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 14, 2020

A Beach, a Bee, and a Baby

Hello Stamplings!

We've whooshed through another week unscathed and in lickity-split time and I hope you've done the same! 

Every Friday morning now for weeks we will be sleepily moving around the kitchen getting breakfast and one of us will start the conversation about the day and each other's plans and suddenly the one not talking will whip around, drop their jaw onto their chest, bug out their eyeballs, and whisper, "Wait. Is it Friday again?!" Every.single.week. It feels like we get up on Wednesday, step out of the shower, and it's Friday. It's positively ionic.

Fortunately, a three-day week is all I need to make a coupla cards.

Beach
Inspired by so many summer-y beach-y challenges, I made this cheer-y design which looks a little crooked-y. That happens.🙈 Just lean into it. It's Friday.

Of all things, I used a Tim Holtz woodgrain stencil to blend out a stretch of ocean and a stretch of sand. The fun NBUS beach huts are from Avery Elle, watercolored by me, and then winked by Hammy. The NBUS sun ray stencil is from Moda Scrap. 

Of course, as any sensible person wouldn't, I decided to add the top level of the sun rays to the card base after adhering the panel. I remember back in the day when I had forethought ... but that might be an afterthought. Did you know merrythought is a real word? The definition is not the one I would have given it. It means wishbone of a bird. That's crazy, right, but at least you earned something new today. 

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Bee
I was playing in another lifetime with my friend Harriet and we were having fun with foil. This was a very glittery foil on an ancient bee from GKW. After wards I colored it in with my Ziggies and framed it with a square frame turned to form a diamond shape, as one does. I added a simple sediment heat-embossed in gold and a coupla Matts.

Here's a closeup which is a bit blurry because of all the schparkle:
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Baby

I told you a while back about the old lizard we call Stubbie and all the little lizards that entertain me out the Playhouse window. I have pictures of him and I was going to do this whole collage, but, you know, how many lizards do you really want to see? 🦎

Anyway, I rant out of time, so instead I will just show you this itty-bitty baby I spotted sunning himself on a large white rock in the yard. I was taking photos of my card when I saw him, but before I could turn my camera towards him, he skittered underneath the rock. I circled him so you don't have to strain your eyes. So cute!!
~~~

Enjoy your day! No, seriously, enjoy (LITS!*), but please keep safe and well!

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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61 comments:

Julie B said...

Whoa, you say its Friday, it can't be, surely?
I know exactly what you mean Darnell, with fewer visitors the only things to anchor my week down is my weekly jaunt to the shops and the Radio Times! It was bad enough with retirement and none of the usual markers of work before this pandemic but now, well....
At least you found time to create 3 fab cards, love the beach huts, so redolent of hot summer days at the beach. :)

Cat Craig said...

I wanna go relax in those cabanas...beach huts...I miss the beach. Maybe one of these days...there is a secluded lil beach bit on the potomac just over the Virgiinia line we often pass on our way to Colonial Beach. Maybe we oughta take a drive see if its still all but deserted.

YOur bumblebee is fabulous those wings...wow. Have a great weekend.

Pia S said...

Loving the beach and ocean scene you made for the beach huts. Lovely coloring and I do like that card texture. As for your second card, fab sparkle and layout. Sure it’s a butterfly and not a bee? In any case, it’s beautiful.

Sandra H said...

l just do not know where the time goes these days hard to believe we are half way through the year and every year to me gets quicker...gorgeous cards l really like the beach huts they are so colourful and the butterfly is adorable too! ooh l just see a little l thought that was the beach enjoy your day and stay safe xx

kiwimeskreations said...

Darnell these are wonderful cards - the bee/butterfly one is my favourite, and poor Hammy didn't get a chance to add some shimmer and shine :(... your beach huts are wonderful, and I do love the sun 'xactly where you put it! So glad Hammy got to wink the huts, and feel wanted :)
The baby lizard (what I can see of it) is super cute, and he is ever so bashful, hiding like that.
Stay safe
Blessings
Maxine

Ros Crawford said...

You put it so well... go in the shower and a few days have totally gone! I really can't believe it!
Fabulous cards and the sun rays look fine to me. Loving the sparkly butterfly... though I thought it looked like a bee?
That little lizard would keep my cats occupied... Better than the mice. BTW what time does your flight land?? Looking forward to seeing you in my little beach cove... Thanks for the lovely comments!

Sue's Crafty Corner said...

Two fantastic cards Darnell, I love the beach huts and your sparkly bee is fabulous. The days really are going past far to quickly.

Sue xx

cuilliesocks said...

Time is certainly whizzing by, scary or what!
Fabulous cards Darnell, lovely designs and colours.
How cute the baby lizard is, thanks for sharing, Kate x

Marilyn said...

Cute cards! I was just thinking when I got up that it is Friday! I feel like we just had a weekend and it is here again. Oh Well! The beach trip is getting closer. We will be going at the end of the month.
Have a great day!
Marilyn💖

Sarah said...

I know...Friday and the next one will be here before we know it!! Fantastic cards, love the beach huts, reminds me of childhood holidays and the super schparkly butterfly is a stunner xx

Bunny said...

On the radio stations here they are starting to do Public Service Announcements to tell us what day of the week it is. [Bunny]

Cute cards and lizard, too.

Jeanne said...

You know, it's funny to me, but once I open my eyes in bed, I have to tell myself what day of the week it is. It's like I can't hit the floor until I know what it is. Silly, I know. Your cards are lovely and your commentary hilarious. I'm so glad your humor is still intact. All is right with the world then. And that bitty baby lizard is cute. If you can call a lizard cute. The other night I saw a hummingbird flit in front of our big picture window. I think it was lost as we have zero feeders in our yard. Still it was a lovely surprise. Or maybe it was my mom flitting by to say hello! Hope you have a lovely Friday(as I am typing this-don't want to cornfuse you)! Hugs!

Brenda said...

Oh Auntie, you and the Mister are not alone in the weeks whooshing by. I just told Bret yesterday that I can't believe it will be Friday, the week went by so fast. On Monday, I blink and it is Friday-how does that happen?!! I am totally in love with your beach card! Those little beach huts are adorable, love how you did you sand and sea too. The paper you used to frame it all out is perfect! I am loving that the sun rays run off the card like that too. So merrythought means wishbone of a bird?!!! How interesting! Auntie, are you sure your butterfly isn't a bee??? What ever it is, a butterfly or a bee, it sure is beautiful and sparkly! I love that you let it take center stage! I adore the baby lizard sunning himself. I was in the pool the other day and saw the leg of a frog hiding underneath the rim of the pool. When over so I could get him out and he knew I was coming and pulled that little foot up and disappeared! I felt under for him but he was gone, either down the other side of the rim or slid on around the pool rim. lol I figured he can get himself out then. We found lots of frogs hiding under there when we opened the pool. First for that! lol Hugs, Brenda

Gerrina said...

Two beautiful cards! Love the beachhuts, not a fan of bees; yesterday there was one in the garden that just had to land on me and I had a hard time to gentle change its mind and get somewhere else....
Have a good weekend! And make it stand out, otherwise all the days will get to be alike... Hugs, Gerrina

Brenda in IN said...

It's a shame the builder didn't level the ground before he built those cute cabins but they are so cheerful and just waiting for us. The sun made it a perfect beach day. I have been seriously wondering what the bird wishbone was called and you came through for me, thanks! Pretty frame for your shiny bee and that baby lizard is so teeny I'm surprised you spotted him. Now I know why time is flying - it's your fault - quit showering.

Linda W. (ScrappinBari) said...

I'm with you and hubs, Darnell - what?? Friday again - the summer is flying by!! Just love your trio of beach huts in the sand - what a fun bday card! Yes, adding things after the fact can be dangerous but hey, life is too short as you always say! That sparkly bee looks amazing and what a sweet baby lizard. Truly don't know how you get any cards made when you have all that nature to appreciate!

Faith A at Daffodil Cards said...

Yep! Friday, I thought it was Thursday I had to make a call and I was too late to do it - Drat, where do these days go to? I Love your sunshiney card it brings a real glow to my wish of being at the beach (in this rain?) Oh! well. As for merrythought, I googled it to see if there was another meaning (as you do) and in the UK it's a make of teddybears! and it is "the thought that you have while holding a wishbone!" never heard of the lovely word! Your Bee card is golden, I love the diamond square, a beautiful design. Then onto your lizard, all I can say he was very kind not to steal the show from your cards :).
Have a Great weekend.
Faith x

Verna Angerhofer said...

Yes, those Fridays come way to fast each week. I never seem to get much accomplished. But I do love those cards you made. They are all so fantastic! And, I love the beach photos too. Have a good weekend!

conil said...

Love those little beach houses, always fun to look and so colorful. And that bee...he/she would catch your eye in a minute. Sweet lizard...do you name them?

Lisa Elton said...

I don't know which is cuter... the beach, the bee or the baby! Ok, it's the baby, but that beach card is pretty darn cute!

HilaryJane said...

Love those cheery beach huts and what a clever idea to use a woodgrain stencil for the sea and beach, it has worked a treat. Love the textured cardbase too, a perfect little card. That shiny little bee is just gorgeous too. Yes, we do the same in our house with the weeks flying by but it usually happens on Saturday morning, which is almost here again. have a lovely weekend xx

Redanne said...

Is it really Friday? Are we really nearly half way through August? Geeeesh ...

I just adore the beach huts, they are my favourite beach furniture and your card is just perfect, love how you used the TH woodgrain! The card is so cheery!

The foiled bee is gorgeous! I do love to see the bees in the garden but it must be so exciting to have lizards, they are such adorable little creatures. I hope you have a lovely weekend, keep safe and well. Big hugs, Annie xxx

Kathleen said...

A super bright and beautiful card, great images and design.

Kath x

Pat said...

I love your sweet and beautifully coloured beach huts and the texture on the card looks great, also love the sparkly gold foiling on the wonderful bumble bee and the pretty gold sentiment to go with it, and a great idea to turn the frame on its corner in that diamond shape. Wow, you were lucky to get that teeny weeny lizard in your lens Darnell..he's one cute little fella. x

frommycraftroom said...

Fabulous cards. Love the beachhouses. So bright and cheery.

Yep the days and weeks are rushing by and they are all same old same old! I thought by now I would have taken the top of my NBUS pile. UM that hasn't happened!

Thanks for the circle - I sure would have been straining hehe.

ike said...

I so agree about the time flying !!! Love your cards and the teeny lizardee is cute :-)
Perhaps you would like to come play at IKEsWORLD - 3 of a Kind Challenge ??

Hugz
IKE xx

JD/ Jill said...

As always, great cards. Love the beach card. I need cards like this to remind me what a beach looks like. I know I have told you before...My last visit to a beach was in 2007. Talk about the time flying!

and Friday, Yes it is Friday. (It says so on my clock. Otherwise, Jim and I hardly ever know what day it is anymore. They all seem the same...especially when you are "staying at home." (ALMOST EVERY DAY!

GerJanne said...

Hi Darnell,
in the meanwhile it's saturday! ;-)
Your cards are lovely. The card with that marvelous bee! Stunning!
Be healthy and stay safe!

Cheryl W. said...

I really do love your cards--especially that beach hut one. It makes me want to dig my toes into warm sand and stroll along the beach looking for pretty shells. The bee is pretty, and I know how useful they are in the real world, but they do make me a little twitchy. Nonetheless, it's a delightful card.

Loll said...

Hi Dolly. You are not alone about the days of the week. This morning I realized it was Friday ... another week wooshing by without me getting much done. I had such great plans for today ... I managed to get one thing done, which was to unpack one box (one of about 40 still stacked up in Gord's music room, leftover from our reno). Crazy! But at least one thing did get done and that's better than none! :)

Sorry ... on to your awesome cards. I LOVE those beach huts. Wish we had them here! Yours are so colourful and fun. And great work with using a woodgrain stencil to create your sand and sea - so clever! I am always adding things at the end of my card making at should have been at the beginning. We could start a support group. :)

Your bee card is GORGEOUS! LOVE all the beautiful shine from the foil and gold embossing. It's a beauty. And thanks for sharing the photos of your baby lizard.

Thanks for sharing your beach card with us at CAS Mix Up! Love, Lolly

Sue said...

Hi Darnell, Fab cards.

Hope you have a lovely weekend. Sue

Marina said...

I spotted your beach hut card just ahead of MY beach hut card as I was entering it into the Country View challenge , so I thought I should check out the competition. It doesn't look crooked to me. It looks bright, fresh, cheery .. just like a beach should, and I love the watercolouring.
Your bee card is a lovely design, I like the way you placed the sentiment.

Bonnie said...

Oh, Dolly, I love your beach houses with the bright colors, stenciled beach and textured card! Awesome colors! Wish I could really see the beach! Your shiny bee is gorgeous! She looks like she dressed for the Beekeepers Ball! Thanks so much for sharing with us at CAS Mix Up!

Alice (scrAPpamondo) said...

Two lovely CAS cards, and especially LOVE those capins on the textured paper!

Anita in France said...

What a lovely beach-hut scene, Darnell ... just the place to be ... relaxing, chilling ... and maybe with a few crafty goodies to create with! Your glowing, shimmery bee is delicious ... beautifully framed ... she pops wonderfully against the crisp white! Your lizard looks so similar to ours (p'raps they're cousins) ... though yours must be a little brighter ... he hasn't taken up residence in the house! So ... what day is it again?? LYAMYEAEDMA! Big hugs and bisous, Anita :)

oldpunca said...

Don't tell me about how the time is whooshing. I woke up in my bed today and was wondering if I dreamed about my holiday or was it true. :-) Fortunately my legs still hurts, so it was tru. :-)
You have created two awesome cards. I like CAS bee card. The bee is sparking so nice and is so smart framed. But your beach card has stolen my heart. Fantastic motiv with perfectly colored cute beach houses. And sun rays are so smartly added. Thank you for adding your card to Vesela hiška gallery.
Hugs, Sonja

Bobby said...

I love those pretty colored cabanas, Darnell. Great watercoloring. And winking, Hammy. Love the sparkly bee too.

Patrice said...

I wish my Friday would come around so quickly hehe. Wonderful cards, Darnell - loving the foil! Thanks for sharing with us at Just Add Ink this week. x

Greta said...

Love the beach BD card, Darnell! Beautiful foiling--I need to get mine out!

Jo said...

Those cabanas are the place to be. I love the vibrancy of this card and the framing is PERFECT! I especially love the linear painting to match the boards on those little houses. Genius!
Time does go by quickly. MY mister and I have Baileys on Sunday mornings. Since we're both retired, we always wonder what day it is and if it's time for our special morning coffee LOL!
Gorgeous rich bee card, a true beauty!
Thanks for joining us at CAS Mix Up! xx

Maria said...

Yes, the days seem to fly by at times....whoosh...and then they’re gone! Love your beach card with those colorful beach huts and sun rays! And, your bee card is so gorgeous! Very pretty in design and sparkle! And, happy to meet your new lizard friend, Stubbie! I love viewing nature life, etc. We have doves that take turns on the nest in our tree right outside our bathroom window. My favorite highlight of the week is when I see the male cardinal. But, they rarely stay put for long to take a good photo! Take care and have a great week!!

Nora Noll said...

My husband and I are constantly reminding each other what day of the week it is!! I LOVE your birthday card. The fun stripes, the lovely beach houses and your "sun" are just delightful. I also liked that you framed the panel with pattern paper!! Your second card with the frame and the bee? Simply stunning. Thank you for the inspiration!!

Tracey McNeely said...

Your beach huts are super cute and I love your foiled bee but I do have to say that,teeny tiny lizard is pretty darn cute too!

Carol L said...

All the days blend into each other anymore and I wake up in a daze, never knowing or caring much what day of the week it is LOL Love these great cards with the sun shining on those beach houses and that beautiful foiled bee! you have a sharp eye to catch those photos of the lizard! I had to enlarge them to see it! LOL

Em Louise Fairley said...

Gorgeous cards, as always Darnell. And thank you in advance for mine... for once I'm being patient and not opening it until the day xoxo

Nancy said...

I am lucky to have the beach a mere 5 miles away but it's definitely missing those colorful cabanas. I truly love this card Darnell! Love that you used texture cardstock and incorporated the beach and the water and sun. So happy to see you with us at Seize the Birthday! Stay well in the crazy state of yours. Temps, Fires, and a Pandemic. May God bless you and keep you safe!

Fikreta said...

these are very beautiful cards!

Mac Mable said...

I always learn something when I pop in Darnell....Thank you x. Great beach scene and so contemporary in design. The Bee is so sparkly and just stunningly CAS x. Adorable little lizard, especially if I could see it.....LOL x.

Cathy said...

Gorgeous cards Darnell, love all of that texture on the beach one, those beach huts look so inviting! Your shy little lizard pic is so sweet too! Can never have too many lizards :) Thankyou for popping in to Seize the Birthday too, Cathy x

Julie Gearinger said...

Both cards are fabulous! Love the summer scene that you created for The Card Concept- perfect for our inspiration challenge! We are so thankful that you played along with us and hope you can join us again soon!

Nancy Penir said...

Just popped by to congratulate you on the Card Concept win. Your sunny beach cabanas put a smile on my face, and put me in my happy place! Loved seeing you in the CC lineup. PS, both cards are winners! Hugs!

nancy littrell said...

So pleased, Dolly..that you shared your colorful beach huts with us at CAS Mix Up..Beach Challenge. Love the added sunrays too:-)

Gorgeous foiled CAS bee card too. BTW, we have 3 lizards that hang out between our greenhouse and rock garden. They have been Loving our hot (for us on the Oregon Coast) weather. Sunning themselves lazily on the hot rocks:-) But you will find Denny and I nearby in the shade of one of our trees! One lizzy has a skinny LONG tail, one is without a tail and #3 has a tail growing back..makes it easy to pick them out. They are not tiny like your cutie pie lizard, but we love them still.

More serious question...how are you doing with all the horrible smoke from all the lightning strike fires in Central (you) and Northern California?

Such a scary time as if the C-Virus is not enough!!

Take care and thinking of you...Love and Hugs..Nancy

Glittered Paws said...

Your little beach huts are just too cute, and watercolored (something I am not good at). And another thing I am not good at is foiling - just doesn't turn out right for me. But both cards were really special.

FinArt said...

Dear Darnell, you created such a cute cards. Great idea to take a woodgrain stencil to make sea and the sand. like the colors. Thank you for visiting us at the galllery of Vesela hiška. Janja DT

Craftychris said...

I know, where does the time go! Love both of these cards. The beach hut card is so bright and beautiful and the bee card so sparkly! Fabulous photos too, thank you! Take care and stay safe my friend! Hugs xxxxxxxx

Leslie Miller said...

I love, love, LOVE those beach houses! So colorful with the perfect beach in the foreground and the sun rays overhead. I could just fall over I love it so much. And, BTW, it doesn't look crooked at all to me. I will admit, though, that I believe my eyes see things crooked sometimes. I've mentioned it to Rich a few times and he gets all worried. Hey, maybe I see crooked things straight? Your golden glittery bee is spectacular! Really. And how sweet to have wee things peeking at you as you photograph your cards.

shirley-bee said...

I love your sweet little beach huts, Darnell! You’re not the only one who adds little afterthoughts to the finished card - we should know better really, shouldn’t we? And if it’s any consolation, Fridays are coming round faster on this side of the pond, too! Thanks for joining us at Seize The Birthday xx

Majda said...

I love how you created a beautiful beach scene. You put it so well - I wanna go relax in those cabanas :- ) I realy love the vibrancy of this card and I like your CAS bee card too!
Thank you so much for adding your card to Vesela hiška gallery.
Hugs, Majda

BożenA said...

Your rays look perfect as if they are breaking through the cloud layer and therefore appear and disappear. If you wanted to achieve such an effect, it probably would not have worked, and coincidence made it look very original. The colorful houses remind me of pictures of the Scandinavian coast. I also love the second bee card, I love the colors you put together in this card.
xoxo

rachel said...

really lovely beach huts - thanks for joining us at Countryview Challenges and good luck in the draw. Hugs Rachel x

VEANA R. said...

Summer days on the beach... Your card is beautiful ! SO colourful and bright. I love the houses and sunbeams are perfect. Thanks for joining our Challenge at Vesela Hiška. Hugs, Veana R.DT