Boo! With a little bling

Hey everyone! I hope you are all enjoying the beginnings of fall. I know that I look forward to the "spooky" season every single year and this was definitely no different! I got started straight away on a new "BOO" banner to hang in the house...perfect for getting us ready for the thrills and chills of Halloween.


Lucky for me, I also had some wonderful Black rhinestone swirls on hand to help me out in my production. :)


Want 2 Scrap carries almost every single gemstone color you could want and in MANY different sizes so I was also able to bling up my little flower in the top left corner with one as well. :)




And with only 3 little letters to make, I was quickly done! How about you? Do you enjoy making little home-made seasonal decor for your home? I liked so much that this was quick and easy and I love that adding such gorgeous bling is quick and easy as well and adds such an elegant touch. :)

Thanks for your visit and hope you can check out all the wonderful bling available in the Want 2 Scrap store!

It's just another Mojo Monday

Sing it with me! Love those Bangles!

I had some time to knock out today's Mojo Monday challenge while humming along to that oldie but goodie. Intermittently, I had to sing the "happy birthday" song just to keep the little girl entertained...even though it's not her birthday, go figure! We were having a good ole time though. :)



I got out the new Make a Wish set and coupled it with it's coordinating Make a Wish Project Pantry Kit and went to town! My goal was to do something simple and relatively quick that could be easily duplicatable and I think this fits the bill. The sketch is a cute one so I could actually see using this layout again...so glad I played along!

I stamped the cake in Rich Cocoa and paper-pieced from the cardstocks and patterned papers from the kit. I then used the Espresso Dimensional Pearls (that are included in the Make a Wish Project Pantry) for some yummy icing. Oh! Another fun item added to the store is the Inkssentials White Opaque pen and I used that to color the dots on the green portion of the cake. Waaaay easier to color those circles in rather than cutting out a bunch of white circles and gluing them on! And voila, it's a done deal!

Back to the kiddos I go....have a great Monday!

TESC 129 - Days like these make me SMILE

And the title could not be any more true! A hearty welcome to Friday everyone! And you know the drill...sketch for you to try and inspiration for you to look at!

Here's the sketch!

And here's what I came up with using that set from Technique Tuesday (the same one I used for my CAS card earlier this week) from Ali Miles, entitiled Favorite Memories. I just love all the sentiments in her gorgeous handwriting, PLUS it has great little flourishes and swirls and I used one of them around my "button" flower on the envelope.

I played with my new goodies from my excursion to San Marcos, and the paper is from Hollywood Vogue mini paper pack from Webster's Pages...love it! My envelope is actually a cut file I downloaded for the Silhouette...mmm, I use that machine every week now!

So that's my card for you. Hopefully this day brings a smile to your face! Look on for more inspiration from my lovely cohorts here:

• Alice Wertz
• Jami Sibley
• Lori Craig
• Melissa Sauls
• Monika Davis
• Rachel Sztonyk
• Rosie Hughes
• Sherrie Siemens
• Taylor Van Bruggen
  

Have a WONDERFUL weekend friends!

September Blast From the Past Blog Hop!

Greetings friends!! It's time to go back and revisit some of those stamps...you know the ones...they may be a bit "older", but they're still just as fabulous as the day you got them! I got all kinds of nostalgic and revisited a few sets...for your viewing pleasure. :)

A little something clean and simple, shall we?


I did a little paper-piecing with the Garden Party Blooms set and grabbed a sentiment from A Year of Sweet Sentiments...sentiments for EVERY occasion!

Or how about revisiting some of last year's fabby Halloween sets for a fun treat box?


Ooooh yeah...I still LOVE this Punchy Potions set!

Ok, one last one for ya...another of my ALL-TIME favorites for sure!


The Places You'll Go...SUCH a great set and I'm sooo glad I got this one back out since I'm currently attempting to work on my son's school scrapbook!

Now, I know that a lot of you are starting to entertain the thought of working on your Christmas cards/projects (like me) or you are totally on the ball and have already begun. Either way, Taylored Expressions has a GREAT special to coincide with this Blast From the Past!

Taylored Expressions is offering a special Blast from the Past sale in order to help you prepare for our next customer blog hop! Our October blog hop is all about Christmas and we'll be
featuring past Christmas stamps from Taylored Expressions in our creations. The following select Christmas sets are 20% off through Sunday, September 26th so it's a great time to pick one up and join us on the hop next month. You can find all the details on the TE Blog Hop HERE!

Christmas Blessings
Season's Sweetings
Home Sweet Home
Holiday Wonder
Wings of Joy
Tag Treats

Pretty sweet, yeah?!

Now, to help set you back on track on your hop, please visit the rest of the ladies listed here!

Smile, it's a Monday

Hello everyone! It's a Monday...a day that I usually don't make a post, lol. I had probably your typical Monday...overslept and was rushing to get ready for drop off at school. Not only that, I forgot to order a hot meal lunch last week so my son is stuck with my sandwiches all week long, poor thing! Hope your Monday started out better than mine. :)

Other than that, had a GREAT weekend. Wow, I haven't had such a good time since CHA. My friend, Valeria and I, attended a Technique Tuesday Ali Miles class, shopped all day, enjoyed a nice dinner with happy hour drinks (lol!), and then scrapped the night away at the evening crop. Wow, when we got into our hotel room we were exhausted. But that didn't stop us from chatting it up until 1 AM. :)

So while we were at the crop, I attempted scrapping...until they issued a challenge to make a card using a scrap piece of white paper to be judged for a prize. Yeah, just the excuse I needed to stop my painful attempt at making a scrap page, lol. I used some of my new goodies and made a quick and simple CAS card. I took inspiration from HERE, following the latest Inspiration challenge over at Splitcoast.

My poor reject. Although it didn't win, I had to give it some love here on the blog, lol. The paper is from one of the new Webster's Pages collections that I got there and the stamp is from Favorite Memories by Ali Miles for Technique Tuesday. And here's a picture of only SOME of my loot!


I also got a huge stash of goodies from Want 2 Scrap and I can't wait to start getting to work on those projects!

Alright, I'm off to pick up the kiddo from school and enjoy the rest of what's left of my Monday.

Have a great week and see you back here tomorrow for the TE Blast from the Past Hop!

TESC 128 - Happy Fright Night

Ooooh and I am soooo ready for Fright Night to be here already!! I did some shopping for some more Halloween decor and I am definitely decorating the inside of the house this weekend. I think the neighbors might think I'm weird if I put the outside stuff up, hehe.

Anyway, I just couldn't get enough of Taylor's latest set Hangin' Out - Wicked Wardrobe, so I used it again paired with that awesome Fright Night Project Pantry. At this rate, I'll have all of my Halloween projects done before October even arrives!

But here is the sketch for the week...


I turned the sketch sideways to make it suitable for my card and here is my frightful creation!


I stamped the cat, hat, and 2-step lantern pole with Memento Tuxedo Black. I also added a little sparkle to my witch cat's eyes with the Clear Spica glitter pen....LOVE this invention! *tip - store your Spica glitter pens sideways so that the glitter doesn't clog the tip*
I used a little lace from my stash, distressed the edges and glittered up a Technique Tuesday tile with some Martha Stewart White Gold glitter.

And I will leave you to visit the rest of the sketch crew's fabulous creations, because, as this posting goes live, I'm racing through CKC - San Marcos shopping for some good scrapping deals! :)

Have a great weekend!

• Alice Wertz
• Jami Sibley
• Lisa Hjulberg
• Lori Craig
• Monika Davis
• Rachel Sztonyk
• Rosie Hughes
• Sherrie Siemens

Love You Muchly

A couple months ago, my very good friend moved 3 hours away. And since she has left, I miss her every single day. Every time I see a similar car, I think it's her (we used to live in the same neighborhood so this was common). And I think we talk more than we used to when she DID live here, LOL! Anyway, I'm sooo excited to be spending a little girls weekend away with her and I wanted to make a special card to show how much I care....and also to express what I just can't say enough!


I loaded up on some My Favorite Things stamps during my trip to CHA in Chicago and hadn't had a chance to play until now. This particular set was one of the very first that set my love for the Pure Innocence line in motion. I just simply ADORE this girl! And I'm tooootally purely innocent just like her, heehee.

So I hope she loves the card...and I will actually write something nice inside (I used to give them blank so that my friends could re-use) LOL!

Hug and squeeze your good friends tightly...they are so hard to come by!

Thanks so much for your visit, my virtual friends!! :)

PS. The last chance to sign up for the Taylored Expressions Blast From the Past Blog Hop is this Thursday, September 16th. You can read more details about it HERE. I hope you will sign up and play along with me and some friends!

TESC 127 -

Happy Friday everyone! I hope you have had a wonderful week and are gearing up for an eventful (or uneventful) weekend! I'm looking forward to a movie tonight at my favorite theater, the Alamo Draft House and then a fun Bollywood themed party on Saturday night, woohoo!!!

In the mean time, Taylor has a fun sketch for you, if you have time to play before next Friday! The sketch comes from our very own Lori Craig and you can view it over on Taylor's blog.


I went with a pretty clean and simple style for my card this week using my very favorite Halloween themed stamps, Hangin' Out - Wicked Wardrobe and Fright Night Favors coupled with my favorite labels set, Take Note! The papers are from the Fright Night Project Pantry kit...I just can't get enough of these new Echo Park papers! I just took leftover scraps from my last project to make a little collage of various strips....yes I really do horde scraps too! LOL

Alrighty, I'm off to get the little housey-poo picked up so that it's not a total disaster for the weekend! Be sure to see what the rest of the sketch crew has to share with you!

Have a WONDERFUL weekend!

• Alice Wertz
• Jami Sibley
• Lisa Hjulberg
• Lori Craig
• Monika Davis
• Sherrie Siemens
• Taylor Van Bruggen
  

A Mojo For You

Hmm, after actually reading the title, I guess I am insinuating that I've got some Mojo for you. Sorry guys! I have none to spare so sorry for my misleading title! Oh how I wish I had some creative mojo to spare, but I think that we can all agree, we take advantage of when we have it and hold onto it tightly cause it can leave in a second! :)

So my title is actually in regards to the MOJO Monday challenge that I haven't had a chance to play with in....AGES! I finally got some time to do some leisure stamping and this is my latest little concoction.

I used one of Verve's latest release sets that I just adore called Great Friend....GORGEOUS set this is and I love the flowers on it. I also used a couple products from Want 2 Scrap that I LOVE....chipboard hearts and my silver swirl bling. You should DEFINITELY go to the store and stock up if you love chipboard, acrylic, and bling as much as I do! They have GREAT prices!

I think the rest is pretty straightforward....patterned paper is from Webster's Pages Lullaby Lane and my cardstock is actually retired Groovy Guava.

Hope you all had a lovely Labor Day weekend. I spent all week/weekend nursing a summer cold (which totally bites, by the way!) but enjoyed seeing the kids have a blast at our huge neighborhood Labor Day pool party. They had a mobile gaming center in the parking lot with flat panel tvs and games all set up, plenty of inflatables, TONS of food, and lots of games. When I didn't have a kleenex permanently attached to my nose, I managed to take a couple of shots of the fun....




And the summer ended with a bang!

Thanks for your visit :)

Taylored Expressions September Release!

Hey everyone! Did you have a spooooky good time yesterday with all those yummy sneaks?? I looooved seeing all those great giftable ideas for Halloween and I just got inspired to show even MORE easy treats you can make with a mere flick of your wrist!

Here goes....samples featuring the new sets from Hangin' Out - Wicked Wardrobe, Fright Night Favors, AND a yet-to-be-seen Spooky Tree a la Carte!

The treat bags were easy peasy to put together. I merely coupled the new sets with the frames from Take Note, along with the coordinating dies, Take Note Die 3 and Take Note Die 1. I also used the coordinating die, Favor Frame Die to layer on top for funsies. :) I think these would be great for kiddo classmates and teachers, etc!

The box...well, that was a little more involved. :)


I actually downloaded the box template straight from the Silhouette site...a whopping $.75 for it! I used the Fright Night Project Pantry kit as my papers and to make my own special embellishments. Although this was a bit more....involved, I think it sure makes a stunner of a presentation for a little gift!! Definitely keeping this in mind for teacher this year. :)

And finally....quick and easy treat sacks for the trick-or-treaters!

I bought a box of little glassine bags from Michael's (in the cake decorating section, 100 for $9.99 and used a 40% coupon) and thought these bags were just perfect to stuff with little treats...stamp on, and give out! Of course, the ribbon treatment is completely optional, but it was fun to stamp right onto the bags and have them ready to go!

Got the wheels turning for ya yet? I hope you get inspired to make some cute and fun Halloween treats after this! Need a little more push to put you over the edge? Well I GOT IT!!

To celebrate Taylored Expression's 2nd Birthday Bash, the store is having a special SALE!!!
Take note of the deets....you will want to take advantage!!

• Purchase ANY 4 full-sized stamp sets and receive a free Binder Box
• Purchase ANY 8 a la Carte stamps and receive a free set of Stamp Storage Panels
• FOUR orders will be selected at RANDOM (one each day from Friday - Monday) to win a $25 TE gift certificate
• The first TWENTY customers to order the Fright Night Project Pantry will receive a free set of orange glittered chipboard letters, as seen HERE.

These specials are only available from Friday September 3rd through Monday, September 6th!

Shop away my friends and I'd LOVE to hear what your faves have been so far! After you're done, be sure and check out what the rest of the crew has in store for you! We also have a new Guest Designer, Barbara Anders, who is playing with us today!!!

• Barbara Anders - Guest Designer
• Charmaine Ikach
• Danielle Lounds
• Donna Baker
• Jackie Pedro
• Jami Sibley
  
• Jodi Collins
• Karen Giron
• Karen Motz
• Regina Mangum
• Sankari Wegman
• Taylor VanBruggen
• Tori Wild
• Nancy McKinney - Illustrator
  

Taylored Expressions Sneak Peek - Day 3!

Welcome back everyone! So glad you are here to see Day 3 of sneaks of all the goodies that will be released Friday morning at 8 AM PST! I'm especially excited for today's sneaks as we are showing off sets that celebrate my most FAVORITE holiday....Halloween!!!! I've already gotten some Halloween decor pulled out and I am just itching to put it out! Think my neighbors might think I'm crazy?? :)

There are TWO sets that the ladies are sneaking for you today, and I get to sneak another addition to the "Hangin' out" line of stamps called Hangin' Out - Wicked Wardrobe!! I LOVE IT!!! This set is going to be great for cards, treats, AND scrapbooking! Let me just show you, yes? :)


Isn't that just the cutest witch and witch's dress you've ever seen?!! I love her!! And this can't go without mentioning, but the extremely talented Nancy McKinney also illustrated this! I used the coordinating Fright Night Project Pantry kit on this card and it features the Halloween line of patterned paper from Echo Park....yep, you won't be able to resist this kit and stamps...in my personal opinion! :) Ahhh...I just love everything about the set AND the kit. The ribbon is new and in the kit and it is scrunchy (just the way I like 'em!) and just ties GORGEOUSLY! Am I gushing?? Ok, maybe a little bit, because it just doesn't stop there!

You see, while I was on one of my (many) trips to Michael's, I picked up this most adorable little wood coffin...just screeching at me to alter and make pretty. Ok I said to myself, I am up for the challenge!

I used more of the kit (paper and ribbon) to embellish it up and a leftover spritzed up doily from my stash....easy peasy! Now....what to put inside this little package of wicked cuteness?

Why, more stamped and colored pieces from the set!! You see, you can dress your witch in a couple of different outfits and accessories and I thought it would be fun for my little Catie to play with. :) Ahhh....remember playing with those dress-up paper dolls as a kid? I remember that my most FAVORITE one as a child was the Princess Di one. Oh, I held those papers delicately and loved dressing her in her ginormous flowing wedding gown.

So yeah...can you tell I adore this set AND the coordinating kit?? I can't wait to play with it more...be prepared for more Halloween, MUAHAHAHAHA!! :)

Now, I can't wait to see what the rest of the talented ladies have to share with us! Let's check it!

• Charmaine Ikach
• Danielle Lounds
• Jackie Pedro
• Jodi Collins
• Karen Giron
• Karen Motz
• Regina Mangum
• Sankari Wegman
• Taylor VanBruggen
• Tori Wild
• Jami Sibley
• Nancy McKinney <-----our very own Illustrator!!

Thanks so much for your visit and I hope to see you back here tomorrow for the release and shopping!!! :)

Taylored Expressions Sneak Peek - Day 2!

Hey everyone!! I'm so glad you have come back again today! Did you enjoy the sneaks from yesterday? It was a lot of fun seeing what the rest of the talented ladies came up...I just have to pinch myself that I get to play along with them!

So anyway, we are on to Day 2 of the sneaks and today is dedicated to the Belated Birthday a La Cartes! There are SEVEN of these adorable mini sets available and most of us are sneaking a different one, so you'll DEFINITELY want to check out what the rest of the Bakers have in store for you!

As for me, I was a lucky duck (total pun intended here) and get to show you the a La Carte set, Ducks in a Row.


Oh my gosh isn't it A-DORABLE?!?! Now, I don't know about you, but I am ALWAYS late sending birthday cards...ok, if I even send them at all, LOL! Ok, totally not funny, but I'm working on being more prompt! Either way, I've always NEEDED a belated set and this totally fits the bill (PUN AGAIN!) LOL!


Yes, I think that sentiment was created specifically for me! One of these days I'll have it all together! :)
And I'm so excited to share that the genius who concepted all of these belated a la cartes is none other than our very own JAMI SIBLEY!!! Now, I don't know if you know Jami, but this lady is just brilliant with brainstorming ideas for things, so it's no surprise that she came up with these cute little critters and all of their adorable sentiments to match. Always so awe-inspiring to me!

So the patterned paper I used here came from the Thrift Shop paper pack, but I'm not sure if you noticed, there are a couple of patterns that are NOT from the paper pack! I actually created them using the other NEW set, Borderliscious! The "make a wish happy birthday celebrate" was embossed in white on cardstock using the new set as was the argyle border stamped on a strip of white cardstock. Totally cool, if I say so myself! I also had to use that new Eyelet border die. :)

Now it's time to get "quacking" and see what everyone else has cooked up for you today! See you tomorrow for Day 3 of sneaks (*hint* think Halloween), WOOHOOO!!!

• Charmaine Ikach
• Danielle Lounds
• Jackie Pedro
• Jodi Collins
• Karen Giron
• Karen Motz
• Regina Mangum
• Sankari Wegman
• Taylor VanBruggen
• Tori Wild
• Jami Sibley