Taylored Expressions: Inspired by Pinterest

Taylored Expressions maintains a fabulous array of Pinterest Boards sorted by product and some by theme.  It's a fabulous source of inspiration and the Baker's Dozen design team is tasked with showing you how we were inspired by a card.  I fell in love with Amy's card found here.

I love Amy's use of tags and doilies and chevron paper on a gift bag.  I was inspired by her colors and the soft look of the doilies and vellum, and so much more!  I love learning from other cardmakers.  I had all of the soft colors out but my card wasn't working.  Then I realized that Amy's simple use of a black reinforced hole gave the card depth - so I added my black tag.  That small touch added such interest. I also didn't originally have any wood veneer out, but as I studied Amy's card I loved the added texture. I can't begin to compare to the wonderful detail and texture of Amy's card, but here's how I was inspired.


The flower comes from one of those simple must-have sets, Sketched Blooms.  It's just six simple flowers but can work from anything to softly colored sympathy cards to bright and cheerful celebration cards.

Amy is a fabulous artist, be sure to check out the rest of her work at Pickled Paper Designs.
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The paper is from the scrap bin.  The tag is from Carta Bella Hello Again 6x6 pad.  The backside of the brick paper is a Christmas pattern and the scrap had the Allison Kreft Designs logo on it. The butterfly is in a wood veneer set from Michaels.

Sketched Blooms

Frame in Frame Cutting Plate

TE Sequins - Build a Scene

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Curtain Call Inspiration Challenge: Totally Tassels

It's time for a new challenge at the Curtain Call Inspiration Challenge: Totally Tassel.

We have a wonderful returning sponsor, Newton's Nook, for the Curtain Call Inspiration: Totally Tassel!  A randomly selected participant in this challenge will receive a $30 gift certificate to use at Newton's Nook while the LEAD will be invited as a Guest Designer in a future challenge!

While Newton's Nook has a variety of stamp sets, I fell in love with their cat sets.  We have two cats who graciously call us their humans.  They are not aloof cats - they are an every day part of our lives. Even my teenage son somewhat routinely calls us to a room to see what the cats are doing.  (Of course, he also watches My Cat from Hell on TV - so he is definitely a cat person!)

I wanted to use one of Newton's cat sets today - but struggled a little with the graphic of elegant tassels.  I finally settled on using the colors (so this won't be a card for the teenage son) and the layout with pops of color and gold on white.

I hope to see you play along!  You don't have to use Newton's Nook - but you could win that gift certificate!
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I have linked to the basic set of My Favorite Things Fishtail dies.  They also have a Layers set - mine are mixed together so I never know which set I am using!

Newton's Birthday Bash	PPP 4mm Metallic Gold Sequins	MFT Fishtail Flags Die	SU Crisp Cantaloupe CS
SU Pistachio Pudding CS

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Freshly Made Sketches: Bless You

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

I had been browsing my die stash and realized that I had a die that I had gotten some time ago thinking I would use it regularly - and it has never once been through my Big Shot.  Given that it was round - it was a must-use on my card.

I wanted the focus on the die so I found some very subtle striped paper and simply added interest by changing the direction of the stripe. 
Be sure to check out the variety of other inspiration by the Freshly Made Sketches design team - and then head to your craft area - we do love seeing your take on these sketches!
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Die-Versions Bless You die	The Cat's Pajamas Flower Buttons	Pink Paislee Indigo Bleu	SU Crushed Curry CS
SU Basic Gray CS	Hemp Cord - white

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Taylored Expressions Release Day: Lemons in Your Tea

It's here!  All of the new products from Taylored Expressions are available!  Also be sure to head over to the TE Blog for a few more sneak peeks and, if you've been leaving comments, the winners of the giveaways.

I have one more sneak peek for you. Everything else I did for sneak peek week has been bold and bright, so I decided to go sweet and subtle for today.  This card uses the new border die: Eventful - Tea Party.  If you were around yesterday, you saw all of the designers create party invitations using "Eventful" dies.  Today I am using an Eventful die on a card with a thoughtful sentiment to send to someone who might be struggling.


I love that row of tea accessories - the bird shape in the middle makes me smile!  I paired it with a sentiment from the previously release set In Other Words - Tea and I used some Pink Paislee Citrus Bliss. 

A few of the new Doodlebug Glitter Sprinkles in Bumblee to show some steam - and it's a simple, yet meaningful card!
I hope you enjoyed all of this week's sneak peeks.  It's time to shop at Taylored Expressions!!
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In Other Words - Tea	Eventful - Tea Party	Banner Stacklets 2	Pink Paislee 6x6 Pad - Citrus Bliss
Premium Cardstock - Earl Grey	Premium Cardstock - Sugar Cube	Doodlebug Glitter Sprinkles - Bumblebee

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Taylored Expressions Sneak Peek 3: Toadstools and Movies

It's day 3 of sneak peeks for the May release from Taylored Expressions!!  I have two very different cards today - a pink fairy and a bold movie invite!

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, May 7th, 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, the entire design team is creating party invitations using the new stamp sets Eventful and RSVP.  The stamp set includes stamps for a wide variety of parties - bachelorette, baby or bridal showers, pool party, game night and movie night, and many more.  I made an invitation for movie night.


I love the idea of hand-crafted invitations for events.  Even though I'm a cardmaker, I fall into the email trap when I am inviting people over.  This invite would make the event so special!  
I used Little Bits - Movie Night dies for the accents.  I also used strips of red paper cut with the Starry Nights Cutting Plate.  This is actually a full background die.  If you saw my Downtown Border on Sneak Peek Day 1 - the city skyline would look fabulous on the full Starry Nights Cutting Plate.

On a totally different look and theme, I have a fairy from the new set Under the Toadstool along with Under the Toadstool dies.


I kept the colors bright and cheerful using Doodlebug's Sunkissed Pad along with a variety of their Glitter Sprinkles (all available at the TE Store).
The stamp set also has cute little gnomes, fairy houses and one tall toadstool, but I really liked this fairy with her pet mouse!


Tomorrow's the big day - all products will be available at 7 a.m. PST!   Be sure to check out the other designers' sneak peeks, starting on the Taylored Expressions blog.  While you are there, leave a comment for a chance to win!

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Remember, links to new products won't work until tomorrow!

Pretty Things

Under the Toadstool	Under the Toadstool Dies	Doodlebug 6x6 Pad - Sunkissed	Embossing Folder - Leafy Vine
Premium Cardstock - Peapod	Premium Cardstock - Candy Corn	Doodlebug Glitter Sprinkles - Limeade	Doodlebug Glitter Sprinkles - Cupcake
Doodlebug Glitter Sprinkles - Tangerine	Hemp Cord - Gold (68 yards)

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Taylored Expressions carries Copics!

Movie Night

Eventful	RSVP	Little Bits - Movie Night	Starry Nights Cutting Plate
Premium Cardstock - Sugar Cube	Premium Cardstock - Oreo	Premium Cardstock - Red Pepper	Premium Cardstock - Potato Chip

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