October Duel

Hello All,
  Here we are again, not only is it time to duel but it's also the end of round 2! Wow, the time has flown by!!
This month's hostesses are Tami for the Divas (my team) and Darlene for the Dazzlers. Tami sent the cutest kit with all kinds of goodies for us to use. Our image is from Stampin' Up's - Sweet Season, various yummy DSP's, Ribbon from American Crafts, Embroidery Floss, Sticko Tiles, a leaf brad by Recollections, and gems by Darice. As always I had a hard time trying to decide what to use for my card. So many choices! lol

  Anyways, here is what  I came up with. I am looking forward to Round 3 of dueling!

 

Tami also requested that we share our favorite fall recipe. I have alot of favorites, but I think my most favoritest is Squash Soup. My Mom has made it for us for years now so it's a signal that fall is here!

Squash Soup

Ingredients

• 6 cups (about 2 large squash) seeded 2-inch wide chunks butternut squash
• Melted butter, for brushing
• 1 tablespoon kosher salt, plus 1 teaspoon
• 1 teaspoon freshly ground white pepper, plus 1/2 teaspoon
• 3 cups chicken or vegetable stock
• 4 tablespoons honey
• 1 teaspoon minced ginger
• 4 ounces heavy cream
• 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg

Directions

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.

Brush the flesh of the squash with a little butter and season with 1 tablespoon salt and 1 teaspoon freshly ground white pepper. On a sheet pan lay the squash flesh side up. Roast for about 30 to 35 minutes or until the flesh is nice and soft.
Scoop the flesh from the skin into a pot and add the stock, honey, and ginger. Bring to a simmer and puree using a stick blender. Stir in the heavy cream and return to a low simmer. Season with salt, pepper, and nutmeg.

School Is Cool

It's that time again! Time for the Divas to duel with the Dazzlers. April and I were hostesses this month and we decided on the School Is Cool theme. Now that the kids are back in school and things are settling down, I'm so glad for some peace and quiet!

So I decided to use images from Recollections. I felt they fit the theme perfectly, not to mention I just LOVED the backpack image along with the pencil. I sent along several quotes pertaining to school and education that were computer generated and several different ribbons, buttons and brads.

Along with the kit I asked that we all share a school memory. I was one of those kids that school just wasn't for me. I was good at some subjects and totally inept in others and it always seemed like the hard subjects that I wasn't so good at overshadowed the ones I was good at. Needless to say I made it to the 11th grade and couldn't stand it anymore so I quit. As an adult out in the real world I now see what a fatal mistake that was and even with a GED feel that some doors remain closed to me in the working world. With those realizations it has helped me as a parent to push my children to excel in school and to never ever quit or give up when it comes to their education.

Ok, so here's my card for this month!

Dueling Divas Round 13

It's that time again!!! Let the duel begin! I will be on my trip when it's time to post, so yayy for blog scheduling! lol I am going to Chicago to see my son graduate Navy Basic Training and then on our way home we are detouring home through Iowa so we can visit with my big brother for a few days.

Anyways, now for the duel! This months kit was sent by Judy... my oh my... I could not decide what to use (this is a usual thing I know)! Judy sent us so many goodies to choose from. I just love the DSP by American Crafts Margarita collection. So many buttons, ribbons and brads, along with flower buds....my goodness, it was a delightful smorgasbord of supplies.

Our challenge this month is to share our favorite way to cool off in these "dog days" of summer. I have to admit, I am not into the heat and my favorite way is to stay inside in the a/c! lol

Dueling Divas Round 12

So here we are again! Another duel.. woo hoo! This is totally fun. 

This month's kit was sent by LJ (LauraJean on SCS). She included this awesome image Gardening Flopsey by MFT, super cute DSP by October Afternoon and numerous embellishments. She also sent us die cuts from fabric using the SU Fun Flowers die (which I LOVE too!) out of some super cute polka dot material.

The extra this month is to share a story about friendship. I like most of us have met many many lovely people on SCS. It's nice to talk with people who share the same passion as myself and there are many of you that I consider close friends even without meeting in real life and I am truly blessed to be able to know and communicate with such awesome people. There is one person whom I met on SCS that I have actually met in real life. Jen has got to be one of the most giving people I know. Not to mention she cracks me up on a daily basis. I am SO happy to have her as a friend and hope our friendship can continue for years to come across the miles.

Christmas in July

This is my card for the Creation Station Challenge - Christmas In July on SCS. This my first attempt at the Center Step card and I can already tell you I LOVE the technique. Take a peek below and let me know what you think. Have a great evening.

All supplies Stampin' Up (unless otherwise noted)

Stamps: Winter Post & Christmas Greetings
Paper: Cherry Cobbler, Very Vanilla, Old Olive, Chocolate Chip & Jolly Holiday DSP (retired)

Ink: Cherry Cobbler, Baja Breeze, Basic Black & Chocolate Chip
Accessories: Sweet Buttons Embosslits, Cherry Cobbler Bakers Twine, Scalloped Ribbon Border Punch, Scoring tool, Dimensionals & Two-Way glue pen

Vintage Vogue Birthday

I made this for my son to give his Godmother for her birthday on Monday.

Stamps: Vintage Vogue, Word Play (from MDS)

Paper: Garden Green, Peach Parfait, Very Vanilla, Crumbcake, Marina Mist, Cherry Cobbler

Ink: Soft Suede, Garden Green, Peach Parfait

Accessories: Beautiful Wings, Small Heart Punch, Square Lattice Embossing Folder, Basic Jewels, Misc Jewels, Dimensionals

Dueling Divas Round 11

Woo Hoo! It's that time again!!! I have had a lot going on this week, but it did me good to sit down and do some paper crafting.

This months hostess was Barb and she sent us an awesome kit to work with this month. All about the outdoors! My family and I are campers and in fact are planning a camping trip for sometime in July.. can't wait.

There was a challenge to our duel this month, to share a camping story either good or bad. Uughh.. worst camping memory ever.... first time we went camping, we had a Dodge Caravan at the time. My husband had packed everything, but we had bought a new table for the camp stove to sit on. Well, he decided to strap the BRAND NEW table AND new tent on the top. (rolling my eyes) Apparently  he was not paying attention to what he was doing or something and he didn't tie the stuff down good, so we are rolling down the highway on our way and all the sudden the stuff on top falls off! In the middle of the freeway only about 2 miles from home!!!!! We had to park on the side of the highway, mind you our NEW stuff is in the middle of this same highway. Dodging traffic, he got the table and I got the tent.  Safely, thank goodness. Talk about getting your blood pumping. The rest of the trip was GREAT though. :D

 

I made two cards and I still have enough supplies left over for at least 2 -3 more cards! Thank you Barb!