Tuesday, April 12, 2011

Verve Stamps: New Release Spotlights Day 1

Hi Everyone,


Today starts Day 1 of sneak peeks of some yummy brand new Verve stamps with an awesome release party on Friday night - and we are kicking it off with four days of Spotlight hops - AND

since we love to share, there's a prize hidden on one of today's hop spots! Just leave a little shout-out in the comments as you hop about for a chance to win some new Verve of your very own! You can check out the Verve Blog for all the prize details and deadlines - HOW awesome and sweet is that?! 


Well, today, we are kicking off the Spotlight party with previews from 4 new stamp sets: 

  1. Bunny Shake (with the cutest little bunny ever!), 
  2. Birthday Phrases (awesomest bday phrases!), 
  3. Faithful praises (giving strength through beautiful phrases) and 
  4. Happy Phrases (giving happiness

I love all these beautiful new stamps - sooo sweet - but this little bunny wiggling his little bunny tail  just melted me a little - what a cutie?! So I decided to make a little card with him and a buddy :) I imagined them both standing up on a rock and the wiggling their cute little bunny assets to the world :D


Card Ingredients:
Paper: from stash (Bazzill and Prism)
Stamps: Bunny Shake
Ink: Tuxedo Black and Bahama Blue
Dies: Charming Oval die set
Accessories: corner chomper, liquid pearls, MS grass punch, nesties, dimensionals

After making Bunny and his friend - I wanted to make another one with a bunch of bunnies - you know the song: "Shake shake shake, shake shake shake... shake your ..." - well that was in my head and so I thought it would be fun to create a line of bunnies shakin' their thang :)



Card Ingredients:
Paper: from stash (Bazzill and Prism)
Stamps: Bunny Shake and Eggstra Special (butterfly)
Ink: Tuxedo Black
DiesCharming Oval die set
Accessories: liquid pearls, MS grass punch, nesties, gray grosgrain ribbon and brad




I loved making cards with this sweet little bunny and sentiments and can't wait to see what lovely creations all the wonderful ladies have created for today's Verve New Release Spotlight Hop! Check them out - and don't forget to leave a little lovin' and you could win some yummy Verve! 




1. Andrea8. Julee
2. Jackie9. Tosh
3. Charmaine10. Amber
4. Janelle11. Amy
5. Teresa12. Maureen
6. Laurie13. Cresta
7. Sankari

TODAY'S PRIZE:
Bunny Shake, Birthday Phrases, Faithful Phrases and Happy Phrases




Thanks so much for stopping by today! Please stop by everyday for more new release peeks!!
Big hugs,
Sankari :)

Monday, April 11, 2011

JustRite Stamps -Vintage Floral Frames


Hi Everyone,

Today over at the JustRite blog - we are show samples from the beautiful stamp set: Vintage Floral Labels which is part of the JustRite cling series (these rubber sets will have to be trimmed) and a come with beautiful and gorgeous frames that can be paired with such lovely sentiments - along with gorgeous swirly whirly embellishments.

I love all the sentiments but one specific sentiment: Thank You (with the circular sentiment: You've been so sweet) really warmed my heart. This weekend has been quite a rough one - with a lot of medical emergencies - and I don't think I have slept in many many days - I am so thankful that I am surrounded by beautiful friends who help out in an instant and are there to help me out through the rough patches. I made this for one of my friends who really helped me out this weekend:

Card Ingredients:
Paper: MME and Bazzil 
Stamps; Vintage Floral Frames
Inks: Memento Bamboo leaves, rosebud and Bahama Blue
Accessories: Spellbinder's, liquid pearls, bling, flowers from PRima, dimensionals, and ribbonf rom stahs. 

I can't wait to gibe this to my friend and feel thankful to be surrounded by close friends and family during times that are challenging. Please check out all the gorgeous creations that the crew has designed using this grogeousVintage Floral Labels stamp set



Thanks so muh for stoppingy by today!
Big hugs,
Sankari :)

Friday, April 8, 2011

JustRite Blog Hop Introducing: A Warm Hello!

Good Morning Everyone,

A Warm Hello Borders & Centers - InterlockingToday the JustRite stampers are peeking a lovely new set called: A Warm Hello - which is filled with lovely sentiments that make it easy to create a Warm Hello Card and comes with beautiful interlocking designed borders to that can be mix and matched with the different sentiments. This sentiment set has 9 centers that fit the 1-5/8" and 2" stamper (as well as the 2" square stamper) and has 9 interchangeable borders (or the 15 pt. letters can also create a custom border). 

For my card today, I loved the sentiment: Hello from the Heart and had this idea to create a card with the sentiment in the center and one that had a few hearts hanging down from the sentiment. 

I stamped the sentiment with a dotted border in Bamboo Leaves and paired it with a beaded spellbinder set and adhered some glitter to the beads. I used another one of the borders and  stamped it a couple of times and created a large scallop border with by cutting and adhering a line of half circles:
Card Ingredients:
Papers; Cosmo Cricket and Prism papers
Inks: Bamboo Leaves from Memento Inks
Accessories: liquid pearls (buttercup from Ranger), baker's twine, chunky glittery and heart punch from Martha Stewart, heart border punch also from Martha Stewart, mini scallop punch from EK Success, red bling from Kaiser and beaded circle nesttabilities from Spellbinders.

The little heart border was punched out of the DP and on this border panel - I adhered the scallops and from this I hung the hearts punched out and tied with Baker's Twine. I covered the hole of the hearts with some red bling and popped up the hearts on dimensionals. I can't wait to create more cards with all the lovely sentiments and borders in this gorgeous sentiment set! Please check out the beautiful creations by these wonderful designers from the JustRite design team and their Warm Hello projects!

Thanks so much for stopping by today!
Big hugs,
Sankari

Thursday, April 7, 2011

Release DAY: Taylored Expressions!!!!!!!





 Hi Everyone,


I am so excited for today - where over at Taylored Expressions - today is  Release Day where everything is available for purchase! YAY! There are so many wonderful sets, dies and card kits that are available for purchase today! Woo-hoo! Check out all the items that are in the store ready for purcahse:
    This release is really full of some amazing items for our crafting pleasure! Today, I have a quick project to show you - don't want to keep you here on my blog when you could be shopping ;) lol! I used the gorgeous Dream Big stamp set and decided to make a longer graduation card (one that can be stuffed with money :) for one of my friends who will be graduating from highschool this year! (say whaaa? when did that happen??!)


    I don't possess the kraft magic gene - but after seeing Karen G's. kraft inspired graudation card - I wanted to try my hand at using some kiraft - so after scoring a longer card, I stamped the row of little graduation hats along the top and bottom and then in the middle, i created a little black frame that I popped up and on the inside of which, I popped up some circles with a stack of books and a graduation hat that I cut out and placed on top (oh- my! this might be the longest sentence I have typed - I don't think my english teacher would be very proud of my accomplishment with sentence structure! :)






    Card Ingredients:
    Stamps:Dream Big from Taylored Expressions
    Inks: Memento Tuxedo Black ink
    Papers: kraft, black, blue and from stash
    Accessories: liquid pearls (of course! :), mini scallop punch from EK success, ribbon from stash, copics and dimensionals.


    I loved creating this card - it was sooo much fun! And the best part is giving it to my sweet friend in just 2 months! (ohmygoodness - and then she will be going to college :((((( waaaah!) But anyhow - I think I might have to create a scrapbook page from her grad pictures to give her to take with her to college so she will always remember everything that she has accomplished and will always continue to dream big!


    Please check out all the gorgeous creations from the Baker's Dozen and friends below and check out the amazing ways that they used all the items from the release in their creations!!!



    Also - don't forget to check out the Fresh Out of the Oven section when you are shopping for all the wonderful deals and speaking of deals here are two:


    Taylor is offering 2 special bundles for this release:
    • 1.Apothecary Bundle (that includes the Treasure Life stamp set, the Apothecary Shelf A La Carte and the Apothecary die sets)
    • 2. And she is also offering a Banner Day 3 Bundle (which includes the stamp set plus the coordinating die!) 
    AND - check out this awesome way to WIN some free Taylored Expressions stamps: Jami is throwing down a card kit challenge over at SCS - where by purchasing one of the card kits released this month and playing along - you could WIN a free stamp set of your choice from Taylored Expressions!!


    Phew! That's a lot of craftin' fun right there! Well, I hope you have fun shoppin' - and if you see me at the TE store please don't judge me for wearing my 15 year old pajama pants :)


    Thanks so much for stopping by!
    Big hugs,
    Sankari :)

    For Your Inspiration Challenge #3 - Sunshine and Smiles!

    Hi Everyone, 

    There is a wonderful new challenge blog that is just beginning called For Your Inspiration - where every two weeks there is a wonderful inspiration picture provided and you create anything you want based on that inspiration (whether it is sewing, paper, jewelry, etc!) One project will be chosen for each inspiration and that lucky person will be the Lovely Lotus for that week's challenge. 

    This week, I have the total honor of being their guest designer and I was so excited when I saw this beautiful inspiration picture for this week's FYI # 3 Challenge :


    Isn't it just gorgeous!?! As soon as I saw this picture I just fell in love! It reminded me of when I visited Lake Como in Italy - the blues and yellows from the sun just immediately took me back to such happy times and memories that I couldn't wait to make a happy sunshiney card! I knew I wanted to create a scene similar to the picture above and used one of my favorite Verve Stamps: Let It Shine! This set is truly so happy and has soooo many yummy suns :) perfect for a sunshiney card :)


    Card Ingredients:
    StampsLet It Shine! from Verve Stamps
    Inks: Memento Tuxedo Black, Bahama Blue and Danube Blue
    Paper: Crate Paper and blue paper from Prism papers
    Dies: Charming Oval Die from A Cut Above from Verve Stamps
    Accessories: Scallop punch from EK success, wave punch from Fiskars, Martha Stewart edge punch, liquid pearls (buttercup), dimensionals, sponger and ribbon from stash

    I loved making this card - I tried to use similar blues and also tried to use some golden yellow in the waves to mimic the sunshine on the lake. I sponged some clouds and stamped the sun from the  Let It Shinestamp set and then stamped it again by popping it up on dimensionals. I finished it off with some liquid pearls and some ribbon from my stash. I stamped the sentiment (by mixing three different inks) onto a newly released die from A Cut Above dies from Verve Stamps: Charming Oval Die.

    I adore challenges like this because it totally opens the window of creativity - you can create anything with how this inspiration picture inspires you! I can't wait to check out the cards created by the amazing design team from the  For Your Inspiration Challenge blog! 

    A huge thank you to Stephanie for allowing me to be the guest designer today! Thank you! I can't wait to play along with the future challenges!

    Thank you so much for stopping by today!
    Big hugs,
    Sankari :)


    Wednesday, April 6, 2011

    Taylored Expressions Sneak Peeks - Day 2!!!!!!

    HI everyone,


    Welcome to Day 2 of Release Sneak Peeks at Taylored Expressions- where today, we are peeking two awesome new stamp sets: Banner Day 3 (concept by the amazing Iwona Palamountain) and Mom A La Carte - both stamps are beautifully illustrated by the wonderful Nancy McKinney. On the menu today is also a peek at the Banner Day 3 die which coordinates beautifully with the Banner Day 3 stamp set! Along with this die and stamp sets, Taylor is also releasing two new card kits that will make it a cinch to create a bunch of cards with all the coordinating elements at your fingertips - these two card kits are: 


    1. the Hello Luscious Card Kit (don't you just love that name!)
    2. The Emma's Shoppe Card Kit - which is the one that I used today to create my project. 

    Each Card kit comes with a Perfect Package Card Box!! How awesome is that?! Here is a run through of all the items in the kit that I used today: Emma's Shoppe Card Kit 



    Emma's Shoppe Card Kit:
    10 Choice Buttercream Cardstock A-2 card bases
    10  A-2 envelopes
    15 sheets of patterned paper sized for cardmaking at 4" x 6" (3 sheets each of 5 double-sided patterns from the Crate Paper Emma's Shoppe collection)
    20 sheets of 4 1/4" x 5 1/2" cardstock (4 sheets each of 5 colors)
    1 package of Kaisercraft Pearls
    8 panels of Choice Buttercream Cardstock size 4 1/4" x 5 1/2" (for images and layering)
    5 yards of ribbon (2.5 yards each of 2 different styles)
    1 Perfect Package Card Box





    I love all the sentiments in the Banner Day 3 stamp set - and couldn't decide which one to use - but then I saw the one with the welcome baby sentiment and I knew I wanted to make a set of baby cards using the sweet little onesie from the Hangin' Out stamp set. I don't know about you - but there is something special in the water these days because everyone I know is pregnant! (okay not everyone, but it sure feels like everyone!). The card kit makes it really easy to mass produce cards or to create a set of simillar/but different cards. I went with keeping it very simple and created 4 of the same layout/sentiment cards but changed the colors on two of them. 
    Here is what the whole set looks like:

    And here is what they each look like. I love this design paper from the Emma's Shoppe card kit - and decided to stamp the onesie ontop of the rose --- and I just love how it turned out :) I stamped the sentiment "Welcome baby" onto the Banner Day 3 stamp and then cut it out and then put it on the green mat that I created from the Banner Day 3 die:

    Card Ingredients:
    Paper: All papers from the Emma's Shoppe Card Kit from Taylored Expressions- this includes: Emma's Shoppe (Crate Paper), Choice Buttercream cardstock from Taylored Expressions
    Stamps: Banner Day 3 and  Hangin' Out stamp set from Taylored Expressions
    Inks: RoseRed and Tuxedo Black from Memento and Vintage distressing ink from Ranger
    Accessories: Spellbinders, scallop punch, oval nesties, Banner Day 3 die, liquid pearls and dimensionals.

    I did the same thing and did another two in more blue hues - I paper pieced the onesie and added some stars from the Hangin' Out stamp set to the onesie with some liquid pearls to fill in the stars and then stamped the sentiment in Bahama Blue instead of RoseRed ink. I love how the blue series cards turned out - and I love how these papers go so perfectly with the ribbon and coordinating cardstocks in the kit. 


    Card Ingredients:
    Paper: All papers from the Emma's Shoppe Card Kit from Taylored Expressions- this includes: Emma's Shoppe (Crate Paper), Choice Buttercream cardstock from Taylored Expressions
    Stamps: Banner Day 3 and  Hangin' Out stamp set from Taylored Expressions
    Inks:Bahama Blue and Tuxedo Black from Memento and Vintage distressing ink from Ranger
    Accessories: Spellbinders, scallop punch, oval nesties, Banner Day 3 die, liquid pearls and dimensionals


    I finished off each cards with just a wee bit of liquid pearls and the sweet little yellow pearls that come with the kit. There are still so many more papers/cardstocks, ribbons and pearls left over - can't wait to make some more :) 

    I can't wait to see what all goodness the ladies have created for today's sneak peeks! Please hop over with me and check them out!



    Thanks so much for stopping by today! 
    Please stop in tomorrow for Release Day at Taylored Expressions - where everything will be available at 8am PST tomorrow!!!
    Big hugs,
    Sankari :)




    Tuesday, April 5, 2011

    Taylored Expressions Sneak Peeks - Day 1 !!!


    Hi Everyone!
    Guess what week it is: its Awesome Week :) ! That's right it is release week at Taylored Expressions and this week the Baker's Dozen will be previewing some totally awesome stamp sets this week! On the menu today are some amazing and  lovely stamp sets that have been designed by our lovely Nancy McKinney and ALL will be released this Thursday at 8am PST:


    1. Dream Big (Full Sized) Stamp set - perfect for graduations and big dreams!
    2. Treasure Life (Full Sized) Stamp set - comes with an assortment of apothecary jarts and wonderful setniments
    3. Apothecary Shelf A La Carte - gorgeous shelf for displaying all the apothecary jars
    4. Apothecary Taylored Die Set - awesome dies that coordiante with the set above or for individual use
    5. Stars Impression Plate - beautiful embossed impression plate

    --------------

    Today I made a few projects using the awesome Treasure Life stamp set and the Dream Big stamp set

    Treasure Life Stamp Set:

    I love these sweet Apothecary jars! They are just so lovely and I couldn't wait to put it on this sweet apothecary shelf. I stamped the shelf and colored it in with copics and added a little glaze. Then I stamped the lemons, bird's nest and rocks onto a sheet of Choice Snow White Cardstock and then kinda eyeballed where the jar should go and stamped them on top of the items (if I could find my stamp-a-majig in this messy craft space of mine I would have used it, but you can also do it with a lined stamping block) Each of the jars were colored cut and glazed and then I put it on the shelf with some dimensionals.
    I love these papers and I don't usually do distressing (just a lot of stressing - lol :) but I did a little distressing on the edges and then paired the sentiments with a line of buttons held by a line of sticky tape: Here is a close up of the jars (love all the different sizes in this set - can't wait to use them all!)


    Card Ingredients:
    Stamps: Treasure Life from Taylored Expressions (Available this Thursday)
    Paper: Lilly Bee Picket Fence (Tiny Tablet)
    Ink: Rich Coco from Memento Inks
    Accessories: row of buttons (from stash), liquid pearls (Bisque and Buttercup), glaze, dimensionals, Caribbean Satin ribbon


    After seeing the bird's nest stamp in this set, I was inspired to create a display for our dining room table with a bird's nest.  So I made this little trio with the gorgeous sentiment: Treasure Life.


    Project Ingredients:
    Stamps: Treasure Life by Taylored Expressions (available this Thursday)
    Inks: Rich Coco Memento Inks
    PaperLilly Bee Picket Fence and from stash
    Dies: Two Taylored Dies: Butterfly Trio and Keeping Tabs dies from Taylored Expressions
    Accessories: Fancy Tags (Spellbinders), Caribbean Satin ribbon, crimper, bling, liquid pearls and twine


    I love these sweet display stands and in the first one I created a birdhouse scene with some moss, river rock and birdies. In the second - there are some dried rose buds (they smell so good!) and in the last some malted eggs (which are ridiculously good and yummy!).  For each display, I created a label using the Keeping Tabs die set from Taylored Expressions and attaching it to some twine.


    And on each one of the tabs, I stamped something different on it. On the first one, I used the Butterflies trio with the Keeping Tabs die and on the second and third pedestals, I stamped a mini label that is in this stamp set: (I used, love and laugh) Here is a closer look at each of the stands:




    The two things that I love about this project is that it was quick to make and that now we have a lovely yummy display to look at when we are eating (and by the way, that jar of malted eggs was much bigger when I started this project... they are sooo good!)


    Dream Big Stamp Set:

    The second stamp set that we are previewing today is called Dream Big and it is perfect for your favorite grad (whether they are graduating from Pre-school or highschool or college) and is also perfect for going after your dreams! I used the awesome circle stamp and the lovely little graduation cap in this stamp set and paired it up with the yummy Schoolhouse papers from October Afternoon:

    I can't believe how quickly the year is going by and that graduation is right around the corner. I made this one for my little wee man who is going to be graduating Kindergarten this year and going to the big school and starting 1st grade in the fall (excuse me a minute while I take a moment to cry about that)... okay - back to the card :)



    Card Ingredients:
    Stamps: Dream Big (Available this Thursday)
    Paper: October Afternoon (Schoolhouse)
    Inks: Memento Tuxedo Black, Ladybug red
    Accessories: circle nesties, button from stash, Baker's Twine, Taylored Dies: Scalloped Eyelet border


    I love these papers and cut out the apple border and the pencils from one of the DP and then tied some baker's twine around it with a big red button from embellishment and added a border from the Scalloped Eyelet border die from Taylored Expressions.

    I loved making each of these projects and love how sweet the sentiments and images are in each of these sets! Sooooo sweet - and speaking of sweet - please check out all the sweet and lovely creations from the Baker's Dozen from the menu for today!



    Nancy McKinney (illustrator extraordinaire)




      Thanks so much for stopping by today - please hop back in tomorrow for Day 2 of previews!
      Have a wonderful day!
      Big hugs,
      Sankari :)