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.

Dueling Darlings Give Thanks!

Here it is...1 day late, but my November Duel Card is here!  It was actually done yesterday, but my hands needed to rest and typing was out of the question.

April and Kadie are our hostesses this round and they (very appropriately) selected Thank You - sentiment only - as our theme.  I was so happy to see this theme, because I always need thank you cards.

April's kit contained:

* Recollections and Prima flowers, misc sizes/shapes
* Favorite Findings and Basic Grey buttons
* Offray Twill ribbon (tan stitched)
* Craftsmart sheer ribbon (from Germany) - mint blue
* Kaiser mini pearls
* Recollections paper rope - white
* Recollections Fall Foliage paper doilies - beige
* DSP from SU! ~ Le Jardin (in yellow, green, beige, blues)
* Kraft cardstock, PTI
* Images:  Thank you (Flourish) from Inkadinkadoo and Thank you (cursive) from Michaels $1.50 bin


Here's my card:

Don't look too closely, my coloring is poor.  I seem to have some tremors in my hands.  I think it's from too much yard work and other household things.

Anyway, I adore SU's Chocolate Chip since it's my favorite color, and pairs so nicely with their blue Le Jardin DP.

That's a Fiskars punch used to inset the panel onto the front of the card stock.  The three flowers and button are from the kit.




Here's the inside panel using Chocolate Chip and two strips of the light yellow DP from the Le Jardin collection:

There is so much in my life that I am thankful for.  April & Kadie, THANK YOU! for selecting a great theme for this duel!!  You both make my world a better place with your friendship.

Dueling Darlings Catch Up #3: August Duel

The lovely Melina was the hostess for the Dazzlers August Duel and here's what she and her co-hostess for the Divas, Carol, came up with for us:

"Friends are the Family You Pick Yourself"

"We are so happy to call you all our friends. We've been dueling for 4 years now!

My image, the mouse and turtle, just went right along with the theme I thought. 

Friends of a different kind helping each other out! 

We darlings are all different but it works! I'm so glad it does! :)

Image: Whimsy Stamps "I Will Carry You"
Paper: Recollections & Sassafras
Ribbon: Michael's
Buttons: My Favorite Things
Pearls and Brads: from my stash
Melina cut the clouds and embossed them with her Cricut & Big Shot.

...And this is my result after playing with the kit for a while:

The base is a dusty mauve colored CS from DCWV, which matches the cute DP and ribbon that Melina sent.  I added a bit to the yellow flowers she included.

Here's a closer look where I was trying to capture the sparkles added to the fun cloud and to the sky in the image.  The little guys are getting a light shower!

The third DP from Melina's Kit was used to line one of the inside panels of the card. It was too pretty not to use.

Melina & Carol are so right - friends make all the difference, in good times and tough times.  

I am thankful to have each of you to call my friends!

God Bless each of you.

Dueling Darlings Catch Up: September's Recipe Card

Yes, it really is a second post in one day, haha.
September's Dueling Darling kit came from Debbie, clear across the continent from me!

Debbie sent us a MFT image and luscious dark red and deep brown cardstock to work with. (two of my absolute favorite colors!)  I dug out some DP that has been just waiting to be used and before I knew what was up, the card just flew together:

Notice the spatula on the bottom and the oven mitt on the top? Those were incredibly cute chip board shapes that Debbie sent, colored with my Spectrum Noir Markers.  I thought it was pretty fun!

Look at this darling little cook.  Hmmm, it was a long time ago that I was that thin!

In September our church has an International Food Festival.  I head up the table for France.  This year we served a simpler version of Pork and Sausage Cassoulet.  So I thought that it would be a good recipe to use for the Duel.


Anyone who knows me knows that my ingredients are approximate, so feel free to adapt it as you go along.  This is pretty close to what I did, but be warned - it completely fills a LARGE crock pot, so you may want to cut it in half.

We cook for about 300 small servings at the Food Festival, so that's why this makes so much.










Here's the back side with the rest of the recipe:

Very warm and not too unhealthy either.  Makes for great leftovers too!  If any of you want the recipe emailed to you just let me know.

Thank you Debbie for a fun deviation, it was great to 

make a recipe card for a change of pace!

Dueling Darlings Catch Up Weekend! (for me)

In an incredible display of patience, my Darling friends have overlooked my absence.  Well, here it is...My Catch Up Posts!!

First up:  October 15th Duel, hosted by Terry.  Her kit had the most wonderful Halloween papers and an adorable image, great ribbons and candi dots to work with!
Here's what she said:

As Halloween approaches LJ and I decided to put together kits to celebrate the holiday! I know some of you do not celebrate Halloween, and I apologize for the theme, 

but for most of us it's a fun day to watch the kids in the neighborhood 

run house to house looking for the best candy!

In your blog post we would also like you to tell us what

your favorite candy is. If you don't have a favorite, 

let us know what you like to eat....drink....or

 if you like to be scary at this time of year!

Kit Contents:
Image - Haunted Forest (Stampin' Up!)
Papers - Boo! (Flair Designs), Jeepers Creepers (Heidi Grace Designs), Halloween Words (the Paper Studio), Sugar Rush (Heidi Grace Designs), Web (not sure)
Embellishments: Candi Dots (Craftworkcards), Ribbon (miscellaneous from Michaels), mini brads (Recollections)

Here's my card:

I just loved the papers and wanted to feature as many as possible.



The bat, little owl, cat and pumpkin all have some sparkle from Spica glitter pens, it's very subtle.





This panel has a black gross grain ribbon tied in the center, but I couldn't get enough contrast in my photo to show it.




Here's a close up of the top where some glitter was added to the ribbon:

The inside panel shows off one more of the adorable papers:

Growing up I had a whole rotation of favorite candy, Starburst, Sweet Tarts, Tootsie Rolls, Milk Duds...the list went on and on.

Now I seem to have lost my sweet tooth.  But once or twice a year a Reese's Peanut Butter cup can taste really great!


Thanks Terry for a really fun kit.  (Did I say how much I loved the papers? LOL)  The card is going to my adult daughter, who really loves Halloween - and candy!