Take Time for a Couple of Challenges

My friend Joanne is having a blogaversary celebration this week, complete with a challenge and a prize, so I thought I'd play along.

She lists a few options of things to use/do on your card, and the rule is you must choose at least three.
I used:

1. kraft cardstock
2. mixed sewing (straight and zig-zag stitches)
3. ledger paper (mine is actually crossword paper)

I hadn't inked up this Take Time a la mode yet and I knew I wanted to use her in conjunction with Jen's March Sketch For You To Try. I made this as a card, but I'm going to put it in a clear envelope and take it flying with me. There's a timed component to some of the instrument landings I've been learning and I need a little something to remind me to start the timer, so I'm going to clip this to the yoke. I think it'll draw my attention with the fun colours!

I stamped the clock a second time so I could pop it for dimension and I also gave the face a few coats of clear glaze pen to make it look like glass.

The gorgeous flower is thanks to my new Upsy Daisy die-namics...LOVE!!! I cut the flowers out of baja breeze and curled the petals a little. The center is a brown sparkler by Webster's Pages but I tucked an orange circle under it to make it brighter.

I think she's ready for her first flight with me tomorrow!! Can I call her my co-pilot? ;-)
Thanks for stopping by!
Karen

Sweet Sunday Teddy

It's time for this week's Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge, SSSC108.

I made a card for a friend using one of my fave sets from Taylored Expressions, Beary Special. The images of different stuffed animals in this set are so adorable, and this teddy was calling out to me.

He's stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black onto Choice Buttercream and coloured with copics. Parts of him are paper pieced with a pattern from October Afternoon Farm Fresh. The rest of the patterned papers are from October Afternoon Campfire. I cut out teddy and popped him on foam tape onto a square of kraft cardstock. This seems to be my new thing...I love cutting out images lately! Oh, and because I've used kraft, I can play along with my bud Jeanie's That's Krafty Challenge #48.

I took some creative liberty with the element in the corner and added a fun polka dot pennant with the Pennant a la carte stamp and the Pennant Border die...LOVE!!! It was just a tad too long for where I wanted it so I snipped off the ends and added my own twine bows. A few Twinkles, some glitter candy dots and plenty of sewing finished off the details.

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 came up with!
Dana White
Jen Tapler
Lynn Put
Sarah-Jane Kale'
Vicki Burdick
and Karen Giron

Thanks for stopping by!
Karen

Friends Stick Together {MFTWSC10}

It's time to get sketchy with the MFT Wednesday Stamp Club sketch #10.

I decided to flip the sketch and use the mirror image because I wanted my PI Out on a Limb to be looking into the card.

She's stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black and coloured with copics. Her dress is paper pieced with one of the patterns from My Mind's Eye Stella Rose Hazel collection. There's a little sparkle too on the hearts, thanks to my red Spica glitter pen. I added lots of layers of patterned paper and backed them with kraft...I don't use kraft enough! And I couldn't resist using my brand new dizzy border die-namic...LOVE!!!

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 MFTWSC10. 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 Penguins

It's time for this week's Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge, SSSC107.

I decided to add to my Project Christmas 2011 cards...this is card #8. I used the fun Penguin Pals set from Taylored Expressions and paired it with the shimmery snowflake paper from Doodlebug's Winter Time collection.

The image is stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black onto Choice Snow White and coloured with copics. I added pink and blue sparkle with my Spica glitter pens then puffed up some liquid applique for his hat. I cut the blue scallop with my small scalloped border die and tied some cheery green polka dot ribbon. You may notice my card is less embellished than my other cards. Well that's because I fought with those little squares to get them just the right size, and when I was done fighting I didn't have the energy left to do too much embellishing. Although, the bright side is this card is quite flat for mailing.  :-)

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 for more inspiration from the Sweet Sunday girls.
Dana White
Jen Tapler
Sarah-Jane Kale'
Vicki Burdick
and Karen Giron

Thanks for stopping by!
Karen

Taylored Expressions Release Day!

Finally, it's release day and all the new products are available at Taylored Expressions!!! Woo hoo!!!

But before you go shopping, be sure to hop around to the Baker's Dozen blogs for just a little more inspiration. Today we're featuring a recap of all the fun new products. It's sure to be a sweet hop full of cuteness!!!

I used Hello Spring again for my card. I know, I know...that's three days out of four...but I just can't stop using it, it's so much fun!! I also used the Spring Project Pantry again...the patterns and colours are just fabulous and this is another product I can't stop using! Be sure to scoop one up before they're gone...you won't be disappointed.

I affectionately refer to this image as the bunny-mobile, or the carrot-mobile, and it's stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black a few times so I could add plenty of dimension with foam tape. I coloured him with copics and paper pieced the carrot. A couple of brads from the Spring Project Pantry were perfect for the wheels. Check out all the dimension in the side view!!!

The rest of the card is pretty simple and the layout is SSS97. I used my scalloped eyelet border die on the yellow, added plenty of embossing with my swiss dots folder, some sewing (of course!) and a pretty orange bow!

Would you like to win the entire March release???

All you have to do is visit the Taylored Expressions Facebook Page and become a fan. Just click on the "Like" button at the top. As soon as we reach 1500 fans we'll draw one random person who will win the entire March release!!! And let me tell you, we're really close, so hurry!!!

Happy hopping and shopping!!!
Charmaine Ikach
Danielle Lounds
Jackie Pedro
Jami Sibley
Jodi Collins
Karen Giron
Melissa Sauls
Regina Mangum
Sankari Wegman
Taylor VanBruggen
Tori Wild
Cindy Lawrence

Thanks for stopping by!
Karen

Taylored Expressions Sneak Peeks Day 3

Welcome to day 3 of sneak peeks with Taylored Expressions. We have two more great sets to share today and all the new products will be available in the TE Store starting tomorrow, Thursday, March 3rd at 8am PST.

As you hop along you'll see samples using A Tweet For You and the Pennant a la carte stamp and coordinating pennant die. And you might just see some of the previously "peeked" sets popping into the Baker's Dozen creations too. I know I used a couple on my projects.

Let's start with A Tweet For You. This mini set is part of the *te* collection and is the third in the favour/tags series. You might recall Fright Night Favours and Tag You're It from previous releases, and like those sets, A Tweet For You coordinates with the Favour Frame die.

When I was first looking at this set I thought "hey, the frames look like just about the right size to wrap around a Hershey Nugget". So I gave it a try and they fit perfectly on the address labels used to wrap the nuggets. Sweet!!! It made for a really quick way to decorate these tasty treats.

Then I put the chocolates into a mini pail and set to work decorating that. I used supplies from the Spring Project Pantry and cut out the scalloped strip with my small scallop border die. I jazzed up the tag with the flower from Spring Wreath...it was so fun to colour! This really was a quick little gifty item to whip up!

Next I have a card using the new Pennant a la carte set and the pennant die, which are illustrated by Nancy McKinney as part of the Whimsical Wishes line.

The Pennant stamp includes both a solid and a polka dot image. The coordinating die can be used either with the stamp or on it's own with patterned paper. I used it both ways on my card.  :-)

I also used an image and sentiment from Hello Spring. It's stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black onto choice buttercream and coloured with copics. Then I cut it out with square Nestabilities and layered it onto a lacey square...love!! The rhinestones were coloured with copics to coordinate.

The patterned papers are from the My Mind's Eye Stella Rose Hazel collection. I added a medium scallop border of blush red light and some brown polka dot ribbon. I just love all the fun polka dots on this card!

Now it's time to keep hopping around for even more inspiring sneak peeks from the rest of the Baker's Dozen.

Charmaine Ikach

Danielle Lounds

Jackie Pedro

Jodi Collins

Karen Giron

Karen Motz

Melissa Sauls

Regina Mangum

Sankari Wegman

Tori Wild

and Taylor Van Bruggen

See you tomorrow for release day!!
Thanks for stopping by!
Karen

Make Me Hoppy {MFTWSC9}

It's time to get sketchy again with the MFT Wednesday Stamp Club sketch #9. Have I told you recently how much I adore a good sketch!!! Have you been able to play along with the weekly sketches? If you haven't, there's no better time to start than the present!

I used the brand spankin' new Pure Innocence Warm Fuzzies set for my card today. I had visions of Easter with this little sweetie and when I looked at today's sketch a saw an egg. I know...maybe I should get my eyes checked...but I think it turned out kinda cute!

There's not a lot of colouring on this image since I paper pieced her bunny suit with one of the patterns from the Echo Park Little Girl collection. In fact, all the patterned papers are from the Little Girl collection...it's so bright and cheery!

I used my little open scallop die on the strip of yellow then cut out some patterned flowers with my flower trio die. I added a touch of softness with a white mini rolled rose.

Hopefully I'll see your creation in the Splitcoast gallery soon!

Here are the challenge 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 MFTWSC9. 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 2

We have another full day of fun sneak peeks from Taylored Expressions. All the new products will be available in the TE Store starting Thursday, March 3rd from 8am PST.

The Baker's Dozen is sharing samples using two new sets, Hello Spring and Easter Joy. You'll also see the Spring Project Pantry which if chock full of colourful goodness...you may recognize it in some of yesterday's sneak peeks.

I'll start with Hello Spring. This is a full sized stamp set from the Apple Doodle Ink line. It has 20 images consisting of an adorable mix of spring and Easter images and sentiments. All Taylored Expressions stamps are deeply etched red rubber on EZ mount foam and come already trimmed...sweet!

I adore birds and when I saw this set I knew the first images I wanted to use were the little chicks...they crack me up! Then I saw SC321 and knew it was the perfect layout for my idea.

The chicks are stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black and coloured with copics. I stamped them a second time so I could cut out and pop the egg shells. It's really difficult to see in the photo, but the shells are all sparkly because I coloured them with my clear Spica pen. The little scallop strip is thanks to my small scallop border die. All the supplies on this card are from the Spring Project Pantry.

Next up is my Easter Joy card. This is a mini set from the Lasting Impressions line and has 10 images, including two bible verses. The images are cute, and designed to coordinate with the images from Hello Spring.

My vision for this card was a sunrise over rolling hills...and it turned out just how I imagined! Gotta love it when that happens. The larger lamb (on the left) is from Hello Spring and the rest of the images are from Easter Joy.

I created the pretty floral accent with patterned papers from my My Mind's Eye Stella Rose Mabel patterned paper and the friendship blooms dies. A little sewing, some ribbon and twine, and this one was done!

Have fun hopping around to check out the rest of the fab sneak peeks!
Charmaine Ikach 
Danielle Lounds
Jackie Pedro
Jodi Collins
Karen Giron
Melissa Sauls
Regina Mangum
Sankari Wegman
Taylor VanBruggen
Tori Wild

See you here again tomorrow for even more sneak peeks!!!
Thanks for stopping by!
Karen