Puppy Love

Hi Everybody!!

I am SOO excited to be posting here for my very first time since becoming a member of the Baker's Dozen! somebody pinch me!!

Well, I don't know about you guys, but I am just thrilled with this month's new stamps.! (especially the new Stamps A La Carte!!)
I still can't get over the versatility these individual stamps offer, not to mention, they are budget friendly too!

For me, the best way to determine if I truly want to purchase a stamp or stamp set, is figuring out the number of ways I can use it. (without looking repetitive of course!)
So today I am going to show you a way you can use your stamps, and card-making "scraps" to make a super-cute scrapbook page!

This little brat is my baby Tyson. I haven't scrapped too many pictures of him because he has kept me busy for the past 8 months! He is just a handful, and people tell me Boxers are such calm and sweet dogs, but goodness he must not have gotten the memo because all he does is drive me nuts!! It doesn't help, that at 10 months old, he is well over 60lbs., so that means when he's tearing down the street I am usually flapping in the wind behind him!!! Then again, one look at that face, and it's all over - could you resist?? :)

Anyway, onto my page! As soon as I saw the Big Love stamp in the Animal Love stamp set I thought it would be just perfect for a scrapbook page, and you can literally use it for anything!! Of course the "It's a love Thing" is just as perfect and all I did was stamp it onto my Choice Buttercream Cardstock, and cut out each word individually. All of the patterned papers I used on my layout are from the October Afternoon Cherry Hill Collection. I cannot tell you how utterly divine these papers are, and if you're into retro/vintage looking prints, you will pass out from sheer excitement, trust me. I did., and I liked it.

Now seriously, the trick to doing a layout like this, is use your scraps! no measuring, no worries, just layer some patterns you like and voila! I have to say, the inspiration behind this page was the little dog house from my Scotties in Love stamp, so I had to use it for my page!! I stamped it onto my Choice Buttercream cardstock, and colored it using Copic markers. I then cut out the doggies, since I only need the house, and adhered it to my page using dimensionals. I also cut out an additional heart from my patterned paper and mounted it onto the little house, for some extra pop! I could not resist adding one more little embellishment, and what could be better than this ultra Adorable polymer clay cupcake button tied up with some fun (and matching!!) Farmers Market lime twine!

I absolutely loved how this page tuned out, but what I loved most was using my stamps to make it! Thank you for letting me share my "scrappy" look at our TE stamps, I hope you'll be inspired to ink up your stamps on some layouts too!!

Big Love to you all!!

Alex

Your Sweet New Place by Charmaine Ikach

One of my favorite things to do with my stamps is to find other ways to use them, or to use them "out of the box". When I was playing with the new Window Shopping set from Taylored Expressions, I discovered something interesting that I wanted to share! I had stamped the one window on a smaller piece of paper in order to layer onto a card. I went on to pick out paper and when I went to look for my stamped window, the paper had been turned upside down on my desk and I looked at it and thought "Hey, that looks like an aquarium!" And so this idea was born! So, I colored the "aquarium" and the "gravel" on the bottom. Then I inked and stamped the fish from the Fish in Love stamp. None of the sentiments from the Animals in Love Sentiments set conveyed the message I wanted to get across with my discovery, so I started looking at all of my Taylored Expressions stamp sets and came across Sweet Occasions. How perfect would "Congrats on your sweet new place" be for two fish who bought a new aquarium! LOL Anyway, I thought it was a cute new way to congratulate someone on a new house. . .and another way you can use your windows in the Window Shopping set! Hope you enjoyed my tip!

Turtally In Love Anniversary Card by Jackie Pedro

Hi there! It's Jackie here to show you that the ADORABLE new Animals in Love stamps from Taylored Expressions aren't just for Valentine's Day!

My husband is probably like most husbands...he TOLERATES my stamping addiction! Yes, he complains that I spend too much time in my craft area and on the computer, but he LOVES to critique my cards! LOL! AND whenever he needs a card he always turns to my stash! He won't admit it, but I know he loves that I have hobby that I truly enjoy.

My husband and I will be celebrating our 14th wedding anniversary in the next few months so I decided to make him an anniversary card using some of HIS favorite things!

So I bet you're wondering what his favorites might be? Well, you're looking at it! He loves whimsical animal stamps. He'd take that over a flower ANY day! He loves Kraft cardstock, the color green, buttons and he especially loves when I sew on my cards! (he really wishes I'd using the sewing machine for something useful, like hemming and such, but he settles for cards! LOL!) He could probably do without the bow, but I couldn't resist!

I stamped the turtles in Memento Tuxedo Black in onto Choice Buttercream, colored them in with Copic markers and while the die was still in place I sponged some Spring Moss ink (PTI) around the edges. The DP is the new Garden Variety from Cosmo Cricket.

Here is a view of the inside of the card. I continued with some more of the dp and added the "I'm TURTALLY in love with you" sentiment (from Animal Love Sentiments). I know he's going to love it!