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!

June 5, 2023

Best Day Ever!

Hello Stamplings!

How are you doing? Are you outside more often, enjoying the fresh colors of springtime or the last colors of fall? I hate to jinx it, but our weather has been glorious! Our busy lives continue with family, projects, traveling, appointments, and visitors. Life! Hurrah! But when I can, I escape to the Playhouse for playtime with Hammy.

Onefer
Because I was short of time, I decided to simply pounce ink over this hydrangea image and I was pickled tink when it worked. Now that I see it on the monitor, however, I think I'm going to color in the flower centers with black to define each cluster of petals and give it a more finished look.
I have a few of these slim ink blenders from The Rabbit Hole. You can see they have small round brushes for blending. And since my hydrangea stamp from Ellen has small-ish round petals, I just gave pouncing a try using pretty hydrangea colors. It's a different look, but I quite like it. Plus, it's QACAS and that's always a bonus! 

Hammy winked the flower, of course, and he is now on a mission to sniff out other images that will work for this technique.

Challenges
Twinfer
I made the grandtwins simple graduation cards using their favorite colors. 
Many of you have watched these young men grow up in the blink of an eye. We're so proud of them and wish them every success in life! (Yes, I look like Lilli Pution, but in all fairness to them, I have shrunk a bit!) 

~~~

Enjoy your day! No, seriously, enjoy! LITS!* As always, thank you for coming by to visit the Playhouse

*Life is too short!

54 comments:

Greta said...

Just look at those boys--hard to believe! Such a great photo of the 4 of you! Your pouncing technique was perfect for that stamp & I bet adding the black centers looked great! Happy almost summer! It's been really nice here, too.

brenda said...

A really striking CAS card, many thanks for sharing with us at We Love Stamping June challenge.

B x

LesleyG said...

I’m loving the pounced hydrangea! That’s just the colours some of them are, that’s a a great look, what sweet brushes too. Also love the graduation cards, and don’t you all look so proud, and rightly so. Took me a minute re Lilli, but then realised teehee. I’ve been Lilli Pution all my life! Fab weather here too xxx

kiwimeskreations said...

Loving the result of your QACAS colouring Darnall, and of course Hammy is looking for more images like that, especially when he can shcparkle and glossify them!!
Your graduation cards are so striking - and masculine for those amazing Grandtwins of yours - I have shrunk also, and my older grandies have also sprouted and I am feeling it - I also have the smallest feet (bar the 4 yr old) in the extended family .. the joys of becoming like fine wine...
Blessings
Maxine

Sue - said...

Wonderful cards Darnell. Can’t believe the twins are so grown up now, time really does fly! Hugs xx

Christine said...

That's a great card, love hydrangeas and that is a superb stamp.
Congrats to the twins, seems no time since they were toddlers but children, even grands, have a way of marking the years!!!
Good luck to them in whatever they decide to do.
Oh! BTW. Small is sweet in my book!!
Xx

Julie B said...

Such a pretty effect with the pouncing Lilli! I might be tempted to use some Liquid Pearls or the like for the centers to go with the subtle inking.
My what have their parents been feeding them with?! Like you, being vertically challenged this situation is oft repeated and mine is only 12! They look a fine pair of young men to be proud of. :)

Gerrina said...

What a great quick idea to use the ink luke that! Will try that one soon... Congrats with the twins! Tjee were did time go and were did they get that highed from :)! Enjpy life and enjoy this great hobby! Hugs, Gerrina

Carole said...

Wow! those boys have grown! A lovely picture of you all. Great cards too to mark their happy occasion. Now to the hydrangea and your fabulous technique, it works well and I am sure the addition of the black will make it really pop.xx

Jeanne said...

What a pretty card with the pounced colors. So happy it worked out for you. Congrats to the grandtwins. Yep, it does seem like they grew up in a blink and right on past you two in height! I wish them every success as they go forward in life. Thanks so much for sharing, Darnell!

brandco2450@gmail.com said...

Those "boys" look so grown up! Their cards are great!
And the hydrangea is beautiful!

designbydonna said...

I really like the pounced coloring on the hydrangeq. We have all watched your grandtwins grow up into handsome young men. I know you are so proud of them. Great CAS grad cards.

Pat said...

I love the way you have coloured that hydrangea Darnell and the colours look great together, and a great photo of you all and two simple but stylish cards for the twins. What proud grandparents you must be...it seems impossible that they are now graduating and I wish them well in whatever they do from hereon in. x

Donna said...

Congrats to the twins, I've enjoyed watching them grow up through your blog! Lovely card with the pouncing and great graduation cards too!

Carol L said...

oh my goodness, that pounced look is fabulous on this hydrangea! I love the colors too! I'm in total shock to see those twin boys graduating from high school already! They were just "twinks" yesterday weren't they? I love this great family photo and wish you all a great summer!

Em Louise Fairley said...

Beautiful cards and great pic. Time really does fly xoxo

Brenda in IN said...

This pouncing looks beautiful with the colors you used and looks like fun. These guys have grown into such handsome young men and you should be proud. It's a big milestone in their lives. And grown they have!

Vicki Dutcher said...

Great card! Love your technique. How fun to see the grand boys growing up! I remember when they were little! 😀. Congrats to the grads

Alice (scrAPpamondo) said...

Oh my, how much tall became the twins!!!Big congrats for their graduation, you have to be SO proud of them! Beautiful clean cards for the celebration, perfect for the young male!
The photo also makes me giggle... for the socks! LOL :D How fun seeing the classic graduating dress and hat.... and no shoes! :D
Your pounced hydrangea is delightful!
Hugs

Alice (scrAPpamondo) said...

The socks distracted me LOL :D Forgot to say thanks so much for joining us at We Love Stamping with your sweet hydrangea CAS card!!

cuilliesocks said...

Hi Darnell, what handsome men in your family!!, and look at the twins, yes they seem to have grown at a great rate of knots. It's a wonderful photo of you all, and many congratulations to your Grandsons on their Graduation.
Your cards are fabulous. Kate x

jimlynn said...

Beautiful "pouncing" on the flower card! Love that they looks so real. Great grad cards......and congrats to the grads! WOW! They grow up so fast don't they.
Lynn

Lisa T said...

Loving the pouncing on the hydrangea, it looks fabulous and totally organic! Must give that a try which of course will mean buying some of those blending brushes - where does it end?! I always want all the things! Hope that you are well Darnell, I am not sure how long I've been following your blog, but it's lovely to see and hear how everyone is faring in life. Your grand twins have indeed shot up and you are right to be proud of all they are accomplishing. The same goes for Hammy, who's winking knows no bounds -:)

Viv said...

Beautiful card Dee but WOW look how the grandtwins have grown!!!and in the blink of an eyelash too. You must be so very proud of them both. Anyway back to your card, it's glorious as always and I love that pretty Hydrangea flower too. Thanks for sharing with us over at 'The Flower Challenge' ;) hugs Vee DT xx

Cheryl W. said...

Your pouncing definitely worked beautifully! I love the watercolor look of it. I have some little blending brushes, so I wonder if I have any images that would work for this technique. Those twins are a handsome pair. Best wishes to them on their next adventure. I have twin girls, and I remember well the day they graduated from high school. Now they have kids of their own who are graduating or in high school.

Cat Craig said...

Lovely choices on your ink pouncing for the hydrangeas. I quite like the look. Wow, hard to believe your grands are graduating...where does the time go?

Sue said...

Gorgeous cards Darnell and oh my what a beautiful photo of you both with your Grandkids!! you can see you are both bursting with pride and oh my goodness how quickly time flies!!! lots of hugs Sue xx

HilaryJane said...

I am so glad to hear you are well and enjoying a busy life. Wish our weather would improve. It feels like we are the only place in the country to have been stuck under a blanket of cloud with cold north easterly winds for what seems like forever. They keep promising us sun, but it hasn't materialised yet. When it does I expect I shall start complaining about it being too hot! Love your hydrangea and the pouncing with those little brushes was such a good idea and perfect for those complicated flowers. Love how you have worked the colours too. It looks so realistic. What perfect graduation cards too. How amazing to see those little boys all grown up. Thanks for sharing xx

Jeanne H said...

How fun to see the grandtwins grown up...I've watched them from afar thanks to you. Congrats to them. Oh, your card. Love it, the colors are great! TFS
Hugs to you, happy Grandmother.

Loll said...

Henry and Adam are so grown up ... how the heck did that happen??!! Lovely photo of you, Mister and the twins.

Your hydrangea is so pretty. Love these colours and what a great way to create colour for your image. Love, Lolly

Pia S said...

I think your coloring technique goes really well with this flower image, and I like your idea of adding the black - wouldn't have thought of it myself.
Your grandsons have grown up so fast! I can understand that you're proud of them:)

Sandra H said...

Oh how proud you must be they certainly have grown up and so quickly too! it’s a beautiful photo l have shrunken too! Gorgeous card l do like the colour of your hydrangea beautifully finished card x

Bonnie said...

Okay, Lilli. Maybe you've shrunk but they've grown more! Wow! What handsome young men! I wish them all the best that life has to offer! Their cards say it all and your hydrangea is beautiful. Sounds like an interesting technique!

Lisa Elton said...

Oh my goodness, this can't possibly be the twins! A big congratulations to those handsome boys! Great family photo. Fabulous cards too!

TK said...

Holy moly, where did those big guys come from?!?! I cannot believe the photo and how tall they are!
Now, about that card -- wow! Whoda thunk? What a great technique, Darnell, as it makes for a great hydrangea with all the varying colors

Linby said...

This is a lovely CAS card. One of my fave flowers and I often mix the shades like this as it's so true to life - so for me it looks good as is. Thanks for sharing with us at We Love Stamping.
Congrats to the Grandtwins and what a wonderful photo.

Karen said...

Hydrangeas are one of my favorite flowers and I love your pounced color on them. Seeing you with your handsome grandsons is the treat of the day!

Bobby said...

I think you may have discovered a new technique, Darnell. I love how your pouncing came out and a hydrangea was the perfect flower to try it on. Thank you for sharing your card with us at The Flower Challenge.

It's hard to believe the boys are graduating already. I'm sure they both have a bright future ahead of them. You'll have to keep us posted.

Kate said...

Lovely hydrangea card! The pouncing technique worked brilliantly and gorgeous colours - bet it looks dreamy irl!! You may be Lily Putian - but you look very cute in between those very tall young men! Great shot!! Hugs, Kate!

Epie said...

Gorgeous card with lovely hydrangea Darnel , nice
picture with the big boys , congratz hope they have a good future
Nice day Epie

Linda W. (ScrappinBari) said...

Your hydrangeas look amazing with the pounced inks, Darnell - love this!! And oh my, grandsons are grads already - congrats and best wishes to them! Love your grad cards fir them and the great photo!!

Bobby said...

I already commented but forgot to thank you for sending your lovely hydrangea to Just Us Girls.

Faith A at Daffodil Cards said...

Pouncing certainly worked and looks beautiful on your gorgeous hydrangea Darnell, I would think the black centre you say you are going to do, looks wonderful and would bring up the colours, I think anyway! Your lads are handsome boys and I can see the pride you both have in them. Their cards are wonderfully CAS and perfect for them.
Faith x

Viv said...

DOLLY!!!! The grandtwins have been sleeping with their feet in Gro-Bags! (Google it if you dunno what I'm gabbling about!)
Great family pic tho (altho you'd have been better stood on a ladder!!!)
Fab Grad cards and a beautiful hydrangea! xx

Leslie Miller said...

I really like the pounced look on your hydrangeas! I also know how very satisfying it is to finish a card quickly and love how it turned out. It's liberating. Been a long time since I did a quick card, though. I wish Hammy success in finding more likely candidates. Love those daubers, too. My next Amazon order... Speaking of making it quick and loving how it turned out, your grad cards are perfect examples. The boys are looking very grown up and handsome as ever. I was thinking how tall they are and then I realized The Mister is just as tall if not taller. You can't have shrunk that much! You are a cute little munchkin. What a lovely family you are.

Brenda said...

I love how your hydrangea bloom came out Auntie! Love the colors you used to pounce on the petals. I agree, the black would make all the difference, but it sure is beautiful as is too. The grad cards are very fun. I can't believe the twins have graduated, but then again, time slips by me so fast! LOL Love the photo of the 4 of you, so sweet! Hugs, Brenda

Bonnie Lynn said...

Beautiful "coloring" your flower. I love how all of that pouncing turned out. I also love those CAS graduation cards you made for the grand-twins. I'm loving this weather for the cooler temperatures even though my migraines do not. I'm not going to complain since it could be triple digits instead. Ugh!

Vikki H said...

Gosh, look at those two grands!! They tower over you (speaking as a short lady myself). You must be busting all the buttons this June!

nancy littrell said...

Love your QCAS pounced hydrangea cards, Dolly. Black ink for the centers of flowers would be a nice finishing touch:-) OMG...Look at those handsome twin young men and now ready to leave this Fall for college..Wow! TFS ALL their growing up years and now their adult lives...exciting times ahead:-) A treasured photo with their grandparents..Thank you so much for sharing, dear friend. Love and Hugs..Nancy

wienerhoneymooners said...

OH MY !!! The blink of an eye is right!! WOWZA..... Even though im still a youngin (54)...Now I'm feeling my age.. My nephews and neices (gulp) some are grandparents...

Loving all your creations!

HUGs
-Kimberly AKa Winerhoneymooners.

Jenny L said...

Hi Darnell,
yes I remember your Grndson's when they were younger oh my how they have grown just like my grandsons they tower over me too, but in fairness my late first hubby was tall and so are my sons.
Congrats to them on their Graduation.

I love your pounced coloured card and that beautiful flower it looks brilliant and so pretty with the colours used.
Yes I agree the centres would look fab coloured in black.
It's funny how you don't see these things before you post them do you.
Great Graduation cards for the Grandsons and wonderful that you used their fave colours.
Lots of crafty love and hugs from my house to yours.Jenny L.

alice k. said...

I had to come and pay a visit back to let you know, it was totally understandable to get names mixed up. I have been on design teams and commented on many many entries, too. // And I couldn't have been more pleased with my visit, as I found your awesome card blog. This hydrangea is just too pretty for words!

Julia Aston said...

They have grown into wonderful young men - in part because of such a loving grandma and grandpa I'm sure! Congratulations to them both and to you! xx

frommycraftroom said...

Congrats to the twins!

Great card too.