Celebrating...with Root Beer Floats!

Happy Tuesday!! It's Laurie here, and I've got a fun party/gift idea to share with you! Every year before school starts up again, we have a family "Back to School" party! It started as something to divert the kids from being upset about summer ending to having something to look forward to. It now has become a tradition for us and our whole family looks forward to it!

Each family member is responsible for one part of the party (drinks, food, decorations, games, etc.) and we usually choose something that our family has enjoyed throughout the summer. One thing in particular that our kids have loved this summer is root beer floats! So, when it came time to choose what I would be bringing it was a no-brainer...root beer floats! Woohooo!

Then, when I saw the overflowing mug from Taylor's new Chillax set I was beyond excited!! I got right to work altering this six pack root beer set!


(Click on the picture for a larger view)

I measured the front of the root beer carrying case and cut some Choice Buttercream c.s. and patterned paper accordingly. I added a chipboard frame (that is painted with Ivory acrylic paint), some coordinating papers, ribbon, a button, and a tag (the Celebrate stamp is from the A Year of Sweet Sentiments set).



I then created matching tags for all six bottles. I made the tag by stamping the mug image onto Choice Buttercream c.s. and coloring in with Copic markers. I used my Circle Nestabilities to cut out the circles and then added some ribbon and string on top. One last thing...they were just begging for some sparkle...so I added some Stickles to the top of the image and one red rhinestone for a little pop of color.

Taylor is always adding fun new stuff to her store and subscribing to the Taylored Expressions Newsletter is a great way to stay up to date on all of those new additions! Just add your email address under the "mailing list" section on the home page of the Taylored Expressions store!

Thanks so much for stopping by!! ~Laurie

Recipe
Stamps: Chillax, A Year of Sweet Sentiments
Paper: Choice Buttercream c.s., Little Yellow Bicycle patterned paper
Ink: Rich Cocoa Memento Ink, Chamomile Vintage ink
Accessories: Copic markers, Nestabilities, Maya Road chipboard frame, Ribbon, Red Ri-Rac, String, Stardust Stickles, Red Rhinestones

A Magnetic Cuppie Frame!!

Hi everyone!! Happy Tuesday! I have a cuppie project to share with you all today!!

It's not secret that I LOVE cuppie (grin!), and I really wanted to make a new frame for my desk at work. In cubicle land, there isn't too much room for decor, so I came up with an easily alterable frame so I can put pictures of my sweet daughter and just change up the occassion!!

I started with a super cute little frame that I picked up at my local craft store. I painted the edges with some acrylic paint (Eggshell by Americana) and then, using Zip Dry (a totally FABULOUS glue!), I adhered this super fun Cosmo Cricket patterned paper to my frame!

I punched out six self-adhesive business card magnets (I got mine from Staples) with my 1 1/4 Circle Punch, one to adhere to my frame, the other five to adhere to my cuppies!! I sponged all around my frame to soften it up with some Creamy Caramel ink and a sponge dauber, and I added Taylor's Tiny Twinkles all around the frame opening! I LOVE the pop of bling that these bring to any project!!

Now, the REALLY fun part started!! I stamped five different cuppie images in Memento Tuxedo Black onto Choice Buttercream Cardstock and colored them all with Copic Markers. The are all cut out and layered with Circle Nestabilities, and just like the frame, I sponged each one to soften them up. They each have a magnet adhered to the back so I can just switch em' out! Easy peasy!!

For my birthday frame, I used the Cuppie with balloons from the Doctor's Orders set, but I masked out the "Get Well Soon" sentiment to make it a birthday Cuppie!! The sentiment, "Happy Birthday", is from Fresh Flowers!

My little one is starting nursery school in September, so I HAD to use this super sweet Cuppie from A Year of Sweets 3, and the sentiment, "You Did It", is from A Year of Sweet Sentiments!!

I LOVE to shop with my little sweetie, so I stamped these shopping Cuppies from Downtown Diva for my next frame accent! The sentiment, "Friends Like You Are Priceless", is also from this set!!

Although we live on Long Island, we NEVER go the beach...so my daughter thinks that the ocean is in Maine where we go on vacation!! I had to make a beach frame accent, so I stamped this sand castle building Cuppie from Beach Bum, and the sentiment, "Beach Bum" is from the same set!!

Lastly, I knew I wanted a Christmas Frame, so I stamped this ADORABLE reindeer Cuppie from Season's Sweetings for this frame, and the sentiment, "Merry Christmas" is also from the same set!!

This frame has limitless options!! I plan on adding more accents to my frame with more Cuppies!! I hope I have inspired you to make your own magnetic frame!!!

Thanks so much for stopping by!! Make sure to sign up for the Taylored Expressions newsletter so you can keep up to date on all the exciting happenings at Taylored Expressions!!!

Recipe:

Stamps: Doctor's Orders, Fresh Flowers, A Year of Sweets 3, A Year of Sweet Sentiments, Downtown Diva, Beach Bum & Season's Sweetings all from Taylored Expressions

Paper: Choice Buttercream Cardstock, Intense Kiwi, Sunflowers Medium & Frosted Teal by Prism and Early Bird from Cosmo Cricket

Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black and Creamy Caramel

Accessories: Acrylic Paint (Eggshell from Americana), Magentic Business Cards, Frame, Zip Dry Glue, Foam Tape, Taylor's Tiny Twinkles, Sponge Dauber, Copic Markers and Circle Nestabilities

Jodi

Gift Box and Cards

Good Morning!
I'm so excited to share a little gift I've made for a close friend! When Taylored Expressions came out with the Faith & Hope set I knew my friend would love some cards made with the sentiments! Card sets are something she loves to receive from me but I didn't just want to hand her a bunch of cards ;) I wanted to put them IN something. So I created this little gift box. This holds 4 cards and envelopes but I'm sure you could squeeze six in there!
For the front of my box I used the flower from the Beary Special Accessories and also a sentiment from A Year of Sweet Sentiments.
I hope that she will use the gift box for something else someday and that is why I went with a simple sentiment....which I happen to love!
I am going to try to explain how I created this.
To create the box I used:
5 x 11 cardstock scored at 2.5 and 9
5 x 8.5 cardstock scored at 2
Tape the two pieces together on the 2" sides(bottom of box)
For the inside holders you will need two of the following:
3.5 x 7.5 scored at 1/2, 1 1/2, 6, 7.
Tape the small 1/2" sides to the inside of the box.
I scalloped the flap edge but you can decorate it however you like.
Here is a side view which you can click to enlarge. Sorry I didn't get an inside shot before giving it away :(
I've made four simple cards using the Faith & Hope Stamp set.

Supplies Used:
Stamps: Beary Special Accessories, Faith & Hope, A Year of Sweet Sentiments
Cardstock: Choc chip, Sahara Sand, Soft Sky, Pumpkin Pie, October Afternoon DP
Inks: Memento Black, Choc Chip
Accessories: Copics, Nesties, Rhinestones, Primas, Flower Punches, Silver Brads, Scalloped Edge Punch, Ribbon, Dimensionals
If you have any questions please don't hesitate to ask!

Teacher Gift

When I was thinking about a project to create for today's post, I thought a teacher's gift would be a cute idea and something that I'll be needing soon! This is a card and a box containing some supplies for a teacher. I used the A Year of Sweets 3 and A Year of Sweet Sentiments sets. The box I used is the Window Box that you can find at Taylored Expressions. I used the Distressed Stripes Cuttlebug folder on the lid before assembling the box, and then I added a little frame around the window with Plain and Scallop Oval Nestabilities and some acetate behind the window. Here's a view of the inside of the box.

I put a sticky note pad, paperclips and push pins in the box. If you notice, I created a little divider to separate the paperclips and push pins. I cut a 4 1/2"x 1 13/16" piece of green cardstock and scored it at 1 1/2", 2" and 2 1/2".

Glue the "mountain" fold together and attach inside the box and add sticky notes, push pins and paperclips.

As far as the frame around the window in the box, I used two Plain Oval Nestabilites for the outside part of the frame and Scallop Oval and Plain Oval Nestabilities on foam dimensionals for the inner part of the frame. If you've never made a frame using your Nestabilities, it's really very simple. Just take two different sized dies that nest (along with the paper and cutting pads) and run it through your die cutting machine according to the instructions for your particular machine. Here is a picture of how the dies should look before going through the machine.

I use a Cuttlebug, so the dies would actually be ridge side up. (They're pictured ridge side down so that you can see how they are nested). For the Cuttlebug, your sandwich for cutting would be Plate A, Plate C, Spellbinders dies ridge side up, paper/cardstock, Plate B.

And there you have your teacher gift set! If you haven't tried the favor boxes available at Taylored Expressions. . .trust me, you will LOVE them! They make an adorable little project quick and simple!

SUPPLIES USED: Stamps- A Year of Sweet 3, A Year of Sweet Sentiments (Taylored Expressions); Ink- Tuxedo Black, Versamark (Tsukineko); Paper- Prism, Dark Chocolate (PTI); Accessories- Copic markers, double stitched grosgrain in Wild Wasabi (SU), Distressed Strips Cuttlebug folder (Provocraft), Plain Oval and Scallop Oval Nestabilities (Spellbinders)