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!

May 11, 2013

Happy CASology Gradulations Day!

Hey!  Hey!

I had a few unexpected things happen today that I wanted to share.
 
I wanted to play in this week's CASology challenge, where the cue card is one of the trendy trends happening right now (hexagons), because I recently purchased an embossing folder with hexagons or a hexagon die ~ I couldn't remember which.  What perfect timing! 


During a break in the laundry, I went looking through my OCD-organized dies and embossing folders for the hexagon.  There is no such embossing folder or die in the Playhouse.  No hexagon, no honeycomb, no nothing like that.  Don't even ask.  I have no idea.  I either dreamt it or it's waiting in a shopping cart or on a wish list somewhere.  Senior moments abound, alas.
 
But then, wait.  I had some craft stuff out on my desk to make a couple of graduation cards and I thought, hey, aren't mortar boards hexagonal?  I looked at my mortar board stamp and found out that they aren't.  They are squares on top of half circles with pointed foreheads.  But why couldn't they be hexagonal?  In Darnell World they can be, so I made this:
 
 
Totally QACAS!  I drew a hexagon and cut it out.  I poked a hole, pulled the twine through, and attached it to the card base with pop dots.  I stamped the sediment and added some glittery gold highlights to the fun spaghetti, er, confetti. 


Shazambam!  I think I'll be using this idea again for gradulations cards.

~~~

Next, knocking on the Playhouse door was a new friend!  Please help me welcome Tamara King of Pickled Papercrafts (love the name)!  BTW, you can find awesome cards on her website featuring hexagons!  Thank you so much for joining the fun, Tamara!
 
~~~
 
Lastly, a nest update.  As a reminder, here is the nest I found in one of our hanging baskets last Tuesday, May 7th:
 
 
So the little future bird doesn't drown when Mister waters the hanging baskets with the hose, I have taken over watering this basket by hand with the watering can.  This afternoon I did a three-point execution to stand up on the bench (sorry for that visual) and when I tipped the basket to make sure I wasn't pouring water in the wrong place, I saw this!
 
 
Say what?!  Oooh, I'm so excited!  These are definitely better odds!
 
~~~

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!
 

*Life Is Too Short!

Paper:  PTI white, true black
Stamp:  Embossing Arts Co.,
  817-D "Happy Graduation"
Ink:  Versafine onyx black
Pen:  atyou Spica
Twine:  doodle twine

39 comments:

Anonymous said...

What a fabulous idea Darnell-i bet most of us thought mortar boards were haxagonal shaped,i know i did !(See what an educational Blog you have my friend !)The twine makes a prefect tassell to finish it off.
So happy to see that pretty nest full to bursting with eggs.

Thank you for your lovely comments re Mom-i am so happy she is happy :)
Have a great day,love Nessa xxx

wienerhoneymooners said...

Oh BRILLIANTLY done! I saw your card and was open mouthed!

Di said...

Oh crumbs Darnell - this is absolutely inspired and a totally perfect card! You really made a beauty here with the hexagon and then the baker's twine.

And wildlife on your doorstep too - keep us informed please.

Sigh, I spent about 20 minutes sitting quietly in our dark garden late last night, camera to hand and waiting for Spike to appear and do a pirouette beside his feeding bowl. Plan was that at that point the outside lights would automatically trigger and I'd leap forward to take a photo of him.

What happened, zilch :(

Hugs, Di xx

Karen M said...

This card is so clever and a fantastic use of a hexagon - hugs xx

Sue said...

How fabulous to use the hexagon in that way and I love the way you have added the twine.

Great to see that more eggs have appeared, that must be a good sign I think.

Sue xx

tilly said...

Can't wait for you to be a grandma lol so many eggs.....
well done on the card, it is really inspired!
Tilly

Sue - said...

Brilliant card! Do hope those eggs turn into little birdies!

Suze Bain said...

A lightbulb moment for sure, what a great card and I can't wait to see if the little birdies hatch. Xx

Cathy said...

Fantastic card Darnell, so clever, the twine coming out is brilliant! :) Cathy x

maria f. said...

Love everything about this post - most of all the "it's probably waiting in a shopping cart somewhere". Been there, done that! Good luck with your little birdies and Happy Mom's Day to ya!

Anonymous said...

Amazing creativity, Darnell, LOVE the tassel on the mortar board! Congratulations of your new eggs ... you'll be celebrating Mother's Day again with mummy bird before too long! Anita :)

Unknown said...

I know that feeling of the hexagon folder/die - I thought I'd bought one from SU but when I went to make a card I couldn't find it either. Then yesterday when tidying up my stash (again) I found it under a tin. It was so nice to know I wasn't going mad after all.

Love your graduation card, fresh, clean and simple.

Many thanks for the card you sent me too.

Exciting to have little eggs in the nest - look forward to seeing the little chicks when they hatch.

Have a great weekend.

Judy1223 said...

In Darnell World, I would totally wear this hexagon-shaped graduation cap! So clever and fun, as usual!

Loving the additional eggs in the nest...I have a nest I'm watching in our yard, and I am always amazed at how beautifully built and sturdy they are! Nature at its best.

Thanks for joining us at CASology this week!

stampwithsandy said...

What a brilliant way to incorporate a Hexagon, Darnell. Great CAS card, love it! TFS your bird's nest photos, too. Can't wait to see what develops!

Tracey McNeely said...

Darnell this is so brilliant to create a grad cap with a hexagon! Happy Mother's Day my friend! Thank you so much for sharing with us this week at CASology!

jimlynn said...

So creative and just perfect for a graduate! I really am going to have to CASE this one for sure. Love it!
Lynn

Ardyth said...

This is so, so very clever! I love this idea! I never really thought about what shape they are, so hex is good for me! Thanks so much for playing along with us at CASology this week!

Kim Heggins said...

Oh, I just love the way your brain works...so crafty! Fabby card too. Wow, 5 eggs in the nest, this is so exciting!!!

Nan G said...

No way, my graduation cap was hexagonal shaped...maybe they've changed or the stamp company took license with shape for itself.! Anywho, love the card! Cool card! Now don't be too nosy auntie D, give the wee one a chance to sit on her nest. :) hugs

Rosemary said...

that is one clever graduation card, darnell!! love how you used a hexagon for the graduation cap! and seriously... I have had the same thing happen to me. absolutely positive I had some kind of crafty item somewhere in my stash only to discover that I must have dreamed it because I didn't, lol!! so glad you played along with CASology this week!

Angie Tieman said...

Oh my gosh, this is so genius! I love your hexagon graduation cap! Wish I had seen this a few weeks ago when I had to make some graduation cards, hehe!

Redanne said...

I have been there so many times, thinking I have something.....I see I am in good company. Your card is pure genius - love how your mind works and love, love, love this -brilliant result!

I am excited about the eggs in the nest - fingers all crossed. Hugs, Anne x

Anonymous said...

Brilliant card Darnell; your hexagonal hat looks fab!!

Love your photos of the nest - isn't nature just wonderful!
xx

Carol L said...

You're a flippin' genius, that's all there is to it!!! This card blows me away with your clever idea! WTG!!

Paper Creations by Shirley said...

Hi Darnell. I'm too jet lagged to figure how you made that hat, but it is fabulous! Great grad card. The bird nest is amazing, love the photos. Have fun watching babies :) Shirleyxx

Meghan said...

Seriously clever card, Darnell! I would never have thought of this take on the cue card! So glad you joined in on the fun at CASology this week!

Unknown said...

There are times my dear Dippy when I wished my mind worked like yours!!! Love this fun card and your ingenious method of arriving at that place....... So eggscited (get it?) to see your bountiful nest - looking forward to your next episode.

Hugs.

Karen xxx

MackieMade Paper Creations said...

Now that is a hexagon!!! I adore the genius of this card! Go Darnell world!!
Please keep us updated on the little peeps!

Kim S said...

I love my daily peek into Darnell World!

Bobby said...

I can see it now - graduates begging for hexagonal mortarboards. If you have to wear the things they might as well be fun.

Aileen said...

Super idea Darnell and well doneon not letting the challenge beat you. x

alexandra s.m. said...

Genius!! I love your card! You make it look so easy ;-)
Adorable pictures of the nest! Thank You~

Allisa said...

Great CAS card! Love the tassle! Can't wait to see all your new babies!

cm said...

Last minute pitch in to say I agree with all the other comments about your BRILLIANCE!! Love the card! As for that "missing" die - not to worry! I have plenty of "where did I put that" that become "did I even have that"?? Great post as always! You've made my 'pouting because I miss my family" morning a lot less intense!
c

Hannelie said...

Brilliant Darnell!

Jenny said...

I never really thought what shape they were from above either but this works so well... Perfect for a CAS grad card :0)
Sweet little nest.. Hope they all hatch :0)
Jenny x

Unknown said...

yup. you are one crafty genius! i love the grad hat, tassle and confetti sentiment...that font is perfect.

Bonnie said...

This is the most creative graduation hat I've ever seen! And so doable! I love that. (Wish I'd kept my friends hexagon punches.) Hope you find your embossing folder or dies or both.

Jean said...

Maybe you'll start a new trend for hexagonal grad caps! Love your graduation card ~ perfectly CAS! Thanks for update on the nest!