Cupcakes Make Life Sweet-wall hanging

Here is a fun cupcake wall hanging I made for my sweet niece Gabby (she was 3 yrs old in the photos).  I used pictures from our trip last May when we went to her favorite cake shop - every Wednesday, kids get to decorate their own cupcakes with sprinkles.  That's the photo on the bottom left.  She had SO much fun doing it!  I wanted to commemorate the sweet occasion with a hanging wall decoration so she can be reminded about our trip to visit her.  After I gave it to her, her mommy hung it up on the wall next to her bed. 

The wall hanging was purchased at the dollar store and was real easy to decoraite!  I used pattern papers from by Doodlebug Designs and Cupcake key ingredients released last year with the set For the Love of Cupcakes. 

And here is a picture of the sweet human cupcake herself, taken last October when I gave her the wall hanging.  In this picture she's 3 1/2!  Time flies!  Check out my blog for an additional picture of her wearing a cute as a cupcake t-shirt! 

It's so easy to use your rubber stamps to make home decor, either for yourself or others - get inspiration from when you visit your loved ones or use photos to make a collage from a special event - the memories will last longer in their heart with a tangible gift!

Be sure to sign up for the Taylored Expressions newsletter if you haven't already, you can sign up by placing your email address in the box on the right of this blog where it says "JOIN OUR MAILING LIST"

Thanks for stopping by - hope you have a 'sweet' day!!

TE Release Day: Cuppie Love Scenes

I am so excited to share some samples using the new Cuppie Love Scenes set, illustrated by Jessie Olesen but INSPIRED by Me and my awesome DH!  One day when we were out and about, we started brainstorming about cuppie stamp set ideas and we came up with all 4 of the designs in this sweet set!  On my first card is the date night at home scene, with cuppies in love on the sofa!  Isn't it cute?!?  I used Valentine key ingredients on this card, as well as a few items included in the Valentine Accessory add-on that will be available for purchase (the cool nestability circle 'frame' which is mady by Jamie, and the heart trinket pin).  I covered my chipboard love with pattern paper in the key ingredients, Be Loved by My Mind's Eye. 

On my next card, I used the cuppie love scene inspired by Lady and the Tramp with the 2 dogs eating off the same spaghetti noodle - remember that?  Well here are the 2 cuppies in love doing just that!  In this image there are other stamps such as a napkin, bread with butter on a plate, wine glass and candle for ambiance!  Too cute, but because I was making my card based on Mercy's Tuesday sketch {MTSC55}, I couldn't use the whole image.  I just love this sentiment, because my DH and I love to eat out (although we don't get to indulge in it that often since we've been saving to build our house forever) but when we do, we surely like to share our meals with one another and that makes them better to me! 

Please check out what the other designers have to share with you so you can see MORE cuppie love scenes!  There are 2 cuppies riding in a hot air balloon (I THINK my fave although DH and I have never done that and probably never will because he is not particularly fond of heights) and 2 cuppies enjoying each other's company as well as some yummy movie theater popcorn) watching 2 cuppies lip locked in a movie love scene!  This is definitely one of our favorite things to do (watch movies at the theater AND at home) so it's PERFECT for us! 

Alex Maldonado
Charmaine Ikach
Jackie Pedro
Jodi Collins
Karen Giron
Karen Motz
Laurie Schmidlin
Melissa Sauls
Sankari Wegman
Taylor Van Bruggen 

and also joining us today are:
Jeanie Witmer, our guest designer
Jamie Pyles (artist of our NEW cute clay buttons and frames)

and before I leave, I want you to be aware of the great new shipping policy at Taylored Expressions! All orders of $75.00 or more (in the U.S. only) will receive Free Shipping! Click here to read the shipping policy for international orders and those totaling less than $75.00.
NOW GO SHOP! 

Neighbor treat by Donna Baker

Although Christmas is right around the corner, I have a neighbor treat to share with you using Celebrate Life, Luxurious Labels, Justrite stamps and a kraft bakery bag.   You can easily change up your gift giving with these fun bakery bags by changing your stamps, colors and goodies! 
I love packaging goodies in these kraft bakery bags to give to neighbors, you get a set of 10 for $5 and are the perfect packaging for your special baked goods, coffee beans, and other gift items.  I made some pumpkin muffins to give to our new neighbors shortly after they moved in.  I love that whatever you put inside the bag  can peek through the window.  If you have StazOn ink, you can stamp directly on the window too.  I chose to use one of the fancy labels from Luxurious Labels and used some JustRite alphabet fonts for my greeting inside.  The little card I stamped on the right is business card size and on the back has all our contact info just in case the neighbors need anything.  They loved the muffins, by the way! 
Did you know that Taylored Expressions has a monthly newsletter? It's so easy to sign up! Just head on over to the Taylored Expressions website and enter your email under the "join our mailing list" icon and that's it! You will be informed of any new releases and and all of the new "Fresh From the Oven" products in the store as well as enjoy getting to know the Baker’s Dozen Design Team! 
Thanks for stopping by today! 

TE Sneak Peek: Discover Your Wings by Donna Baker

I'm so happy to share a wiper card I made using the new TE Charitable giving set, Discover Your Wings, illustrated by the very talented Nancy McKinney.  Every quarter, Taylored Expressions takes part in a charitable giving program where she chooses a charity to donate $7 from the sale of a special set designed around the charity.  Each month since its inception,

the charity has had a special meaning and this month is no exception. 

Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep (NILMDTS) is the charity organization this time. The organization offers professional photography services to families dealing with infant death. The Foundation is made up of a network of almost 7,000 volunteer photographers in the United States and twenty-five countries. At a family's request, an affiliated photographer will come to the family's hospital or hospice location and conduct a sensitive and private portrait session to preserve beautiful memories of their precious child.

When Taylor first shared this charity with the team, my thoughts naturally brought to mind my husband's step-sister who delivered her first child who was a preemie (who weighed 1 1/2 lbs and a very healthy 16 yr old today) and then a second baby who was also a preemie who only lived about 4 days.  It was so difficult to see Paige so helpless in her incubator and equally hard not to touch her as we prayed over her (she would have been 10 yrs old this year had she lived).  Her funeral was a very sad one, and had we known about this organization, I'm sure Missy would have loved to have had them donate their services to provide beautiful lasting memories of their baby in photographs.  I'm sure there are countless others who have either experienced a baby's death or know someone who has so this charity is going to benefit.  How great would it be to purchase this set for someone you know who lost a baby and make them handmade cards and sign the backs handmade in honor of the baby? 

Now some info about my card. It was my first time to make a wiper card and it was pretty easy, thanks to Beate's great tutorial. I used some Basic Grey Urban Prairie with some prism cardstock to match Frosted Teal and Sunflowers Medium. I used one of my favorite ribbons in the TE store, Caribbean satin 3/8" and something new to me I had to try out, the pearl flowers in cream cheese but I colored them yellow to match my project with a copic marker. Isn't it pretty?

In this set there are several winged insects as well as lots of encouraging sentiments. Several I put on the skinny panel under the butterfly that peeks out when the wiper is open. Isn't the sparkly butterfly beautiful? After I cut it out and lightly colored it, I added crystal lacquer on the wings and sprinkled star dust glitter on it and let it dry overnight - I wanted the glitter to be thick & really stick!

Come blog hoppin' with me to see what the Baker's Dozen girls have cooked up
with Discover Your Wings today.

Charmaine
Dawn
Jackie
Jami
Jodi
Karen G.
Karen M.
 Laurie
Nancy McKinney
Sankari
Sharon
Taylor


Be sure to leave some love along the way because one lucky commenter will win a
Discover Your Wings stamp set! How cool is that?

All you have to do is leave a comment on each Baker's Dozen blog today for the best chance to win! One lucky winner will be chosen at random from all of the comments on one of the blogs, but the trick is that nobody knows which blog it will be! You have until 6am PST on Thursday to enter. The winner will be announced Friday morning on Taylor's blog.

Halloween Co-Worker Treats by Donna Baker

I know Halloween is literally around the corner and you may have already planned your treats, but I have a fun basket of goodies to share with you! 

While out shopping at Target a few weeks ago, I found some cute candy corn cello bags, perfect to make some co-worker gifts for my husband to pass out at work with some candy corn & salted peanut mix.  If you like sweet & salty, this is perfect for you!  It tastes like a payday candy bar.  Last year I introduced this treat to some of his co-workers and one guy, every time I see him reminds me of it & asks when I'm going to bring some more - lol.
Here are the treats close up.  I made these treats in less than an hour - stamping the circle stamps from Spooky Expressions with several greetings like sweet treats and boo bites.  Then, punched holes in them.  I used the twist ties that came in the package to tie them.  The one potion bottle was given to the co-worker who loves the mix - he was so excited! I stamped on sticker paper and topped with orange and black polka dot ribbon.

I hope this inspires you to brighten someone's day with some easy and fun treats; remember it doesn't have to be a special occasion - sometimes the best treats are the unexpected ones.  My husband passed these out 3 weeks before Halloween, so it was surely unexpected!

Don't forget to sign up for the TE Newsletter-link is on the sidebar.  You don't want to miss out on any specials, samples and design team member features!

Witches Brew Treat

For my project today, using the new Punchy Potions stamp set, I made a Broom Treat by Martha Stewart. It was incredibly easy & fun to make and I had all the supplies on-hand. You will need 2 lunch sacks, some twigs from the yard (lol) and some candy to fill the bag!

First, in the bag I wanted to fill with candy, you cut strips 1" from the top of the bag with scissors. Then on the other 'outer' bag, you cut all the way down to the base (more tricky). Then, you put the treat filled bag on top of the strip cut bag and bring up the sides and secure with twigs inside and tie your ribbon. Click on Martha Stewart link for more photo instructions. Then you decorate your bag with whatever you'd like.

Here is a close up of the treat tag. I combined Punchy Potions Witches Brew with the Trick or Sweet witch, cute huh? I paper-pieced my witch with the Halloween Key Ingredients and colored with prismacolor pencils and copic & atyou spica markers for glittery shine. Easy & fun! If you venture to make some of these, please leave a link so we can see your creation! I bet these would be real cute made with the smaller lunch bags too.

Don't forget, if you are not signed up for the TE Newsletter, be sure you go to the website and fill in your email address so you don't miss out on any TE goodness updates! It's on the left hand column (join our mailing list - you don't have to worry about getting weekly or daily emails, it's usually just once a month).

Also - we have a new TE Gallery so you can check out all the work in one place by the design team!

TEBB Challenge #3 Hosted by Donna

Good morning Taylored Expressions/Cuppie Fans!! We’re so excited you’re joining us for the Taylored Expressions Birthday Bash! We’ve got so many fun challenges planned for you today and lots of SWEET prizes to celebrate Cuppie’s 1st Birthday!

A new challenge will be posted each hour by our fabulous Baker’s Dozen design team! We’ll have a variety of challenges including sketch, technique, color, and inspiration. You’ll have 5 days to complete these challenges and be eligible for the prizes. It's also o.k. to combine a few of the challenges so you don't have to make 13 cards (unless you really want to!) *wink*

My challenge is the first TECHNIQUE challenge of the day; I am a HUGE fan of the of paper-piecing your line art images, it gives you a FUN, easy option in lieu of coloring. All you do is pick out your patterned papers to coordinate with the rest of your supplies for your card or project. Then, you will stamp your image on your card layer directly, then stamp your image directly on the patterned paper and cut out on the line or just inside the line for a perfect fit, because then you glue your pattern piece onto your stamped layer.

So what do you need to do to participate?

CHALLENGE: Pick out your stamp set and pattern papers and follow the directions above if you've never tried this technique before. You’re not required to use Taylored Expressions images for our challenges, but if you got 'em, you may as well use 'em!

Here is the card I made for this challenge - I brought out one of my favorite Cuppies from last year's Trick or Sweet set illustrated by Jessie Oleson, dracula and he is standing in front of his spooky house from Frightful Night, also a release from a year ago. What I love about these sets is they never get old - they were JUST as FUN to use this week as they were LAST YEAR! That speaks VOLUMES to me as a consumer!

FUN PAPER-PIECING TIP: Since I planned on using the technique so it became a purple spider-web house compliments of the Basic Grey Eerie designer paper in the Halloween Key Ingredients! I did not have to mask the house after I stamped it so I could sponge in the spooky night sky, isn't that great? What I did do, though was make a few extra stars & a moon by using a watermark pen on the paper and embossed with clear embossing powder, the ink would 'resist' those areas and stay white.

Now you see how the house fit in perfectly on the background and it looks great, huh? I also want to point out to you the attic window on the house. You will notice it is not cut out and colored in with light in the windows like the others. That is because no one was hanging out in the attic that night. That's a place strictly for storage of non-Halloween decorations, like Christmas decorations. (that's my truthful explanation for having not realized I forgot to cut out the window until AFTER I had already made & photographed my card-HA!) Now you know I'm not perfect, nor do I ever claim to be. This card was a lot of work and I put my heart into it and did not have time to make another one. I hope you still like it & would be proud to own it if you win!

ANOTHER PAPER-PIECING TIP: In order to make dracula's cape look like it was really OVER his cupcake liner, I paper-pieced both with the purple designer paper. Then, I paper-pieced the cape with the polka dot paper so it was on top. It creates a more fluid and realistic effect.

KEYWORD: Upload your creation to your blog or online gallery (or both). If you’re uploading to online galleries, use the keyword TEBBDB. Then come back to this challenge and leave a comment with a direct link to your creation! In order to be eligible for the prizes, you must leave a comment with a link to your card by midnight PST Wednesday, September 9th.

PRIZE: I will choose my favorite creation from among all the participants and mail you the card I created for this challenge along with a $10.00 gift certificate to the TE Store!

GRAND PRIZE: One random person who participates in ALL 13 of our Birthday Bash challenges will receive a $50 gift certificate to the TE Store in addition to an 8x10 custom watercolor Cuppie painting by our very own Jessie Oleson! Click here to check out all of Jessie's adorable artwork at her Etsy Shop. Once you complete and link all 13 challenges, send an email to tayloredexpressions@gmail.com to be eligible for our grand prize! Just include your name and “I completed all 13 challenges!” HOW AWESOME IS THAT?!

HAVE FUN & GOOD LUCK!

Perfect Package for Hair Stuff!!

I have a fun 3D item to share with you today using the July 20th Key Ingredients and the Perfect Package card box that's new in the Taylored Expressions Store!! I just adore the fun & fresh colors in this key ingredient kit and thought it would be fun to bring something fun & fresh into my bathroom, so I made a hair accessories box! Since this would be in the bathroom, I adhered the papers with mod podge to seal them real well. For my center embellishment, I used my JustRite 2" stamp with bonus 15 pt font for personalization and added a swirl from Faith & Hope to the bottom. On top of that, I covered a chipboard shape from the kit with the patterned paper. I sanded the edges, then covered it with mod podge and finished it off with some of the lemon yellow liquid pearls in the key ingredients kit. Once I completed the box, I felt like more was needed but didn't think ribbon fit well with the design, so I added some of my ZVA brown & gold crystal swirls, perfect!

Now to share the inside of the box; I created a simple divider to make 4 compartments to keep my hair stuff organized. Before, I had all my hair stuff crowded inside one container and I would have to remove a lot of stuff before I found what I wanted! Not organized and now I am!

I'm sorry I thought I wrote down dimensions of my dividers but I can't find it. All I did was cut a piece of cardstock the width of the inside and scored it at 2 1/4", 4" and 5 1/4" and used sticky-tape to adhere tape the fold together and to the bottom of the box. Then in the picture above, using a ruler, I found the center of the box for a cut down the middle. I inserted a folded piece of cardstock 3" x 4 1/2" scored at 1 1/2" through the cut. You'll see that in the picture above this one. This type of divider is real easy to do and makes nice compartments inside the open box for all sorts of fun things - for me, my hair stuff!

Did you know Taylored Expressions has a monthly newsletter? It is chock full of information YOU need to know about products available, where Taylored Expressions is going to be, wonderful design samples you may have missed and featured design team members {get to know ME this month *wink} You can sign up on the Taylored Expressions homepage where it says 'Join Our Mailing List'.

Thanks for stopping by - hope your day is a sweet one!

Beary Special Paper Dolls

I knew when I saw the Beary Special and Beary Special Accessories there would be endless combinations of fun to be had! One of the projects I wanted to make was a paper doll set and here it is! I chose to recycle a metal CD tin some stamps came in. I used the April Key Ingredients papers/embellishment for my project, tracing and adhering the outside and both insides of the tin for fun backgrounds! I made my title for the outside 'GABBY'S paper dolls' using JustRite font upper and lowercase Times New Roman on the rectangular wooden stamper.

Here are pictures of the inside of the tins. First, I stamped and colored all my pieces. Then I placed them on Scotch laminating sheets, cut them out again leaving a border and placed self stick magnetic pieces on the back so they can stick to the insides of the tin.

I had so much fun paper-piecing the bears, dog and monkey!

And another close-up-I also made a few of the sentiments to be placed inside the cute little sign! Getting the Beary Special Accessories increases the value of your purchase 10-fold with options for more occasions such as miss you, birthday and thank yous for a young child - when is the last time you gave/sent a 'Thank You for being so special' card to a young child? All kids adore getting mail-why not make a child's day soon with just that?

I hope you enjoyed my project; obviously it's for a special little girl, my sweet niece Gabby (she loves getting things from Auntie Donna in Texas). I know she's going to LOVE this!!

Remember: A portion of the sale of each of these sets goes to a worthy cause, The Hospital for Sick Children (Sick Kids) a health-care community dedicated to improving the health of children. Their mission is to provide the best in family-centered, compassionate care, to lead in scientific and clinical advancement, and to prepare the next generation of leaders in child health. The hospital is located in Canada, but is known around the world for its innovation and leadership in research. You can read more about their much needed and very effective work by visiting their website.

Do you get the Taylored Expressions newsletter?? If you don't, be sure you sign up at the store's homepage on the right so you don't miss out on the specials, updates and great projects by the featured design team members!

4 Seasons Calendar

I had the idea to make a magnetic calendar earlier this year but the time has gotten away from me for 4 months! The time is right now since it's my turn to share a project here with you and the Whimsical Wishes Branching Out & Branching Out Coordinates are PERFECT for this project! When I had this idea, I didn't even know about this set coming out so I'm glad I didn't have time to do it back then!

This is one of the metal standing frames from the Target Dollar Spot from well over a year ago {I'm glad I bought more than I needed!} Since this project is interchangeable, I took designer papers from several of the key ingredients packages that Taylor has sold in her store over the past year: Spring-Easter key ingredients with spring blooms on the tree.

The decorated trees have magnets on the back as well as the Calendar Titles-2009 'A Year to Shine' which was made using my JustRite products: Harmony rectangle stamper and Times New Roman font set. I used the tear off calendar template on SCS, which can be changed two times to coordinate with the seasons. All the components are tucked into a clear 5.25" inch envelope and ready to gift! I already know who I'm going to give this to today!

Summer-Birthday Girl key ingredients, with pears & apples on the tree.

Fall - March 20 Key ingredients Subscription with acorns on the tree and
falling leaves on the ground.

Winter-Christmas key ingredients with ornaments on the tree.

If you're not signed up for the Taylored Expressions Newsletter, be sure to do it; it's chock-full of information you need to know and highlights members of the design team. The link is on the side-bar of the Stamp a Sweet Impression blog and Taylored Expressions blog.

Hope you have a 'Sweet' Day!!

Egg-stra Special Cuppie card & treat

Here is a little 3-inch square card I made using Sweet Spring and some Easter Key Ingredients. The cardstock I used to make the card, favor box & liquid pearls are not in the key ingredients, but can be found in the Taylored Expressions store. Since the favor box comes with a window already die cut, I used a piece of vellum cardstock I stamped with the 'you're egg-stra special' sentiment so you can have a little peek of the goodies inside.

Ta-Da! Here are the treats inside - peanut butter/chocolate eggs nestled on some coordinating paper shreds!

Here's a tip on how you can create your own paper shreds to match your project if you don't have any like I didn't!

Hope you have an 'Egg-stra Special day & enjoyed my 'sweet' project.