Challenge #11 ~ Birthday Card

I was thinking that since it is my birthday today that I would issue a quick and simple challenge today!!

Challenge # 11:
I would like to see you make a birthday card!!! I can just pretend that you are making them to celebrate my birthday. LOL

Email your card to me at: thynner5@yahoo.ca to earn a ballot for this months blog prize valued at at $50.00 of new products. Some Maya Road, SEI, Ranger Crackle Paint, Primas and more!

Happy Scrapping!

~Tara~

Challenge # 10 ~ Numbers

I really wanted to post some holiday pictures and I have been putting off posting any more challenges. I left my camera in Goderich after one of our family Christmas gatherings. Since it is still there I thought I would get right back into the challenge postings. Hopefully some of you have some free time and want to escape into the world of scrapbooking!!

I don't know about all of you but I have gained at least 5 pounds over the last few days. I am so bloated and my pants just don't fit comfortably. It is amazing to me how much food my body can consume over the holidays. There is no such thing as control or healthy eating for me over the holidays!!

Challenge:

In honour of my 5 pound weight gain I would like you to use the number 5 on your next layout or card. It can be in your title, in your journaling or you could just use 5 pictures. I just want to see the number 5 represented on your creation.

Here is a layout I did some time ago for The Scrapping Bug. Me 5 Things:

Please email your creations to me at: thynner5@yahoo.ca to earn a ballot for this months prize draw valued at $50.00 in new releases!!

Deadline: December 31st

Draw Date: January 1st

Happy Scrapping!!

~Tara~

Challenge #9 ~ Blogging

I am so sad today. My daughter brought it to my attention that my birthday is Sunday. I asked her how old I will be and she said "40". Yikes... not yet.

Now I feel the heat of another birthday upon me. Usually they don't bother me. It is just a number after all. I will be 38 on December 28th. It really sucks. Not because I am turning another year older but that my birthday falls three days after Christmas. Every year I have suffered through a quiet birthday. Nobody is ever around to celebrate with. I never had a birthday party. I never got to play Pin the Tail on the Donkey or played cheesy party games. Most of the time I got to pick one of my Christmas presents to save to open on my birthday.

I could tell that my parents felt sorry for me and tried to make my birthday into a big deal. My Dad would let me chose whatever I wanted for my birthday supper. I usually asked for Beef Stroganoff. He used to make an amazing Stroganoff. Yummy!! They would sing Happy Birthday and sometimes I'd get a cake. Then I could unwrap my present wrapped in Christmas paper. I love them for that.

It's better since having children. They get so excited on my birthday and it's infectious. The joy in their faces makes having another birthday not seem so bad!! That is what I am looking forward to the most on Sunday!

Challenge #9:
Here is a simple challenge for you today. I would like you to blog about a favorite birthday memory. It can be about something you did, something you got or somebody else for their birthday. Let me know what made it special for you. You can post a link to your blog below. If you do not have a blog you can email your memory to me at: thynner5@yahoo.ca . You will earn a ballot for my big blog draw! Couldn't be any easier.

Deadline: December 31st
Draw Date: January 1st

~Tara~

Challenge #8 ~ Sketch Puzzle

I have had a few requests for more sketch puzzles. Since I want to keep everyone happy I have put together another one for you. Please keep in mind that both the medium and hard versions are of the same sketch. I just want to put one that may be a little challenging for you. Just solve the puzzle, print out the sketch and create a layout!

medium version

hard version

Please email your layout to me at: thynner5@yahoo.ca to earn a ballot for this months Blog Prize Draw valued at $50.00. I will post a pic of the amazing prize tomorrow after I am done my volunteer work.

If you have troubles printing the sketch off and/or would like me to email the sketch to you just drop me an email.

Deadline: December 31st
Draw Date: January 1st

Happy Scrapping!

~Tara~

Challenge #7 ~ Sketches

A few girls have asked to see the sketches the weScrap Fresh Faces had to work with this week. I am posting these amazing sketches here for you girls to use as inspirations as well.

The first sketch was created by Ally. You can check out her So Sketchy Blog for more amazing sketches. Did you know that Ally also hosts monthly draws for anyone who uses her sketches??

The following card sketch was done by Lucy Chesna. Isn't it wonderful?? Please check out her My Sketchworld Blog for more wonderful sketches.

Challenge #7:

Your challenge is to use these sketches for your next creation. You will earn one ballot for each sketch you do. Either email them to me at: thynner5@yahoo.ca or post a link in the comments section.

Deadline: December 31st

Draw Date: January 1st

Happy Scrapping!

~Tara~

Please Vote ~ Fresh Faces Final

We have narrowed the contestants down to 4 and they have just finished thier final challenge. I challenged then to do a Back to Back. I gave them each a layout sketch and a card sketch. They had less than a week to create something fabulous and load them in the weSrap Gallery. They all did such a great job. The gallery throughout this competition has been amazing. There are so many wonderful scrapbookers out there just waiting to be discovered.

Here are the final creations:

Michelle:

Sarah:

Debby:

Jacquelin:

Please help us by sending me your vote at: thynner5@yahoo.ca . Please put Fresh Faces Vote in the subject line. You can also post your pick in the comment section below. Help us pick weScrap's Next Top Designer!!

***Votes are due by midnight on Sunday!

Also.... take a moment to chek out all the amazing entries that have been posted in the gallery throughout this competition. They are amazing!! weScrap Fresh Faces Gallery

~Tara~

Challenge #6 ~ Frame It

It's time for another challenge. I know that we all get busy during the holidays but I still like to sit down and create. It releases the stress of shopping, wrapping and cleaning. I enjoy sitting down at the end of the day, listening to Steve snore on the couch, and bring out my scrappy supplies.

Challenge #6:

I would like to see you frame a photo on your layout. You can use chipboard, metal, paint, decorative scissors or even a digital frame or transparency. You can use whatever inspires you as long as one of your photos are framed.

Here is a layout I did of Olive. She is an adorable puppy that belongs to our friend Jill O'Keefe. Jill is one of the girls favorite lifeguards and they just adore all the O'Keefe girls!! I will need to get an updated photo of Olive. Puppies grow so fast.

You can either email your creation to me at: thynner5@yahoo.ca or link it below. You will earn a ballot for the monthly Blog Prize!!

***Remember you are playing for a wonderful prize pack valued at $50.00.

Due Date: December 31st

Draw Date: January 1st

Happy Scrapping!

~Tara~

Stained Glass Tealight Holders & Challenge # 5

I posted this at Scrapdango for their 12 Gifts of Christmas and I wanted to share it with you gals too. Wanna make some cool tea light holders?? I let my kids take the lead on this craft. We had alot of fun together making these.

1. Clean and dry the drinking bottles. Use your exacto knife to cut around the bottle where it begins to taper, approximately ¾ of the way from the bottom. Discard the top portion.

2. Use your scissors to cut the tissue papers into 1-2 inch squares.

3. Coat the bottle in sections with Podge medium using your foam brush. Adhere tissue paper squares to the podge. Repeat until the bottle is covered. Apply a coat of Podge to the entire bottle. Let dry.

4. Using your glue dots adhere your ribbon around the top of the bottle. You could also add ribbon to the bottom if you wish.

5. Adhere your chipboard shapes to the front using glue dots.

6. If you are making more than one it would be nice to add chipboard or wooden letters to spell Noel or Joy. My girls chose Scenic Route Chipboard Shapes.

7. Apply some Stickles to the chipboard for some added glitter. (It doesn’t show in my photos)

8. Place your battery operated tea light inside and enjoy! **I bought mine for $1.00 each at my local Hardware Store. DO NOT use real tea lights. The holders are made of plastic and will be a fire hazard!!

Enjoy the pretty, gentle glow.

This was a fun project to do with the girls after school. The mess is minimal and the end result really is stunning when it is lit up.

Challenge #5:

I would love to see you make one of these as a gift for someone or for yourself. Email your Stained Glass Tea Light Holder for a ballot for this months Blog Prize valued at $50.00. thynner5@yahoo.ca

Due Date: December 31st

Draw Date: January 1st

** Be sure to scheck out Scrapdango for more amazing projects. My friend Lucy made a super cool Origami Tree Card!!

Happy Scrapping!

~Tara~

12 Quotes of Christmas and Challenge #4

I have been posting 12 Quotes of Christmas at Scrapdango. Every day for 12 days I have been posting some great Christmas quotes to inspire some Christmas creations. I thought I would share them with my blog readers as well. Here they are:

1. Christmas waves a magic wand over this world, and behold, everything is softer and more beautiful. ~Norman Vincent Peale

2. He who has not Christmas in his heart will never find it under a tree.~Roy L. Smith

3. The best of all gifts around any Christmas tree: the presence of a happy family all wrapped up in each other.~Burton Hillis

4. May you have the gladness of Christmas which is hope;

The spirit of Christmas which is peace;

The heart of Christmas which is love. ~Ada V. Hendricks

5. I wish we could put up some of the Christmas spirit in jars and open a jar of it every month. ~ Harlan Miller

6. I will honor Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year. ~Charles Dickens

7. If there is no joyous way to give a festive gift, give love away. ~ Unknown

8. What is Christmas? It is tenderness for the past, courage for the present, hope for the future. It is a fervent wish that every cup may overflow with blessings rich and eternal, and that every path may lead to peace. ~ Agnes M. Pharo

9. Gifts of time and love are surely the basic ingredients of a truly merry Christmas. ~ Peg Bracken.

10. Christmas! The very word brings joy to our hearts. No matter how we may dread the rush, the long Christmas lists for gifts and cards to be bought and given, when Christmas Day comes there is still the same warm feeling we had as children, the same warmth that enfolds our hearts and our homes. ~Joan Winmill Brown

11. Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus. He exists as certainly as love and generosity and devotion exists, and you know that they abound and give to your life its highest beauty and joy. ~ Charles Dana

12. We make a living by what we get but we make a life by what we give. ~ Winston Churchill

Challenge #4:

I would like to see you use one of the above quotes on a layout or card. I hope to see you inspired by these wonderful quotes. You can either email your creation to me at: thynner5@yahoo.ca or link it below.

Deadline: December 31st. The draw will be held January 1st and be drawn by my lovely daughter Paige this month.

**Remember you are playing for a wonderful prize pack valued at $50.00. I'll post a list and pic this weekend.

Happy Scrapping!

~Tara~

Challenge #3 ~ The Recipe

I was chatting with the gals at Creative Scrappers about their favorite recipes and about cooking. It made me think about this amazing recipe my friend Kate, from CCAS, gave me. I still make them every Christmas with my girls and they don't last long. I would like to share the recipe with you.


Peanut Butter Tassies:

1/2 Cup brown sugar
1/2 Cup white sugar
1/2 Cup smooth peanut butter
1 egg
1/2 Cup shortening or butter
Pinch salt
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
1 1/2 Cups flour
Miniature peanut butter cups
candy Tassie or mini-muffin sized paper cups

Yield: 24-36 pieces
Cooking time: 7-8 mins


Preheat oven to: 400 degrees

Line pan with paper cups.
Unwrap 24-36 peanut butter cups and set aside.Cream together peanut butter, sugar, egg, vanilla and shortening.
Add salt, flour and soda. This will be a very stiff dough.Drop small balls of dough (size of a walnut ) into pans.
Bake for 7-8 minutes until very light brown on top.Remove from oven and press unwrapped peanut butter cup
into cookies while still in hot pan.
Let cool slightly and remove from pan; repeat.

I like to decorate the tops of them with a squeeze of green frosting
and a cinnamon candy. It gives them a very festive look for the holidays!

Challenge #3:

I would like you to blog about your favorite recipe. You can link it here in the comment section. If you do not have a blog you can email it to me at: thynner5@yahoo.ca . You will earn one ballot for the draw.

BONUS: If you use this recipe on a layout or make a recipe card you will earn not one... but two extra ballots for this months blog draw!! Yep... another $50.00 value of new releases!

Deadline: All challenges are due December 31st. The draw will take place on New Years Day!

Happy Scrapping!

~Tara

A Sweet Surprise & Challenge #2

I received a sweet surprise in the mail last week. I opened an envelope to find a wonderful collections and buttons from my dear friend Jackie. She also made me a beautiful Christmas card as well. Thanks again Jackie for my early Christmas present!! Here is a look see:

I used the ribbon already for my Wall Hanging that I posted the other day. I also used some of the pretty buttons and ribbon on this layout. I created this for The Scrapping Bug using the great MME papers. I based it on a fab sketch from the So Sketchy Blog! They all went great with Paige and her pink snowsuit!!

Challenge #2:

So your challenge for today is to use ribbon and buttons on your next layout or card.

You can email your creation to: thynner5@yahoo.ca to earn a ballot for this months draw. Yep... another $50.00 value. I still have so much goodies to give away!!

Happy Scrapping!
~Tara~

So Sketchy Blog DT Call

My friend Ally is looking for some scrappers for her So Sketchy Blog. The current team has been wonderful and I am looking forward to seeing who she finds for the next term. Here is the info:

"Yup… it’s that time of year again… to choose a new design team for the So Sketchy! Blog.
6 page designers and 3 card designers will be chosen. Previous designers and guest designers are welcome to reapply. Canadian, US and international submissions are welcome.

Here’s how to enter:
1. Create TWO pages or THREE cards using any of the sketches from the months of November 2008 or December 2008 found on the blog. Submit those sketch creations along with 3 other creations from your archives that best show your scrapping style.
2. Submit your 5-6 creations to sosketchy@live.com .
3. Your email subject line should read “So Sketchy Design Team Call 2009”.
4. Applications should be received no later than December 31st 11:59pm MST.
5. All attachments must be 500x500 or less.
6. Please include the following information:
• Your full name
• Location (city, country)
• Your email address
• Please indicate if you are applying for a card designer or a page designer. You may submit applications for both but you must send 2 separate applications.
• Please list your attached creation titles and indicate which sketches you used to create them.
• Any links to your on-line galleries
• A link to your blog (a blog is a must have!)
• A list of any current design teams, if any.
• A paragraph about why you wish to be a So Sketchy Sista!

As a designer, you will be responsible for 2-3 creations based on my sketches to be presented on the blog. No monetary compensation… sorry. You will have a contract to design for 6 months, January 15th to June 15th.

Members of the 2009 So Sketchy! Sistas will be informed no later than January 14th and a list of the new design team will be announced once all the designers have been informed via email.

Good luck!

Due Date: December 31st 11:59pm MSTEmail: sosketchy@live.com "

I hope that everyone will send in thier submissions. Ally is a wonderful sketch designer and I know you'll love working with her. Good luck girls.

~Tara~

Chipboard Wall Hanging Tutorial & Challenge #1

Welcome to my Chipboard Wall Hanging Tutorial.

You’ll need to gather up the following supplies:

Chipboard

3 Patterned Papers (I used Bella Blvd-Scrapdango Sugar Kit)

Cutting System

Coordinating cardstock

crop-a-dile or hole punch setter

Eyelets

Embellishments

Ribbon

1. Cut the chipboard into 3 squares measuring 6X6 inches. Cut the coordinating cardstock the same.

2. Adhere the cardstock to the chipboard and ink and/or sand the edges.

3. Measure in 1 ½ inches in from the edges of two of the squares and ½ from the top or bottom edge. Mark it with a pencil and poke your holes. Add your eyelets.

4. Cut out the patterned paper and adhere them onto your squares.

5. Cut four 4 inch strips of ribbon and pull through the eyelets. Adjust the length to your liking and adhere or knot the ribbon on the back.

6. Cut a 6 inch ribbon for the very top holes. Pull through and either adhere or knot this as well.

7. Now your Chipboard Wall Hanging is ready to embellish. You can add your photos now or wait for the right ones. Hope you enjoy making these as much as I do!

Close Up Pics: DD

Emmy:

Paige:

I also did one for The Scrapping Bug using MME Papers:

***Note: If you do not have chipboard at home you can improvise by using cardboard. I have been know to cut up some cereal or cracker boxes before!!

December Challenge #1: Can you guess what my first challenge of December is?? Yep... I would like to see you make a Chipboard Wall Hanging either for yourself or as a gift.

You can email your Wall Hanging at: thynner5@yahoo.ca to earn a ballot for this months draw. Yep... another $50.00 value. I still have so much goodies to give away!!

Happy Scrapping!

~Tara~

November Blog Winner Announcement!!

I must apologize to everyone for the delay. I have been rather sick with Strep Throat and it's taken it's toll on my body. I feel at least 100 years old. I even look it too.

I promised Emmy that she could pick the winner this month because DD did it last time. Besides, it so much more fun when I involve the kids that just using a random generator. So... I made up over 50 ballots!! I am overwhelmed that so many of you take part in my challenges each month. I ma really having alot of fun and I love seeing your work. You are inspiring me and everyone with your creations.

I grabbed Emmy this morning after she got dressed for school. We put the ballots in a frying pan!

She scrambled them up and reached in to pick the winner....

She picked the winner.... and the winner is......

Is it you?? Can you see?? Hmm... flash issue. Let's get a little closer......

Yep............... it's Keeley Yowler!!

Please email me your mailing address at: thynner5@yahoo.ca.

I hope everyone takes a minute to click on the gallery and check out all the amazing cards and layouts that were submitted this month!!

**Remember that I am starting another round for this month too. Hmmm... wonder what kind of a RAK I can come up with?? Check back tomorrow for my first challenge and this weekend for a peak at the RAK!

~Tara~