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!

February 20, 2017

A Note of Thanks

Greetings, Stamplings!

Happy Monday! Welcome to the start of a fresh new week! 


When a new year begins, weeks stand tall and straight like dominoes and then they immediately start to fall, one by one, inexorably, involuntarily. They fall face down to cushion the fall of the next week, poised and ready in line, until all 52 of them are in a heap at your feet.

Hammy wrote that. I found it stuck under one corner of his cage yesterday when I was cleaning. He is quite the dramaticist, isn't he?! But he's right you know, so grab this week, look it straight in the eye, and make the most of it before it falls! 


Well, of course, having discovered this new talent in my little rodent, I set about making him this card as a thank you for any future pearls of wisdom he may jot down:

The embossed background panel is from a Michael's Recollections pad called, "Embossed Neutrals." The corrugated cardboard paper was die cut from a NBUS MFT Die-namics die called, "3 x 4 Notepad." I then used a NBUS PTI "Bold and Beautiful" die and stamp for the inlaid sediment. The heavily winked pencil is from GKW. I have had it in my stash forever. I suspect I cut it out of a magazine and it's fun to finally use it on a card.

Challenges
Snippets Playground Badgetake banners to

~~~

Follow-Up

You might remember this "what was I thinking" hidden-word card I posted a few weeks ago:

You know, the one that looks like it says, "Sending Thugs!" I received many sympathetic comments from my faithful bloggie friends and, among them, was this comment from my friend Vicki:
"I probably would have die cut in black cs rather than attempting to stamp ... ."
Well, slap my forehead and call me a biscuit, why didn't I think of that?! This community is the BEST! I hadn't yet sent my goofy little hidden-word card off to anyone, so I did as Vicki suggested and just look at how glorious her idea turned out!
Thank you, Vicki!!

~~~



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87 comments:

kiwimeskreations said...

Wow - I'm first???
Love your note card to Hammy - he is quite the most eloquent of Hamsters!! Well done Hammy!
The 'save' on the second card is quite dramatic - love the new and improved version!
Blessings
Maxine

Kath said...

A great card for Hammy and Vicki's suggestion for your second card is perfect!
Kath x

Jane said...

What a trooper Hammy is and so good with a pencil. I love his work! Well Darnell how gorgeous is your floral card now.....such a great improvement suggestion by Vicky. Ab Fab! Enjoy this the last full week of February, the months are falling pretty quickly too! xxx

Jane Willis said...

I love that notebook card - how do you die cut the corrugated card without all the ridgey bits getting squished? I'm seeing quite a lot of die cut corrugated card around yet I know if I tried it would end up a flattened mess.
Brilliant rescue job on the second card, although I know quite a few people who deserve a "Sending Thugs" card.
Jane

Sue said...

Hi Darnell, Love the thank you card.

Your other card with the change is fab. A great save.

Hope you have a good start to the week. Sue

Birgit said...

Two great cards Darnell! Your little Hammy is quite the deep thinker. He deserves such a beautiful thank you card. Your coloring is beautiful on the other card and yes, the sentiment is so much easier to see being die cut like that. Great save!

Stamps and Paper said...

What a talent Hammy has and such a lovely note book card for him....your floral card us beautiful Darnell

Anne

Sarn said...

Terrific snippets card and I love your amended version of the floral hidden message card.

Hugs, Sarn xxx

Bunny said...

Hammy's pretty smart.

I kinda liked sending thugs. Reminded me of the movie Home Alone. I mean it was sweet, sending flowers and thugs at the same time. It reminded me of the movie "Home Alone" ............LOL

Vicki's suggestion certainly made the sentiment pop into making it eye opening and really pretty.

stampwithsandy said...

Great thank you card Darnell, great for a guy and I love the corrugated paper. Your "sending thugs" had me cracking up, and your re-do (and original) are gorgeous! Love the bright happy colors!

Paper Creations by Shirley said...

Fantastic thank you card, love the pencil. The card with the new die cut (or did you fancy cut?) looks awesome. I still laugh when you mention Hammie and I think about how I first thought he was make believe and then at one point thought 'she really has a Hamster in the Play House'! One of my better senior moments :):):) Hugs, Shirleyxx

Barb said...

I love your Note of thanks card Darnell. What a fantastic design and Vicki came up with the perfect solution for your floral card. Barbxx

Berina RGA said...

Hammy's very smart! I wish I had half of that :) Beautiful card! I like how you've used Vicki's idea! So much more beautiful now!

Sheila H said...

That's a super cool thank you, Darnell. Your revamped Sending Thugs/Hugs card is spectacular. Your friend Vicki nailed it. Hats off to you for taking her advice😀

designbydonna said...

So perfectly put, Hammy. Love the thank you card with all the textures. And what a great save for the hugs card, turned out great after all.

My Card Attic: Hazel said...

Great card idea Darnell! LOVE that pencil! The textures work so well together! LOVE the 'thug' card, with the white overlay it looks amazing! Have a great week my friend! Luv n’ Hugs. Hazel xx
My Card Attic

Gerrina said...

Love the small cardboard on your first card! It is such a great card and can be sent to both woman or man wich is always a bonus!
And I think the diecuts sentiment looks good. Hugs, Gerrina

Di said...

Wonderful snippets card my friend! I bet Hammy will be pickled tink!

And the save of your other card is just fabulous!

Hugs

Di xx

Canonbury creations said...

Fab thank you card Darnell, love the pencil. Hammy definitely deserves a card for his words of wisdom! Great save on your floral card which is now fabulous!
Val x

jimlynn said...

Hammy is going to love his card just like we do!
Love the card with the die cut on it too. Makes a world of difference.
Lynn

Greta said...

Oh wow--your re-do is fabulous--the perfect fix! Love the embossed paper for the first card & fun sparkly pencil! Hope the next storms don't hurt you guys!

Mac Mable said...

Glorious indeed...Well done Vicki...looks fabulous, even more so now x Great textures on your first card and loving the 'winked' pencil. Well done Hammy on the clever writing x

Sarah said...

Clever Hammy...he's a keeper!! He definitely deserves that thank you card Darnell, it's fab. Glad the thugs were saved by the makeover, it looks fab!! xx

Kuni said...

This is such a wonderful card.
Thank you for joining us at the Sweet Stamoers Challenge and i hope to see you again.
Hugs
Kuni

G Peplow said...

Hi Darnell, WOW clever Hammy, we must grab that week!!! LOL I am loving your note of thanks card, super ribbed kraft, it all sits so well together :) Viki's suggestion worked wonders, YAY!! Clever Vicky, turned a great card into a stunner!
I'm off to grab my week hoping that yours will be fantastic, mwah!!!xx

MaryH said...

I sure like the way you've used that corrugated paper (I got that pack too!). Absolutely love this design, and so will Hammy. He's quite clever with words too. You supposed he got that from yourself? Your floral hidden word card is beautiful. Fab idea to revisit the design, and you sparked it up with the white & shadowed black of the sentiment. It is 'hidden', but still leaps out from the flower colors. Hope you're doing well on the recovery front. TFS & Hugs. (Have a great week too!)

Alice (scrAPpamondo) said...

Wow! Hammy is just a genius... :D The image of weeks put straight as tassels of domino, and their falling, is really a great vision! He surely well deserves your beautiful card and that pencil is just stunning!

Loll said...

Who knew that Hammy was such a deep thinker??!! :) So true ... enjoy the moment! What a fun card you made him for all his words of wisdom. The corrugated note pad is so creative and fun. Thanks for sharing with us at CAS Mix Up!

And great save on your beautiful watercoloured card! Vicki's suggestion was just what you needed to give it your own spin with the white sentiment with black shadow. It's so beautiful! Lolly xx

Deepti Aggarwal said...

Beautiful note card Darnell..and really Vicky's idea made the card stand out..love it.

Leslie Miller said...

Well said, Hammy! My dominoes are falling more quickly all the time. Now, about that note card... You've got my thinking cap on in regard to die cutting corrugated card stock. I have some that's almost too bulky for a card and maybe I could squish it down a little bit by die cutting. I love how it looks on your card. Clever, too, to see the value in the "found" pencil. It worked out great! Fabulous do over on your gorgeous flower card! Wow! The sentiment really stands out now and looks amazing!

Lisa said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Anita in France said...

Carpe diem indeed, Darnell ... Hammy the bard is in fine form! Your card for him is fabulous ... the swooshy thanks is delicious in the corrugated paper ... and that sparkly pencil ... wow, so shimmeringly eyecatching! Fantastic redo of your gorgeous blooms ... what a difference the white on black makes ... even more spectacular than it already was! LYAMYAHYHAHM! Hugs & bisous, Anita :)

Ruth said...

Do you think Hammy might actually be the reincarnation of the Bard, ole WilliHAM Shakespeare? Seriously literary pretensions from the little rodent. Love your note card - especially the corrugated paper. That is cool! And goodness me, what a corking idea from your friend. It really pops from the card now. Definitely one to send off asap! Hugs for a fun week and hope you are recovering well. xx

Sue - said...

That Hammy is soooo clever! A great thank you for him and what a great save of the flower card. Clever Vicki! Hugs xx

AlisonC said...

Well, isn't little Hammy wise? My resolution is 'Don't waste time' and it's going pretty well so far. (Apart from all the time on other peoples blogs). Love your textured card and the blooms are brilliantly saved!

JoAnn said...

Love both of your cards. The die cutting save on the second card makes all the difference. Love it. Glad you were able to change it.

Kathy Krug said...

Really like both cards. but the pencil and note pad are just my style. love the simplicity and clean lines.

Sue said...

Hi Darnell,
I love Kraft and corrugated card so your gorgeous CAS design has ticked all the boxes for me!
I would have tried to stamp the sentiment too - so we are both biscuits!
Hope all is well with you.
love from
Sue...xxx

Redanne said...

Hammy sure a clever little chappie, he is just so right! Love your card, with the corrugated card and that pencil looks very realistic. Vicki's tip was a good one too, the shadowed white wording looks fantastic, who would have thought! Hugs, Annie xxx

Jean said...

Wise words! Gorgeous cards!

Kathleen said...

Hiya Darnell, A really clever card, perfectly presented, love the pencil and corrugated page.
A fabulous alteration to your second card, totally stunning.

Kath x

Verna Angerhofer said...

Beautiful thank you card you created. And, I love the remake of the inset sentiment too. I redid mine several weeks ago as well.

Cat Craig said...

That pencil and note note card is so fabulous Darnell, I love all the different textures. Your reworked sentiment is fantastic stamped in white on black...heat embossed too? What a wonderful rework, nice to have suggestions from bloggy friends n'est pas?

Pat said...

I adore you sweet notebook page and pencil copiously winked, and the inlaid sentiment goes beautifully Darnell, and Hammy is becoming quite the orator, and the idea of the weeks falling like dominoes in a line is very poetic, and it is true that the weeks fly by too fast. I love what you have done to the hidden text, and it definitely stands out perfectly now. A great suggestion from Vicki. x

Carol L said...

Loving that notepad and pencil, but the "sending thugs" card just cracked me up! lol Vicki did have a great fix for it however - I learn SO much whenever I come here! Thanks!!

Trina P. said...

Beautiful cards, Darnell. And what a fantastic fix/save to a beautifully coloured card. 💕 Great job!

Lisa Elton said...

That pencil is so realistic looking! And that Hammy is a wise one ;) Vicki's idea was brilliant, love the way your re-do looks!!

Nora Noll said...

Oh how FUN that pencil card is. The sparkle on it looks so cool!! Your fix for your second card is what amazes me though. LOVE the re-do!!

Marilyn said...

Love, love, love the thank you card and what a brilliant fix for the floral. Genius!

Sybrina K said...

Hammy is one special rodent! And, as for that die cut suggestion... brilliant! Love how you used your stamping as a shadow. :)

Pat said...

Love your thank you note- that background is so striking. I hope you are stringing all of Hammy's pearls in to a lovely necklace. Beautiful rescue of the floral card.

HJ said...

What a talent Hammy has!! I love that bit of sage advice! Your thank you card to him is very cute! It is so much fun to finally use something we have had around for a long time. The floral card is awesome. I got a chuckle because I had missed its first outing as "Sending Thugs", but with that small change, it is a wonderful card for sending hugs! You're right, this community is awesome. Have a great week. This one will fall sooner than we think.

Cheryl W. said...

Great card for your in-home bard. Hope Hammy keeps on writing...and you keep on sharing his words of wisdom. Your save on the second card was perfect. It's very easy to read now. Wish I could have that kind of input on every card I make. Then maybe there wouldn't be so many that get taken apart and reassembled - hopefully for the better.

Jenny L said...

Hi Darnell,
oh I love this wonderful card and that pencil is super.
What a very fab idea for you lovely design.
I bet Hammy was pleased with it.
Yes Vicki was right about the greeting on your other card as it really looks very stands out moe now.
Love and big hugs from my house to yours.
Lots of crafty love. Jenny L.

Cathy said...

2 awesome cards Darnell, love how you've used the corrugated card, and the black outline on the other looks so good! Cathy x

sandie said...

Gosh I need to get the Kraft out, all the texture looks amazing. And what a great idea from Vicki, looks fab x

Kathyk said...

I LIKE the idea of sending thugs somewhere by post ... perhaps a previously uninhabited island! No, seriously, your first card looked good but I have to agree that the second looks special with the die cut.

All Hail to Hammy the wordsmith too!

Kathyk

Ros Crawford said...

You really make me chuckle when I read your posts ... Thank you for that! I'm sure Hammy will love your beautiful Thank you card... And my .... Your rescued card is absolutely stunning!!! Have a lovely week!

Lisa T said...

Darnell, you are always a tonic. I love to read your posts and as usual I had a good old chuckle at this - that Hammy really is a clever little thing and I am so glad you made a card to honour him, he deserves it! I love how you put a card together, you always manage to get all elements just right - that's not easy. And I really like the use of natural cardstock on this (plus that notepad die surely has to be a staple die that I need to invest in?).

Also loved the "Sending Thugs" card surgery - it did indeed look fabulous with the black die cut. I do this sometimes with mine, particularly when the background is busy, but of course didn't think to let you know this. It looks wonderful and we can always rely on our blogging buddies to help us along the way - that's why I love this community.

Have a fabulous day, look forward to your next post already :), Lisa xx

Olga Fink said...

Beautiful thank you card!
xoxo Olga

Em Louise Fairley said...

Both great cards, Darnell. Love the reworked sentiment.

Hugs,
Em xoxox

Fikreta said...

your cards are so nice!
hugs , Fiki
My little store: Crafty Kitty Cat Shop
≽ܫ≼

Bonnie said...

You are so right about the weeks falling at our feet! They go by so fast these days, that I'm into next week before I've even focused on today! Does that make sense? Anyway, I love your not of thanks with the corrugated note paper! The pencil is amazing and a perfect fit! Although I loved the idea of a pretty card to send thugs with, the white does work great! It's absolutely clear that you are sending hugs! :>) Thanks so much for sharing with us at CAS Mix Up!

Kara Lynne said...

Such wisdom from one so wee. Your card to Hammy is wonderful! That pencil is so realistic, I hope he doesn't get disappointed when he tries to pick it up! Your fix on the "Thugs" card made all the difference - so beautiful!

Brenda in IN said...

Hammy is a perfect example of "thinking outside the cage". He has come up with some wonderful ideas for you and you're lucky to have him as a helper. I know he will love this clever thank you card you made for him. Vicki's tip sure made your sentiment stand out. That's what I love about blogging - we learn so much from one another. Stay dry.

OH Babs said...

The first card and the re-vamped card are great. How nice we can help one another. Hope all the plumbing issues are resolved. Now stay dry and hope the rain gear and boat are close at hand. My mother always said, "be careful what you wish for." Guess too many Californians were praying for rain. Hugs, BBB

Barb Ghig said...

How thoughtful you are to create such a fabulous card for Hammy! I hope he appreciates all the work you put into it, especially how you added the inlaid die cut and that awesome pencil!
It seems like Vicki was spot on with her advice...your card was so beautiful, and now it's STUNNING, Darnell! And, you're right...this is such a wonderful community :) Hugs to you!

KT Fit Kitty said...

You crack me up, Darnell, or Hammie does, haha! Your note of thanks card is so cool - I'm glad you used that adorable pencil - it's perfect here! I also love how you fixed your hidden sentiment card - what a difference! Great idea by Vicki!

Helen F. said...

Well, the do-over of your floral beauty is amazing, Darnell! I'm kinda slapping my forehead too :-)
Nice thank you card for Hammy too! You both are so darn wise and clever ;-)

conil said...

Hammie sounds like the rodent version of Robert Frost...he's definitely taking the road less traveled...stretching his creativity to the max. He'd have to appreciate all that texture on his thank you card...I know I do.
I think Vicki should critique all our cards because that addition you made to this floral turned it from lovely to magnificent. Such a great mind should share her knowledge with everyone...don't you think? It could be a new career for her.
Hope the recent winds didn't cause any damage in your neck of the woods. They were certainly wicked here.

Bobby said...

Who wouldn't like to write a note with a glamorous pencil like that. It's so sweet of you to make a special thank you card for Hammy, Darnell.

Susan said...

Great fix for the sentiment of your lovely flower card! And a perfect thank you note for Hammy and his words of wisdom. I wish my childhood hamsters had been as wise as he is! Love the use of the corrugated cardboard for the torn-off note page! And the pencil and stars are perfect finishing touches. Thanks for joining us at CAS Mix Up.

Craftychris said...

Hammy's thank you card is fabulous and perfect for the clever little rodent! Bless him! The die cut word on the flower card has revived it wonderfully! What an excellent suggestion! Hugs Chris xxxxxxxx

Happy Dance said...

Coolio. Your resident rodent is also your resident poet! Well thought out, and well poetized Hammy!! Your card is uber coolio too. I love that glittery pencil, I noticed it right away! And that PTI stamp/die is awesome! So much lovely texture, and the neutrals are delightful. And that Vicki...brilliant girl. I need one just like her in my back pocket most days.... Or like you.... Wait!!! I have two back pockets! How soon can you get here??!! It was nice before, but the 'new' look is extra pretty. Missing you my friend. Sending hugs. xo Bev

nancy littrell said...

So pleased Darnell you were able to play in our CAS Mix Up Corrugated challenge. Love your fun textured card. TFS Hugs..

Tracey McNeely said...

From fab to fabulous just like that! Beautiful!

Petra Swart said...

Oh, that Hammy is just the cleverest little rodent around to come up with such words of wisdom, Darnell!!!!! And you have made him a wonderful thank you card with a lovely glittery pencil and some lovely texture and sweet little stars and a great sentiment stamp!!!! Great CAS feel to your card, my friend!!!! And how great does that thugs card look now!!!!! Simply beautiful - clever Vicki!!!!!
Hugz

Anonymous said...

Oh Darnell. The cards look fabulous. So glad the idea worked out. Thanks for the shout out and humble you liked my idea. Sorry I missed this - hubby's away this week so I am a little behind with my online friends.

Princess Judy Palmer said...

So in other words.... beware of falling weeks least you get buried beneath them. Good save (and kudos to Vicki) for the Sending Thugs card. Although, truly some weeks I could use some thugs more than hugs.

Susanne Vargas said...

So Hammy is also quite the poet! I really like what he wrote and it's true! He was probably proud that you made him this awesome card!
Love the new sentiment on your flower card! So much easier to read! Isn't it wonderful how we all learn from each other?

Julia Aston said...

Who would guess Hammy was such a ham!!??? How totally and completely profound a thought! I was momentarily sent off to a dreamy state watching the dominoes fall one by one......... Ok - I'm back - What a great use of the corrugated Sis - love that little note die and your embedded die cut - and sweet little pencil too! Thanks so much for joining us in the CAS Mix Up challenge - and what a great job on your thug card using Vicki's advice - it's gorgeous!!! Hope you are feeling better after your surgery..... Julia xx

Daniela said...

Eine tolle Karte.
Vielen Dank für deine Teilnahme bei den Sweet Stampers.
Liebe Grüße, Daniela

Cris G. said...

Your card was already beautiful... now it's gorgeous! The die cut sentiment really made a difference, love how it turned out!
Hope you are now fully recovered and in good shape :)!

Brenda said...

Well slap my head and call me a biscuit! Because I love the way you used your cardboard on this card Auntie! Why didn't I think to die cut my cardboard when I did my card?! Silly me! I love this card, the colors, the embossing and the stamped die are all so fabulous-but the most fab is the die cut cardboard! Now, how clever of Vickie to give you some great advice on how to save this beautiful card!!!! Why or why doesn't my mind work like that?! Boy this is a wonderful save of this card and now it looks every bit a stunning as it should have from the beginning!!! Love it! Hugs, Brenda

shirley-bee said...

Hammy's so right about the weeks flying (or falling) by, that heap is growing! I love your notecard card with the schparkly pencil, and Vicki's suggestion has made a fantastic save for your card :)

Donna said...

Hello Biscuit! (Well, you did say)!!!
LOVE that pencil. So clever. x

MRS DUCK said...

Hi Darnell
My, I have got behind haven't I?
A fantabulous card as always. You could make me like Kraft card lol!
Love how you have re-styled your hidden sentiment card. Looks amazing.
Best wishes
Ang x