August Dueling Darlings!

Hello!  I'm a bit late as this post was due on the 15th...but being late with my card has nothing to do with the kit - it was fantastic!

Our hostess this month is Debbie and she sent us the following items:
Penny Black's image called "Gymnast Mimi"  (oh my she's so cute!)
Designer Papers:
"Cheerleading Star Field" by Scrapbook Customs and
"Everything Gymnastics" by Karen Foster
Embellishments:
Blue twine from K & Co.
White twine from Stampin Up!
Red & White twine from Michael's
Gold & Silver Cords from Stampin Up!
Star Brads from Stampin Up!

Here is my card:

Hmmm...my photos look a little dark...but that's a gold foil card stock behind the image and the star banner!  I used one of the Star Brads on the banner, and two of the shiny gold brads on the bottom (which Debbie also included in the kit).

Here's a closer look at Mimi.  I used Wink of Stella on her outfit and hair ribbon to give her some sparkle.  

We were also asked to share our favorite Olympic event.  That's easy!  It's gymnastics.  Wait, it's diving.  Oh, but what about the swimming, volleyball, hurdles, pole vaulting, running...  <grin> yes, I love it all!!

Debbie,  thank you for giving us a great theme and a really great kit!!

Dueling Darlings June Match

It's the 15th and time for another Duel.  Laura Jean and I came up with a pet theme several months ago and would like everyone to post something about their first pet...but first - the cards!

Here is a listing of the contents I sent for the Dazzlers:

Here are the deets for your June Duel:Dog & paw print stamps: Inkadinkado - no names for the imagesSentiment: Hero Arts "Be the Person"Papers: Paper Studio, Multicolored Dog Paws, Red Burlap and Masculine Stripe.  Green is from my stash.Ribbons: Dotted and paw print from Ribbon Boutique, Studded dog-collar looking adhesive trim is from Hobby Lobby.Flowers are from Paper Studio's Spare PartsPlastic dog paws are Paper Studio's Spare Parts, "Knick Knacks"Glitter paw prints are Jolee's BoutiqueButtons from Hobby Lobby, sewing section.

...And here is my card:

Hmmm, my little paw print embellishments photographed kind of dark.  But they are a dark brown surrounded by a lighter brown.  

Here's the inside.

My daughter's dog now lives with me, she adores me, LOL.  I think I'd have to walk on water to live up to that dog's view of me.  (but I liked the saying on this stamp)

The image on the front actually looks a lot like Suki (my daughter's dog) - except for the glasses of course.

My first pet was a dog: a miniature toy poodle named Pierre.  He was jet black with a little white bib.  He loved camping with us. Maybe because my Dad would give him pancakes when we camped.  One time we tossed him into the lake to get the syrup off.  He swam right back to us and never even got his ears wet.  We had to wash them in a tub!

I hope everyone had fun with this theme and their kits.  Thanks for stopping by!

Dueling Darlings in the Garden

Today is the day for fixing things.  First my sprayer on the kitchen sink - cancel the plumber's visit tomorrow and save over $100!!  Plus I finally got back into my blog to post - or maybe Blogger decided to fix itself...Anyway, I'm on a roll here.

Today is also the day to post our creations for the Dueling Darlings.  Terry was our hostess this month and she sent the prettiest image (thanks for the extras, they will definitely be used!)

Here's what I came up with:

Isn't it a great image?  The papers and colors of embellishments that Terry picked out are perfect together.
Here's the contents of her kit:

• Image - SU! "Love Is Kindness"
• DP - The Paper Studio
• Cardstock - Core'dinations "Sea Foam", "Merry" and "Jet Stream"
• Enamel Dots - Want 2 Scrap
• Trim - Michaels
• Flowers - Spare Parts

Let me tell you about this crochet trim she sent:  it's adhesive backed!!!  I've been a little out of touch with what's new out there for over a year, but this is fantastic.  Now I need to go and find some for my stash!

We are to share what we like to plant in our garden.  Herbs, veggies, flowers of all sorts, trees, shrubs, bulbs, ornamental grasses...if I like it I try to find a way to plant it.  Obviously the weather here and specific requirements of many plants are not compatible.  I don't mind that.  It just means that eventually when I move there will be lots of new things for me to grow!

Well, I'm off to visit the blogs of the other Darlings and admire their cards.  Plus, now I can post my last two cards for the last duels.  Like I said - I'm on a roll. 

Being a Kid at Heart

February 15th, so it's time to get our Duel on.  The Dueling Darlings on Splitcoast are a group of card makers, divided into two teams: The Divas and the Dazzlers.  Each month one hostess from each team sends her team mates a kit and we make a card, posting it on our blogs by the 15th.

Paola "Sama" on Splitcoast, is the Dazzlers' Hostess this month.  She and Kadie "Kmensley" the hostess for the Divas, came up with "Being a Kid at Heart" as the theme for this round.  Paola sent us 2 different images, a girl flying a kite & a boy chasing a frog.  Here's what I ended up creating:

This is Kite Fiona by Fun and Whimsical Rubber Stamps.  Paola also included several different stamped hearts and we were to use one on the card.  This heart is an oldie but goodie from Stampin' Up, which is colored with Spectrum Noir marker, then outlined with Wink of Stella clear.  Fiona is also colored with SN markers and has a little sparkle on her shoes, scarf, flowers and kite from Wink of Stella clear pen.

The Pink & Green ribbon is by Dashes, Dots and Checks and the Green and Blue sheer ribbon Paola bought at Costco.

Here's the inside of my card, using some more of the pretty papers Paola sent, plus one more heart:

Designer Papers sent included:
"Playful" by Martha Stewart
"Jersey Shore" by Stampin Up
"Thought of Spring/Hello Sunshine" by Doodlebug Design.

We were asked to share what was our favorite game when we were a child.  I really liked card games.  When really young I played War with my grandfather, and he also taught me several different types of Solitaire.  There were many years where I played Gin Rummy with a neighbor.  My dad and uncle also taught me to play Blackjack when I was about 6!  Gave me a leg up in addition I guess.


Thanks Paola for such a great kit to work with!  And thanks to Kadie and you for picking such a fun theme.  It's good to be young at heart.

Wow, 2015 was quite the year.  Here's to 2016!  Time for me to dust off this blog (truthfully, I spent 20 minutes just trying to get back into the administration page).  Sheesh!

The Dueling Darlings on Splitcoast have started back up the monthly duels.  Tracie sent us Dazzlers the cute image: "Chick N Soup" by CC Designs and a sentiment from Crackerbox Palace.  Very fun!

Isn't this a sorry looking little guy?

He's cut with Spellbinders Nestabilities Labels 22.  (Dont look too closely at the blue edging, it's freehand and not perfect.)

The image is colored with Spectrum Noir markers.

Tracie included the cute DPs from Bo Bunny Juliet.  The mustard CS and beige card stock is from my stash.

We were also given the cute pompom ribbon in the kit, so cute!

Here's the inside of my card.  The sentiment was on white CS, so I colored it up with markers, die cut it with "Classic Tags" dies from A Muse Studios and tied on some twine.

Tracie, I really have to thank you for putting together just the right image and papers to get me back in the card making mode.  

Favorite soup recipe???  It's tough to choose, being a soup gal.  Right now I think Pasta E Fagioli is what I'll talk about.  There are loads of variations, but this one here is close to the one I make.  It was such a favorite of my daughter's that I made her batches as Christmas presents the past few years.  She loved this soup!

Here's my daughter, Amanda on a camping & fishing trip in 2014.  And that's her dog, Suki, who now lives with me.  

Love your family & friends and tell them often. 

Life is uncertain. You'll be glad that you did.

What's Your Brew?

Here it is the 15th and that means it's the day for The Dueling Darlings!  (and I'm not even late - gasp!)

Paola and Kadie are the hostesses for this round and here's what Paola explained:

"My new partner Kadie and I got our heads together and decided it was time to put YOU through an 'arduous task' in asking what's your favorite brew of all? Are you a tea person or a coffee person? (or, are you perhaps both?)  Any particular kind of tea or coffee you prefer?  Tell us all about your brew of choice, and let's have fun dueling"

Dazzlers' Kit deets:
Stamped images - 'Coffee and Friend's  w/ sentiment (from Inkadinkado 96576 P) , 'Java Jumpers' /House Mouse (from Stampabilities),'I don't do Mornings' (from Stampabilities) , 'Chamomile Tea'  /House Mouse (from Stampabilities),
* plus a mixture of sentiments*
Ink - Images are stamped on Cougar white c/s with Memento Tuxedo Black
Designer Papers - 'Honeycomb' by Time Spring (Fancy Pants) , 'Madame Mariposa' by Butterfly Collection (Prima) ,'Summer Kincaid Ave' by Scenic Route ,'Tip me Over' by Time Spring (Fancy Pants), Coffee notes by Mead
Card Stock - 'Spice Market' by Recollection , dry embossed with 'On The Go' embossing folder (by Tim Holtz)
Accessories - Candy Floss in 4 different colors ,Grosgrain pink double sided ribbon , Grosgrain deep red from SU , paper flowers from Recollection , assorted large brads from Basic Grey , large and medium half pearls , (real) coffee beans.

Lots to work with for sure!  Here's what I ended up with:

This card took several turns in opposite directions, this is nothing like what I started out creating.

Isn't that pretty paper?  I love the image and the sentiment is finished on the inside:








The colors are a little softer on the inside than this picture portrays.



We were asked to share our favorite brew...I love me a vanilla latte, but don't indulge often.  Daily is Hazelnut for me.  But I only have 2 cups in the early morning.  After that it's herbal tea for me.  I enjoy the fruit flavored ones and have different favs during the various seasons of the year.

Thank you Sweet P for such a GREAT kit this month!

(She included a tiny packet of her espresso grind - made all the embellishments smell 

like a coffee house...oooooh it was so hard not to go get some coffee!)

Stop on by the Divas & Dazzlers for a cuppa Joe!

Happy Umbrella Day to the Dueling Darlings!

Laura Jean and I are the February Hostesses for the Dueling Darlings and LJ - being the smart cookie that she is - did some research and found out that there is an Umbrella Day in February!!

I chose the "April Showers" stamp set by Penny Black.  Not only is it perfect for the theme, but I bought it while out visiting several Darlings: Barb, Jeanette, Terry, Laura Jean and Carol!!  Woo hoo!!

Here's the card that was made under the careful watch of Bijou:

The little bird up there is my attempt at coloring her to match my Lou.

Here is the inside:

Aren't those boots just too cute?!

Coloring is done with Spectrum Noir markers, CS is older SU colors, and the flowers are from Paper Studios "Spare Parts" collection.

I think that I need to go back and add some sparkle to my card...Don't you think?

Be sure to head on over to the Divas & the Dazzlers and admire their handiwork.  You'll be glad that you did!

C'mon Spring!  We have enough snow already.