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!

October 27, 2022

Seasons

Hello Stamplings!

Hope you're doing well! This is always such a whirlwind time in America with one holiday nipping at the heels of another, both in terms of card-making and outside of card-making. Wait. What? There's such a place?

Right now we are a few days away from Halloween, but I don't have a Halloween card to share this year. I made one with several ghosts on the front of it and then it disappeared.

So here is a fall/Thanksgiving card I made, because you know, Thanksgiving gets about two days of Interweb time before we kick into Christmas designs. Which you'll find starts just below this card!

Onefer
This terrific pumpkin image is a NBUS stamp from the Altenew stamp and die set called "Autumn Bounty." It was such fun to color with my Ziggies and Hammy had tremendous fun schplattering with a bit of diluted white Tempura. The background is pp and a strip of copper paper provides a grounding shelf. The blessings die-cut sediment from Hero Arts was cut from the same copper paper.

Challenges

Twofers
At our last crafty Zoom get-together our technique was Metallic Watercolouring on Black with Betsy Veldman. I used Stonehenge black watercolor paper and became somewhat addicted to the process! I love the way it heat-embosses. I painted with a tiny pack of Pearl Ex paints I've had for twenty years and it paints beautifully on the Stonehenge. It was hard to capture the sheen from the painted areas. (It goes without saying that someone was in schplattery heaven with these cards!)

Challenges
~~~

Enjoy your day! No, seriously, enjoy! LITS!*

As always, thank you for coming by to visit the Playhousebeing a follower, and leaving me some love!
HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!
*Life is too short!

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52 comments:

baileyrosy.com said...

Such fabulousness Darnell, the pumpkin is beautifully coloured with your ziggies and your pp is a perfect backdrop. Thank you so much for joining us at ATCAS with this super card always a pleasure to see you in our gallery. As for the Twofers wow !!!!both are amazing and I love the Stonehenge black watercolour paper never heard of that before and the results are stunning.

Marie

LesleyG said...

Love it all! Fabulously coloured pumpkin card, beautiful schparkly Christmas cards with gorgeous schplatters, and the adorable halloween pics, have a good one xxx

kiwimeskreations said...

Beautiful cards Darnell - love your thanksgiving card - that is exquisite, and of course Hammy's contribution is perfect
Your Christmas ones are amazing - someone certainly was having the time of his wee life there, and really unleashed his schplattery creativity with awesome results
Blessings
Maxine

Aquarius said...

A wonderful pumpkin and such beautiful sparkly Christmas cards

Gerrina said...

Your fall card looks so warm! Love the colours! And the x-mas cards are just sparkling enough to be so festive; they are great and will be inspiring me to make some a bit like that... Hugs, Gerrina

Em Louise Fairley said...

They are all gorgeous, Darnell xoxo

Jeanne said...

Delightful and fun, Darnell! I'm so glad you share. I've slowed down a lot on making cards because I've gotten back into cross stitching big time! But seeing some of the cards on the interwebs make me kinda want to balance my crafty time better. hee, heee. I hope you have a fantastic weekend. Crafty hugs!

Karen said...

The Thanksgiving card is simply gorgeous! Love that beautifully colored pumpkin and the bright flowers. The Two-fers are also great. That background must be amazing in real life!

Carole said...

These are fabulous Darnell. i love your juicy pumpkin and pretty flowers sitting perfectly on their copper shelf. The effects you have created on your black are wonderful.... and Pearl Ex...yes some of that in the craft room somewhere too......so in advance..HAPPY HALLOWEEN and HAPPY THANKSGIVING. XX

designbydonna said...

Pretty pumpkin and fall card. I am loving the black cards. Not something you usually associate with Christmas but these are gorgeous, The pine branches look 3-D.

Verna Angerhofer said...

So glad to see your gorgeous card designs! Happy Halloween to you and I wish you only treats and no tricks!

Marcia Hill said...

All 3 of your cards are absolutely BEAUTIFUL Darnell! I love the Fall image you used and your coloring with the Zigs is so pretty! And the cards on the black?????? Oh my gosh those are GORGEOUS!! The black makes them so striking!! I think I have some pearl ex and twinkling H2O's somewhere that would look good on black, but do I want to dig through everything to find them?? We'll see... Hope all is well with you and the Mister?! I'm busily trying to get caught up on Christmas cards...waaaaaay behind this year! The girls had gotten me a kindle for my birthday (in Feb.) and I feel like all I've done this year is read!! Kinda addicted to that thing! Anyway, all is well here and we've been enjoying an absolutely beautiful Fall this year...the colors have been just brilliant!! Take care. Hugs. :0)

Kelsey Thomas said...

I love your cards! They are so pretty!

Brenda said...

Wow, wow, wow! Your trio of cards are stunning Auntie! I love the fall one, that image is just gorgeous! Love how you colored it with your Ziggies, you really are amazing with them. Then there are the Christmas cards, again, wow! Love the black backgrounds, love the beautiful sparkle and love the images! Very striking are they, and the splatters just make it all the better. Amazing! Hugs, Brenda

Faith A at Daffodil Cards said...

Your first card is so gorgeously rich, I love the rose? gold embossing with the copper border and sentiment, a bounteous card indeed. Your Christmas cards are beautiful, I love the metallic effect on the black card, great designs also.
Faith x

jimlynn said...

All are fabulous! I LOVE that gorgeous fall image - and your coloring with the Zigs. I still haven't gotten the hang of those. Beautiful cards - and yes, Christmas will be here quick now.
Lynn

Denise Bryant said...

Beautiful cards! I love the fall card with the awesome pumpkin image! Great design and colors! And your Christmas cards on the black paper look fabulous!

HilaryJane said...

Brilliant cards Darnell. Love the shine from those paints on your black watercolour paper. I bought some black watercolour paper a while ago and haven't really used it so thanks for the inspiration. Your splatters are fantastic on all 3 cards xx

Cat Craig said...

Wonderful cards, Darnell. I am loving that watercoloring on black its amazing. I thought it might be pencils on black...but wow.

Donna said...

These are all so stunning Darnell! You are so creative! Cute pictures too!

Linda W. (ScrappinBari) said...

Three stunners, Darnell - your blessings pumpkin w/flowers looks so beautiful with the tempura splatters! But those black metallics, OMG - love, love, love them both!!

Loll said...

LOVE your Thanksgiving card with the gorgeous pumpkin and flowers. Beautiful colours that really celebrate the Autumn season, Dolly! Great work with the metallic watercolouring on black. Both your Christmas cards are amazing!! Such a fun technique. xx

Alice (scrAPpamondo) said...

Three wonderful cards Darnell, your talent always shines on different styles!
Hugs

Pat said...

This is a beautifully watercoloured pumpkin image Darnell, and I love the green pp you have used in the background, as well as the shiny copper, and the two fabulous gold on black seasonal makes are gorgeous using your metallic Pearl Ex paints, and some wonderful splattering too. x

Marilyn said...

Gorgeous cards!
Have a great day!
Marilyn ❤️

Becca Yahrling said...

Absolutely gorgeous cards!! I love the metallics on the last card & it's an elegant card.

Lisa Elton said...

A trio of prettiness Darnell! The metallic water colored cards are marvelous!

Leslie Miller said...

Ohhhh, Darnell, your pumpkin card is exquisite! I am so with you on how fall and Thanksgiving are shortchanged by Christmas. What a beautiful stamp and your coloring and Hammy's splattering make it shine. Love the copper. Two gorgeous Christmas cards, too, all shimmery and splattery. Black watercolor paper is on my list for birthday money spending. Happy stamping!

Christine Alexander said...

Three great cards, your fall pumpkin card is so pretty and love all the splatters and sparkle on the other two. Wasn't that a fun technique ♥

Cheryl W. said...

Your cards today are absolute stunners! I love the Autumn card. The sentiment "blessings" is so perfect. Now I'm wondering if I have a word die that says blessings. I also love Hammy's schplatters on the Christmas cards. He definitely added to their already-well-crafted beauty. Thank you for such a bounty of inspiration in a single post.

Stamps and Paper said...

Beautiful pumpkin card Darnell beautifully coloured...love your sparkly Christmas cards too...

ANne

Jenny L said...

Hi Darnell,
Happy Rudolf Days.
These cards are so wonderful and their designs as usual look awesome and very wonderfully created.
I do so hope all is okay with you and your lovely family.
Lots of crafty love and hugs from my house to yours.
Jenny L.

Brenda in IN said...

I love that touch of copper on the fall/Thanksgiving card. Your zoom cards are just lovely. Who said holly can't fly? It looks wonderful among the snowy background Hammy made. Both Christmas cards are lovely.

Bonnie Lynn said...

Both of your cards are amazing as usual. I hear you on the holidays hitting back to back. I have a hard time getting my cards mailed in time. They're usually a tad late.

Susan said...

Love the pumpkin / autumn card, but most of all I'm ogling the black background ones! Great job on the gold heat embossing and adding the metallic colours! And fabulous splattering!

Sue - said...

Absolutely love them all and Hammy certainly enjoyed his splattering! Can I say thank you for sharing at NBUS? 😁😁😁 hugs Sue.

Sandra H said...

Ooh wow Darnell so beautiful is your pumpkin card and the flowers are gorgeous love the sentiment too, your Twofer cards are stunning gorgeous leaves on your first love the glitter and touches of holly & ivy 2nd card equally as beautiful with the holly & ivy coloured totally stunning cards Darnell as always xx

Inkyfingers said...

What a great trio of cards, Darnell. You are definitely in a holiday spin and I hope you continue to get some crafty time amid all the busyness. I love the colouring on the pumpkin and the bold and elegant Christmas cards are just awesome. On my way to look for black watercolour card now!
Hope you are well,
Hugs
Carol x

Crystal O. Minkler said...

Striking and stunning cards, Darnell! The metallic watercolor on black is gorgeous! Thanks so much for playing along with the Falling for the Holidays 2022 {BYSHC} Linky Party!

foleysfriend said...

What a pretty autumnal Thanksgiving card. I love how vibrant the colors of the Zigs are. Thanks for joining us at Addicted to CAS.

sue n.

Bonnie said...

What a gorgeous pumpkin and the paper works perfectly for the background! Love your Christmas foliage with the metallic watercolor! Gorgeous cards, my friend!

Sue's Crafty Corner said...

Stunning cards Darnell, especially the Christmas ones.

Sue xx

mary said...

I love your humor so much that I often forget what a talented card maker you are! Those are lovely cards.

brandco2450@gmail.com said...

All these cards are gorgeous! Just love them!

scrappymo! said...

Oh, my gosh! These two Christmas cards are so stunning. The metallic effect on the black is gorgeous.

Thanks for taking part in the October Rudolph Days Challenge.

Greta said...

Oh wow--I'll have to check out that video! Your cards are just gorgeous, Darnell! I also really love the look of your Thanksgiving card with that beautiful pumpkin! I'm hanging in there--grateful for Ibuprofen!

TK said...

Wonderful Thanksgiving card, not only is your coloring pretty terrific but it's a fun image too! And two gorgeous Christmas cards -- love the pearly look and I'll have to check out that black paper, and it makes beautiful cards.

frommycraftroom said...

Darnell the Christmas cards are amazing! Love them.

frommycraftroom said...

Darnell the Christmas cards are amazing!

Whisper said...

OMG Darnell what a pair of stunning Xmas cards, especially as you've used a technique I've never seen before, so I'm going to check it out, thanks for the link - with my DT hat on, thanks for joining us at October's Rudolph Days Challenge, Luv Sam x

nancy littrell said...

Looks like I am late to your Gorgeous post which includes a beautiful Thanksgiving card and two Stunning stamped and heat embossed on black paper and watercolored with metallic paints Christmas cards..WOW!!!! I know how difficult it is to photograph the shine for this technique, but your photos do show the gorgeous shine and design of your Christmas beauties, my friend. Thank you so much Dolly for sharing your beauties..You have inspired me to again create more cards using the technique. Love and Hugs, Nancy. Enjoy the Fall season and I hope you are getting rain...we are and enjoying every drop!!

BożenA said...

Beautiful thanksgiving card. I love colorful pumpkins and flowers. They stand out perfectly against this natural background.
And of course, two dramatic Christmas cards. I love cards with a black background.
xx