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!

December 23, 2013

Birds Boost Sales / Pine Cone Greetings ~ FUSION; LIM #151; MM; NBUS #84; PIXIE'S #103/#104

Hello Dearies!  I hope the fresh wonder of a brand-new week, Christmas week no less, has you skipping around happily doing elfish things!

Today I have a couple of creations, New Friends Corner, and weekend photos to share. 
 
First of all, I wanted to let you know that the fun critter theme has been extended over at the Merry Monday all-Christmas-all-year-long challenge until January 5th!  It is a very popular theme and I'm so glad you have more time to play along!
Current Challenge
I made another critter card for the challenge, using owl critters like in the photo inspiration.  Recently I got an advertisement from a major department store about an incredible sale.  You know the one about early birds and night owls?  I've been keeping it on my desk ever since to make a card with it.   I cut out the significant words and made this:
(Um, in case you think it looks like my early bird sneezed a boog out of his nose, I should tell you that it is a little worm I drew there.  You know, early bird gets the worm and all that?)
 
This is a perfect Christmas card for a friend who is a marathon shopper!  Both the adorable night owl and early bird are NBUS stamps from purple onion designs.  Add a couple three googley eyeballs, a stitched rectangle die from Lil' Inker Designs attached to a black card and Bob's your burger.
 
I'm entering this in the holiday Pick-a-Challenge happening over at another one of my favorite challenges, Less Is More.  My card fits two of the past challenges:  No. 101 from January 5th, which was "colour black - white, plus a touch of ?" and No. 147 from November 23rd which was "theme Christmas - use a bird."  Merry Christmas, Chrissie and Jen!!
We'd love you to display our banner
I used a snippet of black around my ad focus pocus, so I'm going to run this over to the playground at Pixie's.  Di is leaving the gates open through Christmas to accommodate our celebrations, both on-campus and off!  Thank you, Di!  I hope the new year brings you all kinds of good things, expeshally freedom from that achey-breakey back pain!
 
~~~
 
I also wanted to show you a Christmas card that I made to send which just happens to fit the resurrected Fusion Card Challenge.  Here is the photo / sketch inspiration for this month-long/Design Team Call challenge:
And here is my card:
I went with the photo which (except for that mod tree) seems warm and country cozy to me, so I made my card in that style.  The card base is Kraft, the mat is actually cut from a Christmas sack, and the image is stamped on PTI white.  The pine cone is by All Night Media.  The holly is part of a stamped image by Great Impressions, which I fussy-cut, colored, and glossed to within a pinch of its life.  The sediment is by CTMH.
 
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In our New Friend's Corner, I am sooper-dooper becited to introduce you to these three card artists:
Debbie Nutt of Life Refreshed.  Debbie started blogging a few posts this year.  I think her cards are fantastic and I know she would really love some encouragement from you as the new year begins!
Pleased to see you all!
Angela Radford of Felix the Crafty Cat.  Angela is also new to blogging this year, starting in June with a bang!  She is amazingly productive and has the most spectacular layered works of art waiting to inspire you!
My Photo
Sheila Harper of lalacrafts.  Sheila started blogging in April 2012 and has a lot of sweet card art on display at her site!
 
Thank you so much, ladies, for joining in the frolicks at the Playhouse!  I appreciate that you joined us during this busy season of the year!
 
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We had a lovely birthday celebration for Adam and Henry and I've created a collage for you, rather than overtwinking this post with individual photos.  (Brenda B, one of the pics is just for you!)  The outdoor shots were taken at a cool park where they let the kids (and even the parents) hammer and saw and paint, ride zip lines, and roll down hills in barrels!  What more could you want?
The center photo with the wee birthday hats has become a birthday tradition.  We first plunked those hats on them at their first birthday party:

Adam only cried about having it on his head that first year!  They are good sports to keep doing it year-after-year!  
 
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Enjoy your day!  No, seriously, enjoy.  LITS!* 
 
Thank you for coming by to visit the Playhouse and special thanks to you if you take the time to leave a comment and/or join as a follower! 

I wish you all Happy Holidays!! 
 
  
 
*Life Is Too Short!

 

48 comments:

Viv said...

The snippets make so made me smile Darnell! I know a few people who this card would suit also! Fun time at the party too. Have a great Christmas. x

Anonymous said...

Dabbing away the tears of laughter at those googley eyed birds, Darnell ... they're a riot! What a fabulous photo collage of the twins' birthday bash (literally!) ... such a fun place to party! Happy and Blessed Christmas to you all, my friend! Anita :)

Mrs A. said...

Just the wind down I needed after the day of winds we have and still are experiencing here at the moment. Supposed to peak tonight at gusts of up to 70mph. Hang on to your hats is all I can say. The Doc has hammered everything down in sight!
Love these two cards especially those googly eyes!! Have a Merry Christmas . Hugs Mrs A.

Unknown said...

Such fun cards!! I just love the googly eye birds :)

Anonymous said...

Oh what it must be like to live inside your hear dear lady!! Love the cards, the birdy one is a scream. Glad the boys had a fun time, there's two photos there for me, not just one!! Looks like they had a barrel of laughs, ha ha! Bet the grown up misters loved it too! Have a wonderful Christmas my friend.

Hugs to you and Kevin,
Brenda

Redanne said...

Those birds are adorable, just love the googly eyes, they really make it a fun card - I know a couple of people it would suit too. The pinecone card is beautiful!

Love the pics of the twins, they certainly look like they enjoyed themselves - I bet you did too! Have a wonderful Christmas week! Festive hugs, Annie xx

Karren said...

Such cute cards - that pinecone is just gorgeous. And your birds are adorable - even booger-bird LOL . Actually, those two little birds landed on my doorstep yesterday - along with another couple Purple Onion stamps. Merry Christmas, Darnell!

Hettie said...

Lovely cards and fab photos. Those two of the boys on their first Christmas are just the sort to show their fiancees later!!
Hugs and Merry Christmas to you and yours.
xx

Ustvarjalni utrinki Tamara P. said...

Gorgeous work from your hands
love cards
and fotos are amazing
wish you and your love ones Merry Christmas
and blessings
hugs Tamara

Sue said...

Wonderful cards Darnell, your designs are always so inspiring. I love the googly eyes and they pinecone looks so beautiful.
Thank you for sharing your fabulous photos, it's clear to see how much fun they had. I love the party hat tradition.
hugs Sue xx

Kathleen said...

Super fun cards.

Kath x

Chrissie said...

Thanks for your greeting Darnell, I hope you have an amazing Christmas too!
Your cards are super and I love the pics of the boys, what great sports!
I love reading your posts!
Thanks so much
Chrissie
Less is More

Diane said...

Wonderfully great cars...had a great laugh at your post with the birdie and his "ahem" worm!! The birthday party at the park looks like "barrels" of fun (pun intended)....so did you "roll" in a barrel?...LOL....Have a very safe and Merry Christmas my friend...I hope Santa is good to you!!!

Diane said...

Well for goodness sakes, make that "CARDS"...not cars...but maybe you do have great cars, I don't really know...LOL!!!!!!

vic said...

Oh wow your cards really are gorgeous!!! Love the googley eyes and the pine cone!! How adorable are the photos especially baby Adam :)
Have a wonderful christmas
Hugs
Vic xxx

MackieMade Paper Creations said...

Your little birds are so stinkin cute, even if one of them does have boog! haha! And your pine cone card is very pretty!
Love the party hats on the twins! What a great idea!
Hope you and your family have a wonderful Christmas!

Alanna said...

What fun cards. And your collage looks fabulous. Merry Christmas!

Lisa Elton said...

HAHA your birdie card Is TOO much fun Darnell!! LOVE the pinecone card, very pretty and traditional. Looks like you had a barrel full of birthday monkeys on your hands! at the birthday celebration! Thanks for the collage of photos and the flash back too. The happiest of birthday wishes and many blessings to the twins!!

MaryH said...

Well, Hello Miss D. And I got a good laugh over your early bird booger tonight! Only you could think of that! And have the verve to write it!!! Very funny. Cute card too. Gotta say your pine cone card had me at first glimpse. I liked the traditional-ness (is that a word?) of it. Lovely coloring & the green checks - yum...very country. Enjoyed the piccies of the twinks too. Gosh are they growing up. I'll check out the listed blogs too. TFS the cards, links, and big Hugs & Merry Christmas from sunny warm Fla. It's supposed to be in the 20's at home tonight. Glad I'm where we are for the holidays.

Bonnie said...

I love that night owl and early bird! Truly a shopper's delight! And the pine cone is wonderful with it's holly top! My favorites are pictures of those delightful boys! Looks like a fun day for all!

Carol L said...

Cute fowls and cute twins too!! Looks like the boys had a great time! Thanks for the darling anniversary card - I was completely surprised and delighted :) Can it be 45 years have passed?!?! Yikes!!

Thanks a whole bunch, and do have yourself a wonderful Christmas while you're at it! :)

Barb Ghig said...

Your birds are adorable and your pinecone card is stunning, Darnell! Love them both!

Happy Holidays to you and your family! Thank you so much for always making me smile when I visit your blog...you're the best!!!

Kim Heggins said...

Such sweet photos of your handsome grandson's and so fun to see their first birthday too, love all the cake. Looks they had a blast celebrating too, fabulous collage!
Now on to your cards, as always so fun, I love your early bird and night owl...so fun and so stinkin' clever! Your pine cone is so pretty, love the homespun look you created. Thank you again for checking in on me today, you are so sweet!

Greta said...

So glad the birthday celebration was a success! Fun seeing the 1st BD pictures, too. Your first card made me giggle--too darn cute!--& the second one is beautiful! Merry Christmas, Darnell!

Shannon J said...

Ah man, I want to go to that park for MY birthday! Looks like the twinks had a ton of birthday fun! Love both cards! The one for you shopaholic friend cracks me up - love the little birdies and the boog...um, worm!! And the pinecone card is just gorgeous!!

Unknown said...

Adorable google eyes!!! Wishing you a wonderful holiday! Hugs!

Sarn said...

Fab cards and photo's Darnell.

Wishing you and yours a really wonderful Christmas time and a Happy New Year. Hope it's a good one for you.

Hugs, Sarn xxx

Di said...

Oh I do adore those birdies :) Did you know that birds have beaks and not noses? :)

Great piccies Darnell.

Happy Holidays!

Hugs, Di xx

Laurie said...

Adorable cards!! Wishing you a very Merry Christmas Darnell! Hope you have a wonderful week! Hugs!!

Pat said...

Love the two cards Darnell. The first one really made me laugh. Our equivalent to a boog is a bogie, but I think yours sounds better lol. Great birthday pics, looks like a good time was had by all. Have a good Christmas. x

Lunch Lady Jan said...

Love the twins in their Tradition Hats! Good for them for being such sports!!
Hope you and yours have a wonderful Christmas....and may you have a fun filled, craft packed, laugh out loud 2014 :-)
LLJ xxxx

Chris Dring said...

Love your crazy sense of humor, Darnell! You always make me laugh! Your cards are all fantastic and the family pics are precious! I hope that you and yours have a very Merry Christmas!

Felix the Crafty Cat said...

Hi Darnell, Angela here, love your cards and I love you! How good of you to mention me on your blog, such kind words.
Have a great Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Big festive hugs, Angela x

Gerrina said...

Great post to read! Love the cards, the one for LIM is so funny! Merry Christmas, Gerrina

Dana said...

Awesome cards! I love how you used the ad!

Jeanne H said...

Just a note to wish you and your wonderful family a joyous and happy Christmas! Hugs to you!

Jeanne H said...

Just a note to wish you and your wonderful family a joyous and happy Christmas! Hugs to you!

Miriam Prantner said...

Your posts crack me up! Thanks for keeping it real, I love the goggly eyes and the booger/worm on the first one and LOVE the coloring on the pine cone on these second!

Bobby said...

Zip lines and barrel rolling. The boys must have been in their glory. I love the rustic pine cone card. It's just my style.

Jules said...

Hi Darnell

Catching up at last ahead of the lovely Christmas chill!

I love the pine cone on your second card very much.

Have a really lovely Christmas Darnell and a very happy 2014!

Love Jules xx

Jessi Fogan said...

I got as far as the birdie boog before I started laughing & couldn't stop! lol! Love that fun ad - perfect for this :) That pine cone is gorgeous - and my goodness, how much my kids would LOVE that park!! Totally awesome :)

cotnob said...

Fabulous cards Darnell, great designs - I just love the googly eyes on the first one and the pine cone looks so beautiful.
Pauline
x

Karen Davis said...

Darnell, your house must be a laugh a minute. Your blog is such a tonic.
Oh how I love your owl/birdie card. So clever using advertising so effectively. Love you Fusion card too. I will be dropping by for my 'fix'. A belated Merry Christmas and all the best for the New Year.

Joni Andaya said...

Lovely cards Darnel, those birds with googly eyes, so fun!

Cindy Brumbaugh said...

Love that pine cone! So rustic and elegant for Christmas. Love the pics of those young lads, too. How blessed you are!

Kelly Griglione said...

Such a creative card ... the night owl and early bird! Way to turn that into a card, Darnell! Plus I like the restrained colors of it. Very modern! And your pine cone is so fabulous. It practically jumps to life on your card. So glad you stopped in to the Fusion Challenge as we start it up again!

Notes by Nina said...

Fabulous cards Darnell, the birds are adorable and made me smile.

Anonymous said...

Great cards, Darnell !! These are fun & clever !!
Booger a la bird... Lol !!! ;))
Glad to see celebratory pics from the boys bday!! :D
Makes me smile !