Taylored Expressions April Sneak Peek: Made In the Shade and A Glimpse Inside

I swear, I'm so excited about this month's Taylored Expressions release, I could rival the 'Ermahgerd!' chick in a geek-off. 

Just put my head on her body, and replace the Goosebumps books with a fan of new TE stamps and dies.  That's me right now!  Want to see why?  Of course you do...

First, however, I need to tell you a cautionary tale.  I decided I wanted to showcase the SHADE TREE CUTTING PLATE with the MADE IN THE SHADE stamp set by creating a silhouette/sunset scene.  So, naturally, I got out a piece of glossy cardstock and went to work inking a sunset-y background.  Like so:

Next, I adhered the Shady Tree die cut, and then I set about stamping the tire swing from Made In the Shade.  But guess what I forgot?  When working with glossy card stock, you should heat set the ink because takes a lot longer to dry than regular card stock.

Grrr... Can't really figure out how I did that, looking back.  But - whatever.  I had to ink another background, then cut out and adhere another die cut.  This time, I decided to heat emboss the tire swing and the sentiment.  But you know what?  Heat embossing is kinda messy under ideal conditions.  Heat embossing on glossy cardstock?  A gloppy mess. 

I took a deep breath, and made my THIRD sunset background, my THIRD Shady Tree die cut, and tried one more time.  Finally, I was pleased with the result...

Don't you love that tree?  It's CRAZY versatile, as you'll find when you visit the rest of the Baker's Dozen gang to see what they made with it. 

The next card I have to show you, I had oh-so-much fun making.  I used the A GLIMPSE INSIDE stamp set with the new PICTURE WINDOW DIE and the shutters from the WINDOW ACCESSORIES DIES:

I made it to look a bit like my house; we have black shutters on the windows and white window panes.  Though the first floor of our home is brick, the top level of it is a khaki-colored siding.  I even went outside with my color swatch book (because I'm a dork) to make sure I was picking the closest card stock match that I had (Bamboo by CTMH).  I paper pleated the siding, btw. 

I don't know about you, but I LOVE taking walks at night or early in the morning, and being able to see what's going on through the windows in other people's homes.  Just from the road/sidewalk, mind you - not in a peeping-Tom-in-the-bushes/nose-pressed-against-the-glass kind of way.  I like to wonder what's going on in there and see how other people live, don't you?  This is probably also why I pull my shades closed at sundown each evening; to thwart people like me.  Anyway, here's a closer look inside the window:

Note the paper-pieced wingback chair and the Claremore Zebra rug (red, black & white are our colors).  I decided it was looking a little bare above the mantle, so I cut a tiny picture out of a magazine for a little art.  There's a little vellum window treatment, too.  I tell you, making these little scenes (yes, I am using the word 'little' too much, but try not to notice) is almost as much fun as playing Barbies (which I did, on the sly, until 6th grade.  I knew I was too old, but I loved playing Barbies so much).  Playing with these stamps and dies also fulfills that part of me that occasionally wants to start creating and decorating doll houses/miniatures.  One of my FAVORITE places in the whole wide world is the Thorne Miniature Rooms at the Chicago Institute of Art -- talk about ermahgerd!  Anyway, these stamp sets and dies are a godsend because I need another hobby like I need a hole in my head...

Ready to see what fantastic stuff the rest of the Baker's Dozen has put together to entice and delight you?  Then please visit these loverly ladies blogs:

Broni Holcombe

Charmaine Ikach

Jami Sibley

Jen Shults

Kerri Mchaud

Lynnette Kauffman

Nancy McKinney

Sankari Wegman

Shannon White

Shelly Mercado

Stephanie Kraft

Tammie Edgerton

Taylor VanBruggen

Wanda Guess

Comments

[Jami]

Oh yes Carole - that's it! It's the desire to play with doll houses and all things miniature! That must be why I love scene creating so much too! Love your fireplace card! I also love your sunset card and am giggling a little because I have one very much like it ready to show later in the week. GMTA!!

[Amy Rohl]

Ermahgerd, I love ermahgerd, thanks to my dear daughter! Love the silhouette card, but I'm so lovin' that scalloped window treatment and fireplace scene you've created. Nice work, my friend!

[Wanda G (stampcat)]

Ermahgerd! You truly are my kindred spirit friend! I go around work saying that all the time and people have no idea what I'm doing. LOL. You've done lost your mind woman, with these awesome projects!!! LOVE them both. I'm particularly enchanted by that zebra rug. Grrrr. XOXO Happy Release Week.

[Kellijo]

HAHAHAHAHHA!!!! I JUST had the SAME conversation with Anna!!! Hahahhahah SO GLAD freaks come in 3's!!!! LOL

[Bonnie aka raduse]

Oh wow Carole!!! Your sunset (all three) came out fantastic - especially the finished piece. I would be happy to be able to CASE the sunset you made. However, the HOUSE!?? Can you say OMG??? AWESOME!!!!

[Kerri M.]

I too love to take walks and peek in windows, and I too shut my shades at sunset LOL! I'm glad you persisted with that sunset card~GORGEOUS, and your siding looks amazing on your window card! Awesome projects, woman:)

[Billie A]

Both cards are wonderful. Love the look and details. Great work.

[Shannon White]

Ermahgerd! Your projects are both AWESOME Lady!! I am sooo Loving your Gorgeous Sunset!! So glad you kept at it! Third time is definitely the charm! 8-) and yrou Window scene is Fabulous!! Love the perfect wood siding and Fabulous zebra rug!! LOVE it! 8-)

Hugs
Shannon

[Crafty Math Chick]

SUch fabby projects Carole - WOW! Love 'em all! I can see why you are doing the 'ermergard!' happy dance!
~ Meredith

[Marsha Reed]

Great cards! Love the tire swing.

[Julie L]

Love the beautiful sunset card.

[Shelly]

Carole, reading how you made the tree card cracked me up...sounds a bit like myself! lol! Your end result is gorgeous though! Love your window scene too, so nice and cozy! Hugs! :)

[Tammie E]

OMGosh, Carole, you crack me up! I love how persistent you were with the sunset, but both cards look amazing!

[Carolyn King]

Erhamaghad...thought that was a pic of you! Snort! LOVE your fantastic cards!! :)

[Mark McKnight]

Thank you very much for sharing this. I love the colors and pictures. Very pretty card.

[read full report]

Incredible! This blog looks just like my old one! It's on a entirely different subject but it has pretty much the same page layout and design. Excellent choice of colors!