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!

December 25, 2021

Happy Holly Days!

Hello Stamplings!

Merry Christmas! Happy Everything! Here's a festive schparkly card for you!
A QACAS design simply made with some schparkly silver paper and a lightly brushed Tim Holtz holly stencil. Hammy thought it would be fun to separate the die cut letters of the Poppystamps "happy holidays" die to spell out "happy holly days," so that's what we did. And that's what we hope you have!

Challenges

Here is our 2021 family Christmas photo:
Back: Dan, Henry, Adam, Rachel
Front: Jack, Kevin, Darnell, Nellie

And here is my annual Christmas poem:

'Twas the night before Christmas, 
And all through the Playhouse,
Not a hamster was stirring,
Not even a mouse.

The cards were all made and delivered with care,
I was so weary, my fingers worn bare.
I laid down my head, my eyelids did flutter.
"You sure love your friends," I heard Hammy mutter.

When out on the driveway, there arose such a clatter,
The mailman came limping, his post bag made fatter.
Away to the front door, I flew open the screen
And smiling like crazy, asked, "Where have you been?"

Now Simon, now Altenew, now dear Gina K,
On, SU, on, Michael, on, fun Papertrey.
To the front door so festive, the mailbox so deep,
Now stash away, stash away, goodies to keep.

As I went to the Playhouse and looked at my mess,
to the floor I did sink, getting ink on my dress.
But I cared not a whit, for my eyes were all gleamy,
NBUS awaited, each project so dreamy!

Laying a finger on new dies and glitter,
the new year before me, my heart all atwitter,
I say to you stamplings, "May you craft with delight,
Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night!"

2016
Darnell J. Knauss
(with apologies to Clement Clarke Moore)
Enjoy your holidays! No, seriously, enjoy! Life is too short!

and Hammy

52 comments:

Kathyk said...

Fabulous post and pix/poem today Darnell, wishing you and yours the Merriest of Christmases and a Happy (and Healthy) New Year

All the best

Kathyk and Mr K

Marianne said...

Wishing you all a very merry Christmas, Darnell! Love your family picture.
Over here, it's just the two of us, which suits me just fine, A time to relax an wind down.
And next, clean up the mess in the craftroom, wait for a few remaining crafty parcels and start on next year's Christmas cards.
And playing with my NBUS of course! ;-)
Hugs, Marianne x

Stamps and Paper said...

Brilliant poem Darnell..you always put a smile on our faces…..lovely photograph of you all….wishing* you all a Very Happy Christmas and Happy and Healthy New Year ….thank for your lovely card

Hugs. Anne x

Julie B said...

Happy holidays to you too Darnell. Love your crafty take on the Night Before Christmas, made me smile. Santa brought me quite a few things on my Amazon wish list, so I can't wait to play too! Just spending a leisurely hour chilly before the frenzy of Christmas dinner, turkey with all the trimmings. :)

Jeanne said...

Merry Christmas, Darnell. You are and absolute gem! I loved every word and picture in your post. Thank you for being the amazing person you are! You bring joy and delight to so many. I hope you and your sweet family have a fantastic holiday! Hugs!

TK said...

Merry Christmas! A great card, with a little thinking involved -- kudos to Hammy. Great picture of your family, cherish and enjoy every moment!
P.S.
Love the poem, it's awesome!

Brenda in IN said...

Beautiful card, beautiful family and a beautiful poem. Thank you for your wonderful friendship and may you be blessed along with your family always today and always.

Pia S said...

Love your poem, will rewritten. Nice to see your family photo, hope you all enjoy your Christmas time.

Susan said...

Merry Christmas to you and yours, Darnell! Thanks for the Christmas Day post (and for your real life card). And for the poem - read it with glee and smiles - it is so true!! I have enough NBUS to make a NBUS card a day for all of 2022! Stay safe and healthy!

conil said...

Lady, you're the original HOOT. Thanks for the sparkly card, I think Hammy was right to alter the sentiment, it's more fun. It's always a joy to read your poem.
Those boys are going to out grow their Dad...so handsome. Your photo is a dream, how did you get the dogs to cooperate?
Merry Christmas, my friend and may your New Year be doubly blessed.

LesleyG said...

Happy everything Darnell! Xxx

Alice (scrAPpamondo) said...

Lovely and fun card and poem! :)
Merry Christmas to you and family!

Patty Tanúz said...

Beautiful Christmas pic! and Beautiful card!!!! Good Luck!!!! Patty Tanúz, DT Poppystamps!

Cathy said...

Merry Christmas to you and your family Darnell, the poem is brilliant too! Cathy x

Jean said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Cheryl W. said...

Love the card, love the poem. Merry Christmas to you and your beautiful family. Thanks so much for sharing the pic.

Greta said...

What a wonderful family photo, Darnell! And I love your clever poem & creative card!

Nan G said...

Happy Holly Days right back at ‘cha, Darnell. ;) The card is fab and so is the family pic. My my the twins have grown into such handsome young men. Enjoy time with your family. Your poem and post always bring a smile and a few chuckles. Thank you for being you!! Warm hugs, Nan and the Girls

Aquarius said...

Hope you are having a wonderful Christmas 'holly' day! Happy crafting in the coming year which I'm sure we all hope will improve as it goes along.

Julia Dunnit said...

That is such a lovely photo. Had to look twice at the twins though, they’re not how I hold them in my head……as 8 year olds! Meanwhile, am going to make a list of my word dies and spend some time….probably too much time, making useable anagrams!
Happy holidays and love to you. Xx

Viv said...

Ah Dolly! First of all what a gorgeous photo! Beautiful family - I am envious! I hope you had a wonderful Christmas celebration.
Lovely card - and a brilliant little versey ditty thing.
I hope Hammy get everything he wanted in this stocking!
xx

sandie said...

A very Merry Xmas my dear friend and adore the sparkle! Love the photo-you handsome Family! And a poet you are!! Hugs xx

Marilyn said...

Hope you and your family had a Merry Christmas! Love the poem
Have a great day!
Marilyn💖

Bonnie said...

I'd forgotten about your fab poem (true indeed)! Thanks for the reminder and the chuckle! Your card has wonderful schparkle and your family is beautiful! The boys are now taller than their dad! How did that happen? Seems like yesterday they were little boys! XOXO

Celeste Goff said...

Great family photo Darnell! Love the clever editing with the die cut to create your own version of the sentiment!

Sharon Underwood said...

Love your creativity & your family photo! You are a gem, your beauty shining brightly. I always enjoy your posts.

Kath said...

Happy Holly Days to you too Darnell. I love your family photo. There are just the two of us for Christmas this year. We should have gone away in the campervan, but changed our minds and decided to stay safe at home.

Take care and enjoy the festivities.
Kath x

Liz said...

Wonderful schparkly card and a fabulous poem, Darnell. Hope you’ve had a good Christmas. Wishing you happy, healthy and creative 2022. xx

Jeanne H said...

Again Merry Christmas wishes to you and your beautiful family. So good to see your picture. Sure was fun to read your poem, thanks for the smile on my face. Happy New Year and good wishes for all days to come. Hugs and love, Jeanne

Fikreta said...

so very nice card!
Merry Christmas!

cebelica said...

Gorgeous card. So festive. I love all the sparkle.
Your family photo is lovely. :) And I really like your poem.
Happy holidays! xx

nancy littrell said...

Adorable family photo and cute faux Hammy photo too. Your Happy Holidays Very Sparkly card is perfect for your glittery filled with fun Christmas poem...TFS. Sending you wishes for a very Happy and Healthy New Year, Dolly. Love and hugs, dear friend. Nancy

frommycraftroom said...

Merry Christmas to you and your family. Thanks for all the smiles you give through your blog.

Beautiful card too!

luvhymns said...

You said it all.... I'm smiling. Great Christmas photo. Happy new year!

Melanie Hungerford said...

Love your CAS sparkly card, and love your poem! Thank you for sharing at the Alphabet Challenge!

Carol L said...

Oh my goodness, I'm so sorry I'm late to wish you a merry Christmas! I just LOVE the family photo this year and the card is festive and fun! I love that poem too, it's just delightful! I hope you enjoyed your Christmas together and had a great time. Sorry I forgot to submit my card to the NBUS, but life has been chaotic here of late. I will have one to add in a short time, promise! Wishing you the very best in 2022, and I hope it's a happy and healthy one for you all! Hugz

Donna said...

Fabulous family picture Darnell! Beautiful glittery card too. Have a Happy, Healthy New Year. Hugs, Donna

Sandra H said...

Ooh your poems are always lovely as is your family and your cards hope you had a fabulous time xx

Lisa Elton said...

Terrific card, a delightful poem and a beautiful family photo!

Christine Alexander said...

I hope you had a wonderful Christmas and happy crafting for 2022 ♥

Lynette said...

Such a beautiful card, an awesome-looking family, and a great poem. Hope your Christmas was super, and I wish you a happy 2022, also.

Mac Mable said...

Thank you for the inspiration to split the die cut sentiment on your pretty card Darnell....or should I say thank you Hammy x. Thank you for sharing your 'handsome' family photo and also the fabulous, witty and crafty poem x. Here's to a Healthy, Happy and Crafty 2022....Sending hugs Darnell x.

Carol Cel said...

I Love your post -- the twins are getting so big. Your Poem is awesome!
Happy and Healthy New Year to you and your family.

Linda W. (ScrappinBari) said...

Love the poem, holiday photo, & gorgeous card, Darnell - hope you had a Merry Christmas!! Loved the card you sent me too - thanks!!

kiwimeskreations said...

Trusting you and Hammy had an awesome Christmas with the rest of the family Darnell, and that all that glitter and schparkle and tinsel and NBUS is still inspiring you for new cards in the New Year
Stay safe
Blessings
Maxine

Dotty Jo said...

Super card, Darnell! Love the poem and the family photo too. Hope your Christmas was wonderful and all the best for 2022. Thanks for playing again at Christmas Kickstart, Jo x

Jeanne J. said...

Beautiful post Darnell! A feast for us.. your beautiful card.. swoon silver glitter.. your BEAUTIFUL FAMILY!!! A sweet poem - you are so clever! I keep reading it over and over so I can remember it all.. and then you finish with Hammie! Fantastic! Hugs dear friend!

Bobby said...

I finally had all my kids together for Christmas and forgot to get a picture of us all. Love the holly days sentiment and all the glitter. Love the poem too. It reminds me of my Mom and all the poems she used to write. I've done a few myself and they are so fun to write although my Language Arts teaching daughter says "Poems don't have to rhyme." lol Take care, my friend, and may 2022 see you healthy and happy.

Ros Crawford said...

That poem is so clever! I hope you had a lovely Christmas... Best wishes for the New year! Mwah!

Dawn Phillips said...

That sentiment is perfect for that stencil. It's a lovely card. Thanks for joining my theme over at The Alphabet Challenge. Love Dawn x

HilaryJane said...

This is such a lovely post, from the gorgeous sparkly card and family photo, to that genius poem, thank you. I am late visiting as I took some time off from commenting over Christmas xx

Loll said...

Your post is so joyful, Dolly. Made me smile when I read your fabulous poem. I'm sure most of us are feeling the same with our new toys to play with. NBUS awaits!! :)

Beautiful card with sparkle, and a beautiful photo of the family with lots of happiness. Looking forward to crafting with you again on Zoom this year. Love, Lolly