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!

November 15, 2017

Tag Time II

Hello, Stamplings!

Another quick post from me today. I think that's going to be the case until all the cards I need get made and sent. Wait. What? Do I hear a lot of you breathing a sign of relief that my posts aren't going to be "two coffees" long?!! 😇

First up, I'm delighted to be asked by my dear and very talented friend Loll to be her Guest Designer for Day Ten of her Twelve Tags of Christmas event!

Here is my tag:
The base of my tag is a piece of glossy paper covered in bold and vibrant alcoholic inks. The die allows all those jewel-toned colors to peek through the openings. The PTI greeting was embossed in platinum on vellum.

If you haven't already, I hope you'll be able to join Loll's fun and inspirational event. In addition to tag inspiration, I get a lot of design ideas for making cards from the tags that are made by Loll, her guest designers, and the fabulous gallery! The details can be found on Loll's blog: Stamping With Loll.

Thank you, Lolly, for the pleasure of being a guest designer!
~~~

Of course, when you're in Tag Mode, you gotta make more tags, so I also made this one:
My inspiration for this tag came from Debby Yates on Day One of Tracey's 25 Days of Christmas Tags event where the featured sponsor was Simon Says Stamp. The little NBUS reindeer is from SSS. 

The tag itself was made from a page in a paper pad from My Mind's Eye. I just cut it like a bookmark and chomped the corners. I know, right? I didn't even use a die, gasp! (I did cut a second layer to adhere to the back for my stability. I mean for more stability.)

You can't really tell in the photo, but I happily had some old ribbon in my stash that was perfect: it is the same color of coral, edged in gold. 

I liked this little reindeer so much that I made several cards with him, but I'll save those for another day.

I'm also entering the BOW challenge at Addicted to CAS.

~~~

Real quick. I have to share this with you! Last week my friend Brenda sent me an email telling me she had received my postcard from Wales and how surprised she was that I had gone back to the UK and why hadn't I told her I was going? Wait. What? 

I was as amazed as she was since I hadn't just been to Wales ... but I was there over a year ago, which meant she just now received the postcard I mailed to her in July of 2016! I know Indiana is a long way from Conwy, but that's ridiculous!

She said it wasn't the least bit bedraggled, which makes me want to launch into a whole lie story about how bed raggling used to be a thing, but I promised I wouldn't keep you, so off you go!

~~~

Enjoy the Hops and 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 and I will return the flavor as soon as possible. I'm sorry I'm falling way behind with my visits around Blogland because Hammy and I have our Yuletime card and tag factory in full operation!








*Life is too short!

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69 comments:

Loll said...

I love the bright and vibrant colours of your background, Dolly. Perfect die-cut to let those show through. Your metal snowflake charm is so pretty hanging from the top. Thanks so much for being a Guest Designer for my tag event, sweet friend!!

Your second tag is adorable! The background is so pretty with the three colours with gold dividing them. I love this reindeer die too and just had to have him. He is the sweetest! Especially with the bow! Don't forget to add your second tag to the linky! :) Lolly xx

Dotty Jo said...

Gorgeous tags, Darnell and thanks for another funny story to make me smile, Jo x

Ustvarjalni utrinki Tamara P. said...

Fantastic tags,
love the backgrounds
hugs Tamara

!neke said...

Love those tags !!!!!
We stil have to go with Sinterklaas first !
He will visit our home on the 3th of december !
Then Christmas wil be here !
My sister in law is already busy with Christmas !!!
She lives in LA !

have a nice day !

Ineke

Happy Dance said...

Such a pretty tag for Loll's challenge, and Congrats! on being GD there as well. Very cool. I do love those non traditional colors and the little snowflake charm. It's darling and quite rather festive! I love it!! Your second tag is darling! That little deer is dear, and those colors are fabulous. The gold looks amazing here. I do love it! Gotta love the Royal Mail/USPS... It figures, doesn't it?! And I do want to hear about Bed Raggling....Next post please! Miss you. xoxo Bev

Greta said...

Oh for crying out loud! That is truly amazing the post card finally made it! I did have a card take months to get to central CA once, but your story beat that! Congrats on being the GD--truly a gorgeous card! Love the idea with an alcohol ink panel--may see if I have something to use that way. And I have that paper pad hardly ever used--great idea! Another one to case, my friend!

Sue said...

Hi Darnell, Love both the tags.

Should think the postcard had fallen behind something and they finally had their annual tidy up and found Sue

Carole said...

Lovely tags Darnell..and your story re the postcard...well it probably went via sea to Australia first! xx

Barb said...

Congratulations on being Guest Designer Darnell. Two lovely Christmas tags. The second card is really pretty and cute. I love the vibrant colours on the first and your coloured seam binding is very pretty. Barbxx

Mona Pendleton said...

Both of your tags are fantastic Darnell! Love the colorful snowflakes and cute reindeer! All the shimmery embossed metallic detail looks amazing!

Bunny said...

Oh what nice tags. Love how beautiful the one with the snowflake is. Lovely, vibrant colors and a cute charm. The 2nd tag is elegant and cute. Love the gold.

Hammy looks very festive in his Santa hat. What a good helper. [Bunny]

cuilliesocks said...

What beautiful tags Darnell, lovely bright colours and design on your first card and the little deer is so sweet on your second card, Kate x

Redanne said...

Both tags are wonderful Darnell, the colours on the first one are beautiful and I adore the little (rein)deer on the second.

Wow, that is amazing about Brenda and your postcard!! That surely must be a record! Hugs, Annie xxx

Ina G said...

Fabulous tags Darnelle. Love the bold colours - so untraditional and I love that. And who wouldn't love that cute reindeer with the RED nose. Oh of course it's Rudolph. Glad your friend FINALLY received your post card. As they say better late than never.

I Card Everyone said...

Your tags are terrific, D... but Happy Christmas Hammy? just about the cutest thing I've seen today! xx
=]

BożenA said...

My dear friend. You created two completely different tags, but both equally beautiful. I love how in the first tag you so beautifully colored the alcohol base tags. Fresh and joyful colors stand out beautifully with a cut pattern. And the second tag is my favorite. I love the color combination of gray and powder pink. Golden stripes add even more elegance. And your deer is so cute. All these elements make perfect the whole. Thank you for this great inspiration. I congratulate you and I am glad you were in the GD group.
Hugs,
BożenA

nancy littrell said...

I LOVE your colorful alcohol ink background that peeks thru your die cut snowflakes, Darnell. Such a pretty tag and would wonderful tied on a package or hanging from a Christmas tree. TFS my friend. Hugs

Kathleen said...

Super tags, gorgeous colour on the first one and such a sweet reindeer on the second one, looks classy.

Kath x

Pat said...

How great to see you as a guest on Loll's tag challenge Darnell. I adore your two tags and that first is so vibrant and pretty and I love that pretty blue vellum, and then the cute reindeer on the second and the neutral stripes of card are wonderful with the gold. How incredible that a card you sent last summer has justed arrived in the US, and unscathed too. x

Bonnie said...

I love the beautiful, vibrant colors around and peeking through the first tag, Dolly! And the little reindeer is adorable! How about finding ribbon that matches. About the mail....I recently sent a birthday card to a friend who lives 15 miles away. It took over a week to get there. What's with the mail???? At least it got there in less than a year so I guess I should quit my belly achin'. xoxo

Mac Mable said...

Many congratulations on being Loll's guest designer with your fabulous tag. Great vibrant colours with the alcohol inks and love that white die cut tag in front. Second tag is so elegant x Thank you for the wonderful inspiration x Chuckled about the postcard x

Carol H. said...

Both tags are so pretty!! All of you with the alcohol inks must stop!!! I have NO alcohol inks and you are just making too many pretty things with them--if I buy some I'll have an excuse at least! LOL! Really though, love the tag with the blues, red, and green shades! Love, love the 2nd tag too--the colors are so pretty and it's perfect for the sweet deer! Have fun making your Christmas cards!!

Alice (scrAPpamondo) said...

Both your tags are adorable and the first one looks really brilliant with that alcohol inks on the back and throw the little apertures! Great inspirations for your DT!!

Valerija said...

Gorgeous tags.
Valerija xx

Sheila H said...

I love the vibrancy of the first tag and the cuteness of the second. Great fun!

Marcia Hill said...

Your tag is FABULOUS Darnell!! I absolutely LOVE the fun and vibrant Al ink colors and how cool that they show through your neat die cut snowflakes! Lovely, lovely tag my friend! And I have to tell you that Hammy is looking pretty darn spiffy in his Santa hat...he must really get into the Christmas spirit, huh?!! :0)

Nstiz said...

Love your nontraditional colors on your guest tag, Darnell! I do love nontraditional colors for Christmas and this fits! Your deer tag is just so charming! What a neat, clean and classy design!

Fikreta said...

Lovely tags
hugs

Jean said...

Super fun tags!

Lisa Elton said...

Terrific tags Darnell! I like the shimmery snowflakes and sweet little deer. I can't believe the tag story. Holy smokes that is truly some snail mail!! I mailed a birthday card to my SIL. She was a little miffed and thought we forgot her birthday when she didn't receive one. The following year a neighbor brought it over to her. Said she found it in her bushes in front of her house!

Susan said...

Love all those vibrant colours peeping through the little die cut circles! What a beautiful tag for Loll's event! Aren't we lucky to have been invited to be Guest Designers for it? And I love the sweet little reindeer on the second tag!

Carol L said...

What fun tags you've made today, and I especially like that kaleidoscope version with all of those wonderful colors! Apparently the pony express is alive and well, but who knew a pony could swim the ocean in a year's time? Amazing!! :)

My Paper Epiphany said...

Gorgeous tags! I love the pretty feminine mixed media tag and the colour blocking in the second is so special!

Lynette said...

Great tags! I once mailed a thank you note to our next door neighbor and it took over a year to get there. Amazing, huh? Glad your postcard finally arrived!

Christine Alexander said...

Darnell, I just love that artsy dotty tag, the bright colours of the AI's just jump off the screen :) and that adorable Rudolf oh so sweet

Cheryl W. said...

Your tags are awesome! I love the brightly colored one, but I also love that sweet deer. I can't believe your postcard took that long! Maybe that's what has happened to a birthday card I sent overseas a couple of months ago. The receiver hasn't seen it, but I really did send it!!!

Gerrina said...

What a contrast these two! Great modern and funky first one and so elegant the 3nd[ love that colourcombination! Hugs, Gerrina

Jane Willis said...

Really gorgeous tags - I love the little reindeer on the second. A whole year (and a bit) for a postcard to arrive? Maybe the postie swam across the Atlantic - using one arm, while holding the other up out of the water to keep your card safe and dry
Jane

Lisa T said...

Love both your tags Darnell! I am SO utterly rubbish at tags, I think I find it hard when I have restricted space. I don't know... but I struggle to make them. Love your little NBUS reindeer - perfect and sweet (maybe I need that die?). What with Black Friday coming up there is no hope for me... .Lisa xx

Aileen said...

Two wonderful looking tags Darnell love all the bright colours of the first one and that so very cute deer on the second one. A year to get a postcard well I ink that might be the longest Ive heard of yet. I did have a card I sent someone in America that was sent backto me as I put the wrong house number on and had to repost so it went over twice and that ended up taking four months. Anyway look after yourself hugs Aileen

Sandra H said...

Your posts Darnell are always interesting long or short .....l just love the tags they are so cute!! take care x

Jeanne said...

Your tags are wonderful, Darnell! Always a delight to read your posts. That postcard wanted to travel the world a bit before its final destination, I guess! Wow!

Marilyn said...

Cute tags!!

Brenda in IN said...

Your guest designer tag is so colorful and happy and I do love a reindeer. The gold makes it so elegant. I was so confused when I got that postcard from Darnell. I knew she was posting on a regular basis on her blog and couldn't figure how her trip came about and when she made the quick trip back. We both had a great laugh about it.

Em Louise Fairley said...

Gorgeous tags, Darnell. And it's amazing how slow snail mail can be at times! Eeek!
Hugs,
Em xoxo

Cat Craig said...

Oh my, there have been times when the post office loses track of a mail bag...with no damage that is the likely cause.

YOur tags are lovely and festive.

conil said...

Your tag team is delightful. All that shiny, vivid color on the first one...just gorgeous. Clever of you to use that sweet critter on the second one with that modern pattern...it's really adorable.

OH Babs said...

Congrats on being Loll's guest designer. Don't you love alcohol ink and glossy paper (or Yupo)? Such fun tags and boy oh boy are you getting a head start on everything Christmas. I am mailing Thanksgiving today. BBB

Verna Angerhofer said...

Wonderful tags Darnell. I love that sweet deer image. And, so glad your card finally reached it's destination. I know I won a prize several months ago and it was sent off but I never got it. I hope some day I will be extra surprised by it's arrival too. LOL

Leslie Miller said...

It's a busy time, for sure, but I always enjoy your two-coffee posts, which really aren't two coffees long, unless one is a very fast coffee drinker. Anywho... you've got two great tags for gift giving! Comes time for gift giving and I never have tags because I can't seem to settle down to the making of them. Always with the cards cards cards. Interesting about the post card. Dang, what took so long? Bed raggling!! I'm LOL!

Michele K. Henderson said...

I love your cheerful tags, Darnell! They are so fresh and fun! Have a great holiday season!

Kara Lynne said...

Two wonderful tags, Darnell! I love the bright colors and the charm of the charm on your first tag. You made Rudolph look so regal and elegant with those colors, stripes, and of course the bow on your second tag!

Barb Ghig said...

Two absolutely gorgeous tags, Darnell! I love the effects of alcohol inks and your blue vellum sentiment banner is so clever! I also love your deer and how the foil strips create such a modern feel to your design!
Thanks for sharing Hammy's Santa photo with us...he is such a cutie-pie!!!

Cara said...

Love how vibrant your first tag is and your second tag is stylish whilst still being adorable. How odd about the postcard, I wonder which side of the pond it decided to take a holiday on!

oldpunca said...

I'm amazed about your tag creations. Wonderful both of them.
While reading story about your postcard I think there is still a hope for the lost birthday card I've sent. :-)
Have a nice weekend!
Hugs, Sonja

Ruth said...

LOVE that first tag with those delicious alcoholic inks (don’t drink them!) and your little reindeer is so sweet. As for your postcard, that is a very very long time to get delivered. I wonder if it was our grumpy postman? On the other side, it’s heartening to know that things might eventually turn up! Lucky Brenda hadn’t moved in the interim..... xx

maria f. said...

Two great tags. Love that alcoholic ink goodness on the first and that paper on the second is magnifico! And you had ribbon to match. Go figure.

Julia Aston said...

Two lovely tags Sis! The AI colors are so pretty behind your snowflake cut outs on the first - and that sweet little deer with his bowtie is just adorable! Julia xx

Linda said...

Gorgeous tags Darnell .... I love the bright colours on your GD tag, they look fab peeking through that pretty die cut xx

Birgit said...

It took a year for her to get the postcard?! Talk about snail mail, the snail must have been in a pub somewhere. I love both tags. The first one is so vibrant with the alcohol inks which makes me want to use them now. I love the basic one of the 2nd which is great for a man. The tri-colour is great with the reindeer.

Barb Ghig said...

I left some love for you previously, and just noticed that you've added your 'deer' tag to our gallery at ATCAS! So happy you're playing along with us this week, Darnell!

Sharron said...

Fabby tags, Darnell!! Those colors look stunning and I love your dangling snowflake charm! I knew I had seen the paper you used with the deer and then realized I have some. Must check out my stash when looking for cool products to use!

Karenladd said...

I love making tags so have been truly enjoying your tag shares. The best thing about a tag is that you can easily turn it into a card...or not! After I admired your sweet reindeer tag design I was then amazed and perplexed by the story of your errant post-card from Wales. I recently sent a handmade birthday card to Poland and it's been over 2 months but no where to be found. I thought that was bad, but you've got me beat by a year..eek!

Bobby said...

The alcohol ink is so vibrant peeking through on your tag, Darnell. And that deer. He's just darling on his striped tag.

Anita in France said...

Congratulations on designing with Loll and her 12 Tags, Darnell ... what a spectacularly vibrant yet deliciously dreamy delight you've inspired us with ... love the crumpled ribbon with that on so sweet little charm! Adorable little reindeer ... lovely luxurious paper he's posed on! LYAMYMAWYASS ... SLFTSYNY! Big hugs & bisous, Anita :)

JD/ Jill said...

Both tags are so nicely done. I especially like the reindeer one!!!

MRS DUCK said...

Hi Darnell
Two devine tags. Really love the reindeer one as my friend has a thing for stags (not in a pervy way lol!).
Ah, the good ol' postal service. Reliable was always lol!
Ang x

Skye said...

Two gorgeous tage. I love the beautiful bright colours of the first tag

Papercraft Boutique said...

I love these tags, Darnell! Great guest-designer tags!
I thought at first the beautiful colors were stenciled, and I found out that the AI colors were peeking through the die-cut negatives. How clever! I love that the colors show around the rim of the tag too!
Your second tag is so sweet and different from the first one. The reindeer is adorable with the tiny red nose! And the color blocking panels are so effective! Hideko xx