Curtain Call Reminder: Tassels with Newton's NOok

Just a reminder that there is still time to play along with the challenge at the Curtain Call Inspiration Challenge: Totally Tassel.

Our sponsor for this challenge is Newton's Nook.  If you haven't followed Newton's Nook - Newton is a cat! When this challenge first came out (here's my post), I shared a picture of my two cats. Newton's Nook has a variety of stamps, but I always seem to come back to their cat sets.  In particular, I enjoy Naughty Newton.  Where else can you find stamps of a cat unrolling a roll of toilet paper, or a cat in a litter box!??  (I haven't had toilet paper on the roll for a decade.  It just sits on the counter. When I do put it back, say for an evening with friends, if I forget to take it off again - it will be completely unrolled.  I think my cats stalk all the bathrooms, every single day, for a decade, just in case the toilet paper happens to be on the roll!)

I didn't use the toilet paper or litter box stamps because I couldn't make them work with the colors and elegance of the tassels graphic.  But I could also relate to this stamp...


There is always stuff on my floor.  Sometimes it is very deliberate - I will watch a cat sit on the counter, and casually and methodically push various items off.  Other times it's just bull-headedness as a cat feels is is entitled to be somewhere where there simply isn't room, and as it pushes its way through, stuff gets displaced.  I've actually experienced broken flower pots, although wine glasses on the coffee table are a bigger deal in my house.
I used those little banners to give a nod to the tassel theme of the challenge.  
I hope you are playing along - there's a gift certificate to Newton's Nook up for grabs to a randomly selected participant!
SUPPLY LIST

Newton's Nook Naughty Newton	MFT Blueprints 1 dies	SU Confetti Celebration	SU Crisp Cantaloupe CS
SU Pistachio Pudding CS	SU Wild Wasabi CS

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Freshly Made Sketches: So Proud of You

It's time for a new sketch at Freshly Made Sketches! Today we have a sketch by Cindy Lovell:

I have graduation on the brain this week because I have a high school senior. Relatives started coming in yesterday.  Tonight is the Blessings Ceremony (Andrew goes to a Christian high school so we actually get to have Christ-focused events!).  Friday is Baccalaureate/Graduation.  Andrew is an extremely low-key kind of guy - so no party - but on Saturday the whole extended family is heading out to dinner.  Then I think I'll let him play unlimited video games for a week or so (other than his hours as fry-cook at Dairy Queen) - before we start planning and packing for Valparaiso University!!

I love making graduation cards because I can use school colors.

I used these dies somewhat differently than they were set up.  (I got the idea from Amy Sheffer.)  The top word die is actually a full die going down to the cap part.  Amy had trimmed the bottom off and then popped the top part of the hat.  LOVE the look!
Now I just need to make a somewhat sarcastic card for his younger brother to give to Andrew, and I really want to make something for Blessings tonight.  Fingers crossed that the stamp set that I ordered for that purpose shows up in the mail today!
I hope to see you playing along.  It is so much fun to browse the gallery at Freshly Made Sketches each week and see the wide variety of cards!
SUPPLY LIST

PTI Enclosed: Graduate	PTI Enclosed: Graduate Die	SU Basic Black CS	PTI Smokey Shadow CS
SSS Fog Gray CS	MFT Grape Jelly CS	MFT Grape Jelly Ink	Doodlebug Graduation Stars Sprinkles
Doodlebug Gold Dots Sprinkles

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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.
SUPPLY LIST
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!
SUPPLY LIST
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!
SUPPLY LIST

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!!
SUPPLY LIST

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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