Catching Up - 3 Cards

Hi Everyone!

I am so far behind in my posts.  I apologize to the Dueling Darlings and Calendar Girls.

My First card is for October Dueling Darling challenge. Terry was our hostess. And the theme was,

Eat, Drink or be Scary!

Thanks Terry!

My next card was the October Calendar Girls challenge.  Barb's challenge was to use Black and one other color.  Here's my card.  Thanks Barb for a fun challenge.

My final card is the this month's Dueling Darlings.  April was our hostess and we were challenged to make a card with a sentiment only - no image.  And here is that card.  Thanks April.

Thanks for stopping by.  Please visit all the gals blogs to see their great creations.  You can find links to their blogs in my sidebar.

Dueling Darlings September Duel

The challenge this month was to make a recipe with a favorite recipe or comfort food.

The Dazzlers kits included:

Cherry Cobbler and Chocolate Chip card stock
Image from MFT, a la modes - What's Cooking?
Maya Road What's Cookin chipboard pieces
clips from Michaels/Joanns
brad from Eyelet Outlet

And here is my recipe card.  These bars are quick and easy and everyone loves them.

Please see my sidebar and visit all the Dueling Darlings blogs and take a look at their recipe cards.

Recipe (in case you cannot read the card).

Fruit Bars

1 package yellow cake mix
2 1/2 C quick cooking oatmeal
1 1/2 sticks butter or margarine (melted)
1 C strawberry or raspberry presserves
1 TB water

Preheat oven to 375.  Grease 13x9 pan.
Combine cake mix (dry) and oatmeal; add melted butter, stir until crumbly.
Press half of the crumb mixture into pan.  Combine preserves and water, stir until blended.  Spread over crumb mixture.
Sprinkle remaining crumb mixture over preserves and pat firm.  Bake 18-23 minutes until top is light brown.
Cool and cut into bars.

Calendar Girls August Challenge

Our challenge this month, from Paola, was....

Hello Calendar Girls ♥
for the month of August, I would like to challenge everyone to embrace the PUNCH ART tecnique...yup, dust off your punches Ladies!
Please feel free to use a stamped sentiment of your choice , but the main focus is being creative, using punches .

My card is very simple as once again the 28th caught me by surprise.  I saw this design on SCS several years ago and wanted to reproduce it for this challenge because I really like the simplicity of it and it could be used for any occasion.

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

Dueling Darlings August Duel

The theme for this month's duel is "Friends are the Family you Pick Yourself!"  Melina was the hostess for the Dazzlers and sent a wonderful kit that included:

Image:  Whimsy Stamps "I Will Carry You"
Paper:  Recollections & Sassafras
Ribbon: Michael's
Buttons: My Favorite Things
Pearls/Brads: from Melina's stash

And here is my card....

Thanks for stopping by.  Please see my sidebar and visit all the Darlings blogs to see their "friendly" creations.

Dueling Darlings Have Gone to the Birds!

The Dueling Darlings were given a great theme this month from Jeanette and Kelly.

The theme was:  Birds of a Feather Flock Together.

This theme was chosen to celebrate the four years (in August) that this group has been dueling.  As Jeanette put it..."Through the years, through thick and thin, we've blessed each other in many ways and all those years later, we're still together - like a flock!"

So in celebrating the four years this great group has been dueling the theme was born.  Also on our card we had to have four of something.  Four flower, four brads, four different designer papers, etc.  I chose the flowers (well...and added an extra...so I have 5, but that is just because I am looking toward another terrific year of dueling.)  ;)

Here is my card:

And the inside...love this sentiment!

The image is a Penny Black Stamp and the Sentiment is from Great Impressions.  

Thanks for stopping by.  Please take a look at all the Dueling Darlings card creations.  You will find links to their blogs in my sidebar. 

Calendar Girls Challenge

Good evening!!!!

I am late to my own challenge.  But sometimes life just gets busy.  

The June challenge I gave to the Calendar Girls was...

Since we are the CALENDAR Girls I was thinking we should make cards that reflect the months of the year or days of the week.

I found these sayings about a few of the months:

Slow as Molasses in January
January Brings a New Year
Beware the Ides of March (William Shakespeare "Julius Caesar")
March, In Like a Lion Out Like a Lamb
April Showers Bring May Flowers
June is Bustin' Out All Over (Oscar Hammerstein)
July Fireflies Bring August Skies
September Leaves Gives Chance for October Scares

And here are some yearly days of the week.:

Fat Tuesday
Black Friday
Good Friday
Palm Sunday

So the challenge is to make a card that reflects your interpretation of one of the above sayings about the months or one of the four listed days. (Maybe you know another saying about months of the year you like. You can use that saying.)

In your blog post let us know what saying or day your card reflects.


I loved the saying "June is Bustin' Out All Over!"  June makes me think of sunshine, brightly colored flowers and of course a few bugs...nice ones though...ladybugs, dragonflies, and butterflies.

So here is my card that reflects June Bustin' Out All Over. 

I love this big sunshine stamp from Peachy Keen Stamps.  I used Groovy Gauva, Baja Breeze, Real Red, Old Olive and Whisper White card stock.  The designer paper is from Prima Marketing, Umbrella Collection, called "butterfly wings".  And the dragonfly brad is from a kit I received last month.  So glad I was able to use it!

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

Dueling Darlings June Challenge

The Dueling Darlings are dueling and our theme this month was gardening.  Darlene was the hostess for the Dazzlers and sent a wonderful kit full of all kinds of great things.

Her kit included:

Image:  Gardening Shelf by Stamps Happen

Cardstock:  Conqueror Diamond White

DP:  K & Company, Lemon Citron Pack

Embellishments:  Ribbon by Paper Studio, Silk plaid ribbon by Ribbon Boutique

Dimensional flower by K & Company

Flowers by Recollections

Candi Dots by CraftWorkCards

Dragonfly Brad by Creative Impressions

Glitter Ladybug by Spare Parts, Paper Studio

Garden Tool Brads by Eyelet Outlet

here's my card:

And a gardening tip (not originally mine, but shared with me by a gal I used to work for who was great with flowers)....

Don't water your outdoor flowers with cold water from a garden hose.  Those little pretties like water that is not too hot and not too cold.  

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

May Calendar Girls

Our May Calendar Girls challenge from April was as follows:

"Well, it is May and I always like to honor my father this month.
So, to celebrate him (and fathers every where) let us make a masculine celebratory card with any SCS sketch that ends in 25 (the year he was born).
Please let us know which sketch you used and a memory of a special man in your life!"

I used sketch 125 and I also used my new Paper Pumpkin kit from SU!  I made a card that I will use for one of my two sons at some point.  They are both incredible guys!!

Here's my masculine card:

Please check out my side bar for the blogs of all the Calendar Girls and go check out their creations.

Thanks for stopping by.

Dueling Darlings May Challenge

The Dueling Darlings May Challenge was hosted by Paola for the Dazzlers and Judy for the Divas.

The theme was:  Music and we were instructed as follows:

If you could dedicate a song to someone in your life ,
what would your song choice be, and to whom will you dedicate it and why? 

Paola treated us to a wonderful kit of goodies which included:

*Stamps :* Gift Of Music /D.Morgan  by: Stamps Happens Inc.;
Violin/Music scroll & Angel w/Instrument : Unknown;
Sentiments by : Cling Stamps Co. # 557133
*Accessories :*
Designer Papers : * Up,Up & Away (Doodle Bug Design); *Bella Boutique Stack (DCWV) ; * SU Double D/P x 2 ; *Elementary Pianoforte Music Examination (from a real Conservatory of Music book)
*Ribbon : barely banana grosgrain from SU
*Virtuoso Music Die in black and in white
(Memory Box ; *Viviene Butterfly (Music Box) ;
*Assorted gems and pearls in a variety of shape/sizes

As far as a song goes, right now the song I play a lot and sing along with is "Even If" by Kutless and it helps me through the day.  

Thanks for stopping by and please be sure to check out all the Dueling Darlings creations.  See my sidebar for their blogs.  

Girls Night Out

The card on my blog today is for our Dueling Darlings April Challenge.  The theme of this challenge was Girls Night Out!

April was the hostess for the Dazzler and sent us a great kit which included:

Wood Embellishments ~ Prima's Princess Collection

Metal Index Tabs ~ Making Memories

Asst'd Ribbon ~ my stash

Card Stock ~ Sugar N Spice, Coffee, and Fuschia Fizz  by Coordination

DP ~ Pink Swirls and Pink Gingham by Paper Pizazz

      ~ Paper Jazzy by ColorBok

Sequins ~ Teresa Collins

Stamp Set ~ Ginger Snaps Celebrate by C.C. Designs stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black

I really liked the "princess" wood embellishment and wanted to use it so my card is more geared for maybe my youngest daughter or my new and adorable granddaughter.  Both of whom I love spending time with.   So here is my card (a Mojo Monday sketch):

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

Calendar Girls March Challenge

The card on my blog is for the Calendar Girls March challenge and Tami was our hostess.  Our challenge was....

Oh girls, we are going to create a card this month! I thought of a few things that might keep us busy for March.

Did you know that March used to be the first month of the year on the Roman calendar? It was changed to the third month by Julius Caesar. The calendar we use today is refined from the Julius to the Gregorian. Sadly, we only gained like the wee bit of a percentage of more time to craft with the change! In theme of the original first month, let's use one button on your card.

Let's make a card based on a sketch. I saw this sketch and wanted to use it at some point. It's time! Please note, the sketch challenge is still open, so be sure to join!   

Speaking of Romans, purple is the color of the day. Please use the color purple on your card somewhere. Purple was worn by Roman Emperors and magistrates. It is also the color worn by those cute little ladies you see out lunching together, wearing purple and red and a bunch of hats!

Since history was after lunch for me in high school, I really had to put my 'dig deep to remember' thinking cap on for this one! Here are the CliffsNotes: one button, use the sketch and purple somewhere on your card.

Thanks Tami for a fun challenge!  Here is my card:

OH SO MUCH PURPLE!!!

Thanks for stopping by.  See the links in my sidebar to all the other Calendar Girls blogs and check out their wonderful creations.

National Umbrella Month

The Dueling Darlings are at it again.  It is time to post our creations for this months challenge...

The theme for this month is National Umbrella Month.  Terry and LJ were the hostesses this month and Terry sent the following information and great kit to the Dazzlers.  

"March is National Umbrella Month!  

We all know that when it rains, it pours so LJ and I thought we’d put together kits with an image including umbrellas."

The contents of your kit include:

Image and Sentiment: MFT - a la modes “The Rain Will Come”

Pink and Silver Dots: Craftwork Cards Candi

Ribbon: Michaels

Flowers: Martha Stewart crafts

Square Rhinestones: from my stash

DP: Paper Pizazz

Cardstock: Bazzill Basics Sea salt, Coredinations Blush Red

and here is my card:

Please check out my sidebar and visit all the Darlings blogs to see their creations.  

Thanks for stopping by.  

Feel the Love

It's that time...the Dueling Darlings are at it again!

Barb and I were hostesses this month.  Barb for the Divas and myself for the Dazzlers.  And since we are posting the day after Valentine's Day, we wanted the love to continue another day.  So, our theme was...FEEL THE LOVE.

AND...THE SPECIAL PART...

This month we are honoring each of our founders, Jeanette and Kelly.  (They are getting a different set of details, without this part).  So—please use the theme Feel the Love to show your love to your leader or to both of them if you wish.  You can tell of some of the things you “love” about them or point out some of the things you know they love—books, family, God, coloring, etc.  

FUN!  Did we get you Jeanette and Kelly?

Both of these lovely ladies truly love the Lord and it shows in all they share.

Our leader for the Dazzlers, Jeanette, is a true friend.  She is always there supporting everyone and sending up prayers when someone is in need.  She truly reflects God's love.

I kept my card simple this month because I really wanted the verse to stand out.

Our kit included:

Stamp Sentiment - company unknown

Ribbons from Stampin' Up!

Doily - Wilton cake decorating

Flowers - Joann's

Lg white brad/brown brad - Stampin' Up!

Heart brads - ???? My stash

Plaid DP - Hot Off the Press - Christmas Plaid

Heart DP - Hot Off the Press - Lots of Love

"Love" DP - me & My Big Ideas

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

Calendar Girls

Hello!

Our Calendar Girls challenge for this month was brought to us by Jeanette!  And, always a hostess to have fun ideas, her challenge to us this month was...

If you’ve ever been any of the swap threads that I participate in, you know that I like holidays, normal ones, weird one, funny ones. EVERY day is worth a celebration.  So, for this month’s Calendar Girl challenge, I want you to select a holiday that is CLOSE TO your own birthday and make a card for that holiday. If you need help finding holidays, check out this wonderful site.

My birthday is in June and there were several unknown, untraditional holidays in June that would have been fun to make a card for.  About 2-3 years ago I bought a stamp set that I thought would make great boy cards.  Sadly, that stamp set never saw ink.  Well, until this challenge that it.  As soon as I saw this untraditional holiday on the list, I knew I needed to pick this holiday so my lonely stamp could get some ink.  

My untraditional holiday is Superman Days, June 12-15.  And here is my card.  (I again apologize for the quality of the picture.  I tried using my iPad to get the picture as my camera is just not working but I am no good using the iPad.)

And the inside:

The stamp set ("Super Powers") and DP ("Super Hero") are both from Close to My Heart.  The city skyline is a die from My Favorite Things.  The inside of the card as well as the embellishments on the front are rub-ons that also came from Close to My Heart.  The sketch if from Mojo Monday.

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

Dueling Darlings January Duel

We are at it again.  That's right it is time for a duel.  The Dazzlers received a great kit from Melina, our January hostess, and it was full of wonderful papers, embellishments and the sweetest image.  

This month's theme was:  ANGELS ~ more specifically, THE DAZZLERS ARE ANGELS! 

Our kits included:
~ image: C.C. Designs "Peace on Earth"
~ teal papers: Recollections
~ textured paper: DCWV
~ acetate sheet: Crafter's Companion 
~ white bag/pocket: Scrapbooking with M.E. Boutique on FB
~ buttons: MFT
~ dewdrops: The Robin's Nest
~ fabric flower: Wal-Mart
~ thick baker's twine: Maya Road

And the extra take on the duel...Carol and I want to hear any "Angels Unaware" stories you may have or something about the person that is considered an angel to you, in your life when you post on the 15th.

Here is my card:

Sorry my photo is kind of washed out.  I had to use my phone and it just didn't take a good a picture as my camera.  I wanted to keep my card clean and simple.  I just did a couple layers and some simple embellishments.  HOWEVER, Carol I did use glitter.  Aren't you proud?  ;)  I did use some Baja Breeze ink on the white flower, however that doesn't show up so well here.  

As for my person who I consider an angel...she is an amazing, Godly woman.  And when you fall on hard times and she says she will pray for you, she will.  She will cry with you and rejoice with you.  I thank God for her.  

Please see my side bar and check out all the Dueling Darlings creations.  

Thanks for stopping by.