Taylored Expressions Key Ingredient Challenge

Did you know Taylored Expressions now has a Key Ingredients Kit subscription service?  They also now offer a monthly charge program -- so instead of paying for all 3 months or 6 months of your subscription up front, they will charge your credit card on the 15th of each month of your subscription. The 6-month subscription breaks down to just $14.95 a month plus shipping!  You can't beat that value for one of Taylor's customized, top-quality, color-coordinated kits! 

You can read all about how the subscription service works (including a sweet store discount!) by visiting THIS page.  And Taylor made a video, showing what all you'll typically receive in your monthly kit -- you can see that HERE.  These kits differ from the Key Ingredient Kits offered with each new stamp release on the 5th of the month, and will be shipped to you on the 15th of each month.

Half of the Taylored Expressions Baker's Dozen design team are sharing some creations with this month's September Kit and we're gettin' spicy!  Taylor issued a challenge for us to get inspired by the Bo Bunny paper collection name (Kitchen Spice) included in this month's kit, and to do some distressing ... ummm, right up my alley!  :D  Here's what I came up with -- a couple of different options of recipe holders.  The first one is a hanging family recipe album:

I used Taylored Expressions Frame Your Imagination Vertical Stand and covered it my favorite chocolate patterned paper from the September Key Ingredients Kit, using decoupage glue.  I also sealed the top of the papers with decoupage glue, to give them a protective coating since these pieces will be used in the kitchen.  

The fronts of the vertical pieces of the stand are trimmed in 1/2" rust grosgrain ribbon also included in the kit.  Note: You won't have quite enough ribbon from the kit to cover these fully on the front and back, that's what necessitated the cute chipboard flowers (to cover up the spots the ribbon didn't cover)! 

I covered the chipboard flowers (included in the kit) with coordinating patterned paper from the kit -- some of the flower images were a perfect fit for the chipboard!  The edges of the chipboard were distressed with ink and accented with flower gems from the kit.  I love the way these turned out!  The bottom of the stand was trimmed with brown 1/2" grosgrain ribbon from The Places You'll Go Key Ingredients Kit.

I used the 6" x 6" page protectors and sewed horizontally through the middle, creating two 3" x 6" pockets to hold recipe cards!  The top of my first recipe sleeve was stamped with Taylored Expressions Branching Out set on more patterned paper from the kit and then accented with JustRite fonts.

My other recipe holder is a gigantic wooden clothespin (9.5" tall) I found at the craft store.  I painted the sides and then covered the front & back with more patterned paper from the kit.  It's also accented with a paper-covered distressed chipboard flower.

My recipe for Spicy Ranch Dressing was printed onto Choice Buttercream cardstock, the edges distressed with ink and then adhered to more patterned paper from the kit.  The flowers were punched and layered together with a button from the kit.

Here's a copy and paste of the recipe for you (I always use lighter versions of the mayo and buttermilk and it still turns out great!):

Spicy Ranch Dressing

1 Tbl. Hidden Valley Ranch Dressing Mix

  (buttermilk recipe)

1 Cup mayonnaise

1/2 Cup buttermilk

1/4 tsp. freshly ground black pepper

1/8 tsp. garlic powder

1/8 tsp. cayenne pepper

Combine all ingredients in a medium bowl, mix well.  Cover & chill at least 30 minutes prior to serving.

I LOVE the colors in this kit -- so spicy and perfect for Fall!  YOU are also invited to participate in this month's theme challenge, so hop on over to Taylor's blog and check out all the details!  You can also see a photo of the kit contents there, too.

Here's the rest of the Baker's Dozen design team that have projects for you today, showcasing the September Key Ingredients Kit: Charmaine Ikach, Donna Baker, Jodi Collins, Karen Giron, Laura Fredrickson and Taylor VanBruggen.   

• From Taylored Expressions: TE Branching Out stamp set, September 2009 Key Ingredients Kit(patterned paper, Choice Buttercream cardstock, chipboard flowers, ribbon, buttons, flower gems), Frame Your Imagination Vertical Stand, 6" x 6" page protectors. JustRite Stampers Times New Roman Uppercase & Lowercase fonts, Trompe Lowercase font. Ink: Memento Rich Cocoa & Rhubarb Stalk, Copic markers YG91, YG93, E31, E33. 
• Other: Creative Imaginations Bare Elements wooden clothespin (#18121), ColorBox Chestnut Roan chalk ink, PTI Tea Dye Duo, ModPodge, sanding block, Fiskars Apron Lace edge punch, Imaginisce i-top large topper punch, MM Espresso acrylic paint, sewing machine.