Taylored Expressions August Studio Challenge

Hello everyone!!  It's time for the Baker's Dozen Studio Challenge.  This is a monthly opportunity for the Taylored Expressions team to share what makes our stamping studios hum.  Each month we  have a fun, crafty question or theme so we can share our favorites, some tips and tricks, stamping advice and more.

The question for August is:

The Sky's the Limit! There are so many ways to create sky backgrounds for our cards and projects.  Often times, our blog readers are left staring at a beautiful sky and asking "How'd she do that?"

Show us one of your favorite ways to create a pretty sky background and make sure we know how to re-create it!

I have been known to use cloud dies, patterned paper, and brayering but my favorite technique is to use my handy dandy homemade cloud template and sponging!! 

Let me show you how I created my card for today.....

First I gathered my supplies....Tumbled Glass Distress Ink,  a sponge, and my homemade cloud template which was made with three punched scalloped ovals taped together (as you can see, it has been used quite often!!). 

I usually start in the upper left corner,  lay the template down on the white card stock, and start sponging around the template....

and work across the top of the card stock. Then start the second row by adjusting the template so you start in a different spot. That way the clouds look random instead of in rows. 

Continue until you have completed the sky area. You can sponge more ink if you want a darker look.

The Birch Tree Cutting Plate was used to cut the trees out of Crumb Cake card stock and then a Memento Rich Cocoa ink pad was run across the trees to add some shading. 

One of the Build a Scene-Rolling Hills dies was used to cut the grass...it was adhered with glue and then a little sewing was done across the top. 

The wheelbarrow, leaves, and pumpkins from the Taylored Expressions A Bushel and a Peck set were all stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black, colored with Copics, cutout, and popped up with foam tape. The birds and sign were cutout with the Birch Tree Accessories dies, and the sentiment is from the A Year of Sweet Sentiments set.  

The twine is the finishing touch. 

Now, you can see some awesome inspiration and lots of cloud ideas from the Baker's Dozen Design Team!!

Charmaine Ikach
Jen Shults
Joan Ervin
Kerri Michaud
Sankari Wegman
Shannon White
Shelly Mercado
Stephanie Kraft
Tammie Edgerton
Taylor VanBruggen
Wanda Guess

Thanks for stopping by ...have a great day!!!!!

Supply List

TE Stamps: A Bushel  and a Peck, A Year of  Sweet Sentiments

Papers: Choice Snow White (TE), Crumb Cake, Pumpkin Pie, Crumb Cake, Chocolate Chip  (SU) Patterned Paper Scraps (SU)

Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Memento Rich Cocoa, Tumbled Glass Distress Ink (Ranger)

Accessories: Twine, Sewing Machine, Copics

TE Dies: Birch Tree Cutting Plate, Birch Tree Accessories, Build a Scene - Rolling Hills

*memento tuxedo black full pad	*choice snow white cardstock	10 yards of burlap twine	*copic markers	*build a scene - rolling hills
*tim holtz distress ink pad - tumbled glass	*birch tree accessories	*birch tree cutting plate	*foam tape - 1/16" thick	*tombow mono-multi liquid glue
*memento rich cocoa full pad	*a year of sweet sentiments	*a bushel & a peck

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