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!

July 30, 2013

A Bundle of Joy ~ ATCAS #18; CASology Special; NBUS #30

It's a Happy Baby and Hearts Day!

You know that friend who has three or four kids and they are all boys or all girls and she's pregnant again and you hope like the dickens she gets one of the other variety?  Well, yippee who-rah, that has happened to our darling friend, Melissa, owner of the always fun and interesting cue card challenge,  CASology.  Melissa also has a brilliant site of her own called Oh, Smudge.  (Love that name!)
 
Melissa and her DH are the proud parents of three handsome sons. They are like a Norman Rockwell painting!  Norman Rockwell himself would be grinning all over his face at the happy news that pink and girlie Bryna Kate is a new addition to the painting!
 
The thoughtful CASology Design Team ladies have opened up a baby-shower-of-cards to congratulate the happy parents and welcome Bryna Kate.  I made a card to join in the celebration.
 
I started with the current sketch at Retrosketches, designed by sketch artist Kasia:
 
I have NBUS hot-air balloon stamps and dies I wanted to use and I thought the balloon basket could hold a baby, but then I didn't have a baby stamp that would work and one thing lead to another until pretty soon my card was done and it no longer resembled the sketch.  Normally I stay pretty true to sketch challenges, but this time the sketch was only used as my launching inspiration, which I think will be okay.  They're down with that.
 
Here's the transpiration what happened from Kasia's inspiration:
 
I paper-pieced her little dress with polka dot paper and then used glittery big polka dot paper for the mat and the balloon.  The sediment is NBUS from PTI.  Her headband and shoes are colored with a Sakura "Clear Star" glitter pen,
which means I can enter my card in the current Addicted to CAS (ATCAS) challenge where the code word is "glitter."
 
~~~
 
Joining us as our latest new friend today is Susan Shuler of Behind the Scenes - Straights Stamping Studio!  If you don't have time right now to visit Susan's jaw-dropping site and see the unbelievable card art she creates, please do bookmark it so you can return when you have the time to soak it up.  Susan, welcome, and thank you for the compliment!!
 
~~~
 
My friend Jules of Always with a Heart is also an incredible card artist.  Last year from my dining room window I spotted a heart in the vines of our harden bergia and I shared it with Jules.  I don't remember if I shared it with you then, but it has happened again this year:
 
AND ~
 
While hunting for special rocks to sell in the new backyard rocks, the twins found a terrific collection of heart rocks!

I heart you!  Enjoy your day!  No, seriously, enjoy.  LITS*!

As always, thank you for coming by to visit the Playhouse and special thanks to you if you take the time to leave a comment and/or join as a follower!
 
 
*Life Is Too Short!   
 
Paper:  PTI white; K&Company DSP
Stamps:  PTI Baby Button Bits (sediment is NBUS);
  unknown UM little girl
Ink:  SU! melon mambo; Versafine onyx black;
  Sakura glitter pens; Prismacolor pencils

43 comments:

Loll said...

Hi Dolly. LOVE your card ... so creative to use the balloon for the "O"! And, of course, I LOVE paper piecing ... the sweet polka-dot paper is perfect for her dress. I'm sure Melissa will LOVE your card. Lolly xx

wienerhoneymooners said...

I love this card photo sitting in the garden! This is so sweet, love the glitter and the paper pieced micro polka dots!

Love that you inked up and linked up to the baby shower!!! Melissa is gonna flip over this creation!

-Kimberly

Tracey McNeely said...

Darnell I love your card the glitter balloon which is also the 'o' of joy. How fitting, sweet image too. Now I think the twinks are very smart entrepreneurs, when I was there age my siblings were teenagers and one summer at the cottage they set up a volleyball court up by the cars and I set up a stand to sell water to the parched players. Well somehow a small fire started and they came running for the water...I doubled the price!!! Thank you so much for joining us at Melissa's baby shower!

cm said...

Wonderful card for Melissa; she, her husband and the boys (sudden role shifts for all of them, no doubt!) will love it!! The photos of your heart vines and heart rocks = I {heart} them!! So much fabulous happens at your site!!
c

Greta said...

Darling baby card, Darnell! That Sakura pen is my favorite!

Rosemary said...

Super cute card, Darnell! The little girl is so sweet... the paper-piecing is fab!

Lindsey said...

So cute! I love that you put the patterned paper BEHIND the panel...it certainly adds a fun touch but doesn't take anything away from that darling image. P.S. The twinks' heart rocks are awesome...I'd buy 'em. :)

Ustvarjalni utrinki Tamara P. said...

Fantastic card and beautiful rocks
hugs Tamara

Anonymous said...

Ah what a sweet card for Melissa's new arrival :)Clever you using the balloon for the letter O.
The rock shop-I did laugh at your last post the twinks selling you your own rocks LOL!but,I have to say they are rather unique shaped rocks !
Have a great day Darnell,
Nessa xxx

Sue said...

Congrats to Melissa! Your card is gorgeous, I love how you have used the balloon for the letter O and the colours are wonderful.
I'm sure that Jules will be thrilled to see your wonderful hearts.
Sue xx

Craftychris said...

Gorgeous pretty girlie card - perfect for the occasion! Love the balloon. Those heart rocks are a fab find by the twinks. Sorry I haven't been commenting lately, will try and keep up better! xx

Redanne said...

Love the twist with the balloon Darnell, very clever on your gorgeous card. Those rocks that the Twinks found are amazing - love them! Hugs, Annie xx

Kim S said...

SO sweet and so very happy!! I love her glittery balloon!

Mrs A. said...

I was so busy reading it as O bundle of Joy that I completely missed the balloon making up the O in Joy. Think I just missed the plot completely. These emails are doing my head in. hugs Mrs a.
Great card BTW.

Gillian R said...

This is just sooo cute Darnell, thank you so much for joining in with Melissa's Baby Shower

Jessi Fogan said...

Aw, we heart you too! What an awesome collection - and the plant? SO neat! You've got me ready to bring my camera outside today & see what I can find.
I LOVE the sparkle, and that sweet dolly of a girl holding the balloon - LOVE it :)

jimlynn said...

Terrific card for a baby!!! Love the paper piecing you did on that little dress too.

Cool rocks.......now I'm going to have to start looking for heart shaped rocks!

Lynn

Meghan said...

Your paper piecing is perfect Darnell! What a sweet card!

Ardyth said...

This may be my favourite Darnell card ever - LOVE the minimal colours peeking out around the white panel and the use of the balloon as the o and the sweet image! Melissa will love this! Thanks for coming to Bryna's baby shower!

Lisa Elton said...

This is THE sweetest little girl image!! I'm smitten with her polka dot dress!! Love the heart rocks too, I have one I found eons ago ;)

stressfreestamping said...

Cute! I love how you paper pieced her dress with the small polka dots and used big polka dots around the outside of the background. It coordinates really well together! Thanks for playing in our glitter challenge at ATCAS. :)

Deepti said...

Lovely card and with the tiny little dots on the frock of the girl, this card looks amazing and I agree we all want a variety, Melissa and family must be delighted to have a girl :)

Nan G said...

Lovely card. Cool use of the big dots as a background mat! Love the leaf and rocks. Hugs

Jessi Fogan said...

And I did it :) I took a whole bunch of pictures outside & even posted them!
http://onecraftymama-onecraftymama.blogspot.ca/2013/07/sparks-players-and-lots-of-photos.html

Unknown said...

Gorgeous card Dippy for a wonderful arrival - love the paper piecing on that cutiepie. As requested I've posted some photos of said trellis etc as you wanted to see what we'd been up to. I'm quite pleased as the plants have only been in about a month. Link is: http://serendipitydragonfly.blogspot.co.uk/2013/07/and-another-one.html. Thanks so much for joining us for this challenge at A2CAS.

Karendipity xxx

Cathy said...

Gorgeous card Darnell, love the paper pieced image and your clever design. Your heart shaped rocks are amazing! Cathy x

Canonbury creations said...

Love your new baby card Darnell, such a cute image and I love the paper piecing.
Val x

Kim Heggins said...

Fabulous card Darnell and I am happy to see that I am not the only one with a collection of heart shaped rocks and not a one of them diamond either! Sweet card too, I just love your little hand cut sweetie, too cute.

JD/ Jill said...

Cute card!

Anonymous said...

Ok, I'll admit it... I stopped for a snack between your blog posts!! Tee hee!
This card is just darling !
You are always so clever --- please share! Lol
They will love this sweet card along with their new addition ! Great story & use of glitter ! :))

Paper Creations by Shirley said...

Love your card, great paper piecing. Beautiful design with the sparkling balloon and matting. The heart in the vines and rocks are a great find, natures art! Have a wonderful day, Hugs, Shirleyx

Happy Dance said...

I *heart* hearts! Finding heart shaped rocks should keep the boys busy for a while too! Such cool news about Melissa, and your card will surely tickle her pink (hahahaha!) Sorry. Very sweet card. Love the little dress and the glittery "o" balloon. Love this. Bev

alexandra s.m. said...

Love your card Darnell!
You've inspired me once again, thank you!
and love the heart factor...it reminds me of the time a man handed each of us girl a heart shaped rock on a trail in Sedona.

Hettie said...

Lovely card there Darnell. Love that heart in the vines too.
I found a rock in the shape of a heart in Cornwall but it was just a little too big to pick up and bring home.....about a metre across all points!
Hugs
xx
PS I found a photo you might like...I will scan it and send it next time I am scanning which wont be long!
x

G Peplow said...

Hi Darnell, Your card turned out beautifully, I think Melissa will love it too! Great news for her and her family :-)
I'm sort of struggling to see the heart in the vines, is it in the shape of the tendrils? I'm pretty sure Jules will get it straight away ;-) have a happy week my friend! X

Vickie Z said...

Love your card...thought that was glittered polka dot paper....I really need to jump on the NBUS wagon....shameful I have too much!! The heart in the vine is cool and the twinks selling rocks...not just any rocks...but, your rocks....I'd be buying them too!!

Kelly Griglione said...

oh my, this baby card is SO SWEEEET! Love your pattern just peeking through on the sides too. Lovely girl with the sparkly pop! And that heart rock in the lower-right corner is definitely worth at least $20 (or 20 kisses from Grandma!)

Savannah O'Gwynn said...

Such a sweet card-- LOVE the glittered polka dots and how you've paper pieced her dress! ADORABLE:)

THANKS for leaving some love on my blog while I was away on vaca/visiting family! HUGS <3

Geri said...

Your loving nature is so strong that it litterally is captured in all the elements that surround you!

The twinks must have been so proud of the heart stones! How much did you have to pay for them? :)

Love your card - the glitter is so pretty! SWEET job paper piecing her dress and turning the "O" into the balloon! Sweet colored polka dots!

Bonnie said...

LOVE that glittery background paper peeking through! And the glittery balloon! Amazing hearts! I know Jules loves them all!

Julie said...

Thanks for the heads up Darnell.
I love the colours you've used here. I'm into paper piecing as well at the moment- can't get enough at present.
I love your glittery balloon. Great card,

Jules said...

Hi Darnell

How fabulous to find hearts everywhere .. .. I find them amongst the bubbles in my bath, the patterns on a curtain and even as a slug trail pattern in the garden LOL!!

But no heart shaped pebbles!!!!

I am gutted I didn't see this post as it came live. Everything is just so very busy here in the House of Hearts at the moment that blogland has had to take a back seat for a while .. .. sorry :-(

Did the Twinks sell them all???

Love and hugs
Jules x0x0

Sharon Underwood said...

What a sweet card!!!