Dueling Darlings - A Christmas Story

Merry Christmas!

Today on my blog is the project I made for the Dueling Darlings December challenge.

Jeanette was the hostess for the Dazzlers this month and the kit was wonderful!  The kit included:

Images by Kraftin Kimmie "O Holy Night"
DP by Paper Studio
Embellishments from Hobby Lobby and Michaels
and the blue trim I used for the hanger was found by Jeanette on one of her treasure hunt finds (she loves garage and yard sales)

In the spirit of Christmas and since we just put up our tree I decided to make a Christmas ornament instead of a card.  The base of the ornament is a square coaster.

Here it is:

I think the greatest Christmas memory I have growing up is how much my dad loved Christmas.  He decorated the inside of the house as well as the outside.  Didn't matter how cold it was, the Christmas decorations got put up.  Lights everywhere!  One year he even built three large cross out of wood, wrapped them in foil, put lights on them and then placed them in the front yard.  BEAUTIFUL!!!!

Thanks for stopping by.  Please check out all the Dueling Darlings blogs to see their creations. Links to their blogs are in my sidebar.

Merry Christmas!

November Dueling Darlings

This month the Dazzler's received an awesome kit from Darlene.  The kit included:

Stamp: Lazy Boy Set by Art Impressions
CS: Conqueror Diamond White
DP: All by Recollections, Light Blue Argyle, Green Argyle, Football, Black & White Plaid, Black Polka Dots, Signature Series Shimmer CS
Washi Tape, assorted brads by Recollections

I loved this image.  I was struggling with a layout and went to my old standby of a pocket card and here it is:  (the image on the card insert is by SU!)

Part of this month's challenge was to post a funny holiday story about a guy in your life.  I don't really have a funny holiday story but I do have a story...one year we were leaving for Washington state.  After spending time there with family we were going on to Mexico.  The day before we left was my husband's birthday.  The next day we are at the airport and the airlines attendant behind the counter noticed that my husband's driver's license had expired just the day before on his birthday.  YIKES!!  This was before Mexico required passports and you could get in the country with a valid driver's license and birth certificate.  It's 8:00 a.m. and our flight was leaving about 10:00 or 10:30.  The kids and I all get checked in and head off to get through security.  My husband grabs a cab and rushes down to the Department of Motor Vehicles which does not open until 8:30.  He was first in line and rushed through getting a new license.  The cab driver even waited for him and then rushed him back to the airport.  WHEW!  He made it with about 10 minutes to spare.  Now before we travel he is always required to check the expiration date on his license.

Thanks for stopping by.  Please see my sidebar for all the Darlings blogs and go check out their creations.

October Calendar Girls Challenge

Our hostess for this months Calendar Girls Challenge was Barb.  And her challenge was this:

For me a true challenge is to try a new technique. So--that is going to be the challenge I propose to all of us.

Go to this link Technique Lovers Challenge Forum and chose a new technique to you that has a 1 or 0 in the challenge number--like TLC410 or TLC360 or any more current number.  The technique you pick should be one you have never tried before--and you can go back as far as you want in the forum in the posted techniques to find one to tackle. Please list the number and name of the technique you tried in your blog post. And--to make the challenge a bit harder--you cannot create a card this month! You need to think outside of the box and try a totally new technique along with a project that is anything but a card............... And--for extra credit--make a creation with a Halloween theme!

So I went to the Technique Lovers Challenge Forum and found this technique I had never tried before, created something that was NOT a card and my creation even has a Halloween theme.  And here it is...a Double Pocket Bag!  TLC169.

The sentiment and witch hat is from Whippersnappers.  Ribbon from SU!  Designer paper and buttons from either Michaels or Joann.  Thanks for stopping by.  Please see my sidebar for the blogs of all the Calendar Girls and check out their creations.  

September and October Dueling Darlings Challenges

Hello Friends!

There are two cards on my blog today.  The first card is for the September Dueling Darling Challenge.  Life has just been down right hectic and I did not get the card made in time and posted.  April was our September hostess and her instructions were:

For September we decided that since there are so many cute stamps out right now with different country themes, that we would travel the globe and celebrate culture! Please find enclosed in your kit, a stamp that represents a certain country and papers and embellishments to match this travel theme. Feel free to make this month's challenge your own in any way. Whether it be with a sentiment or embellishment that reflects your own heritage or just by sharing with us in your post what your heritage is and what traditions you have in your family that celebrate those origins.

To tell the truth friends, I loved the heritage and tradition theme and chose to send generic people that you can customize! I hope you don't mind!

I kept the accessories in black and white theme so they can coordinate with your design!

The stamps are from two sets from CTMH:
Family Ties - Adult
Family Ties - Children
The embellishments are from Michael's.
And here is my card:

 

 

My heritage is a mix of many countries so I didn't really customize this gal.  But I loved this designer paper and so wanted to use it.  And I do enjoy vacationing and traveling. Hoping one day to travel around with my hubby, after the kids are grown and on their own. 

 

Now for the October Duel...Paola was our hostess and her instructions, theme and kit full of goodies was as this:

 

      Hello Darling Dazzlers,

For this round, my partner Judy and I would like

for you to share your view on Halloween...

Do you celebrate it? If so, what's your favorite part ?

 (eating candy is NOT an optional answer...lol)

Please share one (or more) of the following suggestions :

a trick, a treat, a recipe, fav. costume, fav. decoration, fun times..etc...

              HAPPY HALLOWE'EN TO YOU ALL!!

 The following are the items I included in the kit you received :

Stamps (all from SU) : "Haunting Halloween" (cat, cauldron + 2sentiments)

                                    "Booglie Eyes" (mummy) & "Best Fiend" (sentiment)

D/P :     Wicked Fun (SU); Halloween Characters & Small Dots (both from Michaels)

                                      Black w/ silver thread (handmade DP from Costco)

Accessories : 'Boot To You' (CB folder) ; 'Black Bat's (Sizzix Die) ; 2 Halloween ribbons (Michaels) ;

                      1 XLrg orange brad by Elements/Am. Crafts ; sm. spiders from Recollections ; 

                      pumpkins dimentionals stickers ; 2 sets of Googlie eyes (Dollar store) ; 'Bootiful' brads from Sprinkles

 

And my card:

 

 

We don't celebrate Halloween here in our house but I really did enjoy the kit that Paola sent and used the small spider sticker on my card because my oldest child is a tarantula lover. 

 

Thanks for stopping by.  Check out my sidebar and go see all the wonderful creations by all the Darlings.

 



 

 

 

 

 

Calendar Girls September Challenge

The hostess for this months Calendar Girls Challenge was Terry and her challenge to us was to make a birthday card, using a sketch she provided and to include one type of embossing.  I love the sketch Terry had for us because it includes layers upon layers and I love layers!!  The bottom white strip of card stock is embossed using the Swiss Dots Cuttle Bug embossing folder.  I used the fall theme since the leaves are changing outside and the temperature is dropping (at least here).  We even have some snow on the tops of the mountains now.

Please see my sidebar for all the Calendar Girls blogs and take a look at their creations.

Thanks for stopping by.

Enjoy your weekend!

Calendar Girls Challenge

The card on my blog today is actually the card I would have made for the July Calendar Girls Challenge.  However, last month, I mistakenly followed the challenge for August and posted my August card.  So now that it is August, I am posting my card for the July challenge. 

The July challenge was:   

"Cute and Cuddly". The cuddly being a huggable moose, or a raccoon, or a bear, etc. 

Here's my cute and cuddly:

I used Whisper White and Baja Breeze card stock. The DP is retired from SU! and so are the felt snowflakes.  I embellished the snowflakes with silver cording and a rhinestone both from SU!  The image " Bundled Up Mike" is from Whippersnappers and colored with Copics and SU! markers.  

Thanks for stopping by.  Please see my sidebar and check out all the Calendar Girls creations.  

Dueling Darlings August Challenge

The Darlings are at it again.  The Duel this month was hostessed by Terry, for the Dazzlers and LJ for the Divas.  The Dazzlers received a great kit from Terry!  Our theme for this month and the kit contents were:

"Fall Kick-off"

LJ suggested to put together kits with a fall kick-off theme.....not specifically football, but anything that would start the fall season. I chose to put together a school themed kit for you all to work with, I hope you all enjoy it!

In your blog post, please share with us a favorite memory of the fall season!

Your kits include:

Image: Stampabilities: House Mouse "Smarty Pants" stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black

Paper: Recollections: "Back to School" paper pack

Bakers Twine: Target dollar spot

Candi Dots: Craftwork's

Ribbon: Michaels

Here's my creation:

And I even did a little on the inside!

Thanks for stopping by.  Please see my sidebar and check out all the Dueling Darlings creations!

August Calendar Girls Challenge

(OOPS!  I mistakenly did next months challenge instead of July's.  Sorry! Check back August 28th for my card for the July challenge.).   But here is next months creation. :)

Our Calendar Girls hostess for August was Paola a/k/a Sweet P.  And her challenge to us was as follows:

"For the usually HOT and HUMID month of AUGUST, I would rather do something to get cooled off ...but what?
mmmm..I got it! We could make some SNOWballs....or even SNOWangels in the middle of summer, but how? ♥

Here's what I suggest :
Your challenge for this month is to create something with anything that begins with the word SNOW.
However, here's the catch: Your card should NOT reflect Christmas at all...but rather just images AND  sentiment( s ) that start with *SNOW*.

and to....

Once you blog your card, please also make sure to add what was your word choice that your card reflects, and also WHY you selected THAT particular word..."

So based on the challenge here is my card.  I just love this Whippersnappers stamp and knew I wanted to use it for the August challenge.  I colored the image with my Copic markers.  The felt snowflake is a retired embellishment from SU! and the pearl is from a packet I picked up at Joann's.  The DP is Snow Much Fun from Three Bugs in a Rug.  

Thanks for stopping by.  Please see my sidebar and visit the other Calendar Girls to check out their creations. 

Cool Creations

This month's theme for our Dueling Darlings was:

COOL CREATIONS

Barb and I were the hostesses and the Dazzlers kit contained the following:

DP & Ribbon:  Ice Cream Parlor by Stampin' Up!

Image:  Good Ol' Summertime by Stampin' Up!

Paper Straw: A Muse

Buttons & Flowers: SU! and Michael's or Joanns

Craftworkcards Candi – pink dots

We also asked all the Darling that when posting their Cool Creations on their blogs that they let us know what their favorite summertime cool treat is. Is it watermelon, ice cream, lemonade?

Here is my Cool Creation:

I had the idea of somehow incorporating a packet of Crystal Light into my creation so I decided to make a pocket card.  You can pull out the inside portion of the card and include a message.  

I like to enjoy many different summer time cool treats but I guess I would have to say my favorites, at least this summer, have been watermelon and fresh raspberries!

Thanks for stopping by.  Please see my sidebar and visit all the Darlings blogs to enjoy their Cool Creations.  

June Calendar Girls Challenge

Our theme this month for the Calendar Girls challenge was Dollar Days.  I was actually the hostess this month and I gathered up all my unused/unopened dollar stamps I had purchased over time and sent each Calendar Girl a stamp to use for this month's card.  

The requirements for this month's challenge were:

1. At least two layers. 

2. You must use the $1 stamp you receive on the card. However since the $1 stamps are small you can use background stamps or other stamps to create a background, and sentiment stamps of your own on your card as well. But I would like the $1 stamp to be the focal point.

3. If you have any buttons, ribbons, or other embellishments that you bought for $1 or less, embellishments that were gifted to you, or recycled items, please use those products to embellish the card.

And here is my card:

The $1 stamp packet I used for my card included the candles and the round sentiment.  I didn't fill in the sentiment yet, because I am not sure who is going to get this birthday card.  The designer paper was bought on sale at Michael's (less than a dollar) and the button was bought from SU! clearance items.  

Thanks for stopping by!  Please see my sidebar for all the Calendar Girls blogs and be sure to check out their Dollar Days creations!

June Duel

The Dueling Darlings June theme was:  Flip Flops and Sunshine!

Our hostess, Melina, sent a bright and wonderful kit.  The kit included:

Images and Sentiment from CTMH.  Patterned paper and card stock by DCWV, Recollections, MME and SU!; Sunshine Cricut die cut; Joleen's flip flop embellishments; Baker's Twine from CTMH; rhinestones by Studio G; button from MFT; Kaiserkraft flowers; and American Crafts ribbon.

And this is my creation:

Thanks for stopping by.  Please see my side bar for all the Dueling Darlings blogs and be sure to check out their creations.

Enjoy your weekend!

May Calendar Girls Challenge

Happy Summer!!  FINALLY!!!!  Yes we have had sunshine and the grass is even turning green.  All I can say is it is about time!!!!

Our May Calendar Girls Challenge was to create a card reflecting something we wished to accomplish this summer.  And since I did not plant one single flower last summer, I know, I hate to admit it, but I didn't...I have promised myself I will get flowers planted.  My goals this next week is to get our yard cleaned up, dump a bunch of garage and plant those flowers!!!

Here is my card, which we made at our last stamp club, but oh so perfect for my flower card!!!  Card base is Early Espresso.  I also used Whisper White, Certainly Celery and Primrose Petal, all from Stampin' Up!

Thanks for stopping by.  Please see my sidebar and check out all the Calendar Girls creations.

Hope you had a relaxing Memorial Day weekend!

Making Memories, Celebrating Moments!

It is time to get our duel on....

Kelly and Jeanette, the hostesses for this month, came up with the wonderful theme "Making Memories, Celebrating Moments!" And, WOW!, did Jeanette send the Dazzler an incredible kit!

The kit included: 

Image: Art Impressions Picture Perfect  

Designer papers from Little Yellow Bicycle and Hampton Art Flashback

And embellishments of Washi Tape and a Photo Frame from Recollections; Kathy Davis Designs adhesive pearls, KI Memories rhinestones, Me & My Big Ideas Mambi Stick (camera), and Michaels ribbon and paper clip.  

With all this Making Memories kit goodness, I just couldn't bring myself to make a card.  I decided to make a 8 x 8 scrap book page...and, here it is....

I left the photo frame empty and will crop and put a small picture in there when I use this page.  One very special, recent memory I have is from about this time last year when my oldest DD graduate from high school!  Thanks for a great theme and great kit Jeanette and Kelly.

Please see my sidebar for the blogs of all the Dueling Darlings and check out their wonderful creations.  

April Calendar Girls Challenge

The card on my blog today is for our April Calendar Girls Challenge.  Our hostess, Carol, gave us the following challenge:

As the saying goes April showers bring May flowers....

To me April showers clean the earth of its worn out snow, dust and dirt along with nurturing new seeds and life to our surroundings (gardens, yards, trees, etc). It also, to me signals new beginnings....so for this month I would like for you to create a card that does just that...it could be a wedding card, a baby card, even a New Years card...OR it could be a card that uses something worn out or pre-used and develop a new use for it...ex: mesh bag from fruit...used once to hold fruit: new beginning...used on the card...repurposed.

Since I know a couple of people who will be having babies in the next few months, I chose to post this baby card I made at my stamp club.  The colors are Whisper White, Rose Red and Crumb Cake.  We used the SU! set Moving Forward and embellished with the small flower punch and pearl and some Crumb Cake seam binding.  The sentiment is also from a SU! set.

Thanks for stopping by.  Please see my sidebar for all the Calendar Girls blogs and check out their creations.  

April Dueling Darlings Challenge

This month the Dueling Darlings challenge was hosted by Darlene for the Dazzlers and Tami for the Divas.  Our hostesses decided that since April is National Gardening Month their kits would have a floral theme.

And WOW!!!  Did Darlene send us a boatload of a kit.  There was so much goodness that I was able to make two cards and could have made two more.

Darlene's kit for the Dazzlers included:

Image: *SU's Sweet Seasons (2004) stamped with Tuxedo Black on Conqueror Diamond White CS
Papers: *SEI's Field Notes pack
(I am in love with the DP from this company)
Doilies from my local supermarket!
Bakers twine from Can You Digi It?
Glitter brads from SU
Dragonfly Brad from Creative Impressions
Fabric Alpha Tabs from Letter Press (did you all notice that you rec'd the letter of your first name?)
Adhesive gems from K & Company
assorted banner etc. labels from Martha Stewart
Green leaf tags: unknown
non adhesive little gemstones by Paper Studio
Mini clothespins from A Muse Studios
lacey ribbon from local sewing store (I don't have any more either, mine will have to do without)

And here are my cards:

Thanks for stopping by.  Please see my sidebar for all the Darlings blogs and check out their wonderful creations.

Calendar Girls March Challenge

Today is the day to post our cards for the Calendar Girls March Challenge.  Out hostess, Tami, came up with this challenge:

Um, I hope I do not hurt anyone's feelings here but we are all a little bit of paper hoarders!!! 

Well, we are going to have to give up the security blanket for March. I would like to see your best created card with NO designer paper. *gasp*.....*thud* {I think J just hit the floor}.

So go ahead and grab your 'old school stamps' - yep, like a set you have not used in years - and create a card for the Calendar Girls.

Oh, and let's try to keep in theme with 'use what'cha got', please no new purchases for this round. Use what'cha got...well, everything but designer paper that is!


Say it isn't so????  No designer paper!!!  ***GASP***.  Believe it or not...it is doable.  

I used a layout and ink colors that we used for a card we created at a recent stamp club.  (I love the white on white!)  I did change the card stock color, sentiment and images from the original card we created. The ink colors are Summer Starfruit, Baja Breeze, Midnight Muse, and Garden Green. And, as instructed, I used what I had. I did not buy anything new to make this card.  Stamp sets are from A Muse and Stampin' Up!

Thanks for stopping by.  Please check out all the Calendar Girls creations.  See my sidebar for their blogs.  

Dueling Darlings March Challenge

It is the 15th of March and that means the Dueling Darlings are posting their creations for this month's challenge.  The Dazzler's hostess, April, sent a great kit, so full of stuff, that I was able to make two cards...

 

 

Thanks for stopping by and please see my side bar to check out all the Darlings' creations.



 

February Calendar Girls

Our February Calendar Girls challenge from our hostess, Kelly, was this:

It’s February, the month of LOVE ♥ I’m thrilled to be your hostess this month and offer you a challenge of a different sort Rather than go for the traditional Valentine’s card, I wanted to ask that you each make a card – as a reflection of yourself – and share a little LOVE!

This month, please create a card (or project) that shows what YOU love … something that when we look upon your card, we will know exactly what that ONE thing is that you love so much!

You may use any colors you would like but extra brownie points for using non - traditional colors!!
* Please include one thing only – I know it’s hard {However, if it's fruit, for example, you may include a basket of it rather than just one fruit}

YOUR BONUS CHALLENGE: As a extra bonus, but completely optional part of the challenge, I would LOVE for you to send your card to a place/organization that you LOVE. ♥ Share the LOVE ♥ this month by sending your card to someone in need – OWH, children’s charities, RMH

I could have done a card about crafting, but loving that is a given about me.  I also have done a card before that reflects reading, because I really love reading...but this card shows something that you may not know about me.

 

Yes, I do love Candy Corns!!  However, I only try to eat them in the fall, when its Candy Corn Season, of course!!! ;)

 

The images and sentiment are from an A Muse sent call "Candy Corn Kisses" and the sketch is from MFT.  

 

Thanks for stopping by.  See my sidebar for all the Calendar Girls blogs and to find out what they love!

Music in the Forest

The card on my blog today is one I created for a swap on SCS.  The title of the swap was Music in the Forest.  The "Forest" (a wonderful group of swappers) along with its "Forest Ranger" (a wonderful, wonerful, hostess) has had many, many swaps and each one has had a different theme. 

The image stamp I used was one I purchased a few years ago at Viva Las Vegas Stamps.  That store is packed full of stamps.  I did not have an entire day, or even half a day to spend browsing in the store but I sure could have.  Our family was in Vegas for football with our boys and my DH dropped me off at the stamp store while he and the kids did some other things.  But I only got about an hour in the store.

When the Music in the Forest swap was announced I knew right away this is the stamp I would be using.  The sentiment is from a retired SU set called Music Expressions.  The DP is some I picked up at Michael's or Joann's.

 

 

Thanks for stopping by.

February Dueling Darlings

It's time for the Dueling Darlings to duel it out and...

♥ IT’S ALL ABOUT LOVE! ♥

Our hostesses, Paola for the Dazzlers, and Judy for the Divas - chose this theme of love based on the Bible verses from Corinthians 13: 4, 7, 13

“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud…It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres…And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.”       (New International Version)

There is so much about love to celebrate in February, besides the forever traditional day of love, Valentine’s Day on Feb. 14^th.  Some celebrations that take place this month, and that may inspire you as you create your card for the upcoming duel, are:  American Heart Month, International Friend Month, Random Acts of Kindness Week (10^th – 16^th in 2013), Brotherhood/Sisterhood Week (17^th – 23^rd in 2013), Send a Card to a Friend Day (Feb. 7^th), Love Your Pet Day (Feb. 21^st), Family Day (Feb 18,  2013 in Canada)

With this theme in mind we would like you to sow the seeds of love and kindness you have received in your life.  You are challenged to pay it forward by performing a kind gesture and doing it anonymously!  The week of the 10^th – 16^th may be the perfect opportunity for you to do this.

Our kits from Paola were packed full and included:
Designer Papers from My Mind’s Eye (Love Me) : 'Hearts' 
Pinecone Press (Be Mine) : 'Smoochie' and 'Checkmate'
Ribbon from Recollections (Michaels): red glitter; pink glitter; red and white satin
Divine Twine: pink, white and red twine floss
Heart Wood Clip: ' Celebrate It' (Michaels)
Pink bling hearts baubles (Michaels)
Prima flowers -from my stash
Various heart brads -from my stash
1/2" Epoxy Brads 'Sending Love' from SU
Buttons - from my stash
Stamped images and sentiments, all from SU! : 'Summer by the Sea' ; Circle sentiment : 'Riveting'

With such an overflowing kit, I was able to create a pocket card as well as a diaper fold pouch that holds a couple of sweet treats!

Thanks for stopping by.  Please take a look at all the Dueling Darlings lovely creations.  See my sidebar for a list of their blogs. 

((HUGS))

Calendar Girls January Challenge

Jeanette was a our hostess for the January Calendar Girls challenge.  And her challenge was....

I want you to find a photo – it can be a picture you’ve taken (of a family member, a scenic drive, a food you’ve cooked, whatever) or it can be a picture someone else has taken. Maybe you even found it on the internet. After you’ve chosen the PHOTO you want to use, create a card/project inspired by that photo.

Of course on your blog post – when you show us your creation – we also want to see the photo that inspired you.

I did not quite follow this challenge...exactly...

I made the card below a few months ago in another swap where my theme was rainbows...and this is a picture of it, and it is a picture on my computer...hahahaha...

I cannot exactly remember where I found the layout design but I really liked it.  And I really liked the bright and cheerful colors in the DP and the cardstock I matched to that.  That got me thinking this would be a great birthday card because it is SO bright and cheerful.  So that's what lead me to make this card...

 

 

I used the same layout, colors, and DP but changed up the image and added the scalloped circles behind it.  I used Crystal Effects on the heart on the top of the cupcake and glued micro beads to the cupcake to give the "frosting" some texture. 

 

Thanks for stopping by.  Please check out all the Calendar Girls creations.  See my sidebar for their blogs.  



January Dueling Darlings

The Dueling Darlings are battling again!  This month with "Book Blitz Month."  And the kits we received from our hostess, Terry, (for the Dazzlers) was terrific!!!! 

The kit included:
Image - MFT - Who's That Girl "Well Read"
Paper - Basic Grey DP "Study Hall", DCWV brown solid, Fancy Pants "Fridig"
Accessories: CTMH Baker's Twin, Buttons - Dress It Up "Lone Stars", Nailhead Metal Stickers - Mark Richards from Hobby Lobby and brown ribbon from Terry's stash.

And I loved, loved, loved, the designer paper.  I used the designer paper with the books underneath the image and then flipped a small piece of it over and punched out the flowers using my SU! flower punch and added the metal stickers for the flower centers.  Image is colored with my Copics.  I added some white and Choclate Chip cardstock for the card base and first layer.  (Sorry the picture is not too great - bad lighting!)

I have several favorite authors and I LOVE to read.  My favorite reads are Christian fiction - suspense novels.

And here is my card for this month's duel:

 

 

Thanks for stopping by!  Please see my side bar and check out all the Dueling Darlings blogs for their "Book Blitz" creations.