To a Beautiful Friend {MFTWSC22}

It's that sketchy time of the week again. I hope you'll play along with the MFT Wednesday Stamp Club and sketch #22.

I used Inspired by Spring for my card today, along with some fabulous Basic Grey Sweet Threads patterned papers.

I can totally see myself using this sketch over and over...LOVE it!!! The image is stamped with Memento Rich Cocoa and coloured with copics. I used a circle nesty to cut it out then layered it onto an open scallop  doily cut out of dark brown.

I used my simply scallops medium die-namic on some kiwi kiss and tucked it under the main circle. The brown polka dot ribbon had white circles so I just coloured over the circles with my E42 copic marker to make them off-white.

And here's the inside...

Here are all the sketchy details:

There's a prize each week for one participant, chosen at random. You may use any stamps and supplies that you wish. Each week a keyword is assigned to the sketch, and this week's keyword is MFTWSC22. All you need to do to enter is upload your card to the gallery at Splitcoast and enter the given keyword in the keyword box during the upload process. After the deadline (noon Eastern on Tuesday) we randomly choose a winner from that week's entries and the winner will receive a $15 gift voucher. If the winning card uses MFT stamps, the participant will earn a $5 bonus, for a total of a $20 gift voucher!

Be sure to head over to Kim's Blog to view the entire list of design team participants...there's plenty of inspiration for you with today’s sketch!

Thanks for stopping by!
Karen

Taylored Expressions Sneak Peeks Day 1

June Release At a Glance

• We have sneak peeks to share Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.  All of the new products will be available for purchase on Friday, June 3rd at 8 am PST. You'll find it all in the Fresh out of the OvenDepartment in the Taylored Expressions Store.
• Join us as a fan on Facebook for an early peek at the stamp sets on Thursday night beginning at approximately 6 pm PST.
• Special Early Bird Offer on Release Day for the first 15 orders over $100.  It's TOTALLY SWEET!
• Mystery Baker's Dozen Blog Giveaway: Each day one lucky blog commenter will be chosen by random draw to win a $10 TE Gift Certificate.  Winners will be chosen from a different Baker's Dozen blog each day and all will be announced on Taylor's blog on Release Day!  Be sure to hop around to see all the sneak peeks and leave comments on each and every blog for more chances to win. Limit one comment per blog per day, please.  Comments close Thursday 6/2 at 7pm for the drawings.

Can you believe it's already time for another fabulous release from Taylored Expressions?!? Today the Baker's Dozen is headed to the beach with a whole slew of beachy stamp sets like A Day In Paradise, Moka Lani, Beach Belle, Surf's Up and two beachy dies, the palm tree die (which coordinates with the palm tree from the previously released set Hangin' Out at the Beach) and the wave border die.

I've used Beach Belle and A Day in Paradise today. So let's start with Beach Belle, one of the Penguin Petites sets illustrated by Doug Applegate for the Apple Doodle Ink line. Each Petite set comes on a 3" x 5.5" full colour sturdy storage panel and is made of deeply etched rubber on EZ Mount. The Petite sets are already trimmed out so you can get load them onto acrylic blocks and get stamping in a jiffy.

I started by stamping Beach Belle with Memento Tuxedo Black onto Choice Snow White then I coloured her with copics. The card layout is TESC139.

I chose fun patterned papers from Echo Park's Splash paper pad and paired them with pacific point. So you see the new Wave Border die going across the card? Aren't those curly waves so fabulous!!! I cut the waves out of patterned paper and again out of pacific point so I could layer and create a bit of a shadow effect. My circles impression plate came in handy for adding texture to the orange panel and a couple of Twinkles on the flower in her hair gave the card just a little bling.

Let's completely switch gears from bright and cheery to serene and restful with this card using A Day In Paradise. This is a full sized set containing 21 solid and line images and sentiments and comes on a 5.75" x 8.5" full colour sturdy storage panel. It's illustrated by Nancy McKinney for the Whimsical Wishes line.

Can I just say this could be my new 'go to' set for summer!! I love it...it's super versatile for both masculine and feminine cards and I love that there's a Happy Retirement sentiment in the set!!!

I stamped the chairs and umbrella with Memento Tuxedo Black onto kraft then coloured them with copics. The umbrella is paper pieced and popped on foam tape for dimension. I used my green pencils to add in some tufts of grass.

The patterned papers are from My Mind's Eye Stella Rose Hattie collection and the blue solid is baja breeze. I'd really love to be sitting under that umbrella right now, maybe with a refreshing margarita!!

Now it's time to hop around and see what the rest of the Baker's Dozen created with these new stamps and dies!
Charmaine Ikach
Danielle Lounds
Jackie Pedro
Jami Sibley
Jodi Collins
Karen Giron
Melissa Sauls
Regina Mangum
Sankari Wegman
Taylor VanBruggen
Tori Wild
Wanda Guess
and illustrator, Nancy McKinney

See you right back here tomorrow for more fabulous sneak peeks!
Thanks for stopping by!
Karen

Sweet Sunday What's Cookin'?

It's time for this week's Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge, SSSC119.

On our vacation in Portugal earlier this month we certainly did our fair share of eating at some wonderful restaurants. One of my favourites was a small restaurant in the village of Guia...just a couple of towns away from where we were staying. It's owned by a husband and wife...he works the front of the restaurant and she cooks all the delicious food. We didn't get a chance to meet her, but he was so welcoming and friendly. It felt more like we were old friends at his house for dinner rather than patrons at his restaurant. We went back there twice (I insisted...I needed another fix of Chicken Piri-Piri...a spicy grilled chicken dish...YUM!) and took this photograph the second time we were there. The owner has a wall of photographs people have sent him from all over the world and he asked us to send him this picture to add to the wall.

You just know I couldn't send a photo without including a card, so I made this kitchen themed one just for them.

I used What's Cookin'? from Taylored Expressions and some fun patterned papers from the Doodlebug Nifty Notions collection.

The images are stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black onto Choice Snow White. The apron was coloured with copics and the oven mitt is paper pieced. I used the oven mitt die from the Kitchen Accessories dies to cut out the oven mitt and layered it onto a green circle cut out with the smallest lacey circle Nestability. I added a little texture to the red square with my circles impression plate then stitched around the edge.

The scalloped eyelet border die along the left edge of the plaid paper softens it nicely and I added some green Twinkles for a little sparkle.

I hope you'll play along with this week's sketch and link your creation on Karen's blog. Now it's time to hop around and see what the rest of the Sweet Sunday Stampers created.
Dana White - she's off this week
Jen Tapler
Lynn Put
Sarah-Jane Kalé
Vicki Burdick
and Karen Giron

Thanks for stopping by!
Karen

Sweet Stuff SFYTT

I finally had a chance to play with Jen's May Sketch For You To Try. Seems like I'm always squeaking in under the wire with these sketches. LOL!!

I reached for Sassy & Sweet from MFT, along with the coordinating Sweet Stack die-namics. Confession time...I've had this set since it was released and this is the first time it's seen ink. I don't even want to know how many months it's been sitting in my stamp drawer, waiting ever so patiently. I think I'm in love with this set now though!! It's so FUN with the animal prints and the swirly font and sassy sentiments!!

I started by stamping the zebra print with Memento Rich Cocoa onto cream, then I added a little Frayed Burlap Distress Ink around the edges. Then I stamped the leopard print with Memento Lilac Posies onto light pink and coloured in the center of the spots with my YR02 copic marker. Next I stamped the outline around the sentiment with SU kiwi kiss and the sentiment itself with Memento Tuxedo Black. The colours are all pulled from patterned papers in my Basic Grey Sweet Threads collection.

Not sure if you can see it in the photograph, but I used two different animal print embossing folders on the patterned papers, and gave them a light sanding to help the pattern stand out a little. The scallop ribbon border die-namic creates a wonderful center strip and I added some pink velvet ribbon from my stash for a little pop of colour.

I used my Upsy Daisy die-namics to create the flower accent from a mix of solid and patterned papers, and I added a brown sparkler to the center.

Hopefully this will inspire you to dig out a forgotten or not-inked-up-yet stamp and have some fun!

Thanks for stopping by!
Karen

Love Hearing From You {MFTWSC21}

It's that time again...time to get sketchy with the MFT Wednesday Stamp Club. Here is sketch #21.

Don't be afraid...just jump in and tackle it. After all, that's what challenges are for, right?!?  :-)

I hadn't inked up Well Worn Greetings yet (gasp!) and I just could not wait any longer, so my focal point looks a little different than the sketch. I just keep telling myself that sketches are a guide and it's always fine to personalize them.   :-)

The patterned papers are from the Girl's Paperie Jubilee collection and I added in some kiwi kiss, rose red, black and cream. I used the double scallop border die-namic for a feminine touch and added three black brads in the corner for a little 'pop'.

On the inside the hearts a-plenty die-namics seemed like a perfect fit with the sentiment on the front. I stamped the hello sentiment on the green strip then stamped the small heart with light pink above the die-cut hearts.

Here are the sketchy details:

There's a prize each week for one participant, chosen at random. You may use any stamps and supplies that you wish. Each week a keyword is assigned to the sketch, and this week's keyword is MFTWSC21. All you need to do to enter is upload your card to the gallery at Splitcoast and enter the given keyword in the keyword box during the upload process. After the deadline (noon Eastern on Tuesday) we randomly choose a winner from that week's entries and the winner will receive a $15 gift voucher. If the winning card uses MFT stamps, the participant will earn a $5 bonus, for a total of a $20 gift voucher!

Be sure to head over to Kim's Blog to view the entire list of design team participants...there's plenty of inspiration for you with today’s sketch!

Thanks for stopping by!
Karen

Sweet Sunday Fred the Indian

It's time for this week's Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge, SSSC118.

I used the cutest bear around, Fred Bear Plays Indian from MFT. I just love how the sentiments in this set all begin with "how" but they're split up, making them perfect for adorning both the outside and inside of the card.

I stamped Fred with Memento Tuxedo Black and coloured him with copics. I used the E50 series of browns but when I was all done colouring him he looked too "butterscotchy" so I went over his entire body with E42 to add in a little more brownish tone.

The patterned papers are from the My Mind's Eye Lime Twist Fly a Kite 6x6 pad...such cheery colours!!! I used my simply scallops medium die-namic on the blue strip and the notched tag stamp set and die-namic for the "how...". Cappuccino twine was the perfect accent for attaching a kiwi corduroy button.

I kept the inside quite simple (as I tend to do on all the insides I decorate) and left enough space to hand-write a little note.

I hope you'll play along with this week's sketch and link your creation on Karen's blog. Now let's go see what the rest of the Sweet Sunday Stampers created.
Dana White
Jen Tapler
Lynn Put
Sarah-Jane Kalé
Vicki Burdick
and Karen Giron

Thanks for stopping by!
Karen

Congratulations on your Graduation

Today I have a quick and simple graduation card using the awesome Dream Big set from Taylored Expressions.

There's a perfect mix of solid and line images in this set so you can take the quick and easy road or spend a little time colouring. I decided to share a simple card that would be great to re-create in multiples. Just change the cardstock colours to suit the school colours. The star paper is from the October Afternoon 5  & Dime pad. The polka dots on the ribbon were white so I coloured over them with my E43 copic marker so they'd be more creamy. I added a little sparkle around the lacey circle frame with some Crystal Twinkles. Even with the bit of sewing, this card still came together is less than 20 minutes.

That's all I have for today. We just got home on Monday from a two week vacation in Portugal and all my pre-scheduled posts have run out, so I need to hit my stamp room at start creating again.  :-)

Thanks for stopping by!
Karen

Beautiful Friend {MFTWSC20}

It's time to get sketchy with the MFT Wednesday Stamp Club and sketch #20. Can you believe we're already at number twenty!!!

I went completely out of my comfort zone with this card and I love love LOVE the end result!!! What's even better is how quickly I was able to whip this card up...seriously, it was done before I knew it!

I used Inspired By Spring with the beautiful nest image and paired it with papers from the Memory Box Minuet collection. The double scallop border die-namic seemed like a great border to pair with this image and I added some blue flowers that I cut out with my pretty posies die-namic. A little sewing, a scattering of pearls, and I called this one done!

Here are all the sketchy details:

There's a prize each week for one participant, chosen at random. You may use any stamps and supplies that you wish. Each week a keyword is assigned to the sketch, and this week's keyword is MFTWSC20. All you need to do to enter is upload your card to the gallery at Splitcoast and enter the given keyword in the keyword box during the upload process. After the deadline (noon Eastern on Tuesday) we randomly choose a winner from that week's entries and the winner will receive a $15 gift voucher. If the winning card uses MFT stamps, the participant will earn a $5 bonus, for a total of a $20 gift voucher!

Be sure to head over to Kim's Blog to view the entire list of design team participants...there's plenty of inspiration for you with today’s sketch!

Thanks for stopping by!
Karen

Who's That Girl VIP Blog Hop & Shop

Can you believe it's already time for the MFT May VIP blog hop?!? Who's That Girl is on her bicycle ready to Enjoy The Ride this month. Hop on over to Kim's blog to start from the beginning.

In case you're wondering what the VIP kit is, it's your chance to own the newest Who's That Girl set, Enjoy The Ride, a full 3 weeks before it's released!! The VIP kit also includes a free EXCLUSIVE Enjoy The Ride Sentiments mini set that will never again be available for purchase...a $9 value! You'll also receive a die-namics die and a 6x6 pad of Lily Bee Happily Lost patterned paper. Basically, it's chock full of MFT goodness!!! You'll find it in the MFT Boutique HERE

Doesn't she look like she's having SO much fun on that bicycle!!! I can almost hear her saying 'wheeeeeee'!! She's stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black and coloured with copics. Her shirt was screaming out to be paper pieced, so I indulged.  ;-)

I used the high tea doily die-namic to add a fun touch behind the image and finished the front with three sweet butterflies. The cream butterfly on the bottom is from the butterflies die-namics and the one layered on top is from the notched tag die-namics...don't they layer perfectly!!!

On the inside I stamped one of the quotes from Enjoy the Ride Sentiments mini set and added a little detail with my dainty dots border die-namics.

Now you're off to see what the super talented Eva created! Happy hopping and shopping!!

Thanks for stopping by!
Karen