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 28, 2012

A Trilogy. Freshly Made Sketches #41; Addicted to Stamps ~ Bingo Addict #1; Dragon Flies

First, as I mentioned earlier this week, I'd like to take a moment this Thursday to let the people affected by the fires and floods know that they are in my thoughts and prayers.  Please, God, if you could put a word in Mother Nature's ear to move the rain from Florida to Colorado, that would be very much appreciated.  I know.  She's a force to be reckoned with and not easily swayed.  Just try anyway.  You the Man.  Thanks.

Second, I would like to take a moment to say Rest In Peace to the hysterically funny and extraordinarily talented Academy-Award winning writer and director, Nora Ephron.  Among her many great quotes:

"When your children are teenagers, it's important to have a dog so that someone in the house is happy to see you," from "I Feel Bad About My Neck." 

I feel bad about her dying so young.  If you think that dying at age 71 is not dying young, then you haven't reached your sixties.

Third, this blog a tribute to Dragon Flies.  As much as I love Butter Flies, I love Dragon Flies.  Here in northern California, Dragon Flies only appear in the garden when the temperature is over 95 degrees.  They only stay however many days the heatwave lasts, and then they disappear.  While they are here, I try to capture them on film.

I made two cards, for two different challenges, out of a couple of my photos.  These are not stickeroos like my card the other day, these are real photos I took in the back yard.

Both cards were made ala the sketch from Freshly Made Sketches.  This time the sketch is by the amazing Cindy.
Here are my cards:



This second card meets the criteria of the new Addicted To Stamps challenge.  This week the challenge is Bingo Addict Challenge #1:


My card sentiment is stamped, embossed, and blue.  BINGO!!



Isn't that background paper the best representation of the fragility of the Dragon Fly?!  I didn't make it, BTW.  I have no idea who did.  I've had it in my stash of handmade papers for years and I'm excited to finally use it.

I hope you will be able to click over to these two wonderful challenges and join in the fun!!

I was going to insert some more photos here, but I'm "out of photo space," whatever that means, so I'll add them to My Photos page (tab at the top) if anyone is interested.  I think they're pretty cool, if you like Dragon Flies.  I was going to do that anyways, assuming Bob The Blogger is okay with that.

Today I hope you'll join me in welcoming and visiting my new follower, Amanda, of Panda's Paper Playtime.  Welcome, Amanda!

Enjoy!   As always, thank you for stopping by to visit.   Special thanks to you if you take the time to join as a follower or leave a comment!


Paper:  Copper metallic, unknown;
  Dragonfly mulberry, unknown
  SU very vanilla, pacific point
Stamp:  Hero Arts A 1308
Ink:  Embossing powder:
  Blue Moire, Old Town Crafts
  Detail copper, Stampa Rosa
Corner chomper
Photo:  djkardkreations

22 comments:

Ardyth said...

I'm sorry to have to say that your cards remind me that I only like dragonflies in art. The real ones gross me out (not the pretty, delicate damsel flies, though). I do not want to see the word "hugs" that close to that thing, so I didn't spend much time looking. I do like your dragonfly dp, though - lovely!

And by the way, 71 is getting younger every day (this from someone in her 40s)!

You are very talented with photography (I assume, since I didn't take a close look today, but I see that you often use your own photos on cards, which I love). Maybe you can help some of us who are challenged in this area with some tips sometime?

Mrs.B said...

WOW. I think the photos are amazing and make fabulous cards.
I think I'm gonna enjoy visiting you, beginnings of your post really made me smile.
Avril xx

Jen Brum said...

Wow! Those are beautiful photos! Every time one of my boys (3 and 6) see a dragonfly or butterfly they scream at me to get my camera because what they've seen is soooo cute! The DSP you've used is wonderful! Thanks for joining us this week at Freshly Made Sketches!

Jen Brum said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Sarn said...

WOW - your photography is AMAZING!

Great cards and super post.

Hugs,
Sarn xxx

Victoria said...

I'm still chuckling from Ardyth's comment above! While I'm not convinced I'd want a dragonfly hugging me either, I'm amazed at close the blue of the card is to the blue of the branch the dragonfly is on. The handmade paper is gorgeous! Your photography is fab. How lovely to be able to use your photos on your cards.. I mainly take photos of my cat and there's probably only a limited number of cards I could do... Thanks for taking part in our ATS bingo challenge!

Suze Bain said...

Your photos are fab, especially the wings on the second one and it matches perfectly with the DP. We're going to NY at the end of July so I thought I'd treat myself to a new camera, well, it arrived today and I am certainy going to start taking more photos, might even use them in my cardmaking! Thanks for the inspiration. xx

GinaA said...

I think your first image is so appropriate with the sentiment 'Hugs' its a really unusual card and the embossed background is FAB.

Your photos are great, dragonflies in real life can be rather daunting to look at, but at least they 'sit still' not like some butterflies I can mention. I have one image of a Golden Ringed Dragonfly that sounds wonderful but it looks like one of the 'Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles' hanging from a branch, lol.

Redanne said...

Those quotes at the beginning of your post made me laugh so much.....love them. I am unashamedly completely obsessed with all things butterfly and dragonfly, I adore them. We only get teeny weeny dragonflies but some beautiful butterflies in our garden. The best dragonflies I have seen are in Greece, they are about 4 inches long and irridescent blues and greens - gorgeous. Sorry to ramble, I love your photos and your cards are amazing. A x

Kara Lynne said...

Those are some incredible photos! Great idea to put them on cards, must remember that, but then again, I never take gorgeous pictures like you. Guess I will just enjoy yours!

Unknown said...

Hi Darnell - well I'm delighted to say that I adore dragonflies (hence the name of my blog - serendipitydragonfly.....) and your photographs are amazing. Normally the ones I see are irridescent blues and greens (similar with damselflies). Love the ways your backing paper matches the colours of your image - stunning.

Thanks so much for joining us over at ATS this week.

Kylie said...

Well the name of the game is to be creative, original and inspirational. I think you match all 3. I also love your Bingo choice cause they are the same as mine ;) Thanks so much for playing along at ATS and cant wait to see more of your creations xx

Jacqueline said...

Very interesting photographs and how lovely that you have turned them into greetings cards - thanks too for playing Bingo with us this week at ATS - Jacqueline xx

Lyndal said...

Gorgeous photos Darnell - LOVE the cards you have created :) :) :)

Linda Suarez said...

Great take on the sketch Darnell! Thanks for playing with us at Freshly Made Sketches!

Tui Nathan said...

Wow ... your cards are great .... and I love that you have used your own photos ... so special!
Thanks for playing along with us at Freshly Made Sketches!!!

PS: Love that quote ... must get me a dog!

Cindy Hall said...

I am honored that you chose to use my sketch to showcase such incredible photography. Absolutely breathtaking photos of such wonderful creatures. I love dragflies, too, but never get to see them like this. Thank you! Thanks for sharing with us at Freshly Made Sketches this week!

Patrice said...

Hmmm I'm not sure I'm a dragonfly fan either - perhaps just the whimsical ones. Your photos are terrific though and you've created a couple of lovely cards. Well done!

So glad you joined the challenge fun at ATS this week.

Canonbury creations said...

Love that you used your beautiful photo and that the colour matched your BP. Thanks for joining us this week at ATS
Val x

Allisa said...

Great cards, your photos are stunning. Thanks for playing with us at Freshly Made Sketches!

Bonnie said...

What a wonderful way to show off those beautiful pictures! The gold and embossing really show off their elegance!

Anonymous said...

Darnell I thought I recognised your name and looking back at your blog posts I saw this one but I don't see my comment ( Im on the DT for Addicted to Stamps ) I do remember leaving one because I remember saying how unusual it was and very inspiring ! Please do forgive me my comment is out there floating around in blog land !

Marie