Taylored Expressions Blast From the Past Blog Hop September 2010

Welcome to the September Taylored Expressions Blast From the Past Blog Hop!  This month, we were to use any stamp set from June 2010 or earlier, and Sankari Wegman had an amazing optional sketch for us to use as well.  Last month during the hop, I started creating cards to use as part of a series for Christmas presents, and this month I chose to continue working on that set.  To see the first part of this Christmas gift, look at my August blog hop post.

My cards this month are using the Taylored Expressions stamp set Sweet Occasions.

"Thanks"

This card was so much fun to make!  I was able to find some of the new Cuttlebug Companion Embossing Folders and couldn't wait to try them.  So first I embossed the cupcakes on Coordinations Cardstock, then sanded the cardstock to make the cupcakes pop.  I then paper pieced the "Thanks" and had lots of fun with glitter!

Stamps:  TE Sweet Occasions

Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black, PTI tea inks

Cardstock:  Enchanted Evening, Vintage Cream (PTI), Coordinations

Patterned Paper:  Chloe's Closet (MM)

Accessories:  Rhinestones (Michaels), Glitter (CTMH), Felt Flower, Ribbon (SU), Button (MM), Copic Markers

Because Sweet Occasions has such great stamps for the insides of the cards as well, I stamped the inside as well.  To add that extra special touch, I also did an envelope liner in coordinating paper as well.

Inside of card

Card with Envelope

"Congrats"  

 

The next card in my gift set was fun on the embellishment level.  I don't think you can tell in the picture, but the roof is covered in white flocking.  The two lollipops and the peppermint candy by the roof are done in glitter, and my favorite touch--the doorknob is a Taylor's Tiny Twinkle!

Stamps:  Sweet Occasions (TE)

Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black, PTI tea inks

Cardstock:  Orange Zest, Simply Chartreuse, Enchanted Evening, Vintage Cream (PTI)

Patterned Paper:  Chloe's Closet (MM)

Accessories:  Trim, Glitter (MM), Taylor's Tiny Twinkles, Flocking (Doodlebug)

And here is the inside and envelope for this card:

Inside of Card

Card with Envelope

Thanks so much for stopping by today!  I can't wait to start blog hopping later on today and see what everyone has created!

Chris

Sending Good Thoughts!

I can't believe what a whirlwind the last few weeks have been.  School starting and working on your house create a lot of chaos! I finally got some time to play today by necessity--had to create some cards for a bridal shower.  I created two cards, one for my gift and one for my Mom's.  So here they are:

Congratulations

This card was just kinda fun, especially adding all the bling--the Embellie Gellie is really a useful tool!

Stamps:  Heart Prints (PTI), Warmest Regards (SU)
Ink:  Hibiscus Burst (PTI), Rich Cocoa (Memento)
Cardstock:  Hibiscus Burst (PTI)
Patterned Paper:  Pebbles
Accessories:  Taylor's Tiny Twinkles (TE), Ribbon

This next card was really fun to make--I was playing around with sanding an embossed image on the Coordinations cardstock, and tried sanding the debossed side instead, so that the sanding would outline the design.  Here's how it came out . . . .

Wishing You All the Best

Stamps:  Year of Flowers Sweet Peas (PTI)
Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black
Cardstock:  Sweet Blush (PTI), Coordinations Cardstock, Ivory (LSS)
Accessories:  Ribbon (SU), Taylor's Tiny Twinkles, Sizzix Embossing Folder

Thanks for stopping by, I have some cute boy birhtday cards coming up tomorrow!

Chris

Taylored Expressions Blast from the Past Blog Hop August 2010

Welcome to the August Taylored Expressions Blast from the Past Blog Hop!  To play along this month, you could use any Taylored Expressions stamp set from May 2010 or earlier, and there was an optional sketch.  I chose to do my own thing this month, because I'm getting ready (or at least trying to!) for Christmas.  Every year, I make several card sets to give as gifts--for my Mom, Mom-in-Law, Sister-in-Law, and my kids' teachers.  This Christmas, I've chosen the TE stamp set Sweet Occasions, and this cute paper pad Michael's had a while back called Chloe's Closet.  I had hoped to get a few cards done to show you, but with the kids home and going on vacation, we just have the beginning (but I'm happy to have started Christmas already in August!).

"Friend"

Stamps:  TE Sweet Occasions
Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black, PTI Tea Inks
Cardstock:  Simply Chartreuse, Harvest Gold, Stamper's Select White (PTI)
Patterned Paper:  Chloe's Closet (MM)
Accessories:  Ribbon, Flower (MM), Rhinestones (Michaels), Copic Markers

The Sweet Occasions set also has these great sentiments--I chose to use them to embellish the inside of my card as well.  And since I had the Chloe's Closet paper in both the 6 X 6 pad and the 12 X 12 paper stack, I used the same print I used for the frame in Friend to line the inside of the envelope to make the card look I hope perfect for a gift:

My daughters wanted to play along as well in the Blog Hop, they just love Taylor's stamps:

Here is my younger daughter J's card, using the Sprinkled with Love Stamp set:

"Sprinkled with Love"

And my older daughter K's card, using the Make the Grade Stamp set:

"You're an A+ in my Book:"

Thanks for stopping by!  I can't wait to see everyone's creations, we are on vacation today but I'll be blog hopping soon!

Chris

Gift Bags!

Hi Everyone,

I wanted to share some gift bags I made up for my daughters' dance teachers.  I had meant to give them out at the end of June, around recital time, but you know what they say about the best laid plans . . . .  I got the idea from my SU demonstrator,she had these little bags and cards at a workshop a few years ago.  So I made a little bag for each teacher, and then filled each bag with three little gift cards that they could use in the future.  I also included a flower pen in each (I really like including flower pens, they just look so cheerful) and then made a tag for each bag.  I thought they made a fun gift!

Gift Bags

Gift Cards Included Inside

Stamps:  Around and About Sentiments (PTI)
Ink:  PTI, Doodlebug
Cardstock, Patterned Paper:  SU
Accessories:  Ribbon (SU), Taylor's Tiny Twinkle (TE)

Thanks for looking!  What are you working on these days?  I am trying to work on some Christmas presents and hopefully sneak in a few challenges!  Have a great day!

Chris

Papertrey July Blog Hop Challenge

Hello Everyone,

Welcome to the July 2010 Papertrey Ink Blog Hop!  This month, the challenge was to use office supplies in your project--things like paper clips, binder clips, rubber bands, file folders, staples, binder rings, adhesive labels, post-it notes, and so on--you get the idea.  I have to admit, this challenge was exactly that--a challenge!  It was fun to see what office supplies were hidden in various places in the house, but a little harder to figure out how to use them!  So here is what I came up with:

"Notes"

I revisited several of the design team members' blogs from when they introduced "Take Note," and found that Lauren Meader had created a really cute notebook, and provided dimensions.  So I used her template to come up with this little notebook.

Opening the notebook

Back of notebook

These pictures show some other views of the notebook, specifically the view from the back, and the view as you open up the first flap of the notebook.

Betsy Veldman made this notebook and had such cute stamping inside I decided to try it!

This final picture shows the view when you completely open up the notebook, and the two different notepads featured inside.  I thought this would be a cute notebook to give as a gift to a busy Mom to keep in her purse, to help remember the millions of things Moms have to remember!

Supplies:

Stamps:  Take Note, Tags of Spring, Egg Hunt (PTI)
Ink:  True Black, Dark Chocolate, Smokey Shadow (PTI), Bamboo Leaves, Rose bud (Memento)
Cardstock:  Soft Stone, Smokey Shadow (PTI)
Patterned Paper:  Bitty Dots (PTI)
Accessories:  Misc. Office Supplies from around the house!

And before you continue on the hop, my daughters also wanted to try this challenge:

My Daughter K's Card

"You've Got Mail"

Supplies (all PTI unless otherwise noted):
Stamps:  Vintage Picnic, Vintage Picnic Sentiments, Mailbox Greetings
Ink:  Tuxedo Black, Rich Cocoa, Danube Blue (Memento)
Cardstock:  Spring Rain, Vintage Picnic
Accessories:  Copic Markers, misc. office supplies

My Daughter J's Card

"Take Note"

Supplies:
Stamps:  Take Note (PTI)
Ink:  Lovely Lilac (SU)
Cardstock:  SU
Accessories:  Misc. Office Supplies, Cuttlebug Embossing Folder

Thank you so much for stopping by--we hope you enjoy the hop tonight!  I can't wait to see what everyone has created!

Chris