Just a little late with the polka-dotted theme

Last week's Bellarific Friday theme was polka dots, but I was so busy with the Whimsical Wishes release for Taylored Expressions that I just didn't get a chance until this week. Here's Gertie lulu coloured with copics then with prismacolors and gamsol.

Thanks for looking.

~Nancy

We have a winner!

Thanks to everyone who took the time to play along and leave a message this weekend. It's been a wonderful year for me illustrating the Whimsical Wishes stamp line for Taylored Expressions and working with Taylor. I'd love to hear what your favourite set is so far and what you'd like to see more of in the future.

Mainly I'm on tonight to send congratulations out to Laura! You've won a Wimsical Wishes set of your choice. Laura guessed all 10 of the sets correctly as did almost everyone else who played along. What a clever bunch!! Taylor will also be in touch with you.

Have a great evening everyone!
~Nancy

Contest Continues

I've had lots of responses to the Whimsical Wishes 'guess the set' challenge, but I've got them in hiding so don't worry if you don't see the comment you posted. So far, everyone who has guessed has a chance to win--you're all so clever!! Remember you still have until Sunday at 7pm to tell me the 10 sets that match the closeup images. If you're just learning about this chance to win a free Whimsical Wishes set of your choice, please comment on yesterday's post so I'm drawing from one list of names. Have fun and good luck!!
~Nancy

Whimsical Wishes Celebrates One Year!!

Well, today is a very exciting day…it’s release day when all of the stamp sets and products you’ve seen this week are available in the Taylored Expressions store. But it’s also because I’m celebrating a year of illustrating the Whimsical Wishes line and working with Taylor! We started with Branching Out, which is still one of my favourites. I thought I’d post a challenge today with a terrific prize, which you can read about at the end of this post.

First, here are a few projects showcasing a new download you can purchase and one very special limited-edition digital set you can earn free with purchase this weekend. I printed the Eggstra Special Image Sheet on transparency for the window in my Easter Egg Hunt box and included the sentiment from Favorite Peeps. We love our Cadbury mini eggs in our house—I can’t tell you how many we’ve already eaten and it’s not even Easter! I used PTI’s timeless template For Keepsake but resized it 110% before printing, then cut the egg opening in both the lemon tart and hibiscus cardstock pieces. The butterfly is cut from the same Basic Grey urban prairie / patchwork quilt patterned paper I used for the lid and the lower trim.

My next project turned out just the way I imagined. A box of fresh note cards for each season. You’ll notice I added one of my favourite images from Favorite Peeps by masking in my Spring card. The box is a Silhouette download (horizontal heart gift box by Loni Stevens) but I removed the heart in the template before cutting with my silhouette. Then, I cut the window with my nesties (Labels 1) instead to coordinate with the note cards, stitched around the outside and inserted a transparency panel that I printed for the occasion.

I coloured all of the images with prismacolors and gamsol to coordinate with the Prima Marketing Just Corina / Dude Collection / playful paper I used. Paula, how did I do? I feel much more confident laying on the colour after taking Paula’s class on last Sunday at Stamping Bella.

With any purchase in the TE Store through Monday, March 8th, you'll receive a FREE Whimsical Wishes Image Sheet - Whimsical Wishes Throughout the Year that includes these 4 never-before-seen seasonal images and 4 coordinating sentiments. But wait, there’s more… the first two sets released in the Whimsical Wishes family last year were Branching Out and Branching Out Coordinates. For the Anniversary Sale, these 2 sets are on sale for 25% off only through Monday, March 8th. Since these two sets were originally part of the TE Giving Tree charitable program, they come in sheet form attached to EZ Mount. You will need to trim them out when you receive them.

Are you ready for some fun? In a year’s time, I’ve illustrated 22 sets. I have little teasers for 10 of these sets but not necessarily shown at exact size—that would be too easy! Can you guess which ones? Do you own them? I’ll either use the random integer thing or I’ll draw out of a hat or something allowing a chance to win for anyone who correctly matches each picture with its name (you’ll find the names at Taylored Expressions). Taylor is giving a free Whimsical Wishes set of their choice to the winner!! You might not see your comment appear--don't worry, I had to moderate comments today because some of you are just too smart (or have all of the Whimsical Wishes sets!). Please check back on Sunday when I close the contest at 7pm. Here goes…

If you haven't already seen what the TE Baker's Dozen has cooked up today, you don't want to miss them: Alex Maldonado, Carolina Buchting, Charmaine Ikach, Donna Baker, Jackie Pedro, Jeanie Witmer, Jodi Collins, Karen Giron, Karen Motz, Melissa Sauls, Sankari Wegman, guest designer Amy Sheffer and Taylor Van Bruggen

Thanks so much for spending time and celebrating with me today!
~Nancy

Day 2 of Sneak Peeps!

We're getting closer to the March release being available at Taylored Expressions and one year of Whimsical Wishes!! You'll be seeing a few of our favourite 'peeps' today if you hop along with the Taylored Expressions Baker's Dozen. It's Day 2 of sneaks and I'm showing you some of the sweet images from the newest Whimsical Wishes set, which is called Favorite Peeps.



I've used the nestie-friendly egg image stamped on PTI's lemon tart cardstock and highlighted with copics, half pearls and liquid pearl. My little guy (who started out as a duck in this set) is coloured with copics, trimmed and popped up higher than the egg frame, which is also popped up. Lots of layers! I picked up this dotted EK Success edge punch at Michael's this week and layered the black over coordinating patterned paper. Although it's not new, I love this Basic Grey urban prairie paper. Hoping it's fresh and fun.

But I didn't stop there. I love Easter images so I have two more cards for you. This adorable little bunny went through quite the transformation to become who he/she is today. What's better than one bunny--two!

Actually as a mother of twins, I find myself purchasing things in twos and I think this card would be perfect for spring babies. The bunny twins are stamped on white along with the sentiment and then on three different patterned papers for the paper pieced layers. I created the grass using my new Silhouette SD and a download shape (Grass by Silhouette). Love the Silhouette and its possibilities!!!!! Although I couldn't get enough of certainly celery when Karen Motz first introduced me to Stampin' UP!, I haven't used it for a very long time but I think it works here.

And finally, a wee birdie for bird lovers out there (Jami, Karen, Char,....).

The birdie and branch are one image and then there are three tiny eggs to play with. I've used both copics and prismacolors on this image after my weekend classes at Stamping Bella with Linda and Paula. Amazing talent!! I smudged the pink egg outside of the lines but now I feel so relieved to 'get' that shading and outer glow using prismas can salvage almost anything. The card background is another Silhoutte download (bubble card by Valerie Foster). I punched different sized circles from s.e.i. ally's wonderland poppy parade patterned paper and adhered them behind some of the holes in the pattern.

Thanks for looking! Let's go see what the rest of the TE team is showcasing today...

Alex Maldonado, Carolina Buchting, Charmaine Ikach, Donna Baker, Jackie Pedro, Jeanie Witmer, Jodi Collins, Karen Giron, Karen Motz, Melissa Sauls, Sankari Wegman and Taylor Van Bruggen

Day 1 of TE Sneaks for March

Today the Taylored Expressions Baker’s Dozen is showing sneak peeks for March. I’m not part of the design team but today’s set, You're My Hero, is one of two of my Whimsical Wishes sets being released this week. It’s also coming up to one year of Whimsical Wishes so make sure you check out Taylor’s blog later this week for something special! All sets you see today and tomorrow will be available in the TE Store on Friday at 8am PST.

You’re My Hero is the newest set in the TE Giving Tree Program, which donates partial proceeds from sales of a special stamp set to a different charity each quarter. Taylor wanted a “rock star” set in memory of her neighbour Darrin Zimmerman who bravely fought cancer but passed away last fall. You can read more about Darrin on Taylor's blog today. We designed this set with tweens and teens in mind (I have two of them myself)…and the Rock Star in all of us. I expect my 11-year-old twins will get their hands all over this set. It’s perfect for their occasions and projects. I’ve used black and grey ink and masked two of the images from the set in my You Rock in PINK! Card with copic highlights, stitching, sponging and Kaiser pearls.

Please keep in mind that Giving Tree sets (unlike other TE sets) need to be trimmed when you get them. They are the same deeply etched rubber on EZ Mount. Taylored Expressions will donate $7 from the sale of each set to CureSearch: "CureSearch unites the world's largest childhood cancer research organization, the Children's Oncology Group, and the National Childhood Cancer Foundation through their mission to cure childhood cancer. Research is the key to the cure."

Thanks for stopping by! Now go and see how the Baker's Dozen rocked this set...

Alex Maldonado, Carolina Buchting, Charmaine Ikach, Donna Baker, Jackie Pedro, Jeanie Witmer, Jodi Collins, Karen Giron, Karen Motz, Melissa Sauls, Sankari Wegman and Taylor Van Bruggen