TE Christmas in July Blog Hop

It's Christmas in July at Taylored Expressions and today, members of the Baker's Dozen are featuring Christmas creations or gifts for Christmas that incorporate the rectangular Perfect Packages! The rectangular Perfect Packages are sized perfectly for standard A2-sized card and envelope sets! What's even better is that they fold flat for easy storage until you're ready to use them! I just LOVE them!







For my project today, I almost made a card set with matching envelopes, but I decided to create a homemade holiday gift instead. . . and two versions of that. :) I used the Home Sweet Home set for the outside of the box and a sentiment from the Season's Sweetings set for the inside of the box. I thought this sentiment would be PERFECT for the gift! I also used the Polka Dot Frame Spellbinders set for the frame on the front of the box and Labels Four Nestabilities for the inside.


For the "first version" I made mini cupcakes decorated for Christmas and inserted them into a tray that I made to fit the bottom of the box and the cupcakes. These cupcakes are really simple to make and go further since you can fit half a dozen in each box.


The "second version" is a little more time-consuming. A little while ago, my sweet friend and fellow Baker's Dozen team member, Donna, made these Cupcake Bites that I thought were ADORABLE! I HAD to use them for this project. They are absolutely delicious and really impress people! All of the dipping and freezing takes extra time, but they are definitely worth it for your candy-loving friends! I put a piece of wax paper in the bottom of the box and then added the Christmas-decorated Cupcake Bites.


Both versions make a great Christmas gift, especially wrapped up in this Perfect Package! Be sure to check out what other members of the Baker's Dozen have created for the Christmas in July Blog Hop. . .I know they'll have awesome ideas to share with you!


Taylor VanBruggen
Ana Wohlfahrt
Donna Baker
Jodi Collins
Karen Giron
Karen Motz
Laura Fredrickson
Sankari Wegman
Jami Sibley and
Guest Designer Rachel Sztonyk

Thanks for stopping by today and have a wonderful day!

Prettie Wednesday

Two weeks ago, Danielle challenged the Prettie Girls to create a background using some household item. I chose to use Cling Wrap with the Crinkled Chalks Technique for my background. I used some ocean-colored VersaMagic Chalk inks for my background. I think it came out pretty cool! I used the Make a Splash Sophia from Paper Pretties for my card.

Make sure you stop to see what the rest of the Prettie Girls have created for this challenge!

Christi Thorsen
Danielle Lounds
Frances Byrne
Jackie Pedro
Jackie Rakoski
Jana Weaver
Jessica Diedrich
Jessie Rone
Jodi Collins
Julie Masse

Thanks for stopping by! SUPPLIES USED: Stamps- Make a Splash (Paper Pretties); Ink- Seashore Chalk Inks (VersaMagic), Onyx Black (Versafine); Paper- Blue Bayou (SU), glossy cs; Accessories- Really Big Brads (Hot Off the Press), Cling Wrap; Finished card measures 4.25" square

Make Life Sweet

Here's a cute little card I made using some Doodlebug Papers and stickers that were part of the Cupcake Key Ingredients at Taylored Expressions. The Cupcake Key Ingredients are no longer available, but you can find these adorable glitter stickers as well as some Sweet Treats Boutique Brads in the store! The sentiment is from the For the Love of Cupcakes set.

Hope you're having a SWEET day! Thanks for stopping by! SUPPLIES USED: Stamps- For the Love of Cupcakes (Taylored Expressions); Ink- Tuxedo Black (Tsukineko); Paper- Doodlebug; Accessories- oval and circle punches (SU), paper piercer, white gel pen, corner rounder, grosgrain from Cupcake Key Ingredients (Taylored Expressions); Finished card measures 4.25" square

Welcome Isabelle!

Here she is! Isabelle Marie Ikach was born at 1:15pm yesterday. She was 8 lbs. 11 oz., 20 1/2 inches long and looked exactly like her two sisters when she came out! :) Mom and Isabelle are doing very well! Isabelle's brother and sisters are coming to see her today for the first time, so we'll share those pictures later! Thanks for checking in!

Stamper's Dream Just Rite Week

This week is JustRite Week at Stamper's Dream. The Dream Team is featuring projects made with the July releases from JustRite!


Today, I'm featuring the 1 3/16" Wood Stamper with 3 Damask Centers and Bonus Font. I just LOVE this set. It makes monogrammed notecards so quick and easy. For this set, I used Valerie's Notecard Box tutorial. It made for a beautiful gift set that I was able to put together very quickly by using coordinating papers and adding a Cuttlebug embossing folder.





Here is the schedule for the week for Dream Team posts. Be sure and check them out!





Monday - Amy, Michelle, Cammie
Tuesday - Laurie, Tosha, Michelle, me
Wednesday - Tosha, Laurie, Michelle
Thursday - Amy, Denise, Cammie, Laurie, Michelle
Friday - Cammie, Kimberly, Michelle, me
Thanks for stopping by today and have a great day! SUPPLIES USED: Stamps: 1 3/16" Wood Stamper with 3 Damask Centers and Bonus Font (JustRite Stampers); Ink- Tuxedo Black (Tsukineko); Paper- Dusty Durango, Bali Breeze DS (SU); Accessories: circle and scallop circle punches (SU), Birds and Stems Cuttlebug folder (Provocraft); Finished cards measures 5.5"x4.25"

Person to Become

As you're reading this, I'm already at the hospital and have probably already had the baby! I can't believe it really, as I sit here typing this a day earlier. Hopefully my hubby will be posting news and pics for you later today or tomorrow!

Anyway, today I wanted to share with you a card I made using one of the July Viva la Verve Sketches that Amber just rocks with! This sketch called for a twist of distressing! I haven't distressed cards in a while, so it was a nice change of pace for me. I used the Just For You set from the latest Verve release. The patterned paper came from my stash and I believe it's Wild Asparagus.

Thanks for stopping by today! I hope you have a wonderful week! I have posts scheduled throughout the week for you, so hopefully they will post at their designated times. I'll check back in with you when I get back home! SUPPLIES USED: Stamps- Just For You (Verve Stamps); Ink- Burnt Umber (Palette), Old Olive, Kiwi Kiss (SU); Paper- Wild Asparagus, Dark Chocolate (PTI); Accessories- Certainly Celery grosgrain (SU), paper piercer, Choc. Chip marker (SU); Finished card measures 5.5"x4.25"

Happy Mail

This has been quite a week here at our home! I received some more Happy Mail!





This gift package is from Denise. She sent this ADORABLE ballerina outfit for the baby and this gorgeous card! Denise, you are so very thoughtful. I was still staring at the birthday card you sent and then I got this package from you! THANK YOU!!!!! I LOVE the outfit! :)





I also received this gorgeous and HAPPY HAPPY card from my sweet friend Wendy! I just LOVE the colors! Thank you Wendy, for thinking of me on my birthday! You are so, so sweet!

Well, it's hard to believe that by this time tomorrow I'll be snuggling my new little one! Thank you all for the well wishes for the delivery and for my birthday wishes as well! You sure know how to make a girl feel special! :) My hubby will most likely post news/pics of the baby either tomorrow or Tuesday! Thanks again for everything! Even though posts will go up through the week here (providing the scheduling feature works), I won't be able to check back in until I'm back home. Have a great week! HUGS!

Flower Soft Happy Birthday!

Here's a soft, sweet birthday card I made using some Lemon Flower Soft. I just LOVE how light this color is. It makes the flowers look so soft and delicate. I used the Welcome Baby Cuttlebug folder for the background and stamped Happy Birthday on the space that the folder leaves for a die cut sentiment. As a finishing touch, I used some Lemon Tart buttons.

Thank you for stopping by today! I hope you're having a wonderful Sunday! SUPPLIES USED: Stamps- A Flower For All Seasons (SU), Everything Happy (Stampendous); Ink- Onyx Black (Versafine); Paper- Lemon Tart (PTI); Accessories- oval punch (Marvy Uchida), Lemon Flower Soft (Flower Soft), Lemon Tart buttons (PTI), Welcome Baby Cuttlebug folder (Provocraft), corner rounder, Copic markers; Finished card measures 5.5"x4.25"

More Happy Mail!

I have been blessed with some Happy Birthday mail! My sweet, sweet friend Pam Speidel sent me this package complete with a Changito card (my favorite little monkey), some ribbon and embellishments! What a wonderful surprise package! Thank you so much, Pam! I just LOVE everything.

The next card is from sweet, sweet Denise. She is just the BEST at sending cards in the mail for no reason. . .and to get one for my birthday too. . .WOW! Thank you, Denise! It's just BEAUTIFUL!

This ADORABLE card is from Karen Motz. This card is delicious enough to eat! Thank you so much for thinking of me, Karen. . .I really appreciate it!

Lastly, I received this adorable cupcake card from Gloria. It is so happy and bright! Thank you, Gloria, for sending some sunshine my way!

Thanks, girls for making my birthday even more special! I really appreciate all of your thoughtfulness! HUGS!

Weekend Sketch Challenge #88

It's Friday and time for another Weekend Sketch Challenge! This week's sketch is hosted by Jenn, so head on over to her blog to see the sketch and play along! If you upload to SCS, please use the keyword WSC88.

For my card today, I used two Verve sets, Everlasting Life and Miracles Blossom. I had a little trouble fitting the two pieces in on the bottom right corner of the card. I almost left them off, but I wanted to be true to the sketch. :)

Be sure to drop by and see what Beate, Jenn, Lori and Sharon have come up with for the sketch. I'm sure they'll be fabulous as always! Thanks for stopping by today and have a great day! SUPPLIES USED: Stamps- Everylasting Life, Miracles Blossom (Verve Stamps); Ink- Tuxedo Black (Tsukineko), Pink Pirouette, Kiwi Kiss (SU); Paper- Raspberry Tart DS, Pink Pirouette, Kiwi Kiss (SU); Accessories- Certainly Celery and Regal Rose markers, border punch (SU), ribbon (Darice), buttons (PTI), Labels 2 Nestabilities (Spellbinders); Finished card measures 4.25" square