A Bargain Hunting Duel

Today is May 15th and time for another round of the Dueling Darlings!

Kelly is this month's hostess for the Divas, and Jeanette is May's hostess for the Dazzlers.  They came up with a unique theme - "Bargain Hunters"!  Kits this month were made with items they obtained as bargains: clearance sales, discount shops, second hand, etc.


Here's what Jeanette included in the kit:
Image & Sentiment: Sparkle 'N Sprinkle Happy Flowers (purchased at a going out of business sale) stamped on Recollections 110# card stock, purchased with a coupon and Memento Tuxedo Black ink.

Designer Paper from Recollections Home Basics Paper Pad, purchased during a 40% off sale :0

Ribbons/Fibers: Amuse from Jeanette's days as a Demo with her discount.
Baker's Twine from Target Dollar Spot.
Classic Traditions Satin Ribbon from Michael's clearance.
Floral Gardens Grosgrain Ribbon and Offray Crochet Thread, both from a thrift store.


Embellishments: Dollar Tree Puffy Dots.
Her Grandma's buttons!! (like my Grandma, Jeanette's always cut buttons off of old clothes before discarding them).
Paper Studio Brads 50% off at Hobby Lobby.
Paper Studio Heart Charm, 75% off at Hobby Lobby.
Sequins from a thrift store.

Here's a view of the inside panel:

The only thing that I used that was not in the kit is the bright yellow card stock for the base.  The sentiment was colored with a marker from Stampin Up.

Jeanette, thank you for such a fun image and a unique and fun theme!!

Well, I'm off to visit the creations of the Divas and other Dazzlers.  Always great cards to admire!

Spring in Texas!!!

Today is the 15th and that means another Duel!  Debby is the Dazzler Hostess this month and she lives in Texas.
Well, couldn't we all use a road trip ANYWHERE after all of this stay at home isolation?  I know that I would love to get a little Springtime in Texas right about now.
Turns out that Bluebonnets bloom profusely in the Spring in Texas so that is the theme for this duel.  Here's my card with the lovely image and papers sent by Debby:

Materials:
Image is from Deadbeat Designs, stamped with Color Box Royal Blue Pigment Ink. 

Designer papers are from Paper Studio.  Ribbons and pearls from Offray.

Blue gems are from Parklane.

Image is colored with my Prisma Pencils, not blended with Gamsol.
(Still searching for my other pencils)

I really love everything about this kit, Debby!  

Sure wish I could see the Bluebonnets in person...maybe next year!

Thank you for the burst of Spring Debby!  Stay home, stay safe!

International Day of Happiness!

Here it is, time for another duel - despite the Corona Virus pandemic.  Tami is the Hostess for the Divas and Terry (L) is the hostess for the Divas.  Since March 20th is the International Day of Happiness...and coffee makes many people VERY happy...They decided to send us coffee themed kits for the duel.

Here is the front of my card, which features some hand-stamped DP that Terry sent.  I just LOVE hand-stamped DP!!!

Terry stamped the Coffee Blend Turnabout Stamp by Concord & 9th using Dark Chocolate, Warm Cocoa, Warm Glow Amalgam, Chocolate Truffle Amalgam, Tomato Soup and Turquoise Sea inks.  Matching papers by Gina K are Tomato Soup and Turquoise Sea.

Here you can see the left panels opened to show off the embossed card stock that Terry included: Close to Cocoa CS embossed with Sizzix Alterations folder.  Cute, right?
The coffee cup die cut is from Concord & 9th, their Coffee Blend dies & stamp.
Here is the card fully extended:

I used a sentiment she sent from Hero Arts Monthly kit, August 2018.  I sponged a little of Stampin Up's Cajun Craze ink onto the punched sentiment.  It's pretty close in color to the Tomato Soup color.
Ribbon from Michael's and Enamel Dots are from the Paper Studio and Eyelet Outlet.

Thank you Terry for a great kit!  Please use the links on the left to visit the Divas and other Dazzlers for their cards.

We were asked to share something that makes us happy - besides coffee.  Since I am self-isolating to keep my parents safe (mild, questionable symptoms so far) I'll have to go with, the internet and all of my streaming options, a couple of novels, a jigsaw puzzle and - of course - all of my card making treasures!!!

Stay healthy and be kind!

Let me Call You Sweetheart - Feb. Duel

A Sweetheart February Duel

The Hostess for the Dazzlers this month is the lovely Shelly...and she sent all of us a LOVELY kit!!

Kit Contents Were:

Images: The Project Bin- please use handmade logo on back of your card

Cardstock- Neenah Solar White- this is the one Jennifer McGuire recommends

Ink- Memento Black Tuxedo

SU cardstock for hearts and X & O's  - one retired not marked (101991), Rose Red, Purely Pomegranate

Ribbon- SU Rose grosgrain

White ribbons- The Ribbon Boutique, Rose Gold cording- Target $1.00 spot

DP- American Crafts

Silver Metallic- Paper Studios

Sizzix 3-D heart EF

Dies:

Project bin hearts and xo’s.  Also a neg of the heart in case you want to sponge any : )

Concord & 9th Love in silver metallic

Sunny Studio Fishtail banners

Embellishments:

larger adhesive hearts- Paper Studio

Park Lane- pink rhinestones

Memory Makers-heart brads

Stash- tags

Well, I set my goal to use as many of the contents as possible.  Here's my tag/bookmark card:

White tag/bookmark covered with
the heart designer paper, tied with the pretty, sparkly twine, xoxo's are glittered with Spectrum Noir glimmer pen.

I used the fishtail banner to make a pocket, decorated with more designer paper, red heart (again glittered with SN marker), Paper Studio gems and a bow.

The top features the "Love" cutout from Shelly's kit.

Here's a picture of the bookmark/tag:

The inside panel features the embossed heart paper and more of the pretty papers from Shelly.  I colored the tag and sentiment, glittered the tag with SN marker and added the glitter ribbons and hearts from the Paper Studio.

There were just a few of the items from Shelly's kit that I didn't use, but it sure stretched me to get as many used as I could!  Thank you Shelly for such a generous and fun kit!

New Year - New Duel!

A group of lovely friends on Split Coast Stampers called the Dueling Darlings host a monthly "duel".  We are to make a card with the contents of a kit put together by one of us who is the host for the month.  We are divided into two teams, the Dazzlers and the Divas.

My team, the Dazzlers, received kits from Terry, and the theme was penguins!  Here's the card I came up with:

Terry sent:

• Inky Antic's "Petey Penguin #2
• Designer papers from Reminisce "Chilling with the Penguins"; MME "Polka Dot Orange"; American Crafts "Snowflake";  The Paper Studio "Black Chevron" and "Yellow Dots"
• Die cut clouds by Memory Box and suns by Lil' Inker
• Ribbons: SU's Orange Trimmed; yellow grossgrain; Gingham by Offray
• Embellishments from The Paper Studio

I'm so grateful for these friends.  They've stood by me in good times and hardships.  It feels great to be back with them and sharing our love of this craft!  Terry, thank you for such a great kit to start of the year!

Kindness Means Hugs!!

Hard to believe that we're at October 15th already!  Even harder to believe that I'm not late with this post, haha!

Jeanette and Kelly are hosting for the October Duel and Kindness is the theme!  (Actually I've been wanting a personal license plate that reads BKIND...but I'll wait until after I move next year.)

Jeanette's kit contained an image by Stampavie called "Teddy & Me".  She's colored with Spectrum Noir markers.  Here's my card:

The striped paper and the pretty wood plank paper are from The Paper Studio.

The 3 ribbons are layered:
Silver Organdy by Amuse Studio on top of Ribbon Boutique Turquoise on top of Crafter's Square Black Glitter.    Topped off with 3 Heart brads by The Paper Studio.

Down the side of the card is some pretty Washi Tape.

A Recollections Flower is on the top corner.  Three heart rhinestones to show how much she loves her little bear!

The fun thing is the "Kind" die cut that Jeanette included!  I just love that script!



Jeanette also included a wonderful sentiment which I sponged and used on the inside.  Here's a look:

The Sentiment is from Picket Fence Studios "Comfort Words" set.

Hugs really can make a difference.  It sure seems like society would be kinder if more people shared a hug every day.

Maybe we all should give out hugs this week!

Thank you Jeanette.  This kit made me smile!

September Sunflowers!

I am so late on posting this...actually I was late making it also, but did get it made a couple of weeks ago, just kept forgetting to post it.  I apologize to the Darlings and most of all to Debby B our hostess that month!

Such a darling Stampability Image "Hammock Hibernation" was selected by Debby for the Dazzlers!  I colored it with pencils, blended with Gamsol.  The sky and sun were sponged on with chalk.  Here's my card:

The beautiful Sunflower paper is from The Paper Studio, as is the black & white polka dot paper.  I loved the sunflower paper so much that I went with an A7 size card so that the paper could be a prominent feature.

Debby also included some really luxurious polka dot ribbon and the bright yellow twine.

Green enamel dots finish off the bottom of the card.

Isn't he peaceful there snoozing away?  It won't be too much longer and we'll all be wishing for warmer days and summer sunflowers!

Thank you Debby for such a  lovely kit!