Taylored Expressions - Seasonal Sprig Christmas Cards

Hello, friends! I hope you are well. I'm just stopping by to share a set of cards I made recently using the Taylored Expressions "Seasonal Sprig" stamp set. 

I stamped all images in black and colored with Zig watercolor markers, then splattered with white acrylic paint.  Using distress inks, I added some color on the card edges.

This final card is sightly different -- more layers and an additional spritz of Perfect Pearls Mist on top for shine.

Thank you for stopping by...I appreciate your visit!

Judy

Mitzvah Day - Cards for Nursing Homes 2021

Hello, friends! It has been quite a while since I've dropped by the old blog, hasn't it?  

Life is busy, but I wanted to stop by to share some cards I recently made as part of a Mitzvah Day service project at my church. They were collecting cards for nursing home residents, so my 16-year-old son and I teamed up to participate.  This year, I was able to make 20 cards, while he wrote the positive messages inside.  

I used a variety of products for my cards this year, including stamps, stencils, and dies from Taylored Expressions, Papertrey Ink, Technique Tuesday, My Favorite Things, Mama Elephant, Impression Obsession, Concord & 9th and Simon Says Stamp. I love being able to mix and match the supplies in my stash for occasions such as this. So many of these products work well together!

My first set of cards features the Taylored Expressions "Doodle Flowers Background" combined with the "Handlettered Sentiments" in the center. I die cut the white panel with a My Favorite Things "Blueprints 20" scalloped-edge die. I added Bits and Pieces Drip Drops for a final touch. Since this is a very detailed floral image, I decided to add soft ink with blender brushes, then I went back and added more color on the stems and small flowers with Zig watercolor markers. That made this process much quicker! 

 

My next set of cards also featured Taylored Expressions stamps, stencils and dies paired with a Simon Says Stamp sentiment from the "Banner Sayings" set. For these cards, I used the "Full of Flowers" cling along with the "Color Block" masking stencil and the "Diagonal Stitch Rectangle" die. After die cutting the white card base, I inked the base using the stencil. Without removing the stencil -- and adding back the stencil piece in the center -- I then stamped the floral image in a coordinating color. Finally, I removed the stencil and added the sentiment and drip drops before adhering to the card. 

Next up, more Taylored Expressions!  For these cards, I used the "Full of Flowers" cling and clear combo set along with the coordinating stencil. The sentiments are from the "Simple Strips Background" with coordinating dies (here and here). For the center card, I inked and stamped the images, but for the other two cards I stenciled on the colors with blender brushes. The coordinating Prima flowers were the final touch!

This duo of cards features Taylored Expressions "Diamond Botanical" stamps and dies paired with the Impression Obsession "Wooden Plank" background stamp.  I colored these with Zig watercolor markers. I really love this stamp set!

The next two cards were so quick and easy...I could have easily made many more of this style.  These feature the "Here Comes the Sun" stencil from Taylored Expressions paired with a sentiment from Technique Tuesday's "Bring On the Sun" set.

The next cards feature one of my favorite go-to stamps ever: the Papertrey Ink "Wreath for all Seasons" stamp set. I paired it with a Simon Says Stamp sentiment from the "Very Special" set. The woodgrain background is the Impression Obsession "Wooden Plank" background stamp...another favorite! I punched the gingham bows with a Martha Stewart "Ribbon Bow" punch and used a Cuttlebug embossing border folder to add the dry-embossed stitch down the side.

For my final card I used a card base from Concord & 9th and stamped the sentiments from the Mama Elephant "Hello Friend Wishes" set, embossing them with sparkly embossing powder. What an easy design this would be to mass produce!

Since I was not going to address the front of the envelopes, I decided to add some color in the corner using an older Papertrey Ink set called "Framed Out #1." It added just the right finishing touch.

Wow! That was a very picture-heavy post...thanks for sticking through it if you made to the end! Have a wonderful day and thanks, as always, for stopping by!

Judy

Taylored Expressions "Field Notes 2 Kit" Continued

Hello, friends! Ever since I purchased the "Field Notes 2" kit from Taylored Expressions, I have had the desire to keep making cards! So, I decided to make a few birthday cards to replenish my stash.

For my first card, I used the Taylored Expressions Rectangle Masking Stencils to add blue distress ink behind the floral image (note that this kit came with a stencil mask for the flowers...brilliant!). It just so happened that the Stampin' Up "tulip border" embossing folder fit perfectly around the stenciled background!  The sentiment is from the Taylored Expressions Simple Strips Background stamp and matching die set. I watercolored the flowers using my Zig watercolor brushes.

For my second card, I used a few Taylored Expressions stencils together, including Oval Masking Stencils and Here Comes the Sun over the masking stencil of the flower image. The sentiment is again from the Simple Strips Background stamp and matching die set. I lucked out again, as the Darice oval embossing folder fit perfectly! The flowers were watercolored using distress inks.

My final card features the "Field Note 2" flowers masked and background inked and features a Taylored Expressions sentiment from the Handlettered Sentiments set. Such a simple one-layer card!

It's a shame that this kit is sold out, I do hope it comes back in stock soon. It is definitely one of my favorites!

Thank you for stopping by!

Judy

Taylored Expressions "Field Notes 2 Kit" Cards

Hello, friends! I had to stop by today to share a set of cards I made with the new Taylored Expressions "Field Notes 2" kit. I knew as soon as I saw the pretty flowers and the splatter background stamp that I HAD to get it! 

I am so glad I did, I can see how versatile this set is and I can't wait to share what I made!

Here is what came in the kit...

I decided to stamp and die cut the flowers on watercolor paper, then colored in a variety of shades using my Zig watercolor markers. I eventually added ultra fine glitter to the flower centers at the very end.

Here are two cards I made using the kit contents alone:

These cards use the kit as well as various Taylored Expressions sentiments from other stamp sets:

 

Yes, I know most bloggers would post each card in a separe post, but I honestly don't have the time to do so...I'm counting myself lucky that I was able to even take pictures and post the cards at all! ;)

Thank you, as always, for stopping by.

Have a great day!

Judy

Happy Valentine's Day!

Hello, strangers! It has been quite a while since I made my way over to my blog...it seems that life has taken me in several different directions, and the past year as been nothing less than a whirlwind.  Too much to even try to cover here...and that's likely not why you're here anyway, so I'll spare you the details!

I'd like to share a handful of Valentine's Day cards I made as part of a service project at my son's high school. As part of a service project, he wanted to send Valentine's Day cards to a local nursing home. So, I worked with him on the project: I made the cards, and he wrote the notes inside, both of us hoping to spread some Valentine's Day cheer. By now, these have been distributed and read, hopefully bringing smiles along the way.

I made four main sets of cards using some on my favorite stamp sets. Picture-heavy post ahead!

First up: Cards featuring the Lawn Fawn "Party Koala" bear, paired with patterned papers, and either a Nicole die cut ("xoxo"), a Hero Arts sentiment, or a random sentiment from an old woodblock stamp. The little heart gems were a cute finishing touch.

Next up: A set of cards featuring the Lawn Fawn "Party Panda" bear, patterned papers, and the same sentiments and heart gems as above.

Next up: Cards featuring the Unity Stamp Company's "Love to Go" coffee cup paired with a Taylored Expressions "Swiss Hearts" embossing folder. 

Finally: Cards featuring the Jane's Doodles "Seamus" set.

My son wrote sweet little messages inside, assuring the recipients that they were being thought of in a special way. I enjoyed playing with a bunch of my heart-themed stamps and dies!

Best wishes to all of you for a lovely day!

Take good care,

Judy