Hand Stamped Sentiments: Congrats

I needed a card that was very specifically a masculine coffee/tea cup with a big congrats. I was inspired by the colors at Hand Stamped Sentiments. I might have thought to put the blue with one of the brown tones - but I wouldn't have put those browns together and I ended up loving them on my masculine coffee cup.

Why a coffee/tea a cup and a big congrats? Because the adult son who had been living with us while between jobs, to whom last week I sent a card of encouragement when he moved to Michigan, already has a job!!  And it's a coffee/tea company!!!  He's been doing multiple interviews with them over the last three weeks and knew that each interview felt good - like he really connected.  The job is working with data and he can happily talk data all day long (he even makes it interesting!), but he also likes coffee and he really got to know and love unique teas with a favorite hole-in-the-wall tea shop near his college.  It's already a national chain, although small, and planning to grow so he's on the ground floor - doing something he likes, at a company he likes.  Thus the huge "congrats"!

I had the perfect coffee/tea cup - and was inspired by the masculine colors - for just the right card for this situation!!  Isn't this why we all love this hobby???  The coffee/tea cup is a Sizzix/Tim Holtz colorize die set so lots of itty bitty pieces but each piece is labelled "coffee" or "tea" on the back and the die cuts have detail to show you where the next piece goes. Most importantly, I have a good pair of tweezers and a fine point glue bottle to do the job.  The only requirement for the "congrats" was that it be big and bold. I have an old Winnie & Walter set with just the right look.  I played with a variety of patterned papers in the background but finally decided the sun rays on the embossed panel were exactly the look I needed. 

Thanks to Hand Stamped Sentiments for the color combo that made this just right!

SUPPLY LIST

Dies: Sizziz/Tim Holtz Cafe Colorize, Winnie & Walter The Big, The Bold and You, Trinity Stamps Modern Embossed Rectangle

Paper: Stampin' Up Pecan Pie, Copper Clay, Misty Moonlight, Early Espresso, Pebbled Path, Gray Granite

Other: Spellbinders Sun Rays Embossing Folder, Little Things by Lucy Copper Rose Jewels

Freshly Made Sketches: Amazing and Fantastic

It's time for a new sketch at Freshly Made Sketches! Today we have a sketch by Judy and here’s what I did with it!

 

When I saw this die in my stash - I knew the sketch and die would be just right! And I definitely need some cards in my stash for my sons in college. This is probably destined for my youngest son.  He's been home this summer and it's the first time he's been around since he turned 21. We've thoroughly enjoyed visiting various breweries and Colorado is definitely big on breweries so we've done a lot of "visiting"!!

I'm using two rectangle dies from Stampin' Up's Rectangle Stitched Framelits but I had to do "surgery" on both of them. The narrow one is stretched - I cut half, moved the die (making sure the stitching lined up), then cut from the other side.  The wider one is a single cut but then I moved the die and cut it about 2/3 of the way to get the two pieces. 

I'm wishing I would have shaded the edges of the bottle and the mug to give them both a rounded look.  I'm afraid I'm guilty of keeping cards to my sons fairly simple - they are much more interested in the gift card I might have tucked inside.  That's not entirely fair, because I know my oldest keeps the most recent card that I've sent over his desk - but they still would not notice details.  

Of course, only I know whether the amazing, fantastic, extraordinary and wonderful thing is my son - or is it a good beer???

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

SUPPLY LIST

Stamps: Avery Elle Framed Fonts (retired)

Dies: Paper Rose Beer Bottle 1

Paper: Stampin' Up Crushed Curry, Pacific Point (plus older dsp)

Freshly Made Sketches: WOW

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

I definitely used this sketch - right down to the dotted (or starred) circles!!


I spent last week driving 845 miles to take my youngest son to college. I didn't think it would be as hard as it was to drop him off. I have so many interest and hobbies that I had no doubt that I'd fill my time.  And I'm sure I will.  But it's going to be terribly quiet with just my husband and I.  My son laughed at me multiple times on the trip - stating that I'd spent 19 years trying to get rid of him and in the last week suddenly I was sad.

I am working on a stash of cards that I can send him when he needs a boost (or when I am thinking of him!)  This one is all about his school colors.


I think I'll send it fairly soon because he has totally embraced the college life (although classes just started yesterday so we'll see!)  He loves the gorgeous green campus and he knows his lacrosse teammates through months of social medial and he loves the dining hall.  He loved forming the big "A" on the football field during welcome week and he loved the open air movie.  It all fits him.

I'm happy for him.  I just wish he weren't 845 miles away.  It's a quick flight (I flew back) unless the plane is delayed 6 1/2 hours because it was struck by lightning and needed a part.  The pilot actually thought it was OK to tell us that!  My oldest son is only 90 miles away but he's already said he doesn't want to see me any more often than he already does. 

I'm done whining.  I don't have to cook dinner tonight.  I can turn on the Hallmark channel or HGTV and no one will complain.  I can play my music - loudly - and maybe even dance a little.  Then a glass  or two of wine and reading in bed.  Sounds pretty good...for awhile.

SUPPLY LIST
Stamps: Birch Press Design Lingo Thanks
Dies: Birch Press Design Big Lingo Type Wow, Essential by Ellen Circle of Stars
Cardstock: Taylored Expressions Blueberry, Pineapple, Gumball

Taylored Expressions Sneak Peek 2: Inky Notepaper

It's day 2 of sneak peeks for the April release from Taylored Expressions and today I have inky fingers and some all purpose notepaper!  Everything you see this week will be available on Thursday, April  4th. Be sure to check out each of the creative team members' blogs for all of the sneak peeks - starting with the Taylored Expressions blog.  

This release comes with a new addition to the "inky" line of stamps - Inky Fingers - Flowers.  They are so much fun to work with!  Smoosh your finger into the ink and plop it in the center of the flower.

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This card would be fabulous to do with kids - can you imagine a grandma or auntie getting a card with the kids' fingerprints?!  As an adult making and eventually sending this card, I still wanted the texture from my finger but I want it a little more clean.  So I made three little masks - one for the circular flowers, one for the tulip shape and one for the leaves.  Then I could ink up, roll my finger across the opening in the mask and I have cute little flower.  I did use coordinating Copics to just slightly darken their smiles.


I wanted to mirror the texture in the flowers on the borders.  So I cut a piece of paper at 5 1/2" and then I just swiped little ink pads across it.  I cut it down the center long-wise and I had two coordinating borders.


The sentiments in the set will take you through many different occasions.  I picked a friendship sentiment, but there is also birthday, mother's day, love and smiles.


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 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 very versatile addition is the Notepaper Background and the Notepaper Border.  It can go so many different directions.  I think the contrast between soft flowers and a scripty sentiment on the notepaper would be fabulous.  But I am already starting to sweat a little over graduation.  My husband coaches high school lacrosse and mentors church teens.  He loves to come to me just days before graduation and ask for 20 cards.  Ugh.  So I've learned to plan ahead.  A graduation card is a traditional use of the notepaper - but I loaded on a big "congrats" and lots of stars!


All the stars come from the previously released Stroke of Genius - Stars.  Then I used a sentiment from another new set in this release - Color My World.  I used  the regular Stroke of Genius set to add a swoosh of color over the sentiment.  The Congrats is from Simply Said - Grad.  The paper clips is from Office Depot!!


I was thrilled that the die for the edge made it through two pieces of paper because I folded the card and then cut the edge.  It looks so much like sheets from a notebook!

Today we had flowers and graduation.  Tomorrow starts after that - weddings, babies and anniversaries.   Head over to the TE blog for more sneak peeks, then I hope you come back tomorrow.

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

Freshly Made Sketches: Lucky Stars

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

The timing was particularly good on this sketch.  My youngest is headed to college in just a few short months.  When my oldest went, I had made a huge number of cards to have on hand for him - cards if he succeeded, cards if he failed, cards if he got stressed or worried - or just goofy "mom misses you cards"!  But I have nothing prepared for my youngest so it's been in my head that I need to get a start on these.  When I saw the sketch - it clicked that I have a set that has 9 stars on a stamp laid out in that pattern so I don't even have to line them up!!


Guess what's extra fun about this card - it's his new school colors!!  Fun story - he's going to Augustana College in Rock Island, Illinois.  Guess where I graduated from many, many decades ago?  Augustana College but not in Rock Island - my Augustana College (now University) is in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.  Both of them use blue and gold and both are Vikings.  So I have throwback stuff from my school that I can wear for his school!  We didn't plan it - in fact, he's somewhat horrified that I walk around bragging that I went to the real Augustana College.  
He was heavily recruited as a lacrosse goalie.  Augie has a good Division III program which is a perfect fit for him - competitive but not insane.  I love that it's a small Christian school. He loves that it's in the Quad Cities which has about a half million people - and it's just a few hours from Chicago so he can experience true city living while living on a small, protected campus.
The border is inset.  I cut the center out with a stitched rectangle, the trimmed off the stitched part leaving a bit of a gap between the two.

Here's hoping I need many, many more of this type of card! 
FYI - this is a Taylored Expressions set and if you haven't started on Easter cards - they have a jelly bean set with the same layout (and there are others!)   I had it out to use, but I only have one more Easter card to make and jelly beans just aren't right for this one.
I hope to see you playing along with us this week.
SUPPLY LIST

Taylored Expressions: A Hawaiian-Themed Wedding

I have a very interesting event coming up - and I love that I can create a custom card for it that's just right.  A wonderful guy at work - a bit older - is getting married for the first time. He and his fiancee dated in college and connected again recently.  They are doing this wedding their way - a Hawaiian theme in a Colorado mountain park with a group hike afterwards and the Hangry Ohana Hawaiian Barbeque food truck for refreshments!!  LOVE IT!!

So I needed a card for them that wasn't particularly frilly but still celebrated a wedding - with a bit of Hawaiian added in.  Luckily I have the Taylored Expressions products to do it!!


I put the bright colors in the background. The great part of putting the color behind the cutting plate is that there is still so much fresh white that it is clearly for a wedding!  The color in the background doesn't need to be done carefully either.  I literally sponged on blobs - then I did a quick sprinkle of black watercolor for the texture.

To formalize it just a wee bit - I painted the "congrats" with shimmer watercolor.  I also added three little sequins - but in a bright purple!!  The sequins come from a Halloween set (linked below) that I have multiple bottles of just for these purple sequins.  I also added quite a bit of dimension - it is a very thick card but I like the substantial look of it.

I'm ready with the card.  Now I just have to figure out what to wear to a Hawaiian wedding in the Colorado Rockies that matches my hiking boots!!
SUPPLY LIST

Freshly Made Sketches: Slow Clap

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

In the midst of all of my moving talk over the last few weeks (BTW - it's tomorrow!!!), there's another huge event coming in my family.  My youngest will graduate from Lutheran High School!!  I feel just a little bad about overshadowing his last month in high school with this move, but he might just be more excited than I am.  His room is bigger and in the basement away from us,  his commute for his last few weeks at school is an easy 3 miles, and he has also thought he was more urban that rural.  (Although we've tried to tell him "rural" is an exaggeration.  We do currently live on 5 acres on the prairie, however, it's only 3 minutes to the town's cultural events center and a big library, and it's 5 minutes to Costco plus any number of fast food options.  It's hard to say we're rural.  However, we are moving to a charming little neighborhood which is actually further from all of those things, but we have next door neighbors!)

Besides my son's graduation, a number of his lacrosse teammates will graduate.  Since my husband has coached them for years, I am always called upon to do quite a few cards in school colors.


I love our hobby because it is extra special that I can create something specific for the kids.  Purple, black, silver/gray - and they know it's for them!

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

SUPPLY LIST

Stamps: Simon Says Stamp (SSS) Yay
Dies: SSS Yay, Lil Inkers Dual Dotted Rectangles
Cardstock: Taylored Expressions (TE) Jelly Donut, Oreo, Silver Foil
Ink: Versamark with TE Black Fine Detail Embossing Powder
Embossing Folder: TE Diagonal Stripes
Other: Doodlebug Graduation Assortment Sprinkles

Taylored Expressions: Blooming Beautiful and Triangle Tetris

It's the big day!  All the Taylored Expressions products you've seen through sneak peek week are now available - and I have a few more to show you. Be sure to head over to the Taylored Expressions blog for a few more peeks - and to see if you've won a prize.

Yesterday I showed you "Dad" from the Caps Lock series of stamps and dies making an eclipse card.  I thought I should show you a Mom card today but I just used the die cut letters.  Plus, I've been practically giddy all week over the new stencils so here's Blooming Beautiful.


So far this week, I used the new stencils by sponging on color, I glimmered them, and I used embossing paste.  Today I dry embossed the stencil which gives a soft dimensional look, then I lightly brushed it with the same color.


The new dies Bloomers 8 perfectly coordinate with the stencil so I added a flower and a few sprigs of greenery using the previously released Flower Box Sprigs & Flowers.  I added a few metallic sequins simply because I love the look of silver/gray and pink!

Here's the supply list for this card but keep scrolling down because there's another peek.

SUPPLY LIST
As a final peek before you go shopping, I had to show you a new fabulous background Triangle Tetris.


Check out the fun details in this background.  Did you notice that not every area is filled with triangles?  It gives it such a unique look.  There is so much you can do with this.  I started with the idea of loose watercoloring in each triangle.  But as I was pulling out supplies, my husband wandered by my desk and casually (and cluelessly) mentioned that he would need 12 graduation cards for kids on the lacrosse team he coaches and 6 for the kids he taught years ago in Confirmation.  (The average man does not appreciate the time and attention to each and every card.)   Even so, it made me look seriously this background and realize what amazing detail it would give to a quick and easy card.


It also gave me a chance to show you one more of the embossing powders, Fine Detail Gold.  These new embossing powder melt beautifully!  The word is the previously released Congrats Script cut using Gold Foil Cardstock which I placed on vellum to separate it from the gold triangles.  A few black stars from Oreo Enamel Shapes and I'm done.  You could easily add school colors into this card for each graduate.

Remember...for a limited time, earn DOUBLE CRAFTY POINTS when you purchase our Stencil Bundle which includes all 6 of our new stencil designs! If you're not a Crafty Points member, it's free and easy to join. Just create an account at the TE webstore and you're automatically enrolled to begin earning crafty points with every purchase. You'll earn 84 Crafty Points on the purchase of our Stencil bundle! Offer valid on qualifying purchases made between 9am CDT on Thursday, April 5, 2018 and 11:59 pm CDT on Sunday, April 8, 2018 and only while supplies last. Crafty Points are only available on purchases made via our retail site: TE webstore.

That's enough chatter for today because I"m sure you'd like to be shopping.  The store's open!

SUPPLY LIST

Taylored Expressions: Shining Star and Ray of Sunshine

Last fall as my son was heading out to his freshman year of college, I swore that I would drop a card or little surprise gift in his mailbox each and every week.  I think I only sent about three things.  It's not so much that I'm a terrible mom, but rather that he totally embraced college life.  It's his home.  If the dorms hadn't closed, I'm not sure he even would have come for Christmas!

Even so, I want to do a bit better this semester (mostly to make me feel better!)  One of the things that I've wanted to play with is the coordination between Taylored Expressions Ray of Sunshine Cutting Plate and Shining Star Plate.


These two cutting plates work very well by themselves.  (I used Ray of Sunshine on one of my favorite cards ever.)  But they also line up perfectly to allow you to easily add colored stars. I cut the Ray of Sunshine in scrap paper to use as a template.  Then I cut it in multiple bright colors to get a variety of inside panels.  Use the template to adhere the colors to the card panel.  Then cut the Toffee and just plop it on top and you have colored stars!!

I love products that make my life easier!

SUPPLY LIST

Shining Star Sentiments	Shining Star Cutting Plate	Ray of Sunshine Cutting Plate	Banner Stacklets 4
Stitched Circle Stacklets	Pockets & Pages - Stitched Essentials	TE Premium Ink - Oreo - Full Pad	TE Premium Cardstock - Oreo
TE Premium Cardstock - Sugar Cube	TE Premium Cardstock - Toffee	TE Premium Cardstock - Cookie Monster	TE Premium Cardstock - Lemon Meringue
TE Premium Cardstock - Cherry Pop	TE Premium Cardstock - Granny Smith	TE Premium Cardstock - Candy Corn

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