Fall Is In The Air With Pumpkins And a Little Humor!

"I'm late, I'm late for a very important date! No time to say hello, goodbye. I'm late! I'm late! I'm late!"...Just like the White Rabbit, that's what I am for the Dueling Darling duels for August (Wow! I'm really late!) and October (A little late).  The date for the important duel between the Divas and the Dazzlers is the 15th of the month.  In August I was out of town and did not have the card kit sent by my teammate Kelly so I decided to do some catching up.

 I'm one day late with posting my card made from the fun kit sent to me by my teammate Barb. She and her DD Dazzler partner Tracie chose the theme Pumpkins for the the fall season.  Included in her kit:

• Outlines Rubber Stamp Company - Ghost Couple 
• Patterned Paper 
• Stampin' Up Painted Autumn Designer Series Paper
• Around the Block - Color Me Halloween
• Creative Imaginations - Double Vision
• Various Embellishments
• Ribbons - SU Basic Black, Early Espresso, Pumpkin Pie; Bakers Twine and Orange Twine
• Brads - Orange and Pumpkin
• Buttons - black and orange

Here's my card:

 I used colored the image with Copic Markers and did some fussy cutting.  The background paper, "Color Me Halloween" and the circle paper, SU "Painted Autumn" were mounted on black and orange cardstock from my stash. I chose to use the black ribbon, orange/black twine and the pumpkin brad as my embellishments.  The layout is based on Splitcoaststampers sketch SC770 here:

For the August duel Kelly and her Dazzler teammate Jeanette chose the theme "HUMOUROUS".
This is what she included in the kit:

• Stamped images - Newton's Nook "Winston's Honeybees"
• Papers - Pebbles "Family Ties"
• Embellishments:
• Ribbons - Blue from Stampin' Up, Green twine from Baker's Twinery, and yellow grosgrain and sheer green
• buttons from various companies
• flowers from Prima
• Blue dots from The Paper Studio
• Brown frame was made using a die from Avery Elle "wonky cloud"

Here's my card:

I used several of the patterned papers - one as the background and the other trimmed to fit inside the brown frame and wrapped with the blue, green and yellow ribbons.  I colored Winston bear and the beehive with Copic markers, cut them out and mounted them with dimensional stickers.  The final embellishment was the decorate the scalloped edges of the frame with the blue pearl dots. Kelly did include some humorous "punny" sentiments in relation to the stamped image that I chose not to use (just in case you're wondering where the humor is with this card!).

Hope you'll check out the many lovely creations made by my paper crafting Dueling Darling friends on Splitcoast Stampers:

Divas

Kelly     http://sandcastlestamper.blogspot.com/

Barb      http://inkingintoretirement.blogspot.com/

Carol    http://lostinmycraftroom.blogspot.com/

Heather  https://landofstamping.wordpress.com/

Laura Jean http://buckygirl.blogspot.com/

Suzy     http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/gallery/showgallery.php?si=SuzyS1104

Tami    http://blueinksdesign.blogspot.com/

Dazzlers

Jeanette    http://creativeplayischeaperthantherapy.blogspot.com/

Beth        https://www.sunflowers-dragonflies.ca/blog/

Debby B  http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/gallery/showgallery.php?si=littledeb&x=18&y=13

Donna:   https://indianainking.blogspot.com

Shelly      http://shellymc2.blogspot.com/

Terry L.   http://itstotallyterry.blogspot.com/

Terry S.  http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/gallery/showgallery.php?cat=500&ppuser=11182

Tracie  http://tracie-craftycreations.blogspot.com/

Thanks for stopping by!

Thinking of Babies in September with the Dueling Darlings

Today in the 15th of September and time for another duel between the Dueling Darling Divas and Dazzlers.  This month Donna, team Dazzlers, and me, team Divas, decided to challenge our respective teams to make a baby card as September is Baby Safety Month.  I had great fun putting this card kit together and got a little carried away with including lots of designer paper so my teammates had lots of options for creating either a card for a girl or a boy or both.  Here's what is in the kit:

Paper:  Echo Park "Bundle of Joy Boy"; Echo Park "Sweet Baby Girl"; Echo Park "Hello Baby Girl"; DCWV "Copper Luxury" 'You are something magical' paper; The Paper Studio "metallic hearts"

Stamped images:  Hanna Stamps "B is for Baby" clothes on line and mobile (retired)

Ribbons:  yellow gingham, green velvet, pink satin, white grosgrain, blue twine, pink/green twine all from various vendors

Embellishments (from various vendors:  pearl adhesives; wooden stars; diaper pin, teddy bear, rocking horse, star brads; rhinestone stars; green paper flowers.  Sticker paper embellishements from Echo Park "Bundle of Joy Boy" and "Sweet Baby Girl".

I loved the papers so much I couldn't decide whether to make a girl card or a boy card so I made both!  Here they are:

I decided to deconstruct my Copic colored stamped image and place the clothes on a line made from the pink/green twine.  The clothes pins were embellished from some of the pearl adhesives and I added a heart rhinestone to the Echo Park sticker paper bib.

With this card I also deconstructed the Copic colored stamped image.  This time I used blue twine to attach the mobile elements.  A tiny wooden star was attached to the mobile and another open wooden star was placed on the Echo Park sticker paper "Welcome Baby".

I used Splitcoaststampers sketch SC766 for my layout only I turned it upside down.  Here's the original sketch:




This theme brought many memories for me as both my boys are September babies!

Hope you'll check out the many lovely creations made by my paper crafting Dueling Darling friends on Splitcoast Stampers:

Divas

Kelly     http://sandcastlestamper.blogspot.com/

Barb      http://inkingintoretirement.blogspot.com/

Carol    http://lostinmycraftroom.blogspot.com/

Heather  https://landofstamping.wordpress.com/

Laura Jean http://buckygirl.blogspot.com/

Suzy     http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/gallery/showgallery.php?si=SuzyS1104

Tami    http://blueinksdesign.blogspot.com/

Dazzlers

Jeanette    http://creativeplayischeaperthantherapy.blogspot.com/

Beth        https://www.sunflowers-dragonflies.ca/blog/

Debby B  http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/gallery/showgallery.php?si=littledeb&x=18&y=13

Donna:   https://indianainking.blogspot.com

Shelly      http://shellymc2.blogspot.com/

Terry L.   http://itstotallyterry.blogspot.com/

Terry S.  http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/gallery/showgallery.php?cat=500&ppuser=11182

Tracie  http://tracie-craftycreations.blogspot.com/

Thanks for stopping by!

Celebrating Christmas in July with the Dueling Darlings!

It's the 15th of July so that means it's time for another duel with the Dueling Darling Divas and Dazzlers.  This month our hostesses are Suzy for the Divas (my team!) and Debby for the Dazzlers.  These two spent Christmas together in December and knowing they would be the hosts for the month of July it would be a fun theme for this month.  As Suzy said "Plus, it was the perfect time to go shopping for paper, ribbon, embellishments, etc....all on sale!!  Can you say 'major shopping'!!!"
It seem a little strange when I'm sweltering in 100+ degree temps here in the Arizona desert to be creating Christmas cards.  I wouldn't mind having some December weather right now!

Suzy's card kit included these items:
Stamp set:  SU Christmas Lodge
DSP:  Ornamental Christmas pad (The Paper Studio)
Embellishments:  ribbon (Offray/Aqua; Ribbon Boutique/green), silver cord (stash), snowflake sequins (stash) snowflake dies (Poppy Stamps), bling (Gemstones/The Paper Studio).

I decided to make two cards this month from most of the lovely items Suzy included in her kit.  Here are my cards:

I added some red  and aqua cardstock from my stash to mount the DSP on.  I die cut the centerpiece and colored with my Twinkling H20s the sentiment and added the the silver cord.  The snowflake sequins were popped on two of the red snowflakes.  I used the CAS(E) this Sketch CTS# 330 as the basis for my design here:

For the second card I colored the SU Christmas Lodge stamped image with Twinkling H20s and die cut it and mounted in on a red die cut oval.  The only addition was the ribbon from the kit.  The design was based on the Freshly Made Sketches  FMS396 here:

Suzy challenged us "to share a recipe that you like to make at Christmas time."  Here is a favorite recipe I received from my Aunt Pearl when I was first married 56 years ago.  I make Christmas cutout cookies with this recipe every year with a friend's children.

Sugar Cookies

(Makes approximately 50 cookies)

1 cup butter

1 cup sugar

2 eggs

1 teaspoon lemon extract

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 teaspoon baking powder

3 cups flour

Cream together butter and sugar until well blended, add eggs, lemon extract, and vanilla extract and mix well.  Combine flour and baking soda and slowly add to the wet ingredients.  Chill in refrigerator a minimum of 1 hour.  Roll on well floured board to maximum 1/8 inch thickness.  Cut with cookie cutters.  Place on non-greased cookie sheet.  Bake in 400 degree oven 5-6 minutes or 375 degree oven for 6 - 8 minutes.  Cool thoroughly on absorbent material like paper towels or brown paper sack.

Decorate when completely cooled or sprinkle with decorator sugars prior to baking.  

Enjoy!!

Hope you'll check out the many lovely creations made by my paper crafting Dueling Darling friends on Splitcoast Stampers:

Divas

Kelly     http://sandcastlestamper.blogspot.com/

Barb      http://inkingintoretirement.blogspot.com/

Carol    http://lostinmycraftroom.blogspot.com/

Heather  https://landofstamping.wordpress.com/

Laura Jean http://buckygirl.blogspot.com/

Suzy     http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/gallery/showgallery.php?si=SuzyS1104

Tami    http://blueinksdesign.blogspot.com/

Dazzlers

Jeanette    http://creativeplayischeaperthantherapy.blogspot.com/

Beth        https://www.sunflowers-dragonflies.ca/blog/

Debby B  http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/gallery/showgallery.php?si=littledeb&x=18&y=13

Shelly      http://shellymc2.blogspot.com/

Terry L.   http://itstotallyterry.blogspot.com/

Terry S.  http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/gallery/showgallery.php?cat=500&ppuser=11182

Tracie  http://tracie-craftycreations.blogspot.com/

Thanks for stopping by!

Dueling Darlings Times 3!

It's the 15th of the month and time for another duel with the Dueling Darlings.  Again I am trying to make up for 2 previous months duels. This time for April and May plus today's June duel.  The last 6 months have been a difficult time for me.  I hope to do better in the future with posting my DDD cards on time as the Dueling Darling ladies are the best and I hate letting them down.

  So first my card for April is from a kit created by Carol for team Divas.  She and Shelly, for team Dazzlers, chose the theme Motorcycle Masculine.  The stamped image is from the hot red classic collection from Bombshell Stamps.  The designer papers are from Hobby Lobby with the exception of the lighter colored map which is from JoAnn's.  All the embellishments come from Hobby Lobby with the exception of the motorcycle that comes from a button collection from JoAnn's.  Included were ribbons from Carol's collection.  Here is my card:

For the month of May LauraJean, team Diva, and Terry S., team Dazzlers, chose the theme "Out of this World".  Included in the kit I received from LJ were stamped images from the Rocket Age collection by October Afternoon, Patterned paper by Doodle Bug Designs, red, blue and yellow ribbons, a Tim Holtz silver star, gemstones from Michael's and Stampin' Up buttons.  I colored the stamped images with Copic Markers:

Tami, team Divas, and Terry L., team Dazzlers, chose the theme "Halloween in June".  The cute stamped image is fromRed Rubber Designs called "Delightfully Spooky".  Tami included some delightful Halloween DSP and great embellishments from her stash.  I colored the image with Copic Markers and use the sketch SC753 from Splitcoast Stampers for this week.  Here's my card:

Hope you enjoyed my creations!

Hope you'll check out the many lovely creations made by my paper crafting Dueling Darling friends on Splitcoast Stampers:

Divas

Kelly     http://sandcastlestamper.blogspot.com/

Barb      http://inkingintoretirement.blogspot.com/

Carol    http://lostinmycraftroom.blogspot.com/

Heather  https://landofstamping.wordpress.com/

Laura Jean http://buckygirl.blogspot.com/

Suzy     http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/gallery/showgallery.php?si=SuzyS1104

Tami    http://blueinksdesign.blogspot.com/

Dazzlers

Jeanette    http://creativeplayischeaperthantherapy.blogspot.com/

Beth        https://www.sunflowers-dragonflies.ca/blog/

Debby B  http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/gallery/showgallery.php?si=littledeb&x=18&y=13

Shelly      http://shellymc2.blogspot.com/

Terry L.   http://itstotallyterry.blogspot.com/

Terry S.  http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/gallery/showgallery.php?cat=500&ppuser=11182

Tracie  http://tracie-craftycreations.blogspot.com/

Thanks for stopping by!

Catching Up with the Dueling Darlings!

I've three cards to share for the Dueling Darling challenges.  The first one goes all the way back to November 2018:

The theme chosen by Laura Jean ( Divas) and Darlene (Dazzlers) was National Aviation History Month.  Here is the information Laura Jean gave team Diva members...."National Aviation History Month is dedicated to exploring, recognizing and celebrating America's great contributions and achievement in the development of aviation.  Aviation history refers to the history and development of mechanical flight - from the earliest attempts in kites and gliders to powered heavier than air, supersonic and space flights." Included in the kit was a great image by Tim Holtz, stamped and already cut out.  There were several quote clips and chose to  use "Live in the Moment".  Also included were some terrific designer papers, a kraft tag, ribbon that I used on my card here:

 My brother-in-law has a great love of airplanes and I sent him this card on his birthday.  I deckle edged the base of the card to fit with the time period of the airplane and DSP.

My second card is for the February duel.  Barb (Divas) and Tracie (Dazzlers) came up with the theme "Love Your Pets".  Included in the card kit Barb sent team Divas was this cute Whipper Snapper "Triple Dog Dare" stamped image that I colored with Copic Markers.  She gave us 5 sheets of some great patterned papers.  I used the Paw Prints by Echo Park Paper - "", The Bella Blvd, "Tail Waggers" (brown bones) and the Imaginisce (tan paws) papers on my card.  My card was embellished with two different ribbons, a dog paw brad and pearl adhesive embellishments from the kit.  Here's the card:

This card was given to a dear dog loving friend on her birthday.


Heather was all alone in choosing a theme for the month of March and she went with a "Punny" theme.  Here is her humorous account of what happened: 

"Let's taco 'bout our theme this month.  You see, a unique circumstance happened.  The butter half of my delightful pear, the lovely Paola, lettuce know she had to drop out of our swap, bacon my heart and leaving me all by my lonesome.  Donut worry! Romaine calm!  The show will go on!  Kelly contacted me to indicating the Dazzlers had an angel - all I had to do is select a theme.

All by myself??? Wow.  The pressure.  Id hate to let down olive you down.

Friendship/  Canadiana?  Travel/  So many choices.  Picking just one is kinda a big dill.

I Yam Stuck.  And I Waffled." Here is my punny card:

Images:  Stew Pot Pals by Stamping' Up
Papers:  Kiss the Cook, Bo Bunny

Hope you'll check out the many lovely creations made by my paper crafting Dueling Darling friends on Splitcoast Stampers:

Divas

Kelly     http://sandcastlestamper.blogspot.com/

Barb      http://inkingintoretirement.blogspot.com/

Carol    http://lostinmycraftroom.blogspot.com/

Heather  https://landofstamping.wordpress.com/

Laura Jean http://buckygirl.blogspot.com/

Suzy     http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/gallery/showgallery.php?si=SuzyS1104

Tami    http://blueinksdesign.blogspot.com/

Dazzlers

Jeanette    http://creativeplayischeaperthantherapy.blogspot.com/

Beth        https://www.sunflowers-dragonflies.ca/blog/

Debbie     http://theinkigloo.blogspot.com/

Debby B  http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/gallery/showgallery.php?si=littledeb&x=18&y=13

Shelly      http://shellymc2.blogspot.com/

Terry L.   http://itstotallyterry.blogspot.com/

Terry S.  http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/gallery/showgallery.php?cat=500&ppuser=11182

Tracie  http://tracie-craftycreations.blogspot.com/

Thanks for stopping by!

Let Us ENCOURAGE One Another!

It's January 15th and it's another Dueling Darling Day!  Today the theme is "ENCOURAGEMENT".  The Dueling Darlings have two teams, the Darlings and the Divas, who challenge each other to create  a card or other paper craft and display on their blogs and/or their Splitcoaststampers Gallery.  Working in pairs, a person from each team works together to select a theme.  They then create card kits around the theme and mail to their team members.  This month Donna for team Darlings and Judy (that's me!) chose the theme.  Here's what is in the card kit for team Divas:

Designer Papers:  s e i "Field Notes"; DCWV "Copper Luxury"; echo park "Handmade Journaling"; and an unknown designer

Stamped Image:  Paper Pretties "Flutterby" (girl and sentiment "Flutter your wings and fly"); There She Goes "Spread your wings and fly" sentiment.

Embellishments: ribbon, twine paper flowers and leaves, pearls, rhinestones, and butterfly brad from various companies.

Here is my card:

 I colored my image with Copic markers and used the pearls, twine and paper flower from the kit.

This is the inside of the card and I used the There She Goes sentiment, a strip of designer paper and a couple die cut butterflies left over from a previous project.

Donna and I encouraged our teammates to send their card to someone they felt needs encouragement.  I plan on sending my card to my sister Jinny who 6 days ago had a kidney transplant.  She received her kidney from her husband and I'm happy to report they are both doing great!  She has a long recovery and since I can't be with her as we live so far apart (she's in Seattle, WA and I'm in the Tucson, AZ area) I plan on sending her cards of encouragement every day.  

Please check out the card creations from my Dueling Darling friends here:

Divas

Kelly     http://sandcastlestamper.blogspot.com/

Barb      http://inkingintoretirement.blogspot.com/

Carol    http://lostinmycraftroom.blogspot.com/

Heather  https://landofstamping.wordpress.com/

Laura Jean http://buckygirl.blogspot.com/

Suzy     http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/gallery/showgallery.php?si=SuzyS1104

Tami    http://blueinksdesign.blogspot.com/

Dazzlers

Jeanette    http://creativeplayischeaperthantherapy.blogspot.com/

Debbie     http://theinkigloo.blogspot.com/

Debby B  http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/gallery/showgallery.php?si=littledeb&x=18&y=13

Paola       http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/gallery/showgallery.php?cat=500&ppuser=110313

Shelly      http://shellymc2.blogspot.com/

Terry L.   http://itstotallyterry.blogspot.com/

Terry S.  http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/gallery/showgallery.php?cat=500&ppuser=11182

Tracie  http://tracie-craftycreations.blogspot.com/

Thanks for stopping by!