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 Mother's Day!

Hello!  Happy weekend!

And Happy Mother's Day to all of you who are celebrating this weekend!   I find the holidays that celebrate mothers (and fathers, for that matter) are multi-layered, and complex.  For many of you there is deep sadness in mourning the loss of your mother this year; I know I'm not alone in feeling meloncolic about never having experienced a mother's love; and my heart bursts with joy thinking of those women who are celebrating their very first Mother's Day!
Having said all that, in some places in the world, this isn't even Mother's Day weekend so you might prolly be bored to death.  Okay.  Okay. 

I've had a busy week and not done much crafting.  I was too tired last night to work in a lot of challenges on one card, so I just concentrated on one card for one challenge.  I decided to play with the Fusion Card Challenge which I missed last week.

There is a lot going on with this highpotanoose.  I have to tell you that there were a lot of failed experiments in my lab.  I think because of the teacups, the sketch side reminded me of a tea towel on a rack.  That made me head for the kitchen for a snack.  Repeatedly.
In the end, there was fusion in my card:
  
I hope you can tell I used Jackie's Challenge sketch for inspiration.  From the photo on Lesley's Challenge side, I pulled the bright pink color, the polka dots, and the tea cup. 

Oh, for heaven's sake, looking at Lesley's photo more closing typing this post, I just now noticed that the tea cups are months and the whole thing is a calendar.  How cute is that?!  I thought it was just an old inspiration photo from 2011!  Hmmm, perhaps it's time this granny had her eyes checked?
Returning to our story, to make my card I cut four slits in the card base to run the pretty PTI ribbon through, using a craft knife.  Remember craft knives?  I was never very good with them, and hence I love paper cutters and dies, but for my idea, only my old craft knife would do the trick.  To "reflect" the fishtail banner, I used a corner stamp from a Hero Arts set which also happens to have polka dots.  Score!
After that, since I didn't have a mother's day sentiment that would curve, I searched for one that was curvable and appropriate for Mother's Day.
And there you have it.  Seriously, especially now that I've seen the calendar, there are SO many fantastic designs you can come up with for cards for this Fusion challenge, using just the sketch, or just the photo, or both.  I hope you give it a go!
~~~
I'm so happy to announce that joining us on our little card-making journey is the very talented Brenda B. of Brenda's Crafty Corner   Brenda has been a prolific blogger since 2012 and her card art is spectacular!  You're gonna wanna go there!  Welcome, Brenda, and thank you!

~~~

Enjoy your day!  No, seriously, enjoy your day.  LITS*!  If you're celebrating Mother's Day, as I am so blessed to be doing with my DS, DIL, and the Terrific Twins, make it the best EVER!!  Take pitchers!

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
Stamps: Hero Arts, LL110 Decorative Corners;
  unmarked teacup and sentiment
Ink:  PTI Hibiscus Burst
Ribbon:  PTI Hibiscus Burst and Autumn Rose
Punches:  SU! scallop and Corner Chomper



29 comments:

Di said...

Absolutely beautiful Darnell! And so cleverly made too. With you about Mother's Day and Father's Day also - I so wish................ :(

Hugs, Di xx

Kathyk said...

Mothers Day in the U.K. is in March so we've done ours. I always feel my parents loss more keenly on Mothers and Fathers Days and wish I'd had more time with them both.

Your card is delicious, as always, Darnell

Have a fab weekend

Kathyk

Annette Allen said...

Very cool card.. great design..

Denise Price said...

Great work with the craft knife; I always struggle with mine, too.

Sue said...

Darnell, your words are so true. Thank you.

Your card is fabulous, such a clever design and I love the sentiment.

Sue xx

Lisa Elton said...

VERY pretty Darnell! I love what you've done with the ribbon and the sketch!!

Brenda said...

Fabulous! Love those soft pinks and the placement of your sentiment.

Sue - said...

That is just so pretty Darnell. The sentiment is perfect as well!

Kristie Goulet said...

So pretty Darnell.

Wanted to send congrats on your win over at Stamp Spotlight. :)

Kim Heggins said...

Darnell, this is so sweet! I love your ribbon accents and that adorable cup of tea...just too cute!

Aileen said...

A super interpretation. Love the ribbon all touchy feely. I never noticed the calendar either in the photo till you picked it out. Think I've missed joining in on this one again. I need a calendar just for challenges!

Enjoy the rest of your weekend. x

Aileen said...

A super interpretation. Love the ribbon all touchy feely. I never noticed the calendar either in the photo till you picked it out. Think I've missed joining in on this one again. I need a calendar just for challenges!

Enjoy the rest of your weekend. x

Carol L said...

I hope your children and twinks make Sunday a very special Mother's day for you! Great take on the challenge with your card too! Happy MD!

Jean said...

Love your fusion ~ I really like that you just focused on only the pink. Best wishes for many happy memory making moments on Mother's Day!

wienerhoneymooners said...

Ahh you are too much Darnell, love you posts. Thanks as always for all your well wishes and encouragement.
It is wonderful people like you that keep some of us crazy crafters running back to the craft room to keep a' going! I was out the garden most of the day. My arthritic fingers (yeah I am only 44, but unfortunately have the arthritis of prolly an 80 year old. Seriously..) OK, well my fingers are hurting, card making, makes it less, strange huh.

Hope your Mother's Day weekend is blessed and you are surrounded will all that you love!

Anonymous said...

Fabby card Darnell-love that pink,and all the ribbon just yummy !!
I am late catching up this week so i hope you had a fabulous Mother's day and that you were very spoiled :)
Hugs,Nessa xx

Karen M said...

Beautiful card Darnell - I love all that pink goodness:) Happy mothers day and I hope you got spoilt - hugs xx

shirley-bee said...

... er, thanks for pointing out the calendar - I hadn't seen it either! I love how you've implied the tag with the corner stamp.

Enjoy mother's day with your family :)

Redanne said...

Hi Darnell, I am with you on the Mother and Father's Day thingy.. I did not see that it was a calendar either (but I am waiting to get my eyes tested...) but your card is fabulous, how clever you are - your design is gorgeous and love the way you did the banner. So wish I could do cards like you do...... Hugs, Annie xx

Unknown said...

Hi Dippy - love your card.....so elegant with the ribbon threading and the white and pink theme. Agree about Mothers & Fathers day - can be a very difficult time but also for some a joyous day. Our Mothers Day in the UK was celebrated on 10th March this year - weird eh?

Hugs.

Karendipity xxx

Anonymous said...

A wonderful pink and white delight, Darnell ... gorgeous ribbons woven into the base! Happy Mother's Day to you (and all your family who'll be celebrating with you!) Anita :)

Tracey McNeely said...

Fantastic card Darnell, I love the pink and all the yummy ribbon is so creative.

~amy~ said...

you make it sound like repeated snacking is a bad thing {wink}...

Such a fun take on the challenge...love the use of the ribbon! Thanks for joining us at Fusion!

Happy Dance said...

Dear friend, Your sentiment is just exactly how I feel everyday about my mom. She's been in heaven for 33+ years. She would have loved this card as much as I do. Hope the rest of your Mother's Day is lovely. You so rock. Bev

Bobby said...

If you hadn't called my attention to the fact that the teacups were a calendar, I would never have known. It has nothing to do with eyesight. It's just that the print is too small. ;)

Lyndal said...

Hope you had a FAB Mothers Day weekend Darnell!
So glad you joined in the experimenting @ FUSION - hope to see you again soon :)

Anonymous said...

I like your pretty-in-pink card, Darnell. Beautiful ribbons, and I love how you incorporated the sketch and the photo. Thank you so much for joining us again at our Fusion challenge. ;-)

cm said...

Your card, your post = love them both! Hope your Mother's Day was beyond fantastic!
c

Janelle said...

Very unusual, Darnell! It's interesting how you IMPLIED the sketch rather than following it - very clever! I love reading your posts - you always make me feel happy - and I'm hoping that your Mother's Day was fabulous. My day was quiet, though happy and filled with hugs. What could be better?