Taylored Expressions Sneak Peek Day 1: Of Thee I Sing

Happy Monday, crafty friends! This week, I am playing along with Taylored Expressions for their May Release! Today it's all about being patriotic, and I can't wait to share my two cards with you today.

My first card uses a combination of brand new release items and some that came out recently, along with my favorite Cutting Plate, Ray of Sunshine. I combined it with the Shining Star Cutting Plate to create this fun patriotic card. The Of Thee I Sing stamp set has lyrics from my very favorite patriotic song, My Country 'Tis of Thee. Both of my projects use the new Matched Kit, Summer Nights, which I absolutely LOVE!

My second project makes use of some Build A Scene dies along with the new Starry Nights Cutting Plate and the sweet Little Bits - Pinwheel dies. The Starry Nights Cutting Plate is very cool…it's cut so that it really looks like stars are falling from the sky. I placed some silver glitter card stock behind the panel and it is so pretty! I'll need to decide which of the wonderful sentiments from Of Thee I Sing to place inside my fun card. 

Be sure to visit the TE Blog for a full list of designers playing along today!

Matched Kit - Summer Nights TE 6x6 Paper Pack - Build a Scene Starry Nights Cutting Plate Shining Star Cutting Plate Ray of Sunshine Cutting Plate Little Bits - Pinwheel Of Thee I Sing Build a Scene - Rolling Hills Wispy Grass Border Doodlebug Star Sprinkles - Red, White & Blue Memento Tuxedo Black Full Pad

InLinkz.com

In the Land of the Free!

Happy 4th of July (almost!)

My Imaginisce teammates and I are celebrating Independence Day with some 4th of July card inspiration. I love to make photo cards. They are like a little mini scrapbook page that you can share with friends and family. For the 4th of July, I had a great photo of my little guy with a waving flag and I thought it would be just the thing for a patriotic card. I kept things simple, letting the photo be the star of the show. With the alphabet stickers from the Outdoor Adventure collection, I spelled out half the sentiment. For the word 'Free,' I actually trimmed the word from one of the great patterned paper sheets from the Childhood Memories collection. 

BEAN NOTES

(alphabet sheet, patterned papers from Outdoor Adventure and Childhood Memories collections) Imaginisce; (kraft card stock) Stampin' Up!; (photo, pen) generic

Thank You From a Grateful Nation...

Imaginisce is celebrating July 4th this week in true patriotic style and I have a special card to share with you today honoring our brave and hardworking soldiers fighting to keep us safe.

I used papers from the Bon Voyage collection to create this "postcard" to our troops, adding a sentiment, stars, and accents.

I created this custom sentiment by printing on the computer and gave the card some dimension with foam tape. 

A sincere and heartfelt thank you from the bottom of my heart to all the soldiers, veterans, and members of our armed forces as we celebrate another Independence day here in the U.S.!

BEAN NOTES

Patterned Paper: from Bon Voyage collection (Imaginisce)

Cardstock: Crumb Cake (Stampin' Up!)

Ink: Not Quite Navy (Stampin' Up!)

Stamps: sentiment from Think Big Favorites #2 (PTI)

Dies: Nesting Stars (Spellbinders)

Fibers: Rope Twine (Canvas Corp)

I'm a Yankee Doodle Dandy...Taylored Expressions Sneak Peek Day 1!

June Release At a Glance

• We have sneak peeks to share Monday through Wednesday.  All of the new products will be available for purchase on Thursday, June 7th 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 Facebook GIVEAWAY, on Wednesday night beginning at approximately 6 pm PST.

The year is very nearly half over! It's June, which is my favorite month and I'm so glad I get to share some fun projects this week for Release Week at Taylored Expressions! Today we are feeling a bit patriotic, which is good because Independence Day is just around the corner!

My first card today features the wonderful new Petite set, Yankee Doodle Homestead. This is another sweet home in the Adorable Abode line of darling stamps and the bright idea of our fab Design Coordinator, Jami Sibley. 

I paired this patriotic little house with the patterned paper and ribbon included in this month's rockin' Project Pantry. Also, I used one of the absolutely terrific new TE dies, Petal Pop-Ups 1. Here I used the medium-sized bloom and added a button...I love how it looks like a 4th of July corsage!

Next I have a card featuring the new Moka Betsy stamp set. This sweet little girl is all dressed up to show her love of the U.S. of A. 

I again used the paper from this month's 4th of July Project Pantry (featuring Let Freedom Ring paper from Pebbles/American Crafts) -- for more details, check Taylor's blog HERE. I also created my own paper by stamping one of the included stars in silver on the navy card stock. I also pulled out one my old favorite TE Border Dies, filling in each star with paper for contrast.

BEAN NOTES

Let Freedom Ring Card

All cardstock, patterned paper, and fibers from 4th of July Project Pantry unless otherwise noted.

Stamps: Yankee Doodle Homestead (Doug Applegate for Taylored Expressions)

Ink: Rich Cocoa Memento (Tsukineko)

Accents: Button (generic); Diamond Stickles (Ranger)

Coloring Medium: Sketch Markers (Copic)

Dies: Petal Pop-Ups 1 (TE)

Fibers: Hemp Twine (Stampin' Up!)

Celebrate! Card

Stamps: Moka Betsy (Nancy McKinney for Taylored Expressions)

All cardstock, patterned paper, and fibers from Project Pantry unless otherwise noted.

Ink: Rich Cocoa Memento (Tsukineko); Riding Hood Red (Stampin' Up!); Silver Metallic (Tsukineko)

Coloring Medium: Sketch Markers (Copic); Silver Marker (Inkessentials)

Dies: Star Border (Taylored Expressions); Classic Oval Nestabilities (Spellbinders)

Accents: Diamond Stickles (Ranger)

I hope you enjoyed my Americana projects today! Don't forget to check out the rest of the Baker's Dozen (and Special Guests!) for more inspiration!

Charmaine Ikach

Christine Okken - Special Guest

Jen Shults

Jodi Collins

Karen Giron

Karen Motz - Special Guest

Kerry Johnson - Special Guest

Melissa Sauls

Melody Rupple

Michele Boyer - Guest Designer

Nancy McKinney - Illustrator

Regina Mangum

Sankari Wegman

Sherrie Siemens - Special Guest

Stephanie Kraft

Taylor VanBruggen

Wanda Guess

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!

• Charmaine Ikach

  Danielle Lounds

  Jackie Pedro

  Jodi Collins

  Karen Giron

  Karen Motz

  Melissa Sauls

  Regina Mangum

  Sankari Wegman

  Taylor VanBruggen

  Tori Wild

  Wanda Guess and friends
  Nancy McKinney
  Jami Sibley

A Happy 4th...

 To view the image up-close, please click on the photo.

Oh my, I woke up and realized that July 4th is this very weekend, and I hadn't made a single card! Granted, I've been a wee bit busy with Gallery Idol 2010 (thank you, thank you, thank you to everyone who has voted!) But, Independence Day is upon us, and I thought I'd better get cracking!

For my card, I started with this week's fabulous sketch from Taylor's Cupcake Challenge. Also, Julee Tilman is hosting a star challenge, and what could be more perfect for 4th of July? I hemmed and hawed a little over whether to go traditional, and my decision was made when I saw the Curtain Call Challenge colors.

Since it's technically the birthday of our nation, I went with this adorable little cupcake, which I colored and paper-pieced in what else? Red, white and blue. To give him a little patriotic vim, I added a fun little top hat set at a rakish angle. I decided to set him up in the air, carried away by some starry balloons to celebrate this happiest of fourths!

BEAN NOTES: Taylored Expressions Beach Bum Stamp, Verve Seeing Stars Stamps, and Stampendous Patriotic Pair Stamps; Memento Tuxedo Black Ink; Papertrey Ink Fresh Snow Ink; Reminisce Designer Paper; Stampin' Up Whisper White, Real Red and Night of Navy Card Stock; Papertrey Ink Kraft Card Stock; SU Circle Punches; Papertrey Ink Clouds Die; Big Shot; Foam Tape

HAPPY BEANS: Copic Sketch Markers

It's A Wrap! (SFYTT Guest Designer Round-Up)...

Well, after a wonderful month as July's Designer of the Month for Jen del Muro's i{heart}2stamp Sketch For You To Try Challenge, I'm welcoming my card creations home to The Stampin' Bean. A BIG THANK YOU to my mom-in-law, Susan, for stepping in as my Designer of the Month and gamely playing along for all the sketch challenges. She's definitely my best stamping buddy, and her creations put mine to shame! If you'd like to see her creations, please visit her Splitcoast gallery here. Thank you for all your wonderful and kind comments on all of our cards.

Now, here are my cards, complete with Bean Notes...

To view an image up-close, please click on the photo.

A Little Patriotic Cheer (070409)...

This was my debut card! At first, I toyed with the idea of making a very elegant, subtle card, but, since it was being revealed on Independence Day, I felt that bright and fun was the way to go. This little Uncle Sam was just something I picked up on a whim and I was so glad to have a chance to use him. I made liberal use of glitter gel pens for some sparkle, and my favorite part are the little red, white, and blue pom-poms that I found at the craft store for pennies...Happy Fourth of July!

BEAN NOTES: Stampendous Patriotic Pair Stamps; Stampin' Up Brilliant Blue Classic Dye Ink; SU Stampin' Write Markers (Brilliant Blue, Real Red, So Saffron); Fireworks Designer Paper (unidentified); SU Whisper White, Brilliant Blue, and Real Red Cardstock; Dark Blue Satin Ribbon (generic); Spellbinders Ribbon Label Die; Big Shot; Sakura Golden Star, Red Star, and Clear Star Gelly Roll Pens; Foam Dimensional Squares (generic)
HAPPY BEANS: Red, White, and Blue Pom-Poms (generic)

Happy Birthday, Cupcake! (071109)...

I made this card for my terrific Aunt-in-Law, Karen, who turned 65 this month. She's such a fun, generous person, and is someone who would appreciate a good cupcake! I was able to break out my darling Taylored Expressions For the Love of Cupcakes set. Using a hobby blade, I cut around the outline of the tea stand so that the sweet cupcake designer paper could show through. To replace the sketch's star with a cupcake, I paper pieced the frosting over kraft paper, added some Stickle bling and a candle -- now Aunt Karen can make a wish!
BEAN NOTES: Taylored Expressions For the Love of Cupcakes Stamps; Memento Rich Cocoa Ink; Doodlebug Designer Paper; Stampin' Up Whisper White, Regal Rose, and Pink Pirouette Cardstock; Karft Cardstock (generic); SU Stampin' Write Markers; Classic Die Ink; White Grosgrain Ribbon (generic); Paper Shapers 1-1/2" and 1-3/4 Circle Punches and 2" Scallop Circle Punch; Cuttlebug Swiss Dots Embossing Folder; Big Shot; Ranger Diamond Stickles; Foam Dimensional Squares (generic); Kaiser Rose Pearls
HAPPY BEANS: Hobby Blade

Happiness Always (071809)...

The Week 3 SFYTT sketch did give me a lot of trouble, but I couldn't really figure out why. I finally settled on this design after much gnashing of teeth (with a little bit of growling thrown in.) The bottom of the card is heavyweight Vellum from Papertrey Ink, and I've decided it is a lifesaver when you are completely unsure of what to do with a card. The button is "stolen" from my husband's coat -- it was an extra, and I claimed it!
BEAN NOTES: Stampin' Up Happy Harmony and Verve Because of You Stamps; SU Basic Black Classic Dye Ink and Whisper White Craft Ink; SU Kiwi Kiss, Elegant Eggplant, and Whisper White Cardstock; Papertrey Ink Vellum; Cuttlebug D'Vine Swirls Embossing Folder; Big Shot; Foam Dimensional Squares (generic); Ranger Seafoam White Embossing Powder; Black Brads (generic)
HAPPY BEANS: Black Button (generic)

Sweet (07262009)...

Here is the fourth and final card for the month. I knew immediately that I wanted to do flowers in place of the stars, and I pulled out my very old Stampin' Up Jar of Fun and some acetate. For the flowers, I stamped the individual layers and carefully cut each out, mounting them with foam to add some dimension.
BEAN NOTES: Verve Grateful Elegance and Elegant Flower Stamps, and Stampin' Up Jar of Fun and Elegant Everyday Phrases Stamps; SU Close to Cocoa Classic Dye Ink and StazOn Stone Gray Ink; SU Candy Lane Designer Series Paper; SU Kiwi Kiss Textured Cardstock; SU Kiwi Kiss, Very Vanilla, and Pink Pirouette Cardstock; SU Sizzix Little Leaves Sizzlit; Big Shot; Foam Dimensional Squares (generic); SU Ticket Corner Punch; SU Twine; Kaiser Dark Brown and Light Pink Pearls
HAPPY BEANS: Acetate (generic)