TECC53: Fun in the Sun for Cuppie

So did y'all have a blast making some or ALL 9 sketches from Taylor's Anniversary Cupcake Challenge Celebration?!  I know I had a great time checking out all the fabulous cards everyone made using my sketch!  The random winner for $10 to spend at Taylored Expressions is poster #7 card*crafter with a sweet cupcake tree card (don't ya wish they grew on trees & you didn't have to go to the trouble of baking them??) 

Now onto my card for this week!  Another fun sketch from Taylor!  I wanted to use my August image from A Year of Sweets 2 the cuppie sunbathing!  Isn't it a riot??  I almost put the white pasty sunblock on his nose but decided against it, thinking I may ruin it at the last minute.  I spent a lot of time blinging up cuppie's umbrella with Taylor's Tiny Twinkles so I didn't want to risk it.  I had so much fun paper-piecing this image with my Basic Grey Cupcake paper.  

Here is Taylor’s sketch so you can play along too!!  You can be eligible to win Cupcake Sampler Honors & be featured on Taylor’s blog using the next Cupcake Friday Sketch!  You’re not required to use cupcakes on your sketch, but if you got ‘em why not use ‘em??  You can create something other than a card but try to keep as close to the sketch as possible. If you’re uploading to Splitcoast, please use keyword TECC53.  Leave a comment on Taylor’s post with a link to your blogpost or gallery link so she can check it out!  You must have your creation uploaded by Monday, February 2 at 10:00 a.m. CST to be eligible for the featured cupcake sampler honors.  Lastly, be sure to have FUN creating!

Be sure to check out the other Cupcake Crew’s Creations:

Taylor VanBruggen
Ana Wohlfahrt
Jackie Pedro
Jami Sibley
Monika Davis
Stephanie Hargis
Vicki Chrisman

You may notice there is not a featured cupcake sampler for this week, Taylor was having fun at CHA with all the cupcakes (click to see the proof) but seriously, we had a TON of y'all since you participated in the sketches to thank for a successful (and FUN) celebration!  

If you haven't been to Taylor's blog yet, she has a list of all the sketch winners from each of the cupcake crew's sketches as as the Grand Prize Winner! 

• TOP CHEF CONTEST REMINDER

If you didn't win this time, don't forget you still have nearly 2 weeks to enter the Top Chef Contest!! If you're not familiar with our Top Chef contest you can find all the details here on our website: Top Chef Contest. Just create a card or project using any of the January 2nd releases (A Year of Sweets 1, A Year of Sweets 2, A Year of Sweets 3, Love is Sweet) and email a photo to Taylor at tayloredexpressions@gmail.com on or before February 11th to be entered into the contest. Please use Top Chef in your email subject line. Taylor will choose the cutest, most creative entry to win one FREE STAMP SET from the next SASI release!! Free rubber! WooHoo!!!! Your creative will also be featured on the Stamp a Sweet Impression blog for all to see! Now all you have to do is STAMP and WIN! 

CPS - Celebrating 100 sketches!

CPS is celebrating 100 sketches this week with sponsors giving away prizes at the end of the week! Yesterday's sponsor spotlight was Gina K so here is my card using the new set Polished to Perfection, illustrated by Rupa Shevde. I wanted to make this a spa card, to give to someone I feel needs to relax - to take time for themselves. There are so many ladies out there who take care of so many people in their lives, from work to home to church and back and rarely take the time to pamper themselves. This one's for you!! I skipped the middle panel to make my images all work and I'm real happy with how it turned out. This reminds me of all the times (to save $) I would make a date to pamper myself by getting out some candles, take a nice long bath, put lotion all over and polish my toenails. I haven't done it in a while, seems long overdue!

Here's a close-up of the sparkle from the Sakura glitter pen. I just love that thing! DP used is Basic Grey Bittersweet (robe, candles, tray & towels are paper-pieced) and images colored with peerless watercolors on Gina K Pure Luxury 80 lb cardstock. The chocolate pearls can be found at Taylored Expressions. If you play, you can win Asela's Framed Friends set! Now go stamp!

Cuppie Lip Balm

I love that I found a package of cupcake lip balms at Tuesday Morning a few months ago, here is another one I made a lip balm holder out of using this template on SCS and Love is Sweet set by Stamp a Sweet Impression stamps. Of course I had to use the smooching cuppie on this because us ladies always have to have kissable lips at all times, don't we? I am lost without my lip balm (easier to remember to use it rather than my MAC lipgloss, not sure why and I was totally lost when I couldn't find it a few weeks ago and had to resort to buying another!) All supplies used for the lip balm holder (except chocolate candy dot & crystals but can be bought in the Taylored Expressions store as well) are in the Valentine's key ingredients.

Here's a picture of the inside (disregard the right side that is separating, ugh the things you miss when you take photos, right?!) I'll be sure to fix it before I give it away! I doodled around the inside with my taken with teal SU! marker.

A FEW IMPORTANT REMINDERS FOR YOU!

• TECC52 Anniversary Sketches!
  

You have one more day to participate in the TECC52 Anniversary Sketches by the Cupcake Crew to win the Stamp a Sweet Impressions 5 set release from this month (or $75 gift certificate to the store) in the grand prize drawing when you complete ALL 9 sketches! Or if that is too daunting for you, you can select a few of the sketches and upload your creations to SCS to be eligible for a $10 gift certificate to Taylored Expressions (be sure to check out each of the blogs for the sketches)! I will be doing my drawing tomorrow evening and announce the winner on Friday with my Cupcake Friday creation! Participation has been GREAT and it's so fun seeing all the fabulously sweet creations y'all are making! keep 'em coming, great prizes are at stake!!

If you need a link to my sketch, here it is.

• CHA Specials
  

Today is the last day to take advantage of CHA specials in the Taylored Expressions store!!

Special #1 - Buy 2 packages of Taylor's Tiny Twinkles and Get 1 FREE! No coupon code is needed for this offer. For every 2 packages on your order, you will receive 3. It's that simple! Over 1200 rhinestones for just $7.98. There is no limit on this offer - just make sure you order in multiples of 2.

Special #2 - FREE SHIPPING on all orders over $40. Simply use coupon code FREESHIP0109 (all caps, no spaces) upon checkout. Now is the perfect time to peruse all the different departments at TE to see everything we offer as well as pick up those items you've been eyeing for awhile! Please feel free to share this coupon code with your friends! Orders will continue to ship during CHA.

You + Me = Good Times

Here's a card I made using MFT's BC Dzyns Day Dreamer set and the sketch from last week MFTSC65  I decided to make a monochromatic card using green (certainly celery, old olive, retired SU! Bali Breeze & Wintergreen DP and prima flower.  The inside of the card has the 2nd 1/2 of the sentiment, = good times

 

Here's a close-up of her eye shadow which was fun to color to match her eyes!  The sparkle is from a clear Copic atyou spica pen and she was colored with peerless watercolors on 80 lb Gina K Pure Luxury cardstock.  

Esme the Owl loves you

look at Esme - isn't she the cutest owl??  I just adore Irene's style (illustrator for Doodlefactory stamps) and have so much fun stamping with her images.  I thought Esme from the new Valentine's remix set would be real fun to paper-tole with because of all her detail.  I wanted to keep my card simple & clean & kraft cardstock would fit the bill since I wanted to use my prismacolor pencils (they look so good on kraft).  The sentiment is from Valentine's sentiments.

TECC52: Taylored Expressions Anniversary Sketches & Play for a Chance to Win BIG!!

Happy Friday & Happy Anniversary to Cupcake Friday! Taylor is celebrating the one year anniversary of her Taylored Expression Cupcake Challenge! I've enjoyed them so much, Taylor is just a treat to work with! She asked each of the ladies on the Weekly Cupcake Crew to design a sketch for the celebration. This is the sketch I designed and I hope you'll all play along with the challenge! I used the love letter writing cuppie from Love is Sweet on my card today and paired him up with my new Bittersweet paper by Basic Grey (pink & brown, doesn't get any better than that!) and because I love using designer paper so much, my sketch features a lot of it!


I will be selecting one random winner from among all the participants in my challenge to win a $10 gift certificate from Taylored Expressions!

All you have to do is make a creation using this sketch (card or scrapbooking layout) and post your creation on Splitcoast using keyword "TECC52DB". The deadline to be eligible for the prize drawing is Thursday, January 29th, 8:00 p.m. CST. I'll announce the winner on Friday, January 30th.

Please check out the ladies (past featured cupcake samplers) who were selected to sample my sketch for you but before you do that, read on!)

Angela Knopf

Carol Halvorson

Carolina Buchting

Karen Motz

Don't forget to stop by Taylor's blog, the anniversary celebration headquarters, and check out the awesome grand prize for one random winner who participates in ALL 9 sketch challenges! You can find the other 8 sketches on these blogs (they are all fabulous!) The Featured Cupcake Sampler this week is Christine Okken - I just adore the card she made for last week's sketch!!

Taylor Van Bruggen

Ana Wohlfahrt

Jackie Pedro

Jami Sibley

Monika Davis

Sherrie Siemens

Stephanie Hargis

Vicki Chrisman

We hope you'll join us in celebrating this yummy occasion!

TAYLORED EXPRESSIONS ON-LINE CHA SPECIALS!!!

Taylor's Tiny Twinkles - over 400 multi-colored tiny rhinestones in a spin top carousel for just $3.99 - CHA Special is Buy 2, get 1 FREE!!!!

Free shipping on orders over $40 with coupon code FREESHIP0109 (all caps, no spaces)

HAVE FUN STAMPING!!

RoSe Special Delivery

What red-blooded woman doesn't love to receive red roses not only for Valentine's Day but ANY day of the year?  As for me, I prefer the lighter colored roses with darker tips, like peach/orange, but I digress.  Here is a special delivery of Rose for you!!  Rose is from the new DF Valentine remix set - isn't she cute with her little flirty eyes?  I colored her with peerless watercolors. 
 
Surprise!  Here's a box of chocolates for you too, and some hearts and hugs & kisses! What more could a gal ask for?? I love making pop-up cards but this is just my 3rd one!  Check out the other two if you go back to February 2008 archives with Just so Hoppy set.  The images on the inside are from the DF Sweets 'n Hearts set!  

Here's a picture of how I did the pop-up, it's super easy and by using the same color cardstock on the cardbase as you do on your pop-up section, it blends right in! Let me know if this inspires YOU to make a pop-up card & please link it so I can see!!

Gina K Sneak Peek Day 3: CuPcAkEs!!

I'm so excited to share with you a sneak peek of "Sweetest Blessings" illustrated by Mary Duffek for Gina K Designs! The sweet images in this set are so unique and well, let's just say stamping serendipity going on for me with my gift going to a sweet friend!! I can't spoil the WHOLE surprise now, can I?? I chose last week's SCS try a new technique challenge (origami box) for this cute box and dp used is from last SU! hostess set.

Close-up of the box. Pretty swirly opal liquid pearls on the cupcake & half-back pearls in the corners of the main panel. Sweet sentiment!!

Serendipity! I ordered the adorable strawberry-scented clay charm from Etsy & made a pink bracelet - so fun! Look how great the cupcake charm & image match! They both even have the same heart-shaped cherry on top! I promise you, I bought this charm WEEKS before I even saw this set! That, my friends is Stamping Serendipity! I'm sure my friend will adore this little gift. Shoot, I wish it was for me to keep (just kidding)! I completed the packaging by stamping the tissue the bracelet will be wrapped in.

Now go check out the other sneak peeks today! I'm sure they will all be awesome! See ya tonight at the release party! 7:00-10:00 CST

Sweetest Blessings – Cammie, Cindy, Emily, Erika, Gina K, Jessica, Joanne, Kurtis, Mary, Melanie, Theresa

Tag Lines (One Free with 3) - Jessica, Theresa, Erika, Emily, Gina K, Melanie

NEW!! Digital Paper - Jessica, Theresa, Kurtis, Erika, Gina K, Mary, Melanie

Helping Irene make a rainbow

I was tickled to read a blog post from Irene today, illustrator of Doodlefactory images for Starving Artistamps, she realized she is a 'stamper' now!  It's hard to believe she's only been stamping for a few months now, but considering she is an 'artist' it just makes sense that she is a great stamper already (**although she doesn't quite believe it yet**)  Go check out her blog & see for yourself!?  

Anyway, on to my card - I made it for a challenge she issued on PCP to make a monochromatic card.  I chose to use purple in her honor (she was disappointed she wanted to make a purple one & didn't have any purple stuff!)  Of course purple used to be my favorite color (it's pink now) and I have to tell you about when it changed for me.  It was a few years ago on a trip to CA to visit my family.  Well I saw an older (by that I mean she had to be in her late 50's to early 60's) and there was NO mistaking that purple was her favorite color!  She was BATHED in it.  The first thing that caught my eye was the rather large carry-on purple bag she was trying to stuff under the seat in front of her.  Then I saw her purple socks, purple embellished jeans, purple shirt, purple jacket & purple velvet sequined hat.  But it doesn't end there, she had a purple purse & purple bling sunglasses too.   Can you say purple overload?  Well, she happened to be out at the baggage claim after we got off our flight & then I saw ALL her purple luggage and saw that she pulled out purple after purple after purple accessory from her purple purse!  Whoa...I was done with the color purple!!  

So back to my card - I used Pale Plum, Orchid Opulence and Eggplant Envy by SU! and the heart set is Sweets & Hearts by Doodlefactory, I just love all the different patterns in the hearts! they were real easy to stamp on the front of my card since it was tone on tone and I haven't separated all the hearts from the rubber yet.  The sentiment is from Simple Sweet Sayings. 

Don't forget you have until tomorrow to participate in the Stamp Something Birthday Challenge sponsored by Starving Artistamps/Doodlefactory & you don't have to have SA/DF sets to play but you can win this set along with the Valentine's Remix set and Valentine's sentiments! WOW!!

Gina K Sneak Peek Day 2: Magic & Warm Fuzzies!

You will not believe the ungodly amount of time it took me to make this card! Now that I look at it, I really wish I had done 'something' to the baja breeze card front like cb'd it (need the bubbles one) or stamped on it! Oh well. When I first saw the new set Best Fishes by Gina K, I was so excited to see a seahorse image! How cute is he? Wait till you see the rest in the set! It is so fun. Reminds me of the fish tanks we used to have, it was so relaxing but a little annoying when the water was too low and it would make too much noise. We have had a 40-gallon & 100-gallon tanks and I miss 'em but they are a lot of work to maintain! So I took on the arduous task of theMagic Pull card on SCS because I always thought they looked fun well, it was work but I love the end result!
Here he is up & out, I had issues with lining up my images even though I was using a stamp positioner! HA! I colored him with peerless watercolors and was pleased with that, anyhow! I love this sentiment for him!

Next up is Warm & Fuzzy by Asela Hopkins!  I'll never forget learning that term in Psychology in 11th grade in high school, in Mr. Drommond's class - he was such a great, gentle soul.  Warm fuzzies are compliments, something that makes you feel good inside.  If you've left me a comment over the past few months, you may recall I have that in the box, 'thank you for leaving me warm fuzzies' because when someone takes the time to leave an encouraging comment on a project, it makes me feel all warm inside, appreciated!  

Isn't this little walking doggy the sweetest?  I just had to make him toting the heart shaped balloons on his tail.  I really like the heart swirls border she drew so I stamped it in Regal Rose craft ink on kraft cardstock (colored in with prismacolor pencils).  The dp is Basic Grey bittersweet (my favorite right now!) Love is Warm & Fuzzy - what a cute sentiment!  

Be sure to check out the following blogs for more sneak peeks, challenge contests and blog candy giveaways!!!

Best Fishes - Gina K, Emily, Erika, Jessica, Kurtis, Mary, Melanie, Theresa

Warm & Fuzzy – Asela, Cammie, Cindy, Donna, Erika, Jessica, Joanne, Melanie

Don't forget the release party tomorrow night 7:00 CST for contests, challenges, chat & more samples from the design team!

Cupcakes rock my world!!

ok so today is Celebrate MFT day on SCS!  That means get out your MFT stamps & make a card!  Better yet - use MFT colors: pink, white & black!  I could do BOTH!  Especially since this is also a BIRTHDAY card for my blogging buddy Shannon - her birthday is on Jan 26.  Check out her post here if you want to participate to win some birthday blog candy!  You have until 11:59 p.m. on Jan 25th to enter!  

Onto the busy card I made!  I used Cupcake Flopsey, the conversation bubble from Daydreamer

'rock my world' from Hey Chica, the small cupcake from Icing on the Cake and party hat from Let's go for a Walk!  the Dp is from DCWV Rock Star stack.  The ribbon is from Taylored Expressions (love the black & white glimmer!) Lastly, stickles on all the cupcakes!

It's a sweet day when I hang around with you

Here is Sprinkles & Carmello wishing you a sweet day from Starving Artistamps Doodlefactory Valentine's remix set!!  I just love the big size of these sweets and the cute looks on their faces!! The sentiment is from Simple Sweet Sayings 

This card uses Rollo & Polly - aren't these pigs cute?!  I made a sign for the sentiment which is from the Valentine's sentiments. I love stamping & coloring on kraft cardstock, used my prismacolor pencils.  

Don't forget to participate in the Stamp Something birthday challenge so you can win the random drawing of new Valentine's DF sets since the challenge is sponsored by Starving Artistamps! You have until 7:00 p.m. CST to upload your creation on the stamp something blog!!  Now go stamp something to win!!

Gina K Sneak Peek Day 1: Purses!

I'm excited to show you a sneak peek of Melanie's new set for Gina K Designs called, "The Best Things In Life" a wonderful sentiment set that will coordinate so well with all her sets, all Gina K sets and MORE! For my project, since I love purses, was to pair it with What's in Your Tin 2 and Rupa's Retro Boutique I used DCWV All Dressed Up stack fr an elegant look to match my cute purse stand.

Here is a close-up of the tin, the black glimmer ribbon & black pearls are from Taylored Expressions (it's nice to have colors other than white)

Here's a picture of the inside of the tin (sorry, this is a gift for me this time). I got the charm from my sister Deana when I visited in November, I think she got it on QVC, it's a purse charm. You hook it on your purse so you can chain your purse to your shopping cart to safeguard it from theft. Pretty neat, huh? It just came with the key charm & I found the trio of purses at Michael's on sale for $3.00-I thought it would be cute to add them. Now it's really a 'purse' charm!

There is another set for the sneak peek by Rupa called Perfectly Polished. Go check out the following blogs for more peeks, challenge contests and blog candy giveaways!

The Best Things in Life: Cammie, Donna, Emily, Erika, Jessica, Kurtis, Melanie, Theresa and Gina K

Perfectly Polished:Cindy, Erika, Jessica, Joanne, Kurtis, Mary, Melanie

The Release party is on Thu. Jan 22 7:00-10:00 CST for chat, challenges, prizes and MORE!

Tote-ally Fantastic *(and Pink)*

I can't believe how long I've had my MFT set Tote-ally Fantastic & I am just now getting it inked up!!  This card was a ton of fun to make (probably because I love the set, I love purses, I love to paper-piece & I love the color PINK!) I used this week's WUW Challenge 11 (monochromatic card) and sketch challenge 64 MFTSC64.  

I used my new Basic Grey Bittersweet pad and nestabilities ribbon tags - all coloring done with Peerless watercolors.  

Shabby Flowery Postage

I'm so excited this week it's Gina K's new release and sneak peeks are going to start on Tuesday on Gina & the design team's blogs at midnight CST.  Joining us this month In the Spotlight is Mary Anderson!

Here is a card I made last month for the release but have not shared on my blog (and it was one of my favorite cards I made!)  I love Tropical Flowers although I am not a huge fan of solid stamps, I am of flowery solid stamps!!   I took out my postage stamp by Starving Artistamps (which is so cool since you don't have to print up the template every time you want to do postage, I just hand write the postage price with my copic multiliner pen.    

The Gina K Release Party is on Thursday evening, 7:00 - 10:00 p.m. CST!  Hope to 'see' you there!  

On a personal note:

Friday evening my DH was in a serious car accident; rear-ended on his way home from work.  The guy was going about 40-50 mph and never stopped for the stop light (said he was trying to make a call & then when the wife came around, it was trying to get a soda that dropped).  He hit so hard that the lady in front of John said his car bowed in the middle & then popped out to the right of the lane.  In the pics he took immediately after, the guy who hit him ended up just inches in back of the car John was behind!  It was crazy - oh and I was on the phone with him when it happened & heard the crunch.  Prayed immediately and had peace but had to wait for him to call back to tell me the car was totaled (it's o.k. since he was o.k. he's the one not replaceable after all)  I know God/angels surely were protecting him and I am thankful!!).  Went to pick him up & it was surreal - the car was smashed in front & back and since I was in survival mode, I did not lose it there, just got things done (like clearing out his vehicle, getting him some dinner once we got home).  Then Saturday morning I cried as we laid in the bed together, so grateful he was with me.  

He is a little banged up (arm bruises, cuts and knee jammed into the dash) and his neck hurts quite a bit but thank God he didn't end up in the hospital!  He'll make an appt with the chiropractor soon.  Now it's time to get the ball rolling on all the stuff to take care of in the aftermath!  Oy - not fun.  

On a happier note - we are going on a weekend getaway to Savannah, GA this Friday morning!  We're excited and I think in light of all the busyness from the holidays, both of us being sick & the accident, it will be good for us to get away, reconnect & have fun together!  Oh and appreciate the fact that he is still here.  I can't thank God enough for that.  *smile*

TECC51: Cuppie Fireworks

For this week's sketch I have a fun Cuppie Firework display for you - including calendar page for the month of July. I used Stamp a Sweet Impressions' A Year of Sweets 2 and was so happy to remember I have the DCWV adhesive mat pack in red, white & blue so I made the cuppie's liner patriotic. The white glitter mat on the cardbase is also by DCWV, glitter stack. For the sentiment from A Year of Sentiments I used my new Nestabilities ribbon tags! I was glad I even remembered I had the red, white & blue star brads too! Don't you just love this calendar that can be displayed on your desk or in your kitchen? I just adore this Frame Your Imagination calendar stand. It's really fun to work with.

Here's a close-up of the sparkle on the flag & fireworks!

Here is Taylor’s sketch so you can play along too!! You can be eligible to win Cupcake Sampler Honors & be featured on Taylor’s blog using the next Cupcake Friday Sketch! You’re not required to use cupcakes on your sketch, but if you got ‘em why not use ‘em?? You can create something other than a card but try to keep as close to the sketch as possible. If you’re uploading to Splitcoast, please use keyword TECC51. Leave a comment on Taylor’s post with a link to your blogpost or gallery link so she can check it out! You must have your creation uploaded by Monday, January 19 at 10:00 a.m. CST to be eligible for the featured cupcake sampler honors. Lastly, be sure to have FUN creating!

Be sure to check out the other Cupcake Crew’s Creations:

Taylor VanBruggen
Ana Wohlfahrt
Jackie Pedro
Jami Sibley
Monika Davis
Sherrie Siemens
Stephanie Hargis
Vicki Chrisman

Today’s Featured Cupcake Sampler is Jenn Diercks - Stamp Your Heart Out Be sure to look at the adorable card she made last week that Taylor adored!!

Reminder:
Mark your calendars to participate in the next Top Chef Contest at Taylored Expressions! If you're not familiar with our Top Chef contest you can find all the details here on our website: Top Chef Contest. Just create a card or project using any of the January 2nd releases (A Year of Sweets 1, A Year of Sweets 2, A Year of Sweets 3, Love is Sweet) and email a photo to Taylor at tayloredexpressions@gmail.com on or before February 11th to be entered into the contest. Please use Top Chef in your email subject line. Taylor will choose the cutest, most creative entry to win one FREE STAMP SET from the next SASI release!! Free rubber! WooHoo!!!! Your creative will also be featured on the Stamp a Sweet Impression blog for all to see! Now all you have to do is STAMP and WIN!