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!

May 21, 2020

Hey There, With Loving Thoughts

Hello Stamplings!

Welcome! I hope you are holding up okay as you marched up and over another hump day! Remember when weekends were so beciting? What's happening to me is that I keep waking up on Tuesdays thinking it's Saturday. It's happened three weeks in a row. What can it mean? I put in a full week's work on Mondays? Or I'm ready to drink again?🍹

My two gratitudes today are laundry soup pods and the Misti. How disgusting would laundry soup be? You gotta love typos.

My cards today:

Onefer
My card was inspired by Lolly's card. When I saw it, I was reminded of this adorable NBUS stamp. These birds are from Cottage Cutz, but ornithetically they can only be found off the island of Ithaca. Because it is the smallest of the Greek Isles, these wee birds are also teeny, not much bigger than a hummingbird. They are bright yellow from all the sunshine and they always travel in threes, in order to have eyeballs on their predators at all times. Scientists presume they also have eyes in the back of their heads, you know, to watch that side, but that's never been proven.

I colored the image with my Ziggies and Hammy winked the birdies and glossified the berries. The embossing folder doesn't have a manufacturer's name on it. 

It was windy when I was taking the photo, so this happened:
This was too fun not to share because their faces make me giggle. It's as if they are looking down in terror at the table as they are falling! Aack!

Challenges

SPREAD THE MERRY LITTLE LOVE AND GRAB A BADGE!

Twofer
For this QACAS note card I white heat-embossed an ancient wooden stamp from Rubber Stampede called "Large Feather" which has not been stamped since Y2K. The sediment die is from Concord & 9th and the scalloped frame is from PTI. That's it. Wonderfully simples.

Challenges

~~~

Nellie

I feel like you haven't seen our Nellie in a while.
She loves to burrow into her blankie. We walked into the room and she'd gotten herself all wrapped up! Doesn't she look a bit like Paddington Bear?

And how scruffy is she?! We couldn't care less about our own hair, but we sure missed the dog groomer during the quarantine. Praise be, they just opened and today Nellie is getting a long overdue haircut after missing two appointments! More photos to follow ...

I also wanted to share this:
This little African violet is blooming for the first time in five or six years! I've never changed the location or watering schedule. That's the definition of hope and never giving up!

~~~

Enjoy your day! No, seriously, enjoy ~  and remember to stay in whenever possible! 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!

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!)

71 comments:

LesleyG said...

Laundry soup, yuk, Nellie cute Paddington look a like, and your cards beautiful. Best of all you brightened my day.......again!
Thanks for sharing, take care xxx

Tina Z. said...

Such beautiful and inspiring post with the violet. I love your cards, especially with the birds, very interesting.
Have a great week.
Crafty hugs xx

Robyn Oliver said...

Just love the bird card Darnell - gorgeous and bright and a hoot with the googly eyes, big chuckle from me, lovely feather card too and wonderful to see 'home' photos of adorable Nellie and that lovely African violet, hope still for my orchids to revive after I nearly killed them. Have a wonderful week, hugs and stay safe Robyn

Sue said...

Hi Darnell, I am the same with not knowing what day it is and I usually think it's Saturday:)

Loving both cards.

Nellie does look like Paddington. As to not hav ing a trim, I am the same:)

Love African Violets. Easy to propogate. Just take a leaf cutting and pot it into soil.

Hope you have a lovely day. Sue

Aquarius said...

What a haooy band of yellow birds - great stuff

Sue's Crafty Corner said...

Laundry Soup, I'm sure thats what happens in my washing machine. Two fabulous cards Darnell, I especially love the top one with the birds and the lovely story that goes with them.

Take care
Sue xx

Stamps and Paper said...

Loving both your lovely cards Darnell...Nellie does look like Paddington wrapped up in her blankie...your violet reminds me of my mum she always had them flowering on her kitchen window sill for years they are such pretty flowers.


Anne

Sandra H said...

Both cards are wonderful as always the embossed folder gives the effect of crackled ice background card that l used when l first started crafting love the effect gorgeous images too and they do looks to be 👀 so of what’s happening here 😂 my days are weekend days l was like you Darnell getting up on Sunday last week and was adamant it was Saturday l had to check the date to assure me the day crazy 😜 isn’t stay safe x

Ros Crawford said...

Oh I love those cute birds!! I think my eyes must look like that when DH says he's going out! Beautiful elegant feather card... white and cream isn't easy to pull off but you did it wonderfully! I have no concept of what day it is and nearly always forget Thursday evening "clap for the carers"... They really ought to change that to applaud don't you think?

Marilyn said...

Love both of your cards. Those little birds are so adorable!
Have a great day!
Marilyn ❤️

Jeanne said...

Great post, Darnell! Pretty and fun cards (with a can't miss moment), a super cute pup and a message of beauty and hope all wrapped into one! Awesome! Just like you! Thanks for sharing. Hugs!

Hilda Burton said...

I love both your pretty cards. Thanks for the story of the birds, the adorable picture of Nellie, and the beautiful violet. As others have said, you give us so much joy in your posts and we all appreciate it very much. Stay safe. Enjoy your day!

Jean said...

Just don't eat laundry soup! Great cards. Love the fun birds. I ma sure Nellie enjoyed her grooming.

Bunny said...

As a doctor I suggest that you're ready to drink again. Disclaimer: I'm not a doctor.

I love the little birds. They are so cute and so is Paddington Bear a.k.a. Nellie. Um, you didn't pull one of the feathers from your birds for your QACAS card did you?[Bunny]

Verna Angerhofer said...

Wonderful cards and your Violet is gorgeous. I used to have lots of them at one time. No plants in my house anymore.

Pat said...

I adore those sweet and prettily coloured birds Darnell and the dry embossed sentiment looks great, and then the elegant look with the white embossed feather on the cream background, and love the scalloped white frame. Nellie looks so cute wrapped in her blankie and goodness knows how she managed to wriggle into it and wrap herself like a parcel..lol. I look forward to seeing photos of her when she is all freshly primped. x

jimlynn said...

Nellie looks as snug as a bug in a rug. So cute.
Kudos to you on the African Violet too! Yikes! That's a long time to wait for it to bloom. Um.....maybe it's like one of those Century plants! Mine always just sat there and never bloomed at all - and then finally bit the dust. I finally learned to not buy them. Sigh!
LOVE your cards though.....fantastic! The googly eyes on the birds are perfect.
Lynn

Trina P. said...

Wonderful twofers, Darnell. Those trio of Greek Isles native birds are adorable. Love the hidden dimensional die cut sentiment. And how cool (or creepy depending how you look at it 😂) would that be if they actually had eyes in the back of their heads! Thanks for joining at CAS Christmas.

And oh Nellie! Let’s face it, she sports one look quarantined or not... CUTE! Looking forward to seeing her new do.
Amazing African Violet story of hope... maybe the decrease in pollution helped them thrive! 😂

Nora Noll said...

What beautiful cards. I LOVE those little birds. The addition of the google eyes is so fun. Your second card with the lovely cream and white. I LOVE that feather!! GORGEOUS design on both cards.

Love Nellie. Looks so snuggly!!!

MackieMade Paper Creations said...

I’ve always wondered if they had eyes on the other side! Hmmm!
You crack me up!
Love those cute little birdies!

Bonnie said...

I LOVE these darling birds with their big eyes, Dolly! I'm glad they didn't fly off the card to get away from blowing into the table! The white embossed feather looks lovely on the cream cardstock and all framed out in the scallops! Nellie is adorable with her Paddington look. I predict she will enjoy being pampered by the groomer. I may have to put a blanket over my head soon!

Bonnie said...

Oops. Thanks for sharing your rare birds with us at CAS Christmas!

Faith A at Daffodil Cards said...

Yep! they are looking down in horror! A fun and wonderful birdie card. Then your feather card is fabulous, Love the simplicity, it looks wonderful, must get my NBUS feathers out! AW! your little pal all dressed up in a blanket so no one can see her. You violet is so pretty, yes it is a promise of good times.
Take care.
Faith x

cuilliesocks said...

I just love your card, the little birds are adorable, so beautifully coloured and a lovely design.
Nellie is adorable too, great photo of her wrapped in her blankie.
African Violets are such a lovely little flower, well done on your perseverance, Kate x

Donna said...

Your birdie card is so adorable, beautiful coloring and the sentiment looks fabulous ? stenciled, The hey there is striking, Nellie is just adorable in her blanket and wow your African violet is doing great! Take care Darnell!

Brenda in IN said...

Oh these fun little Greek birds with their eyes peeled for predators. As always, Hammy did a great job winking and glossing. I want to reach out and touch that gorgeous feather. Nellie is so adorable and I bet she keeps you laughing at her antics. The African violet is a lesson in patience and is so pretty. And I'd like to address the days we are in. It reminds me of the saying "One of these days is just like the other"! Or, not like the other - nope, just like the other. I'm grateful, so grateful, for my flat iron and dies.

Lisa Babitz said...

Your birds are so cute. I always struggle with how to color bird images because I think they need to be accurate, and I don't really know birds too well. I should just use whatever colors strike me and call it a day - lol! Love the eyeballs you added!! Love your CAS yellow and white card as wall.

Nellie looks adorable. You'd never know she's overdue for her haircut!

Vicky Hayes said...

I spent a while thinking about laundry soup but on second thoughts will be choosing something else for dinner tonight! And I'm with you about typos - comedy gold :) I love your trio of googlie eyed birds but was not taken in, nope not even a tiny bit, about what kind of birds they are. Loved their faces when the card blew down too! Oh and I love that way of doing the sediment *makes note* The feather card is pure elegance! Loving the photo of Nellie - Paddington Bear or Jedi Knight?! (Now thinking about her waving her paw with a Jedi mind trick: 'You will open the kitchen cabinet and get out the treats...'!) Thank you for the African Violet of Hope. Just proves that Mother Nature is a tricksy one and you can't predict what she'll be up to next! Hugs, Vicky x

Mac Mable said...

Sure is hope and never giving up with the pretty African violet x.
Super cute Nellie and her impression of paddington bear sure works for me x.
So love your first little bird card with the oversized and fun eyes and so made me chuckle...CAS perfection on your second classy card Darnell x.

Jeanne H said...

Too funny, your card with the eyes and falling down.Thanks for the laugh.Love seeing your pup. More, please. Oh, and love, love the feather card. Hugs!!

Em Louise Fairley said...

Both cards are gorgeous, as is Nellie xoxo

conil said...

You're right, those birds do look terrified in your photo but they hung on to that branch and stuck together. (Kind of a metaphor for what's going on now.) Happily, they didn't go pale from being scared...such beautiful coloring. Crushin' on the elegance of your white and cream card...lovely.
Nellie won't be looking like Paddington anymore, will she? Her haircut should take care of that. Actually, I'd like to have one of my own.

Cat Craig said...

Sweet birds and the do look a bit concerned. Love the white on white die cut. Yay for Nellie getting out for some primping. Stay safe.

bolletjelucky.blogspot.com said...

Two beautiful cards and indeed a funny photo of the birds when the card is falling. Love how your dog is hiding, she thinks no photo from my bad hair day hihi.
Greetings Miranda

Brenda said...

I never seem to know what day it is anymore. lol Laundry soup, yuck! But I do enjoy the laundry pods, sure makes washing easier not having to measure out the laundry detergent. I also love my Misti, as it helps me look a tad bit better when stamping. lol More like re-stamping! I am loving those sweet birds with their big eyes and yellow coloring! That embossing folder is cool too. You and hammy do great work together Auntie! Your second card is so soft and cheery with the yellow and white. So crisp and clean looking! Loving that feather and glad to see you using it again. Who can resist eyelet material or scallops?! Loving that scallop frame. Nellie indeed does look like Paddington Bear, so stinking cute! Wow, love that your African Violet bloomed again after a long time of not blooming! That is the true definition of hope and not giving up for sure! Americans are resilient and we will get through this! Hugs, Brenda

Mia said...

I LLLLLLLLLLLOVE these gorgeous birds, Darnell!!!!!!!!

Neets B said...

I agree, your white and cream card is incredibly wonderfully simples. The feather looks great embossed on the cream, great choice for this not so easy colour combo. Thanks so much for playing along with us Limettes.
And I couldn't not comment on your darling birds, how adorable are they with their googly eyes! I'm so sorry I've not visited your wonderful blog for so long, I've missed chuckling along with you. Hope you're well and sending lots of love xx

Tracey McNeely said...

Those birdies are the cutest and make such a lovely card but I must say that Nellie steals the show, what a cutie!

Lisa Elton said...

Those birds are as cute as they can be! Your card reminds me of the first one my late SIL ever made for me, hers was cardinals. Perhaps the feather on your second card was a result of the wind??!! Nellie DOES look like Paddington, how sweet!

Marcia Hill said...

Those rare birds from the Greek Isles with the BIG eyes are just too cute Darnell, and look perfectly content in the first photo sitting on the berry branch...but too darn funny in the 2nd photo where you just know they're all thinking "we're all gonna die!!" Haha!! But anyway, great card for our Winter Berries challenge...love it!! And even with the shaggy hair, Nellie is a keeper! Thanks so much for joining us at CAS Christmas Darnell!! :0)

Nan G said...

Love the wee birdie card.Eyes in the back of their head...😂 maybe sonar/radar tuned to predators. 😂😆 Who’s the cutie in the blankie? Nellie, how’d she do that? Same way Baby wraps herself up in the kitchen throw rug I guess. We’re doing great over here. I finally got a hair cut! Woo hoo...been almost 4 mos so I was shaggier than your doggie. 😂 Take care keep smiling. 😆 Hugs Nan and the girls

Cheryl W. said...

Hope springs eternal, and your violet is testament to that! I giggled a bit when I saw your cute birds. My first thought was, "Oh my, their pupils are so dilated...could they be on LSD or some other drug?" Shame on me for thinking your sweet little birdies were partaking of illicit concoctions. I loved your CAS feather card. It reminded me that I have some feather stamps that I've barely used. I need to get them out and ink them up!

Kathyk said...

Delightful makes today Darnell, loving those colourful birds and your white and cream make is so gosh darned elegant. Lovely pix too, Nellie looks snug in her blankey too

Happy Friday, stay well

Kathyk

kiwimeskreations said...

Oh Darnell I love those birdies - and your backstory about them ;). Hammy did so very well with his winking.
Your feather is stunning - QACAS and ever so elegant!
Stay safe
Blessings
Maxine

CraftyNatalie said...

Aww, what a cutie! Thank you for your kind comment and following my blog!

HilaryJane said...

It just goes to show that you should never give up on a plant especially when they are so pretty when they flower. 2 gorgeous cards too xx

Carole Pollard said...

Two stunning creations love them both Also loved seeing you African Violet well worth the wait So pleased I’m not the only one struggling with the days at present Love and hugs Carole x stay safe

Mischelle Smith said...

Thanks, Darnell for another lovely card. I grew African Violets while living in Alaska. Our dog, Pickles really misses the groomer too! Especially when she saw my husband coming at her with a pair of scissors. Yep, she looks now like the groomer had a few before clipping her. I give my husband an A for the attempt!

oldpunca said...

I enjoyed reading your post. As always. :-) Thank you for sharing hope with the blooming African violet. I agree that it is worth to wait and not to give up ever.
Nellie looks so cute wraped into the blanket.
Little birds on your first card are sweet. I like the explanation about theit eyes. They are perfectly colored. Super cute embossing map with the sentiment.
The second card is elegant and perfectly created.
Take care and stay safe!
Hugs, Sonja

Sharon Traynor Designs said...

What a fun blog post Darnell! Your little birds made me giggle too, as they eyed that approaching table. It's a beautiful card. I adore your cream and white card too - it is classy and oh, so elegant. Fabulous work. thanks for popping that one in to us at Less is More xx

Carol L said...

Loving (and chuckling) at the laundry soup! The birds are so cute and I loved knowing they travel in 3's! I s'pose they fall down in 3's too then, right? Giggling at your sweet Nellie about to get groomed - I trimmed Butch's hair out on the front porch yesterday and didn't do too bad, but I'm still glad he wears a baseball cap all the time LOL I love that the violet bloomed after so long and it certainly is gorgeous too! I don't have a knack for growing plants of any kind, but I can grow toenails with the best of 'em! Howzat for topping laundry soup? LOL

Kara Lynne said...

What a fun post to read, Darnell! I really got a chuckle out of seeing those birds' expressions as the card was falling over! I love the embossed feather on the cream background! Hooray for Nellie that she gets to go to the groomers again (hooray for you too, not to have to attempt it yourself anymore). She does look just like Paddington Bear! I'm so glad you shared your violets - that really is a message of hope! I miss you!!

Redanne said...

Those little birds really are adorable (have to say in all our many holidays to Greece I don't recall seeing any there - lol). The feather is really beautiful, that really is a die that could be used for so many different occasions - I love it.

Nellie does look sweet in her blankie, I look forward to seeing her after her haircut. I think I might try a blankie over my hair until this lock down is over, I look like a bit of a sheep dog at the moment. I did have to go out this week, for a blood test, it was so surreal, like being in one of those end of the world movies....

Take care out there in the big wide world! Hugs, Annie xxx

Fikreta said...

So beautiful cards!
oh Nellie is so cute!

frommycraftroom said...

Nellie is adorable!
Healthy looking plant :)
Fab cards too!

TK said...

Terrific Sympathy card, CAS and fitting.
Lovely Hello card, love the feather!
Nellie is as cute as a bug in the rug, or Paddington Bear, or both!
African Violet -- pretty and definitely some of that "hope" that we all need and can use right now...

Loll said...

Those birds are so adorable, Dolly! Great watercoloring and fantastic design. I always learn something from you! Your CAS feather card is so beautiful and soft with the light yellow background and white heat embossed featehr. Another beauty! Love, Lolly

Anita in France said...

A lovely Twofer, Darnell ... those little birds are adorable with their googly eyes ... and the texture from the embossed sentiment and glossified berries is luscious! That feather is sheer elegance ... airy, ethereal and fabulous with the simple sentiment and frame! Nellie's looking adorable ... even in her uncoiffed state. Your African violet is so pretty ... yep, hope always ... it's the only way! LYAMYBLMA ... LOCY! Big hugs and bisous, Anita :)

BożenA said...

These birds are so beautiful and funny, Darnell. I've never seen them in real life, but I can imagine how joyful they are. Beautiful sunny colors make this card brighten every day.
The second card is so elegant and ingeniously simple.
Hugs,
BozenA

Christine Alexander said...

Love the googly eyes on your Greek birds, I can feel them watch me through my computer :) adorable card and thanks for joining us at CAS Christmas.
Your feather card is so elegant, I can't believe your haven't inked it up since the turn of the century :)
Yes love your Paddington look alike, he looks so happy in his blanky.

Susan said...

Love those sweet birds! Excellent CAS card with all the white, and the white sentiment. Thanks so much for joining us at CAS Christmas.

Also love the photo of Nellie in her blankie - so cosy! And your African violet is so beautiful. What a perfect year for it to decide to bloom again.

Celeste Goff said...

Two fabulous and beautiful cards Darnell! And yes, laundry soup pods would be quite disgusting. LOL

Leslie Miller said...

Those birds are soooooo adorable all snuggled up and looking out for danger with their googly eyes. I dearly love the look of the embossing folder. What a great way to add a sentiment and have it all CAS. Speaking of which, your feather card is pretty awesome, too. The detail in the feather is impressive and the big die cut sentiment is fantastic. Really love that. Most adorable of all is your sweet Nellie. I can't believe she wrapped her own self up like that. She does look a bit like Paddington Bear!

JD/ Jill said...

Love your birdie card! And you puppy is such a cuties.

KandA said...

Wonderful cards Darnell. I love those little birdies on the first and how you've framed the twofer. As for Nellie, she looks so adorable cuddled up in her blankie xx

Bobby said...

I love the delicacy of the feather, Darnell, and the soft color of the card. Those birds are so cute and colorful and the die cut sentiment is stunning. Thanks for sharing your birds with us at HSL Christmas.

Juhi said...

Gorgeous cards, Darnell. Love the birds with the googly eyes. The soft + white on the second looks beautiful. Thanks so much for joining us at the STAMPloration CAS Card Challenge.

foleysfriend said...

Love the cream and white combination. The scalloped die cut is a great way to frame your card. Thanks for joining us at STAMPlorations CAS.

sue n.

Greta said...

How about that--bloomed just when you needed it! Oh Nellie is adorable--scruffy or not! Cute card with the bird & so elegant with that pretty feather!

Cazro said...

A stunning feather card. Gorgeous detail. Thanks for playing along with us at Sparkles Monthly Challenges Caz. DT

Helen said...

A beautiful design - thanks for sharing it with us at the Sparkles Monthly Challenge.

Helen x