Pistachio Anniversary

This week at Dynamic Duos you get to pick your favourite coordinating colour (to go with Basic Gray). It's almost impossible to find a colour that doesn't go with Basic Gray, but I wanted to try and keep this on the 'manly' side, so I went with Pistachio Pudding.

I sanded down some Core'dinations paper and them cut it into little squares. Then I drew a dotted line between the squares to make a tic-tac-toe-like board. I found the sketch online awhile back but can't seem to find it again. I added the pearls to the popped-up hearts to imply that "I won"... a great husband! haha.

I gave this to Derek for our anniversary, which was on Tuesday. We went out for dinner, which was delicious, and then just hung out in the evening. It was quiet, but perfect.

Check out the challenge this week:

Thanks for stopping by today!

-Tara
xox

The Beach!

This week at The Friday Mashup, Lili has challenged us to make a 'beach' themed project and use masking:

I love the new Wetlands stamp set. I just recently got it, and this was the first time playing with it.

Check out the challenge this week:

1. Create a project using the "Masking Technique".
2. Create a project with some "Beach elements".
3. Or Mash it Up and create a "Beach'y project using Masking"

Thanks for stopping by today!

-Tara
xox

Quilling (Take 2) for Merry Monday and Fab Friday!

Oh hey there,

Coming back for another post today. Hope you're ready to think Christmas... Actually, you only have to be half ready to think Christmas - the colours aren't traditional Christmas-y, but I love messing around with stuff like that.

Each year I try and make a Christmas card using all the In Colours for that year. While I wait to be able to order from the Holiday Catalogue, I have to amuse myself any way I can.

After my first attempt, I absolutely had to try quilling again. I actually have the proper tool this time, so I'm not spinning around a toothpick and crossing my fingers I'm not going to get a splinter.

This is a very challenging (and time-consuming) hobby! I envy and admire those people who can come up with elaborate designs. I'm not there yet, but I'm enjoying learning this new craft.

I think next time (and there will be a next time), I'm going to try and copy the snowflake from the Snow Swirled set (stamped beside my snowflake in my card). Looks like the perfect design! And, I'll likely make it all white (or at the very least, light shades of blue). Perhaps Sahara Sand, White and Soft Sky! Yum...

I played along with Merry Monday and Fab Friday today.

Merry Monday sketch:

Fab Friday colours:

Thanks for stopping by (again)! :)

-Tara
xox

Card Sketch at MDS Monday!

Good morning,

Time for another card sketch over at MDS Monday. I decided to get a head start on some of my Christmas cards with this great sketch from Rochelle.

Check out the sketch, and then head on over and see what the rest of the design team has come up with!

Thanks for stopping by today!

-Tara
xox

Quilling at the Dynamic Duos

Hey guess what? It's time for another Dynamic Duos colour combo! This week we're hitting the oranges up - Tangerine Tango and Cajun Craze:

I've been wanting to try quilling on a card for a very long time. I've never done it before (youtube was my best friend), and I didn't have any of the supplies (hello, toothpick), but in the end, I think it turned out OK. 

Stampin' Up! cardstock might be just a smidge too heavy/thick, and it tends to separate a bit, but all-in-all, it was super fun. I will definitely be trying it again - especially since I found a quilling tool at a lovely little Mom & Pop store here in the city. Hurray!

I used some Smoky Slate as my neutral for this one. I thought it was a nice contrast to the oranges, and it made it more 'modern' than 'autumn'. 

Come check out the challenge this week and link up your card. We can't wait to see what you do with these colours.

Thanks for stopping by today!

-Tara

xox

Triple Time Stamping at The Friday Mashup!

Another week at The Friday Mashup and Amanda has a great challenge - Triple Time stamping!

I've done this before at an event that I went to, but I've never designed one on my own. It was quite fun!

The colours also come from Amanda:

1. Create a project using 3 of the following colours "Crumb Cake, Summer Starfruit, Pacific Point or Daffodil Delight"
2. Create a project wi the "Triple Time Stamping Technique"
3. Or Mash it Up and create a "Triple Time Stamping Technique with 3 of the above colours

Thanks for stopping by today!

-Tara
xox

TGIT - Did you get your chores done?!

Hello everyone!

So sorry to have skipped so many TGITs! But, it's back and it's better than ever! There are SO many fabulous new downloads this week, so lets take a look:

Chores & More Designer Template #134806 - $3.50

Everybody's Business Designer Series Paper #133499 - $7.95

Hooray for Today Stamp Brush Set #133498 - $10.95

Lovely Romance Stamp Brush Set #134799 - $4.50

Memory Milestones Baby Photobook Tempalte (8.5" x 11") #134759 - $21.95

What do you think? Will be be adding some of these to your digital collection? I'm racing off to get Chores & More for my 4 year old, and Hooray for Today Stamp Brush Set for, well... almost everything!

Don't forget, if you want to take MDS out for a test run, be sure to download the 30-day free trial!

I will be having an MDS training class on Wednesday, June 26th. If you're in the area and would like to attend, please let me know :)

Thanks for stopping by today!

-Tara

xox



Documenting our trip to the museum with MDS Monday

Good Monday morning!

I hope that everyone had a fabulous weekend. We had a great time visiting with friends and family.

There's a new challenge at MDS Monday today, and Heidi is bringing us a fabulous scrap layout - It was the perfect sketch for me to add another page to my Children's Museum page I did two weeks ago.

I had so many fun pictures from our trip to the museum that I absolutely had to make a second page. I could probably make a 3rd and 4th as well!

Here they are both together - I think the road signs on the right is perfect for balancing out the strip of 3 photos from the first page. I was very happy with how it turned out.

If you're in Ottawa (living or visiting) and have children, I highly recommend taking a visit to this musem. You can literally touch everything! It's completely interactive, and is designed for children to learn about different places/cultures from around the world. As you can see from some of the road signs, there are a lot of super fun 'places' to visit - and that's not even half of them!

Your child gets a little 'passport', and each time they visit a new place, they can stamp their passport (you can see Hunter doing that on the top pic from the first page). It's such a cool idea.

Anyways, here's the sketch for this week. We would loev to see you playing along:

Thanks for stopping by today!

-Tara

xox

A new challenge at Dynamic Duos!

Hello friends,

It's time for another challenge at Dynamic Duos - and what an awesome colour combination this week; Pear Pizzaz and Basic Black, with a dessert option of using a Plant Theme.

I used a Basic Black marker to colour white Baker's Twine, and picked up a stamp set I haven't used in a really long time - Serene Silhouettes. Love that set :)

Here's the challenge this week:

Thanks for stopping by today!

-Tara
xox

Brickwall Technique & Day #7 of Sneak Peek Week!

Hello and happy Friday!

Today I'm hosting the challenge over at The Friday Mashup. This week we are doing the Brickwall technique and a sketch.

I just love the brickwall technique. It can be a bit labour-intensive, but I think it's totally worth it!

I've used the brand new stamp set Regarding Dahlias for my 'wall' image. I stamped in Stazon on watercolour paper, did some watercolouring with the new In Colors Strawberry Slush and Coastal Cabana. Then I restamped in Stazon to make the black pop.

For the bottom panel, I scored some lines in the Strawberry Slush Core'dinations paper to mimic the brick well, then flipped the piece over and sanded like crazy. I love this paper!

You'll see a bit of the fabulous new In Color ribbons as well, in Crisp Cataloupe. So much fun.

Here's the mashup for this week:

1. Create a project using the "Sketch".
2. Create a project using the "Brick Wall Technique".
3. Or Mash it Up and create a project using the "Sketch with the Brick Wall Technique".

Thanks for stopping by today!

-Tara
xox

Sneak Peek Week - Day #6

We're almost done with my week of sharing brand new product... so today I'm going to show a new colour and a fun, versatile stamp set:

I used the oh-so-lovely Bermuda Bay on this card and mixed it up with a little Basic Grey and Tangerine Tango. I thought it was a really fun and masculine combination.

The stars are from the Simply Stars stamp set, and I can already tell I'll be using them a lot. They are just so cute.

We're making this card tonight at my monthly card class - the great thing about it is that you can change up the sentiment and use it for so many occasions!

Thanks for stopping by today!

-Tara
xox

Sneak Peek Week Continues - Day #5

Hey there!

Time to share another card with some brand new product - yay!

Let me give you a rundown of some of the new goods appearing on this card:

The Alphabet Press embossing folder was another one of those "must haves" that made it right up to the top of my list. I couldn't wait to get my hands on it, and pair it up with some core'dinations cardstock.

The banner is bejewelled with the new designer buttons (in Island Indigo). I love the new designs for the buttons - I find them a lot easier to use and their design is very sleek. I also love the new colour families! They are so cohesive and fresh. As disappointing as it is to lose colours we love (I miss you, Bashful Blue), I think it was an absolutely fabulous move on their part. The families are *perfect*!

Smile! Because there's a brand new stamp set in town - Happy Day.

And that DSP sticking out from the background is the fabulous Soho Subway Designer Series Paper. Full of fun, big prints as well as some smaller, full colour prints. I can se this will be a go-to for masculine/grunge type cards.

See you back here tomorrow with another project :)

Thanks for stopping by today!

-Tara
xox

PDCC & Sneak Peek Week - Day #4

Hello, hello!

I've been absolutely dying to show off this super-cute new set, and I loved the colours at the Play Date Cafe so much that I just had to put them together.

You're My Hero was at the very top of my list - I've got two little boys, and this set is a lot of fun for them. Plus, I figured it would be great for Father's Day from the kids, or baby cards...

Here are the gorgeous colours from The Play Day Cafe - I interpreted them as Raspberry Ripple, Island Indigo and Smoky Slate:

Thanks for stopping by today! :)

-Tara
xox

MDS Monday Sketch + Sneak Peek Day #3

Good morning!

It's time for another card sketch challenge over at MDS Monday - this week I'm your hostess and I've added an extra little challenge for you. I'd like to see some 'faux embossing' in that big, blank background :)

The "sneak peek" this week isn't so much a sneak peek as it is a reminder - Don't forget to get your new In Colors in MDS! I've used two of them here today in my card; Crisp Cataloupe (with Calypso Coral) and Pistachio Pudding (with Always Artichoke).

One of the things I love about creating in MDS is that you can do things that aren't entirely realistic. For example, I've centred a button over a Delicate Doily. All I had to do was shrink it down! This isn't something you can do with traditional cardmaking/scrapbooking. You're "limitted" by the size of the embellishment.

I used the faux embossing technique on the background and on the strip of Crisp Cataloupe. I love the effect it gives!

Here's the sketch:

We'd love to see you playing along with us this week!

Thanks for stopping by.

-Tara
xox

Sneak Peek Week - Day #2

It was supposed to be a very dreary weekend - and yesterday lived up to that pretty well.. But it looks like today is going to get nice! I've made myself a coffee and am catching up on a little blogland items I have on my to-do list.

For today's 'sneak peek', I wanted to share another one of my new favourite stamps - Perfect Blend. Not going to lie, I love my coffee. And so do most of my friends and family.

When I first saw this, I immediately thought of my brother and my hubby. It would make great birthday cards for them. But, the first time using it I went with a more feminine theme :)

I use a lot of stamp sets in this one; Perfect Blend, Clockworks, You're My Hero (another one coming up in a sneak peek post), and the stamp from My Paper Pumpkin.

Some other new goodies: Washi Tape & Candy Dots. Umm, yum.

I made this card for the current Sunday Stamps challenge. I just wanted to say a huge thank you to Holly and the rest of the Design Team for such a great time with them. It was a difficult decision, but I needed to take a step back and simplify life a little. That being said, I'm going to go back and play with them as often as possible - because they rock and I'd mis them if I didn't! Go stop by!

I also used the sketch over at Fab Friday - It has been WAY too long since I played with them (wow... since challenge #2?! Well, that's embarrassing...)

Enough with the gab - see you all tomorrow with some new goodies :)

Thanks for stopping by today!

-Tara

xox

Dynamic Duos and Sneak Peek Week!

Hi :)

It's time for a new Dynamic Duos colour challenge, and this week we have two of my favourites - Soft Suede and Blushing Bride.

Today also marks the start of my Sneak Peek Week - I know... Sneak Peek's are supposed to happen before you get your hands on the catalogue, but I was a little slow with my ordering this time around. We can call it "Tara uses all her new goodies Week" instead!

I've used a bunch of new product in this one - Probably the most obvious would be the new stamp set, Timeless Talk. I fell in love with it as soon as I saw it. Next is the new colour family paper stacks - check out the fun patterns on them! 

And last but not leave, the Candy Dots. I wondered how I would use those but it turns out it's not much of a challenge trying to find someplace to stick these. They are so fab!

I went very vintage with this challenge. Sometimes it feels good to distress and sponge and rip (oh my!). To do the faux-stitching, I used the paper-piercer and the regular rectangular template and went to town - Then I connected the 'dots' with an Early Espresso marker.

Here is the challenge:

We do hope you'll come visit and play along with us this week!

Thanks for stopping by!

-Tara

xox

Hey there, girly!

Erica's hosting the Friday Mashup this week and she has a girly challenge for us - which is perfect for this dreary Friday.

I kept mine really simple, and played with some new toys :)

The hexagons were cut out by hand after running some Whisper White through the honeycomb embossing folder. I popped them up on dimensionals and then went around the edge and drew a dashed border in with marker.

The stamp set is Chalk Talk, which has a fabulous matching set of framelits! I used Tangering Tango, Crisp Cantaloupe and Pink Pirouette.

Check out the challenge this week:

Here's your Mashup Challenge:

1. Create a project using "Hexagons".
2. Create a "Girly project".
3. Or Mash it Up and create a "Girly project using Hexagons".

Thanks for stopping by!

-Tara

xox

Show & Tell!

Part of the fun of new colours is trying out different combinations - I just love this card created by my friend, Audrey, and had to share it with you!

Card created by Audrey

She has used the new bright Bermuda Bay and paired it with Midnight Muse. Striking, isn't it?!

The stamp set she used is a retired one, but I love the technique she did. And what a fun embossing folder too (non-SU).

Thanks for sharing with us Audrey!

-Tara
xox

A new sketch at MDS Monday - and new In Colors!

Good morning!

Before I get to the latest MDS Monday challenge, I just want to mention that you can get the new In Colors for MDS! My application updates automatically, so they were just there when I sat down to create the other day :)

Another fun thing, they've reorganized the colours into full spectrum, so you can find your colour more easily. What do you think?

OK, now on to the challenge this week. Joan has a fun sketch and a little technique thrown in there as well. She wants to us to attached some text to a shape - I attached my journaling to the little banner.

Check out the sketch:

Now, we'd love to see what YOU create.

Thanks for stopping by today!

-Tara
xox

Feeling pretty at Dynamic Duos

Happy weekend, friends!

I'm still riding the high of a very fun and intimate BOGO event last night with some superb ladies. I'm just so excited about the new catty - can't wait to get my hands on new goodies.

Over at the Dynamic Duos, we've got a very pretty colour combination for you!

Happy Birthday Wishes - Tara (Murphy) Bourgoin

I went with Crumb Cake as my neutral for this card, which I generally don't do. I typically stick to white or vanilla, but sometimes you just have to get a little wild and crazy.

The stamp is from one of the new hostess sets, and I'm absolutely addicted to it already. After I stamped the image in Raspberry Ripple, I shaded underneath the foliage with Crumb Cake and a Blender Pen. I then added some highlighting with White craft ink. I have a Blender Pen reserved for this purpose alone. I like to use the white gel pen, but I find that I have more control over how strong the colour is going to be when I use the blender pen - It works great!

To make the 'chubby' scalloped border, I punched out one of the Fancy Flowers from Wisteria Wonder and cut it up into three pieces (two heart-shaped pieces with 2 petals each, and a single petal). It fits perfectly on a 4" panel. 

The Crumb Cake seam binding ribbon was pulled and ruffled. 

Check out the challenge for this week:

I am really looking forward to seeing all the lovely cards with this colour combination!

Thanks for stopping by today!

-Tara

xox