Falling Into New Friendships ~~ October Duel~~

  

Hello Blogland Friends,

This month, four our duel challenge, the hostesses were Debbie (for us Dazzlers) and Judy (for the Divas). Debbie sent a wonderful kit full of great crafting items, sweet images and quotes and absolutly gorgeous fall themed designer papers.

We are happy to celebrate new friendships as some great new ladies joined us recently, hence the title for this duel.♥

  Dazzlers kit contained:

DP: SU! Color Me Autumn

Image:  My Favorite Things – Sweetest Pumpkin in the Patch (Memento – Rich Cocoa)

Sentiments: My Favorite Things: Chalkboard Greetings & Sweetest Pumpkin in the Patch (in SU! Old Olive, SU! Cajun Craze, SU! Crushed Curry; Memento-Rich Cocoa)

Embellishments:

Leaves & Pumpkin in SU! Crushed Curry, SU! Old Olive, SU! Cajun Craze

SU! Always Artichoke Seam Binding; SU! Crushed Curry Ribbon

Celebrate It Jute Twin

SU! Brushed Bronze button

Studio 12 Adhesive Gems
Amuse Creative Candy (chocolate)

I made the above card on time for the duel but only was able to photographe and blog today...

Today was the first Saturday in such a long time that felt totally 'carefree' ...such a great feeling :)

As I went to clear the table from my crafting of a few days ago (yeahh I left a mess!) I saw that a lot of good staff was leftover and decided to make another card  (I was hoarding the leafy d/p Debbie sent!lol)  :)

Here is the other card ...What d you think? Which one of the two you like better?

The vertical one or the horizontal? Both are so similar, yet different...♥

Thanks for a GREAT kit Debbie!!

Card front (2nd card)  >>>>

   




<<<< Left side pict: Inside of card #2

Hope you like them! 

Thanks for your visit!

   ♥ Blessing! ♥

Flying Witch

   Hello Friends in blogland...
today is the day to reveal the cards created using the UNidentified image of this month...
She's sooo much fun...love this flying witch with a sense of humour!
She was sent  by Jeanette  (Forest Ranger) and all the partecipant in this swap will show
their own take for the same image ( Image as well as sentiment is from: Starving Artistamps "Witch Trio")

                                          Group photos :)
 

                                              Inside of cards

                                                     
                                                      Close Up : Say *cheese!*

I hope you like this *fun witch* as much as I do...(Txs Jeanette!!)
Time to say G'Night now as my eyes are way too tired and can hardly stay open...ZZZ...zzz.......zzzzzzzzzzzzzz
Until next time.... :)
    

September 2015 Dueling Darlings ~ New Beginning~

~~Hello Darling Peeps,
Here we are...it is the 15th of the month and, as such, we are 'battling our duels' ! 
This month's hostess are Jeanette (for us Dazzlers) and Kelly (for the Divas). We Dazzlers received a beautiful kit which included  adorable images from Penny Black. Aren't these hedgehogs cute? ♥

 This picture to the right shows the inside of my card. I chose to leave it without a sentiment, for now....
perhaps at  a later date I will include
a Birthday sentiment as one of my friend, who happens to be a teacher,
will celebrate her special day soon...
I think she would rather like this card....

 

Above is a close up of the sweet image ...

I just love PB stamped images!

On my card, I rounded the edges on the right corner, as a tribute to Jeanette, from whom I learned this simple, yet lovely tecnique....Thanks Jeanette for being such an inspiration, and for the wonderful kit received!

As part of some extra fun, we were requested to add a *Tutti Frutti*

recipe, and I decided to include the one I learned from Cooking class, at my school...simple and easy but ohhhhh soooo goooddd!!

EMPANADAS (serves 2-3)

375 mL sifted flour

5 mL baking powder

125 mL lard

100 mL cold water, approx.

1 mL salt 25 mL icing sugar

125 mL apple pie filling (I make my own)

Topping:

3 mL cinnamon

1 mL nutmeg

approx. 1 mL allspice

25 mL icing sugar

1. Preheat oven to 400 ºF.
2. Sift flour to measure. In a medium bowl, sift together flour, salt and baking powder.
3. Cut in lard with a pastry blender until it resembles small peas.
4. Sprinkle _water over flour mixture, raking with a fork. Gather to make a stiff dough. Knead dough 2-3 times just to hold together.
5. Roll dough to .3 cm thick Cut out sixteen circles (9 cm diameter) using a custard cup and sharp knife.
6. Fill center of each circle with about teaspoon of pie filling. Moisten edges with water and fold dough in half Crimp edges with a fork to seal.
7. Place on parchment lined cookie sheet. Bake for 15 minutes or until golden.
     *Dust empanadas with the sugar mixture while they are still hot!*
   
   
                                               ♥  ENJOY!! ♥
   

 

Late Duels!!

     Hello Friends in Blogland!!
Long time no see....Life has taken ahold of me with the busiest last few months I ever had...and it is continuing this crazyyy busy-ness over the summer as well...
(and here I though Life could slow down!!)
A lot has to do with health concerns over my Mom...as she is deteriorating and new arrangements need to be made sooner than soon...NOT what I was expecting to hear for sure!I never talked about this before as it pains me too much....and I am leaving it as such for now.
I also had my grandaughters staying with us since last week of July, love them to pieces 
but they like to be kept busy too...♥
Anywho, on to the veryyyyyy late dueling projects I actually made a while back...
The first one is an ABAC project that April challenged us with last May. 
I chose an old oval lined box I had laying around my place and turned it into a frilly one (maybe a tad cheese too! :) ) I had my youngest grandaughter in mind when working on it. She is seven years old and love to collect little treasure...so this is her new box for that purpose.
To April's kit I added the flowers plus the jewels and pearls at the center of each daisy, plus I colored the wooden birdie to fit in with the rest of the designer papers. Michela loved it...she actually took her new treasure box camping with us too!It is now almost filled with lil twigs, pine cones and small leaves...Have nooo idea what she'll do with that! ♥

                                                     SHOW YOUR PATRIOTISM

YUP! ♥ That's what the theme was for June, selected by Terry (Dazzlers) and Barb( Divas)

My card was made from a lovely kit that Terry sent us for the June's duel...
This card was actually buried under an undisclosed amount of crap....ooppsss I mean craft items 
from my overloaded dining table!! I even forgot I took a picture of it at the beginning of this month but too  busy NOT being at home much....
Anyways I am hoping that later is better than never....;) With my apologies Terry!!

Terry's wonderful kit included the following items: Image: Unity "Celebrate"
DP: My Minds Eye "Pieced Pinwheels", Colorbok "Stars and Stripes"
Solid Cardstock: Core'dinations "Deep Navy", "Burgandy" and "Snowcap"
Embellishments:
Craftwork Cards Candi "Prince Charming", "Icing Sugar" and "Regal Ruby"
Rhinestones: Red and Clear - The Paper Studio
Blue Twine: Studio 112
Buttons: Miscellaneous from JoAnn's

  I created my card to reflect that I have Italian roots and that I als reside in this wonderfully amazing Country called Canada , hence the Italian flag's color showing up on the sail and via the green button that I added, along with the white and red candystripe floss. My Canadian proudness is showing by also adding a stamped maple leaf to the mix. A smaller leaf was also added on top of the sentiment, inside the card.

I am actually quite pleased with the simple yet strong result.

We were also asked what is our thoughts when we see the Flag.

For me, there are many thoughts of feeling honored to partake in BOTH Countries' national holidays in my own ways, but mostly I feel this sense of total and immediate happiness every time I see either a Canadian Flag or an Italian one (mostly on my Italian channel!) being raised or just flowing freely in the breezy air! Sio proud of both my heritage and this adopted Country that is Canada, the true North strong and FREE! 

Thank you Terry for such challenge....and a challenge it was tring to figure out how to make a card that would represent the colors of two countries ♥ Loved it!! ☻

     

                            

   Thank you for stopping by and visit....much appreciated! ♥

Unidentified Swap # 20

 Hi Everyone in Blogland!

It is now reveal time for the Unidentified Image Swap round # 20!

This month our hostess was Jody and seh sent us all partecipants  sweet cute images of Fluffy.

 For color combos, I used orange/purple mix...

never done this combo before, but I like the 

contrasting ways of both colors.

       

I love this image also because it is so versatile and can be used for almost any occasions.

For this swap, I added a funny Birthday Celebration sentiment on the inside of my card.

(although I forgot to take a picture of it!)

 The simple dry embossed background adds dimension 

and the added strip of designer paper

 just adds a pop of colors. I accessorized by adding a trio of brads 

on the side of the larger die cut circle.

♥ Hope the recipients enjoy this cute kitty card ♥

Blessings to all! Until next time....

It's revelation time!

Dueling Darling Day

 Hello Blogland Friends,
Today is the day for the monthly duel between the Dazzlers (hosted by Melina) and the Divas (hosted by Tamy) 
Melina sent us Dazzlers an adorable kit...
 Ohhh I sooooooo fell in love with this adorable image sent to us! (so glad to have 3 spare ones too!!) Isn't she the cutest lil girl? ♥
I had so much fun coloring her! :)
As per hostess' requests we were told that we MUST use the green ribbon on our card.
I decided to partially fold it and the other straight half  I 'decorate it' with the buttons that were included as well...

I decided to fussy cut the image and prop her on top of 
a few die cut shapes....the smallest one was dry embossed and the colored image was propped up with dimentionals as I wanted her to really stand out :)

The inside of the card is finished up using a multi layer combo of leftover d/p and c/s and the sentiment was encased in a sideway chevron.

Thank YOU Melina for such a great kit to work with! ♥

 Kit's items as follow:
  Image - Whimsy Stamps "Fistful of Flowers"
Sentiment - CTMH "Sweet & Lovely"
Cardstock - Stampin' UP! Very Vanilla
Designer Papers - DCWV
Die Cut - Wonky Cloud - MFT, Spellbinders - Dalia
Baker's Twine - CTMH
Buttons - MFT
Ribbon - Wal-Mart
Metal Emellishment & Flower Bling - from her stash

Unidentified Images Swap ~ *round #19*

 Hello Peeps in Blogland....
On the 10th of every other month we reveal the card we made using the new image that the selected hostess sends to all participants...This month is my turn and I chose this cute image from Stampabilities to send to all UI swap's gals. It is aptly called 'One size fits all'...
It has a cute ring to it eh? :)
It was a bit fussy to color but I thought it was worth the time ♥

Yes I am late in blogging mine although it was done on time....I have a very good personal reasons for my delay, this time around as way too much has unexpectedly happened...
glad though that I am finally taking the time to post tonight.
 

For my card I chose to encase the image in a cute spring- pastel colored doiley, over a very bright colorful background.

Card Deets:
Stamp : One Size Fits All -by Stampabilities
Ink : Memento -Tuxedo Black , image colored with   Copics 
Card Stock : Certainly Celery and White c/s
Designer Paper : 'Hello Sunshine' 4645 Pretty Plaid  and 'Hello Sunshine' 4639 Thoughts of Spring - Both from Doodlebug Design.
Accessories : Colored paper doilies (Soft Spring Green) by S-E-I * Certainly Celery grosgrain ribbon by SU * SU punch * Circle die * Sakura
pen * blue sparkly flowers from my stash *
green lrg flower from a Dazzlers leftover kit 
(txs Darlene! ♥)

I hope you enjoyed this cute image!!
Hugs to you all , and don't forget to hug a loved one today! xox




    

          ***Group Hugs & Blessings to all!!***
 

What's YOUR Brew? ~ March Duel ~

   Hello Darling Peeps...
It is STILL the 15th and am blogging in the nick of time, even though I had my main card ready earlier in the day (but I decided to also make a second one after supper....therefore a longer delay)
This month Kadie (Diva's hostess) and I (for the Dazzlers) were at the helm for the Duel and decided to go with either a coffee /or tea theme hence we name it  ' What's YOUR Brew? '
  
This is what I sent to the Dazzlers : "My new partner Kadie and I got our heads together and decided it was time to put YOU through an 'arduous task' in asking what's your favorite brew of all. Are you a tea person or a coffee person? (or, are you perhaps both?)  Any particular kind of tea or coffee you prefer?  Tell us all about your brew of choice, and let's have fun dueling" ♥

  


  I put together a few different images and sentiments for my kits, including real coffee beans (the same ones I freshly grind daily for my espresso or cappuccino)..lol (Some of you may know that when I create coffee themed card I always use beans somewhere in my cards (my trademark *wink*)

Dazzlers Kits Contents:

Stamped images - 'Coffee and Friend's  w/ sentiment (from Inkadinkado 96576 P) , 'Java Jumpers' /House Mouse (from Stampabilities),'I don't do Mornings' (from Stampabilities) , 'Chamomile Tea'  /House Mouse (from Stampabilities),
* plus a mixture of sentiments* Ink - Images are stamped on Cougar white c/s w/ Memento Tuxedo Black Designer Papers - 'Honeycomb' by Time Spring (Fancy Pants) , 'Madame Mariposa' by Butterfly Collection (Prima) ,'Summer Kincaid Ave' by Scenic Route ,'Tip me Over' by Time Spring (Fancy Pants), Coffee notes by Mead Card Stock - 'Spice Market' by Recollection , dry embossed with 'On The Go' embossing folder (by Tim Holtz) Accessories - Candy Floss in 4 different colors ,Grosgrain pink double sided ribbon , Grosgrain deep red from SU , paper flowers from Recollection , assorted large brads from Basic Grey , large and medium half pearls , (real) coffee beans.

<----- The the inside of my card

I LOVEEE my daily espresso, I literally would have withdrawal symptoms if I could not have my brew, especially right after work...
One thing that REALLY has me so excited is that, after 10 years (if not longer!) I recently regained my sense of smell!! Just.Like.That!
Out.Of.The.Blue! Can you imagine how I truly feel these days? I am in cloud nine for sure! Someone pinch me please!!To me this is NOTHING short of  a miracle...especially after two surgeries that didn't result in curing my anosmia.
A new, forgotten world of bursting aromas and wonderful smells around the house, outdoors in the fresh spring air....EVERYTHING is like new again...as well as the sense of taste...OHHHH the taste of food!!! Hard to describe for sure! A plethora of wonderful flavorfulness burst inside my mouth with the taking of each bite...Truly amazing....I feel I was given this new blessing for a reason....I just hope and pray that it will last!

 Later today, I decided to also make a tea card ... tea is , after all, the main brew I take daily to work with me...I became a tea drinker just a few years back. Hubby makes my tea each working day as he filling my thermos usually with green tea.
My favorite teas are the ones that contain lemon , orange or mint in them...although in the summer I love my refreshing peach tea on ice ♥

 For this card I chose 'Chamolile Tea' image from H/M (Stampabilities) I only used part of the image...I love the sleeping bunny  inside the tea box. ♥
I used the sentiment from another stamped image as it seems perfect for this card.

On the inside of the tea card I kept it simple, using only a strip of leaves d/p (which symbolize tea leaves - at least to me -) along with a small sample from other d/p from the kit.
Et voila'... Both brews have my vote, but a good Espresso coffee is definatley my most favorite brew of them all! ♥

Thanks for stopping by...your opinions and your comments are always welcome... *Blessings to all!*:)

♥ Also would like to share my sweet little Princess special  day ...check her out here :

http://www.paola-sama.blogspot.ca/2015/03/frozen-themed-cake.html

FROZEN themed cake...

 Hello Friends,

this time I don't have a card to show you, instead I am posting the latest birthday cake I made for my youngest grandaughter  who recently turned 7. She asked me to make her a 'Frozen' themed cake. Aside, pulling my own hair...lol...I checked on line for a few ideas and, ultimatley,  proceeded to come out with my own, 

with the hope that it would turn somewhat decent enough to make my lil sweet grandaughter happy.

                         

  I wanted to incorporate some unique snowflakes to Michela's birthday cake, using the biggest snowflakes stamp set I had :
'Snowflake Spot' (an old set from SU, year 2006 ) served this purpose well.
 Then, on I went, experimenting with 'designing' with blue melted chocolate , right on kitchen's waxed paper lined over the previous stamped images...

voila'...slowlyyyyy, slowwwwlyyyy, I managed to somewhat 'design' some yummy snowflakes

  
Not easy to do, for sure...
especially when no previous attempt was ever made to do this, on my part and I don;t have such a steady hand either....lol

In fact, I can almost guarantee this would most likely be my first AND last attempt at this! lol

I also used an oval Spellbinder die to trace around
white fondant. I wanted to use the oval shape, and decorate it with mini candy-balls and place the previously traced # 7 in blue chocolate, in the middle of the white oval, for a good contrast...
Well, that didn't work too well as the #7 cracked...yikes! What to do now ? Plan two - well, of course, I used blue candy-balls in the to form a #7, iced each little ball at a time and put them in place....After all that was done, the white ones still shifted...thus some of them look crooked too...but at this point I really wasn't too concerned....lol

Well, that didn't work too well as the #7 cracked...yikes! What to do now ? Plan two - well, of course, I used blue candy-balls in the to form a #7, iced each little ball at a time and put them in place....After all that was done, the white ones still shifted...thus some of them look crooked too...but at this point I really wasn't too concerned at all....

           Here's the final product...a total labour of love from a 'crazy' nonna!

The most important thing for me was to see my grandaughter sweet face lighting up when she saw her cake for the first time....as well as the other lil girls present, all squealing with delightful joy ;)

                                ♥ Ready.....set....BLOW!!! ♥

 Sponge cake (NOT from a box, all fresh and made from scratch) , 

filling : purple/lavander frosting and mixed berries jam

Both cakes are covered with vanilla fondant (purchased at Michael's)

 I decided to make other treats that the kids would love,especially the birthday girl.
I named these 'Sven's antlers'...and they were a hit  :) They simply are pretzles sticks
dipped in eithr white or blue chocolate and then dazzled with all kind 
of sprinkles and tiny mini snowflakes...(these sticks ARE addictive, soo yummmy!)

 

 These are the 'sparkly' cake pops I also made for Michela's 'Frozen' party....
The cake pop themselves are really easy to make...but to cover them w/ hot dipping
chocolate and decorate them is a nightmare...it took me forevahhh....lol

Lastly, using leftover chocolate cake pops, I turned them into what
I dubbed them as 'Sven's droppings'...lol....hummm definetly...colorful too ;)

                            Our very own sweet 'Princess Elsa', in all her royal glamour :)

Thanks for stopping by   :)

your visit is ALWAYS appreciated!

♥ God Bless!! ♥