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 13, 2023

Happy Heart Day!

Hello Stamplings!

How are you doing? Are you looking forward to a mandatory day of chocolate and lovey-dovey? Oh, hee hee, I guess I've got my priorities wrong! Don't tell The Mister! I hope you have a Happy -entine's Day today or tomorrow, depending on where you live. Whether it's with a Val, Gal, Pal, Sal, Cal, Hal, or even a Youentine's Day, have a good one!

I've had a coupla busy weeks helping out friends and making a few Entine's Day cards myself, some of which I even forgot to photograph. That's a new step in my aging journey. I'm just sorry that you didn't get to see them because they were the best designs I've ever made. No they weren't. That's a total lie. But I do have two to share.

Onefer
How many heart dies do you have? I ask that to make myself feel better as I look down at my enormous adequate pile of them. I must have purchased this NBUS heart die on sale sometime since the last VD. It's from poppystamps and it's called, "Floral Lace Heart Split Border." Yep, I think that about covers it.

Depending on how your eyeballs look at it, and in spite of the name, you might not be sure what the die cuts, so I've added a photo. I've had the love sediment for years and I still love it. It's from My Creative Time. 

Hammy did a good job placing the bling, considering it's all a crapshoot when you blow hearts through a straw while standing on the wire bars at the top of your cage. 

Challenges
 
Twofer
These colors make me think of the American Southwest. The stitched die is from My Favorite Things. I've had it forever and think this is the first time I've used it. 

The heart embossing folder is by Gemini. I colored it in coral CP ink using a brayer. The sediment die-cuts were in my stash. I don't know if you can see that Hammy winked some of the hearts to add a touch of schparkle.

Challenges

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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! Please let me know you came by so I can be sure and return the flavor! 
*Life is too short!

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51 comments:

Cat Craig said...

Happy Hearts to you Darnell. Love that die cut in the first card.

Lisa Elton said...

Two terrific cards, Darnell! Happy to see one in our Just Us Girls gallery! Love the visual of Hammy standing on his wire crate with the straw :)

brandco2450@gmail.com said...

Both cards are super! I "love" them!
Yes, I am looking forward to some chocolate!!!
Have a "special" day!

Leslie Miller said...

Happy heart day to you, Darnell! I made more Valentines than I photographed, too. I got busy, had to put them in the mail... you know how it goes. Love both of these. You and Hammy make a clever team. Cute how you cut the love sentiment for the half and half colors. Gee, you should pull out that stithced background die more often! It makes such a nice, subtle background for a card. Love any embossing and the hearts look pretty fabulous with your inking. My pile of heart dies is adequate, but I've been using the same ones for years. I should probably do something about that. Right.

Rainey's Craft Room said...

Two fabulous cards full of love and gorgeous hearts. Thank you for joining us at the Allsorts Challenge.
Lorraine

Bonnie said...

What a great heart die, Dolly! I love how it cuts the panel and how you did that sediment two toned! Great job of brayering on the second card! Great wonky stitching on the sides and I can see a hint of all that schparkle! Happy entine's day to you too and I hope you have some chocolate for Hammy.

Carole said...

Two lovely cards Darnell..I love the die cut on the first one and your two tone half tone effect. Super brayering on the second card with your lovely wonky stitched edges. Hope you have a good Valentines with the mister! xx

Carol said...

Not one but two fun cards Darnell! I sure enjoyed your blog post, visualizing what took place in the making of the cards! Thanks for joining us at JUGS this week!

Bobby said...

That heart die is gorgeous, Darnell, and I love how you split the sentiment colors to match. Thanks for sharing your card with us at Just Us Girls. The inked embossing folder on the other card leaves great white outlines that make the hearts pop.

Jeanne H said...

Happy Valentine's Day to you and Kevin too. Love your cards; lucky who gets them. I made for my great granddaughter, but forgot to photograph it. Dang. Hugs to you.

Jeanne H said...

Okay, I just re-opened the card and shot a photo. It'll be late anyway, sigh.

HilaryJane said...

Fabulous cards today. I really love the first one, that's a spectacular die. The red and white contrast is brilliant and your lovely sunshine has enhanced it perfectly xx

Liz said...

Two wonderful cards, Darnell. I love them both, but the first one is just stunning! I LOVE the heart die, I haven't come across that one before. xx

Karen said...

It's always great to see your name in the Color Hues gallery, and such a fun valentine besides! I wouldn't have guessed the coral hearts were created with an embossing folder! So cool. Love that Poppy Stamps die in the first card as well. Have a Happy Valentine's Day!

Darlene said...

These are both just FABULOUS my friend! Glad I don't have to choose a favorite! LOL Thanks so much for joining in the fun at our Can You Handle the Pressure challenge! Good Luck and we hope you’ll come back often. We appreciate your support!

Darlene
Can You Handle the Pressure
DAR’S CRAFTY CREATIONS

P.S. Did you hear the news? We have another new challenge blog we'd love to have you come check out and play along in. It all begins on March 3, 2023. It's called Triple B. Fun with Birds, Butterflies & Blooms. Would love to have you pop over! Appreciate your support!

Colleen said...

Two fabulous cards my friend! Love the Poppystamps die, so bright and bold with red and white! However I love the second one too...love how you brayed the colors onto the folder before running it through...it turned out wonderful. Hope you have a fabulous Valentines day with the Mister! And I am sending you a happy Galentines day since we are best 'gal's, right? Happy Heart Day! Col

oldpunca said...

It is lovely to see so much of love. :-) I do like both of your cards. The coral and sage card is my favourite this time. Happy Valentines day, my friend! <3
Hugs, Sonja

Pat said...

Two beautiful valentine cards Darnell and I love the look of the first with the floral heart die cut border in white over the red textured card beneath, and the added little red and white hearts and the two tone 'love' sentiment placed on top of the reverse colour is really impactful. The second is so pretty using this fun stitched background die, and the added hearts EF over the top brayered with that gorgeous coral colour works brilliantly, and finished with the large die cut sentiment, which looks great with the added heart in the centre of the 'O' a clever finishing touch, and some super winking by Hammy. We have been having a lot of eating out and sweet treats since Stewart arrived, so I don't think there will be any extras, but probably just as well as I would end up with rather a lot of extra pounds to shift....lol. x

Cheryl W. said...

A heartfelt Happy Heart Day to you, Darnell! I didn't get all of my Valentines photographed either. Just too much going on around here. I like that split heart die a lot, and splitting the word "Love" was the perfect touch.

TK said...

Two fun cards for sure, Darnell! The die on the first card is quite intriguing, dainty and wonderful to look at

brenda said...

You have got the order right Darnell, chocolate always comes first, doesn't it make the World go round (along with glitter)?

Two beautiful cards, I'm especially drawn to the elegant clean lines of the first. Many thanks for joining in at Allsorts challenge this week and using the Hearts option.

B x

kiwimeskreations said...

Loving your split-heart card Darnell - and Hammy managed extremely well on adding the wee hearts from such a distance!!
The embossed hearts card is so different, colour-wise, and so effective - love it. Keep up the winking Hammy :)
Blessings
Maxine

Aquarius said...

Brilliant -entime cards. What amazes (and sometimes irritates) me is that there are so many different shapes when it comes to heart dies and they often don't intermix well. Don't think the postie will be overburdened with cards for me 🤣🤣.

Jeanne said...

Swwet cards and wishing you the happiest of -entine's Days. :)

Em Louise Fairley said...

Happy Valentine's Day, Darnell. The cards are beautiful xoxo

Nancy said...

Two wonderful cards showcasing this "Hallmark Holiday", as my hubby likes to refer to it as. Did I make it obvious to you that there will be no dining out or a morsel of chocolate to be had? LOL Anyways, That Poppy die is so cool, and as for card number 2...I love the Bold LOVE and the stitched background. Great use of our colors at Color Hues. Always love coming by your blog, thanks for joining us!

Nancy said...

Not enough coffee yet this morning...Thanks for sharing with us at Just Us Girls too! Have a great Valentine's Day...I certainly hope you get some Chocolate!

Alice (scrAPpamondo) said...

Two super cards Darnell, love so much that Poppystamps heart die and your playing with red&white! And such fabulous embossed card!
Have a fabulous day!

JulieP said...

Your posts always bring a smile to my face. Thank you for being you. These are both beautiful. I need to try my hand at embellishment decisions through straws. *wink* Thanks so much for playing along with us at Color Hues!

Larelyn said...

Oooo, what a wonderful heart die cut and I love the split colors. Thank you for joining our Cut it Up Have a Heart challenge.
Hugs,
Larelyn (CIU owner)

Faith A at Daffodil Cards said...

Happy Any Day Darnell. :) Love your first card, with the beautiful split and a gorgeous heart. Your second embossed is also just wonderful, I really like the green stitched, with the coloured embossing. SO beautiful too.
Faith x

Brenda said...

Happy Valentine's Day Auntie! I hope it is a good one for you and the Mister. I am loving your cards, the first one is gorgeous-love that die! I think I have that "love" die from MCT too. Your second card is so cool looking. The stitched die is awesome on the green, but it is the middle embossing folder that I am really loving. So cute, so fun! You sentiment is perfect. Hugs, Brenda

Loll said...

Happy Valentine's Day Dolly!! Two fabulous cards. LOVE that beautiful split heart die ... especially with the linen texture of your white and red card stock - awesome! And your ombre hearts done with embossing is so pretty. Hope you and The Mister are having a lovely day together. Love, Lolly

Kate said...

Such super Valentine's Day cards! I'm loving your NBUS heart die and hope you pull it out again! It's gorgeous!

Thanks for joining us at Little Red Wagon this week!

Kate
Small Bits of Paper

Stamps and Paper said...

Love both your 'entime' cards Darnell...hope you got your chocolate and Oh a card!

Anne

Donna said...

Hope you had a nice Valentines Day! Your cards are fabulous, hte heart one is stunning, I've not thought to cut mine that way-thanks, and like the second one, it has a masculine look to it!

Sandra H said...

Two absolutely fabulous cards Darnell, l hope you had a lovely Valentine’s Day too with lots of chocolates and flowers xx

Carol L said...

Two great "tines" for the special day of love! Love the dual colors on each one and hope your day was filled with lottsa love!

Linda W. (ScrappinBari) said...

Two gorgeous Valentines, Darnell - just love the delicate pattern on the heart for card one and the coral hearts on card two! Hope you and Kevin had a fun Valentine's Day - thanks again for the bday card!!

Mervi said...

Fabulous card.
Thank you for sharing at Allsorts;-))m

Tiny Paper Blossom said...

Fantastic cards. Love the red and white! Thanks for joining us at the Poppystamps Challenge this month.

Linby said...

Two fantastic cards. You certainly have the biggest heart - not sure about your collection!
Thanks so much for coming over to Allsorts challenge to enter this week.

frommycraftroom said...

I'm a little late. Hope you and the mister had a fabulous heart day.

two fab cards.

Sue's Crafty Corner said...

I hope you had a very happy Valentine's Day Darnell. Your cards are beautiful and I love them both.

Sue xx

Susan said...

Two fabulous Valentine cards, especially the first one - I love the way you've done the half red, half white. I hope you got chocolate (since that was your priority!!).

Papercraft Boutique said...

I hope you had a Happy -entine's Day, Darnell! I LOve the crean & crisp, and two tone design of your first card! Dividing the sentiment into two colors is clever, and the subtle texture of both red and white cardstock adds interest.
Coloring the heart images using a brayer and an embossing folder gives the card a unique effect, and I love it. And of course, Hammy always does a fantastic job with final touches! :-)
Hideko xx

Dr Sonia S V said...

Such pretty cards Darnell. I love the crispness and contrast of both your cards
Cheers, Dr Sonia

JD/ Jill said...

Lovely Valentin's cards! Would you believe that this year I did NOT make even one Valentine card. ( A first) Poor Jim did not get a card this year... come to think in it...neither did I!

Vickie Y said...

Beautiful! Thank you for sharing with us at CYHTP Embossing Folder Challenge.

sandie said...

I am loving the heart cards and don’t see mine….the most beautiful one! I love that stitched die in the green, very funky. Sorry so late in commenting, I am sure you know why! Made a card in the middle of the week and only got around to blogging it now, will send you the link. I just don’t seem to get to visit my blogging friends, sleeping gets in the way…hugs xx
at

Jeanne J. said...

Smitten with that first card Darnell! I love the split sentiment red/white! It's a real standout! Hope your well and sending love and hugs!