*Hot Diggity Dog Dueling* ~~~July 2012~~~

Hello my dear friendly peeps....
I am finally able to post my Dueling Darlings' card -one day late-
Life has been full of bumps and curbs lately and then there is summer too -
with lots different activities ie: camping in the works as well....♥
Plus I am also partecipating in a wellness program four hours a day -everyday-
to help with my back problems. It is slow and sometimes painful even to do
stretching but it does help! I just need to grin and bear it and, hopefully,
 it will get easier too.

And now, on to this month's dueling! ♥
Darlene was our awesome dueling hostess for us Dazzlers ,while Tami is the Diva's hostess. Together they came up with a FABULOUS theme involving a backyard BBQ.

Here is a listing of the contents of the AMAZING kit Darlene sent to us:
Image is from Art Impression's "Golden Oldies series, entitled BBQ
Couple (isn't it fun?!)
DP: Karen Foster Designs: Food & Family Collage; Ants on Parade;
Barbecue Bash
DP: Reminisce: Picnic Parade; Grill Master
Stickers: Reminisce: Backyard Bash
Other misc. embellishments are from her stash , no particular vendor.

♥ THANK YOU DARLENE!! YOU ROCK GIRL! ♥

I absolutly LOVED working with Darlene's VERY generous kit! ♥
I added some of her designer papers on two of the wooden oval tags she provided and hd them placed on topof each others with a cut out sentiment from some of the stickers she provided as well.The ketch up bottle from another piece of d/p was cut out and   popped up w/dimentionals on the card front while the cut out ant image was added ,flatly, on the inside of the card.
The twine included in the kit was added on the side of the card and the fun couple was
cut out and popped up on dimentionals too. Crystal effect was used on part of the image also. I wanted to showcase the large words from one of the b/ground d/p ,hence I used it boldly and sideways in here.
For the inside of the card I used two d/p combo and some of the many fabby stickers provided as well. I wanted the twine to show on the inside too, therefore I chose not
to cover it up...
The ONLY things I provided for this card was my SU real red card stock as my base and dimentionals.

Both Darlene and Tami also asked us to post a favorite barbecue recipe, or a salad or side dish recipe that is a hit with our family when getting together for summer's cookouts.  

Well, I am usually asked to bring an appetizers or my pasta salad...
(which varies each time...lol)
One of my best and quickest appetizer involves smoked salmon and is as follow:
*one piece of smoked salmon fillet
*spreadable Philadelphia cheese
*chopped fresh parsley
*capers
*Triscuit crackers (or any crackers of choice)
Spread each cracker w/ cheese, add a chunk of smoked salmon, add a few capers and chopped parsley to decorate.
***If you like sweet pickled onions, add those as well, halved.***
Easy peasy yet pleasing to both the eyes and palate ♥
(picture below is from one of last year camping trip)

Hope you like my interpreation for this paper duel and, if you get to try my easy appy
please do let me know how you liked it (or not!) :o)

♥ Blessings to you and a happy summer too....
thanks for visiting! ♥

         Paola

Ladybugs and Butterflies

Hello everyone,

I am finally uploading some of the cards made recently.

My stamping friend Taryn (SCS: littledadybug3)

was recently hosting a ladubug/btterfly/dragonfly swap (s).

I took two spots in ladybugs and butterflies cards and here are the results:

For my butterfly cards I used a new (to me) tecnique- thanks to the link

my friend Kathy sent me via e-mail....(she does ENABLES me a LOT with the many

beautiful cards she pins....and now she's got ME hooked on pinning too!!

Kathy is ALL your fault...lol) I DO love this tecnique but I did tweeked it

a wee bit: instead of using sponges I dusted off my brayer and it worked just fine :o)

See the original 'Double Sponging Tecnique' tutorial here:

                 http://cardz.wordpress.com/2012/05/18/double-sponging-tutorial/

I absolutly LOVE the results obtained with this fun to do tecnique...

thanks so much for sharing that link Kathy ♥

For this card I used:Stamping Up Night of Navy c/s ,and organdy ribbon,
glitter dust, 'jewels' , MS border punch, clear embossing powder,brayer,lime green c/s (from Michaels).
Inks: Night of Navy,So Saffron,Bashful Blue, Gren Galore,Old Olive.
Stamps: Florentine Scroll Background (from Hero Arts)
Large butterfly is from clear set from Inkadinkado
Sentiment ( embossed inside) says:
 'Thank you for touching my life with your caring"
Tecnique: wet embossing, brayering

And here's my other cards...

more simplistic yet fun and colorful on its own merit...

The added cut out white die on the red c/s really makes it pop ♥

                                                          

  For my ladybug cards I used a SU wheel, MS border punch, a bit of glitter ,

SU markers , real red c/s and yo yo yellow c/s ,

Memory box die (Fauntleroy Crest) and sentiment from Tailored Tins Paper Salon

Here you go folks...I hope Taryn's and her peeps like them....

Hubby is calling...dinner is ready....I am famished....lol

*CIAO FOR NOW and GOD'S BLESS!*