A site for my handmade cards, accompanied by my photos and written meanderings which are occasionally witty, often tongue-in-cheek, and rarely profound. Beginning in June 2013, you'll also see lots of NBUS, which is an acronym I coined for Never-Before-Used-Schtuff. Note: my Privacy Policy can be found at a tab below and you can find my NBUS Challenge online. I hope you'll join in the fun there! Thanks for coming by! Have a beverage and enjoy!

February 14, 2013

RS#50 and Twin Valentines

Happy Valentine's Day, for reals!  I feel like I've been making Valentines for months and months and prolly you feel like I have been making them that long, too!  I just love the love, turtles and doves.
 
My DDIL came over yesterday and dropped off the granddog, otherwise known to a lot of you as the Grand Duke.  We get to dog-sit as the family is taking off on a long weekend away, otherwise known as "President's Day Weekend" here in the States.  I'll be sharing pictures of his royalness in the coming days.  We love having him.  He loves coming here to the Old Folks' Home.
 
She also dropped off these adorable Valentines made for me and Mister Papa by our adorable twinkle grandsons:
 
Adam
 
Henry

Aren't they cute?  The Valentines are, too.  She got the internet somewhere off the idea ~ that is to say, well, you know what I mean.  To make them, you focus the camera on the outstretched hand of the person and then just pop the lolly through two holes in the photo so it looks like the person is actually holding the pop.  It's like 3-D, dude!  (If you know who came up with this clever idea, let me know so I can edit this and add the credit.)
 
~~~
 
I am done making Valentines for 2013, but while all that yummy pink and red paper was still piled high on my desk, I made a card for this week's happy sketch (#50) at Retro Sketches,
using some fun Penny Black Stickeroos.


I used a SU! Impression Plate called Harlequin for the first time, to mimic the "x" hatches on the sticker band.  Then I lightly pressed a Brilliance "Moonlight White" ink pad over the impressions to highlight the design.  That was a little nerve wracking, coz I could've dropped the pad, splat, that's that.  BTW, again, why the silent letter?  And why do we still use that expression anyway?  Nerve-(w)racking.  The last time nerves were literally (w)racked was in medieval days before epidurals.  I prefer the modern:  "I only have one nerve left and you're getting on it."
 
But, hey, hey, hey, is that any way to talk on The Day of Love?!  I don't think so!
 
~~~
 
Go forth, be loved, especially love yourself, and enjoy your day!  No, seriously, enjoy your day.   LITS!

Thank you so much for stopping by the Playhouse. Special thanks to you if you take the time to leave a comment or join as a follower!
Paper:  PTI white; unknown
  polka dot
Stamp:  Hero Arts "Good Alphabet"
Ink:  Brilliance moonlight white;
  SU! melon mambo
Penny Black Stickeroos
SU! (Sizzix) Harlequin IP
Bling from stash

29 comments:

Happy Dance said...

Your valentines are adorable, as are the cards--clever ddil! And your card is soooo very sweet. Pretty little polkie dots, lots of lovely pink, a splash of red, a pretty flower...all it needs is chocolate!! Love it. Happy Vallies! Bev

Tracey McNeely said...

Very sweet Valentines Darnell, you treat is so fun and your RS card is just fantastic!

Susan said...

I really did have good "intentions" of making a few Valentines for some of my many, many grandchildren, but just couldn't get my act together....so perhaps I'll just tell them I love them...think that'll work? LOL! Love how you've highlighted (another one of those words...why is the "gh" in high?) the embossing without messing it up!! LOL!

Unknown said...

Great card for the sketch, and the cards from your twinks are adorable! They are sure a couple of cuties!!

Ardyth said...

Great Valentines - your DDIL is pretty creative in her own right, isn't she! Love the pink and red, too - that flower is beautifully shaded!

Rosemary said...

the valentines from the twinks are fabulous, darnell! your card is pretty fabby, too! great take on the sketch!

Sue said...

WOW!! That's clever, I love how it looks like the hand is coming out of the card.
Your last Valentine's card of the year is wonderful, the delicate touch of white on the impressions looks so effective
I hope you enjoy the rest of the day
Sue xx

Kristie Goulet said...

The Valentine's are so clever! Love them and your card! Have a great day!

Emily Keaton said...

The Twinkies' valentines for you and Mr. are so adorable! I think we saw something like those in Family Fun magazine last year, but I know those ideas are out there on the Internet all over. I just L-O-V-E your card--it is so beautiful! Thanks for the eye candy. Happy Valentine's Day, Darnell!

Geri said...

Oh my candy pop sweetness - these guys are SOOOOO cute!!! And how cool is this photo?

Your card is fabulous! Great job inking up the impression - you aced this technique. It does work perfectly with the cross hatched border.

Have fun with the grand fur baby this weekend. I'm sure there will be a whole lot of "scoopin" going on in your backyard!

Ustvarjalni utrinki Tamara P. said...

Happy Valentine's day,
hugs Tamara
Your proejects are stunning

Redanne said...

Happy Valentine's Day dear Darnell, hope you are having a good one. Love the cards from the Twinks - that photography is fabulous, wish it had been my idea! Love your gorgeous card too. Is it any wonder that a lot of children have trouble spelling with all these 'silent' letters? I like the one nerve quote...... Hugs, Annie xx

Carole said...

Super duper cute Valentines. The twinks look so sweet. Your card is delightful.

lostinpaper said...

How fantastic, the valentines cards totally made me smile, sooooo very clever! And your card is quite nice too (lol), sounds like you had a blast on Valentine's day, sadly it doesn't get celebrated much here in Australia, but if it involves chocolate.... maybe I should start something!

Unknown said...

Gorgeous gifts from the twinks. Sweet card too - hope you've had a great Valentines Day.

Lynne said...

The Twinks valentines are amazing Darnell. Your card is pretty cool too.
Lynne xxx

MagsB said...

The boys' cards are fabulous - what a great idea to add in the lollipops! I love your card, too, so pretty!

love Mags B x

JD/ Jill said...

Everything is so cute and adorable, and very nicely done. Happy Valentine's day to you!

Bonnie said...

They have got to be the cutest Valentines I've ever seen! Mainly the twinks on them makes them so special. What a neat idea! Your card is so pretty with the red and pink. I used my last nerve last night when I dropped and inked stamp on a sample card for a class then smeared some more ink on it when I picked it up! They saw the card in all it's messed up glory and never said a word. It does them good to see my messes once in a while. Now that all my nerves are gone, I have nothing left to lose!

Jean said...

Oh, they are super sweet Valentines from the twinks! I'll have to remember that for next year for my son. Love your retro sketch card ~ super sweet flower image!

Bobby said...

So your DDIL has some creativity, too, at least in the card department. Love them and yours, too. HVD!

Marybeth said...

First I LOVE,LOVE your card! Adore the dots and the layout! Your GS are adorable and love the cards they made. One of my daughters did that one last year I think she saw it on pinterest. Wish I came up with an idea everyone wanted to use. HVD! Enjoy!

Di said...

BRILLIANT cards from the boys, how clever. And I love your own card too Darnell. Hugs, Di xx

Skye said...

The valentine cards are fantastic, very clever. 3D without the glasses.
I love your retro sketch card. The flower image is very sweet.

Thank you for becoming a follower.

Hannelie said...

Darnell,the pinks and red compliment each other fabulous, I have to disagree with my mom who taught me many years ago that the only 2 colors that don't 'match' is red & pink!
Hugs!

Craftychris said...

I love the twinks cards, they are sooooo cool and the photo's are gorgeous. Your card is really pretty, I love the colours xx

Carol L said...

Your Valentines from the twinks are the cutest things evah!! How sweet of them to remember you and the Mister for valentine's day!! Love your card too with those little white X's! Steady now.......don't drop that ink pad! :)

Aileen said...

Wow those cards are amazing! A real trick to the eye. Love your card too. x

Kelly Griglione said...

Adorable, cards too! I think there are several pins out there with that sort of idea, so don't worry about giving credit. Your daughter's photos are really well-done ... very proportionate. I'm sure they were a big hit.

Love your white ink pad on the diamonds. At first I thought you sanded a white-core paper. Great effect!

Also, so sorry to hear about your brother-in-law, Darnell. I hope your sister is getting through this difficult time.