Dueling Darlings: Everything is Coming Up Roses

It's time once again for The Dueling Darlings challenge. This month Shelly (Darlings) and Carol (Divas) are our hostesses. Shelly sent me a wonderful kit to work with. June is the month of roses so that's why they picked this theme. Since we get two images in the kits (in case we mess one up) I was able to make two cards this month.

My first card uses lots of what's included in the kit. I colored the rose image with Prismacolor pencils. I used several of the designer papers included in the kit. I also used a strip of lace that was included as well as 3 of the flowers and some gems for the centers. The sentiment was also included. I added some pink card stock for the base and Peeled Paint and Barn Door Distress ink around the edges of the sentiment and image.
Here's what I used from the kit:
Image and sentiment are all Stampin' Up! from the 2002 collection
Design paper: green and green with peach roses from The Paper Studio Kirby Teasdale
Flowers and yellow gems (Recollections)
I am entering these challenges:

• Outlawz Wednesday Sketch: 
  
• If You Give A Crafter a Cookie: roses were used from cookie inspiration 
  
• Addicted to Stamps and More: anything goes 
  
• Through the Craft Room Door: anything goes
• A Bit More Time to Craft: anything goes
• Simon Says Wednesday: frame it

My second card is very CAS:

I needed another sympathy card so I used my second image from the kit. I added some leaves from Simon Says Stamps die cut. The sentiment is from Heartfelt Creations Sympathy Sentiments. This image is also colored with Prismacolor Pencils and then fussy cut. I popped up the image with foam tape. The leaves were die cut and then partially inked with Peeled Paint distress ink. I am entering these challenges:

• Atlantic Hearts Sketch challenge: sketch 
  
• The Flower challenge: #21 use a previous challenge (used #14 CAS) 
  
• A Snowflakes Promise: anything goes

Be sure to check out the other Darlings' creations (links in my side panel) Thanks for stopping by and thanks to Shelly for such a wonderful kit this month.

Donna

Light of Our Lives

Father's Day is this week and I was behind in getting cards done. I finished the most important one last night. This is for Tom's Dad. I see him as a lighthouse for his family. A focal point and a guide for how to live our lives. A very special man.

The image is from From the Heart Stamps. I miss Faith and her lovely stamps but I still have a collection that I can use. The sentiment is from Desert Diva. I fussy cut the image since it had a nice frame on it and die cut the sentiment with Quickutz Tags. The background is a scrap of paper that I had on my desk for a project the other day. It reminded me of waves and thought it fit perfectly. The image is colored with Koh-i-noor Woodless Pencils. I am entering these challenges:

• The Outlawz Thursday challenge: tall and skinny card
• Crafty Sentiments Designs: water
• Simon Says Wednesday: frame it
• Digi Stamps 4 Joy: for the men
• Scribbles Design: make it masculine
• Through the Craft Room Door: anything goes

I am off to work on some sympathy cards. Not my favorite things to make and I've need far too many of them lately. Unbelievably, I've sent three to one family in the last 2 months. Have a wonderful day!

Donna

Do you have Cof-fee-dence?

I am coming down to the wire for this progressive challenge. I didn't have time before the wedding and I haven't had a lot of time since we've been home so I needed to get this done today. The challenge is for Limited Runs digital stamps.

The image is Cuppa Mouse. I paper pieced the cup and colored parts of it with Spectrum Noir markers and then used Wink of Stella for a bit of sparkle. I printed the sentiment from Create with TLC on the same paper that I paper pieced with. All the paper is scraps from my scrap box. The card base is grey. I die cut the mouse with an MFT Stitched Circle dies and inked with Broken China Distress Ink. I am entering these challenges:

• Limited Runs Progressive challenge: use Cuppa Mouse
• Sketch Saturday: sketch 
  
• Cutie Pie challenge: spots or dots
• Outlawz Monday challenge: use at least one die cut
• 2 Crafty Critter Crazies: use a critter
• Anything Goes with Create with TLC element: used a sentiment

I have a list of cards that I need to send this week. Still haven't done a Father's Day card for my FIL so I need that right now. Back to my desk to get moving. Thanks for stopping by. Take care!

Donna

Advice from a Pineapple

Good Tuesday morning! I thought I would post a quick card and then get back to my long list of things to catch up on. There is a never ending list! I stitched this tag before I left for the wedding but hadn't gotten it into a card yet. I love the sentiment from Create with TLC and knew it was perfect for this image.

I found the pineapple cross stitch pattern in one of my many cross stitch books. The image is cross stitched on the MFT Cross-Stitch Tag die. The background colors don;t quite look the same in the photo. The fossilized amber and clover green dioxide ink is really closer to the colors in the pineapple. But they just didn't come out in the photo. The sentiment is from Create with TLC and reads: Advice from the Pineapple Stand Tall, wear your crown and be sweet on the inside. Love it! I added a scrap of ribbon and a scrap of patterned paper die cut with MFT Essential Fishtail Sentiment Strips. I am entering these challenges:

• My Favorite Things Sketch challenge: sketch 
  
• Tuesday Throwdown: tag it
• Hiding in my Craft Room: super scraps Saturday
• Friday Outlawz challenge: anything goes
• Creative Knockouts: anything goes
• Anything Goes with Create with TLC Element: use a Create with TLC element (sentiment)

Well, it seems I have to go back to my list of things to do. Crafting is on the list so I am hoping I find time today. We've gotten over 3 inches of rain in the last three days. I managed to tie up my tomato stalks and mow the grass last night in between downpours. More rain today and tomorrow and we have a flash flood watch. Have a wonderful day!

Donna

Love You So

Oh My Gosh! I can hardly believe that's it's been more than 3 weeks since I last posted on this blog. Our two weeks away for my son's wedding and then moving our other son into his new house took it's toll on me. I had a lot of stuff to catch up on and crafting wasn't in the cards last week after we returned home. But yesterday I finally got a chance to work on a few cards that I need for upcoming birthdays and such. Yesterday was my sweet DH's birthday so this card I made for him (yesterday). Can you say last minute. I should have done this one before we left for Boston.

My honey is a real handy man (not the James Taylor style). We spent yesterday out at our other property and I grabbed a bunch of crafting stuff to take with me but a Happy Birthday stamp was not in the mix. So he got this sentiment instead from Altenew Heart Flowers stamp set. The building tools are from Beccy's Place and are a freebie. I used a Neat & Tangles Polygon stencil for the background, inked with Broken China Distressed Oxide ink. The sentiment is die cut with Spellbinder;s Inverted Scalloped Circles. I kind of thought that looked more manly (like gears). The inside sentiment talks about putting aside your tools to celebrate your birthday with friends and family. This one turned out good, I think.

I am entering these challenges:

• Beccy's Place: use a Beccy's Place image
• The Outlawz Sketch: sketch 
  
• Cards in Envy: let's hear it for the boys
• Tuesday Throwdown: what a guy
• Scribbles Design challenge: make it masculine
• Simply Create Too: for a male

We are still going through pictures of the wedding and waiting for the photographer to get back to us. I don't really have a good picture of the family yet. So I am going to wait a bit to see if we can find a better picture to post. But pictures are in the works. Thanks for stopping by and hanging in there in my absence. As I get caught up I hope to get back to commenting on your blogs too. Have a super week!

Donna

Hello Beautiful

My last progressive challenge for this month before we go.The Outlawz progressive challenge features an adorable perfume bottle created by Sandi's Samples.

The card was pretty easy. I used a lot of pastel colors, colored with Spectrum Noir pastel markers. I fussy cut the perfume bottle. The sentiment is from MFT Essential Sentiments. The tag is a die cut from Lawn Fawn Stitched Party Banner dies. I added some Doodle Twine to the top of the tag. I am entering these challenges:

• Tuesday Morning Sketches: sketch 
  
• The Outlawz Progressive challenge: use the image from Sandi's Samples
• Crafty Sentiments Designs: pastel colors
• {Cupcake Inspirations}: pastels
• Hiding in my Craft Room: super scraps Saturday

This morning I finished all the vases for the centerpieces so I am doing a happy dance. This time next week I will be arranging flowers for the rehearsal dinner. Oh my! I am hoping to get time this afternoon to do a quick thank you card as I need one to take along to Boston. The twins are coming for dinner tonight and stay overnight with us. Tomorrow is our garage sale and then we'll be packing to go. I already have piles of stuff to load in the car but there will be more. LOL! Have a wonderful day and thanks for stopping by. 

Donna

Not Alone

I needed a quick sympathy card to send before we leave for Boston so I took a little time this afternoon to put this together. I used the MFT Sketch as inspiration.

The flower is from AlteNew Beautiful Lady colored with Prismacolor Pencils and mineral spirits. It's die cut with the coordinating die. The sentiment is from a retired Gina K stamp set called Comfort and Peace. It's a pretty simple design. I am entering these challenges:

• MFT Sketch challenge: sketch 
  
• Addicted to Stamps and More: make your mark 
  
• Through the Craft Room Door: anything goes
• AAA Cards: inspired by nature 
  
• Friday Outlawz challenge: anything goes

That's it for me tonight. I am down to 8 centerpieces to go. Tomorrow and Friday I am going to concentrate on those. I do keep crossing things off my list but the list just keeps getting longer. LOL! How does that happen? Thanks for stopping by.

Donna

Quackers for You with the Dueling Darlings

We are back to the 15th of the month again and that means it's Dueling Darlings time! This month Paola and Heather were our hostesses. Paola sent this wonderful kit that included:

• Stamp : Spring Chick - by Cornish Heritage Farms
• Stamped on Staples 110lbs cardstock using Memento Tuxedo Black 
• DP : from Costco 
• Memory Box Die cut: Puffy Clouds
• Ribbons all from Stamping Up
• Assorted accessories from my stash

And our theme this month is A Spring Tweet. Paola wrote: Spring has been a long time coming! It feels like the snow is lingering and the weather just refuses to warm up! Our feathered friends often bring those first signs of spring, so we're ready to encourage them along this month!  Here's what I came up with using the fabulous kit.

I used two of the four designer papers. I colored the image with Spectrum Noir markers. I used all but 1 of the puffy cloud die cuts and inked them with Salty Ocean distress oxide ink. I cut one of the sentiments out by tracing the cloud die and then fussy cut that one cloud. And to finish off I used the flower and twine included with the kit. Thank you Paola for the wonderful kit and the fun in making this card! Please visit the other Dueling Darlings to see how they used the kit. Links are on the right.

I am entering these challenges:

• The Outlawz Sketch challenge: sketch 
  
• Alphabet challenge blog: D is for dots
• QKR Stampede challenge: anything goes
• 2 Crafty Critter Crazies: use a critter
• A Bit More Time to Craft: anything goes

Our spring really did start off slowly. We had snow into April which is very unusual for us. But the past few days have been sweltering here. Today we had 95 degrees. Yesterday was above 90 too. I think we went from winter to summer and skipped the spring. I have one more card to make and then I will be taking a break from my blog for a couple of weeks. My son;s wedding is May 26th and we'll be helping our youngest son move into his new house May 31st and June 1st. June 2nd we'll start the trek back home again so it will be June before I can get back to crafting. I'll be back at least one more time this week! Hugs to all!

Donna

Exhausted Pigeon

The week is off to a good start but there is lots to do this week. This will be a very quick post. The image I am using is for the Limited Runs Progressive challenge.

I colored the image with Spectrum Noir markers. You can get the image free at the link and join in the challenge and then get next month's free. The sentiment is from Create with TLC. I use two dies from MFT: the Stitched Circles dies and the Pierced Fishtail Flags die. I created the background using Peacock Feathers distress ink and created circles for a bokeh affect. I am entering these challenges:

• Limited Run Progressive challenge: use the image
• Sketch Saturday: sketch 
  
• 613 Avenue Create: use mainly blue
• Crafty Friends challenge: animals
• 2 Crafty Critter Crazies: use a critter

That's it for me tonight. I have not forgotten that I promised to post the wedding favors. Coming very soon. Take care!

Donna

Super Birthday!

Almost the weekend and I'm sorry that I've been MIA for a while. That might get worse before it gets better as I am trying to finish up for the wedding in 3 weeks. I did finish the wedding favors this week. I'll post those soon. But today I got a short time to play with a card for a change.

This is a card for the My Favorite Things Sketch challenge. The stamp set is called You're Super. I juts love the images and sentiments with this set. I used Distress Oxide ink to create the background: Broken China, Seedless Preserves, and Soot Black. After I created the background I stamped the cityscape in Memento Black ink. The background was die cut with MFT Stitched Circles. The banner in the background is MFT Pierced Fishtail Flags and I die cut a really shiny silver paper to match the silver metallic on the image suit. The sentiment is also die cut with MFT Fishtail Flags and inked with Broken China and Back Soot Distress Oxide inks. The image is colored with Spectrum Noir markers and a blue and silver metallic markers. I die cut the image with coordinating dies. I like how this card turned out.

I am entering these challenges:

• MFT Sketch Challenge: sketch
• The Outlawz Monday challenge: anything goes
• Through the Craft Room Door: anything goes
• Seize the Birthday: anything goes birthday
• Crafting by Designs: anything goes

The weekend is back and the weeks are going so fast. Tomorrow we have the twins all day and Sunday I hope to get a start on the centerpieces for the wedding. I hope your weekend is crafty and relaxing. Thanks for stopping by!

Donna

Oh Deer!

Happy Wednesday! The week is flying by. My cold or allergies or whatever this is is keeping me home. I was afraid I might pass something on to the twins or the other kids at Head Start today so I didn't go in. I really missed that. That is often the highlight of my week. But I did get a card done. And believe it or not, it's a Christmas card.

That cute image is from Dasher and Dancer stamp set from Beccy's Place. I just love the expression on the deer's face. The sentiment fits perfectly from the same set. I used the Sketch Saturday sketch for inspiration. I tore the edges of the plaid paper and punched the snowflakes. The image was colored with Spectrum Noir makers and die cut with Gina Marie Designs Cross Stitched Rectangles. The sentiment was die cut with MFT Pierced Fishtail Flags and then inked with Barn Door distress ink. I used Glossy Accents on the bells around the deer's neck.

I am entering these challenges:

• Beccy's Place April challenge: bingo (die cut/masculine/tutorial-paper tearing)
• Sketch Saturday: sketch above
• Rudolph Days: anything goes Christmas
• Simon Says Wednesday challenge: anything goes
• The Outlawz Festive Friday challenge: Christmas
• Crafty Hazelnut Christmas challenge: anything goes

I think I am heading for bed early tonight. I keep hoping that if I get more sleep this will go away. Thanks for stopping by today and come back and visit again soon. Have a wonderful Thursday!

Donna

Dimensional Sunflower

Happy Monday to you all! Another week is on its way and I've either come down with a cold or allergies. My nose is turning red and sore from all this blowing. But I got inky this afternoon and evening and had some fun with some new goodies. I won a Prizm from Scrapbook and Cards Today and Spellbinders.  Not only did they send me the Prizm but they also sent several dimensional flower dies and the Tool 'n One. So I had some time this afternoon to break out the goodies and have some fun.

I was very impressed with the Prizm and will be using it on the go. Very light weight and easy to use. You can't use bigger dies in it; the biggest die it would cut would be 2.5 inches. But it die cut everything on this card. The flower is Create a Sunflower by Spellbinders. I die cut 10 of each size of petal, 4 leaves, 4 bases and one center. I inked all the petals with Fossilized Amber distress ink and inked the leaves with Iced Spruce. I curled each of the petals and then added them to the bases, and finally stacked the bases together and added the center. The flower is gorgeous! I added the leaves to the flower and then also added more leaves from Spellbinders Foliage die set. The background is inked with Distress Oxide inks: Peacock Feathers and Fossilized Amber. The sentiment is from My Favorite Things Essential Sentiments and die cut with MFT Essential Fishtail Sentiment Strips. I hope you like this as much as I do! Thank you Spellbinders and Scrapbook and Cards Today for my new goodies.

Although I'd love to try out the other flowers, I have to get back to wedding stuff. We are almost 1 month away from the big day and I still have 12 centerpieces to do as well as finish up 64 tags to go with the favors for the rehearsal dinner. Sooo,,, high-ho, high-ho, it's back to work I go. LOL! I am entering these challenges with tonight's card.

• Simon Says Monday challenge: flower power
• Crafty Friends challenge: flowers
• The Outlawz Thursday Twist challenge: handmade flowers
• Lil Patch of Crafty Friends: anything goes
• A Perfect Time to Craft: anything goes

That's it for me tonight. I want to get rid of this cold or whatever so I can go play with the twins on Wednesday. They shared so much sickness with me this year. I really don't want them to catch anything from me. Thanks for stopping by and happy crafting!

Donna

May All Your Wishes Come True

Happy Friday evening. Unexpectedly I was able to finish one more card this week. I don't think you will see me over the weekend but possibly Sunday night. Just depends on how things go. I was playing with Distress Oxide inks again and came up with a background that I used on my card today.

The oxide inks I used were Spiced Marmalade, Fossilized Amber and Lucky Clover. I didn't like the background at first but I'm liking it better with the rest of the card. The image is Bugaboo Stamps's Teacup Flowers 1. Those flowers look red in the photo but they really are orange. The plaid paper is from my scrap box and the card base and layering are black card stock. I used these dies: MFT Stitched Circles and Spellbinder's Heart Circles. The sentiment is from MFT Birthday Bears stamp set. I am entering these challenges:

• Stella Sketch challenge: sketch 
  
• The Outlawz Tuesday Color challenge: yellow, orange, white, black and green
• Seize the Birthday: vibrant colors
• Cards in Envy: birthday party time
• QKR Stampede: anything goes

The weekend is upon us. Tomorrow we'll be heading for our other property to return on Sunday. No twins this weekend; so sad but we'll see them next week. I hope your weekend is wonderfully crafty , fun and relaxing. Thanks for stopping by!

Donna

We Have a Birthday

Welcome to you all! I spent my morning doing errands today. Had quite a few stops before I was able to come home and play a bit this afternoon. And I am happy with the results.

This is one of the stamp sets that I recently got from My Favorite Things. It's called Space Explorer. Both the image and sentiment are from the set. I colored the image with Copic and Spectrum Noir markers. I fussy cut the image because I haven't bought the coordinating dies yet. I added some green Stickles to the front of his space suit and doodled some dots with a white gel pen on the suit and stars. I heat embossed the sentiment with white embossing powder and die cut it with MFT Pierced Fishtail Flags. The background is distress oxide ink of Broken China, Seedless Preserves and Black Soot. I sprayed it with water and although you can't see it in the photo, there are tiny white spots that really looks like far away stars. I hated to cover up the fun background.To finish off, I added some self-adhesive glitter stars for dimension. My little space man is also popped up from the card with foam tape. I really like this one! I am entering these challenges:

• MFT Sketch Challenge: use the sketch 
  
• Simon Says Monday challenge: let's doodle
• Through the Craft Room Door: anything goes
• Tuesday Throwdown: glimmer and shine
• Seize the Birthday: anything goes
• A Perfect Time to Craft: anything goes

Tom is taking tomorrow off work so we are going to work on reconstructing a retaining wall for the garden. So I probably won't get much crafting time tomorrow. But you never know. Thanks for stopping by and come visit again soon. Hugs to you all!

Donna

Gnome Place Like Home

How did it get to be Wednesday already? The bad news is that time is flying but the good news is that my meeting got cancelled for tomorrow and now I have two days that I can get some things done. I am hoping I get some craft time Thursday and Friday. Yippee! But my hubby said today he may take Friday off so that might make a difference. The card I finished tonight is for another progressive challenge.

The image is a merged image. I used a Dearie Dolls Mushroom Cottage with this month's progressive image from Gerda Steiner called Gnome Couple. The card came together pretty easy. I am still playing with distress oxide inks and tried another one of Jennifer McGuire's tricks for making easy rainbows with distress oxides. After inking the card stock I sprayed the MFT Sun Ray stencil with water and held it to the card stock for a couple minutes. The water leaves the design of the stencil. Pretty cool. I colored the image with American Craft and Spectrum Noir markers and die cut it with MFT Inside and Out Stitched rounded Squares. To finish it off I used a computer generated sentiment: "There's Gnome place like Home". My youngest son and his wife are looking for their first house so I thought when they moved I would be able to send this card. I used the Tuesday Morning Sketch for inspiration.

Since the sketch had an embellishment in the top right corner of the rectangle I put the sun circle right there. I am entering these challenges:

• Gerda Steiner Progressive challenge: use Gnome Couple
• Tuesday Morning Sketches: above sketch
• Craftaholics R Us: anything goes
• The Outlawz CAS challenge: make someone laugh
• Lil Patch of Crafty Friends: anything goes
• Through the Craft Room Door: anything goes

I hope to be back tomorrow with another card after I get some shopping and housework done. Always have that to do. Thanks for stopping by and hope you are having a wonderful week!

Donna