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

The Sweet Stop Sketch #65

Hello Everyone,

Just popping in with a quick post for the Sweet n Sassy Sketch Challenge blog.  I had so much fun playing along last week that I thought I'd try this week's sketch. This was my first time trying to make a bow with some twine, I think it came out okay! 

"Cheer Up"

Stamps:  Elly and Friends (SNSS)

Ink:  Memento (Tuxedo Black), PTI (True Black)

Cardstock:  Ocean Tides, Ripe Avocado, Stamper's Select White (PTI)

Patterned Paper:  Polka Dot Parade, Bitty Box (PTI)

Accessories:  Ribbon, Twine (PTI), Felt Flowers (SU), Button Brads (MM), Copic Markers

Until next time . . . .

Chris

Taylored Expressions Sketch Challenge #121

Hello Everyone,

I hope everyone had a great time checking out the July Blog Hop from Taylored Expressions!  I know I sure did, and I was so excited to see that I was picked to receive a free stamp set!  Woo Hoo!  After much deliberation, I "think" we have chosen a stamp set (my kids all had to get in on the selection process :) ).  Check out the details here to participate in Taylor's August Blog Hop.

Getting back to stamping . . . here is my card for Taylor's latest sketch, which you can see here.  I had a lot of fun with this card, using my big scalloped circle nestabilities, and getting to use both glitter AND liquid pearls for the chocolate. 

"Make Mine Chocolate"

Stamps:  Cuppie in the Kitchen (TE)
Ink:  Tuxedo Black, Rich Cocoa (Memento)
Cardstock:  Pure Poppy, Kraft, Dark Chocolate, Stampers Select White (PTI)
Patterned Paper, Ribbon:  from my stash 
Accessories:  Glitter (MM), Espresso Dimensional Pearls (Adirondack)

Thanks so much for stopping by, please come back soon!

Chris