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 3, 2013

ATCAS, CFC, and Pixie's ~ Circular Congratulations!

Well, hi.  Here we are at the half-way point of 2013, at a new month, and a new Monday!  I think it's time I started working on those New Year's Resolutions, don't you?  I'm caught up to 1989.
 
But first, I'm off to an afternoon workshop today to make some cards and some tomfoolery with some friends.  There will be six of us and we are each going to bring one card and the makings or "kit" for our card design so the other ladies can CASE our card.  It is going to be fun to see what each of us comes up with.
 
I'm sharing what I came up with, which is a card for Father's Day, which is now right around the corner.  To your left. 

Here you go:


The ingredients are at the end of the post below.  A whole lot of dieing went into this fun card, as well as a few of my new favorite embellies: wood veneers.  I tried coloring the little sailboats, but in the end, I decided I liked them best in all their nakid natural glory.
 
~~~
 
I'm also going to share a "card hanger" die that I purchased from the clever and uber-talented Laurie Willison.  You can read all about it on her great Soapbox Creations website.  Basically, it is a die that cuts a piece of paper with an opening in it to reinforce the opening you cut in your gift bag. 
 
 
I made my card hanger reinforcement white to match the white bag.  This way the ladies can take their bags home and stamp and color them howsomever they want.
 
 
With the cool card hanger die, you can make the card that accompanies your gift as big and foo-foo and bulky as you want and not worry about having to squeeze it into an envelope or having it get lost.  I wish this concept would have been popular back in the 1900s when I used to have to squeeze my big and foo-foo and bulky self into a girdle.  But I depress.

So instead, there's your card, in all its glory, for all the world (or at least the recipient) to see, right there hanging smack in the front of your gift bag!
 
 
PDC, I'd say.  Well done, Laurie!  Oh, wait!  Did I tell you that Laurie's card hanger die is for sale?  You can buy them right from her website.
 
~~~
 
Cleaning up the mess I made getting ready for the workshop, I found myself staring at the sheet of card stock full of negative suns that I had left over from using my sun die.  And one of those magical moments happened where a card practically makes itself, quickly, and cutely.

 
 
I think it will work for:
cfc103
 
~~~

That was fun, two cards, and a gift bag idea!  Off you go to enjoy your day!   No, seriously, enjoy.  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! night of navy,
  baja breeze, marina mist, pacific point,
  and so saffron
Stamp:  Imaginations H3538
Ink:  SU! night of navy
Dies:  Paper Smooches, "Borders";
  MB "Puffy Clouds"; Lil' Inker "Stitched Sun"
Wooden Veneers:  Studio Calico

Paper:  PTI white; so saffron
Stamps:  Congrats from The Alley Way Stamps
  Sentiment from Lil' Inker Designs
Ink:  Versafine onyx black
Bling from stash

44 comments:

Hannelie said...

Hi Darnell!
2 great cards! But I can't stop looking at your little boats card, love the dimension, the shades of blue and the wood look sail boats! A winner for sure!

Colleen said...

Great story and wonderful cards! Love your sailboats and your "circles" are great!

Sue said...

Wonderful cards Darnell. The wooden sail boots look wonderful and I love the way you have created the waves.
The die cut sun finishes it off perfectly.
I hope you have a fun day
Sue xx

Ustvarjalni utrinki Tamara P. said...

Gorgeous work like always,
have a great new week
hugs Tamara

Mrs Harry said...

I love your sunshiney cards Darnell. That yellow one is just so cute and cheerful.

Sarn said...

Have a wonderful, fun and crafty day with your playmates Darnell.

Lovely projects you've shown here. A little confused about the bag die, so I'm off to take a look at the link you gave.

Hugs
Sarn xxx

Craftychris said...

Love the little boats, definitely best left natural! Love the sun card too and the gift bag is such a cool idea! xx

Ardyth said...

Love both of these, but don't you love it when you can use a scrap like that to make something so fabulous, without even planning it?! Especially when the 'planned' cards often take about 100 takes before they're finished!

Tara Cardwell said...

Both cards are great Darnell but I just love your "scrap" sun card - so good when it works out that way. Love the angle you used too.
Tara

Tracey McNeely said...

Your party sounds so fun, I love seeing the products when everyone has the same supplies! Of course I love your sunshine card too Darnell. Have a great week!

Shaz in Oz.CalligraphyCards said...

Smashing cards all around Darnell, Shaz in O.zx

Redanne said...

Two cards from one, you are a clever girl! I love the little sailboats and the waves are fabulous and the negative sun card was a genius idea! Love both. Hope you have lots of fun with your crafty friends - oh yes, the strengthener die is amazing too. Hugs, Annie xx

cm said...

A+++ in clever today (well, every day, actually!). Fantastic cards! Love the sailboats, and the negative sun die cards (note to self: use the negative for positive results!). Laurie's card hanger - excellent idea! More added to the ever-expanding want list! Thanks so much for the inspiration; enjoy your day of 'tomfoolery' immensely - sounds like awesome creativity and companionship!
c

Leigh Ann Baird said...

Fresh and fun! Thanks for playing with us at CAS-ual Fridays!

Lisa Elton said...

Sounds like a FUN gathering Darnell, would love to see pics of what the others made with your goodies!! CUTE CUTE idea for your sun card too ;)

Paper Creations by Shirley said...

Hi Darnell, Your boat card is fun & your flower negative sheet made a beautiful cheery design. Great thinking. And you are too funny, you are up to 1989 with your NY resolutions, only 24 years to catch up ! Cheers, Shirleyx ps.. I would be honored if you CASE one of my designs. Can't wait to see what you create using Ryn's amazing water designs. :)

Bonnie said...

Your card workshop sounds like fun and I'm sure they loved this card! The wood boats are perfect as is! And your diagonal rows of sunshine has sent smiles across the globe!

Carole said...

The card really floats a boat...way cute, and ya godda love a card that creates itself. I like the card kit project too!

shirley-bee said...

Love those little boats bobbing along on the waves, and I love how you made a sash of sunshine with the offcut. Your workshop sounds like great fun!

Unknown said...

Two great cards Dippy. Such a co-incidence but I just used wood veneer to diecut a window frame (great minds think alike eh?) Love how you've used the negative/waste card from the suns........it's made a gorgeous card for our theme of circles. Thanks so much for joining the fun at A2CAS.

Hope you have great fun with your crafting buddies.

Karendipity x

Lindsey said...

Hope you had fun with your friends (How could you not?) Great father's day card and I love what you did with your negative die cuts...the angles on it are fab, too. (P.S. Thanks for your super sweet comments.)

Bobby said...

Come on. You mean you accidentally evenly space your dies when you cut out the suns? Mine would have been all scrunched up together to not waste paper. ;)

Darnell said...

Yep, Bobby, that's what I mean. I don't "embellish" my how-tos when it comes to my card makes. (Now about my weight ... !) It wouldn't be fair to newcomers who take our word as gospel for how our cards come to be, if we aren't honest about the process.

BTW, that is why my die scrap of paper is laid on the card at that clever angle. It covers up the fact that it wasn't as evenly spaced on the ends of the piece. I cut off the ones that were way too close together. I thought it was pretty magical that I "saw" that the negative cuts would work on a card if I cut off the ends of the paper piece and laid it "just so," even though the space between the suns isn't precisely even. It was close enough.

I confess I'm a novice at using my die cuts and I waste a lot of paper because they have been known to slightly (or more!) move on me as I am lifting up the sandwich and running it through. I hope to get better at it like you someday and not waste paper. Wasting paper is never a good thing, but I'll waste less with practice, I hope!

JD/ Jill said...

Great cards, I seem to always learn something when I come to visit your blog. Your stamp party sounds great. I have been fortunate to be able to get together with a group to stamp with on several occasions. Always fun, and you learn so much from sharing with others.

Sharron said...

Love making cards with lots of die cuts! Your little wood sailboats look fabulous bouncing on the waves. Adore all your happy suns too! Hope you had fun at the workshop!

Joyce said...

What a fun day you had. I love both of the cards you came up with.

Anonymous said...

Darnell -- please see this post re: washi & die cutting !!! Xo

http://savvystamper.blogspot.com/2013/06/die-cutting-tips-and-tricks-let-washi.html

It will help for sure!!!
Xo

Anonymous said...

I got one of those card hanger dies last week, but mine has scallops! I thought to myself when I saw it, "that girl is a genius"!!! & I love it!!!

Anonymous said...

Your cards are fab, too!!!! Left that off w/ my rambling ....

Kara Lynne said...

What a fun idea to get together and share card kits. I love your layers of water on the share card. Good for you to use that negative paper and make it a positive (heehee).

alexandra s.m. said...

Wonderful!
TFS~

Kim Heggins said...

Both of your cards are just too cute! Don't you just love that card hanger die from Laurie??? So genius of her to think this up. I still need to go to a party to use mine...Your sweet little boats on the waves is so cute and your congrats card so bright and cheerful.

SYLVIA-ANNE said...

How clever are you Darnell - two cards for the price of one - fabulous! Di will be so pleased with you!
Love the bright and cheerful sunshine card - perfect for our Circles challenge at ATCAS - thanks so much for joining us - do pop by again!
Hugs, Sylvia xx

Jessi Fogan said...

Tomfoolery! My favourite kind of foolery.
I love those little wooden boats! And the leftover negative piece? Genius! I love it when that kind of card serendipity happens :)

Geri said...

Love the veneer boats - plain & simple in their natural state! What I reallly love is your waves....did you use a circle punch or is that the PS border? the shades of blue are beautiful together.

Your 'scrap' card is stunning! The yellow & white is such a cheerful combo especially when paired with a simple daisy!

You're on one heck of a creative craftin' cruise...and we get to enjoy a whole lot of sweet eye candy!

Di said...

Wow Darnell - you did some great work here. I adore the boats card and the card hanger on the bag is just so cool.

The snippets make is genius - excuse me while I go and rummage in the waste bin here!

Boulder holder indeed - almost choked when I read that this morning :))

Hugs, Di xx

Anonymous said...

These are both such happy cards, Darnell ... wonderful blue hued waves with the little natural wood boats ... the circle sunshine one is adorable, I really, really, really love it! Your party sounds like so much fun! Anita :)

Anonymous said...

Hi Darnell well aren't you clever! Love those nakid sale boats they do so look better au natural ! and as for the card that practically made itself with those sun rays wowzer I'm all for that looks fantastic. Hope you had fun with your crafty friends. Thanks so much for your continued support at ATCAS and good luck.

Marie

MaryH said...

Love the boats on the Dad's day. (That's NEKKID, by the way! I gotta teach you to speak South'r'n). Really cute in brown with your blue waters. Liked the yellow & white posey card too. TFS & glad you had lots of creative tomfoolery at your meeting. Tomfoolery is always good. Dry off the swings 'fore I get there, ok???Hugs

Angie Tieman said...

Wow! You are super creative and productive in this post! :) I love, love, love those boats and the sun die with your Congrats card is too perfect! Thanks so much for playing along with us this week at CAS-ual Fridays!

Pamela said...

I love the wooden ships on the card!

Kelly Griglione said...

Holy tamole ... I had to scroll forever before I could leave my praises. First of all, you really need to work for a stamp company, Darnell! You have sold the heck out of that die (which is admittedly cool on its own right). Loving your naked boats, and your negative flowers. And your angle! Thanks for joining the fun at CAS-ual Fridays!

Unknown said...

Both cards are so unique and beautiful! I was astonished to read that you made the second one out of the negative space from the suns... what a great idea! Thank you for joining us at Addicted to CAS!

Harriet Skelly said...

Hi Darnell - looks like I missed a fun workshop! I love the cut out suns - great take on the circle challenge. Thanks for playing with us at ATCAS!