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!

June 6, 2018

Ahoy! Oceans Abound!

Hello Dear Stamplings!

I'm finally feeling like I know what day it is now that I've been home a while. Does that happen to you after a holiday? You think every day is Monday or you're a day off? Being a day off can be either really awesome or really bad. Much better just not to know what day it is.

But then your friend calls from the restaurant and wants to know where you are. I'm not saying that happened, but it did. Oops. To the waiter's credit, he didn't even look at me funny when I showed up with toothpaste in my hair.

Whaddya say we just go float around on some ocean waves!
A simple embossing folder made the backwater waves and Simon's "border waves" made the forewater waves. The Ziggie-watercolored sailboat is from Poppystamps. After assemblage, I felt it needed a little somethin' somethin' so I drew the white stitching on the waves. 

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Speaking of ocean, I had to share a little more from my amazing time in Vancouver with Lolly, Nancy, Susan, Christine, and Trina. 

While together, one of the many techniques we played with was something called "dirty pour." It was sooooo cool watching the paints co-mingle to create cells and magical artistic panels. I personally think it should be called "pretty pour!" You can find videos at Loll's site if you'd like to know more. 

I have several pieces from this fun technique to share as I use them on card designs, but today I wanted to share this oceanic canvas I poured:
I love how the colors moved about on the canvas. Can you see the sea lion / seal? White body, two eyes, and a nose? What a fun surprise to have develop right before our eyes!

And here are a few more photos of our special time together. These photos were all taken by Loll's talented SIL Alex while we happily crafted away!
And a few more from my camera:
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Enjoy your day! No, seriously, enjoy! LITS!* If you ever get the chance to meet your wonderful Blogland friends, take it!

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!

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60 comments:

Kath said...

A fabulous masculine card - such a lovely design. It looks like you all had a great time and I can definitely see a seal on your canvas!
Kath x

Alice (scrAPpamondo) said...

Your posts are always so fun and make me smile! :) Love the sailboat card, it has a lovely relaxing feel with that colourful boat and all the waves! The white faux stitching and the little stars are fab touches!
Your marbling canvas is just stunning!! You surely enjoyed your days, Darnell! Such fabulous crafty meeting! :D I can see a big fish with an opened mouth coming out and perhaps also a seahorse in your canvas.... but not a sea-lion :/ LOL However, love so much the fab effect! Well done!
Hugs!

Sue said...

Hi Darnell, Lovely to see you and the other ladies having such a fun time.

I love your 'dirty pour'. I don't see the seal, but a whale jumping out of the water.

Your card is fab.

Hope you have a lovely day. Sue

Gerrina said...

A fun cool breese you made on your card! (Something we could needhere...) And you all look like having so much fun! Hugs, Gerrina

Lisa T said...

That pouring panel is AMAZING Darnell! And I could see the seal with those beautiful soulful eyes. Absolutely gorgeous. Now I am really interested to see how you use that on a card - it's so beautiful you don't want to cover too much of it up. Love the sailboat card too - perfect composition and making me want to get away, but not on a boat as I am an unhappy boat passenger. But holidays yay! Hope you are well, sending hugs, Lisa xx

Marilyn said...

Love your sailboat card ! yes I can see the sea lion/seal
Have a great day!
Marilyn❤️

Jeanne said...

What a fun post, Darnell. Made me smile. From you story about mixing up days to the lovely card to the pretty pours, just so fun. Your card is wonderful. I can just about hear the waves lapping at the pretty boat with the striped sails. Wonderful. And I saw the eyes right away, but quickly nodded my head at your description. That pour looks amazing. So fun for you to be able to do that with a lovely group of friends. Wonderful post! :) Hugs!

oldpunca said...

You always show us something new and interesting. I like the effect of "dirty pour" technique. Your ocean card is wonderful with nice coloured sailing boat.
I agree with you never miss the chance to meet someone you know from blogland. Perhaps someday I will call you to join me in the restaurant. :-)
Have a nice day! Hugs,
Sonja

Brenda in IN said...

I was going to comment and tell you your dirty pour looked like a sea lion, then I read about it! That really turned out awesome. The bright sails on the sailboat are so pretty. I would love to be on it enjoying the day on the water. Not sure about those big waves though, I might be seasick.

Brenda in IN said...

I was so taken with the card and pour that I forgot to mention the great pictures of you gals. Looks like you were really busy and got a lot made. Thanks for sharing.

sandie said...

So pleased you had a nice break. I adore the ocean canvas, what a fun look. I think this would make a lovely painting, you should frame it x

Pat said...

I adore your sweet sailboat on the white faux stitched waves Darnell, and love the background embossing too, and the dirty pour canvas is gorgeous. I can see the seal and also the side view head of a koala bear, can't see the ears but definitely the eye and the rounded snout/nose they have. Great photos of you and the ladies having a wonderful crafty time too. x

Sharron said...

Lots of movement on your fabulous sailboat design!! Love the oceanic canvas--looks like a view from space. And I definitely see the seal. TFS the photos of your crafty trip, looks like you had an awesome time!

Julia Dunnit said...

I do see the seal! Isn’t that amazing! Beautiful colours too. It’s almost two years since your UK tour, and I am here to say the same thing. If you get a chance to meet them, meet your blog friends. what amazing experiences.

Heidi MyLittleStampingBlog said...

The stitched lines are the perfect finishing touch to your sea card. Love it! Also the acrylic pour is so cool! I would love to try that sometime.

Valerija said...

Wonderful card. Love the embossed background.
Valerija xx

Darnell said...

Thank you for your lovely comments! Mwah!

Brenda said...

Yes, holidays and vacations mess me all up with knowing what day it is. lol And you are right Auntie, sometimes it's better not know...or is it?! Yep, I just done the same thing last month and had toothpaste in my hair as well! lol Love, love this sailboat card! It has so much texture and the sails are so pretty striped like that with your Zigs. OMGosh, I do see the seal in your dirty pour!!! How cool is that?! I have not tried this yet, but so many are and I love the results they get. So you can do this on cardstock too?! So fun and very cool looking especially when you get an animal in the mix. I love seeing the photos of you with the ladies! How fun! How fun to meet up with the talented Loll! One day I hope to be able to do meet up for a crafty vaca with lots of crafty people I love! Hugs, Brenda

Kara Lynne said...

There's always so much to talk about at the playhouse! Maybe we should rename this Ms Darnell's Neighborhood. Your sailboat is beautiful on those rolling waves - it's a perfect Father's Day Card! I do see the sea lion! How amazing is that!! Not only is there two eyes and a mouth, but they have expression in them! Fantastic photos of your crafty time - it looks like you had great weather too!

Nan G said...

Cool card. Looks like you had a marvelously crafty time in Vancouver! Love that dirty pour canvas! Yes there’s seal .... how cool is that! I don’t have the room to try that however, I am going to try the ...oh what does she call it...anyway it’s an altered version of a pour for those with limited space and heated more towards card makers....by Understand Blue. Hugs

Nan G said...

Here’s the link to Lydia Fiedler’s post about her experiment with doing a dirty pour....https://understandblue.blogspot.com/2018/04/ill-try-anything-once.html Sorry I can’t leave the YouTube link my YouTube isn’t working at the moment....aggrrhh technology sometimes.:/

Susan said...

Great Father's Day card! Love the way you did the waves. And what a cheerfully coloured sailboat.

Love seeing our retreat photos again - I've got great memories from our time together.

Jeanne H said...

Absolutely love your card. I miss the ocean. If my daughter moves back to CA I'll be able to see it again. Sigh.

Verna Angerhofer said...

That is a fantastic card for Father's Day with the nautical theme. And, I love your Dirty Pour design too. I do see a Sealion in it by stretching my imagination a bit. I saw two eyes and a nose at least on a big head.

Mac Mable said...

Such a fun and contemporary card Darnell and loving the white stitched line and that embossing folder looks great. So glad you still made the lunch/dinner...just.... and with toothpaste in your hair...a girl has to do what a girl has to do x That dirty/pretty pour is amazing and absolutely stunning x Thank you too for sharing more photos...love them x

conil said...

LOVE LOVE LOVE how you over laid the embossing with the waves...talk about awesome dimension for that boat and it's gorgeous sail. I'm suitably impressed and can almost taste the salt air.
Looks as though you had a wonderful time in Vancouver(a place that is definitely on my bucket list). These "pours" just fascinate me...such incredible color and texture. And, yes, I do see that baby seal. It's good to know it is intended and not just my perverted mind. Also, good to see you and your cohorts didn't starve while you were away.
Hope everything is going well with you. By the way, what day is it?

Kate said...

The canvas is amazing! Those eyes staring back at me are quite hypnotic! I loved the card as well - especially the stitched detail on the waves and the striped sailboat. Looks like you had a great time - love the aprons!

Kathleen said...

Love the card, super EF and a brilliant design.
Now in your lovely oceanic canvas I can see two eyes and a moth, what happened to the nose. lol
Some really super photo's too.

Kath x

Carol H. said...

InLOVE all the texture and dimension on your Father’s Day card! And wow! Your poured canvas is beautiful!! Looks like you had so much fun! Many hugs!

Marcia Hill said...

Fantastic card Darnell!! I love ALL the waves (and especially the white stitched lines!) and your sweet little boat with the striped sails...looks like a perfect Summer day on the water to me! Love, LOVE your dirty pour and yes I do see the seal...how cool is that?! All the color and movement in your canvas is just amazing and I think I need to try this technique! And of course all the photos of your retreat time are wonderful...isn't it so amazing how you feel you've known these ladies for a life time already when you're really meeting for the first time? It sure blew me away! Wonderful post my friend and thanks so much for sharing with us at CAS Watercolour!! :0)

Christine Alexander said...

love your card, those rolling waves are almost making me sea sick :)
Your dirty pour was my favorite and I almost got to keep that one till you spied the seal.
Great photo's my garden looks almost as good as Susan's :)

Hugs Christine and Tika (apple says Hi, he's well loved but a bit soggy)

frommycraftroom said...

Lovely card. Love the canvas too! so creative.

Looks like you had a wonderful time.

Cheryl W. said...

Fab Father's Day card and awesome background for a future card. Looks and sounds like you had such a fun time in Vancouver. Have a great weekend.

nancy littrell said...

Oh my, but we had fun creative times at our BC Retreat. Loved your photos and Alex's. It was so cool the way your dirty pour canvas turned out. It so looked like a seal:-) TFS your new Ocean waves and sailboat card, Dolly. So pleased you added it to our CAS Watercolour Challenge. Love and Hugs...miss you dear friend.

Julie B said...

You looked to have had a fab time with some great crafty friends Darnell. Is it nearly 2 years since your whistle stop tour of these 'Sceptered Isles' ?
Love you sweet sailboat card and that fab dirty pour canvas, you certainly got down and messy on your retreat. :)

kiwimeskreations said...

Love that Sea lion Darnell ... What a great development :-)
Your stitched waves are such fun - it certainly did flash up the card and finish it beautifully.
What a wonderful crafty time you had away - you really look as though you enjoyed yourself!
Toothpaste in your hair - no, that's the latest dry shampoo!
Blessings
Maxine

Mrs A. said...

Oh eck. I thought is was a map of the world. Well Europe at any rate and before you say anything I have me nooooo glasses on !!! Hugs Mrs A.

Bonnie said...

Love both your oceans, Dolly! The red, white and blue sail on your boat is such fun and your stitching is amazing! What a steady hand you have! Your dirty pour is so pretty! A messy but fascinating technique.

Bonnie said...

And thanks for sharing your ocean scenes with us at CAS Watercolour!

stampwithsandy said...

What a fabulous masculine card, Darnell! I love the repeating wave element. Looks like you had a marvelous time on retreat, I'm a tad jealous!

Em Louise Fairley said...

Gorgeous card, Darnell. It makes me long for the feel of sand between my toes xoxo

Mary Anne / MA54K said...

Ahoy! Loving that great sailboat card, Darnell!

Leslie Miller said...

Foreground and background, those waves going every which way give so much movement to your card. Such a beautiful, colorful sailboat, and those little stars and the faux stitching are the perfect finishing touch. Oh, my word, I can see your ghostly sea lion plain as day! Amazing how that developed. Now you'll just have to hang it on the wall as is 'cause it's a once in a lifetime occurrence. That's a very interesting and gorgeous piece! Love that you've re-treated us to extra retreat pictures, too. Looks like some interesting things going on there. Happy memories!

Di said...

Fabulous card Darnell - I could get motion sickness if I looked at those realistic waves for too long though. It's fresh and funky - love it! My you've been having a great time - seems only yesterday we were all geared up for your UK Royal Tour! Such fun and precious memories.

Hugs

Di xx

Maria said...

Wonderful nautical card with the embossed background and stitched waves! Fab colored sail boat, too! I would have happily dropped by with some strawberries for you, lol! Have a great weekend!!

Greta said...

Oh what fun & productive, too! Love your ocean pour, Darnell, & the card is just wonderful! Adding the white lines really stepped it up! Congrats on the shout out for your PB card!

Loll said...

Your card is so adorable Dolly! Love the dry embossed background ... so much dimension and texture. And those gorgeous blue waves ... the white stitching adds even more fun! Great work on watercolouring the sweet boat. Thanks for sharing with us at CAS Watercolour!

I LOVE that dirty pour that you did. So happy to see it again. Needs to go up on the wall in your playhouse. You are now officially an AR-TEEST!! Lolly xx

Anita in France said...

Oh, a life on the ocean waves, tra la la la la la la! You captured it perfectly, Darnell, with your bright sail boat bobbing about on those crested waves (is there another song in there somewhere?)! LOVE the pretty pour (I really don't care for the other name!!) ... and yes, I saw the seal right away ... so very cool! More fabulous photo's ... and intense crafting ... such fun! LYAMYHMA ... SLFTOC! Big hugs & bisous, Anita :)

Linda said...

Cute little ocean scene ...... love it. Looks like you had a great time with you're crafty buddies too xx

Colleen said...

Oh Darnell it is so fun to live this crafty life precariously through all your adventures! I love seeing all these wonderful ladies and you all are having so much fun and learning a LOT too! Your mixed media paper and your card are gorgeous! Have a fantastic weekend! Heart Hugs, col

Helen F. said...

LOVE the sailboat card and of course that sea lion under water (probly not the intended interpretation)is just amazing, Darnell! The photos of your fun group are so beautiful~looks like you all were having a blast!

Kristie said...

What a fun Father's Day card! I love the embossed background and the white stitching on the waves really make them pop. Thanks for playing with us over at Cards in Envy!

Ruth said...

You're right, we should call it pretty pour because all the colours look so pretty together! I do have a soft spot for a ship on the ocean though. Glad to hear your memories are still there from the trip. Nothing like having a good time to keep you going for a few months. xxx

MRS DUCK said...

Hi Darnell
Absolutely love this card. The wavy embossing is fab.
Have a great week.......whatever day you decide to stick on lol!
Ang x

Robyn Oliver said...

Super bright fun card Darnell, love the wavy textured background and your die cut waves... sail away, sail away, great card.... AND I love the poured background

Cat Craig said...

I haven’t visited for a bit; I just got back from CA, and am catching up on my visits and comments. I love a nautical card for a man. This one is such fun with those embossed waves. Love that dirty pour panel too and yes I saw the seal. Amazing. Looks like you all had a ball~!

Terri's Cards N More said...

Great Father's Day card. Beautiful bright colors for the boat. Love the embossed waves and how you created the blue stitched waves. Thanks for joining the Stinkin' Inkers challenge.

Sandy Trefger said...

Hi Darnell! Love your card with the adorable sail boat that you linked to our Cards in Envy challenge. Thank you so much for playing along. You are a very creative card designer/creator. At Cards in Envy I have not had a Design Team call in years as I always go to those who have played along in our challenges and extend an invitation to be one of our designers. Beginning with our August challenge, I will have at least one opening (Annie has decided to step down after 4 years on the team) and I'm inviting you to be one of our designers if you are interested. We do two card challenges a month and your style would fit in perfectly. However, you do need to have a Facebook account to at least share your card design so I can get it on to the blog and to vote, interact with the other designers. If you think you'd be interested, let me know at: strefger@gmail.com
Have an amazing day ~ Sandy, CIE Host

Carole Campanile said...

Wow Darnell the Sea Lion/Seal is amazing. Sounds like you had a wonderful time. Though I have to ask, are all of you the same height, or did you all tippy toe or dip to appear the same. I ask because I'm freakishly tall and always throw group pictures out of wack. ;)

Bobby said...

I can't believe the wonderful detail in that embossing folder, Darnell, so crisp and clean. The perfect spot for a red, white and blue sailboat. I do see the seal in your dirty pour, actually before you pointed it out. I'd love to try that but I don't have that much room to get messy at my house.