Bright Wreath

My grandma was looking for something to hang on her door at the nursing home. She commented on how so many of the other residents have something 'pretty' on their doors, and hers looked so plain.

I've been wanting to try one of these rosette wreaths for so long, so I thought this would be a great opportunity to try it out and to brighten up her entrance.

Bright Wreath for Grandma <3

 

The fabulous spring colours come courtesy of the ColourQ challenge this week.

 

My husband is serenading me with an ad-lib song about our new green, shag carpet. It's incredibly entertaining... I didn't realize just how many things in our living room were actually green until he started listing them in verse! ;) And by the way, the carpet is actually really cool. It's not nearly as 70's as it might sound.

-Tara
xox

Edit to add: So excited that this card was selected as a "Colour Coutier" this week at the ColourQ. Thank you! :) 

A neautral day

This is my card today for two challenges: A "splash of colour" from Play Day Cafe and a fun, clean sketch from RetroSketches! 

Hello

The sketch from RetroSketches:

The colour challenge from Play Date Cafe (how awesome is this inspirational photo?!)

Short one today, gotta get doing some stuff... I've been procrastinating all morning! :)

-Tara

xox

A little joy (fold, that is!)

Hi!  Before I get to my card, I just want to take a moment to thank everyone who stops by. It really does mean a lot to me. I love being a Stampin' Up! Demonstrator, and I love that I get to share what I love with people out there! Just wanted to say thank you. :)

**Back to our regularly scheduled program **

I've been meaning to try a joy fold card for a long time now. I couldn't wait anymore! The sketch from Freshly Made Sketches made it completely unavoidable!

Happy Birthday 

 

The wicked sketch I was working from:

Since (baby) boy is on the move a lot these days, I'm off tonight to go look for a carpet for our living room. He's totally outgrown my (big) boy's 'road map' carpet that he's been using thus far!

-Tara

xox

Quilting

Ahhh, the quilt. I conjures up the same emotions, comfort and sense of 'home' that Grandma's Apron does. When you're sick, it's your go-to warmth, when you're playing 'fort', it's the perfect weight to make a great roof, and when your baby first starts playing on the floor, it's there to support them when they inevitably take a tumble.

I love quilts. I have so many of them in my house, all with different meanings. One of them was made by my grandmother's grandmother (and my grandmother is 90, so you can guess how old it is!). The newer ones are made by my mother, and she's a fabulous quilter.

This week's challenge at the Friday Mashup is to:

1. Make a project using the "Quilted Cards Technique".
2. Or Make a project using "Something that's been forgotten (sitting in your stash forever)".
3. Or "Mash it Up" and create a "Quilted card with something you've forgotten about".

My card today is an homage to my mom's craftsmanship; her incredible patience when creating, her eye for colours and patterns, and her never-ending attention to detail. I modeled this card after my favourite quilt she made (which is pictured below).

As for the "something that's been forgotten"! I have had a roll of Very Vanilla taffeta ribbon in my collection since October, and I used it once... the day I got it! It has sat unused since then, so I was so pleased to bring it back out again for this challenge!

For My Wonderful Mother

Love the tag-line for this challenge :)

When I first saw the DSP in the Sale-a-Bration brochure, it immediately made me think of this quilt. What are the chances that the Friday Mashup team would challenge us to create a quilted card? ;) One last Sale-a-Bration "hoorah!" before it's over. Can you believe there's only a week left!?

My mother's quilt

With all this talk of quilts, and the rainy/damp weather we have here today, I wish I could just wrap myself up in one! ... off to do housework instead :P

-Tara

xox

The Lorax

I am going to preface this post by saying that I took a lot of creative license with the sketch from Freshly Made Sketches...So much so, in fact, that I wondered if I should really be entering it at all. But when it comes down to it, this card would never have come about without the sketch inspiration from FMS.

When I saw the fabulous circles on Lesley's sketch, it reminded me of Truffula trees. Probably because I love Dr. Suess and recently went to see The Lorax with our son. I wanted to create something a little fun and different, so here you have it. Believe it or not, it actually IS a card for his birthday (we are going to have a Dr. Seuss themed party this year), but I also wanted him to be able  to hang it on his wall when all was said and done, so I made the Lorax the "sentiment" instead. He does speak for the trees, afterall...

The Lorax Birthday

Here are some notes:

Truffula Trees - These are made from white satin ribbon coloured with Stampin' Write markers. I glued them on a circular base and overlapped a bit as I did that, then I cut the 'seem' off the side and pulled the fibres out to make them a little fluffy on the edges. I finished them off with a designer button to hide all the 'messiness'. They are Daffodil Delight, Real Red and Pumpkin Pie, though the red turned out looking a bit pink!

The Lorax - Made from a Large Oval Punch. The space to make his legs was using the same punch, and punching out only a bit with the short edge. His beard started out as a Large Oval as well. His head is a 3/4" circle punch.

The Bush - The bigger bush on the left was made using 3 petals of the fancy flower... I put it in again and angled (twisted) it slightly to  make the smaller bits. 

Everything was outlined with a Basic Black marker to make it look like a drawing. The circle around The Lorax was done with a white Gel Pen.

Here was the original sketch, and for good measure, a picture of the Lorax himself :)

Now that I have that out of my system, I'm ready to get back to reality :P haha

-Tara

xox

Edit to add: So excited - This card was chosen as a "Perfect Princess" with Freshly Made Sketches! Thank you, Tui :)

 

In Colours on Parade

I wanted to try out this new challenge for a long time - I keep sneaking over to their blog and checking it out, but never jumped in... Today's the day!

CASE Study challenge provides you with a card from a muse, which is to inspire you to create something from the elements, mood, design of that beautiful card.

Thinking of you

Here is the inspiration card (how awesome is this?!)

Materials used in this card:

Cardstock: Island Indigo, Whisper White

Stamps: Funky Four, Curly Cute

Inks: Calypso Coral, Wisteria Wonder, Pool Party, Lucky Limeade, Island Indigo

Embellishments: Calypso Coral ruffled ribbon, Wisteria Wonder baker's twine

I know the Idea Book & Catalogue has been out for quite some time now, and we've all been loving the new In Colours since then, but I just felt like I needed to use ALL of them!! This card is something of a "2011-2013 In Colour Showcase" card ;)

Every time I use one of these colours, I think "yup, this one is my favourite". I just can't pick, I really love them all. Right now, I think it might be Calypso Coral, but that might have something to do with tall the Everyday Enchantment DSP that's been going around these days from SAB ;)

Speaking of Sale-A-Bration, we only have 11 more days! If you've been eying something from the SAB brochure, be sure to place an order of $60 or more so that you can get it for free before the sale ends!

 -Tara

xox

Fun in the Sun!

It has been remarkable here the last two days. The weather has been amazing (summer-like), and all the 'blues' of the winter seem to have lifted completely! It's so glorious :)

To celebrate, my entry into this week's RetroSketches is a little "Fun in the Sun" brag book. This is to keep all my favourite pictures from this upcoming spring/summer! I'm trying to make a point of actually printing some of the digital photos we take, so I wanted to make something fun to keep them in.

Fun in the Sun brag book

Here's the sketch. I kept the layout of the sketch the same, but I turned my project.

These little brag books are SO easy to make, and are awesome for gifts, or even just to keep in your purse to show off your favourite pictures (or even cards!). I have a few of them on hand :)

Yesterday we went and had some park fun. Jack took his first ride in the swing and loved it! Hunter, well... he's a seasoned pro ;)

-Tara
xox

A sympathy card

When Friday Mashup time comes along, I really do like to mash it up. However, this week, try as I might, I could not. And I SO wanted to...

The Mashup was to use the faux Mother of Pearl technique. Alas, I did not have the appropriate materials to do it. I did try and make my own... two different ways... but neither of them worked out exactly as it should have.

That being said, I still wanted to do something a little 'extra' for this card, since I was leaving out the super-awesome technique, so I did some heat embossing on this card. I also added some pearls, so I guess I'm kinda half-way there ;)

Sympathy

I have been eying Bashful Blue cardstock for weeks, and just haven't found the right project to use it in. So, tonight I went to my Color Coach and pulled up the Bashful Blue card. Suggested colours? Chocolate Chip and Certainly Celery. I decided against the Certainly Celery and went with River Rock instead. What can I say, I'm a rebel.. 

So here is the "Mashup" Challenge :

1. Make a project using the "Sketch".
2. Or Make a project using the "Faux Mother of Pearl Technique".
3. Or "Mash it Up" and create a "project using the Faux Mother of Pearl Technique & the Sketch.

 

One last thing:

 Happy St. Patrick's Day!!

-Tara

xox

Woven Thank You

Just had an awesome phone conversation with one of my besties - 151 minutes and 14 seconds. It felt like I was back in highschool again. Even though it's almost 2am, I feel refreshed after talking to her :)

I've got a fun little card to show you, featuring some products from a brand new product suite that will be debuting in the 2012-2013 Annual Catalogue. Exciting, eh?!

Thank You 

Fun sketch came courtesy of Pals Paper Arts! Been way too long since I took on one of their challenges! It was the perfect sketch to pull out the sneak peek product for! I love the DSP so much that I couldn't decide on only one design, so I weaved them together for double the pleasure ;)

There will be more sneak peeks of this set coming up! So y'all come back now, ya hear?!

-Tara

xox

Elements of Style

I recently purchased the Elements of Style set, and I couldn't wait to use it. The flowers in this set are just too gorgeous. Love, love, love it. So much so that I'm wondering how I lived without it all this time?!

The sketch is from Freshly Made Sketches:

Materials used in this card:
Cardstock: Old Olive, Blushing Bride, Whisper White
Stamps: Elements of Style
Inks: Old Olive, Blushing Bride, Calypso Coral
Embellishments: Calypso Coral baker's twine, Old Olive designer button
Tools: Big Shot, Perfect Polka Dots embossing folder, Labels Framelits, Blender pens

I can see myself reaching for this set a lot in the next little bit... so I hope you like it ;)

-Tara
xox

Edit to add: So excited - This card was chosen as a "Perfect Princess" with Freshly Made Sketches! Thank you, Lesley! :)

A green and yellow basket :)

A little basket made for my son to collect his Easter eggs in this year!

Last year was his first time collecting eggs. It was, by far, one of the cutest moments I've ever witnessed. After collecting them all, he decided he wasn't done, so he put them all back into hiding, and redid the whole process! :)

 Las Easter: can't believe how much he's changed in 1 year...

Can't wait to see what he does this year with this little 'basket' of his!

Thanks to the Friday Mashup team for this challenge!! I probably wouldn't have done this otherwise, and I'm so happy I did! You guys are the best.

Here is the "Mashup" Challenge :

1. Make a project using the "colors Green & Yellow".
2. Or Make a "3-D project that's a Basket or a Treat Pouch".
3. Or "Mash it Up" and create a "Treat Basket/Pouch using the colors Green & Yellow".

Materials used to make this basket:
Cardstock: Whisper White, So Saffron, Wild Wasabi
Stamps: Delightful Dozen
Inks: Wild Wasabi, Pretty in Pink, Basic Black, White (gel pen)
Tools: Big Shot, Perfect Polka Dots embossing folder, Top Note die, Scallop circle punch, Scallop oval punch, Large Oval punch, 1/2" circle punch, (hole punch), Dotted Scallop Border punch

I think I got it all covered there ;)

-Tara
xox

Edit to add: So excited - This card was chosen as a "Glamette" with the Friday Mashup! :)

 

Shake it!

Shaker cards are so much fun! Especially when they're filled with love :)

Played along with RestroSketches (#2!) today, and came up with this bright, simple card. I needed something clean and fresh looking, just for my own sanity! So looking forward to the summer.

Love

 

The inside of the shaker is filled with the tiniest heart from the Fashionable Hearts embosslit die from the current mini catalogue, as well as some confetti - all cut from Daffodil Delight, Tempting Turquoise and Old Olive. 

Sketch

Materials used in this card:

Cardstock: Whisper White, Daffodil Delight, Tempting Turquoise, Old Olive

Paper: Tempting Turquoise DSP

Stamps: Outlined Occasions (SAB)

Inks: Daffodil Delight, Tempting Turquoise, Old Olive, Basic Black

Embellishments: Brights designer button, Old Olive grosgrain ribbon, White baker's twine, Mini Brads

Tools: Decorative Label punch, Big Shot, Polka Dot embossing folder, Fashionable Hearts embosslits die, corner rounder

So excited about this new challenge blog!

-Tara

xox

Colour Q Challenge

If feels like it's been a long time since I played along with the Colour Q! Sadly, I think the last one was #123 (and this one is #127).

The colours this week reminded me so much of our wedding...

Friendship

Here are the challenge colours (I'll admit, I did substitute Certainly Celery for Pear Pizzaz). 

Materials used in this card:

Cardstock: Chocolate Chip, Pear Pizzaz, Blushing Bride, Whisper White

Paper: Everyday Enchantment DSP, Twitterpated DSP

Stamps: Language of Frienship

Ink: Chocolate Chip, Blushing Bride, Calypso Coral

Embellishments: Calypso Coral ruffled ribbon, Pearls

Tools: Fancy Flower punch, circle punch

Do you love that bird stamp as much as I do? The Language of Friendship set is so much fun, as it has two coordinating punches that go along with it - Boho Blossoms and the Bird Builder. You can get this stamp set for FREE from the Sale-a-Bration brochure with any $60 order!

With the time change today, I've lost an hour of my day!! There weren't enough hours in the day to begin with without losing one! I'm off to play catch-up :)

-Tara

xox

Card for Grandma

My grandma send cards for everything - all the time. So, I made this one to send to her for Easter. I don't typically send Easter cards, but I thought it would be nice for her to get one, considering all that she sends! With 14 grandchildren and 10 (or is it 11 now?!) great-grandkids, I don't know how she keeps it all sorted out!

Happy Easter

The lovely sketch came courtesy, once again, of Freshly Made Sketches :)

Materials used in this card:
Cardstock: Wisteria Wonder, Calypso Coral, Whisper White
Paper: Flirtatious DSP
Stamps: Fresh Vintage, Delightful Dozen
Inks: Wisteria Wonder, Calypso Coral
Embellishments: White baker's twine
Tools: Big Shot, Perfect Polka Dots embossing folder, Jewelry Tag punch, Decorative Label punch


-Tara
xox

Baby Fever

Hello!


There are a lot of new babies being baked these days, and I find that I'm always in need of a baby card. But this baby card is extra special! It was made for a brand new challenge, Retro Sketches! The design team goes back into their archive and picks a card from yesteryear and posts the sketch for us all to play along. How cool is that?!

Put the word "retro" in any sentence and I'm on board ;)

Welcome Baby

This is the sketch!

Materials used in this card:

Cardstock: Crumb Cake, Whisper White

Paper: Twitterpated

Stamps: Short & Sweet, Gnome Sweet Gnome

Inks: Whisper White Craft

Embellishments: White Satin Ribbon

Tools: 1 3/8" Circle punch (for rounded corners), Heat Tool, Clear embossing powder, gel pen

In other news, we took our little lad to see his first movie on the weekend. It was SO much fun! 

The best parts:

1. His shock and awe as the "wall" turned into a TV! We don't own a TV, so the extent of his 'movie watching' is on our little laptop screen ;)

2. The movie theatre seat basically folding him in half because he's too light to make it stay flat (haha, I know, I'm a horrible mother). We ended up getting him a booster seat.

3. The wicked older couple behind us who loved being a part of his first movie experience.

4. After the movie was over, he declares "I want to watch Toy Story in here!" :)

Happy Tuesday, everyone (on this side of the world, anyways... Happy Wednesday to the rest!)  ;)

-Tara

xox

St. Patrick's Day card

Quick post today to check in to the Friday Mashup! What a fun challenge this week;

1. Make a project for "St. Patrick's Day".
2. Or Make a project using "at least 2 Punches".
3. Or "Mash it Up" and create a project for "St. Patrick's day using your Punches".

Happy St. Patrick's Day

My two punches were the Decorative Label punch and the Corner Rounder punch.

Materials used in this card:
Cardstock: Whisper White, Pool Party
Paper: Everyday Enchantment DSP
Tools: Big Shot, Fashionable Hearts Embosslit, Decorative Label punch, Corner Rounder punch

I love Saturday mornings, and I'm off to enjoy the rest of it :)

-Tara
xox