Camping with my Forest Friends

I've said it before, but it bears repeating -  
FOREST FRIENDS ARE THE BEST!

I've had the privilege of hosting many MANY forest swaps. Why the forest? Because I'm the Forest Ranger on SCS (it's a l-o-n-g story how I got that name). The current forest swap is heading back to the Forest Friends with today's mail, so I thought it seemed appropriate to give a shout-out to all my forest friends.

This swap's theme is Camping in the Forest and you should see the MARVELOUS cards the swappers made. Oh my goodness... pretty impressive!

As is my practice, I sent a theme-appropriate stamped image to the swappers as well as a couple of sheets of designer paper and a short piece of ribbon. So, I got to thinking... "Self, why not make a card using the same image/papers/ribbon you sent the forest friends?"

So that's what I did.

Here is the card I made:

Here's the inside:

I hope the forest friends know how very much I value their friendship... and I hope they have fun creating with their image/papers/ribbon that I sent their way!

Thanks for stopping by my blog today!

Images/Sentiment: Jillian Vance Design Happy Trails
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black and Copic Markers
Cardstock: Recollections Black and Stampin' UP! Cherry Cobbler
Designer Paper: American Crafts XOXO Collection (My & You and Tru Love)
Embellishment: Oriental Trading Co. Grosgrain Ribbon

Lovely Butterflies

Today is the 28th of July, which means it's a Calendar Girl day! What is a Calendar Girl day? It's the day that the Calendar Girl blog group members post their monthly projects.

Linda is "Miss July" so she got to choose our theme this month. This is what she chose:

Butterflies. Anything with a butterfly. Any theme. They are so beautiful for every occasion and they mean so much to me.

Linda, I hope you are enjoying seeing butterflies today! I know how very special they are to you!

Here's my card:

I went with a VERY simple design because I didn't want to overwhelm the dainty papers I chose to use.

Here's the inside:

THANK YOU for a great theme, Linda!

And Thank You to all of you who stopped by my blog today! Please check out the other Calendar Girl blogs, too. You can find links to them in my left sidebar.

Image: Loralie Art Stamps Lovely Butterflies
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black and Copic Markers
Cardstock: Recollections Black and Stampin' UP! Blushing Bride
Designer Paper: from my scrap file
Embellishments: Michael's Rhinestones

The Mystery is Solved

The Mystery Image swap group has a little fun every other month. The hostess sends images and we create with them. It's fun to see how others use the same image.

This round is hosted by Linda (ljhart on SCS) and she chose a great Stampin' UP! image - Harvest Blessings in honor of her dad, since the swap is due today, which just happens to be his 80th Birthday. Linda, I hope your dad has a FANTASTIC birthday!

Here's my card:

with a little bit of decoration inside, too:

Thanks for stopping by my blog today!

Image: Stampin' UP! Harvest Blessings colored with Copic Markers
Cardstock: Recollections Black and Stampin' UP! Creamy Caramel
Designer Paper: DCWV Amber Autumn Fall Stack
Embellishments: Stampin' UP! Brads and Grosgrain Ribbon

Birds of a Feather Flock Together

It's time for a DUEL! Dueling Darling style.

This month Kelly and I are the hostesses, which means we got to choose the theme... and then we both put together kits for our respective groups - Kelly for the Divas and me for the Dazzlers.

Since we're approaching our 4 year anniversary of Dueling Darlings, we wanted to do something that focused on the friendships we've made/developed in this group. So, our theme is.....

Birds of a Feather Flock Together

Through the years, through thick and thin, we've blessed each other in many ways and all these years later, we're still together – like a flock!

And here’s the challenge – Since we are celebrating 4 years together, you must have 4 of SOMETHING on your card - 4 flowers, 4 brads, 4 gems, 4 different designer papers, etc! Those 4 things must be the same ELEMENT (in other words, 4 different gems are okay but not 1 paper, 1 ribbon, 1 brad, 1 button = 4).

Here’s the kit I put together for the Dazzlers:

Image – Penny Black Chicky Work Out stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black (notice there are 4 chicks in the image.)

Sentiment – Great Impressions stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black

Designer Papers (4 of them) – from Paper Studio

• Happy All Over – Floral
• Poteeka Stripe
• Small Polka Dot – Pink/Cream
• Texture Yellow

Embellishments –

• Paper Studio – Gemstones (there are 4 of these)
• Ribbon Boutique – Ruffled Ribbon
• Sew-Ology – a piece of an actual tape measure
• Spare Parts - Brads
• Spare Parts – Clear Starburst Brad
• Spare Parts – Flowers (two kinds; 4+ of these)

Here's the card I made:

As soon as I saw this stamp in my Cubbyhole (my craft room), I knew it was the one I wanted to use. It reflects a group of chicks - 4 which is our special number this round - and they are sticking together through thick and thin. Seemed to work for me. I hope the other Dazzlers thought it was okay, since it IS a bit a crazy image.

And of course, I had to use this quote (from the Beatles) inside my card:

I am so blessed to have the Dueling Darlings as friends - both the Divas and the Dazzlers!

Now, in case you can't find my "4" items on my card (not counting the chicks, of course), there are 4  little sunburst gemstones on the card - 3 on the front and 1 inside. See, I can count to 4. ;)

Let's head to the other Dueling Darling blogs to see what they made...

DAZZLERS

April

Darlene

Deb

Melina

Paola

Terry

DIVAS

Barb

Carol

Judy

Kadie

Kelly

LJ

Tami

Thanks for stopping by my blog today!

The only thing I used to make my card that wasn't included in my kit was the card base - Stampin' UP! Soft Sky Cardstock.

Christmas in July

It's time for a new Sweet Stampin' Challenge...

July 12 - 18

Challenge Theme: Christmas in July

Sponsors: My Creative Classroom and Flat Friends

Here's the card I made for the challenge:

Here's the inside of my card:

I hope you'll participate in the Sweet Stampin' Christmas in July Challenge!

Thanks for stopping by my blog today!

Image & Sentiment: Wild Rose Studio Bluebell with Robin
Ink: Brilliance Rocket Red, Memento Tuxedo Black, and Copic Markers
Cardstock: Recollections Black and Stampin' UP! Sky Blue
Designer Paper: My Mind's Eye Signature Christmas Paper Pad
Embellishments: Michael's Rhinestones and Stickles Glitter Glue

Chalkboad Design

I am delighted to be part of a group of ladies on SCS that is known as "Girls of the Bakers Dozen". Each month one member sends kits to the other 12 ladies and we all get crafty with the same things. We post pictures of our projects in the SCS thread so the others can see what we've made.

I was gone much of June so got a bit behind... I'm sure glad the Bakers Dozen is a forgiving group of ladies.

Debbie was the June hostess and her instructions were to make one card that was totally black and white and another card that was mostly black and white with a touch of color added.

Here is the black and white card I made with Debby's kit:

I ended up making two with just a touch of color added:

Here's the inside of the Birthday card:

The others have a little decoration inside, too... but nothing picture worthy. ;)


THANK YOU for a GREAT kit, Debby!

National Sugar Cookie Day

Have you noticed? My blog has been so "quiet" lately - no cards, no posts!

I had a great trip and even managed to get over jet lag, but I've been way too busy getting ready for my next trip, so haven't been creating or blogging.

That being said, I do have some words to share with you today, in celebration of a little known holiday.

National Sugar Cookie Day

Today is National Sugar Cookie Day, a day when people all across America are celebrating a simple yet delicious cookie. But for me it’s a bittersweet day. My grandmother was known for her sugar cookies. She baked huge batches often and shared them with her family members, neighbors, church children, and more. In fact, she was so well known for her sugar cookies that when the great-grandkids started arriving, we all started lovingly calling her “Cookie Grandma” in our family. And, of course, Grandpa became known as “Cookie Grandpa,” I guess because he got to enjoy so many of her sugar cookies. ;)

Grandma has been gone many years now, but I still miss her… and not just for her sugar cookies. She was one who I could count on for a hug, a loving word of encouragement, and so much more. I always felt well loved!

As a young child, sometimes things at home didn’t go as I wanted them to and I’d think, “I’ll just run away from home!” Then I’d quickly realize that the only place I could think of to run to was my Grandma’s house… and that was the first place my parents would think to look for me.

I’d still like to run to Grandma’s house – not that things aren’t going well at my home, but it sure would be nice to get a hug and one of those sugar cookies… and just sit and enjoy conversing with my Grandma again!

I love you, Grandma! x0x0x0