Thank You!

Time for our monthly DUEL!

And, here is my card.....
Well, cards, actually.  Lol

(Thanks Kel for saving my butt twice this month....lol)

Friends with Flair

I was lucky enough to get this done in time to post with Friends with Flair from the Unity blog.

This is actually going into a craft show my sister in law has signed me up for.

This was made entirely from scraps out of my 'pile'!!

Thanks for stopping!

Hugs,

April

A Color Challenge

Today is the 28ths (obviously) and time for our monthly Calendar Girl Challenge.

Our hostess is Barb and here is what she asked of us:

This month we are going to do a color challenge. Since this card will be posted a few days before Halloween, I challenge you to make a card using just two colors--Black and One Other Color. I also challenge you to try to not use white or ivory as a base for your image. If you do, it does not need to count as your second color--or it can...... Your card does not need to be a Halloween card--it can be for any occasion. Get your thinking caps on and limit your colors to just two!

A bit of clarification............. I had a question already about the limit of two colors. Does that mean just the image, or does it include card base, paper, embellishments, etc.?

Yes--it means everything on your card can only be one of two colors--Black and something else. Your image can be stamped or printed on white or ivory if you want and that base does not count as one of the two colors--unless you wanted to go Black and White only. So all of your cardstock and any designer paper and any/all embellishments need to be one of the two colors you choose. Yes, this is thinking out of the box and I am guessing our markers will not be used this month! That is why it is called a "Challenge"!

I went with BLACK and TEAL.
I used an older stamp from SU! and a die from Spellbinders.  Added a black ribbon, and a rhinestone each in black and teal.

I wish I had embossed my background to give my card a bit more dimension, but you know what they say about hindsight 👓

Thanks for stopping!

Hugs,

April

Ps. If my photo doesn't enlarge, I apologize. I can't seem to change that setting.....lol

Eat, Drink or be Scary!

This month's Duel is on!

And, I am happy to say that I have a project done and am on time!!

From this month's hostess, Terry:

As Halloween approaches LJ and I decided to put together kits to celebrate the holiday! I know some of you do not celebrate Halloween, and I apologize for the theme, but for most of us it's a fun day to watch the kids in the neighborhood run house to house looking for the best candy!

In your blog post we would also like you to tell us what your favorite candy is. If you don't have a favorite, let us know what you like to eat....drink....or if you like to be scary at this time of year!

In your kit you will find the following:

Image - Haunted Forest (Stampin' Up!)

Papers - Boo! (Flair Designs), Jeepers Creepers (Heidi Grace Designs), Halloween Words (the Paper Studio), Sugar Rush (Heidi Grace Designs), Web (not sure)

Embellishments: Candi Dots (Craftworkcards), Ribbon (miscellaneous from Michaels), mini brads (Recollections)

I used the image, the ribbons and the brads.....and three of the designer papers!

Here is a close up of my colored image:

And, another of my ghosts made from coffee filters:

If I had filled my treat basket, it would have BUTTERFINGERS in it!  Yum!  And that is the whole reason it is empty.....so I can avoid temptation ;-)

Thanks for stopping and check out the rest of the Duel:

Hugs,

April

Calendar Girl Catch Up

This is it.....this puts me up to date!

June:  Deb asked us to use a month/date saying....like Black Friday or April Showers Bring May Flowers.

I chose "knee high by the Fourth of July"

My card would probably been different had I made it in June as intended, but this is what you get ;-)

July:  Linda wanted to celebrate with BUTTERFLIES:

August:  Paola loves punch art and wanted us to try our hands at that.....simple, but it is what I came up with.....will make a great card for my cousin who is getting married next year.

September:  Terry was in need of sympathy cards (and, unfortunately, me too)

Thanks for joining me tonight as I caught up on some of my responsibilities!

Hugs,

April

Dueling Catch Up

My friends are so very supportive of me.  

My lack of mojo this summer really upset me.  I just couldn't seem to get myself together.

Luckily, my fellow crafters are letting me make up the posts I missed.

So, here are the two Dueling cards I missed:

This was my July card....

And, this was August's card.....

I would love to give you deets, but I will ask you to forgive me for the lack there of.

Thanks for stopping!

Hugs,

April

Hi! Remember me?

I think I got lost this summer.  I didn't feel like crafting, or blogging if I did craft....

But, school is back in session. I only have kids in the morning and afternoon; and I have high hopes that my mojo will return!

Today I have a recipe card....the hostess for the current duel is Deb.  She lives about as far away from my as she can and still be in the states....lol

Maybe my banana muffin recipe will warm her up as winter approaches!

Her kit included:

Cherry Cobbler and Chocolate Chip card stock 
Image:     MFT a la modes What's Cooking?
Maya Road What's Cookin Chipboard
Clips from Michaels or Joann's
Eyelets from Eyelet Outlet

I utilized quite a bit of it and added just a touch of dp from CTMH.

THANKS for stopping by!

I do appreciate it.... And, will do my best to be back on a more regular basis.

Hugs,

April

COF

I am this month's hostess for our blog group -Crafters of Faith, and my theme was a no brainier.

Yesterday was my 16th wedding anniversary and I wanted everyone to celebrate love with me!

My words to this special group of ladies: Since we post the day after my wedding anniversary, I would like everyone to make a project based on one of the scriptures read at my wedding: 
Scripture: 1 Corinthians 13: 4-7 Love is patient; love is kind; love is not envious or boastful or arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice in wrongdoing, but rejoices in the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.your card doesn't need to be based on a spousal love, and as such, I would love to hear a story of one of your loves!

Here is my card:

I used a new fold I found on SCS. It was fun!  I try to use a new fold or technique for my husband the first time.  The DP and CS are from SU!, generic sequins, and Marvy punches.  The stamps are three different sets - the outside ones are from SU!, while the interior is from a|s.

I, of course, am going to say I love my husband.

But, I also love God, my entire family, many fantastic people I call friends, this group of crafters, the list goes on!

Since my card was for my husband, I will tell you about him. His personality is just about opposite of mine....  He is a quiet giant - 6'3 and doesn't talk to strangers (I will talk to anyone about anything); he also is a great provider, father, and a wonderful son.  

Thanks for stopping by!  

April

Help! I am late for the DUEL

The 15th was yesterday and that makes me sad....I missed posting a card I have had finished and waiting for this special day!

Time just got away from me!  It must be the added work I have been doing....watching four year olds is exhausting!

Without further ado, here is my card:

The themes is/was gardening and we were asked to share our favorite gardening tip....so, here is mine:

Have SOMEONE ELSE do it!!

I don't have a green thumb, and while I have an eye for what looks great, I leave the actual implementation to my husband!

Check out the other blog entries the DUELERS posted (on time) and leave them some luv!

The links are in my side bar :-)

Hugs,

April

It's been " identified"!

Here is my card for a swap I am in.....

Thanks for looking.

Hugs,

April

Carriers of Faith!

June Challenge: Celebrate the Men in your life
Hostess: Paula

Challenge: I want you to create a card or gift for your father or a male figure who has been influential in your Christian life. Create multiple projects if you wish for more than one of those special men.
2. Give the project to that man or men that you hold dear to you. Celebrate these people on or before Father's Day!
3. Use any scripture you like on your project. Just make sure the scripture has a prominent place somewhere on your project and share a pic where you used the scripture.
4. Tell us why you chose this person or persons and how they played a part in your walk with Christ.
5. Explain why you chose a particular scripture on your project.

"For everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven;" is the scripture I based by card on.  It is Ecclesiastes 3:1.

I chose the scripture/theme because it signifies my teen years.  I grew up in a small town in central New York where the church was an integral part of life.  My parents were never church goers, but my grandmother made sure I was involved in church life.  As I grew older, our pastor had a great influence on me.  He would make our activities fun and interesting....no matter the season.  If we wanted to try something, he was all for it!  We had rock-a-thons, aerobic classes, caroling, sledding parties, and liturgical dance.  No matter the season, we (the children, young and old) were involved.  Here's to you Pastor Kish!

My card was made from scraps of card stock, SU! Embossing folder, amuse|studio die and Verve! stamp.

Thanks for stopping by.  Check out all the great projects....links on my sidebar ;-)

April

Calendar Girls.....

Are at it again!

It is my month to hostess and here is my challenge:

Well, it is May and I always like to honor my father this month.
So, to celebrate him (and fathers every where) let us make a masculine celebratory card with any SCS sketch that ends in 25 (the year he was born).
Please let us know which sketch you used and a memory of a special man in your life.

I used SCS Sketch 425 for my card:

"Music is a Gift"

Paola is the hostes this month and said:

“Music gives a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination and life to everything.”

~ Plato~

My partner Judy and I decided on a music theme

for this round of duels and this is our challenge to you all :

If you could dedicate a song to someone in your life ,

what would your song choice be , and to whom will you dedicate it and why? ♥

Kit Contents:

Stamps : Gift Of Music /D.Morgan 

by: Stamps Happens INc ;

Violin/Music scroll & Angel w/Instrument : UNknown

Sentiments by : Cling Stamps Co. # 557133

Accessories : 

Designer Papers : * Up,Up & Away (Doodle Bug Design); *Bella Boutique Stack (DCWV) ; * SU Double D/P x 2 ; *Elementary Pianoforte Music Examination (from a real Conservatory of Music book)

*Ribbon : barely banana grosgrain from SU

*Virtuoso Music Die in black and in white 

(Memory Box ; *Viviene Butterfly (Music Box) ;

*Assorted gems and pearls in a variety of shape/sizes

A very fun kit, which I didn't do justice to!  I couldn't seem to wrap my head around a color palette that would coexist with the beautiful DP's.  So, I copped out and made this:

At a later point, I have lots of leftovers to create another project, which is floating around in my head....lol 

And, to follow through on the rest of the challenge, here is my song:

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=b6zZts7HPDg

It is (once again) dedicated to my wonderful husband!!

Hugs,

April

Carriers of Faith

MAY challenge: Tell your story!

Hostess: Kelly

Scripture: "Let the redeemed of the Lord tell their story—

those he redeemed from the hand of the foe..." ~ Psalm 107:2

This is one of my favorite times of year, celebrating this time of Christ's resurrection! On Easter morning when the tomb was empty, the gift to all of us was the assurance that we will live again and be given eternally glory. As Christians, of course, we hope to know Christ and accept him as our Savior and share the gospel with friends, family, those we fellowship with. Truly when God died on that cross for you, for me, for all of us, he paid the price for us to worship at his feet and redeem ourselves. On this hop today, we all unite to share our creations with you as well as a letter on each stop of the way. Please remember the letter on your host's blog and at the end ( Kelly ) will ask you to write the word from all the letters in order! What's more fun, there is a prize for one lucky winner which will be given at random from all those leaving the Guess the Word comment! ♥ Blessings to each of you! ♥

Challenge: This month, create a card/project/scrapbook page/picture based on the scripture above and what the meaning you pull from that is. Tell us your story! What speaks to your heart? What gifts do you have that you give to others as part of a fellowship - do you read, pray, write, create, walk, sing? There are so many parts in each of us ~ what part of your story are you sharing with others? As an added bonus but not required!! Please use the color GREEN {my VERY favorite color!}somewhere on your card to represent newness, growth, the blossoming of nature around us and the blooming friendships we have!

MAY HOP ORDER:

Barb

Carol

Guest Designer - Maxine 

Shelly

Paula

Jeanette

Zella

April

Kelly

Those of you that know me, know in have absolutely no musical sense, so to answer Kelly's question.....I don't do anything musical in Church except support my husband as he rings bells!  I have always been active in Church though....running Sunday School and VBS, being an Elder and sitting on Church Council.  I have even been known to deliver bread to guests living close by.  I never press my beliefs on others, but will always tell His Story when the occasion arises!

You gave now read through a page full.....just to get the last letter in our hop.  Thanks for sticking around!

My letter is "D".

Hugs,

April

Friends with Flair!!

My title says it all!

Finally this week is over....and I have a minute to craft for myself.  I just spent most of the week making a basket of cards for a Chinese Auction at my Church!!  Nothing like deciding at the last moment to do it......but, I have two days to spare, since it is due on Sunday....lol

For FFF I used a brand new stamp with a bunch of scraps from my stash...if you know me, you know I throw nothing away and have been on a year long trip of not buying without a specific swap in mind.  Even then, I am on a mission to use what I have!!

Missing You

The Calendar Girls are at it again!

The month has flown by and I had to think long and hard about this challenge.

Carol is our hostess and here is what she asked us to create:

"For you challenge this month I thought quite a bit about the challenge. As you know, we will be posting after Easter so with that in mind I thought I'd do a Mothers Day challenge. When I was a child my mom would encourage my dad to get little carnation corsages in pink or red for each of us girls and mom to wear to church on Mothers Day. According to her (and the intranet), if a woman's mother was alive the females in the family would don a red or pink flower (mostly carnations, but not a rule) and if her mom had passed, the female would wear a white flower, and would visit the grave of her mom and place a white carnation on her grave. My mom's dad would do this when she was a child and mom loved the tradition. What I would like you to do this month is create a card or project using the color that would describe your mom. As an extra I would like for you to share a special memory of your mom from when you were little (if you are comfortable with that) so we can learn a bit about the wonderful ladies who raised such beautiful paper crafters... 

My mother passed away six years ago, so I feel that I was lucky to have had her in my life forty plus years!  When I was young, she would sew us matching dresses.  This is probably NOT my fondest moment.....lol. But, it is memorable!  My father had passed away when I was 13 and my siblings were out of the house already at that time, so we became a duo to be reckoned with.  When I was 16, she decided we needed a smaller car (Couldn't she have decided this before I learned to drive in a 76 Cadillac Eldorado ~ two door?).....off we went to the car dealer.  She had never bought a car as she depended on my dad for all things financial.  We test drove and decided on a much smaller car; AND, she leaves the haggling to me.  I did get us great value for the Caddy and low, low payments....  I wonder what that car salesman thought?  Another favorite memory occurred just after college.  I moved two hours away from Mom, but still went home quite often.  She would call with the most bizarre questions...just to get me to visit.  A favorite was when she asked me to come explain her phone bill to her.  I told her to call my sister since she worked for the phone company....lol  Mom and I had lots of fun!  I miss her everyday, but know that she looks down upon me and my family ~ probably shaking her head quite a bit! but always with a smile on her face!

My card is made from all stash items.....kept in simple with just card stock, a simple sentiment from amuse|studio, some little rhinestones and a ribbon, and the use of a hollyhock die from memory box.

Thanks for stopping by!

Make sure to check out the rest of the Calendar Girls!

Hugs,

April

A Girly Duel

It is the15th...... You know what that means....

A duel between the Dazzlers and the Divas!

Kadie and I (as hostesses) decided to go with a more general theme rather that a seasonal or holiday one this month.

We are having a "Girl's Night Out"!  

Who doesn't like to spend some time with their bff's??  On top of making your card why don't we share who our longest friend is and our favorite thing to do with that person.  

The Dazzler kit includes:
Wood Embellishments ~ Prima's Princess Collection
Metal Index Tabs ~ Making Memories
Asst'd Ribbon ~ my stash
Card Stock ~ Sugar N Spice, Coffee, and Fuschia Fizz  by Coordination
DP ~ Pink Swirls and Pink Gingham by Paper Pizazz
     ~ Paper Jazzy by ColorBok
Sequins ~ Teresa Collins
Stamp Set ~ Ginger Snaps Celebrate by C.C. Designs stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black

My BFF, Cheryl, has been my friend since grade school!  We have gone to the prom together, learned to drive at about the same time, been in each other's wedding, vacationed together.....you name it.  We just like to spend time with each other!!  We scrapped together and she introduced me to stamping!  We even get to do that on occasion together!

I think I will even send this card off to her!

Make sure you visit the rest of the Dazzlers and the Diva team.....they love luv too!

Hugs, April

All God's Children

The Carriers of Faith April Challenge from Carol is: "All God's Children".

For your card/project and/or photo, please create something depicting a baby, child, teen, adult ("as we are all special in his eyes")

Scripture: "And Jesus took a child and put him in this midst of them, and taking him in his arms, he said to them, "Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me, receives not me but him who sent me. " ~Mark 9:36-37

The DP's are from Prima and the card stock was from my stash.  The only embellishment I used was some SU! Dazzling Details.  I didn't think it needed much more.  The darling image was a gift from someone many moons ago, so if you know where he is from, let me know.  And, the sentiment is part of a great set (hand scripted) from amuse|studio.  I used the current challenge #309 at Techno Stamper.

Check out our hop and these Lady Carriers of Faith all love luv!!

Carol

Jeanette 

Shelly

April (me)

Kelly 

Barb

Zella 

Paula  

{PIN}spired!

Time for the new challenge for the team at the {PIN}spirational Blog!

Here's the PIN:

My sponsored digi is from:

And here is my easy peasy colorblock card using the colors in the Pin!!

Check out the rest of the DT and you have a week to enter ~ let's see whatcha got!

Hugs,

April

One More Challenge Card

Unity has a monthly challenge and since I was organizing my area, decided to play along with one of my favorite itty bitty's!

I used the challenge color scheme along with the sketch.  DP is Bo Bunny Modern Miss and every thing else is from my stash!

There are still two days left to play along.....come join me?

April

A Week of Challenges

I finally took time to craft!

Decided to do a different challenge each day.....pretty cool that I actually pulled it off!

You will notice the same purple used on two different days...lol...that is what you get when you don't clean up from a project!  Also, the same yellow comes into play too....not sure I am a creature of habit or just too lazy to get out new card stock when a scrap is staring me in the face??  You decide!

So, here is my week in review:

Monday ~ Mojo Monday #339

Tuesday ~ Twisted Tuesday 2TC73

Wednesday ~ Inky Impressions 153

Thursday ~ Case This Sketch #71

Friday ~ Clean and Simple #287

Thanks for stopping by!

Hugs, 

April

Hoot, Hoot!!

I am late.....and I apologize.  Life got in the way of crafting and blogging this week.  Plus, I had no clue that yesterday was the 28th....my bad!

The Calendar Girls were hosted by Tami this month.  Here is her challenge to us:

Oh girls, we are going to create a card this month! I thought of a few things that might keep us busy for March.

Did you know that March used to be the first month of the year on the Roman calendar? It was changed to the third month by Julius Caesar. The calendar we use today is refined from the Julius to the Gregorian. Sadly, we only gained like the wee bit of a percentage of more time to craft with the change! In theme of the original first month, let's use one button on your card.

Let's make a card based on a sketch. I saw this sketch and wanted to use it at some point. It's time! Please note, the sketch challenge is still open, so be sure to join!

Speaking of Romans, purple is the color of the day. Please use the color purple on your card somewhere. Purple was worn by Roman Emperors and magistrates. It is also the color worn by those cute little ladies you see out lunching together, wearing purple and red and a bunch of hats!

Since history was after lunch for me in high school, I really had to put my 'dig deep to remember' thinking cap on for this one! Here are the CliffsNotes: one button, use the sketch and purple somewhere on your card.

Hope you have fun! I cannot wait to see what you create!

So, here it is:

Please check out the creations by the other Calendar Girls.....check my sidebar for links.

Hugs,

April

Is Spring FINALLY Here?

I hope so!

Our current {PIN}Challenge makes me think so!

We are having a go at this photo challenge:

Makes me think of a late day of Spring where my shorts are calling and the wind is perfect for kite flying!

Thanks to

for the great digi I used for such a fun challenge.

Make sure to get you challenge entry in....and check out the rest of the {PIN} Girls and their creations.

Thanks for stopping,

April

Geek....

Yep!  We are a family of geeks.  All four eyes and love to push pencils.  It is no surprise that we all are unique and one of a kind!

And, we want to inspire you to be...  YOURSELF!

I followed the deconstructed sketch (#143) and used some dp from Bo Bunny's Modern Miss collection.  Stamp set by amuse|studio - Chic is the New Geek.

Thanks for stopping!,

April

Weathering the Storm!

It's the middle of the month....time for the infamous DUEL between the Dazzlers and the Divas!

Terry and LJ are the hostesses this month and here are the deets straight from Terry!

March is National Umbrella Month!

We all know that when it rains, it pours so LJ and I thought we’d put together kits with an image including umbrellas.

The contents of your kit include:

Image and Sentiment: MFT - a la modes “The Rain Will Come”

Pink and Silver Dots: Craftwork Cards Candi

Ribbon: Michaels

Flowers: Martha Stewart crafts

Square Rhinestones: from my stash

DP: Paper Pizazz

Cardstock: Bazzill Basics Sea salt, Coredinations Blush Red

Have fun creating….and always remember…. “True Friends Help You Weather Every Storm”!!

It is so the truth that true friends help you through it all!  I must give all my fellow Duelers their dues because they are some of my truest friends!!   Please stop by their blogs and leave them LUV!

Oh, you want to see my card....here it is:

Thanks for stopping,

April

{PIN}98

Here it is.....another Tuesday.....and another winter storm headed my way.....

It also means, another challenge for the {PIN}Girls!!

The photo this week:

Our lovely sponsor who set me up this week:

And......

My card:

And, a close up to show you the awesome line work in this digi:

I loved the {PIN}spiration this week and it gave me a chance to use the spotlight technichnique which I adore!  It truly sets off this image!

Thanks for stopping,

April

For Jess to see......

A Little Friendly Fabric

Yes, I said FABRIC......

I am not sure why Kelly chose FABRIC for out February Calendar Girl Challenge, but she did.  So here I am to show you a card I made.  She said it could be anything.....lol. I could barely wrangle a card out of this challenge, so didn't dare try anything else.

So, I did what any non-fabric CG would do....cheated.  Yes friends, you heard it straight from my mouth....lol

The fabric is the stick on kind....lol. (TYVM Judy for a super prezzie a while back)

I also made the flower out of two ribbons and a stick pin.....  I did try getting the ribbon to even be leaves....lol

I don't expect anyone to ever say I did well at this challenge, but.....I did try (and that must be worth a little something!).

Thanks for stopping,

April

Bee Happy

Over the weekend, I "tried" to be productive by "organizing" my craft area.  I really wanted to make a card congratulating my cousin on her engagement, BUT....  I haven't quite finished that card.

I do have an 8x10 scrap page I turned into a wall art piece.

This piece was created following Challenge 7 at 1-2-3 Get Scrappy!  I used the diagonal: black background, fiber and a vintage feel.  I don't really do vintage well, but think the stamp set from CTMH counts as does the background paper and the roughed edges with the gold highlights.  Thee black background is easy to pick up and I hope that the hand dyed ribbon with gold flecks can be counted as fiber.  Not really a traditional fiber, but not paper either.....

My husband and son told me it turned out nice, but the best compliment has come from the sweet girl I watch who is four.  She said "That's beautiful."  I hope you agree!

Thanksgiving or stopping,

April