Crazy Quilt of Dueling Darling Kits

Its dueling time for the Dueling Darlings and I'm late!  In case you haven't already heard the D.D.s are a group of friends that met on Splitcoaststampers (SCS),  participated in each others card swaps, visited each others blogs and decided to take our papercrafting addiction to the next level by "dueling".  My group the Dueling Darling Divas "duel" it out with the Dueling Darling Dazzlers on the 15th of each month with each group using a different card kit with the same theme!  The purpose is to see what we come up with using this theme and the image that was picked and how the divas and dazzlers created with their respective kits.  We've been doing this now for 2 years.  Debbie, a Dazzler, came up with a unique and fun challenge this month to use the materials left over from the kits we've received over the last 8 months and create a card.  Here is my mine:

I took the challenge literally "to use something from every kit" I received. So in that spirit I used diagnonal rays of patterned paper taken from seven different card kits.  (I got the inspiration from Kristina Werner's video tutorial here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jKO_Heae1ek ) Kind of creates a crazy quilt look don't you think?!!  The medallion, flower, button and twine were also taken from different kits as was the chocolate brown cardstock panel, white "dotted swiss" embossed panel and craft cardstock base.  The only thing that didn't come from one of the card kits was the adhesive to put the card together. : )

Check out the rest of my team Diva's creations here:

Kelly: http://www.sandcastlestamper.blogspot.com/
Barb:  http://inkingintoretirement.blogspot.com/
Carol: http://lostinmycraftroom.blogspot.com/
Jamie: http://butterflystamper71.blogspot.com/
LJ:      http://buckygirl.blogspot.com/
Tami:  http://blueinksdesign.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!!

Birthdays, Birthdays, and more Birthdays!!!

I've been busy making birthday cards for family members over the last couple weeks.  First birthday was for our niece Justine.  The card I created was inspired by a gorgeous dress my sister-in-law gave her.  Here are pix of the dress and card:

 This is a section of the dress that I used as inspiration for her birthday card

 

 This is the outside of the card.  Green cardstock was stamped with a leave image both in green and black.  The flower was made from a Stampin' Up stamp and punch with adhesive rhinestones and stickles added for the bling.  The white leaves are die cut from a Memory Box die.  Sorry I don't have the specific names with me right now.

 The inside of the card has the negative Memory Box leaf die to show the green layer underneath.

Do you think I captured the essence of the dress with this card???

By the way, our niece was thrilled with both the dress and the card!

 

 Five days later our nephew Michael celebrated his birthday and we were pleased to spend part of it with him.  Here's the outside of the card. Circles were made by stamping several Stampin' Up Circle Circus stamps with Versamark and embossing with silver embossing powder and punched out.  The waves die cuts were made with a Memory Box die

 And here's the inside of Michael's card.

 

 

 The card is for my sweet and very special cousin Linda.  She is such a blessing to my family and does so much for so many.  She'll be celebrating her birthday tomorrow, Sept 2nd.

 

Last and certainly not least is the birthday card for our son John who celebrates his birthday on Sept. 4th.  I really wanted to do something unique and special for my firstborn.

 This is a two-sided card.  One side was stamped with this Stampin' Up stamp with the balloon basket.  Attached is a die cut for the balloon with a shaker plastic with a variety of coins for the "shaker" part.  In the background are some cloud die cuts with a Memory Box die.

 The other side of the card features a pocket card.   

Here's the tag pulled out of the pocket.  Another pocket was attached to this.  On the tag pocket I stamped a Stampin' Up birthday sentiment (again I forget the name...sorry!) Inside this pocket is a check for the birthday boy! 

What do you think?  Was this a unique birthday card??

 

That's it for today! 



Creating Glass Art!

Yesterday my dear sister-in-law Justine treated me to a glass art experience where I got to make a piece of glass art with the help and guidance of an experienced glass artist.  What a wonderful experience and I have this beautiful piece of art glass to show for it.  Here are some pix  of the process:

 Here I'm selecting the color chips that will give my glass piece color and design

 The tray with the order of colors.  The darkest color shown here is a translucent amber when it's in the glass.

 This is my instructor, guide and glass blowing guru Billy showing me the first step with the molten glass which includes constant turning.

 Billy is guiding me here in picking up the colors on the tray and attaching to the glass.  This will occur several times between the glass going in the "glory hole" and picking up more molten glass.

 Here the glass is being rolled in a wooden form

 I'm blowing in the glass as Billy turns it

 Here's the finished design coming out of the "glory hole"



Here's the glass before it's removed from the stick and a "foot" is placed on the bottem and placed in the oven for the cooling down process.

24 hours later my finished piece!



Getting My Game On!

It's the 15th of the month and time for another duel with the Dueling Darling Divas and The Dueling Darling Dazzlers.  I'm on team Divas and our intrepid and spirited leader Kelly sent the Divas this awesome kit with the theme "Are You Game?!" in celebration of National Scrabble Week.  Well, the challenge was to try something new and the theme didn't have to be about Scrabble just any kind of game using the elements in the kit.  Here's a rundown of the kit:
Designer Papers
1.  Kraft/black playing card DSP: Graphic 45 "All Decked Out" and "Bits and Pieces"
2.  2 sided Yellow polka dot DSP:  Bo Bunny Vintage Buttercup
3.  Red Chevron DSP:  Glitz in Town "Yours Truly Chevron"
4.  The other yellow DSP:  My Mind's Eye "Nostalgia"
5.  Red and white lace DSP:  Jenni Bowlin "Lacy Border"
6.  Black and white DSP:  Jenni Bowlin "Deco Chain"

Embellishments
Kaisercraft Flourishes die cut wood pieces "Playing Cards" (mine was a spade)
Buttons from Basic Grey and American Crafts
Prima Flowers
Martha Stewart Glitter backless brads, Kaiser bling
Ribbons: black/white diamond check "Celebrate It", Yellow by PTI, Red and black from Offray

We were challenged too use at least two of the DSP, at least one ribbon, your wooden charm, one bling and one button.  Here's the card I made in answer to the challenge:

I love to play card games, board games and just about any kind of game so this was a fun challenge.
I used both pieces of the Graphic 45 DSP.  I cut out the "playing cards" from one and arranged in a fan shape like a playing hand.  My wood "spade" die cut was arranged over one of the spades on the "card" front while I placed a black bling on top of the other spade.  The "heart" and "diamond" on the other two "cards" were enhanced with a red bling.  This darling image called "Pair of Aces" is from Whipper Snapper.  I colored with Copic Markers to coordinate with the Graphic 45 DSP, added a ribbon bow to the bow on the lady's bow alond with the Martha Stewart glitter backless brad on her heart.  The ace of spades received a clear button with a twine bow over the largest spade. The image was layered over the playing cards with dimensionals. I decided to stick with the neutral theme of the Graphic 45 papers and add just a pop of color with the red ribbon, bling and a red cardstock panel. I think I managed to meet all the requirements of the challenge.  What do you think?

Please check out the other Divas starting with our leader Kelly here:
http://www.sandcastlestamper.blogspot.com/
Barb: http://inkingintoretirement.blogspot.com/
Carol:  http://lostinmycraftroom.blogspot.com/
Jamie: http://butterflystamper71.blogspot.com/
LJ: http://buckygirl.blogspot.com/
Tami: http://blueinksdesign.blogspot.com/

Then check out the Dazzlers starting with their leader Jeanette here:
http://creativeplayischeaperthantherapy.blogspot.com/

Thanks for stopping by!

Grilling with the Duelng Darlings!

It's the 15th of the month and time for another duel with the Dueling Darlings.  Team leaders Darlene for the Dazzlers and Tami for the Divas chose "Grilling" as the theme for July.  I'm on the Diva team and love the card kit Tami sent us.  It included this super cute stamped image by Whipper Snapper called "Grill Sergeant".  Along with this image she had some terrific designer papers, ribbon, eyelets, rhinestones and die cuts.  I love that she also included some netting recyled from produce items.  Here's my take on the card kit:

Designer Paper

Red Check by My Mind's Eye Dilly Dally 'Best'

Picnic by Karen Foster Design, 'Life's a Picnic'

Red ribbon by Offray

Materials not included in the kit are

Cardstock:

brown: Gina K Designs

red: Bazzill's "Red Devil"

green:  Stampin' Up "Gumball Green" and "Kiwi Kiss"

Square rhinestones from Stampin' Up

Images were colored with Copic markers

My layout is based on this sketch from Mojo Monday 249:

:

Part of the challenge this month was to include a favorite grilling or picnic recipe.  My husband is the grill master in my family and here is a favorite recipe he's done many times:

Garlic-Mustard Marinated Flank Steak

(from Paul Kirk's Championship Barbecue)

Serves 6 to 8

Garlic-Mustard Marinade

1/2 cup soy sauce

1/4 cup red wine vinegar

1/4 cup olive oil

2 tablespoons granulated cane sugar

2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce

2 tablespoons minced green onions (white and green parts)

1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

1 teasppoon minced fresh parsley leaves

two 1 1/2 pound flank steaks, trimmed of any fat

1.  To make the marinade, combine the marinade ingredients in a medium-size nonreactive bowl until well blended.  place the flank steaks in a shallow nonreactive baking dish or a zippered-top plastic bag.  Pour the marinade over the meat, making sure they're covered.  Cover with plastic wrap or seal and let marinate in the refrigerator for at least 4 to 6 hours or overnight.

2.  Prepare a medium-hot fire in your grill.

3.  Remove the steaks from the marinade, discarding the marinade.  Place the steaks directly over the coals, cover, and grill to your desired degree of doneness, 6 to 8 minutes per side for medium rare.

4.  Let rest for 5 minutes.  To serve, slice thinly across the grain on a 60-degree bias.

DELISH!

Please go a check out my Diva's teammates contributions to this duel here:

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

Carol: http://lostinmycraftroom.blogspot.com/

Barb:  http://inkingintoretirement.blogspot.com/

Jamie: http://butterflystamper71.blogspot.com/

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

Tami: http://blueinksdesign.blogspot.com/

And check out the Dazzlers' contributions starting here:

Jeanette: http://creativeplayischeaperthantherapy.blogspot.com/

 

A Wiper Card for a Swap and for a Birthday Boy!

I belong to a fabulous group of card creators on Splitcoaststampers (SCS) called Sisterhood of the Traveling Cards.  Each month a different "Sistah" hosts the swap, selects the theme and card swap requirements.  This month my Sistah Barb challenged us to create cards using a unique fold.  I love creating cards with unique folds and or techniques.  Usually for a challenge like this I would try to create a card using a fold or technique I had never tried before.  Unfortunately, the timing was not condusive to putting the time and effort in creating something new so I went with an old standby that I've used before and that was the wiper card.  (You can find the tutorial for a wiper card on SCS here:
http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/resources/tutorials/wipercard/)

For weeks prior to the deadline for this card I was preparing for a several month stay in Washington state for the summer.  Part of my preparations was to complete cards or have all the elements prepared for completion of card for multiple card swaps, birthdays and anniversaries that were to occur during our stay in WA.  My grand-nephew has a birthday in July so I decided in his honor to use a sports theme for my wiper card.  This was a big winner for me cuz I got to "kill two birds with one stone".  Hee Hee!

Here is the card closed:

Here is the card open:

  This image featuring multiple sporting equipment was embossed with silver embossing powder on black cardstock which was then layered on glossy white cardstock and attached to the blue wiper card front.  Football, soccer ball, basketball and baseball brads were attached at each corner.  I used some designer paper with letters spelling "sports" on the smaller side panels.  The wiper portion of the card has the sentiment "Have An All-Star Birthday!" on white with a black panel.

I hope my nephew and my SCS Sistahs enjoy receiving this card.

We're Dueling for the Guys!

It's the 15th of the month and because June is the month to celebrate the father's in our lives April, for the Dazzlers, and Jamie, for the Divas, have chosen a masculine theme for the June Dueling Darling challenge.  I'm on team Divas and received this oh so masculine card kit from Jamie.  The kit included:
Both brown and blue DSP from Bo Bunny
Brown textured paper
Both Crumb Cake and Night of Navy c/s from SU (for our card bases)
Miscellaneous brads
Library clip from SU
Naturals Designer buttons from SU
EArly Espresso Baker's Twine from SU
Denim ribbon from SU
Both Chocolate Chip and Night of Navy 1/4" grosgrain ribbon from SU
Sentinment in both Chocolate Chip and Night of Navy from My Sentiments Exactly
Images also in both Chosclate Chip and Night of Navy from SU's "Open Sea"

Thanks Jamie for a perfect masculine themed kit!!  I have lots left over for future creations!

Here's my card:

I chose to do a monochromatic color scheme using Night of Navy elements from the card kit.

I die cut the images and sentiment using Nestability dies.

The dsp was attached to a strip of white cardstock,wrapped with the denim ribbon and corners were enhanced with the silver brads.

I haven't had my earthly father with me for 9 years now.  He was a true guide and no one could have a more loving and generous father and grandfather as he was.  I really, really miss him but know after his suffering declining health in the last 3 years of his life he is with our heavenly father and enjoying a peace, love and joy we can only hope for on this earth.

My own dear husband is on his way to have a fun time with our youngest son fishing in the much cooler temps in the White Mountains of SE Arizona.  They'll be coming home on Sunday and I'm going to slip this card to my son so he can give it to his dad.

Please go a check out my Diva's teammates contributions to this duel here:

Kelly: http://sandcastlestamper.blogspot.com/
Carol: http://lostinmycraftroom.blogspot.com/
Barb: http://inkingintoretirement.blogspot.com/
Jamie: http://www.butterflystamper71.blogspot.com/
LJ: http://www.buckygirl.blogspot.com/
Tami: http://blueinksdesign.blogspot.com/

And also visit the Dazzlers starting with their leader Jeanette here:

http://creativeplayischeaperthantherapy.blogspot.com/

Hope you all have a wonderful weekend with the special guys in your life!  Thanks for stopping by!!