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!

June 3, 2019

It's Like a Really Mega Succulent

Hello Stamplings!

Happy first Monday of the month of June in the nineteenth year of the 21st century! Unbeleevable! I hope you had a wonderful weekend welcoming June and letting May go.

I had plans yesterday, but they went out the window when I walked into some computer webs where I found a couple of challenges ... Less Is More wants us to emboss less than a third of our card and the Color Throwdown provided me with not only colors to use, but photo inspiration, as well.
I believe the Altenew Mega Succulent has been around for a while, but they recently had a great sale, so now I own it and I was delighted to have a play with it. I heat-embossed it in black and then watercolored it with my Ziggies. I stitched the kraft panel with an MFT die and then used a Lil Inker diagonal die to cut the succulent panel. The NBUS sediment from "Messages for Everyday" by Simon Says Stamp was also black heat-embossed.

Hammy winked it all over, of course.
Twofer

Well, natch, I was left with a beautiful succulent with a giant gaping hole in the middle, so I couldn't let it go to waste now could I?
The NBUS sediment die-cut is from Docrafts, a gift from Lolly. Schplatters from Hammy.

Challenges
Snippets Playground Badge

Milestone

We had a celebration this weekend as the grandtwins Adam and Henry graduated from 8th grade! Many of you have been following along as these boys have grown from toddlers into young men. You'll know that Henry normally sports longer hair than his brother, but now, due to a botched haircut that required correction, we are back to not being able to tell them apart! Help!!
~~~

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62 comments:

Karren said...

You have created two gorgeous cards and what a clever way to do it! That succulent looks amazing (in both cards!) . Wonderful photo of your grandsons - such handsome young men!

Sue's Crafty Corner said...

Two gorgeous cards Darnell, I love the colours you've used. A fabulous photo of your grandson's too.

Sue xx

Izzy Scrap said...

Isn't it great when you can do two cards in one go ? And your two cards are absolutely "succulent", Darnell. This BIG succulent flower is just wonderful and you watercolour it so beautifully ! Love your designs too with this diagonal die cut, it's great ! And WOW, your two grandsons have really grown and they have definitely your smile ! Thanks so much for sharing and for playing along at Less is More. Hugs x

Sue said...

Hi Darnell, Love both the cards.

Those boys are growing up so fast.

Hope you are having a good day. Sue

Mia said...

What a beautiful photo of your son, Darnell!!!
And I llllllove BOTH your GORGEOUS cards!!! Thank you for the inspiration. Hugs, my friend.

Marcia Hill said...

Loving both cards from the mega succulent Darnell...you definitely aced both challenges with that one stamp! And boy oh boy do the twins look the same now with the short hair...guess you're going to have to rely on personalities now rather than looks to tell them apart! I had twin brothers but they were fraternal twins, so no issues telling them apart! And the boys will start high school next Fall? I thought they were just toddlers last year?!! Guess I'm getting older than I thought...good reason to stop thinking I think! Have a great week my friend!! Hugs. :0)

sandie said...

Fab colouring Darnell and a beautiful stamp. Very creative to make the second card using the rest if the first! The boys look fab x

Jeanne said...

The coloring on your succulent stamp is very pretty, Darnell! I really like how you got two lovely cards from it, too. Your grandsons are quite the handsome young men. I'll bet they'll have the girls swooning as they enter high school! Congratulations to them Exciting times ahead. Hugs!

HJ said...

Love your beautiful cards. The coloring is amazing. Love the diagonal die. Congrats to your grandsons. They are very handsome young men.

Pat said...

Two fabulous cards Darnell and the succulent image is so pretty and love that diagonal strip against the kraft card on the first, and then the way you have used the rest of the image with a diagonal sentiment strip on the second, and what a wonderful gift from Loll. The boys are looking great and the quizzical look on the faces of both the dogs cracked me up. Apart from their ages they look like twins too. Congratulations to both Adam and Henry on their Grade 8 graduation. x

Bunny said...

Great cards. Love the colors.

Great picture of the grandtwins. I think we've all had a botched hair cut. For anyone that has long hair that is a nightmare. Actually any botched hair cut is no fun. 

[Bunny]`

Brenda in IN said...

Beautiful soft water color on both cards and great that you got a Twofer. The twins do look alike now. At least they could part their hair on opposite sides! Good think the dogs aren't the same size or they would be twins!

Bonnie said...

What an awesome twofer, Dolly! This succulent is beautiful both ways! I'll bet the boys will have a lot of fun now that it's hard to tell them apart! Both of them are so handsome! It's hard to believe they will be off to high school this year!

Jean said...

Gorgeous cards! The boys are growing up!

Faith A at Daffodil Cards said...

Both are wonderful and so pretty cards,
I agree it doesn't seem possible to be so far into the 21st century, not when it seemed so far away when I was young! As for your boys, how wonderful to have identical twins, my Dad was one, and as a little girl I waved to my Uncle thinking it was my Dad LOL.
Faith x

HilaryJane said...

These cards are great, I am so envious of you having that stamp as it has been on my wish list for a long time. Love how you made 2 cards for the price of one brilliant. Lovely colouring too xx

Lisa T said...

Two gorgeous cards Darnell - really pretty, beutiful colours. Love both the designs and isn't it fab to get two cards from one panel. I don't know about not being able to tell the boys apart, I bet I wouldn't manage to tell the dogs apart either! have a great week, Lisa xx

Birgit said...

These are 2 great cards with a soft touch 2 both and i love the way you covered the hole in the second card and the use of the soft colours. Your twin grandkids are so cute especially next to the doggies. i am so glad you had a great weekend

Christine Alexander said...

two great cards Darnell, I always love the option of a twofer when making cards. Wonderful soft colours :)

Alice (scrAPpamondo) said...

Ah!!! Such gorgeous way to use both the embossed stripe and its leftover!!! :D Love your watercolouring, so sweet! Hammy's splatters and sparkling details are the best LOL :D
Hugs

Alice (scrAPpamondo) said...

...Forgot to say a couple of BIG CONGRATS to your grands for their graduations!! Hooray!!

conil said...

That succulent is successfully and beautifully colored. Like the way you were clever enough to use the whole image. Those boys are so handsome. Bet you're glad they choose to dress differently.

Redanne said...

Oooh, that succulent stamp is beautiful - large and small and you (and Hammy) have coloured it wonderfully. I love that you used both parts, your cards are gorgeous!

Adam and Henry are so handsome, but they do look identical now - I bet they could have a lot of fun with family and friends! Hugs, Annie xxx

Cat Craig said...

Great use of that huge stamp. Love that you took the time to make two. Nice to see the grands as well...have a great week.

Carol L said...

I love how your mind works with making twofers :) These cards are wonderful and each has it's own fabulous look! Speaking of looks, I never realized the twins were identical until I saw this photo! Hair does make a completely different look eh? They are so handsome and growing up so quickly! Bravo on their graduation. Now as they enter their later teen years, they'll probably love being identical and tricking everyone with playing who's who at school! LOL

Em Louise Fairley said...

The cards are gorgeous, as are both boys xoxo

Mac Mable said...

Fabulous to get the two cards from that wonderful succulent plant stamp Darnell x. You have coloured it so prettily and of course loving Hammy's winking x Of course love the both cards but the first one is extra special.....Talking about special those two young boys are so handsome and loving the two dogs too ....Congratulations to them both x

Mary Anne / MA54K said...

Wow, wow, wow..... no, you sure could not waste that gorgeous plant...yay for you and finding the perfect use for each part!

Karen Brown said...

Darnell, two fabulous cards! I love that your got two-fer-one! The embossing and color selection is so pretty. Thanks for joining us at Watercooler Wednesday.

Leslie Miller said...

Of course you had to use the rest of the image. I was sure you had a second card coming, but I didn't scroll ahead... I waited and was rewarded. That is one BIG succulent and you colored it so delicately and beautifully. It's interesting to see each NBUS as you share it. I'm always curious as to which stamps my friends choose to buy. Look at those boys! When I started 9th it was considered high school. Is it middle school now? They're really growing up!

Lisa Elton said...

Love how you've accentuated the positive and not eliminated the negative! These are beautiful Darnell and your colors are perfect. I can't believe how those handsome boys have grown. High school next year...NO!!!

jimlynn said...

That really is a mega succulent image - and so pretty. Love your cards! The boys are growing up so fast. Before you know it you'll be posting high school graduation pictures. Very handsome young men.
Lynn

Created by Kath said...

Two lovely cards! Thanks for joining us at Watercooler Wednesday Challenges!

OH Babs said...

Delightful cards and I love the slant.
OMG the boys are off to high school. Driving is right around the corner. Ek!

Greta said...

LOVE that the puppy dogs are included in the picture with the growing boys--& aren't they just the cutest! It is hard to believe it's been that many years since I first saw pictures of them! Great way to get 2 cards with that beautiful stamp & I love the colors you used, Darnell!

TK said...

Great coloring on that succulent and you used ALL the parts perfectly! Me? I woulda cut that center out and left the rest for decomposition... that makes you magical! Congrats to the boys!

Loll said...

Two beautiful cards Dolly. LOVE the CAS version with the stitched strip and kraft background. AWESOME!! And LOVE how you've used the "leftovers". This reminds me of our cut-up stamping technique. Love the colours you've used on your succulent. BEAUTIFUL! Love, Lolly

Cheryl W. said...

You managed to create two beautiful cards from one image. Wish I could subtract a piece of my middle and make someone lovely from it. I'd have her do half the housework, ALL the cooking and make the bed for me every day.

Those boys are sure growing up! And handsomely, too. Before you know it, they'll be bringing someone special around to meet their Gran.

frommycraftroom said...

Two beautiful cards. Love the winking on the first one.

Heidi Weaver said...

You, Darnell, waste a perfectly good succulent image with a gaping hole in it? I think not. And the results? Stunning! As if you meant to do that all along. Love it! Thanks so much for joining our Watercooler Wednesday Challenge this week.

Linda said...

What a great way to create two fabulous cards, love the succulent image.
Great photo of the boys, they're growing up so fast xx

Michelle W said...

Two beautiful cards Darnell, I love a good twofer! Thanks for joining us at Less is More for our embossing challenge and at Watercooler Wednesday as well!

Linby said...

Yes another month gone and yet again I missed Twofer - I need to keep an eye on that window lol!
I love your cards especially the one with the diagonal snippet. I knew I shouldn't have come here today as I love succulents and now need that stamp......
Lovely pic of the grandtwins
Lynn x

Diane said...

Clever clever way to make two cards and both so very beautiful too!! Oh my, the twins will be freshmen next year, so hard to believe, and what handsome young men then are!! PS: glad your stamps from DD arrived safely, I went to town numerous times and then realized I had forgot to take them...old minds and all that...lol!!

oldpunca said...

Awesome cards and a incredible idea how to get two cards out of one motiv. The big bloom is perfectly embossed and perfectly coloured. I like gentle colours.
But this time, my friend, the two good looking young men are the stars of your post. :-) Thank you for sharing.
Have a nice day!
Hugs, Sonja

Wanda Cullen said...

Two lovely cards from one amazing large succulent stamp...LOVE! Thanks so much for joining us and rocking the throwdown colors!

Brenda said...

Wow, I am loving this mega succulent stamp Auntie! It looks so cool and fun to work with. Your first card is so CAS and pretty on that kraft background. I love the way you watercolored your succulent and I love that Hammy made it sparkle. The subtle splatters are so pretty on your second card and I love seeing more of the succulent on this one. I am also loving the diagonal die you used. Oh goodness, the twin really are hard to tell apart now!!! Yikes, I see some fun trickery come from them in the future. lol As handsome as the boys are, the pups are also stealing the scene. So beautiful they are! Hugs, Brenda

Kara Lynne said...

Natch! They are both mondo beautiful! I think the best part of succulent stamps is adding pinkish purple to green, and you mastered that! Those boys! Congratulations to the 8th grade graduates! Was the botched haircut a plot planned by Grandma to get him to cut his hair? Did you slip the barber a fiver? I'll be calling you soon...

Verna Angerhofer said...

These are two gorgeous card designs. I am loving succulents designs myself recently so I was so inspired when I saw yours. I love the coloring of the succulent too.

Sarah said...

Lovely cards Darnell, the glimmer looks great and I love the sentiment on the first. Your Grandsons really are a handsome pair xx

Michelle said...

Wow, these are awesome!

Kathyk said...

Arrgghhh! I could have sworn I had left a comment here but I can't see it now - my apologies for seeming to ignore such a splendid (and CAS) make, perfect for the LIM challenge too

Happy Wednesday

Kathyk

Di said...

Fabulous snippets card Darnell - and I love the first one as well! And your grand sons are such lovely looking young men - like peas in a pod!

Hugs

Di xx

Stamps and Paper said...

Two beautiful cards Darnell and two gorgeous young men

Anne

Lisa Babitz said...

Love the two cards you created from the pieces of the same panel.

And congrats on your grandsons' 8th grade graduation. Best wishes to them as they enter high school!

Pia S said...

I find it inspiring to see how the same stamp can be used in such different ways. Clever and appealing designs!

Nora Noll said...

I love that you colored this once but used it for two cards!! Such a cool idea!! Will be using this idea for a future card!!

Cornelia (fun stamping) said...

What a great idea to use only a portion of that stamp. I have it, too, but I find it too tedious to color it all in.... lazy me....now you gave ma a solution!

Sharon Traynor Designs said...

What handsome grandsons you have Darnell (no doubt they take after their nana!) And your two-fer cards are brilliant. I love that you got to use both parts of your coloured image. But I must say....that little panel on the kraft card really pops! Wonderful work as usual, and thanks so much for playing along with us at Less is More xx

Karenladd said...

Wait a minute...identical twin grandsons AND twin dogs??!! Or am I just seeing double? Such handsome boys, and I know you enjoy the heck out of them!

That mega-succulent card is mega-fabuloso...and aren't you the clever one to use both the main stamped image and the cut out strip!

Anita in France said...

That is such a luscious succulent, Darnell ... on both cards ... lovely with the kraft ... and of course, Hammy worked wonders with the winking! So, the botched haircut was the culprit ... I liked my idea better ... tee hee ... after all, they are such good looking young men! LYAMYBLMA! Big hugs and bisous, Anita :)

kiwimeskreations said...

You really are the mistress of thrift Darnell - love the way you have made one image make two cards without looking miserly!! Hammy did a wonderful job of the winking - he really is a master of it, but then he has an awesome tutor!
Blessings
Maxine