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!

October 22, 2015

It's Your Day!

Hi Everyone!

I'm popping in today with only one card, a couple of important PSAs, a Mister update, and some new friends for you to meet.

So what happened with regard to my card today was that I could NOT not make it once I saw the photo prompt over at The Paper Players.

And since I needed a masculine birthday card, I made this:
in response to this:
I'm sure it's happened, but I can't remember ever seeing a challenge before ~ and I've played in a lot of them ~ where I had the prezack image depicted in the photo inspiration! I could NOT not play!

I used my NBUS Papertrey Ink vertical Sentiment Splits die, only instead of putting a sediment in the split, I put a couple of score lines. The leaves DSP is by Tim Coffey for K and Company. The acorn leaves (heat embossed in black) and the sediment (heat embossed in white) are both from SU. The NBUS splat is from the Waltzingmouse Stamps set, "Splat That."
Take it, it's yours
In addition to The Paper Players, I am entering the City Crafter Challenge: Into the Wood.


~~~

Public Service Announcements

I wanted to remind you about the Caring Hearts Card Drive which is running October 3rd-November 27th. 
Here is my stack of 55 cards ready to be popped in the box and mailed. Thank you to Kim and Harriet for their contributions to the pile!
If you have extra handmade or upcycled or recycled holiday cards in your stash, please click on the link and contribute to this wonderful charity providing handmade holiday cards to nursing homes!

~~~

Second, a lot of you have heard of the wonderful Michele, owner-illustrator of CAS-ual Fridays Stamps and I know a lot of you have played in the challenge she runs. In light of October Breast Cancer Awareness, Michele recently revealed that she found out on August 17th that she has breast cancer. She discovered it during a self-exam. 

Michele is now on a selfless mission to remind women of the importance of monthly self-exams. She has created this badge:
Please share this...
Michele is asking that we place her badge on our side bars or in a post as a reminder to each other to do self-exams every month on the 17th. The sobering statistics are that 1 in 8 women will develop breast cancer so the life you save will be your own! I'm happy to spread the word and I send my best wishes to Michele for a full and speedy recovery.

~~~

Update

I thought you might like to see the Mister modeling the hip brace he's had to wear 24 hours a day for the last six weeks:
This contraption helped his hamstring reattach successfully following surgery (for which we are grateful), but it also kept him from being able to sit down for six weeks. Today it came off!!! 

Of course, he can't immediately sit quite yet, nor can he walk without crutches because he is still having complications from the DVT which has resulted in his left leg and foot remaining swollen and painful. So my nursing duties continue for a while longer, but it's a huge improvement to get that brace off! Now he can sleep on his stomach and start physical therapy! Hopefully the PT will also resolve the last of the DVT, so it's all good!

~~~

New Friends Corner

Thank you for the opportunity to introduce you to five more fabulous new friends of mine!

Jeanne Tomshack of Creative Bliss. Jeanne started her blog in 2007! She is a SAHM to two busy girls. When she isn't making cards, she enjoys digital scrapping, cross-stitching, knitting, crocheting, and thrift store shopping. Like so many of us, Jeanne enjoys blogging and reading other crafty blogs for inspiration. Crafting and blogging are, in Jeanne's words, "creative bliss!"

Maja of Little Paper House. Maja has been blogging since 2013. She is a designer whose CAS card art is sensational and impeccably made. Her blog is also a wonderful journey with her amazing photography. There are even photos of her raising a baby fawn to buckhood! You'll need a favorite beverage as you wander through her enchanting blog!

Tammie Edgerton of One Happy Stamper. Tam has been a happy stamping blogger since 2010, but she got hooked on stamping in 2009. As you can imagine, Tam has served on design teams and entered and won many challenges over the years. She is truly a pleasure to visit and her cards and coloring are always bright, happy, and expertly made. You'll leave with a smile!

Anita of Just a Pigment of My Imagination. Anita also started blogging in 2010 and she, too, has served on many design teams and entered and won many challenges. Anita first became inspired by all the other blogs she was visiting and so she decided to join in the fun and began sharing her own creations. Anita is an expert colorist who most definitely will inspire you!

Joan of Late Night Stamping. Joan is from North Yorkshire and she also began blogging in 2010. She is a retired lady who loves playing with rubber stamps and she has also served on many design teams and entered and won many challenges. She is an expert with the inks and she is also inspiring in how she uses her snippets of this and that!

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

~~~

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 join as a follower! Please let me know you came by, so I can be sure and return the flavor!

It's going to be a long day for me with a trip to the dentist to affix a crown over a molar I broke on Sunday. I may or may not have been eating honey-roasted almonds, hard as rocks. (The Mister and I feel that a good marriage is based on our taking turns being idiots.)

*Life is too short!

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75 comments:

Ustvarjalni utrinki Tamara P. said...

Dear Darnell
another fab creation from your craft room
have a blessed and lovely day
hugs Tamara

kiwimeskreations said...

Wonderful card Darnell - that leaf was crying out to used !!
Blessings
Maxine

Julie B said...

Glad to hear the Mister is improving and the brace is now off, hope progress is smooth to full mobility.
Fab card and I agree it is such a buzz when the image on the challenge is what you have! :)

Sammy said...

Such a gorgeous card Darnell, and you were obviously meant to enter this one!
And very, very glad to hear that Mister has taken another step in the right direction, so to speak. Having had DVT when I was pregnant, I know how painful (and terrifying!) it can be, so my sympathies are with him! x

Sarn said...

Wahoo ... love your card.
Great news that the Mister is improving.
Hugs, Sarn xxx

Sue said...

Fab card.

So glad your hubby has the brace off. Hope he is soon throwing his crutches and chasing you round the kitchen table;)

Good luck at the dentist. Sue

rachel said...

a wonderful card Darnell and so pleased for your Hubby having had the hip brace off - it must be a relief for him!! Big hugs rachel x

Lynn said...

So glad that the brace is off...wonderful, wonderful news. And I'll keep praying for your husband and you that the swelling and pain are helped with the PT. So hard to watch those we love be in pain.

And your card..perfect inspiration! Love it!

Stamps and Paper said...

Lovely card Darnell love the autumn colours....so please to hear your hubby is progressing well

Anne

Canonbury creations said...

Lovely card Darnell, fabulous dp! So glad to hear the update on Mister, onwards and upwards.
Val x

Gerrina said...

Totally stunned here that you have the excact stamp for the challenge! Love how you added the patterned paper!
Good for Michelle to give us a reminder; and good that she did found it; i'll put that on my blog.
Hope that the revalidation goes quicker now all has come of; wish your DH succes and lots of energy for that! And for you: Keep on enjoying warmth from carfting friends and enjoying small everyday things! Hugs, Gerrina

KandA said...

Hi Darnell, so glad to hear the Mister is on the mend and I'm sure a quick and full recovery (along with softer honey-roasted almonds) are top of your christmas wish list. It's a good job you both have a sense of humour. Gorgous card xx

Julie Tucker-Wolek said...

YAY for the brace coming off!! LOVING the card! Those leaves are gorgeous!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Jeanne said...

Beautiful card! Wonderful and important message. Hope your friend has a full and complete recovery. Thank you so much for the update on the Mister! That contraption does NOT look fun at all. I hope his recovery continues on toward being full and complete as well. Hey! I see my face in your new friends corner. Thanks for that! Although my blog has been so quiet recently. Have not had the opportunity to work on anything in the longest time! Gotta work on remedying that. Big hugs, Darnell. You are an inspiration!

Susanne Vargas said...

It looks like that challenge was made for you - so, of course, you had to play! What are the chances of having the exact stamp! Your card is fabulous!
Mister must be so happy to have that brace removed! I am glad that things are moving forward!

Paper Creations by Shirley said...

Beautiful masculine card, and what a match to the challenge. Good to know that mister is improving. Take care, Hugs, Shirleyxx

Di said...

Wow Darnell - that card is just perfect! And the Mister's brace looked a fiercesome thing indeed. Am not sure I want to ask about things you normally have to do sitting down! I bet he's so pleased to be further along the recovery road!

Hugs

Di xx

Rainey's Craft Room said...

Lovely Autumnal card, great for a male. Glad to hear that Mister has been released from this contraption, looks very restrictive, hopefully now things will move forward for him. I hope your visit to the dentist is pain free and over quickly too. Take care,
Lorraine

Pat said...

I love your beautiful leaves Darnell and the complementary bp is gorgeous too and fancy having the very stamp shown on the challenge photo! So glad the Mister is out of his brace now and being able to move more freely will surely help his circulation too. What a whopping amount of cards to be able to send to the Caring Hearts card drive. To be honest I would love to do something similar but I only make more or less the amount I send out all the time but so worth while to do that if you have a large surplus. So sorry Michelle of CAS-ual Fridays has been suffering and will certainly take on board her drive to get people to self examine on a regular basis. Hope your trip to the dentist is not too painful too. x

Leslee said...

Beautiful, yet simple card! Glad your mister is making strides in the right direction!

Anonymous said...

Your right you could not, not play in this one!!! I'm glad to hear Mr. is on the road to recovery and doing better!!

I Card Everyone said...

This is fabulous, D ... LOve that Oak cluster - SU huh? Good news on the Mister - he'll be chasing you around again soon! Good wishes join yours for Michele... a fellow One L'er ... who has given us quite a gift with that message she's sharing.
=] Michele

Carol L said...

That's such a pretty card, and just perfect for Autumn. I'm so glad to hear the Mister is improving, and hopefully soon he'll work past those complications that developed and be feeling much better! Take care and have a great week ahead!

Cat Craig said...

Clearly you had to play that challenge, and you played very nicely. Glad the Mister is reaching another milestone on his road to recovery. I laughed out loud reading your last sentence. Hugs!

Kirsty Vittetoe said...

Beautiful work Darnell! Thanks for the link to the card drive too, will check it out!

conil said...

Remarkable that you had just the right stamp for your great birthday card. It was meant to be. Never heard of that happening before...so does this mean you're a trail blazer? Also remarkable that the Mister has that contraption off his leg. Seems like such a short time, though I'm sure it doesn't seem that way to you. Did you ever get that bell we spoke of? Yes, I had heard about Michele and that badge is firmly planted in my side bar. Think she's remarkable to be on this quest, as well. Hugs to you and the Mister.

TK said...

Awesome - the exact image! Great card. Congrats to the Mister.

Sandy said...

So glad Mister is sans brace now.
Lovely masculine card. I just made a card I added splatters to, but the splatter stamp is way more impressive.

Jacee said...

Lovely card Darnell
Hugs Jacee
Simply Paper Card Design

Jan Clothier said...

Love your autumn card. That DSP is fantastic.

HJ said...

Great card, DJ. Glad to hear Mister is progressing in his path to recovery. Thanks for introducing us to all the new friends. It's always interesting to check out their blogs and see their creativity.

Donna said...

Hello :)
It's great when a card just 'works', isn't it?
Fab card :)

Alice (scrAPpamondo) said...

Beautiful autumnal CAS, Darnell. Love the background and the design. So glad for your husband recovery, he must have pacience, but he is making progress.

Kristie Goulet said...

LOVE your CAS card, Darnell. Great news for the Mister.

Stella said...

Darnell this is a lovely take on our theme. Your car dis hgorgeous! Thanks so much for joining us at CCCB! Good to see you!

Carol said...

You made a wonderful card Darnell. Glad the mister is improving and hope your trip to the dentist wasn't too bad. Carol x

Barb said...

A lovely Autumn card Darnell. I love the splatters. So glad to hear that Mister is making good progress and the brace is now off. I hope the DVT is soon better. Barbxx

Birgit said...

This is a great manly card. I love the splatter and the background paper. I am glad your hubby is slowly on the mend and I am also hoping you are getting enough rest because being the main caregiver is tough. I am also impressed with having all your cards ready to go

Lisa Elton said...

What a co-inkydink that your stamp matched our inspiration photo!! Terrific card Darnell, so happy you could join us at the Paper Players!! Also happy to hear that the Mister is doing well!

Redanne said...

Terrific news about Mister but not such great news about your friend Michele, I hope, like my friend Tina that she makes a good recovery. Your autumn leaf card is beautiful, perfect for a man or a lady I think! Hugs, Annie xxx

Cris G. said...

Oh, yay for the matching leaves... what a coincidence! Your card turned out lovely.
Happy to know that the Mister is almost well.
Good luck tomorrow with the dentist... the honey-roasted almonds hard as rocks, that you didn't eat, stink.

Verna Angerhofer said...

I love your card design and I am so happy the Mister's brace is off too! What a relief!

Kathleen said...

Well God broke the mould when he made you, more's the pity, what a fab photo that would make for advertising purposes.... Do you want to end up like this, not if you use our super safe... blaaw, blaaw blaaw.
Spell check had a hissy fit then. lol
Well that must be unique as I, and never known anyone else who has seen a challenge using an image I or they have, first past the post again Darnell.

Keep up the good work

Jean said...

I love your leafy card Darnell, the colours are gorgeously seasonal.
I'm glad your Mister is on the mend even if the progress is a bit slow, it must be a great relief not to have to wear the hip brace all the time. Hope the physio is helpful.
Jean x

maria f. said...

Well how cool is that - to have that image in your stash! Lovely, it is. Thanks for all the news, though some of it ain't so good. Hope the Mister is enjoying his new freedom. And keeps on keepin' on.

oldpunca said...

Dear Darnell, you created a superb masculine card. I'm admiring your charity about sending so many cards for a nursing homes. We had on Slovenian Challenge blog the charity challenge Pink Badge. We have created cards for a foundation Europa Donna. I'm glad to hear good news about your husband's health . :-)
Hugs, Sonja

Jean said...

Gorgeous card! Hope the DH continues on the road to healing.

Pam said...

Love, love, love your card, Darnell! What a coinkydink that yu have that image. xo

Bobby said...

How could you not is right, Darnell, and the results are terrific. Thanks for the update on the Mister. I can't imagine not being able to sit for that long.

Claire Broadwater said...

Darnell, I love your card! I can't believe your stamp was the same! It was meant to be for you to play with us this week at The Paper Players! So happy you hubby is doing better. Poor guy! It doesn't look very comfy. Also, so sorry to hear about Michelle. I will pray for her and I appreciate you sharing the badge and the reminder. I always love to read your blog! Thanks again for playing with us this week! XX

Greta said...

Hurrah, hurrah!! That is some contraption & good riddance! Wishing for a very successful rehab! Hang in there, Nurse Nancy! That is something to see a challenge photo with a stamp you have & your card is brilliant, Darnell!

Inkyfingers said...

I agree it was absolutely necessary to make that card when you had the exact same stamp, and a very good job you made of it Darnell! Love the embossed lines.
I'm so glad to hear that the brace has come off and hope the Mister will soon be back to normal. Good luck at the dentist.
Hugs
Carol X

Linda said...

Gorgeous card......such a beautiful image, and I totally agree, how could you not join in! So glad to hear the Mister is doing well ..... enjoy the weekend ...... big hugs xx

Ros Crawford said...

Well that was a piece of luck having that stamp!! Terrific card Darnell! Thanks so much for playing along at CCCB!! Best wishes to the Mister!

Unknown said...

Hi Dippy. Looks like Hammy snuck into your stamp stash and found that amazing stamp they used for the inspiration!!! Absolutely perfect for the challenge.......how often does that happen? What a wonderful stash of cards you've made for the Caring Hearts card drive. I have Michele in my thoughts & prayers for a speedy recovery. Thanks so much for the update on Mister - both of you must be so relieved to get rid of that awful brace - but it was helping him to heal so that's a positive.

Hugs.

Karendipity xxx

Joanne James - The Crafty Owl said...

Great card Darnell - love how you were so truly inspired by this week's badge! Love that background paper too. Wishing the Mister a further speedy recovery too!! Thanks for joining us over at The Paper Players this week!

Geri said...

So happy to hear that Mister is rid of his rather uncomfortable looking contraption! Heck, crutches will seem like a breeze without having to lug this Star Wars looking gear along!

Your card....ABSOLUTELY love it to the moon and back...and then some! The rusting colors, the split panel, the white embossed sentiment...definitely a "firing on all cylinders" moment! Nice touch with the scored lines. Question: did you cut two pieces for the bottom angled panel in order to get the wee bit of background color to show through?

Adding Michele's badge to my blog shortly!

BożenA said...

Hello Darnell,
I hope this is your day and your husband :-) I am happy about that treatment is progressing. I'm a nurse, so perfectly I understand how hard it is to take care of the sick. Well, that can see light in the tunnel :-)
Your card is beautiful! Great matching colors, all perfectly integrated. Thank you for the beautiful inspiration.
hugs,
BozenA

Maura said...

Wow, Darnell - pretty amazing that you had the exact image! I like how creatively you used the sentiment split die, and the pp is fabulous! Glad to hear the mister has crossed this important threshold! May his progress continue- a bit (or more) each day!

Maura said...

Wow, Darnell - pretty amazing that you had the exact image! I like how creatively you used the sentiment split die, and the pp is fabulous! Glad to hear the mister has crossed this important threshold! May his progress continue- a bit (or more) each day!

Kim Heggins said...

Yipppee for Mister, that is fabulous news! And what a doll to pose for that photo. Your card is so sweet...love those beautiful fall colors.

Viv said...

Another super card Dee,love trhe Autumn colours and pretty leaves. So pleased the Mister is recovering well and now has the brace off......happy days! I am sure you are a very good nurse too, don't wear yourself out though !! My OH is doing well also after his fall from the ladder and nasty gash on his leg ;) Viv xx

Anita in France said...

I think you'd call that Serena Dippity, Darnell ... actually, you might have done and in my addled-brain state I've missed it! Beautiful card ... so elegantly autumnal! Delighted Kevin is now a smidge more comfortable without that brace ... hope the PT works a treat! Hope you're over your dentist visit too ... keeping you both in my prayers, mon amie! Hugs & bisous, bisous, Anita :)

Tracey McNeely said...

Darnell your card is so very gorgeous, the kraft base adds such a warmth to it--in my opinion a perfect masculine card! Oh I am so sorry Kevin has had the brace for so long but I am sure the he is so happy to have it off. Tell him good luck with his PT and to stick with it because I stopped mine because I was 'too busy' and now going back to it means I have to start all over from the beginning! We won't be getting any trick or treaters here but James said to get candy in just in case he wouldn't want the kids disappointed...so I have eaten it all! So back to the store again... ~hugs

Unknown said...

Such a lovely CAS card xx

Cheryl W. said...

So good of you to promote breast cancer awareness and to support a charity drive for cards - all while making and sharing another fabulous creation. It's another perfect masculine card!

Robyn Oliver said...

Well Darnell you gave me a chuckle with your last comment...but nobody I know wants to visit the dentist...and I'm staring in amazement at the contraption hubby had to wear for six week...my you are having a time of it!! I'm a breast cancer survivor - 15 years so all good vibes for Michelle and a speedy recovery...I'll post her badge. Incidentally your card is really lovely (for a male card). Thinking of you this week, Cheers Robyn

Kelly Latevola said...

Your card came out wonderful and I'm glad the mister is on the mend!!

Karenladd said...

I don't know which is more impressive, that beautiful card with just the perfect stamped image, the way you combined various dies and stamps to perfection (love that splat stamp!), that huge stack of cards for the Caring Hearts Drive, or the Mister's frightening contraption! Hope your dental visit went as well as a visit to the dentist can be (never my favorite way to pass the time) and glad to see you back in your playhouse!

Joyce said...

Perfect masculine card, and I am glad for the update on your Mister. It's been a while since I've stopped by, and it was nice to catch up. Sorry about your tooth, and hop it is better by now.

ionabunny said...

Love your CAS card. Perfect splatts. Wow, on the hip brace. What a contraption. Glad to hear the mister continues to improve. God bedring, as we say in Norway. That means get better soon. Hugz

Taunya Butler said...

You are a marvel and a wonder - I love your card and I love the PSA's - you are so sweet and caring!!! Glad to hear about the mister - you have been in my thoughts and will continue to be!!!

Hiška iz papirja said...

Dear Darnell, I was planning on leaving you a comment yesterday evening, but an urgent card for my neighbour came in between. And while I was crafting, you already came to visit me and showered me with your kind words - again! You really made my day, thank you so much! I can see you got 3 new followers from Slovenia yesterday, yay! :)
For me it is hard to make masculine cards, but you made a great job with this one - I love fall cards with leaves.
Hugs, Maja

Elizabeth S. said...

Darnell...wonderful masculine card! Love it with that autumn look....also I hope your husband recovers soon and is able to walk without pain and off the crutches.

cm said...

*Taking turns being idiots*...I'll be sharing that with my husband, especially the 'taking turns' part. Somebody is being all hoggy with 'being an idiot'-we won't identify who! Hope the dentist trip was smooth and lecture free (although I suspect dentists are secretly happy that people damage their teeth). Mister's leg contraption: oh my! Great to know it's off and the work of PT has started. Slow and steady...Your stack of cards...touching, just deep-in-the-heart touching...
Hugs~c