Taylored Expressions Sketch Challenge #154

Yay, it's Friday!!! Are you planning a little crafting time this weekend? Well, we've got inspiration for you with a new Taylored Expressions Sketch Challenge! You can get all the deets for the challenge at Splitcoaststampers in the Taylored Expressions Forum (this is Sketch #154) and on the Taylored Expressions Blog, which is where you'll link your cards.

What's the prize, you might wonder? One person will be randomly selected from all of the challenge uploads to receive a $10 gift certificate to the TE Store! If you used predominantly TE Stamps on your project you’ll receive an extra $10 bonus for a total $20 gift certificate to the TE Store!!!

Not only that, but one featured stamper will be selected who will be awarded "Top Chef" honors. Your design and blog will be featured on Taylor's blog during the following week's sketch challenge!!!

Taylor has created this fun sketch for us to play with!

My card features image and greeting from In The Park. I stamped the image in Memento Rich Cocoa ink on patterned paper from the gorgeous Lost & Found Rosy collection by My Mind's Eye layered over SU's Natural Ivory. I did a bit of stitching around the edges for good measure. ;) The sentiment reads "wishing you a" on the outside and "Fabulous Day" on the inside.

I hope you'll play with us! The sketch challenge runs until Thursday, March 22nd, so you have plenty of time! In the meantime, take a look at what the rest of the Sketch Crew has created for your viewing pleasure:

• Cassie Trask
• Jami Sibley
• Margie Cortina
• Monika Davis
• Rachel Sztonyk
• Tracy Clemente
• Taylor VanBruggen  <---- get all the details here
• Linda Suarez, Featured Top Chef

Thanks for stopping by! I hope you have a fabulous day! ;)

Taylored Expressions Sketch Challenge #153

Hey, it's Friday!!! Yay!!! Time to get down to some crafting, right? Well, we've got inspiration for you with a new Taylored Expressions Sketch Challenge! You can get all the deets for the challenge at Splitcoaststampers in the Taylored Expressions Forum (this is Sketch #153) and on the Taylored Expressions Blog, which is where you'll link your cards.

What's the prize, you might wonder? One person will be randomly selected from all of the challenge uploads to receive a $10 gift certificate to the TE Store! If you used predominantly TE Stamps on your project you’ll receive an extra $10 bonus for a total $20 gift certificate to the TE Store!!!

Not only that, but one featured stamper will be selected who will be awarded "Top Chef" honors. Your design and blog will be featured on Taylor's blog during the following week's sketch challenge!!!

The beautiful Sankari Wegman created this fun sketch for us to play with! It might appear to be a bit challenging, but wait until you see what the design team ladies created... you will be inspired for sure!

My card features Discover Your Wings. I stamped the image in Colorbox Chestnut Roan Chalk Ink on white cardstock, which I then cut apart into squares. The patterned paper is from the gorgeous Lost & Found Blush collection by My Mind's Eye layered over kraft cardstock. I die cut the butterfly first with kraft cardstock and then with patterned paper to create a sort of shadow, topped off with a button and twine bow. Voila!

I hope you'll play with us! The sketch challenge runs until Thursday, March 8th, so you have plenty of time! In the meantime, take a look at what the rest of the Sketch Crew has created for your viewing pleasure:

• Cheryl Lea, Featured Top Chef
• Cassie Trask
• Jami Sibley
• Lori Craig
• Margie Cortina
• Monika Davis
• Tracy Clemente
• Taylor VanBruggen  <---- get all the details here

Thanks for stopping by! I hope you have a wonderful weekend!

Taylored Expressions Sketch Challenge #152

TGIF!!! And what better way to celebrate than with a new Taylored Expressions Sketch Challenge! You can get all the deets for the challenge at Splitcoaststampers in the Taylored Expressions Forum (this is Sketch #152) and on the Taylored Expressions Blog, which is where you'll link your cards.

What's the prize, you might wonder? One person will be randomly selected from all of the challenge uploads to receive a $10 gift certificate to the TE Store! If you used predominantly TE Stamps on your project you’ll receive an extra $10 bonus for a total $20 gift certificate to the TE Store!!!

I turned the sketch on its side to create a Valentine card featuring Love Everywhere. I stamped the image in Memento Rich Cocoa ink on kraft cardstock. I then punched some hearts from the coordinating patterned paper and popped them up over some of the heart leaves in the stamped image, and added a couple of red heart buttons for a bit of color burst.

The patterned paper is from the Lost & Found Blush Collection by My Mind's Eye. I {heart} My Mind's Eye paper. Taylored Expressions has an amazing collection which you can find by clicking --> HERE.

I hope you'll play with us! The sketch challenge runs until Thursday, February 23rd, so you have plenty of time! In the meantime, take a look at what the rest of the Sketch Crew has created for your viewing pleasure:

• Cassie Trask
• Lisa Hjulberg
• Lori Craig
• Margie Cortina
• Monika Davis
• Rachel Sztonyk
• Tracy Clemente
• Taylor VanBruggen  <---- get all the details here

Thanks for stopping by! I hope you have a wonderful day and an even better weekend!

Taylored Expressions Sketch Challenge is Back!!!

This is such a happy day! The Taylored Expressions Sketch Challenge is back in action after a winter break! You can still get all the deets for the challenge at Splitcoaststampers in the Taylored Expressions Forum (this is Sketch #151), but we're also featured on the Taylored Expressions Blog which is where you'll link your cards from now on. 

And what's the prize, you might wonder? One person will be randomly selected from all of the challenge uploads to receive a $10 gift certificate to the TE Store! If you used predominantly TE Stamps on your project you’ll receive an extra $10 bonus for a total $20 gift certificate to the TE Store!!!

You know me, I love square cards! My card features TE's SWAK petite stamp set. I have a "thing" for penguins because one of my sons loves them. ;)

The patterned paper is from the Crate Paper Paper Heart collection. I covered it with a piece of tulle covered in tiny dots (for lack of a better description). It's really got a lot of sparkle and texture IRL.

I hope you'll play with us! The sketch challenge runs until Thursday, February 9th, so you have plenty of time! In the meantime, take a look at what the rest of the Sketch Crew has created for your viewing pleasure:

• Cassie Trask
• Jami Sibley
• Lori Craig
• Margie Cortina
• Monika Davis
• Rachel Sztonyk
• Tracy Clemente
• Taylor VanBruggen  <---- get all the details here

Thanks for stopping by! Have a wonderful day!

P.S. I WILL start posting more here on my personal blog after a very loooong break, so stay tuned!

Stampin' Sisters in Christ Challenge

A blessed Second Sunday in Advent to you! This is the day that the Lord hath made, let us rejoice and be glad in it!

Yes, it's true... I finally sat down and made a card! I'm terribly rusty, especially in the coloring department. It took me ages to color this image, but, come to think of it, it nearly always does. I have to practice on a spare image first before I commit to the real one. So please don't look too carefully... squinting is probably best! LOL

I'm privileged to be the hostess of this week's challenge at Stampin' Sisters in Christ. I chose as my inspiration scripture Matthew 1:20-22, "But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, 'Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.' All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: 'The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel' which means, 'God with us.'" My challenge is to use an angel in your card/project... be it in the designer paper, stamped image, charm, etc. 

The devotion I shared is actually one written by the lovely Laura Campbell of Layers of Color called The 5 Best Christmas Gifts.

I hope you'll jump over to the Stampin' Sisters in Christ blog to read her devotional and to see the wonderful cards created by the rest of the design team. I promise you will be blessed!

I hope you'll also join us for this week's challenge. Our sponsor is Clear Dollar Stamps, offering a $15 gift card to spend in their store. :)

A note about my card... the adorable angel is Angel Marci from La-La Land Crafts paired with patterned paper by Memory Box's Brioche collection. The border punch is by Martha Stewart (love!) as is the holly punch. I used red Candy Dots for the berries. I also sponged around the edges of all the patterned paper and punched border with Tim Holtz Walnut Stain Distress Ink. Marci is colored with Copic markers. I also followed this week's sketch at Sketch Saturday. Hi girls! :)

Thanks so much for stopping by! Hopefully I'll find more time to craft and post soon. In the meantime, don't forget to visit me over at my store blog. We're in the middle of our December release festivities!!!

Have a blessed day!

Taylored Expressions Sketch Challenge #150!

Happy Friday! It's time for another fabulous Taylored Expressions Sketch Challenge!!! You can find us over at Splitcoaststampers in the Taylored Expressions Forum. In fact, all you need to do is pop over to the TESC Sketch Challenge #150 Forum Thread for all the deets on this week's challenge!!

We're celebrating the 150th sketch challenge by offering 3 new full-size stamp sets (Thankful, Love Grows Here, and Labels of Love II) to 3 random winners!!! Yowser!!!

Each of the design team members is also sharing her favorite sketch. How do I pick just one???

Speaking of which, did you know you can download sketches 1 - 120 for handy reference? Yes, indeed... you'll find the links on the Taylored Expressions Blog.

Anyway, here is the one I picked, probably because I'm a sucker for square cards. ;)

Now on to this week's sketch... perfect for this adorable image Snow a la Carte!!

I cheated a little and replaced the sentiment oval with a snowflake cut from patterned paper with one of my Winter Wonderland Snowflakes dies.  The patterned paper is from the Season's Greetings 6 x 6 pad by Echo Park.

For lots of great inspiration, check out what the rest of the Sketch Crew has created!

• Cassie Trask
• Jami Sibley 
• Lori Craig
• Margie Cortina
  
• Monika Davis
• Rachel Sztonyk 
• Taylor VanBruggen
  
• Tracy Clemente

This will be the last TE Sketch Challenge in 2011, as we'll be taking a break through the holidays. So be sure to join us for a chance to win one of the three fabulous stamp sets up for grabs!!!

Have a wonderful day!

Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps Birthday Blog Hop!

Hello and welcome to the Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps Birthday Blog Hop!  Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps is excited to be celebrating four wonderful years! A fantastic group of Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps design team members, past and present, along with some special friends, have put together this fabulous Birthday Blog Hop to kick off a whole month of fun. We have 36 stops so the hop will take place over three days - feel free to take your time visiting each blog! You have until 11:59pm EST November 9th to leave comments on as many blogs as you can. On Saturday, November 12th, Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps will announce FOUR winners (chosen at random from comments on random stops along the hop); each lucky winner will receive a prize package including stamps, dies, paper and twine valued at $40!

I am an SNSS Design Team alumnus. I am very fond of Korin (and SNSS) because she was the very first person to take a chance on me as a design team member. I was thrilled and honored beyond words, and I'll always be grateful! Happy Birthday Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps! May you celebrate many more!!!

If you have been following the hop you should have come from Jacquie Peifer's blog.  If you are only starting here, please head back to the SNSS blog and go from there...you won't want to miss any stops along the way!  Also, don't forget to comment on as many stops as you can....the more comments the better your chance of winning one of the fabulous prize packs! :)

My card features the adorable snowman image from the Snow Special clear stamp set. I LOVE snowmen, and this one is extra cute, don't you think? He's paired with patterned paper from the Season's Greetings collection by Echo Park and the Peppermint Collection by Crate Paper.

Mine is the last stop on the hop (thanks for hanging in there to the end!), but just in case there are any hiccups, here is the whole list of celebrants on this party train:

Korin Sutherland
Holly McMillen

Taylor Usry

Kim Schofield

Monika Davis

Lydia Fiedler

Harriet Skelly

Makiko Jones

Jerusha Borden

Mary Marsh

Lori Craig

Kim O'Connell

Chris Dickinson

Stephanie Wright

Shannon White

Janette Olen

Katlyn Traxler

Deb Felts

Stephanie Serrano

Jessica Fick

Kim Singdahlsen

Mary Faus

Sandy Domelle

Bridget Finlay

Ceal Pritchett

Dina Kowal

Margo Smith

Shelby Goolsby

Tami Mayberry

Lorie Souther

Darsie Bruno

Cathy McCauley

Beate Johns

Janice Melton

Jacquie Peifer

Lisa Hjulberg (that's me!)

Don't forget to stop by the Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps store for the deets on all the special deals going on this month. You won't want to miss them!


Enjoy!

Taylored Expressions Holiday Hoopla!

Taylored Expressions is hosting a Holiday Hoopla today and I'm excited to be a part of it! You should have arrived here from Jen's blog.  If you didn't (or if you get lost along the way) you can head back to the beginning at Taylor's blog for the full list of participants. There are 22 designers showcasing Christmas/Winter/Holiday stamps sets from TE with samples that include all sorts of projects from cards to gifts and beyond!  We want to inspire you to get your holiday crafting and card making into high gear!  Be sure to stick with me all the way to the end of the post to get a coupon code for 25% off holiday stamp sets at Taylored Expressions!  

The set I'm showcasing first is Hangin' Out At The North Pole and I love it because you can create wonderful scenes with Santa's clothes hanging from a clothesline (which I LOVE!) or simple cards, like the one I've made featuring the happy snowman image from this set. Plus, I love the various greetings!

My card is 4 1/2" square with a base of kraft cardstock and patterned papers from the Echo Park Season's Greetings 6 x 6 pad. I added some stitching around the edges, and then some White Liquid Applique to better define the snowbank. After stamping and coloring the snowman, I cut him out and mounted him with Scrapbook Adhesives 3D Foam Squares. I colored the snowman with Copic markers R27, YG95, W7, YR18, and BG10.

I didn't stop there! I'm having a holiday party this year, so I created the invitation I'll use featuring another favorite set Merry Little Cocktail! 

I LOVE the images and greetings in this stamp set! Look how fun and versatile it is! It's super easy to whip up fun cards and invitations for Christmas and New Year's celebrations!

My card is very simple... I layered kraft, red and green cardstock with images stamped in Memento Tuxedo Black ink and colored with Copic markers R27 and YG25. The card is finished off with a bit of Doodlebug Christmas twine.

Creating for this hop caused to me to go back and look at some of my previous creations and I wanted to share one of those with you today, too.  It's the one that won me a spot on the Sketch Crew!!!

 This card features Holiday Wonder. You can find my original post with the deets HERE.

Are you getting in the mood to stamp?  Be sure to check out Taylor's 12 Days of A Handmade Christmas Video Series for lots of easy gift ideas!

Now, who loves a SALE?  Use Coupon Code HOOPLA2011 to get 25% off the following holiday stamp sets (released in 2009 and 2010) at Taylored Expressions now through November 2:

Christmas Blessings, Enjoy!, From the Heart, Hangin' Out -  At the North Pole, Holiday Wonder, Home Sweet Home, Keeping Tabs, Merry Little Cocktail, Penguin Pals, Season's Sweetings, Sparkle & Cheer, Tag Treats , Tag You're It, Take Note - Holidays , Wings of Joy, Winter Wonderland.

The coupon code is case sensitive. Follow these instructions to apply the discount to your order:

1. Add the desired stamp sets from the above list to your shopping cart.
2. Insert the coupon code into the Promotional Code box.
3. Click the Update Cart button.  Your discount should now be applied.
4. Proceed to checkout to finalize and submit your order.

There's lots more to see! Your next stop is my dear friend Rachel's blog. Enjoy!