Meeting Sean Payton

This summer I got to do several fun New Orleans Saints-themed activities: getting Head Coach Sean Payton's autograph, going to the Saints training camp, and going to the Saints vs. Chargers football game. I'm going to be blogging about these activities over the next few days.

Mama and I went to Barnes and Noble in Mandeville, LA to meet Saints Head Coach Sean Payton on July 26. I wanted to make something special to give him, so I made a set of Saints-themed notecards monogrammed with his and his wife's intials. I also made a matching box to put the cards in.

For the cards, I embossed the white background with the Cuttlebug Fleur de Lis folder. I found this perfect fleur de lis patterned paper at Hobby Lobby. I added a black ribbon and some gold trim with the EK Success Arbor border punch. The monograms were stamped with my Just Rite stamper, and I cut them out with Circle Nestabilities. I layered them on a black scalloped circle that was cut out with Scallop Circle Nestabilities. I adhered them directly to the card rather than using foam tape. I wanted the cards to be easy for them to mail.

It was sooo exciting getting to see him, get his book autographed, and talk to him for just a moment!!

Here are a few photos...

Card Supplies:

Cardstock: Prism, Choice Snow White

Patterned Paper: The Paper Studio by Hobby Lobby, gold vellum (Hobby Lobby)
Stamps: Just Rite
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
Embellishments: ribbon (Offray)
Tools: Classic Circle Nestabilities, Scallop Circle Nestabilities, EK Success Arbor punch, Cuttlebug, Cuttlebug Fleur de Lis embossing folder
Other: card box (Taylored Expressions)

CPC Fun on Friday

Okay, so I know it's not Friday, and that it's Sunday, but I'm just now getting around to posting this card. It's been a crazy-busy week. To finish it off, I went to the New Orleans Saints game Friday night, and then I had a seminar at school all day on Saturday. The game (not school) was so much fun! Over the next few days, I'm going to be doing some blog posts to share all of my latest Saints outings.

Now, about my card. I made this card for the Fun on Friday challenge at Christian Paper Crafts. The challenge was to create a card with no colored images. I  used some colored inks on mine to soften up the brightness of the white cardstock.

I stamped the verse from Our Daily Bread Designs Scripture Collection 2 onto Choice Snow White cardstock with Memento Rich Cocoa. I cut it out with Rectangle Nestabilities and sponged around the edges with Memento Cantaloupe and Memento Tangelo. 

I embossed the pink layer with the Swiss Dots Cuttlebug embossing folder. I finished off the card with three brown brads, a ribbon, and two cardstock butterflies. I added Tiny Twinkles to their bodies.

For my card layout, I followed a Sweet Stop Sketch from a few weeks ago. All of the papers are from the Echo Park Walk in the Park collection. The papers, ribbon, cardstock, and butterflies all came in the August Key Ingredients by Taylored Expressions. Taylor put together such a yummy kit this month - then again, she always does!

Thank you so much for stopping by today! I hope you have a great day! :)

Supplies:
Cardstock: Choice Snow White, Bazzill
Patterned Paper: Echo Park Walk in the Park
Stamps: Our Daily Bread Designs Scripture Collection 2
Ink: Memento - Rich Cocoa, Cantaloupe, Tangelo
Embellishments: ribbon, cardstock butterflies, Tiny Twinkles - all by Taylored Expressions, brads (The Paper Studio)
Tools: Cuttlebug, Swiss Dots Cuttlebug embossing folder, Classic Rectangle Nestabilities

TE Blast from the Past Blog Hop

Hi there! It's time again for the Taylored Expressions Blast from the Past Blog Hop! I have so much fun participating in these blog hops each month. The hardest part for me is figuring out which stamp I want to use! Too many to choose from, I suppose. :)

I used this week's sketch from Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge, and I was also inspired by the lovely way that Karen Giron used Kraft paper in her sample. I decided to use Kraft as well, and I tried to keep my card simple without a lot of layers. I absolutely *love* how it turned out, so thank you, Karen, for the inspiration!

As for the stamp choice, after staring at my stamps for awhile, I finally settled on Discover Your Wings. This is probably one of my favorite TE sets. I love it so much because I've used it for fall, spring, and summer cards. It is so versatile, and the simple, yet profound sentiments are perfect for many different occasions. I think this one would make a great encouragement or thinking of you card.

I stamped the image in brown pigment ink and embossed it with clear embossing powder. I cut it out with Classic Circle Nestabilities and sponged around the edges with Memento Cantaloupe. It is matted on the brown layer that was cut out with Scallop Circle Nestabilities. These bright, fun papers (that I just LOVE) are from the Walk in the Park collection by Echo Park. They were included in this month's TE Key Ingredients. I have recently discovered Echo Park papers, and I think they're my new favorite. I have just *got* to get my hands on that Christmas collection! Funny thing...I have more Christmas paper than any other kind, yet I only send Christmas cards once a year. Ha! I digress...

Back to my card...I finished it off by adding two sprays of Orange Tootsie Pop Candy Crystals and a bow. I also stamped the sentiment, "See Beyond," in Memento Rich Cocoa. I also rounded the corners with my We R Memory Keepers Corner Chomper.

I am so thankful that you stopped by my little spot on the hop today! Have a great day! :)

Your next stop on the hop is Michelle Single.



Supplies:
Cardstock: Bazzill
Patterned Paper: Echo Park Walk in the Park
Stamps: Discover Your Wings by Taylored Expressions
Ink: brown pigment ink, Memento Rich Cocoa, Memento Cantaloupe, clear embossing powder
Embellishments: Orange Tootsie Pop Candy Crystals (Taylored Expressions), ribbon (Taylored Expressions)
Tools: Classic Circle Nestabilities, Scallop Circle Nestabilities, We R Memory Keepers Corner Chomper

God is My Rock!

Hi there! I'm posting two days in a row! That's a shocker, lately. I've seriously been neglecting card-marking and my blog. Anyway, my mom needed a sympathy card to send to someone, and since I didn't really have any "sympathy" stamps, I decided to use a verse of encouragement.

The verse is from Our Daily Bread Designs Scripture Collection 4, and I stamped it in Memento Rich Cocoa. I cut it out with Classic Oval Nestabilities, and while it was still in the die, I sponged Memento Cantaloupe around the edges.

This layout is a Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge sketch. The papers and ribbon are from a previous Taylored Expressions Key Ingredients.

Since this card was being sent to a man, I decided to go with masculine colors, and these papers from the Crate Paper Brook collection were perfect for that. I embossed the blue panel with the Swiss Dots Cuttlebug embossing folder. I finished the card off by adding three rhinestones to the sentiment panel and a coordinating ribbon.

Thanks for stopping by today! Hope you have a great day! :)

Supplies:
Cardstock: Bazzill, Choice Snow White
Paper: Crate Paper Brook
Stamps: Our Daily Bread Designs Scripture Collection 4
Ink: Memento Rich Cocoa, Memento Cantaloupe
Embellishments: turquoise rhinestones (Kaiser), ribbon (Taylored Expressions)
Tools: Classic Oval Nestabilities, Cuttlebug, Swiss Dots Cuttlebug embossing folder

Happy Birthday, Mama!

Hi everyone! I apologize that I've been neglecting my blog lately, but that's because I haven't had much creative time lately. However, I did make some time to create my Mama a birthday card! Today is her birthday...Happy Birthday, Mama! I love you!

I used a previous Taylored Expressions Key Ingredients for this card. The cute cupcake gal is also from a TE stamp set - Bakery Business. I colored her in with Copic markers. I decided to "dress" her in a bright outfit to match the papers in the KI Memories Paisley Parade Papers. I stamped the sentiment from Mega Mixed Messages by Papertrey Ink and cut it out with Classic Oval Nestabilities. I stitched around all of the edges, added a green twill ribbon, and three chocolate brads. I also added a little Espresso Adirondack Dimensional Pearls to the left cupcake and Christmas Red Stickles to each of the cherries.

I followed this week's SFYTT and flipped it on its' side for my card. However, I left out the right circle element.

As for school, that is going good...just very busy! I also start two graduate classes this week, so I'll be going to school when I get finished teaching school! I just can't get enough of it, can I? :)

Thanks so much for stopping by today! Have a great day!

Supplies:
Cardstock: Prism, Choice Snow White
Patterned Paper: KI Memories Paisley Parade
Stamps: Bakery Business by Taylored Expressions, Mega Mixed Messages by Papertrey Ink
Ink: Memento Rich Cocoa, Copic markers
Embellishments: brads (Making Memories), ribbon (Taylored Expressions), Christmas Red Stickles, Espresso Adirondack Dimensional Pearls
Tools: Classic Oval Nesatabilities, sewing machine

Noses 4 Sale!

Hi there! I have a card to share with you today for this week's Stampin' Sisters in Chist Challenge. This week's challenge is sponsored by Deedee's Digis, and Deedee will be donating a prize to a random winner.

This week's challenge was to make a humorous card, so I decided to use Noses 4 Sale by Deedee's Digis. I think this is such a cute Christmas image! I colored it in with Copic markers and added some touches of Martha Stewart glitter and Christmas Red Stickles to the image.

I followed last week's Taylored Expressions sketch. The papers are Cosmo Cricket Jolly By Golly. I embossed the white panel with the Snowflakes Cuttlebug embossing folder. I used the Jumbo Scallop Die by My Favorite Things to cut out the red scallop. I stitched around all of the edges and finished it off with a red bow.

Thanks so much for stopping by today! Have a great week! :)

Supplies:
Cardstock: Choice Snow White, American Crafts
Patterned Paper: Cosmo Cricket Jolly by Golly
Stamps: Noses 4 Sale by Deedee's Digis
Ink: Copic markers
Embellishments: Martha Stewart glitter, Christmas Red Stickles, ribbon (Offray)
Tools: My Favorite Things Jumbo Scallop Die, Snowflakes Cuttlebug embossing folder, Cuttlebug, sewing machine

Back to the Books

Hi everyone! Well, it really is back to the books for me! We started school Monday, and wow, has it been an exhausting week! I'm so glad today is Friday. I had most of my 100+ students' names learned by the end of Day 2, so that's a plus! There are definitely some sweet ones in the bunch, so I'm looking forward to a good year.

I made this card for today's Fun on Friday Challenge at Christian Paper Crafts. The challenge is to make a "back to school" card or project.

I used the Teacher's Pet digi set from Deedee's Digis. I colored the digi with Copic markers and cut it out with Classic Rectangle Nestabilities. The sentiment was cut out with Classic Circle Nestabilities. Both the image and the sentiment were matted on red cardstock that was cut out using scallop Nestabilities. I stitched around the edges, added two brown brads in each corner, and finished it off with some perfect ABC ribbon made by Jillibean Soup.

The layout is from this week's sketch at The Sweet Stop.

Thanks so much for stopping by today! Have a GREAT weekend! :)

Supplies:
Cardstock: Bazzill Kraft, American Crafts, Choice Buttercream
Patterned Paper: CosmoCricket The Boyfriend
Stamps: Teacher's Pet by Deedee's Digis
Ink: Copic markers
Embellishments: brads (The Paper Studio), ribbon (Jillibean Soup)
Tools: Classic Circle Nestabilities, Scallop Circle Nestabilities, Classic Rectangle Nestabilities, Scallop Rectangle Nestabilities, sewing machine

School or Bust!

Hi everyone! Wow! I have not blogged in a week! That's because I've spent a very busy week at school getting ready for the kids to return on Monday. I am probably a lot more excited about school starting back than they they. I am pretty sure I have everything ready to go for the first day! At least, I hope I do! It was a lot of hard work, but I'm looking forward to a great and successful year.

Since school is starting, I wanted to make a school-themed card using this cute new set called School or Bust by Deedee's Digis. I colored the image in with Copic markers and even added some glossy accents to the window glass. I cut out the image and the sentiment with Nestabilities. The papers are October Afternoon Report Card; I had to keep the school theme! I stitched all around the edges and finished it off with four yellow brads to match the school bus, as well as a yellow bow.

Thank you so much for stopping by today! I hope you have a wonderful weekend! :)

Supplies:
Cardstock: Bazzill Kraft, Choice Snow White
Patterned Paper: October Afternoon Report Card
Stamps: School or Bust by Deedee's Digis
Ink: Copic markers
Embellishments: brads (The Paper Studio), ribbon
Tools: Classic Oval Nestabilities, Rectangle Nestabilities, Stampin' Up ticket punch, sewing machine

Happy Birthday with Sparkle

Hi there! I made this card over a week ago and just forgot to post it.

I used the July Key Ingredients from Taylored Expressions, and oh, I just fell in love with those KI Memories papers instantly! They are so yummy! I love the pinks and browns together.

The image is by Stampavie and is from the Rachel Ann Miller collection. I colored her with Copic markers, and added some of the glitter from the kit to the presents. I also added some Tiny Twinkles to the flower in her hair and the three stars surrounding her. I embossed the aqua panel with the Swiss Dots Cuttlebug embossing folder and stitched around the edges. I finished it all off with a coordinating ribbon from the kit.

This little girl sure is a cutie, and this card is for sale in my Etsy shop, too! If you'd love to have it, just hop on over and check out that listing.

Thanks so much for stopping by today! :)

Supplies:
Cardstock: Prism, Choice Snow White
Patterned Paper: KI Memories Paisley Parade
Stamps: Stampavie
Ink: Copic markers, Memento Tuexedo Black
Embellishments: Tiny Twinkles (Taylored Expressions), glitter (Taylored Expressions), ribbon (Taylored Expressions)
Tools: sewing machine, Cuttlebug, Swiss Dots Cuttlebug embossing folder