Trying Again...

I stepped away from everything crafty for the most part a few months ago.

Not sure why exactly, but my DH wanted to take over some of my craft space and that motivated me to re-organize my area and pick up my stamps.

Unfortunately, this first card is for one of my good friends who just lost her grandfather :-(

I am entering this in the current Mojo Monday sketch Challenge.

Let's hope the crafting bug takes over and I have more to blog about!

April

It's a Tutti Fruity Duel

We are back!

I will be honest and say that it was so much fun to find my craft area!!  

Hoorah!

We have some new me members...make sure to say hi and stop on their blogs too! (As soon as my son gets home, I will actually update my blog via his laptop.....the iPad just doesn't make it easy!)

Here is our kit list:

Thanks for stopping in!

I am so sorry that it has been so long!

Hugs,

April

Friends....with Flair

I haven't had any (repeat, ANY) mojo lately.

I hate that.  Not sure if it was a mild case of depression? Getting he reading bug? Burnout?vor just the snow I have had to shovel and my aching muscles from that?

Needless to say, I felt the burn to craft this morning.  And, what better way to celebrate then to put a card up on the UNITY site for their Friday Friends with Flair post??

I even followed the current CAS(e) this sketch!

February Duel

I am late, but sincerely apologize.  The weather has me all messed up...Internet spotty and too much to do to keep the snow outside!

This month, we are celebrating UMBRELLA DAY!  Who even knew there was one??

Our kit from Deb had:

Penny Black's April shower images

Gemstones, flowers and brads from the Paper Studio

And ribbons from a local craft store

I am not sure I had the mojo working; and I barely touched the kit.

But, I had fun with it.  To check out the rest of the Dueler's, see my sidebar!

Hugs,

April

New Year Duel

I am happy to say that we are dueling again this year!  Two teams with a common theme, but different kits per team.  These ladies are super talented and I feel off my game with them, but I keep going!  

Debbie sent a delectable kit!

...and I lost the deets....my bad ;-)

So, I will show you my card and beg y'all to hop over to the other Duelers and get the deets there.

I am going to try better to blog more often.  So stop in and see if I can live up to my promise....

Hugs,

April

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!!