Our Friday Friend - TESC94

Hi everyone! Boy have I missed you!

My surgery went well but the recovery has really taken longer than I thought it would.
The surprising part for me is that I just haven't felt like stamping. Here I am, with eight weeks off work and up until this last week absolutely no desire to create. What's up with that? I thought I would have a stockpile of cards made by now.

One of the things that helped pull me out of my slump was a very exciting email from Jami Sibley asking me if I would be interested in being featured as "Our Friday Friend" on the Stamp a Sweet Impression blog. I was thrilled and honored. I adore Taylored Expressions stamps and those adorable "Cuppies" just make me smile.

I would love for you to play along with Taylor's sketch this week too. It's really a fun one. Just make a card and post a link to it with Mister Linky over at Taylored Expressions. You don't have to use Taylored Expressions stamps for your creation but if you have them, use them!

Thanks for sticking with me during my extended absence. I appreciate it more than you know. I hope to post more tomorrow. Have a terrific Friday!





It's all about the details:
Card stock: Bazzill
Patterned Paper: Basic Grey - Eskimo Kisses
Stamps: Taylored Expressions - Home Sweet Home
Ink: Memento Tuxdeo Black, Papertrey Ink Fresh Snow
Accessories: BoBunny Ho Ho Ho brad, crystals, ribbon, Dimensionals
Tools: MS Punch, Janome sewing machine, Copic Markers

Hiatus

Hi everyone! I had every intention of having a card to post for you tonight but it just isn't going to happen. I am going to have ankle surgery tomorrow morning and I have been scrambling over the last few weeks trying to get everything in order at home and work. I just flat out ran out of time!

I will be off work for about 8 weeks, so I hope I'll be up to stamping in a few weeks to relieve my boredom! I'll see you all then.

Hugs,

Delightful Decorations - FS141

I loved this card from this week's Featured Stamper DancerRiley's gallery and decided right away to CASE it.

I used the same stamp set but swapped out My Mind's Eye patterned paper. I also left off one of the ribbons and sentiment and added stitching. Love the end result. Thanks for the inspiration SCS!





It's all about the details:
Card stock: Stampin' Up
Patterned Paper: My Mind's Eye
Stamps: Stampin' Up, Delightful Decorations
Ink: SU Riding Hood Red, Colorbox Chalk Ink
Accessories: Ribbon, Crystals, Dimensionals
Tools: Nestabilities, Janome Sewing Machine, SU Punch

Life is Just a Bowl of Cherries

Hi everyone. Hope your weekend is going well.

Mercy's Tuesday Sketch Challenge has rolled around again. Don't you love this one? I just purchased this "Berries and Cherries" set from Taylored Expressions and couldn't wait to put ink to it. The set comes with 17 stamps, all yummy! I used three for this card.

These gorgeous patterned papers are from October Afternoon and they just make me happy! The image was colored with Copic Markers and then I applied a light coat of Glossy Accents for shine. I also added a little faux stitching with a white Signo Uniball pen.

Thanks for dropping by today. Enjoy your Sunday!






It's all about the details:
Card stock: Bazzill
Patterned Paper: October Afternoon
Stamps: Taylored Expressions
Ink: Memento Tuxdeo Black
Accessories: Glossy Accents, ribbon, Dimensionals
Tools: SU Circle Punch, Piercer, Mat Pack, Signo Uniball Pen

Christmas Goodies

I had so much fun putting together this Serendipity Stamps Design Team Challenge for you! The challenge this month is all about Christmas.

I decorated this "film reel" tin from Provocraft with My Mind's Eye patterned paper from "The Merry Days of Christmas" collection. The tag highlights the gorgeous "Snowflake Flourish" stamps as well as the classic "To" and "From" stamps. The tag began as plain white card stock. I stamped the snowflakes using Papertrey Ink's Fresh Snow ink and then embossed them with clear embossing powder. I then completely covered the card stock with Fired Brick Distress Ink before gently rubbing the embossed snowflakes with a baby wipe to reveal the crisp white flakes below. I stamped the "To" and "From" and cut them out with Nestabilities tags dyes and then added a hint of snowflakes with the Distress Ink.

What's going in this tin, you ask? Something yummy of course! I made up a batch of Peppermint Bark, one of my favorite holiday treats and so, so simple to make. You'll find the recipe I use below.

The next two projects I whipped up also incorporate the Flourish Snowflake stamp. I created a snowflake ornament to go with the tin and a second tag using a twist on the embossing technique. You can view a close-up of either project by clicking on the images.

Be sure to check out my design teammates sites to see what their creative juices have inspired! While you're there, be sure to give them some love!

Anya
Shannan
Jennifer
Lynda
Yvonne
Amy

Peppermint Bark

12 oz. semi-sweet chocolate chips
16 oz. white chocolate
1/2 teaspoon peppermint extract
1/2 c. peppermint candy, crushed

Preheat oven to 250 degrees. Line the bottom and sides of a 9x13 pan with foil. Spray with non-stick cooking spray or lightly butter the foil. Pour the chocolate chips in an even layer on the foil. Place in oven for 5 minutes or until almost melted. Remove from oven, smooth with an offset spatula or knife. Place the pan in refrigerator until cold and firm, about 20 minutes.

Melt white chocolate chips in a double boiler or in a metal bowl over simmering water until chocolate is almost melted. Remove bowl and stir until completely melted. Stir in extract. Let cool a little bit so it doesn’t melt the chocolate layer when you pour it on top. Pour this over chocolate layer, and, working quickly, spread to cover. Sprinkle with crushed candy.

Chill until both layers are firm. Lift foil out of pan. Break into 2 inch pieces. Chill in covered container. Makes about 2 pounds.

It's all about the details:
Card stock: Stampin' Up
Patterned Paper: My Mind's Eye
Stamps: Serendipity Stamps
Ink: Distress Inks, PTI Fresh Snow
Accessories: Glitter, Ribbon, Provocraft Film Reel Tin, embossing powder, jewel brad, Maya Road chipboard snowflake
Tools: Nestabilities

October Day

I am running terribly late for Mercy's Tuesday Sketch Challenge this week. But you know the saying, better late than never!

I whipped up this card using a new set from TPC Studio called Autumn Harvest. It has such a great assortment of fall images ... acorns, leaves, and sentiments. Love it! It really goes well with one of the gorgeous papers from Cosmo Cricket's Earth Love collection.

Hope your week ahead is a great one.





It's all about the details:
Card stock: Bazzill
Patterned Paper: Cosmo Cricket, Earth Love, My Mind's Eye
Stamps: TPC Studio
Ink: Distress Inks, Memento Rich Cocoa
Accessories: Colorbok Metal Dots, Dimensionals
Tools: Fiskars Punch, Mat Pack, Piercer, Quickutz Circle