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!

September 1, 2015

Nautical Martini and August SOS Card Chain Reveal

Greetings!

I'm so glad you stopped by! I have drinkie-poos for everyone today and you can even take a turn at the Inkspray Nozzle!

There is a great photo inspiration challenge over at TIME OUT Challenges that is almost ending. When Hammy and I saw it, we gasped in unisonhood and knew we'd have to play along, thusly:
Here is the photo inspiration:
 
How fun is that?! And, yup, I pretty much straight out copied it! I originally had my little life preserver hanging from the glass just like in the photo, but it took me so long to get a decent photo that consendation appeared on my glass and my little life preserver gave up and slid down. Sorry.

What we have is a martini glass stamp by an out-of-business (OOB) company. After stamping, I took my night of navy marker and colored the blue lines. A little Modpodge and we've got the appearance of vodka. The life preserver is from Technique Tuesday's "R&R" set and the sediment is from Your Next Stamp.

Done! Cheers!

But then I noticed that Less Is More, another favorite challenge of mine, is having a Lucky Dip event with the theme of "Sprays and Mists." Now I'm what you might call a spray novice. But, well, shucks, if I add some watercolor red spray that was a gift from Loll, I can play along there, too! How hard can it be? Said the hamster.

Placing my perfectly clean and crisp white card in a box outside and behind the Playhouse, I aimed the spray bottle and shot. Just the once. Apparently, I hit the life preserver because now my card looks like it has life preserver juice all over it!

Really, is that what you spray artists do? Cuz, wow, you know, you could really mess up a perfectly good card if a big blotch of splat went awe rye. I'm not prezackly loving where my splatters splatted.

Do you spray your blank white card first until you get great splotches and splatters and then stamp and so on, so that you don't ruin all that work? Yeah, that's prolly what I was sposed to do. Said me, shooting a withering look at the hamster.

I tried to make him get in the spray box, but he wasn't born yesterday.
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Today's Twofer

Since today is the first day of September (eek!), it is time for the reveal of the card I made for the August 2015 Card Chain Challenge at Society of Stampaholics:
Here were the prompts provided to us by our fearless leader Deborah:
2015-08
2015-08 
As you can see I used both the colors and the sketch. For my vertical stitched strips, I used a die from MFT Die-Namics. The white panel was stitched with a die from Lil' Inkers. I taped together snippets of the colored paper and cut the friends word using a die from Sizzix.

The little leaf embellishments were cut using a die from Impression Obsession, after which they were glossed and winked. Here is a close-up showing the bejewelling result:
Challenges
Pixies Crafty WorkshopSimon Monday Challenge Blog
And before I go, here is the beautiful card that I received in the card chain swap from Marga:
Made by Marga Lopez Barba of My Crafty Inspiration
It is gorgeous! Thank you again, Marga!

If you are interested in joining in this fun card chain swap for September, there are still a few days to sign up here!

~~~
Only a week away!!

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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 join as a follower! Please let me know you came by, so I can be sure and return the flavor!
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90 comments:

Kathyk said...

Smashing makes, Darnel, loving the nautical glass one bestest of all, especially with those little red splatters

Kathyk

Craft-E-Place said...

Fabulous cards! I'm with you when it comes to sprays and mists - I'm in awe of those that use them so effectively. I love the effect you've achieved with your spray. I can't decide whether to keep trying or just to leave the spray technique well alone! How about you - will you take up the sprays again?
Your friend card is stunning, I love the colour combo.
Have a good week - it's back to work for me after the six week school holidays, not sure whether I'm looking forward to it though!
Take care
Elaine

Rose said...

Such a fun Martini card. Love it! I learnt not to use the sprays but remove the end from inside the bottle and flick, if that makes sense. So much more control and less accidental splodges!

sandie said...

I am not sure what the best way is to spray and usually just use a stamp to make it look like a spray or use a paint brush with water colours and just flick and make a real mess!! I adore tha glossy look on your martini glass and am feeling I need one now, you cares it is only 8am! Great to see you at TO and thank you for leaving such a sweet comment on our main blog, it is appreciated. As for your second card, love the diagonal stripes and Autumn colours x

Julie B said...

That's a fab take on the TO piccy, Darnell. How clever of you to add the vodka like that, not shaken just pored! :)

Lynn said...

Ha...I stink at sprays! I have tried, tried and tried...so I tend to not do it :) I am completely in love with your Time Out card...the shimmer is incredible and your stamping is perfection!

Dotty Jo said...

Great cards, Jo x

Sammy said...

Love, love, love your cards, but especially the first one! (and I neeeeeeed me those glasses...)
I find a useful trick if you don't want certain areas to get splattered is to simply mask them off. So if you, for example, didn't want any splats on your glass, then simply stamp it again onto some scrap paper, cut it out and cover it while you're doing the messy thing. I find this most useful when I have pictures with faces! lol.
But really, it's hard to go wrong with paint or ink splats in general, I find :-) x

Linda said...

Fabulous cards hun ...... I'll take mine shaken not stirred! Cheers! xx

Di said...

Two wonderful cards Darnell! Of course I love your snippets card although somehow the martini card keeps drawing me to it :) Don't ask me about sprays, I'm still finding little splatters from a play I had months ago!

Hugs

Di xx

Di said...

I looked again at your snippets card Darnell, and realised how totally amazing it is! Beautifully designed and made!

Hugs

Di xx

Ros Crawford said...

Wow!! Gorgeous cards!! Love the inspiration photo for the Time Out and your card is stunning!! Wonderful cocktail glass!!
Your twofer is amazing!! Love the strips of colour!! And what a lovely card from your friend ... Been a good weekend then?

Unknown said...

Two absolutely great cards Dippy. Especially love the martini card.........hmmmmm wonder why that is???

Hugs.

Karendipity xxx

Jeanne said...

Great cards, Darnell. I like your splatters, however you choose to throw them! :)

Julie Tucker-Wolek said...

These are gorgeous! I loveeeeeeeee the drink and the leaves!!!!!!

Pat said...

Two fantastic cards Darnell. That tipple in the pretty shiny glass looks very inviting and the random spatters are very random as they should be. The diagonal stitched strips on the second are so precisely engineered and the sentiment atop it with the tricoloured stripes is adorable and so cleverly done. x

Sandy said...

Yummy! I am ready to go sailing!!
sandy xx

Lisa said...

Both of your cards are fabulous!! I love the first one - perfect take on the inspiration photo!! The stripes on the second are beautiful!! Love them both!! Have a great day :)

Lisa
A Mermaid's Crafts

Gerrina said...

Two beautiful cards again! The card for the TIME OUT challenge is my favorite; it looks like ou can take and drink right away; so stunning! Thanks for joining us again! Hugs, Gerrina

Becca Cruger said...

Well take that inspiration image and slap it on a card and that's what you've got! Spot on!! The way you did the glass is so perfectly awesome. As for your CCC card, wowee - whoever gets your creations has to feel extra special.

Linda said...

Two great cards, Darnell, Love the nautical one. Always have loved red, white and blue. Love how you tied in friend with the same colors of your background.

Marybeth said...

Hands down this card is a winner in any book! Oh my gosh I love that card and you drew the lines on, and Modpodge not Glossy accents? I love this you are amazing!
The second card is gorgeous with those colors and layered dies. Beautiful card from your other Lopez friend, can’t believe there is someone else with that last name:) .

Shelly said...

Two FABULOUS cards, Darnell!
And such a sweet card you received!

Jacee said...

Fabulous makes Darnell, such great designs
hugs Jacee
Simply Paper Card Design

Donna said...

2 exceptionally fabulous cards :)
I LOVE your shiny vodka.
Don't let Hammy drink too much!!!

Em Louise Fairley said...

I LOVE both cards, Darnell! The twofer card would be perfect to enter into the House of Cards challenge, where our theme for September is Stitching (faux or real). I'll link below for you.

Hugs,
Em
http://houseofcardschallenge.blogspot.co.uk/2015/09/september-challenge-stitch-it-up.html

Sue said...

Wonderful cards Darnell, so clever and inspirational - I have a real soft spot for anything nautical.
Sue...xxx

Verna Angerhofer said...

I love both of the cards and I especially love the spatters you added to the first one. And, the colors on the second are awesome too. As to adding spatters I usually did it last and always worried how it would turn out too. Someone once told me you spray in the air and then try to catch the drops with the card panel. I have yet to try that and usually try to go with a light finger pressure on a spray bottle so I don't have a huge splatter design unless that is what I wanted originally to achieve. Also I have taken a tooth brush and dipped into my ink and then gently rubbed along the brush part to let the spatters fly onto the card. Anyway whatever you did worked wonderfully.

conil said...

I, for one, like where the splotches landed and I'm totally enamored of that amazing martini. Looks good enough to slurp. Definitely brilliant. Had no idea you could draw, too. I am officially and suitably impressed. As for your twofer...only one word...awesome. Love all that stitched detail and those leaves, EEP. To die for.

JoAnn said...

Great cards Darnell. Love the horizontal stitched strips and colors of your second card. TFS

Barb said...

Two great cards Darnell. I love the colours on the second but the first one is really special. Modge Podge vodka - very clever. Love the spatters. What a pretty card from Marga too. Barbxx

Pia S said...

That martini card is so cleverly designed! A drink and being by the seaside, that's what I call a perfect holiday!
Your twofer is striking too, love the effect of the colorful stripes!

Kathleen said...

Two gorgeous creations Darnell and love the wine glass one especially.

Kath x

Tina Z. said...

great cards! and I love using sprays and mists :)

MiamiKel said...

Beautiful cards, Darnell - especially the nautical look :_)

Alice (scrAPpamondo) said...

Both the cards are fabulous! Love how you used Modpodge to give the appearance of vodka!! Very creative and fun trik! And your secret card is just wonderful with the stitched stripes, the tri-colour sentiment and the leaves

Birgit said...

I have not yet attempted the spray since I need a good box to make sure i don't spray the cats or steps or me. I think both cards are great! I love the martini glass and how did you make it look like vodka in there and I see it sparkle but from gloss?? I love the spray look and now wish i could have a nice cocktail:) The 2nd card is great! The stripes look like leather strips sewn together. I really like that look of it

jimlynn said...

I'll drink to that first card! SO cute and fun. Both cards are just great Darnell!
Lynn

Craftychris said...

Both cards are fabulous! The splatters on the first look cool to me, you are way too harsh on yourself! xxxxx

Neets B said...

Oh Darnell, I'm chuckling again, I love reading your posts. Fabulous cards once again and I loved reading about your spritzing adventures. At least you had the sense to go outside and use a box! Let's just say it's a good job I didn't have any coloured sprays, just a pearly one, as my slippers and lounge carpet have a nice shimmer to them now! Ha! Love your nautical martini glass, I'm now very thirsty :)
Thanks for sharing with us.
Anita x
Less is More

Sharron said...

Fabulous cards. Darnell! The nautical martini is just too cool! Would never have thought of Modpodge for shine. We used the kind with glitter for some kids' projects recently so don't know why I never thought of cards. I think your sprays look great! You were so brave to do red!

Jeanne J. said...

So cool! Love the shiny texture! I'll have one for sure Darnell! Total winner!

Bonnie said...

I love your striped martini glass and how you put the beverage in the glass! Spraying is definitely not a precise technique! But your splatters turned out pretty good! I love how you've pieced the friend card with the fun dies!

Megan said...

I hate sprays and mists! I like control. Sometimes I'll try to compromise and do paint splatters. Then I realize hours or days later that I have paint splatter on my glasses. I was walking around with cracked pistachio splatters for a good day. You think I'd see them in the midst of my line of vision. But no.

I'm also chuckling at the image of a paint-splattered hamster. Bwahaha.

Jerrie said...

Oh my, I looked at your card with the martini glasses and the challenge and I think you have captured it perfectly!! What a fun nautical card!!

Susanne Vargas said...

I love how your cards always come with a fun story! The Martini glass card is so perfect for the inspiration photo! The vodka looks very realistic and makes me want to have a drink... ;)
You were very brave to try the spray on the finished card! It came out perfectly! Just the right amount (I think I usually overdo it)!
Your stripy friend card is fabulous!

Cheryl W. said...

I'm skeered of spraying on my already-done cards. I have a few bottles of the stuff, but I've only sprayed on CS that I can toss out if it looks like crap. OK, that's a lie. I did spray on a polka dot stencil once that sat atop a card base. Yeah, it looked like crap. I didn't toss it. It's still sitting there. Unused. I happen to like your martini card. Those little splotches give it an artistic flair. Card 2 is fabulous, as well. Cool color combo and nice take on the sketch!

Dora B. said...

"Life preserver juice".... You and Hammy have so much fun! But the beauty of splatters are their randomness. I have to say I love your snippet card too, the strips look like stitched leather in the picture.

Bobby said...

How clever of you to stripe your martini glass, Darnell. I'd say the life preserver looks like it took a nip or too of the vodka. Love the spray saga and I think it looks just fine on the card. Your card for the exchange is wonderful, especially with the lovely glossy leaves.

Lisa Elton said...

HA ~ the life preserver slid down due to condensation!!! You're a hoot Darnell!! Terrific cards today!!

Anonymous said...

Two wonderful cards.
Love reading your posts. I ask have you ever thought of writing a novel? Is that cheeky? I think you and the hamster would do well.

Greta said...

2 wonderful cards, Darnell! Your first card is such a perfect use of the photo! I know your CCC card is being enjoyed--beautiful use of the colors & sketch!

Sazzle Dazzle said...

2 fantastic cards Darnell, that first one is good enough to eat ... or should I say drink!!! Perfect use of sprays and splatters and a superb challenge combo. Love the vibrant colours and striking layout of your second one too.
thanks for playing this week at Less is More. Sarah x

Nessa's Crafty Place said...

My Darnell,you have been a busy bee!
All fabulous cards but I think the life preserver take has to be my favourite-I LOL at your description of the "life preserver juice" tee hee!!
Have a good week :)
Hugs,Nessa xxx

Carol L said...

Two fun cards, and I'm impressed with your steady hand in drawing the lines around the martini glass! A drinkipoo is about as nautical as this sea-sick girl can get! LOL Fun stripes on the friend card - great take on the challenge! Ahoy matey!!

Sarn said...

FABULOUS cards here Darnell. As you know I'm a big fan of splats!

Someone's prolly already said above (but I haven't read all the millions of comments before me) but you could have masked off the bits of your card that you didn't want splattered with spray ink. I think you got away with it though mate.

Hugs, Sarn xxx

OH Babs said...

The martini glass card is right-on. Perfecto. Modge Podge, that is clever. It is a great card ending with the I-know-where the white card stock came from. The friend card is bright and bold and great to give a friend. Adios!

Leslee said...

Great cards , Darnell! Your red misting adds the finishing touches. I use mist a lot. But my canvas is usually bigger. Sometimes I mask the area i don't want affected. I spray and flick depending on what I want for an end result. I think you did great!!!

Julia Aston said...

Your martini glass is PERFECT for the challenge - love the actual alcohol in it (I think MAYBE??? you were drinking some of it as you were happily creating???!!!) spraying is a very hazzardous business, you really have to know your sprayer and whether he is going to shoot straight from the hip or be clogged in the center and thereby spray all around the edges exactly where you don't want it to go...!!you may notice I don't often spray - I get better control with flicking water over Distress Inks...... that's just my humble opinion on the topic..... Julia xx

Happy Dance said...

Your red splotches look purposeful to me. You know, like they belong there. Me...I pretty much suck at splotches, splutches, splattering, misting and so forth. I love that glass. I think we all need a set of real ones, complete with alcohol and olives. Great big ones. Glasses not olives. Ok....both. Swimming pool size. Then we can all drink and dive hahahahahahahahaha. Sorry, got carried away by the inspiration of your very cool card. And it is. Cool. I LOVE this one. And I miss you....Bev

Mynn xx said...

Awesome cards, Darnell! LOVE the bright colors on your stitched card--so pretty! Love the glittery leaves, too! Thank you for joining us at House of Cards! HUGS! :) Mynn xx

Manuela said...

great cards, Darnell, love the maritime feeling of your first one. super implementation of the Iphoto!

Canonbury creations said...

Two fab cards Darnell, love the alcoholic one though! I'm not very good at getting inky so cannot offer any tips :0) You did give me a giggle.
Val x

Carol said...

A fabulous twofer today Darnell. As a spray bottle novice I'm no help...I'm terrified of those nozzles they have a mind of their own! Carol x

Cat Craig said...

Super cards Darnell...I had to laugh when you said your life preserver slipped down during picture taking.

MackieMade Paper Creations said...

Absolutely in love with that martini! It looks delicious!!!!
And your die cut card is fabulously done!!! Love the colors!

Chriss Blagrave said...

Fabulous cards, Darnell! Love that martini glass and I can imagine it would keep the drink quite chilled, what with your extra mode pudge insulation. You are so clever! Hammy is a clever one too!
I also love your Friend card with the beautiful radiating stitched stripes, another winning card!

Anita in France said...

Such a treat, Darnell ... you and Hammy make an extraordinary and entertaining team ... day brighteners both! Two brilliant cards ... yummy autumnal colours, shimmery leaves and clever cutting of the senitment! You created the perfect stripy, shiny and full to the brim martini ... letting the life preserver slide down the glass is so practical ... sipping up all that luscious liquid with it on the rim would have been tricky, especially if this wasn't the first drinky poo of the evening! Always a delight having you play along with us at Time Out, mon amie! Miss you! Hugs & bisous, bisous, Anita :)

Jenni's Jems said...

Great cards as usual Darnell!Love that martini glass could just pick it up and have a sip !I do mist cards but I use a very fine mister that was bought originally as travel hair product which I found worked better than the commercial ones and yes I mist first or mask my image x

Shona Chambers said...

I've never thought about the splatter question....do you splatter before or after???? Its very important because as you found out, you could really ruin a perfect card. Would love to know what regular 'splatterers...' do!! I've only ever done it once for a CASology card where I wanted blood splatters. It was kind of fun to do!! Oh and LOVE your friends card with all those yummy die-cuts. Haven't been die cutting much lately, you've inspired me to dust off my Cuttlebug and get it turning!!!

Chrissie said...

Fabulous cards as ever Darnell, that cocktail looks good enough to sip right now!
Thanks so much
Chrissie
"Less is More"

Sue - said...

Two fabulous cards Darnell as usual but like a lot of previous commenters the first one is my favourite. Love the glass! As for sprays I spray first then decide which part of the card I want to use!

Cathy said...

Fabulous cards Darnekk, your 1st one is especially brilliant! I'm a bit scared of spatters so well done, yours look great, Cathy x

Michelle said...

Beautiful cards! The drink looks delicious. And the colors in your Friend card are perfect! Thank you for sharing your work with us this week for the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge. ~Michelle

Kara Lynne said...

Your splotches are as artfully placed as any I've ever seen. You got a problem with random? Well, I do. That's probably why I don't splotch very much myself. I love the stripes you created and the modge podge is perfect! Your CCC card is another treat! Those stripes are wonderful and I love your glossy winked leaves! What a lovely card from Marga. I love the placement of her tag and the soft colors.

Helen F. said...

I would love to have a set of those striped martini glasses :-) So nautical and cool looking! Can't seem to get the Spraying Technique down on my cards~it seems like too small a canvas to me and looks totally messed up :-o
Love the FRIEND card ~ so colorful and fun!

Pawsitively Creative said...

The martini glasses are hands down amazeballs! I love the red splatter. You have more guts than I do when it comes to white papers. I don't know if I have ever used such. Hmmmm? The way you create the Friend word is genius! These are winner winner chicken dinners in my neck of the woods. :) Hugz! ~Niki

Karen P said...

I need to beg OH for some new dies with stitching lines! I have seen a lot of that style of design recently and I love them. Both of these are absolutely gorgeous Darnell. I am pulled especially to the second one as that's great way to use up snippets and will now pin it to my snippets inspiration board: Thank you hun xx

Geri said...

Honestly...I love where your splatters splatted! Seriously, the first thing I noticed (and really liked) was the total randomness of the splatters...perzactly how they are appose to be - random! The beverage inside the glass is amazing - it looks so real that it made me crave a wee drinkee poo (it is 5:00 somewhere, I'm sure!) Fabulous card Darnell!

2nd card - Wow to this color combo! The stitched border really, REALLY defines the angle design well and totally draws the eye down to the glammed up leaves and the cool striped diecut! Super Duper Cool!!!

cm said...

Your sprayed splatters work for me: perfect reandomness! At least you know *how* to use sprays; not in my collection, because I live in a no-space-to-splat zone. As for your glass-and-beverage: I'll take one...make that two...servings please! Totally amazing! Your second card: I second Geri's comment. And now I need that MFT Die-Namic. Colours+Angles+Stitches: CAS, with a charming twist!
Hugs~c

JD/ Jill said...

Both cards are fabulous! But I was really drawn to the "Nautical" look on your first card. (being married to my ex-Navy man--We're both crazy about anything nautical!") Gee, I wish I would have bought that purse I saw two days ago at a shop with the Nautical pattern on it...

Taunya Butler said...

Oh my goodness gracious, me oh, my!!!! Awesome take on the martini glass card - SO SUPER AMAZING!!! LOVED it - you are so clever - I looked at that sketch and was completely befuddled with what to do with it - but not you - YOU ARE a CHAMP with this card!! And your CCC card is so colorful and fun - what a lucky person your receiver was!! You are SO AWESOMELY COOL!!! Have a wonderful day!!

oldpunca said...

I love your martini glass card, dear Darnel. Amazing interpretation of the photo. :-) Also your second card is superb, although I don't like fall. :-( It means that days will be shorter and that I need to wear a jacket...eek! :-))
Hugs, Sonja

Petra Swart said...

Darnell, to be honest, my friend - I think you should not have listened to Hammy and added the splatters!!! They're not really that bad, but I think it would have been better without it!!!! But that doesn't change the fact that your card is so lovely!!!! What a stunning glass - I would love to have a set of those!!!! And that cleverly Modpodged vodka - that looks good enough to enjoy right away!!!
Your friend card is stunning!! What a lovely combination of colours and I love the cute little winked and glossed leaves!!!

Rubeena I. said...

Omg these are amazing!!!! You do great work, Darnell! So refreshing <3

shirley-bee said...

Darnell, I absolutely love martini. Oh, sorry - I absolutely love your martini cocktail card, complete with splatters and lifebelt!

Jane Knudsen said...

Hi Darnell! Perfect faux stitching, perfect colors, perfect layout! Oh, I think this card is perfect! Beautifully done! Thanks for playing along at the House of Cards! jane HOC dt

Miriam Prantner said...

Love the shine and the splatter on the first card, you nailed the inspiration pice and love the stripes on the second!

Unknown said...

Both of you cards are awesome! The shine on your martini glass is cool, and the Stitched background for the friend card is perfect!
Thank you for joining our September Challenge at the House of Cards.
Ruza, HOC-Designer
Ruza's Craft Corner

Karen P said...

Gorgeous gorgeousness Darnell, as always!!! Thank you so much for entering our September Stitching Challenge. I hope we see you again for the October challenge Karen (DT House of Cards)