the sweetest thing...

April 7, 2010

Taylored Expressions Sneak Peek Day 2

Welcome back to the Taylored Expressions sneak peeks for the April release! Today I'm here to introduce you to 2 new sets as well as stamps a la carte! First up is another Whimsical Wishes set designed by Nancy McKinney - Make the Grade. Teacher Appreciation week is May 2-8 and this set is perfect for teacher cards and gifts! Now that I have children in both elementary school and preschool, I really want to keep up with letting both of their teachers know just how much I appreciate all of their hard work and patience. This card is for my daughter's teacher and she'll be able to write a little note inside in her own handwriting, which always makes a card more personal.

I instantly thought of using East Coast Prep paper with this set - the bright and bold elementary colors are SO perfect! I stamped the globe in Memento Tuxedo Black and colored it in with Copic markers - then I stamped it again and popped the globe up on dimensionals - AND the globe fits the 1" circle punch perfectly - so handy!

Next up is one of the new Stamps a la Carte - Cuppie images as well as the compliment set to Make the Grade - Extra Credit.

I love how the desk fits most of the Extra Credit sentiments - super fun! I stamped the Teacher Cuppie in Memento Tuxedo Black and colored it with Copics and then added half the cursive alphabet up on top of the card.

Stop on by the rest of the Baker's Dozen to see what they have for you:

Thanks for stopping by!
Karen

recipe -

Stamps: Make the Grade, Extra Credit, Teacher Cuppie (a la carte)

Paper: Real Red, Tempting Turquoise, Choice Snow White cardstock; East Coast Prep paper (Stampin' Up!)

Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black

Accessories: Real Red grosgrain ribbon, Nestabilities, Playground buttons (Stampin' Up!), dimensionals

April 6, 2010

Taylored Expressions Sneak Peek Day 1

Good morning! I'm so super excited to show you today's little sneak peek of 2 new sets designed by the famously fabulous, Nancy McKinney, CreativiTEA and Miniature Motifs - I can't stand it! It's release week for Taylored Expressions and all the new sets, which will be available for purchase on Thursday, April 8th! Let me start off by saying that I had a very difficult time putting this set down - I think I have a half dozen little images started on my desk that I know I'll put to good use. So many fun things to use with these sets, so I'll start off with my card:

I thought I'd try a technique that is an oldie, but goody, for my little tea pot - Kissing. How can you go wrong with kissing? haha! I did the technique the opposite way though - I inked up one of the swirly Miniature Motifs background stamps with Certainly Celery ink and then stamped the solid tea pot from CreativiTEA on top of the wet ink. Then to define the image, I stamped the outline tea pot in Memento Rich Cocoa ink using a stamp positioner. The frame is from CreativiTEA also - and it fits perfectly in Nestabilities Labels 9! I love that I don't need to cut it out by hand. I colored the border in with a Copic marker and popped the tea pot up with dimensionals. It's difficult to see in the photo, but the pink scallop is also stamped with the damask image from Miniature Motifs.

One addition to the TE store this release is this totally adorable tea tin! I had to dress mine all up and put pretty little apple blossoms all over it, lol! I stamped the Time for Tea sentiment in Memento Rich Cocoa and then used my Window Punch to cut it out and tie it to the ribbon.

I used a large corner rounder to get the edges to match the top of the lid, which happens to fit one of the Large Square Nestabilities perfectly. I added some circle scallops with a little green damask tea pot and another little apple blossom. I love the soft look!

Need more eye candy with your tea this morning? Stop on by the rest of the Baker's Dozen to see what they have brewed up for you:

Thanks for stopping by!
Karen

recipe -

Stamps: CreativiTEA, Miniature Motifs

Paper: Pretty In Pink, Whisper White cardstock; Sweet Pea paper (all Stampin' Up!)

Ink: Memento Rich Cocoa, Certainly Celery (Stampin' Up!)

Accessories: Pretty In Pink satin ribbon (Stampin' Up!), apple blossoms, Nestabilities, scallop border punch (Stampin' Up!), dimensionals

April 4, 2010

Cupcake Inspiration Challenge 53

Looking for this week's Sweet Sunday Sketch? Hop on over to this post.

Hello! I'm back with a super fun Cupcake Inspiration Challenge from Hope Stamps Eternal. Look at these fun and adorable colors!! I started off by using Clean & Simple's FTL84 and then grabbed some of this super cute Estate Sale paper from Bella Blvd - I just love the patterns and colors in this paper. I would have put it all on this card if I could, haha! I stamped the little Blooming Button Bits flower with Night of Navy ink and added a little pink Sherbet button in the center. For a little pop, I added a little scallop border on the edge of the image panel too.

Are you all for saving some $$? All Imaginisce and Bella Blvd paper is on sale for 25% off through April 10th!!

Join in on the fun this week and link up your cupcake inspiration project at the Hope Stamps Eternal blog. The other Sweeties have more amazing inspiration for you as well - stop over and see:

Thanks for stopping by!
Karen

recipe -

stamps: blooming button bits (papertrey ink), short & sweet (stampin' up!)

ink: night of navy

paper: regal rose, night of navy, whisper white cardstock, estate sale (bella blvd)

accessories: sherbet buttons (stampin' up!), embossed scallop punch, dimensionals

Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge 63

Good morning - It's time for another Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge! Here is the deal: make a card with this layout and use the InLinkz button down at the end of my post to enter your card. On Thursday at 10 PM (Mountain Time), I'll randomly select one card to feature on my blog. So, as long as your card is linked by 10 PM Thursday, your card will be in the drawing. Be sure to link directly to the blog post or gallery image which features your card. You may post a picture of the sketch on your blog, but please save the image to your computer first. Use the keyword SSSC63 if you plan to post your card in an online gallery.

First off - I have a fun little announcement for you all. The FABULOUS Joanne Basile has joined the Sweet Sunday Stampers and I'm so excited she's here to stay!!

I'm cutting it close with this card - I'm sitting here typing this post with 9 minutes to edit my card and complete my post - whoa!!! So I'll make this short and sweet, LOL! I had stamped this little flowering plant image a long time ago and finally put it to use, yippee! I dug out my long lost Fall Flowers paper and matched it up with some Savannah buttons - they match that soft sky paper perfectly. And naturally, I needed to use some of this gorgeous satin Old Olive ribbon - love it!!

Well, it's 12:12 and I'm late!! The girls are gonna give me so much grief...

The Sweet Sunday Stampers also have amazing samples to show you today, so don't forget to stop on by to see:

Thanks for taking on the challenge this week!
Karen

recipe -

stamps: blooming button bits (papertrey ink), bonus stamp from verve

paper: certainly celery, really rust, whisper white cardstock, fall flowers dsp (all SU)

ink: really rust, old olive

accessories: old olive satin ribbon, nestabilities, apron lace punch, dimensionals

April 2, 2010

Sweet Sunday Sketch Winner

Hello and Happy Friday!! I'm here to announce this week's winner. Random.org has chosen - get this - #63 (out of 63 entries!)

Lee Pelosi!!

I am in LOVE with this darling little fairy and her cute little flower. The satin ribbon really gives some fun texture with the dotted background. Love it!! You can see more of Lee's wonderful card on her blog, Lulla's L-ink - stop on by and say hello!

On an not so stamping note - I was bound and determined to finish my photography assignment today, and in the process got these shots that I loved...