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!

March 4, 2016

NBUS Challenge #6 ~ Day Four!

Howdy stampers!

Good news! There is no need for clicking anywhere to find the NBUS Challenge linky tool now. My friend Loll told me that all I have to do is copy and paste the tool at the end of each post! Et walla! Thank you, Lolly!

The only thing is, I'm not sure if that makes it harder to comment. I trust you to let me know if this new way is actually incornvenient for you. If it is, I'll go back to doing it the other way. I'm learning as I go, I'm learning as I go, high ho the dairy oh, I'm learning as I go. Sorry. It's the meds.

Okay, settle down. Today's inspiration is all about springtime flowers!
Here's a closeup of the scrummy WOS sparkle!
Using my Gansai Tambi paints, I watercolored the Verve flowers from the "Great Friend" set after heat embossing them in white. The beautiful NBUS white-embossed stems are from the "Beauty Stems From Here" set by Inkadinkado. The NBUS sediment is from the Altenew "Painted Flowers" set.

I also did one in shades of blue with a gerischmick of purple.
I need a lot more practice with watercoloring flowers on this linen paper. It isn't as easy to paint on as watercolor paper. I kept going back to try and get it "just so" and I ended up overworking it. It happens. Hi ho, hi ho ...

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I'll leave you with some for-reals spring blooms ~ especially for those of you upon whom fresh snow has fallen!
This little beauty popped up in an old vegetable box all by herself. You can see the purple harden bergia in bloom in the background.
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Enjoy your day! Enjoy the challenge! 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!

*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 a pop-up box opens.
Click "Jump to Comment Form" and walla, no more car pool tunnel!
Mwah!
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72 comments:

Annie said...

Oh my your flowers are absolutely gorgeous - I think I will have to dig out one of my flower stamps today and try this embossing and watercolouring. It looked at first as if you had used a stencil. It was easy to get to the comments by the way and also nice to be able to scroll down all the entries too. Have a great day. Annie xxx

SD pooja said...

Lovely cards and very nice textured base !

Craft-E-Place said...

Love your cards, simply stunning, beautiful colour choices.
I'm happy with whatever you do to your NBUS link ... as long as you are well enough to keep blogging I'm more than happy!
Keep well,
Elaine

Kathyk said...

Today's makes are so pretty and LOVING your real flower pic too, Darnell

TGIF!

Kathyk

Kath said...

Lovely cards, I especially like the colours of the first one. Your real flower is so pretty too - we've a magnolia tree in the garden which is just beginning to flower, that always makes me think spring is inching its way closer!
Kath x

Brenda said...

Wow, those are some gorgeous flowers both painted and for real! I love that the real one showed herself to you, shows just how special you must be!

Sue said...

HJi Darnell, I am loving both cards. Really like the colours.

That is a pretty flower.

Hope you have a fab Friday. Sue

Stamps and Paper said...

Very pretty cards Darnell

Anne

Rainey's Craft Room said...

Beautiful floral cards today, always an inspiration to visit here.
Lorraine

Olga Fink said...

Fantastic card!
Xoxo Olga

Linda said...

Today's cards are stunning .... I love the pink version. What a pretty bloom and it looks fab embossed in the white.
Enjoy the weekend my friend. It's Mother's Day on Sunday over here so I should be in for a nice one! xxx

Cara said...

Your flowers look amazing, you've done a great job on that cardstock. Thanks for sharing the other flowers, it's been snowing here all morning in North west England so they've both brightened my day. Cara x

Carole said...

Two beautiful cards Darnell...love those flowers and your super painting. yes fresh snow has fallen here in the UK but very wet and slushy so it wont linger long...I hope! The daffodils wonder whats hit them!!

Diane said...

Gorgeous cards..love the pretty vibrant colors. Thanks for the pretty flower pic too for us snowbunnies...we can only hope to see Spring soon! Thanks for joining us at The Sisterhood for our 'Think Spring' challenge!
Diane TSH DT

Barb said...

Absolutely gorgeous cards. I love those sparkly blooms with the linen texture. Sweet little flower that popped up. I have a bay tree growing from under the fence from my neighbour's garden. I often use the leaves in my cooking. Barbxx

Darlene said...

Oh Darnell these cards are beautiful! Love the design and pretty, pretty colors. Thanks for a 'glimpse' of springtime with your beautiful 'real' flower photo too ... gorgeous! Yep we got a fresh blanket of snow last night ... uugh ... I am SO READY for springtime. Guess I'll just have to settle for pretty springtime cards like yours.
Thanks so much for joining us at The Sisterhood’s ‘THINK SPRING’ challenge and please come back again soon!
Darlene
one of the 'Sistahs'
The Sisterhood of Crafters
DAR’S CRAFTY CREATIONS

Marilyn said...

Beautiful cards and love the real flowers!!

Jeanne said...

Your flowers are truly beautiful, the ones on paper and the ones in real life. You are also truly beautiful for sponsoring this event and encouraging us to pull out our NBUS get them used up! Thanks, Darnell!

Julie Tucker-Wolek said...

These are gorgeous! LOVING the flowers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Jane Willis said...

Hope you are feeling better now Darnell. Get those hamsters to don their nurse's outfits and give you a bit of TLC
Jane

designbydonna said...

Gorgeous flowers. I love the colors.

Alice (scrAPpamondo) said...

Awwww.... I'm in love with these two beauty!!! I can't choose a favourite card, they are AMAZING BOTH!!! Such a sweet, fresh and happy spring feel!! Thanks for sharing this shot of life! :D
I also have the fresias in a vase out of my home, but there are yellow.
Have a happy weekend

Brenda in IN said...

That linen paper is beautiful. The flower cards are simply stunning. Thanks for sharing that gorgeous flower that just bloomed all by itself. We had snow yesterday so that brings spring right to my door. I am taking a break today to visit and say hi. I'm tired! I hope to get enough supplies in to join NBUS this time. What a mess I have right now. I posted my pix of paper trimmers today. I have six and really only need one. Now is the time to purge those along with everything else I don't need.

Lisa said...

Your cards are so gorgeous!! I love the texture of the linen paper!! The flowers and colors look amazing!! And wow, what a gorgeous real flower, too!! I'm so ready for spring!! Have a great weekend!! Big hugs :)

Lisa
A Mermaid's Crafts

TK said...

Beautiful! Your cards are wonderful and thepix of the lowers are gorgeous too!

Linda said...

Wow, those flowers you painted are gorgeous. Love both cards and the real flowers too. Have a great weekend.

Redanne said...

Oh how beautiful!! I think these may be my new favourite cards of yours, the flowers are stunning. Love your garden flowers too.... sadly, we have snow!! Hugs, Annie xxx

Anonymous said...

Beautiful flowers Darnell, and your cards are fabulous!!!

sandie said...

These flowers are amazing and I think you coloured them really well on the linen card. I find it hard just to stamp on the card...that is why I just love my linen embossing plate. So pleased you joined us at TO and thank you for your Birthday wishes and leaving us a lovely comment on our blog, it is so appreciated when you leave us a general comment for us all xx

Susanne Vargas said...

Lovely, shimmering flowers, both pink and blue are equally pretty! And your shots from the real spring flowers are also worthy to be made into a photo card!
Have a fun weekend!
Hugs,
Susanne

rachel said...

beautiful cards today Darnell - I really love that flower! hugs rachel x

Liz said...

Stunning cards, Darnell, so pretty. I especially love the blue one, love the different shades of blue on the petals. xx

Verna Angerhofer said...

I love your cards and I really love seeing that spring beauty that popped up on it's own in your flower box. Gorgeous colors. And, I do think having the linky thingie nice and handy on this post worked much better. Thanks to your friend for recommending it.

Kay Wallace said...

Pleased to join your merry band of followers, Darnell, and thanks for becoming one of mine! Lovely cards today with beautiful blooms and luscious stems. I love white embossing and it is gorgeous here! Good luck with the NBUS challenge.

Em Louise Fairley said...

Your card is gorgeous! I love it! Sweetheart, you've not been a bad bloggie friend at all. I don't think you've missed any of my posts because I'm not posting as often as I was.

Love and hugs,
Em

conil said...

I think these are bloomin' gorgeous. Really like it on the linen paper. Adds a bunch of texture. Also, think the meds are making you creative in other ways...writing songs and such. Hope you continue to heal in the best way possible.

Milka Gubo said...

WOW!!! Darnell, these cards are STUNNING!!! Love love love! :o) hugs

Carole Pollard said...

Stunning flower cards they are such wonderful colours so glad the NBUS is going well Love an hugs Carole x

JoAnn said...

Gorgeous cards. I love both colors of flowers and the pretty design.
Your real flower is gorgeous also. TFS

Donna said...

I love that linen paper and I would never thought about watercoloring on it! So pretty! Love all of the flowers!

Craftychris said...

Ooh these are both stunning! You have chosen beautiful colours and the linen card looks fabulous. Take care! xxx

Sharon Traynor Designs said...

Hi Darnell,
Thanks so much for stopping by my blog and following me. I am returning the favour and have become your latest follower.
Your cards today are astoundingly beautiful. Really stunning. Loving your flower photos too as I have a walled part of my garden full of the same. The scent from them is fantabulous.
Hugs,
Sharon xx

Anonymous said...

Just lovely :)

Cris G. said...

Hello Darnell! I've been neglecting your blog... Tomorrow I'll be back with an (almost) entire NBUS card.
Beautiful flowers, I didn't even thought that you could achieve such results water coloring linen cardstock.
See you soon!

Loll said...

WOW! I have to say that these beautiful watercoloured cards are one of my all time favourites that you've made. Seriously, I just about fell off my chair. I am in LOVE with them! I would be honoured if you'd join in the CAS Mix Up with these cards. Lolly xx

Colleen said...

Darnell, your cards are gorgeous...the colors are just stunning as is the real deal flower in your garden!! Have a great weekend, Heart Hugs!

My Card Attic: Hazel said...

Oh, how lovely these are Darnell! Gorgeous colours that pop against those beautiful, crisp white backgrounds! I have that stamp set, and I really have not used it much, you have inspired me to get it out again soon! Have a lovely weekend . . . I do hope you are feeling better now! Hazel xx
My Card Attic

kiwimeskreations said...

Love your flowers - both the painted ones and the freesia. Darnell the commenting takes a bit to get to, but no big deal as far as I am concerned - I might need a 'Hammy' to spin the wheel on the mouse, but that's not a problem
Blessings
Maxine

Joyce said...

Two stunners, Darnell. Those flowers look amazing embossed in white and then painted those beautiful colors. Thanks so much for playing along at Time Out.

Donna said...

What beautiful flowers, Darnell. I love the look of water color and you do a wonderful job. Hope you have a lovely weekend!

Lisa Elton said...

Oh my, what pretty cards Darnell!! Those flowers are wonderful!!

Greta said...

2 beautiful floral cards, Darnell--love the look on linen paper! What a gorgeous flower in your box! I didn't remember you had melanoma--so scary! I feel so lucky mine have been caught early because I had no idea there was any problem. Hope you're feeling better soon!

Cheryl W. said...

Love your luscious blooms today, Darnell. Your cards are so bright and beautiful - they'll brighten anyone's day.

Mimi said...

Ooooohhhh, pretty...Thank you for the close-up of the sparkles. I'm sold. You win. Hey, too, I hope you're feeling better! I care.

Bobby said...

I can always count on you to start my day with a chuckle, Darnell. Hi ho. A lot of us a learning as we go. Including watercoloring. I love the layout of your cards and that beautiful linen paper. I bought some and haven't used it yet. Hmmm.. another NBUS card in the making?

Anita in France said...

What a duo of delights, Darnell ... these are both simply beautiful! Know what you mean about it being different to watercolour on the linen CS ... you've done an outstanding job ... these blooms are not overworked at all ... just shimmeringly splendid! So happy to have you playing along with us at Time Out with them! Miss you! Hugs & bisous, mon amie! Anita :)

Sue from Oregon said...

Love that you can see the pretty linen like texture in your flowers...adds another pretty dimension to your lovelies!

Patti said...

As they say in the midwest - "HOLY BUCKETS"! I can't say which is prettier your cards or your real life flowers!! stunning Darnell. I have never heard of most of the products you used!! Gansai Tambi paints sounts simply exotic!! Wonderful sparkle and pop!!

Patti

Gerrina said...

So great that you made one in blue aswell! (love blues) And great to see you play again at the TIME OUT challenge! Thank you for that!
I think it is real hard to watercolour on linnencardstock; it tend to bleed so quickly...so think these are stunning makes! Enjoy the rest of the weekend!

Sharyn Polesel said...

Both cards are beautiful! I have that lovely set and haven't thought about watercoloring it. Great job!

Bonnie said...

Beautiful flowers and I love that linen paper! Gorgeous real flower too!

Aileen said...

Ohh my goodness Darnell so beautiful. You have perfected this look. Have to try this it is so wonderful on linen card stock. Colours flower everything.

Sybrina K said...

Darnell, These are gorgeous -- absolutely stunning!

cm said...

Your beautiful flowers...the linen background...the watercolouring...in LOVE with these cards! And your 'real' flowers: oh, to have such gorgeousness in a yard of our own (where is that lottery win, gosh darn it!).
Hugs~c

Celeste Goff said...

What gorgeous cards Darnell!!!

Kim Heggins said...

Just so beautiful...love your sweet posies on that wonderful linen.

Nancy said...

I just love the watercolors on the linen yardstick! Gorgeous job!!! Thanks for taking the time to join us at Just Us Girls for Word Week, love having you in the gallery!

Ina G said...

Beautiful cards. Love the paper you used and the results are amazing. Thanks for sharing with us at Just Us Girls.

Brenda said...

That Loll is so smart and clever! I love that link in each post Auntie! How beautiful are your cards?!!! I love the bold watercolored flowers, so pretty. Of course I'm partial to flowers and have a lot of NBUS ones. So what am I doing on this computer?!! I need to go get one and make me a card! lol Will get on that. Hope you are feeling better Auntie!! Love that real flower too and believe it or not we are having beautiful weather this week and warm weather. 70's! That I will take!! Hugs, Brenda

Maria said...

Great flowers! Love the colors and that cardstock is awesome! Thanks so much for playing along with Just Us Girls this week.

D.Ann C said...

Sparkly gorgeousness!

Notations of a Crafter said...

Gorgeous cards. Thanks for joining in the fun at The Artistic Stamper and hopefully you will be returning now you have entered one ;-) don't forget we also have a Facebook challenge so you can enter up to three times on each challenge page Debs DT