Simple Dreams...

This week seemed a bit long to me for some reason, so I needed a little pick me up. Making a card was just the thing, and I was really in the mood to make something soft and pretty. I found some perfect paper and got busy.

I found the lovely Make it Amazing set from Taylored Expressions in my stash and it was exactly what I was looking for. I cut the little square from the patterned paper, stamping the single butterfly. I also stamped the gorgeous silhouettes, which paired perfectly with the paper. I added a coordinating button, tied with twine.

BEAN NOTES

Stamps: Make it Amazing (Taylored Expressions)

Patterned Paper: Songbird (Prima)

Cardstock: Soft Suede, Very Vanilla (Stampin' Up!); Pink Textured (Bazzill)

Accents: Songbird Button (Prima)

Fibers: Hemp Twine (Stampin' Up!)

Ink: Soft Suede (Stampin' Up!)

Bon Voyage and Cool Happenings at SCS...

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So, I wrote the other day that I didn't have a great week last week. Well, it culminated in an apartment flood that took out half our living room, part of our son's bedroom, both hall closets, and trickled down from six floors to the lobby. So, I have three days of workers coming in and ripping out flooring while the rugrat hides all his toys lest they get stolen! So, I've got water on my mind (and thinking, by the way, of how fortunate we are when so many are suffering across the world in Japan) and got out my supplies before the onslaught of repairmen descend.

BEAN NOTES

• Cardstock: Solar White (Neenah); Night of Navy (SU!)
• Patterned Paper: Rockstar and Sailboats from Little Boy Collection, Echo Park Paper
• Dye Ink: Night of Navy (SU!)
• Stamps: tugboat from Kid at Heart set (Taylored Expressions); Simple Alphabet set (PTI)
• Hybrid Ink: Fresh Snow (PTI)
• Tools: 1-1/4" Circle Punch (EK Success)
• Dies: Large Scallop Border Die (TE); Scallop Square Clear Bigz Die (Sizzix)

At least there is something cool going on with Taylored Expressions!  The exciting news is that TE is now a Member Company at Splitcoaststampers, the largest stamping community on the web!  Please come by the TE Forum beginning today at 3 PM Eastern and say hi!  Taylor is hosting a challenge to celebrate the Grand Opening of her Member Company Forum! All you have to do is upload a new card or other creation featuring Taylored Expression images to the SCS gallery using Keyword tayloredexpressions (NO spaces) to be entered into a random drawing for an awesome prize!  Get all the info and find out what the prizes are by clicking here.  Even though TE is all about RUBBER, to make sure everyone has a chance to play, Taylor is giving away several FREE digital images this week! You don't want to miss this!

Go Confidently...

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I don't usually enter more than one entry in a challenge, but the Scrappy Saturday Challenge on Live, Laugh, Love, speaks to some of my favorite themes. I made a Love card earlier, and so I thought I'd make a Live card. Taking the sketch from this week's Mojo Monday Challenge, I decided to further challenge myself to create a monochromatic WHITE card, which is always an interesting process.

I took my absolute favorite quote of all time from Taylored Expressions's New Beginnings set as a jumping off point. One of my kind commenters asked me how I made this shaped card from a single sheet of cardstock with a die, and I've posted photos below and I hope they show how easy it is. Today's card uses the same technique and employs a number of dies to create texture and visual interest. Plus, who can resist a little bit of bling to get us heading off in the direction of all our dreams?

with card folded, line up the die along the fold, just over the edge

be sure to align so a portion of the fold remains intact

BEAN NOTES

• Stamps: New Beginnings (Taylored Expressions)
• Cardstock: Classic Solar White (Neenah)
• Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black (Tsukineko)
• Specialty Cardstock: Vellum (PTI)
• Dies: Beaded Circle and Labels 17 Nestabilities (Spellbinders); Basic Bow (TE)
• Accents: Tiny Twinkles (TE)

If You Can Dream It...

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Today is a big day, as it is the very last Monday for 2 Sketches 4 You. The inimitable duo behind this wonderful sketch challenge, Kazan Clark and Laura Davis, are moving on to do some big creative things, and have decided to end 2S4Y. It's both sad and exciting at the same time, and I have had a fantastic time designing for them -- and made some friends to boot! But, in keeping with their class-act style, the 2 Sketches site will remain up for anyone in need of some creative mojo. For their final farewell, we are all celebrating with a huge blow-out with designers past and present and I hope you join  in the fun!

I chose Kazan's sketch (check out Laura's sketch here!) and I made a card to wish both of them good luck in their new endeavors. I love this sentiment from Taylored Expressions's New Beginnings set: "If You Can Dream It, You Can Do It." I thought it a fitting tribute to these two amazing ladies who are dreaming big dreams and I know they'll all come true!

SPILLING THE BEANS

1. Make card from cardstock.
2. Trim patterned paper; mat with cardstock and adhere.
3. Die-cut cardstock; trim and adhere. 
4. Stamp rose twice. Fussy cut center to form bud. Fussy cut inner center and adhere with foam tape; adhere.
5. Pleat ribbon and adhere with sticky tape. Tie bow and adhere.
6. Stamp sentiment on patterned paper. Trim, mat and attach staples. Adhere with foam tape.
7. Apply liquid pearls.

BEAN NOTES

• Stamps: New Beginnings (Taylored Expressions)
• Cardstock: Choice Buttercream (TE); Chocolate Chip (Stampin' Up!); Hazel and Aqua Canvas Texture (Bazzil)
• Ink: Memento Rich Cocoa (Tsukineko)
• Patterned Paper: Brook (Crate Paper)
• Accents: Tiny Attacher Staples (Tim Holtz); Espresso Liquid Pearls (Adirondack)
• Fibers: Chocolate Grosgrain (generic)

South Asian Luck...

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Okay, I'm almost embarrassed at how many cards I've made this weekend. Here is the last of them (I swear!), Challenge #3 of Nichole Heady's world tour challenges. It was my final destination, and I headed out to India! To create this card, I used my new Lattice die and stamped all over the pretty cut-out with some gold pigment ink. I took the negatives and turned them into corner flourishes. A bit more bling by way of pearls ad brads and I'm wishing someone some South Asian Luck!
BEAN NOTES: Basic Grey Morocco and Papertrey Ink Sign Language Stamps; Stampin' Up Basic Black and Rich Razzleberry Cardstock; Kaiser Pearls; Spellbinders Lattice Shapeabilities; Big Shot; +Gold Brads (generic); Foam Dimensional Squares (generic)
HAPPY BEANS: Encore! Gold Pigment Ink