Under the Sea...TE Release Party Continues!

Happy, Happy Saturday! TE is having so much fun with its newest release that we decided to keep the party going with another day of fun projects. Today, I get to share a shaped card I created with the newly released Under the Sea set and new Waves/Bubbles Impression Plate!

I created the card by die-cutting a circle and scalloped border from . Then, I got busy filling it up with an under the sea scene.

I trimmed some perfect patterned paper for sand and added a paper-pieced happy crab, fish, and whale.

With the Waves/Bubbles Impression Plate, I created my own "ocean," die-cutting some waves and stamping some fish and coral to complete my scene. 

BEAN NOTES

Stamps: Under the Sea (Illustrated by Nancy McKinney for Taylored Expressions)

Patterned Paper: Paradise Beach (Echo Park)

Cardstock: Really Rust, Pool Party (Stampin' Up!); Solar White (Neenah)

Ink: Memento Rich Cocoa (Tsukineko)

Accents: Distress and Diamond Stickles (Ranger)

Dies & Templates: Wave Border, Waves/Bubbles Impression Plate (Taylored Expressions); Classic Circle, Big Scalloped Circles (Spellbinders)

The Under the Sea set, as well as all the other products featured today by the Baker's Dozen are available in the TE Store. You'll find tasty little morsels of inspiration presented by the Baker's Dozen featuring everything that is Fresh Out of the Oven from Taylored Expressions!

Charmaine Ikach

Courtney Kelley - Guest Designer

Jami Sibley - DT Coordinator

Jen Shults

Jodi Collins

Karen Giron

Melody Rupple

Regina Mangum

Sankari Wegman

Shannon White

Shelly Mercado

Stephanie Kraft

Taylor VanBruggen

Wanda Guess

Life is Like a Rollercoaster...TE Release Party!

The Release Party at Taylored Expressions continues with more fun projects that the Baker's Dozen hopes will inspire you! Today I am sharing a project I created with the new Adventureland set, which is a darling set from the creative mind of my teammate, Sankari Wegman!

I decided to create a fun, interactive card with the adorable little people riding on a roller coaster. 

I set my coaster high up in the clouds with the Cloud Border die and some fabulous patterned paper. 

Coloring with Copics in bright colors set the little cars out against the subtly colored background.

Just a quick little pull on a tab and two of these fun-loving kids head down at breakneck speed!

And they're off!

BEAN NOTES

Stamps: Adventure Land (Illustrated by Doug Applegate for Taylored Expressions)

Patterned Paper: Sweet Day (Echo Park)

Cardstock: Textured (Bazzill); Solar White (Neenah)

Coloring Medium: Sketch Markers (Copic)

Dies: Cloud Border (Taylored Expresions)

Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black (Tsukineko)

The Adventureland set, as well as all the other products featured today by the Baker's Dozen are available in the TE Store. You'll find tasty little morsels of inspiration presented by the Baker's Dozen featuring everything that is Fresh Out of the Oven from Taylored Expressions!

Charmaine Ikach

Jen Shults

Jodi Collins

Karen Giron

Melody Rupple

Regina Mangum

Sankari Wegman

Shannon White

Shelly Mercado

Stephanie Kraft

Taylor VanBruggen

Wanda Guess

Life is But a Dream...TE July Release Day!

It's Release Day for Taylored Expressions today! I have two projects to share with you today, a layout and a card featuring two new stamp sets, Bon Voyage and Life Saver. First up is a layout, which I created for a very special day that we spent out on the lake in a pedal boat -- it was a bit leaky, it was windy, the ducks followed us menacingly, but we had so much fun!

I stamped the darling sailboat image onto some pretty patterned paper and fussy cut them out. Using the Wave Border Die, I cut out some waves on which to sail them.

I tried to create a real sense of dimension by alternating different patterns of paper.

With just a little glitter, I was able to add some accent to a single-color paper (saving me the time of paper piecing.) 

Next up is a nautical thank you card that I created with the new Life Saver set. This set comes with coordinating dies, but I wanted to make a recessed frame with the cute life preserver and so I die-cut out the middle of the stamped image.

I decided to paper piece the preserver for a very clean look.

For a fun little detail, I punched holes to string some canvas twine through and I had a fun, clean, and simple card to give to someone special who has done me a few good turns!

BEAN NOTES

Life is But a Dream Layout

Stamps: Bon Voyage (Illustrated by Emily Burger for Taylored Expressions)

Patterned Paper: Sweet Day (Echo Park)

Cardstock: Textured (American Crafts), Peach Parfait, Pumpkin Pie, Soft Sky (Stampin' Up!)

Accents: Stickles (Ranger)

Ink: Memento Rich Cocoa (Tsukineko)

Accents: Mister Huey (Studio Calico)

Dies: Tall & Skinny Alpha (Taylored Expressions); Lollipop 4 x 4 Alpha (Lifestyle Crafts); Wave Border Die (Taylored Expressions)

You're a Lifesaver Card

Stamps: Life Saver (Illustrated by Nancy McKinney for Taylored Expressions)

Cardstock: Solar White (Neenah); Not Quite Navy, Real Red (Stampin' Up!)

Ink: Not Quite Navy (Stampin' Up!); Fresh Snow (PTI)

Accents: Canvas Twine (Canvas Corp)

Dies: Classic Circle Nestabilities (Spellbinders)

All of the new Taylored Expressions products are now available in the Fresh Out of the Oven Department.

I hope you enjoyed my projects today! It was a fun day out on the "high seas" and I hope you'll visit the rest of the Baker's Dozen for more Release Day goodness!

Charmaine Ikach

Courtney Kelley - Guest Designer

Jami Sibley - DT Coordinator

Jen Shults

Jodi Collins

Karen Giron

Melody Rupple

Nancy McKinney - Illustrator

Regina Mangum

Sankari Wegman

Shannon White

Shelly Mercado

Stephanie Kraft

Taylor VanBruggen

Wanda Guess

Fun in the Sun...TE July Sneak Peek!

Yep, that's right...it's still June, but Taylored Expressions is so excited to show off their July Release that we're doing things a little differently by sneaking ALL of the new sets today! PLUS, keep reading for info on how you can win a fab prize...

I am originally from southern (and sunny!) California and now that I live in San Francisco, I get a lot more fog than sun. I was excited to get to play with the new Beach a la Carte stamp (illustrated by Ms. Taylor herself!) featured on today's project -- a card to remind me of sandy beaches and sunshiny days.

I used the Wave Border die on some cool patterned paper and created a little beachy scene. I colored in the word "BEACH" with Copics and added a bit of glitter and dotted "sand" accents. 

BEAN NOTES

Stamps: Beach a la Carte (Illustrated by Taylor VanBruggen for Taylored Expressions)

Patterned Paper: Paradise Beach (Echo Park)

Cardstock: Solar White (Neenah)

Coloring Medium: Sketch Markers, Multi-liner (Copic)

Accents: Stickles (Ranger)

Dies: Wave Border Die (Taylored Expressions)

TE July Release

• The Baker's Dozen has 4 days of inspiration, today through Saturday, featuring all the July Release products.
• All of the new products will be available for purchase on Thursday, June 28th 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 a look at the stamp sets and a SPECIAL Facebook GIVEAWAY, tonight (Wednesday) at 6 pm PST.
• Blog Giveaway - TODAY ONLY - Two lucky commenters will be randomly chosen to win a $10 TE Gift Certificate. Hop around to see the sneak peeks and leave comments on each blog for more chances to win. Winners will be announced on Taylor's blog on Thursday morning.

So, HOP around and leave some love at all the Baker's Dozen blogs and take a peek at all the fun new goodies releasing tomorrow! Hope your day is full of sunshine!

Charmaine Ikach
Jami Sibley - DT Coordinator
Jen Shults
Jodi Collins
Karen Giron
Melody Rupple
Nancy McKinney - Illustrator
Regina Mangum
Sankari Wegman
Shannon White
Shelly Mercado
Stephanie Kraft
Taylor VanBruggen
Wanda Guess

If You're Going to Make a Wish...

Oh, I do love big, happy birthdays, don't you? I wanted to create a very happy card with some bright colors and a big, bold sentiment, so I grabbed some of my favorite dies from Taylored Expressions. I wanted the ballons to have a softer look, as if they were a bit translucent, so I first stamped them on some vellum and then die-cut them out. Paired with some bright patterned paper, I had just the card for someone celebrating a birthday!

BEAN NOTES

Stamps: Make a Wish (Taylored Expressions)

Patterned Paper: Hello Cupcake (Imaginisce)

Ink: Hybrid (PTI)

Cardstock: Pumpkin Pie, Rose Red (Stampin' Up!); Solar White (Neenah)

Dies: Wonky Rectangles (Spellbinders); Tall & Skinny Alphabet; Make a Wish Balloons (Taylored Expressions); Merry Alphabet (Lifestyle Crafts)

Joyrides & Coasters...

All month long, my crafty and talented design teammates at Imaginisce have been showing off some incredibly inspiring projects using Imaginisce tools and today I get to share mine!

If you read TSB regularly, you will know that I have a very special love for a good hobby blade. I love to cut things out, especially very finely detailed images and I also love a straight edge! I knew I wanted to showcase my all-time favorite hobby blade: The Clicut Retractable Pen Knife. (To be fair, I'm also showing off the ever-cool i-Mat 8 x 8 Self-healing Mat!)

My first project is a layout. I wanted to do something special with the photo of my little rugrat having the time of his life on a train ride and decided to create a woven photo. (see tutorial below) I was inspired by the cool sketch at Mid-Week Mojo.

The Clicut was just what I needed to make straight, clean cut strips. Here's a close-up:

Here's a quick tutorial:

A. Print 2 copies of the same image, one in full color, the other in black & white. B. My photo is a 5 x 7.  The smaller the photo, the tricker the weave as photo paper is thick. This size worked well. C. Trim one photo horizontally. D. Trim second photo vertically. E. Weave strips as you would a basket. Don't worry if you are left with a crazy looking shape as you try to line up the image. F. Crop and trim the woven image and mat with cardstock.

My next project is a set of colorful Photo Coasters. These are super fun and easy to make and would make a great gift!

I used various papers from Imaginisce and printed out small photos of the rugrat.

1. Trim patterned paper slightly larger than coaster. 2. Adhere coaster with strong adhesive.  3. Trim with Clicut around coaster. 4. Repeat with each coaster and also after applying laminate sheet.

I added a few embellishments, being careful to keep things relatively flat, as these would be usable coasters. I also applied a self-adhesive laminate sheet (available at your local office supply store) and trimmed with the Clicut.

Here are close-ups of each coaster:

BEAN NOTES

Joyride Layout

Patterned Paper: Bon Voyage Collection; Autumn Splendor Collection (Imaginisce)

Stamps: Just the Ticket sentiment (PTI)

Cardstock: Brown textured (American Crafts); Very Vanilla, Basic Grey, Soft Suede, Crumb Cake (Stampin' Up!)

Fibers: Canvas Rope (Canvas Corp.)

Accents: Pinstripe Mister Huet (Studio Calico)

Dies: Train Tracks (Taylored Expressions); Pennants and Notebook (PTI); Studio Classic Dies (Lifestyle Crafts)

Photo Coasters

Patterned Paper: Makin' Waves Collection, Hippity Hop Collection, Hello Cupcake Collection (Imaginisce)

Stickers: Hello Cupcake, Makin' Waves, Hippity Hop (Imaginisce)

Cardstock: Tempting Turquoise, Pear Pizazz, Chocolate Chip; Pumpkin Pie (Stampin' Up!)

Accents: Mister Huey (Studio Calico)

Other: Self-Adhesive Laminating Sheets (Avery); Coasters (PTI)

I hope you enjoyed my projects today!

If you missed any projects from the month, head over to the Imaginisce Blog and prepare to be inspired to use some cool tools! They are also doing an awesome giveaway, so be sure to leave some love!

Scrapbook & Cards Today Summer Issue...

It's a quiet Friday evening, which is a welcome relief after the noise of the day! I just wanted to share some fun news -- I have a layout published in the current issue of Scrapbook & Cards Today! Did you know that you can download this fabulous magazine for free?! If you do, say hello to my little rugrat, who is on page 52. I hope you have a wonderful weekend!

Corner It...

Welcome to my last day with the new release from Lifestyle Crafts! Today I have a special photo frame to share with you using more of the Corner It Kit dies and a new 4 x 4 Alpha die. Plus, I get to share an excluding 20% off coupon with you for the Lifestyle Crafts store. Read on for details...

My brother-in-law and his new bride recently got married in Santa Fe, New Mexico in the country's oldest mission. It was so much fun to get to travel back to the Southwest, this time with the rugrat in tow since he was a ring bearer in the ceremony! I decided to make a pretty frame in the bride's wedding colors with this sweet photo of the little ones who were in the party.

I loved how pretty the corners turned out. 

I simply added a few pearls to glam them up a bit. 

The new Lollipop 4 x 4 Alpha die is one of new favorite alphabets. I spray misted some cardstock before running it through with the alpha die and created these cool letters to add to my photo.

I also used the Card & Photo Easel die to create my frame backing and stand. For stability, I used some thin craft board, which cut beautifully with the die.

BEAN NOTES

Cardstock: Cameo Coral, Tempting Turquoise, Very Vanilla (Stampin' Up!)

Accents: Pearls (Kaisercraft); Cameo Mister Huey (Studio Calico)

Specialty Paper: Craft-a-Board (Ellen Hutson)

Dies: Corner It Kit dies, Lollipop 4 x 4 Alpha die, Card & Photo Easel die (Lifestyle Crafts)

I hope my brother-in-law and his new wife like this little memento of their special day and I hope I've inspired you to create something to remind you or a loved one of a special moment!

If you go shopping in the Lifestyle Crafts online store, be sure to get 20% off by entering the PROMO CODE: BEAN during checkout!