July Calendar 2017

USA! USA! USA! Time for barbecues and fireworks. Here are the materials I used:

• Grill diecut by Taylored Expressions
• BB Everyday Is A Picnic by My Favorite Things
• Patriotic Picnic paper by Doodlebug Design
• memento ink- tuxedo black

Bride-to-be

I'm at the age where everyone is getting married or having a baby! I made a few of these because I could always use one of these. Here are the materials I used:

• Charlotte stamp set by Taylored Expressions
• copic markers- RV52, 66, W1, G43, 46, R39, E00, 35, 99
• Decorative Labels 28 die cuts by Spellbinders
• Cuttlebug embossing folder
• coordinating ribbon
• memento ink- tuxedo black

June Calendar 2017

Beach time! Here are the materials I used:

Sandcastle diecut by Taylored Expressions

Beach Umbrella diecut by Taylored Expressions

Beachball diecut by Taylored Expressions

Summer Bliss- summer memories paper by Echo Park

Out of This World

Here are the materials I used for this precious space card:

• Out of This World stamp set by Technique Tuesday
• Bubbles embossing folder by Taylored Expressions
• copics- N1, 2, 3, W00, 1, Y08, YR04, 07, 18, B01, 04, BG02, YG09
• memento ink- paris dusk and tuxedo black

Rustic & Romantic

A friend of mine asked for me to make a card for her to put with her husband's Christmas gift that she made. She only told me to make it "rustic romantic." This is what I came up with us and it went over very well! Here are the materials I used:

• Skinny Mini Valentine Borders by Taylored Expressions 
• Banners and Tails by Impression Obsession
• Christmas Messages stamp set by Hero Arts
• Many Everyday Messages by Hero Arts
• Christmas Delivery paper pack by Carta Bella
• memento ink- rich cocoa
• color box ink- chestnut roan

Happy Halloween!

Halloween is getting so close! We do a pumpkin pal gift exchange among the teachers at school. It is similar to secret santa, but through the month of October. Friday is the final gift exchange and pumpkin pal reveal. I drew the name of a friend that I give cards to often so I had to refrain from giving her a card with each gift so I wouldn't give away my identity! This card is going with her final gift. The sketch comes from the Try Stampin' on Tuesday Challenge #293. Here is the sketch and the materials I used:

• October 31st paper pack by Doodlebug Design
• Bubbles embossing folder by Taylored Expressions
• Halloween Party stamp set by Impression Obsession
• memento ink- tuxedo black
• coordinating sequins and ribbon

Cutsie Halloween

I made this card back in April for a basket raffle at my school. All the cards were cutsie since they were to benefit an elementary school :) More cutsie cards to come. Here are the materials I used:

• Spooktacular stamp set and dies by Lawn Fawn
• October 31st paper pack by Doodlebug Design 
• round stitched rectangle dies by My Favorite Things
• memento ink- pear tart and tuxedo black
• copics- C2, 3, 4, YR04, 07, 09, E25, N7,  RV21, Y18
• green wink of stella
• hocus pocus sequins by Taylored Expressions
• coordinating ribbon

Happy Fall

My mom and I discovered a brand of stamps that we hadn't heard of at a recent scrapbooking expo. This adorable pumpkins are in a stamp set from The Stamps of Life. So cute! Here are the materials I used:

• Pumpkins2Cut stamp set and dies by The Stamps of Life
• Stitched Scallop Edger border die cut by Taylored Expressions
• Harvest paper pad by Pebbles
• Fall is in the Air paper by Echo Park
• Terrific Tags diecut by Bo Bunny
• memento ink- rich cocoa
• distress ink by Tim Holtz- wild honey
• twine
• coordinating enamel dots

Autumn Mail

It is so hard to decide what kind of card I like to make the most. However, I LOVE the season of fall. The colors, the foliage, the clothes, the holidays, the weather change (even though it is slow down here in the south). Anyway, when I saw the challenge from Taylored Expressions Share Joy Challenge, I knew I would be participating. Here is the inspiration and the materials I used:

• You've Got Mail- Fall stamp by Taylored Expressions
• Fall Blessings paper pack by Carta Bella
• copics- R37, R46, YR16, YR18, YR23, YG45, E19, C2, C4, C5
• brown and orange twine
• brown enamel dots
• memento ink- black

Back to School

There is a story behind this card. Our school was redistricted this year and last spring we anticipated losing 5 homeroom positions. When school started back we lost 3 more homerooms and 2 special education teachers. It has been a stressful time at our school for the teachers that are "at the bottom of the totem pole," as they say. In short, our school got wrong end of the stick in the redistricting. Well one of the teachers that got moved to a different school AFTER school had already started was a personal favorite teacher of mine. I will be sending this card to her after she has time to get settled in at her new school. The sketch came from the Try Stampin' on Tuesday Challenge #284. Here is the sketch and the materials I used:

• Apple Stacklets diecuts by Taylored Expressions
• Apple Stems and Seeds diecuts by Taylored Expressions
• Back to School paper pack by Doodlebug Designs
• Double Dot green and red paper by Bo Bunny
• More Basic greetings stamp set by Impression Obsession
• memento ink- tuxedo black
• coordinating ribbon and rhinestones

Is it Winter Yet?

I can't believe that I didn't know there is a Taylored Expressions challenge blog! I am excited to start participating in the Share Joy Challenge blog, especially because they encourage to actually send your card to someone :) It is so fun to make the cards, but they often end up in a drawer until I need it. But why not send a "just because" card? This is the challenge inspiration (I chose to use just the sketch):

Here are the materials I used:

• Summer Grumplings stamp and die cut sets by Taylored Expressions
• Soak Up the Sun paper pack by Carta Bella
• glossy accents
• copics- C5, C7, W0, R81, YR16
• memento ink- tuxedo black
• coordinating twine

Patriotic Greeting

I just got limited edition running shoes that were specially designed for the Peachtree Road Race. It is my first time running it and the shoes are just awesome, so I am high on the July 4th spirit right now! Also, I am in love with this card and I'm entering it into the Addicted to Stamps and More Challenge #198- Holidays! Here are the materials I used:

• Graphic Greeting- Patriotic stamp by Taylored Expressions
• Skinny Mini Valentine Borders by Taylored Expressions
• distress ink- candied apple
• red, white, and blue twine

Patriotic Patti

So this card originally came out of wanting to use the pinwheel little bit die cut by Taylored Expressions. I did the whole card and it turns out that the little bit pinwheel was too big for the girl. Go figure. So, I made a smaller one from paper scraps. I think it worked out pretty well! Here are the materials I used:

• Patriotic Patti stamp by Impression Obsession
• copics- B16, B18, R39, R46, E00, E01, E08, E09, Y17, YR27
• Crazy Talk stamp set by Tim Holtz
• stampin' up ink- real red and brilliant blue
• red and pearl rhinestones

Father's Day- Henhouse

My dad's current pet project--ha!--is raising chickens in the backyard. He treats them like pets now and they sure are living the life. They've got over 100 square feet to roam around a garden and dig in the dirt. I have enjoyed the benefits of free eggs! So, this card doesn't scream Father's day for most people, but it sure does for my dad :) I also made one with a few changes to send to a friend. See it at the bottom. Here are the materials I used:

• Happy Hens stamps and dies by Taylored Expressions
• Chicken Wire embossing folder by Taylored Expressions
• grass border by Impression Obsession
• Homegrown paper pack by echo park
• Celebration Scripty Sayings by Lawn Fawn
• Stitched Rectangles, Mini Scalloped Stitched Rectangles, and Stitched Circles by My Favorite Things
• copics- R37, R46, C6, W00, E08, E35, Y23, Y35, YR27, YG17, B0000, 0-blender pen 
• memento ink- tuxedo black

Embossed birthday!

Not much to say other than happy birthday! Here are the materials I used:

• birthday embossing folder by taylored expressions
• Birthday wishes paper pack by echo park
• Big balloon dies by paper smooches
• Blissful banners stamp set by paper smooches
• Streamers dies by paper smooches

Chick-N-Soup

This little chicken in the soup is hilarious! Other than the coloring, this was a pretty quick card. Here are the materials I used:

• Chick-N-Soup stamp by C.C. Designs 
• Chicken Wire embossing folder by Taylored Expressions 
• Get Well Phrase die by Paper Smooches
• copics- W00, 0, C3, 4, 5, B000, E53, 55, R27, 29, YR15, 68
• Butterscotch Pearlescents by Bo bunny

K Cup Carrier

 Happy Monday! Lately I seem to need an extra cup of coffee on Mondays. The teacher in the room next to me is sweet enough to let me use her Keurig any time I need it. Click here for a link to the tutorial I used for the holder. Here are the materials I used:

• Koffee Time stamp and die combo set
• Sunday Paper 12x12 sheet by Pebbles
• gray scrap paper left over from a project of my mom's
• white gel pen
• memento ink- tuxedo black 

Back Side:

We Have Chemistry

Here is yet another stamp set we have had for a while that I am just now using! The design came from the Fusion Paper Hearts Challenge:

 Here are the materials I used:

• Love is the Solution stamp and die cut sets by Taylored Expressions
• Formula for Love paper pack by Taylored Expressions
• Sweetheart paper pack by Doodlebug Designs
• copics- R29, R83, BG11
• Scalloped Rectangle Stackables by Lawn Fawn
• memento ink- tuxedo black and rose bud
• coordinating rhinestones

Choo Choo.... Birthday Delivery

My husband loves old trains and his birthday so this is the perfect card for him! Here are the materials I used:

• All Aboard stamp set by Taylored Expressions
• Train Track border die by Taylored Expressions
• Present-little bits die cut by Taylored Expressions
• copics- C5, Y35, E27, YG07, B06
• paper- Hip Hip Hooray by Doodlebug Designs
• Fishtail die cut by My Favorite Things

Birthday Wishes

My new crafting goody is a pack of watercolor markers. This was my first attempt at using them, but I think it turned out pretty well! Here are the materials I used:

• Zig clean colors watercolor markers
• Keep in Touch watercolor panels by Tayored Expressions
• birthday wishes paper pack by echo park
• coordinating ribbon

I'm hoping that I can get a few more birthday cards done over the next few days!!