Thursday, February 9, 2017

Kara's Friday Inspiration File

I absolutely wanted to participate in Kara's Friday Inspiration File challenge in celebration of her 300th week of inspiration!!  Each week, she picks a few of her favorite cards and pins them here.  I have re-pinned so many of her pins into my own inspiration file and I have also discovered so many cardmakers and blogs by checking out her picks each week.  I can't believe it's week 300.  (BTW - Kara is in inspiration herself!!)

I've wanted to play along from the day she posted a week ago, but life gets in the way.  With the husband recovering from surgery, the teenager not getting his driver's license until next week and with the auditors in at work - it's been a very long couple of week.  I give you this sob story because I only had a half hour window to make this card and it's extremely rare that I can make a card in half an hour.  First of all, it takes that much time just to find the stamps and dies!!  Second, I'm a brute force cardmaker, I'm not a visualizer. I just keep experimenting - - - what about this pattern? what about that color? what about a different placement?  Even with the inspiration, I ran out of time on this one! Don't get me wrong - it's going to be perfect for my husband for Valentine's Day, but it does not do justice to the inspiration!

I was inspired by Shona with this card that Kara pinned on week 289.  This is Shona's card.  It is truly lovely with a floral background and a soft blue "hello".


I followed her inspiration exactly except I made it masculine.

Friday Inspiration File

Thank you to Kara for the weekly inspiration.  Thank you to Shona for the gorgeous card - it's staying in my own inspiration files!

SUPPLY LIST
I{heart}U dies - Verve
Woodgrain - Stampin' Up
Always - MFT Label Maker Love and dies
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Wednesday, February 8, 2017

TE Sneak Peeks Day 3: Flowers and Grumplings

It's day 3 of sneak peeks for the February release from Taylored Expressions! I have a unique mix today.  A fun new stitched pocket that perfectly holds cheerful flowers which is a unique contrast to an addition to the Grumpling collection! 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 includes the cutest little stitched pocket - Little Bits-Pocket.  I found it a perfect holder for a flower from Faith in Bloom (dies for Faith in Bloom are new with this release - I'll have more on these tomorrow.)

Taylored Expressions Little Bits Pocket

I love the details on this pocket.  Stitching is always a great look.  The top is a separate panel so you could do it in another color or patterns.  And the heart button adds a great final touch!

Taylored Expressions Little Bits Pocket

I also used more of the brand new Enamel Shapes - this time in Lemon Meringue.  For the background, I brushed on a very light layers of Salt Water Taffy.

Here's what is on this card - but be sure to keep reading for a chance at prizes and another sneak peek.

SUPPLY LIST



Before I share a peek at another product, I'm excited to tell you that Taylored Expressions is celebrating Release Week with some fabulous giveaways! Visit the TE blog to answer Taylor's Question of the Day for a chance to win a prize from the latest release!


Taylored Expressions is known for their Grumplings series.  There are Grumplings for holidays and for weddings and new parents and for dozens of other situations.  Who would have thought they could come up with a set for spring?  Who could be grumpy over spring?  But they did it - and I love it!

Taylored Expressions Spring Grumplings

This is just one of the fun sentiments in this cute set.  There's also "sneezin's greetings" which definitely fits me!  And my favorite is "Finally! My winter fat is gone. Now I have spring rolls."  

Taylored Expressions Spring Grumplings

The other new items on this cards is the Lattice Frame Cutting Plate. It also comes with multiple ovals that layer perfectly with the previously released Stitched Oval Stacklet.  I love the look of it and am looking forward to some less grumpy cards with it - I want to add layers of flowers and leaves up the lattice!

I have used two products on these cards that have specials in the TE store.  This month, there are two ways to earn DOUBLE CRAFTY POINTS! 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. For a limited time, you'll earn 120 Crafty Points on the purchase of the Enamel Shapes Bundle and 54 Crafty Points on our Exclusive Lattice Frame Cutting Plate! Offers valid on qualifying purchases made between 9am CST on Thursday, February 9, 2017 and 11:59 pm CST on Sunday, February 12, 2017 and only while supplies last. Crafty Points are only available on purchases made via our retail site, www.tayloredexpressions.com.



Be sure to head over to the TE blog for links to the rest of the creative team and to enter the question of the day contest.

SUPPLY LIST


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Freshly Made Sketches: Butterfly Birthday

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


As I was thinking about this card over the weekend, I also needed a birthday card for a workmate on Monday. I was a bit stumped, but then I remembered that she has two pieces of art on her wall with black butterfly outlines and splashes of color on a white background.  Here's what I came up with.

FMS Butterfly Birthday

The butterfly is a bit brighter and more cheerful than the above picture.

FMS Butterfly Close-Up


My husband continues to recover from surgery last week. He was actually out of bed for the entire Super Bowl yesterday!  The surgeon said probably two weeks before he felt much like moving around, but I have a tough time picturing him getting around one-footed even then.  He's a big man and his cast is huge - so it's a bit comedic watching him try to get around (but I only laugh on the inside!).  He sleeps A LOT, which is good because when he's up, he's already bored.  On Saturday, I was downstairs making cards and our son was doing homework in his room and we got a text from him saying he was lonely.  It's going to be a long few months (mostly for my husband but I can whine a tiny bit too.)  I'm praying it solves the problem - because he's got to face this with the other foot this summer.

Have fun with this sketch!!

SUPPLY LIST

I found the top butterfly and it's linked below.  There's also a coordinating solid butterfly for the bottom by Memory Box called Moonlight Butterfly. 

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Tuesday, February 7, 2017

TE Sneak Peek Day 2: Blessed and Redeemed

It's day 2 of sneak peeks for the February release from Taylored Expressions! Today includes some fabulous new Christian products - both for Easter and for everyday. Be sure to check out each of the creative team members' blogs for all of the sneak peeks - starting with the Taylored Expressions blog.

Taylored Expressions has a large collection of Christian images and sentiments and you can also count on them to come out with a fabulous Easter set!  Check out these gorgeous crosses from My Redeemer Lives along with the embossing folder in the background.

Taylored Expressions Redeemer

These crosses can go so many different directions.  They could be colored as stained glass.  You could do a color wash in the background - either subtle or bold.  There are five crosses in the set, and coordinating dies - a perfect addition to our Christian collections.

Also notice the embossing folder. I took this picture to show you that the folder can stand alone too because it has a cross in the middle!

Taylored Expressions Redeemer


There is something else very, VERY exciting on this card - coordinating enamel shapes!!  I tend to add either sequins or enamel shapes on virtually every card that I do.  And the fact that they match Taylored Expressions cardstock and ink colors makes it perfect.  Check them out!


And there's a deal on them! For a limited time, earn DOUBLE CRAFTY POINTS on our Enamel Shapes Bundle!  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 120 Crafty Points on the purchase of the Enamel Shapes Bundle! Offer valid on qualifying purchases made between 9am CST on Thursday, February 9, 2017 and 11:59 pm CST on Sunday, February 12, 2017 and only while supplies last. Crafty Points are only available on purchases made via our retail site, www.tayloredexpressions.com.

Here's what is on this card - but be sure to keep reading for a chance at prizes and another sneak peek.

SUPPLY LIST



Before I share a peek at another product, I'm excited to tell you that Taylored Expressions is celebrating Release Week with some fabulous giveaways! Visit the TE blog to answer Taylor's Question of the Day for a chance to win a prize from the latest release!


My next project uses So Very Blessed.  (Be sure to check back on Thursday because there's a prayer version of this set that I'll be using.)  I LOVE word dies and especially word dies with coordinating phrases and even more so with a Christian theme!!

Taylored Expressions So Very Blessed

I also used the new set, Spring Florals, to create a border.  Yesterday I used the wreath and the tulips from the set in soft, spring colors.  Today I used other flowers and leaves in bold colors.

Taylored Expressions So Very Blessed

I had spring colors out on my desk - but for some reason, I went a different direction for this one.  I wanted the depth of rich colors.

Taylored Expressions So Very Blessed


Blessed and redeemed!! Wonderful additions to the line of Christian stamps and dies.

I am blessed, chosen, adopted,
accepted, redeemed and forgiven.
see Ephesians 1:11-12

Be sure to head over to the TE blog for links to the rest of the creative team and to enter the question of the day contest.

SUPPLY LIST

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