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!

January 24, 2014

As Lovely as a Dotty Tree ~ ATSM #79; CTS #61; DJKASE #2 and #3; NBUS #96

A Friday WHOOSHIE hello to you!

I'm showcasing two of my followers today in my Friday DJKASE tributes. I hope they don't mind sharing the spotlight. Here, in my exact words, is the accounting of what happened.

It all started with the random selection of Cathy of Cathy's Card Spot for my Friday DJKASE. Cathy is a frequent visitor and commentator.  She is a talented card artist who has been blogging since the end of 2012. She makes beautiful CAS cards and always photographs them on a wee easel, so appropriate because they are truly works of art. (Cathy has the added blessing of sharing her love of card making with her sister Maureen who also has a blog! How fun is that?!)

I spent a happy couple of hours looking through Cathy's posts and had narrowed down my choices to a half dozen. This was one of them:
Cathy's card ~ July 21,2013
Isn't it gorgeous? I knew I had that Memory Box "Small Circle Burst" die and it was NBUS.

~~~

Then I noticed that the new sketch had been published for one of my favorite challenges called CAS(E) This Sketch
I remembered Cathy's card and I thought I could make a circle burst tree . . . 

And I knew my card would fit into the CAS theme at Addicted to Stamps and More challenge, sponsored by Deedee's Designs.
GRAB OUR BADGE!
~~~

Then, I happened to visit another follower named Maureen, of Scraps of Life by Scrappy Mo. Maureen has been a lovely friend. She is a doting grandmother who has been blogging since 2011. Her grandchildren also enjoy making cards and it's a treat when Maureen shares their art on her blog!  

You can imagine how I felt swept up in Serena Dipity's fairy dust when I clicked on Maureen's blog and found that her most recent card used the same die! Here is her brilliant card:
Scrappy Mo's card ~ January 21, 2014
Well, that squinched the deal, didn't it?!

~~~

Here then is my thank you copyliment for you, Cathy and Scrappy Mo, and I hope you are both pleased!
The tree trunk is a snippet of woodgrain paper from GKW. It is glistening with Wink of Stella which I'm guessing is what makes it look coral and not the deep rose color it is IRL. The banner die is also NBUS and I'm sorry to say I can't remember who made it. It came with a set of sport dies, soccer balls, trophies, that sort of thing if that helps with the police lineup. Even the sweet little sediment is NBUS, made by Darice.

To make the dotty tree in valentine colors, I cut the circle burst die out of my PTI white card base, and then cut it again in SU pink and primrose. I attached a large piece of double-sided tape to the back of the front on the inside of the outside and then I just popped the dots in the holes, altercating. It may seem tedious, but it took very little time and I had the TV on to entertain me. Besides, with a code in my node and my voice a mere whisper, what else did I have to do?
TIPSTER ALERT:  That little tool there is a God-send for picking up little paper bits like this and for rhinestones and other assorted bling. It's called a "Quick Stik" and Mr. Google can assist you in finding where you can buy one. It's nifty.
~~~

Getting back to my witness statement regarding the making of today's card: As I was leaving the Playhouse to go to the Bighouse and get on the computer, I remembered that I didn't make a note of what precise pink SU paper I had used. With my hands full of my card, my die envelope, my outgoing mail, my cell phone, my camera, and with my large glass of wodka tucked in between my armpit and my bozzoom, I stepped back into the Playhouse and bent over to peer in my Pink Paper file cabinet to look at the file folder tabs.

As I bent over, I heard a peculiar sound, like rain on the roof. I stood up startled because we haven't had rain here in ages and we are in dreadful need of it. The sun was shining, how could it be rai ~ the cogs fell into place as the hamster dutifully turned the wheel around to where it put two and two together. I looked down at my feet.
To my horror, I realized that I had pulled an Oliver Hardy. Oliver was a comedian and movie star, part of the duo of Laurel & Hardy, popular between 1920-1940. I dated Oliver briefly and he used to spill his drink when he looked at his watch after I asked him what time it was. I got him every.single.time. Payback is a splinter in the wind of regrets. As I bent to peer at my tabs, I spilled my drink. (Which luckily was only water, and not wodka, for I would have been wery unhappy about that.) 

As the water poured out, it made a raindrop-on-rooftop sound because it was splattering all over my entire collection of Valentine supplies which I had pulled out of storage to be at-hand for timely holiday creations. Here's a close-up. You can see there was quite a pool.
Wetted down were lots of ancient schtuff and bits of one-of-a-kind treasures. But these things happen. In true silver-lining fashion, I thought to myself:  it's not like I dropped a match on it. I'll assess it all later after it has dried and it's a decent hour to pour myself a wodka, for weals. 

Not to mention how fortunate I felt that the deluge did not get on my freshly-made card, my camera, or my cell phone, in order of importance.  Phew!

~~~

Well, this post was epic, even for me. It's what happens to a talker when she can't talk and the keyboard becomes her voice. And it clears up the mystery for anyone who might wonder what the heck I do all day. Cough. 

Whatever you do, 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!  Please let me know you came by, so I can be sure and return the flavor! 
  
 
*Life Is Too Short!

76 comments:

Sue - said...

Love the card but do hope you haven't ruined too many crafting supplies! It did make me chuckle though - Sorry! Hope you find your voice soon, hugs Sue

Di said...

Oh Darnell - adore the card and am chuckling here, sorry! Hope everything dries out OK!

Hugs, Di xx

Redanne said...

Oh no! I hope that you can salvage some of it....... I am not laughing - honest! Your take on Cathy and Scrappy Mo's (love her!)card is wonderful and a lovely compliment to both ladies. I agree, those tools are a must have for picking up little things. Wishing you a weekend where you can do a little talking...... Big hugs, Annie xx

Cathy said...

Hi Darnell, I', so chuffed that you CASED my card! Thank you so much :) I wish I had one of those magical sticky wand tools LOL! I just use tweezers. Gorgeous card, hope you can salvage all of your supplies after the sudden deluge though! Cathy x

sandie said...

As ever Darnell, a pleasure and a giggle to read your post! So great you showcase your followers this way and what talented followers you have! Love the colours in your card and I so have to purchase that die! Thanks for sharing with us at ATSM x

Mrs Harry said...

Quick, die cut some flowers from the pretty papers and scrunch them up. It's what Tim Holtz would do ;-)
I do hope your throat/voice get better soon, and not because I want to to stop blogging as I love to read your daily shenanigans.

Kate said...

Your card is so sweet Darnell. Hope you and your stash are on the mend soon. Thanks for the tip about the Quick Stick, I had heard such a think existed but didn't know what it was called.

Viv said...

Suppose if you can't talk you can't sing either - so we must thank heaven (and our ears) for small mercies... and also thank heaven that your water (you sure it wasn't wodka????? LOL) didn't render all your supplies as defunct as your poor voice!!
Two fabulously case'd cards Darnell - I love that starburst circly die and yet another to the list (which now reaches to the nearest major city and back...
Wishing you a {conversational} weekend!!! xxx

Sue said...

Well Darnell. I REALLY enjoyed reading you post today, so much that I read it twice! Thank you so much for cheering me up, I needed that today!
Anyway. your card is amazing. I love how your 2 DJKASE's have merged together so well. The way you have coloured the circle burst looks so beautiful and definitely worth all your effort. I now need to go and ask Mr Google to find me somewhere in the UK that sells that nifty Quick Stik...
I hope you have a good weekend
hugs Sue xx

Canonbury creations said...

You may be vocally challenged Darnell but you've done a fantastic shout out with the cards that you cased! Love that die, so versatile. At least it was a minor spillage we have floods here!
Val x

Joni Andaya said...

Gorgeous card Darnell!!! I love the die you used...need to put that on my wish list :)

Kim M said...

Fantastic! Great take on the challenge sketch. :-)

roffeycreations said...

Hi Darnell - Cathy had to ring and tell me you had cased her card {& Scrappmo's} and that you had mentioned me in your post - cheers - very happy - even tho I haven't been actively blogging [too lazy/tired/busy] I am still in there doing the deed - lol crafting that is... hugs Mxx

Pat said...

Two lovely cards you have chosen to DJKase today Darnell, and what a wonderful way of combining these with the sketch to come up with this fantastic result - such a clever idea. I really love that cute little bird. So sorry you have a cold and throat problem at the moment, but hope vocal communication will be restored shortly, and that your poor stash will survive this minor drowning! x

Alanna said...

Your card is so much fun Darnell. Love the tree. Sorry about the water mishap. Boy can you tell a story. Happy Friday.

Benzi said...

How clever you are case-ing these two ladies' wonderful cards and coming up with that creation for the CAS(E) challenge. It's super.

I so glad you reminded me I have that Quick Stik. I forgot about it and need to find it. Ugh! So many toys.

Sorry about that terrible mishap. Glad you didn't get your phone wet. I stuck mine down is my hubby's Icee one night....all the way. Not good. All turned out o.k. as I put it in a bowl of rice and got all the water out.
Wish it could have been rain for you.

Ardyth said...

Fantastic (if a little fussy - wow, what patiences!) way to use that die - love how it looks with the dots all filled in. (Here's a tip - you could (if you sorted them) colour the dots from the white cut out with markers rather than cutting again with different paper.) Great way to really showcase this die!

Krisha said...

LOVE your CAS card! That magic sticky wand looks like a tool worth plopping down some cash for.

Rain, oh how we need rain in these parts too, but soaking your stash isn't quite the same....LOL

Viv said...

Oh dear Darnell a disaster of sorts then....at least it wasn't the camera or phone, I would have consoled myself with that!Hope you get the paper/card sorted though. Beautiful card again, love the spottiness/dottiness( are they even words) and the ickle bird.Your posts here and lovely comments you leave me always make me smile....full of a cold this week so that helped me too... snuffle snuffle:) hugs Viv xx

Ustvarjalni utrinki Tamara P. said...

I am so impressed
love it
so beautiful done
hugs Tamara

Irish Cherokee said...

Hi Darnell! Love the card. Many chuckles. Wadka does fu..fu..fun makes ya ccccrazy.

Tracey McNeely said...

Oh happy day Darnell it is, what a fabulous CASE and use the sketch for your pretty card! Happy Friday my friend!

Lisa Elton said...

Love seeing the different ways you all used this die!! Great cards. Hope things dry out soon. If not, it's a good excuse to do a little crafty shopping!!

Loly Borda said...

Aww! I love the card, your take on the sketch and the inspiration cards is perfect! I hope you'll be able to use all of your damaged materials.

Sue said...

Oh Darnell hope you can salvage your crafty stash. What a fab card! have a great weekend lots of huggles Sue xxx

jimlynn said...

Fantastic card!!! Love it! Lots of little pieces and they're all just perfect in that circle!
Ooops on the spill....I did the same thing not long ago and what a mess it creates - not to mention what all it ruined!
Lynn

Sathya said...

Card is beautifully CASED...Loved it!!!

Susanne Vargas said...

Love your card and the story that came with it! I can't believe that you put all those tiny dots back in...!!! I am glad that you found a silver lining to your little accident! You are right - it could always be worse!

Greta said...

Oh my--what a bummer! However, much of it may be saved & at least you could laugh about it. Your card is so creative & a perfect tribute to those 2 lovely followers! Hope you're over the bug soon, Darnell.

Andrea said...

hi darnell and hope you are now on the mend sounds like you've had a lousy time with nasty winter bugs around as usual!!!...I know the feeling. love your take on the case cards must have taken forever to place all those tiny coloured dots but what a great result.. and a fab die. thanks for the tips and as usual making me lol re your water antics hope nothing was ruined
ave good weekend and hope you get well and your voice comes back soon hugs Andrea x

Kathleen said...

Love the card, fab idea and I have seen those two cards and love the die but it doesn't seem to be available over here.
Have a good weekend.

Kath x

Vicki Dutcher said...

Bummer about the spilled milk - oh I mean water! :) - Major bummer -- Love the dotted tree awesome use of the die!

Geri said...

Hey there pal! Hope you're feeling a bit better! Perhaps an 8:00am V & OJ is what you really do need to get rid of that nasty cold!

Fabulous post...awesome card! Great idea to turn the burst into a tree. Sweet banner die too! Cathy and Maureen are going to be thrilled to bits with your CASE!

I admire your patience in replacing the dots! By the way, did you know that "Dot Replacement Therapy"...or DRT as it is commonly referred to in the crafting community, has been proven to reduce stress in middle aged women that like to play with paper & scissors! Yep, read that in a magazine...somewhere!


Anita in France said...

Fabulous DJKASE, Darnell ... Cathy and Maureen will be blown away by your take on their cards! Do hope all that stash turns out to be rescueable ... even if some is wobbley from the wet, I'm sure you'll be able to create something marvellous from it! Hugs, Anita :)

Shannon J said...

Did you just make a tree with that die?!! Um, brilliant!! And nice work on the detail - I usually find it's always worth it in the end to do the tedious, I mean detail things! As for your rain fall, I'm glad the damage wasn't as bad as it could have been. I blame your bozoom for not holding up her end of the deal...literally! ha ha!!

Bobby said...

What a great happenstance that two cards to CASE used the same die you hadn't. Turning it into a tree was a great idea, detail dots and all.

I have two words for you. One is iron. Sometimes you can iron out that soggy paper til it's like new. The other is Tervis. It's an insulated glass with a spill proof top. Glad you're feeling somewhat better.:)

Dana said...

Oh my gosh!! I love the sun burst valentine tree!! So awesome!!! So sorry your valentine stuff got wet! Hopefully most can be saved!!

Carole said...

What a revolting development that was...a line from some distant TV memory...but an amusing tale and a delightful card.Thanks for your concern about my not blogging...I've been committed to cleaning and organizing looking for my lost mojo.
Be well my friend. Hugs C

Barb Ghig said...

Your dotted tree is fabulous, Darnell, and a real tribute to Cathy and Maureen! I love all the texture on the tree trunk and the color combo is beautiful!

So sorry you had a spill...I hope the damages are not so bad after you've had a chance to assess!

MackieMade Paper Creations said...

Oh, Darnell, you had quite a day!!! Your card is so beautiful! I can't believe you paper pieced all those dots for your tree!! Wowsa!!!
I am so glad the water didn't hit your electronical goodies! NBUS can be replaced with more NBUS! heehee

Carol L said...

That's a beautiful case of those cards, and I think that die is mighty purty too! Sorry about your mishap, but if you're anything like me, you'll never miss those saturated papers, as there will be lots more to take their place :)
Better days are coming - keep smiling :)

Chriss Blagrave said...

Beautifully combined case of the two inspiration cards Darnell. I think maybe the spilled water will create some "vintage" looking effects on your Valentine elements, right? You always have me in stitches with your stories!

Donna Nuce said...

Love that die used on these cards. Laughed about your Laurel and Hardy spill. Good story. Hope your stash recovers.

Vanessa said...

Love how your card turned out! Sooo many dots! A lot of work...
Vanessa x

Ros Crawford said...

You certainly make me chuckle ... Love both of those elegant cards and you did a fabulous job of turning two into one with your very clever design ... Have a great weekend

Deborah Frings said...

As always your post has brightened my morning; you always make me smile! I love this tree - so worth putting in the little dots! Thanks so much for playing along at ASM this week!

BTW - it didn't look like too much damage!

Stacy said...

I always worry about spilling my drink in the craft room! I loved your card and the two inspiration cards. How fun that you take the time to feature your fellow bloggers!

Gerrina said...

Great card! That´s one that some don´t understand how long it took to get this effect! Have a fun weekend, Gerrina

OH Babs said...

Your cards are always lovely BUT your writing gives me great pleasure. First I was in hysterics with your sad story but then I was excited when it sounded like a chance of rain was headed to Southern California. Pray for rain.

shirley-bee said...

I blame the hamster for spilling your wodkawater. I love how you made a tree from the circle burst die, and it's a great case of both girls' cards.

Bonnie said...

I LOVE your pink and "coral" tree! And that tiny bird is like a bonus! Hope everything dried out OK.

Pia S said...

What a nice tribute to Cathy and Maureen! All your cards are lovely, same style yet very different. I'm no fan of pink, but seeing what lovely cards you make with this color you've got my rethinking my feelings for this color:)

Kim Heggins said...

Another show stopper Darnell! This is so fun and so clever and makes the most amazing tree! I love it.

Karen Petitt said...

Fabulously CASE'd huni, love your pink version! Sori I not around much at the moment, but will do my best to catch up with your gorgeous creations xx

scrappymo! said...

Oh noooooo! That looks like a mess to have to clean up! We are always multitasking if we want to craft!

Hope not too much is lost!

I am honoured that you chose my card to hilight. I love your card. Great idea to put the pieces back in alternating the colours...love that!!
Wink of Stella is amazing isn't it...just bought a couple and love the look of it.

Princess Judy Palmer said...

I think I need to sit back, relax and have a cuppa wodka after reading all that. So.... like it was serendipitous that the two blogs you picked had two cards with the same die and there happened to be a challenge that was made for that die??? I say push the wet VD stuff aside and get thee some lotto tickets!!!

Princess Judy Palmer said...

BTW, stick to the wodka. I'm having ginger tea. bleh.

Marie Bingaman said...

As always Darnell, you crack me up! I agree with the reader who said you should Tim Holtz-ify those waterlogged papers into flowers! :) Waiting to see what happens next...

Kelly Griglione said...

You are seriously a gem, Darnell! There is no one quite as witty as you. So entertained reading your epic post. You'll have to let us know if anything was salvageable. At least it was on the older stuff, right?

Awesome card! Love the alternating colors for your dots. It's a great effect!

Meg said...

You are too funny! I love stopping by your blog because it always makes me giggle - I often read your "Darnellisms" to my hubby. Your card is great and thank you for spreading your joy!

♥Gemma♥ said...

Oh Darnell...what are you like hunni but believe me hun you are not the only one to have done this because i have too but all over one of my design team cards...aargh!! After a few choice words and counting to 100+...i did calm down and ended up chuckling to myself!!

I do hope thou hun you managed to save some of those gorgeous supplies!!

As for your card hun...it's gorgeous as always and so loving the die you have used and the look it gives too :)
hugs and xxx
Gemma

Paper Creations by Shirley said...

Hi again, you are hilarious. I'm amazed at how you placed those little cut-out dots back into other holes. Beautiful tree! The spotlighted designs are also beautiful. I hope you didn't ruin any crafty supplies. Cheers, Shirleyx

cm said...

Beverages and bozooms - you just never know the results of that combination. Been there, done that myself a few times! Your copliment of Maureen and Cathy's cards is FAB-U-LOUS! A Valentine tree from a circle die? Only you! Brilliant, lovely and inspiring (not to mention enabling: die added to the wish list). Another hilarious post; hope you 'code' goes away soon! Hugs~c

Marybeth said...

Love...love..love your tree card! The rays are amazing. I have and love my QS so nice of you to let others know about it. You could have saved all the dots for confetti...jk
Bummer about the darn spilled drink.....rain would have been much better!

Brenda in IN said...

This die is so cool. Love the tree you made from it. So cute. I so admire your patience. It's a shame about the water spill but notice how clean your stash is now!

Lynette said...

Your card is lovely and your post was fun to read. I'm so sorry your water spilled all over the supplies you had gotten out:( I hope you were able to salvage most of it. Well, I HOPE you were able to salvage ALL of it!

Sandy said...

Well I would like to know, who wouldn't be pleased with this beauty!!
sandy xx

Hettie said...

Gorgeous card there Darnell. I have just come from Mo's and found myself looking on my usual MB stockist for that very die.
I have one of them sticky fings though which are known in the scrapbook group I once frequented as a "bogey on a stick"!!
I just know you are giggling!
Hugs
xx

Lyndal said...

FABULOUS sun tree Darnell!!!

MaryH said...

I KNEW I'd get a laugh! You & your Wodka! And Wain! (the stuff will dryout, remember my flooding the basement. Well, most of the paper dried!). Loved your tributes to 2 fine designers that I always love to visit & get astounding inspiration. And I loved your take on the circle Die (mine's a NBUS too, but purchased thanks to Cathy's use of it). Made fantastic tree foliage ..CLEVER you! TFS & giving the chuckle I really needed this evening! Hugs

Jen W. said...

Your circle burst tree is GENIUS! The alternating colours, the perfect sentiment and that sweet little birdie! Swoony McSwoon! Thanks for playing along with CAS(E) This Sketch this week!

As for the vodka/water incident. TRAGIC!!! I thought it was bad when Atticus drooled on my stuff but even on his sloppiest day he does't produce that much liquid! Hope the damage wasn't too severe once it dried...

Sian Ridley said...

I am super impressed with your patience...you put those teeny weeny circles back in!!?? You're even more dotty than I am!! ;) It was definitely worth the effort those - these cards look absolutely fab and I cannot wait for the next installment in your DJKASE series :)

Anonymous said...

Great job on the double case copy case !! Lol !! Looks like a fun idea & concept for card making !! I even case-d myself this week!! :))
Your story about the water made me so sad for all the crafty stuff that had gotten ruined. I always drink out of a bottle w/ lid in my craft room -- & it has one of those buttons you have to hold in to get the liquid out.
& ps -- I love those quick stick things!! :))

Leigh Penner said...

Lovely cards, Darnell! Thanks for playing along with CAS(E) This Sketch!

Anonymous said...

What are you like girl !!!!!! I was more disturbed when you said you had spilled your Vodka than I was about your crafting supplies but then you went and owned up and said it was only water. I felt really guilty after that………Phew. What a great case and beautifully done too another perfectly pink treasure.

Am off know to found out how you lost your voice.

Marie

Betty said...

All three cards are really pretty, Darnell. Love the circle die. Lovely cards. Thanks for playing along at CAS(E) this sketch and hope to see you again.