Happy Sunday everyone~
And surprise! Happy Birthday, Maria!
Today is the 50th birthday of my friend and uber-awe-mazing card artist, Maria F. of Riesling Mama.
Cheers to you, Maria! May this be the bestest Happy Birthday!!
In her own words, Maria is a ~
"daughter. wife. mother. ex-financial analyst. english tutor. gardener. upcycler. cardmaker. expatriate. i live in rheinhessen wine country. and i hate lima beans and housework."
Maria is a native of Michigan USA. She moved to Germany over 20 years ago and she started her in blog in 2012. She is a well-respected and oft-publicized card artist, so if you aren't familiar with her work, prepare to have your Inspiration Meter pegged when you go to visit her!! And she's funny, too!
As I am wont to do on these occasions, I have taken this opera tuna tee to copyliment Maria with a DJKASE of one of her cards. Again, it was an almost impossible task to choose just one card out of the dozens of her cards in my folder to CASE. In the end, I went with this one, posted over two years ago on March 5, 2012.
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| Maria's card |
Now Maria does amazing works of art with designs that will often leave you shaking your head in admiration at how her creative mind works, yet the card I chose is a fairly simple OLC. I chose it because of the birds dressed in text and because I liked her sediment for our own party in her honor today.
It turns out I don't have the stamp she used of the texty birds, but I do have a bird die and I also have a few pages of actual book text that Maria sent to me quite some time ago. I've used a bit on unposted cards I've made, but I've always wanted to make a card specifically for Maria, using those book pages. Today is the day!!
And here is my DJKASE:
You will note that the bird on the left chirps German. She was made from one of the pages Maria sent me. The bird on the right chirps English. We are happily chatting and chirping among colored sequints and fun watercolored clouds. Even though I diluted the inks with water, the clouds were still a bit bold which I thought took away from the focus pocus on the birds, so I added a layer of swirly vellum to make them recede a bit.
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| Darnell's card (DJKASE #14) |
I hope you are delighted with your birthday party, Maria, and that you are pleased with my card! It was an honor to DJKASE you! Thank you for your friendship and encouraging comments!
If you would like to join Maria's surprise birthday party, all you have to do is link up your card with the InLinkz button over on Shirley Bee's website, Shirley Bee's Stamping Stuff. Thank you, Shirley, for being the party headquarters!!
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The colors used in today's DJKASE card for Maria were taken from the current challenge at The Color Throwdown, so I'm linking my card there at the very last minute. Hold the door!
And the current challenge at The Card Concept is to make a birthday card, so I'm also linking my card there. My card is clean and layered (CAL) this time.
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Please remember to click on the challenge links for all the rules, sponsor, and prize information. I hope you can join in!
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Finally, I haven't had a chance to play in one of my favorite challenges for a while and I'm happy that my card works for it this week because I made three clouds and used three sequints. It is Less Is More where the brief is to use "three of something" on our cards and visit at least three other gallery participants. That's EZPZ and a whole lot of fun!
Please remember to click on the challenge links for all the rules, sponsor, and prize information. I hope you can join in!
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New Friends Corner
I'm delighted today to introduce you to two more friends!
Tamiko McCurry (MEKOfoSHOW) of Miko's Spot. Tamiko has been blogging since 2012. She doesn't post often, but when she does post, it's sensational! She is not only a card artist, she is an artist, period. Her creations are out of this world to me!!
Lynne Mizera of Scrapbook Lynne's. Lynne blogged a few times in 2010-12, but she really took off in 2013. She is a fun-living, fun-loving, multi-talented, and published card artist. Her creativity is enjoyed by several design teams, as well as her readers!
Your visits to these ladies will be fun and inspiring. Thank you, Tamiko and Lynne, and welcome to the Playhouse!
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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 leave a comment and/or join as a follower! Please let me know you came by, so I can be sure and return the flavor!
*Life Is Too Short!
| Project Details | |
| Paper | Lifestyle Crafts letterpress; unknown vellum |
| Stamps | Friend: Hero Arts "Thank you for Being My Friend"; Birthday: SU "Moving Forward" |
| Ink | SU brilliant blue, perfect plum, and Bermuda bay; water brush |
| Accessories | Die: Spellbinders "Bird Sanctuary"; sequints from Neat and Tangled; sponge dauber; pop dots |
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72 comments:
I love the way you used Maria's card as inspiration Darnell. The text on the birds looks super cool!
Beautiful job!
A stunning card, Darnell! I am sure Maria will love it!
Very creative and pretty! Love it!
Lynn
Stunning card using Maria's to case. Loved your idea of the bilingual birds too. Just goes to show, doesn't it, we can all be friends, no matter the walk of life. I think card makers should be running the world, no? We'd all get along a lot better! Enuff poly stuff. Your vellum clouds are beauts - as were the birdies. Will see if Blogger will let me go see & join your new friends. Happy Birthday to Maria, and Happy Sunday to YOU! Hugs & TFS
Wow! Such a darling card Darnell! Live those birds! Very cute!
This is gorgeous Darnell. I love the birds.
What a nice post today, Darnell! Love what you created! I wish I'd known you lived in Germany! When we travel, I always try to meet a blogging friend. We were in Weisbaden, Cologne, Bonn, Rudesheim, Heidelberg, and many other cities in December, and again in March! If we go again, I will certainly contact you! Hugs...
Lovely card Darnell, the wordy birds are fab and I love the swirly embossed clouds!
Val x
Just love your birdy card. It's a perfect compliment to Maria's, so now you two can just chirp away like a couple of tweetie pies. Super clever to use the pages as die cuts. Sensational card, my dear friend! Way to DJKase! You go girl. I know Maria will adore this extra special card. Bev
Wow Darnell, what a fabulous card you have made for Maria, how clever to put one birdy in English and one in German - very, very clever indeed and makes it so personal. I think this may be one of my favourites of your cards now! Hugs, Annie xx
A beautiful card ~ love the text bird die cuts and the vellum on the clouds adds that extra special touch!
Stunning Darnell! I love reading your blog it always makes me smile huggles Sue xx
Beautiful CASE. I like the fact that one bird of yours has German and the other English. That is a super lovely touch!
Fabulous card Darnell, love the simplicity of it, well cased :D Happy Birthday to Maria and well done you, German and British text, that's a nice touch :D Hugs Gay x
The birds are awesome, all decked out in their wordy plumage! I LOVE your ingenious and awesome cloud save - they look fabulous with the velum overlay!
Great post! Maria is going to love, love, love your DJKASE!
awesome card for Maria and love the touch of Greman! I will be a day late to the party but will join tomorrow x
What a pretty card Darnell! I love the birds with their inked edges and the pretty pastel clouds! You did a wonderful job DJKASEing!! heheh!
Maria will love the card, it's gorgeous! I love the die cut birds with the two different languages - perfect! xx
I adore bird cards -- fabulous CASE that Maria will love I am sure~
WOW! This is stunning Darnell. I love the way you have made one bird chirp in English and the other in German. I love the coloured and embossed clouds, such a beautiful sentiment too.
hugs Sue xx
That is quite a CASE and I really like how you used the CTD colors for the clouds! Thanks so much for joining us at the Color Throwdown!
So well done and unique. Very clever how the bird speaks German...sweet
What a fabulous CASE! I love those text-y birds! Thanks so much for playing the Color Throwdown!
what a great card Darnell and I love how you've used the text in both languages perfectly fitting for your friends birthday ..she will adore it me thinks...also love the velum swirls on the clouds a great idea .I hope you have a good week ahead ..off to check out your new followers crafty hugs Andrea x
Hi Darnell, love your card and as usual your conversation to us. Visited Tameko wow what a brilliant artists. Another to follow thru Feedly. Thanks for sharing
That is one amazing CASE, Darnell! Maria is going to be thrilled! ♥
Love your chatting birds, Darnell! And the vellum makes the clouds look perfect with the little swirls! A lovely tribute to Maria!
Your chatty birds are sooo clever, what a great way to use supplies sent to you :0) Fabulous CASE of Maria's card xx
Just love how your birds are bilingual! What a perfect card for Maria!
LOVE it! Just so cool and fun - perfect for Maria!
Awesome DJCASE of Maria, I jut love your card Darnell and yes Maria most definitely will to! ~hugs
Wonderful card, fabulous post.
Kath x
Sweet birdies on your card Darnell! I will have to check out Maria's blog since I have a daughter named Maria. Have a great day.
I adore using text, and add those birds, and I'm swooning! Great card and tribute to Maria, Darnell!
Fantastic DJCASE! Birds are one of my favorites and I fell in love with your printed variety. Don't know about German & English but birds do have different dialects depending where they are found. Makes it harder to identify a specific species that has a wide range. Love your wonderful card as I'm sure Maria did too!
I love your cased card, what a great way to use the papers that were sent to you.
Awesome CASE of Maria's card, Darnell! Your scripty birds are so sweet, and I love how you stamped your sentiment! I'm sure Maria is going to love it, too!
You put a lot of thought into this card - Maria will love it!
So so cool!! ;)
Sweet birthday card for Maria and I am sure she will love it...what a wonderful post for Maria too! You are amazing.
Okay, who could not LOVE these international birdies!! Brilliant idea to incorporate the German text that Maria herself gave you!! She is going to flip when she sees it (or she flipped when she saw it, which is more likely the case since I'm commenting so late in the day - ha!). Fab, fab card, Darnell!!!
What a FABULOUS card Darnell!!! Love those birdies, I am sure Maria with love it as well :)
A delightful CASE of Maria's card Darnell!! I like your text print tweets ;)
A lovely take on Maria's card. Happy Birthday Maria. :)
Wow this is amazing!!! Great colors and stamping simply beautiful! Maria will love this im sure :)
Hugs
Vic x
Suer card ... loving those texty birds!!
Must say that I like your card better as Maria's... Think you did a clever job to ad the clouds! The give so much more interest... Have a fun day, Gerrina
How special is this card, Darnell?? You DJKASE Maria's card, you use goodies that she sent you - fabulous!! Thanks so much for linking up :)
Love your casing case...those texty birds are AWESOME.
maria doesn't like lima beans? LOL.
So creative and fun - the German and English text is delightful. Love the clouds, too!
FAB makes from you again, Darnell (as always) and Happy Birthday to your pal too
Kathyk
How pretty....you have created such a lovely case of your friends card!! The birds look awesome and I love how you used the challenge colors for the clouds!!! Thanks for joining us for the Color Throwdown Challenge!!!!!
Hi Darnell, what a cute little card ..... I love those darling birdies, and what a clever idea using the German and the English book text. Have a greart week ..... hugs Linda xx
Fabulous card Darnell!!! Have an awwsome week!!!
My favorite challenges are the sketch or case ones. I also like to see what others make using the same source of inspiration. That's why I love your case posts, and I also think it's a nice thing to do as you give credit to others work as well doing this. Looking forward to seeing more of your cards:)
I love the way you cased Maria's card, perfection. She will love and and will love to read all the goodness of ur post :)
Great cards! Love the printed paper on the birds! Carri~Abusybee
Skittles!
Oooh! Bilingual bird chirps! I love it. Your card is vunderful! I've seen Maria's card before and it's still just as awesome-sauce as before!
You did Maria's card justice Darnell, for your card is amazingly beautiful! I love both! Hugs
Beautiful birds for your CASED card! I'm making a mental note of your "opera tuna tee" spelling! LOL I love that one :)
They are both gorgeous Darnell! In my humble opinion you never can go wrong with any creations if you use birds on them! Have a good week xx
A lovely DJKASEing of Maria's great bird card. I love the little different colour clouds, and the birds with the English and German script is a great idea. Happy Birthday to Maria. Hope you had a good weekend Darnell. x
Darnell this is just super duper sweet:) Love the birds and how they hang over the edge. So glad you joined us at The Card Concept. I always love seeing your creations.
Oh, Darnell, I love that your one bird is German and the other English!!! So perfect for your friend!! I love your birds and how you have put the whole card together! Stunning!!
Super card Darnell and such a clever CASE!
Thanks so much for joining us at LIM
Anne
LIM Guest commenter
A lovely card for your friend and I especially like the extra detail of the german and english text on the birds. So appropriate. x
So cute and clever and fun, Darnell ... love those sweet bilingual birds ... adding the vellum to the cloud is a mark of genius! What a lovely tribute to Maria! Hugs, Anita :)
I'm running soooo behind! Here I am, though, to join with the others: your international birdies are fabulous! I know Maria adores this, as do I!! Hugs~c
I must apologise for my lack of commenting for the last few weeks during my holiday to Australia, hopefully all will be back to normal now!
This is fab Darnell!
Thanks so much
Chrissie
"Less is More"
Love the wee bird images especially the two that are 'talking'. There is something very 'uplifting' about a bird on a card. Lovely Darnell. Thank you so much for joining us at The Card Concept.
Very nice cards and post and I enjoyed looking around your blog.
For whatever reason I cannot join this site/follow with the google/blogger button so I'm one of you newest Bloglovin followers. Thanks for stopping by my blog.
Ach du meine Gute das ist wunderbar... Did you hear those birds chirping German?!?!? Musta been Hitler outside the playhouse window (tee hee). You. Are. A. Dear. Took me awhile to get here (just couldn't wallow through on Mom and Dad's ancient PC) but oh what a delight. It is so special to me that I've been DJKASEd. And using stinky German book text too! Hope I have the opera tuna tee to shoot that sentiment right back at ya one of these days...
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