Love & Sympathy

It's time for another new challenge at Dynamic Duos and this week, you get to pick one of the colours. We've gone ahead and pick one colour for you - Perfect Plum - but go nuts with #2 ;)

For my second colour, I've selected Soft Sky. I recently got the seam binding ribbon in an order and just couldn't wait to try it. 

I used the Framed Tulips for my border and brayered over them with Soft Sky. I LOVE the look of brayered embossed images! The flowers are from Fabulous Florets, stamped in Soft Sky and Perfect Plum. I cut them out and popped them up on dimensionals.

Some pearls for a little extra touch, et voila.

Check out the challenge this week:

We would love it if you stopped by and checked out what the rest of the DT has done, and play along with us!

This weekend, we are going through the huge step of moving our two boys into a room together and making an 'office' out of Jack's old room. And by 'office', I kind of mean 'craft room'... :) I currently craft in the basement, and there are have been one too many run-ins with spiders (and a cricket!) for my liking. I'll take pictures along the way to share!

Thanks for stopping by today!

-Tara

xox

Musings for MDS Monday!

Good Monday morning, friends!

This week at MDS Monday Beth has us framing our pictures with a fabulous new sketch.

I used the frames to highlight a conversation I have with my 4 year old. Some of the things he comes up with just slay me! This isn't the first page I've done with Hunter quotes ;) My frames are from the Nobody's Business kit - full of fresh and fun colours and shapes. Love it!

Check out the challenge this week:

Be sure to stop by MDS Monday and take a peek at all the wonderful samples by the design team!

Thanks for stopping by today!

-Tara
xox

Birthday By the Tide

Hello and happy Saturday!

This week we have a super awesome colour combination for you at Dynamic Duos. It's time to get your "pretty" on!

I used the fabulous new embossing folder from the Holiday Catalogue, Stylish Stripes. Fun, eh? Then I used the oh-so-fabulous By the Tide set for the image panel. I popped the shell up on some dimensionals and added some Calypso Coral and Smoky Slake banners and finished it off with an Antique Brad.

Check out the challenge colours this week:

Thanks for stopping by!

-Tara
xox


List of Supplies:
Stamps: Teeny Tiny Wishes, By the Tide
Papers: Calypso Coral DSP, Smoke Slate DSP, Crisp Cantaloupe CS, Smoky Slate CS
Embellishments: Antique Brads
Tools: Stylish Stripes Embossing Folder, Big Shot

Back to school!

Hello!

This week, Lili's got us going back to school at The Friday Mashup!

School is starting for my little boy on September 3rd, so I still have a bit of time to prepare. Although, for kindergarden, there's not much to "get ready" ;)

Last year I made Hunter this little note for his lunchbox on his first day, so I wanted to continue the tradition this year as well.

Check out the challenge this week:

1. Create a project with the "sketch Liliana created"
2. Create a project with a "school theme (books, pencils, rules, numbers, etc)"
3. Or Mash it Up and create a "School themed project using Liliana's Sketch".

Thanks for stopping by today!

-Tara
xox

A very special post for Freshly Made Sketches

I am SO excited about this post and card today, as it was created to help Freshly Made Sketches celebrate their 100th challenge!

I was very fortunate to be a guest designer at Freshly Made Sketches back in May 2012, and was super thrilled to be invited to participate in their anniversary celebrations :)

To celebrate, the ladies over at FMS have gone retro and are resurrecting their very first sketch - How fun is that? Especially when you see how awesome and versatile it is:

Please stop by Freshly Made Sketches for a list of all the fabulous designers participating in the celebration, and to check out the fun prizes that can be won for participating in this challenge!

What a wonderful milestone - Congratulations, Freshly Made Sketches! Here's to 100 more weeks of inspiration, creativity and awe-inspiring projects!

Thanks for stopping by today!

-Tara
xox

List of Supplies:
Stamps: Timeless Talk, Off the Grid
Paper: Soho Subway DSP, Crisp Cantaloupe CS, Whisper White CS
Embellishments: Island Indigo Chevron Ribbon, Island Indigo Designer Button, Island Indigo Candy Dots

TGIT! Downloads for August 20

There are some great new downloads this week for My Digital Studio! A lot of them are getting you in the mood for Fall and Thanksgiving (my favourite holiday!) Check 'em out!

Harvest of Thanks Stamp Brush Set #134930- $4.50

Magnificent Maple Stamp Brush Set #134929 - $3.50

Outdoor Exploration #134982 - $10.95

Perfectly You Stamp Brush Set #134928 - $4.50

Wanderlust Stamp Brush Set #134939 - $6.50

If you haven't tried MDS yet, you can download a free 30-day trial! It's a fabulous digital creating software! Go here to download your free trial today!

Thanks for stopping by! Be sure to come back tomorrow for a very special post!!

-Tara
xox

Christmas fun for MDS Monday

Good morning!

It's time for a new card sketch at MDS Monday and I have the immense pleasure of being your host for this week's challenge. In addition to the sketch, I'm adding in another little challenge of making an "embellishment cluster".

I'm continuing to make Christmas cards in hopes that I'll have enough designs ready by October to print and send them out. I'd like to have about 8-10 designs ready! (wish me luck).

Check out the challenge this week:

Be sure to stop by the challenge blog and check out all the lovely projects from the Design Team. We would love to see you playing along!

Thanks for stopping by today!

-Tara
xox

Black Tie at Dynamic Duos!

Hello! It's time for a brand new colour challenge at Dynamic Duos. This week we have a black tie week, which means we're also offering up a dessert option :)

 Pool Party + Basic Black (+ Embossing)

I used the Happy Day stamp for the flower/doily in the background and the faux suede technique for the larger Pool Party flowers. I love the look of that technique!

Check out the challenge this week:

Be sure to stop by and visit the rest of the design team to have a peek at their lovely creations!

Thanks for stopping by today!

-Tara
xox

Colour Blocking and Clear Block Stamping!

Oh, hey there!

Are you ready for a fab new challenge from The Friday Mashup? The oh-so-talented Amanda has a great mashup for us this week; Colour-Blocking and Clear Block Stamping.

If you've never tried these techniques before, have a peek here for Clear Block Stamping (so much fun!). Colour blocking is simply creating a background or element with big, separated chunks of colour.

I've used my long Block H to ink up Soft Sky, So Saffron and Crisp Cantaloupe. I love how it has turned out. Again, I've reached for my "go to" baby stamp set, Zoo Babies. I'm fairly confident stamps don't come cuter than this!

Check out the challenge:

1. Create a project using "Clear Block Stamping (use your clear block as a stamp)"
2. Create a project using "Colour-blocking"
3. Or Mash it Up and create a project using "Clear Block Stamping & Colour-blocking"

We can't wait to see what you come up with :)

Thanks for stopping by!

-Tara
xox

A fun new layout at MDS Monday!

Good Monday morning, friends!

This week at MDS Monday, Joan has a fabulous scrap layout for us.

I used the photo boxes to highlight my son's first day of school and his last day of school. When looking at the pictures side-by-side, I can't get over how much he changed throughout the year! He totally lost his baby face.

I used the Back to School kit for this page. 

Check out the sketch this week:

Thanks for stopping by today :)

-Tara

xox

Pink and Green at Dynamic Duos!

Hello and happy weekend!

This week at the Dynamic Duos we have a soft and subtle combination for you with Blushing Bride and Pistachio Pudding.

I went heavy on the 'neutral' this week. I used the Wildflower Meadow stamp set for the first time - what a sweet stamp!

I also used the Modern Medley DSP for the first time too, and I absolutely love the music paper. I cut out some flowers with the Flower Fusion Sizzlit Die and added some Basic Black and Very Vanilla Candy Dots (how much do you love these awesome embellishments?!)

Check out the challenge this week:

Be sure to check out what the rest of the design team has come up with! We can't wait to see how you use these colours :)

Thanks for stopping by today!

-Tara
xox

Lots of Tags for the Friday Mashup!

TGIF!

I'm so excited to be hosting over at The Friday Mashup this week! For this challenge, we've got a fun colour combo and the added challenging of incorporating a tag into your project, or making it your project altogether!

I did this fun little tag set using the new Crazy, Mixed-Up Love stamp set - which I just fell in love with immediately when I saw it in the new catty. I'm a big fan of puns and word play :)

And here they are individually:

Check out the challenge this week:

I can't decide which is my favourite! How about you? :)

Thanks for stopping by today!

-Tara
xox

Bubble fun (again!)

I made a page of bubble fun last year, and figured I may as well continue on with the theme for this week's challenge at MDS Monday! Heidi has a fabulous card sketch, and although I typically make cards for the card sketches, I side-stepped a little and came up with this:

Another part of the challenge was to use our own punch/modified punch, which Heidi so graciously made a tutorial for (thanks Heidi!). I used two; the "washi tape" punch for the red and yellow strips of washi tape, and the double flagged banner punch that I used for putting my sentiment on.

Check out the fabulous sketch this week (which I'm going to try out on a traditional card very soon!)

I would really love to see what you do with this sketch - link it up! :)

Thanks for stopping by today!

-Tara
xox

Blast from Easter past at Dynamic Duos

It's time for a bright and cheery colour combo over at Dynamic Duos!

I went for another scrapbook page this week - I'm trying to get caught up on my "back pages" these days... And then I'll start working on my "front pages"! hahah. I was doing so good scrapbooking 2013 as it happened, but I've been slacking for sure. 

This is from Easter 2012, so not too bad ;)

Check out the colours we have for you this week:

Thanks for stopping by today!

-Tara

xox

Happy Polka Dots!

Time for a new Friday Mashup challenge and this one is coming at us from Erica!

This card went through a lot of changes as it was being made. Even when I thought I was finished, I tore it all down and replaced the background DSP. Sometimes it takes longer to put these things together than others ;)

I used the I Am Me DSP, which has so many great patterns and images. The candles came from Cycle Celebration, as did the sentiment. It wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be to cut those out :) They are stamped in Real Red, So Saffron and Pool Party. I wanted to use all the colours from the DSP in that little cluster of fun.

For some extra celebration, I tossed in some stars from Simply Stars in Calypso Coral and Basic Gray. I topped off that tiny star with a very large rhinestone.

The chevrons were made with the 1" square punch and because everything else seemed to have a rhinestone, those got some too! In the end, the card weighed about 10 lbs. 

Check out the challenge this week:

1. Create a project with "Polka Dots ".
2. Create a project using "the Word Happy".
3. Or Mash it Up and create a project "with Polka Dots & The Word Happy on it ".

Thanks for stopping by!

-Tara
xox

HOLIDAY CATALOGUE RELEASE - and the last sneak peek!

It's here! It's here, it's here, it's here!

Check out the PDF, or the online flip-book!

The last sneak peek is hidden in this post, so watch out for it :)  Let's take a tour of the new catty:

As always, you'll find product suites, bundles and kits!

Check out some of my cards made with these fab bundles:

Thankful Wood-Mount Bundle ~ #133341 ($32.95)

Check out some of my cards made with these fab kits:

Merry Little Christmas Simply Created Card Kit ~ #132158 (11.95)

Check out some of my cards made with these fab product suits:

Winter Frost

Season of Style

Want to take a look at some special little goodies by occasion? 

Add a little extra spook with this fun Black & Orange Stampin' Glitter ~ #132206 ~ ($9.95 for 2)

And how else would you complete your halloween projects without Washi Tape?!

Witches Brew Designer Washi Tape ~ #132156 ($6.50)

And of course, plenty of fun creepy and crawly stamp sets to choose from! Check out the Halloween section for all these fab products!

* * * * * * * 

And if the fall air is your thing (and it's certainly mine!) you'll not want to miss the fabulous harvest product line, complete with the cozy Sweater Weather DSP and yummy kits. Check out some of the fun little extras.

1-1/4" Burlap Ribbon ~ 132140 ($9.95)

Harvest of Thanks Stamp Set 

Wood mount ~ #131736 ($25.95)

Clear mount ~ #131739 ($19.95)

PEEK-A-BOO!

Sneak Peek #6 is here, hidden in the Thanksgiving section... who could have guessed ;) I'm absolutely in love with the Thankful Tablescape Simply Created Kit ~ #133463 ($24.95)!

Let's check out some of the details:

Chalkboard labels and Stampin' Chalk Marker (part of the tablescapes kit)

Magnificent Maple stamp ~ #131868 (11.95 Wood only)

Sweater Weather DSP ~ #132184 ($13.95)

Thankful For stamp ~ #133313 ($9.95 Wood only)

** Get the Tablescapes Kit and the Thankful For stamp bundled! ~#133341 ($32.95) **

Be sure to take a swing by the Harvest section to browse through all the scrumptious Thanksgiving products!

* * * * * * * 

OK... It's time for it, my friends!! What you've all been waiting for... It's time to celebrate Christmas!

There are so many lovely stamp sets, Big Shot items, papers and embellishments that I don't even know where to start! I'll show a you my favourites from each area... hold on to your stockings, here we go!

Because who can't use more Christmas sentiments?

Christmas Messages

Wood mount ~ #131793 ($25.95)

Clear mount ~ #131970 ($35.95)

And these are just a sampling of some of the fabulous new framelits!

Envelope Liners ~ #132172 ($32.95)

These foil sheets will add just the right amount of "something special" to any card or gift wrap!

Foil Sheets

Gold ~ #132622 ($5.95)

Silver ~ #132178 ($5.95)

Christmas Ornament Punch ~ #132158 ($21.95)

** Don't forget it's coordinating stamp set - or get it in a bundle to save 15%! **

Be sure to put your bells on and jing-a-ling all the way through the Christmas section - you'll be like a kid in Santa's workshop!

* * * * * * * 

Now, I don't want to give everything away (though it may seem like I have), so be sure to check back here often and visit my online store to shop the whole catalogue!

Thanks for stopping by today - and happy shopping!

-Tara

xox