Owl Always Love You

Hello and happy New Year's Eve!  We're settled in for a fun family night and I'm crossing my fingers the kids can hang in there until Midnight. 

I wanted to make one last card for 2012 and how fun is this Hoot Hoot Hooray set for New Year's Eve??

I went pretty clean and simple for this card - these owls are just too cute not to take center stage.  I started with a card base and matte of Choice Snow White Card Stock and then cut out a circle from a sheet of Gnome Sweet Gnome 6x6 Paper from My Mind's Eye.  I used the dies from the set to cut out the little owls and the branch, which is cut from more of the Gnome Sweet Gnome paper - super easy!

Thanks so much for stopping by today - I hope you all have a fun and safe New Year's Eve!

You can find these fun products waiting for you in the TE Store:









recipe - 
stamps: hoot hoot hooray (te)
paper: choice snow white (te), gnome sweet gnome 6x6 (my mind's eye)
ink: memento tuxedo black
accessories: copic markers, circle dies, hoot hoot hooray dies (te), foam dots, foam tape  

Sweet Sunday Vacation

Hello!  Are you looking for the latest Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge?  Since it is a super busy time of year, we will be taking a break this week and will return to our normally scheduled program on January 6th.  In the meantime, if you are itching to get creative with any of our previous sketches, you can view them all in one place in our Sweet Sunday Sketchbook.

Enjoy your weekend and thanks for stopping by!

A Bittersweet Farewell

Hello and happy Thursday to you!  I'm still in my post Christmas coma - you know, the mess is slowly disappearing and we're working on all of those left overs (tamales and green chili!) and we're starting to get back into our normal routine.

Today, Taylor has announced on the Taylored Expressions blog that I will be leaving the Baker's Dozen at the end of December.  It's such a bittersweet moment for me - I have loved this team from day one and I will miss working with each of them so much!  When I first started following Taylor's blog, she was selling ribbon and her handmade cards - and now she has this amazing company and has blessed me so much with her friendship.  She is so sweet and beautiful and I am very happy I was able to meet her and her amazing family while helping at several CHA conventions.

I remember how nervous I was to create cards for my first release as a Baker's Dozen member!  GASP!!  Here's a peek at one from March 2009 -

Hehe!  It's like looking back at baby pictures!  I love looking back to see how much my style has changed and stayed the same, and how I've improved on my coloring too! 

Here are some of my favorite cards over the years -

Taylor, thank you so much for giving me my very first DT gig - you are truly the most amazing woman and I have loved working with you and getting to know you over the past few years.  What an amazing experience and I will cherish it always. 

MFT Wednesday Stamp Club

Hello!  It's Wednesday and that means it's time for another fun sketch challenge from MFT!  Here's a look at the sketch:

I made a card using Complimentary Greetings.

I love these big, bold sentiments and this set works perfectly with this sketch, don't you think?  I stamped the sentiment in Wild Cherry Ink on some Sweet Day 6x6 paper from Echo Park and then added a little Mini Scallop Edge Die-namics border between the two papers.  I cut out a Paper Doll Border Die-namics in Wild Cherry Card Stock and then cut out another doll in the Sweet Day paper and added that one to the chain of dolls so she kind of stands out a little bit.  The arrow is from the Lead the Way Die-namics set, which is popped up with some foam tape.

I added another sentiment from the set in Wild Cherry Ink on more patterned paper inside the card as well.

Be sure to stop by the MFT Blog for a complete list of designers playing along in this week's Stamp Club.

You can find these fantastic products waiting for you in the MFT Boutique:









recipe - 
stamps: complimentary greetings (mft)
paper: wild cherry (mft), black licorice (mft), sweet tooth (mft), sweet day 6x6 (echo park)
ink: wild cherry (mft)
accessories: champagne rhinestones (kaisercraft), sewing machine, thread, foam tape
mft die-namics: paper doll border, mini scallop edge, lead the way, mix & match banners  

Sweet Sunday Sketch 173 Winner

Hello!  Happy Friday everyone!  I'm popping in a little early to post the winner of the next Guest Sweet Sunday Stamper since it is going to be a tad bit crazy for us this weekend (and for many of you I'm sure) and I want to give the winner plenty of time to stamp over the week too.  Are you ready?  There was a HUGE snowman theme this week!  I loves me some snowmen!

Here are 5 of my faves -

Katie created this gorgeous card full of warm, winter goodness.  I love the shading behind the snowman - he really stands out!

I love Tangii's take on the sketch - the bow is gorgeous and I adore the little arrows and hearts.

Tracy's bears are the sweetest ever!  I love their matching scarves and the glitter around the circle.  Super cute!

Shannon's fun snowman has the best hat - I love how she colored him and the twine and snowflakes are so cute!

I love the layered banners Stacey added to her card and the little sentiment strip is so clever!

And the winner is....

Shannon!

Congrats, Shannon!  I'll be contacting you shortly with the next sketch and your guest stamper badge.

 

Thanks again to everyone who played along this week.  Don't forget, there is still time to enter your card for SSSC174, which ends next Friday night.

Thanks so much for stopping by!

 

MFT Wednesday Stamp Club

Hello!  It's Wednesday and that means it's time for another fun sketch challenge from MFT!  Here's a look at the sketch:

I made a card using Pure Innocence Bear Hugs.

I turned the sketch on its side to accommodate the taller image.  I stamped her in Memento Tuxedo Black on X-Press It Blending Card Stock and then colored her with Copic Markers.  The image is cut out with a Rectangle STAX 2 Die-namics and then I added the sentiment on a Mini Tabs Foursome Die-namics. 

I stamped another sentiment from the set inside the card as well and used more Sweet Day 6x6 papers from Echo Park.

Be sure to stop by the MFT Blog for a complete list of designers playing along in this week's Stamp Club Challenge.

You can find these fabulous products in the MFT Boutique:









recipe - 
stamps: pi bear hugs (mft)
paper: kraft (mft), hot fudge (mft), sweet tooth (mft), x-press it blending, sweet day 6x6 (echo park)
ink: memento tuxedo black
accessories: copic markers, sewing machine, thread, foam tape
mft die-namics: rectangle stax 1 & 2, mini tabs foursome, little open scallop strip 

Taylored Expressions Studio Challenge | December

It's time for the Baker's Dozen Studio Challenge.  This is a monthly opportunity for us to share what makes our stamping studios hum.  Each month we will have a fun, crafty question so we can share our favorites, some tips and tricks, stamping advice and more.

The challenge for December is:

Inspiration is all around us. Many of us learned to stamp by CASEing other stampers we admired. (CASE = Copy and Share Everything) We want everyone to know that, not only is CASEing perfectly OK, it's actually pretty flattering and a lot of fun! And it can be especially helpful in the midst of the busy holiday season when it's hard to think straight! So take some inspiration from your fellow Baker's Dozen Teammates, and show us how you can turn any great inspiration into a fabulous holiday card! 

How fun is this?!  I love to draw inspiration from other stampers and it is especially helpful when I'm in a creative slump.  I chose to CASE the amazingly talented Jodi Collins - she has such a sweet style and I adore the colors she uses in her cards.  They are always so bold and brilliant and she's one of my stamping heroes, so there's that.  Haha!

Here is Jodi's card I chose to CASE and you can see all the details about this fabulous card in the TE Gallery, HERE.

And here is my take on her card -

I changed a couple of things from Jodi's card - I switched up her cupcakes for Make a Snowflake Dies and I switched out the patterned paper for some Merry & Bright by Carta Bella.  I tried to keep the color scheme the same, which I loved, so pink and blue snowflakes it is!  I added a few Black Rhinestones in the snowflake centers and then added some Clear Twinkles along the scallops and Silver Rhinestones on the pink paper.  I tried to keep with Jodi's fun style by matting the card in dark card stock and I hope she likes it.  Such a fun card to CASE!

Here's a little detail shot of the snowflakes with that sparkly black bling.  Yum! 

The rest of the Baker's Dozen are finding inspiration as well, so please stop by and see:

• Charmaine Ikach
• Jen Shults
• Jodi Collins
• Melody Rupple
• Regina Mangum
• Sankari Wegman
• Shannon White
• Shelly Mercado
• Stephanie Kraft
• Taylor VanBruggen
• Wanda Guess

You can find these fun items in the TE Store:

recipe - 
stamps: moka kristie (te)
paper: choice snow white (te), black licorice (mft), pink lemonade (mft), merry & bright 6x6 (carta bella)
ink: memento tuxedo black
accessories: black rhinestones (kaisercraft), silver rhinestones (kaisercraft), clear twinkles (te), make a snowflake dies (te), medium scallop border die (te), sewing machine, thread, foam tape  

MFT Creative Challenge | Background Building

The MFT Design Team Creative Challenge is a monthly feature, where we are challenged to explore our creative side using a specific theme, product, or technique. This month, we were challenged to do some background building using our MFT Stamps and Die-namics.  Be sure to check out the MFT Blog for a list of all participating designers who have a project to share with you today.

For my card today, I used Darling Dots.  I adore this set and it makes quick and easy backgrounds that are so sweet!

I started by building two separate backgrounds - the first is on the Wild Cherry Cardstock and I stamped the largest polkadot pattern in Wild Cherry Ink.  Then I stamped the  smallest polkadot pattern in Memento Desert Sand Ink on Kraft Card Stock, which is a really subtle background behind my Pure Innocence Warm Wishes image.  I stamped her in Memento Tuxedo Black ink and then colored her with Copic Markers.  I used Sugar Sparkly Fluff for her hat and coat trim.  The snow was created with the Snow Drifts Die-namics in Sweet Tooth Card Stock.  The layout is the current MFT Guest Designer Challenge Sketch.

I repeated the same small dot pattern inside the card, but used Wild Cherry Ink on Sno Cone Card Stock and I LOVE how bold that red is on the blue.

Be sure to stop by the MFT Blog for a complete list of designers playing along in this month's Creative Challenge.

You can find these fabulous products waiting for you in the MFT Boutique:









recipe - 
stamps: darling dots (mft), pi warm wishes (mft)
paper: sno cone (mft), wild cherry (mft), sweet tooth (mft), x-press it blending
ink: memento tuxedo black, wild cherry (mft)
accessories: copic markers, sugar sparkly fluff (our craft lounge), sewing machine, thread, foam tape
mft die-namics: rectangle stax 1&2, fishtail flags stax, mini tabs foursome, snow drifts

Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge 174

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 in two weeks, next Friday at 10 PM (Mountain Time). 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 SSSC174 if you plan to post your card in an online gallery.

WANT TO BE A GUEST Sweet Sunday Stamper?  I'll be picking my favorite card or project after each challenge and that winner will have a special guest spot as a designer on a future Sweet Sunday Challenge.  I'm SO excited about this!  You can enter as many different cards as you'd like before the following Friday deadline, so get stampy!

I will be announcing the next Guest Sweet Sunday Stamper later this week, so be sure to check back to see if you will be joining the design team for SSSC175!

I needed to make a birthday card for a boy and so I grabbed At the Movies Die-namics & Stamps and some Kraft Funday Everyday Fun 6x6 papers from My Mind's Eye. I started by cutting out the film strip die in both Sweet Tooth and Black Licorice Card Stock and then stamped the elements in Wild Cherry, Lemon Drop, and Jellybean Green Ink.  I matted the patterned paper in Wild Cherry Card Stock and then added the Notched Border Die-namics instead of scallops.

The Sweet Sunday Stampers have lots more for you to see today, so please stop on over and see:

• Dana White
• Danielle Lounds - our fabulous Guest Designer
• Dawn Easton - she's taking the week off, but please stop by and say hello
• Jackie Pedro
• Karen Motz
• Lori Tecler
• Lynn Put
• Melissa Hubert
• Sarah-Jane Kalé
• Tracy Clemente
• Vicki Burdick

You can find these fun products in the MFT Boutique -









recipe - 
stamps: at the movies (mft)
paper: black licorice (mft), sweet tooth (mft), wild cherry (mft), jellybean green (mft), kraft funday everyday fun 6x6 (my mind's eye)
ink: wild cherry (mft), lemon drop (mft), jellybean green (mft)
accessories: foam tape
mft die-namics: at the movies, notched border, mix & match banners

    

Taylored Expressions Calendar Challenge | December

Welcome to the December edition of the Taylored Expressions Monthly Calendar Challenge!   You are all invited to play along - all you need to do is use any calendar product from the TE store and link your project to the Inlinkz button on Taylor's blog.  If you play along in 10 or more of the monthly challenges, you will be entered in a drawing to win a TE prize pack valued at over $150!!  Please use the keyword TECALCHAL when entering your project to online galleries.

Getting a late start?  It's perfectly okay - all you need to do is link up your projects at any time in the coordinating month's Inlinkz on Taylor's blog before December 31st.

I have loved this fabulous Moka Nora and now I'm all set for my December calendar page.  I started by stamping her in Memento Tuxedo Black Ink on Choice Snow White Card Stock and then fussy cut her so I could pop her up over the Cloud Border Die, which I used for snow.

Here is a closer view of Nora -

Be sure to see what these fabulous designers have whipped up for you this month -

• Jen Shults
• Melody Rupple
• Regina Mangum
• Shannon White
• Shelly Mercado
• Stephanie Kraft
• Taylor VanBruggen

You can find these fun items in the TE Store -









recipe - 
stamps: moka nora (te)
paper: choice snow white (te), paper heart 6x6 (crate paper)
ink: memento tuxedo black
accessories: copic markers, cloud border die (te), make a snowflake dies (te), desktop calendar inserts (te), desktop calendar case (te)