back to the drawing board

MERRY LITTLE CHRISTMAS

i have one more holiday project that i made for the december taylored expressions challenge. this little paper pieced bird is santa's helper this year & is flying in to drop off presents under the christmas tree. 

supplies
cardstock: [solar white] neenah, [cherry pop, cilantro] taylored expressions
patterned paper: [scraps]
accent: [red star rhinestone, green twine]
liquid accents: [glitter glaze] lawn fawn
pigment ink: [onyx black versafine] tsukineko
rubber stamps: [gus & gertie holiday adventures] taylored expressions
craft dies: [build a tag 2, gus & gertie holiday adventures, little bits christmas tree, skinny mini borders, tag reinforcements] taylored expressions

BE MERRY

this week i have card to share that is quite simple & a bit nontraditional. i made it for the december taylored expressions challenge - it features the taylored expressions colors cherry pop & cilantro (red & green). i paired the christmas colors with a rainbow stamp that was out on my desk & this is what i ended up with.

supplies
cardstock: [solar white] neenah
accent: [black washi tape]
liquid accents: [glitter glaze] lawn fawn, [white glitter wink of stella] zig
dye ink: [cherry pop, cilantro, oreo] taylored expressions
clear stamp: [sentiment/warm wishes] taylored expressions
rubber stamp: [chasing rainbows] taylored expressions
craft dies: [chasing rainbows] taylored expressions

i'm stretching the theme a bit for the current lawnfawnatics challenge - coffee, tea & treats. my cute cat is brewing up some green "treats" for a purrfect halloween. lots of paper piecing & a cauldron full of green sequins.

supplies
cardstock: [solar white] neenah paper
patterned paper: [scraps]
accents: [green sequins] doodlebug designs
liquid accent: [glossy accents, worn lipstick distress stickles] ranger
clear stamps: [purrfectly wicked, purrfectly wicked add on] lawn fawn
dye ink: [stardust] concord & 9th
pigment ink: [onyx black versafine] tsukineko
craft dies: [purrfectly wicked, purrfectly wicked add on] lawn fawn

today i have a card i created for the current lawn fawnatics challenge - christmas in july. i used the new lawn fawn high five kit that arrived last week & paired it with a few holiday themed stamp sets.  


copic marker coloring for the bees & honey jar - paper piecing for the tree & to finish off the honey jar. to create the sentiment banner i used sentiments from two stamp sets & carefully stamped each word before heat embossing the entire sentiment.

supplies
cardstock: [solar white] neenah paper, [black] taylored expressions
patterned paper: [knock on wood petite paper pack, stripes 'n sprinkles petite paper pack] lawn fawn
accents: [yellow enamel dots] echo park paper co, [rhinestone star]
liquid accent: [sparkle glaze] lawn fawn
clear stamps: [hive five, merry mice for chibitronics, car critters christmas add-on, frosty fairy friends, sweet smiles] lawn fawn
markers: bg10, yr14, yr27, y15, y21, y35, y38] copic
dye ink: [buttercup] concord and 9th, [cherry pop] taylored expressions, [tuxedo black memento] tsukineko
pigment ink: [onyx black versafine] tsukineko
watermark ink: [clear versamark] tsukineko
embossing powder: [white detail] hero arts
craft dies: [hive five, merry mice] lawn fawn, [banner] taylored expressions
stencil: [honeycomb] lawn fawn

today's card was super quick to put together & uses the same technique as yesterday - i die cut a heart from masking paper & blended distress ink inside the cut out of the heart. then on top i stamped the polka dot heart with a darker shade of distress ink. xoxo.

supplies
cardstock: [bubblegum shimmer] a muse studio, [solar white] neenah paper
embellishments: [pink enamel dots] echo park paper
distress ink: [peacock feathers, salvaged patina] tim holtz/ranger
rubber stamp: [in my heart (retired)] taylored expressions
craft dies: [heart stacklets, little bits - love confetti (retired)] taylored expressions
other: [masking paper] inkadinkado, [oreo envelope] tailored expressions

this little robot thinks someone is seriously the best. the background for this paper pieced robot is a combination of inking & stamping. i die cut a heart from masking paper & then blended 3 colors of pink ink inside the cut out heart. after the ink was dry i stamped the lined heart & sentiment with black ink.

and the books shown are all on my valentine's tbr list - a deadly affair by agatha christie, plum lovin' by janet evanovich, up all night (13 stories between sunrise & sunset ) edited by laura silverman. 

supplies
cardstock: [bermuda] a muse studio, [solar white] neenah paper
patterned paper: [scraps]
embellishment: [bubblegum sprinkles enamel dots] doodlebug design, [yellow enamel dot] echo park paper
dye ink: [cupcake, strawberry milkshake, lollipop] tailored expressions, [intense black] hero arts, [onyx black versafine] tsukineko
clear stamps: [charge me up, love poems] lawn fawn
rubber stamps: [in my heart (retired)] taylored expressions
craft dies: [charge me up] lawn fawn, [stitched heart stacklets] taylored expressions
other: [masking paper] inkadinkado, [oreo envelope] tailored expressions

a very magical holiday card i created for the current challenge over on the lawnfawnatics blog - holiday critters. the dragon was paper pieced with a bunch of scraps of patterned paper & dye/reactive inks were used to create the ink blended background.

supplies
cardstock: [black] concord & 9th, [solar white] neenah paper
patterned paper: [knock on wood, snow day remix & spiffy speckles petite paper packs] lawn fawn, [scraps]
embellishment: [crystal star]
dye ink: [rose madder, summer sky] hero arts, [onyx black versafine] tsukineko
reactive ink: [blue] Hero Arts
dimensional medium: [snowfall grit paste] tim holtz/ranger
clear stamps: [winter dragon] lawn fawn
craft dies: [build-a-house gingerbread add-on, shadow box card mountain add-on, winter dragon] lawn fawn, [stitched square stacklets] taylored expressions

happy thanksgiving! a duo of paper pieced mice eagerly awaiting their turkey day meal. all of the stamped images are from the same lawn fawn stamp set and the sentiment is from taylored expressions.

supplies
cardstock: [solar white] neenah paper
patterned paper: [scraps]
dye ink: [onyx black versafine] tsukineko
liquid accent: [glossy accents] ranger
stamps: [thankful mice] lawn fawn, [sentiment/if turkeys could talk] taylored expressions
craft dies: [skinny mini borders] taylored expressions

 

this past weekend was taylored expressions spring stamp joy virtual event & i made a few cards! these are the four cards i put together using the examples & techniques taught during the friday class. the rainbow stamp & the raindrop stencil are currently exclusive to the event, but i've listed below all of the other supplies i used.

supplies
stamp joy exclusives: [chasing rainbows cling & clear combo, dies & stencil] taylored expressions
cardstock: [solar white] neenah paper, [oreo, pumpkin, salt water taffy, sprinkles, strawberry milkshake, sugar cube, toffee] taylored expressions
accents: [clear drip drops, strawberry milkshake enamel heart] taylored expressions
liquid accents: [sparkle clear lacquer pen] hero arts, [moonshine glimmer paste] nuvo
watercolor: [brush pens] bienfang
dye ink: [honey, lemon meringue, oreo, pumpkin, salt water taffy, sugar cube, sea salt, strawberry milkshake] taylored expressions
watermark ink: [clear versamark] tsukineko
embossing powder: [white detail] hero arts
stamps: [crafty simple strips] taylored expressions
craft dies: [mini slim square window cutting plate, simple strips, stitched circle stacklets, stitched rectangle stacklets, stitched square stacklets] taylored expressions
stencil: [sunburst] the crafters workshop, [heart to heart] taylored expressions

given the wicked hot weather this week i thought a snowman would be fun. stamps, dies & stencil are all part of the frosty kit from taylored expressions. for the background i used a light gray distress ink & then when i stenciled the snowflakes with a light blue dye ink they reacted a bit. so the snowflakes ended up being a teal color. an accident - but i like the color the snowflakes ended up.

supplies
cardstock: [solar white] neenah paper
patterned paper: [wonderland 6x6 paper pad] studio calico, [scraps]
accents: [enamel dots] studio calico, [snowflakes bits & pieces] taylored expressions
dostress ink: [pumice stone] tim holtz/ranger
dye ink: [candy corn, cupcake, lemon meringue, oreo, sprinkles] taylored expressions
pigment ink: [onyx black versafine] tsukineko
stamps: [frosty background, warm wishes] taylored expressions
craft dies: [frosty's body, frosty's head, sentiment strip duo] taylored expressions
stencil: [frosty, masking rectangles] taylored expressions

howdy! i made this card earlier this year & sent it off to celebrate a birthday. you can see the birthday sentiment peeking out from inside the card. paper piecing with cardstock scraps & an ink blended background behind the die cut mountains.

supplies
cardstock: [solar white] neenah paper, [scraps]
patterned paper: [curiosity] 6x6 bundle authentique, [scraps]
liquid accents: [caribbean ocean & gloss white crystal drops] nuvo by tonic
dye ink: [candy corn, pineapple, peapod] taylored expressions
pigment ink: [onyx black versafine] tsukineko
clear stamps: [saddle up & celebrate] my favorite things
craft dies: [color layering mountains at the lake] hero arts
stencil: [masking ovals] taylored expressions

hello from my cat in space - a card i created for the july taylored expressions maker challenge. this month the challenge was to use stars and/or the color black. the large star in the background was die cut from white cardstock that i inked up with a few different shades of gray. my space cadet cat was stamped onto several scraps of patterned paper & pieced together. i also added glossy accents to the cat's helmet to give it a bit of dimension.

supplies
cardstock: [solar white] neenah paper, [earl gray, oreo] taylored expressions
patterned paper: [scraps]
accents: [oreo enamel dots] taylored expressions
lquid accents: [glossy accents, worn lipstick distress stickles] ranger
markers: [t0] copic, [glitter black] wink of stella
dye ink: [earl grey, mushroom, poppy seed] taylored expressions
hybrid ink: [sea salt] taylored expressions
pigment ink: [onyx black versafine] tsukineko
watermark ink: [clear versamark] tsukineko
embossing powder: [white] hero arts
rubber stamp: [building blocks - memories, space cadet] taylored expressions
craft dies: [building blocks, follow your arrow, space cadet, star stacklets] taylored expressions

it's been a while since i've participated in any card making challenges - so i decided to join in on the taylored expressions maker challenge they host each month. the challenge for june is to make a card that includes at least one of the following: an item from the junk drawer, the color yellow, and/or a hexagon. i was able to incorporate all three into my card with the green wire used for the flower stem coming from my junk drawer.

supplies
cardstock: [earl grey, poppy seed] taylored expressions
patterned paper: [scraps]
specialty paper: [watercolor cold press] canson
pigment ink: [onyx black versafine] tsukineko
watercolor powder: [lemon yellow colorburst] ken oliver crafts
accents: [yellow & white enamel dots, wood hexagon] studio calico, [green wire] making memories
liquid accents: [worn lipstick distress stickles, black enamel accents] ranger, [pink paint]
rubber stamp & die combo: [if cats could talk] taylored expressions
craft dies: [build a tag 3, stitched square stacklets] taylored expressions

a stellar father's day card for my dad! to create the starry sky background i inked up a piece of cardstock with some of my favorite distress oxide colors & heat embossed the stamped stars along with the sentiment. the little mouse & his telescope were stamped onto a few scraps of patterned paper & then pieced together.

supplies
cardstock: [solar white] neenah paper, [black tie bling] bazzill basics
patterned paper: [scraps]
distress oxide ink: [black soot, blueprint sketch, broken china, dusty concord, seedless preserves] tim holtz/ranger
dye ink: [grey to black ombre] hero arts
pigment ink: [onyx black versafine] tsukineko
watermark ink: [clear versamark] tsukineko
embossing powder: [white] hero arts
clear stamps: [super star] lawn fawn
craft dies: [super star] lawn fawn, [stitched rectangle stacklets] taylored expressions

have a mice christmas! lots of paper piecing on the front of this card with a bunch of tiny scraps of patterned paper. then i built a circuit that is hidden on the inside of the card & when you push on the present the top of the christmas tree lights up.

supplies
cardstock: [solar white] neenah paper
patterned paper: [scraps]
pigment ink: [onyx black versafine] tsukineko
accents: [jack & jill enamel dots] echo park paper
liquid accent: [worn lipstick distress stickles] ranger
clear stamps: [merry mice] lawn fawn
craft dies: [merry mice] lawn fawn, [build a tag 3] taylored expressions
other: [copper tape, white led sticker] chibitronics, [battery]

season's greetings from this little snowdude. with a bit of free time this weekend i decided to make a card for the paper smooches november anything goes challenge. i stamped & paper pieced the snowman as well as the sign he is perched upon. a few fun details i added to the stamped images: white crushed velvet flock for the santa hat, black enamel accents for the snowman's eyes, a few little rhinestones for the nails on the sign & the red berry.

supplies
cardstock: [solar white] neenah paper
patterned paper: [scraps]
dye ink: [salt water taffy] taylored expressions
pigment ink: [onyx black versafine] tsukineko
markers: [e81, e89] copic
accents: [cranberry pretty pearls] a muse studio, [pewter pearls] kaisercraft, [white crushed velvet flock] doodlebug designs, [green thread] mettler
liquid accent: [black enamel accents] ranger
clear stamps: [freezy fellas, happy camper icons, swanky snowdudes] paper smooches
rubber stamp: [naughty or nice] a muse studio
craft dies: [freezy fellas, happy camper icons] paper smooches
stencil: [masking rectangle] taylored expressions

to begin each month in my pocket scrapbook i've been creating a little scene on a pre-printed 3x4 calendar card. here are my first six months of 2019 - i try to put together each card at the beginning of the month but most of the time it takes me a couple of weeks to decide on the scene. my favorite so far is the little duck playing in the puddle.

supplies for all months
calendar card: [2019 3x4 calendar] taylored expressions
cardstock: [scraps]
patterned paper: [scraps]
craft dies: [build a scene calendar] taylored expressions

supplies for janaury - march
pigment ink: [onyx black versafine] tsukineko
stamp & die combo: [if cats could talk] taylored expressions
craft dies: [little bits - birds, build a house; little bits - flowers & stems, little bits - hearts; build a scene - rolling clouds, little bits - rainbow's end] taylored expressions

supplies for april - june
calendar card: taylored expressions
cardstock: [scraps]
patterned paper: [scraps]
pigment ink: [onyx black versafine] tsukineko
clear stamps: [rain or shine] my favorite things
craft dies: [weather icon dies] hero arts, [shadow box card spring add-on] lawn fawn, [rain or shine] my favorite things, [build a scene calendar 5x7; little bits - butterflies; little bits - fruits, little bits - suns & clouds] taylored expressions

i made a card! i didn't make many last year & was able to send out a lot that i had made in previous years. i'm running low on birthday cards now so i hope to have some new ones to share on here in the coming months.

this card came together quickly as it is mostly die cuts. i inked up the background with 2 distress oxide inks & then created the little woodland scene with a bunch of elements i die cut from my patterned paper scraps.

supplies
cardstock: [solar white] neenah paper, [earl grey] taylored expressions
patterned paper: [scraps]
distress ink: [broken china & tumbled glass oxide] tim holtz/ranger
dye ink: [earl grey] taylored expressions
accents: [sugar cube enamel dots] taylored expressions
rubber stamps: [sentiment/oh snap!] taylored expressions
craft dies: [snow/build a scene - calendar 5x7, deer/build a scene - central park, tree/build a scene - lakeside, birds/on the line, bird/on the line - north pole, little bits - birds] taylored expressions

today i am excited to join over 40 taylored expressions past & present design team members in celebrating TE's 10th birthday! to celebrate this awesome occasion TE released several new products last night which are all available now in the TE shop.

for today's birthday blog hop i've created a magical card with one of my favorite previously released TE stamp sets. and don't forget to head over to the TE blog for a list of everyone participating in the birthday blog hop - so many fun cards have been created especially for today.

 

my card features a dragon from the previously released magical day stamp & die combo. he was paper pieced with a bunch of scraps & i added a bit of glitter to his wings & tummy. for the background of clouds i used the set the scene - clouds stencil strips. so that the clouds would be in a circular region i die cut a large circle from a piece of scrap paper & attached it to the card base. then i used the cloud stencils to apply ink inside the cut out circle. the sentiment was stamped in ink colors that perfectly matched my dragon - earl grey premium ink & pineapple premium ink. to complete my card i added a few sugar cube enamel shapes along the bottom row of clouds.

 

at the heart of Taylored Expressions is a mission to share joy through the gift of handmade cards. as part of their 10th birthday TE is continuing that mission with the launch of a special Share Joy campaign focused on providing birthday cards to those in nursing homes and assisted-living facilities across the U.S. to make as deep an impact as possible TE is inviting card makers everywhere to join the campaign. will you join us? find out how to participate by viewing their Share Joy page here: https://www.tayloredexpressions.com/share-joy-birthday-2018

 

supplies
cardstock: [solar white] neenah paper
patterned paper: [rainbow brights 6x6 paper pack] taylored expressions, [scraps]
accents: [sugar cube enamel shapes] taylored expressions
dye ink: [earl grey & pineapple premium inks] taylored expressions
pigment ink: [island] fresh ink
glitter ink: [clear spica pen] copic
rubber stamp & die combo: [magical day] taylored expressions
craft dies: [build a tag 3 & stitched circle stacklets] taylored expressions
stencil: [set the scene - clouds] taylored expressions

i've been keeping up with the monthly into the jungle stitch-along blocks - here is january through august. i haven't decided if i'm going to do the top border as charted so i'll hold off on it until the end of the year. the bottom border i'll probably start on soon.

and i've continued to make a 3x4 card for my pocket scrapbook each month. you can see some months were a bit slower than others for stitching.

supplies for cross stitch
pattern: [into the jungle] the frosted pumpkin stitchery
fabric: [shale 28ct lugana] picture this plus
threads: cosmo by lecien

supplies for card
patterned paper: [scraps]
accents: [alpha stickers]
distress ink: [milled lavender & victorian velvet] tim holtz for ranger
pigment ink: [onyx black versafine] tsukineko
clear stamps: [critters down under & critters in the jungle] lawn fawn, [fierce friends] my favorite things, [colour chameleon] clearly besotted

a quick little 3x4 card to document the beginning of my spring break. just a bit of paper piecing with scraps, a sentiment stamp & some alpha stamps.

supplies
cardstock: [solar white] neenah paper
patterned paper: [pixie-licious 6x6 mini deck] cosmo cricket, [scraps]
pigment ink: [onyx black versafine] tsukineko
marker: [yg21] copic
rubber stamps: [bunny business] amuse studio, [jessie's abcs] lawn fawn, [bunny tails & happy trails] taylored expressions
craft dies: [build a scene - calendar, little bits - flowers & stems] taylored expressions