Green at Heart Thank You's

I returned back from a wonderful trip to sunny So Cal yesterday! I had a great time meeting new stampers and catching up with old friends at the classes I taught. I must admit that it was nice to sleep back in my own bed last night. After an early morning flight yesterday I feel like I could have slept forever this morning! But my early bird husband woke me up so I might as well make the most of the morning (can you tell I'm not a morning person?). We just got a bunch of new Basic Grey Green at Heart embellishments in the store and I was feeling inspired to create! I love the bright and fresh color combinations in this collection, especially the yummy buttons! And instead of my usual hoarding I decided to actually use the adorable Bloomers on my cards (novel idea, huh?). I started by choosing my patterned papers to pair with the Bloomers. All of the papers are from the 6x6 Green at Heart paper pad except the Choice Snow White image panels and the Kraft card bases. I used some thank you sentiments that I picked up a long time ago. Each of the leaves is accented with Copic White, a cool new addition to the TE Store. I also used Raspberry Twill, Spellbinders Big Scalloped Rectangles, and Labels One. That's it's for these super quick cards and now I have some springy thank you cards for my stash! Thanks for stopping by today! Hope you all have a wonderful day!





Stamps: Thank You Sentiments (Spunky Stamps)
Patterned Paper: Basic Grey Green at Heart 6x6 pad
Cardstock: Choice Snow White, Kraft
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
Accessories: Green at Heart Bloomers, Green at Heart Gummies, Green at Heart buttons, raspberry twill, Spellbinders big scalloped rectangles small, Spellbinders Labels 1, Copic White, foam tape, Corner Chomper, rhinestone swirls

TESC105 Top Crops

Happy Monday! I'm still away in sunny Southern California, but I had to take a few minutes to check out all of the amazing submissions for the TESC104 sketch challenge! Thanks to everyone who participated... here are this week's Top Crops:








Just click on each Top Crops above and you'll be taken to the designer's blog to see the full card and all the details! Do you recognize your card as one of the Top Crops? If so, congratulations! You'll soon receive a Top Crop blog badge to display on your blog.

Don't forget, this week's TESC106 challenge includes a Prize! I'll be awarding a free stamp set to the Top 3 cards and you have until Friday, April 2nd at 8am PST to play along for your chance to win. Check out the sketch here!

Taylored Expressions Sketch Challenge #106

Happy Friday! As you've come to expect, Friday's are Sketch Challenge day at the Taylored Expressions Blog and I have an exciting announcement for today! Every so often I'm going to have a fun added BONUS to playing the weekly TESC... PRIZES! I don't have a set schedule to prize week so you'll want to check here every Friday for the sketch. And today is one of those days that I'm giving away BONUS PRIZES for TESC106! Here's the sketch so you can get busy:

Just create a card using the above sketch as inspiration (you're not required to use TE Stamps in your sample)! You have until April 2nd at 8am PST to use the above sketch as inspiration. You do not have to use TE Stamps to enter (but of course I love it when you do!). Then just come back here and link your creation using Mr. Linky below. I will choose the Top 3 most clever and creative projects to win your choice of FREE STAMP SET from the Taylored Expressions Store! Top Crops winners will be announced on April 5th.

Now 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!

By Lisa Hjulberg: The Craft's Meow

By Melissa Sauls: In Stamping Mode

By Alice Wertz: Alice's Little Wonderland

By Rachel Sztonyk: Gingerbread Gal

By Jami Sibley: More is More

By Lynn Mercurio: Stamperosity

By Monika Davis: M.A.D. Stamper

By Sherrie Siemens: Card Creme

By Taylor VanBruggen: Taylored Expressions

By Lori Craig: Make A Difference

Center of Attention Product Spotlight - Metal Squares

It's time for another exciting Center of Attention Product Spotlight at Taylored Expressions! Each month the Baker's Dozen is challenged to see how they can use a unique product available at the TE Store. This month we put everyone to work with our metal sheets: aluminum and copper! And in honor of our Center of Attention product spotlight, the metal sheets are 15% off through the weekend (March 25-28).

Aluminum (8 sheets) - Regular Price $3.99 - Sale Price $3.39
Copper (8 sheets) - Regular Price $5.99 - Sale Price $5.09
Combo Pack (8 sheets..4 copper, 4 aluminum) - Regular Price $4.99 - Sale Price $4.24

The first idea that came to my mind was to create a mirror using the aluminum sheet. I started with the Mirror Mirror chipboard and embossed it with white embossing powder. Then I stamped Cuppie from Sweet Indulgence twice (once with the face and once without the face). I cut each Cuppie out and adhered the one with the face to the inside of the mirror and popped the faceless Cuppie up on foam tape outside the mirror. Then I adhered Crystal Tiny Twinkles around the inside of the mirror...her very own lighted mirror! The patterned paper is from Doodlebug and I finished it off with a sentiment from Sweet Indulgence and some scalloped pink polka dot grosgrain. As I was finishing up this project I started wondering if I could punch the metal sheets with one of my border punches. So I grabbed my Stampin' Up scalloped border punch and tried it out. It worked! And it could actually be good for the punch considering I've been told to punch through several layers of aluminum foil in order to sharpen dull punches! I decided to use the You're My Hero stamp set (just re-stocked in the TE Store!) with the metal scalloped border I punched. I paired the stamp set with Fancy Pants Kraft Kuts patterned paper, Green at Heart Buttons, and Wine twill. I stamped the image in Versamark and embossed it with black embossing powder. I also got a new "little" toy in the mail last week that I've been dying to play with...a Copic air compressor! I masked the rocker image with pieces of Eclipse masking tape in a pattern to look like a spotlight. Then I airbrushed YR23 Copic onto the image. Before removing the mask I stamped the 'pow' background in yellow ink onto the yellow airbrushed portion. It's hard to see in the picture, but it adds a neat tone on tone pattern to the spotlighted part.

Those are my creations using the metal sheets, but I know you're going to be blown away by what the rest of Baker's Dozen has designed. Check 'em out: Jeanie, Carolina, Sankari, Karen M., Alex, and Jackie!





Mirror Mirror Cuppie
Stamps: Sweet Indulgence (Taylored Expressions)
Cardstock: Suede Brown Medium, Razzleberry Light (Prism), Choice Snow White (Taylored Expressions)
Patterned Paper: Doodlebug Confections
Ink: Memento Rich Cocoa
Accessories: Mirror Mirror Chipboard, white embossing powder, Crystal Tiny Twinkles, foam tape, scalloped pink polka dot ribbon, aluminum sheet

Rocker Girl
Stamps: You're My Hero (Taylored Expressions)
Cardstock: Misc. Bazzill, Kraft
Patterned Paper: Fancy Pants Kraft Cuts
Ink: Versamark
Accessories: SU scalloped border punch, wine twill, black embossing powder, Copic marker (YR23), Copic airbrush system, aluminum sheet, Green at Heart buttons, foam tape

Branching Out - March Subscriber Kit

I had fun playing with my March Key Ingredients subscription kit over the weekend! The beautiful earth tones and outdoor inspired patterned papers in the Crate Paper Brook Collection were made to coordinate with the Branching Out set! It's been a year since this set was released and it's still one that I reach for all the time. I started by stamping the leafy part of the tree on patterned paper and cutting it out. Then I stamped the leaves and branch parts onto different pieces of the patterned paper and cut/punched them out. After assembling the tree I added the bird and birdhouse along with some grass (from the Martha Stewart grass punch) along the bottom. After the image panel was finished it was pretty easy to finish the layout! I rounded the corners on my card base and brown layer with the Corner Chomper. Then layered a panel cut with Spellbinders Labels 8 and popped the image up with foam tape. There's still about a week to become a Key Ingredients Subscriber and get your hands on this month's kit! Each month an exclusive kit will be delivered right to your door step and if that's not enough there are many other benefits to becoming a subscriber! You can check it all out HERE. Thanks for stopping by today! Hope you all have a wonderful day!





Stamps: Branching Out
Ink: Memento Rich Cocoa
Patterned Paper: Crate Paper Brook (March Key Ingredients)
Cardstock: March Key Ingredients
Accessories: Spellbinders Labels 8, Corner Chomper, grass border punch, Word Window punch, foam tape, ribbon

TESC104 Top Crops

Happy Monday just doesn't seem to fit so I'm going with "Well, it's Monday again..." I hope you all had a wonderful weekend! It was 65 degrees on Thursday so I was excited for the weekend until we got 3 inches of snow on Friday! But looking at the bright side, it shouldn't stick around for long as temperatures start rising again. Once again, you all blew me away with your amazing entries for TESC104! I had a hard time narrowing it down for the Top Crops, but here they are:








Just click on any of the photos above and you'll be taken to the designer's blog to see the full card and all the details! Thanks for participating in TESC104! Hope you'll all tune in this Friday for our monthly Sketch Party and your chance to win a Party Prize!

I also have a few more cards to show you from our Dragonfly Card Drive. We'll be accepting cards through this Thursday, March 25th so you'll want to get your cards in the mail soon! You can find all the details HERE. I want to say 'thank you' again for sending in your cards! I hope you know how much your creative work will mean to the families who receive them. Without your donations this would not have been possible! Thank you for partnering with Taylored Expressions to make a difference in the lives of others!

Taylored Expressions Sketch Challenge #105

Is it really Friday!? Where have the days gone this week? I think they're going by faster now that it's warming up outside! Unfortunately this warm weather is coming to an end and they're predicting 2-3 inches of snow this weekend. So sad! I'll try to look at the bright side and say that I'll have more time to create in my stamp room! And I'm hoping you'll have some time to play in the sketch challenge too! Here it is:


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 26th at 8am PST. I'll choose the most clever and creative cards to be included in the TESC Top Crops on my blog! Now 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!

By Jami Sibley: More is More

By Monika Davis: M.A.D. Stamper

By Melissa Sauls: In Stamping Mode

By Lynn Mercurio: Stamperosity

By Lisa Hjulberg: The Craft's Meow

By Taylor VanBruggen: Taylored Expressions

By Alice Wertz: Alice's Little Wonderland

By Lori Craig: Make a Difference

TESC105 - I Ate My Willpower

So I decided to go back on Weight Watchers this week. It seems to be the only diet plan that works for me, but it's pure torture. Those who have spent any amount of time with me know just how much I love candy. I always have candy around...chewy, chocolately, gummy, fruity, anything! The other thing I don't eat (which makes dieting really difficult) is lettuce. So no salads for me. I made Weight Watchers quiche the other night (which turned out really good) and a pot of vegetable bean soup. I've been living off those leftovers this week and I haven't had a piece of candy or a Mountain Dew in a week! Anyhow, as I went to my stamp collection to pick out an image for this week's sketch of course I gravitated toward all of the sweet treats. And then in searching through my collection of embellishments I discovered this 'willpower' sticker that I had purchased a while back. I remember laughing out loud when I picked it up in the store! So while I haven't eaten my willpower yet, I figure it's only a matter of time (such a good attitude to have when dieting, right? lol). I paired Tena from Bakery Business with Basic Grey Nook and Pantry patterned paper. The image was colored with Copics and adhered to the Spellbinders Big Scalloped Rectangles Large die cut. I added red pearls to the cherries and some Espresso Dimensional Pearls as chocolate frosting on the cupcakes. A few other little finishing touches (the button and the strip of rhinestones) and I called it good! Thanks for stopping by today! I hope you all have a wonderful weekend!






Stamps: Bakery Business (Taylored Expressions)
Patterned Paper: Basic Grey Nook & Pantry
Cardstock: Suede Brown Dark, Blush Red Medium (Prism), Choice Buttercream (Taylored Expressions)
Ink: Memento Rich Cocoa
Accessories: Willpower sticker (unknown), strip of rhinestones, button, Spellbinder Big Scalloped Rectangles Large, foam tape, red pearls, Espresso Dimensional Pearls, Corner Chomper, twine

TESC103 Top Crops

Hey All! We had our March Key Ingredients challenge yesterday so I wasn't able to get the TESC103 Top Crops posted. Never fear...they are here today and just as fabulous as always! Thanks to everyone who participates in the sketch challenge each week. I love to see all of your clever and cute interpretations of the sketch! So here are my picks for Top Crops this week:








Just click on any of the photos above and you'll be taken to the designer's blog to see the full card and all the details!

I also want to show you some more of the amazing cards we've received for the Dragonfly Card Drive this week! I have been overwhelmed by your generosity and I know the families who will be receiving these cards will feel the love that was put into creating them! Thank you for making our first card drive such a success! There's still a little over a week to send in your cards so if you're not familiar with the card drive you can read more about our efforts HERE. Thanks for stopping by today! Hope you all have a wonderful day!

March Key Ingredients Subscription

Today I'm excited to share our March Key Ingredients kit with you! Our Key Ingredients Subscription is a monthly kit club dedicated to bringing you the latest coordinating products for papercrafting. Each kit includes enough coordinating patterned paper, cardstock, ribbon, and embellishments to create at least 16 cards. Our kits coordinate well with Taylored Expressions stamps, but you can also use them with the many other stamp sets already in your collection. All of the elements are hand-selected to coordinate and make your crafting easy, fun, and stress free! We've started to receive many of the amazing new products we ordered at the recent CHA trade show and we're excited to offer the brand new Crate Paper Brooke patterned paper collection in this kit. I love the unique color combination and earthy elements in this patterned paper. Each month I issue a challenge to the Baker's Dozen and current subscribers to give us all a jump start on our projects. This month's challenge is:

Create a card or project that includes texture inspired by the outdoors. Grab your chipboard flowers, embossing tools, twine, or anything in nature that inspires you!

To incorporate some texture into my cards I decided to get out my Botanicals Chipboard set. I spritzed these delicate laser cut designs with Brown Maya Mist, Copper Maya Mist, and Lime Metallic Maya Mist. After letting the mist soak into the chipboard I coated each piece with Versamark ink and embossed it with clear embossing powder. Then it was easy to pick out the cardstock, patterned paper, and matching embellishments for each card. I also used the small butterfly embellishments on each card and a sentiment from Branching Out. The faux stitching on each card was done with the Stitch Doodle Dot template. That's it for my projects! You don't want to miss the rest of the Baker's Dozen inspiration here:

Charmaine, Jodi, Karen G., and Melissa

If you'd like to find out more on how you can become a subscriber click here! These kits are exclusive to subscribers so it's the only way to get your hot little hands on this collection of goodies! Thanks for stopping by today! Hope you all have a wonderful day!

Taylored Expressions Sketch Challenge #104

Happy Friday! Guess what? We can see the grass in our front yard again! And the mailbox has suddenly reappeared from underneath the snow. I can smell spring in the air! After our first winter back in the Midwest I have a new appreciation for Spring! So if you're not too busy enjoying the warmer weather this weekend, I hope you'll participate in the sketch challenge! Here it is:


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 19th at 8am PST. I'll choose the most clever and creative cards to be included in the TESC Top Crops on my blog! Now 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 Alice Wertz: Alice's Little Wonderland

Created by Jami Sibley: More is More

Created by Lynn Mercurio: Stamperosity

Created by Melissa Sauls: In Stamping Mode

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

Created by Rachel Sztonyk: Gingerbread Gallery

Created by Taylor VanBruggen: Taylored Expressions

Created by Lori Craig: Make a Difference

Created by Lisa Hjulberg: The Craft's Meow