Wednesday, May 8, 2013

Taylored Expressions May Sneak Peek: Mr & Mrs


Today I'm playing along again with sneak peeks of a new cutting plate and Whimsical Wishes stamp set I illustrated for this Taylored Expressions release. Love the detail we were able to include in the new MR & MRS cutting plate! It stands alone with very little embellishment as in my first card.



I added some half pearls to the front and stamped the sentiment inside from Happily Ever After. I rarely decorate the insides of my cards but I couldn't resist trimming and placing a portion of the cutting plate pattern. 


My second card started with the cutting plate again. I layered it over vellum and I think that's enough for a quick wedding card. 


After I made the card, however, I wanted to play with the idea of a pocket invitation. My sister is getting married sometime in the next decade so this is just a fake to get the idea across. I found inspiration for the layout and wording on the Jaffa Printing website—some very cool ideas! I wouldn't want to make 100 of these by hand, but I'm sure the cardstock pocket itself could be ordered through a printer and then the cutting plate and Happily Ever After stamp set could add the special DIY finishing touches.



Can't wait to see what the Baker's Dozen has cooked up for today... 


Thanks for stopping by...
~Nancy
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Tuesday, May 7, 2013

Taylored Expressions May Sneak Peek: Looking Though the Trees


It's time for sneak peeks for May and Taylor and her team have lots to show you. I'm playing along with a few dies I illustrated for this release: the Birch Tree Border, Birch Tree Accessories and the Birch Tree Cutting Plate. I can't tell you how thrilled I am with these dies! 



For my first card, I created a window using my Picture Window die. I stamped the "Thinking of You" sentiment from A Glimpse Inside on a strip cut with one of the smaller banners in banner stacklets 1. On the inside I've used the new Birch Tree Border and the cardinal from the Birch Tree Accessories set...



Next, I've used the stag die from the Birch Tree Accessories and tucked him in the trees cut with the Birch Tree Cutting Plate, which I popped up. 



"Missing You" is from From My Window and again I've used the smallest banner in banner stacklets 1. Mixed with a birthday, anniversary or Father's Day sentiment, this card is quite masculine...I think. 


Have a fabulous day!
~Nancy
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Friday, April 5, 2013

Taylored Expressions April Spotlights: Mother's Day Tulips


Today Taylor and her team are spotlighting new products for April and I have a simple Mother's Day card to show using A Glimpse Inside. I designed and sized each image in A Glimpse Inside and From My Window to work with the new window dies but also to work with banner stacklets 1 and banner stacklets 2. 


I've used paper from the My Mind's Eye indie chic 6x6 paper pad and coloured the focal image with copics and prismacolors. I've also tucked ric rac cut with the new Ric Rac Border dies. 

What's your favourite new product at Taylored Expressions? I'm thrilled with this Whimsical Wishes window collection and what I've seen people creating with them. ; )

Thanks for stopping by...
~Nancy
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Wednesday, April 3, 2013

Taylored Expressions April Sneak Peek: You're Going Places!


I get to play along today too with two new Mokas, Skylar and Jerome. I really needed these two last June when my twins graduated from Grade 8! Here they are...


I know Aidan will eventually catch up with Morgana, but it's funny how girls are heads above some of the boys in grade 8. 

I thought I'd create a 'you go, girl' kind of card. 


I masked Jerome in the background to create a graduating class and then brought Skylar front and centre and in colour. "dream" is included with the Windy Tree die. I added the line to emphasize that she's going places! My Moka is coloured with copics and paper pieced, then shaded with prismacolors.

These Moka petite sets and all other stamps, dies and products featured this week will be available on Thursday morning at 8am PST. 

Thanks for stopping by...
~Nancy
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Tuesday, April 2, 2013

Taylored Expressions April Sneak Peek: Dies Make It Easy!


Today is the first day of TE sneak peeks for April and I'm playing along with images and dies I illustrated. I hear that From My Window sold out in a hurry last month, so I'm looking forward to seeing what Taylor's talented Baker's Dozen does with my sequel, A Glimpse Inside today. From My Window focuses on outdoor images seen from inside; A Glimpse Inside turns it around and shows what's happening inside! A new window and other coordinating dies are also part of this release and will be available (with all of the goodies featured this week) on Thursday morning at 8am PST. I've used the cat silhouette die and the "Thinking of You" sentiment from A Glimpse Inside in my first card:


The outdoor image is part of the From My Window set, coloured with copics and prismacolors. I paired this sweet cat with the Arched Window die. 


For my next card, I used the negative cut from my new Windy Tree die and stamped "Believe," also from From My Window. I'll be using images from A Glimpse Inside later this week.

My cards are simple, but I hope they inspire. 

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Thursday, February 7, 2013

Taylored Expressions February Release Day: Butterfly Dies



Today is Release Day at the Taylored Expressions Store and the stamps, dies and other products featured this week are now available! Most of you know I illustrate the Whimsical Wishes line of stamps, but I also get to create wonderful dies to coordinate with my images too. Today I've played with the new Elegant Butterflies Overlays dies and combined them with dies Taylor previously released.

First up, I thought I'd work with this week's splitcoast sketch (422): 

I've used MME 6x6 Indie Chick "Citron" paper for the background panel and sponged my focal frame (cut with Label Stacklets 2 and a nestabilities oval) with PTI aqua mist and SU baja breeze inks to get the right colour for the paper. I cut the base butterfly with my Elegant Butterfly die and sponged it too to give darker edges and a lighter centre, then layered the Elegant Butterflies Overlay. Sankari, Perfect Pearls scare me!—I'm always worried that I'll get a big blob where I don't want one—but I've added tiny beads to areas on the butterfly for elegant texture. The sentiment "for a special friend" is from this month's bouquet, Calla Lily Bouquet.


My second card came together quickly. My focal panel is cut using a large Banner Stacklets 1 die and then I created a negative die cut using the new Silhouette Stems 1 die.


The sentiment "let your dreams take flight" is from Make It Amazing. Again I played with rustic thread and other embellishments, but went for clean and simple with a line of stitching and a black button. Quick, lovely (I think) and very reproducible!


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Tuesday, February 5, 2013

Taylored Expressions February Sneak Peek: Easter Doodles


Today is the first day of TE sneak peeks for February! It's been so long since I've posted on my blog—life's been busy with holidays, teenagers, reconnecting with friends and designing. It's always so exciting to get a package from Taylor for the upcoming release and I'm happy to play along today with new Whimsical Wishes goodies. Taylor and her team have more inspiration using stamps and products that will be available to purchase at the Taylored Expressions Store on Thursday, February 7 at 8AM PST. 

I don't feel entirely ready for Valentine's Day—Henri and I have a lot of friendship treats to package up for his classmates—but Easter is the theme for today's sneaks. I've got two cards to show you using images from Easter Doodles! 


First, I love this little Easter guy, coloured him with copics and prismacolors, and tucked him in behind the doodle frame after cutting out the inner circle. He makes me grin!


Next up, a line up of chicks I masked and a fresh hatchling front and centre. I coloured the focal chickie with copics and prismacolors, then layered her and glazed her eggshell with Glossy accents. I played with the 'cracked' theme and added chevron borders I cut with my TE Chevron Border Dies and zig zag stitching on the tag sized banner from the Banner Stacklets 1.


And finally, I wanted to create a 5-10 minute card for moments when a friend needs you 'now' and you don't have an hour to create the perfect card. I've had too many of these moments recently and I just want a simple card so I can write, "I don't know exactly what you're feeling but you mean the world to me and I'm here...for you." 


I cut this fabulous flower out of my focal panel using one of the new Silhouette Stems dies and tucked a pretty piece of MME 6x6 Indie Chick "Saffron" paper behind, then stamped the sentiment "Thinking of You" from Embrace Beauty. I played with rustic thread, embellishments, patterned paper backgrounds, but decided on clean and simple.

Can't wait to see what the TE team has to inspire us with today... 
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