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!

January 19, 2022

Krafty Chicks ~ CAS (Clean and Simple)

Hello Stamplings!

I hope this finds you keeping safe and feeling well. We had a great anniversary weekend with blue sunny skies and warm temps for January. We'd rather have rain this time of year, but it's hard to complain when so many of you were/are blanketed with ice and snow.

Thank you to everyone who played in the Krafty Chicks "Christmas" challenge last week! I'm enjoying being the Guest Designer for this month. It is the third Thursday of January which means that this week our theme is "CAS" ~ clean and simple. Here is my card to inspire you:
This card could not be more QACAS. I embossed the front panel using the Subtle e/f from SU. Then, using an unmarked NBUS stencil with various sizes of circles, I blended rainbow colors using CP inks and my makeup brushes. (Once again, I had to hunt down the brush I use for red ink because a certain adorable hamster was using it to put a little blush on his cheeks.) 

The largest circle was blended using Brilliance gold ink which made it very schimmery so, natch, Hammy applied his winker to the other circles to make them shine, too. I added highlights with my white gel pen. The sediment is one of those plastic die cuts that came in a pack of balloons, confetti, etc. And that's it, uber CAS!

I look forward to seeing your creations! You can find all the details and the linky tool on the Krafty Chicks blog. 
I'm also playing in these challenges:
Twofer
I've made a second CAS design. For this one, I overlayed a die-cut rectangle as a stencil and brushed a background using CP shades of purple. Over that I placed one bud from MFT's Buildable Bouquet set, colored to match by me, glossified to high heaven by Hammy. I added a teeny sediment with love.

Challenges
~~~

Enjoy your day! No, seriously, enjoy and please be safe! 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!)

54 comments:

cheiro urgia said...

What a fun birthday card, so bright and full of positive vibes. I like the CAS layout, and how your shading makes the circles look so realistic. To me, they look like soap bubbles and instantly bring back childhood memories. I also like how you picked yellow for your birthday sentiment, it stands out so well and matches the colour scheme better than the usual black writing would. Thanks for joining the Alphabet challenge.

Hugs, Veronika

Liz said...

Two fabulous CAS card, Darnell. I especially love the first one, a very simple but clever design. I’ve just been catching up with all your recent posts that I’ve missed and seeing all your beautiful creations. Hope you and Kevin enjoyed your anniversary, fingers crossed that in January 2023 you’ll be able to have a big celebration. xx

Aquarius said...

Two really lovely CAS cards as inspiration for the challenge

Carole said...

Is there anything you don't do well?. These CAS cards are super darnell! Clever thinking to use the confetti sentiment on the first card, and clever stencilling for the ombre effect on the second one. Glad you had a good anniversary. xx

Jeanne said...

Your cards may be CAS, but they sure pack a punch, Darnell. Happy to hear you had a well deserved lovely anniversary celebration. :) And that little cartoon gave me a chuckle. So true! Have a great day!

Lynette said...

They are both SO pretty, Darnell!! I love the embossing on that first card - I just thought it was textured cardstock. Love the purple on the second card, too. You do CAS so well.

Darlene said...

Both cards are just fabulous Darnell! So glad you had a nice anniversary weekend! Yep ... 12" of the white stuff here in Akron, OH lol But luckily we didn't have any pressing appointments so could stay home safe & sound.
Thanks so much for joining in the fun at our Perfectly CAS challenge! Good Luck and we hope you’ll come back often.

Darlene
PERFECTLY CAS
DAR’S CRAFTY CREATIONS

designbydonna said...

Spectacular CAS cards. The rainbow circles look like balloons on the loose. I love CAS cards but have some restraint issues and always want to keep adding to all that white space.

Brenda in IN said...

Two clean and simple cards and oh, so pretty and colorful. The bubbly circles are fun and cheerful and I really like the shades of purple in the rectangle to showcase the matching bud. Wish we could see Hammy's rosy cheeks, I bet he looks adorable.

Kath said...

I love these two CAS cards - especially the glossy flower.
Kath x

Leanne said...

Hey girl, you make CAS look awesome, I have trouble with this challenge, and I am working on it... an awesome card, and a funny joke. Cheers have a great day! L :)

Inkyfingers said...

Hi Darnelle,
Just catching up and admiring all your post-Christmas productivity and I love that every card has a different look and feel to it. These CAS designs are gorgeous and I will not forget the awesome zebra from earlier in the month, which really cracks me up! I missed 2 anniversaries too, so can I belatedly add my good wishes to the many that you have already received. Let's hope that 2022 brings better things for us all.
Take care,
Hugs
Carol x

Alice (scrAPpamondo) said...

Both the CAS cards are fabulous, bu the first one is just THE perfection!! Super balanced in shapes, colours and disposing, as well in shimmer!! :D Great texture too!!

oldpunca said...

Perfect CAS cards, Darnell. I love birthday card with circles in rainbow colors. The purple love card is just great. Glad to hear that you had a great anniversary weekend.
Have a nice day,
Sonja

cuilliesocks said...

Two beautiful CAS cards Darnell, I love the bright colours on the first card, just so cheery , Kate x

conil said...

CAS must stand for CARD:Absolutely Spectacular. Both meet that criteria. Good going girl and by that furry creature his own blush brush.

Tracey McNeely said...

I love both of your CAS designs! Makes me smile!

Mac Mable said...

Two fabulous CAS cards and extra loving the texture and shimmer on the first and so glad you found Hammy's red blusher brush Darnell.....lol x.

Sandra H said...

Two beautiful and simplicity cards Darnell ....l loved the caption on the cartoon made me 😂 xx

Donna said...

Such striking cards Darnell! You have mastered the beauty of CAS.

Gerrina said...

Both beautiful and so perfectly CAS! Hugs, Gerrina

Cheryl W. said...

Nobody does CAS better than you, Darnell! Both cards are so beautiful in their simplicity.

I'm glad you had a nice anniversary celebration. It's good you weren't celebrating here in Minneapolis. We reached a balmy high of 2 degrees Fahrenheit today!

Melanie Hungerford said...

Your stenciled circles are perfect, and now I know what QACAS means!

Lisa Elton said...

Two terrific CAS cards, Darnell! But of course those dots are my favorite!

Bonnie Lynn said...

I love both of your cards Darnell but I think the dots is my fav. I've never thought to stencil dots for a birthday card. TFS

Marilyn said...

Pretty cards! Love the first card with the colorful circles
Have a great day!
Marilyn💖

brandco2450@gmail.com said...

Two super simple cards, Darnell!

JulieP said...

Fun cards and I really love Hammy's contribution.

Bobby said...

That has to be the best QACAS colorful birthday card ever, Darnell. I love it!!! The CAS monochrome is lovely in purple, all glossed up. Thanks for sharing it at The Flower Challenge.

Faith A at Daffodil Cards said...

Gorgeous cards Darnell, love the CAS design on both, great colours also. Love the cartoon, could be me and hubby hahaha
Faith x

BożenA said...

WOW! These colorful bubbles look stunning. So colorful and joyful. I love how you changed the intensity of the colors and added a flash. Such a beautiful inspiration.
Hugs,
BożenA

nancy littrell said...

Oh My...Two Perfectly CAS cards, Dolly:-) Love your Primary Colored stenciled circles with a tiny highlights and bright yellow sentiment. You and Hammy added the perfect amount of glitter and shine too! Your 2nd card is simply beautiful and perfect for the challenges. TFS your beauties and funny cartoon, my dear friend. Love and Hugs, Nancy

Bonnie said...

This is brilliant (pun intended), my friend! Love the bright circles and the texture! Your second card is so pretty with the purple ink! Two fabulous CAS cards!

HilaryJane said...

Two perfectly CAS cards. There is nothing not to like. You have created great dimension with your blended circles and the mauve/purple blending is fantastic. glad you had a good anniversary weekend xx

Jean said...

Your cards are so pretty. Love the simplicity of them.

kiwimeskreations said...

Oh what gorgeous cards Darnell - love the balloon one in particular. Good to see that you have been working Hammy - otherwise he may get a wee bit too chubby, and we can't have that for such a handsome boy. Blusher!!! - oh Hammy, don't be so vain!!
Stay safe
Blessings
Maxine

Cat Craig said...

Love this colorful and textured QCAS card, Darnell.

Stamps and Paper said...

Two lovely CAS cards Darnell…pleased you and Kevin had a lovely Anniversary…

Anne

Pia S said...

I love the birthday card in rainbow colors. The different sized circles and great white space gives it a cool, contemporary feel. Awesome. As for your second card, it’s classy and timeless, and very usable.

sandie said...

Well you know I love the CAS card and am a lover of the brilliance ink and adding the white is the perfect detail. Such a lovely design and colour for card 2, pretty CAS too! Has Postie not visited you yet from London? Xx

Linda W. (ScrappinBari) said...

Two fab cards, Darnell - just love the colorful circles (they say celebrate to me) on card one and the delicate blossoms on card two!!

JulieP said...

Yeah, I know I already commented on this lovely post however I just saw your floral card in our PCAS gallery. Thanks so much for sharing your card with us! Jules

Leslie Miller said...

Two cards which are absolutely wonderful! I'm a nut for color and texture and to my eyes your dots/bubbles/birthday card is delightful. All the more so because I'm much better at loving CAS cards than I am at making them. Such a pretty shade of purple on the sweet love card. It looks just like SU's Orchid Opulence which is one of my favorites.

Ruth said...

These are so pretty. The first one made me hum 'I'm forever blowing bubbles' and I love the purple tones of the second one. xx

Em Louise Fairley said...

Two gorgeous cards, Darnell xoxo

Ink Outside The Box With Diane said...

Amazing colours!! Can never go wrong with rainbow!

Ros Crawford said...

I'm so glad yoy had a great anniversary weekend... I could do with some of your warm temperatures. Two terrific CAS cards Darnell... The birthday circles look amazing on that cardstock

Billie A said...

I love your card. Love the paper texture and the awesome colors of the circles. So glad you shared over at Alphabet challenge.

frommycraftroom said...

Two beautiful cards! Glad to hear hammy is keeping up his appearance.

Greta said...

Your GD card is really fun, but oh boy do I love the second card! Hugs, Greta

Nancy said...

Such very clean and simple cards! I love them both! Thanks for playing along with us at Time Out Challenges!

BożenA said...

WOW! This card is really beautiful. I love the ombre background, perfect for your little flower.
Thank you for joining our gallery at Perfectly CAS.
BożenA DT PC

Shauna said...

What fantastic cards! I like your clean style and the creative use of masking. Thanks for playing at Time Out!
- Shauna

TK said...

Two cute cards, and I'm really loving the fun, adorable polkie dots! They make me smile even bigger than your cartoon at the bottom of the post