October 31, 2011

MFTeasers | Day 7!

 
Now that we've teased and tempted you all week long, it's almost time for you to shop for your favorite Brand Spankin' New products from MFT. But first... it's time for our Die-namics Feature and Pre-Release Pep Rally! Our Design Team has been busy creating jaw-dropping and inspiring projects for you, and we've saved the best for last. We've taken an in-depth look at this month's Die-namics, while re-visiting the amazing sets being released tonight at 10 PM EST RIGHT HERE in the MFT Boutique. And while we are at it, how about we make your life even easier with a "cheat sheet" of all that's new?  Head over to the MFT Blog to print out a shopping list. Here are the details about the upcoming release on November 1 at 10 PM EST:
  • You can attend the New Release Party on November 1st from 8-10 PM EST HERE in the MFT forum, where you can enjoy fun, games, and PRIZES!
  • The MFT release, including all new stamp sets and Die-namics, is on November 1 at 10 PM EST.  You'll find all the newest products HERE at release time.
  • You have just a few more hours to submit your entry for this month's guest designer contest.  Check out the forum for details on how YOU can win $200 in stamp sets and Die-namics, and play along with the MFT Design Team for a month.
  • If you'd like to see all the designers' posts for today, please click on over to the MFT Blog NOW.  Be sure to leave comments as you go for the chance to win one of 2, $10 gift certificates given away daily.  The winners will be posted on November 1 just before the release party, on the MFT blog.
Oh me, oh my!  This sweet little Pure Innocence Caroler is so adorable!  I love this line and she is just the sweetest and I LOVE here fuzzy boots.  I started by stamping her in Memento Tuxedo Black ink and then colored here with Copic markers.  I'm using quite a few Die-ninamics too - I used the Clearly Sentimental Label as a background accent and then layered the Oval Dainty Doily with the PI Caroler.  I've also used the Loopy Bloom today, but instead of leaving the loops, I cut the die cut in half, lengthwise and it gave me a fringe flower look.  Jody Morrow has a fabulous tutorial on the Loopy Bloom Die-namics which you can see HERE.  The little holly bough was made with the Christmas Ornaments Die-namics and then I folded the leaves up along the score line for a little dimension.  Easy peasy! 


Here are the Die-namics I used on today's card:



Be sure to stop on by Kim's Blog for a listing of all the fabulous designers sharing all of the new Die-namics and stamps for you today.

Thanks for stopping by!
Karen

recipe - 
stamps: pure innocence caroler (my favorite things)
paper: marschino (bazzill), blossom (bazzill), choice snow white cardstock (taylored expressions), holly jolly christmas (echo park)
ink: memento tuxedo black
accessories: copic markers, clearly sentimental label/loopy bloom/oval dainty doily/christmas ornaments die-namics (my favorite things), jumbo white brad (su!), red rhinestones (kaisercraft), pink felt, foam tape

Taylored Expressions Sneak Peek | Day 1

November 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, November 3rd 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.
  • 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 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 Wednesday 11/2 at 7pm PST for the drawings.
Good morning!  It is the start of sneak peeks for Taylored Expressions and the Baker's Dozen have AMAZING projects to show you this week.

First up is Labels of Love 2 - more fun label frames and sentiments to coordinate with both the Spellbinders Ribbon Tags Trio 3 set of dies AND Labels of Love (the original label stamp set), which makes whipping up decorative sentiments a snap, especially since the sentiments in this set will cover most holidays and occasions throughout the year!



Labels of Love 2 is also the next stamp set to be part of The Giving Tree charity series. 
The TE Giving Tree is a program designed to raise funds for a different charity each quarter.  For the months of November, December and January, Taylored Expressions will donate $5 from the sale of each Labels of Love II stamp set to the Union Rescue Mission.



In part the URM's Mission Statement reads:
We embrace people experiencing homelessness with the compassion of Christ – giving hope and healing for a changed life – helping them find their way home.

By Embrace we mean to welcome, to encircle with our arms.
By Compassion we mean to love and touch others, as Christ loved us.
By Hope we mean providing encouragement and resources for a new start.
By Healing we mean being restored in body, mind, and spirit through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
By Changed Life we mean going in a new direction and to realize our God-given purpose.
By Home we mean having the opportunity to earn a living, secure housing, and be a healthy family again.
The Union Rescue Mission (URM) was founded in 1891 and is one of the largest missions of its kind in America--bringing help and hope to men, women, and children experiencing homelessness in Downtown Los Angeles. Taylor's husband, Jon, served at the Union Rescue Mission when they lived in California and saw first hand the impact it had on the lives of the homeless.  Visit the Union Rescue Mission website at http://urm.org/

You may be happy to learn that ALL of the TE Giving Tree sets now come completely trimmed and ready to stamp - woot!
I paired up Labels of Love 2 with some Taylored Dies - Build a Treat Tops & Bottoms and Frame it Up 2 and stamped the label frame in Colorbox Dark Brown ink on some Stella & Rose Hazel paper from My Mind's Eye.  A little zig-zag stitching and chocolate grosgrain ribbon along the borders and then I tied some satin/organdy ribbon around the card twice and through the label die.

Here are the Taylored Dies I used on today's card:


The rest of the Baker's Dozen are giving you lots more to see with ALL the sentiments in this set, so be sure to stop by and see:
Thanks so much for stopping by!
Karen

recipe -
stamps: labels of love 2 (taylored expressions)
paper: blossom (bazzill), choice buttercream (taylored expressions) cardstock, stella & rose hazel (my mind's eye)
ink: colorbox dark brown & deep lagoon
accessories: spellbinders ribbon tags trio 2 dies, frame it up 2 & build a treat tops and bottoms dies (taylored expressions), chocolate pearls (kaisercraft), chocolate grosgrain ribbon, ivory satin/organdy ribbon, foam tape

October 30, 2011

MFTeasers | Day 6!


Here are the details about the upcoming release on November 1 at 10 PM EST:
  • You can attend the New Release Party on November 1st from 8-10 PM EST HERE in the MFT forum, where you can enjoy fun, games, and PRIZES!
  • The MFT release, including all new stamp sets and Die-namics, is on November 1 at 10 PM EST.  You'll find all the newest products HERE at release time.
  • The guest designer contest is ON!  Check out the forum for details on how YOU can win $200 in stamp sets and Die-namics, and play along with the MFT Design Team for a month.
  • If you'd like to see all the teasers for today, please click on over to the MFT Blog NOW.  Be sure to leave comments as you go for the chance to win one of 2, $10 gift certificates given away daily.  The winners will be posted on November 1 just before the release party, on the MFT blog.
Oh yes, I am in Pure Innocence heaven!!  Look at this adorable Snowboard Boy PI!!  He's my very first little boy PI and man, I've been missing out - he is SO much fun!  I stamped the image in Memento Tuxedo Black ink and colored him with little boy color Copics and then cut him out to pop him up over some Lime Twist Out of the Blue 6x6 papers from My Mind's Eye.  I also used MFT's new Wonky Scallop Border & Crown Border Die-namics and layered them together as one decorative border.  Love how the white circles peek through the Crown Border Die-namics!  I couldn't figure out where to put the sentiment, so I added it on the Say What? Die-namics die cut, which I think looks pretty stinkin' cute as he's flying through the air.  The layout is Jen Shults'  DS24.


Here are the Die-namics I used on today's card:




Be sure to stop on by Kim's Blog for a listing of all the fabulous designers sharing all of the new Pure Innocence stamps for you today.


Thanks for stopping by!
Karen




recipe - 
stamps: snowboard boy (my favorite things)
paper: lakeshore (bazzill), parakeet (bazzill), choice buttercream (taylored expressions), lime twist out of the blue (my mind's eye)
ink: memento tuxedo black
accessories: copic markers, oval/scallop spellbinders dies, crown border/say what?/wonky scallop border die-namics (my favorite things), bits of bling (creative impressions), foam tape

Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge 141

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 very end of this post to enter your card. The links will close on Friday at 10 PM (Mountain Time), and I'll randomly select one card to feature on my blog on Saturday. So, as long as your card is linked by 10 PM Friday, 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 SSSC141 if you plan to post your card in an online gallery.

I'm not really sure I had a plan when I made this sketch, but I really like where the journey took me with this one!  I knew I wanted to use Woodland Winter from Taylored Expressions for my main focal images and I went from there.  I grabbed some Holly Jolly Christmas 6x6 paper and then cut out a tree using the Trim the Tree dies - I cut the outline tree in Choice Snow White cardstock and then the tree layers in the patterned paper.  I stamped the images in Memento Tuxedo Black and colored them with Copic markers and then layered them onto the snow I cut out free-hand. 


Here are the Taylored Dies I used today:


The Sweet Sunday Stampers have amazing sketch samples to show you today, so stop on by to see:
Thanks so much for stopping by!
Karen

recipe -
stamps: woodland winter (taylored expressions)
paper: maraschino (bazzill), choice snow white (taylored expressions), holly jolly christmas 6x6 (echo park)
ink: memento tuxedo black
accessories: copic markers, trim the tree die (taylored expressions), green polka-dot satin ribbon, small scallop border die (taylored expressions), foam tape

October 29, 2011

MFTeasers | Day 5!


Here are the details about the upcoming release on November 1 at 10 PM EST:
  • You can attend the New Release Party on November 1st from 8-10 PM EST HERE in the MFT forum, where you can enjoy fun, games, and PRIZES!
  • The MFT release, including all new stamp sets and Die-namics, is on November 1 at 10 PM EST.  You'll find all the newest products HERE at release time.
  • The guest designer contest is ON!  Check out the forum for details on how YOU can win $200 in stamp sets and Die-namics, and play along with the MFT Design Team for a month.
  • If you'd like to see all the teasers for today, please click on over to the MFT Blog NOW.  Be sure to leave comments as you go for the chance to win one of 2, $10 gift certificates given away daily.  The winners will be posted on November 1 just before the release party, on the MFT blog.
Right on, right on!!  LOVE this new a la Mode Disco Queen!  Isn't she super FAB?  I stamped her in Memento Tuxedo Black and then colored her with lots and lots of Copic markers.  I just adore her hair, don't you?  The layout is this week's Wednesday Stamp Club MFTWSC43 and the papers are My Mind's Eye Lost & Found 2 Sunshine - nothing says disco like houndstooth, right?  LOL!  I used the Crown Border Die-namics upside down for a fun twist and then added an accent with the soon-to-be-released Peace Signs Die-namics.  WAY cute!  I tucked the sentiment on the side with the File Tab Die-namics, just so the top of it is peeking out.


 Here are the Die-namics I used on today's card:




Be sure to stop on by Kim's Blog for a listing of all the fabulous designers sharing both the Knit Happens & Disco Queen a la Modes for you today.

Thanks for stopping by!
Karen

recipe -
stamps: disco queen a la mode (my favorite things)
paper: hershey (bazzill), aqua mist (pti), choice snow white (taylored expressions), lost & found 2 sunshine (my mind's eye)
ink: memento tuxedo black
accessories: copic markers, crown border/file tab/peace signs die-namics (my favorite things), circle/scallop spellbinders dies, chocolate grosgrain ribbon, island lagoon rhinestones (kaisercraft), foam tape

Sweet Sunday Sketch Winner

Hello and happy Saturday!  It's time to announce this week's sketch winner, and I have to say you all rocked the sketch!  It was definitely a tricky one, so thank you so much for giving it a shot.  This week, random.org has chosen....

#10 - Jackie Lupien!!
Jackie created this gorgeous card and I love the flowers as the focus and beautiful sentiment.  Congrats Jackie!  You can see more of Jackie's wonderful creations at her blog, Cre8tive Cookie.

See you back soon for the next challenge!
Karen

October 28, 2011

MFTeasers | Day 4!


Here are the details about the upcoming release on November 1 at 10 PM EST:
  • You can attend the New Release Party on November 1st from 8-10 PM EST HERE in the MFT forum, where you can enjoy fun, games, and PRIZES!
  • The MFT release, including all new stamp sets and Die-namics, is on November 1 at 10 PM EST.  You'll find all the newest products HERE at release time.
  • The guest designer contest is ON!  Check out the forum for details on how YOU can win $200 in stamp sets and Die-namics, and play along with the MFT Design Team for a month.
  • If you'd like to see all the teasers for today, please click on over to the MFT Blog NOW.  Be sure to leave comments as you go for the chance to win one of 2, $10 gift certificates given away daily.  The winners will be posted on November 1 just before the release party, on the MFT blog.
I am SO excited to start stamping some Christmas cards and Christmas Ornaments is such a fun set you can customize to fit any style you like - love it!  The coordinating Christmas Ornaments Die-namics make it super easy to get a great looking card in a snap.  I mostly used patterned paper - these papers are the 6x6 pad of Season's Greeting from Echo Park and I used the Christmas Ornaments Die-namics to cut out all of the ornament shapes.  On the green paper, I stamped the zig-zag and stripes in Old Olive ink.  I used the little tag tie (to die for!!) to hang the sentiments with linen thread around the toppers.  Also new this month is the Crown Border Die-namics!!  OH MY!  I love the unique look this border gives a card and there is lots of room to bling it up too!   More yummy stitching finishes the card and I used SC355 for the layout.


Here's a peek at the new Die-namics I used today:



Be sure to stop on by Kim's Blog for a listing of all the designers sharing Christmas Ornaments and coordinating Christmas Ornaments Die-namics goodies for you today.

Thanks for stopping by!
Karen

recipe - 
stamps: christmas ornaments (my favorite things)
paper: kraft, choice buttercream (taylored expressions), season's greetings (echo park)
ink: memento tuxedo black, old olive (su!)
accessories: christmas ornaments & crown border die-namics (my favorite things), clear rhinestones (kaisercraft), linen thread, ticket corner punch (ek success), foam tape

Halloween Revisited


Good morning!  Do you remember THIS little project?  Needless to say, the caramel popcorn didn't make it to Halloween and the kids devoured it!  I made them open their treats SO carefully so I could reuse the images.  Please tell me I'm not the only one that would do such a thing??!!?  They were just too sweet to throw away, I just couldn't bear it.

I grabbed this topper and made a card from it - just a simple one.  The little ghost is from Peek & Boo from By LORi Designs.  I used Spookville 6x6 papers and then zig-zag stitched around the border, but something was jacked up in my sewing machine and gave me some crazy stitches.  Now, I LOVE the look of this, but I have a feeling I won't be able to recreate it.  Sigh...

Thanks for stopping by!
Karen


recipe -
stamps: peek & boo (by lori designs digi)
paper: pumpkin pie (su!), raven (bazzill), choice snow white (taylored expressions), spookville (we r memory keepers)
ink: n/a
accessories: copic markers, labels 8 & circle/large scallop spellbinders, orange border bling (heidi swapp), buttons (su!), spooky fence border die (taylored expressions), foam tape

October 27, 2011

New Goodies @ Etsy!

I have FINALLY organized myself and added a bunch of new goodies over at my Etsy shop.  I really need to give these treasures a good home, and I'm offering FREE shipping to all of my readers in the States - any order, any price.  I'm just feeling generous that way *wink*.  Just add coupon code FREE2SHIP at checkout.

If you are outside of the States, send me an Etsy Conversation after you checkout and I'll give you a discount on the shipping and revise the PayPal invoice. 


Thanks so much! I know you'll love them. Karen

There She Goes Preview | Day THREE





Kids love to countdown the days until Christmas is finally here and with this new set illustrated by Torico, you are going to have just as much fun creating a countdown advent calendar! With 25 different adorable holiday images and two sets of numbers the possibilities are endless! To make this set even more useable, there are two decorative circles and two decorative squares that were designed to be used with a 1 3/8” punch!!

No Peeking! is a 6x8 set that includes a total of 53 stamps and will sell for $24.

No Peeking is such a fun set to work with - not only can you make a darling advent calendar for your family to count down to Christmas, but you can take the individual images and make something sweet with them too!  I started by using the latest Got Sketch layout and grabbed that super cute 6x6 Holly Jolly Christmas paper from Echo Park.  I stamped each image in Memento Tuxedo Black ink and colored them with Copic markers and cut them out to layer over a small circle.  I used the Nested Pennant Spellbinders dies to cut out the pennants and then did some crazy sewing. 


Would you like to win the new No Peeking! stamp set?  Here is what you need to do - visit the Trendsetter’s blogs that are participating in each of the blog hop challenges below and comment on their creations as you go. One of the Trendsetter’s blogs (from each hop day) will be randomly chosen as the ‘it’ blog and a winner will be picked using a random number generator from the comments left on that Trendsetter’s Blog Hop Challenge post.

You will not know which blog has been chosen so the more you comment on the better your chances are of winning new stamps! The Blog Hop Challenges will be open until 5 PM Eastern Time Saturday October 29th with the winner being announced during the release party chat.


 Here are the Copics I used for my card:


Thanks so much for stopping by!
Karen

recipe - 
stamps: no peeking (there she goes)
paper: maraschino (bazzill), tempting turquoise (su!), choice snow white (taylored expressions) cardstock, holly jolly christmas (echo park)
accessories: copic markers, nested pennant & circle spellbinders dies, small scallop border die (taylored expressions), aqua rhinestones (kaisercraft)

October 26, 2011

MFTeasers | Day 2!


Here are the details about the upcoming release on November 1 at 10 PM EST:
  • You can attend the New Release Party on November 1st from 8-10 PM EST HERE in the MFT forum, where you can enjoy fun, games, and PRIZES!
  • The MFT release, including all new stamp sets and Die-namics, is on November 1 at 10 PM EST.  You'll find all the newest products HERE at release time.
  • The guest designer contest is ON!  Check out the forum for details on how YOU can win $200 in stamp sets and Die-namics, and play along with the MFT Design Team for a month.
  • If you'd like to see all the teasers for today, please click on over to the MFT Blog NOW.  Be sure to leave comments as you go for the chance to win one of 2, $10 gift certificates given away daily.  The winners will be posted on November 1 just before the release party, on the MFT blog.

Howdy!! I get to love on Fred Bear today - isn't he sweet?  Now, I'm not very nice to him and gave him a rock and dirt floor to hibernate on.  Oops!  LOL!  Fred's hibernating old school - in a cave.  This sweet image is Fred Bear Catches Some ZZZ's and I stamped him in Memento Tuxedo Black and colored him with Copic markers.   I asked my 9-year-old daughter how I should color the ground and she was a rock star and told me to speckle it with 3 different colors.  She's a genius!  I've never tried that before, but I'll definitely be doing it again.  I used 6x6 Blink of an Eye papers from My Mind's Eye and die cut some flowers with the Flower Trio & Leaf Trio Die-namics dies and also made that fun scallop using the NEW Wonky Scallop Border Die-namic.  So cute!  A little sentiment on the File Tab Die-namics finishes the card along with some stitching.  The layout is SSS127.

Please head on over to Kim's Blog for a listing of all the designers sharing this fantastic new Fred Bear Catches Some ZZZ's set for you today.

Here are the Copics I used on Fred Bear:


Here are the Die-namics I used on my card:



Thanks so much for stopping by!
Karen

recipe -
stamps: fred bear catches some zzz's (my favorite things)
paper: lakeshore (bazzill), choice buttercream (taylored expressions), 6x6 blink of an eye (my mind's eye)
ink: memento tuxedo black
accessories: copic markers, flower trio & leaf trio duo/wonky scallop border/file tab die-namics (my favorite things), vintage brads, foam tape

There She Goes Preview | day TWO

Welcome to day 2 of There She Goes sneak peeks!  Did you enjoy seeing all of the Friendbots and Autumn projects yesterday?  The Trendsetters have more goodies for you today!




We have another fabulous set from Torico – she’s showing off her range of creativity. Whip us some delicious greetings with the new Bon Appetit set. From the succulent turkey to steamin’ hot pie create some mouthwatering table settings and pass down secret family recipes for generations to come. Compliments of Chef Torico!

Bon Appétit is a 4x8 set that includes a total of 31 stamps and will sell for $18.

Isn't this little chef the cutest?  I love his little mustache and he's SUPER easy to color too!  I can color white - hehe!  I stamped him in Memento Tuxedo Black ink and then colored him with Copic markers.  I gave him some cupcakes on his tray, and there are many options of what he's cooking up in his kitchen.  Lots of stitching again today - I'm just in love with that zig-zag stitch.  Just a couple of Island Lagoon rhinestones and a flower button to complete it.  The layout is Jen Shults' DS23.

Would you like to win the new Bon Appétit stamp set? Here is what you need to do- visit the Trendsetter’s blogs that are participating in each of the blog hop challenges below and comment on their creations as you go. One of the Trendsetter’s blogs (from each hop day) will be randomly chosen as the ‘it’ blog and a winner will be picked using a random number generator from the comments left on that Trendsetter’s Blog Hop Challenge post. You will not know which blog has been chosen so the more you comment on the better your chances are of winning new stamps! The Blog Hop Challenges will be open until 5 PM Eastern Time Saturday October 29th with the winner being announced during the release party chat.


Here are the Copics I used for this card:


Thanks for stopping by!
Karen


recipe - 
stamps: bon appetit (there she goes)
paper: aqua mist (pti), flamingo (bazzill), choice snow white (taylored expressions), lime twist life of the party (my mind's eye)
ink: memento tuxedo black
accessories: copic markers, brights buttons (su!), island lagoon rhinestones (kaisercraft), linen thread, foam tape

October 25, 2011

MFTeasers | Day 1!


Here are the details about the upcoming release on November 1 at 10 PM EST:
  • You can attend the New Release Party on November 1st from 8-10 PM EST HERE in the MFT forum, where you can enjoy fun, games, and PRIZES!
  • The MFT release, including all new stamp sets and Die-namics, is on November 1 at 10 PM EST.  You'll find all the newest products HERE at release time.
  • The guest designer contest is ON!  Check out the forum for details on how YOU can win $200 in stamp sets and Die-namics, and play along with the MFT Design Team for a month.
  • If you'd like to see all the teasers for today, please click on over to the MFT Blog NOW.  Be sure to leave comments as you go for the chance to win one of 2, $10 gift certificates given away daily.  The winners will be posted on November 1 just before the release party, on the MFT blog.

I just love it when the weather gets a little cooler and we have crisp mornings - perfect for that cup of cocoa!  Isn't this the cutest?  This is Who's That Girl Gets Cozy With Cocoa, which really makes me want to curl up on the couch and read a book with a steamy cup of hot chocolate (with marshmallows too!).  Don't you think?  

I started by stamping the image in Memento Tuxedo Black and colored it with Copic markers and used Splicoaststampers sketch SC272 for the layout.  Lots of zig-zag stitching around the borders of the layers and a few buttons complete the wavy sentiment banner.  

Please head on over to Kim's Blog for a listing of all the designers sharing this fantastic new Who's That Girl Gets Cozy With Cocoa set for you today. 

Here are the Copics I used for my card:

Thanks so much for stopping by!
Karen


recipe -
stamps: who's that girl gets cozy with cocoa (my favorite things)
paper: elegant eggplant (su!), maraschino (bazzill), choice snow white (taylored expressions) cardstock, mitten weather (cosmo cricket)
ink: memento tuxedo black
accessories: copic markers, circle/scallop spellbinders dies, subtles buttons (su!), foam tape