Dueling Darling Times Two

It's the 15th of the month and time for another duel between the Dueling Darling Divas (my team) and the Dazzlers.  I was a very naughty girl last month and didn't get my May challenge card uploaded and posted here on my blog so I'm doing dual (heehee) duel duty today! So first up is my card for May here:

 

For May our hostesses Kelly, for the Divas, and Jeanette, for the Dazzlers, chose the theme to celebrate special moments.  Here is what they had to say: Since May is traditionally the month of celebrating Mother's Day, many anniversaries, upcoming June weddings, Holy Communions and Confirmations, graduations and so much more, we thought we'd take this time to celebrate the moments that mean so much! Our theme this month is: Making Memories, Celebrating Moments!

Kelly provided us with the terrific kit that included this darling Kraftin' Kimmie stamp called Tessa Tassel.  The kit included these fantastic papers from Carta Bella plus gorgeous embellishments from ribbons, a little mortar board had, heart clip, buttons, glitter clothes pin, brads, pearl adhesives and a heart clip. I colored my Tessa Tassel with Copic Markers in colors to coordinate with the papers.

We were also asked to share a past memory or current moment that means much to us.  One of the highlights of May 2013 was attending my BFF's church on Mother's Day to witness the baptism of her three newest grandchildren: twins Jason and Natalie and their cousin Liam.  Couldn't think of a better way to celebrate Mother's Day!

 

For the month of June our hostesses Carol, for the Divas, and Melina, for the Dazzlers, came up with the theme "Flip Flops and Sunshine"!  Here's my card:

 

 

Carol send the Divas this wonderful kit so full of gorgeous designer papers that I had a hard time deciding which papers to use.  In her words here is what was in the kit:

"DSP:  Pebbles - "Let freedom ring" (red & white) American Craft - "heat wave" SU orange and white polka dots - Carta Bella- "Cool Summer ice creamborder", Paradise Beach "flip flps", Jillibean "parsnip" Down by the Shore "Sunshine" and one by Imaginice that didn't have a name.

Embellies: K& Co borders...flip flops and sun glasses from Jolies Boutique, Me and My Big Ideas and Imaginice -- die cut yellow suns, misc. ribbon, ribbon paper clips (she made from misc. ribbon) red rhinestones and SU brads...

Images:  (Young)----The Greeting Farm Miss Anya and  (Old) - Rubbernecker Ethel in a swimsuit."

I chose to use Ethel, the old one, just because I can relate. ; )   It's June and here in the AZ desert the temps are sizzling so I chose to go with the sun  themed paper and orange, yellow and white striped paper because they so appropriately mirror are weather here.  I colored Ethel in coordinating colors with my Copic markers.

Hope you like my contributions and please visit the rest of the Diva's here:

Kelly: http://www.sandcastlestamper.blogspot.com/

Barb: http://inkingintoretirement.blogspot.com/
Carol: http://lostinmycraftroom.blogspot.com/
LJ: http://buckygirl.blogspot.com/
Tami: http://blueinksdesign.blogspot.com/
Kadie: http://mymindseyecreations.blogspot.com/

And the Dazzlers here:

Jeanette http://creativeplayischeaperthantherapy.blogspot.com/

April: http://aprilsalley.blogspot.com/
Darlene: http://accordingtobijou.blogspot.com/
Debbie: http://theinkigloo.blogspot.com/
Melina: http://me-craftyscrapper.blogspot.com/
Paola: http://paola-sama.blogspot.com/

Dueling Darling's "It's All About Flowers"

It's April 15th and time for another duel between the Dueling Darling Divas and Dazzlers.  This month April Diva Tami and Dazzler Darlene chose the theme "It's All About Flowers"!  Tami sent the Divas this terrific kit chock full of paper yumminess! (hmmm..is yumminess a word?)  Well it certainly feels yummy to look at all the gorgeous papers, stamped images, ribbon, twine, eyelets, bling and buttons punched/die cut flowers and shapes and a darling die cut wood piece. And that doesn't include the special little packet with the Riley image she included just for fun. Here's what I came up with:

Even with all the wonderful paper crafting goodies at my disposal I chose to go a little clean and simple so I only used the Doodlebug Design Bon Bon designer paper which was one of four d.s.p Tami sent. I colored two of the Delta Creative SunflowerII images with my Copic markers and fussy cut the whole image out and then fussy cut only the large sunflower on the second image.  Mounted both with dimensionals on the layered die Nestability die cuts.The picture really doesn't display the dimensional look that well but I love the way it looks IRL. LOL!  I sponged the edges of all the panels with Tim Holtz Distress Ink "Vintage Photo".  On the lower panel I used 3 of the eyelets from Tami's kit and die cut the "Bloom" sentiment with another nestability die, sponged it with 2 Stampin' Up inks in Barely Banana and Daffodil Delight and T.H. Vintage Photo.  The layout is based on this sketch from Freshly Made Sketches:

 

 

Tami also asked us to share what a favorite flower is.  I don't have one favorite...I love most flowers...but my favorites are sweet peas, tulips, lilacs, daffodils and roses! Now that I live in the AZ desert I can't really grow most of my favorites that were in my WA yard although we do have roses blooming right now and a Persian Lilac that does well here in the desert. Here are pix of roses blooming now in my yard:

Please check out my Diva teammate's creations here:

Kelly: http://www.sandcastlestamper.blogspot.com/

Barb: http://inkingintoretirement.blogspot.com/
Carol: http://lostinmycraftroom.blogspot.com/
LJ: http://buckygirl.blogspot.com/
Tami: http://blueinksdesign.blogspot.com/
Kadie: http://mymindseyecreations.blogspot.com/

And the Dazzlers here:

Jeanette http://creativeplayischeaperthantherapy.blogspot.com/

April: http://aprilsalley.blogspot.com/
Darlene: http://accordingtobijou.blogspot.com/
Debbie: http://theinkigloo.blogspot.com/
Melina: http://me-craftyscrapper.blogspot.com/
Paola: http://paola-sama.blogspot.com/

Thanks for stopping by and I would love to hear from you!

Irish blessings on St. Paddy's Day!

It's the 15th of March and in just two more days we'll be wearing green in celebration of St. Patrick's Day and that's the theme for this month's duel chosen by Dueling Darling Diva, Kadie, and Dazzler, April. If you don't know about the Dueling Darlings we're a group a card making friends who met on Splitcoaststampers and share a love of papercrafting.  Our Dueling Darling leaders Kelly for the Divas and Jeanette for the Dazzlers came up with the idea to once a month have a "duel" between these two groups.  One Diva and one Dazzler would get together and determine the theme for their month and then each would send a card kit to every one in their team with information about the kit, the theme and also an extra challenge. 

I'm a Diva and just blown away by the kit I received from Kadie!  There was so much in the kit I had a difficult time deciding what to use for my card.  Here's the result:

 

From Kadie's kit items I used:



Stamp: MFT ala mode "Wishing You Luck"

Paper: Recollections Portobello Road (text background), Graphic 45 Place In Time (purple check) and Stamp image which were cut apart.

Embellishments: the Green "ribbon" is a Petaloo trim, I believe, that I cut apart and used as a frame for the image panel; Kaisercraft Rhinestones

 

In addition to the kit I used Stampin' Up cardstock in Lucky Limeade and Elegant Eggplant.  I added Glossy Accents to the four leaf clover in the image panel and stamped the text dsp with small shamrock stamps in Lucky Limeade.  The image was colored with Copic markers and mounted on the purple check pattern with dimensionals.  I wish  my camera caught a more accurate purple tone to the dsp.  It really is more too the red tone of purple than the blue as shows in this picture.

 

There was so much more in the kit I was hoping I'd get some time to make another card to present today but just couldn't get my act together in time.  Maybe another day I'll post another card made from all the luscious papers and embellishments Kadie sent!  But you will probably get more of an idea if you check out all the Diva's creations on their blogs listed below.

 

We were asked to share a recent RAK blessing.  I love tulips and a friend came for a visit and brought me a lovely bunch of yellow and purple tulips.  What a treat! I'm looking forward to St. Paddy's day as we've been invited to a friend's for an Irish themed dinner...what else but Corned Beef and Cabbage!

 

Please check out the Diva's creations here:

 

Kelly: http://www.sandcastlestamper.blogspot.com/

Barb: http://inkingintoretirement.blogspot.com/
Carol: http://lostinmycraftroom.blogspot.com/
LJ: http://buckygirl.blogspot.com/
Tami: http://blueinksdesign.blogspot.com/
Kadie: http://mymindseyecreations.blogspot.com/

And the Dazzlers here:

Jeanette http://creativeplayischeaperthantherapy.blogspot.com/

April: http://aprilsalley.blogspot.com/

Darlene: http://accordingtobijou.blogspot.com/

Debbie: http://theinkigloo.blogspot.com/
Melina: http://me-craftyscrapper.blogspot.com/
Paola: http://paola-sama.blogspot.com/

Thanks for stopping by and I would love to hear from you!

 



It's All About Love!

 

It’s February and your Dueling Darling hostess’s Paola for the Dazzlers and me for the Divas have chosen 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. 14th, and chose to name a few more celebrations that take place this month as inspiration for the cards for this months duel:

• 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)

The kits included the following items:
Designer Papers from My Mind’s Eye, "Love Me"; Pinecone Press Papers, "Be Mine"
Ribbon from Recollections: red glitter; pink glitter; red and white satin;
Divine Twine: pink,white, red twine
Heart clothes pin
Pink bling hearts
Prima flowers
Various heart brads
Stamped images: Stampin’ Up "Summer by the Sea" and sentiment "Joy is not in things, it is in us" and circle sentiment from S.U. Circle of Friendship "Sending You My Love"

Here's my card:

I chose to use papers from the Pinecone Press "Be Mine" collection.  The pink and vanilla cardstock are from Stampin' Up.  My image is stamped on SU Vanilla cardstock with a little bit of paper piecing on the image's shirts.

With our theme in mind we added an extra challenge to our teammates to sow the seeds of love and kindness they have received in their lives by paying it forward in performing a kind gesture and doing it anonymously!  For my "random act of kindness" I chose to make valentine sugar cookies, packaged them in heart boxes added a little handmade valentine note and left it on neighbors doorsteps yesterday. Here's a few pix of their treats:

I hope you'll visit the rest of the Dueling Darlings' blogs and check out their creations

Please check out the Diva's creations here:

Kelly: http://www.sandcastlestamper.blogspot.com/
Barb: http://inkingintoretirement.blogspot.com/
Carol: http://lostinmycraftroom.blogspot.com/
LJ: http://buckygirl.blogspot.com/
Tami: http://blueinksdesign.blogspot.com/
Kadie: http://mymindseyecreations.blogspot.com/

And the Dazzlers here:

Jeanette http://creativeplayischeaperthantherapy.blogspot.com/

April: http://aprilsalley.blogspot.com/

Darlene: http://accordingtobijou.blogspot.com/
Debbie: http://theinkigloo.blogspot.com/
Melina: http://me-craftyscrapper.blogspot.com/
Paola: http://paola-sama.blogspot.com/

Paola and I have a big surprise for our teammates with this month's kit.  Can you tell what it is?

Thanks for stopping by!  I love to hear from you!!

Read A Book!

Hi everyone! It's January 15th and time for another duel with the Dueling Darling Divas and Dazzlers.  The the DDDs are two groups of gals on Splitcoaststampers who on the 15th of each month create a card from a kit supplied by one of our teammates.  This month LauraJean (LJ), a diva, and Terry, a Dazzler, chose this theme and challenge:
"January is "Book Blitz Month".....use a stamp with books and/or reading as a theme We would also like to then add in your post who your favorite author is, or your favorite book and why."

Here's my card using fantastic elements from LJ's Kit:

exterior

Interior

In LJ's own words a description of the kit:
"Here are the contents of the kit (I've listed the companies as best I can remember)
Stamps: ABC Primer Collection // Graphic 45. Images are stamped with either Memento Tuxedo black or Memento Rich Cocoa ink on PTI White. It's copic/prisma friendly.
All DP & smaller tag piece :This & That Charming Collection // Echo Park
Accessories:
Ribbon: Green Polka Dot Ribbon (PTI), Wide Brown Ribbon (SU), brown Gingham Ribbon (American Crafts). Silver hodgepodge & spiral clip (SU) Brads - Basic Grey, Buttons (PTI and Amuse). Chipboard Square (unknown)."

In additon to using some of those fabulous Echo Park designer papers I chose to use the Little girl reading stamped in Momento Rich Cocoa that I then die cut with a Nestability circle, colored with Copic markers and mounted on another nestie die cut with inverted scallops which was then attached with dimensionals.   From the kit I also used the metal circle frame mounted with several brads and centered with the green button from the kit and tied with some twine (My Mind's Eye lime twist) from my stash.  I used a scallop die on some Bazzill bling cardstock to create the inverted scallop panel and the tied a dotted brown satin ribbon (saved from a previous DDD kit) around the panel before attaching to the right side panel.  I stamped the sentiment from an old Hanna Stamp set to put on this panel.   Cardstock stock used from my own stock: Stampin' Up Very Vanilla, Gumball Green and Early Espresso and Bazzill Bling.  The green panel was embossed on four sides with a scallop border Cuddlebug embossing folder.

On the inside of the card I used the tag from Echo Park, the wide Brown ribbon, and a panel die cut from the Bazzill bling and layered with another Echo Park dsp.

For my layout I used this week's MOJO Monday Sketch here:


The other challenge was to share our favorite author or book and tell why.  My first thought was a book I  read every day, the Holy Bible.  It is a source of inspiration, guidance, encouragement, love, hope and a blessing.  My day always starts with reading from the Bible and a meditation based on the scripture of the day.  I love to read!  My love of reading started early.   We had a branch library about a half mile from our home and I was known to get 3 or 4 books go home read them all and go back to the library all in the same day!! Rarely does a day go by that I haven't been losing myself in story or reading for knowledge or inspiration or just plain fun.  Some of my fun reads are stories created by favorite authors Nora Roberts and Debbie Macomber.  I love the characters they create and once I start on a new book by one of these authors I find it hard to put down.

Please check out the rest of team Diva starting here:

Please check out the Diva's creations here:

Kelly: http://www.sandcastlestamper.blogspot.com/
Barb: http://inkingintoretirement.blogspot.com/
Carol: http://lostinmycraftroom.blogspot.com/
LJ: http://buckygirl.blogspot.com/
Tami: http://blueinksdesign.blogspot.com/
Kadie: http://mymindseyecreations.blogspot.com/

And the Dazzlers here:

Jeanette http://creativeplayischeaperthantherapy.blogspot.com/

April: http://aprilsalley.blogspot.com/
Darlene: http://accordingtobijou.blogspot.com/
Debbie: http://theinkigloo.blogspot.com/
Melina: http://me-craftyscrapper.blogspot.com/
Michelle: http://me-craftyscrapper.blogspot.com/
Paola: http://paola-sama.blogspot.com/
Terry: http://itstotallyterry.blogspot.com

 

Thanks for stopping by! I love to read your comments.

Winter Travel

December 15th and time for another duel with the Dueling Darlings.   The DD's are a group of paper crafting gals composed of two teams, the Divas (my team) and the the Dazzlers.  Every month a member from each team consult one another, decide the theme for their hosting month and send out a card kit to each of their team members.  This month of December our hosts, Barb for the Diva's and Michelle for the Dazzlers, chose the theme "Winter Travel".  Here's the card I created from the awesome kit I received from Barb:



I used the following items from the kit:

 

Patterned papers: Little Yellow Bicycle's Winter Plaid/Mocha Java Sweater and Snowy Window/Ski Sweater

Stamped Image: Whipper Snapper's Downhill Snowman (Chase Snowflake sentiment on the inside)

Ink: image stamped with Momento Tuxedo Black, colored with Copic Markers (B00, BG09, BG10, E25, E29, C1, C5, YR19, YR68)

Ribbon: white satin snowflake

Brads: Silver, white colored with Copic Marker BG09

 

The base of the card is Stampin' Up cardstock in Early Espresso, as is the matting on some of the panels.  The white glitter paper panel was embossed with Cuttlebug snowflake embossing folder.  Stamped image was cut out and mounted with dimensionals and the ball on the end of the cap is has Frosted Lace Stickles as do the drops of snow.





Here is the inside:

 

The sentiment panel was punched with a Martha Stewart snowflake punch.  The small panel at the bottom was scalloped die cut, and the strip of patterned paper has a strip of chocolate brown ribbon from the kit.  Blue paper is from Bazzill.

 

I used this week's Mojo Monday sketch here:

 

In addition to the creating a card from the kit we were asked to tell a story related to "Winter Travel".

Today I live in the Arizona desert and the most severe winter travel might be in a rainstorm.  Most of my years I spent in NW Washington state.  Even there we don't always get a lot of snow but there was one memorable "Winter Travel" I made from Bellingham which is near the Canadian border to a town about 25 miles south of Seattle, a trip that was a little over 100 miles in one of the worst snowstorms I ever saw in NW Washington.  Sometimes I marvel that I made it home in one piece!  At times the snow was coming down so hard and wet that snowflakes were clumping together and hitting my windshield the size of baseballs!  One of the hairiest parts of the drive was crossing the Ship Canal bridge along I-5 that takes you from north Seattle into city central.  The snow was so deep on the bridge that the ruts were at least a foot deep and you had to get in one of the rut paths and just stay there.  This all happened the day after Christmas!

 

Please check out the Diva's creations here:

 

 Kelly: http://www.sandcastlestamper.blogspot.com/

Barb: http://inkingintoretirement.blogspot.com/
Carol: http://lostinmycraftroom.blogspot.com/
LJ: http://buckygirl.blogspot.com/
Tami: http://blueinksdesign.blogspot.com/

Kadie: http://mymindseyecreations.blogspot.com/

 

And the Dazzlers here:

Jeanette http://creativeplayischeaperthantherapy.blogspot.com/

April: http://aprilsalley.blogspot.com/
Darlene: http://accordingtobijou.blogspot.com/
Debbie: http://theinkigloo.blogspot.com/
Melina: http://me-craftyscrapper.blogspot.com/
Michelle: http://me-craftyscrapper.blogspot.com/
Paola: http://paola-sama.blogspot.com/
Terry: http://itstotallyterry.blogspot.com

 

Thanks for stopping by! 

 



Dueling Darlings: Planes, Trains and Automobiles

It's November 15th and time for another duel between the Dueling Darling Divas and Dazzlers. We're a group of papercrafting friends who all met on the Splitcoaststampers forum website.  Each month a Diva and a Dazzler get their heads together and come up with a theme and a kit filled with designer papers, stamped images and sentiments, and lots of embellishments that they send out to their respective team members.  For November the Divas' host Carol and the Dazzlers' host Debbie chose the theme Planes, Trains and Automobiles.  They said the reason that they chose this theme is that the movie of the same name is a story whose characters are trying to get home for Thanksgiving.  Also they thought this fitting as November is Aviation History month, National Model Railroad month and November 22nd is Go For A Ride day. Pretty clever, huh?  This month the Divas welcome our newest member, Kadie!  So very excited to have her joining the Divas with her awesome creativity and beautiful spirit! 

Carol's kit to me included 5 fantastic sheets of DSP mostly by Bo Bunny and Kaiser Craft and some great flash card from Graphic 45.  An antique flying machine image and some mini car images.  Also she included ribbbon, rickrack, buttons, and brads. 

Here's my card:

 

I used the flash cards from Graphic 45 for the 3 rectangle panels the narrow strip is from one of the DSP included in the packet.  I colored the mini cars with my copic and attached a silver flower brad from my own stash to the antenna of the car then mounted on the card with dimensionals.  I stacked a white button on top of the black button (both from the kit) and tied with some twine from my stash. I attached the button at one end of a row of black rickrack also from the kit.  I used SCS sketch SC411 as the layout as seen here:

http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/forums/card-sketches-f41/sketch-challenge-411-%7B11-14-12%7D-t564312.html

 

As a bonus challenge Carol asked us to of a Thanksgiving memory or a memorable trip to get to your holiday destination.  When I was away at college I was so looking forward to going home for Thanksgiving and enjoying the  wonderful meal I knew my mom would have on the table.  So in preparation I almost starved myself for weeks so I could really make a pig of myself on Thanksgiving Day.  Well, that really backfired.  Rather than allowing myself to gorge on the feast, I found I had shrunk my stomach and couldn't even finish the first serving on my plate 'cause my stomach hurt so bad! And speaking of my mom, it will be 24 years ago this Thanksgiving that I spent my last day with her.  She died the very next morning.  A Thanksgiving never goes by that I don't remember mom and wish she was still with me.  I've learned over the years that it's not so much about the food but the loved ones we celebrate the day with that is the real blessing and one for which I always give thanks. 

I'm wishing you all a very blessed Thanksgiving!

 

Please check out the rest of the Divas creations:

Kelly: http://www.sandcastlestamper.blogspot.com/
Barb: http://inkingintoretirement.blogspot.com/
Carol: http://lostinmycraftroom.blogspot.com/
LJ: http://buckygirl.blogspot.com/
Tami: http://blueinksdesign.blogspot.com/

Kadie: http://mymindseyecreations.blogspot.com/

Next check out the Dueling Darling Dazzlers starting with their team leader
Jeanette http://creativeplayischeaperthantherapy.blogspot.com/
April: http://aprilsalley.blogspot.com/
Darlene: http://accordingtobijou.blogspot.com/
Debbie: http://theinkigloo.blogspot.com/
Melina: http://me-craftyscrapper.blogspot.com/
Michelle: http://me-craftyscrapper.blogspot.com/
Paola: http://paola-sama.blogspot.com/
Terry: http://itstotallyterry.blogspot.com/

I love to hear your comments. Thanks for stopping by!

 

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