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!

January 11, 2015

#grateful

Never-Before-Used-Schtuff (Stamps, Dies, EFs, etc.)Hey! How's your day going?

If you're looking for NBUS Challenge #3, please click HERE.

~~~

After my last extra vaganza post, I'm keeping the gabbing limited to my card, the challenges, and then ~ whee ~ more introductions of new friends!

Most of you are familiar with the stamp company "My Favorite Things," (MFT) right?! They have outstanding products and they've started the new year by making new blogs for their sketch challenge and color challenge and I made a card that will work for both.
Here is the Sketch Challenge sketch:
And here are the Color Challenge colors:
Ingredients

Papertrey Ink (PTI) vintage cream card base. · A mat of teal vellum under a snippet of patterned butterfly vellum. · The NBUS butterfly is die cut from my very last piece of rust colored (persimmonish) vellum using the MFT butterfly die. · After cutting, I stamped the matching MFT butterfly in Staz-On ink. · Once dry, I used gold and black WOS to add some sparkle. · The flag banner is one layer of yellow using an MFT DieNamics fishtail die and one layer of lime using a PTI die. · The NBUS sediment was stamped in Versafine ink. Two black gems for eyes and three turkoise body gems were added for punctuation. 

Other Challenges

A lot of my bloggie friends are playing in and supporting my NBUS Challenge and they have challenges of their own, so it's my absolute pleasure to play in and support their challenges.

  • First up is Words 2 Scrap By. The challenge this month allows YOU to pick the word you want prefaced by a # as a nod to today's social media. I knew immediately that my word would be grateful. 
  • Diana of DLART joined in my NBUS Challenge and invited me to join in her January Linky Party, where the theme is "Anything Goes," so I'm happy to do that.
  • And with so many snippets used in my card, I am thrilled to hop into a lorry (I like truckers) and buzz by Pixie's Snippets Playground to show my card to my mates there.
  • And what do you know, one of my playmates at Pixie's is Mrs. A., who runs her own monthly challenge showcasing butterflies! It's like it was meant to be! The current brief at Mrs. A.'s Butterfly Challenge is to make a thank you card with at least one butter fly! Shazambam!
Our Badge!!!DL.ART JANUARY LINKY CHALLENGE

Pixies Crafty Workshop   Grab My Button.

Just click on the links to any of these fabulous challenges for the details on rules, sponsors, and prizes!

~~~

New Friends Corner

Here are five more talented new friends for you to meet!

Annie of Nann's Craftinest. Annie has only been blogging since July 2014, so I hope you will make a special effort to visit and welcome her to Blogland! I'd love to have some company in Annie's follower box! I met Annie through WOYWW and I think she is a hoot. I love her creativity and her beautiful photographs of local Canadian flora and fauna!

Stef of Skylark's Snippets. Stef has been blogging now and then since 2009. I think she would love to have a visit and encouragement from you. Stef has a passion for card-making, loves to play in challenges, and has won many awards. She also loves lots of other crafty hobbies, so I'm pretty sure you'll have more than one thing in common with Stef!

Vijaylaxmi Siyal (Shalu) of All By Heart Creating...!! Shalu has been blogging since 2012. She enjoys challenges and has received honors for her works of art. She is a Junior Engineer who loves to craft and upcycle products as a way of relaxing. Shalu makes beautiful cards and outstanding 3D altered art!

Natalie of Incognito ~ Cards by Natalie. Natalie is from Germany and she has been blogging since 2011. She is a teacher who loves doing arts and crafts with her students. She is an excellent artist and card maker who prefers to experiment with different styles, rather than just limiting herself to one. Natalie is on several design teams where she is able to inspire others with her outstanding creations!

Angela Walters of Life with a Wiener Dog. I love wiener dogs and I love that Angela named her blog that! She has been blogging since 2010 and you may have seen her awesome cards in challenge galleries. Angela is in need of back surgery and making cards helps to take her mind off the pain. In spite of her pain, her cards are happy and her blog is upbeat and enthusiastic!

Thank you for joining, ladies, and welcome to the Playhouse!

~~~

#grateful

Thank you again for all your support of my NBUS Challenge #3! If I haven't been to visit lately, it's because I am slowly making my way through the gallery to visit and comment on all the extraordinary works of art that have been linked. As I write this, there are 243 cards in the gallery and there are still ten more days to play! You guys are the best and so is your talent!! Mwah!

BTW, to make it easy for you to have forever access to all that awesome inspiration, I have made a Pinterest Board.

~~~

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!
If you ask me a question in your comment, please remember to leave
me your email address so I can respond. Thank you!

76 comments:

DIANA L. said...


This is really beautiful I just love butterflies and the design is perfect I love it.
Thank you for entering THE DL.ART January linky challenge. Have a blessed day
DIANA L.
http://dianamlarson.blogspot.com http://dianamlarson.ctmh.com

Lizzy Hill said...

What a GORGEOUS card...that butterfly ROCKS:):) Oh MY! That is one popular NBUS you've got going. Or us scrappers just have too many supplies [winks!!!].....xo

Inkyfingers said...

How clever you are to fit these challenges so perfectly! I love your pretty butterfly Darnell and the teal butterfly background is scrumptious.
Hugs
Carol x

Milka Gubo said...

GORGEOUS card, Darnell! Great take on sketch and colors. And butterfly! Outstanding!!! :-D Like you card a lot :-D
Have a wonderful day and enjoy :-D
hugs
Milka

Čarovnije z male kmetije said...

Hello Darnell,I'm new follower, I'm glad to find your blog, you have realy beautiful cards, and i feel that you are very nice person.

Kathyk said...

Lovely card from the sketch Darnell.

Happy Sunday

Kathyk

Sarah said...

A perfect card on both counts Darnell and thanks for the heads up on the MFT blogs, I have several sets and never quite know what to do with them...my bad!! xx

Sammy said...

Oh what a fabulous card Darnell! I really love teal at the moment, so this caught my eye straight away as I scrolled through my blog feed!

In other news, as soon as I have finished the card currently waiting to be assembled on my desk, my box of brand new Tim Holtz NBUS and I are going to spend a lovely afternoon together in honour of your challenge. I have been looking forward to this for aaaages! :-) x

Lyn said...

Gorgeous card I love the teal butterfly background. How awesomely popular is your NBUS challenge <3

susiestacey said...

Such an elegant card, love the beautiful large vellum butterfly x Susan x

Diane said...

Gorgeous card ...that butterfly looks so real!! And thanks for the heads up on the challenges...how thoughtful and FUN!! I would love for you to play at our weekly challenge at http://classycardsnsuch.blogspot.com/
we have our current challenges and challenges to come on the "tabs" on the right side bar! See you!!

Natalie said...

lovely cards, Darnell.
Thanks for the nice words on my blog and here in your post about me. :)
Have a lovely sunday!
Hugs,
Natalie

Carole Pollard said...

Beautiful card today tis a fabulous design that butterfly looks amazing and I love your choice of colours gorgeous love and hugs Carole x

Canonbury creations said...

Gorgeous card Darnell love that butterfly! I forgot to link my card to your challenge but I will next time :)
Val x

Redanne said...

Oh well - butterflies are my favourite creature ever and your card is so, so beautiful! I love this wonderful card.

You are up to 246 entries on your NBUS challenge! Huge Congratulations Darnell, I better get a card made quick so that I can enter too.... Big hugs, Annie xxx

Sue said...

Beautiful card.

Hope you have a lovely day. Sue

Caz said...

Beautiful card as always :-) I love meeting new people through your friends section!! I never knew there were so many challenges and the like, I love going around and looking at them all!!

Carole Z said...

Beautiful card Darnell, love the butterfly...weekend could be better...I've sneaked to the computer whilst Tom is at local DIY store getting more felt for the roof of the craft barn, as it came off in the gales Friday night. Not the weekend we anticipated! Hugs Carole Z X

Hussena said...

What a beautiful card Darnell ..I love your take on the various challenges and thank you so much for enabling us about the various new challenges :)
Hope you have a good day :)

Jeanne said...

What a lovely card, Darnell. I love butterflies and this card is chock full of them. Yay! great way to start a new day. The sentiment is sweet and the colors really stand out on the white background. Being grateful is a wonderful way to be. Thank you for all you do!

Pat said...

I adore this pretty card Darnell with your vellum butterflies and such lovely colours too, and the large butterfly is a stunner! x

Brenda said...

I have been slowly learning about MFT and of course I am loving their products-well I should say stamps and dies that I've looked at. I really want to try their inks, but I don't use a ton of inks, but one day....Now they have blogs with sketches and color challenges?! I so can't keep up! lol I love the card you made, that butterfly is stunning, your spot on with the sketch and I love how you have the color combo incorporated in your card too. Such beautiful colors as well! And now you are entering all those challenge with this one beautiful card, your amazing! And your card is amazing too! Hugs, Brenda

Anita in France said...

The sun is shining and the sky is blue, Darnell ... and your beautiful butterfly card just flew delicately and gently into view! How perfect, it's such a delight to behold ... a true harbinger of spring! Grateful for you, sweet friend! Hugs, Anita :)

Stamps and Paper said...

Love your beautiful butterfly card Darnell...gorgeous colours too

Anne

jimlynn said...

The pop of the butterfly against the white and blue is stunning! Gorgeous card Darnell!
Lynn

cotnob said...

This is a beautiful card Darnell, such a gorgeous butterfly and pretty blues.
Pauline
x

Paper Creations by Shirley said...

Beautiful ! I love the butterfly. I hope you are doing well, Happy Sunday, Shirleyxx

cm said...

Swooning excessively over the stunning butterfly beauty you've showcased! The vellum butterflies are lovely, but its that star of the show larger one that has me drooling. LOVE this immensely. LOVE, I tell you!
Hugs~c

Maura said...

Wow, I'm loving what you did with the colored vellum here, Darnell. I have never used colored vellum before so you have me thinking now... (and adding to my wish lis!). Lovely card. BTW, the link to the pinterest board was not working for me. Happy Sunday!

Lisa said...

Wow, what a gorgeous card!! The butterfly looks amazing!! The colors are fabulous!! Love this!! Have a great day :)

Lisa
A Mermaid's Crafts

Vijaylaxmi Siyal said...

Wow Darnell ....your card is truly beautiful...loved the colors n vellum butterfly....!! I am grateful to you for introducing me here on your blog...really mean a lot to me...made my day...thank you so so much...will always remain in touch with you.

conil said...

MWAH back atcha! Your MFT challenge take is gorjuss...love that butterfly.

oldpunca said...

Dear Darnell, your butterfly card is very nice and the background is fantastic. :-)
Hugs, Sonja

Petra Swart said...

Hi Darnell!!!
When I see stunning butterflies like the one on your card, I always say to myself I should use more butterflies on my cards, but it never happens!!!! I think your card has inspired me to pull out my butterfly stamps!!! You have really done well with the colours and the sketch!!! Beautiful card - love it!!!
Have a great week!!!

Taunya Butler said...

Hey there - sweet lady!! Love this card - that vellum butterfly is so stunning, beyond stunning!! Love how it looks on this way coolly put together card!! That butterfly printed vellum layer looks so great with the whole composition of the card - You just made a gorgeous card!!! Love everything about it!!!

Carol L said...

That sure is one gorgeous butterfly that landed on your card! Stunning background too, and I love the colors!

MRS DUCK said...

Hi Darnell
Thanks for popping by The Pond. Fab card you have here. The butterfly is stunning. It almost looks real!
Have a great Sunday.
Ang x

Tracey McNeely said...

This is stunning Darnell, that vellum is so perfectly shaded for your butterfly!

Kara Lynne said...

Such a creative way to blend those challenges and WOW that vellum butterfly is amazing!!

Hettie said...

This is beautiful Dahling! Such a lovely card.
Hugs
xx

Shelly said...

Happy Sunday, Darnell! GORGEOUS card! Love that butterfly! :)

mamapez5 said...

What a beautiful butterfly! I wouldn´t have thought to use coloured vellum like that. And you managed to match the colour and sketch challenges, so well done. Kate x

Kathleen said...

Gorgeous card Darnell and love the colours of the challenge that you have used so well.
I hope to enter your NBUS challenge but time is running out and it certainly is later than I think.

Kath x

Skylark said...

Thank you so much for your kind words of introduction and the lovely comments you have left on my blog. It is wonderful to have so many crafting friends from all over the world. My new 'schtuff' has arrived so hopefully will get a chance to join in with your challenge. What a great idea, though what I really need is a challenge that uses 'schtuff' that's been lurking in the bottom of a drawer for years! Stef x

Anonymous said...

Beautiful card. Going to visit the new friends :)

Rubeena I. said...

Just discovered you - following your blog now! Looking forward to getting to know you and seeing your fabulous creations :) you sound super sweet!!

Helen F. said...

Ohhh Darnell, your card is stunning! Love the MFT butterfly stamp and die!

JD/ Jill said...

Beautiful butterfly card!

Jerrie said...

Darnell, thank you for sharing your talent with us. I am sure you are very busy if you are making cards and commenting on all the NBUS entries. I would like to know when your birthday is an your addy if that would be possible. Perhaps some well deserved fun mail could come your way!

BobbisTreasure said...

So happy you are able to join us at Words 2 Scrap By! I love all of the vellum layers - gives and ethereal effect to a pretty card.

Karen said...

Oh Darnell, this is just gorgeous!!! I adore butterflies and this card makes my heart flutter. :o) What stunning butterflies and colors... beautiful takes on the challenges, my friend! Always a pleasure to visit you and be inspired. :o)

Hugs and blessings,
Karen

Susanne Vargas said...

This is such a delightful butterfly card! Love that you stamped it on vellum and added some shimmer!

Cat Craig said...

I just got my hands on a black WOS...isn't it fun. Your butterfly is beautiful and your card is Fab!

Lisa Elton said...

I sure can't wait to see butterflies fluttering about instead of snowflakes! This beautiful card of yours will have to hold me over!!

sandie said...

Gorgeous combo of real vellum and DSP, loving that LLOK Darnell, have a fun week x

Di said...

Wonderful card Darnell! Love every element - but especially that mahoooooosive butterfly all ready to take off and fly.

Hugs

Di xx

Nannie4 said...

Thank you, Darnell for that wonderful introduction.:) Much appreciated. Now I must get busy visiting blogs. {smile}

Sheila H said...

Your card is beautiful :)

Mrs A. said...

So grateful that you fluttered by with this maoohoosive butterfly. Loving those colours and the backing paper and wadder you know 2 new challenges to go and puruse too. Hugs Mrs A.

Gerrina said...

Wowie: that butterfly is awesome!! Love the rest of the card, but the colours on the butterfly remind me of one in a photo I made years ago and I really liked that one... Have a good week and enjoy all the linked cards for the NBUS-Challenge! Gerrina xx

Sarn said...

Totally awesome butterfly card and perfect for the sketch xxx

TeamMould said...

I just love your work, I am very inspired by it.

Thank you
Jessica

be sure to visit my blog too:
http://jessicalynnoriginalstamps.blogspot.com/

Ros Crawford said...

So lovely ... The butterfly panel is really beautiful!

Geri said...

Your butterfly is GORGEOUS! I darn near fell off my chair when I read your post & discovered that this beauty was hand crafted! The colors that you chose are stunning with the rust vellum. Love how the background of pretty blue flutter-bys highlight the grand poopa fly!

Unknown said...

Lovely post, enjoyed looking at all your cards. Have already joined in over at MFT but am off to play along with the snippet Pixie :) thanks for all you share :)

Bobby said...

It looks like that butterfly will just take wing and land on the nearest shoulder, Darnell. I love the addition of colored vellum over the patterned paper.

Sybrina K said...

Hi, Darnell.

This is just so lovely! I smiled when you said you cut into your last piece of rust vellum because I can really appreciate hoarding that last piece of something special. But, I'm so glad you did because your butterfly is stunning!

Thanks for being such a good friend to us at Words 2 Scrap By! We're glad you joined our January social-media challenge. :)

Kirsty Vittetoe said...

Fabulous....love the colour and the design is gorgeous, I am big fan of MFT too!

Holly AKA KopyKat said...

This is so beautiful!

Shona Chambers said...

So much 'vellumy' goodness!! The teal is so pretty but I'm in love with your butterfly. Gosh its incredible, have never seen vellum in that colour. You've made it look so real, its spectacular.....yay you!!!!!

Cathy said...

LOVE your butterfly Darnell, now that's more goodies I have to add to my wishlist! Gorgeous card, Cathy x

Kristie Goulet said...

Such a gorgeous card, Darnell! Love that butterfly!

Robin said...

Your work on all these Challenges is great! How do you keep up with everything? Do you sleep? You just create such awesome creations and daily blogging! I need some of your energy (and creativity)! Big hugs to you Darnell!

Greta said...

Great use of the colors & sketch, Darnell! So glad to see you in the W2SB gallery!

Susan R. Opel said...

Wow! Darnell - this is absolutely STUNNING. Seriously. THANKS so much for joining in with the MFT challenge!

Princess Judy Palmer said...

Gorgeous butterfly card!