Taylored Expressions January Studio Challenge

Hi All! And a Very Happy Tuesday to you! 8-) It's time for the Baker's Dozen Studio Challenge.  This is a monthly opportunity for us to share what makes our stamping studios hum.  Each month we will have a fun, crafty question so we can share our favorites, some tips and tricks, stamping advice and more.

The question for January is:

Helpin' out a newbie!  It's so exciting when a friend discovers the joys of stamping. But do you remember how overwhelming it was to decide what to get when you were new to the craft?

You have a {hypothetical} friend who started stamping less than a year ago and she is loving it!  She has some Christmas money burning a hole in her pocket, and she has seen your fabulous TE creations, so  she is asking for your advice on what stamping supplies to purchase. So let's hear your sage advice!

Wow!! What a Super Question!! 8-)  I have So been there, done that, lol! So I know first had how overwhelming it can be! Well, my friend had approximately $75.00 to spend and already had a pretty decent supply of your basic items, a few various stamps, some SB Dies, Kraft & Ivory CS's, Memento ink, Some Copics, adhesives, foam tape, basic embellies, etc.. You get the idea, But she was new to Taylored Expressions and needed some help deciding... I recommended that she choose a stamp set(s) that would give her a lot of Bang for her buck,( ie: stamps sets that would cover an abundance of occasions..) Also that she try out Our Awesome Key Ingredients kits, cause they make it so easy to create Beautiful Perfectly coordinated projects and they go a loooong way! And lastly, pick a new die set that you don't have yet, but know will get a lot of use.. 

So The Stamp set I recommended was the Oh What a Day set, the KI kit is our Current January KI Kit and the Dies are our New Banner Stacklets 1, cause they are all the rage right now and can be used for so many fun design elements. 8-) I stamped my images with Memento Tuxedo Black onto the Choice Snow White CS included in the January KI Kit and colored them up with my trusty Copics & added a touch of shading with Antique Linen Distress ink. I cut them out with the help of my Classic Ovals and Classic Circles Nesties sets and popped them up with a bit of foam tape. 

My mats and BG layers were created with Choice Buttercream CS, the January KI Kit and the Banner Stacklets 1 Dies... And finished them up with a bit of ribbon from my stash..8-)

I also thought it would be fun to do a couple using the same Stamp Set, KI kit, Dies and even the same layout, but in a Masculine style this time.. 8-)

See, there's just So much you can do with these items!! You Gotta Love that!... 
I know I sure do! 8-)  Okay My tip on Masculine cards comes straight from my Darling Hubby, believe it or not, lol... He says for Guy cards, "Less is More."

So that's exactly what I did... Same KI Kit, Dies, and stamped images, I just used Kraft CS for my mats and cut my images out with the help of my Classic Squares and Classic Rectangles Nesties sets.. Oh and no ribbon this time, lol 
And Voila, there you have the Masculine versions...;-)

Be sure to stop by and check out what the rest of the Baker's Dozen has whipped up for you today...

• • Carole Burrage
  • Charmaine Ikach
  • Jen Shults
  • Kerri Michaud
  • Lynnette Kauffman
  • Sankari Wegman
  • Shannon White (You are here!)
  • Shelly Mercado
  • Stephanie Kraft
  • Tammie Edgerton
  • Taylor VanBruggen
  • Wanda Guess

Here are the items I used for my projects today, and you can find them in the TE Store...

InLinkz.com

Hope you all have a Fantastic day & Thanks so much for dropping by! 8-)