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!

March 22, 2021

Succulent Evergreen and Naughty Bunny

Hello Stamplings!

How are you? I hope you are doing well and I'm here for hugs if you're not. 

I had to hustle my bustle to get this loaded up after I realized a coupla challenges are about to close. That happens when you get your days of the week missed up. 

So here we go ~
Is it just me or are more of us keepin' on keepin' on with making Christmas cards as 2021 drops her pages like a loose girl dropping her hanky? Haha, how many of you have even heard the expression "loose girl" or remember what a "hanky" is? Sometimes I love being old and speaking a secret language known only to my peers.

Anywaffle, I recently purchased a gorgeous stamp called Glorious Gatherings from the Tim Collection at Stampers Anonymous. When it arrived in the mail, I was surprised to find out it's as big as a dinner plate. I normally make cards the size of appetizer napkins, so I was a bit stumped what to do with it until I remembered last year's technique of making four cards from one stamp. (Split Four Technique) 

Here is the whole stamp on a single sheet of 8.5 x 11 kraft paper before I cut it into fours. Isn't it a cool Christmas centerpiece image using succulents instead of the usual poinsettias?
I'm linking to:
Just FYI, I also stamped the image on white paper and made four cards. Sorry for the bad photo.
They were stamped totally in red, uber QACAS, and this time the sediment was heat-embossed in clear.
Twofer
Another QACAS design, this time an OLC. This funny bunny has long been a favorite. Sadly, it's from an OOB company. Usually I stamp a jar of jelly beans (nearly empty) next to him. As you can see from his tummy, he clearly over-indulged! Or sometimes I stamp him with a drinkie poo, but I used a drinkie poo last post, so this time I used a fun sediment that stuck me as a perfect fit. (It's unmarked, but it might be from River City Rubber Stamps.) Both stamps were heat-embossed in white.

I'm linking this to:
~~~

😄😄😄 My friend Mamie sent me a list of funnies to share with you. I'll just leave you with a couple three today:
  • Having plans sounds like a good idea until you have to put on clothes and leave the house. 
  • It’s weird being the same age as old people.
  • Life is like a helicopter. I don’t know how to operate a helicopter.
~~~

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! (Hammy says HI! He is still resting from the last post when he got too much of a head rush from all that glossifying!)

As for me, I'm still having ups and downs as the meds do their thing, but during the ups I'm grabbing crafty time. Thank you for your patience and your beautiful and thoughtful cards!

*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!)

67 comments:

Cat Craig said...

Love how you managed to handle that huge stamp, and I like it so much better cut up. Fabulous. Your bunny is my spirit animal...or at least was when I was younger. too funny. And your friend's funnies are perfect.

Robyn Oliver said...

WOW what a fabulous huge stamp... just perfect for a fourfer set of cards... love them all Darnell - wonderful use of the colours for the CAS Christmas challenge. And you bunny is soooo cute matched beautifully with the text.
But Mamie's funnies did have me nodding my head and a chuckle, have a great day hugs Robyn

Loll said...

LOVE your new stamp Dolly! It's gorgeous and perfect for the Split four technique. What a quick way to make four cards at once! I'd never know that it wasn't a Christmas image because it looks so Christmassy in red. Thanks for sharing with us at CAS Christmas! Your bunny is adorable. Love him in white on black. Love, Lolly

Stamps and Paper said...

What a great idea to cut your image into four and making 4 lovely Cards.,,that little bunny card us so darn cute.

Anne

Julie B said...

What a fabulous stamp and as Loll says perfect for the split4 technique. You are right about getting Christmas cards done early, hopefully I will be too busy with the Grandkids to have the time to make them later in the year!
Love the sentiment and the floppy bunny, a perfect combination of Color Hues colours too. TFS. Stay safe and well, hope the meds get sorted soon. :)

Linda said...

Ooooh! that stamp is gorgeous, and sooo big. Looks great cut into four, what a fabulous way of adding to the festive stash.
I love the bunny too, looks great in the black and white, and the sentiment is perfect! xx

Aquarius said...

Fabulous large Christmas stamp, great that it makes 4 cards in one go and the naughty bunny is really fun.

Hannelie said...

A beautiful example of the split 4 technique! Love it!
Oh and your funny bunny (●'◡'●) love the white on black and super clean design!
Thanks for joining us at Color Hues Darnell!

Jeanne said...

So happy you are starting to feel a bit better, Darnell. The Christmas cards are gorgeous. And the bunny card is just too funny. Thanks for sharing! Let's hope you keep getting better and better!

I Card Everyone said...

D, that TH Christmas stamp could outfit an entire collection for 2021 beautifully - think of all the options/combinations one could use!? Just gorgeous!
Of course, this bunny is just fine playing second fiddle today - such a guy! I love having options!
=]

Em Louise Fairley said...

Gorgeous cards, Darnell xoxo

Sue said...

Hi Darnell, The cards are lovely.

Hope you have a nice day. Sue

Bonnie said...

That ginormous stamp is gorgeous and perfect for the Split Four technique, Dolly! You can't beat getting 4 cards at one time and doing it twice you get 8 cards for the stash! The over indulged bunny is adorable and the sentiment is perfect! Glad you're feeling better some of the time. Hopefully soon it will be all of the time! Mwah!

Bunny said...

Holy Cow@ When I saw the heading Naughty Bunny I gulped and was scared to read because I thought I did something wrong. Which is not unusual but most of the time I try not to.

Love both cards and the secret language. It's like writing in cursive writing which will soon look like chicken scratch to young people because they don't teach it anymore. [Bunny]

Brenda said...

Wow, that is a huge stamp, and I am loving it! I love that it has succulents instead of a poinsettia, it's different and oh so beautiful. Perfect for the "Split 4" technique. Your cards are stunning in the white/kraft/red color combo but equally beautiful just in red and white! Oh yes, I remember well the term "loose girl" and hankies need to make a come back! lol I am so loving your bunny card, it is so funny but yet so dang cute! I love that darn bunny period. How cool to have that sentiment, it is perfect. It IS weird being the same age as old people!!! lol And having plans is a great idea, until you have to look decent to go out of the house, then you rethink those plans. I don't know how to operate a helicopter either, thus I guess I don't do life well. lol Great ones from Mamie! Big hugs Auntie! Brenda

Viv said...

Ah Dolly - huge stamps - I know all about them. I bought a set without reading the destructions and size thingies. Now it's unused, unopened on an auction site - cos the stamps are just too humungus for me to use!
Love the four cards from one stamp - (sadly my set wouldn't work like this) and your Kraft card is rather nice!!!
Love that naughty sediment - and bunnies tummy looks rather like mine after a year in lockdown.................

AGE IS SOMETHING THAT DOESN'T MATTER..... UNLESS YOU'RE CHEESE. XX

JoAnn said...

Wow that is a big succulent stamp but is so pretty the way you stamped it and cut it in fours. It makes very pretty Christmas cards. That is a cute bunny card with the fun sentiment.
Hope you are doing well. Have a great day.

designbydonna said...

I love the look of the red on Kraft. Great way to use that large stamp. Your bunny card is adorable. That sentiment would be good for a Santa card also.

Pat said...

That's a fabulous large stamp and a great idea to cut it into four, and with the kraft and white eight brilliant cards Darnell. I love that cute and crazy bunny too and such a wonderful sentiment you have put with it and the white embossed on to black is lovely for a different look. x

Faith A at Daffodil Cards said...

What an impressive stamp and what a great idea to break it up into 4, and then to make 4 equally beautiful cards. Love your full tum rabbit and a great sentiment. Hanky? wasn't that before tissues and we didn't have to recycle, just wash it? Ah! Loose Women yep! I knew 1 or 2 of those. I was always a "nice" girl, but did envy them hahahaha. I hope you're getting a handle on the meds.
Keep safe
Faith x

Lynette said...

That is certainly one dinner-sized plate, alrighty!! I love what you did with it - such an awesome idea. Fabulous cards. Your bunny does looked stuffed, for sure - so cute. Keep getting better!!

oldpunca said...

I like your new stamp and I like the way you used it. It is so clever to make 4 cards with only one time stamping. To make this Christmas greenery in red is just great. The bunny and his quote makes me smile. Smart guy! And fantastic black and white card.
I think that nobody know how to operate the helicopter. :-)
Stay safe! Hugs, Sonja

Nancy said...

Oh, Darnell, What a wonderful idea to cut your image into four and making 4 Cards and that little bunny card is so darn cute as well. Loving the red on craft Christmas card as well. I am behind my goal of making 4-5 Christmas cards a month. I will need to rectify that very soon. You seem to be doing just swell. Thanks for linking up with us at Color Hues and for all the fab inspiration that went along with my visit. Take care.

Brenda in IN said...

This is a gorgeous stamp and using it with the split four was genius. It made four lovely card and the Christmas card on kraft is so pretty done in the red. That bunny is a fun one and so versatile. I used to look like that after a long week at work! Great funnies and I relate to all three.

JulieP said...

Surely there aren't those who don't know what a hanky is? LOL! These are fabulous. That large stamp is amazing. Beautiful. The bunny made me smile. Great combination of sentiment/image on that one.

Sue's Crafty Corner said...

Sounds a bit like me and the largeer than I though butterfly die. I love the cards you've made by cutting the larger image into four and the wonderful sentiment that you've used with Funny Bunny.

Sue xx

Nan G said...

Beautiful cards Darnell. Mwah! I may have to get that stamp for my cards this year and borrow the stamp four technique, ;) And I remember those sayings too. :) Even tho the holidays are a long way off and I’m not sure if I’ll be around. Fighting the dreaded ‘C’ yet again. This time it’s in the breast. Mastectomy is scheduled in 8 days. Warm hugs, Nan

nancy littrell said...

Oh my...your new Gorgeous Stamp is Perfect for the Split Four Technique, Dolly. Love your CAS kraft, red and white card with the white and red narrow border, heat embossed white sentiment and sweet embellishments. TFS your white OLC Split Four versions and your silly bunny with the tummy ache..ugh! So happy to see you enjoy an up day with fun creating. Take care and keep getting better, my friend. Love and Hugs...Nancy

conil said...

Happy to know I'm onto your secret language words...recognize, have known and used both of them. Goes right along with the middle funny you shared. It is weird to be the same age as those old folks.
LOVE both (all nine) of your cards. Good to have the 4 in 1 technique for mass production and the sentiment on your bunny card is fall down funny.

Susan said...

Love your three funnies, Darnell, especially the second one!!

And love the four QACAS Christmas cards - what a gorgeous stamp. I have a similar TH non-Christmas one and I'm thinking I'll CASE you and make four very quick thank you or just a note cards with it! It's so big that it's awkward to use on a single card. And your flopsy bunny card is adorable and funny all at the same time!

I'm doing okay but will take one of those hugs you're offering anyway!!

Imke said...

I like all these CAS cards and the Black/White one is perfect for our ONE LAYER Challenge @ Little Red Wagon. THanks for joining us and i hope to see you back again soon.

Imke ~ MY CRAFTY PLACE

Sarah said...

What a mahoosive stamp, and a gorgeous one at that. It has certainly made a lovely selection of cards and definitely quick ones too. The bunny rabbit made me smile, as did the sentiment!! My Grandma used to give us monogrammed hankies for Christmas, I still have them in my knicker drawer!! xx

HilaryJane said...

What simply amazing cards, love them all. That large stamp is stunning and looks so good in red. what a great way to make multiples. love the white on black of the bunny card too, he does look wiped out. Love the jokes too, especially the middle one. My husband said something recently that resonates with that. He thinks old people are still like his dad and not like him! He is not that old yet, but on his way (66) xx

frommycraftroom said...

I love the four cards you made from the one stamping! Awesome.

Thanks for sharing the funnies - helicopters!! yep don't know how to operate one of those

Lisa Elton said...

Whoa Nellie, that is a big stamp, but you conquered and made some beautiful cards! Now about that bunny AND the sentiment... love them both!

Lindsey said...

Wow, gorgeous Christmas cards! That is one large stamp. :o Love the bunny card - perfect sentiment for him. Thanks for joining us at Color Hues!

Cheryl W. said...

Well, look at you! You're like a card machine, whipping out four cards from one stamped image. I am amazed at how big that image is, and it was the perfect choice for the technique you used. Love your bunny card, too. He looks a bit undone, but then, aren't we all these days. Tell Mamie thanks for the smiles. I had a good giggle from her funnies.

Jean said...

Loving your cards! Love the funnies.

TK said...

Oh My! LOVE this red doozy with the ultra large stamp! Seems that the split 4 technique was made for that beauty. And your bunny? Well I can relate all too well (and to the scenarios -- not specifying which one(s) tho!)!

Christine Alexander said...

love your Fourfer, I think I might need to pick up that stamp Thanks for joining us at CAS Christmas.
and bunny is my best friend :)

Barb Ghig said...

Oh my gosh, I love how you got 4 cards from this large stamp...and what a beautiful stamp it is, too! I also love the bold red on Kraft, too...Gorgeous cards, Darnell! Your bunny card is hilarious! A perfect sentiment, too...you really knocked it outta the park today, my friend! Oh, and by the way, I definitely remember 'Loose Girl' and 'Hanky', which is something I could never use and put back in my purse or pocket...yikes! Give me a kleenex any day :)

Thank you so much for playing along with us at CAS Christmas...we always enjoy seeing your fabulous creations in our gallery! xx

Bonnie Lynn said...

Now that's HUGE stamps!! Oh wow! Makes beautiful CAS cards though. Oh BTW - I totally know what you're talking about with the hanky and "loose girl" so that must date me a bit. Love the inspiration you gave me for the Christmas cards. Seems like I can't get organized no matter how hard I try right now.

Shell Shearer Swinscoe said...

Love your Christmas makes...I can't believe how big that stamp is!!!
Your bunny is adorable!

Thank you for sharing with us at 'Happy Little Stampers Christmas' this month
Stay Safe
Hugs Shell xx

Sandra H said...

Wow that is a large stamp but how great to have made four fabulous cards will certainly get your numbers up and your other card is so adorable take care x

cuilliesocks said...

What gorgeous cards Darnell, beautifully designed and coloured.
I hope all is well with you and yours, Kate x

Carol L said...

WOWSAH! That is one big stamp and I love what you did with it! Way to batch make some Christmas cards with ease! Good job on that! Love love love this little bunny and the sentiment, and he looks great in black & white. Hanky and loose girl - yes - I'm from that same generation. Love the funnies and I saw one on a local water company sign recently that said "I never thought orthopedic shoes were necessary, but I stand corrected." LOL

Mac Mable said...

Ohhh what a creative and beautiful way to use the large stamp Darnell x. Your bunny card made me smile and I sure can relate to the lockdown tummy my end x. Thank you for sharing Mamie's funnies x.

Verna Angerhofer said...

I love all the Christmas cards you made. That is getting a lot accomplished. And, the bunny card is so cute too. Thanks for the smiles from those funnies and I hope you get to feeling 100% really soon.

Cathy said...

Gorgeous Christmas cards Darnell, the large stamp is so detailed, makes 4 amazing cards! The bunny and sentiment is fabulous too, Cathy x

Donna said...

Beautiful cards made with the succulent stamp, and the 2nd card is too cute! Like your funnies! Take care, Donna

lauren bergold said...

oh my gosh the bunny sentiment is just SO PERFECT and kinda sums up my life lol! But of course i'm bound to say that my favorites here are the gorgeous CAS holiday cards, which really are beautifully dramatic and so very appealing! (note to self: you should emboss IN COLOR more!!!) ♥ so pleased you could join our foliage fun at JINGLE BELLES!

SmilynStef said...

I speak that secret language at work every day ... love how you used that fabulous image for your designs ... thrilled that you share your festive foliage with us at Jingle Belles.

Greta said...

Hope your body settles down from the med change soon, Darnell. You're making good use of the up time, I must say! How did you even stamp that huge image? Wouldn't fit in the MISTI or on any blocks I have, but it certainly is beautiful! Funny bunny card!

Ros Crawford said...

Oh I love the stamp! And your 4 cards are fabulous!!! Love that little bunny and that sounds just like me Lol! I laughed at the funnies but I can most identify with the 2nd one... Oh Yeah!
Be safe be happy and hugs to you

Kate said...

WOW that stamp is gorgeous! And your cards are amazing as always! Lol I laughed at the funnies!

Kara Lynne said...

I love your quarter corner Christmas cards - so warm in the kraft and red! That bunny doesn't really know how to behave, do you, er I mean, does she! Mwah!

Alice (scrAPpamondo) said...

Beautiful cards and those with the succulents for Christmas on kraft looks really GREAT!!!

Jenni M said...

What a brilliant idea ,4 cards from one ! and it looks fantastic against the Kraft background x

Julia Aston said...

Two delightful designs here Sis! LOVE the idea of using just a quarter of that big stamp - it looks gorgeous on all 4 cards! thanks for sharing with us at CAS Christmas! and your little lazy bunny is adorable!! xx

Celeste Goff said...

I love these stunning clean and simple Christmas cards and your naughty bunny card is amazing Darnell!

Sue - said...

A great technique for using that huge stamp! Love the cards it made! Thank you for joining us at Happy Little Stampers Christmas Challenge. Love the bunny too! xx

JD/ Jill said...

Oh wow! Your are so creative! I love the way you used that stamp. (Of course already knew how creative your are) I have to go and take another look at some of my LARGER stanos, You really had me laughing with this post. I needed that today. Thank you very much!

Anita in France said...

How gorgeous are your split four Christmas cards, Darnell ... so stylish ... and so wonderfully QACAS! That bunny is adorable, despite (or p'raps because of) his indisposition ... so perfect with the fun sentiment! Those funnies are a riot ... chuckled at the first, giggled at the second and guffawed at that last one. No helicopter pilots here!! LYAMYLALMA ... HYHAWW! Big hugs and bisous, Anita :)

Sue said...

Gorgeous Darnell love that bunny! lots of hugs Sue x

Karenladd said...

I also have an enormous Tim Holtz stamp that I thought was much smaller until it arrived in my mailbox. It's still sitting, uninked and unloved, because I didn't know what to do with it. Thanks to your genius, however, I can't wait to pull it out and see how I can turn one image into four cards as well. That succulent wreath is gorgeous, and I love the detailed image with a CAS layout.
As for knowing what a hanky is, I not only know what they are but I had to IRON my dad's hankerchiefs when I was about 10 and 11. Don't know if he stopped using hankerchiefs after that, or if he just carried wrinkled ones, but I took that valuable training and ran with it, ha! I also actually got a set of 6 hanky's for christmas from a family friend right around that time and have no idea what I ever used them for. Oh, and my mom used to tie a quarter into the corner of an old hankerchief and pin it to my dress for milk money each week as I left for school on Monday's. Ahhhh....those lovely hanky memories...
As for loose girls and women, nope....I've got nothing.

Bobby said...

I have yet to try that Split 4 technique but your ginormous Christmas bouquet was perfect for it, Darnell. That bunny is funny and so is the sentiment. Great OLC!!

BożenA said...

Darnell, you are a genius! I also have this stamp and was also terrified by its size. Thanks for discovering its true destiny. These Christmas card looks stunning.
And I love the second card with this funny bunny. I can already see him when the foodie has eaten all the jellies, hahaha
I have to admit that your friend's thoughts here are ridiculous if they concern someone else. But when I thought I had that too, I stopped laughing
xoxo