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!

April 12, 2013

MUSE #12

And we're back around to Friday ~ whoosh!
 
I went to an installation dinner last night to support my friend and as I was unwinding and enjoying the gentle lapping online waves of evening, rowing around the card making community, I came across a card posted by a friend for this week's MUSE challenge. 
 
"Ern?,"  said the hamster.  "Aacckk," said the rest.  Had I missed it??
 
Luckily I hadn't, and I'm so glad because Therese Calvird of Lost In Paper is a great inspirer of me.  (You have to click over and see the card she made for CAS(E) This Sketch!)  Below is the card she made as this week's MUSE muse:
 
Thinking of You
 
It is SO pretty and springy and evocative of raspberry and lime Herbert.  Besides those qualities, the highlight inspiration for me was the fern.  I also love the sediment; I can always use "thinking of you" cards.  So I created this:
 
 
I inked and spritzed the stamps onto watercolor paper, grounding everything extra securely with both a ribbon and lots of score lines.  I think, now that I see it, I'll go back and add a couple of dew drops to endance the movement of those graceful ferns.  Hmmm?
 
~~~
 
We have two new friends I know you will warmly welcome!  I'm delighted to introduce Kim M. of Art Keeps Me Sane and Karen of Paper, Scissors and Glitter.  (All you ladies have the best blog banner names!!)  Kim is fairly new to the Land of Blog and Karen is a seasoned blogger.  I know in either case, your encouragement would be awesome.  Thank you, ladies!  We are so happy to have you join us!
 
~~~
 
I'm off to a Matt N. Ay production of a romping play, which I'll tell you all about in my next post, unless it's terribly disappointing and not in the least funny, in which case it's not for these pages.
 
I hope you enjoy the entire production of your day!  No, seriously, enjoy.  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! 
 
*Life Is Too Short!
 
Paper:  Biggie Jr. watercolor
Stamps:  Unknown and SU!
Ink:  SU! old olive and rose red;
  Ancient Page black; waterbrush
Ribbon:  PTI Autumn Rose
SU! score tool

39 comments:

Lisa Elton said...

Very pretty Darnell, love the soft gentle feel of the ferns and tiny flowers!

Ardyth said...

Love the effect you've achieved with the flowers and ferns! Great take on this week's Muse (so glad you didn't miss it!). Thanks for playing along!

Neets B said...

Ooooh pretty. Love the fern stamps. I'm hoping to find a smidgen of space on my lounge table amongst the decorating chaos to be able to take part before the deadline! x

Anonymous said...

Another beautiful card, Darnell. I love the white space and how it showcases the ferns that are grounded by the flowers- such exquisite design;)

Happy Dance said...

Years ago, I had a "garden" of ferns. They remind me of hot summer days wandering in the shade near them. I love how your card evoked this memory for me. It's so tranquil. The raspberry is just the right color to go with the ferns too. Bev

Kim M said...

Lovely card, Darnell! Great take on the Muse card.

Ustvarjalni utrinki Tamara P. said...

Beautiful card,
hugs Tamara

Anonymous said...

Beautiful card and it is a fabby case Darnell,i justlove your ferns-they look so lifelike :)
Hugs,Nessa xx

Sue said...

Beautiful card Darnell, I love the ferns and the way the colours of the flowers fade.
I hope you enjoy the play.
Sue xx

Allisa said...

Great card, love the fern stamp!

Kristie Goulet said...

Very pretty card Darnell. Great take on Therese's card! Thank you so much for your encouraging comments on my blog.
Hugs!

Unknown said...

Wowza! What a stunning card! I love the colors and your fab take on the sketch. Enjoy your weekend!

Emily Keaton said...

Such a beautiful creation, Darnell! Hope you enjoyed your matinee!

Deborah Frings said...

Such an elegant card - I do like that fern - just lovely!

Inkyfingers said...

Oh I really like this one Darnelle. The colours are beautiful and the watercolour effect is gorgeous as are the embossed lines. Great work. Hope you enjoyed the play.

Anonymous said...

Such a lovely soft, gentle image, Darnell, fabulous textured card! Anita :)

Cathy said...

Love the soft textures Darnell, the colours are so pretty too. Great take on Therese's card :)

Aileen said...

Delicately and beautiful done. Love your grounding for your ferns. x

Meg said...

Great card - I love it. Especially the darker value in the colour.

Carol L said...

This looks like a window box with beautiful flowers and ferns growing up the side of the house! Very pretty card!!

JD/ Jill said...

Beautiful card!

Michelle said...

I'm glad you made it in time, Darnell! This is really pretty!

Karen M said...

Gorgeous card Darnell - the design and colours are so pretty - hugs xx

stampwithsandy said...

So delicate and pretty, love it!

Unknown said...

Lovely card Dippy. Especially love the ethereal feel that you've created by stamping/spritzing onto watercolour paper. Enjoy your Matt N. Ay.......looking forward to your report!

Hugs.

Karendipity xxx

Geri said...

Glorious, glorious texture! Watercolor paper is pretty even when it is completely blank....add some stunning stamped images spritzed with water and I'm sue Da Vinci is looking down wishing that he would have had stamps to create with!

Love the raspberry with the dark green! Sweet ribbon & scored lines - great job getting the lines to show up in a photo!

Craftychris said...

Its gorgeous! I love the smoky look to the stamping - fabulous! I hope the play is good and that you enjoy it xx

shirley-bee said...

Oh, this is pretty! Love the second-generation stamping to give depth to the flowers in that window box!

MaryH said...

Great take on your inspiration card. Your w/color images were so pretty.Your 2nd stamping was just soft, not 'faded out' as mine tend to be if I try to do this. Loved the color combo, and your ribbon & scores were the perfect way to 'end the card'! TFS & have a great weekend. Hugs

Paper Creations by Shirley said...

Beautiful, I love this design, great inking & colours. Happy Weekend, Shirleyx

aworkofheart said...

Oh Darnell, you never seem to disappoint! What a stunning card! I love how you anchored it with the score lines on the bottom.. I never would have thought to do that. You are so brilliant in so many ways! Hugs, Cathryn

Bonnie said...

What a beautiful card! The ferns and little flowers make me think of a beautiful garden. Not mine! Maybe I should plant some pink flowers out there with the ferns. Hmmm. Wonder if the slugs would leave them alone? Anyway, thanks for the laud and honor. I'm still jumping and jiggling for joy!

lostinpaper said...

Stunning Darnell, totally loving that delicate flower border and those FAB fern leaves!

Joyce said...


So pretty--I like how you made the score lines and have a ribbon border, too. And, your flowers and ferns--so soft and pretty.

Kelly Griglione said...

What a nice, whispey card you made, Darnell! I LOVE all the score lines under your ribbon. What a great idea! Usually that space would get neglected in my house.

Kate said...

I really like your layout and the colours you chose. I must try this stamping technique - it's so light and ethereal.

Jules said...

Hi Darnell

Here at last .. .. after how long!!!!

Lots of lovely projects have been posted here since my last visit .. .. you have been very busy!

Loving this gorgeous creation. Fabby colours and I love the way the texture of the card alters your stamping. Just beautiful.

Hope you have had a good weekend.

Love Jules xx

Kim Heggins said...

Darnell, sorry to take so long to comment on your beautiful card...it is so easy to get behind. Your card is stunning and I love your take on the Muse inspiration card, those pretty pink posies with that adorable ribbon, so sweet.

Jean said...

Love the soft, swaying movement to the ferns, the layout with the scores lines and ribbon, color combo., the watercoloring etc. ... This would be a perfect and soothing sympathy card.