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 2, 2023

Powerful PP

Hello Stamplings!

I hope this finds you well. Thank you for stopping in! I have to be quick today. I'm in charge of getting the groundhog back to his habitat after the mayor finishes using him for a photo op. Happy Groundhog's Day!

My twofer today would have been a good candidate for a challenge some of you might remember from years ago. Pauline of Pretty Pink Posh used to have a challenge called, "Ten Minute Craft Dash" and I think there might have been other challenges of ten minutes or less, but you know, dimension.
QACAS at its best, if you don't mind me saying. This will be a birthday card for a bird-loving friend.

And below is the simple Christmas card I made with the negative cut. It shows the whole panel and where I laid the die to get the best placement.
That's it. Simples. This NBUS bird die is from poppystamps called, "Perched Bird Collage." Not too long ago I used pp with another bird die and then, when I went to put it back in the Bird Drawer, I discovered this sweet bird! Now I want to go through, oh, 4228 sheets of pp and just keep on bringing beautiful birds to life. Or maybe butterflies. Or maybe flowers. A simple stamped sediment or die-cut sediment is all that's needed. Shazambam!

I miss my Ziggies, though, and Hammy wants to use his new winkers, so this might be a passing phase. Time will tell. That Time, man, it has a big mouth, doesn't it? It always tells.

Challenges 

~~~

p.s. Does anyone know if Bloglovin is also out of business for good?!!

~~~

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!

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!)

53 comments:

Aquarius said...

great use made of the PP to make these two beautiful bird cards

Viv said...

Gor-juss colour! Luverly birdie and 2 lush cards! xx

Trina P. said...

You had me at those beautiful blues! Fabulous twofers. I must admit I’m partial to your first QCAS card.
Hugs, Trina 💙

Janet a.k.a. swanlady21 said...

I love what you have done with this die and your watercoloured paper! So beautiful.
(Oh! No ! Now I want to buy it!) Will just have to go into a wish list.

Brenda said...

Oh my, both of these cards are gorgeous, that first one really pulls my eye in! I love the pattern paper you used, looks like you took the time to do some ink smooshing and hard to believe it is just pattern paper. Love that beautiful bird as well. I think other birds and butterflies would be gorgeous done this way too. Who doesn't love a QACAS card?! I didn't know your were in Punxsutawney, PA to help with Phil. LOL Seems like he always see's his shadow, oh well...6 more weeks of winter. Hope he didn't give you to much of a problem going back to his habitat after the photo op! LOL Hugs, Brenda

Vicki Dutcher said...

Totally fabulous! I love bird cards and this twofer...perfect. Love that inlaid bird one for sure! Thanks for playing in both JUGS and STB

!neke said...

Two great cards !!!!!
groeten Ineke

Jeanne H said...

Two wonderful cards today! Love them both. Now I need to look for that die. :-)

jimlynn said...

I really thought you'd made that background paper! What a great idea for patterned paper - and yes, we all have tons of it. LOVE your cards - and of course that cute bird too.
No idea about Blogloving. I used to get daily updates on it and don't anymore. Will have to check it out and see if it's even still there I guess.
Lynn

Christine said...

Beautiful birds.... Definitely a twofer

Marlena M. said...

Oh Darnell this is STUNNING!!! Love both creations~

Carol said...

Gorgeous inlaid CAS card in beautiful blues!!!! Your background is a really neat texture as well!! Such a striking card that you really should frame it or display it!!!! So happy you joined us at Just Us Girls this week Darnell!

brandco2450@gmail.com said...

Love your twofer! Isn't it great
when you can use the negative too!

Bobby said...

A two-fer that includes a Christmas card is a great way to go, Darnell. I love your little bird and the texture on the first card. Thanks for sharing that one with us at Just Us Girls.

Colleen said...

I think this is just stunning, and how wonderful to get a two-fer out of it by watching the placement...um, I think I need to remember that trick! Anyway, you bird is really beautiful in blues! And Happy ground hog day back at ya! Heart Hugs, Col

Marcia Hill said...

These are both absolutely GORGEOUS Darnell, but my heart goes right to the CAS first card...simply STUNNING!! If you hadn't shown the Christmas card I would never have guessed how you got the colors so perfectly placed on the 1st card! Lovely, lovely cards my friend! Hugs. :0)

Bonnie said...

What a pretty bird die and you had the perfect paper to use with it both coming and going! Gotta love those QACAS cards especially when they come out this classy!

Cheryl W. said...

I thought you must have colored the bird, only to read (and see) where you cut it from some fun blue paper. It takes a strong imagination to see that there were TWO cards possible from the die-cut and its negative. And I'm certain no one has ever accused you of having a weak imagination. he he I love both cards, but fell in love at first sight with that die-cut bird!

Lisa Elton said...

They're both fabulous Darnell! I think the first QACAS is my favorite of the two. You picked the perfect spot to die cut that sweet bluebird from!

TK said...

Your gorgeous inky background made two beautiful cards, Darnell! I love that die, and it is only upstaged by your beautiful blues hues!

kiwimeskreations said...

Two beautiful cards Darnell - Loving the fact that you got a twofer from the one piece of patterned paper.
Poor Hammy must be feeling rejected, not being able to 'shcparkle' things for you :(.
Blessings
Maxine

Robyn Oliver said...

Darnell, this bird die is just fabulous, you've made two glorious cards, I just love them both... so simple and soooo effective - Brilliant, hugs and thanks so much for listening to me yesterday with my sadness.. Watson has had his surgery today and we can bring him home tomorrow.. it's overwhelming but he's alive and we know he'll be ok. Robyn

LesleyG said...

Two fab twofers! Love the colours and the diecuts, and that you made a Christmas card with the negative. You may have a couple more papers than me 😂xxx

Carole said...

Well Darnell, there was I thinking you had created that background! What a fabulous idea though to die cut from pp.....bet I am close to that many sheets of the stuff! Wonder when it it will all come back into fashion? Oh I know..when I have binned mine! back to your beautiful birds, I have to say on the first card i thought you had coloured him yourself...and then I kept reading. So brilliant technique...thanks for sharing. xx

Sue's Crafty Corner said...

Two stunning cards Darnell, I love the beautiful Bird die you've used nf the gorgeous blue colour too.

Sue xx

Sandra H said...

Both of your cards Darnell are stunning the colours are gorgeous and what a fabulous bird die totally wonderful as always lots of hugs for Hammy xx

Carol L said...

Your duo of bird cards just rocks the blue colors! They're both amazing and I really like the swirled blue background! I completely forgot about that silly groundhog yesterday but we have to endure either an extended winter or an early spring regardless of what he does LOL Today's weather in PA - getting colder :) Happy Friday!

Jeanne said...

So beautiful! Amazing that these are such simple cards. You did a great job! I have no idea about Bloglovin. I hope you can figure it out. Crafty hugs!

Alice (scrAPpamondo) said...

Amazing cards Darnell, well done using both the positive and negative diecuts and that blue bird inlaid on white looks really awesome!
Hugs

Leslie Miller said...

It's fun to play at techniques and do it yourself, but I dearly love my papers, too. These cards are gorgeous and I absolutely figured it was a self-made watercolor background. My friend has this die and she has used it on PP with stunning results. I hear you about going through the 4000+ sheets of PP... I also have those good intentions, sigh.

Karen said...

Two-fers are the best, and you excel at them! Love that CAS birthday card especially! And good going with a Christmas card, too!

Leslie Miller said...

From what I hear Bloglovin' is gone. I'm sorry that Blogger ate my comment again and you know how wordy I am in the comments, sheesh. Maybe you can see it like before. Frustrating. I swoon over your two beautiful CAS cards! Hugs!

Susan said...

Two fabulous cards, Darnell, in the most stunning shades of blue - be still my beating blue-loving heart!! The first one is such a perfect CAS card! Now I hope that tricky little groundhog cooperated when you sent him back into his habitat!

HilaryJane said...

That bird die is just amazing, you have made me want to go out and buy it straight away, but I will try and resist. Bet I will check to see if anyone has it in stock in the UK though! Both cards are stunning xx

Loll said...

Great twofer Dolly!! LOVE the gorgeous shades of blue for your bird and for the background of your second card. Isn't it fun to look through our stash of dies and stamps and find things we completely forgot about?? It's almost as good as getting a package of goodies in the mail. :) xx

Linda W. (ScrappinBari) said...

Beautiful pair of birdie cards, Darnell - love the rich blue and well done on using the negative!!

Leanne Crystal said...

What an absolutely gorgeous set of cards, beautiful! Thank you for the lovely comment on my blog :o)
Leanne xx

Deanne Saunders said...

Beautiful creations!!! Thanks so much for participating in our CHRISTMAS CRAFTS ALL YEAR ROUND challenge!!! I appreciate that you play along and I enjoy visiting your blog!! Have a happy crafty day!!
Deanne at A Little Bit O’ Paper

Faith A at Daffodil Cards said...

WOWZER! How Beautiful these cards are. Love the blues, I should think the die would look good in any colour. Just gorgeous. I can even see it on a floral background?
Have a great weekend.
Faith x

Cathy said...

Beautiful paper Darnell and it's made 2 stunning cards, love both of them, it's a gorgeous bird die too, thankyou for playing along at Seize the Birthday too, Cathy x

Marilyn said...

Beautiful cards Darnell! Love the bird. I have been trying to get on Bloglovin for months now and not able to. Not sure what is going in with it.
Have a great day!
Marilyn❤️

Claudia's kaartjes said...

I love this one. This is cute. Thanks for joining us at Christmas Cards All Year Round Challenge

Hugs
Claudia
DT Christmas Cards All Year Round Challenge

Je kan mij nu ook vinden op You tube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCnlT4Rs1DfAZU_GLcM7Kx1g
https://claudiaskaartjes.blogspot.com/
http://creativesketchygirls.blogspot.be
http://girlzrebelchallenge.blogspot.com
https://girlzcreativecrafts.blogspot.com
https://girlzcreativechristmaschallenge.blogspot.com/

Brenda in IN said...

Wow, two great cards! I love the bird done in blue and using the paper for the second card is great recycling and made another stunning card. I hope the groundhog didn't give you any trouble taking him home. He's probably grumpy knowing there is six more weeks of bad weather.

Cat Craig said...

Both are lovely Darnell...not sure which captures my heart most...

Linda said...

Gorgeous twofer. Love the little birdie die, and so clever using the positive and negative die cuts xx

Donna said...

These are fabulous cards Darnell, I can not believe they were made that quickly!

Stamps and Paper said...

Your two birdie cards and gorgeous Darnell...the colours are stunning

Anne

frommycraftroom said...

Two very pretty bird cards. Love 2 for 1 cards!

Sue - said...

Two lovely cards again Darnell! I gave up on Bloglovin some time ago. I used it to read all the blogs I follow, but kept having trouble getting on to the site, which was really frustrating! Fortunately the mobile app on my phone still worked so I was able to transfer all the blogs to Feedly. The downside is there is a cost if you follow too many! xx

Em Louise Fairley said...

They are absolutely stunning! xoxo

Linby said...

You have brought that bird to life - fantastic placement of the colours.

Pia S said...

Ah, I just love these bird cards. Super use of negative die cuts and space.

JD/ Jill said...

Two very nicely done cards!