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 28, 2013

I'm Here ~ CFC #110; DD #63; FMS #96; NBUS #29; Pixie's #83

Happy New Week Peeps!
 
This is photo-heavy with weekend twin shots, so I'll get right to my card.
 
At CAS-ual Fridays the challenge is:

cfc110
and at Dynamic Duos the color challenge is:

For my layout, I used the current sketch challenge at Freshly Made Sketches, which is this beauty by Amy:

 ~~~

The first thing that came to mind when I saw "count me in" was that it's another way to say, "count on me."  So this is my card:

The shiny green paper from DCWV comes with a woodgrain design, perfect for a sign, and since I used a  snippet of it, it provides me with an ant tray into this week's challenge at Pixie's Crafty Snippets Playground where lotsa girls are already in full attendance! 

My NBUS is the adorable Paper Smooches giraffe from the "Zoo Crew" set.  I heat embossed the sediments.  The "I'm here for you" is from PTI "Think Big Favorites #4."  I masked the "for" and replaced it with the number "4" (also NBUS) from the Hero Arts "Illustrator's Alphabet" set.  Further deets are below. 
 
~~~
 
New Friend
 
I'm so happy to welcome our newest friend, Lindsey from Occasional Crafting!  Lindsey is fairly new to blogging and she makes adorable and clever card art!  I know you will very much enjoy your visit to her.  Thank you so much, Lindsey, for joining our party! 

BTW, Lindsey created her blog on a whim and I'm so glad she did!  When was the last time you went out on a whim?
 
~~~
 
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; DCWV DSP
Stamps:  Hero Arts "Illustrator's Alphabet";
  PTI "Think Big Favorites #4"; Paper Smooches
  "Zoo Crew"
Ink:  Black EP; SU! pear pizzaz, garden green
Twine:  Sew easy fancy floss
Eyeball:  Darice

~~~
 
I leave you with random photos of our contented weekend with our favorite 8-year-old twin grandsons!!

Henry's super cute card to the family ~ this is just the envelope!

 
The Grand Reopening of the Rock Shoppe

Wherein two handsome and savvy businessmen sell rocks belonging to their grandparents to their grandparents.


Discussing the business model

Preparing the merchandise
Price negotiations

Upon discovering the grandparents aren't as dumb as they look when told that
the rocks were purchased with money from a certain couple of piggy banks.
(Just kidding!)
Traditional Sunday hike

There are tadpoles!

Contemplation
~~~
At the end of the day, they still like to be swaddled.
 
Mwah!


46 comments:

Hannelie said...

Such a clever use of the sketch. And a clever take on the number challenge. Plus gorgeous greens!
Must be a winning recipe!
Love watching your pictures Darnell
Have a great week!

alexandra s.m. said...

I love your fun and fresh card dear Darnell and that whole post with the twinks is just too precious!
They are so lucky to have you!!
Thank You~

Anonymous said...

Cute card Darnell and a great take on the sketch :)
Gorgeous pictures-thank you for sharing,the Twinks are growing up sooo fast arn't they?(i just can't believe the length of those legs in the "contemplation"picture!)tall men in the making :)
Have a great week(don't work too hard now)Nessa xxxx

Sue said...

love your card Darnell, really made me smile.
Thank you for sharing your beautiful photos too.
I hope you have a good week
Sue xx

Unknown said...

Looks like you had a fun weekend and your giraffe is so cute - love his googly eye.

Redanne said...

I LOVE your take on the challenge Darnell, you are so clever with the ideas you come up with!! That giraffe is a real sweetie.

The pics of the Twinks are wonderful, they are such a handsome pair of boys - love the idea of selling your stone back to you, that really did make me smile - big. Savvy or what?? Big hugs, Annie xx

Diane said...

Wonderful cute and creative card!! Great pics of "the boys" too, isn't being a grandma just great...I get to spend a week with my kiddos!!

Mrs Harry said...

Great card Darnell. Your boys are still cute, but growing up fast, they won't be cute for too much longer. I have twin nephews who are fifteen, lovely, but not what you'd call cute. More like airy and smelly now :-)

Cathy said...

Great card Darnell, perfect for all of those challenges. Looks like some fun times with the twinks :) Have a great week! Cathy x

Canonbury creations said...

Love your take on the sketch Darnell and your giraffe is so cute! How clever to rest his chin on the sign, I love it:) Looks like you had a wonderful weekend, the twinks obviously enjoyed themselves.
Val x

Unknown said...

Great interpretation of the sketch Dippy - love that green and your giraffe is super cute. Love the photos of the twinks - they obviously have an amazing time with you when they visit - not surprised!

Hugs.

Karendipity xxx

Di said...

Super snippets card Darnell - love that cute giraffe. Then I read further down and the Twinks totally stole the show :) Super photos and I love the thought they intended to sell your own rocks back to you :)

There's a thought, we don't have a tuck shop in the Playground - are they available for hire to open one?

Hugs, Di xx

Michelle said...

What a wonderful week-end with the twinks! They're gorgeous. :-) Your card is super-cute! I love the little giraffe holding up his sign! Thanks for joining in at Dynamic Duos!

Paper Creations by Shirley said...

Ahhhhh your grandsons look so sweet :) Your card is fun, love the Giraffe behind the sign and his(her?) eye. Happy Monday, Shirleyx

Tracey McNeely said...

Darnell was to nail three challenges my friend--LOVE your card! The giraffe is adorable and the green tag? perfect. I especially love the photos of the twinks and really who else would you sell your rocks to besides the owner???

Sarn said...

Two handsome grandsons you have there Darnell! Looks like good fun was had by all. They sure are enterprising!

Loving the card and great take on the sketch.

xxx

Anonymous said...

Ooh! Your card is cute & clever! (Although I think that all of your cards are clever!! -- hope you save some for the rest of us!!) -- ;))
I recvd some pretty awesome "WOW" mail when I got home last night !! Yay!! I really loved that card & I was happy to see it up close & personal -- THANK YOU so much !!!!! :)) :))
Your photos make me smile -- love the fun adventures you have w/ the boys & that you document them! :))
Have a lovely week! Maybe I'll see you tomorrow...

Ardyth said...

How fun! These twinks are so lucky to have you guys - I can imagine that they love hanging out with you! Also a very clever way to incorporate a number into your card!

Lisa Elton said...

Darnell this card is WAY beyond cute!! Love this big eyed fella peeking over the tag!!! The twinks and the rocks...what a fun story. So happy you had a great weekend with them! THANK YOU so very much for the sweet sweet congrats comment. You're a peach ;)

Deepti said...

Awwww this card is sooooooo cute :) loved ur idea of "Count on me", but I must say Henry's card us cuter than yours :)

Allisa said...

Your giraffe is too cute! Great take on the sketch! Thanks for playing with us at Freshly Made Sketches!

Jessi Fogan said...

Twinkersons! LOVE IT! And my two still adore being swaddled right up too :) Love those sweet blankets! The rock shopppe....omg, I laughed. (maybe snorted, you never mind!)
And oh yeah, wasn't there a card? Featuring a giraffe that's one of my own NBUS? Love it :)

Geri said...

The photos made my heart smile! You guys are so lucky to have these two n your lives...and vice versa! Two adorable youngsters...the twinks that is!

Love the orange sneakers!

Your card is fabulous! Green, black & white is always such a 'fetching' color combo that conjures up a feeling of renewal - perhaps so many things green continue to grow! Perfect colors for the sentiment. Sweet giraffe too!

Sian Ridley said...

So ca-ute!! That is the card and the twinkies! ;) I am astounded that you managed to make a card that satisfied the requirements of all of those challenges - you really are the Queen of all this blog challenge malarky!

And yes, darling other half is all mended now...thank you for remembering and asking :) I now have to start 'Operation Man Cooking Dinner' over again, but that's ok, he he! ;)

I'm glad you weren't out smarted by the young'uns! They'll learn ;)

Cindy Hall said...

Great card, and I loved the photos with the clever commentary! Thanks for sharing with us at Freshly Made Sketches!

jimlynn said...

Super cute! Love that little giraffe and your card.
Looks like y'all have a fun time this weekend too!
Lynn

MaryH said...

Clever use of the sketch. Loved your card, and masking out the words to add your number. Great idea and worked well. When I mask, sometimes it doesn't! Perfect for the little giraffe, and using NBUS. Enjoyed the pictures too. These boys are growing tall! I can see their grandpa was enjoying the business meeting too. TFS & giving me a big smile this evening. Hugs

JD/ Jill said...

Cute and clever card...and cute grandsons...thanks for sharing the great pics!

Kim S said...

You clearly had a very busy and truly wonderful weekend!! I LOVE your idea for the Count Me In challenge - what a perfect sentiment. And that big-eyed guy peeping over the top is so fun!

Janet's Joy said...

That giraffe is too cute with his big eyes!
Thanks for joining us at Dynamic Duos this week!

Miriam Prantner said...

Very cute! I love how the giraffe is holding the tag/sign! And great photos of the weekend, looks like it was nice and relaxing!

Anonymous said...

Loving the giraffe with your greens and loving the twinks pics- reminds how my parents always did fun stuff with my kiddos when they were younger!

scrappymo! said...

Great card...that giraffe is a cutie! But the twinks steal the show...Love that they sell the rocks back to you.

Little Mr P found a mustache rock on our gravel driveway at the lake. He carefully tucked into the cup containers on the dash and then forgot about it...when we finally got home a couple weeks later, he asked DH to open up the truck so he could get his mustache! How do they remember? luckily we saved it! lol

Karen M said...

Gorgeous card Darnell and your post really made me giggle - I love the 'rock shop' - kids are so cute -hugs! xx

Happy Dance said...

You've really captured the DD colors here, Darnell. And in such a darn clever way too! Love how the little giraffe is 'holding' the sign. Great card. However, my favorite part of your post is all about your family. Those boys are adorable, and it's easy to see the love going on. Awesome. I get my little kiddies for a sleepover this Saturday. Cannot wait. Later dudette. Bev

Lori Turner said...

Super cute card - thanks for joining us this week at Dynamic Duos!

Lynn's Craft said...

Thank you for leaving some love on my blog. Sketch is lovely and you intepreted it beautifully. Gorgeous card.

Leigh Penner said...

Great card and photos! Looks like you all had a wonderful time!

shirley-bee said...

Aww, that giraffe is so sweet! Love how you've incorporated the number.

Aren't those twinks growing!!

Kim Heggins said...

Great post and I love all your twinkie photos...just too cute!

Lindsey said...

Love this card...especially the way you interpreted "count me in". Looks like you had a great weekend with your darling grandsons. My favorite part is the rock selling...I totally did that when I was little, too. AND a HUGE thank you for your sweet words. I followed you because I love your work and certainly didn't expect anything in return. You are too kind!

Kelly Griglione said...

Well, I would think this counts twice for the challenge, you used a number, and you incorporated the spirit of "count me in" ... so very smart of you, Darnell! And it turned out so well too! Thanks so much for joining the CAS-ual Fridays Challenge!

PS. thanks so much for sharing photos of your weekend! They totally remind me of my boys. A rock store, tadpoles, and being wrapped up are right up their alley. In fact, I have about 5-6 tadpoles still on my front porch. Why the heck they haven't turned into toads yet like ALL of their brothers and sisters, I do not know.

Pamela said...

This is just so adorable!! I love the giraffe behind the tag! Thanks for joining us at CAS-ual Fridays Challenge!

Bonnie said...

That giraffe is adorable! So are the twinks! Hope they aren't eating those tadpoles! I know you had a wonderful, entertaining weekend with them.

Kimbo said...

What a great card to make someone smile and I love the photos of the boys x

maria f. said...

For a moment I feared that the photo titled "contemplation" was going to be titled "ingestion"...