9 Months to Christmas Blog Hop

Hi Crafters,
Welcome to the countdown to Christmas Blog Hop! Are you ready for a hop filled with Christmas inspiration! If you have arrived from Kerry's blog then you are right on track. If you would like to start from the beginning then you want to head to Shari's blog.

This month our theme was to create two Christmas projects using mostly the colour green. As soon as I read this theme the Grinch flashed into my mind! I just knew one of my projects would include this famous Christmas character! Below my cards are the details for both.

We also have a guest designer this month, Sandy. She is the last stop on the hop so be sure to check her out too!

Your next stop is Sally's blog. Have a wonderful hop and remember getting a early start on your Christmas cards feels awesome!
Happy Crafting!
Tara

 

Details:

Cardstock: Scrap pile

Image: My friend photocopied her son's colouring book and shrunk the image.

*She has genious ideas sometimes :)

Sentiment Stamp: Teeny Tiny Wishes SU

Real Red SU ink

Ribbon: Offray

Cuttlebug + Swiss dots embossing folder

Prisma coloured pencils + Baby oil

Cricut cut: Elegant Edges cut @ 3" (circle mat)

Spellbinders: Circles

Punches: Word window, Modern Label, Scallop edge, SU

Gems: Dollarama

Puffy Snow

Glossy Accents

 

 

Details:

Cardstock: Scrap pile/ Staples brand

Stamp Set: Snow Swirled SU, Dots, Dots (retired) SU

Garden Green SU ink

Gems: Offray

Ribbon: Offray

Punches: Scallop oval, med. oval, ticket corner (retired, I have no idea why...love this punch)! All SU

 

 

 

 

 

4 Months to Chirstmas Blog Hop

Hi Everyone and welcome to the 4 Months to Christmas Blog Hop,
If you have arrived here from  Kerry's Blog you are in the right spot. Well, my craft room is still not up and running since the big move (there were just too many renos we needed to work on first) but like I said last month I am the queen of planning ahead! I was able to get my summer Christmas cards (that does not sound right, I know lol) done before I had to pack up my old scrapbooking room mid July!

If you are new you might be wondering how this whole blog hop works.... there is a group of us crafters that have committed to creating two Christmas cards and (one die cut and one stamped image) posting them on the 25th each month and boy are we getting our cards done early and I LOVE it!
Thanks for stopping by today. Sara's Blog  blog is your next stop.
Happy Crafting!
Tara

Card #1 (Stamped)

Details:

Cardstock: Scraps!

Twine: The Twinery

Digital Stamp: CC design

Stamps: Pink by Design - Winter Fun set

Punch: SU

Button: Stash
Swiss Dots + Wood Grain Cuttlebug embossing folder + Cuttlebug
Prisma Coloured pencils + Gamsol

Card #2 (Die Cut)

Details:

Cardstock: Recollections + Staples Brand

Sentiment: Pink by Design - Winter Fun set

Cricut Cut: Jolly Holidays
Punches: SU

Stickles
Glossy Accents

Ribbon: Offray
Seeing Spots Cuttlebug embossing folder + Cuttlebug

Birthday Sundaes Challenge # 43

Hi Everyone,
This week the Birthday Sundaes challenge is to use an inspiration photo (please visit the Birthday Sundaes blog for the photo) + your card must include hearts on it somewhere. Below is my take on it....I'm not going to lie...I LOVE how this card turned out! (It's totally going to be a keeper lol)! Check out the rest of the DT inspiration at the Birthday Sundaes blog.
Happy Crafting!
Tara

Details:

Cardstock: Staples + Recollections

Digital Stamp: Meljen Designs

Baker's Twine: Twinery

Sentiment Stamp: SU 'So happy for you' set

Button: Stash

Cricut cut: layers 

Cuttlebug + swiss dots embossing folder

Liquid Pearls

Stickles

Prisma Coloured Pencils + gamsol

Birthday Sundaes Challenge #40

Hi Crafters,

This week on Birthday Sundaes the challenge is simple 'a birthday card with a birthday sentiment'. Want more great news...we also have a fabulous sponsor this week  Meljen's designs. I used her cutie called Robbie the Robot. Check out the Birthday Sundaes blog to see the rest of the inspiration from the design team!

Happy Crafting!

Tara

Details:

Cardstock: Recollections

Digital Image: Robbie the Robot

Sentiment Stamp: Pink By Design

Punch: Stampin' Up

Baubles: Hand dyed

Cuttlebug + Gears embossing folder

Prisma Coloured pencils + Gamsol

Glossy Accents

Christmas cards

Hi Crafters,
Life around here has been a whirl wind with not only holiday plans but with WEDDING preparation too! (In case you missed it in past posts, I am getting married on New Years Eve)!!! I have still managed to make some time to get my Christmas cards made (lets just say I'm running a bit on fumes at this point)! I wish I could get moew of them posted but I have just been very slow on the photography and honestly, I'm not even sure that I took pictures of all of them before I mailed them out...grrrr...my bad. Once things settle down in the new year I'll figure out what pictures I have and we can pretend I wasn't late with the rest of them. I have been playing around a lot with my new Stampin' Up stuff and really loving it! I am not going to post all the details of all the cards here as I don't have time but leave me a message if there is something you are wondering about and I'll do my best to get back to you. For now here is what I got....

Anyways, I just wanted to post so you didn't think I forgot about you all but this will more then likely be my last post of 2011! Happy crafting and happy holidays! See you in the New Year as a married woman :)
Tara

JustWordz DT Friday!

Hi Crafters,
It's time again to show you some JustWordz inspiration. I just can't tell you how much I am in love with all these stamp sets. When using these stamps you always have just the perfect sentiment! Here is another card I created using the Christmas set and a digital stamp from Wee Stamps. How cute is she!?

Don't forget to visit the JustWordz blog and see the rest of the DT creations for this week!
Happy Crafting!
Tara
P.S. Can you believe we are in Dec. already!? My wedding is only 29 days away!!!

Details:

Cardstock: Staples Brand + Scraps

Sentiment: Justwordz Christmas Set

Cricut Cut: Little shapes on the bottom from Accent Essentials cut @ 1/4"

Ribbon: Offray

Silver baubles

Silver and red pearl pen

Stickles

Silver embossing powder + heat gun

Snowflakes embossing folder + Cuttlebug

Birthday Sundaes Challenge # 37 + Using up the scraps idea #12

Hi Crafters,

This week the challenge on the Birthday Sundaes blog is another easy one, just create a birthday card with a birthday sentiment on the front. Not only is it an easy week for a challenge we also have a sponsor too!

And here is what you can win:

This week I decided it has been far too long since I have used any of my tiny scraps up so I pulled them out along with my new top note die from Stampin' Up and set to work. I decided the scraps that bug me and overwhelm me the most are my small skinny strips of paper. I hate to throw them out because often they are from such pretty papers but after a while I get more then I know what to do with. By just gluing them all down to a base layer and then cutting that layer out with my top note die in my Cuttlebug I was able to make a very pretty background for this card.

I think I will make more of these bases in the near future and get rid of more of that never ending pile. What do you do with these pieces? Leave me some links to projects you have created using them as I would love to see them and maybe get some scraplifting ideas to help me keep my pile under control! If you would like to see some of the other ideas I have come up with using my scraps click on the 'using up the scraps' link under my labels on my side bar (you will have to scroll down my blog page a bit to find this link).

Thanks for stopping by today and don't forget to check out the Birthday Sundaes blog for more get inspiration from the rest of the DT. They are always sure to impress!
Happy Crafting!
Tara
P.S. Today is my bridal shower...yippy!!! :)

Details:

Cardstock: Recollections + Staples Brand

Patterned paper: scraps

Top note die + cuttlebug

Sentiment: Stampin' Up

Pearl pen

Ovals: Cricut

Butterfly: Martha Stewart punch

Birthday Sundaes #32

Hi Everyone,
It's that time again...the new challenge for Birthday Sundaes is to create a card using only the colours purple/green/white/black birthday card. I was super surprised that I found this challenge easy as usually I struggle with colour challenges but the colours in this one were just so great! I used some stamps that I purchased at Michael's forever ago and had yet to ink up. I also used my heat gun and embossing powder again and I just love the effect on these flowers. I think I have a new favourite technique :)


Thanks for stopping by today and don't forget to head on over to the Birthday Sundaes blog to check out the rest of the DT creations as well as our guest designer this week.
Happy Crafting!
Tara

Details:

A2 Sized Card
Cardstock: Recollections and Staples Brand

Stamps: Micheal's, Technique Tuesday
Ribbon: Offray

Brads: stash

Cuttlebug + Script embossing folder

Heat gun + embossing powder

Birthday Sundaes Challenge #14

Hello Crafters,
This week is 'shaped birthday cards' on birthday sundaes. I had never made a shaped card before so I decided to take the easy route and use a cartridge with the shape card feature. Unfortunately this was not the easy route afterall :S It got done but it was not a pretty process. Let's just say I hope you have much better luck making yours! I found the cuts on the Hello Kitty cartridge didn't match up. The card base and layers were cut at two different sizes (base and black outline 4 3/4" and layers cut @ 5") I was still left with a little white showing from under the layer but my mini tag covered it just fine and my Justwordz stamps worked so perfectly on the mini tag. I love smaller sentiments! In the end it turned out cute and I am happy with it but can't say I am going to make a bunch of these ones in different colours lol.
Good luck and I can't wait to see what you come up with!
Tara

***Oh my goodness I almost forgot! This week the challenge is sponsored by fellow DT member Michelle and it is a Just Because Card cartridge. What an awesome prize! Thanks Michelle :)

Details:

Cardstock: Recollections

Cricut Cuts: Hello Kitty and Plantin Schoolbook (tag)

Stamps: Justwordz

Cuttlebug and embossing folders Tiny bubbles and stripes

Google eyes and Bling: Dollarama

Black embroidery floss

The Pink Stamper NSD Challenge # 7

Challenge #7 was just any scrapbook layout. The good news was by the time I got to this one I was on a roll! I think this one will make a great spring page in the baby book!
Tara

Details:

Seeing spots cuttlebug folder

Number stamps from Dollarama

Beautiful Angel was a rub on

Cricut cut: Once upon a princess butterfly cut @ 2"

Hearts: void from butterfly

Flower Punch: McGill Pretty Petals

Cardstock: Recollections

He's so cute!

Hello Crafters,
I have a funny story before I show you my card tonight. Actually, it is a funny story about how this card came to be! My friend was over the other day and asked if I could make a birthday card for her to give. She wanted a Winnie the Pooh on it. My response was I don't have a cartridge with Winnie the Pooh. I started to look through my cartridges saying things like "I wonder if my Mickey and Friends cartridge would have a Pooh on it?" "Pooh is a Disney character right?" Then all at once I saw it....the Winnie the Pooh cartridge I bought opening weekend at my local Michael's in October. I bought it along with all the other Disney cartridges I own for $19.99! And yup I have NEVER used it...actually forgot I even owned it lol. The really funny part is now that I am typing this I even remember my other friend using this cartridge of mine to make a bunch of stuff for her baby's room not that long ago!
Needless to say I then got crafting and created this card.....
Please say something like this has happened to you too!?
Tara

Recipe:

A2 size card

Cardstock: Recollections

Cricut cut: Winnie the Pooh Cartridge cut @ 4 (I think) 

Cuttlebug and Spots and Dots folder

Ribbon: Offray

Sentiment - Pink by Design - Simply Everything Set

Bling: Dollarama

ATG

ZIG 2 way glue

Pop dots

Birthday Sundaes Challenge #5

Hello Crafters,
It's that time again...Birthday Sundaes challenge time! This week the challenge is anything goes! I decided I should do another card for the set I started a while back with the mini monsters cartridge. I tend to make very girly cards (have you noticed my princess obsession lol) and these monster cards are great for boys but still are cute enough that I enjoy making them. I did have to remind myself NOT to try and make the stitching perfect haha. Below is a picture and the details of my creation. Now pop on over to the Birthday Sundaes blog and see the great inspiration the other members of the design team have come up with and then go get creative! Don't forget the birthday sentiment on the front :)
Tara

Recipe:

A2 size card

Cardstock: Recollections

Cricut cut: Mini Monsters Cartridge Cut @ 3"

Cuttlebug and Swiss Dots folder

Sentiment - EK success stamps

Google eyes – from my stash

Singer Simple Sewing Machine

ATG
ZIG 2 way glue

Pop dots

Happy Birthday Princess

*** if you are looking for my 100 follower giveaway click here***

Hello Crafters,
I just loved my card that I made for the recent Birthday Sundaes challenge so much that I had to make another. This time I 'Cricutized' it! All the details below the picture.
Thanks for looking!
Tara

Recipe:

A2 size card

Cardstock: All from scrap pile (starting to put a dent in it)!

Cricut cut: Mini Monsters

Cuttlebug and 'traffic jam' folder

Ribbon: Offray

Sentiment - Pink Cat Studio

Bling: Dollarama

Purple Gel Pen

ATG

ZIG 2 way glue

Pop dots

Sweet Baby

Hello Crafters,
I decided since those baby cards I made at the crop turned out so good I should stick with the layout and make a few more. It think it must be my age or something but it seems like everyone I know lately is having a baby and shhhh keep this between us but I usually buy baby cards because I felt I was so terrible at making them. Now that I have found this 'formula' we will call it, I am going to make them until I am sick of pastels and build up my stash. Below is the latest (I actually made two of the exact same). Notice the cute little hat pins?! Carri from Double Click Connections Did a great tutorial on how to make these recently and I just had to try them, especially since I already had all the stuff in my stash. She is also giving away a few so pop over and check it out!.
Happy Crafting!
Tara

Recipe:

A2 Size Card

Cardstock: Recollections and From the mat stack with the missing cover

Pattered paper: From that mat stack with the missing cover again :S

(if anyone recongizes the papers from a brand let me know)

Cricut Cut: New Arrival cut @ 3 1/2"
Eyelets: Making Memories (pastel set)

Sentiment: Dollarama Wooden Baby Set

Ink: Stazon black

Embroidery thread

'Hat pin' Embellishments :Straight Pins, small breads, Glossy Accents

Cuttlebug and Swiss Dots folder

Goggle Eyes: Stash
Crop-a-dile Big Bite

ATG

Zig 2 way Glue

Pop Dots

Birthday Sundaes First Challenge

Welcome Crafters,
I am so excited that Birthday Sundaes is now in full swing! I mean honestly who doesn't always need a birthday card on hand?! This week the challenge is 'anything goes.' I was sent the link to Pink Cat Studio and once I saw all the great princess/ fairy tale sentiments for FREE I was hooked! I made a card using the Once Upon a Princess Cartridge (this is becoming a go to cartridge for me, especially with these awesome sentiments)! I love this card for a few reasons, I am lovin' the colours, I used a new border punch (so much fun to use new tools) and I tried out chalking for the first time (on the senitment). I can't believe I have had chalk for like a year and just cracked it open to try :S March is turning out to be a great month for me using my stash.

I hope everyone can play along and if you do you have the chance to win Cupcake Ruby from Sparkle Creations Rubber Stamps (picture below...I want this stamp) I can't wait to see everyone's creations!

Happy Crafting!

Tara

Recipe:

A2 Size Card

Card Base Cardstock: Memories Forever

Purple CardStock: Recollections

Light Blueish Cardstock: Paper Reflections Textured 

Pattern paper: Me & My Big Ideas

Cuttlebug and Happy Birthday Folder

Cricut Cut: Once Upon a Princess Cartridge cut @ 2.5" (I think, sorry)

Sentiment: Pink Cat Studio Freebie

Eyelets: Making Memories

Mini Flower Brad: Making memories

Border punch: Fiskers Dotted Wave

Ribbon: Offray

Gelly Roll White Gel Pen

Crop-a-dile Big Bite

ATG

Zig 2 Way Glue

Pop Dots

2nd Crop Day and a Challenge

Hello Crafters,
Yesterday I went to my 2nd ever crop day! This time I did take a bit more then last and well in retrospect I didn't use even half of it. Below are some pictures of the day and the cards that I made. Baby cards...yes baby cards! I have figured it out, it's not that I can't make them, it's that I don't have the right cartridge lol. New Arrival has now been bumped to the number one spot on my wishlist!

Oh, and more exciting news...I had enough cricut rewards to get a free cartridge (well I had to pay $7ish dollars in shipping but not bad. I ordered the Sweethearts cartridge. Between that and the Tie the Knot cartridge I should be good to go when it is time to make my wedding scrapbook :)
Tara

P.S. I am entering my baby girl card (it was hard to pick which on but that little outfit is just too cute)at Celebrate the Occasion blog where their current challenge is themed 'New Arrival'.

P.P.S Serioulsy...99 followers??? I understand that often people stop following blogs (I'm not going to lie those ones that people only post on once in a blue moon often get bumped from my list) but come on not when someone is right at 100. I was not going to say anything but that hurts :( Thank you for those of you who continue to support me, your comments and friendships make it worth while.

No, I didn't take my shredder it just happened to be in the frame lol

Needed a little break :)

Recipe (for both cards):

A2 Size Card

Cardstock: Making Memories and Recollections

Pattered paper: From that mat stack with the missing cover again :S

Cricut Cut: New Arrival cut @ 3 1/2"

Metallic Silver Gel Pen

Eyelets: Making Memories (metallic and pastel set)

Sentiment: Dollarama Wooden Baby Set
Ink: Martha Stewart pink chalk ink and Staz on black

Embroidery thread - pink and blue
Crop-a-dile Big Bite

ATG

Zig 2 way Glue

Pop Dots

Lucky - Door Hanging

Hello Crafters,
It's a new month and you know what that means...I needed a new door hanger decoration. These are so much fun to make. The first one I made was a Halloween one inspired by one Mary from Cardz tv had made. She does a great video on how to make it if you are interested in trying one you should check it out.
In case you missed my older ones or are a newer follower here are the links to my other ones: October, December, February. (I know I have missed a couple months in there, I'll catch them the next time around lol)

One things I am always asked is how I get my paper towels tubes so flat. Well...I'll let you in on the secret... there is a few steps
1) flatten it with palm and then crease the edges with a bone folder.
2) Using A,B,C plates run it though the cuttlebug
* now you can pick your next step I have done both and both are very effective.*
3) Place it under about a foot and a half of paper pads overnight. Now you know why I am on a paper diet!
or the next is my preferred method
3) Squirt Scotch quick dry into one end of the tube and shake it until it runs down to the middle of the tube, place it between paper (saves you a mess if some decides to come out) place it back into your cuttlebug and very slowly run it though. Then do the same to the other end. I find this way the best because it gives you a stiffer result which makes the project more sturdy in the end.

I would like to enter my latest creation in a few St. Patty's Day challenges Crafting with Cristina, Creative Time For Me, Paper Cutz Challenge and Peachy Keen Stamps Challenge.
Thanks for looking and as always I love your comments!
Tara

Recipe:
1 Paper Towel Roll
Patterned paper - DCWV Holiday stack (from 2009)
Cardstock  - Recollections and scraps
Gold Cardstock - Dollarama
Leprechaun - Paper Doll Dress Up cut @ 3"
Pot of Gold - Paper Doll Dress up cut @ 3" (real dial size)
Horseshoes - Old West cut @ 2.5" and 4.5"
Lucky - Alphalicious cut @ 2.5" (in think, sorry) short stack feature + short stack shadow
Metallic rope- Dollarama
Shamrock glitter stickers - Dollarama
Bling - Dollarama
Martha Stewart Brown ink
Eyelets - Making Memories (metallic and brights)
Cuttlebug + folders 'Diamond Plate' and 'Swiss Dots'
Crop a Dile Big Bite
Scotch Quick Dry Glue
ATG
Zig 2 Way Glue
Pop Dots
(phew...I used a lot on this and didn't even notice until I had to type it all up lol)

My Sheri Crafts Challenge

Hello Crafting Friends,
I stumbed across a 'new to me blog' recently My Sheri Crafts and there is a challenge going on there right now. The challenge is 'All about Boys'. I have been playing with the idea of making up a few card sets to have as gifts and after playing with my Mini Monsters cartridge the other day I thought why not do a set all with monsters! I need to start thinking outside the box like this more. I actually tucked this cartridge and my Jolly Holidays one to the back of my cabinet because I said to myself  "well, those are seasonal and I will not need them anytime soon." Then I get amazed when I see people making stuff with them 'out of season' lol. So here is my card for the challenge.
Tara

Recipe:

A2 size card

Cardstock - Recollections and a few pieces from scrap pile (source unknown)

Cricut cut - Mini Monsters cut @ 3"

Cuttlebug Embossing Folder - 'Spots and Dots'

Google eyes - stash

Sentiment - Pink by Design - Oh Boy Set
ATG

ZIG 2 way glue

Pop dots



Paper Playtime Challenge

Hello Crafters,
I was so excited when I saw the theme for this weeks challenge on Paper Playtime. The theme is 'you rock!' I made a card a while back that had a rocker chick on the front and the saying 'u rock' and loved it! I gave it away and a couple times since had wanted that same card again to give. I decided now was the time to make a new one to have on hand. I used different colours this time and a bit of a different layout and honestly, I think I like this one even more! It might be a keeper lol. Come on I can't be the only one with a pile of cards that are so adorable that parting with them would be just wrong, can I?!
Thanks for checking out my creation and happy crafting!
Tara

Recipe:

Card base (A2 size): Yellow Recollections

Black mat: Recollections

All other card stock from my scrap pile

Cricut Cut: Everyday Paper Dolls (I think she is 2.5)

U rock frame: Ashlyn's Alphabet

Ribbon: Offray

Stamps: Michaels dollar bin one set had a bunch that said things like rock band, rock on, etc. and the 'U' was from an entire set of just 'U's. (weird I know but honestly I have used them a lot)!

I also used my cuttle bug with the divine swirls folder on her guitar

Cricut Cardz Challenge

I made this card for the Cricut Cardz Challenge. I really like the idea of making Christmas cards with non-traditional Christmas colours. I love the bright colours in this card! Sorry about the picture metallic cardstock doesn't photograph well :(

Recipe:

The snowflake was cut from the Accent Essentials cartridge from metallic cardstock from Dollarama.

The ribbon is the Celebrate It  brand which I purchased at Micheals a few weeks ago.

The bright blue and pink cardstock was from my scrap pile and the white base was Recollections.

I Cuttlebugged the blue with my Divine Swirls folder. 

The stamp is one of my new Pink by Design stamps from the Simply Everything Stamp Collection.