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 15, 2013

Pixie's 68 and Retro Hepburn

It is with a very heavy heart that I greet you tonight because of another senseless act of violence inflicted on the innocent people of this country.  My prayers go out to the families of those killed and to all those who have suffered injuries and had their lives forever altered.
 
It seems inane to prattle on with silliness, but we must do in order to escape the ugliness and inhumanity, even insanity, which sadly exists in the same world as newborn babies, rainbows, and tiny flower bulbs pushing up through cracks in the snow.  It is necessary that we have happy places we can rabbit to, in order to overpower the bleak despair of evil. 
 
~~~
 
The sketch I mentioned in my last post was this fun one from Arielle at Retrosketches:
 

I love almost all challenge sketches.  I find it amusing to relax, let my eyeballs focus, and wait a minute to see what emerges from the brain fog.  I mean, the possibilities are endless!  Usually.  I have sat that way in front of sketches before and had Nojo appear out of the gof.  Nojo.  Nada.  Nuttin.  Blank screen.  But mostly, I get some kind of brain wave and go with whatever pops up first.  (My friend, Bev, would call that a "Ping!")
 
For this sketch, my first reaction was a cartoon face such as Archie from the Dagwood comics.  Bless your hearts, some of you are asking, "Who?"*  That's okay, youngster, I don't have a stamp to turn my vision of a cartoon guy with a shock of hair into reality, so I moved on to another image which I DO have which involves a shock of hair.  A really HIGH shock of sparkly red hair!
 

I hope Retrosketches doesn't mind that I slid my focus pocus to the left so I could add a vertigo sediment and even more sparkles!
 

Audrey Hepburn on steroids.  It is "retro" sketches, after all! 

If you don't know who that is either (sigh), I'll have to go play my VCR tape of "Love in the Afternoon" while holding my autographed picture of Gary Cooper and enjoying a beverage held with little finger in the loft position. 

Audrey here was cushioned on a plaid backdrop which I found in my snippets movie set back lot, so I will be taking her over to show the girls at Pixie's Crafty Snippets Playground!  They are going to love that sparkly hairdo!  And how, of course, I had to color in Audrey's Chanel suit to match the pretty snippet plaid!

~~~

Today we are gratefully welcoming Chris of Chrispy's Creations and Joy of Morning Glory Card Studio!  It is such a delight to provide you with these two bright and creative sites to expand your card inspiration journey!  Thank you, ladies, for joining us!!

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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; SU! Tempting Turquoise; unknown base and plaid
Stamps:  Image "Great Impressions" G200;   Sentiment: "Endless Creations" E71
Ink:  Versafine black; SU! markers; Prismacolor pencils; atyou Spica
Die:  My Favorite Things Die-namics Fishtail Flags
Bling from stash
* ETA:  You know you can't trust any information given on this blog.  Just so you don't think it's YOU who is crazy, let me just clarify that this sketch made me think of Archie from "Archie" cartoons.  Dagwood is from "Dagwood" cartoons and he had no business being in this postoon.

44 comments:

scrappymo! said...

Love Audrey on steroids...She looks a hoot!

But I do love Audrey...good old Audrey...she had timeless elegance.

jimlynn said...

Yep, I know Archie AND Audrey! Love Miss "Audrey on steroid's" hair!! So sparkly and fun!! What a cute, cute card!
Lynn

Lisa Elton said...

Love Audrey's sparkly updo Darnell!! And I love the start to your post tonight. Yes, we all need to have a happy place to dwell in and escape the evils of this world. Thanks for bringing a smile to my face tonight with your pretty card ;)

wienerhoneymooners said...

Wow, love the hairdo! All sparkly!!

Thanks for your comment on my Twin Sails Amuse Card, you really should enter that site, I think I am the only one who entered. That always makes me a little sad if I see a challenge and very little are entering. Fab prize too! I guess I feel that make all the effort to design, and no one will play along in the game.

Well, have a pleasant evening. I am about to read a chapter to the little man and put him to bed after his shower.

Michele said...

Hi Darnell! I am so honored that you stopped by to say hi to me and to love my froggy card. :) I checked out your Playhouse. Oh my gosh!! I am absolutely in love with it!! Lucky gal you are. I am you newest follower. Stop by again, for I will do the same. BTW... I am in Washington.. so we are at least in the same time zone.

Anonymous said...

Oh, I am glad you muse over sketches and come up with great ideas...cause they make me happy! I love the bigness of it all- the banners, the sediment, and the HAIR...thank you for reminding us that in spite of evil, there is beauty in the world...prayers go out to all.

Anonymous said...

Wonderful dipiction of Audrey and her supersonic hair ... Roman Holiday with Gregory Peck was my fave! Anita :)

Anonymous said...

Darnell -I am a mere whippersnapper,so have NO idea who the person in question is LOL ! But hey-what a fabby beehive you have given her.
You are so very right that this world can be a cruel and ugly place-my heart goes out to all those affected xx Sometimes i have no understanding of the human race at all.
Nessa xxx

Di said...

Fabulous card dahling - love that you matched the paper to Audrey's outfit (or the other way round).

I think we're all shaken by the events in Boston which are TV headlines as I type. WHY, for pity's sake, WHY?

Hugs, Di xx

Sue said...

Wonderful card Darnell. Such a great image and fabulous choice of papers.
Thank you, again, for your wise words at such a sad time.
Sue xx

Suze Bain said...

Well I wouldn't fancy her chances in a high wind! lol! Super card Darnell. Terrible news about Boston, how anyone could harm other human beings like that is beyond me. Xx

Vicky Hayes said...

What a fab card to cheer up a grim Tuesday Darnell! I can't help thinking this is what would happen if Audrey were crossed with Marge from the Simpsons! Vicky x

Redanne said...

Hi Darnell, I remember hairdos like that one....love Audrey on steroids and love your beautiful card. So very sad to hear of events in Boston though.........I do despair at times. Hugs, Anne x

Shaz in Oz.CalligraphyCards said...

ah! Love it, Darnell, and as we seems to be of same era knew all the things to which you were referring.

I am with you in feeling for folk suffering in the bombing and all such events in places everywhere.. Shaz in Oz,x

Ardyth said...

I remember Dagwood, but not Archie. I remember Audrey, but haven't seen that movie. And this is a really fun card - I love her plaid (Mad Men) dress and her sparkly red hair!

JD/ Jill said...

Cute card...and you always bring back great memories for me...Yes, I remember Audrey, and Archie...When I think "ARCHIE" I remember how much I liked the comic books with Betty and I think Veronica...boy am I dating myself! LOL.

Congrats on your win with Freshly made sketches. I knew your butterfly was a winner when I first saw it.

As Always, thank you for your fun post...and also your wise words in the beginning of your post.

shirley-bee said...

Wow, LOVE Audrey's red rinse! And that fabby Chanel outfit.

Craftychris said...

I remember Audrey and I think she would have loved the hair! A fabulous card indeed! xx

Di said...

Oh Darnell, it's Di again - I just remembered that I have a photo of me with such a similar hairdo :)) xxx

Happy Dance said...

Perfect ping, my friend!! Love your Audrey. And yep, I remember Archie...dang, hate to admit that! Audrey in "Breakfast at Tiffany's" comes to mind. Love her big hat and sunglasses - and who can forget "Moon River"???!!! Your card channels Audrey quite nicely. And I see you've used Tiffany blue too. Nice touch. This is fun and she's a doll.Love this. Bev

Ustvarjalni utrinki Tamara P. said...

Fabulous card, wauuu
great take on sketch,
hugs Tamara

Zippy said...

Wow! Love that hair! Fab card xxx

Kristie Goulet said...

Awesome job on Audrey's hair! Great card!

Tracey McNeely said...

Hmm...I wonder if Audrey is related to Marge Simpson! Fabulous card Darnell.

Unknown said...

The first part of your post was so eloquently expressed Dippy and I agreed with every word. Tony and I were so shocked to hear the news yesterday and even more today hearing the bombs were in pressure cookers....what evil monsters could even imagine such things? But onto your happy place (which is also mine as you cheer me up every time I visit). I love the wonderful "updo" with the sparkles on your very glamourous lady - she's devine!

Hugs.

Karendipity xxx

Carole said...

Yes a happy place is necessary to survive the unimaginable suffering witnessed yesterday. A happy place to give thanks for our blessings and express our joy. Super sophisticated sparkling fun card.

Hettie said...

I am with you on the Boston thoughts. A needless waste of life.
Fabulous card there Darnell! Love Audrey Hepburn so this is very funny.
Hugs
xx

laurie said...

What a fun card..love the sparkles!

Brenda said...

Your card is darling! And yes, I know who Audrey is and who Archie is from the Dagwood comics!! lol But I tell you none of my children would know who you were talking about. Isn't that just sad?!

Cathy said...

Hi Darnell, love Audrey's updo and her outfit! Fun card Cathy x

None None said...

Love the sparkly hair, Darnell! Such a fabulous card with the details you added!

Jen Mitchell said...

Thanks for sharing this fun card Darnell and for your comments at the beginning of your post. I live very near Boston and I can tell you that it's wonderful to be able to escape from the reality of the recent tragedy by sitting down and visiting our "happy places." Hugs :)

Bobby said...

Audrey is looking good. I remember Archie but not as part of Dagwood. Am I missing something? I know him with Betty and Veronica and Jughead. Oh, no. Did I just give away my age?

Carol L said...

I remember Archie and Veronica! I also remember little LuLu and Nancy too! Hah! I'm lovin' that long tall beehive hairdo, and that super slim miss with her incredibly teeny tiny feet! LOL She's a real cutie :)

Geri said...

Archie, Veronica, Dagwood, Audrey, Popeye, Zsa Zsa, Eva & Magda Gabore.....yep, 'member them all!

This image seriously does look like Audrey Hepburn - it really is all about the hair! The long narrow labels are the absolute perfect shape for this image - good eye!

Did you color her plaid dress ????

Kim Heggins said...

Darnell, what a stunning card and that dress, where can I buy one just like it?? So beautiful! I just love your card and as always you are so creative and very fun to read.

Paru Mahtani said...

Absolutely delightful!!

Sarn said...

Super snippets card xxx

Bonnie said...

I love the way you see this sketch, Darnell! And the first thing I thought of when I saw the card was Audrey Hepburn!

Mrs Harry said...

I love your Audrey card. I think it's what inspired mine actually.

Aileen said...

I'm sucking in my cheeks just looking for her! Face cheeks I hasten to add!

Fun and elegant card!

So sad re Boston and the tragedy in Texas. Thoughts are with all concerned.

x

judkajudi said...

Thank you for sharing your feelings, happy and sad! A visit to your blog always leaves me feeling better ... love your total command of the English language!!!

Jean said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Jean said...

Love your take on the sketch and Audrey on steroids ~ fantastic coloring as always!!