Mother's Little Helper

Taylored Expressions May Release Day: Birch Tree Cutting Plate

Not only is today Release Day for all of Taylored Expressions' May products, it's also TO DIE FOR!  What do I mean?  That I'm going to go all Nicole-Kidman-as-Suzanne-Stone-and-persuade-some-thuggie-teenagers-to-kill-my-husband?¹  No, silly.  TO DIE FOR means all of us in the Baker's Dozen (and our fabby guest designer, Joan Ervin) are featuring a particular die being released this month, and showing you two different ways to use it.  Fun-fun-fun!

I'm thrilled to be able to show you a couple of things I made with the new BIRCH TREE CUTTING PLATE.  I believe I've made mention of the fact that I ADORE TE's cutting plates, and that's not mere DT puffery on my part.  They are just so dang cool and EASY to work with; instant elegance with the crank of your insert name of your particular die cutting machine or a push of the ol' Vagabond button.  The BIRCH TREE CUTTING PLATE (BTCP) is no exception, except for the fact that it's exceptionally beautiful.²

Here's one way to use the BTCP, as a woodsy background for a masculine card:

I chopped up all of the sentiments from the new GRAPHIC GREETINGS DAD stamp, popped them up on foam boosters, and spread them out, ransom-note-style, all over the card front.  I added a little rustic twine for visual interest.  Easy-peasy!

Now, for a different look, I created a little winter scene using the BTCP:

Using white cardstock for the BTCP layer automatically made me think of snow.  I added a trio of cool blues for my other card elements (including an owl, bird, and the deer from the BIRCH TREE ACCESSORIES die set, and a panel from the BAND IT dies for the sentiment), then took a white colored pencil to add snowflakes.³  The sentiment is from the From My Window set.

And lookie: nice and flat for easy mailing!  Love when that happens.

Shall we visit the rest of the Baker's Dozen to see their TO DIE FOR projects?  Let's go!

Charmaine Ikach

Jami Sibley

Jen Shults

Joan Ervin

Kerri Michaud

Lynnette Kauffman

Sankari Wegman

Shannon White

Shelly Mercado

Stephanie Kraft

Tammie Edgerton

Taylor VanBruggen

Wanda Guess

 

Footnotes:

1.  Have you ever seen To Die For?  It is SUCH a great movie - by far and away my favorite Nicole Kidman performance.  She won a Golden Globe and was nominated for an Oscar for it, you know.  It's loosely based on the Pamela Smart case, and is a dark comedy (my favorite kind of movie).

  

2.  See how I did that?  Used some form of 'except' three times within the course of one fairly short sentence.  Why one would want to do that, I don't know, but it amuses me.  I'm easy!  Like Sunday morning. (Now, you know I have to do this, but you don't have to watch it unless you want to...)

 

3.  Hmmm... I got a little heavy-handed with the snowflakes; would probably look better with fewer.  Oh well - wabi sabi!  Let's just pretend it's a blizzard scene...

Build Me Up, Buttercup

Just stopping by for a quickie.  It's There She Goes Again Day, where all of the TSG Trendsetters are making new cards featuring previously released stamp sets.  Go to the There She Goes Blog to see all of the lovely creations.  This week's TSG Again features ROFL Taglines, Dream a New Dream, and What's Up, Buttercup?

I put together a clean-and-simple number with the What's Up, Buttercup? set.  Check it out:

Just a plain white card base, some diagonal washi tape striping, a cute sentiment, and the lovely large Persian buttercup image.  I used Jessica's Tips and Tricks Sheet for this set, and stamped out the buttercup image three times.  Instead of coloring the image with markers, I inked a sponge with Scattered Straw Distress Ink and applied color that way.  So easy, and I like the variation in shading - more like a real flower.

That's it for me today, folks.  Hope you're having a great one, and I'll be back to visit you soon!

 

Magically Delicious Mojo Monday

Céad míle fáilte! (pronunciation: cade me-la fault-ah; translation: One hundred thousand welcomes!)  It's one of my favorite months of the whole year: MARCH!  I just love March.  Why?  Well, I'm a wee bit Irish, and it's the month of St. Patrick's Day.  I'm also the very proud mother of a son who happens to have cerebral palsy, and it's Cerebral Palsy Awareness Month.  Not to mention the fact that my favorite color is green.  It's March, spring is around the corner, and life is good. Huzzah!

In honor of my first March post, here's a little leprechaun to make your Monday festive:

Obviously, he's the genius creation of the one and only Kim Hughes/Paper Smooches.  Here he is, up close and personal:

I've decided his name is Lucky O'Shamrock (because you know I talk to my stamps, and every stamp must have a name).  I used my new Spectrum Noir markers to color Lucky.  The more I use those Spectrum Noir markers, the more I love-ee their bullet tips.  So much so, I had to make Lucky's socks, tie, and cuff polkie-dottie.  Otherwise, I kept the card fairly clean and simple - as much as I could and still follow this week's Mojo Monday sketch, which is:

Apparently I designed and submitted this sketch, but I can't remember that for the life of me.  If Julee wants to give me credit, that's her right, but I think she's being generous. I like that in a person, don't you? 

Head over to the Mojo Monday Blog for all the details about how to play along in this week's challenge.  Because it's the first Monday of the month, it's also PRIZE WEEK - up to seven lucky participants will be selected to win a set of VERVE STAMPS of their choosing!  To get a head start on your inspiration, you'll want to visit my fellow Mojo Monday Designers to see how they interpreted the sketch:

• Julee Tilman
• Debbie Carriere
• Marisa Ritzen
• Mary Fish
• Sarah Bigelow
• Teresa Kline
• Stephanie Kraft
• Wanda Cullen

Go play and win free stamps, why don'tcha?  I'll be back tomorrow (and the rest of the week!) with lots of gorgeous new stuff from Taylored Expressions.  See you then, mo chairde (translation: my friends).

 

Supplies available from i {heart} papers:

• A Magical Spring stamp set (Paper Smooches)
• Spectrum Noir Markers
• Copic X-Press card stock
• Momento Tuxedo Black Ink
• Dimensional Dots

Other supplies:

• Paper: Choice Snow White (TE), Simply Chartreuse (PTI), patterned paper - Pink Lemonade Petite Paper Pack (Lawn Fawn)
• Adirondack Brights Clover ink
• Circles Nestabilities (Spellbinders)
• Lime Green & Gold Stickles (Ranger)
• Ribbon
• Square Punch (Creative Memories)

Taylored Expressions February Spotlights: Posh Posies and Calla Lily Bouquet

It's Floral Friday!  Longtime readers know that is a CRAZY statement coming from flower-challenged little ol' me, but I will say, thanks to Taylored Expressions' beautiful and (even better) EASY-TO-COLOR floral images, I feel like after years and years of stamping, I'm finally overcoming my anthophobia (def'n: fear of flowers).

If you, too, suffer from stamping anthophobia and want to get over this cursed affliction, I suggest starting with a set like the new POSH POSIES, which requires no coloring whatsoever on your part.  Here's a super-fast & easy, CAS example of what you can do with this set:

Because of my own anthophobia, I looked to one of my stampy friends who is a Master Stamping Florist for guidance when creating this card; this card by Michele Boyer was my inspiration.  Instead of the blues Michele uses in her card, I decided to try my hand at a purple-and-gray color combo and selected Seedless Preserves Distress Ink for this mod-looking chrysanthemum.  I stamped it out once, twice, three times before inking it back up again to give the three different shades of flowers.  Next, I lightly airbrushed the background with a couple of BV Copic markers (can't recall which ones).  Finished it off with easy embellishments of a rounded corner, a couple of brads, and some gray grosgrain ribbon.

Now, you're ready to tackle coloring some flowers.  TE's Whimisical Wishes series of bouquets are HANDS-DOWN my favorite floral images ever as they are gorgeous and easy to color, yet because they're so pretty, you wouldn't think they were that easy.  I'll let you in on a little secret: if you don't know how to color the flowers instinctively yourself, just look to the image on the storage panel and imitate it.  Seriously!  Here's the storage panel to the new CALLA LILY BOUQUET:

And here's my card:

Believe me, friends, if I can do it?  You surely can, too.  When it comes to flowers and plants, I have a thumb as black as my cold, tiny, black heart.  And yet, with TE's Whimisical Wishes Bouquets, even I can do this:

Ready to see what my fellow non-anthophobic Baker's Dozen teammates have created for today's spotlights?  Then go visit the loverly:

• Carole Burrage
• Charmaine Ikach
• Jami Sibley (DT Coordinator)
• Jen Shults
• Kerri Michaud
• Lynnette Kauffman
• Sankari Wegman
• Shannon White
• Shelly Mercado
• Stephanie Kraft
• Tammie Edgerton
• Taylor VanBruggen
• Wanda Guess
• Anna Wight (Guest Designer)

 

Supplies used - Silhouette Sympathy:

From Taylored Expressions: Posh Posies stamp set; Distress Inks; Choice Snow White Cardstock

Other: Smokey Shadow cardstock & ribbon (PTI), Corner Chomper, American Crafts brads

Supplies used - White Calla Lillies

From Taylored Expressions: Calla Lily Bouquet stamp set; Taylored Dies: Circles Cutting Plate, Designer Mini Tags, Label Stacklets 3; Choice Snow White Cardstock; Memento Tuxedo Black ink; Copic Markers; foam tape

Other: silver cord, Cuttlebug Dots embossing folder

Taylored Expressions February Release Day: Floral Cutting Plate

Aren't you excited?! It's Release Day for all of the February goodies from Taylored Expressions!  The newest stamps sets and dies are now available to order and get your hot little hands on - yippee!

To celebrate, I've got something bright and bold to share with you.  I was feelin' groovy when I made this, can you tell?

This one's for all the hippies in the house...

I lurve TE's Cutting Plates - they instantly add a lot of style and dimension to any background and class-up the joint. For the above, I used black cardstock with the new FLORAL CUTTING PLATE, added a rainbow of cardstock strips behind it, and adhered them all to a Choice Snow White cardstock base.  Popped a sentiment from the new Posh Posies stamps set in the middle, and wa-la: a quick, easy - and easily mailed - thank you note that's sure to brighten someone's day (literally, and hopefully figuratively, too).

Visit the rest of the Baker's Dozen gang and see what they've cooked up for your Release Day visual vittles - it's sure to be delish!

• Carole Burrage
• Charmaine Ikach
• Jami Sibley (DT Coordinator)
• Jen Shults
• Kerri Michaud
• Lynnette Kauffman
• Sankari Wegman
• Shannon White
• Shelly Mercado
• Stephanie Kraft
• Tammie Edgerton
• Taylor VanBruggen
• Wanda Guess
• Nancy McKinney (Illustrator)
• Regina Mangum (Media and Promotions)

Supplies used from Taylored Expressions: Taylored Dies Floral Cutting Plate; Posh Posies Stamp Set; Choice Snow White Cardstock; Memento Tuxedo Black Ink; foam tape.

Others: True Black cardstock (PTI), scrap cardstock from my stash

Taylored Expressions February Sneak Peek: Milestone Markers

I have such a fun clean-and-simple card to show you today!  It's rare that I create anything that really tickles me, but I have to confess, I patted myself on the back after this one.  Of course, now, after giving it that big build-up, you might take a look at it and think, "Meh."  That's fine, but just don't tell me and rain on my parade (because life's candy and the sun's a ball of BUTTAH!).

The new MILESTONE MARKERS stamp set from Taylored Expressions is perfect for celebrating those big dates in a person's life: birthdays, anniversarys, etc.  It's got all of the major numbers like 25, 30, 40, 50, etc., and if you pair it with the new Poster Graphic Numbers or Whimsey #s dies, you can use it to celebrate those 'minor' special days, too.  It also has some really cute sentiments like "... is the new ...", as in "50 ... is the new... 30" which are definitely going to come in handy.

This April, my husband will be turning 45; he was only 20 when we met a few years back...  Anyway, in thinking about that particular number, my old, vinyl singles that I used to buy at Woolco for $1.00 came to mind.  I had quite the eclectic collection (I started it when I was 4 or 5, wanting to be like my big sister who is 10 years older than me).  Some of the titles I had include 'Margaritaville' by Jimmy Buffett, 'I'm Your Boogie Man' by KC and the Sunshine Band, 'Love Will Keep Us Together' by The Captain & Tenielle, 'Daytime Friends and Nightime Lovers' by Kenny Rogers, and 'DaDooRunRun' by Shaun Cassidy; don't judge me! With those spinning through my head, I came up with this:

I stamped the 'look who's turning' sentiment from Milestone Markers in red ink on to Choice Snow White Card Stock, and die cut '45' in red cardstock using the new Poster Graphic Numbers Taylored Dies.  Then, with a tiny bit of black cardstock, a rainbow of patterned papers from Simple Stories' SN@P! Color Vibe 6x6 pad, a couple of circle punches, and a standard hole punch, I scattered half a dozen minature 45 rpm records.  The records were popped up on foam tape - see:

Be sure to visit my fellow Baker's Dozen teammates to see more Sneak Peeks of the February TE release (release day is tomorrow - only one more sleep!).  They've come up with so many gorgeous creations, it's a feast for your peepers!

• Carole Burrage
• Charmaine Ikach
• Jen Shults
• Kerri Michaud
• Lynnette Kauffman
• Sankari Wegman
• Shannon White
• Shelly Mercado
• Stephanie Kraft
• Tammie Edgerton
• Taylor VanBruggen
• Wanda Guess

And, because I can't resist...

 

Supplies Used:

From Taylored Expressions: Milestone Markers stamp set; Poster Graphic Numbers Die set; Choice Snow White Cardstock; Simple Stories SN@P! Color Vibe patterned paper pad, foam tape

Other: Pure Poppy & True Black cardstock (PTI), Real Red ink (SU!), Circle punches (Paper Shapers), Corner Chomper

Taylored Expressions January Studio Challenge REDUX!

 

Yes, it's true!  I'm back with my SECOND post of the day!  Why, you ask?  Because I'm just so dedicated to keeping you entertained, and also because I didn't read the instructions properly on this month's studio challenge and I wanted to rectify that.  But mostly for the former reason... ;)

I realized as I was gazing adoringly at my fellow team members' creations that everyone had made more than one card/project except me.  Hmmm... I thought to myself, I wonder if that's a coincidence?  I went back and re-read the challenge, and what to my wondering eyes should appear?

"Show us at least 2 simple, easy-to-recreate cards featuring some of the items on the shopping list."

 

Gah!  If you've already seen my first post (good little reader!  I <3 you!), feel free to skip over the next paragraph.  If you haven't read the earlier post and/or need a refresher, here's this month's Studio Challenge:

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!

I determined that IFfy (my Imaginary Friend) had a few basic stamping supplies, like scissors, acrylic mounts, and adhesives, but that was pretty much it.  She also had $100 to spend at the Taylored Expressions store (probably a gift certificate from me, because I'm such a generous friend, and just an all-around-beautiful person, inside and out.  At least, that's what IFfy said when I gave her her present).  I came up with $99.34 worth of products I thought would make a good start as she falls into the rabbit hole known as 'paper crafting.'  Those items were:

• TE Choice Cardstock in Buttercream and Snow White
• Memento Tuxedo Black Ink
• TE Stamps Sets: Rose Bouquet, Stargazer Lily Bouquet, and Many Minis - Occasions
• A Taylored Expressions Project Pantry Kit, such as the new Love Letters - Basic Recipe kit
• 7 Copic Sketch markers: R20, R22, Y21, YG03, YG17, B00, and the Colorless Blender.

(Scroll to read my previous post for my reasoning behind these choices.)

In my last post, I showed you this card, using the Rose Bouquet set and papers from the Love Letters Project Pantry kit:

Now, here's a second card I threw together in just a few moments, using the Stargazer Lily Bouquet and Many Minis - Occasions sets:

SUPER clean-and-simple, but appropriately elegant for a concern or sympathy card.  So glad that - for once - I'm actually going to have one of these ready in my stash when I need it!  Hopefully that won't be for a long, long time, though.  All card ingredients came from the list above (the cardstock is yummy TE Choice Buttercream).  And in case you're wondering where IFfy got that seam binding?  She upcycled it from the gift wrap my gift to her came in.

I feel better now! And you got two posts in one day to read!  WIN-WIN!  I bet Stephen Covey is smiling down on us from heaven...

If you haven't done so yet, be sure to check out what the rest of the Baker's Dozen have suggested to their IFfys:

• Charmaine Ikach
• Jen Shults
• Kerri Michaud
• Lynnette Kauffman
• Regina Mangum
• Sankari Wegman
• Shannon White
• Shelly Mercado
• Stephanie Kraft
• Tammie Edgerton
• Taylor VanBruggen
• Wanda Guess

Manana, muchachas!