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 19, 2014

The Best of Butterfly Birthdays


I welcome you to Wednesday!

While we're on the subject of Olympic ice dancing, a lot of you have written to inquire whether I am responsible for naming that part of the couple's program referred to as "twizzling." Now why would you ask me that? I always thought the name was already taken to describe the exercise your fingers get when you walk them around the rim of your drinks glass, flirting.

My card today is for three challenges.

Firstly, there is a fun new challenge in Blogland called the Butterfly Challenge. It is owned and operated by a friend of mine, affectionately known by all as Mrs. A. The first challenge is to use piglets and flowers on your card. Wait. What? No, no, that can't be right, not piglets. I was thinking of my friends at Pooh Corner again. It's butterflies, silly, we are to use butterflies and flowers!
Grab My Button.

Secondly, butterflies are also featured in the current photo inspiration at Fusion, where you can either use the photo or the sketch or fuse them both for your card. My card uses just the photo.
Thirdly, I used two Hero Arts products on my card, so I'm entering the ongoing Hero Arts Birthday Challenge. There are five different categories and from the colors in my card, I think I could enter the rainbow challenge but, to be safe, I'm entering the anything goes challenge.

Remember, just click on the links for the details on rules, sponsors, and prizes and then join in the fun!!

~~~

Here is my card:
Oh, how I love a beautiful patterned paper, like this paper from K & Company. It's so easy to let it be the star of a card, especially when the design is so stunning. I simply added my cut panel to a card base, stamped the sediment from Hero Arts, and finished it off with colored rhinestones, also from Hero Arts. I was going to add a cut butterfly, but then I decided it was gorge just the way it is ~ and easy to mail. 

You can see a little better in this photo just how glittery it is IRL. The patterned paper is already embossed and glim-glammed, but I did add a few more highlights to the flower and butterflies with my Sakura glitter pen because I couldn't help myself.

I will be doing more and more of these patterned paper cards rather than leave my collection languishing in drawers. There's rarely white space because of the pattern so shall I make it a new movement? Will you bring out your patterned papers and let the pattern be the star of your card? In our card-making world already brimming with acronyms (partly my fault) should we call this style QSP for quick, simple, and patterned?  CAP for clean and patterned? Or shall I make this a series? We have QACAS, shall we add QASAP?

Aacck, no more aacckronyms!!


~~~

Update Alert: Thanks to Mrs. A., I have learned that the craftiest hazelnut of them all has already started an entire patterned paper challenge blog!! Yippee! Great minds! Thank you, Hazel! I am entering my card in Hazel's challenge and I hope you will, too! You can find it here: Craftyhazelnut's Patterned Paper Challenge!
Please feel free to copy to your sidebar

~~~


New Friends Corner:

It is my absolute pleasure to introduce you to two new friends at the Playhouse:

Katie Melhus of Sweet n Spiffy. Katie's blog name fits her perfectly! She has been blogging since 2012 and makes super clean, charming, and CASlicious cards! Katie is a mom who works in a medical laboratory, so scrapbooking and card-making put her in touch with her creative side. In a very big way!

(I'm always impressed by people, such as a lot of you, who can use both sides of their brains. I'm currently working with the remaining two-thirds of one-half of mine.)

Carol of Inky Fingers. Carol has been blogging since 2010 and is a long-time friend here. We both thought she had been a follower for ages, but somehow that step was overlooked, so Carol clicked on the blue button to make it official. Carol has a wonderful eye for design and she is an extremely meticulous and creative card artist! 

Be prepared for a case of dropjaw when you visit these ladies! Welcome, Katie and Carol, and thank you for joining us!!

~~~

When we returned the boys to their parents, DIL Rachel had been clearing out their yard and doing some pruning. She very kindly gave me some cuttings from her beautiful succulents, which I brought home and potted. This morning when I went outside, I found one of them sipping some morning dew. Look closely, there's a little deworb in the very center.

~~~

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!

To open the pop-up comment box that let's you jump to the end w/o scrolling:
Click CTL + Home.
Click the Home tab under my blog banner which resets the post.
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Mwah!

79 comments:

Anonymous said...

I really like the idea of piglets as a card challenge... maybe they might do it next lol. BTW your card is a stunner, such glorious colours!

Di said...

Absolutely fabulous card Darnell! Like you, I have a shed load of patterned papers that really stand on their own without much doing to them 'cos they're just beautiful as they are.

Great to see you playing along at Mrs A's too.

Time to dig those papers out and dust them off I think :)

Hugs, Di xx

Hugs, Di xx

Cathy said...

Beautiful butterflies Darnell, fab idea too to use up DP stashes. As always thankyou for your kind words on my blog :) Cathy x

Sammy said...

Oh wow, that is just stunning! I do love me some nice paper too, and that certainly be some nice paper! x

Ustvarjalni utrinki Tamara P. said...

Darnell
your card is fantastic
love buterflies
and your card is really gorgeous
hugs Tamara

Sue said...

This is gorgeous Darnell. The paper is stunning and the style of sentiment works perfectly with it.
hugs Sue xx

Karin said...

Beautiful card, lovely flowers and butterflies. The patterned paper is gorgeous!
Karin x

Carol L said...

This is such a beautiful use of dsp and a wonderful butterfly birthday card! I love your photo of the plant too - it's simply amazing!!

Irene said...

Hello Darnell, Wow a beautiful card with stunning paper. Your plant looks brilliant drinking a morning cuppa.
luv
irene
xxxx

Patti J said...

That is some truly lovely patterned paper, Darnell! And perfect for the challenge! Beautifully done, my friend! Thanks for sharing :-)

Hettie said...

Awwww Pwetty! Lovely card. Lovely flutterbies too.
Glad we didn't have to use piglets - not a fan of piglet. Pooh - Yes. Eeyore - Definately. But Piglet - nope!
Hugs and twizzles!
xx

Gerrina said...

There´s a lot going on on your card! Love the colors and butterfly and saying! Have afun day, Gerrina

Benzi said...

Gorgeous paper and a great way to use some...I have too much. Easy mailing, too. You made a gorgeous card.
Your succulent looks very happy in its new home.

Casandra Bennett said...

Great take on that muse card. Butterflies are pretty no matter what color, shape, or design they come in. I love 'em all. :)

Susanne Vargas said...

Noooo, don't stop coming up with fun acronyms! I like QSP. I recently thought we need one for when we finally show love again to those items that have been languishing in a dark drawer for too long... What do you think? LNI for long neglected item??? I am sure you can come up with a better one!
But now to your gorgeous card! You are right, paper as beautiful as this one does not need more. It's perfect for the Butterfly Challenge! And now I am off looking through my patterned paper...
Hugs!

Sian Ridley said...

Superb! Both the card and the acronyms! This is stunningly beautiful paper and a gorgeous card...I feel another win coming on my darling! :)

I'm feeling QASAP - I instantly thought it should be pronounced 'kwasap' which is kinda like an old school batman comic sound, do you know what I mean?! I love your ability to play with words - fabulous! I think we were due a new acronym ;) I have notice your NBUS one all over blogland lately - you've gone viral Darnell!

Happy Dance said...

Oh you trendsetter you! I have to say that the sentiment here must have been made for this dp! Very cool. I wouldn't have been able to keep my hands off this...I'd have added junk to it and made it look like doo-doo. Love how you've used the paper and let it "stand" on its own. Quite lovely, quite happy. Oh, and btw, congrats on your win over at the Card Concept. WooHoo!!! : ) Bev

Cathy Weber said...

Your blog is always like reading a good book Darnell...so funny and I never want to skip ahead to the card as I might miss something fabulous! Beautiful butterfly card...love that shiny and sparkly patterned paper. I think we all hoard our special papers...it is tough to cut into them! I predict a card based on that beautiful photo of the succulent sometime in your future...beautiful shades of green!

Irish Cherokee said...

Darnell, you know I love to do many different things. Butterfies are one of my many passions. I slammed on the brakes and left about 150 feet of skid marks to stop and OOOooo and AAAAHHHH the butterflies on this card. Beautiful card.

Linda said...

Beautiful paper and gorgeous card Darnell.

Karen P said...

Beautiful, that paper would never be used by me! I am a paper perv in that I take out my very pretty DCWV pad, can't remember the name, stroke it and then put it away again lol!
I am trying to use up the papers I think are too pretty to use, but desperate to shrink my stash expecially as I have a recent obsession to CAS cards after being inspired by a very creative and clever crafter! xx

Redanne said...

I like your acronyms so please don't stop coming up with them and I love your gorgeous card with those fabulous butterflies all glittered up ready to impress the world!

The succulent from your DIL is a beauty with the dew on it too. Hugs, Annie xx

jimlynn said...

That beautiful paper made into a very pretty card! Love it! I'll have to drag out some patterned paper and see what I've got now.
Lynn

Mrs A. said...

At last Darnell after making me wait all week for your entry!! What a beauty it is too. Mind you I had visions of a rather fat pig running amoke with a rose in its mouth and a flutterby posed on his snout. Paper certainly doesn't need anything else added to it at all. ( BTW. Are you aware that Hazelnut has started a challenge up for using patterned paper on your card? Here is link http://craftyhazelnutspatternedpaper.blogspot.co.uk/).
Must remember to put piglets down on my list of challenge ideas!
Thank you for fluttering by . Hugs Mrs A. (Butterfly challenge).

Princess Judy Palmer said...

Um... yeah, the acronym things... let's just cut that out (or CTO for short). Which now that I think of it sounds like a good challenge that you can combine with your patterned paper. I have a hard time using just the paper to do the talking for me. Not that I'm wordy or self important, but that I feel like it is cheating. I've noticed a trend of patterned paper doing all the work lately so I suppose I should try being as I have the paper for it. Plus you can add some detail to it and a greeting so it isn't completely cheating, is it?

Have you created a monster? Are we going to have a piglet and butterfly challenge soon? Sort of like Pearls and Swine only not?

Lisa Elton said...

That is some PRETTY paper Darnell and it makes for a PRETTY card too!! Sending a big congrats to you as well on your CCC challenge win, loved those hearts and that sweet bow!

Tracey McNeely said...

Darnell I love this beautiful paper! That sentiment is so sweet! Great Fusion.

Pia S said...

Sometimes we complicate things more than necessary is. This card looks perfect just as it is, with a lovely DP and a sentiment! It really doesn't have to be more complicated than this to be beautiful!

Kristie Goulet said...

This paper is beautiful, Darnell! Very pretty card with a sweet sentiment!

Jenny L said...

Hi Darnell,
what a really superb butterfly creation.
Love all the beautiful butterflies, and superb colurs, and design of this gem of a creation.
Lots of crafty love. Jenny L.

Unknown said...

Thanks for the introduction to the blog challenge. I will give it a go.

Verna Angerhofer said...

Your card is gorgeous and so is the pattern paper you chose. Love everything about it!

Sharon Underwood said...

I love your card! I, too, have that paper and always wondered what else I could add to it. You gave me the answer: Nothing! Hurray! Thank you, my dear friend!

Julia Aston said...

A Beautiful card using your lovely DP Darnell! that butterfly and all the glitter are gorgeous - front and center!

Kathleen said...

Two fabulous card, the are both stunning even though (you may have heard through the grapevine that I have an aversion to butterflies on cards) but that doesn't mean I can't like a card.

Kath x

Unknown said...

Absolutely beautiful card Dippy.....that patterned paper is gorgeous and lush. Isn't it lucky that Hazel has started up a new challenge....you'd almost think she was a mind reader! lol Fab photo of your sipping succulent.....

Hugs.

Karendipity xxx

Anita in France said...

Those beautifully adorned butterflies are amazing, Darnell ... I love how you can look at DSP and see a card in it ... if that's using two thirds of one half of your brain, can I get a download? Hugs, Anita :)

Geri said...

Ooooo...that photo could make some gorgeous card inspiration, Darnell! How beautiful! And your card...it's gorgeous also...whatever you choose to call it...but I agree with letting a pretty paper like that shine and take center stage! Thanks so much for joining us again at FUSION, Darnell...always a treat to visit!

carol (krillsister) said...

Piglets! Really. I thought noone is going to enter that challenge. The paper is gorgeous. You were smart to let it be the focal point. When I first saw it, I was amazed and thought you had stamped it yourself.

Marybeth said...

Such a beautiful way to use that gorgeous paper Darnell. I will have to check up on that new challenge … because I have so much extra time to do all the others :)
Love the photo with the dew drops….wow!

Shannon J said...

Whoa, what STUNNING paper! Total AWE factor! Love it when then paper does all the work for you! Do you think the paper could do my house work for me too? I mean, since it's offering to do "all" the work and all!!

Nora Noll said...

Butterflies are my favorite!! I love how you dressed up the paper. Such a fabulous card!!

MackieMade Paper Creations said...

Darnell, this is beautiful! I love pattern paper! I want it back!!!!

Laura Davis said...

Very pretty!
Laura

JD/ Jill said...

Great card for the DP challenge. Glad I clinked on the link...lots of inspiration there to use some of dp that is just sitting in a drawer (just don't ask me for how long...smile)

Donna Nuce said...

I vote for calling this a QSP. Has a nice catchy ring to it. Have a great day.

Kay Miller said...

Oooooh your card is lovely Darnell!! Makes me want to get in my patterned paper drawer and see what I can drag out to make a QSP or a CAP! hahaha!! Love the photo of the water drop in the new little plant! ((Hugs))

Bobby said...

I love using pattern paper but often thought it was a cop out. I'm so glad you told us about the challenge where it is accepted and encouraged. Your card is a good example of how paper can make a card all by itself, well with a lovely sentiment, of course. So QSP it is.

Greta said...

Love that picture of the plant--you're quite the photographer! Glad to be reminded that beautiful papers are really not meant to decorate the inside of drawers. I'm going to try to cut some of mine for a card--but it's not easy--LOL! Your card is absolutely beautiful & will bring joy for sure!

wienerhoneymooners said...

Lovely, lovely such a breath of fresh spring air. Breezy and beautiful!

Thanks for joining the FUSION Butterfly fantastic challenge cue!!!
Awesome to see you here!
Hugz Kimberly

sandie said...

Gorgeous and elegant Darnell and I love your added glitter. You know me and DSP are not on good terms but I am going to check out this new challenge as it might help me get some space x

Karen Davis said...

Hi Darnell, I love your butterfly card. What a fabulous use of gorgeous paper. Perfect!
I love your photo of the succulent too, amazing close up. Love how the drops sit on the surface. Can you Case that!!

Sarn said...

Brilliant use of the patterned paper Darnell.

Fancy confusing piglets and butterflies!

Hugs, Sarn x

Ros Crawford said...

I love your card ... K & Co have some really pretty goods but your photo of the succulent is the star today! I LOVE that shot ... well done to you!! BTW did you know that people aged 60 here in the UK get free travel passes and are known as "Twirlies" ... Just saying
Have a great day!

Birgit said...

This is such a lovely card! That paper is so beautiful. Perfect for butterflies to flit about in.

Mrs Harry said...

A lovely card Darnell. So sparkly.

Unknown said...

Absolutely stunning card again Darnell! Love checking out your creations! Am also looking forward to checking out the new challenges to me that you have indicated in your blog. Thanks for posting, it always brightens my day when I see your new blog posts!

Steph xo

Cindy Brumbaugh said...

Love the succulent photo- simplistic beauty. The sentiment on your patterned paper is perfect- the font was made for that design- great eye, Darnell. The DSP is just beautiful. I tend to hoard my paper instead of using it, too. I must use it up and enjoy it!

Anonymous said...

What a fabulous artsy card Darnell!!

WordsPoeticallyWorth said...

Lovely card. Well done.

Thank you. Love love, Andrew. Bye.

laurie said...

What a beautiful card, love that patterned paper. Butterflies always make me happy!

Anonymous said...

Darnell, I made a series of patterned-paper cards lately, like that, and in the end I didn't find them challenging. Just mounting the paper and swishing some Stickles on it or whatever wasn't enough for me. I guess I need to fuss around more with my cards. They looked fine, but I didn't feel like they challenged my abilities enough I guess.

It's a good technique if you need a card in a hurry, though. And your card is very pretty!

Nan G said...

QASAP!. What?! my head hurts. :) love the card and the paper. Gave all, almost all, of my patterned paper away. I didn't use. Gorgeous pic of the hen n chick cutting with the dew drop!! Thanks for dropping in and leaving a smile or two. They helped a lot. My hands are working so I'm blog hopping today and hope to make a mess on that way too clean desk this weekend! :)) Hugs and Thanks for the earlier visit! Hugs and Happy WOYWW! Nan G #86

Geri said...

Pretty paper like this definitely deserves to be the star of the show! Love the bits of sparkle that you added. Beautiful choice of color for the base.

As for the acronyms....keep them rolling!

Lyndal said...

Darnell, you added just the right amount of extra FABULOUS to this gorgeous paper!
Thanks so much for joining in the fun @ FUSION! Hope to see you again soon :)

Katie Melhus said...

Darnell you GENIUS, YOU! I, too, have a love affair with all of my very neglected patterned papers. It's so hard to use them to their full beautiful potential (their FBP?) I will TRY. And I will think of you. And I will keep blog stalking you back, ha! :) BTW pretty card, too.

Deepti said...

You are a genius, I just always have a hard time using pattern papers, though I have a few stacks but they r resting in piece :) Love the touch of glitter :) So glad u joined in the fun at Fusion!!

Jean said...

An absolute stunner - and just perfect for a winter day!

Barb Ghig said...

WOW! What a gorgeous card, Darnell! I love all the glittery goodness and how you played with your gel pen...so pretty!

Thanks for sharing the pic of the succulent...mother nature is amazing, don't ya think?

And...I love your interpretation on "twizzling"...where else can we go in blogland and leave smiling as we do when visiting you...no where!!! Thanks so much!

Leigh Penner said...

This is gorgeous, Darnell!

Craftychris said...

This is absolutely gorgeous! That paper is stunning and I love all the sparkle! What a fab idea to focus on the paper - will be looking through my papers to see what I have! Thank you for the idea! Thank you for you lovely, confidence building, comments! xxx

Anonymous said...

Awesome !!!! That paper is spectacular !! You are right ! The star of the show! :))

Carol is so lovely !! I wonder if her blogger account "ate" her blogs one day like google plus did to mine...?!
It might explain how she was thinking that she followed you, but then wasn't...?!

Have a good day...
Xo

Jacquie Southas said...

Love that you let the patterned paper shine on this card - truly beautiful butterflies!

Deborah Frings said...

I'm all for using up patterned paper, but I do struggle! I think your butterfly card is lovely.

cm said...

Cheering your beautiful card; cheering the patterned paper you've showcased; cheering Hazel's new challenge; cheering the absolutely gorgeous succulent with the dew droplet! Now I have even more reason to buy...I mean, use...my pp! More cheering... Hugs~c

Kim Heggins said...

Darnell...your card is so sweet, I love that paper. Not sure what channel you are watching the Olympics on but the channel we have mentioned your name and that you are from Livermore. So fun to have a famous friend!

Katie Melhus said...

I'm not sure how I missed myself in your new friends corner the first time I was here, but I did. Thanks so much for your kind words, you make me sound pretty awesome :) What a sweet feature for your blog, luuurrrvvve it.

Sheila H said...

That patterned paper is perfectly gorgeous. Thanks for sharing about the PP challenge blog. I intend to join in the fun :)

Hazel said...

Thanks to Mrs A and others for flagging up my challenge blog. Thank you so much for joining my Craftyhazelnut's Patterned Paper Challenge for February with your lovely card - hope to see you again soon. x