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!

November 5, 2021

A Love Story

Hello Stamplings!

It's already November eekth, so you have to read this as if I'm talking in a very low voice. I don't want to startle your mojo as you are scrambling to get those Christmas cards done ~ and/or fall cards for birthdays or Thanksgiving.🍂

I've finished my fall cards and can concentrate on Christmas. This year I've separated my NBUS Christmas goodies from non-NBUS Christmas goodies and my goal is to only use the never-before-used-schtuff to make my cards. This is the first design and it ended up being one of those happy marriages between several different companies.

Let me introduce you to Paul:
Paul is a polar bear all plumped up on joy for Christmas, as one should be. He is from a NBUS stamp set called "Have An Ice Day," by Trinity Stamps. 

The cardbase is Neenah and the very shiny background silver paper with embossed snow is from Stampin' Up. The ice floe is from "Cool Day" by MFT Stamps. The sediment is NBUS from Altenew. I colored Paul using my Ziggies. 

I finished the card and set it up on the window sill, waiting for the sun to come out to take a photo. Then I heard from the peanut gallery. 

"Where's he heading to with his arms outstretched that way?" asked Hammy. "I don't know," I said, "I wondered the same thing."

After a minute staring at the card, Hammy jumped down and squeezed his furry behind into the third drawer of my far right rollie-cabinet under my desk. I opened it and there, among my acrylic blocks, was a NBUS "Mirror Blocks" stamp set from Paper Smooches. 

Mirror stamping is something I've wanted to do since the last half of the last century. Hammy's raised left eyebrow implied, "Are you thinking what I'm thinking?"

I know better than to argue with the wee master, so I watched a coupla You Tube videos on the technique and created a lady polar bear friend for Paul.

Meet Noelle:
If you have not had success with mirror stamping in the days before the MISTI, you might want to try again. It made all the difference for me. Jennifer McGuire has a coupla You Tube videos that are great. Here is her updated link, which also includes creating mirror dies! Mirror Stamping & Die Cutting.

The NBUS sediment here is from "Heart Smile" by Concord & 9th.

Just to be clear, I only made one card. I put Noelle on the back of the same card so when you open it up, the two lovebears are skating toward each other! Here is a photo of the whole card: 
Aw. A love story. And won't that be a fun card for someone to get in the mail?

This was a kick to do and I can cross mirror-stamping off my 'To Try' bucket list now. BTW, if you include the ink pads, pop dots, and glue, I used a grand total of eleventeen companies to make this card! If only members of governments could play together that well, the world would be a better place.🐹

Challenges
  • Pixie's Snippets Playground: A/G using your snippets. 
  • Christmas Kickstart: Di (from Pixie's) is this month's Guest Designer. The prompt is, of course, snippets! I used loads of white snippets to make my card parts.
  • CAS Christmas: Barb is the host and she wants to see Christmas critters. (Changed my mind b/c my card is not CAS, but I will leave the info up anyway.)

~~~

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! 
*Life is too short!

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57 comments:

Robyn Oliver said...

Two brilliant cards Darnell.... just love your skating polar bears and the love story, they look fabulous and that is one technique this person hasn't attempted yet!!! either.. thanks for the inspiration, hugs Robyn
ps go go NBUS

Sue said...

Hi Darnell, I love the card. What a brilliant idea.

Hope you have a nice day. Sue

Aquarius said...

Brilliant - I'm all for mixing things up 😉

Carol Cel said...

Ah Darnell. I love your (and Hammy’s) creativity. Great card. Someone will absolutely love getting this. And well said comment on working together.

Julia Dunnit said...

Oh how sweet are Paul and Noelle! That will make a grand special card! I felt immediately that he’s paws out for balance before attempting an incredible spin, so I’m pretty sure you’ve got one useful polar bear there! I haven’t started and appreciate the non shouty way of reminding me. Eek is a great way to describe that nagging fear….!

luvhymns said...

What a clever card Hammy thought to add to. I just love this. Happy skating love bears!

Pat said...

What a fabulous card with the bears skating towards each other...the mirror stamping has worked brilliantly Darnell and using lots of NBUS too. I love the shiny silver snowy paper and the sweet little scattered ice flowers, and two great sentiments too. x

Jeanne said...

Cue the dramatic upswell of music as these two lovebears come together! A match made in arctic heaven. Thanks so much for sharing!

Bonnie said...

This is brilliant, my friend! What a wonderful way to send a bear hug! XOXO

Sarn said...

Such a lovely card Darnell. Good luck with your mission to only use NBUS on your festive makes this year. You're off to a good start!
Hugs, Sarn xxx

I Card Everyone said...

Darnell I love a card that continues the story on the back of the card - a love story is just the perfect time for it!
So lovely!
=]

Lynette said...

I love your story telling, Darnell, and the card is great, too!! I wish I had a Hammy to help me out in my stamping room. LOL! This is perfect and someone will love receiving it.

Gerrina said...

Your mirror stamping looks perfect! What a lovely card! Enjoy the weelend!

Brenda in IN said...

This is so adorable and warms my heart to see them skating toward each other for a hug. I'm glad you tried it and it came out beautifully.

Donna said...

Love, love Paul and his mirror image card, I never have luck with that Darnell.

cuilliesocks said...

Hi there Darnell, I love this card and the two Polar Bears, brilliant design and great colouring.
Thankfully I've got all my cards made as I make them all year round with the Christmas Card Club Challenge, and last week I matched the cards to their recipients, so just have to write them out now, that's the job I don't like. This year has gone unbelievably fast scary to think it's almost Christmas. Take care and keep safe, Kate x

Jeanne H said...

Love, love this card and the polar bears. Super well done, Darnell! Cyber hugs to you.

Mac Mable said...

Thank you for the smile Darnell. The most adorable card and the cutest Noelle and Paul....A match made in heaven and I hope they continue to be happy and in love...xx

designbydonna said...

Great idea made a gorgeous card. So you didn't give Paul's girlfriend a name. Perhaps Paula. Was that a song a few way back years ago--Paul and Paula? I haven't tried the mirror technique although I have watched the prerequisite youTube videos. Still on my bucket list.

conil said...

A love story can produce wondrous things...just like this adorable, fun card. A sure winner in my book. Paul and Noelle will be together forever, I hope. Such a sweet, happy card. Good job, girl.

nancy littrell said...

Oh my, but you and Hammy are so clever:-) Paul and Noelle were meant for each other and whoever receives your adorable card will be thrilled and treasure your thoughtfulness:-) TFS my dear friend. Enjoy your Holiday creating. Love and Hugs...Nancy

Nan G said...

Love! Love love the love-y bears. I’ve never successfully done a reverse image stamping. This is so cool. You and Hammy are quite the creative team. ;) Hope you’re doing well. Warm hugs from a ch-ch-chilly Daytona. Nan and the Girls

Dotty Jo said...

Oh, Darnell! This is just adorable - clever you! Thanks so much for playing along with Di and me at Christmas Kickstart, Jo x

Faith A at Daffodil Cards said...

Well! I was not expecting it to be one card, but I LOVE that it is, what a wonderful surprise for the recipient. It's really lovely.
Faith x

Leslie Miller said...

Wowie, that's some very good mirror stamping and quite an NBUS accomplishment! So cute, too! Good luck with your NBUS Christmas. I'm trying to do that, also, but I've already stamped out some non-NBUS stamps. Still loving the oldies! Also, I have an order coming -- all Christmas stamps, sheesh. Paul and Noelle are truly precious, Darnell. I can't wait to see the rest of your Christmas NBUS!

JulieP said...

A two-fer in one card. Brilliant!!!! I love him set against that silvery paper. Cute!

Cat Craig said...

Oh I love a good love story and I especially love the ending on this one. Hugs.

Carole said...

Oh you clever thing Darnell....love this, fabulous idea and guaranteed to bring a smile to anyone's face.! xx

Marilyn said...

Love your card idea! I agree with you about members of the government play together well. We would be in a better place

oldpunca said...

Your attempt to the mirror stamping technique is fabulous. The card is fantastic. By admiring it I can hear the music in the background and imagine both bears on Olympic games by figure skating. :-)
I hope, you are doing well. We came home a few days ago from the autumn holliday at our coast.
Hugs, Sonja

Loll said...

Awww ... I love how they are reaching for each other. Great mirror stamping, my friend. Something I have not tried, so I need a lesson from you.

What a fantastic card that I will be a super surprise for the recipient to see the back as well as the front. :) xx

Bunny said...

Hey Hey Paula, Hey Hey Paul. Do you want to marry me? That song ran across my brain when I saw that you mirror stamped. Which by the way kudos to you because I'm not good at it. You did a great job. [Bunny]

Cheryl W. said...

Awww, a snowy love story! Your love-struck polar bears are just the thing to brighten someone's day--and I'm sure they will. I've only done mirror stamping once. It worked pretty well for me, but was a bit tricky. If I did it more, I'd maybe get the hang of it. Hope you're having a great weekend.

Lisa Elton said...

When you and Hammy put your heads together great things are bound to happen! Good grief is this ever cute!

TK said...

Wow! Totally impressed with your love story! I have those mirror stamps and it's totally not working for me. You mastered them though and made two cuties, a double blessing for someone.

Christine Alexander said...

That's one special card with the adorable bear and mirror stamping (wow, that's way out of my comfort zone :))

Diane said...

Super creative and a fabulously FUN idea!! You always think of the coolest things to do!!

Celeste Goff said...

Such sweet polar bear cards Darnell!!

Susan said...

Well you've beaten me in the race to try mirror stamping - I've had it on my list of techniques to try for years so I clearly am the tortoise in this race! It turned out so well and it's so nice for Paul to be skating towards his sweetheart Noelle. That will be one lucky card recipient!

Verna Angerhofer said...

Oh my! That is such a cute idea to have them skating towards each other. And, they appear to be excellent skaters too! Great work Darnell!

Sarah said...

A match made in wintry heaven Darnell and I Love how this story evolved xx

Sue said...

Fabulous card Darnell really lovely hugs Sue x

Redanne said...

This is such a wonderful card my friend, those bears are adorable and I love how you made it into a love story! Just perfectly perfect! Hugs, Annie xxx

Bobby said...

I have tried those PS stamps numerous times to do mirror stamping and have had horrid results. What is your secret, Darnell? Noelle looks as perfect as Paul. What a cute idea to have them on opposite sides of the same card.

My Paper Epiphany said...

Wow brilliant result with the mirror stamping! So very gorgeous! Huge bear hugs to you xxx

Ros Crawford said...

Well you rocked that mirror stamping my friend... Brilliant!! Love them

Kate said...

Where do I begin? Brilliant job and great story!

Lisa T said...

Oh you are clever, putting one on the front and one on the back! Love this design so much and how perfectly it all worked together. Why is it when you use PP you make it look amazing and when I use it it looks like a total mess! Fabulous card Darnell, I'm so behind on my CHristmas card making. It gets harder to be on time as the years go on haha!

Em Louise Fairley said...

They are both so cute, Darnell! xoxo

JD/ Jill said...

These cards are so cute and well done! This is a technique that I have not tried yet... (another to go on my "to do" list!

Brenda said...

OMGOsh, you and Hammy are just too dang clever Auntie! I love, love, love this card! I love how it opens to make this love story. Love that paper you used from SU, love those bears, love everything about this card! I've done mirror stamping before, but don't own the mirror blocks, they are on my wish list though to get. lol You and Hammy sure do make a wonderful team! Hugs, Brenda

Donna said...

So cute! I have the mirror block too! Thanks for the reminder I need to open that thing up!

Marcia Hill said...

So if I'm reading this correctly, if STAMPERS ran the government, this world would be in a much better place?? But how would we have time to play then? I'll have to mull on that one for awhile!! Hahaha!! Your onefer (twofer) is FABULOUS Darnell and I'm so glad Hammy was on the ball and asked the right questions!! A love story indeed! Those 2 bears skating towards each other is a perfect card showcasing the mirror technique...LOVE it!! Hope all is well in your neck of the woods and both you and the Mister are staying healthy!! I had my booster last week and ended up having a reaction! A couple days of feeling rough but now back to normal. Strange when I had no reaction to the 1st and 2nd vaccines...hmmmmmmmmm?! Anyway, take care my friend and thanks for sharing such a wonderful card!! Hugs. :0)

Kathyk said...

TOTALLY fab-u-lous twofer with your NBUS, Darnell

Kathyk

Di said...

Oh WOW Darnell - what a fabulous card. Just perfect and so beautifully planned and executed.

I just watched Jennifer's tutorial and I have already tried mirror stamping in the past using her technique and a Paper Smooches 'Mirror Block' stamp. Prior to that (in the olden days) I used cello bags but mostly for stamping reflections. However, the mirror die cutting is new to me and how very clever! She's a genius. Many thanks for the link!

Hugs

Di xx

Di said...

Back again to say a bit thank you for sharing this super card on Christmas Kickstart Challenge as well.

Hugs

Di xx (Christmas Kickstart Challenge)

frommycraftroom said...

A fabulous job of mirror stamping!
Love them!