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!

February 5, 2014

Just a Note From the Heart

Hey! How'z the week going?

I'm popping in with a card I wasn't even planning to make. I had trouble this week coming up with any original ideas for the current CAS(E) This Sketch challenge, so I had moved on with making Valentines, coz I love making them.

So all was well, but then my meds started wearing off and my hamster brain started looking off into space, looking back, looking off, and so forth, when I happened to focus on the pencil I was using to write in my address book. Wait. What?
As you can see, it is a pencil adorned with hearts! It's such an ancient pencil, the eraser is gone. The hamster prolly chewed it off because I'm sure I don't make mistakes. Cough. 

Anywhaz, I saw that pencil which, c'mon I have to say again, is covered in HEARTS, so I went back online and took another look at this sketch by the uber-talented Chrissy Larson at CAS(E) This Sketch:
 
And being the clever person you are, you know I went here with it:
It's a pencil to write a love note.
I used my ruler to draw the shape of the pencil, made a mask, and then stamped inside the shape with a couple of little heart stamps, one from Judith, one unknown. I colored my pencil with my pencils (which words just made me laugh out loud) by Prismacolor, and my Wink of Stella, At You Spica, and Signo pens. It's really sparkly in person! The just-a-note sediment is unmarked. No NBUS, unless you count my brown WOS pen.

Challenges:

My card is intended to be a Valentine love note, so I'm linking to the LOVE challenge at Addicted to CAS.
My card is one-layer and it has a repeating pattern, so I'm linking up with the February challenge at One-Layer Simplicity Challenge.
 OLS
Since the newest theme at another favorite challenge is the ever-popular "Anything Goes," I'm also linking up with Addicted to Stamps and More.
GRAB OUR BADGE!
And even though my style is way more CAS than most of the entries, I'm linking to the Simon Says Monday Challenge which just happens to be "Love Notes!" 
Simon Monday Challenge Blog
The challenge at the sister Simon challenge of Simon Says Wednesday Challenge wants you to have a heart somewhere on your card, so I get to play there, too!
Simon Wednesday Challenge Blog

I've got more Valentines to make so I'm done adding challenges! Phew! There are a lot when it's a specific holiday time. I hope you get a chance to check them out by clicking the links which will provide you with all the details on rules, sponsors, and prizes!

~~~

In my New Friends Corner, it is a pleasure to introduce you to:

Verna Angerhofer of VA's Creative Clutter and 

Jackie Collins of Snappy Jackie's Blog

Both of these ladies are adorable and make wonderful cards! Verna has only been blogging since last month and Jackie has only been blogging since last May. You know how much it means to me when you go make newbie bloggers feel welcome in our stamping community! I know both of these ladies will be SO appreciative to hear from you and have you follow them and encourage them to keep on blogging and creating their beautiful cards!

Welcome, Verna and Jackie, and thank you for joining in the fun over here at the Playhouse! May you have many happy years in Blogland!

~~~

Out of the Mouths of Babes:

Rachel, our DIL, shared a piece of our grandson Adam's homework using her iPhone, so it's not the best photo, but please note item number 2:
"my grandpa tells good tall tales."
As you can see, I'm not the only one in the family who lies is a story-teller. We had no idea, however, that Adam was hip to the fact that Papa was also a  liar told "tall tales" until after we saw this! Ah well, bless him, if he was gonna bust his grandpa for telling tall tales, at least he was sweet enough to say they were GOOD tall tales! 

~~~

Enjoy your day!  No, seriously, enjoy.  LITS!* 
It's a pencil.

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!


65 comments:

Greta said...

Now that is really precious! Hoping your DIL gives you a picture of that homework you can frame or put in a scrapbook. You are beyond creative with that card--love it, Darnell!

jimlynn said...

Creative and CUTE!!! Maybe I need to go gather up a bunch of pencils and see if some type of brain storm hits me! Love it!!!
You might ought to keep a picture of that homework handy just in case hubby starts telling tall tales again!
Lynn

Karren said...

You are too, too clever, Darnell! The pencil is perfect for the sketch and you've made it look so realistic! I giggled at the homework :)

Lisa Elton said...

Pretty darn nifty idea Darnel! And executed perfeclty, cute card! Love your grandson's answer...kids gotta love 'em ;)

Miriam Prantner said...

So clever! What a great inspiration, love how it turned out!

Joyce said...

This is a great idea for a card. Very cute, and so many challenges, too.

Tracey McNeely said...

Darnell you are the cutest! Love your post and love your card. Would love to see that creative mind at work!

Alanna said...

What a clever card. Love the big pencil you made.

Shannon J said...

Genius!!! Totally brilliant!!! My hamster and I had deep discussions on this sketch but between the two of us we could not think of one thing! So we opted out. I think you should treat your hamster to a drink for coming up with this baby!!

Kelly Griglione said...

It IS a pencil! How FUN and creative, Darnell! Love how you made your own Valentine's pencil. Pencils are actually one of the first things I think about at Valentines ... now that sugar is frowned on at school, they mostly get pencils. All sorts of them.

And, thanks for sharing the tall tales story! I'm always a little nervous about what they may say at school. I'm sure teachers know so much more about us than we realize!!

Jacquie Southas said...

I had a hard time with the diagonal heading down from left to right, but your pencil is sooooo perfect - LOVE it!! Love the tall tales story!

Unknown said...

Simply inspired Dippy......amazing how little things give us great ideas eh? Adam's homework is so good, made me laugh and I bet his teacher appreciated it as well! Thanks for joining us at ATCAS.

Hugs.

Karendipity xxx

Sue said...

I love how your pencil inspired you to create such a fabulous and unique card, it's just perfect.
hugs Sue xx

Sammy said...

What a fantastic idea! And beautifully executed too. I admire your pencil-drawing skills.

And grandparents aren't the only ones who provide tall tales in homework... I once got told off by my daughter's teacher after she had described her "dinner" in her school work. Said dinner consisted entirely of sweet treats, with nary a vegetable in sight!
Turns out my dear daughter thought the pasta we'd actually had for dinner wasn't interesting enough to talk about, so she described her dream meal instead.
Teacher somehow didn't pick up on this, and turned me into the bad guy!

I swear there's nothing better for kids than getting their parents/grandparents in trouble! x

Gerrina said...

What a lovely card! Reminds me of all the fun pencils my daughter still has! Have a creative fun day, Gerrina

Sian Ridley said...

Aaaah, what a fab card! I love your ingenuity! I am also suffering with a lack of Valentine's mojo but you seem to have overcome yours! That, my darling Darnell, is a whole load of challenges! As always, I am impressed :)

I think we forget sometimes just how intelligent little people are and how sweet they are to go along with our oddities because they know it makes us feel better :) Your grandson is just too cute :)

Carol L said...

Your card is such a fun take on the sketch, and I love that you used a pencil for inspiration! The sentiment is perfect for the image! Your grandson is smart and very perceptive! Clearly he's inherited his grandma's sense of humor too :) Tell the Mister to use some extra caution with his story-telling from now on! LOL

sandie said...

Love how you got the idea for this card! And love all the pinks and hearts. Thanks for joining us at ATCAS and ATSM

Ros Crawford said...

Terrific card and your grandson's sentence made me laugh!

Anonymous said...

Love your pencil card, Darnell, and the inspiration behind it! Thanks for the chuckle - re: your grandson writing his grandpa write good tall tales! Love it!

Hugs,
Shery

Mrs A. said...

One word. Brilliant!! Well technically that's 3 but whose counting. (go away Miss).
Hugs Mrs A.

Ardyth said...

Oh, that's a winner, I think! So clever! Thanks for joining us at OLS!

Sue - said...

Wow!! Such a clever card!

Benzi said...

Very creative card, Darnell. I love your thinking.
Kids say (and write) the funniest things. Grandpa just got exposed. LOL

maria f. said...

Here's to good tall tales and inspiration lying around on desks!!!

Irish Cherokee said...

I have a shoe box full of that kind of pencil. A most have bricks for erasers. Don't need them anywho. AHEM! Nice drawing of a drawing instrument. Children are VERY observant. YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT THEY ARE GOING TO SAY. All you cando is hold your breath and pray.

Susanne Vargas said...

Wow, this must be the most creative entry for this sketch! How brilliant! And look at all the other challenges your card works for!

Sue said...

This is so creative, Darnell! Thank you for sharing at ATSM.

Pia S said...

A clever take on the sketch and a cute pencil, great card!

donna mikasa said...

That is one clever take on the sketch and I LOVE your inspiration! And the homework is a hoot! So worth framing!

Karen Petitt said...

Gorgeous and so very inspired. We all like a good tale Darnell so keep it up xx

Loll said...

Hi Dolly. LOVE this card - so clever. Isn't it amazing what inspires us??!! :)

Thanks for sharing Adam's school work - so funny! Lolly xx

Sheila H said...

Thanks for sharing the inspiration for your fun and imaginative card. Your grandson's school work is too cute!

Rebecca Luminarias said...

I love your pencil card, Darnell! It's such a sweet and clever idea! Thanks for your kind comments on my blog, also. I, too, appreciate every single one that I get!

Redanne said...

Your card is pure genius, the hamster was working well to come up with such a brilliant idea - love the card. I also love Adam's comment and how lovely for hubby to be immortalized in a school book! Hugs, Annie xxx

Irene said...

Your card is cute, brilliant and GENIUS Darnell.

luv
irene
xxxx

Harriet Skelly said...

OK, this is genius Darnell! Love your grandson's statement about the Mister!

Verna Angerhofer said...

I just love your heart decorated pencil note card you created. How fun! And, thanks so much for the plug and wonderful welcome you gave me to blog land. It is an experience and a learning thing for me, and it may not be really fancy but I am enjoying it greatly. I still have a lot to learn, but baby steps I guess is the key.

Kristie Goulet said...

This is so perfect & clever, Darnell. Thanks for sharing your grandson's homework. hahaha

Ustvarjalni utrinki Tamara P. said...

Just quick note for you
Thank you for your visit and your sweet comment on my blog.
Your card is fantastic
love to you
Tamara

Vicki Dutcher said...

HA! Way to be inspired! :) Thanks for joining in at ATCAS!

cm said...

One look at that sketch had me looking into space - vacant space - so I'm delighted to see that you and your hamster came up with this brilliant pencil-colored pencil. Ingenious! Your grandson's note: LOVE it! Something to frame, for sure!! Ahhh...another visit that just warms my heart, lifts my spirits and sparkles my day! Hugs~c

Kay Miller said...

Oh my goodness!!!! You are unbelievably clever Darnell!! This is SOOOOOO cute!! Soooooo CUTE!!!

April said...

Brilliant. Absolutely brilliant. Love the fun colors and just love it. :-) April #24

Happy Dance said...

I am personally thanking your hamster for coming up with this brilliant card! I swear I heard this really, really loud "PING" coming in from the west.... I love this pencil card. Those little hearts look like candy, and the light pink is the perfect compliment to them. Great card. And have to say that I laughed out loud...tall tales, indeed! So darn funny! Bev

Krisha said...

OMG!! I ADORE your card!
Thanks for the well wished for me hubby. Got shots this morning, they had to put him under, and he has slept all day. Which is good cause he hasn't been sleeping at night.

Anonymous said...

So very clever and cute.
Heather T

Kim Heggins said...

Fabulous!!!! Don't you just live it when card ideas fall into place!! This is so cute. Love that giant pencil.

JD/ Jill said...

Cute and clever...My desk is so cluttered right now...I don't think my eye could concentrate on any one thing!

Bobby said...

Inspiration comes from unexpected places sometimes,doesn't it? That's a great pencil and perfect for the sketch. Just be glad that Adam only thinks his grandpa tells tales. ;)

Karen Davis said...

Oh, I so get the hamster brain!! BUT, it just takes one moment of inspiration and voila! You have come up with this amazing, original card. Fun to visit as always!

Marybeth said...

Well, we all love your post tall tell or not! :) The teachers must hear so many funny things from the kids.
Oh my goodness what a great idea with the pencil! Love it when that happens.

Oh you made me laugh when you made a comment on my Christmas card about the boy with the axe….. The good ole days!

Anita in France said...

Clever, inspired, creative ... you and the hamster have it all, Darnell! Love how you were inspired, love what you created! Adam's spelling card ... I looked so carefully (before reading on) ... and convinced myself it said grandma ... imagine, tall tales ... you?! And then to find it was grandpa ... oops! Either way, what a joy to see ... and what a treasure for you and your Mister! Anita :)

Emma Williams said...

Great card and a fabulous interpretation of out Love Notes theme. Thank you for joining us over at the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge Blog... :)

Jessi Fogan said...

That pencil! Sheesh, that hamster gets good ideas now & then! Maybe you should give him a treat :)
As for the tall tales homework....that made me smile all over my face :) Too precious!

Princess Judy Palmer said...

There's nothing like a good tall tale to make life complete. I like your take on the CASe sketch. I think I have a newer version of that same pencil. At first I thought you nicked my pencil whilst I slept last night.

Leigh Penner said...

Super cute card, Darnell! Great take on the sketch!
And that highlighted sentence is just too funny!

Chrissy Larson said...

Talk about uber-talented! This is a super fun take on the sketch and I totally hear you on the hamster brain! Although, I sometimes think the hamster has gnawed a few holes in mine. ;) Love this!

Barb Ghig said...

You are so creative, Darnell! I really love how you used all of your goodies to create this really fun card! And, your grandson is too CUTE!

Bonnie said...

What a wonderful interpretation of this sketch! Love that pencil! You can't get anything past kids these days! I'll bet they remember those tales and tell some themselves one day!

Anonymous said...

What a great take on the sketch Darnell it never ceases to amaze me at your creativity and of course the execution of your beautiful cards. Thanks so much for another fabulous card for ATCAS and such a great take on the sketch. As for your grandson ….out of the mouths of babes………

Marie

Deepti said...

Wow what an inspiration and amazing execution :) every kid would love this card :) so adorable, thank you for sharing with is at ATSM!!

Melissa Bove said...

Super adorable card! Love that you used your pencil as inspiration! So cute!!

Thank you very much for joining us this week at the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge Blog!

hugs...
Melissa

Anonymous said...

Cute ! Fun !! & clever !!
My girls bring those home every week from school !!
This is a delight !
Thanks for the inspiration !!

Geri said...

You are a creative genius! You're right - this sketch totally screamed 'pencil'! Love the wee hearts :)

The note....priceless! Thanks for sharing :)