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!

February 23, 2020

Hello, Hugs, and Joy!

Hello Stamplings!

We are running headlong through February as if our pants were on fire and here in California, we have temperatures to reflect that. With a roly-poly stature and a tendency to heat up at a moment's notice, I wish winter could have stayed around a bit longer. 

Bless you, please don't hate me if you're freezing where you are, wishing winter was long gone. It's always the way, isn't it? But, hey ho, weather's gonna do what weather's gonna do, so we might as well get comfy by stripping down or layering up and getting on with it!

Thus, I have the simpliest possible designs to share with you.

To start with, a twofer I made a while back to use up some pretty pp.

1.
The little square NBUS flowers for both cards are part of a set of dies called "Floral Squares" by Pinkfresh. I'm not sure who makes the hello. The stitched frame is from MFT. For this card, I added glossy accents to the petals for a stained glass effect, which Hammy loves to ice skate on.

Challenges
  • Double D: Saying Hello.
  • Simon Says Monday: Frame it.
  • UnstampaBelles: Who am I? Someone who likes things to be neat and organized, who loves bright colors,  and who's always ready with a friendly smile and a welcoming hello.
Add our button if you wish

2.
I used a Cuttlebug embossing folder for this design and I cut the MFT sediment from the same pp. QACAS at its finest.

Challenges
For your blog    Right Click to Save   
 Blog Badge

Threefer
On a light gray card base I stamped a star galaxy and then heat-embossed it in clear. Can you make out that I masked an area with a star shape before stamping the galaxy? In the center of the empty star space, I white heat-embossed the "Joy" portion of a Christmas Joy stamp from Stampendous. In the corner, I stamped the remainder of the greeting. 

Here is a closeup where hopefully you can see that even the gray card base is embedded with tiny glitter. Not by me, by the manufacturer. 
Challenges
    
~~~

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 whenever my nursing duties allow it.

A head's up. Sadly, the shady spammers have figured out a way to send their crap via the Contact Form some of us use on our side bars as a safe way to get in touch with each other.😠I've taken the form off my side bar here and off the Twofer Card Challenge side bar. If you need to get in touch with me, please see the information on my profile page. 

*Life is too short!

To open the pop-up comment box that let's you jump to the end w/o scrollingClick CTL + Home. Click the Home tab under my blog banner which resets the post. Click Page Down to reach the end of the post. Click Comments and a pop-up box opens. Click "Jump to Comment Form" and wallah, no more car pool tunnel! Mwah! (p.s. If you ask me a question in your comment, please remember to leave me your email address so I can respond. Thank you!)

79 comments:

Chrissie said...

All gorgeous Darnell... I may have to case some of these as my mojo has been AWOL since my knee surgery! xxxxxxx

Kathyk said...

I'm with you about running hot and preferring it slightly cooler, Darnell.

Fabulous makes today and gorgeous colours too.

Happy Sunday all ..... sorry to hear about the missing mojo Chrissie (in the comment above)

Kathyk

Sue's Crafty Corner said...

Three fantastic cards Darnell. I love the dies that you've used for the flowers.

Sue xx

Barbara said...

Any of these cards is a super way to say "Hello." You are so creative. Thanks for sharing it with us and joining in the fun at Double D Hello Challenge.
Barbara DT.

Jeanne said...

Such pretty cards, Darnell! What a bummer that these people cannot use their skills for good!

Pat said...

I love these Darnell. The first two are so bright and pretty using the paper and the die cut flower frames stand out so well over the top, and then your beautiful stars in a starry shape framing your great sentiment. Gorgeous! x

Carol L said...

Wonderful cards, all three of them! Love the stained glass look of those pretty flowers and the bubbly embossed background on the 2nd card. Yep, I see the star shape in the last card - very clever and unique. So that's why I'm suddenly getting all kinds of spam email? I'm taking mine down too, thanks for the heads up!

Bunny said...

I love the beautiful colors of the paper on the first 2 cards. All of the cards are lovely. Boo and hiss on the spammers. Tell Hammy that's his job to put a stop to them. He's got to earn some pocket cash by being head of cyber security. [Bunny]

cuilliesocks said...

Hi Darnell, a trio of gorgeously designed card, beautiful colours and images, glad I don't have to pick a fav.
Our weather is awful here in the UK, and a great many folks have been flooded, and it appears that there has to be more rain. Inverness is lucky although it was bitter cold this morning and raining/sleeting/snowing/sunshine.....what's it all about. In for the day now, Kate x

Hilda Burton said...

I love all the cards today, Darnell. How very clever on the third one to mask a star shape to stamp the Joy. In Delaware, we've had a very mild winter and no complaining here. We have crocuses (or croci) blooming already. It's way too early for spring, but we'll have more cold weather I'm sure and possibly some of the white stuff. Enjoy your day!

Craftychris said...

Ooh Darnell, every one of these cards is an absolute beauty! A feast for the eyes! It's very changeable weather here, lots of rain and wind with a bit of sunshine thrown in. I don't mind what the weather is doing. I do count my self lucky that where we are we don't get huge extremes like flooding or fires etc. I feel so bad for those that do. Hugs my friend. xxxxxxxxx

Diane said...

ALL the cards are gorgeous and the one you entered into our challenge at Double D is full of Springtime colors and beautifully designed too...thanks for joining us!
Diane DD DT {Nellies Nest}

Donna said...

Beautiful cards Darnell! The background paper looks like a smoothed background, like the stained glass effect of the bossy accents!

Donna said...

Darn spell correct, glossy accents, lol!

I Card Everyone said...

So happy you saw stars, D.! and then had them shoot right over to CTS!
A lovely way to start my day... three very pretty cards!
=] M

KandA said...

Faulous threesome Darnell. Love the colours and dies on the first two and super stars on the threefer xx

Cat Craig said...

Super threesome Darnell. I have those pinkfresh dies and have yet to play. Maybe this week. I love the colorful backgrounds you used and the added textures of the frame and the EF. I am so glad you pointed out your masking on the third card...that was a cool idea. Have a great rest of the weekend, and heres hoping your man is taking it easy and progressing.

Sarah said...

A terrific trio Darnell, love the textures on each of them. Hope Mister is doing well xx

Faith A at Daffodil Cards said...

Thankfully past the body "heat", I'm into the freeze stage now! at least I can cosy up LOL. LOVE your cards Darnell, such pretty backgrounds and sentiment dies, LOVE your star card, it enhances it even more with the sparkly card.
As for the spammers, I keep getting them "following" me on Bloglovin, they should know this old woman won't let them in. I report it as spam. Bloglovin hasn't answered my many emails to get them stopped.
Anyhow, have a GREAT week.
Faith x

Darlene said...

Both cards are just fabulous Darnell ... love those beautiful & happy colors on your background & flower! Those dang spammers sure know how to find their way in don't they! Grrr! HUGS & HAPPY DAY! Thanks so much for joining in the fun at our Double D ‘Hello’ challenge! Good Luck and we hope you’ll come back often.
Darlene
DOUBLE D Challenge Blog
DAR’S CRAFTY CREATIONS Please stop in for a visit!

Verna Angerhofer said...

Well these three cards are all so well designed and gorgeous. I just love the colors on the first two. They are so cheery. And, the star studded creation you made is stellar indeed. The masking of a star shape really looks for a great design.

Christine Alexander said...

those darn spammers get everywhere, I'm thinking of taking my contact me link off.
3 great cards Darnel, love that bright background for your die cuts and that beautiful sparkly star background. What a great way to frame your JOY sentiment.

Vicki said...

Beautiful HELLO card, Darnell as are all of the others. I love the background design against the white. Thanks for joining the Double D, "HELLO" Challenge.

Alice (scrAPpamondo) said...

Three lovely cards Darnell, and particularly love the background you used for the first and second ones, wow, it's wonderful!
Hugs

Jean said...

Such beautiful cards! Love the colorful backgrounds on the first two.

Carole said...

FAB,FAB,FAB cards Darnell...super first two with the PP and lovely dies and a dreamy 3rd card with the stars! Cold, wet and windy here...want to swop? xx

Faith A at Daffodil Cards said...

I'm back with my DT hat on, to give more praise to your beautiful card and embossing Darnell, love the pattern. Thank you so much for joining us in our Use Embossing challenge at The Male Room this week. Looking forward to see you again next challenge.

Faith The Male Room DT

HilaryJane said...

Three great cards, I love those little frames with the flowers especially the daisy, who doesn't love daisies? Your creative juices are flowing well xx

Sandra H said...

It’s not so cold here but we are having lots of rain which has caused flooding and the winds are awful so roll on spring for some drier days and summer too hate wishing the time away but the blink of an eye and another month is nearly over... l adore your cards they are so lovely and creative lovely colours to the first one brings spring into my mind take care xx

Kathleen said...

Hello and what a joy to see you here again, sending hugs to you too.
Three super, duper cards, stunning backgrounds and really brilliant designs.

Kath x

Fikreta said...

gorgoeus cards!

Francesca said...

Beautiful card! Thank you for playing at AAA Cards!

Unknown said...

All such lovely cards! Thanks so much for joining in our colour challenge at CAS on Friday. Cheers, Kerry DT

Celeste Goff said...

What gorgeous cards Darnell! The backgrounds are so cool on all of them!

Natalie said...

Great cards Darnell! I recently got those floral dies and just love them.

It was warm enough up here (9C / 48F) to go for a bike ride even though there is still some snow.

Liz said...

A wonderful trio of cards Darnell. I especially love the flower die cuts.

We're busy 'layering up' here. Cold, windy and wet, although luckily we're not in the area of the country affected by all the flooding. xx

Marcia Hill said...

You shouldn't have told me it was DSP Darnell...before I started reading I was thinking that you had water colored the background and had done an awesome job at it too! Oh well, I still really like both cards you made with it and your star card is just as delighful too! No hot weather here, but we have had sunshine for the past 5 days in a row which is somewhat of a miracle around here in Michigan during the Winter months...usually Bev and Kara are hogging it all! Maybe you should come visit here in the Winter...we have the perfect excuse to stay inside and craft away our days!! Hugs. :0)

Loll said...

Such beautiful papers for your twofer cards Dolly! I love all those bright, happy colours. And the joy card is sweet with your stamped galaxy of stars. Great idea to mask off the area you want the stars to appear. Thanks for sharing wtih us at CAS Christmas! Love, Lolly

Lisa Elton said...

We had a blast of warm temps today but will be back below freezing soon, come visit! Three lovely cards today!

TK said...

Three wonderful cards, each as terrific as the next! Love the sparkly paper on the last card too -- joyful!

Sue said...

Hi Darnell, Loving the cards.

Hope you have a good start to the week. Sue

Susan said...

Love that star galaxy! Perfect masking to leave a star-shaped space for the "joy" sentiment. A fabulous CAS card! Thank you so much for joining us at CAS Christmas.

Your other two cards are great - lovely coloured patterned paper!

kiwimeskreations said...

We are still running hot down here, but in the mid 20's at the moment - rising again, starting tomorrow. It's been so hot the last few weeks that the mid 20's feel cool, when normally we mutter that it is hot!
Loving your cards Darnell, and tell Hammy to be careful with his skating, I would hate him to twist an ankle and be unable to help in the playhouse!
Blessings
Maxine

Linda said...

These are fab .... Love the bright colours in the patterned paper.
Your star design is gorgeous .... very clever masking off the shape in the centre xx

Ruth said...

Ooooh pretty patterned paper. I'm trying to destash at the moment but patterned paper seems to attract me like a moth to a flame. Snowing here this morning but as always turning into slush.... enjoy the warmth! xx

Stampin with Liz Design said...

These are all so gorgeous and colourful! Thanks for playing along at CAS on Friday Challenges! Crafty hugs Linda

Vicky Hayes said...

A glorious threefer Darnell - with a perfect title too :) I love the paper you used as a background for your first two and the different frames are lovely. My CAS little heart belongs to the last card though and I especially love that you left the star shape to stamp your 'joy' in. You chose the perfect card stock for it too! Vicky x

Marilyn said...

Your cards are beautiful Darnell! Our weather has been a roller coaster also!
Have a great day!
Marilyn ❤️

Anita in France said...

Such pretty, blooming twofers, Darnell ... love how the colour on the first has intensified with Hammy's ice skating antics ... and the texture on the second is positively touchable! What a gorgeous, joyful final card ... the shimmer is delicious ... and you know how I feel about the word joy ... simply splendid and stylish! LYAMYHAHMA! Big hugs and bisous, Anita :)

Em Louise Fairley said...

They are all fab, Darnell xoxo

jimlynn said...

Loving those blends of colors! WOW!!! VERY pretty cards Darnell.
Lynn

Brenda in IN said...

I was loving your sponging only to find this is pattern paper! It is beautiful and a wonderful background for both of those great dies. The gray card is so pretty and just shines with joy.

Cris G. said...

Three great CAS cards, Darnel! Spring is close and Christmas... is just the most wonderful time of the year :)!
Well, I have been hacked. Not exactly me, but the blog. I'ts down, gone, or whatever you might wish to call it...
I just searched the exact meaning of hacker on Wikipedia, and this was the result: "A computer hacker is any skilled computer expert who uses their technical knowledge to overcome a problem". Really? Shouldn't it be "...a computer expert who causes a problem to someone who didn't have one, before using their technical knowledge?"
Conclusion, the folks on Wikipedia are very optimistic 😔

BożenA said...

WOW! Darnell, your backgrounds are stunning !! Delicate colors and so beautiful mixing them means that you can't take your eyes off your cards. I love them ! The third card surprised me totally. It looks beautiful when, against a light gray background, you embossed a dark gray galaxy and JOY's contrasting white sentiment. A great project!
hugs,
BożenA

Birgit said...

All 3 cards are great because it shows with some unique background and the sizzex/cuddlebug, you can make such beautiful cards. I love what you created-super nice. I wish we had crisp cold temps and snow but we have a high today of 9C but then it goes cold again and snowy/slush later in the week as the temps go down. I hate the yo-yo

Jane said...

Oh that star space created by stars is just so clever! Awesome card Darnell. Thanks for playing at AAA Cards, hope to see you join in with future challenges too.

Bobby said...

The Mister must be doing better since you had time to make three wonderful cards, Darnell. That pp is wonderful and I love how it darkened under the Glossy Accent in the petals. The embossing works well with the round ends of the flower petals on the second card and the I do see the masking behind the silvery stars.

oldpunca said...

Weather is playing mad. We also have too high temperatures for February.
I'm admiring your cards. All three are so effective with so little number of elements. There is a fantastic background on the first one and a gentle die cut of the daisy. You have combined the large word with the background behind the flower perfectly on the second card. But the third one has stolen my heart this time. Perfect CAS. :-)
Have a nice week!
Hugs, Sonja

Redanne said...

Gorgeous cards dear Darnell, I love the first two, the DP is so pretty. I really love the grey card too, grey looks so beautiful for a Christmas card - like Sonya (above) it has really stolen my heart too!

It is cool here but tons of rain, flooding almost everywhere but safe here at the moment, fingers crossed...

Hope Mister is improving, thinking of you both. Hugs, Annie xxx

Colleen said...

I adore all your cards, Darnell! Your joy one is especially striking, love all the stars surrounding the joy! Awesome Cas Christmas card for the challenge!

Leslie Miller said...

That really IS some gorgeous paper on your onefer and twofer! You're so good at QACAS. They always look amazing. Pretty Christmas card, too! Loving that shimmery paper. How do you know it's the contact form that's letting the spam in? I've been getting a lot of junk emails, too, but my desk top puts them in junk. However, they show up in my phone. Maybe I should remove the form, too.

Bonnie said...

I love these Pinkfresh frames and your "stained glass" daisy makes me love them even more! Great idea to use them with this pretty patterned paper! How creative to mask a star to stamp the joy in amongst the galaxy of stars! Thanks so much for sharing with us at CAS Christmas!

Cheryl W. said...

Your three-fer is three-mendous! Love them all. You're so smart to think ahead when planning to die-cut and making sure you get a card front out of an off-cut. I rarely am that organized in my card-planning process. I'm glad you pointed out the masked off star shape. I hadn't noticed it, but when you pointed it out, it became quite obvious.

Trina P. said...

As always, a wonderful array of cards, Darnell. Very creative to mask a star before stamping the galaxy. The joy white heat embossed within the masked star and on gray cardstock really pops beautifully. Great takes on the challenges. Thank you for joining us at CAS Christmas.

Linda W. (ScrappinBari) said...

Three fabulous cards, Darnell - just love all of them!! Such yummy paper on card one showcased with the white frames - great touch Hammy has with the glossy stuff! And I love the simple elegance of cards two and three!!

Nance said...

Three beautiful cards, Darnell! I love those first two with the colorful backgrounds. Great emboss folder on the 2nd one. Fun, bright and cheerful! Thanks for playing with us at Krafty Chicks this week.

Linby said...

oh my goodness that NBUS was just waiting to be unleashed - fantastic cards, love how you put those first two cards together. Plus a gorgeous CAS threefer.

Ros Crawford said...

What gorgeous DP and you took full advantage turning out two spectacular cards. Love the CAS Christmas card! Not even going to mention the weather humph!

Brenda said...

I hear you about the weather Auntie, we haven't had a hard winter-been pretty mild but I'm over winter and ready for spring. But that is always the way when you are cooped up inside as we've had a ton of rain and very little sun. I understand the hot though too! We always want what we don't have and do not have co control over the weather so have to make the best of it. I am totally loving all three of your stunning cards! The first two are so bright and cheery. Hard to believe that is pattern paper, I would have beted that you and Hammy had gotten really only with those amazing backgrounds. Love them! Then these is the last card-wow, it is simply stunning! Loving that light gray shimmery/sparkly paper but then you added those sparkly stars inside a star shape! Amazing!!! Loving the bold sentiment Inside the star shape and finishing it up under the sprinkling of stars. Just stunning and a great take on the sketch! You are one clever and talented card maker Auntie! Hugs, Brenda

Vikki H said...

Can't believe I haven't visited your site until today but so glad I did! Your background paper is fabulous for the first two cards.

Tracey McNeely said...

So pretty and just what I needed today, a peak at spring. After a winter of not too much snow, we have had a foot fall in the last 24 hours and it`s still snowing! lol

Greta said...

Oh boy do I love the Pinkfresh dies & the cards you made with them, Darnell! We really didn't get winter up here, either. I suppose the bugs will be out in force this summer--yuk!

frommycraftroom said...

Love them all!

With my DT hat perfect for our challenge. I have seen you have many visitors to the play room and would think you would welcome people warmly with a smile :) Thanks for sharing with us at Unstampabelles.

Di said...

So beautiful - all of them dear Darnell! I really do love the schparkly stars one.

Our Dudley now has some nfected spots from that blasted groomer! He's so good when we have to dab with salt water to sterilise and then gently rub the cream in. He lies on his back so patiently. One is right beside his scar from the op. last year. He certainly was at the front of the line for having things go wrong. He says 'woof, who, me?'!!

Thinking about the spammers - did you replace for example the @ sign with the word 'at'? That usually throws them off the scent - I have 'at' and 'underline' spelled out that way on my sidebar. Having said that - the crafty so and so's are possibly cottoning on to us doing that.

Love and hugs

Di xx

Keti's Projects said...

Gorjuss card. I love the first one and I'm soo glad I got to know you a little better here with "who am I" challenge this month at Unstampabelles. Keti (DT)

Wickcliss said...

Gorgeous card. Love the cuttlebug embossed background that compliments the whole project. Thanks you for playing at THE MALE ROOM

Lindsey said...

What a glorious trio of cards!

Viv said...

Gorgeous cards again Dee!loving the beautiful colours you used too.feels more Spring like here today...well at least the rain has stopped and the sun is out for a change...although it's very cold!Thanks for the good wishes too, hope the Mister is feelng better also ;) hugs Vee xx

Sari / Granne said...

Wonderful CAS design with pop of awesome colors and pure white. Thank you for playing along at the Male Room Embossing challenge. A new fun challenge will soon be up to play along with, I hope to see you again.