Mojo You Made Me Smile

We are having an "early Christmas" this weekend for my husband's side of the family, so I've been busy preparing for that. . .but, I had a little time this afternoon and decided to play along with this week's Mojo Monday Sketch.  You have a choice of either round or square.  I stuck with the square because it just seemed simpler for me today.  :) 

I used the Thankful Blossoms set from Verve for my card along with papers from the Lost & Found 3 Oliver Collection from My Mind's Eye.  I colored the little flower with Copic markers and added an adhesive pearl to the center.  A little stitching on the card was the finishing touch!  If you love sketches like I do, come play along with the Mojo Monday Sketch!  You'll be glad you did!  ;)

Have a great day!

VLV Christmas in the Air

Yesterday a new Viva la Verve Sketch went up in the forums and I had some time today after the holiday madness to participate!  This week's sketch is from Teresa and I love it.  I had to turn it on its side so that it would fit the sentiment I decided to use. 

I used the Christmas in the Air set from Verve along with the coordinating Frosty Snowflakes Dies.  The papers are from the Merry & Bright Collection from Carta Bella.  I die cut and stamped different sized snowflakes, covered them in glitter and layered them with a brad in the center.  I even put glitter on the "air" that is stamped leading to the snowflake. 

Don't miss the Thanksgiving SALE that's going on now at Verve!!  Follow the link for more details!!  Thanks for stopping by today and have a wonderful day!

Baker's Dozen Studio Challenge and a BIG Black Friday Sale at Taylored Expressions!

 It’s Black Friday and it's time for the Baker's Dozen Studio Challenge and a BIG Black Friday Sale at Taylored Expressions!

We are releasing a brand new set of Stacklets today - Labels Stacklets 3 which coordinates with Frame It Up 1!!  For my project today, I created a set of tags using the Labels Stacklets 3, Frame It Up 1 and the Penguin Pals stamp set from Taylored Expressions along with the Make a Snowflake Die Set. 

The question for November is:
As crafters, we often talk about a hand-crafted Christmas. How much stamping do you do for the holidays? Do you mail hand-stamped cards, make gift packaging, tags, handmade gifts? Or do you stamp year-round, but not so much for Christmas? Please show us some handmade tags and share a tip or two on how to keep stamping fun for the holidays.

I stamp all year round, but at the holidays, I find that my time is much more limited so I don't stamp as much as I'd like.  Often times I'll package up cards I've made all year round and give them as gifts for Christmas.  I do love adding a handmade tag to those gifts.  I try to make them "not so elaborate" so there's more of a chance of me creating them!  :)  If there are too many steps, I won't make very many due to time constraints. 

First I'll decide on a stamp set (Penguin Pals) and any extras I'd like to add.  For these tags, I added snowflakes die cut from vellum using the Make a Snowflake Die Set.  Next I will die cut all my tag "pieces".  For this project, I used 2 dies in the Labels Stacklets 3 that matted the Frame It Up 1Die, which I used for the focal image.  In assembly fashion, I will color all of the images and then assemble the tags.  Like I said, the key for me is keeping it simple. . .I didn't do shading in the coloring and I kept the layers simple.  If I add too many details, the stress of getting them finished sets in and I don't enjoy making them.

I used papers from the Handmade Holiday Collection from Simple Stories for my tags.  I hope I've inspired you to take the stress out of creating during the holidays!!  Thanks for joining us this month for the Studio Challenge!

It wouldn’t be Black Friday without a sale! Just enter coupon code BLACKFRIDAY2012 on your order at the TE Store Friday through Monday to save 10-30% off your entire order! The earlier you shop, the MORE you save! Details on the TE Store homepage.

• Jen Shults
• Jodi Collins
• Karen Giron
• Kerri Michaud
• Melody Rupple
• Regina Mangum
• Sankari Wegman
• Shannon White
• Shelly Mercado
• Stephanie Kraft
• Taylor VanBruggen
• Wanda Guess

You Make Me Smile

Today I have a card for you using a cute, cute set that was just released at Taylored Expressions.  It's called Welcome Gnome.  If you love the whole "gnome thing", you'll LOVE this adorable set.  I know I always loved the Roaming Gnome commercials!  LOL 

I used papers from the latest Key Ingredients Subscription which features Grandma's Lima Bean Soup from Jillibean Soup.  I die cut a piece of Buttercream cardstock with the Label Stacklets 2 Dies and stamped the sentiment on the panel.  I stamped the little gnome on another piece of cardstock, colored her with Copic markers and cut her out.  I stamped the flowers, colored them and then die cut a partial piece of green cardstock to create grass for the "scene".  Once the grass was in place, I adhered the gnome to the panel with foam tape.  I die cut a piece of red cardstock with the new Lace Chain Border Die and added it along the bottom of the card.  I finished the card with some ribbon from the kit. 

Thanks for stopping by today!  Have a wonderful week!  SUPPLIES USED:  Stamps- Welcome Gnome (Taylored Expressions), Ink- Tuxedo Black (Tsukineko); Paper- Grandma's Lima Bean Soup (Jillibean Soup); Accessories- Label Stacklets 2, Lace Chain Border Die (Taylored Expressions), Copic markers, ribbon from Key Ingredients Subscription (Taylored Expressions);  Finished card measures 5.5"x4.25"

Crafty Friends Challenge #11

It's Sunday and time for another Crafty Friends Challenge!  This week's challenge is from Nina and it is an inspiration challenge!  I went pretty literal with the inspiration.  Not only did I use the colors, but I even got my layout from the photo.  I used the Treasured Words and Blue Skies sets from Verve for my card.  The papers are from the 72 and Sunny Collection from WeRMemory Keepers.  I die cut the butterfly with the coordinating All Aflutter Die Set.  After assembling the focal point of the card and attaching it, I created a dashed embossed border using my ScorBuddy and a ScorBug. 

For more details on how to play along and more inspiration, please visit the Crafty Friends Challenge Blog! We hope you'll play along! Thanks for stopping by and have a wonderful Sunday!

Beate Johns
Jenn Balcer
Linda Lucas
Nina Brackett

Mojo Christmas Darling

I was able to play along with the latest Mojo Monday Sketch and I love it when that happens!  :)  I used the new Merry & Bright set from Verve along with some papers from the All Is Bright Collection from My Mind's Eye.  I stamped the sentiment onto a piece of neutral patterned paper from the collection and die cut it with the Plain Circle Nestabilities.  I used one of the flowers from the Joyous Noel set to create the little "holly" bit.  I stamped the flower in dark green ink onto green cardstock, cut it out and then in half and layered the petals.  Adhesive pearls made perfect "berries". 

If you're looking for a sketch, come play along with this week's Mojo Monday!  They're always great sketches and a lot of fun!  Thanks for stopping by today and have a great day!  SUPPLIES USED:  Stamps- Merry & Bright, Joyous Noel (Verve Stamps); Ink- Onyx Black (Versafine), Scarlet Jewel, Ripe Avocado(PTI);  Paper- All Is Bright Collection (My Mind's Eye), True Black, Ripe Avocado (PTI); Accessories- Plain Circle Nestabilities (Spellbinders), scallop border punch (SU), adhesive pearls (Want2Scrap);  Finished card measures 4.25"x5.5"

TE October Release Party!

In case you missed yesterday, all of the new products are NOW AVAILABLE in the Fresh Out of the Oven Category!!  The Baker's Dozen has more projects to show you today, so we hope you'll hop around!  Today my project uses the In the Word set.  As you know, it coordinates with the Mark Your Spot Bookmark Die.  I created a card with the set. 

I used the new Lace Chain Border Die to border the top of the card as well as to run a strip down the side.  The papers are from the Miss Caroline Dilly Dally Collection from My Mind's Eye.  I just LOVE that beautiful flourish that's in the set!

I used another stamp from the Signature Style set for the back of the card. 

I also created a quick set of mini bookmarks using this set with the Mark Your Spot Bookmark Die.  Instead of die cutting the whole bookmark, I just let part of the die hang off the end of the patterned paper to create the "mini" bookmark.  I used the Miss Caroline Dilly Dally Collection again.  I added a little stitching and colored the sun with a Glitter Pen after stamping. 

I hope you've enjoyed the projects and new products this week!  Thanks for visiting and have a wonderful day!

Jen Shults

Jodi Collins

Karen Giron

Melody Rupple

Regina Mangum

Sankari Wegman

Shannon White

Shelly Mercado

Stephanie Kraft

Taylor VanBruggen

Wanda Guess

Nancy McKinney (Illustrator)

Taylored Expressions November Release Day

All of the new Taylored Expressions products are now available in the Fresh Out of the Oven Department.

AND

Be sure to check the TE Current Specials page to find out how you can get the Crafty Expressions stamp set for FREE! 

Welcome back for Release Day!  Today I am featuring the Garden Shed stamp set.  Garden Shed is our 12th and final set in the year-long Adorable Abodes series concepted by Jami.  It was illustrated by Doug Applegate for the Apple Doodle Ink line. 

This adorable abode reminds me of my mom.  She loves the look of stone cottages with leafy vines growing up the side.  I had to color it a "peaches-n-cream" just for her.  ;)  After I stamped and colored the image with Copic markers, I die cut it using the Labels Stacklets 2 Dies.  The sentiment was also stamped on a piece die cut with the Labels Stacklets 2 Dies.  You can't see it very well in the picture, but I used the Lace Chain Border Die on the bottom of the polka dot paper.  (the papers are from The Sweetest Thing Tangerine Collection from My Mind's Eye)  On the back of the card, I used Signature Style. 

Please visit the rest of the Baker's Dozen to see what they've created using the newly released products!  Thanks for stopping by and HAPPY SHOPPING!!

Jami Sibley (DT Coordinator)

Jen Shults

Jodi Collins

Karen Giron

Kerri Michaud (Guest Designer)

Melody Rupple

Regina Mangum

Sankari Wegman

Shannon White

Shelly Mercado

Stephanie Kraft

Taylor VanBruggen

Wanda Guess

Nancy McKinney (Illustrator)