Home State Pride

This is a personal blog. All editorial content and projects are intellectual property of Taylor Stamped. I do receive financial compensation and material product from  A Walk Down Memory Lane to develop my craft posts, but all ideas and opinions are my own. Some links are affiliate links.

 I'm a proud Wisconsin native who hasn't lived in Wisconsin for 15 years now, so when my sister and I found these cool t-shirts from My State Threads while shopping in Wisconsin, I knew I had to have one! They had a number of different designs, but the Packers will always be first in my heart.

I snapped this picture just to post on my personal Facebook page, but decide the shirt was too fun, so I scrapped the photo. A Walk Down Memory Lane's Brick & Mortar store has a bunch of custom papers in the colors of our local high school sports teams. Lucky for me one of the local teams colors are green and gold.

I kept the layout simple by using my Silhouette Cameo to cut the state of WI. I layered it out behind the photo, added the date and a title, and decided that was all the layout needed.

I'd love to hear which state has all your home state pride. Give your state a shout out in the comments! 

Christmas Card Class

If you're in the NW Iowa area, my annual Christmas Card Class at A Walk Down Memory Lane is quickly approaching.  Here's the official info about the class:

Join Samantha to create 4 Christmas cards using stamps and dies that will be mailable without sacrificing any of the wow factor.
Supplies to bring to class: Adhesive
Cost: $20
Saturday, November 8 at 1 pm
or 
Tuesday, November 11, at 6 pm

Call AWDML at (712)476-3443 to reserve your spot.

Aquarium Fun Layout

Last week I got to go along on my son's field trip with him.  We went to the local butterfly house, which also has an aquarium.  I created this 2 page Aquarium Fun Layout about the aquarium section of the field trip.

We just got Bo Bunny Double Dot, Wild Card, and Souvenir in at A Walk Down Memory Lane, and some how I managed to use all three collections on this layout.  Truth be told, you'll probably see Double Dot showing up a lot, since it comes in an array of beautiful colors.  I love a simple, all over pattern for the bases of my layouts, and Double Dot definitely fits the bill.

Something else you'll be seeing pop up a lot in my layouts? The Simple Stories Insta Clear Stickers.   You get a ton of them in 1 pack, and they have both black and white stickers in the same pack, so there always seems to be just the right sticker in there. 

Finally, I have to talk about how much I love these alphas.  I love them so much I have them in both gold and silver.  They're so stinkin' fun! 

Want to see another layout using the same mix of Bo Bunny papers? I'm over at the AWDML blog today with a single page layout using these papers and some really cool film strip stickers. Here's a sneak of what you'll find over there.

Have a great weekend!

Gel Printing Resist

A while back I decided to get my hands messy with the world of mono printing with a Gelli Arts Gel Printing Plate.  A while back I showed you this project using the gel printing plate with paint and a stencil (a pretty traditional way to use it).  Today, I have a technique that's a bit different. Today I have a step by step tutorial showing you how to doe a gel printing resist with a Gelli Arts plate, gel medium, a stencil, and Tim Hotlz Distress Stains.  Here's what a finished gel printing resist paper looks like:

and here's what it looks like made into a card:

To try out this technique you'll need:
Gelli Arts Gel Printing Plate
Faber Castell Gel Medium
A stencil (I used ones from Studio Calico)
Distress Stains (I used Barn Door, Peacock Feathers, and Squeezed Lemonade)

You may also want:
Mini Mister
Brayer
Non Stick Craft Mat

Start by covering your gel printing plate in gel medium. Don't be afraid to be generous and put quite a bit on there. The more gel medium you put on, the more contrast you'll get with your resist.

Next, put your stencil on your gel plate.  Some stencils will cover the gel plate completely, some won't. In this example my gel plate is 6 x 6, while my stencil is only about 4 1/2 x 6.  This is no big deal, since I will be trimming down my final piece of paper anyways. 

Take a piece of paper (I cut mine to 6 x 6, the same size as the gel plate), place the side you want the gel medium to go on directly down onto the stencil covered gel plate.  Push down firmly with your hands, or run a brayer over it to transfer the gel medium from the plate onto your paper.
I used a dictionary/newsprint style patterned paper, but you can try out any plain card stock or patterned paper that you would like, as long as they are light enough in color to let some stain show through later. 
You'll need to let the gel medium dry completely before moving on to the next step.  I usually clean my stencil and gel plate while waiting. You can use baby wipes and/or hand sanitizer wipes to clean your gel plate. Let your gel plate dry, and then just store it back in the container it came in.

When your paper is printed and dry, it's not going to look like much, since the gel medium is basically clear. Now is where we add some color.  Take a few colors of distress stains, and cover your paper with them. You can put them on in a striped pattern,

or you can place it in splotches all over the place. Get creative, and try some different things out to see what you like best. The best thing about using the distress stains is that you can apply the stain directly from the bottle right onto the paper. Just swipe it right on using the foam applicator tip.

There's just one more step left before you can use your creation.  Grab a mini mister and spray your paper with water.  This will make your stains mix and blend.  It will also make the resist areas pop more on your paper.
Now you can trim down your paper and make a card or 2.

The card above shows a card I made using the paper I gel printed with the triangle mask.

I decided to play up the stripes of color, so I divided them even further with washi tape.

This second card uses a circle mask, and is a bit softer over all.

I love the big areas of white (resisted) space I got with the circle mask.

I have another card using this technique and a tutorial video over on A Walk Down Memory Lane's blog today. Just click here to head over to it. And remember, you can find links to most of my videos by clicking on the video tab on the top of the blog just under my Taylor Stamped banner.

Thanks for stopping by!

Messy Cards Class

For my local blog followers, I have a really fun class coming up at A Walk Down Memory Lane on February 17th.  Basically, I decided to build a class around messy mediums!  Gelli Plate mono printing, misting, gelatos, gesso...messy, messy fun! Here's the official class description:

Inks, Gelatos, and Mists...Oh My!

 Join Samantha to build some inky, messy, one of a kind backgrounds for your cards or scrapbook layouts. We'll work with mists, gelatos, stains, paints, sprays and you will even make a gelli plate background. What's a gelli plate you ask? A cool new product that you can totally make your own custom background with just a brayer and some acrylic paints. Supplies needed:

Basic Tool kit including paper trimmer, pencil, pen, your favorite adhesive, gloves if you don't want to get your hands dirty.

Cost: $20 - includes a coupon for 10% off a gelli plate  

February 17, at 6:30 pm  

Call AWDML at (712)476-3443 to reserve your spot! 

Snowflake Card

Tis the season for getting waaaaay behind on my blog! Sorry I've neglected you here a bit, but if you're looking for some amazing holiday projects and great deals, check out A Walk Down Memory Lane's 12 Days of Christmas.  Each day from the 1st - 12th there's a new amazing deal and a fantastic Christmas project (and the deals accumulate, so the deal that was good on the 1st is still good on the 12th!).  I do have a quick Snowflake Card today, too.

I loved this snowflake from Tim Holtz's Stampers Anonymous Christmas Blueprint stamp set. Gold is showing up everywhere these days. It's super trendy in fashion, decor, and paper crafting, so I thought it would be fun to stamp this card in gold ink.  I cut the entire snowflake out, and then layered it on top of the same image stamped in black ink. 

When I was all done, I decided it needed a little something extra, so I added a fun little sequin!

Thanks for stopping by. 

December Card Class In a Box

December's Card Class in a Box is just about ready to go out  and I thought I share a look at the cards.
These are all the cards in the class:

Here's a close up of the cards I created for the class.

If you're interested in purchasing a subscription to the Card Class In a Box or want to learn more about what it is (they make an awesome Christmas present!), you can find all of the information by clicking here or by calling A Walk Down Memory Lane at (712)476-3443. 

Hand Delivered Cards Class at A Walk Down Memory Lane

I've got another card class coming up at A Walk Down Memory Lane.

Hand Delivered Christmas Cards

Join me to make 4 beautiful, textured and layered Christmas cards that might be a little to thick to mail, but will be great for hand delivering!

Saturday, November 16, 10 am - 12 pm

or

Monday, November 18, from 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm

Cost $20

Call AWDML at (712)476-3443 to reserve your spot for class. 

 

Chirstmas Card Class

For my local blog followers, I still have room in my Mailable Christmas Cards class this Saturday, November 2, at A Walk Down Memory Lane. 

During the class you'll make 4 mailable Christmas cards that incorporate some fun techniques and lots of glitter...they may be flat enough to mail, but they're still fabulous! 
Cost: $20
Call AWDML at (712)476-3443 to reserve your spot.

Simple Stories Say Cheese 2 Page Layout

Yesterday I blogged over at AWDML, and posted a 1 page layout using Simple Stories Say Cheese collection. If you're not familiar with Say Cheese, it is a paper line made to scrap your amazing Disney trip. Here's the catch though, I love Disney, but won't be getting there any time in the very near future. I also LOVE this collection. The colors and patterns are amazing!   So, what's a girl to do? Well, I decided to use it anyways to scrap my son's 7th birthday party. 

 

 I had to stay away from a few of the really Disney-centric stickers (like the one that says, "it all started with a mouse"), but ones like "Fun" and "the line starts here" worked perfectly with my party theme. 

  

The moral of the story? Even if you don't have any Disney photos to scrap, don't rule out Say Cheese, it's  a really fun collection for scrapping other things, too!

AWDML's 10th Anniversary

As many of you know, I work at, teach classes at, and design for A Walk Down Memory Lane. I feel blessed every time I pick up a piece of scrapbook paper to have met Lisa, the owner, and that I have been given the opportunity to work with such wonderful people at such an amazing scrapbook store. This month, AWDML is celebrating it's 10th year in business, and I can't wait to see what the next 10 will bring. While I have the extra blessing of being able to shop in store, AWDML began on-line long before there was a physical Brick & Mortar store. Everything in store can be found on-line, and wouldn't you know, for the entire month of March Lisa is offering 10 fabulous deals (and she not only ships everywhere in the US, but internationally as well!).  Happy shopping!

10th Birthday Specials

Buy 10 Copic Markers
get 1 FREE (we will manually adjust your total)

ALL Magnolia Stamps are
50% OFF

ALL Just Rite Stamps are
75% OFF

ALL Slim Steel Dies are
25% OFF

  ALL Mists are
40% OFF 

  Buy 1 Unity Stamp

get 1 FREE(we will manually adjust your total) 

 
ALL Punches are
25% OFF

Alphabet Stickers are
30% OFF

ALL CC Designs Stamps
are 50% OFF

Everything else in the store
is 10% OFF  

I'm Back with Rug Mugs, Layouts, and Card Kit fun

It always seems that I take on a bit too much from Thanksgiving until New Years. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE every minute of Christmas magic with the kids, and making gifts for those I love, and getting my kids to make gifts for those they love...but some things end up falling by the wayside...and my blog was it. But the holidays are done now, and it's back to business. I thought my first post back should include a few of the fun projects I made during December.

One of the handmade gifts I made for the holidays were Rug Mugs for my kids' teachers and aids. I'm not the best sewer, but with a few phone calls to my mom (who's amazing with a sewing machine) I was able to make 1/2 dozen of these in a few days. I sort of made up my own pattern, but I referenced a lot of tutorials out there on mug rugs.

I also made the above layouts.  I was feeling a little layout lethargic in December. I just felt like I had made every layout before. I didn't feel like anything looked fresh and new, so I decided to really push myself outside my comfort zone. I ended up with the above layouts and am surprisingly really happy with them. You can read all about them and find out more about the papers and embellishments on this blog post here.


Finally, many of you know I really enjoy teaching classes at A Walk Down Memory Lane. This year I get to help out with a new form of class from AWDML, the Card Class in a Box.  Each month I get to make about half of the cards for the class. What I really love about this class in a box, is that people pick up their box or have it shipped to them and get to take the class anytime they want. All cards come with a color photo, step by step instructions, AND the card broken down into a sketch so you can make more cards from the sketch on your own. Myself and another designer make the cards for the kits so you get a variety of styles of cards in 1 class.

 

You can find all of the details including pricing and what to expect every month by clicking here.

AWDML is currently taking subscription sign ups via the phone and in person at the store. You can call AWDML any time at 712-476-3443 from 10 - 5:30 Central Time Monday through Friday. We are at the store from 10 - 1 Central Time on Saturday. 

So that's part of how my December shaped up. I'll be back soon with more fun projects! Thanks for stopping by.