Taylored Expressions: Blender Brushes with Soft Colors

You all loved the brand new Blender Brushes from Taylored Expressions.  You loved them so much that massive quantities sold out in less than a day!!!  Be sure to get them on your wishlist because they will be restocked!!

Yesterday I brushed on a variety of reds to create dark bricks.  Today I want to use the blender brushes for just a soft sweep of color.


In this case I lightly brushed a variety of floral colors on a white embossed background.  With my color-coded brushes I was able to easily keep my colors separate.  I kept the color just around the sentiment area to highlight it.


I stepped it up a bit with this card using a variety of colors.  As a clean and fresh cardmaker - I like little scenes on white.  However, just a hint of blue sky or yellow or whatever color you want, really makes the scene pop!!  These brushes are perfect for these soft sweeps of color!!

Check out the rest of the creative team starting with the Taylored Expressions blog for more inspiration.

SUPPLY LIST

Freshly Made Sketches: Hello

It's time for a new sketch at Freshly Made Sketches! Today we have a sketch by Jen Timko.

You can do anything with this sketch!!  I am still in my keep-it-simple mode.  I'm actually hoping I stay that way.  It seems like there are always new techniques and products and I always feel compelled to try them all.  But my true style is very clean - so this card uses two dies and embossed lines!!  OK. It does blend distress oxide ink on the background panel and that's a technique - but what a fabulous way to add a rainbow to a simple die!!


The colored panel is behind the die cut.  I love the little "sparkle" flowers mixed in with the regular flowers on this border die.  It's such a sweet and happy look - so I found a simple "hello".  I layered it up with a few extra layers so it pops.  This is a 10-minute card (not counting getting the ink off my hands!)


I hope to see you playing along with us this week at Freshly Made Sketches!

SUPPLY LIST
Dies: Simon Says Stamp Floral Sparkle, Script Hello
Ink: Distress Oxide Inks Candied Apple, Spiced Marmalade, Mustard Seed, Twisted Citron, Tumbled Glass, Salty Ocean, Seedless Preserves

Taylored Expressions: Blender Brushes are Here!!!!

I get excited over stamps.  I get even more excited over dies.  But there is nothing better than a tool that I'll use every day, that makes crafting easier and allows me to easily do new ink techniques - plus on top of being so very useful is just darn cute.  And here it is!!

Aren't these amazing?!!  Blender brushes are the perfect way to add ink.  You can brush a hint of a background, you can brush the color on boldly, you can blend colors.  Taylored Expressions Blender Brushes have another advantage - they are color coded!!  Have you ever brushed with blue - thought you'd washed the brush - then used it for yellow - but it turns out green??  I definitely have.  But never again!!  My blue brush will stay blue and my yellow brush will stay yellow.

I've had a chance to play around with these and they are fabulous.  I have a variety of cards to show you over the next three days plus a number of others over the next month.  Today I'm playing with a stencil.  NOTE: DO NOT equate the sentiment I chose for this as applying to these blender brushes!!  I didn't realize my error until I was writing this post - I actually made the card for a friend and it's perfect for him - not so perfect for the launch of an amazing product.

I used the Brick by Brick Stencil and blended it from Mulled Wine at the bottom to Cherry Pop with a little Fruit Punch at the top.  I find it amazing that with these brushes you can't see distinct lines where the color changes.


When you order your brushes, don't forget the Storage Caddy.  These are cute enough to be a decoration.  They are already a permanent feature on my desk!  And there's a special deal. You'll get a brush cleaning tool with the purchase of the brushes and the storage caddy.

There's also another deal going on. The current promotion at Taylored Expression is free shipping on orders over $50 through the end of June so this is the right time to get your own brushes.

Check out the Taylored Expressions blog for more inspiration and even more excitement!!

I've tried not to chat too much because these brushes are available RIGHT NOW!  

SUPPLY LIST

Freshly Made Sketches: Big Hugs

It's time for a new sketch at Freshly Made Sketches! Today we have a sketch by Lee Ann.

I had a complete and total lack of mojo last week and didn't even play along with Freshly Made Sketches.  That darn mojo still hasn't found its way back to me - so I looked through my stash for something that would create the card without much help from me.  And as luck would have it - I had something!


This is a Spellbinders die set with three layers giving it fabulous dimension.  I must have played around with it sometime in the past because I even had multiple layers cut in different colors (and I don't usually pre-cut nor keep scraps.) It was definitely meant to be!  I pulled out the freshest colors and then found some subtle patterns for the edges in keeping with the big borders on the sketch. I did break with the sketch a bit in that I used a die-cut sentiment so plopped it right on the main panel.

I needed this easy card - and these cheerful colors.  I'm not going to say that my mojo is in full force again, but I definitely was in a good mood when I finished this up and am looking forward to being in my craft room the next time!

I hope to see you playing along with us this week at Freshly Made Sketches

SUPPLY LIST
Dies: Spellbinders Layers of Flowers Etched, Simon Says Stamp Painted Hugs
Patterned Paper: Doodlebug Designs Dot-Grid-Daisy-Stripe Rainbow Petite Prints with cardstock to match
Embellishments: Doodle Designs Bumblebee Glitter Sprinkles

Copic Marker Matches - Stampin' Up 2019 In Colors

I have finished my picks for Copic markers that match Stampin' Up 2019 In Colors!  Here they are. You can download the most recently full chart here. 


A color FYI:  I listed two matches for Pretty Peacock.  I like BG18 better but the big problem is the lighter color in that family, BG15, doesn't match at all so it makes it hard to add shadows.  I also listed BG75 which is a nice match, perhaps just a little duller and maybe a greener cast - but has the advantage of the entire color family blending well with Pretty Peacock.

A chart FYI: I moved last year's in color matches down to the retired pages - but if you don't want to color in absolutely everything - just color in the new in color page but keep last year's page for reference!

Taylored Expressions Release Day: Wildflowers and Waves

It's finally here!  All the products you have seen during our sneak peeks are available in the Taylored Expressions store.  It's been a summery release - and I want to show you two more.

First - what is summer without a field of flowers?!  This is the Wildflower Background.


There are so many ways to go with this.  What about a blended background?  You could go very soft and beautifully bold.  What about watercoloring it?  All would be gorgeous.  I pulled out my trust Copics.  I got the flowers colored in and then decided I wanted to keep it warm so didn't add any green in the leaves.


I gave it a good sprinkling of sequins for that sun sparkle that fields of flowers have in the morning then topped it with a glittery butterfly.  I pulled out the wildly popular Simple Strips Background and Simple Strips Die to create two sentiments that coordinate.


Here's the supply list for this card - but keep reading for one more peek.

SUPPLY LIST
Remember that the new links won't work until Thursday.


I understand that most people's idea of a beach vacation is bright sun and big umbrellas.  My best ocean-side vacations have been slightly off-season on the Outer Banks of North Carolina.  It's quiet and relatively cool.  Still warm enough to play in the water - but so incredibly peaceful.  Thtat's what I had in mind when I used Build a Background - Waves Stamp & Die Combo.


The water and sand, plus the details on both come from the set.  I used the Here Comes the Sun Stencil to add the sky.


I do love my scene, but there is so much more to do with this set.  It comes with a couple of extra dies to cut the waves.  I used the full wave and the splash stamps on this card.  Then there's also a die to cut a slit into the waves.  With all of that - be very sure you check out the rest of the design team's cards starting with the TE blog.  When you see the brand new mermaid tail from the Be a Mermaid die set waving out of the waves you'll know just how amazing this entire set is.

It's time - the store is open!!

SUPPLY LIST 
Remember that the new links won't work until Thursday.

Taylored Expressions Sneak Peek 3: Independence Day

It's day 3 of sneak peeks for the June release from Taylored Expressions.  Today is a patriotic day! Everything you see this week will be available on Thursday, June 6th. Be sure to check out each of the creative team members' blogs for all of the sneak peeks - starting with the Taylored Expressions blog.

A new addition to the Banner Year series by Heather Nichols is Banner Year - 4th of July Stamp & Die Combo.  These sets include a little banner die with some other cute additions and a stamp set with backgrounds, sentiments and other decorations.  The 4th of July has everything you might expect - and I went very traditional with my card.


Just to give the banners something to hang from, I used the previously released Diagonal Stripes Cutting Plate.  Also, the Banner Year set has multiple sentiments but not for the long strips in the cutting plate that I used.  I pulled my sentiment from another new stamp set Home of the Brave.


We moved just a little over a year ago and was thrilled to experience my new neighborhood's Independence Day parade and when I realized I could walk to my town's fireworks display.  It added a small town charm to the day that was absolutely inspiring - and I am so looking forward to this year.

Here's the supply list for this card.  Keep reading because I have another sneak peek and a chance to win prizes!!

SUPPLY LIST
Remember that the new links won't work until Thursday.


Taylored Expressions is celebrating Release Week with a giveaway during each day of sneak peeks! Visit the TE blog to answer Taylor's Question of the Day for a chance to win one of the latest products before you can buy it!

I'm still patriotic with this card but decided on a unique color scheme.


The fireworks were done with the new Light Up the Night Stencil.  I sponged on a variety of colors then I layered on Nuvo Moonstone Glimmer Paste for the sparkle.  The sentiment is from the new Handlettered 4th of July.


I finished it off with a variety of previously released stars (Pinhole Star Stacklets and Star Stacklets) plus the Little Bits - Firework.  FYI - the pinkish color on the stenciled background is Fruit Punch ink, but it lightened up so much with the glimmer paste that I used Guava cardstock for the star and firework.


Today my patriotism was on full display!!  Be sure to check out the rest of the design team starting with the TE blog.  Tomorrow is release day!  I have a couple of other cards - a bit more "water" and a field of flowers - then it's time to shop!

SUPPLY LIST
Remember that the new links won't work until Thursday.

Freshly Made Sketches: Applesolutely!

It's time for a new sketch at Freshly Made Sketches! Today we have a sketch by Amy.

I've had this fun set sitting in my must-use pile for weeks.  I love the set so I didn't care what the sketch was - I was going to make it work!


Then I made it work again!

Truth be told - in just a few months I'll have two sons in college, so I am prepping my stash of way-to-go or you-can-do-it cards.  Since there were plenty of other options in the set, while I had everything out and everything measured - I made another one. 
The sets are Everyday Punnies and Everyday Doodles by Essentials by Ellen. There are so many fun sentiments and so many cute little images - it'll work for anything.  And anything that is this cute on an exceedingly simple card stays at the top of my stash pile!
I hope to see you playing along this week!
SUPPLY LIST Stamps: Essentials by Ellen Everyday Punnies and Everyday Doodles Ink: Stampin' Up Poppy Parade and Lemon-Lime Twist Paper: My Favorite Things Black & White Stripes

Taylored Expressions Sneak Peek 2: Floaties and Splashes

It's day 2 of sneak peeks for the June release from Taylored Expressions.  Today we're going to splash in the water!  Everything you see this week will be available on Thursday, June 6th. Be sure to check out each of the creative team members' blogs for all of the sneak peeks - starting with the Taylored Expressions blog.

Floaties make me happy.  I grew up in a town with a creek through it and the best summer day was to throw an inner tube in and float through the entire town - through the golf course, the fairgrounds, by the McDonalds (it was a big deal way back then!) and the grocery store.  Of course, I had a black inner tube - nothing as cute as the floaties in the new stamp set Floaties!


I took a few little pieces from another new set Build a Background - Waves.  Other creative team members are showing off the whole set today - I'll have more on Thursday.  Today it's just the little splashes and the die cut wave.  I painted some Shimmer Liquid Watercolor on the waves and dropped some Nuvo White Blizzard Glitter Drops on the splashes.


There are so many other cute images and sentiments in this set - "you're the air in my floaty", "hope your day is a splash", "thanks for keeping me afloat" and more.  And the little critters in their floaties all make me smile!!

Here's the supply list for this card.  Keep reading because I have another sneak peek and a chance to win prizes!!

SUPPLY LIST
Remember that the new links won't work until Thursday.




Taylored Expressions is celebrating Release Week with a giveaway during each day of sneak peeks! Visit the TE blog to answer Taylor's Question of the Day for a chance to win one of the latest products before you can buy it!

Another way to add water and splashes is with the new Make a Splash Background.


I added the little dots with Nuvo Calming Aqua Crystal Drops. They are a great match to my all-time favorite blue - Confetti Cake!  The splashes are such a fresh background - I love it with these cool colors.

I paired the splashes with the previously released O-Fish-Ally Awesome and a tag from Tag Stacklets 1.  I added just a tiny bit of black to ground it all.


Today we had water with a lot of splashing!  Tomorrow will be a patriotic day.  Hope to see you back!  In the meantime, check out the rest of the creative team starting with the TE blog

SUPPLY LIST
Remember that the new links won't work until Thursday.

Taylored Expressions Sneak Peek 1: Gatefolds and Better Half

It's day 1 of sneak peeks for the June release from Taylored Expressions.  You'll see such an amazing variety including crafty friends, lots of water and splashing, and patriotism! Everything you see this week will be available on Thursday, June 6th. Be sure to check out each of the creative team members' blogs for all of the sneak peeks - starting with the Taylored Expressions blog.

I adore products that make it easy to make complicated-looking cards.  The new Gatefold Reveal die is not at the top of my favorites list!

Here's the outside.  All you have to do is cut a 5 1/2" by 8 1/2" piece of paper.  Then score both sides at 2 1/8" so that the two sides fold in.


Now check out the inside!!  This is where the dies come into play.  As you open it - the center opens up to reveal the sentiment on the inside!


The inside piece with the perfectly-sized window and the two little reveal pieces are the die set!

Now let's talk about those fun sentiments.  We all have crafty friends and this stamp set is called Hey, Crafty Friend.  The big sentiment is for the outside and then there's a wide variety of inside sentiments that work for multiple occasions for that special friend. I picked "you're the glitter to my glue" mostly so I could use glitter!  I particularly relate to another the sentiment - you enable me - but there's also birthday and encouragement sentiments too.  It's perfect for any occasion.


For the glittery circles, I used the Polka Party Stencil and coated it with Tonic Nuvo Moonstone Glitter Paste to get those wonderfully sparkly circles.  I plopped my all-time favorite bow on it for a bit more decoration.

Here's the supply list for this card.  Keep reading because I have another sneak peek and a chance to win prizes!!

SUPPLY LIST
Remember that the new links won't work until Thursday.



Taylored Expressions is celebrating Release Week with a giveaway during each day of sneak peeks! Visit the TE blog to answer Taylor's Question of the Day for a chance to win one of the latest products before you can buy it!

Keeping the first card in mind, there's another new product to coordinate with it.  It's the Better Half Cutting Plate which are half-size card front dies (5 1/2" x 2 1/8") so they fit perfectly on both sides of the gatefold card.  However - personally, I don't buy anything if it's a single use product.  So I played around with the two halves and came up with this card.


I love how the two of them look on top of each other.  Almost an optical illusion - so fun!!  I'm not sure where the bee idea came from.  I actually started with blues and was thinking sky or water - but you'll see as the week goes along, we have a lot of new water products coming up.  I wanted a different summery look and remembered this previously released Little Bits - Bumble Bee which I've always thought is the most darling bee out there!  I found the sentiment in the One in a Buzzillion stamp set and added it to the Sentiment Stacker 1.


Today I showed you a gatefold card with a fun reveal inside and two cutting plates that you can decorate it with or use on their own.  Be sure to check out the rest of the design team for lots of other ideas for these products - starting with the Taylored Expressions blog.

SUPPLY LIST
Remember that the new links won't work until Thursday.

AAA Card Challenge: Birthday Blog Hop

The AAA Card Challenge is 5 years old!!

I love the colors on their logo - and did you notice there were five colors??  5th birthday - five colors - five candles - perfect!!  (Especially since I have candles in my not-yet-used stash!)


I played around with various layouts and papers and a bit of blending in the background, but these candles are so fun - I just didn't think they needed much. I found this wonderful "hooray" in my not-yet-used stash and just laid it across the top.  It doesn't get much easier but still has so much detail in the candles and the scripty die.  I love it when good products do all the work!

Happy Birthday AAA Cards!!

SUPPLY LIST
Stamps: Neat & Tangled Hooray
Dies: Neat & Tangled Hooray Word Technique Tuesday Many Candles
Cardstock: Stampin' Up Mango Medley and Lemon Lime Twist, Papertrey Ink Spring Rain and Aqua Mist, Taylored Expressions Lavender Glaze and Lemon Meringue
Ink: Taylored Expressions Lavender Glaze