One Happy Stamper...

Friday, April 12, 2013

WHAT'S THE BUZZZZZ?

Hey there, I found a really cool challenge blog a couple days ago, Designed to Color. This month's challenge, Hexagon Fun, is to use a colored image and hexagons. I'm totally addicted to coloring, so this was easy! Especially since I've had this Whipper Snapper Designs image sitting on my desk for the last month just begging to see ink. My layout was inspired by Designed to Color's guest designer, Mary Johnson. Her skunk card is stinkin' cute! Yep, I just went there! *ha*

This actually started out as a 5 1/4" square card, but there was a WHOLE lot of real estate out there not getting used. It felt out of balance, so I ripped it apart and cut it down to fit an A2 card. Oh yeah, much better! The image was stamped twice, once on the main panel and the other on a scrap piece of Neenah card stock. The bear was colored with Copic markers and then I tried a new-to-me technique. I'm not sure what it's called...but after the image is colored, you spritz a towel with Copic Colorless Blender (0) and dab it on the colored image. It's supposed to leave a fur-like texture. Mine left white splotches...not at all what I was hoping for...sooo I colored over it! Almost everything is fixable, right? *grin* If you look close, you can still see a little of the texture in the lightest areas of the bear. The bear was fussy cut and because I LOVE my clear glaze pen, the nose and pads on his feet were glazed to give them a subtle shine. I colored the bee, flower, flower pot and shadow on the main panel, adhered the hexagons, computer generated the sentiment, cut it with a banner die then popped it and the colored bear up over the top of the main panel. I love how this card turned out! Oh, and I put Stickles on the little bee's wings for a little sparkle. I guess that's about it for this one!

COPIC COLORING:
BEAR: E44, E43, E42, E41 NOSE/PADS: C6, C4, C2, C0 FLOWER POT: BG75, BG72, BG70, Y15, Y00 DIRT: E44, E43, E41 LEAVES: YG23, YG00 FLOWER: R46, R43, Y15, Y00 BEE: Y15, Y00, BG72, BG70 SHADOW: E43, E42, E41

Thanks for stopping by!

SUPPLIES:
STAMPS: WSD Sitting Teddy
PAPER: Neenah Solar White; Bazzill Raven Monochromatic; My Mind's Eye Unforgettable collection ("Today" Remember, "Happiness" Delight)
INK: Copic markers; Memento Tuxedo Black
ACCESSORIES: Spellbinders Grand Calibur; MFT Die-namics (Hexagons, Fishtail Flag Stax); Stamp-a-ma-jig; paper snips; Sakura Clear Glaze pen; computer/printer (for the sentiment); SU Dimensionals; Star Dust Stickles; Zig 2-Way Glue pen; adhesive
TECHNIQUE(S): Fussy cutting
SIZE OF FINISHED PROJECT: A2 (4 1/4" x 5 1/2")

Tuesday, April 9, 2013

TAYLORED EXPRESSIONS APRIL STAMP OF THE MONTH BLOG HOP

Hey there, it's time for the Taylored Expressions Stamp of the Month Blog Hop! You're in for a treat this month! The April Key Ingredients Kit is drop dead, gorgeous! The pattern paper is from Fancy Pants and the colors are sooo pretty! Taylor did an amazing job matching the SOTM, Simple Greetings, to the paper. I'm super excited for the coordinating Simple Tabs dies that can be purchased seperately. LOVE! If you're interested, there are three subscription options to choose from: Key Ingredients Kit Club (paper, card stock and ribbon), Stamp of the Month Club (exclusive stamp set that coordinates with the KI Kit Club) and Deluxe Key Ingredients (combination of the KI Kit Club and SOTM Club). Now, onto my projects...I actually made two to share today...I didn't want to put the stamps down. *grin*

SUPPLIES:
STAMPS: TE April SOTM Simple Greetings
PAPER: Neenah Solar White; TE April Key Ingredients Kit
INK: Memento Tuxedo Black; SU (Crushed Curry, Baja Breeze)
ACCESSORIES: Spellbinders (Grand Calibur; Nestabilities Standard Circles Small, Standard Circles Large); TE Taylored Dies (Leafy Branch, Medium Scallop Border); sponge; paper snips; Stamp-a-ma-jig; stylus; Bazzill Blackbird rhinestones; Zig 2-Way Glue pen; SU Dimensionals; adhesive
TECHNIQUE(S): Sponging, fussy cutting
SIZE OF FINISHED PROJECT: 5 1/4" x 5 1/4"

Here's the second project. Did I mention I LOVE these colors!?!

SUPPLIES:
STAMPS: TE April SOTM Simple Greetings
PAPER: Neenah Solar White; Bazzill Raven Monochromatic; TE April Key Ingredients Kit
INK: Memento Tuxedo Black; SU (Crushed Curry, Baja Breeze)
ACCESSORIES: Spellbinders (Grand Calibur; Nestabilities Standard Circles Small, Standard Circles Large); TE Taylored Dies (Simple Tabs); paper snips; Stamp-a-ma-jig; Bazzill Blackbird rhinestones; SU Dimensionals; adhesive
TECHNIQUE(S): Fussy cutting
SIZE OF FINISHED PROJECT: A2 (4 1/4" x 5 1/2")

That's it for me today; hop on over to check out the Key Ingredients Team and the participating Baker's Dozen to see what they made for today!

Thanks for stopping by!

Friday, April 5, 2013

TAYLORED EXPRESSIONS APRIL SPOTLIGHTS: TAG STACKLETS 1

Hey there, what an amazing release, huh? This was one of my favorites releases, for sure! So many cool stamp sets and dies!!! The April Release is available for purchase through the Fresh Out of the Oven section of the Taylored Expressions store.

For today's spotlight, I decided to make a Mother's Day tag using the Tag Stacklets 1 die and Hydrangea Bouquet stamp set...I just can't get enough of the bouquets! They are so stinkin' fun to color! You definitely can't see it in the picture, but there is a single flower (biggest pink one in the front) that was stamped a second time, colored with Copic markers, fussy cut then popped up on foam. Simple, but it looks really cool in person!

COPIC COLORING:
FLOWERS: R85, R83, R81, BV04, BV02, BV01 LEAVES: YG25, YG23, YG21, YG00 VASE: C6, C4, C2, C0 GROUND: C3, C1, C00 SKY: R0000

SUPPLIES:
STAMPS: TE Hydrangea Bouquet, Many Minis - Holidays
PAPER: Neenah Solar White
INK: Copic markers; Memento (Tuxedo Black, Angel Pink)
ACCESSORIES: Spellbinders Grand Calibur; TE Taylored Dies Tag Stacklets 1, Designer Mini Tags; paper snips; Crop-A-Dile; seam binding; mini mister; heat tool; Creative Impressions Black Twine; SU Dimensional
TECHNIQUE(S): Fussy cutting
SIZE OF FINISHED PROJECT: 3" x 5" (not including seam binding)

Thanks so much for checking out my projects this week! Don't forget to stop by the Baker's Dozen to see what awesome-ness they created for today!

Broni Holcombe - Guest Designer

Carole Burrage

Charmaine Ikach

Jen Shults

Kerri Mchaud

Lynnette Kauffman

Nancy McKinney

Sankari Wegman

Shannon White

Shelly Mercado

Stephanie Kraft

Tammie Edgerton - that's me!

Taylor VanBruggen

Wanda Guess

Thanks for stopping by!

Thursday, April 4, 2013

TAYLORED EXPRESSIONS APRIL RELEASE DAY: HAPPY HEART

Hey there, it's release day here at Taylored Expressions! That means everything you've seen over the last couple of days is FINALLY available in the Fresh out of the Oven section of the store. Woohoo!!!

Today's project uses the sooo very awesome set, Happy Heart. LOVE! As soon as I saw this sentiment, I knew I wanted to sponge a sun. I went about it a little bit different than I normally would though. I actually used a light box. I started by stamping the sentiment on the backside of a sticky note then positioned it to the back of the Neenah card stock panel (I didn't want to stamp it on the panel because the sponging would pick up black from the sentiment and make it all muddy looking...ask me how I know! Ha!). I put it on the light box to figure out where I wanted to put the horizon. I started by sponging Dandelion ink for the softer yellow then brought in the Cantaloupe to define the edge of the sun and the sun's rays. After the sponging was complete, a Stamp-a-ma-jig was used to line up the sentiment. Quick and easy! *grin*

Here's the inside...another quickly sponged sun to tie back to the front of the card.

SUPPLIES:
STAMPS: TE Happy Heart
PAPER: Neenah Solar White; Bazzill Raven Monochromatic
INK: Memento (Tuxedo Black, Dandelion, Cantaloupe)
ACCESSORIES: Sticky note masks; 1 1/4" circle punch; light box; sponges; Stamp-a-ma-jig; Bazzill Blackbird rhinestones; adhesive
TECHNIQUE(S): Masking, sponging
SIZE OF FINISHED PROJECT: A2 (4 1/4" x 5 1/2")

Happy shopping! Don't forget to stop back by tomorrow for one last project featuring products from the April Release. Now hop on over to check out the Baker's Dozen and their fabulous projects!

Broni Holcombe - Guest Designer
Charmaine Ikach
Jami Sibley
Jen Shults
Kerri Mchaud
Lynnette Kauffman
Regina Mangum
Sankari Wegman
Shannon White
Shelly Mercado
Stephanie Kraft
Tammie Edgerton - that's me!
Taylor VanBruggen
Wanda Guess

Thanks for stopping by!

Wednesday, April 3, 2013

TAYLORED EXPRESSIONS APRIL SNEAK PEEK: GRAD CAP DIE & LAVENDER BOUQUET

Hey there, I'm back with more sneak peeks for Taylored Expressions April Release...I'm really excited to share my projects today! I just LOVE these new stamps and dies! So without further ado...I have two projects to share.

Here in my neck of the woods, people bleed purple and gold! You might have already figured that out though. *grin* I used several new products for this card/gift bag combo. To start with, let me introduce you to this cutie pie, Moka Jerome. Adorable, huh? He was stamped with Tuxedo Black on Neenah card stock then colored with Copic markers. The Instant Photo Frames die that was released last month is perfect for this little guy! Check out that glittery, gold border...it's the larger of the new Ric Rac Border dies. The sparkly border is just what this card needed! The background was embossed with the Stars Impression Plate and to tie into the star theme, a couple stars from the Seeing Stars die were popped up.

Here's the inside...more Bazzill paper to match the front, another gold Ric Rac Border and the Poster Graphic #'s was used for the year.

COPIC COLORING:
SKIN: E11, E01, E00, R30 HAIR: E44, E43, E42, E41 CAP/GOWN: V17, V15, V12 TASSEL/TIE: Y17, Y15, Y11, Y0000 DIPLOMA: Y17, Y15, Y11, Y0000, C3, C1, C00 SHIRT: C1, C00 SKY: Y17, Y15, Y11, Y0000

Next up is the gift bag...more specifically, the tag for the bag. Did you notice the awesome new Tag Stacklets 1 dies? Awe-some! I can already tell I'll be using them a lot! The same Bazzill paper that was used on the card was also used to cut out the tag then Graphic Greetings Graduate was embossed in white. A second tag was cut from Neenah card stock and embossed with the Stars Impression Plate. The gold Ric Rac Border and popped up stars match the card. The Grad Cap die was cut from Neenah then colored with Copic markers. I had so much fun on this project!

SUPPLIES:
STAMPS: TE Moka Jerome, Graphic Greetings Graduate
PAPER: Neenah Solar White; Bazzill (Raven Monochromatic, Basics Ticking); Best Creation Dark Gold Glitter card stock
INK: Copic markers; Memento Tuxedo Black; VersaMark
ACCESSORIES: Spellbinders Grand Calibur; Sizzix Big Shot; TE Taylored Dies (Grad Cap, Ric Rac Borders, Tag Stacklets 1, Instant Photo Frames, Seeing Stars; Poster Graphic #'s); TE Taylored Impressions Stars; Stamp-a-ma-jig; embossing buddy; Imagine White Embossing Powder; heat tool; Zig 2-Way Glue pen; SU Dimensionals; adhesive
TECHNIQUE(S): Embossing
SIZE OF FINISHED PROJECT: A2 (4 1/4" x 5 1/2")

Next up is a card made with Lavender Bouquet...you already know how much I adore Taylor's Bouquet stamps! This one is no different! It was stamped with Tuxedo Black on Neenah card stock, colored with Copic markers, fussy cut then popped up on foam. A Nestie was used to cut out a section of the background panel to expose the airbrushed sky.

COPIC COLORING:
FLOWERS: V17, V15, V12, YG25, YG00, 0 BARREL: E47, E44, E43, E42, E41, C6, C4, C2, C0 GRASS: YG25, YG00 SKY: BG10, B00 CLOUD: BG10, B00, 0

SUPPLIES:
STAMPS: TE Lavender Bouquet
PAPER: Neenah Solar White; Bazzill Raven Monochromatic; My Mind's Eye Unforgettable "Happiness" Delight, Remarkable "Day" Dates
INK: Copic markers; Memento Tuxedo Black
ACCESSORIES: Spellbinders (Grand Calibur; Nestabilities Standard Circles Small, Standard Circles Large); TE Taylored Dies (Cloud Duo, Grass Border, Large Scallop Border, Cloud Border); paper snips; X-Acto knife; seam binding; SU Dimensionals; adhesive
TECHNIQUE(S): Airbrushing
SIZE OF FINISHED PROJECT: 5 1/4" x 5 1/4"

Well that does it for today. I'll be back tomorrow with a Release Day project, but for now head on over to see what the Baker's Dozen has in store for you. You're in for a treat...Baker's Dozen Alumni Danielle Lounds and Jodi Collins are joining in the fun! Woot!