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 23, 2013

A Fusion Flower

Happy Tuesday to you!

A quick postlet today.  I had the pleasure of spending the day yesterday with two of my besties shopping for, gasp, nothing to do with card making!!  We each got some colorful new toggery and shoes and purses.  It was so fun!  We totally scored!
 
The hidden nonmonetary cost involved in such frivolity is that I have to clean out my closet.  I've learned the hard way what happens to new clothes when you bring them home and just jam them in between Willy and Nilly in the closet.  So that's my project for today and zokay because it's long overdue.
 
I had black and white card vibes still on my desk from my last post, so last night I made a card for this week's Fusion Card Challenge (Hypo #3):
 
Once again I fused the two challenges, which I think is a blast!  (Oh, ha ha!)  There don't seem to be as many of you playing this time.  If you're quick you can still play along!  If not, I hope you can make the next one!
 
Because I used a flower on my card, I'm also entering it into the current Addicted to CAS (ATCAS #11) challenge: 
 
where they have this cool sponsor:
 
 
And here is my card:
 

For the flower, I used a heart punch to mimic the flower in the Fusion sketch.  For the flower center, I took one of my "Starfruit" In Color SU! Dahlia embellies and colored it black using a marker.
 
~~~
 
I have three new friends for you to meet today!  Please welcome:  Nancy Williams from What's On My Kitchen Counter and Denise Price from Green Crafting.  You will all be greatly entertained and inspired when you visit these ladies!  Welcome to you both and thank you!  We are happy to have you join us on our little adventure!
 
~~~
 
Wait, where's the third one?  The third one is this Cooper's Hawk. 
 
 
Isn't he handsome and scary?  Actually I don't know if it's a "he."  There is a pair of them that have been regular visitors in our neighborhood maple trees.  How do we know they're a "pair?"  Let's just say we know.  Between them and the majestic white kites you've met earlier, I'm having a hard time getting anything done around here.  Okay, okay, the closet . . .
 
~~~
 
Enjoy your day!  Please, seriously, enjoy your day.  LITS*!

Thank you so much for stopping by the Playhouse. Special thanks to you if you take the time to leave a comment or join as a follower! 


*Life Is Too Short!
 
Paper:  PTI white; DCWV patterned
Stamps:  Flourish:  "family/scroll" by Rhonna Farrer;
  "For You" by Verve VS9010-018
Ink:  Ancient Page coal black; Marvy marker
In Color Dahlia
Heart punch; Corner Chomper scallop
 

64 comments:

Lyndal said...

LOVE your heart flower Darnell - perfectly pops against your black & white! So glad you joined in the fun at FUSION - hope to see you again soon :)
P.S. I don't know that I'd want to get close enough to work out if he was a she LOL!

Marion said...

A fabulous CAS card Darnell! :)

Gillian R said...

So pretty Darnell, love that flourish, its gorgeous!

Sian Ridley said...

This is a perfect fusion of sketch and the inspiration image! I love that swirl - I'm am seriously lacking in flourish stamps, hence I couldn't make my idea work out right!

So pretty :)

Suze Bain said...

Gorgeous and classy Darnell, the pop of pink is fab. Good luck with the closet decluttering. Xx

Redanne said...

You have combined those two challenges so well in your stunning card Darnell. I am loving pink at the moment so the flower is perfect and that flourish is amazing. Good luck with closet.....Hugs, Annie xx

shirley-bee said...

Perfect fusion of the two challenges, Darnell! Love that little flower border.

Jessi Fogan said...

I hear you on the closet - right now my husband needs to clean out his dresser of all those clothes that have "shrunk"...badly enough that he doesn't have room to put away any of his clothes that DO fit. Ahem. It's like having a third child.
I love the fun corners on your card - and that flower centre! So detailed!
Loving that scary bird! We are home to mourning doves this year it appears (two sets!) right in our yard. That would make 7 different species that have lived in our yard, plus several other visitor types. I'm super stoked - growing up in the city it was pigeons, gulls, and crows, and this is much better :)

Ustvarjalni utrinki Tamara P. said...

Gorgeous card and I love the photo of the reare bird-in my language kanja-so glad to see her or him,
hugs Tamara

Sue - said...

Very elegant Darnell. As for the closet - let's just say mines on the ever growing to do list

Meg said...

Love your card - simple, striking, and elegant.

Karen M said...

Gorgeous card Darnell - I love this colour combo and you have used it beautifully - hugs xx

~amy~ said...

perfect bloom using a heart punch!

He's definitely handsome and scary at the same time!

Thanks for playing with us at Fusion!

wendyp said...

love the way you created the flower with the hearts!!! Beautiful job!

Great photo of the Coopers Hawk!

Di said...

Just perfect Darnell - you should sweep the board on both challenges, IMHO :)

Know what you mean about sorting out closets - I know it's bad when I have to push against it with my knee!

That's some bird you have there Missus.

Hugs, Di xx

Carol L said...

This is one gorgeous CAS card! I love how you created the flower with a heart punch, and I love those notched corners too! Beautiful!
Now have fun with that closet cleaning :)

Kim M said...

This is a seriously gorgeous card! Love it! I have to say, Darnell, that I love reading your posts. Not only are you a great card maker but you are hilarious! Just needed to tell you that. :-)

Anonymous said...

Simply gorgeous ... love how you made the dimensional bloom with hearts and the dahlia ... and that you matched the corners to the petal shapes ... inspired!

Happy closet cleaning!

Anita :)

Anonymous said...

Beautiful card Darnell-how clever to use the heart to make the petals.
It's perfect for the challenge!

What a beautiful bird-he or she is very beautiful:)
Have fun sorting that closet-and be brave-(that way you can make more space to cram in all the lovely new things :)
Nessa xx

Sue said...

This is a stunning card Darnell. I love the flower design and the shaping at the top of the card looks so stylish.
That is an amazing bird, how lovely to have such wonderful visitors to your garden.
Good luck with sorting your closet! Sue xx

Kylie said...

Stunning card, Darnell. I get the usual suspects on my balcony looking for a few tidbits. The main offenders are kookaburras and magpies. They are so comfortable with me that they eat right out of my hand. Have you ever seen a picture of a kookies beak? Its pretty scary lol. Even though I live on an island, it still has a very country feel. This means I also get the unwanted visitors.... Snakes, spiders, curlews (crazy screaming birds) and all the other deadly sorta things we get here in Australia. Makes for some interesting days lol.

Take care and enjoy cleaning your closest... Oh, I meant enjoy the rest of your day ;)

Oh!!! And thank you so much for playing along at ATCAS xx

Emily Keaton said...

Darnell, I gasped when I saw this beautiful card! It is perfect and absolutely exquisite. You have a way with black-and-white, with a splash of color, too. Lovely!

Bonnie said...

What a perfectly FUSED card! The Hawk is beautiful but I wouldn't want to come in contact with his talons!

Tracey McNeely said...

Darnell your card is so gorgeous, I love the graphic stamping along the bottom and that swirl?? Fantastic!

Lisa Elton said...

Darnell this is outrageous! love the pop of your pink bloom and your notched corners add SO much interest!! I have to bring my hubby back here for a visit. He wants to capture a hawk photo, but darned if he is without his camera when the opportunity arrives LOL!!!

jimlynn said...

Great idea to color that embellish for the flower center and the entire card is just so elegant and beautiful.

The hawk! WOW! Great photo of that big "tweeter" and he's so majestic looking,

Lynn

Anonymous said...

Awwww, this card is beautiful, Darnell. ;-) I love your take on both the challenge elements coming together. Very clever on the black embellishment! Thank you for joining us again at our Fusion challenge. Have fun with your closet and new things! ;-)

Aileen said...

Lovely card Darnell. The flower is beautifully made. Super photo too. x

Kristie Goulet said...

Great card Darnell. I love your flower and the swirl!
Amazing photo. Thanks for sharing.

Bobby said...

I was about to say "you don't know how to count" when I scrolled down and saw your majestic visitor. How thrilling!. Almost as thrilling as your card. That flourish stamp is beautiful.

Carole said...

Swirly twirly sophisticated and fun.
I have a rule about new things come in something has to go!

Geri said...

Clearly a cleverly crafted creation containing a carefully colored cabachon, certain to create a chorus of comendment from charmed crafters everywhere!

The bottom border is gorgeous! Is that a stamp?

Love the hawk....would really suck to be a mouse in your neighborhood!

Unknown said...

Wow Dippy what a splendid card.......that heart flower and the totally drop dead flourishes.....amazing. Love your shaped corners - very elegant. Ahha....shopping for fripperies eh? I'm hoping that Willy and Nilly won't mind being shunted aside for your new Frillies....I think I can hear them grumbling from here! Mr (or Mrs) Cooper is a very fine specimen - how lucky are you to have such wondrous visitors although we have lots of elegant buzzards wafting on the thermals (no, not mine......) and the odd sparrow hawk or two. Just love watching them. Thanks so much for joining the fun at A2CAS.

Hugs.

Karendipity xxx

Harriet Skelly said...

Your card is really gorgeous - I have been having a hard time with this latest Fusion challenge. You have inspired me to get out my PTI flourish set and get to work! Thanks!!

Loll said...

Hi Dolly. Love your card. Great job of combining the two challenges. And great idea to color one of your dahlias for the flower center - so creative!! Thanks for joining us at Addicted to CAS! Lolly xx

joy said...

Stunningly beautiful, Darnell! I love everything about this card.

And, I love reading your posts; your sense of humor makes me smile.

Loly Borda said...

Perfect CAS card Darnell, love your flower made of hearts and the florish, Love it! TFS

Taheerah said...

Brilliant card Darnell!! I love how you created the flower!!

Paper Creations by Shirley said...

Love your heart flower, so beautiful, especially with the flourish. Great photo of the Owl. Have fun with the closet cleaning, I'm strange but I love cleaning out closets & drawers and getting rid of clutter. Cheers, Shirleyx ps. How many cards have you seen in a museum?

PapierGirl said...

Beautiful card Darnell - love your pretty heart flower and the elegant flourish! What a great picture of the Coopers Hawk! Thanks for playing along with Fusion this week! :)

Vickie Z said...

Fab card!! Fab hawk!! Glad you had fun with your friends....sorry for closet cleaning (hate spring cleaning myself!)

Kim Heggins said...

Fabulous card Darnell and that hawk, what a beauty! Did you finish cleaning out your closet yet??? I still need to work on mine, I do it twice a year, at the beginning of spring, put away all the fall and winter clothes and pull out spring and summer and then I do the reverse at the beginning of fall. So much fun!!! Anyway, your card is amazing and a winner in my book!

Jenny said...

Wow he/she is a very majestic follower..... not sure the little birdies in our patch would like him visiting us, they have enough of a time dodging the speedy Sparrowhawk!!!
Your card is so pretty and elegant, clever way to make a flower centre with such dimension :0)
Jenny x

Nan G said...

Card is smashing! Beautiful bird!

Kelly Griglione said...

Gorgeous flower, Darnell!! And such a great Fusion of the sketch and photo inspiration, thanks so much for playing! The center of your flower really steals the show. How smart it looks all colored in black!

JD/ Jill said...

What a perfect card for that challenge! Very nicely done. We have a hawk that sits in our neighbors tree...they are so huge!
Closet cleaning, it's on my to do list...because so many of my clothes have shrunk! (Just like Jessi in a pot above me said about her hubby) My hubby needs new clothes too, but because he shrunk...lost 40 pounds!!!!I'm jealous!

Craftychris said...

What a cool card! I love the way you have used the swirl as a stem. Brilliant! xx

Linda said...

Your card is so stunning Darnell. Very beautiful. And thank you so much for the ultimate compliment that you made on my OLC.

Neets B said...

This is pure perfection, beautiful design Darnell :) x

Janelle said...

Love your work, Darnelle! The flower, flourish and border work so well together and the corner treatment just finishes it beautifully! TFS

Marybeth said...

Love this card .. I saw hearts too and once I saw your card I knew I could not play! Love everything about this one and you have my vote big time!
Sounds like a very fun day! How fun to see the birds !

Kristie Goulet said...

Congratulations on your Honorable mention at Fusion challenge blog. Well deserved. ;)

shirley-bee said...

Congratulations on the HM at Fusion, Darnell!

Kim Heggins said...

Congrats on your HM with Fusion...I knew your card was a winner!!!

Harriet Skelly said...

Congrats on your HM at Fusion Darnell - that card is certainly a winner!!

Tracey McNeely said...

Congrats on your HM at Fusion Darnell! Woot woot! I told you your card was spectaculuar. Well deserved my friend!

Virginia L. said...

CONGRATS on your win with this BEAUTY!! So happy for your well-deserved recognition, Darnell!

Loly Borda said...

Congrats Darnell! Yay! The moment I saw your card I knew it was a winner, so well deserved!

Stempelomi said...

Congrats to the win,Darnell!!


Hugs,Beate

maria f. said...

Herzlichen Gluckwunsch Ms. Darnell! What a sharp card (but I love the hearts as petals to soften it up).

Lyndal said...

CONGRATS on your HM @ FUSION too :) :) :)

Geri said...

Congratulations on this, Darnell! It was a beauty and so perfect for the challenge!!

Geri said...

A big whoo hoo to you for your Fusion HM. Stunning creation that soooooo totally deserved this recognition!

Denise Price said...

Just popping by to give you a long overdue thank you. Thanks for the welcoming note in this post! It was sweet of you, and I am sorry that I missed it before.