Birds & Boys...Taylored Expressions Sneak Peek Day Two!

July Release At a Glance

• We have sneak peeks to share Wednesday and Thursday.  All of the new products will be available for purchase on Friday, July 1st at 8 am PST. You'll find it all in the Fresh out of the Oven Department at the Taylored Expressions Store.
• Join us as a fan on Facebook for an early peek at the stamp sets, as well as a SPECIAL GIVEAWAY, on Thursday night beginning at approximately 6 pm PST.
• Mystery Baker's Dozen Blog Giveaway: Each day, one lucky blog commenter will be chosen by random draw to win a $10 TE Gift Certificate.  Winners will be chosen from a different Baker's Dozen blog each day and will be announced on Taylor's blog on Release Day!  Be sure to hop around to see all the sneak peeks and leave comments on each and every blog for more chances to win. Limit one comment per blog per day, please.  Comments close Thursday 7/30 at 7pm PST for the drawings.

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It's Day 2 of sneaky peekies for Release Week at Taylored Expressions--it's a three for two Thursday on TSB, which means I have three projects showcasing two fab new sets releasing tomorrow! First up is the wonderful set, Birds of a Feather, illustrated by the uber-talented Nancy McKinney for the Whimsical Wishes line. You may be wondering about that second card above, and the answer is YES, I did use this set to also create some elegant hot air balloons! Read on to find out more...

My first card uses the branch from the coordinating Birds & Branch die set, which I used to make a reverse die-cut in some striking magenta paper. I stamped the birds and the lovely cage in white and added some coordinating paper from the Happy-Go-Lucky patterned paper collection. A nice fat pearl on a white ribbon finished off the simply sentimented card.

My next card was actually inspired by my mom-in-law, who was going through a hot-air balloon kick when I received this set. I was gazing at the pretty cages and noticed that they would indeed make beautiful balloons. The "basket" is actually the swing from the set, just turned upside down and colored with lines. Fun, yes? I just love it when stamps can be used for so many things!

The second set I'm featuring today is another in the adorable "Moka" collection (again, illustrated by Nancy McKinney), this time boasting a boy inspired by a certain famous "Justin" -- I was personally inspired by my own little rugrat, whose favorite color is yellow and who wears his own yellow hoodie. It's always hard to create cards for boys, and so I was doubly glad to see Justin join the Moka crew! With some fun, bright paper and a previously released star impression plate, I had a "slammin'" card to save for my not-so-little anymore baby boy's next b-day.

BEAN NOTES

Thinking of You Birdcage Card

• Stamps: Birds of a Feather (Taylored Expressions)
• Cardstock: Choice Snow (TE); Classic Magenta (Bazzill)
• Patterned Paper: Happy-Go-Lucky (Pebbles)
• Dies: Birds & Branches Taylored Die (TE)
• Ink: Alabaster (Colorbox); Purely Pomegranate (Stampin' Up!)
• Fibers: White Grosgrain (generic)
• Accents: Pearl brad (generic)

Thinking of You Hot Air Balloons Card

• Stamps: Birds of a Feather; It's a Banner Day 2 (Taylored Expressions)
• Cardstock: Choice Snow (TE); Old Olive (Stampin' Up!); Classic Magenta (Bazzill)
• Patterned Paper: Happy-Go-Lucky (Pebbles)
• Dies: Banner Day 2 Taylored Die (TE)
• Ink: Purely Pomegranate (SU!); Memento Tuxedo Black (Tsukineko)
• Coloring Medium: Sketch Markers (Copic)
• Tools: Paper piercing tool

Slammin' Birthday Card

• Stamps: Moka Justin (Taylored Expressions)
• Cardstock: Real Red, Brilliant Blue, More Mustard (SU!); Choice Snow (TE)
• Patterned Paper: Rocket Age (October Afternoon)
• Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black (Tsukineko)
• Coloring Medium: Sketch Markers (Copic)
• Accents: Brads (generic); White Opal Liquid Pearls (Ranger)
• Templates: Stars Impression Plate (TE)

I hope you enjoyed today's sneak peeks -- tomorrow is release day, but in the meantime, don't forget to check out the rest of the Baker's Dozen (including our new teammate, Melody Rupple!) for more inspiration to get you in the creating mood!

Charmaine Ikach
Danielle Lounds
Jami Sibley
Jodi Collins
Karen Giron
Karen Motz
Melissa Sauls
Melody Rupple
Nancy McKinney
Regina Mangum
Sankari Wegman
Taylor VanBruggen
Tori Wild
Wanda Guess