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!

February 8, 2022

Gold ... More Gold

Hello Stamplings!

I hope this finds you well! I am so enjoying the Olympics, especially the ice-skating events. The Mister tried to teach me how to ice skate one time, but it was a short lesson. He was very patient, but I was hopeless. I think that might be why the skaters impress me so much and it breaks my heart when they fall. They train so hard and wait so long for these events.👏

Onefer
This card was schparked primarily by Susan's faux cloisonné challenge prompt at CAS Mix Up. For me, trying to create something for the challenge gave new meaning to the word "challenge!" I didn't have any suitable glossy magazine photos, so I used a glittery glossy piece of pp. I'm not sure if that's okay, but I like the way it ended up looking like an expensive brooch. (You know I want to go off on a tangent about the spelling of that word vis-a-vis the pronunciation, but I will absolve.)

The flower is from the Beautiful Blooms II set by Uniko, which I believe is one of Bev's early sets. I wanted to make something to commemorate her ten years in business. Congratulations, Bev, and cheers to many more!🍾

The leaves are from Gina K's "Stitched Leaves" set. From this angle, they look tres cloisonné. The NBUS sediment is from an unmarked feather set. Everything was heat-embossed in princess gold, including Hammy's toes. Honestly, you can find anything online these days, including teeny-tiny low voltage heat guns. You know, thanks to you, he thinks he's a star!🐹✴I'm going to have to get an assistant for my assistant!

Thank you, Susan, for the fun I had trying something new! 

Challenges

Twofer
This QACAS card was also inspired by Susan's prompt because when I was looking through my pp drawers, I found this awesome piece of ancient turquoise handmade paper, shot through with black and gold. The photo doesn't do it justice.

The design was also inspired by Bonnie's stunning card here. For my card, I used a heart die from M&C Boutique, cut in shiny gold which appears holographic in the sunshine. I used a pink card base to make the heart pop and added a simple old sediment, which I think is from SSS.

Challenges
~~~

Enjoy your day! No, seriously, enjoy and keep safe! LITS!* If I'm not back before Valentine's Day, I wish you a lovely romantic time with your sweetie.💏 If it's a blue day for you, I send you hugs and wish you a happy celebration-of-you day!

Mwah!
*Life is too short!

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69 comments:

Aquarius said...

Great faux cloisonne effect on these cards - a technique I too enjoyed playing with.

kiwimeskreations said...

Oh Darnell, what beautiful creations - love your top one in particular, lthough I have no doubt that the second one would look even better IRL.
Hammy with gold toes - the mind boggles - I would love to see them, he must be so proud of them!! ;) Just as long as he doesn't slack off the inspiration, and glossifying your cards
Stay safe
Blessings
Maxine

Mrs A. said...

I have led an extremely sheltered life indeedy as I have never heard of this here cloisonné effect. Had to go and look it up . Very. Impressed with your bootiful broch. Only tried ice skating once and that was a disaster. Went with a friend to the local rink she went down on the ice spread eagled and I was following behind yelling get out of the way at the top of my voice as I could only go in a straight line and was making for where her arm was akimbo on the ice. Hugs Mrs A.

Donna said...

These are absolutely stunning Darnell, so elegant! I will have to give this a try! Have a terrific day!

Jeanne said...

Such beautiful cards, Darnell. I love the cloisonne look on the first card and she iridescence on the second. Fun! I love ice-skating, too and am bummed to have missed watching Nathan Chen in the short program. It came on after my bed time and I neglected to record it. My ankles must be like yours and don't take to ice-skating. Better to watch and cheer them on when one can. I hope you have a wonderful day! Hugs!

Marilyn said...

Your cards are so beautiful
Have a great day!
Marilyn💖

Mac Mable said...

The technique looks great on both of your beautiful cards Darnell. Extra loving the first Uniko one as it is stunning x. I am loving the Olympics my end too x. Happy Valentine's to you both too x.

Sue said...

Hi Darnell, Love the cards.

I was like Bambi when I tried to skate:) Only tried it once. Swimming and horse riding were my loves.

Hope you have a nice day. Sue

Brenda in IN said...

You nailed this challenge. I love your cards so much and you gave me an idea to try. I've done this once but the paper wasn't right so I'll try again. That Hammy, he is always on top of things to do to help you!

dorsetdawndesigns said...

Pretty flower and I love the simple background. Thanks for joining in our challenge at Cardz 4 Galz Dawn S DT

Alice (scrAPpamondo) said...

Both your faux cloisonné CAS cards are very elegant and impressive. Love the Uniko flower with those awesome leaves and the ancient turquoise handmade paper looks fabulous through the golden intricate heart!
Hugs

Jenny L said...

Hi Darnell,
I just love your way with words and your posts always make me smile so.
Wonderful Twofer designs and I do love a bit of Gold on a card.
The faux cloisonne design looks very beautiful and yes I could see this as a lovely brooch.
Love the embossed base of the card and a super sentiment.
Your second one is also very pretty and I love that gold heart die cut it's so gorgeous with the Tourquoise hand made paper nestling behind.
A great sentiment as well.
We are all well at this end of the world except for my Daughter's partner he is in hospital with stomach problems.
Lots of crafty love and germ free hugs from my house to yours. Jenny L.

Carole said...

Wow...what a fabulous flower on your card darnell and the second one is so sparkly with that beautiful heart. xx

Lynette said...

Oh my goodness - these are both SO beautiful, Darnell!

conil said...

You're right, that faux cloisonne does look like a brooch. I think using the glossy pp was the ideal move for the technique. With those embossed leaves it does look incredibly expensive...maybe Tiffany's? Also, the texture provided by the embossed background really sets it off, nicely. Thanks for adding it to CAS Mix Up's gallery.
Your twofer is equally as pretty. Must look amazing in real life with that specialty paper behind that lovely heart.

Linda Callahan said...

Oh my! These are gorgeous - the gold is so elegant! Beautiful cards Darnell! So glad you shared one at Fusion!

Leslie Miller said...

Ah, your first card gives hope to all those who have no glossy magazines! What a pretty flower with the detailed leaves. It begged to be gold embossed. I love how it turned out on your paper choice. You have a beautiful heart die on your second card, perfect for letting the pretty hand made paper peek through. Interesting about the holographic effect in the sunshine.

Dawn Phillips said...

Such lovely cards. Thanks for joining my challenge over at Cardz4galz. Love Dawn x

Marianne said...

Fabulous cards, Darnell. I especially love the first one. It does look like an expensive brooch, doesn't it?
I'm not really following the Olympics but am obviously very proud of the medals that have been won by the Dutch skaters so far.
I had a hard time parting with my ice speed skates when we decided to move to Crete, but I sold them to an 11-year-old boy whose grandfather was always taking him skating in The Hague. So I figured they had found a new loving home.
Marianne x

Cat Craig said...

This may be a duplicate...loving your faux cards.

cuilliesocks said...

Hello Darnell, your cards are so beautiful, gorgeous designs and colours.
I love watching ice skating, the skaters make it look effortless. Tried it once and was more on my behind than on the skates, take care, Kate x

Jennie Maier said...

Pretty papers behind your detailed gold heart! Thanks for playing at The Paper Players this week!

Pat said...

The faux cloisonne looks fabulous on both of these beauties Darnell, and the first pretty flowers and leaves looks great embossed with that bright gold and I love the embossed striped background. The gold ornate flower and butterfly die cut heart is wonderful too with the gorgeous blue handmade paper as a background and over that pretty bubblegum pink card, and the black stamped sentiment really pops. x

oldpunca said...

What a fabulous cards, Darnell! I like the faux cloisonné effect at the first card. It is a great CAS card. For the second card you've used fantastic die cut. I like the pp behind the golden pattern.
I'm glad you enjoy watching figure skating at Olympic Games. It is a great sport. I love it too. At the moment I prefer ski jumping. Is not as elegant as figure skating. :-) But our girls and boys are the best.
Have a nice day! Hugs, Sonja

Lisa Elton said...

Two fabulous card, Darnell! Your "brooch" is marvelous. So happy to see it in our Just Us Girls gallery! I remember learning to skate when I was around 10 or 11. Oh the bruises on my poor knees.....

Cheryl W. said...

Two gorgeous, romantic cards today. The first one makes me think of Victorian times, the second fills my head with romantic visions (and that's dangerous in an old toad like me!). It's always fun to see where your mojo takes you because there's always at least a tiny element of surprise.

Ruth said...

Oh I'm loving the ice skating too! I've even taken up ice skating recently after rediscovering it at my eldest daughter's birthday party. So far I haven't fallen!!

Love all the gold in your cards today - and what a find in that patterned paper. I've been using up a lot of scraps lately in my makes and it's really nice to finally start getting through it all. xx

Faith A at Daffodil Cards said...

WOW! I love your "expensive brooch" with the embossing and shiny sentiment. Your heart card is so romantic and so beautiful. I agree about the training and falling, our girl fell within the first corner, so disappointing for her.
Faith x

Karen said...

Two beautiful cards! Trying out that technique led you down two very different paths, but both with beautiful results! My ice skating lessons lasted just about as long as yours, and it's my favorite event as well.

Sandra H said...

Two. Dry beautiful cards Darnell l too like watching the ice skating and feel fit them if and when they fall l Wasn’t very good at skating but definitely like watching it xx

Susan Joyce said...

Darnell, glad you enjoyed creating the Faux Cloisonné Flower Broach for you card, it is very elegant and the Heart card is beautiful too. Thanks for sharing at CAS Mix Up this month.

Em Louise Fairley said...

They are both beautiful, Darnell xoxo

Jeanne H said...

All I can think of is WOW as your cards are just lovely. I am so glad to wake up to see you posting. I was up almost to midnight watching Nathan skate last night. So wonderful. I learned to skate by 5 years old and stopped when I move to CA in 1970. Now I am too old. ;-)

JulieP said...

Beautiful cards Darnell! I especially love the first one. I did learn to ice skate but never got the hang of water skiing.

BTW...I finally got a card mailed out to your friend Verna yesterday. Better late than never, right?

Sue said...

Gorgeous cards Darnell and I'm loving the ice skating too hugs Sue x

Nan G said...

Love the faux brooch! Sounds like Hammy needs a pair of steel toed boots to protect those tootsies. Seems like hall-o-graphic is all the rage now. We’re staying in where’s its safe and “warm”. Been in the low 50s and some 40s for daytime hi’s here FL! Looking forward to some 90s. :)) Take care. Sending chilly hugs, Nan and the Girls

HilaryJane said...

Both these are beautiful, I especially like the first one. what an excellent faux cloisonne. I love how you have mounted it on a simple embossed background. So beautifully CAS xx

Susan said...

Fabulous cards using faux cloisonne! Your first one definitely looks like a cloisonne brooch. Love it set on the simple embossed striped background. Your second card is beautiful with that gorgeous handmade paper. I'm totally hooked on the winter olympics, especially (like you) the figure skating. But I must say I love the exciting things like slopestyle and big air!

Vikki H said...

Beautiful gold inspiration, Darnell! I adore your first card and may try something similar, soon!

MortiCraft said...

That beautiful floral does look like a lovely brooch (broach?!) and sits perfectly on your embossed background. Thanks for joining in with Uniko’s 10th birthday celebrations. X

Di said...

What fabulous use of a beautiful technique! So clever Darnell and very dramatic results.

I'm with you on the ice skating - was doing OK back in my late teens until I shot across the rink, hit the far barrier at speed and they hadn't locked where the ice smoothing machine came into the rink. Ended up bursting through the now open gates and doing a face plant onto the 'concrete outside surrounding area'! Hey,ho - bottoms up!! Story of my life really - trouble looks for me.

Hugs

Di xx

Jean said...

Beautiful cards! Love watching the skating and skiing.

Cécile RIBON said...

What agreat CAS design! I love how the bloom pops against the white textured background. Thanks so much for playing along with us at Just Us Girls.

Bonnie said...

This faux cloisonné flower is gorgeous and would make a beautiful brooch, Dolly! The glossy patterned paper made a beautiful cloisonné heart! Thanks so much for sharing with us at CAS Mix Up!

JD/ Jill said...

Your cards are beautiful, Darnell!

nancy littrell said...

Gorgeous faux cloisonne die cut flower, Dolly. Your choice of pretty paper and gold accents was perfect. Loved your dry embossed background and sentiment too. Love when you add a Twofer to your posts...Your die cut heart is absolutely Stunning, my friend. TFS and joining our CAS Mix Up Challenge with your 1st card. Love and Hugs and Happy Valentine's Day with Kevin:-)

Prudence said...

Sublime. That’s all I can say about these gorgeous cards. Beautiful colour choices.


We’re big fans of the Olympics, too, and figure skating is a one of our favourite events. Can’t skate at all but I used to love watching my daughter skate competitively. It was very sad when she had to retire at 16 due to knee problems.

Prudence

Stamps and Paper said...

Love the faux cloisonne effect on your cards Darnell... like you I was hopeless at ice skating...

Anne

Sarn said...

Two gorgeous cards using your PP snippets Darnell.

Thanks for being on the other end of the seesaw with me earlier! Hope Hammy enjoyed the bouncing up and down! x

TK said...

Beautiful, Darnell! Great idea to use shiny pp instead of magazine, it makes for a wonderful flower and card. And the paper on your second card is very interesting. Hope all is well!

sandie said...

Love that bloom and I especially like how it seems to float on that gorgeous textured background. And wow to the pp, love how it looks with the gold card and really like the font of this sentiment. Sending hugs my friend xx

Tristan said...

Love how you've fused our sketch and photo Darnell. The heart is so wonderfully sparkly. Thanks for joiming us at the Fusion card challenge. Tristan. DT

Christine Alexander said...

Beautiful Cloisonne effect with your flower. I'm still trying to get to mine :)

Bobby said...

Your cloisonne flower is gorgeous, Darnell. Thanks for sharing that card with us at The Flower Challenge. The gold floral heart die does look holographic and is wonderful over the handmade paper.

Ros Crawford said...

I can always rely on you to bring a smile to my face... And two fabulous cards as well!

Fikreta said...

wonderful cards!

Vicky Hayes said...

Wow Darnell, just wow!! I would love some jewellery like either of your cloisonne pieces - especially the flower brooch! (And I was all prepared to follow you down the brooch rabbit hole but hey, another time perhaps!)
The ice skating made me smile. I took my youngest son skating when he was little and when I asked him if he was enjoying himself he said "No. It's too slippery!" Vicky x

Barb Ghig said...

Oh my gosh, you have done an amazing job on the faux cloisonne effect, Darnell! I love all the gold on both cards and your choice of patterned paper is perfect! I'm so impressed that you always try new techniques and how beautifully they turn out!
Thanks so much for playing along with us at Addicted to CAS! xx

Sue's Crafty Corner said...

Two gorgeous cards Darnell, I especially love the top one and the technique you've used for it.

Sue xx

Maria Rodriguez. said...

Darnell, thank you for sharing your beautiful Faux Cloisonne card with us at THE FLOWER CHALLENGE, I love how the design on the paper looks with the gold embossing.
I have not tried this technique yet but you inspired me to do it, love it.
Please stay healthy and safe.
XO
Maria/DT

Loll said...

Two beautiful Faux Cloisonne cards, Dolly! LOVE the first one ... it really does look like a brooch. So pretty with all that gold, and looks lovely over the texture of the striped embossing. Your second card is so pretty with the gorgeous colours of the background patterned paper. Don't you just love pulling out the "old stock" and realizing that it's just perfect for what you are making??!! Thanks for sharing with us at CAS Mix Up! Love, Lolly

frommycraftroom said...

Very sparkly! Love the first one for Uniko's birthday.

Dotty Jo said...

Stunning cards, Darnell! I was never cut out to be a figure skater either, Jo x

My Paper Epiphany said...

Two beauties Darnell! The 'Cloisonne' in the first card really does look like a brooch! Im love the colours in your second card too. Thanks for sharing with us at CAS Mix Up:)

Jaydee said...

I love that intricate gold die-cut heart, Darnell. What a beautiful card. So glad you joined us at ATCAS this week
Jaydee

BożenA said...

The first card looks so amazing, it does bring to mind a golden brooch, so elegant and beautiful. You've done a perfect job for the CAS MixUp challenge. Beautiful card! I also love the second card with this lovely golden heart flower and beautiful turquoise handmade paper. The pink background makes the card even sweeter.
xx

conil said...

Congratulation on your win at CAS Mix Up...your entry was pure gold.

Karen said...

Congrats on your win at CAS Mix-up! Well-deserved!

TK said...

Congrats on your win, Darnell!