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!!

Triple Tiered Easel Card for a Favorite Aunt

This past Monday's challenge on Splitcoaststampers' Try A New Technique was called "Either/Or but Both is More".  The challenge was to create a Triple Tiered Easel card and/or a card using the "See Through Image" technique as described here: http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/forums/try-new-technique-f44/tlc380-~-either-but-both-more-~-%7B06-04-12%7D-t555221.html.
It was a real challenge to create the Triple Tiered Easel card as the examples and instructions shown were a little difficult for me to follow.  The "See Through Image" instructions and examples were a little easier.  I attempted to do both challenges in this birthday card I created for a dear aunt who will be celebrating her 88th birthday next month:

This is the card in a closed position



This is the top layer when closed and will be the third tier when in the easel position.

I used Vellum for the top layer with a computer printed sentiment. I made the flowers and leaves from several flower punches and the butterflies from a Martha Stewart punch.

This is the layer in the second tier when in the easel position.

Top layer is vellum with computer created sentiment embellished with a blingy swirl and butterflies.

I created the large butterfly and leaf by stamping the image on acetate and using glue and glitter on the opposite side.

This shows all three tiers in the easel postions. 

The top layer of the third tier is cut using the "See Through Image" technique. 

I used Stampin' Up's Flower of the Month stamp for July and a circle Nestability die.

The image was colored with Copic Markers.

Card base and tiers were created with Scalloped Circle Nestability dies.

Paper:  SU  Taken With Teal, gold metallic, s.e.i. Field Notes collection, glitter cardstock

Side Views

Top View

Thanks for stopping by!  I would love to hear what you think of my Triple Tier Easel card.

Butterflies Everywhere in Memory of Jared

My friend and fellow Splitcoaststamper Sistah Linda is having a card swap in memory and honor of her son Jared:
"Butterflies Everywhere 2nd Annual Swap - Due August 10, 2012

*In memory of my son Jared, born 16 weeks premature. He was so beautiful and precious but was only with us a short time, just like a butterfly. I'd like to keep the tradition going and fill the house with butterflies everywhere on his birthday.

We spent four months with him in the hospital, and even though we couldn't keep him here with us, he taught us so much about life in his short time. We are truly blessed, he is with some wonderful people in heaven and we know he is not alone. Though we miss him dearly God has given us three healthy beautiful girls that we get to spend everyday with.

Everyone was so supportive of my idea last year to start this swap and has encouraged me to continue it on. I was so thrilled to get so many beautiful cards last year and my girls really enjoyed all the happy mail."

If you are interested in joining her swap here is the link: http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/forums/everything-else-f113/butterflies-everywhere-2nd-annual-swap-t553562.html

I jumped at the opportunity to join this swap not only to honor Jared but because I love, love, love anything with butterflies.  So here's my card:

Several months ago I was so thrilled to win this darling stamp from C.C. Designs called Butterfly Lucy.  I thought this swap was the perfect opportunity to ink her up and color her with Copic Markers.  I added a little sparkle by using aqua and yellow Stickles.  I couldn't stop the butterflies with just this image.  Designer paper is from the s.e.i. "Field Notes" collection. Layered on top of that is a black panel punched with a Martha Stewart "punch around the corner" butterfly punch.  Next layer is a piece of Stampin' Up Peach Parfait cardstock embossed with my Cuttlebug butterfly folder.  The final touch is some sheer aqua ribbon with a Recollections flourish and a "crystal" butterfly all of which come from Michaels.  I hope Linda likes it!

I'm also entering this in the Crazy 4 Challenges C4C139 to "add butterflies to your creation".  Check out the C4C here: http://crazy4challenges.blogspot.com/

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

On The Road Again in June

I belong to a wonderful group of women on Splitcoaster Stampers website called the Sisterhood of the Traveling Cards.  Each month a "Sistah" hosts the swap and chooses the theme for that month.  This June my sistah Wynne is hosting and challenging us to create a card with a summer theme inspired by something we love about summer or love to do in the summer.  This was a no-brainer for me.  Every summer my husband and I leave our home in Arizona and head to our "home" state of Washington to visit with family and friends and to cool off.  So my inspiration is traveling as seen in the card below:

Paper:  American Craft "Road Trip"

Stamp:  Stampin' Up's "Loads of Love"

Die cuts: Nestabilities

Accessories:  red ribbon, buttons

My layout is based on a sketch by Paper Players here:

Thanks for stopping by!

Birthdays Times Four And An Anniversary

This post is full of birthday day cards for my niece and her family plus an anniversary card for my niece and her husband.  I missed getting cards off for my grandniece Katie's 5th birthday in February and her daddy's birthday in March.  In just a few days it will be my niece's birthday, her anniversary and next month is her oldest daughter's 8th birthday. So I decided to make cards for all of them and send them in one package along with two bags of papercrafting supplies for my little grandnieces. First card here is for Katie:

I just had to color this darling Happy Mimosa image by Bildmalarna with my Copic markers making her hair red  in honor of my cute little redheaded grandniece Katie.  Also had to use lots of pink and purple on this card 'cause those are favorites of Katie's  I used embossing folders for added interest on both the pink layer (Stampin' Up folder)  and the lavender layer (Cuttlebug Swiss Dots folder) plus a die cut with a coordinating designer paper.  Hope she enjoys her very late birthday card.

My niece's husband love old trains so this was the theme for his birthday card here:

My niece will be celebrating her birthday in a few days.  I created a  Swing (Flip Flop) Card here:

 Here's another view:

 And with the reverse sid of the flip flop:

The day after her birthday is my niece and her husband's anniversary.  Here's their card:

And last but certainly not least is Marie's birthday card.  She'll  be turning 8 in June:

This darling image is Ella by Claudia & Company

The designer paper is from DCWV All Occasion Glitter Stack

I added some glitter white paper embossed wtih a Cuttlebug folder

The flowers are by Recollections at Michael's.

A little stickles on Ella's necklace for a little added glamour.

For the layout for this card I used this sketch from Freshly Made Sketches:

Thanks for stopping by!