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 15, 2018

Spring Lilies

Hello Stamplings!

How has your week been? I feel badly for those of you in the path of the third Nor'Easter in as many weeks. It gets old, but the calendar reassures us that Miss Spring will be arriving next week as soon as St. Paddy finishes his corned beef and cabbage and moves on!

I had a hard time getting going this week, but I needed my hobby to distract me, so I kept moving things around, opening and closing drawers, and flipping through stamps and dies until the juices started flowing. You know how you do sometimes?

We are getting late-season rain this week and welcoming it! We even had some thunder which is very unusual and so beciting! Just as I finished my cards, I was able to pop outside and get a couple of passable photos during a break in the action ...

Onefer

My Onefer is an Easter card.
I used a few very old classics. The calla lily stamp is from a set by Stampin' Up. I think it might have been called "long-stemmed?" I inked the stamp with markers, huffed on it with my hot breath, and stamped it on the card. The very old jar die and stamp are from Paper Smooches. I heat-embossed the jar in black e/p onto blue vellum. The shadow is from PTI and the sediment is from GKW.

Challenges

Twofer

My Twofer is a sympathy card.
This time I heat-embossed the calla lily in white onto an Always Artichoke green card. The sediment from Penny Black is also white heat-embossed. The NBUS corner die is a Tim Holtz Sizzix die. Behind it is a pastel watercolor paper in pink, green, and yellow. See how I did that thing with the pink organza ribbon to have it mimic the form of the lily? Too much?

Challenges
Use Your Stuff

Hint, Hint.

I wanted to make these two cards for my stash and at the same time remind you that you do not need to make something unexpected for one of your cards out of your blossom stamp or die for the Twofer challenge. You can just make two flower card designs which we all do often!

Of course, you have to use the same flower (blossom) stamp or die and make your cards for two different occasions. I'm seeing several beautiful spring flower cards in the galleries and when I do, I think how great you would feel if you made TWO cards while your schtuff was out! And, she says with a tinkle, of course, I'd feel great if you played along with us at Twofer! Thank you to all who have!

Sorry, that should be twinkle.

~~~

Enjoy your day! No, seriously, enjoy! LITS!* 

Egads, I'm back to the dentist today to get my permanent crown, but it shouldn't involve any needles, thank goodness! And in case I'm not back by then, enjoy your St. Patrick's Day! We have the boys for the weekend and I'm looking forward to having them help me make Irish Soda Bread!

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 scrollingClick 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 wallah, no more car pool tunnel! Mwah! (p.s. If you ask me a question in your comment, please remember to leave me your email address so I can respond. Thank you!)

67 comments:

Alice (scrAPpamondo) said...

Two lovely CAS cards, Darnell! Great uses of your calla stamp!
Hugs!

Anita in France said...

What a delicate and lovely lily, Darnell ... you've showcased it beautifully with your hot breath huffing and with the white embossing ... a gorgeous twofer! I'm especially taken with the softness of your sympathy card ... the caring sentiment, the dreamy background behind the die cut section ... and that delicious ribbon ... love how you've tied the bow to mimic the long stems! LYAMYMA ... PATOYA! Big Hugs & Bisous, Anita :)

Sue - said...

Two gorgeous cards Darnell. Love how you’ve tied the ribbon. Have a great weekend with the boys! I’m still cleaning, sorting and unpacking! Almost there though, thank goodness. xx

Linda said...

Two beautiful cards Darnell .... what a gorgeous Lily stamp. Have a great weekend with the kiddies xx

Sue said...

Hi Darnell, Lovely cards. I particularly the second one.

Have a nice time with the boys. Sue

Liz said...

A great Twofer, Darnell. My favourite is the second card, the ribbon is a perfect finishing touch. xx

Carole said...

Two lovely cards Darnell...really partial to the 2nd one though and the way you have tied the ribbon. Wet , miserable and cold here in West Yorkshire UK...again!...and the promise of snow tomorrow...again!...am hoping we hit a gap in the snow clouds! Enjoy your weekend it will soon be her and sooner gone! xx

Jeanne said...

Two lovely cards, Darnell. I hope you have no complications at the dentist. I'm sure the thought of seeing your sweet grandsons this weekend will be all the incentive you need to get'r done! :) I hope the east coast can catch a break and that at some point we can catch some of the rain you've been getting!

Em Louise Fairley said...

Gorgeous cards, Darnell. I'm hoping to get time to play this weekend and will hopefully remember to take a photo of both this time! xoxo

Lisa said...

These are both so gorgeous!! I love how you've used the beautiful Lily on both cards!! They are stunning!! I really hope I can find time to play along this time...I haven't been in my craft room in two weeks but maybe this weekend (fingers crossed!!) Good luck at the dentist!! Have a great day!! Big hugs :)

Lisa
A Mermaid's Crafts

Marilyn said...

Cute card!!
Have a great day!
Marilyn😀

Brenda in IN said...

I love those lily cards and the tied matching ribbon. The embossed white lily card is beautiful. I like how you get your mojo going! I went to Hobby Lobby thinking that would kick start me and only bought a tea towel with a sweet bunny on it. Good luck with the dentist and enjoy your time with the boys.

Pat said...

Two beautiful cards Darnell and I love them both but I do love the TH corner die, one on the 'to get sometime' wish list and the Calla Lily looks great in white with that prettily tied ribbon. The Lily in the jar is a lovely Easter design too and the blue vellum makes a sweet jar for the flower. I am hoping to enter a Twofer but am heavily involved in a stage show at present, and early next week there will be a break in the proceedings where hopefully if I can reassemble my body and brain out of jigging and singing mode into crafting mode I will be getting it together I hope...lol. I hope you finish up with a super new tooth today, quite comfortably positioned, and enjoy your weekend with the boys. I have never had Soda Bread but it sounds yummy. x

jimlynn said...

For some reason, I thought you already wore a crown! (LOL!!!)
Love both your cards Darnell. Sometimes the classics are the best. Love these.
Lyn

bolletjelucky.blogspot.com said...

Two lovely cards Darnell, I love the first card with the vellum yar. Great use of the calla lily stamp on both cards.
Greetings Miranda

Cat Craig said...

Darnell, your flower(blossom) cards are lovely. I do have a soft spot for calla lilies and I may just have to get mine out now. I am also so interested in that corner die, is it a new thing or an older thing...I think I need some of that - no answer needed I am going to go research.

Back to your lovely cards --- vellum is perfect for your jar such a smart choice. Your second card, well the corner and that organza ribbon well its just won my heart and number 1 ranking of all your cards and I don't even like green. Shows what a stunning design can do. Sending hugs!

Leslie Miller said...

Hooray for old classics! These are both beautiful, and I especially love the white embossing on green. I've been wanting to do the current Twofer Challenge and even have a plan, but time in my room isn't happening much these last few days. Trying to color something one petal at a time. Maybe I'll put it aside and do the challenge today... unless Rich suddenly comes up with another plan, sheesh. Enjoy your weekend with the boys and your soda bread!

conil said...

Look at that calla lily. So elegant, reminds me of a ballerina. Don't know why...no sense to how my mind works but, so far, it still works. Back to the lily...perfect for Easter, of course, but also for a sympathy card. Love the diecut window on the corner and that amazing "bow" on the window. Brilliant.

We had the mother of all thunder and lightening storms last night with an accompanying Noah's deluge...was crossing my fingers that our surrounding trees survived. Clearly, they did and enjoyed the drink of water.

Hoping your weekend is wonderful with the twins and the Mister. Send my best to your DIL...still sending good thoughts.

Mac Mable said...

Such elegant and perfectly CAS cards. Creative and fabulous idea to mimic the ribbon to the Calla Lily...one creative lady x

Sue said...

Two fabulous CAS cards Darnell ..I have Irish relatives and found my love of soda bread from them you have made me feel hungry lol huggles Sue xx

Jeanne H said...

What gorgeous cards! I do so love flowers of any kind. I don't think I've ever seen your Calla Lily stamp. Now I want to find it! :-)Cyber hugs to you, Darnell.

Verna Angerhofer said...

A beautiful way of using that gorgeous lily image. It is so lovely for so many occasions. Maybe there is something in the air as I have been on a sort of card making funk too lately. I finally got my Easter cards done though this week little by little. Four of them were done in one day and I only have six I need. So you know I was not up to par for card making either. But I was okay to shop. LOL So I am looking forward to more goodies coming soon. Not that I needed them! Just wanted.

Nan G said...

Lovely cards Darnell. Enjoy the rain...hopefully it's a warm temp with it. Here it's been cold n windy. Guess it's the backend of the n'oreaster. :( Can't wait for some hot temps to pay us a visit and stick around! I'm messing around with watercolors (thx u) and will hopefully have a post up in a day or two. Make that next week cause racing is on Friday - Sunday! Enjoy the weekend with the twinnies! Hugs from me n the Girls (who btw have had a squirrel visiting them! Yep clinging on the porch screen! 2 stories up! Yikes!) bye

Barb Ghig said...

I love how you captured the dainty and elegant nature of the calla lily, Darnell! Your CAS design on both cards is just beautiful...I especially LOVE how you embossed it in white on green! I also love your clever die cutting in the corner and how you mimicked the flower with your clever bow! You have totally inspired me to play along again...Thanks!

Susan said...

A very elegant sympathy card and a fun Easter card with the Calla lily in her jam jar. I really need to turn my mind to doing a Twofer as I love flower cards. But the sunshine is luring me outside to start a tiny bit of garden clean-up to help the real flowers along. Maybe that will inspire me!

Carol L said...

I'm always intrigued with the ease of how you make two-fer cards like these! My brain is focused on one at a time and twofers (unless identical) are a true challenge for me. Your cards are wonderful and I absolutely LOVE how you tied that pink ribbon to mimic the lily! Beautiful!

Kathleen said...

Hope all has gone well with the dentist.
Two really lovely cards with a super Lily stamp.

Kath x

Bonnie said...

I love these calla lilies both ways, my friend! The yellow is so happy and springlike and the white embossing on the green is very classy! Love that ribbon treatment! So clever! Enjoy your Irish Soda Bread!

Kara Lynne said...

Such a lovely twofer of calla lilies! Your bright yellow flowers are a fresh breath of spring, and the light pink ribbon on your sage card is the perfect touch.

JoAnn said...

Lovely cards. You do so well with the "Two-fers" Thanks for sharing.

Mrs A. said...

Toofers for sharing. I hadn't noticed the ribbon on the second card but now you mention it........... Hugs Mrs A.

Cheryl W. said...

Both your cards are lovely. That's such an elegant stamp and works well for so many occasions. I'm hoping to find some time tomorrow to work on a couple of "blossoms" cards. We'll have to see how that goes. :)

Pat said...

Beautiful, Darnell. That calla lily is so elegant & graceful & your bow tying was the perfect touch. Enjoy the twins this w/e & feel free to go re-arrange some stamping stuff as you need. Pat

Loll said...

The Calla Lilies are so beautiful Dolly! Great to make two more cards for your stash ... and always fun to use an old stamps as well.

Hope all went well with the dentist and you are all finished and feeling good. Enjoy your time with the boys. I have made Irish Soda Bread once many years ago for a school project when Jer was young. It turned out pretty good. :) Have fun with that! xx

Valerija said...

Gorgeous cards!
Valerija xx

Ustvarjalni utrinki Tamara P. said...

Gorgeous card Darnell
hugs Tamara

Redanne said...

Both cards are gorgeous, one happy and one sad but still so beautiful. I have a friend, Lisa, who makes stunning cards and always, always makes two, it is so sensible. Although I don't make many cards these days I am going to take your good advice and make two in future too!

It seems we are due more snow this weekend... I so wish Spring would come instead. Hope you have a good weekend my dear friend. Big hugs, Annie xxx

Redanne said...

PS - the bow on the second card was a genius idea!!!

Tracy Freeman said...

Both are lovely, the mason jar on the first one looks awesome and i love the colours on the second one.
Thanks so much for sharing with us at Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge. Have a great day x

sandie said...

lovely cards Darnell. I need to get into this making 2 cards! I just got back the dentist after an extraction and new plate...plus having a bad cold...the joy!!

Darlene said...

Fabulous creations Darnell! Thanks for your encouragement ... I've been struggling with this one but now I know exactly what I want to do ... hopefully I can get it done IN TIME! Eeeks Hugs

Viv said...

Two fab cards again Dee! love the sunny yellow flower on the first and it looks so classy in white on the second one too.We have more snow expected tomorrow grrr , can't wait for Spring now. Enjoy your weekend ;) hugs Vee xx

Viv said...

Oops forgot to mention ....yes I do love what you did with that ribbon too...awesome!Vxx

Sue said...

Two fabulous cards, Darnell, wonderful designs!

Bobby said...

Ah, the Calla lilies are in bloom again. The huffed ones are pretty but I adore the heat embossed, corner die cut sympathy card, Darnell. I'll be working on my Twofer card today.

MaryH said...

Love the pretty callas in the mason jar. Who knew there was blue acetate?! Also really love #2 with the graceful white stems, and the cut out corner is SO pretty. I liked how you did the pink organza ribbon tie. It echos the shape of the stems very nicely, so that was a brilliant design touch. Hope all is going well, and enjoy your Irish Sode-y bread. We might have some corn beef, but since I'm the only one who eats red meat these days, I dunno! Have a good weekend, enjoy your boys. TFS & Hugs

Ruth said...

Ah, the Calla Lilies are in bloom again...... can never remember where that quote comes from! But I do love how you have used them in totally different ways. I really really love the sympathy card. It is so unique with that die cut in the corner and I think the organza ribbon is actually a really lovely addition. It cuts the card into another section to complement the die cutting on the top. Perfect. xx

Tracey McNeely said...

A lily is something I do not have in my stash, you may have just enabled me to break my no shopping rule and well you know... Very pretty cards Darnell, I love it in the jar and
a lovely sympathy card. I am glad spring is finding you even if it is in the form of rain. We have not gotten as much snow this year as we have in the past, but the ground is still white. If does let me see that we have had lots of bunnies hop through our yard!

Donna said...

Your first card is beautiful and then I scrolled down and saw your twofer, wow! You should link the first one up to the Jar challenge at The House That Stamps Built, we would love to have you join us.

Anna-Karin said...

Such lovely cards!! I love that calla lily stamp that you used, it is one of my favorite flowers. Thank you so much for sharing with us at the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge Blog!

missgailly said...

Both beautiful cards and so different from each other considering you used the same stamp. Thanks for playing along at USE YOUR STUFF - Gail

Lisa Elton said...

I like the way you've used these pretty lilies! These are fabulous Darnell!

OH Babs said...

Great cards Darnell. Thanks for clarifying how you can use the stamp or die I was beginning to think this may a too sophisticated challenge for little ole me. :) BBB

Cornelia (fun stamping) said...

Very pretty cards! I have my thinking hat on for this - you know it will take a while....

Patti said...

Ahhh! thank you for the reminder that spring will in fact come again! We had 8" again yesterday! ugh but when it snows in March it doesn't stay long it is WAY up to 43* today so the snow is melting fast : )

Your cards are beautiful! I especially love the Tim Holtz corner die! I have never seen that one. Beautiful cards friend : )

Patti

Fikreta said...

wonderful cards!
hugs

Sheila H said...

Both cards are classically CAS and beautiful. I absolutely love the sympathy card. The corner die adds a bit drama to the design. And I love the way you tied the ribbon. It mimics the lilies. The lilies in the jar are so pretty. The vellum is perfect. I like that you added the shadow. Folks don't seem to do that much anymore - but it definitely adds realism. Enjoy the weekend and your grandsons!

Anonymous said...

Love your cards. I hope you aren't in need of the second one anytime soon although it is the type of card we all need to have at the ready in our stash. Would love to play along but crafty time is short at the moment - there is hope I'll get some back real soon! :)

Susanne Vargas said...

Your cards are a perfect example for the different looks one can create using the same stamp by changing the colors and overall design of the cards. Your Easter card is happy and bright and the sympathy card so soothing!
Happy St. Patrick's Day! Hope you are having fun with the twins and your soda bread came out delicious!

Inkyfingers said...

What a lovely pair of cards Darnell and you have showcased the calla lilies beautifully. The first one is such a great idea for a grown-up Easter card. My Mum always bought lilies at Easter and she would have loved this pretty creation. I love how your twofer card is so different and I think your ribbon is a lovely addition.
I hope the visit to the dentist went well and you are enjoying the weekend with the boys.
Sending a big hug and thanks for sharing with us at ATSM.
Carol x

Heidi Weaver said...

Hi Darnell, what a beautifully thought out sympathy card. I love the muted colours showing through the hexagonal die-cut and the way you've echoed the soft pink in the pretty ribbon. The white embossed lily and sentiment show up so nicely against the soft grey cardstock. A lovely creation. Thanks so much for joining our Watercooler Wednesday Challenge this week.

JD/ Jill said...

Lovely cards!

Penny Hanuszak said...

Darnell, I'm really liking both your cards, but the Sympathy card really speaks to me. I love the muted Always Artichoke for the base with the white embossing, and the honeycomb in the corner is perfect. Thanks for sharing with us at the Watercooler Wednesday "All Occasions" challenge this week.

Lady Joyful said...

Both cards are lovely! Thank you for joining us at the Watercooler Wednesday Challenge - Charlotte/Lady Joyful, DT

Nora Noll said...

Oh what great cards!! I like that you made them so CASE. Great way to use the jar and I like the way you created a shadow. The second card with the partial die cutting and embossed flower is fabulous too. I have not done my entry for the Twofer challenge yet and need to get on it!!

Greta said...

Oops--missed this post & that lily is a gorgeous stamp--both versions! Hoping you guys aren't having problems with the rain. We had quite the hail shower today--Fritz didn't know what to think! Of course, we had just about everything today--bright sun, pouring down rain & the hail--Spring in Oregon!

MRS DUCK said...

Hi Darnell
Two smashing cards but the sympathy one has a lovely simple elegance.
Hope your bread turned out well.
Ang x