Category: Christmas

Building a Snow Man – Taylored Expressions Oct 2016 Sneak Peeks

Today it’s all about snow! Yes, it’s only October, but it’s not too soon to start holiday-themed cards! Welcome to Day 1 of the Taylored Expressions October Sneak Peeks. This release is packed with supplies guaranteed to put you in the holiday mood. I’m sharing two cards and a giveaway opportunity (you’ll have to scroll to the end to learn more about that!). Mark your calendar – October products will be released Thursday, October 6 @ 7 AM PST!

I first want to show you a winter-themed scene created with the Do You Wanna Build a Snowman? die.

Taylored Expressions October 2016 Release

I placed the Do You Wanna Build a Snowman? silhouette into an oval frame, cut with a die in the Stitched Oval Stacklets set from paper in the TE 6×6 Paper Pack – Playful Patterns – Holiday. The patterned paper background is from the same paper pack. For visual interest, I adhered TE Sequins – Snow Flurries to the background and added a top hat for the snowman, (cut with the Do You Wanna Build a Snowman? silhouette and trimmed). The heat-embossed sentiment is from the Ornamental set. This isn’t my usual color palette, but there is something about these colors that feels nostalgic to me, which I feel suits the silhouette scene.

Taylored Expressions October 2016 Release

Supplies (items in bold will be released October 6):

My second project showcases the Snowman Shaker die set. This guy is such a ham!

I created the background with the Snow Day Background stamped with TE Premium White Pigment Ink. I cut the snowman from both cardstock (it is a metallic white included in the TE Premium Cardstock – Metallic Neutrals set) and foam, sandwiching a piece of Clear Plastic Sheets between the cardstock and foam into which I put the TE Sequins – Snow Flurries. To finish off the card, I added a heat-embossed sentiment from Ornamental.

 

Supplies (items in bold will be released October 6):
About that giveaway I mentioned earlier – I’m giving away 100 Taylored Expressions Crafty Points which can be applied to your next purchase from the TE Web Store! To enter, simply leave a comment below telling me: Which do you prefer for your holiday tree decorating – White lights or multi-colored lights? Deadline is 9PM PDT on Wed, October 5, 2016.
BTW, if you aren’t already a Crafty Points Member, it’s free and easy to join. Just visit THIS PAGE to start earning and saving today!

But wait…there’s more! Taylored Expressions is celebrating Release Week with some fabulous giveaways! Visit the TE Blog to answer Taylor’s Question of the Day for a chance to win a prize from the latest release! And it just so happens that Taylor is asking the same question that I did!

TEReleaseWeekQuestion

Thanks for visiting! Head on over to the TE Blog to see more projects and product information, as well as a complete list of participating designers!

Warm Winter Wishes: Merry Monday Challenge

Merry Monday Challenge #214

I’m playing along with Merry Monday #214 whose theme this week is “Warm Winter Wishes.” The temps have turned chilly here in the PNW on this first day of fall, making it easy to think about cozy things!

Merry Monday #214

My card showcases the My Favorite Things Warm & Fuzzy die set which I purchased after the holiday season last year. Kraft and red is one of my favorite Christmas color schemes and feels cozy to me! I used the We R Memory Keepers Wood Grain embossing folder whose larger size allowed me to dry emboss with a horizontal wood grain. I’ve yet to get the Lawn Fawn Argyle Backdrops set put away since I keep using the same sentiment!

Merry Monday #214

Peace Snowflake – Die-cut Holiday Card

I’m playing along with two challenges – Merry Monday #213 and CAS(E) This Sketch #189 – with a CAS holiday card.

Merry Monday 213

CAS(E) this Sketch #189

Peace Snowflake

I was inspired by the shapes and colors in the Merry Monday #213 photo and the CAS(E) This Sketch #189 design (a sentiment overlaying a symmetrical and centered focal item).

I die cut the Memory Box Dazzling Snowflake (from a holiday release several years ago) from a red cardstock panel (cut with the dotted rectangular die in the Blueprints 13 set). (The Memory Box Spectacular Snowflake die is similar.) In either case, the snowflake die cuts small pieces, which are difficult to use alone. This style works well for the knock-out technique.

I backed the red panel with white cardstock (even though my card base was also white, creating this panel made assembly much easier). I die cut the Brushstroke Peace (Essentials by Ellen) sentiment from silver glitter cardstock and attached it to a vellum strip. I taped the strip behind the snowflake panel and attached the panel to a white cardstock card base. To add a little bling, I attached some Pretty Pink Posh Sparkling Clear sequins (the mix contains 4mm, 6mm and 8mm sizes) with Ranger Multi Medium, Matte.

CAS Christmas for CAS(E) this Sketch #186

Hello! I’m playing along with the CAS(E) this Sketch #186 Challenge. At first glance, I wasn’t going to participate with this sketch, but the sketch nagged at me to give it a try!

CTS_186

I pulled out the Stampin’ Up “Lots of Joy” set, which I’d never used, for the plaid trees and let the American Crafts patterned paper (last season’s? the season before?) do the talking!

CAS(E) this Sketch #186

I added some Pretty Pink Posh star sequins to the tops of the trees as they looked decidedly unfinished without stars!