TE BLOG

Jan 25, 2016

Taylor’s Expressions: Make ‘n Take How-to, Booth Tour, & Giveaway!

Happy Monday, crafty friends! I hope you had a weekend filled with creativity and joy. As promised in last week’s Behind the Scenes Look at CHA blog post, we promised a tutorial on how to re-create our fun Make ‘n Take from CHA 2016. If you missed the happenings from our time at the show, you can read all about them HERE.
PLUS! To celebrate our time at CHA, I’m hosting a GIVEAWAY! Keep reading for details…
During the show, we invited attendees to stop by the booth to make a fun keepsake featuring our Picture Perfect – Smile/Hello die set. These were a big hit and I’m excited to share with you how we created it!
The smaller, “SMILE” die from our Picture Perfect die set is just the right size to frame the very popular Instax instant mini-photos from Fujifilm.

Step 1: Take an instant photo and allow to develop. If you don’t own an instant camera, you can print out a photo and trim it to the size of the die.

Step 2: Gather your materials. Die-cut the frame from Picture Perfect – Smile/Hello. Trim a piece of chipboard and adhere a piece of magnetic sheet to one side. Die-cut and trim borders from Skinny Mini Borders to fit. Die-cut and trim a banner from Build a Tag 3. Set these aside.

Step 3: Using an adhesive roller, apply adhesive to the back of the “Smile” frame. Adhere it on top of your picture. (This is a great way to apply materials to photos as liquid glue can be a bit messy!)

Step 4-6: Write a short message on the small white banner with a fine-tipped pen and adhere to front of photo. Adhere the mini borders with small amounts of glue. Adhere chipboard backing to framed photo with adhesive tape.

And there you have it! (Jon and I got a little silly in the TE photobooth, as you can see in the photo above.) These little magnets would make a terrific party favor for guests and you could even have them create them on the spot if you have an instant camera. I hope you’ll give it a try!

During the show, I made a short video tour of our booth. Our booth featured several of our fan-favorite lines of products along with samples from our wonderfully-talented design team. Take a peek…

TE Booth Tour!

One of our favorite things we do to prepare for CHA is to create a catalog. This year, we’re calling it a “mag-alog” because it’s not only filled with product offerings, but it also features several sample projects with step-by-step instructions.

Our ‘mag-alog’ was so popular at the show that I’m giving away 5 copies to a few readers! Plus, I’ve got a Picture Perfect – Smile/Hello die set for one lucky person to help re-create our Make n’ Take!

How to Enter: Leave a comment below telling us what product or tool you’d love to see in the TE Store or if there is a TE product line you’d love to see more of by Wednesday, January 27, 2016 at 11:59 pm PST. I’ll choose 4 lucky winners at random to win our 2016 Catalog and 1 Grand Prize winner to win our 2016 Catalog AND a Picture Perfect – Smile/Hello die set! We’ll announce the winner next week here on the TE Blog.


Now that we are back from CHA, we are so excited for the coming year. We have so many new products planned and we can’t wait to share them with you every month. Thanks for stopping by today and happy stamping!

  • Sharon Wentz

    Love all your products, especially stamp and die sets!

  • Gloria

    The Grumpies are adorable. The framed pictures are the best. Great idea!!

  • Barb T

    Love your theme and booth. I would love to see more of your Roly Poly dies. I have made some cute projects that brought smiles to my friends

  • Deana

    I was going suggest a set of silverware dies but I searched your store and found a little bit set. I will definitely order that on my next order. Love the make and take…that would be fun to share at a birthday party too!

  • jan metcalf

    Your mug shot smiles are adorable! Love the way they turned out! Love the smile die and would love more dies!!

  • Arianna Barbara

    Oh wow! Awesome Make-N-Take!!!! I would love to see sweet stamps, food and travel themed stamps. And a lot of new dies, of course! : p
    Thank you for this amazing giveaway!

  • Rosali

    Those pictures look SO much fun! Which I could have been there, too! 🙂 … I just love the grumpy critters images, would love to see more of them! 🙂

  • Rebecca Yahrling

    Fun make & take. Could make for so many occasions. I love everything you do, so just more of everything, please. 🙂

  • Janice

    Great booth at CHA! Thanks for the tour! Since I don't stamp, I would love to see more stand alone dies. For example, a set of books, open and closed, and bookcases, that have all the book markings built in to the spine or open pages.

  • Princess Judy Palmer

    I'm a huge fan of dies and would love see more border dies (death to punches!) but really I'd like a nice big windfall so I can help myself to more of all the wonderful things you do have already. The video was informative. I didn't realize your cardstock was 100 lb. I'm definitely going to keep you in mind the next time I need more!

  • Amante del Papel

    Love, Love, Love the new dies. Woould like to see you add a line of planner stamps and dies!

  • Marj

    Love the matching stamps and dies. Also would like to see more of the Glimpse Inside stamps. Really cute!

  • Michele Henderson

    I love how creative and colorful your project is! I would LOVE to see more of those adorable animals in the "Little Bits" series of dies. The little fox is SO cute and I'd love to see an entire forest of friends for our sweet sly fellow!
    Take care!
    Michele

  • Helen Gullett

    Wow… Those dies are so awesome! Cute cute projects!

  • Leanne

    These dies are awesome. Love your products especially the layered roses stamp set featured last week…still have my fingers crossed hoping to win. I would love to see some envelope dies..envelopes for cash gifts with some design on the sealing flap.

  • Kathy D

    Thanks for the tour of your CHA booth! Your make & take was very cute, love the "mag-alog". I really can't think of anything you need to add to your store – keep doing what you are doing!

  • Ruth Dupchen

    I just can not get enough of your dies with matching stamps. I would love to see a few items with matching dies from different countries such as little Russian stacking dolls, Chinese dishes or dolls, Japanese fans, Mexican hats, famous landmarks. So many of us travel and it would be nice to have these things to add to our scrapbooks or to our cards.

  • twinangel96

    You have so many unique items it's hard to chose. Would love to see more sack its and block party dies. Would love one of your magazines! One of these years I will make it down to see you all! Take good care and God bless Debbie Chamulka

  • ScrapaDiddle

    That is a great Make and Take idea! Looks like lots of fun! I would like to see more large and small florals! That magalog looks terrific!

  • Dorina D

    Sounds like lots of fun at CHA and what a great idea to make the magalogs to assist. I'd love to see more 3 X 4 watercolor panels. I love the ones that I got and can't wait to get more. They are wonderful. And any die I can get my hands on. Love dies and you have some great ones that are so practical and useable. Thanks for the fun.

  • Rebecca Ednie

    Id like to see more picture perfect photo frame s.

  • Christine Kosmak

    At the moment I'd just LOVE to see more TE stuff in my craft stash!! It's getting harder keeping up with the old stuff without stressing about missing out on the new stuff! Being on a carers pension doesn't help and just found out the rent is going up too!! Would absolutely LOVE having one of the magalogs to go through marking everything I'd love to have while having a cuppa!! Love the cute make and take too!!

  • karenajo

    Great make and take – would be super for so many occasions. Loving the new stamps too !!! Would like to see more background type stamps such as ones that make plaids- they are pretty popular now. Thanks for sharing!!!

  • Beverly Perdue

    I am a huge fan of Taylored Expressions and I love all of the amazing products. I'm always excited to see what you have next! What a great idea with the Make 'n' take! I love the multi-stamping flowers. I also love the "cute" animals!

  • Melanie MacKenzie

    That is a really great Make 'n' Take.
    I absolutely love embossing folders. Would love to see more of them, maybe even in 5 x 7 even.
    Also, your floral stamps, the ones in vases are so wonderful, would love to see more along that line, or similar.
    Thanks so much for a chance to win. Cheers.

  • Carol Scheevel

    MUST HAVE MAG-a-LOG! My current TE catalog is on my desk right now being used for inspiration daily, and I was just wishing for a new one! I think I would love more of the water color panel options, in different occasions. I've only used a few of mine so far, but they sure are fun!

  • Evelyn

    I love your dies, would love to see more of those along with embossing folderol.

  • Purrfect Paper Creations

    What a fun post! I loved seeing the CHA booth, you guys did an amazing job! I really like the TE products–I would love to see maybe a few more colors of cardstock (it is wonderful by the way!) and for you guys to just keep doing what you do best–providing amazing products and excellent customer service! The one stamp set I would love to see is at Christmas time, one with different types of Christmas cookies (sprinkles as layers) to go along with all the great baking products you released last year. And oh, more watercolor panels please!

    Chris L.

  • Lisa

    I'm fairly new to TE…Mermaid Kisses showed up on my facebook feed one day. (it's on order now, and I'm hooked.)
    I'd like to see more mermaids (it would be cool to have 2 or 3 mermaids that could be used together for friend cards ) Also more instax geared things (dies for frames or stamps with popular # or @ phrases. Or even insta kits for make and take party favors.

  • Kris B

    Looks like you had a blast at CHA! Love the Magalog, so many great ideas in one book! I love the Grumplings line and all the Petite sets! I would love to see more sentiment sets for the insides of cards.

  • Eva Wierzbinski

    I love the TE die cuts. I wish we had access to the mini ones that are included in orders. I have used the "hello" band "celebrate" ones quite often. Love them!!!

  • Laraine R

    I love it all especially dies that match the stamps. More colors of cardstock, more pattern paper & embossing folders. Thanks for the chance to win. Love the make n take.

  • vicd

    I really like having the dies match the stamps.

  • Lisa Michael

    I miss the Moka or other people to use in cards. I am LOVING the dies and if I could afford it – I'd buy all of your dies and stamps. I hate having to pick based on my financial limits! Lol. So very glad I discovered your store.

  • C Dixon

    I love the cardstock. I would love to see more colors, although I love the colors already available. I love the cardstock that is coordinated with other papers. I love the rubberstamps that come with diecuts also. I basically love everything! <3

  • Phyllis

    I love your dies, so I'd love seeing more of those.

  • Ddmac58

    I love the simply stamped flowers and would love to see more. I would also love to see more frames like the ones you used for the pictures or frames for doing scrapbooking or journaling stamps. Thanks for a chance to win your beautiful mag-alog!

  • Deane

    I think you have a great collection of products. I love 3-D projects!! Maybe some stitching dies to go with your beautiful felt!! Hope my name gets picked!!!!

  • Carey Nusbaum

    I love your simply stated collection! Maybe some for Christmas, with pumpkins for fall, trees for the seasons, etc. I just love the layered looks they give. I love all your products! Thanks for the great emails, products, and for this giveaway!

  • D.Ann C

    Sweet magnets! Thank for sharing CHA… Wish we could all go, but the tour made it feel like we were there!
    I'd love to see a waterfall addition to the Build-a-Scene collection!

  • Mary E.

    I just love your products and your wonderful customer service. I have a real long wish list that I am working on to add to my collection. Either would be great to win.

  • Susan

    I love all your products! Tulips are my favorite so I'd love to see more tulip stamps and coordinating dies.

  • Unknown

    How about more "stand-alone dies?" Ones that don't need a matching stamp to be used.

  • Carrie

    I like to purchase stamps that come with dies so I would like to see more of them

  • Robin B.

    What a fun make and take and the Smile die set is really cute! I would love to see snowglobe dies and stamps sets.

  • Hydrangeas and Harmony

    I'm a cover plate die superfan. I'd love to see more of those. 🙂

  • Sabrina

    OH what a darling Make N Take!! I would love to see more sentiment dies!!

  • Crystal Thompson

    Id love to see more layered stamps!! I used your Pinecone set for all my 52+ Christmas cards.

  • Margery C

    I would love to see a Panda stamp set and dies to match. Did you see the video at National Zoo of the panda making snow angels- so cute. Would love to make a card with a panda making a snow angel. Got to be a chubby panda! Pretty please!!!

  • Ranea Hasstedt

    OOOOh I would love this.
    I can't tell you what I would like to see because I already want it all and how would I choose? BUT more watercolor images would be great.

  • Foodista88

    I am really into embossing, so I would love to see more playful and creative embossing folder designs! 🙂

  • Lavonne

    I would love to see more of the watercolor pages that can be made into cards. I think they look really great! Thanks so much for the chance to win. 🙂

  • Marsha J Reed

    I'd like to see more of the frames. I'm just beginning to scrapbook and I think a variety of them would be a wonderful tool to have. And, I'm a tree lover, so any tree dies would be fantastic.

  • KT Fit Kitty

    Thanks! I enjoyed seeing your CHA video – thank you for sharing! What a fun event! I'd like to see more cats doing activities (cats in the snow, cats drinking coffee/tea, sweetheart cats, etc.). Love cats!

  • Sally Grams

    Love, love this idea! You guys are the best, can't wait to see all your fun new products!

  • Teresa Doyle

    Hi Taylor,
    Love the make & takes and your mag-alog looks great! What a great idea!
    I would love to see more funny masculine stamps like, a log cabin, trees, maybe something hunting/fishing related, canoe, fishing rod, a river, with punny sayings, just to name a few ideas! Something you could create a scene with that is different from what's available out there. I think that your Smile and Hello die would make a perfect frame for the scene and a great masculine sentiment for the front of the card instead of always having to put Happy Birthday on the front.
    Thanks for the chance to win and for asking!

  • Jean

    Such fun dies! Love the make n take! Would be so fun at a party! I think your store is quite wonderful!

  • Debbie Vasel

    You folks are so very fortunate to be able to go to CHA and see all that new crafty goodness.
    Your booth was so colorful. I cannot wait to see all the new products this year.
    I would like to see more layered stamps!

  • Sue D

    I would like to see more dies and projects using your felt.

  • Connie G

    These little dies are so fun!!! Would be cute to use at a birthday party or shower. I have been on the fence about the misti tool but saw that the mini misti is coming. I would love to see that or something similar.

  • Aartje

    What a great die. Love the picture perfect.
    I would love to see sweet stamps, animals or girls and boys. And I always love butterflie dies.
    Hugs Aartje

  • Mel

    I love your dies so keep them coming!!!

  • Sara Cheng

    Such cute ideas. I love your dies and I'm just starting to stock up on your stamps!

  • Iris Esther Lopez

    That's a great giveaway. I would love to see more grumplings. I think they are so cute. I also love the little bits dies, some more would be great. And maybe a barn and its animals.

  • Paulette S

    Hi Taylor!! You booth was amazing and beautiful. Hope you all had a great turn out. I love that your products are so well thought out. Like the baby card stocks/papers and the dies in with the stamps. I don't have any TE stamps yet. I've only invested in dies. I'm sure your red rubber mount stamps are great, I just tend to go photopolymer these days as I can fit more in. Your catalog looks great too. Thanks! Paulette S.
    Craftqueen417 at yahoo
    http://paulettesprettypapercrafts.wordpress.com
    Since Google can't edit or remove my blogger profile w/closed email. Blog moved to WordPress 2012 by WP.

  • ND Cardmaker

    I'd love to see more of the Picture Pefect dies, but with other sentiments, such as "Hello", "I love you", "Happy Birthday", or"Merry Christmas".They'd be great to complete and use on cards, as gift tags, or in scrapbooks.

  • cghundley

    What a fun and easy
    make-n-take! This die
    set is wonderful! I
    would like to see
    some type of MISTI
    tool.
    Carla from Utah

  • Tona

    Your magalog looks wonderful. I so miss all of the cardmaking magazines I used to subscribe to.
    I am addicted to dies so anything & everything in dies would be great. Your company always surprises me with your product originality & variety. Keep up the good work.

  • Cheryl

    Would love to see planner stamps and dies! They could also be used to make great cards too.

  • B.Townsend

    Love your products and ideas!

  • Laura Turcotte

    wow—awesome! i love your products, and I have pre-ordered some things that were being showcased at CHA. That die set is not one of them, yay|! I love all your products…and I am not sure what else you can improve on, or make! I love that all your products can be used for cards, scrapbooking and PL..

  • LeaAnn Carlson

    Love the make & take from CHA! Looks like everyone had a wonderful time! Also, the new "mag-log" looks amazing! I love all of your products! If I were to wish for more of a specific line I'm torn between wanting more Border dies, (he Frame in a Frame is one of my go to favorites) and wanting to see more of the sets that have the stamps and the dies together!
    Thanks for the chance to win!

  • Louise Wagner

    I would LOVE to see "Simply Stamped – Irises"! They are my (and my daughter's) favorite flower. It would be awesome to make her a birthday card with it. 🙂 I would simply swoon to have a copy of the Mag-alog! It would make it so much easier to keep up with all the TE products I have and ones that I desire. What a great give-away! Thanks!!!

  • Niki Jorgensen

    I love your test tube box die and coordinating dies for the different holidays, and would love to see more creative boxes and bags dies, as well as the stitched stacked circles, squares rectangles, ovals, etc. You have great quality products! I was disappointed with another vendor's version of the stitched circle dies, and prefer ordering from quality vendors such as TE. Your "magalog" is a great idea – I'd buy one, if you had them for sale.

  • Laurie Brown

    Looks like so much fun!!! I love inks so it would be fun to see your own brand in the store!!

  • Yo Glenn

    Love animals, so would love to see more animal stamps/dies (maybe some that are a bit more realistic even). Anything you produce is always wonderful.

  • Judy Strickling

    I love your dies!!! I would love to win either!!! I just love your products!!!

  • Sandy Griffin

    Love the fact you are making a idea and catalog combination book. I would love to see a shaker card product line. I love interactive cards. Thanks for your great products and ideas.

  • Liz Davis

    Such a great idea that I could use for my nieces bridal shower. Seems like I make so many sympathy cards expand on the bible verses sentiments. Also the mini stamps are used alot. It doesn't really matter to me everything you do is great. Have a wonderful week!!

  • Flo

    I would love to see your magalog and the die would be nice too. Thanks.

  • Amy C.

    I'm nuts about dies…so keep them coming!

  • CraftyPaws

    What a great release! I would love it if you would do more If dogs could talk sets. Those faces are adorable, but the dog shape is nothing like any of mine. Would you consider a more fluffy dog or a poodle or a lab? All popular/common looks. 🙂 TFS and a chance to win! Hugs, kristina

  • Sally Keagle

    Such a cute idea, I love it. It would be such a great idea at my son's wedding that is coming up this summer! I love your cuppie line and have several. I MISS THEM!!

  • Michelle Laulu

    I love the new mag-alog! It would be so fun to see everything in one place with cute finished examples! I love all the cutting plates and dies that you offer. Maybe a wider variety of sentiment dies in various sizes and fonts would be my request, even though you have a wonderful selection right now. Thank you for the chance to win!

  • Oh You Made Me Ink

    That catalog/magazine looks like fun! I would LOVE more grumplings and more grumplings senitments! They are adorable and snarky! Love them!

  • Debbie McNamee

    I love the party borders and would like to see some more borders! The catalog/magazine sounds awesome! Thanks for the chance to win!

  • Lisa Reber

    Love, Love, Love the new dies. Woould like to see you add a line of planner stamps and dies!

  • Joan V

    What a fun make and take. Well, I am new-ish to TE products, so anything is great for me. I just bought the Skinny Mini party Borders and love them. Maybe add just a general snail mail (no season) mailbox and across the miles stamps and dies. Or something fun to add to the outside of envelopes. Love your products.

  • Sharla

    That is an awesome make n take and would be so fun at a wedding reception!! I would like to see more product that can be used more for scrapbooking/project life. I'm sure a lot of products can be used, it would just be fun to see examples and projects!! I love the mini border die…so cute!

  • Larissa Heskett

    SQUEAL!! Such an AWESOME Make-N-Take!! =) I LOVED taking the Pictures at the Share Joy Event last Fall and would LOVE to add those FUN touches to my Pictures from the Photo Booth!! =) SO FUN!! I would LOVE LOVE LOVE to see you add to your Stitched Stacklets Line!! I'd LOVE to see some FUN Stitched Frames for the Rectagle, Square, Circle, Scallop and Heart so that we can create Shaker Scenes and or just Framed Scenes by layering the Frames with the Regular Stitched Stacklet Dies!! I'd also LOVE LOVE LOVE to see some More Sack-It Dies!! I'd LOVE to see a Horse and Cow and maybe even a Barn!!?? LOVE LOVE LOVE them!! =)THANKS SO MUCH for sharing and for the chance to WIN!! SWOON!! I've ALWAYS ENJOYED your Magazine Books!! Have a FABULOUS FABULOUS FABULOUS WEEK!! =)

  • Chark

    this is just too cute!

  • ionabunny

    Very cute. Hugz

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

*

Tags: , ,


PREV
NEXT

Subscribe to the TE Blog

Sign up for all the latest crafty inspiration!

Facebook Live

Tuesday & Thursday @ 10AM CST

View Schedule
Taylor with laptop in Ipad

Navigate

- - -

Subscribe to our newsletter

Get the latest updates on new products and upcoming sales.

Connect with Us

       
           

1955 SE Oak Drive, Ankeny, IA 50021

           

© 2025 Taylored Expressions