Beautiful Dreamer.....

Hello folks!

I'm so glad I managed to make a card for this week's MDUC Challenge as there's such a gorgeous picture to use for inspiration.... it has something of an oriental feel to me which has been reflected by my choice of image and foliage..... and I think some of the DT were thinking along the same lines ;o)


I've used a mix of different papers.... MME, Basic Grey.... and Kay&Co for the wording....plus I inked up a Magnolia sentiment too. Now I'm always reluctant to step outside the comfort zone but when I saw today's new challenge over at Fussy and Fancy Friday I thought I'd take the plunge.... their brief is to try out a 'New Technique' and I've been wanting to have a go at a centre step card for ages.... and in the end it wasn't that tricky, lol!


The die cuts are from a lovely Sizzix Decorative Strip die I've had for a while now.... aren't those lovebirds sweet?!! Infact I think I can join in with Stampavie and More where the latest challenge is 'Love'..... oh and I urge you to check out Cupcake Inspirations for another divine photo.... I took my inspiration from the colours and those delish rolled roses.... well you know I struggle to make a card without them now, don't you?! Hee Hee!




I hope you all have a fab weekend and hopefully I'll be back in the next day or so to show you something else.... I'm on a crafty roll this week ;o)


TTFN and TFL, hugs Tara xxx

LIFE Happens....

Good morning everyone...... hope your week is good so far!

I've been having a play with this week's Waltingmouse sketch and also following the Vintage White theme over at The Shabby Tea Room.


And I opted to be brave and produce something without an image as the focal point..... scary for me!! Instead I created a layered flower with one of my trusty old Sizzix dies and then added some Papirloftet Autumn leaves to make it seasonal.


The papers are a mix of Kay&Co and Bo Bunny and the stamped sentiment is 7 Gypsies.... I also used a Martha Stewart punch to create a rustic border and carried on that theme by making a raffia bow..... the lace is from my stash.

I'm also entering the following challenges:

Paper Play - Autumn Leaves

Stamp With Fun - Anything Goes

Crafts and Me - Stripes

Simon Says - Dies To Die For



Corrosive Challenge - Punches and/or Dies


Thanks so much for stopping by and enjoy the rest of your week!

TTFN and TFL, hugs Tara xxx

Merry Christmas In September....

Good morning everyone!

As a girl who nevers starts making Christmas cards early I'm not sure what has come over me this year.... I've made one in September!!! Just saw this stunning vintage image whilst browsing my CD and had to use her straight away..... had to glitter up her fur a little bit first though, lol!!

I've used papers from Basic Grey's Wassail range and a Webster's Pages Christmas collection.The holly leaves are a QuicKutz die and the swirl is DooHickey. The large snowflake is by Spellbinders and all other embellies are from my stash. And yep..... torn roses..... AGAIN!!!! I notice this week's challenge at Basic Grey is Pink and Brown which fits perfectly with my card ;o)


I'm also entering the following challenges:

CES - Embellish More More (at least 4 types.... hmmmmm, never difficult for me, lol)

Creative Inspirations - Anything Goes

Corrosive - Punches and/or Dies

Tuesday Throwdown - Pearls

Winter Wonderland - Girly Christmas

Paperplay - Punches or Dies

One Stop - Girlie

Oldie But A Goodie - Christmas In September

Moving Along With The Times - Sparkle


Have a wonderful weekend and thanks for stopping by today ;o)

TTFN and TFL, hugs Tara xxx

Tomorrow Holds Many Wonderful Things.....

Good morning peeps.... hope you are enjoying your week so far!

I inked up one of last year's Tilda's for this card as I've only used her once before. She's coloured with Polychromatic pencils and I added some faux stitching around the edges. I also took out my emery board to distress the papers and the Co'redinations cardstock which is fast becoming one of my fave play things at the moment... I love the paler colours lurking underneath and sanding is a nice change from inking too!


I also inked up some Bo Bunny ETC stamps and some Marianne leaves which I stamped onto some Bo Bunny paper.... gives a subtle paper pieced effect I think.The flower is a layered DooHickey die and the leaves are Marianne, finally my sentiment is by LOTV.

I'm entering the following challenges:

Magnolia-licious - Orange, Teal and Brown

Crafts 4 Eternity - Blue and Brown

Challenge Up Your Life - Paper Piecing

Stamp Something - Stamp Something

Sentimental Sundays - Autumn

Craft Your Passion - The 'F' Word (Faux Stitching, Flower, Foliage)

Simon Says Stamp - Sing It (She's Leaving Home by The Beatles)

Cute Card Thursday - Anything Goes


Thanks so much for looking ;o)

TTFN and TFL, hugs Tara xxx

Hugs, ETC.....

Good afternoon,

Hope you've had a good week and are enjoying a restful weekend. It's very blustery in the UK today and perfect weather for getting washing dry.... I have lots of towels and bedding flapping about in the wind, in fact one of the towels ended up half way up the garden a few minutes ago!!!

I've made a card today which definitely won't qualify as CAS, lol! Just a few embellies on this one, smile! I've used a gorgeous Lunagirl vintage image and some yummy Bo Bunny Timepiece papers here.... there's even a scrap of Basic Grey paper which I believe is from the Urban Prairie range.


There are lots of Autumnal leaves from Pairloftet and I've added some of the fab TH acetate ribbon and some scrabble letters. The roses are hand torn using dusky pink Co'redinations cardstock and I found a couple of gorgeous vintage black buttons with a marble design to hold down the folded corners. The swirl is a DooHickey die and the ETC stamp is by Bo Bunny. The main colour inspiration for my card came from seeing the latest Colour Create challenge which is Pink, Brown, Cream and White...... yum! I also had fun thinking of a song title for Charisma and Saturday Challenge and came up with 'Lean On Me' by Bill Withers based on my image, tee hee!

I'm also entering the following challenges:

Totally Papercrafts - Cute With Buttons

Stampin' For The Weekend - Tickled Pink

Crafty Catz - Ribbons

Tuesday Throwdown - 3 Papers, 2 Buttons, 1 Ribbon

Crafts and Me - Buttons and Bows

EAC - Autumn

Creative Inspirations - Acetate

C.R.A.F.T - Children

Allsorts - Flowers and Swirls


Enjoy the rest of your weekend and take care ;o)

TTFN and TFL, hugs Tara xxx

Make A Wish......

Good morning folks.... is it Thursday already..... WOW!!!

I've made a festive card this week and felt my creations were long overdue a Tilda so here she is in all her Christmas glory. TOMIC are inviting us to create our own background so I set to work on a snowy sky.... now I know it's quite subtle but if you zoom in on the close up picture you'll see better. I distressed a piece of white card with TH Faded Jeans and then lightly stamped white and neutral Magnolia snowflakes all over, before finishing with some liquid pearl snow dots.


I also noticed that MDUC are challenging us to 'Frame It' so I thought I'd add something of a shabby picture frame to the scene.

I'm also entering the following challenges:

Oldie But A Goodie - Christmas In September

Papertake Weekly - Anything Goes

Just Magnolia - Anything Goes

Simply Magnolia - Anything Goes

Try It On Tuesday - Monochrome

Stampin' For The Weekend - Holidays


Thanks so much for stopping by.... it is truly appreciated ;o)

TTFN and TFL, hugs Tara xxx

Special Delivery.....

Good morning everyone!

Managed to make a card this morning and I'm really pleased with the results because this is so far removed from my normal style and I managed to stay true to a sketch and hold back on adding too many embellies, lol!


I followed this fab sketch over at Card Patterns and I think it's the first time I've joined in with the challenge!! It was a gorgeous layout to work with too!


Having had a bit of a sale of some of my older crafting goodies recently, I've been able to have a little spending spree and bought a fab set of cameo/frame stamps from Waltzingmouse.... not my usual thing I guess but I think they're so classical and will be particularly handy for making cards for older ladies. This particular card is for a 70 year old and I thought she might appreciate the style more than something cutsie! I also bought some Bo Bunny papers and stickers and I've used a mix of the Timepiece and Et Cetera collections here. I added in torn roses, lace, a doily and a DooHickey swirl to finish.


As well as following the sketch at Card Patterns I was also inspired to use the pictures and colours provided by the girls at The Shabby Tea Room for their new challenge, although I hope I'm forgiven for making my card with a birthday theme rather than wedding! The above picture is where I took my main inspiration, hence the cameo theme.


I'm also entering the following challenges:

Craft Your Passion - Anything Goes With A Twist (Flowers)

Truly Scrumptious - Rocked Up Pink

StampARTic - Shabby Chic

Stamptacular Sunday - The Sky's The Limit


Thanks so much for stopping by today ;o)

TTFN and TFL, hugs Tara xxx

In Dreams......

Good morning everyone!

It's nice to be posting a card at last..... I've been a little preoccupied this last fortnight with a job move and getting the kids ready for the big return to school tomorrow.... I will be so sad when they go back because I've loved every minute of the holidays and, as my son embarks on his journey into high school and my daughter is near to finishing, I realise how fast they grow up and that we should truly treasure EVERY moment! I've booked a day off work tomorrow as I know I'll probably spend the whole morning in tears.... the last of my babies going to big, big school..... sniff!! I thank God each and every day for my wonderful family ;o)

Anyway, enough of my sentimental rambling and on to the task in hand, lol! I got up this morning and had a look at the new challenges posted..... Sketchy Colours caught my eye so I made this card with the colour combo 'Beige, Brown and Purple' in mind. I hope it's okay that I also added some green.... can't help it really, it's a foliage addiction you see, lol!!


I have no idea where the lovely papers are from.... they were just lurking in my stash. The image is from my Luna Girls CD and the sentiment is Tim Holtz. I've used Marianne and DooHickey dies and added some of my handmade torn roses for a shabby chic effect. The gorgeous metal butterfly was sent to me by my lovely friend Heather.

I'm entering the following challenges:

Vintage Udfordring - Use Metal

Aud Sentiments - Card/Sentiment For A Girl

Bearly Mine - Flowers, Flowers, Flowers

By The Cute And Girly - All Things Bright And Beautiful

Charisma - Anything Goes

Craft Your Days Away - Make Your Own Flowers

Crafty Creations - 3 Or More Dies Or Punches

Creative Card Crew - Anything Goes

Desert Island - Itinery : I used 6, 7, 8

Fun With Shapes And More - What You Want

Marianne's Design Divas - Anything Goes

Moving Along With The Times - Handmade Flowers

Paperplay - Make Your Own Flowers

Stampin' Sisters In Christ - Quiet Colours

Top Tip Tuesday - Shabby Chic

Craft Us Crazy - Autumn Colours and/or Favourite Embellishments (I've chosen to use my fave torn roses)


Well thanks so much for stopping by and have a fab week ahead ;o)


TTFN and TFL, hugs Tara xxx