Craft Cuppie fun

Here are a few Crafty Cuppie cards I made using the same layout and Petals & Paisleys key ingredients.  I just love this stamp set – it is so fun, having cuppie engaged in so many different ‘crafts’ from stamping to knitting to sewing to painting! In case you didn’t know, when you purchase the key ingredients I used here, you get a full color inspiration sheet with cards I made, as well as Sankari Wegman! 

If you like any key ingredients in the Taylored Expressions store, you better get them because when they sell out, they will not be back!

Comment Verification FYI

I just wanted you to know as much as I don't like the extra steps of comment verification, I had to turn it back on for commenting on my blog.  I have been receiving a lot of spam comments recently. 

Thanks for understanding!

More Sweet Occasions

I have more cards to share with you (close up as promised) from the Pretty Please Taylored Card Kit I posted from the last release using the new set Sweet Occasions!    This is one of my favorite cards and layouts from the set of cards I made!  I just love Taylored Expressions ribbon, so it is taking center stage with the focal sentiment and tiny cupcake on the front of this card!

Here is my other card, using the large friend frame with heart.  I paper-pieced the frame with the papers, which are so sweet and added 3 Kaisercraft pearls which come in the kit at the bottom.

These Taylored Cards Kits are still available, so be sure to get them while you can for only $14.95 - it makes a great gift!!

Each kit includes:
10 Choice Cardstock A-2 card bases
10  A-2 envelopes
15 sheets of patterned paper sized for cardmaking at 4" x 6" (3 sheets each of 5 double-sided patterns)
20 sheets of 4 1/4" x 5 1/2" Prism cardstock (4 sheets each of 5 colors)
1 package of Kaisercraft Pearls
8 panels of Choice Cardstock size 4 1/4" x 5 1/2" (for images and layering)
5 yards of ribbon (2.5 yards each of 2 different styles)
1 Perfect Package Card Box

I wanted to share this sweet blog award I got from the very talented and sweet stamping friend IRL Melissa Sauls!  Melissa, you ROCK!!

For this award, I'm supposed to answer this list of questions using one word.

1. Where is your cell phone?table
2. Your hair? brown
3. Your mother? missed
4. Your father? missed
5. Your favorite food? Indian
6. Your dream last night? weird
7. Your favorite drink? assam
8. Your dream/goal? nursing
9. What room are you in? bedroom
10. Your hobby? lots!
11. Your fear? accident
12. Where do you want to be in 6 years? happy
13. Where were you last night? here
14. Something that you aren't? skinny
15. Muffins? yum
16. Wish list item? kids
17. Where did you grow up? California
18. Last thing you did? tv
19. What are you wearing? clothes
20. Your TV? movie
21. Your Pets? necessary
22. Friends? loving
23. Your life? transitional
24. Your mood? hungry
25. Missing Someone? always
26. Vehicle? Honda
27. Something you’re not wearing? socks
28. Your favorite store? Costco
29. Your favorite color? pink
30. When was the last time you laughed? now
31. Last time you cried? Thursday
32. Your best friend? John
33. One place that I go to over and over? Costco
34. Facebook? yes
35. Favorite place to eat? Indian

Happy Birthday, Sister!!

It kinda bites when you are born around Christmas; I know this because my middle sister was born the day after Christmas and will be celebrating ‘42’ today!  My mom went in labor on Christmas Day – while they were eating out at a restaurant and decided she would name her daughter after Dean Martin’s daughter (who was coincidentally born on Christmas Day) – Deana, pronounced Dean – a.  I remember all the ‘combined’ gifts from family which did not seem to make up the extra value of a separate gift.  So, we always had a 3-day celebration – Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Deana’s Birthday so she would not feel jipped by us!  Deana doesn’t read my blog but maybe I will email her this post so she can see how much I care about her and love her that I dedicated a blog post to her! *wink* I hope you have a fantastic day, Deana!

So I am sharing this birthday card I made using Tech Talk in honor of Deana (although this is not the card I sent her – I can’t even remember what I sent her now, even though this would have been perfect for her).  I used Basic Grey Ambrosia papers to paper-piece elements from this set and create a desk scene.  This set is so fun to use! 

Check this out and click to start shopping!!  Talk about  a great special!!

Difficult post to share…

Sadly, last Friday December 18, we had to say good-bye to our precious cat Chica who sauntered into our lives on a dark September night 9 years ago.  I had just concluded the presentation of my first Pampered Chef kitchen show as a consultant and we had a house full!  I believe we had about 25 people there and as I was saying good-bye to some friends, this little cat (she was probably less than 12 wks old) meowed and approached our door step.  She came back to our house the next few evenings, and on the 3rd day, I believe…we let her in the house with us.  We already had 2 big dogs but we kept them apart from one another.  I think she liked having the attention and a nice warm place to lay her head (on John).  I can still see the vision of them laying on the couch together.  After talking ourselves out of keeping her, she left and didn’t return.  However, we found ourselves actually missing her.  So we made a deal – if she came back, we would keep her.  The next day she did.  So we took her in, got cat stuff, took her to the vet for shots and to get fixed and she was all ours!  She was a lot of fun, a little sassy and pretty affectionate when she wanted to be.  We ended up getting her a companion {Elsie} 8 months later and with the exception of the first few days of adjusting, they got along so well – they were sisters, buddies!  I wish I had more pictures to share but I believe they are on the server and we don’t have access to them.  I took countless pictures of them sleeping together, playing, and in my heart is where I hold more precious memories.

The above photo was taken last year when Chica was in better health.  She lived in 4 different houses with us and I am sad when I think of her not moving out to the property with us.  However, after we made the painful and heart-wrenching decision to have the vet euthanize her, we took her wrapped up in one of her favorite blankets and buried her out at the property. 

I can’t remember the last time I cried all day and night (oh wait – I remember, it was last month when we got bad news about our dog Shelby, who happens to be hanging in there at the moment).  Chica’s failing health temporarily went to the back burner although it was still a concern to us and reality that we would not have her forever.  It was truly a sad day and weekend for us.  It was the first time either of us had to make this decision and unfortunately I can’t say it would be the last because we will always have pets, I’m sure of it.   

We miss her tremendously and I find myself so sad at times that part of our ‘family unit’ has been seriously compromised that I haven’t had any motivation to stamp. I miss her greeting us at the front door, leaving her perch from below the pool table.  I miss her running so quickly when she heard the rustle of her treat package.  I miss the way she would nudge at my hand to make me hurry to give her treats.  I miss her meowing when she was hungry although it annoyed me.  I miss her bringing in ‘special gifts’ from outside like snakes and mice.  I miss seeing her lay out in the sun.  I miss seeing her play with stray things on the floor.  I miss seeing her propped up on the couch like a person.  I miss her laying all over anything we would be working on, like papers or our clothes.  I miss not being able to pick her up and snuggle against her forehead.  I miss when she wanted to be close to us, she would lay down and either reach out a paw to touch us or rest her head on our leg or hand.  I just miss her. 

Chica left little paw prints on our hearts forever; we will remember all the good, fun times we were blessed to have with her although we feel it should have been longer. 

I have to share with you a sweet prayer my 3 1/2 yr old niece Gabby recently prayed for me – this is directly from my oldest sister, her mommy:

“I told Gabby that your heart was sad because your pets were not feeling well.  So she prayed ‘Dear God, please make Auntie Donna not feel sad anymore that her pets are sick.  Make them feel better so they aren't sick anymore and Auntie Donna is happy, Thank you, Jesus’" – isn’t that just precious?!  I have to believe God heard her prayer and is trying his hardest to make me happy right now! 

Interactive Tech Talk GKD hop!

I have a few fun interactive cards to share with you using the new set Tech Talk, illustrated by Melanie for Gina K. Designs!  I know a lot of ladies are so excited because either they are computer lovers or their hubbies are and finally have a set to use for them!   For my first card, I made a wiper – how fun are they?!  If you haven’t made one yet, WHAT are you waiting for?  So easy to follow and quick to put together.  Are you in LOVE with the new Ocean Mist blue pure luxury cardstock Gina released this month like I am?  Well, I was thrilled to see how beautifully it coordinates with Black Onyx and Rocket Red so I used it for this card and made some fun circles behind the computer for a cheerful get well card!

Here is the card with the wiper up – notice the sad face on the outside and happy face with the wiper?  I thought that was a fun before & after—you know how miserable it is when you’re sick and how happy you are when you get better?  That’s the feelings I was intent on displaying with this card.

On my next card, I wanted to create a standard spinner card – and suspended my computer with some of my jewelry stretch cord.  I kept the design simple but in order to accommodate the big computer, I had to use the biggest scallop circle I had!  The card base is soft sand and the pattern paper is Basic Grey bittersweet – one of my all-time favorites! 

Here is the back of the computer – I love mirror images like this you can have fun with making two-sided! 

This would be a fun card to send to a blogging friend – I have a lot I can send it to!  Will it be you?!

For more inspiration with Tech Talk tonight, check out these links:

Melanie Muenchinger {Illustrator}
Jessica Fick
Lee Murphy
Lynn Mercurio
Nina Brackett
Sankari Wegman
Theresa Momber
Melissa Shultz {CSS Designer}
Peggy Wainman {CSS Designer}
Tina Gilliland {Guest Designer}
Karen Knegten {Guest Designer}

The Tech Talk discussion on the StampTV Idea Center is a valuable resource filled with tips, sample projects, and tutorials. Melanie's tip sheet, free PDF template as well as the Card Kit is available in the discussion as well.

If you haven't already, stop by GinaK's blog today to leave your comment on her blog for your chance to win today's featured stamp set or if you already have this one, you can choose any other stamp set valued at $23.95 illustrated by Melanie!!

Snowman Treat Pail

Today I have a cute little mini pail to share with you that I altered.  I believe there were some prima flowers in this pail but you can purchase empty ones in the TE store.  I used Holiday Wonder and some Jolly by Golly pattern paper as well as Blush Red Dark cardstock by Prism.   I used some liquid pearls for the ‘ornaments’ and organdy swirl ribbon that came in the Christmas key ingredients package. 

Here is a view from the top – I used a cute sticker from the key ingredients, which sadly are out of stock – so if there is anything in the TE store you want, you better get it before it sells out! 

Hope you have  a great weekend – the last before Christmas!!  We are going to be enjoying hosting dinner for a few friends we haven’t visited with in a long time.  I’m also going to enjoy sleeping in on Saturday morning! 

Neighbor Treat

Need a break from seeing or making Christmas stuff?  Please hop on over to the Stamp a Sweet Impression blog today to see my homemade neighbor gift! 

Center of Attention Product Spotlight - TE Downloads

The Baker’s Dozen and I are happy to bring you this month’s Center of Attention Product Spotlight – TE Downloads!

For my project, I used the fun Frame Your Imagination Vertical Stand and 2010 Dated Calendar that is 6 x 6 and super easy to download and print, ready to decorate (and only $2.95!).

  The stand comes to you plain wood and I decided to spray mine (after I had painted it white) with my pink Maya Mist.  I then decided I would do the same to each of the months because the stencil I used was just the right size to cover the whole surface!  Here is a photo to show you. 

The above photos are close up views of the sides.  I adhered butterfly and dragonfly images from the new set Discover Your Wings from the leftover sprayed 8.5 x 11 sheets I ran through the printer.  I added stickles and smooch accents too!  I also added more stamping to each of the months too, as seen below.  If you don’t have the vertical stand, you can also use this calendar and book binding system to make a stand up calendar.  Or you can punch holes and use decorate chipboard covers for the front & backs!

I made this calendar to inspire and motivate me as I pursue my education; going back to school was a big decision I made this year and I am happy to report that I got an A in my Elementary Algebra class!  I got B’s on my first 3 tests and was so determined to get an A on a test – little did I know I would get an A on my 4th test and my final, which caused me to get an A in the class!  SCORE!!!  This was a BIG deal – it’s been since I was in pre-algebra that I got my last A in a math class!  I was so excited, I sent an email to let some of my friends know; one in particular is so very special who  supported me in many ways when I was in my early 20’s to go to school but I never finished.  She said. “That is absolutely wonderful! I think this quantifies the fact that we as humans can accomplish anything we set our minds to.”  This type of encouragement will help keep me going…

GREAT NEWS:  Each of our Center of Attention products will be on sale for a limited time following our product spotlight (December 16-17).  We are offering a 15% discount on all TE Downloads! And the best part...there are no shipping charges for our downloadable items!

Before you leave, be sure you check out what the other gals have to share with you: 

Charmaine Ikach, Jodi Collins, Karen Giron, Sharon Harnist and of course, Taylor VanBruggen

Thanks for visiting today! 

Lovely Shelf Hop with GKD

Tonight the GKD designers & CSS have samples to share with you using the new Lovely Shelf set illustrated by Nina Brackett. 

I used some of Nina’s Bug me Anytime digital papers because I thought they went real lovely with the new set!  I used chocolate kiss cardstock as well.  The Nestabilities I used for the focal image are Labels 4 and I colored with prismacolor pencils, blended with odorless mineral spirits.

For my next card I used the lovely orchid image and placed it on the shelf image in the set with a handkerchief underneath it.  The digital papers I used on this card are by Emily, Softly Spring.  I used copic markers to color this image and used my Sakura glitter pen for sparkly accents.

For even more inspiration with the Lovely Shelf stamp set, please visit these designer's blogs:

Nina Brackett {illustrator}
Jessica Fick
Donna Baker (you’re here!)
Emily Giovanni
Lee Murphy
Melanie Muenchinger
Theresa Momber

Peggy Wainman {CSS designer}
Cheri Weston {CSS Designer}

Vanessa Menhorn {Nina's Guest Designer}

The StampTV Idea Center is also a valuable resource for tips, samples, and tutorials on how to use all of GinaK's stamp sets. Check out the Lovely Shelf stamp set discussion HERE. The Lovely Shelf Card Kit information can be found there as well.
And, finally remember to check in on GinaK's blog tonight to leave your comment on her Lovely Shelf post so that you can be entered to win Nina's stamp set or if you already have it , you can choose any other set illustrated by her!

Krafty Kuts Sweet Occasions set

Don’t you just love the new TE set concept by Jami called Sweet Occasions?  It is so fun to work with because you have so many fun options for coloring, layering, paper-piecing and highlighting the sentiment, greeting, frame and backgound! 

On my set of note cards I made, I used the Fancy Pants Krafty Kuts girl pattern paper collection along with several colors of Prism cardstock and various ribbon from the TE store. 

I had fun picking out my pattern papers to go along with the supplies and basically kept the designs simple.  I colored with prismaolor pencils and added some copic atyou spica pen highlighting (you can click the photos to enlarge).  Hope you have a great weekend! 

Christmas Treat Recipe Blog Hop with Gina K!

Several members of the Center Stage Spotlight Team have joined together to share a special Christmas Treat Recipe Blog Hop event with everyone tonight! They have whipped up some treats in their kitchens and their stamp rooms over the past few weeks so we could compile our very first Recipe Book for StampTV!

Here is my recipe contribution - a Christmas tradition for several years now.  Mexican Shortbread cookies called Biscochitos.  The recipe is from my brother-in-law's grandmother, Mrs. Lujan (Gramma Honey).  Many many years ago, my own grandmother Sarita used to make these, they are light and flaky and have just a hint of black licorice in the form of anise seeds.  Now, I am not a fan of black licorice so it must be the combination of the sugar and cinnamon that make the hint of black licorice bearable for me.  They are delicious with some coffee or tea.  I wish that I had my grandmother's recipe but she died before I was able to get it.  I remember going over her house and having these yummy cookies and it wasn't even Christmas!  I think she used to make them on a regular basis because she knew us girls were coming to visit when my dad would go over several Saturdays a month to mow her lawn and take care of other things for her around the house.  My sister's ex used to bring these up for us that his grandmother used to make too and I also have a recipe from my other brother-in-law's grandmother who recently died - I guess this is a traditional mexican grandmother type cookie but I am breaking the mold since I'm neither a mother or grandmother - lol.  I just love the cookies!

I make these cookies every Christmas to share with neighbors, co-workers and leave a few to enjoy ourselves because they make a lot!  It helps to have a stand up mixer so you don't have to labor over mixing up the ingredients (I am so glad we made that purchase years ago!) I usually make these with a heart or star cookie cutter (favorite small shapes) but I broke my star one last year and I couldn't find my heart so I used my DMIL's tree shape - makes it more Christmasy, don't you think?  Plus, it matches the cute tree stamp in Melanie's Have a Cookie set which I used to make my recipe card that is tucked away inside the box for the recipient.  I decorated the outside of the box with a poinsettia from  A Year of Flowers I made my box with a window in the center and placed some acetate inside stamped with the greeting using StazOn ink.  I like how it turned out - in addition to the fact I figured out how to put the LARGE c/s in the cuttlebug embossing folder, I just love the richness of the Good as Gold c/s for the lid. 

Check out these designer's blogs for the sweet projects they've designed around their treats:

Carolina Buchting
Carla Suto
Deb Felts
Giovana Smith
Jennie Harper
Jessica Fick
Joy Hadden
Karen Knegten
Kay Simmons
Lee Murphy
Linda Payne
Lori McAree
Melissa Cash
Pam Imholz
Selma Stevenson
Sue Morris
Sue VanDeVusse
Sue Walsh
Vicki Dutcher

Then, stop by GinaK's blog for a super sweet give-away she has tonight in honor of the hop!

The Recipe Book will be available as a free download PDF on StampTV tonight as well. Look for it on the Freebie Tab link or click on the photo below.   ENJOY!!

“The best and most beautiful things…

in the world cannot be seen or even touched, they must be felt with the heart” ~Helen Keller

I just adore this quote;  I can’t even begin to imagine what life was like for Helen Keller who was not able to see or hear.  It’s true what they say about the remaining senses being heightened when one is affected.  I know this because John’s step-grandfather was blinded in an accident in his early 20’s (he fell from a platform and it was a miracle he lived).  As a result, he met John’s grandmother (both attending college) when she helped him get through his studies without being able to read.  They fell in love and married not long after.  He decided not to learn to read Braille and has relied heavily on her assistance over the years and she is a wonderful helpmate for him.  His hearing is heightened as a result, and has a difficult time being in noisy places, trying to decipher the voices around him.  He is a retired minister who performed our marriage ceremony and he has quite a sense of humor.  Once he announced us husband and wife, he leaned to me and asked me to come closer.  When I did, he reached out his hand to touch my face and leaned over to kiss me on the cheek.  Then, he chuckled at John and said, “I got to kiss your wife first” – we all cracked up.  I think John was annoyed.   It was a beautiful ceremony (one that I may share more about later because this post is about him being blind). 

A testimony to his character is that he never blamed God for his accident; he has devoted his life to helping others through God’s love, reaching out to those in need, always willing to lend an ear and pray with others. In fact, I rest assured in the knowledge that every morning both of them pray for me, for us, everyone in the family, in fact.  They are prayer warriors and I am grateful for them.  I feel their love even though we are miles apart. 

A little about my card now – this is the new TE set Discover Your Wings, a portion of the sale of this set for the next 3 months will go to the charity, Now I lay me down to sleep (NILMDTS).  I stamped the silhouette flowers in brown ink and sponged various yellows, oranges and reds for a sunset on glossy cardstock.  The card base and layers are prism and from the Nov 20th key ingredients. 

Personal News to share:   For those of you who may not follow on Facebook; I started a temporary job with a staffing agency this week!  I’m grateful but it’s been a little challenging getting back to working all day.  I also had my Algebra final tonight (thank God it’s over although I will miss my great teacher and classmates!) In other news – I got that long anticipated goal of an “A” on my last test!  Go Me!   Next semester I take Intro to Anatomy/Physiology an Essentials of Medical Terminology – I’m so excited about those classes!  That was a long post – if you stayed with me the whole time, thanks and hope you have a great day! 

Stay Warm!!

Baby it’s cold outside!!  Parts of Austin and surrounding areas got snow flurries yesterday but I don’t think ANY made it us (boo).  I holed myself up in my room yesterday and crocheted to my heart’s content since I hadn’t done it in a while.  It was nice. 

Today I have a fun blue & brown card using Basic Grey Offbeat papers and the new GKD set Warm & Wonderful to share with you.  I love the sentiment in this set Consider yourself {hugged} it’s just great because when you send a card to some one you love/care about, isn’t it like you’re sending them a hug in the mail?  For me it is…I used the new Ocean Mist blue and Chocolate Kiss Pure Luxury c/s by Gina K.  It’s such a fabulous combination, wouldn’t you agree?! 

Next, I want to share a blog award I got from the very lovely & talented Cheryl and need to share some random stuff about me!   Thank you, Cheryl!!

One of the rules of this award is to list 7 random things about yourself:

1) I love to make things besides cards: I learned to crochet when I was 9 and haven’t stopped since!
2) I love to cook and bake; I’m making Peanut Butter & Chocolate Balls today (imagine a Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup – yum!)  Soon I will share some photos and my experience meeting PW (The Pioneer Woman)
3) I don’t really like to shop unless it’s stuff for our new home that we’re building! 
4) I love cats & dogs!  We have 1 dog and 2 cats and plan to have more when we move! 
5) I love watching HGTV
6) I love Marie Callender’s Potato Cheese Soup – it’s a lot of work but oh so good! 
7) I love watching Food Network! 

The other rule is to pass this award on to 7 other kreativ-bloggers, and here they are, in no particular order:

1) Karen “Saucy” Motz
2) Melissa Shultz
3) Sankari Wegman
4) Randi Barrett
5) Alex Maldonado
6) Melissa Sauls
7) Rachel Sztonyk

I have to go; we’re heading out to all you can eat pancakes at Applebee’s to support a local middle school’s band (a neighbor boy came by a few weeks to sell us tickets and just couldn’t resist, especially when he greeted me at the door saying, “Do you like pancakes?” what a line!  I love pancakes anyway so I’m looking forward to it, just not necessarily to the LOW temps outside! 

TE Release Day: Sweet Occasions

Today is Taylored Expressions release day!  I have samples today using the new Sweet Occasions set which was a concept design of Jami’s!  I know she is thrilled about seeing it in rubber and so is everyone else on the team!  It is so versatile, yet simple in design.  I enjoyed using it and know it will be a GO TO set for lots of ‘sweet’ occasions (pun intended!)
Taylor is releasing a new product instead of key ingredients or bundle items, Taylored card kits!  She challenged all of us to use the contents of the kits to make 10 cards to go inside a perfect package card box and that is what is in the above photo.  The kit I used comes with patterned paper by My Mind’s Eye called Pretty Please, I just LOVE these patterns!   Here is what you get in the kits and there are 3 different ones to choose from:
15 sheets of patterned paper (cut to 4" x 5 1/4"...3 sheets each of 5 patterns)
10 Choice cardstock card bases
10 envelopes
20 sheets of 4 1/4" x 5 1/2" Prism cardstock (4 sheets each of 5 colors)
1 package of Kaisercraft Pearls
8 sheets of Choice Cardstock (cut to 4 1/4" x 5 1/2"...for images)
5 yards of ribbon (2.5 yards each of 2 different styles)
1 Perfect Package Card Box


Here is a picture of the top of my box.  I paper-pieced the frame around the celebrate image with the papers.  On all my cards, I used 2 sheets of patterned paper and zigzag stitched all the cards to get the assembly line going. I chose to use the Celebrate image from the set because it encompasses celebrating birthdays, friendship, gratefulness and many accomplishments! 


Lastly, here is a close up of 3 of the cards I made to show you the basic designs I came up with for all 10 cards!  The one on the right, because Jami designed coordinating tiny images to be stamped on the insides or the envelopes, I decided to use it for the front of my cards as inchies.  They fit perfectly inside 3/4”  and 1” punches!   On the center card, I stamped the whole image on the patterned paper and then paper-pieced white cardstock so I could color in the image, cutting all around the sentiment (it wasn’t as hard as you’d think! On the card on the right, my focal image has the small image as well as the sentiment but big enough to not get lost on the card.  I will share more cards in the set so you can see them close up soon. 
***There's still a chance to win!!  Be sure to come blog hoppin' with me to see what the Baker's Dozen girls have cooked up with Sweet Occasions and Crafty Cuppie today:
Charmaine Ikach
Dawn Easton
Jackie Pedro
Jami Sibley
Jodi Collins
Karen Giron
Karen Motz
Laurie Schmidlin
Sankari Wegman
Sharon Harnist
Taylor VanBruggen

***Be sure to leave some love along the way because one lucky commenter will win a Crafty Cuppie stamp set!


***All you have to do is leave a comment on each Baker's Dozen blog today for the best chance to win! One lucky winner will be chosen at random from all of the comments on one of the blogs, but the trick is that nobody knows which blog it will be! You have until 6am PST on Saturday to enter. The winner will be announced Monday morning on Taylor's blog.

Happy Shopping in the TE store and have a great weekend!

TE Sneak Peek: Crafty Cuppie

I am so thrilled to bring you samples of what Jessie and Taylor have conspired to bring us by far the BEST cuppie set IMHO EVER!  It’s Crafty Cuppie and she is stamping, sewing, knitting and MORE!  Wait until you see the full size set and companion set Crafty Expressions to go with it!  On my first card, I used the stamping cuppie at her desk with one of the mottos for cuppie as shown on the notecards for sale in the store “Do Something Creative Everyday” – I just LOVE that saying (I even have a cool coffee mug from Carolina with that saying on it).  I made a cute easel card (first time and not the last – it was so easy & fun to make!) I can totally imagine myself sending a card like this to my stamping friends to remind them to ‘Do something creative everyday’!!  I used the Fabulous Fall key ingredients kit Penelope’s Potpourri for my card {with the exception of the black corduroy flower that is on the inside of the card as the embellishment to keep the top of the card propped up when open}.  Isn’t it cute???
All 4 sets we are featuring as well as a great new item, Taylored Card kits will be available for purchase on Friday, Dec 4 at 10:00 am CST. 

My next card is made using the Fabulous Fall key ingredients kit Petals & Paisley and the cuppie who is standing next to all her stamping supplies.  If you’re anything like me you have your share of supplies lying on the floor next to your work area (drives my DH nuts since we share a room right now and that’s one reason why we’re building separate spaces for us  in the new house – he says it’s to preserve the sanctity of our marriage-lol).  I love the sentiment on this card too, it comes in the Crafty Expressions set so you can put your craft (stamping, sewing, etc) along with – is cheaper than therapy! I love this card!!  I paper-pieced the apron cuppie is wearing with the paper I used on the card {the brown felt flower & brad are not part of the key ingredients kit}. 
Be sure to come blog hoppin' with me to see what the Baker's Dozen girls have cooked up with Crafty Cuppie today:
Charmaine Ikach
Dawn Easton
Jackie Pedro
Jami Sibley
Jodi Collins
Karen Giron
Karen Motz
Laurie Schmidlin
Sankari Wegman
Sharon Harnist
Taylor VanBruggen
and Nancy McKinney

Don’t forget to leave some love along the way because one lucky commenter will win a Sweet Occasions stamp set! How cool is that?

All you have to do is leave a comment on each Baker's Dozen blog today for the best chance to win! One lucky winner will be chosen at random from all of the comments on one of the blogs, but the trick is that nobody knows which blog it will be! You have until 6am PST on Friday to enter. The winner will be announced Friday morning on Taylor's blog.

TE Sneak Peek: Discover Your Wings

I posted this card on the SASI blog yesterday for day one sneak peeks for Taylored Expressions.  I also wanted to post it here for all my subscribers so you don’t miss out on all the details!  Taylor is giving away a set to one lucky commenter but you need to hop around to all the designers and leave them some love (we do not know whose blog the lucky commenter will be taken from).  You will need to go to my post from yesterday and leave a comment there to increase your chances of getting the free set!  Read more about the Charitable Giving set that $7 from the sale of Discover Your Wings will be donated to: Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep. 

I’ll be posting today’s sneak peek shortly!  You Cuppie fans won’t want to miss this one (the best YET!)

GKD Preview: Warm & Wonderful & Life is Good

Hi there!  I’m happy to share a card I made using the new set Warm & Wonderful, illustrated by Rupa Shevde for Gina K.Designs!  This is a wonderful Wintery set in true  Rupa style! 

I decided to highlight the delicate snowflakes she drew in this set and the sentiment ‘A snowflake is winter’s butterfly’ – isn’t that nice??  I wanted to make snowflake butterflies to go along with it too.  So, I grabbed my Take Flight set and inked the edges with a marker.  First, I made a ‘mask’ (see pictures below) which would allow me to be able to stamp my snowflakes on the inside of the butterfly.  I stamped the snowflakes on the new Mother of Pearl cardstock by Gina K. which has a beautiful shimmer to it!  Be careful when using a dye ink on it, it takes a wile for the ink to dry.  You can heat set it if you don’t have time to wait for it dry on its own. 

After I stamped and heat embossed (clear powder) my snowflakes, I sponged some Cool Caribbean ink, which made for a subtle look on the butterflies.  I finished off my card with a layer of smoky slate cardstock and my card base is the new Ocean Mist.  Lastly, I added some pearls for pretty accents.  I just love this clean and simple card that packs a big punch with this beautiful new cardstock! 

You’ll definitely want to check out our designer's blogs participating in the previews tonight; where you will see  previews using Theresa’s new set Life is Good:

GinaK, Carolyn, Cathy, Cindy, Emily, Erika, Jessica, Lee, Lynn,
Melanie, Nina and  Theresa Momber

We also have one of our special Center Stage Spotlight Designer joining us with our previews: Peggy Wainman

GKD Preview: Lovely Shelf & Tech Talk

I’m so excited to share samples made with the new Gina K. stamps that will be released this Thursday, Dec 3rd!  First of all, she has 2 beautiful new cardstock colors, which I’ve used on 2 of my samples today.  The first is on this card using Nina’s set Lovely Shelf, a beautiful collection of feminine images to cover card occasions for all the women in your life: from mom to friend and everything in between!  I used the new Ocean Mist blue on this card, which coordinates so nicely with the blue in the Basic Grey Urban Prairie paper I used.  I stamped the vase on the Ocean Mist cardstock with London Fog ink, cut it out and added some stardust glitter pen on the swirls. I stuck a flower inside the vase that was colored with Stardust Glitter pens {Meteor}, if you color and quickly use a waterbrush on it, you can spread your color around {click for a close-up}. 
My next sample is using Melanie’s new set Tech Talk, which is a great computer set which will appeal to all the techies out there as well as bloggers and stampers because let’s face it – the majority of the general population works with a computer, laptop or more than 1!  We have 3 laptops and 2 desktop computers here.  All I need now is a cell phone with internet access (but I don’t think that’s going to happen any time soon!)  On my first card, I used the little coffee mug and put smiley faces on 1-inch circles and made windows on the card front so they peek through. 

I kept my card design clean & simple to draw attention to the mugs (plus, I had a small canvas to work with – 4.25” card).  Here is the inside , now you can see the front a little better.  I love this set!  Now I will have some stamps to make cards for John, who I hope will appreciate them! 

 

 
On my next card, I made a wood ‘desk’ with woodgrain technique for my computer to sit on!  I love the ‘You’ve Got Mail’ sentiment in this set; it reminds me of when John and I first ‘met’ on-line 12 1/2 yrs ago.  My sister had AOL and I got email and whenever I got an email from John, I would hear that greeting – my heart would skip a beat, you know how it is with a new romance!  I know this card is a tad bit girly with the hearts, but I did manage to make it a somewhat masculine background and kept the colors simple (the green in the Basic Grey Urban Prairie paper is a perfect match for the new Gina K. Crème de Menthe color!

For even more ways to use these fabulous stamp sets, please check tonight's featured Illustrator's blogs:

Nina Brackett {Lovely Shelf}
Melanie Muenchinger {Tech Talk}

Then, visit our Designer's blogs participating in the previews tonight:

GinaK, Carolyn, Cathy, Cindy, Donna, Emily, Erika, Jessica,
Lee, Lynn, Tami, and Theresa

We also have two of our special Center Stage Spotlight Designers joining us with samples as well:

Cheri Weston
Melissa Shultz

Joy Ornament – TE CHA announcement!

I have a fun ornament I made using the clear favor circles from Taylored Expressions.  I’m here to show you that you can use them for more than just inserting candy.  I got 10 for $5, so I can make more!  I used my Wings of Joy set to display inside the clear ornament.

What I did first was cut all around the  plastic until I had a shape to resemble an ornament.  Then, I cut my image with a circle nestability and it fit perfectly inside.  Then, colored it in and was ready to assemble it! 

 

Then, I put another circle of pattern paper from Jolly by Golly so it was decorative on the back and I signed it.  I didn’t have to use any tape because the circles fit snuggly once the 2 halves were joined.  But before I did that, I added some clear microbeads so it became a shaker ornament!   Lastly, I taped the outside edges with sticky tape and covered it with decorative ribbon around and put a loop with silver cord and tied a bow on it.  Another gift down---

Exciting news from TE!  Taylor and members of the Baker’s Dozen Design Team are heading to CHA in January (yours truly as well!) We are so excited to meet one another as well as other stampers who we may or may not chat with on a regular basis but may know of!   If you’re not aware of what CHA is, it’s the Craft and Hobby Association supershow they have twice a year and it’s open to the general public to attend – that’s YOU!  Mark your calendars for Jan 22 –23 for a grand ole time in Anaheim, CA!  You will have a chance to shop the retailer’s booths, learn new techniques and do lots of make & takes!  How fun!!  The show is 12-8 pm on Friday and 10:00-6:00 on Saturday. 

Click here for more info and to purchase your discounted tickets as a Taylored Expressions customer and friend! Just click on the image to the left on the CHA website to purchase your tickets and be sure to enter the promo code CRAFT15 to receive the discount!  Hope to see YOU there!!

Think Snow

While some of y’all are thinking snow already where you live, I still see people walking around with shorts & flip flops around here!  Gotta love it! 

Here is a sweet matchbook style card I made using the new line of MFT stamps Pure Innocence, Think Snow.  I used papers from Basic Grey Eskimo kisses and paper-pieced all her winter clothes.  This card was so fun to make and was one of the first to be bought when I took my cards to sell at John’s work. 

Hope you have a great day!  I’ll be back Monday night with my first preview for Gina K. Designs release that is on Thursday! 

CAS Christmas Mint

Here are a few clean and simple cards I made using Vintage Borders and Christmas mint papers!  I added some beautiful gold-lined ivory organdy ribbon as well as some light sponging on the Nestability shapes {Labels 7 on left and Labels 4 on right} with ranger antique linen distress ink.  I love big sentiments – it allows for a quick card and makes a nice statement. 

Don’t miss out on great savings throughout the GKD store – good through Sunday, November 29! 

Congratulations to the new CenterStage Spotlight design team for this next release – sneak peeks start on Monday evening at 10:00 p.m. CST!  See ya then

Black Friday with Taylored Expressions: Perfect Packaging

Here’s a fun way to beat the headache from all the psycho shoppers (no offense if you were one of them!) out at 4:00 a.m. to get the latest & greatest for Christmas!  Taylored Expressions is having a great sale for you!!

I have to admit I am not much of a shopper in the traditional sense of a gal’s stereotype.  But when it comes to on-line shopping in my favorite stores – well, that is another story!!  No searching for parking, bumping into people or standing in lines!  Taylor has come up with a great sale of 15% off everything in the store  for you along with the debut of one-of-a-kind TE apparel – aprons and t-shirts! The sale lasts through Monday, November 30! 
Taylor asked some of her stamping friends to make a creation using her fabulous Perfect Package card boxes and I am happy to share what I made!  When I visited my hometown of San Leandro, CA (which also happens to be the headquarters of the famous Ghirardelli Factory-most people think it’s San Francisco but it’s not – that is just the biggest RETAIL store of course because of all the tourists it’s there).  I had to be sure I stopped there and get some chocolates!  You can get great chocolates & gifts for a fraction of the cost at the stores!  I discovered a yummy new Peppermint Bark with Dark Chocolate!  I nabbed a 36-count container (unwrapped) for just $5!   Oh, and I was introduced to the most delicious new flavor of milk chocolate with hazelnuts!  YUM.  My chipboard snowflake is from the Christmas key ingredients (sorry, those are out of stock right now)and I covered it with stardust glitter & a button.   There are mini chipboard snowflakes in stock though.  They are so fun to use!

I decorated the top of my box with the Home Sweet Home set and sentiment from Season’s Sweetings.  I used the Jolly by Golly paper by Cosmo Cricket.  Here is the simple insides of my box – I put the chocolates inside some wax paper and sealed it with a bird from the Wings of Joy set. 

Feast your eyes on this chocolatey goodness inside!  Look how quickly you can dress up a simple gift with the PERFECT PACKAGING (pun intended) and a few stamps, cardstock & embellishments! 
Be sure to spend some time hopping around to the following talented ladies’ blogs & be prepared to be inspired! 
Alex Maldonado
Amy Rohl
Beate Johns
Bev Gerard
Charmaine Ikach
Cindy Haffner
Debbie Olson
Jami Sibley
Jen del Muro
Jen Tapler
Jenn Balcer
Jennifer Buck
Jessica Diedrich
Joan Ervin
Joanne Basile
Linda Duke
Lori Craig
Rose Anne Reynolds
Sankari Wegman
Sharon Harnist
Sherry Cheever
Taylor VanBruggen

In honor of Black Friday and Cyber Monday (the two biggest shopping days of the year!), Taylored Expressions is offering 15% off everything in the store! Just use the promotional code TEBlackFriday upon checkout to receive the discount. You don’t want to miss up to 50% off all JustRite products, Buy 2 Get 1 Free on Tiny Twinkles, and the new TE Shirts & Aprons! Click here to go to Taylored Expressions to shop!