Fire up the Minc–New Foil Fun from TE!

Taylored Expressions has a New Release today with a boatload of new Foil It Panels! This has been my recent go-to for making card sets. It adds a lot of fun really simply and elegantly. Plus, let’s face it, I just love to run the panels through the machine with all the foils!

First up, I have a duo using the Gathered Greenery Foil-It panels and the Branches & Blooms Foil-It panels. Both of these are foiled in Silver foil to keep them easy to add color too. Though, I think any solid color foil works to add color too. I mean, why not, right? 🙂

The Gathered Greenery card I used the Rectangle Masking Stencil on. I blended on yellow and green inks–super easy. This is a great way to add some pop with no dimension.

It allowed me to then add the flower from the Planting Happiness set and the sentiment from Foil It – On Occasion, which is also new!

The Branches & Blooms card includes a sentiment from Simple Strips In Reverse – Everyday Occasions which I also foiled in Silver.

I colored this with Copic Markers and I love how soft it turned out!

I backed the sentiment with Easy Strips–all the sizes!

Next up, I have the Mini Slim Botanical–I decided to foil this one in Denim and add the rosey pinks of Guava and Cupcake to the background.

I silver heat embossed the Mini Slim Botantical Sentiment on Vellum and stitched that on the inside, adhering it all with foam tape for some oomph!

I thought this one turned out lovely and I had wished I made a few more at the time! ha! Always.

Lastly, I have the new Foil It-The Right Angle with an edgy card. Ok, it’s not edgy but it is on the right angle. Bwaaahahahhaa! Ok moving on… 🙂

I thought I’d try out a new color way for this one: Dijon, Poblano and Mint Julep. I like it–it can be used for men and women… score!

Once again, I used the Simple Strips In Reverse – Everyday Occasions for the sentiment. I wanted some stars, so I cut all the Little Bits-Stars out of the remnants of the above Simple Strips. It just takes a little patience and determination and you can get well over a dozen stars out of the scraps. So I stashed those away for the future. 😉

It reminds me of stained glass for sure!

Lastly, I thought I would share the card set I made to gift to a friend. These panels, Foil It-Full of Flowers, were previously released, but they are still available and the foiled sentiments are the new ones called Foil It – On Occasion (The On Occasion die was previously released and works for these too!)

I just gave these to her and I do believe she loved them as she said she was going to stash them. 😂

That little added touch of foil is fun fun! And with the stencil to coordinate–color, color done! 🙂

I kept them simple with just a touch of added stitching to round them out. This will make them easy to mail. Don’t forget the TE Envelope Seals!

Such a great little gift to give! 🙂

Here’s the scoop from TE:

Right now through Sunday, June 26th, purchase 5 or more Foil It packs get a free metallic foil (our choice of Silver, Gold, Rose Gold, or Copper) FREE! It’s a great time to stock up and collect the Foil It packs that you have had on your wish list! Offer good while supplies last.

Get Started with Foiling Kit:

Are you ready to start foiling, but don’t know where to begin? We have you covered with the Get Started with Foiling Kit. The kit includes:

3 rolls of Deco Foil (1 roll each of Gold, Amethyst Watercolor, and Rainbow Shattered)
4 oz. jar of Glitter Grab
2 stencils (Delightful Daisy and Floral Points)
Deco Foil Toner Sheets pack
Foil It – Paradise pack (12 panels)
1 Stencil Pal

Purchase of the Get Started with Foiling Kit gives you access to our virtual Intro to Foil Class taught by Susan Block. Susan will go through all of the basics with you to get you started with toner based foiling and foiling with our Glitter Grab using stencils!

Add on a Mini Minc machine to the Get Started with Foiling Kit for 10% off!

Offer valid while supplies last.

All these products are available now over at Taylored Expressions. See my links below 🙂

Gathered Greenery card:

Branches & Blooms card:

Mini Slim Botanical:

The Right Angle:

Find the TE Blog Post HERE with lots of FOILTASTIC inspiration from the TE Creative Team! 😉

Thanks so much for stopping by! 🙂

Take care 🙂

Jill

Follow me on Instagram: jilldhawkins 🙂

A few cards…

Just popping in to share a few cards I made recently–just tinkering around. The Rainbow cards are made with Avery Elle goodies and the Sloth is Lawn Fawn! Fun fun! 🙂

These first cards use Avery Elle, Loads of Thanks and Avery Elle, Rainbow Builder.

Lawn Fawn, I Like Naps

You can find these goodies on the Ellen Hutson website:

Avery Elle, Loads of Thanks
Avery Elle, Rainbow Builder
Lawn Fawn, I Like Naps

Thanks for stopping by–hope you’re having a great weekend!!

Take care–Jill 🙂

Instagram? jilldhawkins

Christmas Release from Taylored Expressions!

Taylored Expressions has their big Christmas Release today !! It’s a big one filled with all things Christmas, Winter, Holidays and Festive fun! 🙂

I can’t wait to use all the things to craft my little holiday heart out. But for now, let’s get to what I have made so far, yes?

First up today, I have the new Little Critters Christmas + coordinating dies. I also used the previously released Circle and Square Window Frames.

The background is created with the Backstory Christmas Background embossed in white on Sugar Cube. It’s not very apparent in these photos (because white on white), but in person, it gives it that little extra something.

Everyone is colored with Copic Markers and the panel is cut out with the Petite Scallop Rectangle Stacklets. Gah these little guys are TOO cute!!! And the best part is they can be used all winter long! Or heck, even in the summer with their friends, Little Critters! 😊

Next up, we have the super fun Trendy Tree Farm. I was pretty darn excited to get this layering stencil set. I love the modern feel of this fun set and anything with layering stencils you know is just going to fun and easy to create with! I paired this with the new Merry & Bright sentiment set + dies.

I used the following inks on the stencils: Guava, Cupcake, Peaches n Cream, Pineapple, Lemon, Mint Julep, and Blueberry.

The background is created with the previously release Twinkle Twinkle Background embossed on white using Mint Julep cardstock. I die cut the panel out with the Frame in Frame 2 die. I thought it would be fun to stamp the trees and sentiment in Blueberry to mix things up a bit. OH and also, I die cut all the Trendy Trees out with the Trendy Tree Farm Cutting Plate–boom! All at once! SCORE!

Lastly, I used the new Beautiful Baubles dies. These dies coordinate with the previously released Beautiful Baubles Layering Stencils. So now you can die cut these out and use them individually. I did just that here, creating a little bundle of ornaments.

To create this frame, I die cut Pineapple cardstock with the Mini Slim Thin Frame Cutting Plate. I used the Beautiful Baubles Add Ons for the sentiment and the little ornament topper.

In my continued effort to mix up my color pallets, I used Sweet Basil, Lollipop and Pineapple for this card. I thought it turned out fun with a little different twist! 🙂

Christmas Cards! Always a fun time of the year! 🙂

Here’s the scoop from TE:

With any purchase of new release products of $75 or more, you will receive a FREE pack of envelopes and custom Mistletoe envelope seals. The pack includes 10 envelopes (2 each of Mulled Wine, Cherry Pop, Peapod, Sugar Cube, and Toffee) and 10 exclusive envelope seals (these seals are not available to purchase). This offer is valid through 11:59PM Central Time Sunday, October 3rd, or while supplies last.

Free class:
When you purchase the Create-in-Quads Mistletoe Card Class Collection (Create-in-Quads – Mistletoe Layered Stencil set, Clearly Crafty Modern Holiday Greetings stamp set, Create-in-Quads Paper Pack – Sugar Cube, and Create-in-Quads Paper Pack – Toffee ) through Sunday, October 5th, you will get a free exclusive 8-card video craft along class with Taylor and Heather!

This mini version of our Online Crafty Classes is a great way for you to put your new holiday goodies to use right away making eight (!) different cards at your own pace! Watch the videos as often as you like and learn some new card making tips and tricks while discovering inspiration for more designs!

Once you complete your purchase, you will receive an email (separate from your order confirmation email) with links to the class videos on YouTube.

Although Taylor and Heather will recommend colors for ink and cardstock, you can use anything you have to make these projects uniquely yours!

Hurry! This offer is only valid through 11:59 pm (CT) on Sunday, October 3rd, or while supplies last.

All these products are available now over at Taylored Expressions. See my links below 🙂

Little Critters-Christmas card:

Trendy Tree card:

Beautiful Baubles card:

Find the TE Blog Post HERE with a holiday box full of inspiration from the TE Creative Team!

Thanks so much for stopping by –I hope you too enjoy turning on the Christmas Music and crafting away!

Take care 🙂

Jill

Follow me on Instagram: jilldhawkins 🙂

Taylored Expressions: A2 vs. Mini Slim

Happy Tuesday–just popping in to share some Taylored Expressions fun today! Today, the TE Team is focusing on inspiration to show how to use one product to create cards in two different sizes (both A2 and Mini Slim).

First up today, I am using the new Counting Candles Layering Stencils. I decided to first make this on a Mini Slim card and so I used both the Mini Slim Stitched Stacklets and the Mini Slim Petite Scallop Stacklets.

These Counting Candles Layering Stencils make quick work of a festive card with fun results quite easily. And I am allllll about the easy! 🙂 You can pick a bunch of different colored inks and create a fun result using several or you can keep it simple with just a few! I went pastel crazy! 🙂 The new little blending brushes make it even easier to do.

I added a little Stickles to the center of the flames too and in person, you can see it much better than in the photo. 🙂

Next up, I did a similar candle approach but this time I cut it out and decided I was going to make a shaker card. I offset the circles this time, just to mix it up a bit.

I colored Millie from the Millie’s Birthday Bash stamp set with Copic Markers.

Nothing says Happy Birthday quite like a shaker card, right? ❤ I just offset the circles and used the TE Foam Strips to create the shaker window, adding the Rainbow Sprinkles, Sparkly Stars and Hearts. Easy peesy.

Oh and all the little sentiments and details are from the Counting Candles Add-On Stamp set.

These both turned out Birthdaytastic and the stencil works wonderfully on both sizes of cards: A2 and Mini Slim. It’s fun to see them side by side in the end. 🙂

All these products are available now over at Taylored Expressions.

And here’s the scoop:

If any of the main products that the TE Creative Team used on their projects caught your eye, we are making them available to you for 30% off through this Sunday, May 9th or while supplies last. Here are the sets included in the sale:

Counting Candles Cards:

Be sure to find the TE Blog Post HERE with the always amazing TE Creative Team!

Thank you for stopping by today and have a wonderful week!

Take care 🙂

Jill

Follow me on Instagram: jilldhawkins 🙂

Taylored Expressions: Teacher and Grad Release!

One of the cards I make the most is Teacher cards and so for me, it’s a fun day at Taylored Expressions –there are lots of new goodies to celebrate all the Teachers and Grads in our lives! 🙂

First up today, I am using the new Full Circle-School. I stamped it, heat embossed it and then I die cut it with one of my most used stacklets for such occasions: Apple Stacklets.

I decided this would be fun on a Mini Slim card and so I used both the Mini Slim Stitched Stacklets and the Mini Slim Petite Scallop Stacklets. I also stamped the Full Circle-School in tone-on-tone with Toffee ink on Toffee cardstock. I seem to use Toffee often on Teacher cards? I think that might be because I like it with the Red Pepper apple. 🙂

I added a bit of twine to the stem after I blended on some green inks. I white heat embossed the sentiment on vellum and stitched that on the panel. Before I adhered everything to the card base, I decided to blend on some Sugar Cube ink to the Oreo top fold Mini Slim card. To finish it off, I used the new Cosmic Bits!

Next up, I thought I’d veer from a typical Teacher card color palette. I love how this turned out! I used the new I Pick You stamp and stencil.

I used Confetti Cake with the stencil and stamped the apples with Granny Smith, Cupcake and Toffee. I love these stamps that have the coordinating little dies for cutting out the little apples (or pumpkins, snowmen, etc. in the past). Pretty sure I definitely need to order another little apple die.

I thought this was a fun and a slightly different way to put on the sentiment. Of course, in true Jill style, I used the same sentiment on both cards today! 😂 I don’t know how I do that, but I do it all the time. However, I promise there are lots of great sentiments in this set besides the one I used, twice! haaaa!

Oh and I stamped the Inside Scoop- Teacher on the inside and completely forgot to take a photo of that. Another thing I do all the time! 🙂 Ack!

And BONUS TIME!! There is a NEW Big Grumpy Grad download to make some fun celebratory cards for Graduation and really, for anytime. There are a few sentiments that work for everyday congrats too, which I love!

I was laughing so heard when I read this one! 🙂

I colored Big Grumpy-Bear with Copic Markers and then masked off this background area before using the Confetti Toss stencil and Stickles-Nebula paste. I love that Nebula paste because it has these cute little stars in it too! 🙂

Next up, I thought it would be fun to use this sentiment. Also usuable for so many occasions. 🤣 Congrats you took out the trash! Here’s a card! I kid, but you know what I’m saying. I love this little bit of snark for everyday or for those Grads with the same silly sense of humor too. 🙂

I made this background with the Masking Stencils-Stars (I used it and shifted it around a bit to use it again) and the Diagonal Stitched Square Stacklets. So fun! 🙂

This sentiment is a trip. And if you haven’t used these Free Big Grumpy sentiments before, it is very easy to do. Check out the information for printing and stamping them over on the TE Blog and website.

I colored Big Grumpy on both with Copic Markers. These two are some of my all time faves of my TE stash.

All these products are available now over at Taylored Expressions.

And here’s the scoop:

Get the Hooray Bundle for 15% off the retail price! The bundle includes:

On the Block – Hooray stamp
On the Block – Hooray Shadow die
Congrats die
Building Blocks – Well Done stamp
Simple Storage for Building Blocks case

The special introductory price of the Hooray Bundle is available Tuesday, April 27th, through Sunday, May 2nd, or while supplies last!

Thank you Apple Card:

Thank You Teacher Card:

Big Grumpy Cards:

Find the TE Blog Post HERE with more awesome crafty inspiration from the TE Creative Team!

Thanks so much for stopping by! And thank you to all the Teachers who have made the best of a tricky situation. Congrats to the class of 2021!

Take care 🙂

Jill

Follow me on Instagram: jilldhawkins 🙂

New Simple Strips and Mini Strips!

Welcome to a very fun release day over at Taylored Expressions! 🙂 The new release is available at Taylored Expressions today! 🙂

This release was clearly made just for me! haaa! Not really, but I do love it! 🙂 All the snark just makes me laugh. And who doesn’t need that about now?

For the first one, I used Love from Max and Millie along with the New Simple Strips- Snarky. Max is so perfect for this sentiment! He is sooooo thrilled with people. 🙂

I used the Rough Draft Background for the little panel along with the Notebook Paper die. The Grass Stencil created the perfect base for Max to sit on. The heart antennae though–tooooo funny! 🙂

Love it! 🙂

Next up, I busted out the Mythical Grumplings to use this Sentiment. I cannot tell you how perfect this is for a few of my friends. 🙂

Oh that Angry Unicorn is so so not into it. ❤ I cut the strips for this one with the Asymmetrical Die.

Last up, I thought it would be fun to use one of the Hot Flash Grumplings to express the struggle. This sentiment is from the new Fun & Funny Mini Strips and I love that little set, right along with the SS Snarky. 🙂

I always laugh when these little funny sentiments are paired with sweet colors and flowers. So I used the Floral Fields Background tone on tone here, blending on colors with the Masking Stencil-Square as my guide.

To finish it off, I added some stitching, some bits and some score lines. I love the silliness of the whole scene and can’t wait to mail this one! ❤

I hope you find yourself laughing as you read all the new sentiments available. I had to stamp and die cut them in bulk, right out of the gate because I knew I’d be using them often. AND I even put them in the Simple Strips Storage Container straightaway so I could find them easily. Who am I? Ha! Each one I read, I really just laugh out loud. I can’t wait to use them ALL! ❤

You can find all my supplies and links to the Taylored Expressions Shop below.

Max Done Card:

Angry Unicorn Card:

Chick Card:

All these products are available now over at Taylored Expressions.

There is also a release of NEW Sticker Labels for the Mini Strips collection! And there is a special promotion that includes 15% off all Mini Strips stamps* (*excluding the new Fun & Funny).

Find the TE Blog Post HERE with more crafty inspiration from the TE Creative Team! ❤

Thanks so much for stopping by! Have a wonderful week! 🙂

Take care 🙂

Jill

Follow me on Instagram: jilldhawkins 🙂

TE Individual Kit Pieces!

Happy New Week! Anyone else sort of spinning in circles like me? Ha!

Well anyway, onto fun news instead–Today, Taylored Expressions is releasing products from a few kits. These products were previously only available in the kits, but now can be purchased individually at Taylored Expressions today! 🙂

I’m sharing two cards I made with individual kit pieces. First up, the Frayed Edge Masking stencil from the Field Notes kits–completely versatile for ANY project! I figured I need a few more of these cards, so I created a fun double stenciled background using the Frayed Edge Masking stencil and the Criss Cross Stencil. Of course this partnered with Big Grumpy and the Farewell 2020 Download.

I cannot have enough of these before the end of the year! haaaaaaaaaaa! 🙂

So true, so true. Sorry 2020.

Next up, I used the sentiment set called Good Vibes from the Hey There Kit. This sentiment set is a fave, especially these days. Need these sentiments so much right now! 🙂

I decided to make a trio of cards in hopes I’d send them out in the mail this week…they are needed elsewhere, not in my stash! 🙂

Pretty straightforward–I blocked out some strips of cardstock and then die cut them with the Mini Slim Trifold Template and the Stitched Mini Slim Stacklets. This is very clean look and easy to replicate in so many different options.

I added some scoring to the Toffee Card bases, some stitching and some Clear Drip Drops. I love having this stack to send out! 🙂

I love making a stack at time, but I often don’t think ahead like that. I am getting better though! 🙂

You can find all my supplies and links to the Taylored Expressions Shop below.

Frayed Edge Masking Stencil Card:

Good Vibes Trio of Cards:

All these products are available now over at Taylored Expressions.

Find the TE Blog Post HERE with more inspiration from the TE Creative Team! ❤

Thanks so much for stopping by! Have a great week and I’ll be back with some more fun soon! 🙂

Take care 🙂

Jill

Follow me on Instagram: jilldhawkins 🙂

Miss You!

Happy Weekend! Popping in super duper quick to share this fun card I made using the images from the Lawn Fawn/Ellen Hutson S’more the Merrier set that my friend Chari (Thank you, Chari! ❤ ) sent me to color for The Daily Marker 30 Day! We had a small gang of some coloring friends and we all stamped and swapped images to color throughout the month of July. I will have to post all the cards that came of the month on my blog sometime soon. It was so fun and a great way to stretch myself! 🙂

Anyway…on with the card….

I blended on several different Distress Inks over the Taylored Expressions Circle Masking Stencil (HERE) and then added the images I fussy cut and colored with Copic Markers. I think it’s safe to say I never made a background like this and it was fun to make. Room to improve, but when isn’t there? 🙂

Gah!! How cute are these little critters!? I used a much older sentiment set from Lawn Fawn for the speech bubble. You can find this cutie Lawn Fawn/Ellen Hutson S’more the Merrier set over at Ellen Hutson HERE. 🙂

Thank you to my friends Alyssa, Caren, Chari, Jen, Latisha and Lori for a FUN month of virtual crafting—coloring together from afar! ❤

Take care– Jill 🙂

Instagram? jilldhawkins

TE Quad Colors Continued!

Hello and welcome back to a fun week over at Taylored Expressions! I hope you have enjoyed the idea of mixing up your color choices and maybe even enjoyed playing along this week already? The TE Creative Team has really wow’d me (again!) with the Quad Colors projects! Here are all the colors below. Be sure to check out all the news over on the TE Blog and see more cards!

Today, I will start out with the Quad Color called Sahara.

I created a background with two Masking Stencils using this combo–and I LOVE how easy it was with the TE Blender Brushes….he turned out well with guessing my appropriate Copic markers. Who knew? The stripes are the absolute best paired with a rectangle– <3!

Of course, it’s no secret I love the Grumplings and this one is Big Grumpy Cat! He’s so ornery and actually this card is WAY too fitting for this time in our world, unfortunately. But introverts unite, nonetheless. 🙂 I colored him with Copic Markers and it turned out (surprisingly… shhhh) well for this color combo.

Next up, I have the Quad Color Barcelona:

One of my go-to cardmaking techniques is always strips of paper all stacked together. The result is always delightful to me. So when I saw this combo, that was my first idea. I thought this card would be great for a graduate–especially a pre-school or elementary school one. 🙂

For this card the coverplate I used is Alphabet Soup–definitely a favorite coverplate when it comes to making anything for school or kids. I just adore the font. I added some stitching and put it all on a card base. Such fun!

If you missed my post on Tuesday for the Quad Colors, please find that post by clicking HERE.

You can find all my supplies and links to the Taylored Expressions Shop below. Also, here’s a sweet little reminder below about shipping again this month. 😉

Big Grumpy Cat Card:

Congrats Graduate Card:

All these products are available over at Taylored Expressions! I hope you have time to check out all the Quad Color fun too! The TE Team has made a super fun array of lots of different cards with these!! And then, there is also this:

Thanks so much for stopping by! Happy Crafting! 🙂

Jill

Follow me on Instagram: jilldhawkins 🙂

TE Quad Colors!

Hello and welcome to a fun week over at Taylored Expressions! It’s time to give your “color go-to choices” a shake up! The TE Creative Team has really enjoyed this exercise of Quad Colors to get out of our “normal” go-to colors! Such fun! Here are all the colors below. Be sure to check out all the fun over on the TE Blog and links to all the cards!

Today, I will start out with the Quad Color called Dublin.

I thought it would be fun to create a background with a masking stencil using this combo–because–well, they blend like butta’ together! 🙂

I love this little unicorn and pegasus–Dreamer! They are so stinkin’ adorable. I colored them with Copic Markers and added all the little extras to make the card extra fun! 🙂 Also, I just love this sentiment! 🙂

Next up, I have the Quad Color Paris:

I love how this card came together so swiftly and lovely. This is perfect to send someone when they just need a little pick me up. ❤

Believe it or not, I do not consider myself a pastel person, so I was thinking I’d struggle with this overall pastel combo….but nope! This card came together quickly with the help of the set Spring Stems. This set has so many stamps to choose from, but I decided on simple with a repeating leaf.

I stamped everything out and then added some stitching and kept the rest pretty clean. 🙂

In a stark contrast to the perky colorful Quad Color Combos I have already used here today, now I switch over to the Quad Color called Patagonia:

I actually like using grays and such, so I think there are several possibilities with this one too. For this card, I used the Toffee color as my neutral vs. my usual, Sugar Cube. I thought it was fun to make a laughable card:

What have I done? haaaaa!! 🙂 I have to laugh because he let the camper go and run down the hill!! ahhhh! 🙂 Run and catch it little dude!!

The little On the Road -Camper combined with the Fluffy Friends is perfect for a laugh! 🙂 I colored him Copic Markers. I also die cut the hills with the Snow Drifts die and added some Toffee ink with the TE Blender Brushes before stitching over the top. The Here Comes the Sun creates the perfect subtle background for this fun scene.

You can find all my supplies and links to the Taylored Expressions Shop below. Also, here’s a sweet little reminder below about shipping you might want to take advantage of this Crafty Month…possibly. Maybe? 😉

Unicorn Card: