Filled with Love and Laughter

Hello!  I hope you are having a wonderful week - it's almost Friday!  I didn't get a chance to use this fabulous - LOVE IT - Winter Wreath Die-namics set during November Teasers, so I sat down to make a super easy, clean and simple card with it yesterday afternoon.  I started with a Sweet Tooth card base and then ran another piece through my Vagabond with the Polka Dot embossing folder from Quickutz.  I love the look of white on white with the extra pop of embossing.  I cut out the wreath 3 times in Jellybean Green Card Stock and then the bow is cut out twice in Wild Cherry Card Stock.  I double layered the bow, but it's tough to see in my photograph and I didn't get another angle of it, oops!  For a little extra something, I added some Snow Pearls in little clusters on the wreath.

For the inside of the card, I used Clearly Sentimental about Christmas for the sentiments in Jellybean Green Ink and then added a little Wild Cherry accent from Seasonal Sentiments.

See?  So super easy and FAST!  It's good for a last minute card.

Have a fantastic day and thanks so much for stopping by!  Please hop on over to the MFT Boutique and check out these fun products:









recipe - 
stamps (on inside of card): clearly sentimental about christmas (mft), seasonal sentiment (mft)
paper: sweet tooth (mft), jellybean green (mft), wild cherry (mft)
ink (on inside of card): jellybean green (mft), wild cherry (mft)
accessories: winter wreath die-namics (mft), snow pearls (kaisercraft), polka dot embossing folder (quickutz), sewing machine, thread, foam tape   

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 à la modes I’ve Got UR Back.

I started by stamping the image on both X-Press It Blending Card Stock and some Lost & Found 3 - Ruby 6x6 paper and paper pieced the letters and her shirt.  I colored her with Copic Markers and then cut the image out with a Rectangle STAX Set 1 Die-namics.  I added the sentiment on a Fishtail Flags Layers STAX Die-namics and popped everything up with foam tape.

I picked a sentiment from WTG Straight From the Carton for the inside of the card.

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

And then check out these fabulous items in the MFT Boutique:









recipe - 
stamps:  à la modes I’ve Got UR Back (mft), wtg straight from the carton (mft)
paper: hot fudge (mft), pink lemonade (mft), x-press it blending, lost & found 3 ruby 6x6 (my mind's eye)
ink: memento tuxedo black
accessories: copic markers, hot fudge buttons (mft), white perle thread, sewing machine, thread, foam tape
mft die-namics: rectangle stax set 1, fishtail flags layers, rounded banner stax  

MERRY & bright

Good morning and happy Monday!  We spent the weekend getting our Christmas decorations out, which always sparks all sorts of memories of Christmases past and it seems a shame the house is only filled with twinkle lights for a month.  My hubby was putting lights on the house, so I decided to string up my own lights - paper style!  I know these are really ornaments, but they look so fun as lights too, don't you think?  I stamped the lights in Colorbox Warm Red and Lime Pastel and then cut them out with one of the Very Merry Outlines Dies and hung them on the Curly Border Die string.  I used the MERRY die that comes with the Very Merry Stamp Set and then stamped the rest of the sentiment in Brilliance Graphite Black on vellum.

Thanks so much for stopping by today!  I hope you will hop on over to the TE Store and check out these fun products.









recipe - 
stamps: very merry (te)
paper: sour apple (mft), choice snow white (te), white vellum, merry & bright 6x6 (carta bella)
ink: brilliance graphite black, colorbox warm red, colorbox lime pastel
accessories: very merry die (te), very merry outlines dies (te), curly border die (te), sewing machine, thread  

Sweet Sunday Sketch 171 Winner

Hello and happy Sunday!  It's been a crazy, whirlwind week with the kids home for Thanksgiving break and I'm ready to start up normal routines tomorrow.   I hope you've had a wonderful weekend as well.

It's time to announce the next Guest Sweet Sunday Stamper and here are 5 of my favorites from SSSC171 -

Lisa's festive card is so fun with the glassy Christmas lights and added snowflake and star.

Amy made a beautiful thank you card and I love the flowers peeking over the circle.

Jen's mix of patterns and bold colors really dresses up the sentiment - love those pom poms.

 Shannon created this fabulous set of cards and I adore the way she colored the images.

And Tracy made this fun penguin card and added such fun little details in the bow and brads.

...and the winner is -

Lisa!

 

Congrats, Lisa!  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 SSSC172, which ends Friday night.

Thanks so much for stopping by!

 

TE Studio Challenge - Holiday Tags

It’s Black Friday and it's time for the Baker's Dozen Studio Challenge and a BIG Black Friday Sale at Taylored Expressions!

• It wouldn’t be Black Friday without a sale! Just enter coupon code BLACKFRIDAY2012 on your order at the TE Store Friday through Monday to save 10-30% off your entire order! The earlier you shop, the MORE you save! Details on the TE Store homepage. 


• AND TODAY, Taylored Expressions is releasing a brand new Taylored Die Set - Label Stacklets 3, which coordinates beautifully with Frame It Up 1.

As crafters, we often talk about a hand-crafted Christmas. How much stamping do you do for the holidays? Do you mail hand-stamped cards, make gift packaging, tags, handmade gifts? Or do you stamp year-round, but not so much for Christmas? Please show us some handmade tags and share a tip or two on how to keep stamping fun for the holidays. 

I have to be honest, I'm a GIANT procrastinator, so when I do sit down to do some Holiday stamping and papercrafting, I need to whip up something cute and quick.  I've tried and tried to break my horrible habit of waiting until the last minute to work on things, but I've failed every time.  I was not born with the Type A gene.

I used to make 60+ handmade cards to mail every year, but as the kids are getting older and involved in more and more activities, I don't have the same amount of time to get super crafty.  Now I will make a few cards to give to family, or sell on Etsy and then I'll mass mail a photo card.  I know, it's a huge shame, right??  

I made a set of quick and easy tags for all of you Type B people out there.  I hope I'm in good company, right?  Of course the Type A's can play along too, haha!  These tags are super easy to mass produce since you can run all the dies through your die cutting machine all at once.  I used the new Label Stacklets 3 dies for the base of the tag and paired it up with the Frame It Up 1 die.  I stepped it up a notch here and ran smaller die cut back through my machine with the Swiss Dots embossing folder from Provo Craft.  I layered a Make a Snowflake die on a navy Layered Doily Small die cut and then added a Silver Rhinestone in the center.  I also added some White Opal Liquid Pearls around the edge of the doily.

I added a sentiment from Sparkle & Cheer and stamped it on a Fly Your Flag 2 Die in Choice Snow White card stock. 

Be sure to stop by and see what the rest of the Baker's Dozen have made for their Studio Challenge and be inspired -

• Charmaine Ikach
• Jen Shults
• Jodi Collins
• Kerri Michaud - our fabulous guest designer
• Melody Rupple
• Regina Mangum
• Sankari Wegman
• Shannon White
• Shelly Mercado
• Stephanie Kraft
• Taylor VanBruggen
• Wanda Guess

And you can find these items waiting for you in the TE Store - happy shopping!

recipe - 
stamps: sparkle & cheer (te)
paper: nightshift blue (mft), sno cone (mft), choice snow white (te)
ink: memento tuxedo black
accessories: label stackets 3 dies (te), frame it up 1 die (te), layering doily small die (te), fly your flag 2 die (te), white eyelet (we r memory keepers), silver rhinestone (kaisercraft), swiss dots embossing folder (provo craft), lime twist twine (my mind's eye), sno cone ribbon (mft), white opal liquid pearls (ranger), foam tape   

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 Behind the Camera Die-namics & Stamps.

I flipped the sketch on its side so it would fit the Die-namics.  I cut the camera out from Nightshift Blue Card Stock and some Summer Fresh 6x6 paper from Simple Stories.  I cut out the lens from a piece of Kraft Card Stock and then stamped the sentiment in Memento Tuxedo Black. 

I added another sentiment from the set in Jellybean Green Ink on the inside of the card with more patterned paper and a little room for a personal note.

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

And you can find these fun items in the MFT Boutique:









recipe - 
stamps: behind the camera (mft)
paper: kraft (mft), nightshift blue (mft), wild cherry (mft), jellybean green (mft), choice snow white (te), summer fresh 6x6 (simple stories)
ink: memento tuxedo black, jellybean green (mft)
accessories: sewing machine, thread, foam tape
mft die-namics: behind the camera, rectangle stax set 1  

Let it Snow!

Hello, hello!  I'm on a Christmas card kick and have another fun and easy card for you today.  This one uses a sweet little snowman from Taylored Expressions' The Cool Crowd. I stamped the snowman in Memento Tuxedo Black Ink on Choice Snow White Card Stock and then cut him out and put him in some Cloud Border Die snow, haha!  I added the sentiment with a Make a Snowflake Die and button and the layout is FTL217 from Clean & Simple Stamping.

Thank you so much for stopping by today!

You can find these fun items in the TE Store:









recipe - 
stamps: the cool crowd (te)
paper: kraft (te), choice snow white (te), winter wonderland 6x6 (my mind's eye)
ink: memento tuxedo black
accessories: copic markers, cloud border die (te), make a snowflake dies (te), small scallop border die (te), perle thread, sweet tooth button (mft), sewing machine, thread, foam tape 

Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge 172

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 SSSC172 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 SSSC173!






For my card this week, I used one of my favorite MFT Christmas sets, Christmas Ornaments and matching Christmas Ornaments Die-namics.   

I started by cutting out the ornament in X-Press It Blending Card Stock and then stamped the snowflakes in blue and the stripes in Jellybean Green Ink.  I added some holly leaves in Jellybean Green Card Stock and stamped the sentiment on the smallest Fishtail Flags Layers STAX Die-namics. 

I hung a similar ornament inside, stamping on the little tag and a simple snowflake in Wild Cherry Ink on Paver Red Card Stock. 

Be sure to stop by and see what the Sweet Sunday Stampers have inspired you with tonight too -

• Carole Burrage - this week's fabulous guest stamper
• Dana White
• Dawn Easton
• Jackie Pedro - she's taking the week off, but please hop on over and say hi
• Karen Motz
• Lori Tecler
• Lynn Put
• Melissa Hubert
• Sarah-Jane Kalé
• Tracy Clemente
• Vicki Burdick

And then you should swing on over to the MFT Boutique and check out these fabulous products I used on my card -









recipe - 
stamps: christmas ornaments (mft)
paper: kraft (mft), paver red (mft), x-press it blending
ink: wild cherry (mft), jellybean green (mft), memento tuxedo black
accessories: wine rhinestones (kaisercraft), white perle thread, polka-dots embossing folder (quickutz), foam tape
mft die-namics: square stax set 1, christmas ornaments, fishtail flags layers stax

  

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 Seasonal Sentiments.

I used Winter Park 6x6 papers from Echo Park.  I stamped the sentiment in Brilliance Graphite Black ink on Sweet Tooth Card Stock and then cut it out with a Circle STAX Set 1 Die-namics die.  Instead of a flower, I used the holly dies from the Jumbo Christmas Stocking Die-namics set and used some Jellybean Green Card Stock and Paver Red Buttons.

I added more holly to the inside of my card and stamped the sentiment in Jellybean Green Ink.  Easy peasy!
 

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

And then stop by the MFT Boutique to find these fabulous items:









recipe - 
stamps: seasonal sentiments (mft)
paper: paver red (mft), sweet tooth (mft), jellybean green (mft), winter park 6x6 (echo park)
ink: brilliance graphite black, jellybean green (mft)
accessories: paver red buttons (mft), white perle thread, sewing machine, thread, foam tape
mft die-namics: jumbo christmas stocking, circle stax sets 1&2, fishtail flags layers, simply scallops small, rounded banner stax     

MFT New Product Tour

It's time!!  All of the new stamps and Die-namics are now available at the MFT Boutique!  I'm sharing a card using Pure Innocence Elf Girl and Jumbo Snowflake Die-namics.

I started by stamping her on X-Press It Blending Card Stock with Memento Tuxedo Black ink and then I wanted to paper piece her clothing, so I stamped her again on some scraps of Winter Wonderland 6x6 papers from My Mind's Eye.   I used a Fishtail Flags STAX Die-namics to cut out the image and then tied a Sour Apple Ribbon around the card front.

 I stamped the sentiment on the inside of the card on a Fishtail Flags Layers Die-namics in Sno Cone Card Stock. 

Be sure to stop by the MFT Blog for a complete list of all designers playing along in tonight's New Product Tour.

And then swing by the MFT Boutique where you can find these delicious products:









recipe - 
stamps: pi elf girl (mft)
paper: sweet tooth (mft), sno cone (mft), x-press it blending card stock, winter wonderland 6x6 (my mind's eye)
ink: memento tuxedo black
accessories: copic markers, sour apple ribbon (mft), sewing machine, thread, foam tape
mft die-namics: jumbo snowflake, circle stax sets 1&2, fishtail flags stax, fishtail flags layers stax, simply scallops small