Sweet Sugar Challenge 5

The 5th challenge at Sweet Sugar is to make TWO (yes two!!!) cards for those very hard people in our lives - men and boys! So get your creative thinking caps on and make two male themed cards.

I really loved this challenge, I think the Sugar Nellie range have some fantastic male stamps and really enjoyed using them.

Stamp - Sugar Nellie

Papers - Dovecraft Kids

Embossing - Cuttlebug Tiny Bubbles

Anchor - Quickutz

Stamp - Sugar Nellie
Papers - Dovecraft Masculine

Sentiment - Pink Petticoat

Tilda & Co Challenge - Mix & Match

The challenge over on Tilda & Co is Mix & Match, use 2 Magnolia Stamp images together to make 1 Image. Now this could be a simple as ,Taking a Tilda Stamp with a Basket and removing this and adding a Heart from another magnolia stamp so she is holding that instead of the basket, Or it could be as simple as Tilda's Head on a Magnolia Horse.

Well I couldn't bring myself to cut the head of one of my Tilda's so I used this bench that I had received in a PIF candy and my new Magnolia Stamp.

Images - Magnolia

Paper - Daisy Bucket

Card - Die Cuts with a View

Embossing - Cuttlebug Birds & Swirls

Sentiment - Pink Petticoat

Glitter - Stickles

Card & Stash

This is a card I made for Natalie from Crafting Fun to accompany some stamped images I did to say thanks, as I won some paper from her. Bit behind, as it was a couple of weeks ago, but not having as much time lately with the building work and continually cleaning when I get in from work.

Image - Sugar Nellie

Paper - Pink Petticoat

Sentiment - Pink Petticoat

We've had the electricians round this morning and they had to turn the electicity off, so I decided it would be better if I took myself off to the craft shop. These are the goodies that I treated myself to. Missed out the other goodies I received today, but Ez Mount and new cutting pads for Big Shot aren't that exciting :o)

Cute Card Thursday

The challenge over at Cute Card Thursday this week is to use People on your cards. I've done this card for one of my hubby's work colleagues, so i hope they like it. Really didn't know what to do for a 1 year old boy!

Stamp - Sugar Nellie

Paper - Frances Meyer

No 1 - Cricuit Plantin Schoolbook

Harvey - Sizzix Extended Cut Skittle Dee Do

Sentiment - Pink Petticoat

Gone Pink Mad!!!

I went a bit mad with girly pink cards yesterday, as I seem to be lacking in these in my card stash.

Paper - Stash

Handbag- Embellishment stash

Sentiment - Craftwork Cards

Ribbon - Little Silver Hat
Card - Bazzill Bling
Embossing - Cuttlebug Swiss Dots

Image/Sentiment - Pink Petticoat
Ribbon - Stash
Glitter - Stickles

Image/Paper/Sentiment - Pink Petticoat
Ribbon - Stash
Glitter - Stickles

I've won another award!

I've been awarded the You Make My Day award from Natalie, I love Natalie's cards so this is an honour to recieve it from her.

I now need to award this to 3 blogs that Make My Day, I nominate Michelle at Card Grotto, Jo at Only Joking and Hans at Hans Crafty Creations, as I check there blogs daily looking forward to seeing their new creations.

Papertake Weekly Challenge

This weeks challenge over at Papertake Weekly is a sketch. I alway love doing sketches, as it makes things so much easier for me!!!

Image - Hans PIF

Papers - Pink Petticoat

Flowers - Prima

Brad/Jewels - Papermania

Peel offs - Dawn Bibby

Glitter - Stickles

My Paper World - Sketch 7

I love Nicola's sketches and here is my take on sketch 7, it's brilliant. Check out her cards, there are some fantastic ones using the lovely Magnolia stamps.

Hoping to get some more crafting done today, as I have a day off from work to just do as I want!! Apart from the dentist this afternoon :o(

Stamp - Han's PIF

Paper - Han's PIF

Flowers - Prima

Brads - Dovecraft

Bea's Blog Candy

Bea is having a blog candy to celebrate 50,000 hits and the challenge is to make a pink card. I liked the layout from the Magnolia challenge so much I thought I would use it again

Stamp - Stamping Bella

Paper - Freebie from a magazine

Flowers - Prima

Brad/Gems - Papermania
Glitter - Stickles

Peel offs - Dawn Bibby

Tilda & Co Challenge

This weeks challenge at Tilda & Co Challenge is a template, so I decided to join in. The last couple of weeks have been a bit too much effort for me, i like nice simple cards and this was a great template.

Stamp - Magnolia image courtesy of Jo

Paper - Courtest of Natalie

Brads - Papermania

Flowers - Courtesy of Jo & Natalie

Peel offs - Dawn Bibby

Glitter - Stickles

Papertake Weekly Challenge

This weeks challenge over at Papertake Weekly is Weather with you! After last weeks appalling weather here in the UK, we've decided to use this theme for this weeks challenge! So anything associated with the weather - whatever your interpretation! Under the weather, fun in the sun? Wind? Rain? Let's see what you can come up with lol!

I had this lovely Magnolia image from Jo at Only Joking and thought it would be perfect.

Image - Magnolia

Paper - Pink Petticoat

Flower - Jo's PIF

Brad - Stash

Glitter - Stickles

Wording - Ellison Extended Cut Small Stuff

I've won an award

I've won this award from Noleen & Laura, thank you ladies. The "Arte Y Pico" (Art & More) is given to bloggers who share their art and creativity making their contribution to the blogger world.

The rules!
1) You have to pick 5 blogs that you consider deserve this award for their creativity, design, interesting material, and also contributes to the blogging community, no matter what language.
2) Each award has to have the name of the author and also a link to his or her blog to be visited by everyone.
3) Each award winner has to show the award and put the name and link to the blog that has given her or him the award itself.
4) Award-winner and the one who has given the prize have to show the link of "Arte y Pico" blog , so everyone will know the origin of this award.
5) To show these rules.

There are so many blogs that I visit every day and get inspiration from it's hard to narrow it down to just 5 and most of them have already been given the award. I choose Michelle, Natty K, Jo, Hans & Tracy.

I've been tagged

I've been tagged by Tracey and Jo. The rules of the game are:

• Link to the person that tagged you and post the rules on your blog
• Share 7 random and/or weird facts about yourself on your blog, we all want to know them
• Tag 7 random people at the end of your post and include links to their blogs
• Let each person know that they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.

1. I'm a big scaredy cat, I hate horror films and anything that is out of my little comfort zone.

2. I've never gone longer than 2 weeks without seeing my mum and thats only if one of use has been on holiday!

3. I'm obsessed with my 2 cats, Blackie & Spitter. I even talk for them to my hubby in my cat voice, which he finds slightly annoying :o)

4. I love lists, I make lists of my lists so I don't forget anything, hubby calls me Monica, as I'm so much like to character from friends.

5. I'm really greedy and my eyes are bigger than my belly (so my dad says), hence the fact that I have been on a permanent diet since I was 16!!!!

6. I meet my hubby by telling him I thought he was arrogant and to full of himself (he's not just shy around people he doesn't know). Think it was my way of trying to tell him I like him, why he asked me out is a mystery :o)

7. I love cooking programmes, although I don't think I have ever made anything from one. I watch them whilst I'm crafting.

Now to nominate 7 people, I choose Natalie, Julie, Sarah, Noleen, Laura, Sue and Michelle.

Cute Card Thursday 2 - All Creatures Great and Small!

The second challenge over at Cute Card Thursday is All Creatures Great and Small!

Stamp - Penny Black Spring Air

Paper - Papermania Retro Flowers

Ribbon - Stash

Glitter - Stickles

New Goodies

Well I have managed to get 2 more of the new Cuttlebug embossing folders that I wanted, thanks to Natalie who mailed me to say they were back in stock at The Glitter Pot. Also got the old bubbles one and the Magnolia horse.

Been a bit hectic, the work has started on renovating our extension, which hasn't been built that brilliantly by the previous owners!!! We have taken out the old rotten window and new french doors have been put in and we've also had damp proofing done. Hopefully they will be taking off the old flat roof and redoing that next week and hopefully the plumber can fit us in next week so we can get the piping for a new radiator sorted. Also ordered our new kitchen, which will be with us in 4 weeks. Can't wait until the whole space is opened up and we have a lovely kitchen/dining space. Just a nightmare living with all the dust and constantly cleaning up! Already made a couple of trips to the dump with rubbish today and we have a few more to make over the break.

Hoping to get some crafting done tomorrow, been feeling rotten for the last couple of days and haven't felt like going into my little room and making cards. I have coloured my item for Cute Card Thursday, just need to find some inspiration to turn it into a card now :o)

Have a great Easter, even if the weather is a bit pants

Tara x

Sweet Sugar Challenge - Easter

This weeks challenge over at Sweet Sugar Challenge is to make an easter card. Her is mine, for my mum & dad.

Stamp - Sugar Nellie

Paper - Papermania Retro Flowers

Sentiment - Pink Petticoat

Flower - Prima

Brad/Jewel - Papermania

Cute Card Challenge - New Beginnings

This is the first challenge over at Cute Card Thursday and it's New Beginnings.

Image - Pink Cat Studio (received from Hans)

Sentiment - Pink Cat Studio (received from Hans)

Embossing Folder - Cuttlebug Baby Words

Ribbon - Ribbon Oasis

Glitter - Stickles

FANTASTIC NEWS

I have wanted to shout this from the rooftops, but haven't been able to get on the computer!

A couple of weeks ago I got a mail asking if I would like to be part of the design team for First Class Crafts. This is now under new management as Tracy has taken this over from Kitty. After my initial shock of being asked had died down, I said yes before she could change her mind!!!

I will be working with I am really looking forward to working with Tracy, Alex Eaton and Michelle Short.

At last some cards

I've had a couple of cards to make in the last 2 days and can't fnially get them on my blog before hubby phones AOL - again!

Stamp - Penny Black Snuggle

Paper - Stash
Gems - Papermania

Blue Paper - Stash

Football Kit - Ellison Thin Cut

18 - Eliison Thin Cut Block Party Alphabet
Sentiment - Pink Petticoat

Paper - Stash

Ribbon - Ribbon Oasis

Embellishment - Stash

Gems - Papermania

Sentiment - Pink Petticoat

Lots of goodies

Look at the lovely goodies I have received from Nicola at My Paperworld, Michelle at Card Grotto and Natalie at Crafting Fun. Thank you ladies, I have recieved these over the last couple of days but both our computers have been out of action as hubby continues his battle with wireless through AOL!!!!

Can't wait to have a play with them all!

Spring Flowers

Well I have been in London yesterday and today, it really is a different world than up North!!!! Sorry to anyone who has mailed me, I'll reply this evening when I get home. I have a card though that I didn't get a chance to add on Tuesday night.

I'm not sure on this card, think it might be a wee bit bright! I love this paper from Dovecraft Retro Floral so I tried to use similar colours when I coloured in the image. What do you think?

Image - Hans PIF

Paper - Dovecraft Retro Floral

Pens - Marvy Le Plume

Ribbon - Stash

Gems - Papermania

Glitter - Stickles

Sentiment - Pink Petticoat

Penny Black Dog

Well I liked the layout for the card below so much that I thought I would make one with my new Penny Black stamp and these great papers from Dovecraft

Stamp - Penny Black Dressed Up

Papers - Dovecraft Masculine

Sentiment - Pink Petticoat

Brads - Stash

Lovely Ribbons

Look at my lovely ribbons that have arrived from Little Silver Hat's closing down sale. I got 12 metres of Maya Road ribbon for £5 and 20 metres of purple/lilac ribbon for £5. I get paid on Friday, so might have to treat myself to a couple other colours as it's such good value.

Penny Black Stickers

I've had some Penny Black stickers for over a year so decided to make a card using this cute cat to continue my quest of using up my huge stash of embellishments! The layout was inspired by a card on Hans blog.

Sticker - Penny Black

Ribbon - Stash

Gems - Papermania

Sentiment Stamp - Do Crafts See D Celebration Messages

I won

I won the draw for the candy over at Nicola's blog - http://mypaperworld.blogspot.com/. I love trying her sketches so this is such a great bonus.

Thanks Nicola x

Kimmie's Blog Candy

Kimmie has another fantastic blog candy on her blog and to be in with a chance of winning it, you need to make a spring card. This is for my gran, otherwise she will be upset my Aunty and Uncle have a card and she doesn't!

Stamp - Sugar Nellie

Paper - Papermania Retro Flowers

Sentiment - Pink Petticoat

Buttons - Papermania

Katharina's Blog Candy

Katharina has a fantastic blog candy on offer on her blog to win a High Hopes stamp. She has recently become a design team member for them and her cards are fantastic. All you need to do is leave her a comment on her blog and you will be entered to win a stamp. If you post a link on your blog you get entered into win again!

Aud's Blog Candy

Aud have a lovely blog candy over on her blog and it's to use your favourite things.

I had to make a retirement card for a lady at work who is very glamourous and I wanted to use my new favourite stamps from Pink Cat Studio. I also used my favourite paper of the moment and my favourite tool, the cuttlebug embossing folders.

Stamp - Pink Cat Studio (Plate 1)

Paper - Papermania Retro Flowers

Embossing - Cuttlebug Floral Fantasy

Glitter - Stickles

Gems - Papermania

PIF

Look at the lovely PIF I received from Vanessa at Nessy's Notes, thanks it's lovely and I now need some of the cuddlybuddly stamps.

So the first 3 people to leave me messages will receive a PIF from me!
Winners are Sarah, Amanda and Joanne, please mail me your addresses to tarasdesigns@hotmail.co.uk x

Enfys Blog Candy

Enfy has a lovely blog candy over on her blog, http://going-buggy.blogspot.com/. You need to make a card using black and white and one other colour. I needed to make a 40th card for my brother and it wasn't to be too old fashioned!!!! WEll out came my favourite pink petticoat paper and daisy die :o) The 40 stands out much better in real life as i can't show the dimension when I take a pic!

Paper - Pink Petticoat

Sentiment - Pink Petticoat

Flower - Thick Cuts Daisy

Numbers - Thin Cuts Block Party

Jem - Papermania

PIF wallets and new stamps

I loved the wallet/card that Jo sent me with my PIF in, so have made them for my PIF that I'm sending out. They were so easy to make and really effective, I love them! Just need the Stampin Up punch so I can thread ribbon through in future.

I also received some new stamps today, my Lily and Tweet set from Pink Cat Studio, took less than 4 days to arrive from Canada and also the new Cotton Rabbit stamps from Funky Kits.

I also received a PIF from Vanessa at Nessys Notes this morning. I'm going to show you pics tomorrow and do another PIF then, as hubby has told me to get off computer! His laptop has needed a new hard drive and been fixed today and now he can't install AOL onto it. Not a happy man and he wants this computer so he can search for the answer to his problem :o) Hopefully he will still be playing when Dawn is on QVC at 8 and I can watch it!

Hans Blog Candy

Hans has a lovely blog candy on offer on her blog - http://hanscraftycreations.blogspot.com/. All you need to do is leave a comment and you are entered and if you add a link onto your blog, you get entered in another blog candy!! Double chance of being lucky :o)

Sweet Sugar Challenge - Black, White & Pink

This weeks challenge over on Sweet Sugar Challenge is to use Black, White and Pink on your card, along with a Sugar Nellie!! If you love Sugar Nellies (and who doesn't), make sure you play along with us.

Stamp - Sugar Nellie

Papers - Pink Petticoat

Sentiment - Pink Petticoat

Ribbon - Ribbon Oasis

Gems - Papermania

Guitar Card

My brother asked me to make a birthday card for a guitar loving 15 year old girl who is into black & blue. Resorted to my favourite layout, as I struggled with the brief on this one!

Guitar- Ellison Thin Cuts

Embossing Folder - Cuttlebug Happy Birthday

Sentiment - Pink Petticoat

PIF Winners

Sorry it's taken so long to reply, been away with work and not had a chance to update my blog.

Anyway the winners are:-

Hans
Pam
Monika

I have Pam and Hans address, Monika can you please e-mail me your address to Tarasdesigns@hotmail.co.uk and I will get your PIF sorted this weekend

x

Tilda & Co Challenge - Spring is in the Air

I've not managed to take part in the last couple of Tilda Challenge's, so I wanted to make sure I got in early for this weeks. "As spring is almost upon us, the first signs are there now, the spring bulbs, the baby lambs are out already, I thought it was time to get those spring and Easter projects under way!" I'm not one for Easter cards, but I had this image from Hans which is gorgeous and I thought I'm make a card for my Aunty and Uncle who live in America.

Sorry the top paper isn't very clear, but it has lovely spring says all over it. Just a nightmare to get a decent picture!

Stamp - Magnolia

Papers - DCWV Spring Stack

Watercolour Pencils - Derwent

Glitter - Stickles

Sentiment - Pink Petticoat