August Release Day at Taylored Expressions!

I was pleased with myself getting a card ready for yesterday's sneak peeks, but with the kids in camps this week, I was able to stamp in the afternoon too, which is unheard of--I usually start around 11pm. So I have two more cards for you today. The new sets and dies become available to purchase later today at 8am PST!!

First, I had two clever TE customers tell me at the booth during Make 'n Takes at CHA that the pedestal for the bird bath in the new Tweet Hearts set could be used as a dress. You've seen it as intended as a bird bath in Carolina's adorable card, as a cool tree trunk in Charmaine's project, and today Jackie has mushrooms!!! I wanted to run with this idea and create a precious little black dress and Congratulations card. Could be for a stagette, to congratulate a friend who lost those pounds she felt she needed to, for a wedding (although I'm not sure where the groom is hiding!)...the possibilities are endless. I also wanted to show you that although the dies that coordinate with the new Take Note set are to 'DIE' for, if you have to make choices and keep them on a wish list for later, they still look good trimmed with scissors, which is exactly what I've done here. I added half pearls at the neckline and bling along the border folded at the bottom of the card. When my card was finished and photographed, I thought the label would look even better heat embossed...here's that version, which I hope shows the embossing:


Simple, and hopefully, elegant.

My second card turned out exactly how I imagined. I cut the bird base with legs intact and a second, separate striped body layer using my Silhouette, then stamped a wing with the large paisley print in the Tweet Hearts set. Each layer is popped up. I'm loving this Martha Stewart branch edge punch! I thought I'd leave the threads raw to tie in with the whole bird nesting theme. I'm so fond of this sentiment: you make a good day even better. So many of our friends deserve to know this, don't you think?



I also wanted to share three more pictures from CHA that Sankari forwarded to me. It's such a thrill to see myself with Taylor and her talented team in front of my Whimsical Wishes stamps!!!

And these are of Melissa and me, roomies and fast friends (I don't mean speedy...we just feel like we've known each other forever even though we just met).

Can't wait to see what Taylor and her Baker's Dozen have cooked up with all of the goodies available at Taylored Expressions today:

• Alex Maldonado
• Carolina Buchting
• Charmaine Ikach
• Donna Baker
• Jackie Pedro
• Jami Sibley
• Jeanie Witmer
• Jodi Collins
• Karen Giron
• Karen Motz
• Melissa Sauls
• Sankari Wegman

Thanks for having a look!
~Nancy

Tweet Hearts-Day 2 of TE Sneak Peeks

I didn’t want another fabulous Taylored Expressions release to arrive and not play along, so here’s my card using the newest addition to the Whimsical Wishes line I illustrate—Tweet Hearts. This set is full of fun and versatility—I’ve used at least 8 of the images (each leaf, the bird, branch and whimsical nest are separate stamps) and there are still plenty more! I stamped the larger paisley print image in versamark on my PTI Hawaiian shores cardstock base and carried that delicious colour through with the coordinating saddle stitch ribbon and blossom buttons.

When I don't use a sketch, this seems to be my 'go to' square card layout. Late at night, it just happens! I had to laugh at how much the basic layout looks like Karen's birthday card. I've switched up the colour scheme, used my new stash of Basic Grey oliver paper and played with the newest Taylored Expressions stamps though!!

Thought you might want to see pictures of some of the TE girls at CHA Chicago 2010 while you're stopping by (I only had my camera with me on the first morning of the Supershow so I don't have everyone). They are exactly how they sound in their blogs...fun, cheerful and warm not to mention talented. The photos they post are terrific, but let me tell you that their cards are truly incredible in person!!

Karen Giron, the official TE photographer for the show

Carolina in that adorable cupcake apron!

Alex, Sankari and me

Sankari in a Karen sandwich

The Canadians-Karen and me

Can't wait to see what Taylor and her Baker's Dozen have cooked up with Tweet Hearts today:

• Alex Maldonado
• Carolina Buchting
• Charmaine Ikach
• Donna Baker
• Jackie Pedro
• Jami Sibley
• Jeanie Witmer
• Jodi Collins
• Karen Giron
• Karen Motz
• Melissa Sauls
• Sankari Wegman

LIVE * LAUGH * LOVE...
~Nancy

TE Blast from the Past-June

I wasn't able to get stamping time in before today's TE Blast from the Past but I thought I'd repost two of my favourites from 2009 just in case I get a few visitors along the hop. First, here's a happy birthday card using Branching Out from back in May 2009:



I loved how the sentiment weaved through the tire punched out with circle punches in this one. The second is a cupcake tic-tac-toe card using For the Love of Cupcakes from June 2009:




I told all about it here.

I'm looking forward to what everyone participating has to show us today!



Thanks for visiting...
~Nancy

Happy Birthday, Karen!!

It's a weekend of birthdays and today is Karen's! So some of her friends have gotten together to celebrate with a hop and the party starts over at Dana's blog. I was playing with my Silhouette this week and have something special just for Karen.

I created the image first in Illustrator and then converted it to cut. This may give a closer look:

The sentiment is printed on cardstock. I just love this American Crafts paper--it seemed perfect for my friends celebrating birthdays this weekend. I cut three of the gorgeous flowers out and adhered them to the SU melon mambo cardstock before stitching around the edge. I saw the button and half pearls treatment over on Dawn McVey's blog and thought it was perfect for Karen's swirly leafy flourish!

Next stop--Janet. If you didn't start out at Dana's, Karen's hop today goes something like this...

Dana & Leslie

Jodi

Karen G

Jeanie

Paula

Nancy<<--that's me

Janet

Wendy

Joanne B

Karen the birthday girl :)

That's right...Karen has created something beautiful for herself too.

Have a fabulous day, Karen!
~Nancy

Happy Birthday, Taylor!!

It's Taylor's birthday and I've got a blast from the past with a twist for her. Was your shiny new Silhouette a little treat for your birthday, Taylor? Well...I created a little something so Taylor can play with her new toy using her own TE images from For the Love of Cupcakes!!



The cupcake and its liner and frosting together with the stand were all cut using my Silhouette SD, which made paper piecing a breeze. The frosting is then coated generously with layers of crystal effects and topped with leaves also cut with my Silhouette and a lovely half pearl. 'Happy Birthday' is from Extra Credit inked in Adirondack espresso. The cupcake itself is in SU melon mambo cardstock then embossed. I sponged the nestie oval frame with SU pink pirouette and melon mambo. Mmmm...I like that colour and thought it paired nicely with the American Crafts Romaine a la Carte patterned paper.



A few of Taylor's friends have gotten together to throw a little blog hop party:

Alex Maldonado

Alice Wertz

Carolina Buchting

Charmaine Ikach

Donna Baker

Jackie Pedro

Jami Sibley

Jenn Balcer

Jodi Collins

Karen Giron

Karen Motz

Lisa Hjulberg

Lori Craig

Melissa Sauls

Monika Davis

Nancy McKinney ßßßthat’s me

Rachel Sztonyk
Sandra MacLean
Sankari Wegman
Sharon Harnist
Sherrie Siemens

Have a fabulous day, Taylor, and everyone stopping by!
~Nancy

Hangin' Out at the Beach Sneaks

Today’s another exciting day of sneak peeks at Taylored Expressions! I’m joining the Baker’s Dozen to show you the newest Whimsical Wishes set I illustrated, Hangin’ Out at the Beach. Didn’t we just show you Hangin’ Out? That’s right, this is a summer set that coordinates.

My cards today are a complete departure from yesterday’s and what I usually create although they are square—I admit, I have a thing about square cards!

My first follows this week’s TE sketch challenge #115. I thought the Fancy Pants Summer Soiree Beach House paper was perfect for the palm tree in the set, which I coloured with copics and shaded with prismacolors and gamsol.

I kept the nestie circle and labels dies in place when sponging around the inner edge of the palm tree panel with Momento Dandelion ink and the Relax sentiment circle with Momento New Sprout ink. The half pearls were originally a light pink but I used Taylor’s trick and coloured them to coordinate with copics. One of my kids’ friends is going to love this card!

I think we may be seeing a few yellow polka-dot bikinis today. Well, mine is more tangerine and hung on a line with the towel and guy trunks in the set:

I stamped the images on TE choice snow white card stock and coloured with copics and prismacolors/gamsol. I embossed the border leading up to the sentiment “enjoy Life!” with one of the folders in the Cuttlebug Border Frills set, then added a half pearl to each centre to match the bikini bra. The pre-printed summer scene is part of the same Fancy Pants Summer Soiree paper—just perfect for drying my beachy, summer clotheline.

Looking forward to seeing what the talented Baker’s Dozen has done with Hangin’ Out at the Beach…

Alex Maldonado; Carolina Butching; Charmaine Ikach; Donna Baker; Jackie Pedro; Jami Sibley; Jeanie Witmer; Jodi Collins; Karen Giron; Melissa Sauls; Sankari Wegman; and Taylor VanBruggen

Thanks for stopping by on your way!

~Nancy

Summer Afternoon - Day 2 of TE Sneaks for June

Today I’m playing along with the TE Baker’s Dozen with some sneak peeks of the Whimsical Wishes set I illustrated, Summer Afternoon, which will be available at Taylored Expressions along with lots of new products on Friday, June 4th.

I hope my samples show you the simple beauty of the images. This whimsical frame is a favourite of mine:

I’ve inked it in black and highlighted the inner part of the frame, butterflies and dragonfly with versamarker then heat embossed with SU classy copper powder. I sponged Tim Holtz distressed ink in tea dye around the edges of the sentiment circle cut out with nesties. The Gibran quote is one of three separate sentiments sized to fit within the frame. I thought this bold image stood for itself with a simple layout framed with Bo Bunny Delilah You & Me patterned paper and layers of cardstock.

My second card highlights the poppies and bird silhouettes in the set with the sentiment “A life without love is like a year without summer.”

My layout reminds me of a book, so I’ll likely hand-write something like “…and what would summer be without a good read” on the inside to go along with a favourite book as a gift. I just finished People of the Book, which would definitely be one I’d recommend and give. I accented the poppies with versamarker and Stickles glitter in pink, which I heat set. The paper is also from the Bo Bunny Delilah collection but was part of a preprinted cutout sheet. I used my X-ACTO retractable pen knife (a knife I can actually say I'm happy with and looks like it's not going to break under pressure!) to cut around the curved edges of the border piece.

Looking forward to seeing what the talented Baker’s Dozen has done with Summer Afternoon…

Alex Maldonado; Carolina Butching; Charmaine Ikach; Donna Baker; Jackie Pedro; Jami Sibley; Jeanie Witmer; Jodi Collins; Karen Giron; Melissa Sauls; Sankari Wegman; and Taylor VanBruggen

Thanks for stopping by on your way!
~Nancy

Cheeky DIGs is open!

I added Sharkie, my 'need a lift' support balloon and my frothy fappuccinos today to my Etsy Shop, Cheeky DIGs (pronounced digs like with a shovel). I'm starting with 5 of each image/set. Here are my initial prices:

• Sharkie and his 3 cheeky sentiments are priced at $5 for the set.
• The support balloon and sentiment is $3.
• My fraps will be $3 for the collage image and $8 for the set, which includes both collage images AND the vanilla beans, strawberries, cloud and swirls as separate images.
• I'm planning to price singles at $2-3 and sets between $5-10 depending on the number of images.

How does that sound? If these sell out (wouldn't that be amazing!!), please let me know and I'll add more. I'd love to see what you do with my images....I think a contest with prizes would be a good way to celebrate!!

Thanks for stopping by!
~Nancy

Henri's first real birthday party...

I'm gearing up to open Cheeky DIGs on Etsy where I'll sell my digital stamps (these are not the same as the images I illustrate for Taylored Expressions although you may recognize a similar style) and my favourite handmade cards. I'm still tweaking and open to any suggestions. If you use digi stamps already, I really would like to know whether you prefer jpeg, png or pdf files and whether a set is best arranged on one letter-sized page or one image per page. I'd love to hear from you!!

On Friday, my little Henri turns 6. Anyone who knows me knows this is a very big deal--two years ago Henri celebrated his 4th birthday while living at Sick Kids and was having a bone marrow transplant less than 3 months later. He's cured and is having his first REAL birthday party and inviting REAL school friends. So my morning was spent on the invites to his bowling party and here they are:

I created the bowling alley in Illustrator (I'm not sure if you can see the lines in this photo) and arranged it on the top half of the page before printing on cardstock, folding the back up and adding cardstock edges with strong adhesive and stitching. The insert gives the party details and is topped with nestie labels and the bowling pins/ball (popped up with dimensionals) I also created in Illustrator.

Thanks for looking!

~Nancy

Make that a vanilla frappuccino, please!

So it turns out Morgana's friend prefers vanilla bean frappuccinos at Starbucks. I enjoyed making the strawberry version so much that I didn't mind mixing a vanilla one last night:

Hope you treat yourself to something delicious today! Thanks for stopping by...

~Nancy

A birthday frappuccino

One of my daughter's friends is celebrating her 12th birthday and loves Starbucks frappuccinos (for my kids, it's all about the whipped cream), so today I created this image and card inspired by the frappuccino promotion they've got going on right now.

I printed my images on TE choice snow white cardstock and SU 12"x12" white cardstock, coloured with copics and added shading with prismacolors/gamsol. To create the pocket I just folded up the bottom 2" on my 5"x12" card base and stitched the edges before adding the strip of DP with the punched edge.

The card layout is fairly simple--it's all about the frappy scene and whipped cream!

Thanks for looking!

~Nancy

Talent everywhere!

A comment on my last post led me to Jo, The Crafy Nomad. She creates fabulous sewn creations and cards to match. Fun stuff!! Jo has joined in on a Sew Mama Sew blog giveaway. I didn't know about this!! The idea behind Sew Mama Sew (from their blog) ...
"Readers benefit because a) they get exposed to blogs with great ideas; b) they get directed to shops with wonderful items; c) they get the opportunity to win a cool handmade prize; d) they know exactly when to tune in! Participants benefit because a) they get new readers (many participants end up with hundreds of comments & visitors); b) they get potential shoppers/readers; c) they can experience the joy of giving something they’ve made to a virtual friend. Want to play?"

YES! Jo is giving away personalized t-shirts/baby onesies, a collection of cards and coffee cup sleeves. Have a look...

~Nancy

Inspired by Nicole Heady's kite card, I created these last week and gave the support ribbon balloon to my friend with breast cancer. I also made purple versions for a friend with lupus in the family and another whose mother is going through chemo for pancreatic cancer. I didn't have enough time to take pictures before running to meet them for a girls' night out. Apparently lupus, pancreatic cancer and Alzheimer's all share purple as their colour of support.



I created the images and sentiment in Illustrator and printed on TE choice snow white cardstock before colouring with copics. The white background panel is sponged on the edges with chalk ink. Loved Nicole's layout and created my own version of stitching around the focal image. Here's another photo of the card I still have in my stash for someone who needs a 'lift.'



The support ribbon balloon, my shark, my rainy day umbrella and other digi images I've created may be available soon for purchase. I'd like to hear your thoughts first though...are you interested in these digi images and what file formats work for you?!!

Thanks for stopping by...
~Nancy

Sharkie Wants A Piece!

I've actually got a second post for today after the excitement of the first TE customer blog hop. Last week Henri asked me to draw him a kangaroo, so I'm not sure how I ended up with this shark. Sharks seem to be the rage right now for little guys. Here's my card for this week's Mojo Monday Sketch #139 and Henri's birthday card to go with the swimming trunks and flip flops he has his eye on at Gymboree.

I played around with Core'dinations and We R Memory Keepers textured cardstock, sanding after embossing with cuttlebug folders. My shark is printed on TE choice snow white cardstock and coloured with copics and prismacolors/gamsol. The mesh ribbon was from a TE kit when Spooky Expressions was released. I cinched it with a bead and included shells in front and behind to create a net. Not sure if this is a better closeup of my cheeky, cake-loving shark...

How do you like him? I'd love to hear...

~Nancy

TE Blast from the Past

Today is the very first customer blog hop for Taylored Expressions and we've been asked to create a card using stamps from 2008 or 2009 and a fun sketch designed by Sankari. So here's mine:



I've used the tool belt from Boys Will Be Boys, which I coloured with copics and prismacolors/gamsol. Discovering that both can be used (pencils AFTER copics) was truly one of the most useful tips and has really helped my colouring (I think anyway). I pulled out some Cosmo Cricket Lil' Man DP scraps and paired them with PTI aqua mist cardstock and ink (sponged around the edges) and Gina K pure luxury red.

The sentiment "love a guy who knows how to use his tools" is just one I created for this card. I laughed at myself because when adding the large eyelet with my crop-a-dile, I really crunched it and made a mess. Guess I should learn how to use my own tools! The thread is meant to disguise, however, it hides the 's' on the end of tools, which makes my sentiment sound a little naughty.

;) ~Nancy

Celebrating Waltzing Mouse Today

Welcome to the Friends of Waltzingmouse Stamps Blog Waltz this month! Since Claire and Waltzingmouse Stamps have been in business one year, the theme is birthdays. I’ve used the very first set I ordered from Waltzing Mouse, Earth Angel, for my card.

My angel’s dress is paper pieced with the back/coordinating Bo-Bunny Sophie Stripe paper. I used nestabilities to frame the SU sweet treat pocket filled with assorted wild flower seeds. Because Waltzing Mouse stamps are clear photopolymer, I was able to curve the sentiment and pattern around the circular frame. Angel’s wings are two leaves from SU's stitched felt sweet pea pack. I added some sparkle to her shoes, hair bow and stars with spica glitter pens.

Thanks so much for stopping by!

~Nancy

Happy Birthday, Janet!

I slept in on Janet's birthday so I'm late for the hop. I had so much fun creating this purple, slightly grungy, rockin' card for Janet using You're My Hero. The background I created especially for Janet and I'm sending her the digi file. Maybe she'll share it with her closest friends ;)...




LOTS of half pearls here, but the guitar is my favourite. I used the 'rock 'n roll' technique, of course, for the base of the guitar, lightly coloured the arm with copics and liberally applied crystal effects on the base (is that's what it's called, Janet?). Hope you have a wonderful birthday!!

Here's of list of some of Janet's friends wishing her the very best...

Karen: http://paperplayhouse.blogspot.com/

Joan: http://scrapmum.blogspot.com/

Dana: http://danashouseofcards.blogspot.com/

Mary: http://mbryt1.blogspot.com/

Nancy: http://cardworthy.blogspot.com/ (that's me)

Anita: http://www.hoveyhut.blogspot.com/

Michelle: http://micheldesigns.blogspot.com/

Anne: http://stargrovesblog.blogspot.com/

~Nancy

More Hangin' Out Sneaks

I have a few more cards to show you using Hangin’ Out. Yesterday I saw a few sets of this pair of undies:

Mine are also paper pieced, but to match. I’ve bought matching sets for myself but maybe it’s time for his and hers! The boys in my house love pink so here are some pink dotted under-gotchies for my hubbie. I’ve used the CPS sketch sponsored by Taylored Expressions this week…changed it a little but hopefully the basic elements are there.

Next, I’ve seen stitched bug trails on other cards so I thought I’d try with the bee in Hangin’ Out. I stamped the little guy twice and coloured with copics then stitched. Another time I might do the reverse—stitch then stamp.

And finally, the whimsical clothesline pole in the set also reminds me of a tetherball post so I created an opening in each of the card front layers to allow my bead ball to move. I printed the sentiment “Have a ball on your birthday!” on Choice Snow White cardstock; cut curved pieces with my Martha Stewart hand straight cutting wheel; and then liberally covered the pieces with copics before embossing with my Cuttlebug.

No stiching on this card and it isn't square...amazing! The hills are inspired by Jeanie’s fab card. I hope the kraft card base makes this krafty enough for THAT'S KRAFTY THURSDAY 25, Jeanie.

Looking forward to seeing the Baker’s Dozen treats today! Alex Maldonado; Carolina Butching; Charmaine Ikach; Donna Baker; Jackie Pedro; Jami Sibley; Jeanie Witmer; Jodi Collins; Karen Giron; Melissa Sauls; Sankari Wegman; guest designer Sandra MacLean, and Taylor VanBruggen

Thanks for stopping by on your way!

~Nancy

Hangin' Out Sneak Peeks

I’m having LOTS of fun with the latest Whimsical Wishes set I illustrated for Taylored Expressions—Hangin’ Out, which hopefully captures Sankari's inital ideas. There are so many images—over 20, actually—that it’s not just another clothesline set. The sneak peeks I have for you today hopefully show what you can do with just a few of the images for birthdays, friendship, support and ‘just because.’ First, here’s a simple layout with the little bird image stamped twice and perched on a hand-drawn line, then coloured with prismacolors and gamsol. Don’t they just make the “perfect pair”…?

I’ve paired the ‘Welcome Little One’ sentiment with the bib and the miniature coordinating flower image; the cuddly bear; and the snappy nappy in the set.

Each image is masked within a frame. I’ve created the line—it’s not part of the set, so you can have clotheslines any length you wish or none at all. Most images can stand by themselves! I used my new SU scallop trim edge punch for this one because it just seems so delicate.

Finally for today (I have more for tomorrow), I used the bra image. A very new friend I met at Henri's gymnastics just learned that she has breast cancer and is scheduled for a mastectomy in two weeks. I created this sentiment “Friends are like bras: Close to your heart and there for support” on my computer for her and so many other friends who are completely healthy but just need support. If you don’t see just the perfect sentiment you need in this set, the computer is a wonderful thing. Combine these fabulous bras with your own words!



Why two cards with the same images and sentiment—'cause it’s perfect for so many people?! Well, actually, the purple version was my first take on this week’s Mojo Monday Sketch #137. When I first saw the sketch I thought of paint chips or my pantone colour fan and how the colours are presented in light-dark values, so I’ve created a subtle gradient using copics. I turned the sketch, included the half pearls inside my sentiment panel and extended the longer panel of squares the length of the card to fit the bras. Sometimes you create a card to work with a sketch, but it just doesn’t feel like ‘you’—just how I feel about this one. So, I used the same basic layout, brighter colours and my comfortable square shape to create this card:

I wanted white squares behind the bras for contrast but embossed each one differently for textural interest. And this time I used PTI rustic thread and those cute clothespins to string up my bras.

Can’t wait to see what the Baker’s Dozen has cooked up for us today! Alex Maldonado; Carolina Butching; Charmaine Ikach; Donna Baker; Jackie Pedro; Jami Sibley; Jeanie Witmer; Jodi Collins; Karen Giron; Melissa Sauls; Sankari Wegman; and Taylor VanBruggen

Thanks for stopping by on your way!

Nancy