Taylored Expressions Sneak Peek Day: New Home

It's the first day of Release Week at Taylored Expressions and I am so lucky to get to play along with the talented Baker's Dozen! Today, I'm sharing a card I created with Welcome Home, Build a House and Neighborhood Border. Plus, keep reading on how you can enter to win some really cool prizes!

The new stamp set, Welcome Home, is so fun because you can create some really darling houses in different styles of architecture. Its companion die set, Build a House, made it very easy to "construct" my very own little dream house. (And how cute is that street lamp?!) With the Neighborhood Border, I created a clean, crisp background in white so that my little house really stood out from the crowd.

BEAN NOTES

Stamps: Welcome Home (Taylored Expressions); Dies: Neighborhood Border, Build a House (Taylored Expressions) ~ all available on Thursday, March 6, 2014

Taylored Expressions is celebrating Release Week with some fabulous giveaways! Visit the TE Blog each Sneak Peek Day this week for details on how you can enter to win. 

You won't want to miss more projects from the Baker's Dozen:

Charmaine Ikach

Courtney Kelley

Jami Sibley

Jen Shults

Joan Ervin

Kendra Wietstock

Kerri Michaud

Regina Mangum

Sankari Wegman

Shannon White

Shelly Mercado

Stephanie Kraft

Taylor VanBruggen

Wanda Guess

Taylored Expressions March Spotlights: From My Window

Today is Taylored Expressions' March Spotlight Day and I have two cards to share with you today. It is Designer's Choice today, so I chose to work with the newly released stamp set, From My Window, as well as some new TE dies and cutting plates, Arched Window, Chevron Cutting Plate, and Banner Stacklets 2!

For my first card, I really wanted to the arched window to be the focus and I was so taken with the wonderful starry sky view. I wanted to create something dreamy, and so I sponged some white ink over some deep purple cardstock using a cloud border as a stencil.

Good friends of ours just bought a new house and I wanted to make them a card to help them celebrate. 

I deliberately left the stamped image of the neighborhood uncolored as I liked the crisp, clean look of the card created by the Chevron Cutting Plate. 

The new Banner Stacklets 2 just happens to perfectly frame this pretty window, which has quickly become one of my all-time favorite dies!

BEAN NOTES

Stamps: From My Window (Taylored Epressions); Cardstock: all cardstock from Stampin' Up!; Dies: Arched Window, Banner Stacklets 2, Chevron Cutting Plate, Cloud Border (Taylored Expressions)

Please be sure to visit the Baker's Dozen and their wonderful blogs for more projects that are sure to inspire you!

Broni Holcombe

Carole Burrage

Charmaine Ikach

Jami Sibley

Jen Shults

Kerri Mchaud

Regina Mangum

Sankari Wegman

Shannon White

Shelly Mercado

Stephanie Kraft

Tammie Edgerton

Taylor VanBruggen

Wanda Guess

Dream Big & Treasure Life...TE Sneak Peek Day One!

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Today I have a two for Tuesday sneaky peeky for Release Week at Taylored Expressions, and it's all about dreaming and the future. This week, Taylor is releasing these two wonderful full-sized sets, Dream Big and Treasure Life, and both are perfect for marking some very special milestones in our lives.

It's hard to believe that June is just around the corner, and with it comes graduation! Dream Big is a terrific set that has many images that are just perfect for those big school moments, for your little one just finishing pre-school and beyond. For my card today, I wanted to create something for an older graduate, something sophisticated and elegant. To create it, I stamped and double-stamped two of the mortar board images to emulate the fun "tossing of the boards" event at the end of graduation -- my hubby would have loved this card, especially as he went all the way with school (he's the resident nerd in our family!)

If you love to collect beautiful things, you will have noticed that apothecary jars are fast becoming a special way to protect and display those items. The new set, Treasure Life, taps into that beauty and I created a card welcoming someone into their new home. Moving always means a fresh start, and I love the lemons that come with the set and placed them inside one of the many jars to choose from. Though I hand-trimmed this particular jar, there are coordinating dies to help speed you along your way!

BEAN NOTES
Hats Off to You Card

• Stamps: Dream Big (Taylored Expressions)
• Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black (Tsukineko); Riding Hood Red Classic Dye (Stampin' Up!)
• Cardstock: Maraschino Textured (Bazzil); Basic Black (SU!); Solar White (Neenah)

Enjoy Your New Home Card

• Stamps: Treasure Life (Taylored Expressions)
• Ink: Memento Rich Cocoa, London Fog (Tsukineko)
• Cardstock: Maraschino, Glow Textured (Bazzil)
• Patterned Paper: Stella Rose - Gertie (My Mind's Eye)
• Accents: Pearls (Kaisercraft)
• Dies: Lacey Squares Nestabilities (Spellbinders)
• Tools: Wide Oval Punch (SU!)
• Coloring Medium: Copie Sketch Markers

Be sure to stop by the rest of the Baker's Dozen for more sneak peeks of two sets that will be releasing this Thursday, as well as a very cool Apothecary Shelf and a new Impression Plate! I hope you enjoyed today's projects and come back tomorrow for some Mom's Day and more Grad Day fun.

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

Welcome to the City, Mouse!...

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Since our floors are still a mess, I'm sticking to digital this week! Moxie Fab is hosting a cool challenge: The Cityscapes are on the Rise Challenge, and I decided to throw my hat in with this card I made using a few fonts and my word processing program! There are thousands of free "fonts" available on the internet, and many of them have adorable and useful graphics instead of letters. As soon as I saw the challenge, I knew what kind of card I wanted to make, but alas, I don't own any cityscape stamps. As I wanted to make a very graphic card, using my computer was just perfect and solved all my troubles (well, except the floors!)

 To really make things "pop," I printed out the buildings and the mouseling twice and popped out the trimmed pieces with foam tape. 

BEAN NOTES

• Fonts: Little City 2000 and Meeses (dafont.com); Comic Sans (microsoft)
• Cardstock: Solar White (Neenah); Basic Black (SU!); Yam Canvas Texture (Bazzil)

A New Hive...

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My very lovely and talented sister-in-law, Lizz, has taken a big plunge. Having lived all her life in the same town, she has just moved into a new apartment in the heart of San Francisco. My sissy has so much style, flaire, and gorgeous good looks that she is sure to set the city all a dither. I wanted to make her a special card to help her celebrate the big move. 

I personally detest the act of moving, but I was inspired by this week's Scrappy Saturday Challenge to dig out some patterned paper from my massive stash. I also used the very cool sketch from the Everything But the Kitchen Sink Challenge, which I thought was a perfect way to show off the paper. The little bee has discarded its plain old hive for a new "upscale" and stylish abode, just like my fabulous sister. Good luck, sweet Lizz, on your new adventure!

SPILLING THE BEANS

1. Make card from cardstock.
2. Punch squares from cardstock and patterned paper. Adhere with glue.
3. Trim cardstock. Stamp sentiment and dotted pattern. Tie ribbon. Mat with cardstock and adhere.
4. Stamp bee and hive. Color and fussy cut. Adhere with foam tape.
5. Stamp hive on patterned paper. Fussy cut and adhere with foam tape.

BEAN NOTES

• Stamps: Garden Party Critters and A Year of Sweet Sentiments (Taylored Expressions)
• Cardstock: Basic Gray (Stampin' Up!); Choice Buttercream (TE)
• Ink: Memento Rich Cocoa (Tsukineko)
• Coloring Medium: Sketch Markers (Copic)
• Fibers: Ivory Satin Ribbon (Kate's Paperie)
• Tools: 3/4" Square Punch (EK Success)

HAPPY BEANS

• Patterned Paper: Togetherness (Cosmo Cricket)

New Digs...

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If you are looking for this week's 2S4Y sketch and card, please click HERE.

My lovely friend, Heather, and her darling family have finally moved into their new digs. I am so happy for them and I wanted to send them a little housewarming gift to help celebrate. To go along with it, I created a card inspired by this week's Mojo Monday sketch and the fun Scrappy Saturday "Celebrate Good Times" Challenge.

SPILLING THE BEANS

1. Make card from cardstock.
2. Trim yellow cardstock and adhere.
3. Trim light blue cardstock and adhere.
4. Trim light green cardstock, border punch, and adhere.
5. Trim green cardstock, border punch, emboss. Adhere.
6. Adhere light green cardstock strip. 
7. Stamp house on cardstock. Fussy cut and adhere. Paper piece roof.
8. Tie ribbon and adhere bow. Attach button with embroidery floss.
9. Die-cut cloud. Stamp sentiment and adhere with foam tape.

BEAN NOTES

• Stamps: Wonderfully Whimsical and Fillable Frames #3 (Papertrey Ink)
• Ink: Memento Rich Cocoa (Tsukineko); Peach Parfait Classic Dye (Stampin' Up!)(
• Cardstock: Crumb Cake, Crushed Curry, Soft Sky, Wild Wasabi, Pear Pizazz, and Whisper White (SU!)
• Tools: Swiss Dots Embossing Folder (Provo Craft)
• Fibers: Crushed Curry Grosgrain Ribbon(SU!); White Embroidery Floss (generic)
• Accents: Orange Button (Basic Grey)

HAPPY BEANS

• Dies: Clouds (PTI)

There's No Place Like Home...

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My little boy loves the book, The Wizard of Oz. I have to admit that, when I was a girl, I was afraid of the movie -- I mean, who wouldn't be frightened of flying monkeys? This week's 2 Sketches 4 You Sketch Challenge had us playing with some very fun repositionable stickers, and when I saw how adorable they were, any fears I had went right out the window!

This week's sketch is from the ever fabulous Kazan, and I flipped it to create an "emerald" stage. I love the decorative edge of the sketch and I made that the top of card. Now I'm off to, what else? See the Wizard, perhaps?

SPILLING THE BEANS

1. Make card from card stock.
2. Sponge background on card stock. Adhere to card.
3. Trim glittered card stock. Run pieces through crimper. Adhere with glue.
4. Border punch glittered card stock. Adhere with foam tape.
5. Trim glittered card stock. Adhere to bottom edge of card with foam tape.
6. Apply stickers to white card stock. Trim around edges. Adhere to card with glue.
7. Adhere sentiment stickers to white card stock. Trim in banner shape and adhere with foam tape.

BEAN NOTES

• Stickers: The Wizard of Oz (EAD Designs)
• Card Stock: Pear Pizazz, Whisper White (Stampin' Up!)
• Specialty Paper: Green Glittered Card Stock (The Paper Co.)
• Ink: Pear Pizazz Classic Dye (SU!)
• Tools: Cornice Border Punch (Martha Stewart Crafts); Embossed Scallop Border (EK Success)

HAPPY BEANS

• Tools: Paper Crimper (Fiskars)

A Home Made for Heather...

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My good friend, Heather, has a dream and it is about to come true. I know that she and her adorable family had been looking for a house to buy for a very long time. I just got word that they have finally done it and will be moving to their new home very soon. I wanted to congratulate her with a card, especially as I'm sure she could use a lift from packing!

For this card, I was inspired by the wonderful colors of this week's Color Cue Challenge. I began by stamping the curtains behind this pretty window, then cut it out. I added some Flower Soft "blooms" in the sill for a homey feel. Next, I embossed my aqua panel with an embossing folder, trimming my card stock elements and then stamping the perfect sentiment. I then added some paper flowers, complete with button, and adhered it to a bright red ribbon. I'll be sending this off the Heather with the warmest and happiest wishes for her new home.
BEAN NOTES: Papertrey Ink Home Made Stamps; Memento Rich Cocoa Ink; PTI Pure Poppy Hybrid Ink; PTI Aqua Mist and Pure Poppy Card Stock; Stampin' Up So Saffron and Very Vanilla Card Stock; Sizzix Embossing Folder; Big Shot; Paper Flowers (generic) PTI Aqua Mist Vintage Button; Foam Tape
HAPPY BEANS: Flower Soft

What Makes a Home...

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Now that my son's great-grandparents are settled into their new retirement digs, I wanted to make a card to welcome them to their new home. I was inspired by the Caardvarks Inspiration Challenge as well as this terrific sketch from the lovely ladies at 2 Sketches 4 You. I love birds and birdcages seem all the rage, and so I thought I'd feature one myself.
For this card, I created a custom sentiment that says, "What makes as house a home are the people in it." I stamped an empty bird cage on my white card base and then framed it with my sentiment and a Kiwi Kiss die cut. I added two punched border strips along the sides and a few Liquid Pearls. For the inside, I stamped the second half of my custom sentiment and added my two little love birds. I hope my son's great-grandparents enjoy their new home as much as they loved their last one.
BEAN NOTES: Basic Grey Aviary Clear Stamps and JustRite 50 pt. Times New Roman Font Stamps (Sentiment); Stampin' Up Old Olive and Kiwi Kiss Classic Dye Ink; SU Whisper White Craft Ink; SU Kiwi Kiss and Whisper White Cardstock; Spellbinders Labels Nine Nestabilities; Fiskars Upper Crest Border Punch; Foam Dimensional Squares (generic)
HAPPY BEANS: White Opal Liquid Pearls

Bloom Where You Are Planted...

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The Friday Challenge: Beautiful Botanics is one I was drawn to because, well, who doesn't love flowers? I decided to be a little ambitious and create a scene to house my lovely blooms, in the form of a shuttered window with a flower box and awning. Let's see if I succeeded.
For this card, I first stamped my flower image from Plant a Little Love three times on plain white cardstock, using a mask to create the full image I wanted. This would serve as my base. Next, I stamped three times, separately, on Wild Wasabi and then again on Perfect Plum. Finally, I stamped six times on So Saffron. After coloring with Copics, I carefully cut out each image that I needed. I wanted a lot of depth, so I used dimensional dots to pop out certain blooms and buds.
I then cut out my shutters and cut frames for each, mitering the corners. My awning and flower box were made from textured cardstock and some fun border punches, and I adorned each with some pearls. My window was cut from a bit of textured paper and I adhered some clear acetate and vellum behind it to create "glass." With a Copic, I added some shadows behind the glass and then assembled the whole card.
I didn't think it wise to try to add a sentiment to the front of the card, so I decorated the inside in a similar fashion to the outside and attached the nice sentiment. I thought the card would be appropriate for a housewarming or for someone who has moved on to a new career, somewhere where I hope they can bloom!
BEAN NOTES: JustRite Plant a Little Love and Seeds of Kindness (sentiment) Stamps; Stampin' Up Wild Wasabi and Elegant Eggplant Classic Dye Ink; SU Designer Paper (name unknown); Papertrey Ink Kraft Cardstock, Vellum and Clear Acetate; Dark Plum Textured Cardstock (generic); Kate's Paperie White Text Sheet; SU Kiwi Kiss, Elegant Eggplant, Whisper White, So Saffron, and Perfect Plum Cardstock; Copic Sketch Markers; Martha Stewart Simple Scallop and SU Scalloped Border Punches; Paper Shapers 1-3/4" and 1-1/4" Circles Punches; Foam Dimensional Squares (generic); Kaiser White Pearls HAPPY BEANS: Hobby Knife; Craft Scissors