Thursday, June 30, 2011

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
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


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    Wednesday, June 29, 2011

    Clowns & Clouds...Taylored Expressions Sneak Peek Day One!

    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.
    to view an image up-close, please click on a  photo
    Holy Cow, it's nearly July! This means fireworks, picnics, fun in the sun, and best of all, another Taylored Expressions Release Week! Is this going to be a fun few days, or what? Today I have two super cute sets to sneak peek. First up though, a big welcome to our new Baker's Dozen member, Melody Rupple! You can catch Melody's amazing work on her blog, A Paper Melody.
    My first project features the soon-to-be released Life is a Circus (illustrated by the talented Doug Applegate for the Apple Doodle Ink line of stamps) and is chock-full of circus fun. For my card today, I decided to do a variation on a tent card, bringing to life a juggling clown balanced carefully atop an elephant on a tightrope! To give the illusion that the clown is really juggling some pretty heavy items, I used a thin strip of acetate to hold the sentiment ball up in the air. The "tightrope" is some baker's twine hooked between two posts (these are from Hangin' Out, which many of you are familiar with)!

    Next up is a really darling set called In the Clouds, which is another in the wonderful Whimsical Wishes line illustrated by Nancy McKinney. I love hot air balloons *hint*--check in tomorrow for a twist on a new set -- but how clever and original are these blimps? Plus, the coordinating Blimps & Banners Die set makes cutting these babies out a breeze.

    My mom-in-law actually gave me this idea when she saw this set (a perk of letting my family stay with her!) and so I made her a set of luggage tags! I purchased a very inexpensive set of self-laminating clear luggage tags and created these little cuties by just printing the text on my computer. The new Lime Twist MME patterned paper was picture perfect (or, you can try out the fabulously huge Cloudy Background Stamp) and these are such an easy way to create a gift for someone you know who travels.

    BEAN NOTES
    Tightrope Birthday Card
    • Stamps: Life is a Circus; pole from Hangin' Out (Taylored Expressions)
    • Cardstock: Choice Snow (TE); Bermuda Bay, More Mustard (Stampin' Up!)
    • Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black (Tsukineko)
    • Patterned Paper: Lime Twist Fly a Kite (My Mind's Eye)
    • Coloring Medium: Sketch Markers (Copic)
    • Dies: Star Border Taylored Die (TE)
    • Fibers: Baker's Twine (The Twinery)
    • Accents: Clear Accetate (generic)
    Fly Away With Me Luggage Tags
    • Stamps: In the Clouds (Taylored Expressions)
    • Cardstock: Choice Buttercream (TE) 
    • Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black (Tsukineko)
    • Patterned Paper: Lime Twist Fly a Kite (My Mind's Eye)
    • Coloring Medium: Sketch Markers (Copic)
    • Dies: Blimps & Banners Taylored Die (TE)
    • Alterable: Clear Luggage Tags (generic)

    I hope you enjoyed today's sneak peeks. Tune in tomorrow for some birds and boys, but in the meantime, don't forget to check out the rest of the Baker's Dozen for some spectacular inspiration!




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    Tuesday, June 21, 2011

    Birthday Wishes...

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    It's hard to believe that June is already halfway over and July is almost here. I thought I'd better get a jump on all my July birthday cards, especially as I am still without my crafting supplies. Luckily, I got my Taylored Expressions Key Ingredients and I had a few supplies tucked into my luggage when we moved!
    I had my Aunt Karen in mind when I made this card as she has a July birthday coming up. I kept things simple by using my favorite Labels of Love set from TE and the pretty papers and accessories from the Key Ingredients. I'll put this one away until July and try to keep from pining for my supplies, which are sitting on a truck somewhere in Jersey!

    BEAN NOTES

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    Wednesday, June 15, 2011

    Birthday (Blues?)...

    Why my birthday is a happy one!
    Yikes-a-bee! Today is my birthday and I've gotta admit that I'm feeling a little bluesy about birthdays now that I'm thirty seven -- I can no longer honestly say that I'm in my mid-thirties anymore! But, since a fun day has been planned (lunch and a movie with my hubby, sans the rugrat!) and a red velvet birthday cake made by my fabulous mom-in-law, I've decided not to dwell on what really is just a number...
    With no card to share (pretty much all my crafting supplies are sitting in a warehouse in Jersey right now until our new apartment in San Francisco is ready), I thought I would share ten things you may not know about me from the last thirty seven years of my life...
    1. I've moved four times in the last four years, all the way from one coast to the other and back -- and I'm not married to a military man, so I'm scratching my head about it!
    2. Places I have worked: a radio repair shop (my first job!), a dormitory, a theatre, a publishing house, a literary agency, a library (my favorite!), a notary company (my least favorite!)
    3. My son's birth story was published in Pregnancy magazine. I still love seeing his sweet face in print!
    4. I've been married to my college sweetheart for nearly 13 years, though we've been together for nearly 20. I'm looking forward to the next twenty.
    5. I absolutely refuse to eat these foods: celery, alfalfa sprouts or rye bread. The first tastes like wet straw, the second like dirt, and the last gives me hives.
    6. I once sold Brad Pitt theatre tickets (alas, he wasn't nearly as cute as I thought he would be!)
    7. I wish I'd gone to art school, but I don't regret not going.
    8. I think Twitter is the beginning of the end of the civilized world (sorry, all you Tweeters!)
    9. My current favorite commercial is for Joe's Crab Shack -- for some reason I think it's really funny when the woman gets hit by the giant crab claw!
    10. I am extraordinarly good at using scissors and if I could figure out a job that requires that skill, I'd be set!
    Thanks for stopping by and I hope your day is as happy as mine!  


    14 comments

    Sunday, June 12, 2011

    Birthday Party Across the Miles...


     

    It's a birthday blog hop for the absolutely fabulous Taylor VanBruggen! Her good friend, Jami Sibley, put together a fun "fantasy birthday gift" hop for Taylor in which we would all, if money were no object, choose a gift for Taylor. How cool an idea is that??? If you've hopped over from the uber-talented Rachel's Gingerbread Gallery, you are in the right place, but if you get off track, you can always start again at Jami's blog here!
    I chose a stay at the Grand Wailea Resort & Spa in Maui, Hawaii -- with the works at the spa for the mommy-to-be! Oh, I do wish money really were no object, because Taylor deserves a stay like this a thousand times over. Be sure to stop by her blog and leave her some good wishes! Happy Birthday, sweet Taylor! May your life be one long vacation! XOXO
    Now, head on over to Monika's amazing M.A.D. Stamper site for more fun fantasy gifts for Taylor!

    3 comments

    Friday, June 10, 2011

    Congrats On Your New Digs...

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    My lovely sister-in-law just moved into a beautiful new condo and I thought I would send her a card to help welcome her home. I broke out my Cozy Cottages set from Taylored Expressions and chose the pretty old-fashioned farmhouse and colored it in with Copics. I paired it with the beautiful sentiment and some elegant patterned paper, finishing off with a fun stitched ribbon. I wish her all the best in her cozy new home!

    BEAN NOTES

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    Friday, June 3, 2011

    HAY There!...Taylored Expressions Release Day!

    • All of the new products are now available for purchase! Check out the Fresh Out of the Oven category and Taylor's Blog for all the deets!
    • Did you win one of the Mystery Baker's Dozen Blog Giveaways? Find the list of winners on Taylor's Blog
    • Another chance to win... head on over to our forum and tell us your favorite stamp set from this release. We'll be choosing one person to win their favorite set FREE!  You have until Saturday June 4th at 6 pm PST to enter to win.


    to view an image up-close, please click on a photo
    It's Release Day at Taylored Expressions and that means that all the goodies we previewed this week are now available in the TE Store! I have one more project to share with you with my new favorite set, Green Acres featuring one of the darling farm animals and a new impression plate!

    I used the sweet little cow and double stamped her, trimming out just her head and popping it out for some dimension. I decided on a red, white, and black color palette, and kept things simple with just a die cut oval frame and some fun patterned paper. The background impression is chicken wire! This is the "B" side to the woodgrain on this brand new Taylored Expressions Impression Plate and it's so perfectly perfect for these farm friends. (I use TE impression plates with both a Big Shot and a Grand Calibur machine and TE carries an embossing kit that leaves behind clear and crisp embossed designs!)  I finished off with a simple ribbon and a cute sentiment for an all-occasion card that is sure to please!

    BEAN NOTES
    Have fun shopping at the TE Store and don't forget to visit the rest of the Baker's Dozen for more inspiration and a look back at this week's faves. If you are new to Taylored Expressions, you might be curious to know that all TE stamps are made from high quality, deeply etched rubber and the stamps are all pre-cut! Have a terrific weekend!




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    Thursday, June 2, 2011

    Farms & Flags...Taylored Expressions Sneak Peek Day Three! (GIVEAWAYS, too!)

    • We have sneak peeks to share Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.  All of the new products will be available for purchase on Friday, June 3rd at 8 am PST. You'll find it all in the Fresh out of the OvenDepartment in the Taylored Expressions Store.
    • Join us as a fan on Facebook for an early peek at the stamp sets on Thursday night beginning at approximately 6 pm PST.
    • Special Early Bird Offer on Release Day for the first 15 orders over $100.  It's TOTALLY SWEET!
    • 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 all 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 6/2 at 7pm PST for the drawings.

    to view an image up-close, please click on a photo
    Mooooo! It's the third day of sneak peeks at Taylored Expressions and it's a fun one!


    The first of two projects I have to share today uses the new Green Acres set (from illustrator Doug Apple for the Apple Doodle Ink line) and this may be, hands down, the most fun set I've ever had the pleasure of creating with. I may have gotten a bit carried away with this card, but I just couldn't resist. With the exception of one tiny image, my fun stair step card features every image from this darling set plus a couple of the witty sentiments. This card is for my big bro, who always enjoys my cards, though my little secret is that it's really a simple card to make -- just stamp, color, and fussy cut! If the "sun" looks familiar, it's from the same patterned paper I used earlier this week on my Surf's Up penguin card! This type of card is a great way to create little scenes that are perfect for sets with lots of complimentary images.
    Next up is a little door hang I created using the soon-to-be released petite set, Patriotic Wreath, which is the next installment in the fabulous Seasonal Wreath series that features coordinating wreath die! 


    I love this series (originally concepted by the lovely Jami Sibley and illustrated by Nancy McKinney) and this patriotic set is just in time for Independence Day. I thought I would make a decorative pennant to hang from our new apartment door (if we ever find one!) on the Fourth of July and I chose to use some old-fashioned rustic shades of red, white, and blue. With a Spellbinders die, I cut the larges pennant in red and white strips, then trimmed with with a TE scalloped border die that was stamped with stars from the set. The wreath was stamped, colored, and die cut, and the fun sentiment placed inside one of TE's fab banner dies (BEAN NOTE: did you know that you can manipulate some TE stamps because they are not mounted? How cool is that?) A bit of twine to hang and I was all set to wish the U.S.A a very happy birthday!

    BEAN NOTES
    Green Acres Stair Step Card

    • Stamps: Green Acres (Taylored Expressions)
    • Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black (Tsukineko)
    • Cardstock: Bashful Blue and Crumb Cake (Stampin' Up!); Green Textured (Bazzill); Solar White (Neenah)
    • Patterned Paper: Splash (Echo Park)
    • Coloring Medium: Sketch Markers (Copic)
    • Tools: Crop-A-Dile (WRMK)
    Happy Fourth Door Hang
    • Stamps: Patriotic Wreath and It's a Banner Day-1  (Taylored Expressions)
    • Cardstock: Ruby Red, Night of Navy (SU!); Choice Buttercream (TE)
    • Ink: New Canvas Hybrid Ink (Pallette); Night of Navy and Ruby Red Classic Dye (SU!)
    • Dies: Seasonal Wreath, Banner Day 1, and Large Scalloped Border (TE); Nested Pennant (Spellbinders)
    • Coloring Medium: Sketch Markers (Copic)
    Tomorrow is Release Day at Taylored Expressions and I hope you enjoyed this week of sneaky peekies! Don't forget to check out the rest of the Baker's Dozen for more patriotic and moo-ilicious inspiration! Thanks so much for dropping in and have a wonderful day!



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    Wednesday, June 1, 2011

    Sweet Wedded Bliss...Taylored Expressions Sneak Peek Day Two! (GIVEAWAYS, too!)


    • We have sneak peeks to share Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.  All of the new products will be available for purchase on Friday, June 3rd at 8 am PST. You'll find it all in the Fresh out of the Oven Department in the Taylored Expressions Store.
    • Join us as a fan on Facebook for an early peek at the stamp sets on Thursday night beginning at approximately 6 pm PST.
    • Special Early Bird Offer on Release Day for the first 15 orders over $100.  It's TOTALLY SWEET!
    • 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 all 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 6/2 at 7pm PST for the drawings.

    to view an image up-close, please click on a photo
    Ta Dum De Dum! I absolutely adore weddings and this week, Taylored Expressions is helping all those June brides say 'I do.' I have two projects celebrating weddings and engagements, so let's dive right in to those happy nuptials!

    When I saw my favorite cupcake in the new Sweet Bliss set (illustrated by Jessie Olson) and all the darling wedding cuppies, I was inspired to create a comic strip card starring these delectable love doves. Using a simple template drawn in a word processing program, I created the panels and stamped in a fun strip following the happy couple. I colored everything in with Copics, sticking with bright, bold solid colors.


    I thought I'd switch from the ceremony to the engagement with the a new A la Carte stamp, You're Engaged  from Nancy McKinney. The bride was on my mind with this pink and white card on which I wove some strips of card stock for a pretty background. For a bit of fun bling with some liquid pearls on the gorgeous ring.

    BEAN NOTES
    Sweet Bliss Comic Card
    • Stamps: Sweet Bliss (Taylored Expressions)
    • Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black (Tsukineko)
    • Cardstock: Real Red (Stampin' Up!); Solar White (Neenah)
    • Coloring Medium: Sketch Markers (Copic); Black Multiliner SP (Copic)
    • Other: Word Processing program; printer
    WOW Engagement Card
    • Stamps: You're Engaged A la Carte (Taylored Expressions)
    • Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black (Memento)
    • Cardstock: Choice Snow (TE); Pink Pirouette (SU!); Pink Textured (Bazzill)
    • Fibers: Pink Grosgrain (generic)
    • Coloring Medium: Sketch Markers (Copic)
    • Accents: Flamingo and Buttercup Liquid Pearls (Ranger)
    Weddings are the best parties and thanks for attending our fun day of sneaks. Be sure the visit the rest of the Baker's Dozen for more trips down the aisle! Come on back tomorrow for one more day of previews before Release Day!





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