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 17, 2019

As Deep as the Ocean

Hello Stamplings,

I've got the vapors here. Our temps have been 105F, 106F, 103F, but we are getting a break today down to 100F! When I feel very whiny about it, I think of the generations of females who lived in the time before air conditioning with layers upon layers upon layers of clothing. And it wasn't ladylike to sweat! And ice cubes hadn't been invented so they couldn't even tuck a coupla cubes in their bahzooms! Now those ladies had the vapors!

To help, my cards today are cool and refreshing:
Showing twofers together signifies these are reminders of our current Twofer Card Challenge where the code word is ðŸŒŠNAUTICAL🌊. The swordfish is the stamp my cards have in common this time. It's from Gerda Steiner's Catch a Wave set.
Onefer
A very QACAS card for my first design. I had Hammy stand on the snout of my swordfish to bend it a little bit so he could look right into the periscope. The swordfish, not Hammy. I didn't color my images because I didn't want to detract from that gorgeous fishy pp on the bottom panel under the perfect match of SU ribbon I found to separate the panels per the sketch. Uff. I think there should've been a comma somewhere in that last sentence. 

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Twofer
More pp for the background of my second design. I believe the paper is from Our Daily Bread which is now called Divinity Designs. All the ocean critters and sediment are from the same Gerda Steiner set. 

I drew the fishing line. A simple line which makes a few scattered pieces come together to tell a story of friendship. And it's a true representation, at least in my experience. Every time I get together with four girlfriends in a restaurant, there's always that one that's looking out the window, listening to a different drummer up in her head. 

I heard that. So what if it is me?

Challenges
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Sea how easy it is to make two different designs just by using the same fish? I hope you can join us ~ and thank you if you already have ~ for this wonderful beach-y summertime 🌊NAUTICAL🌊 challenge

Pull out that fish, anchor, boat, sea gull, palm tree, wave, pier, whale, jelly fish, mermaid, pirate, submarine, octopus, flip flops, sunset-over-the-water, etc. non-digi stamps, dies, or stencils and join in the fun over at the Twofer Card Challenge! There is still a full week left to join us and we'd love to see your Twofer designs!
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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!

*Life is too short!

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52 comments:

Marina said...

Your swordfish is really cute! I do love the card with the patterned paper and uncoloured images - it feels really original. And you've created a fabulous scene on the second card. Keep coo1!

Lia said...

Two great cards! I like the way you made them with the same products.
Lia xx

Ros Crawford said...

Happy Weekend Darnell! The sun is shining here (for now) we had tons of rain but I think I'd rather that than soaring temps with no A/C.
Terrific cards ... Gotta love those fish and that has to be the only jellyfish I could love! Enjoy your day!

Linda said...

What a cute little swordfish. Great use of those pretty designer papers too.
The sun is shining here .... at the moment, although our temperatures are nowhere near as warm as yours!
Have a lovely weekend xx

Marilyn said...

Cute cards Darnell! Love the fishy paper. We have been having lots of hot weather here in Louisiana also. Ours has been 97,98 but the heat index is in the 100's.
Have a great day!
Marilyn❤

Pat said...

What a great selection of sea themed images Darnell, especially that sweet swordfish and love both of those papers and sentiments. Two fabulous Twofers. x

Donna said...

Two cute and refreshing summer cards! Like the fish paper on the cute periscope card Hammy helped with and the ocean scene is beautiful!

Cat Craig said...

What fabulous pp's you found for your incredibly cute twofers. That sword fish is such a sweetie. Loving the friendship card what an innovative way to get to the sentiment.

Bunny said...

Cute cards. I really like the patterned paper of the first card. Wish I had a couple of sheets of that.

We should get some relief this weekend from the heat because it's suppose to rain. I pray it does. We have had high heat indexes here. Too hot. It feels like Death Valley. [Bunny]`

Bonnie said...

Two fun cards, Dolly! Love that patterned paper and the fun fish!

Carol L said...

You have the best pp on both cards, what fun they both are! Love that periscope with the fish looking into it LOL That's a real change from the norm, eh? Super cute and fun cards, and thanks again for another fun Twofer!

Brenda in IN said...

How cute these cards are. I love all the little sea creatures and the swordfish rules all. A fun sentiment for the periscope card and Hammy did great with the bending. I hope no swordfish were harmed in the making of that card. I wish we could have twofers using pattern paper so I could use up some of mine. We have been making AI, brusho, and blending backgrounds and have done away with pattern paper. I can hear my pp whining about being neglected and I feel bad for it. Stay indoors during that heat wave. We had ours a while back and it was brutal and you can't do a thing outside. Perfect card making weather.

Jeanne said...

Terrific cards, Darnell. Great use of the pps. And I love that you are distinctly YOU!

KarinsArtScrap said...

these cards are great and cute Darnell
Gr Karin

Mac Mable said...

I sure enjoyed reading your post Darnell and can totally sympathise with the vapours!! What fabulous and fun cards both of them. The design and the sentiment on the first one made me laugh out aloud x. Funny story too on the second one Darnell x Stay cool or you could always come live in Scotland!!

Viv said...

Great 'fishy' cards here Dee!oh my you have got it hot tere atm. it's cooled down here so I will waft some cool air your way ok? It is gonna heat up soon they say though so it won't be for long ;) hugs Vee xx

Donna said...

Fab cards Darnell!
I love all the sea creatures!
Thanks for going fishin' with the crew from SHOPPING OUR STASH!!

cuilliesocks said...

Love these cute sea creatures and you've created two lovely cards Darnell, super designs too.
Boy is that hot, about 38 Celsius, in some areas in England reached that temperature a few weeks back, thankfully not Inverness. Keep cool and have a lovely weekend, Kate x

Verna Angerhofer said...

Super cute Twofers. I may not be able to play but I am enjoying viewing all of those who have been playing. Great Twofer challenge.

Sandra H said...

Loving both of your cards Darnell like the theme too! Not as hot for us it’s more like Autumn enjoy your weekend xx

Christine Alexander said...

great twofer Darnell, love the slight bend on swordy's nose, and great fishy backgrounds :)

Faith A at Daffodil Cards said...

Two more Brilliant cards, they are an absolute Joy Darnell, fun and beautiful and I love the story each tells. Lovely papers and seems you and I can see more out of the window than some people LOL.
Faith x

OH Babs said...

What cute stamps and designer paper that make cute cards.
Sorry to hear you are suffering from the heat. We have had a very mild summer and it could be the coastal fog, no complaints from me. Actually we have not turned on the AC and partly because it really just makes certain rooms extremely cold, so we are working on good old fashion fans and so far so good. Stay cool, Barb

Sue said...

Hi Darnell, Those cards are fab.

Hope you get some cooler days. Sue

Lisa said...

These are both so fabulous!! I love the cleaver designs of each one!! They're so fun!! Have a great weekend!! Big hugs :)

Lisa
A Mermaid's Crafts

nancy littrell said...

I hope you felt cooler while making your creative aquatic cards, Dolly. We have been thinking that 79-82 degrees days is hot...we just step into our cooler home that we keep cool by opening the windows at night and closing 1st thing in the morning. That is our AC...cool, huh?!?

Wishing you much cooler weather, my hot friend!! Hugs..

Happy Dance said...

Busted. I'm the one who's off on a different planet so often. Just can't stop the brain from tangent-ing. As to your cards...You know I'm a big fan of patterned paper, and both kinds here are absolutely fun, yet they don't distract from your images! Cool idea to have Hammy bend the snout (almost wrote snot, hahahahaha) for your periscope peeping swordfish! And nice shading, too. Love the girlfriends fishes. We should be out in a glass bottom boat enjoying this view in person! Let's go!!!! And you've inspired me. I may see if between chores I can find some time to craft. xoxoxo Miss you. Bev

Sharyn Polesel said...

I love the swordfish! Both cards are really cute. Wow, it really has been hot where you are. We've been in the high 80's and low 90's. Today we are getting some much needed rain and the temps dropped to the mid 70's. I know it won't stay that way for long. Have a wonderful weekend. Hugs, Sharyn

Kathleen said...

Two really brilliant cards Darnell, brilliant images, designs and sentiments, tip top.

Kath x

conil said...

Cool, is the operative word...though, it's 110 outside. Anyway, it was cool to sea some clever cards (love the sentiment on the second). And excellent Twofer reminder. Personally, my mojo has dissipated with the onset of these boiling temperatures and that's not cool at all.

TK said...

Sea worthy cards, I assure you, and great for all of your friends as well! Love your "bent" swordfish peeking down the periscope!

Carol H. said...

Hi Darnell! Your cards are totally adorable! So clever how you used that stamp in different ways!! I always love reading your blog and sorry I don’t comment more often. You have a way with words that I really admire! I can so relate to your hot temps. We have been just a couple degrees less than your area here in Texas. I’m so ready for fall!! Hugs!

Cheryl W. said...

There's something a little fishy about your card designs. I can't quite put my finger on it, but give me a little time... That said, I love them both. The bright colors of the tiny fish in your second card remind me of the ones I've seen in some snorkeling photos friends and family have taken.

I have two naughtycal (just taking some wordsmithing lessons from you!) cards ready to post in the current Twofer challenge. Will do so on Tuesday, my usual posting day.

Alice (scrAPpamondo) said...

Nice post, Darnell! I agree with your thoughts about ancient and modern ladies and LOVE both your fun cards! The first one is my fav, I can't stop smiling watching the swordfish with the periscope.... Who see who? LOL :D
Have a lovely Sunday! Hugs

Inkyfingers said...

What cute sea life on these lovely cards Darnell and I love the papers you chose too. QACAS is what we all need for those busy days. I think you need someone in the corner to waft you with a fan whilst you are crafting!
Hugs
Carol x

Redanne said...

Awww, you know how much I love anything to do with the sea/ocean and both these cards are adorable, I just love the sea life that you used. Sorry to hear about the heat, hope you manage to keep a little on the cool side.... Hugs, Annie xx

frommycraftroom said...

I'm sitting in my thermals, woolly socks and jumper! We clearly are never happy with the weather! :)

Love your cards. A great theme good one for our upcoming Father's Day.

JD/ Jill said...

REally cute cards!

Hope it's cooler for you soon. It's really hot here too. We don't have central A/C But I'm so thankful we finally did get one for our Bedroom window. Hubby and I often talk about how did we ever manage years without any A/C at all in our house, and no A/C in our car. I guess it's because we were younger back then that we survived without it!

kiwimeskreations said...

Your creativity knows no bounds Darnell - loving these two cards - they are both playful and cute at the dame time.
Glad to hear Hammy is earning his keep while enjoying swinging from a sword fishes snout!.... hmmm, that has my mind coming up all sorts of images!
Blessings
Maxine

Em Louise Fairley said...

Gorgeous card, Darnell xoxo

Anita in France said...

Hammy did a great job gently bending that sword, Darnell ... this cute fish clearly suffered no damaging after effects ... after all he looks as though he's so enjoying his peek down the periscope at all his colourful friends! Your cute sealife scene is adorable with that googly eyed swordfish ... a bunch of cute chums enjoying one another's company (and window gazing!) ... sounds fun to me! LYAMYLALMA! Big hugs and bisous, Anita :)

Chris Dring said...

I was feeling overheated with our mid 90 degree temps with 75% humidity, but I think you've beat us here in the mid-Atlantic. Hope you are staying cool. Both of your cards are equally adorable! Love that swordfish, especially with the added googly eye on the second card! Love me some googly eyes! LOL! Thanks for joining the fishy fun at Shopping Our Stash!

Kara Lynne said...

Who knew a swordfish could be so adorable?! I wonder what the sailors were thinking when they saw that sword pointing right at them. Probably, "Don't break the glass!". Her google eye is so cute as she's hanging out with her colorful fish friends! Can't wait to sit in that restaurant booth with you soon!

Amy O said...

Cute cards! I love the expressions on their faces. Thanks for joining us at Freshly Made Sketches this week!

Jen Timko said...

Now aren't these as cute as can be?! What fun cards. Always happy to see you at FMS!

Fikreta said...

Very beautiful cards!

Leslie Miller said...

Ack, I've been in the hot weather for a couple of weeks and this Oregon coastie is not used to it! Rich and I keep reminding each other of the days before modern conveniences, plus wool clothing and layers and all the work in the fields and on and on... I'm so glad to cool off with your darling cards! Today I have WiFi, but tomorrow probably not, so thought I'd drop in and read all your delightful posts, see your cards, get inspired for when we return home. It's a treat, Darnell!

Sharron said...

Love both of these! That swordfish is especially cute looking into the periscope. You're so lucky to have an assistant to help you with things like that!

Celeste Goff said...

Ugh Darnell, those temps! I hope you guys get a cool streak soon. I love your fun underwater cards!

HilaryJane said...

Love your little fishes and that patterned paper is just fabulous xx

Maryvonne Coussé said...

Super Cute !
Thanks for joining us at Sparkle Monthly Challenges blog and good luck
Maryvonne DT Member

Vickie Y said...

Adorable, cute cards! Thank you for sharing with us at The Sparkles Monthly Challenge