Taylored Expressions February Studio Challenge

It's time for the Baker's Dozen Studio Challenge.  This is a monthly opportunity for the Taylored Expressions team to share what makes our stamping studios hum.  Each month we  have a fun, crafty question so we can share our favorites, some tips and tricks, stamping advice and more.

The question for February is:
Recipe for success!  When you sit down to create a card just for fun, for the pure joy of stamping, without any type of assignment or deadline, what steps do you usually take?
Tell us how you get started and take us along on your creative journey.

 Usually when I sit down to create a card, I almost always start with a sketch.  I may not end up with the sketch, but my card will most often be inspired by that sketch.  If I sit down to make a card for fun, I don't usually start with a sketch though.  A sketch is a "sure thing" for me, meaning the card always turns out.  lol  When I sit down for fun, I like to try new things, or things I've never done before and there's no pressure for the card to turn out perfectly. . .because it's not for a design team or some assignment.  If it doesn't turn out, nobody ever has to see it!  ;)  This particular card was inspired by a photo in the Lowe's booklet that came in the mail. When I create for fun, I am usually inspired to do so by a photo, as in this instance, or by a craft magazine where I've seen a technique or project that I particularly liked.

The photo above is what inspired me for this card.  I LOVED the wallpaper in this small corner of a room.  What a neat idea to spice up a room by adding a vibrant corner like this!  I stamped the leaves from the Friendship Blooms set onto the cardstock tone on tone.  The flower in the wallpaper reminded me of the flowers in the new Posh Posies set, so I stamped the flowers onto the cardstock in Frost White ink and heat embossed them in white. 

Once I had the background, I looked at the photo to draw some more inspiration.  See that afghan on the chair in the picture?  Now, I wouldn't normally put these flowers with a chevron pattern, but I thought it was a nice contrast in the photo.

 I got out my Chevron Border Dies and die cut borders of dark and light blue, kraft and white.  Once I was happy with the pattern I put them in, I attached them to the card.  I stamped the frame from Make It Amazing and die cut it using the coordinating Frame It Up 3 Die.  The card still needed a little something and I decided on a big butterfly!  I used the Elegant Butterflies Die Set along with the new Elegant Butterfly Overlays Die Set to create my butterfly.  I ran the top layer through my Xyron and then coated it with glitter.  The sentiment combined two sentiments from the Posh Posies set. 

And there you have it!  The finished product!  I hope I've given you a little insight into what inspires me to create when I create just for fun.  Like I said, it could be a photo, a craft magazine or even a home improvement magazine.  :)  Try it sometime!  See a pattern you like?  A billboard?  Try to recreate it on your card.  It's a lot of fun to step outside of your comfort zone when "nobody's watching".  LOL  Who knows, you may create a masterpiece!  :)

Now it's time to check out what the rest of the Baker's Dozen does when it's "just for fun"!!  Thanks for stopping by!!

• Carole Burrage
• Jen Shults
• Kerri Michaud
• Lynnette Kauffman
• Sankari Wegman
• Shannon White
• Shelly Mercado
• Stephanie Kraft
• Tammie Edgerton
• Taylor VanBruggen
• Wanda Guess

 SUPPLIES: 

Choice Snow White Cardstock	Posh Posies set	Friendship Blooms set	Make It Amazing set
Elegant Butterfly Overlays	Elegant Butterflies Die Set	Frame It Up 3 Die	Chevron Border Dies

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