Posh Posies: Taylored Expressions Release Day!

It's Release Day at Taylored Expressions! I am so lucky to get the chance to continue to guest design for TE, especially when I get to work with these darling new Silhouette Stem Dies and the newly released set, Posh Posies. I was really in the mood to make some very modern looking cards, and these dies were just the ticket!

I kept things very clean and simple, letting the dies do the work for me. To make this a matched set, I simply used different colored pieces of the same patterned paper.

On this turquoise card, I die-cut the lovely stems twice and trimmed a few of the blossoms off to add some dimension.

I used the negative of one of the silhouette on the green card, popping up the entire panel over a die-cut silhouette I cut from the same patterned paper.

BEAN NOTES

Stamps: Posh Posies (Taylored Expressions); Patterned Paper: Snap! Color Vibe (Simple Stories); Cardstock: Solar White (Neenah), Kiwi Kiss, Bermuda Bay, Close to Cocoa (Stampin' Up!); Dies: Silhouette Stems 1, 2, and 3 (Taylored Expressions)

I absolutely adore all the simple and elegant sentiments from Posh Posies. I hope you enjoyed my cards today. All the new products are now available in the Taylored Expressions store in the Fresh Out of the Oven department! Be sure to visit the Baker's Dozen for more amazing creations featuring this month's Release!

Carole Burrage

Charmaine Ikach

Jami Sibley (DT Coordinator)

Jen Shults

Kerri Michaud

Lynnette Kauffman

Sankari Wegman

Shannon White

Shelly Mercado

Stephanie Kraft

Tammie Edgerton

Taylor VanBruggen

Wanda Guess

Nancy McKinney (Illustrator)

Regina Mangum (Media and Promotions)

A Bit of Button Love...

I hope for all my U.S. readers that you all had fun and full-of-bbq goodness 4th of July's! Today I get to share a couple projects I created with the fun "steal" going on at ScrapbookSteals.com. If you are new to ScrapbookSteals.com, it's a fun way to get some terrific deals on your favorite scrapbooking supplies and today's steal are these darling Doodlebug Designs Striped Buttons.

For my first card, I used the buttons as blooms on flowers. I love how bright and cheery they are.

I added some little red hearts "raining" from the clouds in the sky. 

For my second card, I wanted to keep things clean and simple. I added the buttons to a fun bicycle and stamped a sweet little bee to make a cheerful card to send to someone who might need a little "lift."

BEAN NOTES

All Things Grow With Love Card

Stamps: Faith in Bloom (Taylored Expressions); Everyday Button Bits (PTI)

Patterned Paper: Petite Prints (Doodlebug Designs)

Cardstock: Solar White (Neenah); Pool Party, Real Red, Kiwi Kiss, Green Galore (Stampin' Up!)

Ink: Ballet Blue (Stampin' Up!); Memento New Leaf (Tsukineko)

Dies: Clouds (PTI)

Tools: Heart Punch (EK Success); Small Heart punch, Grass Border Punch (Martha Stewart)

Fibers: Red Embroidery Floss (generic)

Accents: Doodlebug Designs Striped Buttons

Here to Give You a Lift Card

Stamps: bee, swirl from Sunflower Wreath set (Taylored Expressions); Everyday Button Bits (PTI)

Patterned Paper: Petite Prints (Doodlebug Designs)

Cardstock: Solar White (Neenah); Real Red (Stampin' Up!)

Ink: Ballet Blue (Stampin' Up!); Memento Tuxedo Black (Tsukineko)

Fibers: Baker's Twine (The Twinery)

Coloring Medium: Sketch Markers (Copic)

Accents: Doodlebug Designs Striped Buttons

If you'd like to see more button love inspiration from the other gals on the ScrapbookSteals.com Design Team, visit the SS blog and get your button on!

Vintage Tonic...

It seems to me that whenever I am in need of a "Get Well" card, I don't have one handy. I know that a nice card can go a long way when it comes to making a sick person feel better, but sometimes illness comes up so suddenly that I have to rush around trying to make a card. I thought I would use this week's Mojo Monday sketch to get one done to have on hand for my next friend or loved one who could use a boost.

When I saw this week's Pals Paper Arts "Puttin' On the Ritz" Challenge, I was moved to create a 20s-inspired card. I found some lovely vintage-y paper and embellishments. I love the bloom, which is a rub-on, that I fussy cut and placed over some pretty, satin ribbon to emulate the headbands worn by "flappers" from this ritzy era.
I added a perfectly simple sentiment from Taylored Expressions's Embrace Beauty. The stitching on the center element is actually a stamped border from Borderlicious! I added a bit of vellum and some wee pearls to complete my vintage card, which I hope will prove a dose of tonic for a friend in need.

BEAN NOTES
Stamps: Embrace Beauty and Borderlicious (Taylored Expressions)
Patterned Paper: Sweetness and Believe (Pink Paislee)
Ink: Rich Cocoa Memento (Tsukineko)
Fibers: Pink Satin Ribbon (Americancrafts)
Accents: Sweetness Rub-On (Pink Paislee); Pearls (Kaisercraft)
Cardstock: Close to Cocoa (Stampin' Up!); Choice Buttercream (TE)
Specialty Paper: Vellum (PTI)

Get Well Soon...

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It seems like the change in seasons has brought with it a lot of sickies and so I thought I'd better stock up on my "Get Well" cards! I just got my latest Taylored Expressions Key Ingredients and thought I'd pair up the pretty elements with the new Labels of Love set. I love the happy springtime colors from the kit and the sweet little paper roses are so darling -- I hope this card makes someone feel better!

BEAN NOTES (All supplies from TE's April 2011 Key Ingredients noted with a *)

• Stamps: Labels of Love (Taylored Expressions)
• Cardstock: Marina Mist, Riding Hood Red (Stampin' Up!); Choice Buttercream (TE)*
• Patterned Paper: Kitch (The Girls' Paperie)*
• Fibers: Swirl Organdy Ribbon (TE)*
• Accents: Miniature Rose (Prima)*
• Die: Ribbon Tags Trio 3 (Spellbinders)

Sending You Sunshine (Gallery Idol 2010!)...

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With the Open Auditions over (whew!) it was time to get down to making my Gallery Idol 2010 Round 1 card. The challenge is "Creativity Heals" - cards for encouragement, get well, thinking of you, missing you, or sympathy. If you are in need of some major mojo, check out the amazing group of ladies in whose company I have the honor of keeping! I hope that if you like my card, you will take a moment to vote by clicking on the link below.

Vote here: Gallery Idol 2010 Voting

For my Round 1 card, I really wanted to make a happy card that could be sent to anyone who might need a little lift or who could use a smile. I have always enjoyed making 'shadow box' cards for their detail and dimension. Here is how I made this one:
I began with a white card base and free cut some hills in two different shades of green. I used a mask of the furthest hill to help me sponge in my blue sky. Next, I sponged a bit of Wild Wasabi onto the edge of each hill before lining them with some dimensional pearls. I set them aside to dry.
I worked on the little house, paper piecing the cute image. I then die cut some clouds and a bright sun, sponging around the edges as well to add some depth. I added the little heart-shaped balloon over the sky and then got down to making my paper sunflowers.
I first punched out little yellow flowers and sponged around each one. Then for a little "authenticity," I ran some Chocolate Chip card stock through my Big Shot with a dotted folder several times to get tiny dots on the little circles I punched out. For the stems, I cut thin strips of green card stock and then attached itty bitty leaves (it took a while, but I loved the finished effect), sponging some ink on each stem as well. I popped up a few for more dimension.
After punching a white picket fence and cutting out a bit of grass, I was ready to assemble the scene, which I did with lots and lots of foam dimensionals (Bean tip: to cut down on bulk, use 1/16" thick dimensionals.)
To create the frame for my scene, I began with some Dusty Durango card stock, which I ran through with a wood impression plate then cut in strips, sponging matching ink along the edges. These I mitered at the corners and added some silver ink "nails" with a metallic pen. I printed my happy sentiment on the computer and popped it out on some die cut ovals. Finally, I placed the entire scene on some pretty striped designer paper for a finished card that I hope will send a bit of sunshine to someone who needs it.
Thanks for stopping by to check out my Gallery Idol submission for this round. If you'd like to vote, please click here. There are a lot of talented card makers in the Top 20, and you'll be wowed and amazed by each and every one. Keeping my fingers and toes crossed that I'll make it to the next round!
BEAN NOTES: Papertrey Ink Wonderfully Whimsical Stamps; Tim Holtz Tumbled Glass Distress Ink; Stampin' Up So Saffron, Dusty Durango, Wild Wasabi, and Basic Black Classic Dye Ink; SU Summer Picnic Designer Series Paper; SU Wild Wasabi, Dusty Durango, So Saffron, Bashful Blue, Certainly Celery, Chocolate Chip, Riding Hood Red, Whisper White, and Kraft Card Stock; Martha Stewart Picket Fence Border and Christmas Tree Large Punch; SU Punch Pack Punch; Spellbinders Long Ovals Nestabilities; PTI Clouds Die; PTI Woodgrain Impression Plate; Cuttlebug Swiss Dots Embossing Folder; Big Shot; Computer & Printer; Foam Dimensional Squares (generic); Pewter Brads (generic)
HAPPY BEANS: Adirondack Lettuce Dimensional Pearls; Metallic Silver Pen (generic)

The Hardest Thing to Say...

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I always have a hard time with sympathy cards, but I have found recently that they can mean so much to the person receiving them that making one is worth the awkward feelings. This week's Friday Challenge was to create sympathy or get well cards, and I thought I'd make one that could apply to either.
For this card, I created a die-cut frame from chipboard and also stamped my simple sentiment on chipboard as well. I used a pretty border frame image in the background and applied some matching distress ink. For the sweet flowers, I took one large image, water-colored the blooms, and then cut it in half to wind around the frame. Just two tiny pearls at each popped-up flower's center completed the focal piece to my die-cut card base. I hope that when I need to use this card, it will bring comfort to the person who needs it.
BEAN NOTES: JustRite Custom Design Cardmaking Kit, Deluxe Square Monogram Kit, and My Garden Stamps; Tim Holtz Peeled Paint and Tattered Rose Distress Ink; StazOn Stone Gray Ink; Stampin' Up Very Vanilla Cardstock; Pearls (generic); Spellbinders Labels One Nestabilities; Big Shot; Foam Dimensional Squares
HAPPY BEANS: Chipboard (generic)

Feel Better Soon...

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One of my Pals, Margaret Moody, is under the weather. She's always such a ray of sunshine that I thought I'd send her a bit of my own with a get well card. I used the fourth of February's Sketch For You To Try Challenge sketches and picked some bright, fun colors.
For this card, I paper pieced the cute little chicken in a soup bowl (how clever is that?) image and cut out a second chicken to give it some dimension. I put him inside a scallop border framed circle and added a few little Liquid Pearls. I liked where Jen del Muro placed her sentiment in her sample card, so I did the same! I hope Ms. Margaret feels better soon, because the crafting world isn't the same without her!
BEAN NOTES: The Cat's Pajamas Chicken Soup and Feel Better Soon (sentiment) Stamps; Stampin' Up Basic Gray and Real Red Classic Dye Ink; Fancy Pants The Daily Grind Designer Paper; SU Real Red, Whisper White, and Basic Gray Cardstock; Spellbinders Classic Circles and Classic Scallop Circles Nestabilities; Big Shot; Brass Brads (generic)
HAPPY BEANS: Ruby Red Liquid Pearls

A Get Well Rose...

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It's been a nice three-day weekend for us, and I have been luxuriating in the fact that my husband is watching our son while I work on this week's Mojo Monday! I love this rose image from Stampin' Up's A Rose is a Rose set, and the Mojo sketch is nice and simple, allowing me to focus on the pretty bloom. I double-stamped (using the same color, I stamped off to achieve the different shades) and cut out the center of the rose, popping it out to add a little dimension. For this card, I let the designer paper do the work for me, pairing Rich Razzleberry DSP with my old fave, Kiwi Kiss. Added a few leaves and some clear dew drops, and I was left with a simple get well card (which I never seem to have enough of, I'm afraid.)
BEAN NOTES: (Unless otherwise noted, all materials are Stampin' Up): A Rose is a Rose and Sincere Salutations Stamps; Rich Razzleberry and Old Olive Classic Dye Ink; Rich Razzleberry Designer Series Paper; Kiwi Kiss Textured Cardstock; Rich Razzleberry and Very Vanilla Cardstock; Rich Razzleberry Grosgrain Ribbon; Foam Dimensional Squares (generic)
HAPPY BEANS: Clear Gem Dew Drops (generic)

A Bicycle Built for Two...

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Ever since I got the Everyday Button Bits set from Papertrey Ink, I've had the idea in my head to do a "bicycle built for two" using the set's solo bicycle image. I'm usually a bit hesitant to enter the PTI Guest Star Stamper challenge because the submissions created by other participants are jaw-dropping, and I can't begin to imagine coming close to being chosen. But, I was pleased with how this card turned out, so I think I'll enter in the October Previous Set category (gulp!)
To create the bicycle for two, I first stamped the image onto cardstock then masked the back fender and stamped the image again to connect the bicycles. I held my breath as I lifted off the stamp and was happy to see that my idea had worked. I pawed through a mountain of buttons before realizing I simply didn't have three of the same size that would suffice as tires, so I created my own with a Martha Stewart punch. I then added real buttons and stitched them on with some red embroidery thread. I thought the sentiment was fitting, and to give the bike some movement, I stamped a PTI flourish across my cardstock. Rounded corners and a silvery ribbon treatment finished off this humble card.
BEAN NOTES: Papertrey Ink Everyday Button Bits and Fancy Flourishes Stamps; Memento Tuxedo Black Ink; Stampin' Up Bordering Blue and Ruby Red Classic Dye Ink; SU Stampin Write Markers (Bordering Blue, Ruby Red, and Creamy Caramel); SU Very Vanilla, Ruby Red, and Bordering Blue Cardstock; DCWV Dark Grey Textured Cardstock; Silver Organza Ribbon (generic); Glue Dots (generic); Cream Buttons (generic); Red Embroidery Thread (generic); Crop-A-Dile Corner Rounder HAPPY BEANS: Martha Stewart Button Punch

A "KISS" to Feel Better...

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For a few weeks now, the Pals Paper Arts Challenge (brainchild of the inimitable Mary Fish and her fab Design Team) has been putting forth fun sketches and challenges every Thursday -- it's a great mid-week boost to get creative juices flowing! I am finally participating with my first PPA (#8) project, which asked participants to "KISS" (Keep It Simple, Sweetie) with lots of white space. I decided to use Charmaine's Color Challenge (part of Verve's Release Week Challenge) of Deep Purple, Olive, Burnt Orange, and Teal. Interestingly, I thought these colors matched up with Stampin' Up's newest In-Colors perfectly. I added a third challenge to myself, which was to create a card without using a single stamp. I got a lot of use out of my Big Shot and the Sizzix Birds & Blooms die set. The embossed background circle was created using a Nestability and the simple sentiment with an SU Rub-On. A cute little button was the final touch. This cheerful card literally took me 15 minutes, start to finish!
BEAN NOTES: Stampin' Up Whisper White, Dusty Durango, Rich Razzleberry, Bermuda Bay, and Always Artichoke Card Stock; SU Chit-Chat Rub-On; Nestabilities Classic Circle Die & Embossing Pads; White Button (generic); Foam Dimensional Squares (generic) HAPPY BEANS: Big Shot

Peace & Tranquility (IHPSOA)...

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This was an interesting challenge from i {heart} papers for SOA. The task at had was to create a card using flower soft or another texture-adding medium to a floral focal point. Here, I used Ranger Distress Stickles (the individual pieces of Stickle are larger than usual Stickles) to bring out the leaves of this peaceful bonsai tree. I chose to leave off a sentiment as I felt the card would be appropriate for several occasions, including sympathy and get well. If the sketch seems familiar to you, it is from Mojo Monday 69 from back in January, which I didn't actually participate in!
BEAN NOTES: Stampin' Up Asian Art Stamps; SU Close to Cocoa Classic Dye Ink; Tim Holtz Peeled Paint Distress Ink; SU Stampin' Write Markers (Creamy Caramel, Basic Gray, Really Rust); VersaMark Clear Ink; DCWV All-Occasion Designer Paper; SU Purely Pomagranate, Very Vanilla, and Garden Green Cardstock; Ranger Gold Super-Fine Detail Embossing Powder; Foam Dimensional Squares (generic)
HAPPY BEANS: Ranger Peeled Paint Distress Stickles

Get Well Wishes (SCACD)...

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This little Get Well card is my entry for the Susana's Custom Art & Card Design Sketch Challenge for SOA. To make those little wishes for a speedy recovery sparkle, I added a little Diamond Stickles.

BEAN NOTES: Penny Black Cheesecake Wishes Stamp; StazOn Timber Brown Ink; SU Chit-Chat Rub-ons; SU Bashful Blue and Whisper White Cardstock; SU Stampin' Write Markers (Creamy Caramel, Close to Cocoa; So Saffron; and Blush Blossom);Dark Blue Textured Cardstock (generic); Glitter Mat Stack Paper (generic); Nestabilities Classic Circle Dies; Big Shot; Foam Dimensional Squares (generic)
HAPPY BEANS: Ranger Diamond Stickles; EK Success Moon & Stars Punch