid pearls, Crystal Tiny Twinkles, Tiny Twinkle Shapes, Smooch Illuminate, foam tape

Center of Attention Product Spotlight - Impressabilities

Today the Baker's Dozen and I have another exciting Center of Attention Product Focus! We've had Spellbinders Impressabilities in the TE store for a long time, but it wasn't until I sat down and started creating with them yesterday that I found so many reasons why these templates should be in every stampers arsenal!

I'm excited to share some of the projects I've created and show you just how many uses I've found for the Impressabilities! If you haven't previously used Impressabilities, they're super easy to use! The thin metal stencil can be used for embossing and is compatible with many die cutting machines including the Cuttlebug and Big Shot! You can find all of the sandwich information for using the Impressabilties with your personal die cutting machine HERE.

You can find all of our Impressabilities here. And in honor of our Center of Attention product spotlight, they're 15% off today and tomorrow (February 16-17). Don't forget to check out the Fresh Out of Oven category while you're at the store. We just received a big box of the new colors of SMOOCH!











I decided to start by trying the gorgeous Letterpress technique that I've seen on so many cards. The finished product looks so professional that the recipient will never guess it was so easy! The only difference with this technique is that before you put the cardstock over the stencil, you apply pigment ink directly to the stencil. This is what gives the debossed portion of the image a different color. I inked my stencil with Colorbox Cloud White ink before running it through The Wizard. I also cut one of the butterflies from the design, spritzed it with Lime Metallic Maya Mist, and popped it up at the bottom. The patterned paper is from the October Afternoon Ducks in a Row paper pad and I used Thickers Patchwork for the sentiment. And here you can see a side-by-side comparison of the letterpress and embossed/chalked techniques. The technique on the left requires ink directly on the stencil before you send it through your machine. With the technique on the right you send it through the machine first to emboss your cardstock and then chalk the embossed portion with pigment ink.













I wanted to try something different with my second card so I sent cardstock through The Wizard to emboss it (with the Butterfly stencil) and then keeping the stencil in place, I spritzed the cardstock with Iridescent Pearl Metallic Maya Mist. I love this effect! I decided to pair it with the cherries from Berries and Cherries and some patterned paper that reminds me of a 70's diner from the October Afternoon Report Card collection. I also used the same Thickers Patchwork chipboard for the sentiment. I decided I wasn't quite through with this technique so I embossed another piece of cardstock and misted it with Lime Metallic Maya Mist so you can see the closeup of that too.














OK I promise...just one more card! This time I decided to emboss the cardstock (with the Pebbles Impressabilities), chalk the embossed portion with white pigment ink, and then cut a heart from that piece. You can see the cool design on the red heart behind the image panel. I stamped the Whales in Love with Memento Rich Cocoa ink, colored it with Copic markers, and cut it out with the Spellbinders Classic Heart die. I added Glossy Accents to the water and Crystal Stickles to the hearts. And then finished it off with some Caribbean satin ribbon and the Thickers Patchwork chipboard.

Thanks for stopping by to check out our Impressabilities Product Focus! I can guarantee you won't want to miss the rest of Impressabilities projects the Baker's Dozen has to share:

Charmaine, Karen G., Melissa, Jodi, Donna