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 30, 2023

Off The Edge!

Hello Stamplings!

How are you? I know a lot of you are enjoying being outdoors in the garden or on vacations and traveling again and that's part of the reason for my long absence.

More below, but first, my card, which I made before our travels:
This month our Group of Seven Cardmakers weren't able to Zoom, so Lolly picked an old tried-and-true technique of "Off the Edge" for us to play with and share on the Group blog on the 28th. (I'm a bit late.) It didn't matter what image, style, or design we used ~ it only mattered that part of the main image was off-the-edge. You can see other examples by clicking on the link to the Group blog.

I love the off-the-edge look and usually achieve it by stamping my image off the edge of the main panel so it falls off into space. But this time, I stamped the image off the edge of a masked and blended background shape using a homemade stencil. I used markers to color directly onto the Penny Black stamp before misting and stamping. It was pretty that way, but I decided to use my waterbrush to move the ink around on the tulips, which really brightened them. Hammy waffled about adding schplatters, but decided to stop at winking to let the tulips be the star.

Challenges
~~~

Travels and Tribulations

Thank you to those who have checked in with me. I intended to post here the second week of June, but I got too busy preparing everything for going on vacation and just didn't have time. 

Then we went on a much-anticipated, long-planned vacation to Europe to do a driving tour of the Alps. We landed in Germany and drove a loop with stops in Austria, Italy, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, and back to Munich to fly home. And for their high school graduation gift, we had the pleasure of our grandtwins' company on the trip! 

The Mister (otherwise known as Papa) planned everything and he did an excellent job. He has taken a similar loop twice now with a group of motorcycle friends, so he is familiar with the area. Everything was spectacular, even the weather, and now the twins will have loads of memories of their old geezer grandparents to reflect on years from now.

Sadly, on the third day of the adventure, I came down with the worst head cold of my life. One so bad that even now that we are home, I'm still suffering. The Mister came down with it on the flight home, which is also sad, but we feel so blessed that he didn't catch it sooner. He did hours of driving and showing us the sights. Without him as driver and tour director ... well, it doesn't bear thinking about. Fortunately, so far, the boys haven't caught this evil bug.🙏

This cold is the whack-a-mole of all colds whereby it flits around from each of the orifices in your head; one day worse here, the next day worse here. You think you're better, but no.

Besides feeling like a zombie, the most bizarre symptom for either of us has been intense conjunctivitis in both eyes! Apparently you can get that if you have a cold. Who knew that was a thing?!😝 
No fever, though, and it's not Covid, so we also feel blessed about that. Could always be worse!

I'll share more photos when my energy returns. This has taken me days to type. Thank you to everyone who has sent me a birthday card! I have a lovely full basket of cards waiting for Sunday, but I may take several days to open them. My focus button is also on the fritz and I want to give each of your beautiful handmade cards the full focus and attention it deserves! Mwah! 💕

~~~

Enjoy your day and stay well! 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! 

*Life is too short!

54 comments:

Loll said...

What a lovley photo of the two boys on your trip. I'm sure the wonderful memories will last a lifetime for them!!

So sorry you got sick on the trip and then The Mister got it one the way home. It's a shame, but thankfully The Mister was able to drive you all over the place and I'm sure the sights were spectacular.

Rest up and get better, my friend. Sending you healing vibes with lots of hugs and love. Lolly

Loll said...

Oh my gosh ... I'm so sorry. Your card is gorgeous Dolly! And I love the creative way you have your off-the-edge. Amazing, my friend! Love, Lolly

Donna said...

Fabulous off the edge card Darnell. Your trip sounds amazing except for the sick part. I hope you are back to normal quickly! Happy Birthday!

Pat said...

I just adore your beautiful tulips and a little bit different to have the flowers off the edge of that wonderful bright yellow masked rectangle, and love the sentiment too and coordinates beautifully with the green card. The trip to the Alps and travelling through all those different countries sounds amazing Darnell, and how lovely to share it with the grandtwins and with the best weather too. Sorry though you got this dreadful bug and hope that you will soon be feeling a lot better. x

Cheryl W. said...

Your card is wonderful! I love your "off the edge technique" with the stenciled shape. I may have to case this, Darnell. So sorry you haven't been feeling well. At least your creativity seems to have remained intact!! Get some rest and feel better soon.

LesleyG said...

Firstly I hope you feel better very soon, it sounds ghastly.
Wow what a trip though, many happy memories for you all, lovely photo of your grand twins.
Last but not least I love your pretty tulip card, and enjoyed seeing all your off the edge creations, great inspiration.
Sending healing hugs xxx

Kathyk said...

Your card is gorgeous, Darnell.

I'm so very sorry to hear that your vacation was so marred by the "cold from hell" and hope you will soon be feeling more like yourself. I'm sure "the boys" had a brilliant time despite the colds best efforts!

Welcome to July

Kathyk

kiwimeskreations said...

Oh Darnell - what a legacy to bring home after the trip of a lifetime - what a stunning photo of the twins with that fabulous background!!
Love your card - so glad you did get to make it.
Prayer for rapid healing
Blessings
Maxine

Alice (scrAPpamondo) said...

Hi Darnell! I'm so glad you visited Europe and especially Italy :) but so sad about your ill... Perhaps it could be a simple but very strong allergy?
Your card looks just AWESOME!!! Fabulous effect on the tulips and the vase!! Amazing vibrant colours too! I'm not too much good with this technique, I have to try again and again :)
Hugs, hope you feel better quickly!

Aquarius said...

A very pretty over the edge floral card. Pleased to hear you all had a lovely holiday but sorry to hear that you've not been well - hope you get back to normal (whatever that is) very soon. Take care

Jeanne said...

Beautiful card and what a wonderful trip. Except for the cold. I can personally attest to the nastiness of the bug you have. I got it, or a variatation too, during the month of May and ended up with pinkeye in both eyes at different times during the month. Aside from that nastiness, I also had a cough that wouldn't quit. I feel for you my friend and I hope you and the mister feel better soon! Happy Birthday...I've not been in my crafty space too much, been too busy cross stitching. Feel better soon, my friend!

Sandra H said...

Ooh how sad sorry to read you got sick l hope your feeling much better ....your card is as always adorable Darnell beautiful technique used and lovely colours too take care x

Gerrina said...

Your card is super! Love the loose style of the flowers; fits perfect with the 'off-the-edge'-theme!
Sounds like a beautiful trip to show the guys a bit of our side of the world...
Hope you are better soon1 Have a heeling weekend!

Carol L said...

I just love this card, and it's a good reminder for all of us to enjoy each day while we're here. I'm thrilled for you and your family that you got to take such a wonderful trip around the world to always remember but so sorry for the nasty crud you picked up and hopefully you can feel better again soon! Happy July and a very happy birthday a day early :) Hugs!

Karen said...

As everyone has noted, your card is lovely. It's such a disappointment to get sick on a fabulous trip--at home is bad enough! But what a blessing to have your grandsons with you. Hope you're beck on your feet very soon!

designbydonna said...

Beautiful tullips. I love the watercoloring. Nice creative touch to do off-the-edge on the rectangle. Nothing worse than being sick on vacation and so far from home. What great memorines iwth your grandtwins.
Ho[pe you are make to yourself soon.

baileyrosy.com said...

Sorry I missed your birthday I do hope it was as magnificent as you are. Your Grand twins are very handsome indeed and how wonderful to spend time with them making wonderful memories. What a shame you became so ill and the Mr too how you will soon be better than ever. Your card is glorious those beautiful off-the-edge blooms are magnificent. Thank you so much for sharing this beauty with us at LIM.

Marie

Jenny L said...

Hi Darnell,
so sorry to hear you caught that cold on your vacation after all the mister did to arrange the lovely vacation.
I do so hope you are now feeling a lot better and so is the mister.
A great card and such a beautiful image of those tulips they are my Daughter's fave and it's her Birthday today.
I thought I could get to the post office this time around to post you a card but the old body was having none of it.
So sorry it's a E card again.
Lots of crafty love and gentle hugs from my house to yours. Jenny L.

Sarah said...

A stunning card Darnell. It sounds like the Mister planned a wonderful trip for you all and the pic of your Grandsons is gorgeous, haven't they grown. Hope that you are soon on the mend xx

Brenda in IN said...

I hate that you caught such a terrible cold and pinkeye and so glad no one else got it when you were there. This is a wonderful trip for the boys to share and I'm sure they enjoyed it and spending time with you. I love this card and the way you used the "off the edge" technique. Beautiful flowers and soft colors.

Susan said...

So sorry you got sick on your trip, Darnell, but I hope it was wonderful none the less!

Love your off the edge card - beautiful soft vase of flowers coming off the edge of the yellow panel (and I like the sentiment coming off too.

TK said...

An adventure of a lifetime, and a true gift (time well spent) to the twins! Your card is wonderful, and I LOVE the idea of stamping off the background and not the edge. I'm gonna try really hard to remember this one...
Hope you are both mending and fully restored soon! Happy Birthday, and Happy 4th of July!

Leslie Miller said...

Your painterly tulips are absolutely gorgeous, Darnell, and I love your version of off the edge. I'm so sorry to hear about your European cold. It sounds very miserable. Wishing you a happy birthday tomorrow. Hugs!

oldpunca said...

I am glad to hear that the boys are enjoying the trip in Europe, but I'm sorry you got ill. Compliments to the driver for taking the tour twice. The photo is like a postcard. :-)
I like your take at the theme Off The Edge. Great card.
I wish you quick recovery. Hugs, Sonja

Sue said...

Stunning card and love the photo of your Grandsons...we have been to Germany and Austria ..such stunning and beautiful scenery..hope your feeling better soon Darnell hugs Sue x

Papercraft Boutique said...

What a pretty tulip card with off-the-edge design, Darnell! Love the soft watercolor-look and the color combo!
I'm so sorry that you got the bug on your vacation (and later The Mister...). But you sound like you made beautiful and precious memories with The Mister and your handsome grandsons in Europe! I'm happy for you. :-)
Hope you get well soon!
Hideko xx

Linda W. (ScrappinBari) said...

So sorry you & Mister have been ill, Darnell - hoping for a speedy recovery! Love your tulips - great idea to have one of the blooms off the masked area (love the color!!). Fab photo of the twins too!! Take care!!

Laurie Unger said...

Happy belated birthday. Glad you had a wonderful vacation with the twins! They will remember it forever!! Hate that you got a nasty bug - feel better soon! Thanks for playing over at Less is More!

Julie B said...

Love your take of 'off the edge', the tweeking with the waterbrush brought your tulips to life.
Nothing worst than a summer cold Darnell in my experience and I can totally sympathise with the bug moving around the sinuses like that. Hope you both feel better soon. What a great graduation gift for your Grandsons, one they will treasure for many years. Happy birthday! :)

jimlynn said...

Beautiful card Darnell and so glad y'all had a wonderful trip. Sounds like fun!
Hope you start feeling better soon.
Lynn

brandco2450@gmail.com said...

Hi Darnell! Happy Birthday! Hope you are feeling much better and
are having a wonderful day! Love the card! It sounds as though you had a fantastic trip with the "boys" even though you were under the weather!
Hope you and the Mister get back on your feet soon! xoxoxo

Helen F. said...

Oh Darnell! Your trip to Europe sounds wonderful! The evil virus bug you caught sounds horrible! So sorry you got sick while on vacation, but thankful you didn't have COVID. Hope you and The Mister are on the mend.
The Grandtwins are so handsome and luck to have such fun grandparents :-)
Looking forward to seeing more photos!

Helen F. said...

Happy Birthday, dear Darnell! Sending warm wishes for a great year ahead. {{Hugs}}

Bobby said...

How lovely that the Mister planned such a wonderful trip for you and the boys. I'm so sorry that your head cold left you unable to enjoy it as much as you could. I hope you feel up to par soon. Two of my grands went to Grindelwald where they bungee jumped into a canyon. I don't suppose you tried that. lol

Your card is one of my favorites, Darnell. I love the variation of colors in the tulips and how the stems just melt into the frame. Gorgeoous, my friend.

Cat Craig said...

I just sent a birthday email earlier…and now questions are answered…So sorry you have that bug is sounds hideous. Hopefully being back in your environs will help heal. Your trip sounds like a lovely tour…wish you had been feeling better. Hope hubs recovers quickly too.

Your card is lovely I like the inked panel that those tulips are flopping over the edge of. A great technique.

HilaryJane said...

Happy Birthday Darnell, I do hope you are feeling well enough to enjoy your special day. What a blow to come down with that bug while on holiday. I hope you get your energy back soon. Take your time. I love your off the edge card. I came looking for it on the 28th and didn't find it, so now I am late but never mind. Your tulips look stunning against that yellow blended frame. Love the green card base too. Hope it doesn't take too long for you to get your energy back. Just doing a trip like that would be pretty exhausting, especially having 2 young men with you, without factoring an illness in. I bet it feels good to be home xx

Lisa Elton said...

What a lovely card, Darnell Sounds like a wonderful trip, so happy the twins were able to share your adventure. Also happy they haven't shared the icky sickies. Hope you and the mister are feeling better very soon!

nancy littrell said...

Happy Birthday Dolly :-) Your birthday card will be a bit belated, but I think you are really going to like it:-)

So sorry you got a really nasty, miserable cold on your trip, but thankful it was not Covid and Kevin waited to the end of the trip to get sick. It sounded like Kevin did a great job as your guide and driver, etc. Wonderful photo of the boys too.

I Loved your GO7 Off the Edge card for June, my friend. You did a wonderful job of watercoloring your PB stamped image. I am so happy to be an Honorary Member of your awesome Group of Seven Cardmakers.

Take care getting over bug. Love and big hugs..

Jeanne H said...

Like everyone, dear Darnell, I hope you and your hubs are feeling better each day. Hugs to you. As for the card, it is so lovely, and pink is ONE of my favorite colors, so I saved your card to CASE. Take care.

Stamps and Paper said...

Lovely to see you back Darnell...your tulip card is amazing I just love the image...sounds like you had a great holiday apart from picking up a nasty cold, I do hope it didn's spoil your holiday too much.. lovely pictres of the boys....Hope you and Mister feel well soon...take care

Anne

Andrea said...

hi Darnell your trip to the Alps with the twins sounds like a WONDERFUL TRIP WITYH LOTS OF MEMORIES TO KEEP AS THE BOYS ARE GROWING UP SO FAST. I'M SORRY TO HEAR YOU GOT POORLY AND ARE STILL ON THE MEND WISHING YOU A SPEEDY RECOVERY AS ALWAYS GREAT CARD BEAUTIFUL STAMP SPRRY FOR CAPS THIS LAPTOP IS DRIVING ME INSANE LOL STILL HAVEN'T MANGED TO ANSER VIA MY PHONE BUT WORKING ON IT LOL SENDING BIG HUGS ANDREA XXX

Lynette said...

Your card is beautiful!!! I love the painted look over the colored background - perfect! So sorry about you getting sick on the trip. What a bummer. Glad it could still go on as planned and I'm sure the boys will remember it for a very long time. So very special.

Bonnie Lynn said...

Darnell, I'm so happy you were finally able to go on vacation but big bummer getting sick at the end of it. Hope you're feeling better soon and this weather whiplash we're having isn't affecting you too much. Have a safe 4th.

Craftychris said...

I am so sorry you are not well and were ill for your birthday and for some of your holiday! That sucks! I hope you are starting to feel better now. Enjoy opening all your cards when you feel well enough, I had a bug with the conjunctivitis in both eyes many years ago so I know how horrid is it for you and the Mister, looking at cards or blogging/crafting will be a definite no no. Your off the edge card is gorgeous! Beautiful colours too. The twins will have such lovely memories of their trip with you both. Take care my friend. Big hugs. xxx💖💖💖

Brenda said...

Your card is gorgeous Auntie! I love your off the edge take. Love that you and the Mister took the boys overseas, what a fun trip....until it wasn't. So sorry you got this awful head cold. I've heard about it and everyone says it is miserable to say the least! Glad the Mister didn't start with it until the flight home, but so glad the twins didn't catch it. They have a younger immune system. LOL Love that you all had a great time and can't wait to see your photo's. In the mean time, take care of yourself!!! Hugs, Brenda

Linby said...

I'm glad you are ok but now have the continuing cold. What a fabulous holiday you have been on. I did post you a card, but it maybe didn't arrive in time - sorry! The beginning of the month comes around so quick when it's for overseas lol.

Maria said...

Sounds like an amazing vacation with your grandsons, Darnell!! What memories were made and to be cherished, how fun!! Sorry to hear that you and Mister got a terrible head cold, and I hope you both are feeling much better. Looking forward to seeing more photos of your wonderful trip! Take care and have a great weekend! Hugs!!

Maria said...

Oops, silly me! I didn’t comment on your card. I got wrapped up in thinking about your wonderful trip. Anyways, your card is so gorgeous and love the off the edge technique. I must give it a try some time. Thank you for the awesome inspiration!

Donna said...

What a wonderful trip especially with your grandkids! Extra fun! I hope that you were feeling better for your birthday and were able to celebrate! Your card is beautiful! :)

Epie said...

Nice pictures from your grandkids on this vacation but
very sad you were sik at the end , wish you are better now
Your cards are always lovely , I take a look today ;)
Have a great day and weekend , with hugs Epie

Conniecrafter said...

such pretty flowers and I do like this look!
Sounds like a wonderful vacation other than getting the colds, sure hope you are feeling better now!

Kate said...

Hope you'r on the mend Darnell! What fabulous trip and what lovely memories for your grandtwins! Your card is just lovely! I love the blended rectangle. Very clever to stamp the flowers off the edge - you've achieved a sense of depth! Hugs, Kate!

AlisonC said...

So sorry to hear all that, I sincerely hope you are much better now, I'm a bit late to the party. What a dreadful time to feel ill and have it spoil your wonderful trip.
These watery tulips are very gorgeous. Knowing when to stop is a good trick!

Greta said...

What an amazing trip, but such a bummer that awful virus got you! I'm hoping to have a better routine for blog visiting after my recovery from surgery. Thank you for your continued friendship which is so appreciated, Darnell!