Taylored Expressions Sneak Peek 1: A Birthday Celebration

It's day 1 of sneak peeks for the September release from Taylored Expressions!!  Day 1 of our sneak peeks celebrates birthdays.  This is a very special month at Taylored Expressions as they celebrate their 7th birthday! 

Be sure to check all of the other designers starting on the Taylored Expressions blog because there is just too much for one designer to show off in just a few days.

All the products that I have used are linked at the bottom, but remember that new products aren't live until Thursday, September 3, 7 a.m. PST.

Taylored Expressions is celebrating Release Week with some fabulous giveaways! Visit the TE Blog each Sneak Peek Day this week for details on how you can enter to win.

Today is all about celebrations!  I'm starting with a great new cutting plate called "Presents".  It's equivalent to an existing plate called "Up, Up and Away" which I used here.  Up, Up & Away has balloons up in the upper left corner with open space to add sentiments, etc.  The new Presents Cutting Plate has presents in the lower left corner.  They both come with dies to cut backgrounds - so this new Presents plate comes with four three rectangular dies that fit behind the presents and a die that fits behind the bow (I didn't use that one on this card.)

Obviously I made this a giant shaker.  First, it's really easy to do with this cutting plate because the frame that is cut gives you room to easily add the dimensional adhesive.  You simply cut the plate, add your present backgrounds, adhere acrylic behind the whole thing and then run your dimensional adhesive along all of the sides.  FYI - being a really cheap person, I ran dimensional adhesive behind the presents, to keep the sequins out from behind them.  This let me use less sequins.  Second, LOVE the new sequins - Hello Happiness.  Multiple colors, shapes, sizes and patterns.  I did use a full quarter of a bottle in this shaker but I think it's worth it!

Here's the whole card.


There's a special sentiment on this card. To celebrate our 7th year, Taylored Expressions has designed a special party favor, One & Only You. This petite stamp & die combo set includes a "you" coordinating die and will be FREE with orders over $50 beginning on September 3rd – September 13th. One free set per customer, while supplies last.

As much as I love the sequins and the sparkle of the first card, there is so much more to do with the Presents Cutting Plate. How about an elegant card?

The sentiment is a sneak peek of a sneak peek!  It's from a flower set with sneak peeks starting tomorrow!!  But I just had to pull it out because I thought the curls on the sentiment worked well with the curls of the bow.  The embossing is the Take a Number Embossing Folder and is also new this release!
Let's go really crazy with this cutting plate!  Did you know it's less than four months until Christmas? Ugh.  So here's an easy way to do Christmas cards.  A patterned paper, then coordinate the presents - and you've got a card!

I think I got carried away with the Presents Cutting Plate, so let's move to an absolutely charming new stamp set - Balloon Buddies which also has a matching set of dies.  Check out this elephant getting "carried away"!

Behind the elephant I added another new product - Skinny Mini Party Borders.  I used each of the four borders (or banners) behind the elephant.  The paper is from the new paper pack - Hello Happiness. 

Don't forget to head over to the TE Blog to leave a comment for a chance to win and to check out all of the other new release items and design team cards. And come back tomorrow - I'll be showing off some amazing new sentiments and dies.
SUPPLY LIST
The links to new products will not work until release day!!
Celebrate You with Sparkles

Presents Cutting Plate	TE Sequins - Hello Happiness	Premium Cardstock - Pink Champagne	Premium Cardstock - Salt Water Taffy
Premium Cardstock - Peapod	Premium Cardstock - Lollipop	Premium Cardstock - Sugar Cube

InLinkz.com

Elegant  Celebration
I used silver glitter paper from my collection.

Simply Stamped - Sunflowers	Presents Cutting Plate	Banner Stacklets 1	Embossing Folder - Take a Number
Premium Cardstock - Watermelon	Premium Cardstock - Earl Grey	Premium Cardstock - Sugar Cube	TE Sequins - Summer Nights

InLinkz.com

Christmas Celebrations

The paper is from an older 6x6 pad by Echo Park - Christmas Cheer.  The Christmas green present is just a scrap of cardstock from my stash.

Many Minis - Holidays	Presents Cutting Plate	Banner Stacklets 1	Premium Cardstock - Mint Julep
Premium Cardstock - Cherry Pop	Premium Cardstock - Sugar Cube	Baker's Twine - Black/White (136 yards)

InLinkz.com

Getting Carried Away

I have linked to the new Hello Happiness Paper Pack.  There is also a Matched Kit with the same paper and coordinating cardstock.

Balloon Buddies	Balloon Buddies Dies	Skinny Mini Party Borders	Banner Stacklets 1
TE 6x6 Paper Pack - Hello Happiness	Premium Cardstock - Plum Punch	Premium Cardstock - Peapod	Premium Cardstock - Lemon Meringue
Premium Cardstock - Candy Corn	Premium Cardstock - Sugar Cube	Premium Cardstock - Oreo

InLinkz.com

The TE Store carries Copics!

Freshly Made Sketches: Smile!

Did you take part on the big 200th celebration last week for Freshly Made Sketches??  We had 340 entries - WOW!  Thanks to everybody for joining us in our celebration and congratulations to all who won prizes from our generous sponsors!

Now it's time for a new sketch at Freshly Made Sketches! Today we have a sketch by Narelle. I love her work.  She does lots of layers and patterns, but her cards are still so clean and fresh. Check her out at her blog Stamplicious.

I had a definite need when I sat down to make this card.  I have mentioned my son who is taking a year off before college.  He's moved out on his own, about 90 miles away from us, and his first couple of weeks have been rough.  He's been sick, his car battery died, and he was having no luck finding a job.  But finally this past week - he got a job - and a decent job for a 19-year old.  It's still fast food which he wanted to avoid, but it's a low level management position so pays well, offers more hours and will give him more experience than just working the grill.  So after he weathered all of his trials - I needed to make a "smile" card!


Obviously very simple for my guy.  I loved the masculine colors in the plaid so just matched those colors!  I layered up the smile a few times to make sure it stood out. The sentiment banner uses a single edged pennant die (MFT Fishtails).  I cut it once then flipped the die around to cut the banner from the other side too. I hope to see you playing along this week!!

SUPPLY LIST
The paper is My Mind's Eye 6x6 Darling Dear and is discontinued.  I linked to Frantic Stamper which has a few left but I don't know long this link will work. My background paper is Natural White but I have no idea where I got it.
I linked to the basic set of My Favorite Things Fishtail dies but they also have a Layers set. Mine are all mixed together so I never know which set I am actually using.

Simon Says Happy and Smile	Simon Says Smile Circle Die	MFT Fishtail Flags Die	MFT Stitched Jumbo Fishtail Banner
MME 6x6 Darling Dear	SSS Burnt Orange CS	SSS Slate Gray CS	MFT Fuse Green CS

InLinkz.com