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!

September 7, 2017

The Stars Have Come Out ...

Hello, Stamplings!

There are awesome Christmas card challenges in Blogland that are springing into action now that September is here. One of my favorites is Merry Monday, back from summer break. 

I jumped into action with a Cc design that is great for QACAS batch-making:
I'm also entering Happy Little Stampers September Christmas Challenge where the brief is "Anything Goes" with the option of "Sparkle," and Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge where we are to "Stamp It."


I also used a Merry Christmas sediment:
Challenges

Both sediments are from Hero Arts. In truth, I made a few cards like this last year and never got around to sharing them with you so I made a few more for this year in nontraditional Christmas colors. I know they are uber clean and simple, but I hope the texture from the linen paper and the schparkle from the glitter paper keeps them from being too meh blandino.

~~~

I have some pops of color from the yard to share with you.

This one I can see from one of the Playhouse windows:
With triple digit temperatures this summer, these plants are our only garden color right now, but they light up the whole place. I have lost the tags with the name of these blooming grasses, but Mrs. Google calls them Monkey Grass, Mondo Grass, or Big Blue Lily Turf ...? Do you know the correct name?

~~~

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 to return the flavor!








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76 comments:

Maria - Ivyleaf Crafts said...

Very nice clean cards and the pop of glttered colour makes them very striking xx

Jane Willis said...

Love those schparkly stars!
Jane

Craft-E-Place said...

Two simply fabulous cards ... love the design and the sparkle.

Sorry but I can't help with the name of your plant but do love the splash of colour.

Elaine

Gerrina said...

The plants look great! With that heat I can understand that there is not much colour except a bit of green...
I slowly have to get started with my newyearscards and like your design for these two... maybe by the end of the mond my winter-mojo will set in...:) Hugs, Gerrina

Unknown said...

Fab CAS cards Darnell, love the textured card and sentiment fonts are lovely.
I'm in love with your 'playhouse' and gorgeous garden :)
Hugs Kaz xx

Kathyk said...

FAB (and twinkly) makes today, glorious confections for the eye, as are your foliage pix. Happy Thursday

Kathyk

Sue's Crafty Corner said...

I love these CAS cards Darnell and the textured card that you've used for them too.

Sue xx

Anne said...

Hello Darnell

I have arrived at your blog via Mrs Duck's. I love the simplicity of your cards today.

I think your plant is Liriope Muscari - we have a darker leaved version in our garden but they are not flowering. I might copy your idea of putting them in a pot.

Anne (Northampton)

Colleen said...

Darnell, you know this is a KISS card, right? Keep it Simple It Simply Sweet!! And you did it! Love the card and love that you are playing along with us at Merry Monday!! So good to see you in the gallery!!

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

beautiful cards :)

kiwimeskreations said...

Wonderful QACAS cards Darnell - love the sparkly stars and the linen texture showing under the stamping.
Those grasses are very pretty!! i have a wee patch of daffodils blooming outside my kitchen window which are bringing me much joy
Blessings
Maxine

Diane said...

Lots of pretty sparkle-y goodness on your stars...and easy mailers, too..love that! Thank you for joining our challenge at Double D!
Diane DD DT {Nellies Nest}

Fikreta said...

cards are so nice!
love those flowers! very beautiful!
hugs

aussie aNNie said...

A beautiful creation. Lovely design and gorgeous colours used for our GLITTER IT UP challenge, sure suits our theme beautifully ...hope to see you next challenge.. Double D Challenges{DT aNNie}


oldpunca said...

Great Christmas CAS cards, dear Darnell. I like the sparkling stars.
Have a nice day,
Sonja

Pat said...

The glitter card stars are so pretty Darnell and love the large sentiments, and a great photo of that monkey grass which is beautiful with those lovely purple flowers. x

Marilyn said...

Beautiful cards!!

Mac Mable said...

CAS perfection with your cards and yes great for batch making. Thank you for sharing your pots of colour and wow on the temperatures this Summer x

Bunny said...

it looks like the variegated liriope. Very pretty. Look that up.

Love the CAS cards. They are pretty. [Bunny]

Berina RGA said...

Beautiful cards! Love the sparkle. I love Christmas cards with sparkle. The sentiments are very pretty. I don't know the name of the plant, but my grandmother used to have this in her garden.

Brenda in IN said...

I like the classic look of clean and simple cards and these are so pleasing to the eye. That sparkle is captured so well in the pictures. I don't know the name of the grasses but that hanging pot is gorgeous. How lucky you have that as a scene from your window. It's amazing that anything is still blooming in the heat you're having. Hope you are keeping cool.

KandA said...

Fabulous CAS cards Darnell and wonderful sparkly stars. Super photos of your plants too, All our stuff has finished flowering so it's just cleaning up time in our garden now xx

Craftychris said...

Love your sparkly star cards! CAS beauties my friend! Lovely plants too. Hugs xxxxxxx

Darlene said...

These are FABULOUS Darnell and I LOVE that sparkly blue star! Perfect! Thanks so much for joining in the fun at our Double D ‘GLITTER’ challenge! We hope you’ll come back often.

Darlene
DOUBLE D Challenge Blog
DAR’S CRAFTY CREATIONS Please stop in for a visit!

Jenny L said...

Hi Darnell,
such a very brilliant cards and their designs are so clean and wonderfully created as usual.
If I was given a line up of cards and told to look for yours I would always be able to tell yours from anyones elses as your designs are always so clean and very lovely.
Love and big crafty hugs from my house to yours. Jenny L.

Aquarius said...

Great CAS cards. The plants look like a variegated form of liriope (aka Lily Turf).

conil said...

Wish I did know the name of the plants...love that basket. Was admiring your green thumb when I was there. This one's gorgeous. As are you CAS cards. The glitter, of course, is pretty but, to me, the real stars are the rich linen paper and the luscious font on the "Joy". Love and own this stamp, too. Have fun your trip.

Lin said...

Beautiful cards for Christmas, Darnell, I love the sparkly stars, and the fonts on the sentiments! Thanks for playing along with us at the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday challenge!

Patti said...

mmmm your flowers are outstanding! Your Christmas cards make up for your hot weather because they are COOL! : ) I love the simplicity of them!! You go girl you are off to a great start on your holiday cards : )

Patti

Leslie Miller said...

Now that's the way to go in order to get the Christmas cards done! Pretty and simple with fabulous sparkle and color. I love them! I think I've seen that plant called Lily Turf. I have some Black Mondo Grass, but it's small like a ground cover size. Very black, though. Amazing stuff.

Leslie Miller said...

Dang, I forgot to tell you how awesome it is to see your card in our Glitter challenge at Double D!

Alice (scrAPpamondo) said...

Love the texture of the papers and the sparkling stars! Fab both your CAS!

Sue said...

Hi Darnell, Loving the sparkly star cards.

Don't know what the plants are called, but they are lovely. Sue

Greta said...

Wow--what a gorgeous plant & one that can take triple digits, too! My hanging plant actually survived the heat, but not the darn cut worms! Love your perfectly CAS design, Darnell--not at all boring! The linen card is wonderful & so are the non-traditional colors! PS--we got a sprinkle this morning & the smoke is less, so it's a good day!

Alice said...

I love your cards and especially the textured cardstock you use; please share the information about it and your source sometime in your blog. ... Liriope is your pretty plant, as others have said, and it definitely has a bazillion other names, too.

Jean said...

These are wonderful catds!

Sandra H said...

So beautiful are your cards Darnell as always too your plants are stunning too!!

Bonnie said...

Lovely big sentiments and schparkly stars! Love that textured paper! The plant looks like what we call Monkey grass except that it isn't that big. It's hard to kill. I dug some up and stuck it under a tree intending to throw it away. It never did die, so I left it. It's tough, and I love those sweet purple flowers that look like little lights in the plant.

Kathleen said...

Always a Joy to visit your blog Darnell.
Love the sparkly stars and the CAS designs.
No idea on the plants soz.

Kath x

Redanne said...

Both cards may be simple but they are amazing, I love how the star twinkles on the second card!

Goodness, that plant is amazing to withstand that heat! I can't really help with a name but the flowers are gorgeous! Hugs, Annie xx

Verna Angerhofer said...

Fantastic sparkly stars on your cards. Love those colors too. And, your pretty plants are so fresh and healthy looking. I have no idea what they are called though.

Donna said...

Fabulous sparkly card and enjoyed your plant pictures.

Linda W. (ScrappinBari) said...

Just love your sparkly star cards, Darnell - perfect with those sentiment diecuts!!

Cat Craig said...

Love those sparklie cards and the plant pics. Surprising that anything still grows in that heat.

JoAnn said...

Love your pretty cards, especially the one with the blue star (blue is my favorite color). Your plants are pretty also. TFS

Sheila H said...

Pretty plants and beautiful cards! Your clean and simple designs are just
perfect as are the colors.

Happy Dance said...

First. Those Christmas cards are fabulous. I am seriously in love with them!!! Those glittery stars with their wonderfully simple sentiments in black on that linen paper are perfection. If I were you, I'd make a zillion of them. They are fabulous. And yes, I do know the name of your plant's correct name...Sam. We met a while back, and he introduced himself as Sam. Sam Green. hahahahahahahaha. Sorry.... Couldn't resist. Miss you and sending hugs and loves. Bev

Marcia Hill said...

CAS perfection Darnell! Why add anything else when these say it so perfectly...love them both! And love your plants too with the pop of color! Hard to believe you're in the triple digits for temperature and we only made it into the mid 50's today...seriously thought about turning the furnace on for a few minutes today! Then I remembered it's only the beginning of September and decided to tough it out! Thanks so much for joining us at Merry Monday this week...we love to see you playing along with us!! :0)

Christine Alexander said...

wow, the sparkle is off the chart along with the temp. stunning CAS cards :)

Andrea Ockey Parr said...

These cards are incredible! I am NOT very good at keeping things clean or simple, so I always have a huge amount of respect for those that nail it and you nailed it! I love how these have some sass and flair and shimmer, yet they are simple enough to be reproduced on a large scale. This is an impressive blend of a stunning card that is also do-able to make. Thank you so much for sharing these inspiring cards with us for this week's Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge!

HJ said...

Love these beautiful cards, Darnell. The colors and fonts are perfect.

Carol L said...

oh gosh, I love these big, bold, CAS cards and they look so simple to re-create! Love the sparkle, and love your potted plants too! The only things I grow well here are weeds and thistle! LOL

Ros Crawford said...

How lovely! I always admire people who come up with simple designs and make me go "WOW"... You are one of those people! Fabulous cards and I hope you enjoyed your break?

Julie B said...

Fab cards.
I believe the fantastic blooms are Liriope. :)

Em Louise Fairley said...

Gorgeous glittery cards, Darnell.
Hugs,
Em xoxox

laurie said...

Gorgeous CAS cards Darnell! Beautiful blooms too!

Debs said...

Hiya, love your CAS card, wish I could do them, they just never look finished when I try, had a good old nosey around your craft shed, it's just so organized, amazing. Thank you for commenting on my blog, hugs Debra x

cm said...

Oooh la la...your shimmery stars Christmas cards make me feel all merry and joyful! So pretty! *Someone* hasn't made even on Christmas card yet and yes, panic is sure to ensue, come November, as per usual! You'd think I'd learn! Your plants: soooooo pretty! No ideas as to names, but I rather like Big Blue Lily Turf (sounds like a racehorse name *grin*).
Hugs and love~c

Jane said...

Gorgeous sparkly stars! Love theses two beauties. Thanks for playing at HLS Christmas challenge.

Carol H. said...

Your plants are varieties of Loriope. :) I grow them in the ground here in Texas. I really love your CAS card! You are right that the card texture and the wonderful sparkle keep the card from looking anything but plain! So pretty!!!!!

Unknown said...

Darnell,
What a cute CAS Christmas card and great take on the sketch. Thank you for joining us this week over at Merry Monday.

Anita in France said...

I'm sure I recall seeing the IRL masters for these delectably crisp, CAS, schparkly, shimmery cards, Darnell ... I'm thinking LH? If I'm dreaming, it was a lovely dream ... they were gorgeous in it ... as are these here ... such wonderful impact! Sorry, can't help with the plants ... my best shot is pot plants ... or maybe plantes de pots (tee hee!). LYAMYHMAWYAWCW! Big Hugs & Bisous, Anita :)

Donna Phelan said...

CAS at it's finest! I love those BIG bold beautiful stars and JOY just happens to be my most favorite word! You were also able to capture that fabulous sparkle on both of your cards, not an easy task when photographing! Well done! Thanks so much for playing along with us at The Double D, Glitter Challenge, Donna, DT Member.

Lisa T said...

Love the CAS design and of course Christmas wouldnt be Christmas without some sparkle and we can never have too much! Love these cards Darnell. I am a goodwill ambassador for Kathy Racoosin's 30 day colouring challenge this monh so may not get to all your posts but I shall try!mhugs, Lisa

Bobby said...

I love CAS with Sparkle. Perfect for Christmas and mass producing. And I love that linen paper too. I have a whole bunch of it and never think to use it. I'm getting it out right now.

Liz said...

Brilliant design for batch making, Darnell, CAS and perfect with the touch of glitter. xx

Vikki H said...

Glitter and stars, a match made in Darnell's crafty corner! Thanks for letting me know about Merry Monday's challenge beginning again.

Birgit said...

Love the glitter stars and it works for a birthday or Christmas. One can do so much with just the saying and the glitter. I love your flowers and they look healthy. The names you have them works for me.

Cara said...

Fabulous cards, although I have to confess that I read the last sentiment as Messy Christmas, well it fits my Christmas preparation anyway!

Linda said...

Two beautiful CAS cards, Darnell.

Cheryl W. said...

Bright, fun Christmas cards. Love the sparkle. My plants are fading fast, too. Thanks for sharing your pics.

3treescreations@gmail.com said...

Gorgeous cards Darnell! LOVING that sparkle! Thanks for playing along with us at Merry Monday.

MRS DUCK said...

Hi Darnell
Boy, can you see that sparkle.
I'm not normally a glitter gal but that could change lol!
Beautiful plants but don't think we get anything so exotic here.
Ang x

BożenA said...

I love these big sentiments. They allow you to utilize a substantial part of the card without creating a mess on the card. Glittering stars shine brightly, it's even visible on your photo. Great CAS Cards!
BożenA xx

OH Babs said...

You have quite a jump on Christmas cards, but then I know you make oodles of them. Ready for your challenge so that I can make some new cards. Summer with the boys does not make for productive card making. Not complaining I am blessed.

OH Babs said...

You have quite a jump on Christmas cards, but then I know you make oodles of them. Ready for your challenge so that I can make some new cards. Summer with the boys does not make for productive card making. Not complaining I am blessed.