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!

May 29, 2016

Pewter's Turn

Greetings! Happy Sunday Funday!

I've kept on with the theme of both metallics and Christmas in the Playhouse with today's card for you:
Another hard-to-photograph card because of all that yummy shine. I wanted to play in the Muse: Christmas Visions challenge where Guest Designer Stephanie Klauck made a pretty card for us. Hammy was feeling a bit rebellious so he didn't want to do a reindeer image and chose a vo candle stamp from The Rubbernecker Stamp Company. I started with a green wash using my KGT paints to mimic Stephanie's green background. I used the red because of the pop of red on the Muse inspiration and the yellow? I mean, you know, it had to be there.

I was planning to use my silver ep next, but it has gone bad. I didn't know it could do that, but when I used the heat gun, the powder went shiny for a split second in splotches and then even those immediately turned to matte. No worries, I also had a container of SU pewter which looks a lot like silver and melts like a dream. 
Okay, so what happened next was I realized that I needed to do two more things to pay homage to the Muse. I needed to introduce black somehow and I needed to use the same sediment because, after all, it was the "shine" that determined the choice of the candle stamp.

I cut out the painted image and held it up against black card. I thought it really brought out the picture, so I ran the black through my BS with my Lil' Inkers rectangle stitched die and matted that to red and then adhered it to the card base. In doing so, I reverse the color scheme of Stephanie's card, using more black and less green with my design.

The sediment was surgically created. I called in a team of doctoral geologists (led by my in-house geologist Dr. Mister) who specialize in sediment plastic surgery and reconstruction. After sedation, the "Sunshine" script word from PTI's "Hello Sunshine" was operated on. The capital S was removed, followed by the "hine." The two dissected ends were then successfully joined together on an acrylic block for the performance. After inking and delivery, I'm happy to report that recovering the original sediment was successful. The word "bright" from Avery Elle's set "Merry & Bright" was used unmolested in its original format. 

Here is Stephanie's beautiful Muse card! 
I'm also playing in the Jingle Belles challenge which is to "Banish the Blues" and in the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge of "Anything Goes."
Simon Wednesday Challenge Blog
~~~

Look Again

I wasn't going to say anything more about what's going on with my health, but I had this situation ...

I think a lot of you more "experienced" ladies can relate to this. For several days I was noticing when I looked in the mirror that my skin was very dry and seemingly overnight I had developed a LOT of fine lines and wrinkles around my mouth. I started moisturizing three times a day to no avail.

Finally, about five days in, I noticed that the area seemed less dry. As I was still intently looking at the affected area, I put on my brand new glasses.

BAM! My wrinkles were back again!!

I just stood there and laughed. No point in crying, after all! So I don't have any more wrinkles and my skin is not getting any more drier because of my medication. But my vision is better because I got new glasses and now I can SEE all those fine lines and wrinkles that I wasn't able to see with my old glasses!

So the next time your grandma or one of your girlfriends makes a comment about how great her skin looks and all you see is a mess of wrinkles, don't assume she is delusional! She prolly just needs new glasses!

~~~

New Friends Corner

Please help me welcome these new friends which brings me up to date. If you haven't seen yourself introduced, it is because I couldn't find you just by your name or nickname and picture. (Or it was a case of operator error.) Please feel free to contact me to let me know. It's important to leave a comment and your blog name (if you have one) when you follow someone so they can find you to return the compliment. Also, if you are a new subscriber, thank you for that, but if you would like to be included in the New Friends Corner, you should also click the "Join This Site."

I want to warmly welcome:

Lia of Lia's Designs and so ... . Lia is from the Netherlands and started blogging in July 2011.  She is a challenge player and winner and a design team member. In addition to paper crafting, Lia enjoys scrapping, embroidery, reading, painting, and traveling in a motorhome. Lia is also a writer and a designer for several Dutch craft magazines, so you know her work is very beautiful and inspirational!

Cris G. of The Papabric Writer. Cristina is from Portugal and she only began blogging THIS MONTH! Cris has been a crafty gal her whole life. She became interested in paper crafting about three years ago and actually started playing in challenges and posting her cards on Flickr (Cris G: Pap-a-bric) in April of 2013. I'm delighted that she finally started a blog so that more of you can find her and enjoy her award-winning and breathtaking card art! Please take a few minutes to welcome Cris to Blogland!

Leanne of Lee Arts. Lee started blogging in 2010. The first years she didn't post often, but she has recently really gotten into her stride and been blogging more just this April and May. In that sense, she is a bit of a newbie and could use your encouragement as she juggles her love of making card art with being a wife, a mom of three, and a nurse. Whether stamped, folded, quilled, or shaped, Leanne's cards will impress you!

Thank you for joining, ladies, and welcome to the Playhouse!

~~~

Enjoy your day! No, seriously, enjoy! LITS!* 

Happy Memorial Day on Monday! Thank you to all who serve our nation in the military and to their families who sacrifice so much!

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!

*Life is too short!

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76 comments:

Inkyfingers said...

What a great take on the Muse card Darnell, and I'm glad the sentiment surgery was successful. I always think black is very striking on a card and makes the other colours pop.
I really hear you about glasses and your story made me smile. I had a similar experience when I thought our house wasn't getting so dirty any more. I thought my little and often cleaning routine was the bees knees until I got new glasses and saw all the dust on areas I thought were clean!
Have a great day.
Hugs
Carol x

Karen M said...

Hi Darnell! I just love your beautiful sparkly card:) I have been having a lovely time reading back through your blog at all the gorgeous cards that I have missed these last few months and I do hope you are well - hugs xx

Sue said...

Hi Darnell - I love your muse card. The design is wonderful and your painting looks amazing. I sometimes perform surgery! (This has been much more successful since I invested in a MISTI - not so many (eeeeeek) fatalities)!
You definitely won't have those pesky wrinkles - I am pretty certain you have beautiful character lines!
Have a super Sunday
Sue...xxx

Sue said...

Hi Darnell, Fab cards.

I did laugh at your lines and new glasses:)

Hope you have a lovely day. Sue

Cathy said...

Gorgeus card Darnell, great take on the Muse card. I get a fright every time I turn on the heat lamp in the bathroom, it's so bright that no wrinkle is sacred lol! Have a great week, Cathy x

Alice (scrAPpamondo) said...

Wow!!! Such a supersparkling card! Love it very much!Love the choice of black, it makes pop out so well the colours and the silver outlines!!

Ros Crawford said...

Oh this so made me laugh ... I can so associate with the glasses thing! Lol! Fabulous card and well done to the team who made that sediment possible!

Jenni's Jems said...

I am impressed with your surgery every time I do something like that I lose one of them and never find it again!Loving your super shiny card though and laughed out loud at your new glasses story, decided then and there in that case I'm keeping my old ones forever!!:)x

Lizzy Hill said...

Shine. Operated to perform. Brilliant! And I never knew EP could go off. Not had that experience yet & don't want it....but SU IS THE BEST, I reckon! Lovely, lovely shining card. Putting me to shame this year. Should have at least 20 Christmas Cards done. Got 5 I think. Eeep! As for eyesight. Well, mine's been dodgy since I was born. So naturally I have no lines worth mentioning!!!! Funny story, tho;)

BożenA said...

This card has the charm of Christmas Eve night. Candlelight and darkness of the night. Great list. Remarkable card. I admire your technique of watercolor.
hugs,
BozenA

cuilliesocks said...

Gosh Darnell you do make me laugh, but as far a wrinkles are concerned, well they are character lines, and I like to think each one has it's own story, and after all we are what we are.

Now for your card.... it is gorgeous, love all that pewter embossing and the image and design are so beautiful, take care, Kate x

Pat said...

Such a pretty card Darnell with lots of shine and the black really does show off the image beautifully. I can relate to your funny story and I hate using a magnifying mirror as it ages one by ten years at least ...lol. x

SmilynStef said...

Most excellent stamp surgery ... gorgeous embossed design ... so glad you helped us banish the holiday blues at Jingle Belles.

My Card Attic: Hazel said...

LOVE the drama of the black panel Darnell! The colours really pop against it! I hope you are having a wonderful weekend! Hazel xx
My Card Attic

Jeanne said...

Such a beautiful card, Darnell. The black sure helps the other colors pop! Sorry about the silver ep, but that pewter one looks amazing. I would call your surgery a success as the shine looks amazing. Giggled at your story about the lines and glasses. Thanks for your honesty. ;) Love your humor!

Julie Tucker-Wolek said...

Loveeeeeeeee this! So gorgeous with the dark background!!!!!!!!!!1

Jen W. said...

Love that pewter EP - it's perfect for this gorgeous image! And I do a lot of stamp surgery - gotta stretch those stamps right?
Thanks for the giggle about the wrinkles. :) I guess the moral is the story never look in the mirror with glasses on! I actually just had to get reading glasses as I've been struggling to focus on fussy cutting lately. I was hoping I'd make it to 40 before I had to do that but I guess it's close enough - only 2 months until I'm officially over the hill!!!

Patti said...

Hello friend : ) BEAUTIFUL! card! I love the shine on black and white like that! perfectly colored too. Your Mister sure saved the day LOL

Sorry for laughing out loud about your ... lines... seemed like I heard a collective "Oh yeah" from the "Experienced" ladies in Blogland giggles!

Have a wonderful day!

Patti

Ardyth said...

Wow! A lot of thought and work went into this and I'm so glad it did because this is beautiful! I loved reading your thought process. The classic feel of your image and your surgically 'enhanced' sentiment are wonderful. I'm also going to start using the KGT acronym. So much more efficient than the full name! So glad you joined us at MCV this week, my friend!

Greta said...

Gorgeous card, Darnell! The light green wash is absolutely perfect! Hope you're having a lovely weekend!

OH Babs said...

Man oh man what a lot of work to put in to one little old card. Calling in the Mister to do surgery, now that is dedication. So after all your hard work you and Kevin created a masterpiece - when in doubt use black.
Hey wrinkles we all have them and they only get worse with each passing birthday. Honestly they only go with the rest of my old wrinkled body. Oh well I can still stand, walk, and make cards. Thanks for keeping your fans laughing.
Wow I think I have caught up on commenting on your cards. (Life has been a little busy but hopefully will slow down soon). :) BBB

Cornelia (fun stamping) said...

Nice surgery on your stamps - yeahh for Mister!!! Glad you did not have to molest the bright....ha ha! Turned our great your card! I had no idea embossing powder could go bad...probably have a lot of badness around my craft room - with those rarely used colors. As for wrinkles - we all get them sooner or later, who cares as long as you can enjoy life! Thanks for playing along at MCV and happy Memorial Day to you!

conil said...

Do what I do, ignore the mirrors...difficult because I love them so much, they're all over the house...a design choice I now regret. Anyway, really love your card. The pewter e/p is lovely and the black panel is the perfect backdrop. Also love the layout on the card...it's different and fresh. So glad no stamps were harmed in the making of it.

Nora Noll said...

What a pretty card Darnell!! I love the pewter and think I need to get that. It is similar to silver but better in my opinion!! The way you colored and matted that image is fantastic!!

As for new glasses-I think I would prefer the old ones and not SEE the wrinkles. I would wear my new glasses everywhere else but when I was looking in the mirror, I would pop the old ones back on. In this case, what we don't know cannot hurt us!! LOL. Have a great day!!

Angela Walters said...

Your card is gorgeous, Darnell. I'm glad Hammy wanted to use a candle instead of a reindeer!
I'm sorry you've been going through so many health problems. My back refuses to get better, despite surgery and everything else. I am so glad your medicine is helping, even if the side effects aren't very desirable. I thought I appreciated my good health, but I'm not sure it's possible to truly appreciate it until you have experience with the other side, unfortunately. I sleep a lot, as well, because of my medicines. It feels like I am wasting the days away, but I'm so tired that I just have to sleep. I have been working hard to get stronger. I can tell I have made improvements. I'm just not quite strong enough to sit and stamp again. I have a card in mind that desperately want to make for a challenge, so I'm going to start working on it in pieces so hopefully, after a few days, I can complete it.
Please take care of yourself. I pray you will feel better and will be able to enjoy your trip this summer!

Verna Angerhofer said...

That is a beautiful card. And, yes, new glasses sure can make a difference. I sure got a chuckle from your post.

Sue said...

Fabulous card Darnell and I love reading your blog it's always so funny huggles Sue xxx

Redanne said...

Oh well done Dr Mister, you clearly are excellent at the surgical procedures! Darnell, your card is quite stunning, loving the great colour combo!

I love your story about the wrinkles, yes, I am in that brigade too - they are just laughter lines after all, aren't they.....? Hugs, Annie xxx

Sharon Underwood said...

Great job on the surgery! Wonderful card. I love the sparkly silver. I hope you are doing all right. Love your wrinkle story! The only time I lost my wrinkles was when I had gum surgery & my face swelled up!

Sarah said...

Oh you do make me smile!! Love this card Darnell xx

HJ said...

Your card is beautiful. I love the shine as well as the beautiful scene of the candle, etc. Black makes it really pop. You are a very funny writer. When you grow up, you might consider being a stand-up comedian!! Loved your story about your glasses and stamp surgery. Your great sense of humor is worth the price of admission!

Anita in France said...

Well, your gorgeous card certainly does shine bright, Darnell, it's gorgeous ... the candlelit pine and holly garland is so wonderfully nostagic ... puts me in mind of cosy fires, toastie toes and mulled wine! Do remind me not to get my eyes checked, I'm rather fond of my ... ahem ... youthful looks(hahaha)!! MYHMA! Big hugs & bisous, Anita :)

Bonnie said...

The black really makes the colors and shine show off, Darnell! What a gorgeous card! When you smile that beautiful smile of yours nobody is going to care about those wrinkles!

Shell said...

Hi Darnell.. your card is gorgeous and I LOVE the story about your stamp surgery... you had me laughing which is a great start to my day :)

Karenladd said...

Oh my, I had all these wonderful things to say about your gorgeous card and the clever way you substituted pewter embossing powder for silver...and the clever surgery performed on your sentiment. Then I was totally distracted by your so-familiar story of how new glasses are both a boon and a bust. This happened to me when I finally got new glasses, after struggling for a year with uncorrected astigmatism after cataract surgery. I thought I was looking rather youthful for my age, and felt fortunate that I had not had to resort to expensive creams and potions...until I put on my new glasses for the first time. YIKES!!! Who was this woman in the mirror? I'm talking about the one who looked as if she had been on a 10 year bender, in the desert, without sleeping for the past week. Ah well, my glasses enabled me to fussy cut again, after not having done so in a year...and that is what's really important anyway, right? So I bought myself some moisturizing cream, cleaned my new glasses, and set to the more important business of enjoying life. By the way Darnell, I've seen you in person twice and I didn't see ANY wrinkles or lines...even with my new glasses! The only lines I've seen are on your cards...and they are always placed perfectly!
The black mat on this card really lets that sentiment and image shine in every way!

Kathleen said...

Fabulous card Darnell and love the image on the black card.
I look in the mirror and think 'who the hell is that'

Happy Memorial Day to you.

Kath x

Virginia L. said...

Wow, that pewter embossing is outstanding! The entire design is so gorgeous with that fine embossing detail, Darnell! Thanks so much for playing Simon Says Stamp Wednesday “Anything Goes” Challenge! PS: age can hit us at any time of the day/year. I just blame it on gravity and spend less time in front of the mirror.... ;)

Marilyn said...

Love the shine and sparkle, Darnell. Wonderful interpretation of Stephanie's card. Hugs!

Loll said...

Beautiful card Dolly. Love how the colours pop with the black card base. Great job!

You have done it again ... I laughed out loud about your new glasses. :) I rarely look at myself in the mirror with my glasses on ... I'm sure I would be shocked at what I saw! :) Have a good one! Lolly xx

MaryH said...

So glad that Hammy was on hand to lead you in the right direction, cuz this one's just brilliant. The black really lets that candle shine brightly in a way that a reindeer could not possibly have done. Also loving that fab texture on the branches, with the red ornaments tucked around. Great wash look as well. Glad to hear the surgical patient recovered well after the prodedure. Aren't you just the clever duo to think to work on the die to make it fit what you needed. Wonderful festive colors. It really doth Shine! Don't worry about the wrinkles...we earned 'em. It's sorta like a diploma, yes? Besides, I bet you don't have as many as you think you're seeing. Don't stand so closely to the mirror, girl! TFS & Hugs

Bobby said...

Making the background of your card black really frames the painted panel beautifully, Darnell. The only thing worse for wrinkles than new glasses is the 10x mirror that I use to apply make up. Talk about seeing wrinkles. :(

Birgit said...

I love the shine to your card...it is so beautiful and Christmassy. I am just looking at my girth...it seems to be getting wider and wider

Anonymous said...

You are making great start to Christmas cards. A beautiful card.
I wear glasses so I can relate to the new glasses issue! The shower is the one that gets me - I don't wear my glasses in there but when I pop them on and take a peek boy I'm always surprised at how dirty it has got!

Harriet Skelly said...

I had my new glasses on today and I didn't see any wrinkles! Which reminds me - I forgot to show you and Kim a card today that a friend shared with me. The sentiment says "I have found at my age that going braless pulls all the wrinkles out of my face!" So there you go - go braless. Thanks again for such a nice day today!! Hugs, Harriet

Cris G. said...

You made a gorgeous card! I love that you reserved a lot of space to black, because it brings drama and also reminds me of the coziness of Christmas Eve. The stamped and water colored image is beautiful and you've captured all the sparkle so well!
I really admire your best geologist's (Dr. Mister) ability of proceeding with such delicate surgery... I tried myself a very few times and I left one stamp in coma :(. So, I prefer the Botox of stamping = masking.
About wrinkles... as i see it, I've recently "upgraded" my reading glasses and now I'm just happy that I can read again. That's it for wrinkles!
Thank you so much to present my blog with such lovely words, Darnell.

Maura said...

This is a gorgeous card, Darnell, and I love how you used black as your main bg! It really adds to the drama of the whole card and lets your beautiful image "shine" like it should! And glad the surgery had no bad side effects!

Maura said...

This is a gorgeous card, Darnell, and I love how you used black as your main bg! It really adds to the drama of the whole card and lets your beautiful image "shine" like it should! And glad the surgery had no bad side effects!

Olga Fink said...

Gorgeous card!
xx Olga

maria f. said...

Love all that dramatic black! Wow, elegant. But you are totally scaring me with the gory details. Embossing powder gone bad - whaaaat? Single letter stamp surgery - whaaaat? Kudos, girl.

Leigh Penner said...

Beautiful card, Darnell!
And I was thinking of getting new glasses, but I might hold off now, after reading your story.... I don't want to see new wrinkles if I do! LOL!

Carol H. said...

You crack me up with your wrinkle talk! I just don't look in the mirror except when absolutely necessary and then in dim lights! LOL! Love your card with the silver embossing and watercoloring, it's really pretty!

Ustvarjalni utrinki Tamara P. said...

Fantastic Darnell
hugs Tamara

Carol L said...

You always use your stamps to their fullest potential and I love the brand new sentiment you came up with! Your card is gorgeous, and don't worry about the wrinkles - at our ages, we deserve every single one we have :) HMD!

oldpunca said...

I like your christmas card very much. It's fabulous. I have to laugh about stamp surgery and I'm glad that recovery was well. :-))
Sometimes old glasses are O.K. because you don't see the things you don't want to see. :-))
Have a great week!
Hugs,
Sonja

Kim Heggins said...

Fabulous card Miss Darnell...just love your sweet holiday scene.

Helen F. said...

Love the card, Darnell ~ but jealous you have so many Christmas cards already. As for your 'new' glasses, weeeelll, I would just wear those when you absolutely positively need to SEE something! :-O

Em Louise Fairley said...

Your card is beautiful, as always, Darnell. I can so relate to your wrinkles story. I've had my new glasses and contact lenses for a few months now. At a lens checkup Saturday morning the optometrist told me I shouldn't be able to read as low as I can on the chart while wearing them. No wonder my wrinkles have suddenly appeared LOL

Sheila H said...

I love the card - it sparkles beautifully. Your glasses story is too funny - I have been there!!

A splash of color said...

Your a hoot. I love the whole surgical explanation for the sentiment. Too cute. Speaking of which the card is great. I love the black stitched background it does make the candle pop.. great job. and thanks for the chuckle.

Lisa T said...

Beautiful card Darnell, love the pewter EP story. Never had that happen with an embossing powder, but a happy result! And your glasses story had me in stitches. I am going to start wearing dark glasses so I don't see my wrinkles and people don't see my weepy allergy infested eyes. Oh the joys!

Geri said...

Yep...hear you loud & clear about the glasses. I have stopped wearing my glasses in front of mirrors! If I can't avoid a mirror while wearing my glasses...I just look down at my shoes!

AWESOME card! All that slicing & dicing by your resident Doctor Proctor resulted in a really cool sentiment that is perfect for this card! I love your beautifully inked background! Nice pop of yellow too!

Thanks for a fun phone call last night! I even Danny up to tell him all about your trip! He was amazed at the number of bloggie pals you are going to meet!

Geri said...

...me again! Forgot to say that the black background knocks this beauty clean out of the ballpark!

Cheryl W. said...

Beautiful, dramatic holiday card! I also didn't know that EP could go bad. Guess I'll watch mine closely in case one of the containers becomes ill. If that happens, I'll quarantine it. he he

I try to ignore my wrinkles. When I really get down about it, I just try to remember how much I had to go through to earn those wrinkles. Have a great week.

Jean said...

A gorgeous card!

Craftychris said...

Oh your card is gorgeous but deary me Darnell, your post had me creasing up with laughter! I think I will just look in the mirror with my glasses off from now on! xxx

laurie said...

Love all that sparkle and shine Darnell! Hope you had a great Memorial Day weekend!

Joyce said...

Beautiful card, Darnell. Love all that pewter--so festive for the holidays.

Marianne said...

I somehow missed this post before, but then, life at my office is rather hectic (and hot) right now. Love that you took a different approach to the MCV inspiration (I always think this challenge is all about me, since my initials are MCV lol). Your card also shows that creating cards can be hard work but that it can be rewarding as long as we use our creative cells and persevere.
Marianne x

Cara said...

Fabulous card. Glad to hear that your stamp surgery went well! Cara x

lauren bergold said...

oh WOW! what a gloriously lovely card... incredible job! thanks for helping us "banish the holiday blues" at JINGLE BELLES! ♥

Laura said...

I didn't used to put on my glasses until I was walking out of my bathroom(that room had the brightest lights). Then I had to have cataract surgery and I really could see "all" in the mirror.

Always love all your cards, you give me so many great ideas.

Cat Craig said...

Fabulous take on the muse. I just ignore the wrinkles.

Andrea said...

Hi Darnell
What a fabulous muse,your card is stunning and your delivery as always is a joy to read.I do love the black card it really makes the stamping pop and come alive ...What fabulous stamping and colouring the embossing is just lush.I was extremely impressed with your explanation of the surgical procedure, stamping and finally repair.. LOL as always you made me smile... You have created the perfect sentiment and it was definitely worth your creativity and dedication.
LOL new glasses... it's always amazing when you realize you can SEE!!...sometimes it's not quite what you want, although in this instance its absolutely a bonus :-)....Wrinkles are actually the happy lines of life's wonderful moments.
I will hop in and say hello to your new friends, I do love how you always make time to welcome everyone, your thoughtfulness,kindness and sense of fun just glows...A gigantic thank you for being you and sharing your passion, fun and warmth.Big happy hugs Andrea x

Marybeth said...

You are too funny! I alway say God was good making us not see so well close up.... As we get older..........we still look good to our spouses.
Love your Christmas card ....gorgeous !

Taunya Butler said...

Gorgeous Christmas card - with so many lovely things done to make it all sparkly and shining with beautiful light!! What a delight you are - keep wearing those glasses :)!!

Shelly said...

Oooh, beautiful card!