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!

April 7, 2018

Flowers at the Window

Hello Stamplings!

I feel like it's been so long since I was here, but it's not even been a week. It's because we had several days of rain so I spent the time signing and addressing birthday cards from my stash for the upcoming weeks rather than making new ones. That always a great accomplishment, but it wasn't all fun and games because there were taxes to be done. Oomph. That takes the Zwah D. Veeve right out of a girl!

And suddenly the week whooshed by! Whatever you did this week, I hope it was excellent!

Today I have this pretty dried flower window box card for you:
If you're a long-time friend here, you know I inherited dried flowers from my friend and neighbor many years ago. She picked the flowers and pressed them herself and I treasure them. I've made cards with them before, but it's been quite a while since I had a play so it was fun to work with them again. The window frame and window box are from Poppystamps. I slid a piece of blue vellum behind the window to add a little skyish interest. The flower stems slid easily into the window box and a dot of glue holds them in place. The sediment is from MFT.

You'll see where my inspiration came from when I tell you it is my month to host Inspired By All the Little Things. This is the photo I chose for the first bi-weekly challenge:
Isn't that a great photo for spring?! It's also a great photo for those of you LONGING for spring and still seeing snow outside your window instead! Don't look! Instead, cast your eyeballs on the photo and notice all the many little ways you can be inspired by the sweet lineup of flowers! Hmmm? Feel a spark of a card idea? I'm pretty sure you have a stamp that looks just like that one right there, or maybe the one on the end? Or several?

I hope you'll be inspired by the photo and join us in the challenge! My talented friend Cat Craig of Cat Luvs Paper is joining us for both challenges this month as our Featured Artist. You will find Cat's beautiful card and the gorgeous cards of the talented Design Team over on the blog!

Other Challenges
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04-18 copy
~~~

I'm going to leave you with just the Onefer today! Wait. What? Feel my forehead. Am I okay?! Yes, never fear, I'll be back on Tuesday with my Twofer Twofer!

Enjoy your weekend! 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 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!)

93 comments:

Birgit said...

What a lovely card and genius idea using dried flowers! It's just perfect for the sweet inspiration photo you chose. A breath of spring for me here on the east coast since we just got more snow yesterday. Thanks for the ray of sunshine Darnell!

Jeanne said...

Gorgeous! Look at those pretty flowers. Who wouldn't be inspired by that photo. Your card is absolutely lovely. Thank you for sharing. Glad you are getting some rain. Hope it's not too much. That Mother Nature doesn't know about moderation it seems. We had light snow falling most of the day yesterday, opening day for our baseball team. Haha! The boys of summer might have been a wee bit cold. Can't complain too loudly as we have barely had any snow all winter. We need the moisture, badly. Back to the card. Lovely sky with the vellum. Lovely window, too. Have a wonderful and hopefully dry weekend! Hugs!

Marilyn said...

This is such a cute card Darnell, so clever and inventive. Plus... it's a cheery, feel-good kinda card and we all like those.

designbydonna said...

Beautiful. When I first looked at the card, I thought wow those look like real flowers. Then I read the blog and discovered they really are. How do you keep the flowers from falling apart? I've never had much luck with drying flowers.

Anita in France said...

Gosh, Darnell, what an absolute delight! Your little window box full of dainty dried flowers is a joy to behold ... it's like a breath of summer air just wafted over me! Thank you! LYAMYMA ... HTSSOYAW! Big hugs & bisous, Anita :)

jimlynn said...

Breathtaking beautiful! I do love those dried flowers and they seem to be the perfect size for the little window box. Gorgeous!
Lynn

Cat Craig said...

Darnell, your card is a FABULOUS interpretation of the photo. The dried flowers are so pretty. Very brave my friend. Thank you so very much for the invitation.

Lisa said...

Oh my gosh, this is stunning!! Wow!! The dried flowers look amazing in the beautiful window box!! What a perfect interpretation of the inspiration photo!! I love this!! Have a great weekend!! Big hugs :)

Lisa
A Mermaid's Crafts

Dotty Jo said...

How lovely! Those precious, delicate beauties look great in their little window box, Jo x

Lia said...

This is simply amazing. I like it, tht you have used dried flowers instead of paper ones!
Lia xx

Nancy said...

Oh this is so pretty! Great take on the photo!

Pat said...

A great inspiration photo and I adore your take on it with this beautiful card Darnell, and the dried flowers in the window box look fabulous. x

conil said...

Would love to see those blooms sticking out from my window but, as you know, the rain in Spain moved here so all I see is wet and puddles. What a pretty card. Love window boxes, they harken back to sweeter era, and this one is one of the prettiest I've seen. Hope you didn't drown in the overnight deluge, my friend.

Alice (scrAPpamondo) said...

It's a fabulous cad! These dried flowers from your dear friend look amazing on the window shape! My dried flower haven't these lovely colours !

Sue said...

Hi Darnell, Loving the card.

Hope you are having a nice weekend. Sue

Carol L said...

The dried flowers are so pretty and look wonderful in the window box. I love the vellum panel behind the window too - very clever of you to think of doing that! Wishing you a warm and wonderful weekend!

Craft-E-Place said...

This is beautiful ... Spring on a card. Thank you very much for the kind comments you always leave in my blog ... I cannot begin to explain how much they mean to me. Your comments from today provided me with a much needed lift thank you x
Elaine

Lorraine A said...

Gorgeous card Darnell :-) the window box is so pretty and I love the dried flowers, and how lovely that your friend had made them, so special and beautiful :-) ❤️

thanks for joining us on the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge
Luv
Lols x x x

Carole said...

Beautiful card Darnell, those pressed flowers are so pretty and delicate.Lovely design and clever use of the blur vellum! xx

Happy Dance said...

You've given me a memory...One of my long-gone grandma, who pressed flowers in her bible, and I'd sit at the kitchen table and 'help' her turn the pages to look at them. So naturally, I love this card. That is one incredible window box you've created when these beauties. Love the colors, and the window box you've planted them into. This is just a marvelous card. Someone is going to be very, very lucky to find this in their mailbox. Incredible. Missing you, dear friend. xo Bev

Claire said...

Aww how pretty, I love the use of dried flowers on a card and it makes it so tactile which is always a plus. A delightful card x

Craftychris said...

What a gorgeous card with those wonderful dried flowers in the window box! Such a fabulous idea and how lovely to be able to use those beautiful dried flowers kindly gifted to you. Hugs xxxxxxxxx

Kath said...

A beautiful card and such pretty dried flowers too.
Kath x

Colleen said...

when I first saw those flowers I thought they looked real...and HA, they are, just dried real! I love them and love how you used them on this card in the window box. I love flower window boxes, they are so pretty on houses! Well, done my friend! Heart Hugs, col

OH Babs said...

Oh wow that is one cool card Irma.
:) BBB

Verna Angerhofer said...

Wonderful card. I love the window box with all those gorgeous flowers in it. This is truly amazing!

Darlene said...

FABULOUS! You sure are putting these beautiful dried flowers to great use! Yes I love the inspiration photo ... hmmm wonderful if I have time to join in the fun?? LOL Hope so! Thanks for beautiful inspiration and hope you're having an awesome weekend!

Sheri said...

I love your card! I just had a play with my window and window box this week as well. It had not seen the light of day for months and months - maybe even a couple of years. What a wonderful thing to be gifted with. The dried flowers are perfect. And you were smart enough to use them together with the window box! A win win for sure

Ina G said...

Exquisite! An absolute stunner full of colourful beauty Darnell.

Liz said...

Fabulous card, Darnell. I love how you've used the dried flowers - just beautiful. xx

Kathleen said...

Gorgeous card Darnell, brilliant design and those dried flowers look fabulous, very classy creation.

Kath x

KT Fit Kitty said...

Your window box is lovely, Darnell! The dried flowers look amazing! What an awesome gift to inherit from your neighbor!

Chris Dring said...

Darnell! Your card is absolutely STUNNING!! I love that you used dried flowers in your flower box. Such a gorgeous card!

Glittered Paws said...

Oh what a feel good spring time card - now if Mother Nature would just get her act together. We are "expecting" some more snow tomorrow - ok think positive this will be the last one. Love the flowers and oh my just onefer this time.

Redanne said...

I do remember your neighbour and friend and it is wonderful to see you use those gorgeous dried flowers again - your window box is absolutely delightful and makes me wish Spring would finally arrive! It is a truly beautiful card Darnell.

Sorry about the taxes though, they are so time consuming and such a dreary thing to do :(

To answer your question, I didn't notice it until you mentioned it but yes, I can see an owl face in the key... please tell Hammy for me - he is very clever!! Big hugs, Annie xxx

Susan said...

I LOVE your use of real dried flowers instead of a flower stamp or die - they are beautiful! And they fit perfectly into the window box. A gorgeous card!

p.s. It's rained here in Vancouver most of the week too! I'm started to turn moldy!

MagsB said...

Wow, Darnell, what a gorgeous springtime card! The dried flowers are beautiful!

love Mags B x

Bonnie said...

Your window box of dried flowers is gorgeous, Dolly! The blue vellum behind the window is perfect to add a beautiful background for these flowers!

nancy littrell said...

Beautiful straw flowers in your flower box, Dolly. I love how you added the blue vellum in the window for sky. Your pretty card reminds me of your play house:-) TFS my friend. Hugs...

JoAnn said...

Love your flower box with all the lovely flowers. I like the way you put the blue vellum behind the window die cut. TFS
Have a wonderful weekend.

Shelly said...

This is beautiful, Darnell! Loving those dried flowers...so pretty!

Cheryl W. said...

Your pretty card brought back memories of when I first started making cards. I used to dry my own flowers and use them on my cards. They were never quite as vibrant as yours. Not sure if it was because I chose the wrong flowers or if my drying method wasn't quite up to par. Thanks for reminding me. I should look in my flower press and see if there are any still lurking there.

Fikreta said...

Wonderful card!
We also have rany days and clouds..
I need spring.
Hugs

Sue from Oregon said...

This is a beauty Darnell!

Shelly Schmidt said...

I just love the dried flowers in the windowsill, and love the blue vellum window- nice look. Wonderful card! A breath of Spring in this chilly April!

Sarah said...

This is really gorgeous Darnell, definitely spring on a card. Those glorious flowers have kept their colour beautifully too xx

Lynne said...

A gorgeous card and your dried flowers look perfect x

BożenA said...

I love cards with natural plants. Your window looks stunning, Darnell. I love how beautifully you planted flowers, you are a great gardener :-). Thank you for reminding me of my supply of dried plants.
Hugs,
BożenA

Linda said...

Those dried flowers look so pretty in the window box and I love your idea of the blue vellum..... looks like it's the perfect sunny day xx

KandA said...

Beautiful card Darnell and I love those gorgeous pressed flowers xx

Marilyn said...

Beautiful!! Love the window flower box!
Have a great day!
Marilyn❤

Brenda in IN said...

Those dried flowers are perfect for this inspiration picture. They are preserved so beautifully. I always wait till the very last minute to do taxes. I just hate getting everything ready to take. For some reason I had this past Thurs. on my mind, so my bad.

Leslie Miller said...

Heck, I could almost think this was a picture of your own home! In fact, if you scroll a little too quickly it does appear this is a garden post, rather than a stamping post. Beautiful card, beautiful sunshine! Love, LOVE it! The blue vellum is pretending to reflect the sky. I'd have to use gray. Nice to have gotten those taxes done, yay!

Greta said...

Great idea to back the window with blue vellum--gotta remember that! The straw flowers are beautiful--what a great card, Darnell! I know what you mean about the signing & addressing not being the fun part. Don't know how you do so many! Enjoy your week, Greta PS--Cat is a great choice for GD!

Donna said...

How gorgeous is this and great idea with the blue vellum!

JD/ Jill said...

Lovely card!

Sue said...

This is so pretty, what a gorgeous card! Have a very happy week, Sue xx

cuilliesocks said...

How beautiful Darnell, I love your pretty flowers and the window box design is fabulous, gorgeous card, Kate x

Princess Judy Palmer said...

What a lovely boo-kay of poisies. I once wanted to get into dried flowers but came to my senses. Where would I get them from? Steal them from the floral dept?!

Sue - said...

Oh that is such a beautiful card Darnell! The dried flowers are just gorgeous! xx

Kay Miller said...

Hi Darnell! Your card is just beautiful!! Looks almost exactly like the inspiration photo! Beautiful work and how fun to work with the dried flowers! I hope you are doing well! Thank you so much for stopping by my blog and leaving sweet comments! I appreciate it so much! The puppies are growing! I'll have photos on my blog next Saturday! They are the sweetest! Hugs and hope you have a happy week!! :)

Bobby said...

I used to work with dried flowers eons ago, Darnell, although I made pictures instead of cards. They look wonderful in your window box.

Ardyth said...

Love how the real flowers look on the card - this is absolutely perfect for the inspiration!

Sybrina K said...

Darnell, What a lovely card! It's a great use of those dried flowers... and a nice reminder to pull out my window die. :)

Christine Alexander said...

those dried flowers are amazing, so adorable in your window box. Congrats on getting the taxes done :)

Lisa Elton said...

What a treasure to have in those sweet little dried blooms from a friend. This is ever so lovely Darnell and has me longing for warm weather!

kiwimeskreations said...

What a beautiful card Darnell - Love those dried flowers, which reminds me I have a stash of dried bits somewhere in my studio - I must look it out!
Blessings
Maxine

Leigh Penner said...

Wonderful take on the inspiration photo, Darnell!

Em Louise Fairley said...

Absolutely stunning! xoxo

Gerrina said...

Wow, that doesn't look like my garden jet...but so beautiful and something to look forward to! Hugs, Gerrina

Linda said...

Darnell, I love you window box of flowers. So pretty my friend.

Julia Aston said...

How lovely your flower box is with the real pressed flowers sis! That's so nice to use these given to you by your friend!

Susanne Vargas said...

Awww, I adore your flowering window sill! Perfect take on that pretty inspiration photo!

Sharron said...

Such a lovely card, Darnell! The blue vellum is wonderful and the dried flowers so pretty. It reminds me sunny days will arrive soon!

Vikki H said...

This is so darn cute and creative, Darnell! So impressed with your preservation and finding the photo to go with it!

Anonymous said...

What a gorgeous card. Love the real flowers makes it even more special.

Mac Mable said...

Your wonderful card has brought a huge smile to my face. So unique, personal and so very beautiful x

Ruth said...

I used to press flowers when I was little. We had a huge encyclopedia set which worked beautifully for it. I just love how you've left them to show themselves off in their window box. xx

Loll said...

Your window box garden is so pretty, Dolly! What a bright and cheerful card. And how sweet that you got these beautiful dried flowers from your neighbour. xx

Barb said...

It's an absolutely gorgeous card Darnell. A wonderful idea to use the beautiful dried flowers from your neighbour in this way. Barbxx

Sheila H said...

Wow, I love this card. Those dried flowers are really special.

Silke Ledlow said...

Darnell, this is such a brilliant take on the inspiration challenge...love it!

pam said...

Love how you have used your precious flower gift on this gorgeous card Darnell, made a very special card.
Thank you for joining us over on Poppystamps challenge blog.
Pam x

Nora Noll said...

Oh my word!! This is so lovely. What a treasure to have these pressed flowers. I love how you created the window box and that sentiment is so pretty-love the font mix!!

Karren said...

Oh this is stunning, Darnell! Truly gorgeous!

Karenladd said...

I am so impressed by the way you used those real dried flowers in your window box and am wondering how you managed to glue them to the card without making a mess? I dried some flowers years ago and still have them in a folder but am nervous about adding them to cards. I can just imagine the recipient opening an envelope full of crushed, dried petals, ugh.

KimCreate said...

Super use of your friend's pressed flowers. They are perfect for the inspiration this week!

Rebecca Keppel said...

WOW! This is AMAZING! I love the dried flowers!!
Thanks for joining us in the Poppystamps Framed Challenge!
:) Rebecca

Robin said...

Love your use of the dried flowers in the window box! Thank you so much for participating in Poppystamps "Framed" Challenge!

Marybeth said...

So happy I stumbled on this card by it reaching out and grabbing my attention!!!! Wow what a showstopper ...loving the dried flowers you used, Darnell! Simply gorgeous and brilliant idea!!!

TLady said...

This is LOVELY! I LOOOVE the dried flowers on this! GENIUS! ;)

Jeanne J. said...

Oh WOW! Darnell! What a brilliant idea! I love the dried flowers in the window box! This is so pretty and fresh I had to look twice!

Mrs Duck said...

Hi Darnell
I'm catching up again........or trying to lol!!!
What a fantabulous card to showcase Rae's beautiful dried flowers. I'm sure that she will be smiling down approvingly on you.
Best wishes.
Ang x