Tuesday, May 5, 2015

Taylored Expressions Sneak Peek 2: Dad's Day!

It's day 2 of sneak peeks for the May release from Taylored Expressions!!  My cards today are about dads - the chief of the charcoal, boss of the barbecue, and all around awesome guy!

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.







"Boss of the barbeque" is definitely an appropriate title for the dad in my house.  My husband loves to cook - I think he'd cook every night of the week (particularly if somebody cleaned up after him.)  I'd let him except (1) he makes a mess and (2) he is only a meat and potatoes guy.  I love what he grills, but I am definitely not a barbecue connoisseur, so it starts to taste the same after awhile. (We have added a smoker to the patio and it is a wonderful addition to his repertoire.)

Taylored Expressions has a serious of dies this month that work perfectly for the BBQ guy in your life.  My card uses Little Bits - Grill and Little Bits - Hamburger (which is actually a sneak peek of a sneak peek since the burger is rolling out tomorrow).  TE is also releasing a beer mug and lots of other grilled food condiments.

Taylored Expressions Punny Man

The sentiments is from the new set Punny Man.  There are lots of other puns involving mowers and ties and tees and anchors - all of which have coordinating dies!!

Taylored Expressions Boss of the BBQ close

I also used a new embossing folder Brick.  I inked the folder with white ink before I embossed to better see the mortar between the bricks.  The tag is from the new Build a Tag 4 - this is the big tag - you'll see more on the next card.

I went for a more "serious" look on this next card - but with a sarcastic sentiment.

Taylored Expressions My Favorite Dad

The background is the new Argyle Cutting Plate - LOVE it!!  I added a few strips of cardstock behind every other stripe.  

Taylored Expressions Argyle Cutting

From the Build a Tag 4 I used the smaller tag, the square and a little accent piece behind my Potty People (love the name!)

Taylored Expressions My Favorite Dad Close

Both of these are going to work for my son's to give to dad.  My youngest son is the grillmaster and my oldest son has the same conservative style and outlook as my husband so the argyle works.  

There's a lot of other sneak peeks - start with the Taylored Expressions blog, leave a comment for a chance to win, and then visit the other designers.

Come back tomorrow for toadstools and movies!


SUPPLY LIST

 Remember, links to new products won't work until Thursday.

 Boss of the Barbeque


I'm Awesome


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Monday, May 4, 2015

Taylored Expressions Sneak Peeks 1: Let Freedom Ring

It's day 1 of sneak peeks for the May release from Taylored Expressions!!  My cards today are about the "sweet land of liberty!" using a variety of patriotic themed images.

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.







For this first card, I have recreated my city!  I have lived in the Denver, Colorado area for all of my adult life.  I thoroughly enjoy the mix of city - with its theaters and restaurants and shopping - and the outdoors - with its hiking and skiing.  Pictures of Denver give a fabulous picture of this mix.


So when I saw the Downtown Border die, I knew that I needed to pair it with the previously released Build a Scene - Mountain and Build a Scene - Rolling Hills to create a city scene.

Taylored Expressions Downtown and Mountains

I added a sentiment from the new set Of Thee I Sing because it so captures what I feel with this scene.
Taylored Expressions Of Thee I Sing

I love the detail in each little die.  Here's a close-up of the flag with the city in the background.

Taylored Expressions Little Bits Flag

For my family, we have two different but fabulous ways of celebrating the 4th of July.  Sometimes we stay in town.  We actually live a little southeast of Denver at a higher elevation (5900!) that lets us look down on the entire city and see the Rocky Mountains across the horizon.  Fireworks on the 4th are quite an experience because we can see a dozen or more shows from our house.  They are far away - but they cover the horizon.

On the other hand, we have a little condo in the mountain town of Frisco, Colorado.  Frisco does the 4th the old-fashioned way.  It starts with a pancake breakfast with the firefighters, then a small town parade full of children with decorate bikes.  There are fishing derbies and arts/crafts shows and concerts in the park.  Then at dusk, everybody walks out their front and heads down to the marina to watch the fireworks shot off over Dillon Reservoir.  That's an up close and personal experience!  One year we sat on our sailboat and the fireworks were right on top of us - literally raining down debris. (We didn't do that again!) 




This next card captures the more old-fashioned, country feeling of the 4th with its mason jars and pinwheels.

Taylored Expressions Little Bits on 4th

The Little Bits - Pinwheel is a fun dimensional look.  I stuck it in the Little Bits - Mason Jar cut from some light blue vellum.  The lid and the pole (which is actually from Little Bits - Flag) is from silver metallic paper.

Taylored Expressions Little Bits Pinwheel

I used the previously released Frame in Frame Cutting Plate to frame my jar.  I added a little embossing for interest using the new Corrugated Embossing Folder.  The sequins are from Summer Nights Sequins - it includes various blues, reds, whites, silver and clear.  The paper is from the Summer Nights Paper Pack.  Did you know you get Taylored Expressions paper in two ways: a pack of the patterned paper, or a matched kit which includes the patterned paper and coordinating cardstock.

Now that you are in a patriotic summer mood - but sure to check out all of the other sneak peeks starting out with the Taylored Expressions blog.  (And leave a comment for a chance to win!)

SUPPLY LIST

 Remember - links to new products won't work until Thursday!

My Country 'Tis of Thee

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Friday, May 1, 2015

Curtain Call Inspiration Challenge: Travel On

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


I am fully immersed in high school graduation and college plans with my oldest son, so I have a different perspective on the theme of "Travel On".  Just yesterday, we paid the deposit for Valparaiso University in Indiana!!  My son had very different plans until he actually started visiting campuses - and immediately realized he felt at home at Valparaiso.  I'm not quite sure how I feel given he had good options within an hour or two from our home - but he picked the school that is 1,037.6 miles away!  There is definitely some travel in my future!

I was inspired by the colors and the vintage look of the camera.

Follow Your Dreams

My son's journey is obvious.  He has a major life change in front of him.  Prayers are welcome and needed!  

I've been on my own journey and I'm afraid it's moving my cardmaking to a backseat - sometimes it feels like the backseat of a bus!!  Many of you have followed me through my pursuit of a second college degree so I could move back into the work world.  Now I'm doing some volunteering as an accountant.  I raised my hand to volunteer because I knew the work experience would be invaluable on my resume.  But I actually volunteered to do a few hours of bookkeeping a day - and now it's many, many, many intense hours a day as we have realized there are issues.  I haven't even had time to apply for a real job yet...but my resume is going to look fabulous!  In the meantime, we have my oldest son's graduation and my youngest son's battle with an extreme anxiety disorder.  Life is getting in the way!!  

I am blessed to be on three design teams that I adore.  I love the people, the challenges and the product.  I hope that I am of some benefit to them - because they are truly important in my life. Sometimes you have to be "forced" to have fun and my design team commitments require me to sit down and craft.  I am committed to carving out time to craft.  It's my sanity check - and I bet you can all relate to that! And I still make time to browse blogs - typically as I'm falling asleep at night.  This cardmaking world is a fabulous place and I wish I were still living in it full-time!  But even part-time is worth it and I can honestly say that it makes me a better person to have this happy place! 

SUPPLY LIST

The arrows are Studio Calico Wood Veneer but I can't find the exact package to link it.  The dots that look like gems by each sentiment are actually Silver Nailheads by Mark Richards - I can't find them either.  Sorry!

Stop by the Curtain Call Inspiration Challenge: Travel On for the challenge details and to play along with us!

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