The Inking spot of Crain Creations

Taylored Expressions Last Card Standing Challenge... Friendship!

I have just been beyond giddy this past week to have been part of the TE Last Card Standing Top 15!!  The amazing talent that submitted and then to be able to stand alongside the other ladies chosen as the Top 15... WOW!  Our challenge for this past week was "Friendship", we were asked to think about our very best friend and make a card for that person (or pet) :) LOVE the pet part, lol!!  While this card is NOT for my Happily Huck, it is for a very dear friend!  Her & I have been through some hard times over the past year in our own lives, but she is always there for me and talking things out with her makes me feel so much better!!  I chose this stamp set, Let's Do Coffee, for two reasons... 1) it was a gift from her and 2) Umm, HELLO!  I LOVE my coffee!! lol  Well, make sure you tune in to the Taylored Expressions forum on SCS this weekend for the news on who made the next cut!!  If you'd like to see the entries for this round, here's the gallery.

Stamps: Let's Do Coffee (Taylored Expressions)  Paper: Lively by Authentique (Ribbon Carousel), Chocolate Chip (SU!), Crumb Cake (SU!)  Ink: Tuxedo Black (Memento), Xpress (Copic)  Extras: Taylors Tiny Twinkles (Taylored Expressions), Brads (SU!), Double Scallop border punch (Martha Stewart), Taupe Silk Ribbon (Ribbon Carousel), Misc pink satin ribbon, Pink button, Lime Bakers Twine (Ribbon Carousel)  Copics:  C1, C3, E000, E19, E50, E51, E53, E55, E71, E74, E77, E79, Y11, Y21, YG23, YG25, YR12, YR21  Challenges: TEFriendship

 

I'm a Top 15 for the Taylored Expressions Last Card Standing!

Woot! Woot!  I made the Top 15 in Taylored Expressions Last Card Standing challenge with this card!  I am soooooo stinking excited I can hardly contain myself!!  The first level challenge was an anything goes and you could use any card in your stash or make a new one.  I actually made this card a bit ago for one of the TE Blast to the Past hops.  I used the Discover your Wings set from Taylored Expressions and the sketch was from Sankari Wegman (if you've not checked out her blog, you simply must...it is wonderful!!).  I stamped the flowers image using Antique Linen Distress ink, then stamped the sentiment over it with some black.    I took the larger butterfly and colored it in with my copics before cutting it out.  The body is flat on the focal circle, but I folded the wings up to give it some dimension.  

Well we've been given the next challenge from the TE team, so come back this week to see what I've come up with!!  Thanks so much for popping by!

Stamps:  Discover your Wings (Taylored Expressions)  Paper: Linnie Bell (Pebbles), Dark Chocolate & white cs (PTI)  Ink: Antique Linen Distress ink (Ranger), Onyx Black (Versafine), Tuxedo Black Memento  Accessories: Chocolate pearls (Kaisercraft),Taylors Tiny Twinkles, Brown stitched ribbon, Circle nesties, Big Scalloped Circle nesties

 

My April Calendar

Here is my April Calendar page, yeah I know it's late.  It's actually been done for some time now.  I started this calendar making thing last year, but missed several months.  This is one of the pages I made for last year and I LOVED it so much I decided to throw on this year's calendar and keep it :)

Be sure to visit my calendar buddies to see their April pages if you haven't already.

Lisa Kind
Christine
Danni
Julie

 

Friendship Blooms with TESC154

Today I took full advantage of the cold weather and rain outside and got my stampin' on!!  I think I am actually "prepared" for the stamping week (and that almost NEVER happens, lol!).  For this weeks TE Sketch Challenge, I used the Friendship Blooms stamp set and dies.  I just love this stamp set, so cheery and fun.  My papers are from one of Taylor's Key Ingredients kits from awhile ago, LOVE those kits!!!!  Latte's may keep my eyes open but they sure don't do much for adding to my Word Bank, lol!  Well, thanks for popping in, hope to see you again soon :)

Stamps: Friendship Blooms (Taylored Expressions)  Dies:  Friendship Blooms (Taylored Expressions)  Challenges: TESC154

March Calendar

Well I am finally getting my March calendar posted, I can't believe how incredibly late I am, lol!  My calendar stand is from Taylored Expressions, check out their Calendar Products section.

Last year I got this A la Mode set, Wishing You Luck, from My Favorite Things, but never had a chance to use it... I think she fits perfectly on my calendar page!  The layout comes from last weeks MFT's Wednesday Stamp Club on SCS... again, a perfect fit :)  Don't ya just love when all the hard thinkin' is done for you !  Well thanks for popping by, hope to see you again this week cause I'm gearing up for my first Release Hop as a member of the Mark's Finest Paper's Sr DT... so excited!  If you haven't already, be sure to visit my Calendar buddies...

Christine 

Julie 

Danni 

 

Stamps: Wishing You Luck, a la Mode (MFT Stamps)  Accessories: Calendar Stand (Taylored Expressions)  Copics: C0, E0000, E00, E21, E30, E31, G14, G16, R20, R22, Y21, YR23, YR31
 Challenges: MFTWSC63

Sweet Sunday Sketch & Stamp Group

I finally got to visit with my stamp group again!  First time since the "heart issue" ;).  The theme was Christmas, of course.  It was great seeing everyone again :)  Everyone needs some girl time!!  I used the Wings of Joy set from Taylored Expressions... this is such a "happy looking" set, I just love it!  I played along with Karen's Sweet Sunday Sketch (LOVE these too!).  I broke out my Watercolor Crayons and went to town.  Very quick card, I think I'll have to make a few more for sending out.

Thanks for stopping by :)

Taylored Expressions "Thankful" Blast From the Past Hop

Happy Hop Day! :)  Today is the monthly Taylored Expressions Blast From the Past hop, I just love playing along with this amazingly talented group!!!  Sankari gave us another one of her amazing sketches, which I fully intended on following... that is until I opened my October Key Ingredients kit found this Mum Trim.  I actually planned the rest of my card around the trim! lol  My card went a "little" off track from the sketch :)  I used the Much Appreciated stamp set from Taylored Expressions, which is a set I got from subscribing to the Key Ingredients kits.  I think I will make a set of these for a teacher friend of mine... they'd make great Thank You cards for her parents :)  Here's are the links to the rest of the Hop-ee's... I promise you are in for a treat of fabulous inspiration!!  Happy Hopping!

 

TE Blast from the Past goes "Trick or Sweet"

Hey yall it's time for another Taylored Expressions Blast form the past!  Today I chose to use the "Hangin' Out - Wicked Wardrobe" set... I have loved this set since it came out last year!!  All of the "Hangin' Out..." sets are just oo cute!!!  Now, as much as I love the Sankari's sketches, this time I chose to use the Taylored Expressions Sketch Challenge from Friday (TESC148).To add a little more interest to my card I added some black rhinestones in varied sizes in random places on the card, I also used some super fine black glitter on the Ghosts nose and eyes :) And, of course, used thick vellum for my ghost.  I just LOVE making Halloween cards! Did you know you could participate in the next Blast from the Past Hop?  Make sure you are subscribed to Taylores Newsletter and you'll get the deets on what you need to do to sign up!

Grab your latte and get yourself ready for some "sweet" inspiration.  Thanks for popping by, see ya again soon :)

 

Taylored Expressions Sketch Challenge

Today I am stamping just for the fun and relaxtion of it :)  I used Taylor's Sketch challenge and a new Moka I recently won from TE...she's so stinking cute!! I always forget how very relaxing coloring it... ahhhhhhh!  While I do love paper piecing and her top is perfect for that, I really wanted to color, so I colored her top and then used my white Souffle pen to add some polka dots, I rather like the look :)  Well that's about it from me for now, hope to see you again soon!  Thanks for stopping by!

Stamps: Moka Olivia (Taylored Expressions)  Paper: August 2011 KI Kit (Taylored Expressions)  
Copics: 0, C5, C7, C9, E000, E01, E11, E25, E49, E53, E59, R32, R35, R37, RV10, RV32, YG61, YG63  Challenges: TESC147

Taylored Expressions Blast From the Past Hop!

Holy snickerdoodles, I've made a card!!  My room is clean and I still haven't found the time to come in, hide out and create something :(  Well, today is the Taylored Expressions Blast From the Past hop, and what a perfect occassion to dust off my ink pads!  Today's theme is Collectors Anonymous, and what better set to use than the actual Collectors Anonymous set!!  I have always LOVED buttons, though my 'OCD' gets in the way, so my jars don't look as colorful as this one (of course my jars are "color organized", what of it, lol!).  Well another short post, because I have to get some more work done (remember back in the day when people ONLY worked from 8 to 5?!).  Be sure to visit the rest of the hoppers, some of my favorite stampers are in this hop and I am sure you will find TONS of inspiration :)  Oh yes, I forgot to mention, I used Sankari's amazing sketch (LOVE her sketches!!!) for today's card, you can see her sketch and more Hop details on Taylors Blog.

 

Tailored Expressions Blast from the Past

Time for another Blast from the Past hop with Taylored Expressions! Today's theme is "Old Glory", I chose to use Old Glory's color palette for my card... good ol' Red, White and Blue!  My image is from the Cozy Cottages set.  This month Taylor has some fabulous talent lined up to show of their faves from the past.  Grab your self a Latte or a Mate and hit the hop!  Enjoy the inspiration and then get inky!!  Thanks for popping by, hope to see you again soon :)

 

Stamps: Cozy Cottages (Taylored Expressions)  Paper: Picket Fence (Lilybee Design), Cherry Cobbler cs (SU!), White cs (PTI)  Ink: Tuxedo Black (Memento)  Accessories: Flower (Prima), Button (PTI), Bakers Twine (Taylored Expressions)

Taylored Expressions Blast from the Past!

Welcome to the March edition of the Taylored Expressions Blast from the Past Blog Hop (wowzers, that's a mouthful!).  Once again Sankari has given us an amazing sketch, you can head over to the TE Blog to see the sketch, get all the deets of the hop and how you can play along next month!!  This month's theme is Spring, so I used the super fun Friendship Blooms set (along with the coordinating dies, of course!!) because what's more Spring-y than flowers :)  I also used the papers from the March Key Ingredients Kit (these are awesome little kits if you've never seen them!!!).  I also added a few teeny rhinestones from Taylors Tiny Twinkles, just to "spice" up a little of that white space.  Well I don't want to take up too much time, cause you've got some hoppin' to do!  Here is a list of the Hop participants and if you get lost along the way, just head back over to Taylor's Blog... she'll show ya the way!  Thanks for stopping by, hope to see you again tomorrow.

 

November Taylored Expressions Blast from the Past!

It's that time again!  Time for the Taylored Expressions Blast from the Past Blog Hop.  If you didn't start at Taylor's Blog, make sure you head over to get the deets on the hop and how you can participate next month!  This month's theme is Autumn/Thankful, I had originally planned on using the Celebrate Life set, but I can't count and didn't order it in time :(  so I went through my Taylored Expressions stamps and realized this set, CreativiTea, would fit perfectly for a Thank you (besides I owe someone a "thank you" card and this is just her style).  The papers from the September Key Ingredients kit were a perfect match!  I just love when things fall in to place like that.

I used the flower stamp and stamped it randomly on my white panel using VersaMark ink, it still seemed a little too plain so I took my R0000 and G0000 Copics and colored in the flower and stems.  It's faint enough that it doesn't make the card too busy, but adds just enough color so that the panel doesn't look too plain.  I just LOVE this look!  When Copic first came out with these ultra pale colors, I remember thinking "what on earth do I need those for?" Hehehehehe.  I was really worried when I started this card, but now that's done I am really liking the look of it!  Great stamp set + great sketch (thanks to Sankari) + a great kit to get me going = 1 very wonderful card!  Well I've chatted your ear off enough, time for you to be on your merry way and enjoy the rest of the hop.  This is an amazingly talented group of ladies, so grab a latte and get comfy!

Stamps: CreativiTea (Taylored Expressions)  Paper & brads: September 2010 Key Ingredients kit (Taylored Expressions)  Accessories: Ripe Avocado satin ribbon (PTI)  Sketch: by Sankari Wegman  Copics: G0000, R0000, R22, R24, R27, Y21

It's Blast from the Past time!

**If you are looking for my Farm Fresh Friday post, please scroll down**

 

Time for another Taylored Expressions Blast from the Past hop!  This month's focus is Christmas/holiday!  This is my absolute favorite time of the year!!  I love the weather, the cooking & baking, the family time... just everything about this time of year makes me happy.  I used the Wings of Joy set... the images in this set are just adorable and the sentiments are perfect!  This "Joy" image was just perfect to go with my paper.  To add a little 'interest' I added some Liquid Applique to the hat on the birdie, some Crystal Effects to the berries of the holly and a Gold Metallic pen on the ribbon on the 'Y'.  The sketch is by Sankari, of course... man can that girl throw out some amazing sketches!!!  If you look closely at the Kraft panel, you can see that I used some VersaMark on the "Merry Christmas" stamp and kind of randomly stamped it all over the panel... it just keeps it from looking flat.

Well that's all I've got for ya for now, BUT if you do nothing else today you simply MUST check out the rest of these amazingly talented ladies!  You'll be in the Christmas spirit in no time, and you may just get enough idea's to whip out those Christmas cards!

Taylored Expressions Blast from the Past!

Welcome to the September Taylored Expressions hop!  I am so excited to be participating again.  This month I am using the Discover Your Wings set.  I just love this set!!  Once again Sankari has provided us with an amazing sketch!  Head over to the Taylored Expressions blog for the deets on this sketch and how you can hop along with Taylor and her gang next month. Grab yourself a latte, get comfy and get ready to be inspired cause there's some amazing talent in this hop!

Stamps:  Discover Your Wings (Taylored Expressions)  Paper: Early Bird (Cosmo Cricket), Chocolate Brown (Gina K), Very Vanilla (SU)  Ink: Coffee Bean (Vivid), Tuscan Tan (Vivid), Beach Glass (Vivid)  Accessories: Mini Pom ecru ribbon (Taylored Expressions), Chocolate Pearls (KaiserCraft), Eyelet Circles (Nesties), Dienamics Scalloped Scallop (MFT)