2-4-6-8 Gift bag

Hi everyone, it's Laura, and I wanted to share with you a little gift idea I came up with for some of my friends and coworkers. It's quick and easy (my signature style LOL!), and really fun!

I love the idea of giving gourmet gifts to friends, but the problem is I don't do gourmet. Honestly, I can barely cook and baking...well let's not go there. So here's my solution for a fabulous "gourmet" gift. I purchased a large can of Tim Horton's French Vanilla Cappuccino, and I divided it into 6 Spa Bottles from Taylored Expressions. I added my own little touches for packaging it all up nice and pretty, and now I can give a little gourmet gift to each of them!

The bottle and bag were very simple. I used the stamp set Sweet Indulgence on both; the little coffee cup was just so perfect for this! For the bottle, I stamped the little coffee cup inside the round sentiment, and punched it out with the 1 3/4" circle punch. I coloured it with Copic markers and adhered it to the bottle. I added some ribbon around the neck and that's all.

The gift bag was super easy too! I modelled it after the wine bottle gift bags...because, don't the Spa Bottles remind you of little wine bottles? It's really a 2-4-6-8 box that is quite long! I measured a square that was 8 1/2" square, and scored a 2", 4", 6" & 8". The you turn it once and score at 2". Cut out the little 2"x 1/2" piece in the corner, then cut along the scoring lines up 2" to meet the horizontal score. I used red line tape to adhere it, and decorated it with snow flakes from Wings of Joy, and a strip of designer paper from the Christmas Key Ingredients kit. I added a little tag with the instructions to the little bag, so my recipent can start enjoying their little gift right away!

Of course I had to make a Christmas card to go with the set. I had started with the intention of working with Taylor's Sketch Challenge #92, but ended up centering "Joy" because I couldn't make it work since the image was quite large. The stamp set is Wings of Joy again, and it's stamped on Choice Buttercream and coloured with Copic markers. All the paper is from the Christmas Key Ingredients along with the satin ribbon. The image was cut to an oval with the large oval Nestability, and popped up on dimensionals. Quick and easy!

How fun is that? I love the little gift bag, it's so perfect for the potion bottle, and just makes it totally fun to give.

Christmas Gift Tags

I have a quick little project to share with you, using both Wings of Joy and Holiday Wonder and the Cosmo Cricket "Jolly by Golly" papers, which are available as part of the Christmas Key Ingredients kit and the Very Merry Christmas Bundle.

Now if you know me, you know I prefer quick projects. It can take me hours just to decide what I'm going to do, so once the decision has been made, I avoid adding even more hours in production. So these little gift tags are perfect and you can "code" them by image or colour to the gift recipient.

Christmas gift tags are one of my favorite projects, and I even love to do with my kids, because they are small and don't require a lot of design work, and my kids love to colour! They like to make their own tags that will go on the gifts to them...it makes keeping track much easiere LOL! Gift tags are also a fabulous way to use up those scraps, because let's face it, you are just not going to want to use this year's designer paper next year. And while I do love to design and embellish, I try to hold back with gift tags, because they are just going to get ripped off and tossed without a second look.

For this group I used an old punch by Emaginations, that I'm pretty sure is no longer available. However, there's good news! Taylored Expressions has gift tags available, only 10 for $1.00. That's a pretty easy add on when you pick up one of these fabulous stamp sets.

All of the tags use the "Jolly by Golly" designer paper, and all images were coloured with the Copic Marker Christmas Kit To embellish I simply added some detailing with Sakura Glaze and metallic gel pens. The images were cut out and popped up with pop dots. The "to - from" stamp I borrowed from a retired SU set.

The string is embroidery floss from my stash and that's all there is to them!

You know, if you haven't already signed up to receive Taylored Expressions newsletter, you can easily do so by adding your email addy to the link on the upper right. Then you'll know when all the cool new items that arrive in the store!

Thanks for letting me share these little tags! The images from Holiday Wonder and Wings of Joy work perfectly on these small tags as well as on a card or scrapbook page. They are a quick fun project and a great way to get in some quality Mom and me time!

TEBB Challenge #6 Hosted by Laura

Hello everyone! Are you keeping up with all the challenges? Don't worry, you have plenty of time so have fun! It's Laura here, and I have a sketch challenge for you! I don't often make up sketches, but I sure do love to work with them, and I hope you do too!

Here's my sketch. And here's my take on it!

So here's what do you need to do:

CHALLENGE: Create a card using the sketch! So simple! You’re not required to use Taylored Expressions images for our challenges.

KEYWORD: Upload your creation to your blog or online gallery (or both). If you’re uploading to online galleries, use the keyword TEBBLF. 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!”

That's it...so simple! Have fun creating and make sure you come back and share it with us all!

Girls Night Out

Are you ready for a girls night out? Well if you're not, maybe this little project will get you there! How about a night in Margaritaville?

I knew when I saw the little circle from the Berries and Cherries set, it would be the perfect size to shrink for little wine charms, and that is where this little set got it's start. For each charm, I stamped the circle in Stazon Jet Black, then the lime image from Chillax inside the circle on clear shrink plastic. Then I turned the shrink plastic over, and coloured the limes with Sharpie markers, giving myself a little latitude in the colours of citrus fruits. I used the 1 3/4" circle punch to punch them out of the shrink plastic and a 1/4" hole punch to make the hole for the jump ring. I wanted them all to be fun bright colours, and easily identifyable so no one could lose their drink! The rings are earring hoops and the coordinating beads are from my vast stash.

I had in mind a fun ensemble, something to really get a party started, and since we'll all be drinking margaritas, a little salt (and lime!) was in order. I had an tin that had once held a stamp set, but I took the stamps out since I couldn't see them through the tin. I created a label with nestabilities and a belly band to tie it all together. I used the same images as in the charms, and coloured it with Copics. I added some stickles around the edge and on the cut lime slice. Inside is the salt for the rim of the margarita glass, and being a circle tin, it's just perfect for the job!

Finally I finished up with a little gift bag that makes this kind of a party in a bag ensemble! I covered the bag with Pink Passion and Kiwi Kiss cardstock, adding some designer paper from Basic Grey's "Lime Rickey" paper. Those little birds remind me of the little bobbing birds that used to be a popular decoration when I was younger. You don't see them much now, but I was fascinated by them as a kid! I stamped the margarita sentiment and images from Chillax in Memento Tuxedo Black and coloured them with Copic markers. Again, I added some stickles to the cut lime and along the edge of the margarita glass. The ribbon is the gorgeous Glimmer Twill from Taylored Expressions, and I added a few gems to finish it off!

Now how fun is that? I love these sets and the possibilities for projects is endless! I hope you have one in mind right now as we head toward the weekend! Make sure you take the time to Chillax and enjoy the last days of summer!

Recipe: Stamps: Chillax, Berries and Cherries (Taylored Expressions) Paper: Choice Snow White, Pink Passion, Kiwi Kiss, Basic Grey's "Lime Rickey" DP Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black Accessories: Glimmer Twill ribbon, Patina and Crystal Stickles (Ranger), Scallop border punch (SU!), 1 3/4" circle punch, pop dots, Shrink Plastic (Judikins), Sharpie markers, Copic markers, earring hoops, beads

A Quick Teacher Gift

It's the last day of school for my kids today. Sometimes I think it seems cruel that they make them go so late, but as a Mom, I'm glad because the summer can be crazy busy in it's own way. I wanted to make a quick gift for my youngest's teacher. Quick is of the essence these days with all that we have going on at the end of the school year. I am sure her teacher is looking forward to a summer of relaxing without 20 eight year olds to deal with every day, and I think that the Beach Bum stamp set is a set that says summer fun all over!

I started with one of the Party Favour boxes from Taylored Expressions. These little boxes make a simple gift just that much more fun! They come cut and scored, and a strip of high tack adhesive is all that's needed to put it together. I took a strip of designer paper from the Beach Bum Key Ingredients kit and two of the border stickers from the sticker sheet from the kit to adorn the front of the box. I stamped the tree and punched the image out with a 1 1/2" circle punch and framed it with a scalloped circle cut with a Nestability. I stamped the tree top on the green cardstock from the kit and popped it up, and added the beach ball on pop dots too. I had originally stamped the sentiment "Thank You" from the Beary Special Accessories set directly on the box, but wouldn't you know, I got it crooked. So I stamped it again and punched it out in a circle and adhered it over my first attempt.

I picked up the clips some time ago at the dollar store, but they also sell them at Staples. I stamped and coloured four different images (twice each) and layered them on scalloped circles cut from the cardstock included in the Beach Bum Key Ingredients kit. I positioned them back to back over the clip adhering them with a pop up glue dot, sealing them with dry adhesive.

These little clips make great bookmarks, but for a teacher these just might be the most fun a paper clip can be! I have yet to see a teacher's desk that didn't have 4 or 5 stacks of paper on their desk waiting for distribution to the class. I hope these will help keep her organized and smiling!

Quick, cute and functional...everything you wanted a stamping project to be! Have a wonderful day and keep smiling!

Laura

Recipe: Stamps: Beach Bum, Beary Special Accessories (Taylored Expressions) Paper: Choice Snow White, cardstock from the Beach Bum Key Ingredients kit Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black Accessories: Copic markers, 1 1/2" circle punch, Scallop Circle Nestabilities, Favor Box (Taylored Expressions), jumbo paper clips (Dollarama), pop up glue dots, red line adhesive, stickers from Beach Bum Key Ingredients kit

A Father's Day Gift Card Holder

If you have a Dad or husband like mine, then making a card is truly the easy part. It's the gift that always has me fit to be tied. Either they have everything and don't need anything, or what they do want is way out of my price range. So lately, I've found that gift cards are ideal. They can pick out what they want, and if it's a little pricey, well at least I can say I contributed to it!

The little toolbelt image from the Boys Will Be Boys set is perfect for my dh. He wears a toolbelt all day in his real job. At home, he's much handier with the remote than with any of the other tools featured but all things considered, this seems like a perfect match for him.

I created a simple pocket card with the intent to replicate one of the pockets on a tool belt! I started with the Father's Day Key Ingredient's Kit, and the tutorial for the pocket card can be found here. The edges were pierced and then faux stitched, then sponged to add to that toolbelt look.

The toolbelt image was stamped on Choice Buttercream cardstock and coloured it with SU! markers and a few highlights were added with a silver metallic gel pen. I cut the image out and popped it up on a Nestability Labels 3 that I sponged with the die in place to add interest. The "Number #1" Dad sentiment was punched out with a circle punch and layered on the metal from the Father's Day Key Ingredients Kit, which had been cut with a Cuttlebug tag die. The orange grosgrain ribbon from the kit is threaded through the metal tag and tucked under the pocket flap.

I used the screw-top brads from the kit for "rivets" on the tool belt, and also to secure the tab on the card holder portion.

Inside the pocket is the gift card holder. It measures 3 1/2" x 4 3/4" of Choice Buttercream, with a border of the designer paper included with the Father's Day Key Ingredients. The slit punch was used to create the flaps holding the gift card. Also, because I like a card to be able to stand up, I adhered the pocket card to a card base of Choice Buttercream, which is amazingly sturdy and holds the pocket beautifully.

My husband is not one for fancy cards, but I think this will hit pretty close to the heart and $50 from Canadian Tire won't hurt either!

Thanks for letting me share my little Father's Day project with you, and while you're here, don't miss the opportunity to sign up for the Taylored Expression's newsletter. The link is on the sidebar, and you will never miss a sale or release, not to mention some fabulous design ideas!

Laura

Recipe: Stamps: Boys Will be Boys (Taylored Expressions) Paper: Choice Buttercream, Tawny Medium, Intense Orange (all from the Father's Day Key Ingredients Kit) Ink: Versafine Onyx Black Accessories: Nestabilities Labels 3 (Spellbinders), Cuttlebug Label Die, paper piercer & template & markers & slit, tab, circle & slot punches (SU!), screw top brads & metal (Father's Day Key Ingredients), sponge, pop dots

Scrappin' with Key Ingredients!

One of my New Years resolutions was to get back into scrapbooking. It was my first passion, and it definitely lead me to stamping, and it is also something that my family treasures. So in keeping with my resolutions I wanted to share a page I did using the Easter Key Ingredients kit and Sweet Spring.

I have to say the Key Ingredients kits are fabulous for scrapbooking, because everything is so beautifully coordinated. And while the kit is sized for cards, I had no problem transferring them to my 12x12 scrapbook page, and they would work perfectly with 6x6, 8x8 or 8 1/2" x 11".

I started by creating a three panel backdrop with the designer paper in the kit. It was cut to 3 1/2" x 6, and layered on a panel of Frosted Teal cardstock from the kit. I rounded the corners because I was thinking it fit with the Easter Egg theme. I cropped the photos to focus on the subject, and add a little interest with their different sizes.

The eggs on the lower left were cut with long Oval Nestabilities out of the designer paper from the pack. The "chocolate" egg was decorated with ribbon from the kit, and the patterned egg has some gems added from my stash.

These pictures are from Easter three years ago, and just pulling them out got me reminiscing. My youngest still had her baby teeth, and I recall how reluctant I was to have her grow out of that gorgeous smile. Of course they grew in just as beautiful, but there's a mother's longing to keep her kids as, well kids. I wanted to capture them in "action" as well as posing, and the picture of the hands says it all. Small and sweet and industrious.

My journalling focuses on their different approach to decorating the eggs, and it's quite a reflection on their personalities that is still true today.

I stamped the cuppie painting the egg from Sweet Spring, and pieced in the egg so it would be decorated in Easter fashion. How perfect is that image? I wanted to include the bunny eared cupcake too, but I just couldn't figure how to fit it in. The flourish on the edge of the journalling is a Bazzill chipboard piece that was stamped in Vanilla and embossed with Irridescent Ice for sparkle. I wanted it neutral so I had a reason to add more of the fabulous ribbon from the kit.

The title is done with stickers, and I added a row of punched eggs using scraps of designer paper. I just thought it looked so fun! I think I might try to set a goal to get at least one scrapbook page done with each kit. I love that I don't have to go searching for all the matching items, because all the ingredients are in the kit!

Tomorrow is the start of the previews for Taylored Expressions new release, so make sure you have the Baker's Dozen's blogs bookmarked. You are going to love this release! Until then, have yourself a sweet day, and thanks for popping in!

Laura

Recipe: Stamps: Sweet Spring (Taylored Expressions) Paper: 12x12 Razzleberry Light(Prism), Frosted Teal and designer papers (Easter Key Ingredients kit), Naturals Ivory(SU!) Ink: Versafine Onyx Black Accessories: ribbon (Easter Key Ingredients kit), Oval Nestabilities (Spellbinders), letter stickers (David Walker), gems(various from my stash), chipboard flourish(Bazzill), dimensionals, corner rounder(SU!), egg punch(EK)