I have the distinct pleasure of being part of a blog group - the Calendar Girls. We are a group of ten online friends who love to make cards. We encourage one another in our creativity and we just love hanging out together on Splitcoast Stampers.

Each month, one of the Calendar Girls is the hostess of our challenge, which we post to our blogs on the 28th of the month. That simply means that she is the one who determines the parameters around which we will make our Calendar Girls card.

Debbie (affectionately known as lil' dj in our group) is Miss August. Here's the challenge she gave us:

“SEW” Glad We Are Friends!!!

Because I just love this entire group and it feels that we have been friends forever, I just wanted to say…”Sew” Glad We Are Friends!

So for this month’s card here are the requirements.

1. Please use the above sentiment on the card somewhere. Some of you may have a stamp with that sentiment-if so, that’s great!! But if not, just type it up on your computer and print it out. (Sorry…making you work.) LOL

2. Please use at least one button on your card. (Use as many as you like...but there has to be at least one.)

3. Please have stitching of some kind on your card. You can use a sewing machine, hand stitching or faux stitching using a pen.

4. Once your card has posted to your blog, please send your card to a friend telling them how much you appreciate them and that you are “sew” glad you are friends! If you want, you can tell us in your blog post who is receiving your card and how special they are to you.

5. I know there is a lot of cute DP and stamps out there with a sewing theme, so if you have those go ahead and use them. But if you don’t have them, don’t fret-they are not necessary. Just please have the sentiment, button and stitching on your card for sure.

Hope you enjoy the theme and HAVE FUN!!!

Easy peasy, right? Well, perhaps for some of us. (Tee Hee!) Be sure to check out the blogs of all the Calendar Girls (you can find links to them in my lefthand sidebar). You will discover that not all of us are handy when it comes to sewing. LOL!

Craft Us Crazy Challenges last TWO weeks so you still have time to participate in the current ANYTHING GOES challenge.








Pixie Cottage is offering a very nice prize package. In addition to that, they graciously gifted the Craft Us Crazy design team with images/stamps to use for the challenge.

I was sooooooo excited to receive the Love Ya a Latte stamp set!!! Thank you Pixie Cottage!!!





This stamp set is fabulous!!! It features several images, so I couldn't choose just one.

-- Let's Keep It COOL!!!

This is the 15th of August - which means it's the day for the Dueling Darlings to post this month's cards.

If you aren't familiar with the Dueling Darlings, we are a group of online friends who have a bit of a challenge each month. We are two teams - the Divas and the Dazzlers (I'm a Dazzler). Each month each team has a hostess and the two hostesses choose a theme for that month and then send out kits to their team members. Kits include images, papers, and embellishments. The team members create and we all post on the 15th. It's great fun to see what each Dueling Darling creates... and to see the items each team has to work with.

This month Paola was the Dazzler hostess and Judy was the Diva hostess. They gave us the theme IT IS HOT!!! LET'S KEEP IT COOL!!!

Paola sent us the most incredible kits... so many mny goodies with with to play. I tried, but I simply could not use all of them, there were so many. Thank you, Paola, for making the August round so much fun!!!

I decided to try something really different for my card this month. (I'm not sure I like the outcome, but one never knows unless one tries, right?)

My card is a bit of a mystery card. LOL! I created a band that wraps around the card and put the fun beachy designer paper and the vellum sentiment on the band, which actually covers up about 1/3rd of the card front.





When the band is removed, you get to see the entire card which includes the adorable image of a chick floating along in the water.









Paola gave us a challenge along with our kit. We were instructed to share a fond memory of our favorite way to keep cool during hot summer days. For me, it would be to stay inside (where it's air conditioned) and stamp the day away. LOL! Does that count, Sweet P?













Now, on to the fun part of actually making the drinks! In a blender combine 1 cup of cold coffee with 1 cup of low-fat milk, 1/3 cup of toasted coconut, 1/3 cup of chocolate syrup, and 3 tablespoons of granulated sugar. Blend for 15 to 20 seconds in order to dissolve the sugar.

Now, add ice and blend until the ice is crushed and the drink is smooth. Pour the contents of the blender into two (2) 16-ounce glasses. Garnish each drink with whipped cream. Drizzle chocholate syrup and add a pinch more of the toasted coconut to top off the drinks. Enjoy!


Now, let's go see what the other Dueling Darlings have for us...





















I must give my sincerest apologies to Paola (and to all of you viewing this post, too). I'm sorry, but I cannot find the product list, so I can't tell you what items were used for this card.

As a Craft Us Crazy design team member, I was given a Kelley Kid's Abby's First Camera digi image to work with. Isn't she darling???







Thank you, Kelley Kid's, for sponsoring Craft Us Crazy and for giving me the image, too!


Now, everybody get crafting... remember, it's Anything Goes at Craft Us Crazy!


Image: Kelley Kid's Digi Stamps (Abby's First Camera)
Ink: Copic markers
Papers: from my scrap file
Embellishments: rhinestones and a large black dot (vendor unknown)

I love brand new things... new clothes, new gadgets for my kitchen, new cars! Since moving a month ago, I've had the joy of buying some new things, too (new sofa and matching reclincer, new chest for the bedroom, new bright red KitchenAid mixer, etc.) I am a happy woman! LOL!


I'm also HAPPY to tell you about a BRAND NEW challenge! Kelley Kid's (the digital stamp company with lots and lots of cute images) now has a weekly challenge. And today is the first day of the very first challenge! It's ANYTHING GOES and you have an entire week to participate. (You can only submit one entry). Check out the details on the Kelley Kid's blog and be sure to snag the FREEBIE image while you're there!

As a Craft Us Crazy design team member, I was given the privilege of receiving the freebie just a tad early so I could create a card and promote the Kelley Kid's new challenge. I love being a Craft Us Crazy design team member!!! (Which reminds me, be sure to come back to my blog tomorrow - I'll have a Craft Us Crazy Challenge post then.)













Congratulations, Kelley Kid's... I wish you much success with your BRAND NEW weekly challenge!



Image: Kelley Kid's

Ink: Copic Markers

All Papers: from my scrap file

Embellishments: Black Brads