Friday, February 4, 2011

Release Day at Taylored Expressions!


Everything you've seen in this week's TE sneak peeks is available today. I have one more card to share, which again features Cozy Cottages and the new picket fence taylored die. I stamped the birdhouse in the set three times masking off the bird for the two on the right and then stamped the single bird image twice, popping her up on her perch. I've coloured using copics and prismacolors/gamsol and sponged most of the paper edges in either antique linen or tattered rose distress ink. Love this golden haze rose ribbon from American Crafts and only had to use 5 1/2" of it for this square card of mine! ; )

Wednesday, February 2, 2011

Day 2 of TE Sneak Peeks-Wreath of Luck

I love anything Irish so I'm really looking forward to today's sneak peeks!! Taylor's Baker's Dozen and I are showcasing Wreath of Luck, a new Whimsical Wishes petite set that coordinates with the wreath die released last month. I couldn't resist making some "Irish" buttons for St. Paddy's Day and these were so quick...


I found 2 1/4" reusable 'fun buttons' at Michael's (I really wanted a button maker but couldn't get my hands on one in time and probably couldn't justify buying one!). The back is easily removed. I printed 2" circles on cardstock first, stamped my images from Wreath of Luck within the circle, coloured with copics and prismacolors, sponged the edges with 'shabby shutters' distress ink and finally added some stickles to the shamrocks. Once dry, I cut the button insert with nestabilities and popped the button back in. Easy!



I used last week's Mojo 175 sketch for inspiration for my card and my "Kiss me. I'm Irish!" button for the focal image.


Here you can see how I punched two holes in the circular mats to insert the pin.



Can't wait to see what the Baker's Dozen has cooked up with Wreath of Luck today!


Kiss an Irish friend!
~Nancy

Tuesday, February 1, 2011

Day 1 of TE Sneak Peeks for February!


It's that time again...sneak peeks of the newest stamp sets and goodies available later this week (Friday, Feb. 4th at 8:00AM PST) at Taylored Expressions, which is always an exciting time for me especially when I've illustrated a set and coordinating dies. Today Taylor's talented team is showcasing a very special Giving Tree set, Cozy Cottages, which will benefit Habitat for Humanity when purchased during the months of February, March and April.

When I was illustrating this set, Taylor asked for a mushroom house. We had just returned from my son Henri's wish trip to Give Kids the World and Disney so I was thrilled. What a very special place founded by an truly inspiring man, Henri Landwirth. So I included a whimsical beanstalk/vine tree in the set inspired by the merry-go-round at Give Kids the World village that my Henri enjoyed so much.


...And my first card is inspired by this memory.


I stamped the mushroom house and sentiment in Momento tuxedo black ink; coloured the house with copics and prismacolors, then whitened the spots with gel pen; die cut the whimsical tree for my beanstalk and distressed it with ink; cut the clouds in white wool felt using the new TE Cloud Duo die; and cut the bottom border with the TE medium scalloped border die. Did anyone notice that I also finally made a standard size card?

My second card makes me both happy and sad. The card makes me happy. But it's gone with my neighbours who just moved back home from Canada to Connecticut and I could cry just typing this. So back to the card...I've used the birdhouse and separate bird image from Cozy Cottages coloured with copics and prismacolors for this card and created a bit of a scene with a felt hill and TE picket fence using the new picket fence die available on Friday.



Again, the clouds are die cut with the new TE Cloud Duo die and given a silver lining with a little Glamour Dust. I forced myself not to make another square card!!!

Check out and enjoy the inspiration today...


Thanks for stopping by...
~Nancy