Friday 30 October 2009

Basic Grey Week 7 - Photo Inspiration.....


Good morning everyone!
Welcome to a new Basic Grey Challenge where, this week, we have a picture for you to draw inspiration from. There is lots you can draw from this I think..... colours, patterns, textures, furniture, accessories.......and I'm sure there are plenty of papers and embellies available in the Basic Grey range to choose from! I used papers from no less than THREE different collections: Infuse, Wassail and Offbeat!!!

One of the things I used for inspiration from the picture was the roman blind, which I tried to recreate by folding some paper at the bottom of my card. I also used the vase of twigs as my inspiration for the main background paper which I think has a twig-like pattern on. I was about to discount the chair until I remembered that I had this gorgeous chair image from one of the earlier Whiff of Joy collections and so I set about paper piecing the body of it to mirror the patterns on the sofa and cushions in the picture...... speaking of cushions, I cut out part of the paper and raised it on the chair to add a cushion of my own.

The flower was created by roughly cutting out some circles, scrunching them up and then layering them together...... I did this with larger and smaller circles and then stapled the whole lot together, before scrunching some more and tinging with Distress Ink. I think anything goes with flowers at the minute and the scruffier the better in my book!!

I know you'll be impressed by what my teamies have come up with, fabulous as always.... I do hope you can hop over and pay them a visit. I look forward to seeing what you create with this new brief and would like to say a huge thank you to everyone who participates and makes the challenge the success we all dreamed it would be!

Enjoy your weekend and stay safe ;o)

TTFN and TFL, hugs Tara xxx

Yummy Candy For You......


Hi folks!
Just a quick post to let you know about some yummy candy over at The Pixie Cottage! Here are the details in Michelle's own words:

This Blog Candy includes six Pixie Cottage stamps, including one mystery stamp from a new illustrator that will soon be joining us.
To qualify for this blog candy all you have to do is post this Pixie Cottage Candy on your blog and tell us on your blog which stamp is your favorite from the five showing and why. You must use a direct link back to this blog.
This candy will end November 22, and winner will be announced on November 23. Drawn randomly. MSRP of prize is $65.94

Hop over and get your entry in quick, this is certainly a prize well worth getting hold of!!! You can see the girl with sledge on a card I made here.

I'm off to get inky, TTFN xxxxxx

Thursday 29 October 2009

Pixie Cottage DT Card......



Hiya folks!

This is going to be a very brief post as I'm off out with the kids in a few minutes.

I just wanted to show you another Pixie Cottage DT card I've made using Ornery Kitten by the wonderfully talented Sandra Hammer...... this gorgeous stamp is available to buy here right now!

I used my lovely Woodware punch and emboss leaf to create the foliage...... there was a serious amount of scrunching and distressing carried out I can tell you, lol!! I then added little punched flowers and some small oak leaves from a MS punch. The image is coloured with my Poly and Koh pencils and the papers are Indian Summer by Basic Grey. I created the frame using a piece of paper from Basic Grey's Eskimo Kisses collection, which has been made to look like wood. The sentiment and sticky pearls are from my stash.

Hope you like...... I think I've used the image in such a way that shows it isn't just suitable for Halloween..... this is just a simple Autumn birthday card.

Have a great day and I'll be back to catch up with you all this evening..... toodles for now!

TTFN and TFL, hugs Tara xx

Wednesday 28 October 2009

The Pixie Cottage # 2 - 'Celebrate'......


Hiya folks!

I can't believe it's now a fortnight since the last Pixie Cottage Challenge and would like to say a huge 'thank you' to everyone who supported our launch! Don't forget to check back and see if you've won the prize or made our top three! I notice lots of you now have your mitts on the wonderful Pixie Cottage stamps available at Michelle's Store, but don't forget that you are more than welcome to enter the challenges with any stamps you choose....... and this week's theme couldn't be easier, just go ahead and 'celebrate'!

I decided to celebrate the birth of a baby with my card as I like to have a few baby cards stored in my card box. The image I've used will be available very soon..... how cute is this bear in the little pod of peas?!!! I used one of the circular cards my buddy Chris very kindly sent me (thanks hun) and everything else is available right now at Michelle's Store..... the Basic Grey papers, the flowers and the sticky pearls.

I coloured my image with Polys and Koh pencils and embossed the sentiment with a Cuttlebug folder, finally punching a couple of butterflies with a Woodware punch.

Please check out the wonderful designs created by my fellow teamies won't you and don't forget you have two weeks to get your entry in!!

TTFN and TFL, hugs Tara xxx

Tuesday 27 October 2009

Magnolia Down Under Challenge # 25 - Distressing.....


Good morning everyone!
Today I'm showing you my entry to the Magnolia Down Under Challenge which, this fortnight, is 'distressing'. And at the same time I'm showing Edwin some love!!! Don't we neglect the poor fella?! He really is so cute and does not deserve to sit in the drawer, all alone in the darkness ;o( And doesn't he look just scrummy in that wetsuit..... watch out Tilda, I think you'll be in for a bit of competition from those Gorjuss girls or maybe Miss Anya if you're not careful, ROFL!!

The DT girls have mostly created easel cards for the challenge this week too, so I decided to incorporate that into my design...... I, like many other peeps, am loving this shape and I think it's definitely here to stay. The only thing I thought might be a bit strange with my card is that it's very Summery and we're well into Autumn and Winter cards now - then I remembered that over in Australia the weather is lovely this time of year (think barbeque on the beach on Christmas day!) amd so, as this is the Magnolia Down Under Challenge, I think my card will pass nicely, YAY!!

I've used Basic Grey Lime Rickey papers (another set I've been struggling with) and Prima Hydrangea flowers. The waves are a Bazzill Just The Edge strip and the leaves are a Sizzix die. Edwin has been coloured with Poly and Koh pencils and I added a little Stickles to his surf board.

I'm off to work now.... late start because the kids are coming in with me today and I didn't want to get them up too early as it's their half term break!

Have a great day!!

TTFN and TFL, hugs Tara xxx

Sunday 25 October 2009

Pixie Cottage DT Card meets Colour Create # 30 All White.....


Good evening lovely peeps!

It's dark already!!!! I know I'm weird but I soooooo love this time of year.... all cozy and warm in the house, yummy Winter meals and good TV to watch. Okay so it is a bit of a nightmare colouring images in artificial light and photographing cards is problematic to say the least, but even so this is still my fave time of year, especially as it now seems like Christmas is fast approaching ;o)

I've waffled enough so I'll get on with the job in hand! This card has been made as part of the Saturday Showcase over at The Pixie Cottage, where this week we bring you cards and projects with a Winter's theme. I've used one of Sandra's amazing designs which is Hannah pulling her sled...... if you hop over to Sandra's blog you can see more of her artwork and this will give you a taste for some of the new stamps you can buy over at Michelle's store.



I'm also entering my card into this week's Colour Create Challenge where the theme is 'All White'....... okay so my colours are definitely dirty white but I'm sure that's allowed. In colouring my image I did something different for a change, I took out a pallette of glimmer chalks, rubbed my finger into the colours I needed and then just smudged the chalk onto the design! I did use pencils for the sleigh and hair, but everything else is just a result of me getting messy with my fingers. You can't tell from the piccies but the image has a nice, soft glimmer when it catches the light.

The background paper is Basic Grey Wassail and then I used some glittered off white card to create my snowy layers. The sentiment is a Cuttlebug embossing folder cut into sections and the snowflake is a Cuttlebug cut and emboss die. The flower is Prima and the pearl brad comes from Bev's candy.

I hope you'll have time to check out what the other girlies have made over at the Pixie Cottage, as there are some fab cards made with lots of the latest releases and pre-releases, very exciting stuff I have to say!

I'm off for a quick blog hop now and then a candlelit bath..... if I stay in to soak for long enough then hubster might even make a start on the tea, hee hee!

Thanks so much for stopping by, it really is appreciated so much ;o)

TTFN and TFL, hugs Tara xxx

UPDATE: It worked!!! Whilst I sat back in the tub, hubster came up with a very tasty bowl of pasta thank you very much, wink! xxx

Saturday 24 October 2009

Magnolia Down Under Challenge - Trick or Treat.....



Good morning peeps - hope you are enjoying your weekend so far, even if it is a bit dreary today!

I had great fun making this card in the week for the Magnolia Down Under Challenge..... this week's theme is Trick or Treat and I certainly had to get my thinking cap on! You see I only have one Autumn/Halloween Magnolia stamp to use and already inked it up just a couple of weeks back here..... and I really don't like using the same image twice in quick succession. So I decided I was just going to have to pimp another Tilda for this challenge and I actually had great fun in doing so! In fact that led me to thinking what a great idea for a challenge that would be..... pimp your Tilda or Edwin so that they end up working in a completely different way!

I took a sweet Tilda from the Butterfly release and cut off her wings...... ouch! Sorry Miss T but it just had to be done, lol! Anyhow, I think she looks just fine in her altered bat costume instead and now my card fits the brief in question, YAY!!

The papers I've used are from Basic Grey's Eerie range, these really are fabby! My flowers are Prima and the goo border was created with a MS border punch. I coloured my images with Poly and Koh pencils and added some stickles to the kitty's wings.

Now I'm off to clean the bathroom..... yippee, I sure know how to live it up heh?! Catch you later ;o)

TTFN and TFL, hugs Tara xx

Friday 23 October 2009

My Time To Craft # 82 - Halloween Colours....


Good morning friends, are we happy to see Friday? I certainly am as I'm off work today - swapped my usual day off which is a Wednesday because my son has an inset day and so has broken up already for half term....... I'm also looking after his friend and as I type this they are sat in the front room watching 'Big' and munching on some sweeties. As a result I hope to get a couple of cards done for DT work which is fast approaching, yikes..... best get my skates on then!!

I thought I'd have a go at an easel card for this project and I've used one of the fabulous stamps sent to me by Tracey when I was still part of the Squiggle Team. This one is Daisy and Toadstools and I think she's perfect for Autumn cards. I followed the brief over at My Time To Craft where we're asked to use Halloween colours but not necessarily for a Halloween card.


The papers I've used are Cosmo Cricket 'Earth Love' and for the black swirls I made use of some more strips from my Bazzill Just The Edge range, these really are so versatile! The flower is layers of Prima flowers and everything else is from my stash.

Hope you enjoy the rest of today and the weekend ahead...... the sun is trying to peek through so maybe we're heading for some Autumn sunshine ;o)

TTFN and TFL xxx

Thursday 22 October 2009

Sketch Saturday # 73......


Good morning everyone!

I keep thinking it's Friday already....... now that's not good, no lie in tomorrow after all!!

I had a ball making this card for the current Sketch Saturday Challenge...... now I did alter things a touch but I think you can still see the original layout somewhere in there, lol! This is just one of those times when the card resembles the picture I started out in my head with, YAY! I think this is my fave Christmas card of all those I've made so far and I do so love Mo's gorgeous image! I saw this sentiment years ago on a card somewhere and stored it in the old brainbox for future use....... 'tis a great phrase to go with this particular image don't you think, hee hee!


I coloured the image with Poly and Koh pencils and added lots of yummy glitter...... hope you can pick up the sparkly flakes! I think the papers are Cosmo Cricket and the snowflake is a Cuttlebug die....... everything else is from my stash.

Right then, back to the paper work for me but I'm sure I'll be able to sneak back on for peek at your work during the working day........

TTFN and TFL xxx

Wednesday 21 October 2009

House Mouse # 54 'Movies' meets Colour Create # 29 'Red, Yellow, Black and White'.....


Good morning folks!

I'm back again with another card, on a bit of a roll this week!! This card is for the House Mouse Challenge where the theme is movies and also Colour Create where the colours this fortnight are red, yellow, black and white.


I think the House Mouse theme is a brilliant idea and I had a good laugh looking at all the DT entries..... some brilliant ideas girls! Well I don't have too many HM stamps but my fave is definitely the one of used here and straight away I thought of The Bee Movie. It's a great kids film but there's lots of clever reference to stuff which adults can appreciate, I can thoroughly recommend it if you haven't yet seen it! The colours at Colour Create are certainly quite a challenge, but I was able to create the idea of film reels across the top and bottom of my card to incorporate the black and then of course the bee costumes are yellow. Overall I've had quite a bright and colourful week so far, haven't I?

The papers I've used are from the Basic Grey June Bug collection again....... it's well and truly getting an airing now!! The film strips are Bazzill Just the Edge strips and I've coloured the little rabbits with Poly and Koh pencils and added some glitter to the wings..... everything else is from my stash.

Well I'll love you and leave you then, working again (groan)....... enjoy the rest of your day ;o)

TTFN and TFL, hugs Tara xx

Tuesday 20 October 2009

Just Magnolia # 27 - Bright and Zingy....


Good morning peeps!

Sunglasses required this morning I think..... not because we're having lovely sunny weather but because of my card, lol! This one is for Just Magnolia's Bright and Zingy Challenge and I was persuaded to use my Basic Grey June Bug papers for once! I have to buy everything new Basic Grey paper pack as it comes out but I must admit I've struggled a bit with June Bug, just as I did when Lime Rickey came out. Anyway, I was determined to get over this mental block so this card is my result...... the reason for the sentiment is that I've sent the card to Sharon who turned the big 50 very recently!

I used a Tilda from the Autumn Kit and decided to paper piece her as I love this effect so much (and it's great if you're not in the mood for too much colouring, hee hee)! The flowers are Prima and I used a MS border punch for the white panels.

I'm keeping this short as I'm a busy bee at work today, so I'll toodle off and will catch you all later. I really appreciate you stopping by for a nosy today and would like to say a huge thank you to those who take time out to leave me a comment ;o)

TTFN and TFL, hugs Tara xx

Sunday 18 October 2009

Sunday Sketch and Stamp # 13 - Clare's Sketch....


Good morning fellow bloggers!

Hope you are well and having a nice Sunday....... I'm still in my PJs, YAY!!!

This is a card I made for the Sunday Sketch and Stash Challenge where I found a lovely sketch to follow this week. And I'm delighted to be able to showcase another wonderful image created by Alisa Ramirez for The Pixie Cottage, which you can buy as a stamp right now over at Michelle's Scrapbooking and More.

I felt that this image was just crying out to be paper pieced so that's exactly what I did, using some of the pretty papers from the Papermania Blueberry Hill collection. I pleated some of the paper for the panel running across my card and edged this with white card cut with the MS Doily Border punch. The flowers are Prima Hydrangeas (you can never have too many of these can you?) and the beautiful pearl centres are from Bev's candy. I finished with some faux stitching and a Melissa Frances rub-on and voila!...... a card ready to send to a close friend!



Before I go I must just share with you that I have made the difficult decision to step down from the Squiggle Stamps Design Team although I have really enjoyed working with Tracy and all the girls......... so there is now a vacancy and Tracy is calling for a new member to join the team, so if you're interested you can find details on the blog here. Good luck!!!

Sometimes the old mojo takes a hike but today I'm on a roll for a change so I'm off to get sticky........ see you later!!

TTFN and TFL, hugs Tara xxx

Friday 16 October 2009

Basic Grey Week Six - A Colour Combo....


Good afternoon peeps!

Sorry my post is a bit late today for the Basic Grey Challenge but I was out early this morning with the kids, shopping and going to see a movie! We had a really nice time and the movie was funny, so well worth having to forfeit a lie in!!!



Well we have a fab colour combo for you to use this week and I have a funny feeling I might know which papers many of you will be using?! I had a good old root around in my image box for this card and came up with a wonderfully festive Kerry Jo image, what a cutie heh? The scrummy papers are Eskimo Kisses and the snowflake is part of a recent candy win. I used Prima flowers and ribbon and gems from my stash.



We have our lovely guest Ruth with us again this week and she has used another gorgeous stamp from her new range which is available here. My teamies have pulled out all the stops as always and I think there are some really gorgeous images to be seen this week, so please do hop on over! And don't forget that each month we have a fabby prize on offer too!


I'm off to check out what everyone else has been up to now - I really love hopping around and checking out all the wonderful creations ;o)

TTFN and TFL xxx

Thursday 15 October 2009

A 'Get Well' Card for our Lovely Friend Riet......


Good morning everyone!

As you can see by the title of my post, this is a card for our lovely friend Riet who is very poorly at the moment. She is always such a friendly blogger taking time to visit hundreds of blogs every week and her presence in the crafting world is greatly missed at the minute. I'm sure you will all join with me in wishing her a speedy recovery as we send our wishes to her and her family.

I have used one of Ruth's lovely images from A Passion for Stamps - this one is Jenny in Bed and is available now. The papers I've used are all from the Basic Grey Blush range, the flowers are EK Success and Woodware punches and the sentiment is a Tim Holtz ticket.



Today at work we're having a fund raising day for Breast Cancer, as October is Breast Cancer Awareness month. We're all dressed in pink from head to toe and we've baked lots of pink goodies to sell........ I wish you could smell my office just now, it's sugar heaven, lol!

You will see a link on the sidebar of my blog where you can visit the official Breast Cancer site and click to provide a free mammogram....... please spend a couple of minutes doing that today....... thank you sooooooo much ;o)



Finally I would just like to thank my teamie Renata for this award, bless you girlie ;o)

Have a great day folks, I'll be back tomorrow with my card for a new Basic Grey Challenge.
TTFN and TFL, hugs Tara xxx

Charisma Cardz # 41 - It's So Distressing....



Good morning everyone! What happened to the weather today?!!! Misty, grey and rainy.....YUK!!! I believe we're in for a nice weekend though so that's okay ;o)

I've entered this card into this week's Charisma Cardz Challenge where the theme is to distress. Rather than tear I decided to ink on this occasion to give a darker tinge to all the lines. I used lots of the yummy goodies Bev sent me for my candy win..... aren't those Poinsettias fabulous!!! And I'm totally in love with this WOJ Henry Mouse image..... too cute!!



Michele sent me some flowersoft from her online store to have a play with this week and it's the first time I've ever used it...... what lovely stuff it is and so versatile. It adds that little bit of dimension you need on a card sometimes. Michele has just taken a big delivery and you can see all the colours available here. She has also taken delivery of the WOJ Henry Mouse range but be quick, they're selling fast!!

Well I'm sat here at work about to tackle a huge pile of registers and sicknotes (groan) so I'd better get to it......... catch you later my friends ;o)

TTFN and TFL, hugs Tara xxx

Wednesday 14 October 2009




Helloooooooooooo! Welcome to the very first challenge for The Pixie Cottage where we have a wonderful sketch for you to follow!



I had lots of fun working with this one although I did flip it and tweak it a bit..... hope you can still recognise the original design, lol!

Here is the information you need to join in with the challenge in more detail:

Here at Pixie Cottage, we are sooo excited to invite you to play along with the Pixie Challenge! Every other Wednesday we will host a challenge, and we want you to play! Prizes and fun and inspiration abound, and because you have a week and a half to get your entry in, there is plenty of time to find your creative magic...

- You may combine this challenge with others
- You can use any products or stamps (you aren't restricted to just using Pixie Cottage, although we would love to see how you use our products too!)
- Post your creation on your blog with a direct link to the Pixie Cottage blog
- Leave a comment with a link to your blog post with your entry
- Create a card, scrapbook page, altered box... no limit to your creativity!
- Entries due by midnight (EST) on the October 25th
- Winners will be announced on Wednesday, October 28th, along with the next challenge!

The Design Team will also choose our top three entries, each of whom will get a super cutie little button to put on their blog! But wait! There's more! The top three will also be in the running for a spot as a guest DT!

You may flip the sketch if you like, and most importantly - have fun!


So there you have it - I really hope you can join in and wouldn't it be fab to win some Pixie Cottage stamps in the process! Please hop over to the blog and check out what my teamies have created, wow! You will certainly get a taste for all that lovely rubba!

For my card I used Ballerina Fairy by Alisa Ramirez and coloured her with Poly and Koh pencils. I added lots of glitter to her wings which you can hopefully pick up from the picture. The papers are a mixture of October Afternoon and K&Co and the floral embellishments were created by cutting out parts of the paper.

I'm off to make a start on one or two new projects now but I will be back a little later to catch up with everyone.

Before I go I must just thank everyone who left such wonderful comments regarding my guest DT application for Magnolia Down Under........ it means such a lot and even if I'm not chosen I know that all you lovely peeps appreciate my creations..... bless you!

TTFN and TFL, hugs Tara xxxx

Monday 12 October 2009

Guest DT Call - Magnolia Down Under Store......

Hi all!

Hope you had a nice weekend and are looking forward to the week ahead! Whilst blog hopping earlier I came across a DT call for a guest to join the team at the Magnolia Down Under store and I couldn't resist having a go!!!


Here are the details:


Yup we are looking for a guest for 3 months for the Magnolia Down Under *Store* and to enter has never been easier….
Add our logo to your sidebar, (can be found in the sidebar).
We would like you to prepare a blog post for us showcasing your favourite handmade creations. It, or they, can be from last year, last month, last week or yesterday. Doesn’t have to have a Magnolia, but would be a bonus. And leave a link back to this guest design team call post so that others know where to apply.
That’s it! It’s open to everyone WORLDWIDE. If you need more details please feel free to contact me with any questions you may have kelliewinnell@yahoo.com.au
What you get from joining our creative team…
Your work will get showcased on our blog.
You’ll receive a DT kit personally prepared for you with lots of Magnolialicious bits and bobs to keep you happy while creating with us
Whats expected from you?
To post on your blog about any advertising needed for the store.
To participate in any challenges held for the store.
2-4 cards/projects per month with links to store and or blog.
This position is for 3 months…




I've chosen a selection of my more recent cards to showcase for the application, my favourite being the last one...... that gorgeous bird!



















You have until 17th October to enter and the results will be announced the day after. Good luck to everyone who enters ;o)
Sorry I haven't been about much for the last few days........ been chasing my tail and I haven't quite caught it yet, lol! Hope I haven't missed too many peeps and I will do my best to catch up later when I get home from work!!
TTFN and TFL xxx

Saturday 10 October 2009


Good afternoon folks and I really hope you have a fab weekend!

I'm very exited today because it's all happening over at The Pixie Cottage! Rather than try to explain it myself, here's what is happening in Michelle's words:


Today is the first Saturday of The Pixie Cottage Design Team Showcase!

Every other Saturday the Design Team will showcase some of The Pixie Cottage stamps, with a particular theme in mind. (Today's is fall... of course) We will also try to provide you with some cards that use the newest released stamps. (Even sometimes before they are available for sale!)

Also, get ready for our Once Upon a Wednesday Challenge! Kristen will be setting that up here on this blog this week, so watch for details. Just so you know you will be welcome to use any stamps in this challenge and I will be providing the prizes! Of course the wonderful gals on the design team will be providing examples for the challenge!!

Do hop over and take a look as the DT really have provided some stunning work. I'm just getting to know my new teamies and they have made me feel really welcome ;o) I hope you can also visit Michelle's store to check out the full range of Pixie Cottage stamps, some of which are available now, some for preorder and some coming very soon. The ladies who design these stamps have a wealth of talent and I know there will be something to suit every taste. Whilst you're at Michelle's Store you will notice that she has lots more in the way of yummy goodies to tempt you, including a brilliant selection of Magnolia stamps!

The image on my card is Little Witch created by Alisa Ramirez and she seriously is 'Too Cute To Spook'!!! Have you seen those gorgeous eyes and amazing eyelashes.........SWEET!!! I coloured the image with Poly and Koh pencils and then masked her to add the Halloween fence from Magnolia. My flower was created using a Bigz Sizzix die and I just scrunched and then inked the edges for definition. I managed to get hold of the new MS Goo punch last week and was amazed to find out that it cut through quite thick cardstock...... the doily lace punch definitely won't punch through anything more than paper!!! I used a mixture of Basic Grey papers and embossed the green paper with the Cuttlebug Pumpkin folder.

Well that's it for me today....... I spent the whole morning doing the housework and washing, so now I can spend and hour or two getting messy with paper and glue........ must have tea out of the way and be settled down for early evening TV though........ first live show on X-Factor tonight, soooooo can't wait for that......... and of course there's Strictly to watch too!!!! YAY!!!!

Thanks for stopping by today, TTFN and TFL!

Hugs Tara xxx

Wednesday 7 October 2009

Colour Create meets Friday Sketchers.....


Good morning everyone!

Well i think I'm too late for the Colour Create Challenge; Hot Pink, Dusty Pink and Ice Chocolate, even though I made this card with the theme in mind. I have just about made it for the Friday Sketchers Challenge this week though where there is a brilliant sketch by the lovely Claudia which was great fun to work with. I've used another of the wonderful stamps by A Passion for Stamps but have only inked the top part of this gorgeous couple and have just coloured tiny bits of the image. The idea was to create a bit of a vintage look by distressing with Distress Ink to age the card. Those scrumptious Prima flowers were sent to me in a RAK by my fantabulous matey Jo - thank you so much matey...... I have to tell you there was a lot of stroking going on with these beauties before I could finally part with them on a card! Even then it was a definite case of shall I use one or two, lol!!!



Ingredients:
Papers: Basic Grey
Image: A Passion For Stamps
Hearts: Aud Design
Colouring: Distress Inks/Koh Pencils
Flowers: Prima
Sentiment: Tim Holtz

I hope you all have a nice day today...... I'm off to work now but I really would rather be chilling at home!

TTFN and TFL, hugs Tara xx

I have Copic Ciao Pen Sets For Sale.......

Hiya folks!

Just to let you know I have three sets of Copic Ciao pens for sale as follows:

Set A - 36 pens

Set B - 36 pens

Set C - 36 pens

I bought these pens a few months ago thinking I would make the leap from ProMarkers to Copics but I just haven't grown to love them like I though I would. I much prefer using pencils and blender and still sometimes use my ProMarkers if I'm in a hurry. I am also now experimenting with my Distress Ink pads for colouring in, so it seems a shame to have these sets stood idol. I know that lots of you out there are brilliant with Copics so these sets would be just perfect for anyone wishing to build up a collection.

The sets really have had VERY little use and are in 'as new' condition. I am asking £48 per set with an additional £3 for postage (they will be sent by Special Delivery to the UK only). As these pen sets are retailing at a minimum of £58 now plus postage, this is a great saving for anyone who is interested. If you would like all three sets then postage will be just £6 for the lot.

Please email me if you are interested and I can send you photos if you would like to see them........ they are all boxed.

Big hugs, Tara xxx

Candy Winner..........

The winner of the Squiggle Stamps giveaway, chosen by Random Generator, is...................


NUMBER 18 - DRAGONLADY


Hugwe congrats hun, please email me your addy and I'll get yuor prize sent out to you!

Thanks to everyone who entered and for telling me about your worst pressie....... what a giggle!!!!

Have a great day, hugs Tara xxx

Monday 5 October 2009

Squiggle Stamps Project and a Candy Giveaway!!!




Good morning everyone!

Hope you had a lovely weekend....... it went to quickly as always don't you think?! And this morning I've just been out to put the kids' school stuff in the car, only to find out how chilly and wet it is...... brrrrrr! Those Autumn mornings are definitely upon us!!

Anyway, enough waffle from me, I'm here to show you a couple of Christmas door hangers I made last week using the adorable new images from Squiggle Stamps. These are the boy and girl elves and are just the cutest! So cute in fact that Tracy at Squiggle has kindly given me a set to give away, along with an adorable little monster boy seen on a card I made here.



All you need to do to be in with a chance of winning the stamps is leave me a comment below...... and just for fun I would like to know what your worst ever received Christmas pressie is, lol! Mine was a bottle of bubble bath given to me a long time ago by a distant relative....... nothing wrong with that I hear you saying..... except that when I came to use it it was only half full!!!! It seems she must have taken a liking to it before she wrapped it up!

I will choose a winner at random tomorrow morning at 8am, so you haven't got long to enter..... good luck!!!! And if you aren't lucky enough to win this time then hop over to Squiggle Stamps because the Elves are on offer just now!

Ingredients:
Papers: MME
Image: Squiggle Stamps
Die Cut Shapes: MME
Colouring: ProMarkers
Die Cut Snowflakes: Sizzix

TTFN and TFL xxx

Saturday 3 October 2009

Basic Grey # 5 - Martine's Sketch


Good afternoon peeps!

Welcome to another challenge from Basic Grey and apologies for the lateness of my card which I will explain later in the post! We have an amazing sketch to work with this week created by the boss lady herself Martine and I loved working with it! I used papers from the Wisteria range and a stunning image sent to me a very long time ago by the lovely Gina....... sometimes when you're sent an image you just have to sit on it a while until the right day comes along. I have to say I was a bit worried about colouring her in but really enjoyed it in the end and I think the glitter (part of the candy I won from Kath) looks really pretty!



The girlies on the DT have produced stunning creations for you as always and would be so pleased to receive a visit on their individual blogs I'm sure ;o) And don't forget that if you enter the challenge you may be picked to go into this month's drawer for another amazing prize!

So, why was I late uploading my card today? Well I had hoped to post it this morning before going out but overslept, so then everything was the usual mad rush and there was no time. I took the kids all the way to Altrincham, just outside Manchester, as they were invited to an ice skating party. As I was driving them there anyway I thought I might as well have a skate......... big mistake....... I was RUBBISH!!! Took me twenty minutes just to do one lap and that was with both hands firmly gripping the side barrier the whole time, lol! That's the longest two hours I think I've experienced for a while!!! Then on the way back we got lost, arghhhhh!

Never mind, I'm home now and just about to have a nice soak in the bath to relieve my poor old feet........ there's a chicken in the oven and X-Factor and Strictly are on TV tonight, so all is good with the world really. Plus it's windy outside and the leaves are falling rapidly from the trees, my kind of weather I have to say when you're all cozy indoors!

Ingredients:
Papers: Basic Grey
Image: received in RAK
Flat Backed Pearls: Quixotic Paperie
Colouring: Polys and Koh Pencils
Sentiment: K&Co

Have a lovely evening and don't forget to batten down those hatches if it's windy near you..... I love that expression, hee hee!

TTFN and TFL xxx

Friday 2 October 2009

Crafty Calender Challenge # 1 - Autumn



Good morning my crafty friends!

Woohooooooo! It's time for a brand new challenge, the Crafty Calender Challenge is born!! How exciting...... created by my lovely daughter Georgia and all her own work I must add....... she wouldn't even let me get involved in picking the Design Team, meanie, lol!!

Well it certainly is a fabulous team and they've come up with some wonderful creations to kick things off, so do check out their blogs won't you? I was over the moon when Georgia asked me to appear as a guest for the launch and had loads of fun creating this card. I've been itching to use these scrummy new papers by Bo Bunny as they have the most gorgeous Autumn feel. I'm sure there are many Pixies working in the garden just now, tidying up the leaves whilst we're all asleep, so I thought I'd use one of the amazing Pixies available to download at Charmed Cards.



Ingredients:
Papers: Bo Bunny
Image: Charmed Cards
Leaves: Woodware Embossing Punch
Colouring: Polys and Koh Pencils
Sentiment: Melissa Frances Rub-on

Thank you so much for visiting today and for any comments you might leave...... and have a wonderful day whatever you do!

TTFN and TFL xxxx

Thursday 1 October 2009

Penny Black Saturday # 68 - Colour Challenge





























Good morning!

I had a chance to play along with the Penny Black Challenge this week and it's the first time for ages! I made a thank you card for Kath after receiving my gorgeous parcel of candy...... thanks so much Kath, I love everything as you know!! The colours are fab to work with - chocolate, lemon and pink, YUM, YUM, YUM! I don't think I've combined them before but they work beautifully.

I want to say a huge thank you to everyone who stopped by to congratulate me on my DT post, it means so much. I am catching up with my blog hopping slowly but surely and have managed to play catch up with a few DT projects so I'm feeling much happier now....... still uber manic at work though!!!

Don't forget to visit the Crafty Calender Challenge tomorrow for it's launch...... this has been created by my gorgeous daughter Georgia and I'm so proud of her! I am homoured to be a guest designer for the very first challenge so I'll be back with my card in the morning.

Card ingredients:
Papers: Kay&Co
Image: Penny Black
Flowers: Prima
Leaves: Woodware Punch
Border: Martha Stewart Scallop Dots Punch

Thanks so much for stopping by today, have a good one!

TTFN and TFL xxx
Colouring: Polys and Koh Pencils