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!

October 10, 2019

What a Sweet Idea!

Hello Stamplings!

We are wrapping up our craft retreat in the beautiful state of Indiana where we are enjoying cool autumn temperatures and gorgeous leaf colors! Photos to come.

It's the 10th of the month and this month the Twofer Card Challenge wants to see what SWEETS you have in your crafty cupboard!
The sweet element my designs have in common is the Candy Swirl stencil from Simon Says Stamp!
Onefer
I used my Clarity brushes to apply the ink through the stencil so I could sweep on alternating lighter and heavier ink with some control. (I'm not as proficient with other applicators, but I'm practicing.) The pp is from SU. It's ancient, but still cheerful (like me) and the sediment is "Messages for Everyday," also from SSS. The jumbo fishtail banner is from MFT.

Twofer
For this creation, I first made the full circular stenciled candy alternating CP red ink and Brilliance galaxy gold ink. I left a few swirls white. I fussy cut the candy swirl and then trimmed it to make it look like the shape of a full party skirt. I used a paintbrush to paint the bodice gold and then gave her a belt of gold thread. I used bubble wrap to give her a crinoline petticoat. Hammy finished it off with a liberal dose of Stella. We were both quite tickled with this unconventional use of the Candy Swirl stencil.

The background pale teal is glitter paper, as is the border pp from DCWV. The NBUS sediment and bodice are from the SSS card kit from February 2013!

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🍬🎂🥮🍪🍪
Anything containing sugar or sweetener.
Detailed information can be found at the Twofer Card Challengeas well as fantastic inspiration from our very talented Guest Designers, Lisa and Marianne, and from the entire Design Team who work very hard to enthusiate you! Thank you, ladies!

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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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62 comments:

Julie B said...

Lucky you on another craft retreat, can't believe its been 2 years since Kylie's last foray. Have had to make do with the odd half day, off to N Wales to an Altenew one next month.
What a fun use of the stencil, the dress reminds me of those 50's pics of my Ma! :)

Stamps and Paper said...

Great use of your swirly stencil Darnell and your colours are lovely

Anne

Sandra H said...

Wow two fabulous cards l love your swirly stencil and the colours are gorgeous as are the layouts enjoy your day xx

oldpunca said...

Oh my gosh! Fantastic turn of candy swirl to a party skirt! The idea to use a bubble wrap to add dimension is great. Your cards are awesome.
Have a great time on your craft retreat!
Hugs, Sonja

Marilyn said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Marilyn said...

Pretty cards! Love how you used the stencil to make the skirt!
Have a great day!
Marilyn ❤️

Jeanne said...

Oh, Darnell! Your two-fer is fabulous! Love it as a candy that is beautifully blended and as a flow-y, twirly colorful skirt. Great creative thinking to come up with these ideas. Great use of the pattern paper, too. Thanks so much for sharing! Hugs!

Birgit said...

Using the candy stripes to create a dress is genius! Two fabulous inspirational cards here Darnell.

Cat Craig said...

Darnell, go you for getting in such a fun unconventional card for this challenge. I love that girly swirly skirt. Your minty swirl looks luscious too. Great patterned papers.

Bunny said...

Sweet challenge.

I can't wait to see your pictures. [Bunny]`

Em Louise Fairley said...

They are fab, Darnell xoxo

Fikreta said...

Beautiful cards!

designbydonna said...

At first glance and without explanation I could not tell they were made with the same stencil. Very creative... Love that idea of bubble wrap under the skirt.

Hilda Burton said...

What fun cards today, Darnell. Have a lovely day!

Jean said...

So cute and clever! Love the cards!

Verna Angerhofer said...

Fantastic and wonderful cards with that candy swirl. Now I will see if I can come up with anything sweet!

Gerrina said...

They are so different that I needed a second glimpse to see what you used twice! Great work! Hugs, Gerrina

Loll said...

Two adorable cards using your candy swirl stencil, Dolly! Love the patterned paper that's perfect for both your cards. Especially love the candy swirl party dress! Very creative, my friend! Lolly xx

Jeanne H said...

What wonderfully creative cards, Darnell. Love and hugs to you!

Happy Dance said...

Sweet! Peppermints are my granddaughter Lizzy's favorite candies and I keep a stash of them here just for her, so naturally, I'm mad about your cards! Love that big, blue spearmint candy on your first card, and the paper behind it is so perfect! And talk about stretching that stencil...That dress is such a brilliant idea! More perfect paper which compliments the frock wonderfully. I remember crinolines, too. I always wanted a big one one when I was little, but mom said no....poor, poor, pitiful me. These are happy and fun cards. Love them both! xoxo (Wish I could be at the retreat with you too!!) Bev

conil said...

Consider me enthused, especially by your cleverness. Peppermint swirl is one of my favorite patterns...so versatile...but never thought to make a skirt out of it. Not being at brilliant as you, this challenge is going to be a challenge is going to be a...er...challenge. Hope I get as good an idea as you did.

Sue said...

Hi Darnell, Loving the cards.

Hope you are having a nice day. Sue

Pia S said...

You’ve used the swirl stencil in two very different ways. Both cards are good looking and inspiring, but your skirt and bodice design is really original. Great use of older stuff too, it always feels good to get to use some oldies as well.

Maria Rodriguez. said...

Hello Darnell: WOW!! what a super fun Twofer challenge.
You guys never cease to amaze me with your themes, let me go dig out some sweets from my stash.
See you in the gallery.
XO
Maria.

nancy littrell said...

Two very clever sweet stenciled cards, Dolly:-) I LOVE your party dress and you even included a bit of petticoat peeking out from under the skirt. That sure brings back memories:-)
Can't wait to see photos of your retreat in Indiana. We are still in the high desert and mts of Great Basin. Clear, Crisp and at times cold, but sunny weather:-)
Safe travels home, my dear friend. Love and Hugs.Nancy

cuilliesocks said...

I do like your beautiful bright cards, super designs too, Kate x

Bonnie said...

How creative to go from an all day piece of candy to a fancy party dress! I can just see someone whirling and twirling in that dress! Safe travels home.

Pat said...

Your Twofers are really great Darnell and what a wonderful idea to make the skirt of the dress from the candy swirl stencil and love the colours on both cards and the light and dark tones of the blue swirl on the first card is so pretty too, and you have added two beautiful papers which complement the designs so well. Looking forward also to hearing about your time in Indiana. x

Tracey McNeely said...

What a clever way to use the pinwheel--candy and a skirt! I think ink blended perfectly.

Leslie Miller said...

These cards knocked me right off my feet, Darnell! So now I learn it's a stencil and I never would have even thought to buy this stencil, but just look at the two stupendous cards you made with it! It's cute enough as a candy with that super fun paper in the background, but as a party dress -- wow! Cute paper on that one, too, and a crinoline petticoat, as well. Remember petticoats when we were little? The fuller the better!

frommycraftroom said...

Bet you've had a blast on your retreat.
Love your cards. Very very clever full skirt.
The NBUS from 2013 makes me feel somewhat better ;)

Marcia Hill said...

Now who woulda thunk to make a dress from a swirly stencil...not me but I love the way your mind works Darnell, as the card is fabulous! Love the full swirly card too, but especially LOVE the dress card!! Sweet, SWEET cards! (sorry, couldn't resist!) Hope you're enjoying your time away and I'm jealous that you have color down there! We don't have much yet up here in Michigan! Hopefully the next week or two and things will start to change! Hugs. :0)

Lee Ann Barrett said...

Well if that isn't the most clever use of a stencil, EVER!!!! Just fantastic, Darnell! Creativity at its best!

Lisa Elton said...

Oh that little dress is just the cutest thing! Two delightful cards Darnell. I'm tickled pink to be joining you and the team this month. Thanks again XO

Barb Ghig said...

Two really CUTE cards and another really fun theme, Darnell! Enjoy the rest of your time at your retreat...I can't wait to play along, as always!

Surekha Galagoda said...

Dear Darnell
Love the two cards. I also want to play along if time permits, Blessings

Cheryl W. said...

Your cards are so creative! I have to say, though, this one has me stumped. I'm going to sleep on it and hope that once I'm deep in REM sleep, my brain will come up with something. Fingers crossed!

TK said...

Well that was a wonderful surprise! Love the swirl, but the swirl as a dancing skirt is fabulous! Great unconventional use!

kiwimeskreations said...

WOW, WOW and Wow again - now I have picked my jaw up from the floor... these are stunning Darnell, and you and Hammy have every right tho be proud of you unconventional use of the stencil, that is amazing
Blessings
Maxine

Sue's Crafty Corner said...

Hope you've had a wonderful retreat Darnell. Two fabulous cards using a gorgeous stencil.

Sue xx

Donna said...

These are just too sweet! Have a sweet day Darnell!

Redanne said...

I really do hope you have had an amazing time at the retreat!

I love both cards, the second one is so clever, I would never have thought of that, it looks amazing. A fabulous twofer.

Hugs, Annie xxx

Linda said...

Hope you've had a great time on your retreat ...... can't wait to some pictures.
Sweet cards ..... love the dress on the second one, very clever xx

Mac Mable said...

I too am ancient and cheerful Darnell x What creative and fabulous cards and great use of the stencil.....Extra creative with the dress card, which I love x.

Nora Noll said...

These are GORGEOUS!!! I LOVE the blue "sweet" on your card. That is one of my favorite blues. The way you made that dress is AMAZING!!! Such a fun design!!

Maria said...

How cute are both cards, Darnell! Love the background paper and the sweet swirl on your first card! The second card is so creative and pretty! Love the crinoline petticoat! I just got done showing my hubby all the cards we did at the retreat! It was so fun meeting you and all the gals in person! I thank you for the techniques that you showed us! I feel more confident using my zig markers and powdered colors now! Thanks again! Take good care, hugs!!

Alice (scrAPpamondo) said...

Hi Darnell! Enjoy your retreat! :D
You have always a lot of stunning and clever ideas!! Fabulous both the cards and great use of the stencil!! I'm very impressed by the way you made the dress card!! Sooooo creative and different!! And the touch of the bubble wrap for petticoat is just out of this world :) Stunning, brilliant and very artistic!! Very well done! Thanks for sharing your Art with us!

Karenladd said...

That candy swirl stencil is a fun one but YIKES...your turning it into the dress skirt is such a wonderful surprise! As if that weren't already enough, you go and use bubble wrap for a petticoat. Picking myself off the floor to say BRAVO! Hope you're having a great time at your retreat, and we'll all be waiting to see the mischief up close when you return.

Ros Crawford said...

Thanks so much to you gals for sending the photo of you at the retreat! I'm sure it was a blast... even though I wasn't there Lol! Terrific cards and I love how you made the dress from that image... Clever!

Bobby said...

How lucky to be enjoying a craft retreat, Darnell. I'm sure you all had fun. I love your unconventional use of that peppermint swirl for a skirt but NBUS from 2013? Please tell me you used other things from the kit and only what you used here was NBUS.

Linda W. (ScrappinBari) said...

Crazy fun twofer, Darnell - just love how you used the stencil, especially to create that gold party dress! Genius!!

Carole Pollard said...

Great cards love the stencilling and that pretty dress I’ve not been around much lately live things just got in the way .Hope you enjoyed the retreat sounds great fun Love and hugs Carole x

Marianne said...

Such a fabulous twofer, Darnell! I love how both of your cards are not Christmas related, and I adore your party skirt!
Marianne x

Kara Lynne said...

Look at you go with those stencils! I love the two tone peppermint, and what great paper - cheerful and old, hahaha! Such a fun whimsical party dress, and so clever to boot! I miss you already and will have to catch up soon!

Craftychris said...

Two awesome cards and the party dress is soooooo clever! Both are lovely and cheerful, happy cards. Love them my friend! Hugs xxxxxx

Carol H. said...

Two so sweet cards Darnell! You are SO clever to create the dress like that! Love it! Hugs!!

Glittered Paws said...

What a fun retreat - lucky you. Love your your twofer this time, very cute. I have the Clarity brushes as well and have not yet mastered the technique.

JD/ Jill said...

Two great cards! I have that designer paper (or maybe I did give it away in a donation box...because I could never figure out a waya to use it. But you sure knew how to use it! Very nicely done!

Anita in France said...

What a fun, celebratory birthday card, Darnell ... you gave such great movement to the swirly sweet! Oh my, how clever to create the swirly fashion statement party frock on your stylish card ... it's brilliant ... and so beautifully party-ish in gold with the lacy petticoat! Sooooo creative! LYAMYBLMA ... LFTOCT! Big hugs and bisous, Anita :)

Jacquie Southas said...

Love, love, love the swirly skirt!

Greta said...

So creative! The skirt is amazing!

BożenA said...

A great idea for great cards. I particularly like the lace frill in the skirt.
Hugs,
BozenA