MDS Monday #4

Well, here we are on the last day of 2012. As cliche as it sounds, I just can't believe how quickly this year went by! So many exciting things have happened this part year and I'd be here forever trying to write about them all. 

We have a new challenge ready for you at MDS Monday today!

This page uses the lovely sketch from Holly and only Whisper White & Basic Black... 

with a few splashes of Very Vanilla here and there (I promise, they're there! haha)

 

Each challenge, I will be featuring a new/fun technique!

For our fourth challenge, I added colour to a line stamp*!

*this video shows how to layer colour. I didn't do layers, but its a good tutorial to watch!

Come check out what the rest of the Design Team has to show this week at MDS Monday and then get crackin' on your own memories! We love seeing what you create each week.

Thanks for stopping by :)

-Tara

xox

A Retro Sunday Stamps Sneak Peek!

Yes, I've covered a lot of ground with this next card!

Firstly, it's for the new challenge over at Sunday Stamps this week where Joan has some fabulous colours for us to work with - Sahara Sand? Yes please. Always!

I also used the sketch from Retro Sketches. It's been quite a long time since I've played along with them and I really missed it!

And last but not least, this is Project #3 from my Spring Catalogue Sneak Peek Week! Believe it or not, there's a lot going on in this simple little square card.

Here's the lowdown on this one: I have been dying for an old-fashioned bicycle stamp from Stampin' Up! and I was tickled pink to see the Penny-Farthing available in the new Sale-a-Bration brochure!

You'll also notice a teeny tiny little crown stamp. This is from the oh-so-cute Itty Bitty's set and has a small image for any occasion you can think of. The crown is snug inside a Soda Pop Top (such a fun embellishment!). The DSP on the left is from the Print Poetry Paper Stack.

So, here's the colour challenge at Sunday Stamps:

And here's the sketch from Retro Sketches:

Thanks for stoping by! See you back here tomorrow with a new challenge for MDS Monday and another Spring Catalogue Sneak Peek Project :)

-Tara
xox

Spring Catalogue Sneak Peek Week - Project #2!

Hi, back again ;)

I'm bringing you Sneak Peek Week Project #2!

I love the More Amore DSP so much that I wanted to showcase it in this card. The DSP in the background and the birdcage is from this pack - How cute, eh!? The ribbon is going to be one of my favourites, I'm sure! It's two tone (Basic Black/Basic Gray) and is so soft and easy to work with.

Can't take your eye off the honeycomb? Neither could I! It's a new Honeycomb embossing folder with Primrose Petals Core'dinations paper. Yes, friends, Stampin' Up! has answered our prayers and given us three new colours of the Core'dinations papers that debuted in the Holiday Catalogue.

And last but not least, that adorable button is from the SAB catalogue :) It comes in a fabulous package with three colours of buttons and ribbons together as a bundle.

Thanks for stopping by today! Tomorrow I'll have project #3 for you, a little earlier in the day!

-Tara
xox

Spring Catalogue Sneak Peek Week - Project #1!

Hello!

Well, it turns out my scheduled post wasn't scheduled right and this didn't make it up last night at 6:00pm as promised :( So, Day 1 of the Spring Catalogue Sneak Peek Week is going to be combined with Day 2. Check back tonight at 6:00pm to Project #2!

Sneak Peek Week - Project #1

This card has a lot of goodies to look at - Primarily the Artisan Embellishments Kit. This is a fabulous kit that gives you a little bit of everything to enjoy! On this card, I've used the hearts tag, the love ticket, the Primrose Petals Seam Binding ribbon, and a piece of lovely lace.

Moving on we have a Designer Builder Brad filled with a bit of Tea Party DSP. The background DSP is from the same pack - and let me tell you, it's awesome. The sentiment and the chevron oval are from the Oh, Hello stamp set (I dare you not to fall in love with it!).

And last but not least, the circle backing to the designer builder brad and the little roses are made with the Print Poetry Paper Pack. Yes, that's right, another paper pack (like the one in the Holiday Catalogue) with so many oh-so-beautiful designs.

If shabby-chic/vintage is your style, you will certainly not want to miss out on the Artisan Embellishment Kit! There are so many possibilities!


Hope you enjoyed this little sneak peek. I'll see you back here tonight at 6pm for Project #2 featuring even more delicious new product :)

-Tara
xox

Back from under the Holiday dust!

Good morning, Friends!

The holiday dust has (somewhat) settled and I am back to blogging with a new Friday Mashup challenge. It feels like it's been forever since I've posted something... But that's all about to change :)

Starting this evening at 6:00pm EST, I will take you on a journey through the awesomeness of the Spring catalogue (with maybe a little bit of SAB in there too) in my "Spring Catty Sneak Peek Week!".

Before we get to that though, let's check out the fun challenge from Amanda this week:

I kept my card for this week's challenge fairly simple. I made the little bird a shaker frame and would normally add some embossing or something to the background panels, but fought the urge and let it go 'naked'.

I loved the saying from Winter Memories so much and hadn't used it yet this season, so it seemed like the best time.

Here's the Mashup:

So here is the "Mashup" Challenge:

1. Make a project using "Snowflakes".
2. Or Make a project with the colors "Whisper White, Pool Party, Midnight Muse, and Basic Black".
3. Or "Mash it Up" and create a "Snowflake Project with the colors Whisper White, Pool Party, Midnight Muse, and Basic Black".

Thanks for stopping by today! I'll see you later tonight for Day 1 of Spring Catty Sneak Peek Week :)

-Tara
xox

List of Supplies:

Stamps: Four Seasons, Winter Memories

Paper:  Midnight Muse CS, Pool Party CS, Basic Black CS, Whisper White CS

Embellishments: Pool Party Ruffled Ribbon, Dazzling Diamonds

Tools: 1" Circle Punch, Scallop Circle punch, Shaker Frames, Dotted Scallop Ribbon Border punch

MDS Monday challenge #3!

Hello!

This week I'm your hostess at MDS Monday, and  I'm really excited for this challenge!

 Each challenge, I will be featuring a new/fun technique!

For our third challenge, we all photo filled grouped boxes!

The design team decided to do something a little different this time around. We chose one technique that we thought suited the sketch well and we all incorporated this technique into our project! If you haven't tried filling grouped boxes with a photo, follow the link to watch a great video on how it's done.


Here is this week's sketch:

Hop on over to MDS Monday to see what the rest of the Design Team came up with and link up your project!

-Tara
xox

Happy Birthday blimp

Time for another challenge at Sunday Stamps! This week, Steph is bringing us a fun sketch challenge, and we're keeping the linky open for an extra week because of the holidays. It's crazy to think that Christmas is less than 2 weeks away!

I've been loving the Moving Forward set these days. The images are just so fun and friendly, and the stamp set itself is for a great cause. It's a win-win for everyone, really.

I haven't used the herringbone technique in a long time, and Steph's sketch this week seemed like the perfect opportunity to use some of the *awesome* Polka Dot Parade DSP. I have to admit, this paper didn't even register on my "DSP Radar" for the longest time, and then is just struck me one day how much FUN it would be to use!

Here's the sketch for the challenge this week:

Can't wait to see you playing along.

-Tara
xox

List of Supplies:
Stamps: Moving Forward
Paper: Real Red CS, Whisper White CS, Old Olive CS, Polka Dot Parade DSP
Embellishments: Marina Mist 1/8" Tafetta Ribbon, Brights Button
Tools: Cupcake punch, Fancy Flower punch, Perfect Polka Dots EF

Miss you!

It seems like forever (and a day) since I've played along with any challenge... least of all one of my favourites - Freshly Made Sketches.

I'm anxiously awaiting my new goodies from the Spring/Sale-a-Bration preorder (that's right! Go ahead and get excited!) so I'm trying to distract myself with some sets I haven't used nearly enough. "Moving Forward" is quickly becoming a go-to, it's just to cute and fun! Check back tomorrow for another card made with this set :)

I had a lot of fun making this card. The waves are made with the Adorning Accents edgelit dies and Tempting Turquoise and Pacific Point cardstock. I had done something similar before with the scalloped edge (used the negative) and it was really cute, but I wanted some 'fuller' waves this time.

Here's the wonderful sketch from FMS this week:

Thanks for stopping by!

-Tara
xox

List of Supplies:
Stamps: Moving Forward, For the Birds
Paper: Crumb Cake CS, Pacific Point CS, Tempting Turquoise CS, Calypso Coral CS
Tools: Adorning Accents Edgelits, Chevron Embossing Folder
 

Clean and Simple Embossing

Hello there!

This week I have the pleasure of hosting The Friday Mashup challenge, and with all the Christmas cards I've been making these days, I wanted to take a step back and do something a little... 'simpler'.

This week's Friday Mashup challenge:

1. Make a project using" Heat Embossing".
2. Or Make a project that has a "Clean And Simple Layout".
3. Or "Mash it Up" and create a "CAS project using Heat Embossing".

Hope to see you playing along with us this week!

-Tara
xox

List of Supplies:
Stamps: Blooming with Kindness, Bring on the Cake
Papers: Basic Black CS, Primrose Petals CS
Tools: Heat Tool, White Embossing Folder

CAS for Sunday Stamps

Anytime I work with red and black together, I always seem to lean towards "Clean and Simple". It doesn't get much more simple than this!
 

I stamped half of the big Pleasant Poppies with versamak on Watercolour paper. After embossing with black embossing powder, I coloured with Real Red and a blender pen... I wasn't too careful with my colouring - I like a little messy look sometimes!

This week's challenge is brought to you by Holly!

Look forward to seeing what you create for this week's Sunday Stamps challenge!

-Tara
xox

List of supplies:
Stamps: Pleasant Poppies, Word Play
Tools: Heat Tool, Black embossing powder

White on White at The Friday Mashup!

Happy Friday!

This week at The Friday Mashup Erica has a fun sketch for us!

 

I wanted to stay (very!) neutral on this one, so opted with Vanilla on White ;) I added a bit of shimmer paint to the Crumb Cake butterfly and the edges of the strips of DSP. The background was embossed with the Argyle embossing folder, which I love, and then spritz witht he Colour Spritzer.

Check out this week's challenge:

1. Make a project using the "Sketch".
2. Or Make a project with some "Bling".
3. Or "Mash it Up" and create a "project with the Sketch showing some Bling".

Look forward to seeing you play along with us this week!

-Tara

xox

List of Supplies:

Stamps: Friendly Phrases, Papillon Potpourri

Paper: Neutrals DSP, Very Vanilla CS, Whisper White CS

Embellishments: Stitched Grosgrain ribbon, Pearls

Tools: Elegant Butterfly, 1-3/8" Circle, 1-3/4" Circle, Argyle EF, Colour Spritzer

MDS Monday 2!

Woohoo - It's Monday! (I know... you don't hear that very often).

We are all so excited about how many people joined us for our first challenge at MDS Monday over the past 2 weeks, and we're even more excited to get started on the new challenge with a new sketch this week!

Hunter's birthday party this year was book-exchange/Dr. Seuss themed, and we had these leftover Cat in the Hat hats. Hunter decided one morning to put one on and the fun just progressed from there. I used face paint from halloween to add the eyebrows, nose, whiskers and bowtie... Then he hammed it up for the camera :)

Each challenge, I will be featuring a new/fun technique!

For our second challenge, I ripped my cardstock!

This page was a lot of fun for me - it started with Joan's fabulous sketch! It seemed like the perfect sketch to try the ripped paper technique (on the Real Red cardstock).

Here's the sketch this week:

Can't wait to see what you can do with My Digital Studio! Link up at MDS Monday with your project.

-Tara
xox

Blog Candy winner!

It's time to announce the winner of the free subscription to Craft Project Central for the month of November! And the winner is...

Comment #1

Congratulations, Audrey! Thank you for your lovely comment :)

Please email me so that I can get you set up with access to CPC!

-Tara

xox

Thinking of you

Well, here we are in December! Our tree is up, our stockings hung... and today is the day we all love - Christmas card writing :)

I needed to take a little breather from making Christmas cards, so I put some ink to "Lovely as a Tree", which I have only used a handful of times.

This week's sketch at Sunday Stamps is by the oh-so-lovely Monica, and it was a great sketch to work with!

Let's see what you create this week :)

-Tara
xox

List of Supplies:
Stamps: Lovely as a Tree, Best Dad Ever
Papers: Soft Suede CS, Crumb Cake CS, Comfort Cafe DSP, Very Vanilla CS
Embellishments: Cotton Ribbon
Tools: Scallop Oval punch

All wrapped up!

Hello!

It's time for a new challenge at The Friday Mashup, and Lisa is our host this week with a great challenge!

For my project, I decorated a Kraft Gift Box to give my neighbours some treats in. I used the fun, new Bold Snowflake single stamp and inked it in Pool Party. Before stamping it, I added some shimmer paint to the centre areas and faded it out towards the end. Then just stamp and punch it out with the Blossom Punch! How cool is that, right? Now you can use your 'summer' flower punch all through the winter too :)

I finished it off with some pearls, Pool Party Ruffled Ribbon and a bit of DSP from International Bazaar.

So lets get to the challenge!

1. Make a project using "the inspiration photo".
2. Or Make a "Gift project". 
3. Or "Mash it Up" and create a "project for a gift using the inspiration photo above".

Thanks for stopping by today!

-Tara

xox

My November Project at Craft Project Central!

What's Christmas without a little bit of magic? With this wall art and decorations, you'll be able to spruce up your mantle at Christmas, and let the world know you believe! Believe in the magic of Christmas, the love and friendship, and the joy and hope!

I hope you like my November project for Craft Project Central! Don't forget, for a $10 monthly subscription you'll get access to 10 wonderful projects with beautifully written/pictured tutorials!

But wait... there's more!!

BLOG CANDY ALERT!

Leave me a comment here on my project by Sunday December 2nd at 9:00pm EST and you'll be entered to win a subscription to CPC for the month of November!

Thanks for stopping by :)

-Tara
xox

:: CYBER MONDAY SALE ::

It's a Cyber Monday sale - Can't Stamp the Rain style!!

Can't get enough of My Digital Studio (MDS)? Want to earn some free downloads?

Keep reading to find out how!

Start shopping MDS through my online store on MONDAY ONLY to earn free digital downloads!

See chart above for incentives. Please be sure to read the fine print below!

The fine print:

• Orders must be placed through my online store (taramurphy.stampinup.net)
• Orders must be placed on Monday, November 26th between 12:01am and 11:59pm
• "Spend" amount is based on pre-tax total 
• This is a personal promotion and can only be redeemed through Tara (Murphy) Bourgoin ("Can't Stamp the Rain").
• Once your order has been placed, I will receive notification, but please email me at tarabourgoin@yahoo.ca to place your free download order -- as this is a personal promotion, you will not be prompted at checkout! 
• Free downloads must be redeemed by December 15th, 2012

HAPPY SHOPPING!

-Tara

xox

Soft & Bright at Sunday Stamps

Hello!

It seems I have an obsession with making cards with a subtle/bright combination! My current favourite is blue and red... I thought it would be fun to see what you do with these colours as well - so come visit us at Sunday Stamps and play along :)

I started with a Real Red card base, and then a layer of Bashful Blue run through the Polka Dot embossing folder. I kept the 'polka dot' theme with a strip of Real Red Polka Dot Parade DSP and piecing the mailbox with the flip side. The clouds were made by punching the Whisper White out with various size circle punches.

The little banner was inspired by a gift bag we have that has lots of little flags all over it with different textures.

Thanks for stopping by today!

-Tara

xox

List of Supplies: 

Stamps: For the Birds

Paper: Real Red CS, Bashful Blue CS, Crumb Cake CS, Polka Dot Parade DSP

Embellishments: Crumb Cake Seem Binding ribbon, Baker's Twine

Tools: Perfect Polka Dots EF, Lots of Tags sizzlet, Vintage Trinkets 

Beep! Beep!

Beep Beep! Watch out, Christmas coming through!

Well folks, I hope you're ready for the challenge this week at The Friday Mashup! Heidi has such a fun one that's going to make you think a bit.

I had tons of fun making this card. The snow is made from ripped cardstock that is highlighted with some Dazzling Diamonds glitter. The clouds are from the top of the cupcake from the cupcake punch (hello, versatility!), and the presents are cut from scraps of Snow Festival DSP.

So here is the "Mashup" Challenge:

1. Make a holiday project using "Non-Holiday Image(s)".
2. Or Make a project with a "Messy Technique", such as spritzing, smooching, shimmer painting, or splattering with an aquapainter.
3. Or "Mash it Up" and create a "Holiday Project from Non-Holiday Stamps and a Messy Technique".

As if Dazzling Diamonds isn't "messy" enough, I also did some spritzing with the Colour Spritzer tool. I sprayed the snow and clouds with a little bit of Pool Party to give it some depth. Though this may be hard to see from the photo.

So, what do you think? Up for the challenge? We'd love to see you play along this week and get really creative!

-Tara
xox

List of Supplies: 
Stamps: I Dig You, More Merry Messages
Paper: Gumball Green CS, Cherry Cobbler CS, Whisper White CS, Snow Festival DSP
Embellishments: White Baker's Twine, Dazzling Diamonds Glitter
Tools: Cupcake punch, Colour Spritzer

Our snowman family!

It's been forever since I played along with Dynamics Duos. I wasn't able to make it down to my craft room tonight, so I just pulled up MDS2 instead!

Among a million other reasons, being able to create on 'the fly' is one of my favourite things about MDS2! I can sit on the couch with my hubby and watch a documentary on JJ Cale while I create a scrapbook page :)

Dynamic Duos challenge this week!

Download a free trial of MDS2 now! If you're not quite ready to take the plunge yet, you can at least give it a whirl. If you decide you love it, then you can take advantage of the Online Extravaganza sale and get MDS2 or MDS2+ at 50% off!

Don't forget about MDS Monday challenge blog - it's open for 2 weeks, so you've still got plenty of time to play along :)

Thanks for stopping by today.

-Tara
xox

MDS Monday is HERE!

Good Monday morning!

Yup, that's right, I said "good" Monday morning! It's good because there's a brand new challenge blog on the block and I'm SO excited about it!

MDS Monday was created to have a fun and unique challenge for digital designing. The Design Team is all Stampin' Up! Demonstrators, so we will be using My Digital Studio (MDS), but you are more than welcome to use any digital design software!

Each challenge, I will be featuring a new/fun technique!

For our first challenge, I filled a punch with a stamp!

Here's our first sketch from the fabulous Heidi!

Although the sketches are designed for scrapbooking, you're encouraged to think outside the box. Holly took the sketch and made a card. Now we want to know what you can do!

Come and visit us at MDS Monday and play along in our first challenge - The winner of our first challenge will get a Stampin' Up! Digital Download valued at $9.95 (USD)!

The MDS Monday Design Team

Holly

Tara

Heidi

Joan

Can't wait to see you there!

-Tara
xox

Online Extravaganza!!

Online Extravaganza

Nov 19 - Nov 28

It's time for the Online Extravaganza sale! 

You do NOT want to miss this wonderful promotion!

Save 20-50% off stamps, select tools and MDS2!

See the PDF for a listing of all sale items - up to 50% off!

Don't miss these 24-hour ONLY sales!

Monday

Save 20% on the following items!

Simply Scored Diagonal Scoring Plate

Big Shot Die-Cutting Machine

Big Shot Doctor's Bag

Wednesday

Save 20% on the following items!

Clear Block Bundle (Blocks A-I)

Clear Block Storage Caddy

Stack & Store Caddy

**You do not have to place an online order to take advantage of these sales! Email or call me with your order during the promotion period and I'll get your order in!**

Don't forget to check back tomorrow for the "go-live" of the new My Digital Studio challenge blog "MDS Monday"! We'll have a wonderful sketch for you to try, as well as some surprises!

And what perfect timing!! With the Online Extravaganza sale, you can get MDS2 for 50% off!!!

Christmas is knocking!

Good morning!

Let's see what's happening at Sunday Stamps this week!!

I've been wanting to make a card like this for a long time, but I just wasn't sure how I was going to pull it all together. Then, it hit me - Window Sheet!

The wreath is made from the largest flower from the Boho Blossom punch. The little berries are from the parts that are punched out from the Dotted Scallop Ribbon Border punch. The card itself is standard card size, just folded a bit differently. The wreath is kept on by a sleeve made from a 1" strip of window sheet. This also helps keep the doors closed!

Hayley's got a great sketch for us this week. Come on over and see what the Design Team has to show and then play along with us :)

-Tara

xox

List of Supplies

Stamp: Winter Memories

Paper: Soft Suede, Gumball Green, Lucky Limeade, Always Artichoke

Embellishments: Gold brad, Cherry Cobbler Seam Binding 

Tools/Other: Boho Blossom punch, Sponges, Dotted Scallop Ribbon Border punch, Window Sheet

A time to be thankful

Good Friday morning, friends!

Back at you today with another Friday Mashup challenge. This week, Rita's got us thinking thankful thoughts. Up here in Canada, Thanksgiving has come and gone; but there is never a wrong time to be thankful or to be making Thank You cards!

For this card I stamped the En Francais background stamp over a piece of Always Artichoke. I embossed it with Gold embossing powder. The leaves (and this might seem a bit backwards to you!) are cut from the Autumn Accents Bigz Die and then embossed in Gold using the French Foliage stamp set.

I thought about embossing using the Wonderfall set that coordinates with the Die, but I was looking for something a little more 'natural' and less 'playful' for this card. The "Thank You" part of this challenge is actually on the inside only. The sentiment is from Blooming with Kindness and is embossed in gold as well.

So here is the "Mashup" Challenge:

1. Make a project with "Leaves".
2. Or Make a project saying "Thank You".
3. Or "Mash it Up" and create a "Thank You project with Leaves".

Hope to see you playing along this week! Please hop on over to The Friday Mashup and see the lovely creations from the rest of the Design Team!

-Tara

xox

List of Supplies:

Stamps: French Foliage, En Francais

Paper: Basic Black CS, Always Artichoke CS, Very Vanilla CS

Embellishments: 7/8" Cotton Ribbon, Antique Brad, Gold embossing powder

Tools: Big Shot, Autumn Accents Bigz Die, Heat Tool, Dotted Scallop Border punch

A lot of (exciting!) news!

Ok folks, hold on to your hats - there's a lot of really awesome thing happening right now!

Texture Boutique Embossing Machine!

**This product is only available while supplies last - and there are only 4000! Order today!**

Texture Boutique Bundle (132700) - $45.95 

Includes: Machine, Embossing Pads, Shim and 2 Embossing Folders!

Flower Garden Textured Impressions Embossing Folder

Stripes Textured Impressions Embossing Folder

Texture Boutique Embossing Machine (132657) - $36.95

Includes: Machine, Embossing Pads, Shim

Simply Sent Smartphone App!

This iPhone app allows you to create an e-card—from a template or completely on your own—and send it via e-mail or post it on Facebook. And it’s free!

Here’s something you should know about this app: it’s not My Digital Studio on a mobile device, not even close. It's a scaled-back version to give you a taste of what you can create when you buy MDS. 

Download it from iTunes or the App Store, share it with all your friends, and post a review! The more positive reviews it gets, the more prominent place it takes in the iTunes store.  

Digital Content on Workshop Orders!

Hurrah! Now you can add digital content to your orders when you're at a workshop or class! No more "waiting" to put it in through an online order - simply list the items you want on your order form!

Talking Tags!

With Talking Tag, you can send a gift that is uniquely you. Talking Tag is a message label you can attach to cards, invitations, gifts . . . anything! Personalize birthday cards, Christmas gifts or even record quick instructions for a project. Now your pictures really can say a thousand words!

Buy 'em by the sheet! You get 10 tags for just $9.95 (129723).

Don't forget some of the other amazing things Stampin' Up! is offering these days:

• Single Stamps!
• INK-redible promotion!
• Stampin' Trimmer now available! Watch this video to learn more.
• Customer Stampin' Success articles!

Well, if that wasn't enough excitement for you, stay tuned, because I've got something else for you real soon ;)

-Tara

xox