Sweet Sunday Sketch Winner

It's time to announce this week's (er, I mean LAST week's) Sweet Sunday Winner!  I think I've finished digging out from under the mountainous piles of wrapping paper, ribbon, dishes (you know, the fine china you can't put in the dishwasher), and yummy treats.  The only thing missing this year was snow - it's so bizarre having absolutely no snow here in the Front Range of Colorado this time of year.  The mountains are getting all the snow, and we're missing out.  Oh, and the East Coast is getting a ton too, so if you read that and are mad, just know that I'm one of those weird people who love those big blizzards, haha!  My oldest was outside in shorts and a light jacket this afternoon - WHAT?

Ok, rambling again - This week's winner is.....  #11 - Wendy!

Wendy made this adorable money holder with the sketch and I love the candy cane paper and happy Santa!  Congrats Wendy!  You can see more of Wendy's work on her blog, WeeBeeStampin4Fun, so please swing on by and give her some love. 

See you back this Sunday when we'll pick back up with the next challenge!

Karen

Happy Birthday Jodi!!

That's right!  It's my pal Jodi Collins' birthday today and we celebrating her by showering her with some blog love!  The party started over at Karen Motz's blog and she has a complete list of hoppers there and if you came to my blog through Jessica Diedrich, you're right on schedule.

I was so lucky to have met Miss Bon Jodi in real life when we helped out in the Taylored Expressions booth at CHA in January and let me tell you, this girl will make you laugh! Thanks for the ab workout, sister!!  Never a dull moment, HUH??!!???

I decided to go sweet and simple for her card using FTL121 for the layout.  I stamped the stems from Friendship Blooms in Olive Pastel fluid chalk ink and used some Material Girl buttons for the flowers with Baker's Twine bows.  I used the Leafy Branch Die underneath the image for a little accent.  The sentiment is from In the Park - and no, it's NOT 'Happy_Birthday'.  That was just an unfortunate grain in the paper getting in the way of my sentiment, but it still made me giggle.  I don't think I could have lined that up on purpose!  The scallops are made from the Medium Scallops Die.

Jodi's birthday celebration continues over at Wendy Bond's blog, so please keep the party going and give Jodi some birthday love over at her blog too :)

See you back soon!
Karen

recipe -

stamps: in the park, friendship blooms (taylored expressions)

paper: kraft, prism island mist light, choice buttercream cardstock, thrift shop (october afternoon)

ink: olive pastel & dark brown fluid chalk ink (colorbox)

accessories: lacey circles & circle nestabilities (spellbinders), leafy branch die (taylored expressions), medium scallop border die (taylored expressions), baker's twine (taylored expressions), material girl buttons (cosmo cricket)

Merry Christmas

I was a complete and total slacker this year and didn't make my own Christmas cards and I opted to go the photo card route.  I'm really excited to send some of my absolute favorite photos I took of the kids this fall and love how it turned out. Andrew went with me to scope out a setting for a family shoot I did a little while ago and he was my handsome little helper and let me take some practice shots of him.  That little "peace" photo was one of my favorites of him that day.

This is what happened toward the end...

He treats me like I'm Paparazzi - it's a love/hate relationship with my lens... But he saves his 1000 hugs and kisses for me each day.  He's such a little love.

Katie, she's my princess.  Everything dressy and twirly and just pure "love".  The photo of her was taken for my photography class and it quickly became my all-time favorite of her.  I think it's the light shining through her amazing, chocolate eyes.

How can I deny her anything?  Oh right, it's that money thing.  She's such a sweetie.

I've posted this photo of Avery before, but it's rare she gets in front of the camera and doesn't stick out her tongue or squeeze her eyes shut tight.  That girl...

She's my no-nonsense girl.  No ribbons.  No fancy hairdos.  Certainly no dresses.  She's just like me!  My Mini Me.

Have a wonderful Holiday and fabulous New Year.  See you back soon!
Karen

Warm Fuzzies

Howdy!!  Are you surprised to see me here?  haha!  I had some time to make another card and since it's all about Christmas this week, I thought I'd ink up my penguins again.  I can't help it.  It's the fuzzy hats.  I think I'm addicted to them.  I wonder if there is a support group for that?

This little cutie is from Penguin Pals and I stamped him in Memento Tuxedo Black and colored it with Copic markers.  I also used a glitter gel pen over the lights and star on the tree, just for a little extra somethin'.  The patterned and purple papers are from the Snow Day Project Pantry Kit and I added a Medium Scallop Border as well as some Sugar Sparkly Fluff on the penguin's hat (naturally).

I popped up the penguin and then the gift for some 3D flair too.

OK, I had better be off to wrap, wrap, and wrap some more! Where is the time going???

Thanks for stopping by!
Karen

recipe -

stamps: penguin pals (taylored expressions)

paper: kraft cardstock, snow day project pantry kit (taylored expressions)

ink: memento tuxedo black

accessories: medium scallop border die (taylored expressions), red rhinestones (kaisercraft), red grosgrain ribbon (snow day project pantry kit - taylored expressions), sugar sparkly fluff (our craft lounge), large corner rounder, bow easy

Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge 97

Good morning - It's time for another Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge! Here is the deal: make a card with this layout and use the InLinkz button down at the very end of this post to enter your card. The links will close on Friday at 10 PM (Mountain Time), and I'll randomly select one card to feature on my blog on Saturday. So, as long as your card is linked by 10 PM Friday, your card will be in the drawing. Be sure to link directly to the blog post or gallery image which features your card. You may post a picture of the sketch on your blog, but please save the image to your computer first. Use the keyword SSSC97 if you plan to post your card in an online gallery.

The size of my card is 6-1/2" x 3-1/4" and I opted to use some Holiday Lounge paper from Stampin' Up!  I didn't add any cardstock layers, which kept this one fairly simple.  The scallop border is MFT's Jumbo Scallop Die and I had to cut it out twice and hid the seam under the ornament {shhhh, don't tell!}.  The ornaments are a Silhouette cut file that my sweet friend, Nancy McKinney made and shared with me - aren't they darling?

We're taking a break next week for Christmas, so we'll see you back for another new sketch on January 2nd.

The Sweet Sunday Stampers have amazing sketch samples to show you today, so stop on by to see:

• Jennifer Tapler
• Karen Motz
• Laura Fredrickson
• Lynn Put
• Sarah-Jane Kale'
• Vicki Burdick

Thanks for taking on the challenge this week! 
Karen

recipe -

paper: sahara sand (stampin' up!), choice snow white (taylored expressions)

accessories: clear & red rhinestones (kaisercraft), ornament cut file (my very sweet friend), cranberry crisp stitched ribbon (stampin' up!), linen thread, jumbo scallop die (my favorite things)

Sweet Sunday Sketch Winner

Hi peeps!  It's time to announce this week's SSSC winner - random.org has chosen....
#17 - Steph!

Isn't her card darling?  I love the glitter in the leaves, which match the holly leaves on the patterned paper.  So cute!  You can see more of Steph's cute cards at her blog, Steph's Stampin.

See you back soon for the next challenge - or become a fan on Facebook and see the sketch now :)

Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge

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Karen

Thankful for you

Hi friends!  I miss you!  I feel like I haven't been by the blog in a loooong time and I miss having my usual stamping time.  And to top it off, I've run out of adhesive - GASP!!!  So what do you do when you have no adhesive?  You make a single layer card with a little cheat of dimensional tape, that's what!  I started by stamping the stems from Friendship Blooms in Olive Pastel Fluid Chalk Ink and then added a Nestabilities Labels 15 frame centered around the stems. The blooms are stamped in Warm Red & Tangerine and cut out with the Friendship Blooms Dies - the polka-dot centers are stamped in Deep Lagoon and popped up with dimensional tape as well.

I think Santa needs to put some adhesive in my stocking this year - although, I'd have to tell Santa where to buy it and bring his 40% off coupon and the like, so maybe I'll just treat myself instead.  LOL!

Thanks for stopping by!
Karen

recipe -

stamps: friendship blooms

paper: kraft, bazzill basics lagoon canvas, choice snow white

ink: warm red, tangerine, deep lagoon, olive pastel, dark brown fluid chalk ink (colorbox)

accessories: 1/2" circle punch, friendship blooms dies (taylored expressions), nestabilities labels 15 (spellbinders)

Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge 96

Good morning - It's time for another Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge! Here is the deal: make a card with this layout and use the InLinkz button down at the very end of this post to enter your card. The links will close on Friday at 10 PM (Mountain Time), and I'll randomly select one card to feature on my blog on Saturday. So, as long as your card is linked by 10 PM Friday, your card will be in the drawing. Be sure to link directly to the blog post or gallery image which features your card. You may post a picture of the sketch on your blog, but please save the image to your computer first. Use the keyword SSSC96 if you plan to post your card in an online gallery.

I'm inking up my favorite penguins again - aren't they cute??  These little guys are from Penguin Pals and whenever I use them, I have to use some Sparkly Fluff on their hats - Baby Boy Blue is what I used here.  I stamped the image in Memento Tuxedo Black and colored it with Copics, but the Mistletoe is colored in with a white gel pen.  I used the Large Scallop Border Die along the bottom in patterned paper - I love the mix of big and small scallops on a card - so pretty!  

I have a sad announcement too - Our very sweet and fabulous Joanne is posting her last SSSC card as a team member today.  She has been so wonderful and thoughtful and sweet and we will all miss her.  Thank you for all you have brought to this little team, Joanne!  We lurve you!

The Sweet Sunday Stampers have amazing sketch samples to show you today, so stop on by to see:

• Jennifer Tapler
• Joanne Basile
• Karen Motz
• Laura Fredrickson
• Lynn Put
• Sarah-Jane Kale'
• Vicki Burdick

Thanks for taking on the challenge this week! 
Karen

recipe -

stamps: penguin pals (taylored expressions)

paper: bashful blue, real red (stampin' up!), choice buttercream (taylored expressions) cardstock, old retired stampin' up! patterned paper (the names escape me)

ink: memento tuxedo black

accessories: red satin ribbon, rectangle/scallop nestabilities (spellbinders), large scallop border, copic markers, baby boy blue sparkly fluff (our craft lounge), white gel pen

Sweet Sunday Sketch Winner

Hello and Happy Saturday!  It's time to announce this week's sketch winner - and Random.org has chosen.....

#11 - Dawn Easton!

I love the soft colors Dawn used for her card as well as all of her little details - the pearls, the butterflies and border punch - it's gorgeous!   Congrats Dawn!  Please stop by Dawn's blog, Treasure Oiler Designz and say hello, she's got lots and lots of gorgeous eye candy there for you!

See you back soon for the next challenge, or check out the early sneak peek on Facebook right now :)

Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge

Promote Your Page Too

See you soon!
Karen

Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge 95

Good morning - It's time for another Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge! Here is the deal: make a card with this layout and use the InLinkz button down at the very end of this post to enter your card. The links will close on Friday at 10 PM (Mountain Time), and I'll randomly select one card to feature on my blog on Saturday. So, as long as your card is linked by 10 PM Friday, your card will be in the drawing. Be sure to link directly to the blog post or gallery image which features your card. You may post a picture of the sketch on your blog, but please save the image to your computer first. Use the keyword SSSC95 if you plan to post your card in an online gallery.

I'm breaking out the Verve today - yumm!  Miracles Blossom is one of my all time favorite Verve sets and I can't resist the tulips - my favorite flower.  The papers are again from Marjolaine by Basic Grey.

The Sweet Sunday Stampers have amazing sketch samples to show you today, so stop on by to see:

• Jennifer Tapler - she's on a little stay-cation with her family, but she'd love for you to visit!
• Joanne Basile
• Karen Motz
• Laura Fredrickson
• Lynn Put
• Sarah-Jane Kale'
• Vicki Burdick

Thanks for taking on the challenge this week! 
Karen

recipe -

stamps: miracles blossom

paper: night of navy, certainly celery (stampin' up!), choice snow white (taylored expressions) cardstock, marjolaine (basic grey)

ink: old olive, night of navy (stampin' up!)

accessories: labels 4 nestabilities (spellbinders), ice blue rhinestones (kaisercraft)

Taylored Expressions Release Party

Hey, hey!  It's Friday and that means it's the Taylored Expressions release party!  All our new items are now for sale and you aren't going to want to miss anything - lot's of fun items for you and your crafty friends.

For my card today, I'm using the new set, Friendship Blooms along with the coordinating Friendship Blooms Dies.  This blossom set is packed full of different sized flowers and centers to keep your creative wheels turning and is available as a Friendship Blooms, Friendship Blooms Dies, & Leafy Branch Die bundle - convenient one stop shopping, yay!  I stamped the flowers in Warm Red and Yellow Ochre and added a Dark Brown center for the sunflower.  I couldn't resist the polka-dots!  The patterned papers are Basic Grey Marjolaine and I added a fun little olive satin bow using my Bow Easy.  The layout is The Sweet Stop's SSS84.

You can catch all that is new in the Taylored Expressions store today along with all the Crafty Petites, which are available in a bundle package for more than 10% off the original price!  There is more inspiration from the Baker's Dozen - hop on over to see:

• Charmaine Ikach
• Danielle Lounds
• Donna Baker
• Jackie Pedro
• Jodi Collins
• Karen Motz
• Melissa Sauls
• Regina Mangum
• Sankari Wegman
• Taylor VanBruggen
• Tori Wild
• illustrator, Nancy McKinney
• and special guest baker, Mona Pendleton

Thanks for stopping by!
Karen

recipe -

stamps: friendship blooms (taylored expressions)

paper: certainly celery (stampin' up!), choice snow white (taylored expressions) cardstock, marlolaine (basic grey)

ink: warm red, yellow ochre, dark brown, olive pastel fluid chalk (colorbox)

accessories: olive satin ribbon, savannah buttons, linen thread, circle nestabilities (spellbinders), friendship blooms dies

Taylored Expressions Sneak Peek | Day 2

Hello and welcome back to more Taylored Expressions sneak peeks!  Today the Baker's Dozen is introducing 4 new Crafty Petites, which are exactly like the deeply etched rubber cling mount stamps you love, but in a more petite size - so cute!  Each petite set comes on its own 3.5" x 5" full color panel and have about 7-8 individual stamps and are a bargain value at only $7.95 each!  I love the witty sentiments that coordinate with each image and it's so easy to make cute little card sets.  Each of these cards are 4.25" square...

I made this card set using Taylor's TESC134 and papers from The Thrift Shop by October Afternoon.  This particular Crafty Petite is called Crafter's Anonymous and the sentiment inside says "There's a show for hoarders!", which I think is hysterical since I always hoard my crafty stuff, LOL!  I added some Yellow Pearls along with some ivory grosgrain ribbon.

Here's another take on Taylor's sketch using Knit Wit and I used TE's new Large, Medium, and Small Scallop Border Dies to create lots and lots of luscious layers.  The sentiment inside says "Sorry to be such a Knit Wit", hee! 

This stamp is from Kitschy Kitchen and is so, SO fun!  The oven is matched with a sentiment inside which says, "You warm my heart." - love it!

And my last card uses Sew Happy - I also used the new Scallops & Circles Impression Plate on the background paper and then rubbed a sanding block over it to create the worn edges.  Love that look! 

These new little Crafty Petites are brilliant for stocking stuffers or small little goodies for your friends this Holiday season, or you can hoard them for yourself too, lol!  Taylor has a video showing you more about these cute little Crafty Petites, so hop on over and see.

Stop by the TE store tomorrow morning when all of the new release will be available for purchase, yay!!

There is much, much more for you to see from the rest of the Baker's Dozen!  Stop by and see:

• Charmaine Ikach
• Danielle Lounds
• Donna Baker
• Jackie Pedro
• Jodi Collins
• Karen Motz
• Melissa Sauls
• Regina Mangum
• Sankari Wegman
• Taylor VanBruggen
• Tori Wild
• and illustrator, Nancy McKinney

Thanks for stopping by!
Karen

Taylored Expressions Sneak Peek | Day 1

Hello!  I feel like it has been ages since I've last posted and I'm so thrilled to be able to show you a peek at a new Taylored Expressions set called Friendship Blooms!!  This beautiful set of 22 stamps is deeply etched on cling mount rubber and is full of gorgeous images and sentiments.  The set also has 2 coordinating Taylored Die sets - Friendship Blooms & Leafy Branch - which make cutting out those flowers a cinch! 

I used a fun little 6x6 paper pack from Basic Grey called Marjolaine and offset the blues and greens with a pop of Warm Red for the flowers, which were cut out using one of the Friendship Blooms Die flowers.  I added a few Ice Blue rhinestones and some olive stitched ribbon along the top.  The Leafy Branch die was used to cut out the branch image, which I stamped in Olive Pastel.  The layout is Mercy's MTSC102.

The Baker's Dozen have much more to show you this morning - hop on over and see...

• Charmaine Ikach
• Danielle Lounds
• Donna Baker
• Jackie Pedro
• Jodi Collins
• Karen Motz
• Melissa Sauls
• Regina Mangum
• Sankari Wegman
• Taylor VanBruggen
• Tori Wild
• and illustrator Nancy McKinney

Thanks for stopping by!
Karen

Black Friday Blowout @ Taylored Expressions!!

Black Friday through Cyber Monday Taylored Expressions has some fantastic deals for you! Visit our Black Friday Blowout Department to see them all in one place. Here is just a sampling of what you'll see when you get there: 

Stamp Sets - Purchase any 5 full sized Stamp Sets and GET ONE FREE!

Taylored Expressions T-shirts (3 styles to choose from) at 25% off!


Twinkles Special - Buy 2 Multi Colored Twinkles and get a Free Package of Crystal Twinkles.

Stickers and Tags - Purchase either the Sweet Season or Waiting for Santa sticker sheet and receive a set of 10 coordinating die cut tags free.

Key Ingredients Subscription - TE is lowering the monthly subscription fee for a 3 Month KI Subscription from $25.95 per month to $23.95 per month just for this 4 day sale. Normally you would need to subscribe for 6 months to get that monthly rate. This is a great time to give Key Ingredients a try!

A la Carte Stamps - Purchase any 3 Animals in Love A la Carte stamps and GET ONE FREE!

AND SO MUCH MORE!!!! Click over to the Black Friday Blowout Department 12:00 PM CST today through Tuesday at 12:01am CST to take advantage of these incredible deals. Some quantities are limited, so for best selection shop early!

Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge 94

Good morning - It's time for another Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge! Here is the deal: make a card with this layout and use the InLinkz button down at the very end of this post to enter your card. The links will close on Friday at 10 PM (Mountain Time), and I'll randomly select one card to feature on my blog on Saturday. So, as long as your card is linked by 10 PM Friday, your card will be in the drawing. Be sure to link directly to the blog post or gallery image which features your card. You may post a picture of the sketch on your blog, but please save the image to your computer first. Use the keyword SSSC94 if you plan to post your card in an online gallery.

I thought I'd go with a Gina K image from How Sweet It Is and use some of that delicious Espresso Dimensional Pearls as hot fudge. Mmmm!!  The paper is DeLovely from Cosmo Cricket and I added some Island Lagoon rhinestones to give a little pop.

There will not be a sketch next week as I'll be traveling and won't have time to whip up a sketch and card.  I know, I didn't really plan that one out, did I? 

The Sweet Sunday Stampers have amazing sketch samples to show you today, so stop on by to see:

• Jennifer Tapler
• Joanne Basile
• Karen Motz
• Laura Fredrickson
• Lynn Put
• Sarah-Jane Kale' - she's off on holiday. So sad...
• Vicki Burdick

Thanks for taking on the challenge this week! 
Karen

Sweet Sunday Sketch Winner

Hello!  It's time to announce this week's SSSC winner and this week its....

#48 - Jen Timko!

I love the warm color combo Jen used and the button tag along the bottom, very cute!  You can see more of Jen's cards at her blog, Stampin' on the Fly - hop on over there and give her some love :)

See you  back soon for the next challenge -
Karen

Happy Birthday Nancy!

Today is Nancy McKinney's birthday and we're celebrating her by giving her a little birthday card blog hop!  If you are not familiar with Nancy, she is the Whimsical Wishes illustrator for Taylored Expressions and I thought it would be fun to use one of her images for her card.  The hop starts at Karen Motz's blog, so if you happened here by chance, you really should start from the beginning to see all the good eye candy.

I started with an old Sweet Sunday Sketch and chose papers from the Togetherness Mini Deck from Cosmo Cricket and paired with images from In the Park.  The scalloped edge is the Scalloped Eyelet Border Die and I added a little ivory grograin ribbon and Bow-Easy bow on the side.

Happy birthday, Nancy!  I wish I could be there in person to raise a glass and have lots and grins and giggles - you are super fabulous!!

Sankari is next on the hop, so please continue on in wishing Nancy a wonderful birthday.

Karen

Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge 93

Good morning - It's time for another Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge! Here is the deal: make a card with this layout and use the InLinkz button down at the very end of this post to enter your card. The links will close on Friday at 10 PM (Mountain Time), and I'll randomly select one card to feature on my blog on Saturday. So, as long as your card is linked by 10 PM Friday, your card will be in the drawing. Be sure to link directly to the blog post or gallery image which features your card. You may post a picture of the sketch on your blog, but please save the image to your computer first. Use the keyword SSSC93 if you plan to post your card in an online gallery.

It's a Pure Innocence Sunday again - this little cutie is My Balloon, so sweet.  She's stamped in Memento Tuxedo Black and colored in with Copics.  I used my 6x6 pack of Pixie-Licious papers from Cosmo Cricket and the Flower Trio Leaf die-namics from My Favorite Things.

The Sweet Sunday Stampers have amazing sketch samples to show you today, so stop on by to see:

• Jennifer Tapler
• Joanne Basile
• Karen Motz
• Laura Fredrickson
• Lynn Put
• Sarah-Jane Kale' - she's off on holiday. So sad...
• Vicki Burdick

Thanks for taking on the challenge this week! 
Karen

Sweet Sunday Sketch Winner

Hello!!  It's time to announce this week's sketch winner - yahoo! 

Yahoo?  Where did that come from?  This week's winner is......  #24, Laurel!

I am really loving these images that are cut out over the patterned paper - how cute!!  This is such a darling Christmas card - I love the striped twine around the front and her paper-pieced dress.  You can find more of Laurel's wonderful cards at her blog, Seabrook Designs - stop on over and say hey.

See you back soon for the next challenge!
Karen

Christmas Lights

Hello!  It's snowing here and it put me in the mood to make something for Christmas this afternoon.  I just adore these little images from Penguin Pals and especially this little guy with the gift - he's so cute!  All the supplies (except for the button) are from the Snow Day Project Pantry Kit, which is one of my favorites for those holiday projects.  I love the non-traditional colors with all the blues and purples.  Yum!  I stamped the image in Memento Tuxedo Black and colored it with Copic Markers.  I can't let one of these stocking caps go without Sugar Sparkly Fluff either - and I added a Lacey Circle frame around the image as well as a fun snowflake from the Winter Wonderland Snowflakes die.

I hope you all are having warmer weather than I am!  Off to make another round of hot chocolate!
Karen

OOPS!  The layout is from Mercy's MTSC99 :)

recipe -

stamps: penguin pals (taylored expressions)

paper: snow day project pantry kit

ink: memento tuxedo black

accessories: savannah buttons, winter wonderland snowflakes die (taylored expressions), lacey circles nestabilities (spellbinders), copic markers, sugar sparkly fluff (our craft lounge)