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)

More Photography

I had the chance to take some pictures for a friend and neighbor at our little park down the street and I just loved these pictures and wanted to share with you.  It is part of the reason the blog has been quiet for a bit - lots to edit this week!

I really wanted to play with back light and I LOVE this photo.  Back light is my new best friend.

I love his sweet little expression - I think I took about 15 pictures of him swinging and finally got one in focus.  haha!

Thanks for stopping by -
Karen

Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge 92

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 SSSC92 if you plan to post your card in an online gallery.

I haven't inked up my Make Mine a Double Pure Innocence girl for a little while, so I gave her a little love.  I decided to use a blossom instead of the star and topped it off with a little brown button and thread.  I'm keeping the post short and sweet today because as I'm typing this, I'm thinking that I should be in bed!  haha! 

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

• Jennifer Tapler has the week off, but I'm sure 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: make mine a double (my favorite things)

paper: chocolate chip, choice buttercream cardstock, lush pink (my mind's eye)

ink: memento rich cocoa

accessories: lacey squares nestabilities (spellbinders), beautiful blooms die (papertrey ink), neutrals buttons (stampin' up!), chocolate satin ribbon, chocolate pearls (kaisercraft), copic markers

Sweet Sunday Sketch Winner

Hello!  What a Saturday this has been!  I haven't been home much today and tomorrow is going to be the same - I'll be up and going from 5:30 am to 7 pm.  Yikes!!!  I still need to start my card for our next challenge too, haha!  In the words of Nancy Kerrigan: "Why.... why...." do I keep doing this to myself!?  LOL!  Alright, enough chitter chatter, I'm really here to announce this weeks SSSC winner! 

Drum roll...... #39 - Kristina!!

I just adore this color combo!  The button flowers are just darling with that delicious satin bow.  Love it!  You can see more of Kristina's brilliant creations on her blog, Itty Bitty Pieces of Me.  Congrats Kristina!  You've been along for the ride since the beginning :)

See you back soon for the next challenge -
Karen

Taylored Expressions Release Party

Happy release day!!!  Today is the day you can get all that is brand spankin' new at Taylored Expressions and we're giving you a little taste of everything this morning. 

I'm using the set From the Heart this morning along with the coordinating From the Heart Frame Die - love it! The card base is Prismatics Island Mist Dark cardstock and I added some Pixielicious from Cosmo  Cricket - isn't it darling??  The frame is stamped in Rose Coral fluid chalk ink and I added the round sentiment in Brocade Blue and colored the tea bag in with Copic Markers (R11, R13).

Here's a look at all the new Taylored Dies, which are now available!

Hop on over to see what the rest of the Baker's Dozen have whipped up for you today!

• Taylor Van Bruggen
• Charmaine Ikach
• Danielle Lounds
• Donna Baker
• Jackie Pedro
• Jodi Collins
• Karen Motz
• Melissa Sauls
• Regina Mangum
• Sankari Wegman
• Tori Wild
• Jami Sibley
• Nancy McKinney
• Guest Designer: Mona Pendelton

Thanks for stopping by!
Karen

recipe -

stamps: from the heart (taylored expressions)

paper: prismatics island mist dark, choice buttercream (taylored expressions) cardstock, pixie-licious (cosmo cricket)

ink: memento tuxedo black, rose coral fluid chalk (colorbox), brocade blue (stampin' up!)

accessories: ivory grosgrain ribbon, multi-colored twinkles (taylored expressions), from the heart taylored die (taylored expressions)

Taylored Expressions Sneak Peek | Day 3

Good morning!  Today is day 3 of Taylored Expressions sneak peeks and today the Baker's Dozen is giving you a little love from Enjoy, a super cute set concepted by Jami Sibley and illustrated by Whimsical Wishes artist, Nancy McKinney.  All of the new release items will be available for purchase tomorrow morning at 8AM Pacific time - woohoo!

I chose to make a little gift card holder using one of the shoe images from the set.  I stamped the shoe in Dark Brown Fluid Chalk and popped it up over a 3/4" circle.  I cut a piece of Report Card patterned paper from October Afternoon with the new Taylored Die - Gift Card Frame - which coordinates perfectly with the frame image in the stamp set.  The image panel is a Labels 15 Nestabilities die and I finished the front with some gray satin ribbon.

Enjoy is a very versatile set, which includes 11 gift icons, 1 gift card frame, and 6 coordinating sentiments - so you will have every gift giving opportunity covered with this little goody!  

The rest of the Baker's Dozen have much more for you to see, including more gift-giving projects that you aren't going to want to miss out on - Tis the season!

Taylor Van Bruggen
Charmaine Ikach
Danielle Lounds
Donna Baker
Jackie Pedro
Jodi Collins
Karen Motz
Melissa Sauls
Regina Mangum
Sankari Wegman
Tori Wild
Jami Sibley
Nancy McKinney

Thanks for stopping by!
Karen

recipe -

stamps: enjoy (taylored expressions)

paper: bazzill pear, basic gray (stampin' up!), fly a kite (october afternoon), report card (october afternoon)

ink: dark brown fluid chalk (colorbox), memento rich cocoa

accessories: gray satin ribbon, labels 15 nestabilities (spellbinders), 3/4" circle punch, gift card label die (taylored expressions), scalloped eyelet border die (taylored expressions)

Taylored Expressions Sneak Peek | Day 2

Hello and welcome to day 2 of Taylored Expressions release week sneaks!  Today the Baker's Dozen is showcasing two coordinating sets, which were designed and illustrated by the fabulous Taylor for the *te* line of stamps - From the Heart and From the Heart Funnies.

My first card uses the cute little mixer included in From the Heart as well as the coordinating sentiment in From the Heart Funnies.  I stamped the mixer once on Choice Buttercream cardstock and again on a scrap piece of Fly a Kite and then paper pieced the images together.  Did you notice the cork die cut?  I used the new coordinating From the Heart Frame Die as a background and then layered the scalloped circle on dimensional tape.

My next project really shows how beautifully matched the From the Heart frame image nests inside the From the Heart Frame Die.  I just love this unique shape!  These images are perfect for creating beautiful cards and tags, and for my tag, I simply stamped the frame shape in Dark Brown Fluid Chalk ink first, then using the stamp positioner, I stamped the round phrase inside.  I used the same paper-piecing method to create the mixer for the tag and then attached it to the bag with dimensional tape.  I ran a ribbon around the outside of the bag and then used my handy Bow Easy to create the bow and attached it with a glue dot.  Inside the bakery bag is my favorite no bake cookie - chocolate, peanut butter, oatmeal.  MMM!  Love them!

The rest of the Baker's Dozen have much more to show you - there are 19 different images in From the Heart and 16 sentiments in From the Heart Funnies, so don't miss a single one!

• Taylor Van Bruggen
• Charmaine Ikach
• Danielle Lounds
• Donna Baker
• Jackie Pedro
• Jodi Collins
• Karen Motz
• Melissa Sauls
• Regina Mangum
• Sankari Wegman
• Tori Wild
• Jami Sibley

See you back soon!
Karen

recipe -

stamps: from the heart, from the heart funnies (taylored expressions)

paper: kraft, prism island mist light, prism island mist dark, choice buttercream (taylored expressions), fly a kite & thrift shop (october afternoon)

ink: dark brown fluid chalk (colorbox), memento rich cocoa

accessories: savannah buttons, circle/scallop nestabilities (spellbinders), scalloped eyelet border die (taylored expressions, from the heart frame die (taylored expressions), orange twill ribbon, cork sheet

Taylored Expressions Sneak Peek | Day 1

Good morning!  I can't believe it's already November 1st and the first day of Taylored Expressions sneak peeks!  The Baker's Dozen have a full week of previews for you and we're starting of with a really super cute set, What's Cookin'? - Nancy McKinney has created some really amazing images for this set and Taylor has matched them up with more coordinating exclusive Taylored Dies.

I fell instantly in love with this adorable little tea kettle.  I stamped it on Choice Buttercream cardstock with Memento Tuxedo Black and then colored it with Copic Markers.  I cut the image out with the tea kettle die from the new Kitchen Accessories Taylored Dies set - seriously cute!  The tea kettle is popped up over paper from the 8x8 Fly a Kite paper pack from October Afternoon and I used the Lacey Circles Nestabilities die for the scalloped background.  The sentiment is stamped in Dark Brown Fluid Chalk ink from ColorBox and I added a few Latte pearls around the lacey circle.

The rest of the Baker's Dozen have more for your morning - so grab a cuppa and sit back and enjoy.

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

Thanks for stopping by and I'll see you back tomorrow for more November peeks!
Karen

recipe -

stamps: what's cookin'? (taylored expressions)

paper: kraft, chocolate chip (stampin' up!), choice buttercream (taylored expressions) cardstock, fly a kite (october afternoon)

ink: memento tuxedo black, dark brown fluid chalk (colorbox)

accessories: kitchen accessories taylored dies (taylored expressions), latte pearls (kaisercraft), lacey circles nestabilities (spellbinders), brown satin ribbon