Been AWOL, a card and some fab news!!!

Hi folks!

I can't believe I haven't posted a card since last Friday!! Life certainly got in the way over the weekend although I'm not complaining because family should come first after all!!! My job is also incredibly busy at the minute and I am getting home exhausted and unable to find my mojo....... must be my age, lol!!!

Anyway, this is a card I made a couple of weeks ago for my matey Jo's daughter - I completely forgot to show it on here because I was waiting for it to arrive in the post for her birthday!

I have some fab news which I've been bursting to tell and I always find it hard to keep things under wraps.......... few, at last I can tell you all that I made it onto the Design Team for The Pixie Cottage!!! Woohoooooooo!!! What wonderful stamps I will be working with as the designers are truly talented ladies. And what a wonderful team Michele has put together, I can't wait to get to know everyone better ;o) Of course you may have already seen some of the designs which are now available, as the wonderful Janny has been hard at work creating some amazing cards...... do hop over for a look won't you. The stamps are available to buy here and I just know that you'll be itching to get your hands on some. Overseas shipping is available at a very reasonable rate so hurry before stocks sell out!! Thank you so much for choosing me Michele, I can't wait to get started!!

Card ingredients:
Papers: Basic Grey
Image: Sugar Nellie
Flowers: Prima
Leaves: Sizzix
Colouring: Polys and Koh Pencils

Thanks so much for stopping by, catch you in a while......

TTFN and TFL xxx

Simon Says Stamp - It's a Stitch Up!

Good morning everyone...... hope you are having a fantabulous weekend!!

Me? Yep, still in my PJs, lol! Well why not? I'm up and in the shower at the crack of dawn every weekday so it's nice to take the proverbial chill pill when Saturday comes. I'm looking forward to tonight with a double fest of my fave programmes to watch too...... Strictly Come Dancing featuring the FABULOUS Ricky Whittle (sitting here fanning myself.......PHEW) and of course the one and only X Factor where we find the contestants at boot camp this week......... can't wait ;o)

So onto my card....... one of my fave things to add to a card is stitching (always faux I have to admit) as I think it really gives something extra to the design. I do have a brilliant set of stitch stamps which I picked up a while back on EBay and I've used them time and again. This week's challenge over at Simon Says Stamp is stitching so I'm happy to join in as haven't had chance to enter for a while now.

I've just bought this wonderful Christmas image from Mo's Digital Pencil and I think it was such a good investment........ I LOVED colouring it in last night! You know sometimes when you're in a hurry and you don't want the colouring to take very long? Well last night I decided to take my time and I just got totally lost in the colouring stage....... had such a nice time and was pleased with the end result! When you have such an amazing image to work with I think you have to be careful not to add too much else, so I added a Christmas floral arrangement made up of Prima flowers and a blossom, chose a couple of gorgeous papers from Basic Grey's Wassail range, added a cheery sentiment (sorry but I don't know who makes this one), stamped on a zigzag stitch and included some vintage lace from my stash. The image is coloured with Polys and Koh pencils with a touch of Stickles thrown in. Finally I stuck on some mini red flat-backed pearls to look like holly berries on the door wreath...... I bought these recently at Elaine's store here and she has lots of scrummy colours!

I think this is definitely the type of Christmas card I want to make for close friends and family this year - pretty and traditional. I'll save the more funky ones for work colleagues I think. Can't believe I'm making Christmas cards already but I'm really enjoying it this year ;o)

Right then, there's a huge pile of washing calling me so I best be off to start my duties ;o(

Catch you later and enjoy your day!

TTFN and TFL, hugs Tara xxx

Squiggle Stamps DT Card Meets Charisma Cardz Challenge # 38 - Getting Sporty.........

Hello peeps!

Friday already....... YAY!!! Roll on the weekend heh? This is a card I've made using another of the super cute stamps available at Squiggle Stamps - he's Oscar With Plane and is available to buy right now. Do you think I'm pushing my luck by entering this week's Charisma Cardz Challenge with this one? The theme is getting sporty and I'm hoping a little boy flying his plane will qualify. Come on, you'll have to think laterally for this one...... sport....... playing........ it kind of works doesn't it?

I've used a mixture of papers from Kay&Co's Hopscotch range and some offcuts from BG Lime Rickey. The image has been coloured with Polys and Koh Pencils and I've added brads from my stash. The arrow is a Stamps Away stamp.

Well I hope you all have a lovely weekend and let's hope the weather stays warm for a bit longer. I think we're off out for one of those long Autumnal walks on Sunday to collect some pine cones and conkers.

TTFN and TFL, hugs Tara xxx

DT Cards for A Passion For Stamps......

Hiya peeps!

I'm going to be very quick with my post as I meant to upload these cards this morning - here are a couple of samples I made up using one of Ruth's fabulous stamps available at A Passion For Stamps, this one is 'bunny in the bath'. I thought I'd have a go at making shaped cards as I've seen this sort of thing before in blogland, but as I didn't have any templates to use I just cut them out by hand....... hope they don't look too amature, lol!





























I used papers by Kay&Co for both cards and coloured the images with Polys (Stickles added to the bubbles for sparkle). The flowers are Prima and I used some more paper lace from Around The Block. The pearls and buttons are from my stash and the sentiment is one of my faves by Studio G - I like it because it looks like a clothing label! I must just add that the brown marks on the girl card are part of the paper pattern and not dirt....... looks like I dropped a bit of gravy, lol!





























Well I told you it was a quickie tonight....... I'm off to get tea now and then I'll hopefully get to sit down later with a cuppa for a mega bloghop and catch up!!

Enjoy your evening and thanks for your visit ;o)

TTFN and TFL, hugs Tara xxx

High Hopes # 45 - Your Favourite High Hopes Image........

Good morning everyone!

What is it about being asked to make a commission that completely throws you? One of the girls at work just asked me to make a card for her Mum (panic set in straight away) and she said I had free reign to make whatever I wanted as long as I just included the word 'Mum'. She knows my style and likes what I do so she said she was happy for me to make something in my usual way......... so what could be so hard?!!!! Well I sat and pondered and worried last night, then took a break for some tea and still didn't know what to create when I came back to the table. My first image went in the bin and I really was ready to throw in the towel, lol!

Anyway, I got there eventually as you can see and decided on a High Hopes image so that I could also enter this week's challenge. I think this is one cute ladybug and definitely one of my faves and the matching sentiment was quite apt for a card being given by a daughter to her mum. So a bit of a stressful evening and it reminded me why I don't do commissions very often!!

























I used a gorgeous double-sided sheet of paper by October Afternoon and picked out some of the colours when adding my Prima flowers. My HH image was coloured with Polys and Koh pencils and you might just pick up the Sprinkles coming out of ladybug's watering can. Brads, spacers, buttons and pearls are from my stash and the border was created using paper lace by Around The Block.

Right that's me for today as I now need to drop the kids off at school and toodle on to work.

Have a good one!!

TTFN and TFL, hugs Tara xxx

A Spoon Full Of Sugar Challenge # 69 - Fall Into Autumn....

Good morning everyone!

Well here is the card I made for this week's ASFOS Challenge where the theme is 'fall into Autumn'. I, like many peeps, love to make Autumnal cards and so this challenge was right up my alley as they say, lol! I was a bit sneeped when I finished making the card last night because my hubster started laughing!!! Now rarely do I get much of a reaction from him where cards are concerned so I thought okay, at least he's noticed my work for once. So why was he laughing? Well he knows I really dislike spiders with a passion so he couldn't believe that I'd included them on my card and then added the sentiment 'so pretty'! Well he does have a point about me including spiders when I'm so scared of them but I tried to explain that the 'so pretty' part was referring to our lovely Tilda and not the flippin' spiders!! He just doesn't get it....... he thinks Tilda is strange anyway, lol! I've said it before and I'll say it again..... men, what do they know!!!

So I chose to play with one of the gorgeous Tilda's from last year's Halloween collection, she really is something else and I love that dress! Don't you think it's amazing how different she can look just by changing the colour of her hair? I rarely colour it black but I think it gives her a much more grown-up look don't you? Anyway, the yummy spider paper is by MME and is double sided, so I embossed the reverse with the Spider's Web embossing folder and sanded some of the colour away. I cut out some of the paper to create the round spider embellishments and also added lots of doodling and faux stitching. The flower is a mixture of Flora Doodle, Prima and a Mulberry Rose and I punched out some black twigs too with a Woodware punch. Finally I added some black raffia ribbon. My image was coloured with Polys and Koh pencils and there is some Stickles Glitter for extra sparkle, although you'll probably only pick that up if you zoom in.

I'm off out with the kids in a while, we're going swimming. Me, I can't stand the water but sometimes you just have to go with the flow (sorry, no pun intended), like it or not!!

Enjoy your Sunday ;o)

TTFN and TFL, hugs Tara xxx

Basic Grey Challenge 4 - Embossing......

Good morning everyone and welcome to another eagerly awaited Basic Grey Challenge.

Here are the details:

"This weeks challenge is a nice and easy one, this is one of our Lucky Draw challenges which means it can be anything at all, the challenge ideas for the Lucky Draw challenges are all put into a hat (well technically random,org hehe) and one is picked at random to be our challenge :), So the challenge picked for this week is Embossing, this can be Heat or Dry Embossing or even both if you fancy , its completely up to you :), but don't forget to use at least one item from BasicGrey if you want to be able to win our Fabulous Monthly prize, Also feel free to combine your creations with any other challenge blog that allows you to do so :)"

So it's a simple challenge for you this week as I'm sure everyone loves to include some embossing. For me it has to be dry embossing and I do love my Cuttlebug folders - the one I used on the circle is fairly new........ forgotten what it's called though as I don't save the packaging, doh! I've also included some embossed words for my sentiment as I made the card for my work colleague and friend who has just passed some exams. I think these have come out a bit faint on the piccie but they say ENJOY, YIPPEE and WONDERFUL.

I've used papers from the BG Lemonade range and a sweet Hanglar image coloured with Polys and Koh pencils. The flowers are Prima Hydrangeas and cherry blossoms and I've added some felt floral ribbon and sticky pearls from my stash.

I hope you'll get a minute to check out the wonderful cards made by my fellow teamies, the embossing looks fabulous and all so different. Plus by entering the challenge you'll have a chance to go into the draw for our amazing monthly prize......... it's sooooooooo yummy!

Well I must go and get dressed now and do some housework (groan). I'm starting on yet another diet today so I think I'll be a miserable old begger for the weeks to come, but luckily you won't be able to tell from the posts I write...... it's all in the face you know, lol!

Have a great weekend and hope you get in lots of crafty time ;o)

TTFN and TFL, hugs Tara xxxx

Squiggle Stamps DT card meets Everybody Art Challenge #57 'Shabby'.......

Good morning folks!

YAY, it's Friday already and the weekend is approaching ;o)

I've actually managed to make a boy's card! I was inspired by this gorgeous Squiggle Stamps image, such a cutie, and I knew straight away that the Basic Grey Archaic papers would be perfect. Then when I saw that the challenge over at Everybody Art was 'shabby' I was raring to go!! I really do love the grunge look, lots of inking and ripping and sanding...... just my thing!























I added some gloss to the balloon, hope you can pick that up on the photo. I also embossed the horizontal green panel for extra texture and added some lovely thick twine...... all in all a very touchy feely card.

I must dash now as I'm at work and need to make some phone calls to chase a few missing students...... I don't know, one week into term and some of them are skiving already, lol!!!

Have a lovely day peeps and thanks so much for popping by to see my creations ;o)

TTFN and TFL xxx

Tuesday Taggers Challenge - Die Cuts and Punches.......

Morning peeps!

Oh I so love this image, do you? In fact I adore every single one of Mo's fabulous images and it seems that we're all hooked judging by what I've seen recently on my travels around blogland. I have a couple of birthdays coming up for shall we say slightly older ladies, there that was nice and polite wasn't it, lol, so I thought this image and Penny Black sentiment would be sweet! I also added a Tim Holtz ticket because the old lady looks like she is having such a blissful time.

I paper pieced the skirt with paper from the new Basic Grey Indian Summer range, have you go your mitts on it yet? Soooooo scrummy and the colours are divine!! The Tuesday Taggers Challenge is this week asking us to use either die cuts or punches..... or even both..... so I cut the leaves with a BossKut die and the flowers were created from the MS Hydrangea punch. I added some little spacers to the middle of the flowers and some pearls and swirls to the edge of my image. I think the leaves help to create quite a floaty feel which is carried through by the skirt.

Well I'm off to finish my card for this weekend's Basic Grey Challenge but you still have time to enter the existing challenge where there is a beautiful picture to give you some inspiration.

Whatever you're up to today, hope you have a good one!

TTFN and TFL, hugs Tara xx

Papertake Weekly Challenge - Faking It.......

Hiya peeps!

Hope you've all had a lovely, crafty day today. I've really enjoyed playing with another Tilda from the Autumn Kit, they're so sweet and adorable! And I must say I haven't used nearly enough paper from the Basic Grey Wisteria pad so it was time to put that right today........ spent far too long stroking it, hee hee!

I was chuffed to bits when I saw the theme for this week's PTW Challenge as my card is full of faux stitching. It's the only kind I do because me and sewing machines just don't mix. Not that I won't persevere, but I think the faux stitching is pretty realistic anyway. In an attempt to ring in the changes with this card i decided not to adorn it with flowers and leaves in my usual style - instead I cut some of the beautiful dragonflies from the paper and added some flat backed pearls to them...... I'm really pleased as they look rather pretty!























As you can see, another 'fake' is Tilda's pearls, she just can't afford the real thing you know, despite dropping the biggest of hints to Edwin..... men heh!

As usual I coloured the image with Polys and Koh pencils, I'm feeling very at home with this colouring medium now but I feel I should stretch myself soon and see if I can get to grips with those Distress Inks!!

Well we're having homemade pizza and salad for tea so I'll be back in a flash when we've polished it off!

TTFN and TFL, hugs Tara xxx

Squiggle Stamps DT card meets Tuesday Taggers 'Make a Bookmark'.....

Morning folks!

Firstly I would just like to say a huge 'thank you' to everyone who has left me messages this weekend whilst I've been poorly - if ever there was a great 'pick me up' tonic that was it! It was lovely to know that people were wishing me a speedy recovery and it certainly did the trick - I feel much better today although I'm not at work because I'm still a bit sore and the antibiotics have made me feel quite sick! I must have been feeling unwell - hardly even looked at my stash which rarely happens, lol!

I had made a start on this project before I started to feel unwell and I would like to thank the lovely Claudia for the inspiration she gave me here. I couldn't wait to have a go and when I saw the theme over at Tuesday Taggers I decided to slot bookmarks into the apron. I didn't follow a template for the design - just had a go at cutting it by hand and it seemed to work out okay. I have used another of the gorgeous designs available at Squiggle Stamps, this one is Cupcake Girl. Do check out what's available won't you - there are some adorable Christmas Elves which have just landed on the shelves looking very mischevious I must say!!
























For the apron I've used MME papers and some Bazzill Just the Edge strips to edge the design (can't you tell I just love these)?! The ribbon and buttons are from my stash and I've coloured my image with Polys. I generated the sentiment on the computer and thought I could hang the apron by my cookbooks and then use the bookmarks when I see something yummy I'd like to cook up. Last night I made a scrummy fish pie with smoked haddock as I needed some comfort food - unfortunately the house pongs a bit today though, lol!

I'm off to have a huge hop around your blogs now - I must have missed loads over the weekend so I can't wait to feast my eyes on lots of beautiful creations!

TTFN and thanks once more for your kind wishes and cyber hugs!

Tara xxx

Quick update.......

Just thought I'd give you a quick update...... the good news is I don't have Swine Flu but the bad news is I have a nasty case of Mastitis and had to go to hospital this morning for some strong antibiotics. I'm feeling really groggy so I'll lie low for a day or two until things get back to normal. Will miss you all ;o(
Toodles for now, hugs Tara xx

A Passion for Stamps DT card meets Stamp Something Challenge - Favourite Embellishment

Evening folks!

I'm afraid I won't be on here long tonight - just about to go to bed! I left work a little bit early this afternoon because I had a headache and felt achy......... now I'm really shivery and burning up at the same time......... oh dear, no piggy jokes please, could it be the lurgy?! Two students have been sent home from college this week with Swine Flu so it's certainly possible I could have picked it up!

Anyway, I hope you'll forgive me for not going into detail about my card tonight - I just wanted to let you see this gorgeous image as soon as possible. It's 'Kitten at Wall' available now at A Passion for Stamps and I think you'll agree there sits one very cuddly moggy! I'm entering the card into this week's Stamp Something Challenge, make something with your fave embellishment........ well that always has to be flowers for me so that's what I did!































Here's an extra photo to show the paper bag gift holder I decorated to match the card - I bought these in a bargain shop, 99p for 10 and they're so easy to embellish.

I'll hopefully be back in the morning to add some details of the materials I've used, but that pillow is calling me just now. If I'm not back this weekend you'll know why, EEEKKK!

Have a great weekend everyone!

TTFN and TFL, hugs Tara xxxx

Sitting Tilda from the Magnolia Fall Kit - ABC Challenge 'D' is for.....

Hi folks!

It's been a few days - I'm really sorry but I have been uber busy at work and have been working on things which needed to be posted before being shown here. Hopefully everything I sent yesterday has now arrived so I'll start by showing you this card I made for Rowena to send with the blog candy she won. I couldn't resist inking up another Tilda from the Magnolia Autumn kit and also stamped out the floral arch twice to create a circle for her to sit in. It's no mean feet getting those two arches lined up you know and numerous bits of card ended up in the bin!!























I coloured the image with Polys and used some yummy embossed paper from one of the new LLB ranges. The leaves are from my trusty Sizzix die and the flowers are Prima Hydrangeas. The doily, ric rac and flat pearls are from my stash. I like the Summery feel of this card but I think things will be starting to turn much more Autumnal now as I'm about to dive into my new Basic Grey pads I received today from The Craft Emporium, YAY! Apologies for the bright colours in the piccie - I think I was a bit heavy handed with the colour boost option in my editing programme, lol!!

I'm entering my card into the fab ABC Challenge where this week we have 'D' is for die cuts........ my trusted Sizzix leaves fit this category very nicely!

I hope you've had a sunny day today, seems we're getting a bit of an Indian Summer at last - good news if you're like me and don't fancy putting your heating on yet ;o)

Take care and thanks for stopping by.

Hugs Tara xx

Morning folks!

Well I have decided that my two fave techniques at the minute are paper piecing and faux stitching so I've combined them both for this card. I know we say it everytime a new kit is released but I really do think this is the best one Magnolia have produced, I lurve it! So many possibilities and I reckon you could make nice Christmas cards too........ imagine a recipe for gingerbread cookies, YUM!




























I've used papers from the Basic Grey Marakesh range, doesn't blue work well with orange?! The heart brads and lace are from my stash and the pumpkin is a Sizzlit die. I coloured Tilda with Polys and added some gloss to her spoon and shoes. I haven't decided which challenge to enter this card into yet - there might not even be one but I'll have a nosy around later.

I'm at work now so I'm off to grab some lunch and then it's up to the staff room to do some archiving....... oh joy!!!

Catch you all later then, TTFN and TFL!

Hugs Tara xxx

The winner of my Bank Holiday blog candy is........

Number 138 picked by Random Generator - Rowena of CraftyPagan Designs who said......

"Oooooo what yummy candy! Ahhh all those delish k and co papers! I've popped your candy on my sidebar and shall be keeping my fingers crossed! I'm following you now anyway because your creations are gorgeous! Hugs, Rowena"

Congratulations to you!! If you email me with your address via the link on my profile I can get your goodies sent out to you.

I must thank each and every person who entered the draw and all the lovely comments you left. It was lovely to have visits from all around the world and I am enjoying visiting your blogs.

Sorry for those of you who weren't successful - I wish everyone could win!! I will have more candy for you very soon, promise ;o)

Hugs Tara xx