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 22, 2014

Earth Day 2014 ~ NBUS #121

Hello Earthlings!

Today is Earth Day 2014 and how silly, really, that every day isn't Earth day!
sustainable transportation for green cities

I started a different card than the one I'm showing today. I know this happens to you, too, as you start with a vague idea of what you want to do and then the hamster in your head starts to get into it and you feel like your fingers are simply working a Ouija Board. The goal then is just to be pleasantly surprised and happy with the result! You look around the room in a little disbelief and seeing no one else there, you think, "Hey, I made that!"

For my Earth Day card, Hammy's friend Que Squirrel is the featured star. He hearts you from under a tree filled with diamond flowers: 
Love the Earth. It feeds and houses you.

It's another really simple card using only three stamps. It was a OLC until the very last minute when a pink card base seemed to be needed, one embossed with a Cuttlebug Distressed Stripes embossing folder. I don't know the manufacture of the little squirrel stamp (NBUS) or the grass stamp. As you can see, the diamonds are quite ripe and ready for picking. I picked one of them already.

The tree is a Hero Arts stamp called Slanted Tree (K5094) and because it is a BIG stamp, I am entering my card in the current Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge, where BIG stamp is the brief.
Simon Monday Challenge Blog
And over at Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge, the theme is "Animal Antics," so I'm also linking there.
Simon Wednesday Challenge Blog

I'm also entering Addicted to Stamps and More where the challenge is the beloved "Anything Goes."
GRAB OUR BADGE!
And the current theme at another favorite challenge, Less Is More, is "Makes Me Smile." Anything with squirrels makes me smile (don't tell the hamster dude) and the beauty of our great Earth makes me smile.
Please make sure you click on the links to the challenges for all the details on rules, sponsors, and prizes. 

Because one of these challenges is closing in 22 minutes, I am going to post this and I'll be back later today or tomorrow with some family and friend photos to share.

~~~




~~~

Enjoy your day! No, seriously, enjoy.  LITS!* 

As always, 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! Please let me know you came by, so I can be sure and return the flavor! 
  
 
*Life Is Too Short!

To open the pop-up comment box that let's you jump to the end w/o scrolling:
Click CTL + Home.
Click the Home tab under my blog banner which resets the post.
Click Page Down to reach the end of the post.
Click Comments and the pop-up box opens.
Click Jump to Comment Form; no more car pool tunnel!
Mwah!

62 comments:

Viv said...

happy Earth Day to you too Darnell! great card.

Hannelie said...

Darnell the grass looks so real! I want to reach out and touch it!
Gorgeous card!

Alanna said...

What a fabulous card Darnell. I love the scene you've created with that gorgeous tree and the embossed background is the perfect touch.

Kathyk said...

Smashing card, Darnell, Happy Earth Day Birthday to you too!

Kathyk

Lisa Elton said...

Happy Earth Day Darnell!! This is as cute as can be. Love those diamond flowers and your wee bit of blue sky!

Monika Reeck said...

Happy Earth Day to youo too dear Darnel... I love that cute animal on your card soo sooo cute and love his eyes...nice flowers on the three...sweet card in pink...big hugs, Monika from Germany

Christine said...

Lovely card Darnell and a happy Earth Day!
Christine

Anonymous said...

That tree reminds me of a card I made years ago, I added small flowers to it, always one of my favorites! And yours is absolutely beautiful!!!!

Suze Bain said...

What a happy, blingtastic card Darnell. Love the googly eyes. Xx

Cindy Brumbaugh said...

Love that blue at the top- a super great design element, Darnell. This is a smile-maker!

Sue - said...

Super card - Happy Earth Day to you Darnell.

Jessi Fogan said...

If you hadn't said you already picked one I never would have spotted it, but my hamster made me go look ;) Squirrels make me happy - Earth makes me happy - Earthlings...well, some of them make me happy :) LOVE the pink striped base, and that adorable little squirrel with the googles!

jimlynn said...

That pink card base just sets off the whole little scene! Loving the little squirrel and of course the diamonds in the flowers and that wonderful cover of green grass! PRECIOUS!
Lynn

Irish Cherokee said...

Super cute card Darnell. Sorry I haven't been around for a bit. Back now and saying thank you.

Anita in France said...

Super cute, Darnell ... the little googley eyed squizzel is such a sweetie, wearing his heart on his sleeve ... er, no, chest! There are 26 diamonds still left, ready for picking ... a tiara perhaps? Anita :)

Pia S said...

This is so cute! Love the googly eyes and decorated flowers, such sweet details!

Anne said...

Happy Earth Day Darnell! Super card.
Thank you for joining us at Less is More.
Anne
LIM Designer

Tracey McNeely said...

Darnell happy Earth Day! Love your card and that tree is fantastic with those sweet gems. I am sending you an email with a link to a You Tube video that I think might make sense to you--LOL

Kathleen said...

Great card and love the little squirrel. Now I wonder what would happen if the Earth was filled with jewel trees, it certainly would not be a better place.

Kath x

Bobby said...

Who wouldn't smile at that kooky squirrel. And a diamond encrusted tree? How great is that! Happy Earth Day, Darnell. You have beautified it.

Sue said...

Happy Earth Day from me too.
Your card is wonderful Darnell. I love the tree with the sparkly blossoms and adorable squirrel. The grass looks amazing.
hugs Sue xx

Dana said...

Awesome card!! I love the tree, its gorgeous with all those pretty flowers!!!

Shannon J said...

Hammy pulled out all the stops on this one! Just gorgeous! And YES...every day should be Earth Day!

Happy Dance said...

Another beauty to add to your repertoire. Glad to hear your hammie is cooperating with you...mine's not! The pinks and diamonds are wonderful, as is Monsieur Squirrel. Love this. : ) Bev
P.S. Happy Earth Day to you as well! Love your mother (earth!)

Aileen said...

Loving your blossom tree and Mr squirrel is a real cutie. x

G Peplow said...

Hi Darnell :D Beautiful card, the flowers on your tree are bright and sunny, just like you !!!That's a pretty cute squirrel too! Earth day? Well I didn't know that ! Have a happy one anyway Hugs Gay x

Sheila H said...

That little squirrel is super cute. The big tree is fab, and the bling just perfect! Happy Earth Day to us all :)

Inkyfingers said...

What a sweet card Darnell, and the diamond tree makes me smile. Perhaps we should think of all trees as being as precious as Diamond Trees and then maybe they would stop destroying the rain forests.
Hugs
Carol x

Sue said...

What a gorgeous card Darnell love the grass and the cute squirrel lots of huggles Sue xx

Jacquie Southas said...

Hmm, where can I get me one of these diamond flower trees? It would be so pretty in the garden :) I'm not the biggest squirrel fan (nesting where they shouldn't & leaving nothing in the bird feeder for the birds, etc.), but this little one is hard to resist with the big eyes & sweet heart - all round great card for an Earth Day celebration Darnell! If I remember correctly SSS Wednesday challenge is to use an animal - not sure when the deadline is though.

Carol L said...

I'm sure you had a happy earth day because your card just brings a big smile to my face too! Cute critter and such a pretty budding tree too!

Paper Creations by Shirley said...

Beautiful Earth Day design Darnell. The bling on the tree is fabulous. I hope you had a wonderful Easter, Shirleyxx

Dawn @ LilyPinkScraps said...

Very cute!! Lovely clean fresh look and those diamonds really do look ripe for picking :)

Joyce said...

A very happy Earth Day to you, too. Super card, and very nice comics today.

MaryH said...

You & Hammy created a super Earth Day card. (I'm with you, I thought Earth Day was _every_ day, but then..whaddaIno? I am in love with that diamond tree. Your grass looks very real and QS is very cute in it. We have lots of QS here in our neighborhood, and they scamper through the grass very quickly if disturbed. We don't have diamond trees for them either. The pink background looked pretty with the pink flowers surrounding the diamonds. Good luck with all the challenges. And tell Hammy he did good. I know you probably let him do the hard stuff, but you can take a bow too. TFS & HUGS.

Lee-Anne said...

Happy Earth Day, Darnell! Lovin' that sweet little squirrel! We have feeders for the squirrels in our yard...love when the babies start to arrive and we can watch them grow up! Sadly, our squirrels do not have diamond trees...must look into that...lol!

Skye said...

I hope you had a happy Earth Day. Fantastic card. Money mightn't grow on trees but you grow beautiful diamond trees. Love the cute squirrel.

Anonymous said...

Hi Darnell,You created a very cute little scene there with Hammy's little friend!
Have a happy day :)
Nessa xxx

Unknown said...

Happy Earth Day Dippy. Love your cute card........can you give me the growing instructions for your diamond tree as I'd love to have one (or two!!!) in my garden........:-)

Hugs.

Karendipity xxx

MRS DUCK said...

Hi Darnell
What a fab card. A tree full of diamonds, wouldn't that be a treat! Love the tree stamp. Such an interesting shape.
Have a great day.
Ang x

Gerrina said...

A beautiful card (I love squirrels!); the tree is super! Have a creative week, Gerrina

Sandra said...

what a darling card! The tree is so pretty and the little squirrel is really cute! Thank you so much for joining us at Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge. Hugs, Sandra

Redanne said...

Belated Happy Earth Day to you too. The squirrel is a real cutie and I would love to have a diamond tree in the garden, not to pick, just to look at! Hugs, Annie xx

Chris Dring said...

Ooooh! Darnell! I love this card! So simple but aren't those the best kind?! I had a "Where's Waldo" moment and had to find the picked diamond! LOL! Happy Earth Day to you! (Yes, I know it's the next day, but I'm only getting to my Bloglovin reader now!)

Deborah Frings said...

Darnell - first of all your Earth Day card is just fabulous! Love the tree full of diamond flowers and the cute squiggle!! Thanks so much for playing along with ASM this week.

Second - I had such a great surprise yesterday when I opened my post! Thank you so much for the lovely card - I'll be sharing a picture of it later xx

Diane Jaquay said...

Love the gem filled tree, and of course the cute little squirrel!

Petra Swart said...

Oh, that squirrel is a cutie, Darnell - love his eyes!! Such a beautiful tree stamp and the bling looks lovely!! Very sweet card!!
Greetings form Africa!!

Chrissie said...

I was pleased to see that your little squirrel smiled back at me Darnell!
Thanks so much
Chrissie
"Less is More"

Diane said...

Darnell what a wonderful way you designed the grass, super cute tree and squirrel.

Hugs diane

Deepti said...

Love ur card, like the way u added the cite squirrel :)

Greta said...

Wonderful card, Darnell, & I love the cartoons with those sayings that are so true!

Karen Petitt said...

Missy Darnell that is gorgeous! And you have fired a sparkle in 'magination - got an idea and will share as soon as I can.
Beautiful card, have enjoyed looking at all the creations I have missed and the family photo's too. Got to go stamp something now! Karen xx

Sharon Underwood said...

What a wonderful card for Earth Day! Love your comments, and I don't blame you one bit for picking one of those gorgeous diamond "berries." I really like how you added a touch of blue across the top for the sky. Gorgeous!

Pat said...

The squirrel is extremely cute, Darnell and that tree fills the card excellently, a real bling tree. Wouldn't it be great if you could just pick diamonds off a tree like that. x

Danielle Vincent said...

Wonderful card!! Love your blingy blossoms on the tree. Thanks for joining us thsi week at ATS&M.

Kim Heggins said...

Sweet, sweet card Darnell! I love your adorable little comics too.

Barb Ghig said...

I'm so sorry to be posting so late...I do hope you had a wonderful 'Earth Day'!

I love your sweet card...it reminds me of a lovely spring day, complete with diamond flowers (now, wouldn't that be nice IRL?)! Love that cute little squirrel and all the fluffy grass you added to your scene, too!

Good luck in all the challenges!

cm said...

Belated Happy Earth Day - although I agree: all days should celebrate this wonderful world of ours. Your card = sheer delight!! Fabulous and adorable!!
c

Brenda said...

I am loving your diamond tree Darnell! I wish I had one of those in my backyard, or better yet, I'd take a money tree! lol Cute, cute card and I so agree with the sentiment, "love the earth, it feeds and houses you". Happy Earth Day to you my friend! Hugs

Princess Judy Palmer said...

I need to find a diamond tree. And a pawn shop. I have to support my habit somehow you know!

Cute card with a great nature scene even if diamonds don't grow on trees. A girl can dream.

Linda said...

Another fabulous creation Darnell .... I'd love a tree full of diamonds (what girl wouldn't!)It would definitely make me smile :) Have a great weekend ..... hugs Linda xx

Alrik said...

Wow! This is awesome! Love the coloring and the beautiful details.
What a wonderful project, all of the details are stunning!It's very inspiring.