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!

August 22, 2017

Sailing the Salty Seas / NBUS Announcement!

Greetings, Stamplings!

I hope a lot of you were able to enjoy the amazing eclipse if you lived where it was visible. We had a partial eclipse here, which was still cool, but the photos on the TV and Intertubes were phenomenal! 

We couldn't find special eye wear for Hammy's wide-set eyes, but the cereal box viewer worked great! That is, until he lost interest and crawled inside to sleep, cornfused by the waning sunlight!

The whole extra vaganza gave me this design idea:
I've been wanting to play with watercolor and salt to join in the August CAS Watercolor challenge. Have you noticed the marvelous works of art around Blogland?! 

I also wanted to make you a reminder card about the current red, yellow, and blue color challenge happening at Just Us Girls. So I thought blue could be water, yellow could be sunshine, red could be sunset, et wallah!

The salt bit couldn't be easier. I just watercolored swathes of the chosen colors with Hammy's little dimestore paint set and immediately sprinkled salt over it. I set it aside to dry and then we removed the salt with the celery sticks from our Bloody Mary's. Yummo and pretty innovative if I do boast so myself.

The stitched dies are from MFT and the NBUS sailboat is a die from Poppystamps called "Marina Sailboat." The little tiny happy birthday sediment is from GKW.

Challenges
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The Diva's that cut ....paper!Snippets Playground Badge
~~~

Coming Soon!!
NBUS CHALLENGE #12!!
I'm attending my 150th high school reunion next month, so the annual September NBUS Challenge will run a bit late this year. This is just a head's-up-mark-your-calendars announcement of the date so you can excavate and arrange those virginal Never-Before-Used-Schtuffs that you've forgotten not gotten around to using! Whee!
~~~

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92 comments:

Preeti D. (aka Dutt Preety) said...

beautiful card :) that boat is so cute !
hugs
preeti

Loll said...

LOVE that sunset, Dolly!! Great work with the salt on watercolour. And I love how you've offset the circle paying homage to the eclipse!! I'm finding more and more of my kitchen supplies end up in my studio! :)

The eclipse was something special. We were out on our porch looking at it through a welder's helmet that Gord had. Yep ... belonged to his dad. How cool is that??!! 86% eclipse in our part of the world. Really loved seeing the pictures on the news tonight with the 100% and such. Amazing!

So excited about your upcoming NBUS ... I have so many that they are spilling out of my NBUS box. xx

Loll said...

And thanks so much for sharing your beautiful card with us at CAS Watercolour! xx

Hannelie said...

Love your bold CAS focal point Darnell! The salt creates such an interesting effect! Looking forward to another NBUS challenge!
HUGS

Sue said...

Hi Darnell, Fab card as usual.

Hope you have a lovely day. Sue

Aquarius said...

This is a great sunset effect and the little sailboat is just sailing into it nicely - love it.

Ruth said...

Beautiful sunset! I saw all the photos off the eclipse and it looked amazing. I also watched a little video of a farmer who put hidden cameras in his chicken coop when the Faroe Islands had a total eclipse in 2015. The poor chickens were totally confusled and went to bed then when it was over, the cockerel came out and crowed, so Hammy is only doing what comes naturally. Thanks for the heads up for the NBUS challenge. I am storing my NBUS in readiness - and no doubt will have more by then. It's also the 30 Day Coloring Challenge in September, so that is even better! Xx

Craft-E-Place said...

Fabulous card, I love the whole design ... the sunset works so beautifully over the water. So looking forward to the next NBUS. Have fun at your reunion.
Elaine

Alice (scrAPpamondo) said...

Such brilliant design! Fab boat and great sea scene! Love the salt technique, I will have a try, before of after... :)

Redanne said...

How very clever of you - wow, I just love the look of that technique on the watercolour Darnell - Hammy's paints worked spectacularly well, the colours are gorgeous and I just love your 'eclipse' design... I think this is my new favourite of your beautiful creations!!

Glad to hear that you got a partial view of the eclipse, it really did look amazing in the news pictures. How exciting, another NBUS challenge too!! I reckon I could enter 50 times and still have things left over - I am SO bad.... Noted on my calendar! Big hugs, Annie xxx

Deepti Aggarwal said...

Such a wonderful card Darnell..love the colours..and I really excited for coming NBUS..hugs xx Deepti

Kathyk said...

FAB make, great colours and thanks for the head up about your NBUS challenge. Enjoy your reunion ... 150th? I don't THINK so!!!

Kathyk

oldpunca said...

Dear Darnell,
I'm finally back in blogland. There were a lot of nice memories during the past two months, but not enough time for regular visit of the blogs around the globe. I'm back just on time, to admire your beautiful summer card that remainds me on my holiday on the Adiatic coast. :-) Wonderful effect of the salt technique.
....and I have to add NBUS data into my callendar. :-)
Have a great week!
Hugs, Sonja

Sue's Crafty Corner said...

A fantastic card Darnell, I love all of the dies you've used to make this card too.

Sue xx

Liz said...

Brilliant card, Darnell, great design and love the effect of the offset circle. I tried the salt technique last weekend with a set of children's watercolour paints......but nothing happened! The dry salt just stayed on the top of the wet paint. I thought it was because I used the wrong sort of paint, but after reading your post, perhaps it's the wrong sort of salt.... or wrong sort of water! LOL! xx

Cara said...

Love the inspiration behind your card and it turned out beautifully. Love how inventive you and hammy got with the salt!

Birgit said...

What a lovely salty sunset you've created here! Must have been the salt water splashing up from the sea. I have yet to try this technique and never think of it when I sit down in my craft room to play. I'm looking forward to your next NBUS. I've got a pile calling my name. ;0)

Marilyn said...

Beautiful card!!

My Card Attic: Hazel said...

Great design Darnell! We were lucky enough to witness a full eclipse back in 1999 and although it was amazing, it was quite eerie too! It was kinda apocalyptic, it went totally dark in the middle of the day and everything went quite silent (I think everyone must have stopped what they were doing to watch, even the birds went quiet), but it WAS fantastic and an event we will never forget! What a pity your next NBUS is going whilst we are away again - I have TONS I could use! - we aren't back until the 29th September! I think it would be pushing it a bit to try and get one done before it ends (it takes me a month to catch up on everything when we get back!) Have a great day my friend! Love & Hugs. Hazel xx
My Card Attic

Bunny said...

Cute card. Good use of the colors. I like the little sailboat and the salt water color.

We had an 80% view of the eclipse but no glasses available unless you wanted to pay a ransom for them. Then, all of a sudden one of the news stations were handing them out in our area. It took me 8 minutes to get there and I managed to get 2 pair for my hubby and me. I was so excited. And then.............rain moved in. Lots of clouds, too. We got to see absolutely NOTHING.

I can't wait for the NBUS. Have fun at your 150th. We will be celebrating my husband's 140th in a few months. Where is the time going? [Bunny]

Maura said...

Love your bg for your pretty sailboat silhouette, Darnell - a lovely CAS card!! Can't wait till your NBUS challenge!

Brenda in IN said...

I love the idea of making a sailboat card and using the salt. So very appropriate and very cute. I followed the eclipse all across the country on tv. It didn't get very dark here, only clouded up quite a bit. Molly was sleeping so it didn't bother her. I hope this is the 150th reunion for the school and not you. I didn't think you were that old! I've been saving things for NBUS but I don't think it extends long enough for me to use all my "stuff". We would be talking about it lasting into the next eclipse!!

Pat said...

This is a fabulous card Darnell and I think you have killed three birds with one stone as they say, with the marine subject with the sweet little boat, and salt, which definitely go together, and then the sun element with that pretty coloured effect and the salt has made some pretty patterns. I love the stitched circle in the background partially showing too. Glad you enjoyed the eclipse. We had an 80 odd percent one in the South East in 1999, and if we had lived down here then it would have been a total, but even so it was very dark and the birds stopped singing, so it felt very eerie. I am looking forward to your next NBUS Challenge and I certainly have plenty of scope..lol. I hope you have a great high school reunion too. x

Cheryl W. said...

I like your eclipsilitic, salted card. A boat and/or water always adds such a calming, relaxing aura to any project. Hope you have fun at your 150th. I think I attended mine a few years ago. Once they get past 100, it's hard to remember!

stampwithsandy said...

Gorgeous card, Darnell! I love your beautiful background and the sailboat die is awesome. Excited to hear about the next NBUS challenge, too!

Happy Dance said...

Grabbing a sec before I have to take DH to an appt. this AM. LOVE what magic you've worked with the salt. That sea and sky you've created is just stunning. If I win the lottery (hahahahahahaha) we'll have this view of this from our Caribbean Craft Island! Wonderful card, my friend. I'm looking forward to this upcoming NBUS challenge. You know I have a (ahem) few NBUS items in my stash, so the only problem I'll have is choosing which NBUS to use! Can't wait! Missing you sweetie pie! Bev

Greta said...

OK--you've outdone yourself once again, Darnell! This is an absolute winner! So creative & beautiful--love it! My high school reunions are right here & I've only gone to one. Now they don't even seem to have them, but maybe when we hit 150 they will--haha! Have fun!

KandA said...

LOVE this card Darnell. Those colours and the effect you got with the salt is fabulous, and I do like your little boat sailing across the sunset.
I'm certain you'll have lots of fun and laughs at your reunion and I shall ready myself for the climb up Mt NBUS next month xx

Gerrina said...

Love that ofset circkle; it draws the attention so quikly from there to the ship...a beautiful and clever card!
Fub abd good that you start NBUS again!

Sarah said...

What a fab eclipse inspired design Darnell and I am thrilled to hear that the salt didn't go to waste!! Looking forward to using some of my NBUS accumulation!! xx

Lisa said...

Absolutely stunning card!! The colors are gorgeous!! I love the sailboat!! It's beautiful!! Can't wait for the new NBUS!! I will be out of town during that time but I hope to have some projects made up ahead of time and I will keep NBUS in mind!! Have a great day!! Big hugs :)

Lisa
A Mermaid's Crafts

Canonbury creations said...

Fab card Darnell, great idea to offset the circle in response to the eclipse! I'm definitely going to try the salt technique if it allows me a Bloody Mary 😂 xx

Unknown said...

Beautiful card and a technique I must try out some time soon. Have your really been to 150 school reunions lol - no seriously I hope it's a great event to celebrate the school being around for so long.

Have a great week of crafting my friend.

Linda x

Susan said...

Great card for both the CAS Watercolour salt challenge and the red, yellow, blue challenge. Love the sailboat - good idea to stamp the sentiment on it. And love the offset circle die set behind the main one. Thanks so much for joining us at CAS Watercolour!

cuilliesocks said...

Fabulous card Darnell, lovely bright colours and design, love the offset circle behind the image, brilliant, Kate x

conil said...

Well Darn, may I call you Darn? You've done it again with your usual flair. Salt creations are on my very long "techniques to try" list. (Have to get on my horse if I'm going to finish the "tech list" by year's end.) Your card just shows what kind of interesting texture it provides. The sailboat looks ultra cool again your sunset. Hope you and Hammie enjoyed our 2 minute eclipse and the resulting temperature drop...4 degrees here, how much there? Looking for the NBUS challenge...I have a NBUS outbreak in my craft area and I need to get it under control.

designbydonna said...

Beautiful water colors. I have been wanting to try that salt technique. Great card--sailing off into the sunset. What could be better to celebrate a birthday.

Verna Angerhofer said...

Fabulous salty sea card. So fun too!

JoAnn said...

Very pretty. Love your watercolored sunset with that cute boat.

Jean said...

I love this colourful sunset, and your water colour salt technique. The offset circles are a great design feature too.
Jean x

Kathleen said...

Super card, love the salty ocean and sunshine and sunset.
Great idea with the celery sticks to get rid of the salt, lol.
There was a song in the late 60's or maybe early 70's by a guy called Andy Fairweather Lowe "Wide eyed and Legless", seems to fit Hammy after his Bloody Mary's.

Kath x

Carol L said...

You're going to your 150th class reunion are you?!!! Dang, and here I thought all this time I was much older than you!!! You must have ridden the dinosaurs to school as I did too! ROFL!!
Seriously, I love this salty painted card with that little sailboat, and the sentiment looks perfect where you placed it! LURVE that idea :)
Have fun with your reunion!! Now to go through all my NBUS (hoarded) stash and find something to play with for the upcoming challenge :)

Berina RGA said...

Love your card with the cute little boat!! Can't wait for the NBUS! I have to start looking for my schtuff now

Jean said...

A lovely card.

nancy littrell said...

Love how the eclipse inspired your beautiful watercoloured salt background for your sailboat, Darnell. Wonderful CAS design my friend.

How exciting to look forward to another NBUS event in September:-) Hugs...

Patti said...

SWEET! I love the circles you used : ) sorta like through a porthole perspective heehee

Yes we saw the Eclipse at about 97% it surely was a neat experience!!

Hope you are having a wonderful week.

(((Hugs)))

Patti

Paper Creations by Shirley said...

Hi Darnell, I love your card inspired by the eclipse. (we were not able to see much here unfortunately). The watercolours with salt is technique gives such great results, the colours you've used are fabulous. I hope you are doing well, have fun at the reunion. Hugs, Shirleyx

Heidi MyLittleStampingBlog said...

Very cool card! I love the colors with the nautical theme. Looking forward to NBUS!

Bonnie said...

I love your overlapping circles and the red, yellow and blue! The sailboat is delightful! That's one I haven't seen but maybe need to look for. Hmmm! My high school class is celebrating the 150th reunion too! Where did the time go? xoxo

Bonnie said...

Oops! Forgot to say thanks for sharing this with us at CAS Watercolour! Isn't it fun to play with salt?

Lisa Elton said...

I like your eclipsed circle!! This is fabulous Darnell!

Marybeth said...

Hi friend! What a gorgeous sea card, love the watercolor blending that looks like a gorgeous sunset! CAS beauty! Yay another NBUS I just have to remember !

Christine Alexander said...

Gorgeous card, I love that salty sunset and the clever eclipse :) thanks for joining us at CAS Watercolour

Thanks for the heads up on the NUBUS challenge, I'm off to the UK in September so hopefully I'll be back in time to play.

Birgit said...

I. Sorry for being away but had issues at work and my mom was sick but all is aok now. We got a partial eclipse and it just looked like it was goi ng to rain. I love your creation because it just feels like summer and fun. The 3 colours are perfect and the sailboat is just dreamy.

Chrissie said...

Don't know if so hol would allow me to grab the celery from his Bloody Mary, (it's not my kinda tipple) but that salt technique looks terrific, I'll have to try that if I ever get into my craft room again!
Super card!
Xx

Chrissie said...

Should say Phil not so hol!
So much for predictive text!

Lisa T said...

That salt technique looks fun Darnell! I saw Jennifer McGuire use it once and it got added to my list of things to try which, naturally, has not yet happened. It gives such an interesting effect, and is great for a sea scene. Sat for ages thinking what company is "GKW" and then I finally got it!!! Super card, as always! Hugs to you and Hammy, Lisa xx

Anonymous said...

Gorgeous card. Love the effect of the salt technique. I don't think I've given that one a go.
Enjoy your reunion. I'm sure you will have a blast.
Thanks for the heads up for NBUS I have a one or two items laying around here! (insert embarassed/shocked face!).

Linda said...

Fabulous card, love the little boat .... great design too.
Looking forward to the next NBUS challenge ... cant believe its #12!! I'd better getting searching now and get it done because we go away on holiday on the 24th. We're back before the deadline though xx

Karenladd said...

Oh my goodness, I see that I'm going to need to try the water color and salt technique, after seeing this wonderful card!! The stitched circle dies, cute little sailboat and red, yellow and blue color scheme just really speak to me!

Ros Crawford said...

What a wonderful card! Love that you used salt too! Thanks for playing along at CAS Watercolour... Glad you enjoyed the eclipse it's amazing!

Mac Mable said...

Great inspiration and still in envy to all who saw part of or all of the eclipse x Love how the inspiration translated onto your card with the two circles and the pretty colours. Also...what a master stroke to use the celery stick to remove the salt....Will be definitely be giving that idea a go!!! Love and hugs x

Em Louise Fairley said...

Gorgeous card, Darnell. I'll mark my calendar for NBUS too!
Hugs,
Em xoxox

Geri said...

Remember me? Geri from Dauphin? Yep, it's been awhile since I stopped by! Hope you're feeling better every day!

FABULOUS POST! 150th reunion...girl - you totally crack me up!

Walter color & salt???? Seriously? Once again, I'm obviously living under a rock cuz this idea seems new to me. Notice I said 'it seems' new...chances are I just totally forgot about knowing this!

Anywho....awesome results! The texture/dimension is so cool! Really highlights the textured paper too! Awesome card pal!

Di said...

Wowser Darnell - what a stunning card! Right down the the sentiment fitting the little boar so perfectly as well! Wonderful design and such gorgeous colours too.

I worked in Central London when we had the 1999 eclipse and it was so strange how cold it got and the birds fell silent - on what had been a gloriously hot day too! Spooky :)

Enjoy your reunion chick - remember, dancing on the tables is probably still not allowed :)

NBUS is in my diary here!

Love and hugs

Di xxx

Marilyn said...

I love this card because it's so creative and unique. Wonderful design and layout.

Leslie Miller said...

Perfectly inspired and executed! Got to try the salt technique. Love those double stitched circles and the way you offset them like the eclipse. 150th! Sheesh, and I thought I was old! I swear I'm going to join in your NBUS challenge this time. Sure do have lots of NBUS stuff! The eclipse was amazing here.

Helen F. said...

What an amazing sunset you created, Darnell! Love the stitched circle and sailboat dies~too adorable!
I am so far behind on commenting and viewing your posts~almost feeling 'normal' again from my latest trip overseas jet lag :-o Hope to catch up by week's end!
PS: Have a fun time at your upcoming reunion~did you mean it to read your 15th? ;-)

Sheila H said...

What a fun water color card! I love all the stitching. I hope to have myself together to participate in the upcoming NBUS challenge.

Craftychris said...

Beautiful water colour background for the gorgeous little boat - love the effect of the salt, soooo cool! Ooh can't wait for your NBUS challenge, will be joining in for sure! Hugs my friend xxxxxxx

Fikreta said...

gorgeous card!
hugs

Cat Craig said...

Great card Darnell, and a fab tribute to the eclipse. I was at 36K feet and got an interesting horizon picture of the eclipse.

Susanne Vargas said...

The effect of the salt creates a great backdrop for the sailboat! Great card!
Another NBUS challenge coming? Yay! I better go shopping to make sure that I have some, hahahahahahaha!

sandie said...

I like the bright colours and the touch of detail the salt gives this! Also keeping the doe white allows these colours to shine through. I spotted the way you arranged the circles...fun design and one I hope to remember xx

Tina Z. said...

I love nautical style and your card is amazing, great vivid coolurs!
I can't wait for your NBUS challenge :))
hugs xx

Mariken said...

Beautiful birthday card! Thank you for joining our challenge at Cas on Friday! Mariken, DT

Anita in France said...

Sailing into an on-the-way-to-being-eclipsed sunset ... how glorious, Darnell ... such a clever design ... and delicious texture from the salt! NBUS ... well, I'm so pleased you gave us a heads up ... I'm bereft of it ... so that's my cue to go scouring the interweb and find some! Thank you, you little enabler, you! LYAMYHMAWLTBTUSOYNBUS! Big hugs & bisous, Anita :)

Tracey McNeely said...

A really serene watercolour card today, so pretty. The eclipse here on a full sun day was near nothing--:(, but I agree lovely photos online! Just a quick hello before I get back to "way too much on my plate"! LOL

Carol H. said...

Totally LOVE your card and the watercoloring! The little sailboat is just perfect with your background. So pretty! Looking forward to your next NBUS challenge! I've plenty to use and this will challenge me to use those things I got & then wondered--why? Haha! Hugs!

Marianne said...

Such a delightful card, Darnell. Love how you've incorparated the eclipse into the design of your card. Looking forward to the new NBUS challenge. I have been a good girl (well, sort of) and have tried to use my NBUS on a regular basis. But then, I have also bought plenty of new stuff.
Marianne x

Linda said...

Great, fun card Darnell. We are getting ready for SAF. Let
the fun begin.

Jenny L said...

Hi Darnell,
oh my word what a very super and gorgeous snippets creation.
Love your wonderful inked background, and your super design.
This looks so very stunning and beautifully created.
Who would have thought an eclipse could give such a super inspiriation.
Nearly forgot to say enjoy your reunion.
Love and big crafty hugs from my house to yours. Jenny L.

Sharron said...

Very cool! Love the off-set circles and the salt technique! We were lucky to drive to a totality zone and experience a total eclipse. It was overcast and then rainy but cleared up right beforehand! It truly was amazing! To see the sky slowly darken and the stars come out was amazing. The drop in temperature was something I hadn't expected and that was one of the coolest parts. Makes one appreciate our powerful sun!!

scrappymo! said...

Great card, Darnell. The watercolour background with the salted finish is beautiful. Perfect for your sailboat!

Bobby said...

Love the offset stitched circles and the salty sunset, Darnell. Thanks for doing a reminder of the JUGS challenge and for being our guest designer. Can't wait for the NBUS challenge. I guess I'd better save something for it. I get antsy to use my new stuff and I've also put the kibosh on buying new stamps. Well sort of. ;)

Monica Maier said...

Love the watercolor circle and the sailboat die (swoon). Thanks for joining us Die Cut Diva's!

cohenna said...

Beautiful! Thanks so much for participating in the Die Cut Divas Challenge this time and good luck :)

Manuela said...

Such a wonderful CAS-card! I like the style of your card!!

Arlene said...

I love how you took your idea and created a beautiful scene. So glad you joined us at Die Cut Divas.

Nora Noll said...

Oh I LOVE your watercolor background. So cool!! And using a simple, white boat with the sentiment is GENIUS!!! Very pretty card!!

shirley-bee said...

That white die-cut sailboat is perfect for your gorgeous salty sunset, Darnell! And I love the placement of your teeny sentiment. I have a steadily growing mountain of reasons to play along with the NBUS challenge 😜, looking forward to it.

Sue - said...

A very clever design Darnell. We had a total eclipse a few years ago and it was definitely an interesting experience, I must try to make time to try the salt technique! xx