Taylored Expressions January Studio Challenge

Hey there!  I'm so excited to be playing in my first Taylored Expressions' Baker's Dozen Studio Challenge!  In case you're wondering exactly what the Studio Challenge is, here's the skinny:

This is a monthly opportunity for us 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.

Here's the DIFFICULT challenge our DT Coordinator, Jami, put before us:

Helpin' out a newbie!  It's so exciting when a friend discovers the joys of stamping. But do you remember how overwhelming it was to decide what to get when you were new to the craft?

You have a {hypothetical} friend who started stamping less than a year ago and she is loving it!  She has some Christmas money burning a hole in her pocket, and she has seen your fabulous TE creations, so  she is asking for your advice on what stamping supplies to purchase. So let's hear your sage advice!

Hmm...  She's already stamping some and loving it, so obviously, I can't give her the advice her husband would most appreciate, which is: RUN LIKE THE WIND AND DON'T LOOK BACK!  Stamping will become an obsession that consumes you -- mind, body, soul, and bank account!  (But it is a lot of fun, you know.  And you meet the best people...) Anyway, assuming it's too late for that, that she has $100.00 and some bare-bones supplies (like scissors, acrylic mounts, and adhesives), here's what I'd tell her to invest in:

• Good quality neutral cardstock: My favorite these days is TE's Choice Buttercream, and TE Choice Snow White is also a must have.  A package of 20 sheets runs $4.50, so subtract $9 from the budget.
  
• Momento Tuxedo Black ink: My go-to ink of choice, especially when coloring with Copic Markers. (-$5.19)
• All purpose stamp sets: I know this is going to surprise many of my long-time readers who are aware that I am flower-challenged, but I would suggest some of TE's floral sets, like Rose Bouquet and Stargazer Lily Bouquet (my all-time favorite flowers :) ).  Why?  Well, you can use them for any occasion, from child-birth to sympathy and everything in between.  Secondly, if decide to invest in Copic Markers (which I'm going to have my imaginary friend do, in just a second), there is nothing better to learn on than a good floral.  If you can master flowers, you can color just about anything.  Another all-purpose stamp set she should consider is Many Minis - Occasions.  This sentiment set is FULL of just about any expression you could need.  (-$8.95+-$8.95+-$13.95= -$31.85)
• Taylored Expressions' Pantry Kits: These kits are an extraordinarily cost-effective way to get trendy patterned paper with coordinating sheets of colored cardstock and embellishments.  Seriously wish I'd had access to these when I started stamping!  TE's latest offering is the Love Letters Project Pantry Kit. (-$11.95)
• Copic Markers:  *sigh.*  Where do you even begin to start?  Well, I just decided to make a card using all of the supplies I've listed thus far and incorporating my most frequently used Copics, including my favorite greens (YG03, YG17), pink/reds (R20,R22), yellow (Y21), blue (B00), and the MUST HAVE Colorless Blender. 
  Right now, all Copic Sketch Markers are on sale at TE for just $5.95, so the grand total on this investment would be... $41.65.

Let's see if I stayed under budget:  9 + 5.19 + 31.85 + 11.95 + 41.65 = $99.34!!!!!!

(Can't believe I actually did that!  Yay!  I really didn't know if I would until I just added 'em up there.)

Now, are you ready to see what I made using most of said ingredients?  I didn't use a couple of the stamp sets I mentioned (she says, proudly); my friend can venture out on her own with those. 

I used this week's Splitcoaststamper's CAS (Clean and Simple) Challenge, which was a sketch challenge, as the basis of my card.  Like coloring florals, I'm a firm believer that if you can master CAS, you can do all the multi-layerd stuff, too.  CAS has to be spot-on precise; every little imperfection shows (like the fact that I pressed too hard on the left-side of the sentiment... oh, well.  Wabi-sabi!). 

You'll find much better-colored bouquets in the TE Gallery of the Rose Boquet set, but here's a close-up of mine so you can see the little flecks of yellow in this pinky-peachy variety.  Not sure what the official name for these are, but feel free to call them "Grand Empress Carole"... ;)

Be sure to visit the other members of the Baker's Dozen today to see how they tackled this challenge and had their friends spend their Holiday moo-lah:

• Carole Burrage (me - you're already here so you don't have to click me again, unless you just want to... ;) )
• Charmaine Ikach
• Jen Shults
• Kerri Michaud
• Lynnette Kauffman
• Regina Mangum
• Sankari Wegman
• Shannon White
• Shelly Mercado
• Stephanie Kraft
• Tammie Edgerton
• Taylor VanBruggen
• Wanda Guess

Farewell, comrades!  I'll see you in the 'morrow with another sweet lil' somethin'! :)

Comments

[Tammie E]

OMG, Carole...I always love coming to your blog to read what you've been up to! You crack me up! That's some sound advice for your "friend" and I love the layout you used on your card!

[Charmaine Ikach]

Gorgeous card, Carole!! I LOVE it and I love your process of what you'd suggest your friend buy!! LOL Made me laugh out loud!!

[Lynnette]

Totally fab card, love the yellow touches in the flowers, it really sets them off!

[Shannon White]

Fabulous Advise Carole!! Love it! lol ;-) And your Card is Fabulous!! So Beautiful, Bright & Cheery!! 8-)

Big hugs
Shannon

[Kelley]

As soon as my mailman gets here with the Rose Bouquet, I'll have everything on your list! Well, I guess I don't have the Love Letters Pantry Kit but the same package should have my KI subscription. I can sit and color flowers all day long. :)