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!

August 31, 2016

NBUS for Christmas

Well, hello there!

If you are looking for the info and rules about NBUS Challenge #7, 
please click HERE
We are halfway through the challenge, so time is flying! 
Thank you for joining in!

So I'm prolly going to have to give up on making Christmas cards for everyone this year. Life has just loomed large and interwrecked my plans for that. But I can't not make any, so I took aim today with the help of a few challenges.

The featured NBUS product on today's cards is stickers. It's a produ ~ wait. What? Did you say "stickers?" That's right. The gals at Less Is More are shaking up Blogland with their recipe for stickers, sticky labels, or peel-offs this week!

Most of us started out making cards with stickers, but as we became more experienced, we sort of looked down our honkers at stickers as being too pedestrian, elementary even. Something for the children. Well, good for LIM for shaking things up! I think we all still have some stickers languishing in our Goody Boxes for this very day!

My Onefer:
The e/f is from Tim and I just love him. The snowman I mean, although Tim is equally lovable. Even though the snowman hasn't been naughty, I grounded him anyway. The sediment sticker is from GKW and the Christmas light stickers are "Rain Dots" by Cloud 9 Design.

My Twofer:

Here are the NBUS stickers for my second card:
Which is:
The beautiful blue CS came with the embedded white snow dots. It was a gift from my friend Mamie Reese. I attached it to a silver mat. The sediment is NBUS from "Seasonal Sentiments" by My Favorite Things embossed on vellum with Liquid Platinum by Ranger.

Challenges

#Onefer:
#Twofer:
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New Friends Corner

Even though I can't follow other blogs right now (grrr), I'm very happy that folks seem to be able to follow me. Please join me in welcoming these new friends!

Wendy MallasWendy Mallas of Wendy Mallas. Wendy is an artist and illustrator, for reals, who has only just started her blog last month! Welcome to Blogland, Wendy! Please make a special effort to introduce yourself to Wendy. At the moment, Wendy is having such fun with paper, ATCs, and paints. It will be fascinating to see where she takes her blog with her extraordinary talent!

MistyMisty Elam of Happy Ink Designs. Misty is another brand-new blogger who just started in July! Welcome to Blogland, Misty! Misty may be new, but her cards have the style and sophistication of someone who has been designing and executing cards for years. She also makes videos for you and does pictorial step-by-steps of her fabulous artistic process. You're going to be impressed!

Donna VenneSusan Wuthrich of Blue Fog Studio. Susan has been blogging since 2015. In that short time she has had a mercurial rise in our little corner of Blogland, now serving as a Design Team member on many of our well-loved challenge blogs. When she isn't making cards or some other form of artistry, Susan alternates between her many athletic loves and sewing dresses and blankets for children in the area. You will be instantly enchanted by Susan's talented designs!

Wendy JohnsonWendy Johnson of Pink and Dotty Wendy is from England and she started blogging in 2014. Her mother has been an avid card artist for many years, and Wendy finally gave the hobby a go about seven years ago. She has never looked back! And I love this: her husband calls her craft room her "daft room!" Wendy's happy and colorful cards will have you smiling when you visit!

Sue TossellSue Tossell of Sue's Crafty Corner. Sue is also from England and she has been blogging since 2010. She has been crafty most of her life and now has a passion for papercrafting and card art. An avid snippets user, Sue will inspire you with her shaped cards, square cards, layered cards, birthday cards, and Christmas cards ~ and any occasion in between!

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

~~~

Enjoy your day! Enjoy the NBUS Challenge! No, seriously, enjoy! LITS!*

*Life is too short!

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74 comments:

scrappymo! said...

Two wonderful Christmas cards. I think the Xmas light stickers on the first card look so real..
The second has those snowflake stickers that I love and sometimes still use too.

Thanks fortaking part in the Rudolph Days Challenge.

PS
I am currently working on my NBUS cards. Hope to have three finished in time. Will post them one at a time as I finish each.

Ruth said...

'Tis fabulous! And even if you don't send any out, I love the inspiration from the ones you are making :) That embossing folder snowman is fab! I am in the process of blogging my NBUS and I may even get another one sorted for the last day of the challenge :) xx

Sue said...

Hi Darnell, Loving both cards. I only send cards to family and a few very close friends. I tend to do ecards for everyone else.

Hope you have a lovely day. Sue

Dr Sonia S V said...

What beautiful creations Darnell...love the snowman embossing...looks fabulous
Thank you so much for joining us at the Rudolph day Challenge!
Rudolph Days Challenge DT
Dr Sonia

Esther said...

Fabulous cards Darnell! You've made stickers STYLISH! That first card with the Christmas lights is awesome, really warm and festive in feel, and the second card is so perfectly cool and frosty... I love them both! Thanks for playing at Less is More :)

Sandra H said...

Both cards Darnell are as always gorgeous! l love the christmas lights they look so realistic and the 2nd card is also stunning with the stickers hope you have a fab day xx

Lynn said...

I'm so far behind on my Christmas cards too! You have made two beauties here...love that sweet little snowman on the first!

Julie B said...

Fab use of those stickers! I have folders of the darn things so it was good to be able to use some at LIM with out feeling guilty! :)

Carole said...

Hats off to you for the Christmas cards...I feel a resurgence of stickers! Quick visit...hubby on holiday this week so no crafting time...a visit to you is my fix...sadly I will maybe not make the NBUS challenge this time around. Hope you are well. Hugs xx

Craftychris said...

Two fabulous Christmas cards! I love the snowman embossing folder! Maybe stickers will become fashionable again now! They look fab! xxx

Gerrina said...

Your stickers look good on both cards, but the LIM-card is my favorite; gives the same feel as a stamped card so beautifully worked in the design! Hugs, Gerrina

As.I.Do.Rodos. said...

Gorgeous cards Thank you for joining us at Ike's World Challenges good luck Ginny DT for
Ike'sWorld challenge
My Blog As I do Rodos

Pat said...

Two really pretty cards Darnell and the string of lights look great with that TH embossed snowman, and then on the second card that blue snowy background complements the beautiful snowflakes perfectly, and the heat embossed sentiment looks fab on the vellum too. x

Marilyn said...

Love both of your cards!! Love the embossed snowman!!

Sue's Crafty Corner said...

Two fantastic cards Darnell, I love the gorgeous lights and the embossed snowman on the top card. This has to be the challenge for me as I have Sooo much schtuff that I have not used. Hubby calls me a compulsive buyer of all things crafty. Thanks you for the great write up you have given me on the blog, I too have had trouble in the past following people on blogger, fingers crossed it's OK at the moment. I'm off now to look at the other new followers blogs.

Sue xx

Alice (scrAPpamondo) said...

two lovely cards, darnell, and great exemples on how use stickers for CAS!!
The first one is my favourite, it's just ADORABLE!!

Anonymous said...

Fab card. Good on LIM for shaking things up - yes I do have a sticker or two!
I can't believe it is half way through the NBUS challenge. Where does the time get too?

KT Fit Kitty said...

What an awesome idea! I collect stickers when I got to the dollar store! I just can't resist them. I usually use them on my envelopes but you've gone one better! These are fabulous, Darnell! Such a cool idea! I think I have those snowflake stickers in my stash! BTW, congrats on reaching over 1000 followers! Woohoo! Time to celebrate! P.S. You mentioned you can't follow other blogs... I couldn't either but then I tried double-clicking on Follow and that seems to work (for me). I know others are having this problem so it's probably not that simple.

Jeanne said...

Your cards look amazing, Darnell! Yay for stickers! I'm not sure why you can't follow blogs, though? I'm a bit behind on catching up so not sure if you mentioned why in a previous post. Hope it gets resolved. One of your new friends links (Pink and Dotty) doesn't go to the right place. Just to let you know. Have a great day!

Sammy said...

Stickers eh? Yes, I think I may have a few of those somewhere, though I believe I gave most of them away.
I had the same problem with Christmas cards this year, but have just started mine now (as opposed to mid-December!) and have half a dozen all done. Not an astonishing amount, but definitely a start!

Love both your cards, but especially the one with the gorgeous fairy lights. x

Lin said...

There are some gorgeous stickers out there, and they can really add to the design, and make it easier on us once in awhile! Love both of these, Darnell! Thanks for sharing with us at the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday challenge!

Linby said...

I just love how you put the baubles with the snowman, I struggle with knowing what to put on an embossing folder this big but yours looks great.
I hope to be back with NBUS entry it's not like I don't have a mountain of stuff to use! But typically so far used things I've used before for makings this week.

Redanne said...

Two really lovely cards Darnell, those stickers on the first are really beautiful and I do love the Tim EF you used on the second one. I need to pull my socks up and make something for your NBUS challenge.... Hugs, Annie xxx

Joyce said...

Love how you are using stickers. I always forget about my huge stash I have had forever. I've been traveling, and how fun to come back and see that we are in the midst of a NBUS challenge--my favorite kind of challenge. Hope to play along.

Sarah said...

Ooh yes...stickers, I am sure I have loads hidden somewhere!! Love your cards showcasing them, particularly those pretty snowflakes, great for batch making too xx

conil said...

I used to know what stickers were...not even sure I still have some. Should probably take a look. The good news is, you have two more Christmas cards finished. Good on you. They're both terrific...really like the snowman card with those cool lights.

Barb said...

Two lovely Christmas cards Darnell. I love those light stickers they look super with your Christmas 'gnome' Barbxx

Lisa said...

Both of your cards are so beautiful!! I love the stickers!! The snowman embossing is fabulous!! I don't think I'll be able to make all the Christmas cards I need this year, either. Have a great day!! Big hugs :)

Lisa
A Mermaid's Crafts

Pia S said...

I've got plenty of stickers, some peel offs and the sorts you used here and some really special ones I haven't used yet because I'm holding on to them for the right idea or occasion. It doesn't make sense not to use loved items, but sometimes those are the ones that get used last. Great cards, both of them, shows we shouldn't abandon those stickers entirely even though there are ranges of stamps, stencils and dies to be used as well.

Sall said...

Gorgeous, stunning, elegant cards. Thank you for taking the time to join in with our challenge and sharing your creativity with us, I love to see your talent and imagination at work. Love 'n' hugs Sall IkesWorld Challenges DT

shirley-bee said...

Love your snowman with his strings of Christmas lights, Darnell! And the snowflake stickers look so pretty fluttering down that snowy dotty background. I've got folders full of stickers and peel-offs - I'd be surprised if they've still got any 'stick' left!
Have you tried copying a blog home page url then pasting it into the 'Add' section on your dashboard? If I can't find a google friend connect button that's what I usually do. It then appears in your blog feed on your dashboard.

Verna Angerhofer said...

I love your cards and wish I could join in on the fun again. I am lucky I got one done for your challenge at least. In between making meals and caring for garden things I have to still rest. So card making and using up all that NBUS has been put on hold.

Jerrie said...

Oh no, you have hit a box in my craft room that is full of you guessed it...stickers! Your snowflakes and sentiment works in perfectly with your strung lights and bulbs~I love the white images on the bottom...looks like embossing.

Unknown said...

Beautiful Christmas cards. I love the embossing folder by TH, I was lucky enough several years ago to have been on a retreat and took part in one of his workshops, he was indeed lovely having time to speak to everyone and explain his techniques so well. x

Sue - said...

Two fabulous cards Darnell. I have to confess I did buy some cards last year as I just didn't have the time to make them all, but I felt really guilty!

Inkyfingers said...

What great sticker cards Darnell and they are the bees knees for quick cards. I could have wept when I saw the sticker challenge on LIM - I spent ages deciding whether I would ever use my sticker collection again when I had to empty my craft room, and I finally decided to donate them to the local school!!! You can bet your bottom dollar that this was the signal for them to reappear on fabulous cards like these!
Hugs
Carol xx

OH Babs said...

Hey Christmas in August - yuk! Actually I just sent some cards for SAS4Kids. Can I stop now? I don't like mass producing. Your cards are lovely. Please put me on your "DO NOT SEND THIS WACKO A CHRISTMAS CARD" list. Hugs, B

Kirsty Vittetoe said...

Lovely and fun holiday cards!

Cat Craig said...

Stickers have really evolved and they make some beautiful ones now. Your cards show that type off beautifully.

Patti said...

Oh Darnell! these are fantabulous!! I can't believe the timing! I just pulled out my 100# tote of stickers with my "Use it or Loose it challenge!!" I can't wait to use up some of these beloved and yet snubbed beauties!!

Maybe this will spark a new fad of stickers on cards!! I hope so : ) because cards like yours should not be overlooked : )

Patti

Princess Judy Palmer said...

I always feel that I'm cheating when I use stickers on a card. I don't know why. I have to say that both packs of stickers you used are far from pedestrian! They are what we call in these parts as "fancy stickers." Pedestrian stickers is what you get from the doctor for not crying when you get a shot. Both cards are great but that top one is the bestest!

Bonnie said...

I love your Christmas lights and this is one of my favorite snowmen! Pretty snowflakes and a beautiful sentiment especially with the embossing! Thanks for the push to use that stamp that had been languishing in my NBUS box for 3 years!

Sharon Underwood said...

Oh, I love ALL those stickers! I think I might even have some that look like your snowflakes. You gave me a great idea for using them! I love those Christmas lights, too. Awesome!

Anonymous said...

i love the fun snowman card with those very festive garlands of stickers! thank you so much for playing along with us at the rudolph days challenge!
linda
rudolph days challenge DT

Lisa Elton said...

Like you, life is busy for me and the Christmas card stash is low!! Love the inspiration you have shared with us today. The first one is darling!!

Birgit said...

I love these cards and I think stickers are great. I use them for borders etc and don't think there is anything wrong with them. Your cards just prove how pretty they are.

Greta said...

I love Rain Dots but I've never seen those--just too cute! The snowflake card is beautiful--love the embossed sentiment on vellum! You've had quite the year--glad you're making a few Christmas cards anyway!

Gloria said...

Hello Darnell! Your cards are awesome! Just love these both!
I love NBUS challenge ! I have to hurry to join this challenge!
Thank you so much for joining us at August Rudolph days challenge! xx

Janis said...

Whoever woulda thunk it.....that lowly stickers could make such lovely cards!!!???!!! Beautiful creations, Darnell.

Thank you once again for another NBUD challenge....oops...that was a real typo. (I guess NBUD means "Nip it in the Bud" and I have no idea what kind of challenge theme that would be, but I'm sure your imagination could come up with one! lol...)

Second try: Thank you once again for another NBUS challenge. They are always fun and a great excuse to dust off those old supplies!
Hugs to you!!!
<3 J

jwoolbright at gmail dot com
HerPeacefulGarden.blogspot.com

Linda said...

Two fabulous cards Darnell, those fairy light stickers look so darn cute. And what a fantastic gallery of NUBS entries, I need to get a wriggle on or I'm going to miss it xx

ike said...

Fabulous cards Darnell and how great to see the old stickers coming out to play :-) Thank you for coming to play at IKEsWORLD CHALLENGES.


IKE x

My Challenge Blog
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Aileen said...

Fab two cards, forgot I wanted to check out that challenge. Wonder if its too late. Love the snowflakes on that beautiful blue paper, looks stunning. The challenge is going well. Better go check out your new friends.

Misty Elam said...

Ooooh, LOVE your Christmas cards!! I love the lights on the first one!! And that sentiment on the 2nd one is wonderful!! Your cards are always beautiful.
Oh, Darnell!!! I want to participate so bad right now in the NBUS challenge!! My entries are all going to come in on the last day. I have a 2 day craft fair this Saturday and Sunday so Monday morning, I'm going to be blogging away with all my entries!! Is that the best way to enter is to blog about it so that I can add the NBUS logo and then take the blog link and add it here on your blog? I'm sorry if that is a silly question. I've never done this before, this linking up. And I can't WAIT to go back through all the entries and see all the lovely new cards people have made!! I'm really excited for this challenge!! I only wish I didn't have a craft fair that I'm preparing for right smack in the middle!! If I was more on top of it, I would have used the first few days to enter. But my son's 9th Birthday was on the 30th so I was preparing for a house full of boys on the 27th instead... I still haven't caught up on my sleep from last weekend...
Anyway, thanks for creating this wonderful challenge and THANK YOU so much for the shout out, Darnell!! I really appreciate your support. That's the other thing I'm looking forward to is going back through your posts and checking out all these new (to me) bloggers so I can stop in and say hello!!
Ok, now that it's 2am, I better hit the hay, since I'm getting up in 3 hours to start it all over again!!
Big hugs!!

Lisa T said...

I am sure I have some stickers floating around somewhere.. I like how you used them on both cards Darnell - the lights are really fun! And that blue cardstock with the snowflakes is gorgeous, very pretty. Still hoping to get another card into your challenge, fingers crossed, time is going too fast. And fortunately I had a few cards left over from last year so I may actually be able to make the rest that I need... I starting making mine in March feeling REALLY virtuous, and then gave up and am now in the same panic-ridden state as last year!!

Carol L said...

These 2 elegant and simple cards look fantastic with stickers! You used them to their full potential on both cards! They're fabulous!

Em Louise Fairley said...

Beautiful card, Darnell.
Hugs,
Em x

Maura said...

I love the sticker christmas lights, Darnell - and that embossed snowman is adorable! Love the snowflakes too, great chance for you to use up some of those oldies but goodies!

Sazzle Dazzle said...

WOW! What a lot of cards in the NBUS gallery ... no surprise there though! I hope to join in this weekend before the clock ticks away!!! Oh by yumptious, scrumptious ... loving your delightful Christmas sticker-tastic card Darnell. What a treat and the embossed snowman too! Fabulous and as always thanks for playing with us at Less is More this week. Sarah x

oldpunca said...

Wonderful idea for Christmas cards. I like them both.
Hugs, Sonja

Pam Sparks said...

Super cute Snowman! Love the string of lights with it!

Geri said...

...'some stickers' is definitely an understatement! Would a box full qualify as "some" ???

Fabulous cards - the stickers seriously look GREAT!!! Adore the sweet little Christmas lights and balls. Nice touch with the embossed snowman!

Gorgeous snowflakes studded cardstock. I love your embossed velum sentiment banner! Great job embossing on velum!

Bobby said...

OMG, Darnell. I think I have that exact same snowflake sticker package tucked away in a drawer somewhere. I wonder if the glue is still good after all these years.

Helen F. said...

Twio lovely Christmas cards, Darnell. That snowman EF is darling and the string of lights stickers are perfecto :-)

Cheryl W. said...

It's funny how we "grow out of" stickers. The only cards I regularly use them on is Halloween cards. Not sure why that it is. I think your cards look grand - and those cute sticker helped with that!

Kathyk said...

Two gloriously festive makes. Give up on making Christmas cards? WHO ARE YOU and what have you done with Darnell???

Happy Friday

Kathyk

Donna said...

I love your sticker cards. Looks like Mr Snowman does, too :)

Neets B said...

Well you've certainly made good use of those fabulous stickers here, Darnell. That embossed snowman is adorable, I can see why you love him. And I love the pop of colour above him from those fabulous lights stickers. So glad there were some stickers I didn't part with otherwise I'd have been in deep do-do this week! lol
Thanks so much for playing along at Less is More, Anita xx

MRS DUCK said...

Hi Darnell
I have a friend who would come out in a rash if he touched a peel off lol! I think they have their place and your gorgeous cards have certainly proved that.
Ang x

Anita in France said...

Seems to me your string of lights is glowing, Darnell ... creating a soft warm halo around that cute snowman ... and those snowflakes ... positively touchable! Yay for stickers, I have some in my 'if-it's-not-used-in-12-months-it's-going' box ... p'raps I should dig them out! Good to be catching up again, my friend! LYAMYEMAACWTSY! Hugs & bisous, Anita :)

Karenladd said...

Hmm, not sure which I love more...the beautiful cards or the fact that you used STICKERS!! I know that I have the hardest time using stickers because they always just look so flat and unchallenging (not that I'm a snob or anything...oh no). However, you are a genius in combining the stickers with an embossing folder, which takes care of that flat and unchallenging part. I have that same Tim Holtz embossing folder with the jaunty snowman and never thought to combine him with plain ol' stickers. However, now I can't wait to dig through my very very old sticker stash to see what I can find.
Thanks for always keeping us on our toes Darnell, and continuing to encourage us to use up those NBUS that you know we all hoard.

Marilyn's Cricut Crafts said...

Love your Christmas cards. The embossed snowman and ornaments are too cute! Thank you for joining us at Cards in Envy! ~ Marilyn

Sybrina K said...

Darnell, That blue snowflake card is so pretty! I'm quite glad you finally got around to using those NBUS snowflake stickers! Thanks for joining our Hip to be Square Challenge at Cards in Envy. :)

Sandy Trefger said...

Beautiful cards! Thanks for sharing with us at Cards in Envy for our Hip to be Square card challenge.

wienerhoneymooners said...

Hello Darnell, crafty lady! Loving your Christmas creations!
Your TWOFER, would love to invite you on over to the MUSE Christmas Visions where we have metallic inspiration with GOLD, which is a perfect compliment in your card! Love that sentiment! Hope to see you in the gallery!
HUGS!!!
http://musechristmasvisions.blogspot.com/2017/09/muse-christmasvisions-84.html