Thank You For A Year of Kindness!

Hi Friends! It's so hard to believe another Christmas has flown by so quickly. One thing I am thankful for are these wonderful Key Ingredients Kits. My December Key Ingredients Kit came in so handy for whipping up some bright and fun thank you cards for all those fabulous gifts from family and friends. I love this thank you sentiment from the Peaceful Poinsettia set because it's a thank you for all their kindness through out the year. This card was also created as a December Key Ingredients Kit Inspiration Sheet and you can find the full card making instructions and supplies here. I hope your holidays were Merry & Bright and if you didn't get your KI Subscription in your stocking this year it's so easy to gift one to yourself. You will find all the Subscription details here along with lots of inspiration at the Key Ingredients Blog.



Thanks for visiting and Have a Wonderful Day!

December Key Ingredients Blog Hop!

Greetings Friends! Welcome to the December Key Ingredients Blog Hop! I am always so thrilled to get my Key Ingredients Kit each month and this month's kit is just amazing! Just look at all those fun & fabulous colors! The adorable patterned paper, colorful cardstock and fun embellishments make this kit super fun to whip up lots of projects. Today's card features the cute Cuppie Birthday image from the Sweet Celebration set along with the sentiment. All the paper and embellishments used are from this month's kit with plenty left over for lots more fun. There's no time like the present to get in on the KI fun by becoming a subscriber. It's so easy and you'll be glad you did! Check out all the details here.




Ready to see more ways to create wonderful projects with your Key Ingredients Kit? Hop on over and visit the rest of the Key Ingredients Design Team to see all their fabulous creations:

• Corinna McGregor
• Jessica Diedrich
• Lea Lawson
• Monika Davis
• Stephanie Kraft
• Taylor VanBruggen
  

Thanks for visiting and Have a Wonderful Day!

December Key Ingredients

Hi KI Friends! I got a little sneak peek of the card I created with the December Key Ingredients Kit. To see the full post please head on over to the Key Ingredients Blog. You will LOVE this month's kit. KI Subscriptions make wonderful gifts. Why not get one for yourself too! It's so easy to become a subscriber. Check out all the details HERE!

Thanks for visiting and Have a Fabulous Day!

November Key Ingredients - Good Friends!

Hello Friends! I wanted to share with you today another creation from the November Key Ingredients Kit. This card was created as an inspiration sheet for this month's kit. You can view all the inspiration sheets for each kit here. It's just another great tool TE offers to help you jump start your creativity when you receive your kit. Don't have a kit? Well it's so easy to become a subscriber. Just check out all the details here.

I had a lot of fun playing with the papers from this month's kit. The Homemade 6 Bean Soup collection of patterned papers by Jillibean Soup included in the kit are adorable. I love the quilt patterned paper and embellished it with twine to resemble the tying of a quilt. It's so easy to create with these kits, but these wonderful die cut sentiments really make it really fast and fun.




Be sure to stop by the Key Ingredients Blog to view more cards & projects created by the KI Design Team. Thanks for visiting and Have a Great Day!

iCopic Weekly Challenge #57 - Thanksgiving

Happy Monday! Wow! I can't believe it's only a few days til Thanksgiving! So it's just perfect for this week's iCopic challenge to be a Thanksgiving theme. I fell in love with this adorable turkey image and sentiment from the Turkey Day set by Lawn Fawn. I couldn't wait to ink it up and create a fun Thanksgiving card. I started off by stamping the image & sentiment with Memento Tuxedo Black Ink on yellow patterned paper. I colored the image with Copic Markers and die cut the image & sentiment out with a Labels 8 Die. I layered the main panel of patterned paper with strips of green and brown patterned paper and added lots of stitching. I adhered the panel to the green cardstock base and adhered the image on top with foam tape. I embellished with green grosgrain ribbon and some subtle sparkle with a stardust gel pen.

Now are you ready to play along for a chance to win a wonderful iCopic prize and to be featured on the iCopic Blog? Be sure to visit the iCopic Blog for the full challenge rules and to link your Challenge Card Entry. Can't wait to see all your fabulous creations!

Copic Colors:
Turkey Body: E34, E35, R29 and YR68
Turkey Feathers: E25, E29, Y35, YR09, YR16 and YR23

Thanks for visiting and Have a Super Day!

November Key Ingredients Blog Hop!

Hello Friends! Welcome to the November Key Ingredients Blog Hop! As you can see below this month's kit is pretty fabulous! Don't you just love those pretty patterned papers from the Homemade 6 Bean Soup collection by Jillibean Soup? And look at all those amazing embellishments! One of my favorite things about these kits is how organized they are in that wonderful clear container. They are perfectly wrapped for gift giving. Simply add a tag and you have an amazing gift for a friend. A KI Subscription is the gift that keeps on giving and imagine how thrilled your recipient will be to receive a kit each month. How fun!


I love creating with my KI kit and my card was so easy to create. I started off by adhering a small panel of pink patterned paper to the edge of my floral patterned paper panel. I stitched all around the edges and across the panel where the 2 patterns meet to create a hem. I tied some pink satin ribbon around the card panels and added a bow. I then adhered the panels to the Parakeet cardstock base. I choose the butterfly and sentiment die cuts as the main images. I added some gems to the butterfly and adhered it onto the sentiment with foam tape. Finally I added the sentiment with foam tape to the panel.

Ready to see more ways to create wonderful projects with your Key Ingredients Kit? Hop on over and visit the rest of the Key Ingredients Design Team to see all their fabulous creations:

• Corinna McGregor
• Lea Lawson
• Monika Davis
• Stephanie Kraft
• Taylor VanBruggen
  

Thanks for visiting and Have a Wonderful Day!

November Key Ingredients Kit

Hi KI Friends! I got a little sneak peek of a project I created with the November Key Ingredients Kit. To see the full post please head on over to the Key Ingredients Blog. These kits are so fun and it's so easy to become a subscriber. Check out all the details HERE!

Thanks for visiting and Have a Fabulous Day!

Stampendous Encrusted Jewel Technique Blog Hop!

Welcome to the Stampendous "Fran•tage Encrusted Jewel Hop"! All of us on the Stampendous Design Teams are sooo excited about this new technique...an accidental creative process discovered by our own Fran Seiford, Chief Artistic Officer at Stampendous! There is a quote that says, "There are no mistakes, just opportunities for embellishment!" How true is that? Today our super-creative-with-mistakes designers are excited to show you how you can deliberately create with gorgeous sloppiness. For more info on the process of Encrusting with the Fran•tage Essentials, check out the YouTube video HERE. Here's the list of our Encrusted Hoppers for today:

Stampendous Impressions' Blog
Cyndi Bundy
Trudee Sauer
Jennifer Dove
Pam Hornschu
Wendy Price
Taylor Usry
Wendy Jordan
Lynn Mercurio
Krissy Fossmeyer
Rachel Sztonyk <-----me
Suzanne Czosek

The Encrusted Jewel Technique is so fun and the results are beautiful. I stamped the Cling Single Chandelier with Versamark Ink and added Aged Black Embossing Enamel. I then added Gold Halo Glitter and Champagne Glass Glitter from the Treasures Glitter Kit. Finally I added the "Just a Note" sentiment from the Rose Branch Border stamp set.



As you hop from blog to blog, oohing and aahing over the Encrusted Jewel fabulousness, be sure to leave some love (and your contact email) for the designers, as well as on the Stampendous blog. Your comments are your insurance that you have an opportunity to win one of four blog
candy goody boxes of Stampendous Fran•tage Essentials for you to create your own Encrusted Jewel goodness. U.S. participants only have until 8pm EST on Sunday to leave your comments.

Aged Black Prize Package

Aged Silver Prize package

Aged Gold Prize Package

Shabby White Prize Package

Thanks for visiting and Have a Stampendous Saturday!

TESC150 - Let's Celebrate!!!!

Hey TE Friends! Can you believe it? We are at the 150th Taylored Expressions Sketch Challenge! Woo Hoo! And what better way to celebrate this wonderful occasion then with prizes!!! Taylored Expressions will be giving away 3 prizes for Sketch 150... one of each of the newly released stamp sets: Love Grows Here, Labels of Love II, and Thankful! We really hope you all will play along with us! The TE Sketch Crew will be taking a little break for the holidays and this is the final sketch for 2011.

I have been having lots of fun creating Christmas cards lately and I can't seem to put down the Wings of Joy stamp set. The images are adorable and so fun to color. I paired up the image with my stash of Echo Park Christmas Paper. The bright and fun colors really make me smile. I also added a cute doily for fun and texture. Finally I added some piercing, ribbon and Stickles for embellishments. I thought I would be a little extra festive by adding a cute little gingy in the picture. Hope you like it!


It wouldn't be a celebration without a TESC Favorite Flashback. I can hardly believe it myself that already 2 years of being on the TE Sketch Crew has flown by. I have been loving every minute of it. It was so difficult to pick one favorite sketch since they are all wonderful, but I finally decided on TESC129. I had so much fun creating this card for my hubby and this Cuppie image is just one of my all time favs!

Let's keep the party going... be sure to stop by and visit my Sketch Crew buddies to see all of their fabulous creations:

• Cassie Trask
• Jami Sibley
  
• Lisa Hjulberg
  
• Lori Craig
• Margie Cortina
  
• Monika Davis
• Taylor VanBruggen
  
• Tracy Clemente

Thanks for visiting and Have a Fabulous Friday!

iCopic Weekly Challenge #55 - Thankful

Hi Pals! Hope you had a wonderful weekend! I'm back again this Monday to host another fun iCopic Weekly Challenge. This week's challenge theme is Thankful. There are so many things in my life in which I am truly thankful. I have been so blessed to make such amazing friends through blogging and I can't thank you all enough for visiting and/or following me through my crafty adventures. I appreciate all your kindness and support, so this week's card is dedicated to all of you!

I chose to use a sentiment instead of an image for the focal point to really highlight the Thankful theme. The lovely "Thank you for being my friend" sentiment is from the Hello Friend set by Lawn Fawn. I wanted all the focus to be on the message, so I dressed it up with some pretty pattern paper and a few embellishments.

I hope you will play along with this week's challenge. It's a great opportunity to win a fabulous prize from iCopic. To play along for your chance to win, just visit the iCopic Blog for the details and to link up your creation. Good Luck!

Thanks for visiting and Have Great Day!

October Key Ingredients - Friends!

Hello Friends! I wanted to share with you today another creation from the October Key Ingredients Kit. This card was created as an inspiration sheet for this month's kit. You can view all the inspiration sheets for each kit here. It's just another great tool TE offers to help you jump start your creativity when you receive your kit. Don't have a kit? Well it's so easy to become a subscriber. Just check out all the details here.

This KI creation was created using the wonderful patterned paper from Crate Paper's Farmhouse Collection. I used the large scale floral print paper to cut out 2 flowers as the main images surrounding the friendship sentiment from the Friendship Blooms set. Finally I added the main images/sentiment to the card base with foam tape for dimension. All the paper & embellishments used were from the October Key Ingredients Kit. Just another fun and simple card you can create using these fab kits from Taylored Expressions.


Be sure to stop by the Key Ingredients Blog to view more cards & projects created by the KI Design Team. Thanks for visiting and Have a Great Day!

TESC149 - JOY!

Happy Friday! Are you ready for another fun Taylored Expressions Sketch Challenge? This week's TESC is a special one! Taylored Expressions is a proud sponsor of the Hope You Can Cling to card drive on SCS and sketch crew member Jami is hosting a Hope You Can Cling to Challenge to create a holiday card incorporating the color pink. So we are combining both challenges for some extra fun!

We're also encouraging all of you to mail your cards to the UT MD Anderson Cancer Center. So if you're up for the extra challenge, then create a holiday card using the sketch that includes the color pink and send it along for the card drive. It's sure to brighten someone's day and that's what this hobby is all about, right!? You can find all of the details on Jami's challenge HERE and more about the card drive and where to send your cards HERE. Thank you so much for your support!

Today's card features the lovely Wings of Joy set. I adore all the lovely images, but this one was just perfect to use for this week's challenge. I colored the image using Copic Markers and paired up the image with some Pink Paislee - Snow Day patterned paper. Don't you just love all the PINK? I embellished the card with some red ribbon, Stardust Stickles, Christmas Red Stickles and lots of piercing.


Hope you enjoyed today's card and I know you will be thrilled to see the lovely creations from my Sketch Crew Buddies:

• Cassie Trask
• Jami Sibley
  
• Lori Craig
• Monika Davis
• Taylor VanBruggen
  
• Tracy Clemente

Thanks for visiting and Have a Wonderful Friday!

TE Holiday Hoopla Blog Hop!

Hello Friends! Taylored Expressions is hosting a Holiday Hoopla today and I'm thrilled to be a part of it. You should have arrived here from the blog of the fabulous Lisa Hjulberg. If you didn't and would like to start at the beginning hop on over to 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 featuring is the adorable Holiday Wonder set. I love the sweet images and the wonderful sentiments. A perfect set to use for creating a gift card holder. Simply die cut 1 panel for the front of the gift card holder using a Labels 8 Die. Use the die again to cut only half a panel for the back of the gift card holder. Adhere the panels together to create the pocket to hold your gift card. Next add some twine and a button to the top of your gift card holder, so it can easily be attached to another gift or hung up on the tree. Finally decorate the front of your gift card holder with your favorite images. I chose the adorable house image and I had to add Cuppie peeking out the window. I used the Holly Jolly Christmas 6x6 paper by Echo Park for the base and to paper piece the house image. Finally I added the sentiment and embellished the front and back with snowflakes and gems. You can also easily add To: and From: to the back of the gift cardholder.

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I had so much fun creating this project. It reminded me of another fun Taylored Expressions Holiday project I created using Home Sweet Home for Christmas in July.

Are you getting in the mood to start your holiday stamping? Need more inspiration? 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.

Are you ready for more? Hop on over to visit the wonderful Iwona Palamountain.

Thanks for visiting and Have a Great Day!

iCopic Weekly Challenge #53 - Orange & Black

Happy Monday! Ready to start the week off with another fun iCopic Weekly Challenge? This week's challenge is an Orange and Black Color Challenge. My card was created using the cute pumpkin image from the Harvest Season set by Lawn Fawn. I added a the little Boo! sentiment from the Heebie Jeebies set by Lawn Fawn too. I colored the pumpkin using the color combination of YR04, YR16 and YR68. I colored in the stem using a Black Spica Pen for lots of shimmer. This challenge is super fun and just perfect for getting you into that Halloween spirit. Now are you ready to play along for a chance to win a wonderful iCopic prize and to be featured on the iCopic Blog? Be sure to visit the iCopic Blog for the full challenge rules and to link your Challenge Card Entry.


We love seeing your challenge cards and I can't wait to see what you create. Have a fabulous Monday and thanks for visiting!

October Key Ingredients Blog Hop!

Hello Friends! Welcome to the October Key Ingredients Blog Hop! Have you all had a chance to see this month's kit? If not, check out all the goodies below and hop on over here to get all of the details. I LOVE fall and this month's kit captures all the beauty of fall with it's gorgeous color combo. I couldn't wait to pair up the sweet pumpkins from the Gobble Gobble stamp set with the pretty patterned papers from Crate Paper's Farmhouse collection. I colored the image with Copic Markers and added a rustic feel by sponging Gathered Twigs Distress Ink all around the image. I die cut the image using a Labels 8 Die. I layered 2 different patterned papers to the card base along with some Green Apple Silk ribbon. I added a few extra touches of shimmer to match the shimmer of the ribbon using a Stardust Gelly Roll Pen on the pumpkins. It's so fun creating cards with the Key Ingredients Kit. Now that the holidays are so close, it's the perfect time to become a Subscriber.


Hop on over and visit the rest of the Key Ingredients Design Team to see all their fabulous creations:

• Corinna McGregor
• Jessica Diedrich
• Lea Lawson
• Monika Davis
• Stephanie Kraft
• Taylor VanBruggen
  

Thanks for visiting and Have a Wonderful Day!

TESC148 - Think Pink!

Hello Friends! I'm delighted to share with you another fabulous Taylored Expressions Sketch Challenge. TE is a proud sponsor of the Hope You Can Cling to card drive at SCS, so we thought we'd include an extra challenge with this week's sketch and encourage you all to mail your cards to the UT MD Anderson Cancer Center. So if you're up for the extra challenge, then create a card that includes the color pink and send it along for the card drive. You can read more about the card drive and where to send your cards HERE. Thank you for your support!

Today's card features the Pink Theme with a sentiment from Cuppie Love Scenes. The beautiful patterned paper is from the Uncommon Collection by Authentique. I also added some Prima roses and Stardust Stickles for a little sparkle on the patterned paper.

I hope you can play along with us and remember to Think Pink! Please be sure to visit the rest of the Sketch Crew to view their fabulous creations:

• Cassie Trask
  
• Lisa Hjulberg
  
• Lori Craig
• Margie Cortina
  
• Monika Davis
• Taylor VanBruggen
  
• Tracy Clemente

Thanks for visiting and Have a Great Day!