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!

August 3, 2012

CAS-ual Fridays #64 ~ Up In The Sky; OLW #99 ~ Susan's Pinspiration

And, we're back around to Friday!

Things are aflutter around here, so let's get right to it.

This week the fun challenge at CAS-ual Fridays (CFC64) is "clean and simple projects of things you see in the sky.  Or, specifically on Cloud Nine."  Simon Says Stamp  returns as the generous sponsor with a $25 gift cert for the winner!

Also, there was big news on Wednesday at the spectacular Susan's Simplicity ~ One Layer Wednesday post.  She has added two new members to the Design Team: Karen Dunbrook and Ardyth Percy-Robb!  Both of these ladies ROCK the clean and simple (CAS) card; Susan raises the ante on CAS by making her challenge One Layer!  She is hosting this week and we are to look at her Pinterest board (Pure Inspiration) and make a card from one of the images there. 

Here is my take on the challenges using butterflies, which you would see in the sky.  They are softly hued from spritzing and stamping onto watercolor paper, and then outlined with a black Copics multliner.


I chuckled just now to realize that I opened this post by saying things were all "aflutter," not even thinking about how the word fits with the butterfly card!

Why things are aflutter is because we are about to have very special company from tomorrow until a week from Sunday.  Our guests are high emissaries of entertainment and enthusiasm.  Their language and intellect whiz, bang, and amaze us.  The twins are coming! 


Yes, that's right, for an entire week!!   Mom and Dad are jetting off to celebrate their eleventh anniversary. Everyone is quite excited! Papa and I have been swilling protein shakes for the last few days to build up the energy we are going to need to keep up with two 7-year-old dynamos! And if that doesn't work, there are always other adult liquid refreshments.

You may see me, or you may not.  I may be able to do a couple of CAS challenges, or I may not.  I may post a card or two from my archives that have never been posted.  Of course, I may have  to post some remarkable feat, photo, cards they made, or "kids-say-the-darnedest-things" type of thing for your viewing pleasure.  At the very least, I hope to relax at the end of the day by visiting your blogs and leaving comments.

I am thrilled and delighted to have a new follower!  We haven't had a new member for quite a while and we have all been missing the chocolate cupcakes with strawberry icing that Candice makes for all of us when someone new comes to play.  Please welcome the very talented Lin of Sending Hugs!  Thank you, Lin!

Enjoy the day, enjoy the weekend, enjoy the Olympics!   I just hope you have a good time, however you define that.  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:  Biggie Jr. watercolor
Stamp:  Unmarked old foam stamp
Ink:  SU brilliant blue, taken with teal
  Copics black multiliner
Bling:  Elements by Mark Richards

28 comments:

Kara Lynne said...

Gorgeous butterflies! I clicked on the picture to see a the beautiful details! When it's my time, I want to be a grandma just like you! I love how much you cherish your time with the boys. Have a great week, Darnell!

Ardyth said...

Love those beautiful blue butterflies! I hope you have a wonderful week with the twinks. I sure wish my kids had grandparents like you. Oops, did I say that out loud? lol!

Carole said...

I delight in playing with my grandchildren Wyatt 6 & Rylee 7. I sometimes mix up and say Riot & Wylee...to funny. You do need to build up your energy to keep them entertained for a week. Enjoy.. then have a cocktail to relax:) Such a lovely BF card.

Redanne said...

Hi Darnell, the pic of those butterflies is stunning and your card is beautiful (I love all things butterfly!!). Hope you have a wonderful time with the twinks. I think I may need some protein shakes too, these Olympics are wearing me out, edge of the seat stuff but loving it all. I will miss you! Anne x

Anonymous said...

Blue and butterflies; a perfect combination.
Heather T

shirley-bee said...

Take plenty of adult liquid refreshment. If nothing else, it will help you sleep. Love the soft hues on the butterfly card.

Michelle said...

Your card is gorgeous, Darnell. I love the use of the multiliner. You may have solved one of my "problems" that I have with the outcomes of my experiments in stamping wet on watercolour paper (it's all a bit "loose" for me, LOL!).

Enjoy your week with the twinks! They and their parents are very lucky to have you in their lives. :-)

Carol L said...

Your butterflies are so pretty, and I love that added touch of bling!
Do enjoy your busy busy upcoming week with those energetic younguns :)

Bonnie said...

Beautiful bevy of blue butterflies! Don't try to say that 3 times fast after an adult beverage! Enjoy the boys!

Paper Creations by Shirley said...

Great stamping technique to create your gorgeous Butterflies. Have fun with your grandsons, hopefully you drank enough energy ! Enjoy, Shirleyx

scrappymo! said...

Great card but now on to the good news. Twins for a week, oh my! What fun!
We have Little Miss C and Mr P coming with us to the lake for 5 days. We are a little nervous as Mom and Dad will be 4 1/2 hours away!
They are excited to come up with us and Mr P is packing already!
I might not be blogging as much this week either.

Deanna said...

Great Cas card love the soft blues and bling! Have a awesome time and enjoy those little chaps:)

Susan said...

Beautiful butterflies, Darnell! Love the softness of them. As for a week with the twinks...I wish you great strength and endurance. With our 17 grandchildren, 2 at a time is about all I can handle...of course, I'm probably MUCH older than you. LOL!

MaryH said...

These flutterbys are so inspired. They look like they could fly right off the page. Gotta try this technique you described. You have a very talented new follower...Sending Hugs is a blog I follow (Love it! Lin is Sooo talented). Enjoy your special visitors...have fun. TFS

Mrs A. said...

Enjoy your week with your grandsons. Stock up on lots of drinks of both the soft and hard kind.! Hugs mrs A.

Jules said...

Hi Darnell

I really love your butterflies .. .. they look amazing!!! In fact they almost look like they have been stitched onto canvass.

Great finished look!!

Hope you have a lovely week with your "twinks". Special times!!!

Love Jules xx

Ellen Taylor said...

Love butterflies! Love the way you arranged your butterflies~awesome masking!

Victoria said...

A beautiful gathering (what is the correct collective noun?) of butterflies in stunning colours. Hope you have a wonderful and energetic time with the twinks!

Anonymous said...

Love your butterflies. Very impressionistic.

Anonymous said...

Darnell, this design is fantastic! I love how artsy the butterflies look with the black handrawn outline. Thanks so much for playing with us this week at CAS-ual Fridays :)

G Peplow said...

Hi Darnell, Fabulous butterfly card, I just love butterflies :0)
Thanks for your LIM congratulations, very kind :0)
I totally understand all about grand children's visits LOL you are going to need those protein shakes, I'd stay clear of the hard stuff, it makes it harder in the morning LOL Have loads of fun LOL Gay xxx

Craftychris said...

Loving the butterflies and enjoy your week with the twinks! xx

Anonymous said...

Try mixing the protein shakes with the adult refreshment I bet you will have a sudden burst but maybe short burst of energy to startle the twinks. I'm sure you and Papa will have the most fun this week and then a big lie down afterwards. Your card is so cool and beautifully crafted and the cardstock you used has wonderful texture.

Marie

Jean said...

Your butterflies are gorgeous! Hope your week is going well with your grandsons, and you haven't had to resort to the alternative liquid refreshment!

Lisa A. said...

Darnell, your butterflies are beautiful....what a lovely card:)!! Thanks for sharing your creativity with us at CAS-ual Fridays...love seeing your cards:)!!

Karolyn at Paper Therapy said...

I love your humor, Darnell - sounds like you're having loads of fun at your house! Congrats on your anniversary, and wishing a wonderful celebration! Your butterfly card is gorgeous - the blues are absolutely stunning! Thanks so much for playing with us at CAS-ual Fridays - we're so glad you did!!

Suzanne said...

Darnell, have a great time! Happy anniversary!!!! Your card is beautiful and we look forward to seeing you back here safe and sound. :) Thanks so much for joining us at CAS-ual Fridays!

Susan Raihala said...

Darnell, I thought I had commented on this card, but clearly, I had not.

All aflutter. *snort*

Anyway, the card is delightful in soft blues and crisp outlining. What a happy take on the inspiration!