Warm Wishes

Here's a card I made for the last Verve release.  It uses the Winter Mittens set along with some old Stampin' Up paper I found in my stash.  I stamped the mittens and then stamped them again on patterned paper and paper pieced them.  I die cut the image with my Labels 10 Nestabilities.  The larger die cut piece under the focal image was cut using the Labels 8 Nestabilities.

I tied some hemp through a little button and added that to the mitten string.  It looks like I just might need these mittens here in Pittsburgh this weekend!  It's a good weekend to stay warm and cozy, that's for sure!

Thanks for stopping by today and have a wonderful day!

Taylored Expressions RELEASE DAY!

It's finally RELEASE DAY at Taylored Expressions!  Everything the Baker's Dozen has been featuring this week is now available in the store!  You can visit each of their blogs for a recap of all of the new sets and dies.

Today I have a project for you using the From the Heart and From the Heart Funnies sets along with the From the Heart Frame die!  My kids LOVE to paint.  Other than stamping, it's probably the activity they ask to do most.  When I was looking at the From the Heart set, I thought I would add the jar and the paint brushes together to create this cute little package that could be used as a gift or even a party favor. 

I put some filler in a cello bag, then two squeeze bottles of Elmer's Paint and two paint brushes.  My kids LOVE this paint.  They love to mix it, they love to squeeze it, they love to get it everywhere!  LOL  In fact, they even painted their pumpkins this year with this paint. 

I stamped the jar and masked it, then stamped the paint brushes.  I colored the image using Copic markers, cut it out and mounted it inside the frame with foam tape. 

Hopefully you've enjoyed all of the sneak peeks this week!  Don't forget to visit the rest of the Baker's Dozen to see what they have to show you today. . .and then head on over to the store to shop!  ;)  Remember, you always have access to the Taylored Expressions Gallery for inspiration!  Thanks for stopping by today and Happy Shopping! 

Danielle Lounds
Donna Baker
Jackie Pedro
Jodi Collins
Karen Giron
Karen Motz
Melissa Sauls
Regina Mangum
Sankari Wegman
Taylor Van Bruggen
Tori Wild
Nancy McKinney
Jami Sibley
and Guest Designer Mona Pendleton

A Video Tutorial

Hey there!  I had quite a few requests for a tutorial on the envelope gift card holder I posted here yesterday, so here's a video tutorial for you!  I don't claim to have invented this gift card holder.  I saw one somewhere along the line and don't remember where or I would post that information.  Hope this helps those of you who wanted to know how to create this!  Enjoy!  

SUPPLIES USED:  Stamps- Enjoy (Taylored Expressions); Ink:  Early Espresso (SU), Ocean Depth (VersaMagic); Paper- Snow Day Project Pantry (Taylored Expressions); Accessories:  rub on, bling and ribbon from Snow Day Project Pantry, Gift Card Frame die (Taylored Expressions) , A2 or invitation envelope;  Finished size 2 7/8" x 4 3/8"

Taylored Expressions Sneak Peek - Day 3

It's Day 3 of sneak peeks at Taylored Expressions and today we're featuring the set called Enjoy and its coordinating Gift Card Frame Die.  This set is perfect for gift card giving all year round!  This set was concepted by Jami Sibley and illustrated by Nancy McKinney for the Whimsical Wishes line at Taylored Expressions and contains 18 images including a frame, 11 gift icons, and 6 sentiments.  Enjoy is also compatible with the From the Heart set we showed you yesterday! 

For today's project, I created a gift card holder out of an A2 envelope.  I folded the envelope in half and cut down the middle of the flap and only sealed one side, leaving the other side open as a pocket for the gift card.  I covered the envelope with papers from the Brook Collection by Crate Paper.  I stamped the frame from the set in Ocean Depth VersaMagic ink and then stamped the sentiments and guitar image inside the frame in Early Espresso ink.  I die cut the frame using the Gift Card Frame Die. 

I stamped the guitar image again on another piece of cardstock, colored it using Copic markers and cut it out.  I mounted it with foam tape on top of the original stamped image. 

The gift card is neatly tucked into the pocket behind the "From All of Us" flap. 

I don't know about you, but I can't wait to see what the rest of the Baker's Dozen has used this set to create!
Danielle Lounds
Donna Baker
Jackie Pedro
Jodi Collins
Karen Giron
Karen Motz
Melissa Sauls
Regina Mangum
Sankari Wegman
Tori Wild
Taylor Van Bruggen
Jami Sibley
Nancy McKinney
Tomorrow is RELEASE DAY, so stop back at 8am Pacific to see another project using one of the new sets!!  They will all be available for purchase tomorrow at 8am Pacific!  Thanks for stopping by and have a great day!

Taylored Expressions Sneak Peek - Day 2

It's Day 2 of sneak peeks at Taylored Expressions and today we're featuring the From the Heart, From the Heart Funnies and the coordinating From the Heart Frame Die.  The From the Heart set has 19 images including icons for 15 different gifts, hobbies and holidays!  From the Heart Funnies is a mini set that includes 16 different funny/punny sentiments to go along with the icons in From the Heart.  Again, these will be available for purchase on Thursday, November 4th at 8am Pacific! 

For my first project, I used the Clear Circle Party Favor box and filled it with buttons.  I thought it would be a great little gift for a crafty friend or even someone like my sister-in-law who makes button necklaces!  I stamped the frame from the From the Heart set, then stamped the sentiment from From the Heart Funnies in the frame and die cut it with the From the Heart Frame die. 

I stamped the buttons from the set onto cardstock, colored them with Copic markers and then cut them out and mounted them with foam tape on the tags.  I added some hemp to give them a more realistic look. 

I think the box of buttons is just adorable.  I filled the box with buttons from the Whirligig Collection.  The paper is all from the So Sophie Savvy Collection from My Mind's Eye. 

 As you can see, the frame will make a great tag for any gift as well as the focal point of a card!  Visit the rest of the Baker's Dozen to see the many ways you can use this frame!  Please stop back again tomorrow for yet another sneak peek! 

Danielle Lounds
Donna Baker
Jackie Pedro
Jodi Collins
Karen Giron
Karen Motz
Melissa Sauls
Regina Mangum
Sankari Wegman
Tori Wild
Taylor Van Bruggen
Jami Sibley
Thanks for stopping by and have a great day!

Taylored Expressions Sneak Peek - Day 1

It's time for the peeks to start at Taylored Expressions!  The Baker's Dozen has a lot of fun things to show you again this month, so stay tuned for the next few days!  Everything you're about to see will be available for purchase on Thursday, November 4th at 8am Pacific! 

Today we're featuring the What's Cooking set as well as the Apron & Pocket and Kitchen Accessories coordinating dies!  For my first card, I stamped the apron onto patterned paper and two colors of cardstock and paper pieced the apron before diecutting it with the Apron die.  I then stamped the sentiment onto white cardstock and die cut that with the teapot from the Kitchen Accessories die set.  I thought it made a nice piece for the sentiment.  This card is PERFECT for my grandma because she is always having us over for dinner!  :)

My second card also uses the Apron & Pocket die along with the oven mit and measuring spoons dies from the Kitchen Accessories die set.  I used the other apron stamp from What's Cookin' and colored in the cherries using Copic markers. 

I colored some squares of the oven mit in with a white gel pen.  The measuring spoons were colored with Copic markers.  Finally, I added some ribbon and faux stitching. 

Be sure to visit the other members of the Baker's Dozen to see what they've cooked up for you today!  Stop back again tomorrow for another sneak peek!  Thanks for stopping by today and have a great day! 

Danielle Lounds
Donna Baker
Jackie Pedro
Jodi Collins
Karen Giron
Karen Motz
Melissa Sauls
Regina Mangum
Sankari Wegman
Tori Wild
Taylor VanBruggen
Jami Sibley
Nancy McKinney

Happy Holidays

I've been thinking about Christmas cards that are relatively easy to mass produce without losing those details that make handmade cards so special.  I came up with this, although some things may still be subject to change! LOL  I used the Sparkle & Cheer set from Taylored Expressions.  When I think about mass producing cards, the first thing I go to are my silhouette stamps.  Not having to color each image saves a lot of time.  For this card, I stamped the reindeer image and the sentiment in Versamark ink and embossed them with gold embossing powder.   The whole card uses shimmery white paper, which makes it extra sparkly and pretty. . .especially for the holidays!  I add a strip using the Scalloped Eyelet Border Die along the left edge of the card. 

Now, the only thing I "may" change before taking on the mass production is the embossing.  I LOVE the gold, but sometimes just plain stamping gets the job done quicker!  I think the reindeer and sentiment would also look beautiful in red! 

Thanks for stopping by today!  Happy Halloween! 

New Verve!!

In case you missed the release party last night, the newest Verve stamps are now available as well as the two new coordinating dies!!  Today I have a card for you using the Munchkin Phrases set that was just released.  I just love the sentiments in this set.  As you can guess if you read my blog, I will be using the "Little Man" sentiment a lot.  For this card, however, I used the sentiment from the set that makes me giggle every time I read it, "Princess of Quite A Lot".  I just think it is adorable and SO true for at least two of my girls. . .the third is too young to tell yet!  LOL  

I thought this Hello Kitty embossing folder would go perfectly with this sentiment.  As I mentioned before, when I have a set that is only sentiments, I LOVE to use embossing folders.  They are perfect for adding that extra something without taking away from the sentiment.   

Thanks for stopping by today!  Hope you have a wonderful and safe Halloween weekend!  SUPPLIES USED:  Stamps- Munchkin Phrases (Verve Stamps); Ink- Blushing Bride (SU); Paper- Spring Stack (DCWV), Sweet Blush (PTI);  Accessories- tag die (Spellbinders), brads (Making Memories), ribbon (PTI), Hello Kitty Spring Embossing set (Sizzix);  Finished card measures 5.5"x4.25"

Winter New Release Spotlights: Day 5

Today is release day and we have something VERY exciting to show you today!  We hope you'll join us tonight at the Release Party thread at 9pm Eastern! 

Now, onto the exciting part!  You've seen a couple of new items this week at Verve, the Sweet Scallop Tag and the Vintage Oval Frame.  Well, Verve is now introducing A Cut Above, new coordinating dies!!!  Both dies were scheduled to be released tonight, but there was a manufacturing error with the Vintage Oval Frame die, so only the Sweet Scallop Tag die will be released tonight! 

I used the Glad Tidings set for my card along with Mojo Monday Sketch 162.  First I stamped the gorgeous snowflakes in black on the Kraft paper for the background.  Then I stamped and die cut the tag and spritzed it with some gold glimmer mist.  The brad in the center of the tag snowflake was coated with gold embossing powder to make it gold (it was silver). 

So, check out what the rest of the Divas have to show you using this fabulous new die and I hope to see you later tonight!  Thanks for stopping by!

1. Laurie	9. Teresa
2. Charmaine	10. Sankari
3. Lynda	11. Tosh
4. Mercy
5. Amy	12. Amber
6. Shannan	13. Jen d.
7. Michelle	14. Andrea
8. Jackie	15. Julee

Winter New Release Spotlights: Day 4

Have you been enjoying the Verve New Release Spotlights this week?  I hope so!  There certainly is a lot of new, beautiful stamps coming out!  If you've missed any of the spotlights, you can visit the Verve Blog to find the link list for each day. 

Today, we're spotlighting Glad Tidings.  Glad Tidings is such an elegant set.  I made a clean and simple card.  The background was stamped with one of the images in the set.  I then stamped the wreath, colored it with Copic markers and then made a banner using the Joyeux Noel sentiment. 

I added some Stardust Stickles to the berries on the wreath and some ribbon and gold cording to finish the card. 

We have one more day of Spotlights tomorrow and then tomorrow night is the Release Party from 9-11pm Eastern!  We hope to see you there! 

Here's the official link list of today's spotlight hops.  Happy hopping!

1. Amy	8. Tosh
2. Jackie	9. Sankari
3. Mercy	10. Teresa
4. Michelle	11. Jen T.
5. Lynda	12. Andrea
6. Charmaine	13. Amber
7. Laurie	14. Julee

Be sure to leave some comments along the way for a chance to win!
Have fun and we'll see ya tomorrow!