Mother's Little Helper

Taylored Expressions December Spotlight: Showered With Love

Guten tag, liebchen!
(I like a good beer buzz, early in the mornin', and Billy likes to peel the labels from his bottles of Bud...)

I actually have a reason for greeting you in German; the Sheryl Crow lyrics just happend to fit with the most German smiley I could come up with (and appreciate).  Did you watch The Sound of Music Live! last night?  I DVR'd it so I wouldn't have to sit through the commercials (and so I could watch my DVR'd American Horror Story: Coven, which I L-O-V-E!), but my first impression based on nothing: I love my Okla-home girl, Carrie Underwood, but to take on the magnificence that is Julie Andrews' Maria is a recipe for "Meh."  I adore Seth Rogan, but if he remade Citizen Kane, I'd be giving him the same advice. 

Actually, now that I think about it, a Seth Rogan-ized Citizen Kane might be brilliantly hilarious -- ooh, better yet: Danny McBride as Citizen Kane! This needs a visual:

  =

As gorgeous and talented as Carrie Underwood is, she ain't got what it takes to make me believe she can tame the seven unruly Von Trapp children and win the Captain's heart, let alone escape the Nazis. That's merely my personal opinion. No need to pelt me with cyber rocks and garbage. I'll watch it sometime this weekend and let you know if my proclamation still stands. If it doesn't, I will humbly recant.

Another thing I must humbly and regretfully tell you: this is my last month as a member of the Taylored Expressions' Baker's Dozen.  I have loved, loved, loved being on this design team, but as I alluded to in an earlier post, I have a new job on the horizon.

Actually I have two new jobs, but only one of them is full-time, starting in January: I'm going back to where I was before I started this whole bloggy-stampy thing! I'm resuming (?) my job as a college professor at Rogers State University (here in beautiful Claremore, America), in the School of Business and Technology, teaching courses such as Legal Environment of Business (aka Business Law), Professional Ethics, and Business Communications. That doesn't mean I'll be stopping this blog or papercrafting, but it may mean that I'm DT-free until I'm able to discern how/if I'm able to juggle other deadlines.

The good news: I discourage students from coming to my office hours. (That's a joke, but not really: I'm MUCH nicer/funnier/entertaining in class than I am when someone comes to my office, just like many professors I had as an undergrad. I think this makes me seem super-intellectual and intimidating, don't you?) That means I'll have more time for blogging! If anyone passes my office and sees me typing on my computer, it will totally look like I'm working!!! WOOT!  Thus, those of you who come here for the writing are in luck. If you come here for the purty pictures, well, I hope you like stock/borrowed-yet-given-credit photos from elsewhere.  It'll be like a very warped version of Papercraft's Moxie Fab.

 

Other good news: my job at RSU will enable me to get back into my retirement/pension program, and continue on the same fabulous state insurance program that we have now, once my DH retires from the state Senate, which is (THANK HEAVENS!) after this next session. As you know, our profoundly-adorable-smart-funny-kind youngest son, Carter, has cerebral palsy, and having good health insurance is of utmost importance to our family.

So, it's all good, even if I wish it could be a different. Such is life, no? One of the quotes I live by are the words of Wendell Berry: "We live the given life, not the planned." And guess what? It's ALL good. :)

Moving right along, I still have a month left to show you all the awesomeness that is Taylored Expressions, and this particular card comes with a little bit of local history. As I mention frequently, I live in the lovely small town of Claremore, Oklahoma, through which runs the Mother Road of Route 66. Just south of us by a few miles is Catoosa, and Catoosa is home to a Route 66 icon, The Big Blue Whale.

I absolutely ADORE beyond words this awesome beloved beluga. It's a famous Route 66 roadside attraction/homage to true love (a hubby built it for his whale-fancier wife), and though folks are no longer able swim, slide, or dive off of it, take a look at how cool it would have been to do so, back in the day:

Anywhoodle, when I got my hands on the new Petite-a-palooza set, SHOWERED WITH LOVE, I knew I had to make a tribute to this local legend.  Take a look-see:

I love me a whale stamp, especially when it comes with a die for easy-peasy die cutting!

I know you're on the edge of your seats to see what the rest of the Baker's Dozen has up their creative sleeves for you, so skeedaddle on over to:

• Carole Burrage
• Charmaine Ikach
• Courtney Kelley
• Jen Shults
• Joan Ervin
• Kerri Michaud
• Sankari Wegman
• Shannon White
• Shelly Mercado
• Stephanie Kraft
• Taylor VanBruggen
• Wanda Guess

PS - the second job I've got going on?  I'll tell you more later, but here's a hint...

 

*showered with love with coordinating dies	*pinking circle stacklets	*medium scallop border	*foam tape - 1/8" thick
*choice snow white cardstock	*memento tuxedo black full pad	*doodlebug 6x6 pad - stars & stripes*doodlebug 6x6 pad - stars & stripes*doodlebug 6x6 pad - stars &	*copic markers
*best glue ever	*precision applicator metal tip	*metal adapter shim

InLinkz.com

Taylored Expressions Spotlight: Color Block Cutting Plate and Big Bold Christmas

TGIF!  Since yesterday was Taylored Expressions' October Release Day, you know what that makes today: Spotlight Day!  Each member of the Baker's Dozen shows off favorites from the new release. Today I've selected the awesome COLOR BLOCK CUTTING PLATE and filled it in with a sentiment from the new BIG BOLD CHRISTMAS STAMP SET, papers from the TIS THE SEASON Project Pantry kit, and a few appropriate dies cuts.

Take a look:

Turn it this way or that, the Color Bock Cutting Plate gives you perfect layers for a card front and makes quick work of measuring.  No sketches required!

Of course, all of the new release items are now available in the Taylored Expressions' store. Let your fingers do the walking and see what fun & festive fabulousness these lovely ladies have in sotre for you...

Charmaine Ikach

Jen Shults

Joan Ervin

Kerri Michaud

Pattie Goldman

Sankari Wegman

Shannon White

Shelly Mercado

Stephanie Kraft

Tammie Edgerton

Taylor VanBruggen

Wanda Guess

*color block cutting plate *big bold christmas *mix & match bows *poster graphic #'s *christmas treat toppers *tis the season project pantry *copic markers *memento tuxedo black full pad *best glue ever *foam tape - 1/8" thick *inkssentials white gel pens

InLinkz.com

 

Taylored Expressions September Spotlight: Too Cute To Spook

Happy Friday, and Happy Birthday to my 9-year-old baby boy! We've been celebrating Taylored Expressions 5th Birthday all week, and the celebration continues today with each Baker's Dozen designer spotlighting sets and dies of their choosing.  I couldn't resist playing with the adorable new TOO CUTE TO SPOOK set, and created this card for my spunky niece, Blair:

Here's Little Miss Thing, close-up:

Isn't she a cutie?  Notice the rounded rectangles on the image layer and border - those are courtesy of TE's new LABELS STACKLETS 6 dies.  Oh how I love my Stacklets!

I've got a crazy amount of work to do for Little Lord Carter's big day, including baking cupcakes for his class, bringing and eating lunch with him in the cafeteria, wrapping presents, and cooking his favorite dinner (spaghetti with meat sauce). Whew! I'm tired just thinking about it... But not so tired that I don't want to first visit my talented TE teammates to see what they're spotlighting to delight and entice you:

Charmaine Ikach

Heather Jensen

Jen Shults

Joan Ervin

Kerri Michaud

Sankari Wegman

Shannon White

Shelly Mercado

Stephanie Kraft

Tammie Edgerton

Taylor VanBruggen

Wanda Guess

It's the last day of TE's Release Week, but the Birthday fun will continue all month long with something special each week in September.  As for today, you have yet another chance to win a TE gift certificate by playing GUESS THE NUMBER on Taylor's blog.  May the odds be ever in your favor, friends!

Taylored Expressions Spotlight: Zinnia Bouquet

For my last Taylored Expressions August Release Week post, I'm featuring a card made with the latest in TE's Bouquet Collection. If you would have told me this time last year that TE's series of floral images would become some of my favorites to make cards with, I would have assumed you'd been hanging out in one of Amsterdam's many "coffee" houses (in other words: partaking in the entirely legal -- in Holland -- activity of smoking marijuana). But thanks to the color storage panel each stamp comes on (which gives me a guide as to how to color the images), I have gotten over my floral stamp phobia. I am hoping this progress with floral images will eventually extend to the real thing.  Yesterday Sean and I walked through Amsterdam's famous Flower Market - it was spectacular, and even made me want to give planting a few perennials another try. 

an example of one of the many vendor shops in the Amsterdam Flower Market

Here's a fairly quick and easy card, featuring TE's new ZINNIA BOUQUET:

I kept the background elements white to keep the emphasis on the colorful image.  The dies I used include the new LABEL STACKLETS 4, Designer Mini Tags, and the Floral Cutting Plate.

Be sure to see what my fellow Baker's Dozen team mates are spotlighting today - they're projects are guaranteed to shine!

Charmaine Ikach

Jami Sibley

Jen Shults

Joan Ervin

Kerri Michaud

Sankari Wegman

Shannon White

Shelly Mercado

Stephanie Kraft

Tammie Edgerton

Taylor VanBruggen

Wanda Guess

It's our last day in Amsterdam, so time for me to hit the streets and get some shopping done, as well as visit the Anne Frank House. For dinner, we're going to go to one of the city's zillions of Argentinian Steakhouses. We ate at one a couple of nights ago, and it was great. Still, before coming here, I had no idea that Argentina was known for steak, did you? 

Supplies used: Stamps - Zinnia Bouquet (TE); Dies - Label Stacklets 4 (TE), Floral Cutting Plate (TE), Designer Mini Tags (TE); Paper: Choice Snow White (TE); Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black; Accessories: woodgrain embossing folder (the Paper Studio), Copic Markers, foam tape, silver cord

Taylored Expressions June Spotlights: Teacup Bouquet

Insomnia has struck again, so I thought I'd get up and get my blog post done.  Thus, if this sounds/reads a little fuzzy, attribute it to that, mmm-kay?  

So, anyway, this is my final post of Taylored Expressions' June release week, as well as our last full day in Navarre. Wah on both accounts. I love showing and seeing all the pretty projects that can be made with TE's stamps and dies, and I could definitely be talked into staying in Navarre for at least another week. I suppose all good things must come to an end, though.  *sigh*

I'll give myself the same advice I always give Carter (I think Dr. Seuss said it first): don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened.  One of the things that always makes me smile are TE's bouquet stamps. Why?  Because, as you know, I am floral-stamp challenged, but these images make it easy for even a black thumb like me to come up with a quick-but-elegant card.  This month's bouquet image is the TEACUP BOUQUET:

I colored mine to look like African violets in a Jaddite cup and saucer, then backed it up with TE's Circles Cutting Plate in aqua mist card stock.  Here's a close up:

One more to add to my sympathy/concern stash; I love having those kinds of cards at-the-ready so I can just send them off (with a heartfelt note, of course) when the occasion occurs.  Otherwise, I'll dread and procrastinate making them (I know you're SHOCKED to read I'm a dreader/procrastinator... ;) ) because I don't want to get morose and spend the whole time it takes me to put one together thinking about whatever sad/concerning event triggered the process.  Does that make sense at all to anyone but me? 

Hmmm... I think it may be time to try to get a little more shut-eye...

One thing I will definitely be doing upon waking up tomorrow is checking out what my fabulous fellow Baker's Dozen team mates are spotlighting today.  You should, too:

Charmaine Ikach

Jen Shults

Joan Ervin

Kerri Michaud

Sankari Wegman

Shannon White

Shelly Mercado

Stephanie Kraft

Tammie Edgerton

Taylor VanBruggen

Wanda Guess

My next post will be coming to you from good ol' Tornado Alley (aka Oklahoma). Color me glad you can't see my shoulders slumping, my head nodded down, and me walking back to bed with Vince Guaraldi's 'Christmastime Is Here' playing in the background... ;)

 

Supplies used:

Stamps: Teacup Bouquet (TE)
Dies: Circles Cutting Plate & Lace Chain Border (TE)
Paper: Choice Snow White (TE), Copic X-Press Blending Card Stock, Aqua Mist (PTI), Almost Amethyst (SU)
Ink: Momento Tuxedo Black
Accessories: Copic Markers, gingham ribbon, foam boosters

Taylored Expressions May Spotlight: Lifetime of Love

Hey gang!  Back with another fun & festive new set from Taylored Expressions' May release.  It's another cute 'on the road' scene from TE's Apple Doodle Ink line, and this time, it's a bride and groom leaving for their future, complete with tin cans attached to the rear bumper.  It's called LIFETIME OF LOVE.  I created a little wooden gift tag in the hopes that not only would it decorate a wedding present, but that it might end up on the recipient couple's Christmas tree, as well.  (I did that with a few wooden baby tags I received when the boys were born, and they are some of our most treasured ornaments.)  Take a look:

The wooden tag is from Hobby Lobby, and measures 3.25" by 4.5".  I drilled a hole in it and gave it a quick coat of white craft paint.  After that, it was a cinch to put this together.  Here's the backside:

A little patterned paper (from Simple Stories' Vintage Bliss 6"x6" pad) and space to write a personal message, die cut from TE's Label Stacklets 3 dies.

Let's go see what the rest of the Baker's Dozen is spotlighting today, shall we?

Charmaine Ikach

Jen Shults

Kerri Michaud

Lynnette Kauffman

Sankari Wegman

Shannon White

Shelly Mercado

Stephanie Kraft

Tammie Edgerton

Taylor VanBruggen

Wanda Guess

Taylored Release April Spotlights: Shady Tree Cutting Plate

So what do you think?  Hasn't this April release from Taylored Expressions done blown your mind?  I KNOW!!! 

 

Today each member of the Baker's Dozen is creating a Mother's Day themed project with new products from this release.  As longtime readers may recall, my Mom died a year and a half ago, in October of 2011.  Last year was the first Mother's Day I had without her.  Mom, this one's for you:

I used the SHADY TREE CUTTING plate to create my favorite sign of spring - the redbud tree! - and tied a yellow ribbon around it (even though this version isn't an oak tree, I've been wanting to do that since I laid eyes on this cutting die).  The tree is die cut out of actual wood paper, and the grass was created using TE's Chevron Border dies.  I used the Clouds Impression Plate with watercolor paper to emboss the background layer, then colored/waterpenned with Derwent Inktense Watercolor Pencils.  The sentiment is from the From My Window set.

For more marvelous Mother's Day projects featuring a shower of April release products, please visit these magnificent mademoiselles:

Broni Holcombe

Carole Burrage

Charmaine Ikach

Jen Shults

Kerri Mchaud

Lynnette Kauffman

Nancy McKinney

Sankari Wegman

Shannon White

Shelly Mercado

Stephanie Kraft

Tammie Edgerton

Taylor VanBruggen

Wanda Guess

Thanks for stopping by today, sweet friends.  Have a wonderful weekend!

Supplies used - Stamps: From My Window (TE, for sentiment); Taylored Dies: Shady Tree Cutting Plate, Banner Stacklets 1, Chevron Borders, Clouds Impression Plate; Paper: Cherry Satin Wooden paper, Bristol 90 lb Watercolor paper, Orchid Oppulence (SU!), Choice Buttercream (TE), Certainly Celery (SU!), Gumdrop Green (MFT), Doodlebug Designs Flower Box 6x6 pad; Ink: Momento Tuxedo Black; Accessories: yellow ric rac, Derwent Inktense Watercolor Pencils, waterpen.

Taylored Expressions March Spotlights: Vintage Dreamer and Chevron Cutting Plate

I hate to play favorites¹, but I'm thinking this has been my favorite release since I became a member of Taylored Expressions' Bakers Dozen.  I have thoroughly enjoyed playing with every single stamp and die I've used thus far, and (happily!) I still have a few more to test out, like the Graphic Greetings Thankful image and the Flutter-Bys, Open Scallop Border, and Luggage Tags² dies. Not only that, but I'm looking forward to going back and working again with the sets/dies I've already used; that's when (as a designer) you know the release is a home run.

 

A stamp set you might be surprised that I am LOVING is the VINTAGE DREAMER set.  Me and vintage?  We typically go together like ice cream and onions, but this set is so easy and elegant on its own, that even I can pull it off.  For example:

Isn't that CHEVRON CUTTING PLATE  just the coolest?  Very on-trend, and the patterning combinations you can make with it are endless.  I cut one layer out in Choice Snow White Cardstock, and then I cut another layer out with PTI's Raspberry Fizz cardstock.  The white became the 'skeleton' of the background, which I 'fleshed out' by piecing rows of raspberry in the larger chevron spaces.

I heat embossed the sentiment panel in white (love the Art Deco looking flower and flourishes that surrond the label image) on Bermuda Bay (SU!) card stock, then popped up a the actual sentiment on a hand-cut fish tail banner.  I debated whether to use the "Celebrate", "Thanks", or "Hello" sentiments that come with the set, but I opted for "Dream" as graduation season will soon be approaching, and I think this works well for new graduates.

Plus, the finished card lays pretty flat for easy mailing - love it when that happens!

Ready to see what the rest of the Baker's Dozen and our guest designer, Broni, are spotlighting today?  I know I am - I'm truly in awe of their mad skillz!

Broni Holcombe

Charmaine Ikach

Jami Sibley

Jen Shults

Kerri Mchaud

Regina Mangum

Sankari Wegman

Shannon White

Shelly Mercado

Stephanie Kraft

Tammie Edgerton

Taylor VanBruggen

Wanda Guess

Supplies available from Taylored Expressions:

• Vintage Dreamer stamp set
• Chevron Cutting Plate
• Choice Snow White card stock

Other supplies:

• Ink: Versamark, Pink Passion (SU!)
• Paper: Bermuda Bay (SU!), Raspberry Fizz (PTI)
• Accessories: Stampendous White Opaque Detail embossing powder, Jody Morrow's foam boosters

Footnotes:

1.  Who am I kidding?  I love to play favorites.  I routinely tell each of my boys that he's my favorite when he's being particularly sweet or pays me a compliment.  Conversely, I also say things like "I wish I'd had Carter first then quit..." or "Why didn't I leave well enough alone and stop after I had Truman?" when they're being especially obnoxious.  Of course, they pay about as much attention to me when I say those things as they do when I suggest they go play in traffic or with matches; they think I'm kidding.  And, most of the time, I am.

2.  I'm especially giddy about the Luggage Tag dies -- awesome, awesome gifting possibilities with these.  I received some adorable laminated baby tags when Truman was born.  At least, I thought they were cute at the time; they were basically just little business cards with his name on them in a computer font.  NOTHING like what I can make with these fabulous dies now that I'm a bona fide papercrafter! 

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 January Spotlights: Graphic Greeting Valentine

My goodness! I've had, what is it now?  Four days of posting in a row, with two on Monday?!  I think that may just be a record... Are my faithful readers pinching themselves, or are y'all yawning and thinking, "When is she going to shut her trap and get back to normal?"  Never fear, my dears: I'm leaving on a jet plane tomorrow morning for CHA, and I promise I won't post again until at least Monday.  You'll have the whole weekend to miss me.  Sound good?

 

In the meantime, I do want to show you one last thing I've made for this - my first release week with TAYLORED EXPRESSIONS!  I must say, I've had a blast creating with all of the wonderful stamps, dies, and papers TE has to offer.  Color me smitten; I feel like I'm on a honeymoon!

 

Anywhoodle, speaking of love, ready to see a preppy little valentine that should speak to all of the pink & greeners in the house?  Here you go:

I created this Lily Pulitzer-ish concoction using the brand new GRAPHIC GREETING VALENTINE stamp and the SWIRLS CUTTING PLATE.  The cardstock and ribbon are from the LOVE LETTERS PROJECT PANTRY KIT, and the patterned paper behind the swirls is from October Afternoon's Cakewalk 8 x 8 pad. 

Here's a close up of the image panel, which I heat embossed in Ranger Verdigris embossing powder:

Believe it or not, this is the very first color of embossing powder I ever purchased (along with some Heidi Swapp foam alphabet stamps and a heat gun; I was creating a scrapbook album for my brother-in-law of his son's birth.  Jack is now 6 and he and Carter are the best of friends. :) ).  From that moment on, I was a stamper.  Now, I'm getting all misty... STAMPING, I LOVE YOU, MAN!

 

Ready to see what the other spectacular spotlights the rest of the Baker's Dozen have in store for you?  Then mosey on over to:

• Charmaine Ikach
• 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 I used that you can find in the Taylored Expressions store:

• Graphic Greeting Valentine
• Swirls Cutting Plate
• Love Letters Pantry Kit

BCNYA, peeps!

 

Taylored Expressions January Spotlights: Bless Your Nest & Valentine Doodles

Good Wednesday morning, mi amigas, and

Are you ready to see more sweet stuff from Taylored Expressions newest release? Good, then you're in the right place! First up, I've got a little story to show you. It's a love story, along the lines of 'The Lonely Goatherd,' one of my favorite ditties from one of my all-time favorite movies, The Sound of Music. Except this one is of the aviary variety:

Our story begins with Boy is sitting in his nest, rather lonely.  But then, Boy meets Girl, and they snuggle.  Soon, Boy and Girl have Egg, and they live happily ever after. The End!  Wouldn't this be a sweet card for newlyweds or newly preggers couples?  Or maybe to hint to your son that it's time he settle down and give you some grandkids?  My boys are only 16 and 8, so I won't be needing this for the latter purpose for at least a dozen or more years, but please feel free to use the idea as you see fit. ;)

This story-card features the BLESS YOUR NEST stamp set, BLESS YOUR NEST TAYLORED DIES and BANNER STACKLETS 1 TAYLORED DIES.  I love how the stamp set has both elegant/traditional images and more mod images, like the ones I used for Boy & Girl's nest.  The dies are so great, you can add detail to your die cuts with the stamps or just use 'em on their own, as I did.  By the way, I didn't use the nest die for this card, but it is a beauty.  Be sure to check out the Bless Your Nest Gallery for lots of lovely interpretations of this must-have set. 

Next, I have a trio of 3" x 3" cards created with the VALENTINE DOODLES stamp set and the new 3X3 SCALLOPED NOTECARD TAYLORED DIE:

Aren't they sweet?  And they took little-to-no-time to create - I LOVE THAT!  For once, Carter may actually have homemade Valentines to share with his classmates (instead of those cheap-y Kung Fu Panda 2 or whatever I typically pick up at the grocery store in a mad dash on the evening of the 13th).  He's requested them several years running, but I've resisted.  I'm not sure he fully understands the analogy about the cobbler's children having no shoes, though he hears it frequently. Here are close-ups of these cuties:

Note the piercing along the scallops.  I did that without any sort of guide - just me and my trusty piercing tool.

 

The above image (heart with wings) reminds me of that image on the FedEx box in Castaway.  Man, that was a great movie...

Should I endeavor to make Carter's Valentines, you'll definitely see them before he will. I never tell him I'm going to do something unless I'm 100% committed as he will hassle and harangue me until the deed is done.  I made a huge mistake the other day of telling him we needed to start a movement to get a dog park in our town; he has talked of nothing since and thinks we should be able to get it done by Spring Break. Anyway - back to the Valentines - when & if they are made, they will be sealed up in the adorable little 3x3 card envelopes now being carried by Taylored Expressions.  Can't have a card without an envelope, you know!

Be sure to check out the gorgeous Spotlights featured by the rest of Baker's Dozen today:

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

See you tomorrow with another Spotlight! :)

Supplies used you can find in the Taylored Expressions Store:

• Bless Your Nest stamp set
• Bless Your Nest Taylored Dies
• Banner Stacklet 1 Taylored Dies
• Valentine Doodles stamps set
• 3x3 Scalloped Notecard Taylored Die
• Memento Inks
• Choice Cardstock
• Baker's Twine
• Copic Markers