Cheers!

I'm stopping in for a very quick hello tonight. I'm a bit behind schedule, and am desperately trying to catch up tonight :)

... but only after some friends come by for a couple games of Euchre! hehe.

Cheers!

  

This card was made for both the Friday Mashup challenge this week as well as the Freshly Made Sketches. Have a look-see at the challenges this week!

The Friday Mashup

1. Make a project for "Graduation".
2. Or Make a project using " Text or Definition Stamps and/or Paper".
3. Or "Mash it Up" and create a " Graduation project with Text or Definition stamps/papers

Luckily, Stampin' Up! has text on the back (or front, whichever way you see it!) of their Paper Stacks designer series paper. :)

Freshly Made Sketches

I loved the square layout of this sketch!!

There has been a lot of really exciting stuff happening lately... Some of it I can't tell you about quite yet.  ;)

But, here's what I can tell you!! I have been invited to be a guest designer with Craft Project Central. It's going to be a super-cute little project, so be sure to stop by in May and see my project, along with 10 other designer's projects.

Check back on Wednesday for even more exciting news! 

-Tara

xox

Technique Time!

I’m loving these technique challenges over at the Friday Mashup! I’ve been wanting to try the Versamark Resist (“ghosting”) technique for quite some time – I even had all the supplies – but it just never happened. 

With a gentle nudge in the right direction, I gave it a shot. I really liked it! I have a feeling I may try it again real soon.

Mother

Materials used in this card:
Cardstock: Crumb Cake, Glossy White, Whisper White 
Paper: Crumb Cake DSP, Always Artichoke DSP 
Stamps: Elements of Style, Delightful Dozen 
Ink: Crumb Cake, Always Artichoke, Marina Mist, Versamark 
Embellishments: Always Artichoke Seam Binding 
Tools: Decorative Label punch, Sponge daubers, Dotted Scallop Border punch

This is the Friday Mashup Challenge:

1. Make a project using the "Sketch".
2. Or Make a project using the "Ghosting (aka VersaMark Resist) Technique".
3. Or "Mash it Up" and create a project using the "Sketch & the Ghosting Technique".

It's snowing outside today. That's pretty much all I have to say about that :(

-Tara

xox

A Merry Monday Challenge!

Christmas was long enough ago now that I can start thinking about it again ;) And so, I took part in the Merry Monday challenge today and started my Christmas card stash. Wow, it feels amazing!

I love this non-traditional colour combination for Christmas cards. The tree was inked up in Pool Party, and before I stamped it, I went over the "dots"/swirls with Island Indigo marker. Turns out I missed a few, so don't look too hard!

The snowflakes were stamped on Vellum cardstock, and then punched out using various punches; the big snowflake was punched with the scallop circle, the medium snowflake was done using the first setting on the Triple Layer Doily punch, and the smallest snowflake was punched with the 1/2" circle punch. They may not coordinate perfectly, but I think they're pretty close!

The DSP is from the Sweet Shop suite from the Occasions Mini. Never thought I'd be using that paper for a Christmas card :)

Really looking forward to playing with this challenge more often! Here's this week's fun sketch from Lesley:

Hope you all have a wonderful day :)

-Tara
xox

Edit to add: So excited to have received an honorable mention for this card :) Thank you!

A little love

Hi neighbour! I'm glad to be with you :)


I was so sad to have missed last week's Freshly Made Sketch challenge. It was so fun and unique! So, I made sure this week to get on top of it right away, before time slipped out from under my feet again!

Love

This card uses an element from one of my favourite sets that is retiring on May 31st; Happiness Shared. It's a beautiful flower and a lovely sentiment. I may just have to keep this one for a little longer - not sure I can part with it yet :)

Here is the sketch I was working with today, from Rita Wright:

The Beau Chateau DSP is such a soft, subtle collection. It's wonderful for baby, romance, sympathy, male, female... just about anything! And I love the simplicity of the colours. This set is all about the designs and nostalgia. If you've overlooked it in the past, go check it out again and imagine it's versatility!

Thanks for stopping by. Off to go watch more TV intros on YouTube of my favourite childhood shows. So far, my (little) boy is not too impressed with any of them! ... With the exception of Fraggle Rock, maybe!

-Tara

xox

 

Sgt Floyd Pepper!

Ok, this is a wicked Friday Mashup challenge! I'll get straight to the card and do my rambling afterwards :)

happy birthday dear you!

The birdcage on this card is empty for a reason! The central image is actually a removable thaumatrope. The bird on the opposite side is the same as the bird that's sitting atop the sentiment. I thoughtit would be a fun element for a kid's card. Maybe more suitable for a kids card if we lived in the early 1800's, but whatev ;) The twine runs behind the framelit and into the inside of the card. It's held with a bow. Once the bow is undone, the thaumatrope can be removed and played with.

On the inside are some instructions on how to use it, just in case :)

Here's the Mashup challenge:

So here is the "Mashup" Challenge :

1. Make a project using "Your Favorite Muppet Color Combo".
2. Or Make a project " for kids".
3. Or "Mash it Up" and create a " Project for a Kid using your Favorite Muppet Colors".

Sgt Floyd Pepper was my inspiration. He's just too cool for school, this guy! Check it out. I used the colours from his face: Pink Pirouette, Pumpkin Pie, Basic Black and Whisper White.

Initially, I wanted to do a card that actually was Sgt. Pepper... And I tried, but I wasn't terribly happy with the results. There wasn't enough room for his sideburns, and I really think that makes him what he is. The 'likeness' just wasn't there enough for me to be thrilled with the end result.

However, I had to post a pic anyways, because there are certain elements I do enjoy! The eyebrows and moustache were made with fibres from white satin ribbon (the moustache was coloured with Pumpkin Pie Stampin' Write Marker).


So there you have it, my homage to Sgt. Floyd Pepper.

-Tara
xox

Edit to add: So excited that this card was selected as a "Glamette" this week at the Friday Mashup! Thank you :)

I dig you, baby!

Just stopping in quickly today with a little card I made for the ColourQ and RetroSketches challenges. Kind of fitting that the colours from the challenge are so retro :)

I enjoy the 70s. As much as someone born in the 80s can, at least! Great music, great colours, great art... So I had a bit of fun with this card.

I dig you

 The sentiment on this card is actually from the "I Dig You" set, which is heavy machinery. But I thought it rather appropriate for this groovy card. I took a cue from the inspirational photo and hung some circles (the circle is from the new "Bright Blossoms" set which is available in the upcoming catalogue, AND for the month of April!!). The mushrooms are from "Funky Four" - I cut them apart when I first got them, assuming I would get more use out of them as individual mushrooms.

The sketch came courtesy of RetroSketches:

and the colours are from ColourQ this week:

I'm getting ready for a private stamping party tonight - it's bound to be a fun evening! :)

Hope you all have a splendid day!

-Tara

Tic Tac Toe!

I was so excited on Friday when I saw the Tic-Tac-Toe board at the Friday Mashup - but I wasn't able to get playing with it until this morning! In fact, I intentionally set my alarm to get up early so I could make this before the rest of the house woke up :)

Welcome Baby

I fell in love with this card, which was originally designed by Jackie Topa, the first time I saw it. I was nervous to try it, as it seemed like I didn't have the "right material". I finally just accepted that, and made do with what I had on hand!

First, this is the challenge I was working with (I chose the first horizontal row - Lace, Baby, Neutral).

So here is the "Mashup" Challenge :

1. Make a project using " a Special Fold".
2. Or Make a project using the " Tic Tac Toe Board".
3. Or "Mash it Up" and create a " Special Fold card using Tic Tac Toe".

The special fold, as I mentioned, is the side-step card. I've seen variations on this one with two steps instead of one, but I needed a little extra room on the back panel to put the dress!

The lace on the dress is not Stampin' Up! It comes from my grandmother's sewing basket and has sentimental value. Sometimes I just can't help adding something truly vintage or sentimental to my cards :)

I will definitely be making more of these. They are just too cute!

-Tara

xox

Edit to add: So excited that this card was selected as a "Glamette" this week at the Friday Mashup! Thank you :)

Soft Thank You

It's getting warmer out again! I say "again", because a couple weeks ago we were having unseasonably high temperatures, and it was glorious! It might not be getting *that* warm, but this weekend is supposed to be lovely.

And speaking of lovely, the ColourQ has challenged us with the softest, sweetest colour palette this week!

Thank you so, so much

Aren't they pretty? I don't often use Peach Parfait, so I appreciated the nudge in the right direction.

 

Hope you have a great long weekend. I'm really looking forward to 4 days straight with all of my men home! :)

-Tara
xox

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

Pretty in Pink

Wow, it's been a busy couple of days! We found out yesterday that our baby has pneumonia... and we must say, he's been a trooper! He's a tough little bird, just like his brother :)

However, during some downtime today, I took the opportunity to make a card for two challenges; Freshly Made Sketches and Pals Paper Arts.

Thanks so much

The fun sketch came from Freshly Made Sketches, and the lovely colours came from Pals Paper Arts. I'm multi-tasking today, by combining the two.

 

Thanks for stopping by - Hope to see you again soon :)

-Tara

xox

Fly away!

I've been all about the 3D projects lately, but I think you'll agree, the Friday Mashup challenge left me little choice :)

It's the Fan Favourite this week at the Friday Mashup, and I've been super excited for it! The mashup was to:

1. Make a project using "Colorful Twines".
2. Or Make a "Kite themed" project.
3. Or "Mash it Up" and create a "Kite themed project using some colorful Twine".

I made a kite for my son's door. The other son is getting one too, but I want him to be able to pick out the colours he wants, and this was made in the wee hours of the morning when I had some quiet time... so I started with the baby's. He has no say in the colours he gets ;)

Jackson Kite

Some details:

Colours: Bashful Blue, Marina Mist, Lucky Limeade, Calypso Coral

Ribbons/Twine: Bashful Blue grosgrain, Lucky Limeade and Calypso Coral Ruffled Ribbon, Lucky Limeade, Calypso Coral and White baker's twine.

Embossing on the bashful blue kite pieces is Perfect Polka Dots

The cloud 'paper' was made using the scallop circle punch out and marina mist sponging. The letters were cut out using the Big Shot and the naturally serif decorative strip. The bows on either sides of the name are made with the grosgrain and both coloured ribbons. The tail of the kite is made using all three baker's twines braided together for extra thickness. The other ribbons were tied on. The edge around the kite is made from the Fancy Flower punch that was cut up, and I usedthe two largest framelits from the wicked Labels Collection for the name plate. 

It measures approximately 12 inches wide (at the widest part) and about 14-15" long. 

I think that about covers it! 

-Tara