Tilda's Delight......

Good morning!

I'm back with another topper to show you today and I'm really enjoying these new Magnolia stamps, they're so pretty...... I think it's Tilda's headscarf that does it for me!!


I tried to create a bit of a garden scene here with the canopy and the trellis, plus you may just be able to pick up the clouds on the Webster's Pages background paper. I suppose I'm going through a 'create a scene' phase really!


Tilda has been coloured with Prisma pencils and then thoroughly smothered with Stickles, lol! I also used some pretty Magnolia butterflies and that sweet little frog from the Fairytale collection.



I have put my topper up for sale on Ebay and you can find it here.

I'm entering these challenges:

Paper Sundaes - Things With Wings

Delightful Challenges - Make It Sparkle

Charisma Cardz - Anything Goes

If The Shoe Fits Scrap It - Flowers


Enjoy your day and I hope it's a crafty one ;o)

TTFN and TFL, hugs Tara xxx

Tilda So Sweet........

Good morning folks...... long time no see, lol!

What with jumping on my exercise bike every spare minute and burning those calories on the Wii Fit, I haven't had much time for crafting lately!! On top of that we're in the middle of decorating the dining room and that's where all my stash lives, so it's been very tricky!

I have started making and selling toppers on Ebay though and this is my latest one which you can see listed here.


I coloured Tilda with Prisma pencils and then added white gel highlights and lots of Stickles glitter.


I used some fabulous Webster's Pages papers which I cut out and layered, then I masked, stamped and cut out my Magnolia images.


I'm entering Totally Tilda this week where the theme is Sparkle and Glitter and Magnolia Stamp Lovers who are asking us to use lace on our projects. Finally my topper fits the bill for Magnolia Down Under where we are asked to use flowers and lace..... perfect ;o)

Ooooh, I just spotted another challenge I can enter..... Creative Card Crew have a Bloomin' Marvellous theme and there are lots of flowers on my topper so that will do nicely!

Have a great day now!

TTFN and TFL, hugs Tara xxx

Some Advice On Buying a Copic Airbrush System Please?

Hiya peeps!

Just a quick post to ask for your expert advice if you don't mind please? I have put the Copic Airbrush System at the top of my wishlist and was just wondering if anyone thinks it worth buying to do image backgrounds and also which one you would go for? It seems I could just buy the brush system which attaches to a can or go for something with more attachments. I think I've find a good site here to buy it from here but I don't know which model to choose!!

Thank you so much and have a great evening ;o)

Hugs Tara xxx

Family Moments.......

Good morning peeps!

I hope you are well? I have a card to show today which features the new brother and sister image from Magnolia, what a cutie! I like the versatility of this stamp because it would work just as well for a couple and so could be perfect for an anniversary or engagement card. I had a sort through my endless stash of Basic Grey paper pads this week and decided to use one of the older collections..... this one is called Infuse and I love the mellow, Autumnal colours it has to offer.


I punched some EK Success Retro flowers and die cut some Sizzix Bigz flourishes for my embellishments and then added a Kay&Co sentiment to finish.

I'm entering these challenges today:

A Spoon Full Of Sugar - Anything Goes

C.R.A.F.T. Challenge - Colouring Pencils Only

Creative Card Crew - Autumn Or Fall

Cutie Sunday - Fall Colours

Everybody Art - Autumn

Paper Sundaes - Fall Or Halloween Colours

Secret Crafter Saturday Challenge - Anything Goes

Stampin Sisters In Christ - Fall Colours


ABC Challenge - Distressing

Corrosive Challenge - Clean Up The Dust (papers)

Totally Tilda Challenge - Make Your Own Flowers



PHEW..... that'll do for a start I think, lol!

Have a fun day ;o)

TTFN and TFL, hugs Tara xxx

Winner of my first weight loss candy.......

Good morning everyone!

Firstly can I just say a huge thank you to everyone who entered my candy and all the lovely, supportive comments you've left...... keep your eyes peeled for my next candy as that'll mean I've lost another stone (and I'm well on the way)!


I'm pleased to announce that the winner of my first weight loss candy giveaway is.......... Lorraine from Lorraine's Creations. Well done to you and thank you so much for your kind words too! If you email me your address I can send out your goodies ;o) You'll find my email details on my profile.

See you tomorrow when I hope to have a card to show!

TTFN and TFL, hugs Tara xxx

My Weight Loss Celebration Candy......

Hi everyone!

If I told you about all the times I've started and failed a diet in the past we'd be here all night, lol! However, something just feels right this time...... like I really want to do this for me! I'm so tired of being overweight and unfit..... and never being able to wear the nice things I see in the shops. I have at least 5 stone to lose overall...... maybe more, PHEW!!! Anyway, the good news is that I've lost my first stone, WOOHOO!!! And I figure that going public about the mountain ahead of me might just help to keep me on the straight and narrow. So I've decided to offer up some candy every time I lose another stone, so that we can all join in the celebrations together ;o)

I only ask two things..... that you add a piccie to your sidebar to spread the word and that you tell me what you miss the most when you are on a diet or healthkick. For me it has to be CHEESE ON TOAST! I'm not really a chocolate lover..... give me pizza and chips any day!!!!

My candy is open to anyone in the world so please feel free to enter. Here's what I'm offering:

Papermania Chatsworh paper pad

Nestabilities Labels Seven die set

Bow Easy

Prima Flowers

Motivet Rubber Stamp

Green Vine Ribbon

Lots of lace


Only one entry per person please and you must have a crafting blog!

The candy runs until midnight on Monday 20th September and I will announce the winner on the Tuesday morning!



Good luck everyone and thanks for stopping by!

TTFN and TFL, hugs Tara xxx

Basic Grey # 29 - Tara G's Sketch......

Good morning everyone!

I'm so pleased you stopped by today because it's time for another Basic Grey Challenge and my wonderful teamie Tara G has provided us with a perfect sketch which I'm sure you'll enjoy playing with! The thing I love when we all make our cards for the challenge is that everyone's interpretation is so different. And that's how it's supposed to be really, because the sketch is there for a guide and everyone can then add something individual to it.

As always, Simon Says Stamp are generously giving us $25 to give to the winner, so please join in and show us your stunning creations..... oh and don't forget that applications for our DT call must be in today!! Good luck!!!


I used one of Magnolia's older Halloween images for my card and chose the fabulous Basic Grey Eerie papers to work with. So the traditional mix of purple, green and orange evolved..... you wouldn't normally dream of putting these together would you, but somehow they just work at this time of year! I added an embossed panel with a Pumpkin cuttlebug folder and some webbed edging with a Martha Stewart punch, and finally a Sizzix Bigz die was used to create the swirls. And for once my camera managed to pick up some Stickles sparkle on Tilda's clothes...... YAY!!

I'm entering my card into the Magnolia Stamp Lovers Challenge where the latest theme is Halloween.

Well have a fabulous weekend everyone and don't forget about my candy will you.... only two days left!

TTFN and TFL, hugs Tara xxx

Webster's Pages in the house.....

Good morning!

Oh boy, you'd better be quick!!!! Emma has the brand new Webster's Pages ranges in store now, gorgeous 6x6 pads and yummy matching trims..... you can find them HERE. I'm only telling you now because I've already made my purchase, lol!

ENJOY!!

Hugs Tara xxx

Joyful Tilda......

Helloooooooo!

Before I talk about my card can I just say once again that your entries to my candy are brilliant, thank you! I am laughing so much at your comments because, just like me, you all have your yummy foods you miss!!! You've had me licking my lips and salivating a few times I can tell you, not so good for the willpower, lol! It's been lovely reading your shared experiences so please keep them coming..... thanks again!

So my festive Magnolia card shows one of the older Tilda as I'm having fun ploughing through my collection. The only thing I was thinking about this sweet little Tilda is that her knees must get a bit cold when it snows...... and it's pretty obvious who stole grandma's teacosy, lol!!


I've used gorgeous Memory Box Mistletoe papers and lots of Prima flowers on my card, plus a few punched snowflakes and some large pearls. Because I masked quite a few stamps for the image I tried to hold back from overcrowding my card because the stamps tell a nice story don't you think..... I so love the lampost!

I'm entering my card into the following challenges:

ABC - D For Distressing

Sir Stampalot - All Distressed

Quixotic - How Does Your Garden Grow? (Memory Box papers to qualify)



Enjoy your day and have fun ;o)

TTFN and TFL, hugs Tara xxx

Tilda In A Dream.....

Good morning!

Firstly can I just say a huge thank you to everyone who has entered my candy so far..... your kind words about my weight loss journey are sooooo encouraging, it's like having daily therapy, lol! It seems I'm not the only one on this journey and i hope that my progress will inspire you too!!

Anyway, just a quick post today to show you the card I made for this week's Just Magnolia challenge....... Dawny P has given us a delish sketch to play with! I hope you can make out the elements of the sketch, as they seem to be a bit hidden since I added the embellies, but I promise you I did follow it, lol!

I used more papers from the new Basic Grey Pyrus range because I just love it! And an older Tilda too but one of my faves from Autumn last year. Add to the mix some Prima flowers, Sizzix swirls and a Tim Holtz ticket and that's just about it...... oh and not forgetting the lovely technique of edging everything with white acrylic paint which I learned from the uber talented Kathy!



I may be back later to add some challenge links which fit in with my card, but right now I'm off to work (double groan)..... when really I just want to get inky today!

Take care and thanks for your visit today ;o)

TTFN and TFL, hugs Tara xxx

We're Having Snow Much Fun......

Hello and happy weekend!!

Firstly I would like to say that my thoughts are with our American friends today as we remember 9/11 and how devastating the events must have been. I cry every time I see that terrible footage of the planes hitting the Twin Towers and I often think about those who lost their own lives or someone close to them. My thoughts and blessings are with you all!

So onto my card...... I have used one of the new and very adorable Giordano stamps which Joanna Sheen has in her store here. I bought quite a few of the sweeties and can't wait to ink them all up now!


I've used quite an old Basic Grey collection which is called Granola, and sadly I have nearly run out of these gorgeous papers now! My snowflakes are from a Cuttlebug cut and emboss die and the flowers are Prima..... oh and those yummy Autumn leaves are on sale right now at Papirloftet.

I have quite a few challenges to enter so here goes:

Crafts and Me - Gems and Sparkle

Crafty Calander Challenge - Blue and Flowers

ASFOS - Animal Crackers

Cute Card Thursday - Play On Words

Colour Q - Soft Suede, Night of Navy, Pacific Point, Marina Mist and White

Right ho, I'm off to do a bit of housework (groan) and then maybe make a nice lunch ;o)

TTFN and TFL, hugs Tara xxx

C'est Si Bon......

Good morning!

I have a Magnolia card to show you today which I made with a couple of challenges in mind. Firstly, I noticed this week that Raise The Bar are asking for something inspired by your blog header.... what a fun idea! So I set to work with the same Kay&Co papers I'd used for my header and cut the flowers out in the same way. I also used a Martha Stewart edge punch and Tilda had to make an appearance. I wish there was a challenge to 'pimp your Tilda' this week too..... as I cut off her original wings and then added the wings from the Magnolia Doo HickeY die recently released. There's an idea for a challenge if anyone wants it then..... 'pimp that image', lol!


I'm also entering the Everybody Art Challenge which has a theme of making your own flowers and a new challenge called Tip Top Tuesday where the idea is to share a new concept or tip. I'm showing two ideas with this card...... one is creating embellishments by cutting them from design paper, in this case the flowers and the second is altering an image by adding something new to it, in this case the die cut wings.

I may be back later to add on a couple more challenge..... see what I can find ;o)

Edited: I see that 7 Kids College Fund Challenge has set a recipe as this week's theme...... a minimum of 2 design papers, 3 flowers, 1 sparkly item and 1 image carried by the shop. In case you're wondering, my sparkly item is the trim on Tilda's dress ;o)

Have a wonderful day!

TTFN and TFL, hugs Tara xxx

Clean And Simple? Well I Tried My Best......

Good morning!

As I mentioned in my last post, I'm back this morning with another card which isn't really my style..... clean and simple. I find it soooooo hard not to stick on all those yummy embellies I have lurking in my stash!! This looks so bare, lol! At least I jazzed up the image as much as I could but I reckon it's crying out for some leaves and flowers...... sigh! Well I just about managed CAS anyway, so there's an achievement!



The papers I've used are Basic Grey Bittersweet and I got this image from The Stamp Man. I cut a decorative edged with a Martha Stewart pucnch and added lots of gems to the border as well as the image...... plus some gold liquid pearls for added sparkle.

Here are the challenges I'm entering with this card:

Saturday Challenge - C A S
Crafty Cardmakers - C A S
Craft Your Days Away - Girlie and Glitter

Thanks so much for checking me out today ;o)

TTFN and TFL, hugs Tara xxx

Always There.....

Good morning folks!

Today I have a card which I'm entering into the latest Cardvaarks Challenge..... I followed the first of two sketches over there and managed to play with my new Hero Arts Clings Floral stamp. This definitely isn't my usual style and the same applies to the card I'll be uploading tomorrow..... just playing around and having a go at something a bit different really, inspired by all the wonderful creations I come across in blogland.


I had fun cutting out different layers on my stamp and then lifting them to give some depth to the flower. The leaves and dragonfly are Magnolia Doo Hickey dies and the papers are Basic Grey, a mix of Phoebe and Dasher. I used a Cuttlebug folder to emboss the leaf design on the white card. The sentiment is a Melissa Frances rub on.

I'm also entering my card into the following challenges:

Sentimental Sundays - Recipe (one solid paper, two patterned papers, 3 embellishment, plus sentiment)

Crafty Emma - Floral Frenzy

Papertake Weekly - Just One Of Something (Flower)

Creative Inspirations - Pastel Green, Pink and Cream (okay so it's white, but nearly there, lol)

Thanks so much for stopping by today for a peek...... you take care now!

TTFN and TFL, hugs Tara xxx

Basic Grey 28 - Paper Piecing, And A DT Call......

Good morning!

Sorry to be so incredibly late with my Basic Grey card....... life took over in a big way this weekend and blogging didn't get a look in!!!! Well it should be like that sometimes, right? Family comes first at the end of the day!

Before I give you some details about my card, can I just give a shout for our Basic Grey DT call..... we don't have one very often and it's exciting to think that four more crafters will be joining our merry little team very soon! So don't be shy..... if you love all things Basic Grey you can find out more right here.

Okay then, the challenge over at Basic Grey this week is to include some paper piecing on your design. Hopefully my card shows that you needn't just be confined to your image with this technique, as I chose to paper piece some flowers instead!

I've used brand new papers from the Pyrus range and a Wild Sprout image from The Greetings Farm. I also had great fun creating an embossed panel with one of my Cuttlebug folders and then added a sweet sentiment, plus some yummy lace and pins sent to me in a RAK by my lovely friend Annika.

So hopefully you'll be joining us for this fortnight's challenge and, in the meantime, have a fabby day!

TTFN and TFL, hugs Tara xxx

What You Give You Get Ten Times Over......

Good morning folks!

Well I really didn't think I'd have a card to show today..... the old mojo has been feeling under the weather for the past couple of days! I'm not sure why really but I suppose I have a lot going on at work just now and sometimes tiredness can make creativity suffer.

Anyway, nothing like a good sketch from Motivet to make things better! And playing along with the Motivet girls meant I could ink up one of my fave stamps of the Summer. How cute?!


Thought I'd show you the card laid flat so you can see the layering and depth better. I used Basic Grey Indian Summer papers and various Martha Stewart punches. Lots of inking and faux stitching hopefully add to the slightly antique, Autumnal effect.


I'm also entering the latest By The Cute & Girly Challenge where the theme is Indian Summer...... perfect!!! That's what my Basic Grey papers are called!!! Finally I notice that The Play Date Cafe have a gorgeous colour theme this week of burnt orange, plum and latte..... well that's the name I'm giving to the colours shown anyway, lol!

Have a fabbie day and I'll see you late when I get home from work...... oh and thanks so much for stopping by today ;o)

TTFN and TFL, hugs Tara xxx

Not more flowerpot cards!!!!......

Morning Peeps!

Thought I'd come back today and show you a couple more of the flowerpot cards I've been making, and then I won't bore you with them again for a while...... promise, lol! It's just that I had a couple more cards to do, one of which was another retirement would you believe and one for a friend to give to her Mum.


I've used mainly Kay & Co papers but the brown gingham is unknown from my stash. It's nice that I've been able to put a couple of my punches to good use for the flowers and leaves too.... I haven't used the pansy one in ages!

I'm entering my cards into the new Simon Says Challenge where they want us to use lace and pearls.... there are little pearls in my flower centres and although I haven't used any real lace, I think the Martha Stewart punched borders are definitely giving a lace effect..... so I hope that's okay? I'm also entering the Stampavie & More Challenge where this week's theme is 'anything but a card'.

Well I'm making it short and sweet today as I've got lots to do..... the kids are back at school tomorrow and I'm working, groan! Oh the joys of normality and routine..... NOT!!!

Have a great day in the sunshine if you're blessed with some today!!

TTFN and TFL, hugs Tara xxx