Happy Weekend Hello!
I took a little break from the autumn whirlwind that's hit the Playhouse so I could play in this week's MUSE challenge where the Muse inspiring us is my friend Karen M of Made by Meadie! Karen is a talented card artist with a wonderful style and a sweet and generous nature.
Here is Karen's card for our inspiration and motivation:
I thought that the current challenge sketch at CAS(E) This Sketch could be applied to Karen's challenge. Here is the sketch from CTS designed by the awesome Chrissy Larson:
I'm also linking my card with the ongoing Anything Goes challenge at Seize the Birthday (w/o the toppings).
And here's my card:
Another bloggie friend Sandra, of Stamping for Pleasure, sent me the teal die cuts from Memory Box several months ago, which prompted me to purchase the die myself (NBUS). I thought I finally had a perfect opportunity to use her die cuts on a card and I added a couple of additional ones cut in dark purple.
For the background, I masked the Chloe images and sponged on distress inks. The swirly border die cut is also NBUS, went well with the rounded flower top dots, and mimics the swirl in the sketch. I then CASEd Karen's white dots by dotting the black with a white gel pen. I'm looking for a recipient who wants to have a dotty fine birthday!
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I'm pinkled tink to introduce you today to another young blogger just starting out. Her name is Olivia, she has beautiful hair, and her blog is Liv for Dreams, which is a fantastic name! Like so many of you, she lives in Australia. I think her cards are fantastic and I know she will love it if you stop by with your encouragement! Welcome, Olivia, and thank you for joining!
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And, finally, another bloggie friend Bobby left this comment on yesterday's post which featured this card: "My question to you, and other cardmakers out there: To whom or for what occasion would you actually send this card? I have difficulty making cards I know I'll never use."
I have been asked this question before when I have made a general/ seasonal card or a card without a sediment on the front. For some reason, I don't have any difficulty sending these types of cards as birthday cards, or thank you cards, or thinking of you cards, etc. Often I will stamp one of those sediments on the inside, or simply write my thanks or my best wishes for whatever the occasion. I think such seasonal cards are particularly great for thank you cards.
I do also donate my cards to various local groups. Also Operation Write Home will happily take your cards, as long as there is no glitter on them.
I do also donate my cards to various local groups. Also Operation Write Home will happily take your cards, as long as there is no glitter on them.
So I rarely end up with a card that never gets used. I'd like to hear how would answer Bobby's question?
Do you always send or donate your cards or do you sometimes make a card just for a fun challenge?
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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!
*Life Is Too Short!
Paper: PTI white, black; SU! teal/purple
Stamp: Art Impressions
Ink: Versafine black onyx
DIs: tumbled glass; milled lavender
Sakura white gel pen
Dies: Memory Box: Chloe Stem
Paper Smooches: Borders
Butterfly: K&Company rub-on
Great job with the sketch! I'm looking at it (the sketch) and waiting for my creativity to kick in. I think I'll take a look see at my MB dies and follow your example! TFS
ReplyDeleteGreat way to combine challenges, D. You have the knack for that...it always amazes me how you manage to do that so well! Love these colors, and dies. Sweet little butterfly too. I make all my cards with the idea that they could be sent. The vast majority of my cards go into a large box, and a large drawer, and at Christmas time, I divide them up into piles of 9s. They are part of the gifts we give to our 8 kids, and to my dear friend Mary. Each pile has at least a dozen cards in it. Whew! This year it might be more. And at times, friends and kids come over to 'borrow' a card. Not a problem. Later dudette! Bev
ReplyDeleteLove your card, Miss Lady!! :)
ReplyDeleteWonderful card, Darnell. Great take on Karen's card. Love your style x
ReplyDeleteHi Darnell, I do love how you can combine challenges and come with something that fits them all perfectly.... I have serious envy...
ReplyDeleteI give most of my cards away to family and friends or to the local charity shop, unless I make them for someone specific. People always need cards. I would use your autumnal one for a thank you card or just to say happy autumn! Big hugs, Annie xx
Great take on the Muse - love the clean graphic flowers and the soft shadowing behind. Like you, most of many of my cards are left without sentiments, or become thank you cards - I think thank you cards are the perfect place to show a design that's focused on colour or shape, but not really specific to an occasion. I do not always send, sell or donate my cards - after a while, I go through my box and if it's not something I think I would send, I recycle it (take it apart and reuse any useable bits).
ReplyDeleteDarnell what a great take on Muse. The die cut MB blooms are fantastic. Cards without sentiments wait until there is a need to put a sentiment on it--most often for thank yous and birthdays! Seasonal cards are perfect for that.
ReplyDeleteWhat a pretty card, Darnell! Have a fun day!
ReplyDeleteLesley
ooh your card is wonderful! A brilliant take on Karen's card. I use any challenge cards I make for family and friends but I don't manage to enter many so that's easy to do! xx
ReplyDeleteVery pretty card, Darnell. I love those Chloe stems. I try to combine cards I need for family and friends with challenges, but it doesn't always work that way. I wind up with lots left over! But that's OK I can always use a card like your autumn for just a hello, and I donate to OWH too. Hugs!
ReplyDeleteGorgeous card there Darnell. Love that die too. Will have to mention that to Sandra - hint hint!
ReplyDeleteDoes it really matter what you make cards for? It is your FUN isn't it?
Hugs
xx
I love how you have made this Darnell-the beautiful die cuts sit just nicely within that fabby frame :)
ReplyDeletePerfect take on the inspiration and the sketch.
In answer to your question I have only ever made about 2 cards just for the fun of entering a challenge.As all my cards are sold to raise money for Greyhound rescue I do try to make them "sale-able"(sale-able is that a real word LOL!)
Have a lovely weekend,
Nessa xxx
Darnell you are so talented
ReplyDeleteI love to visit your blog when you post something new
I am so impressed
love your fabulous cards-first one It have such gorgeous background
hugs Tamara
Great use of the die cuts and your card is really pretty. I really like the soft colours in the background.
ReplyDeleteI'd use 'themed' cards just as note cards when sending RAK's or using as a keeping in contact card instead of a full blown letter.
An absolute perfect blend of these two fabulous challenges - you make it look so easy!!! (Not at all jealous - much!!) I think this card is just wonderful and anyone in their right mind would love to receive this flowery dotty card on their birthday ;)
ReplyDeleteIn answer to Bobby's question - I have to agree that I have a hard time making cards for particular challenges if I know I'll never use them so I generally go along with the sketch or the colour scheme (for example, autumnal colours) and pop a sentiment on the card that I would use - birthdays are always a good one, you can never have enough birthday cards! That's my approach anyways :)
Thank you so much for your most generous comments of late my darling, they really make my day ;)
Love this card. I have to laugh about your story about the die. I do the same thing--buy it after a kind friend (usually Kim!) sends me die cuts, and then I just have to have the die. I try to send my cards, but make way more than I need. I give them as gifts or just to people who would appreciate having a hand made card to use for their own card needs. I donate a lot, too--operation write home, as well as whenever I see someone organizing a card drive. My daughter sold a bunch this summer to raise money for our local animal shelter, and I think I'd like to more fundraising with them.
ReplyDeleteI love how you saw the CTS in the Muse challenge - I was having a hard time with the CTS challenge. I love the way you interpreted it. Have a great weekend!
ReplyDeleteYour so clever...all those classes you've taken really pays off...your cards are always unique...nothing cookie cutter about your work. This one is bold and graphic yet soft. So pretty.
ReplyDeleteWonderful card Darnell. I love the colours and such a great design.
ReplyDeleteI must admit that is only in the last year or so that I have actually felt brave enough to send any of the cards I make, I just didn't think they were good enough or that anyone would want them.
I agree with you, seasonal cards are perfect as thank you cards or even a 'happy hello' card. One thing is for sure, anyone would be extremely grateful to receive one of your cards, whatever the occasion.
hugs Sue xx
Fun card! The colors are very striking.
ReplyDeleteI totally agree with you that the fall card you showed is perfectly suitable for birthday, thank you, etc. A sentiment can always be added before sending, if necessary.
I sell and give away lots of cards, but for the most part, I avoid stamping a sentiment I would never send. For that matter, I avoid purchasing sentiments I would never use!
Hi Dippy - just love your chalkenge card which reminds me of what I was doing today on the first day of a two day textile workshop......I was working on umbliforials (not sure if that's the right word but describes exactly what you've used on your card). We were getting down and dirty with cotton velvet, dyes, mistyfuse, bleach, transfoils etc etc. Tomorrow we're going to be stitching into what we've created today so keep your fingers crossed for me! lol Really interesting question about the sentiments on cards. I very rarely put something on a card which no-one would want to send/receive but there are lots of cards which just are great fir sending to someone to let them know you're thinking about them........a simple "hello" or "just a note" - I don't think people send enough of these thinking a quick text or email does the same thing.......believe me it doesn't!
ReplyDeleteHugs.
Karendipity xxx
Wonderful die cut flowers and super colours, clever use of all these elements and together a super card! Well done Darnell, how clever to combine so many challenges too, have a super weekend :D Gay x
ReplyDeleteThanks for the shoutout Darnell!
ReplyDeleteThis is fabulous! I love how the die cut flowers are accented by that fabulous swirly border! Thanks so much for joining us at Seize the Birthday!
ReplyDeleteYour card is so pretty! And look how you were able to combine all these challenges together! Amazing!
ReplyDeleteHi Darnell. Great card, those die cuts are lovely - so simple!
ReplyDeleteI make most of my cards for my class samples or magazine articles, so it's nice to make them for challenges, to get the ideas flowing. And if course, family birthdays are always last minute lol!
Thanks for your lovely comments on my butterfly circle card - now I'm in search of a heroine for my circle :-)
Hugs
Debs x
Hi Darnell, gorgeous card, love that die! Fab take on these challenges. Seasonal cards are great just to send to let someone know you're thinking of them :) Cathy x
ReplyDeleteHi Darnell, beautiful card with seed head die cuts :) It's one that I would love to have to sit in my folders of dies that I don't seem to use. I think I forget they are there, but I love to look at how other people use them in their designs.
ReplyDeleteI have lots of cards, some created for challenges and many for DT 'work'. I eventually sell, send or donate them. Some cards are difficult to let go but with time they all do. Enjoy the rest of your weekend, Shirleyxx
I meant to say your card is beautiful with the pretty seed head die cuts and it's the die that I would like to have sitting in my collection, I should proof read BEFORE I send, not after :)xx
ReplyDeleteI love your card and the way you masked out the flowers for the background. You got quite a range of responses to my question and I thank you for posting it. I can definitely see where some of these seasonal cards would be great for Thank Yous, although I rarely need one. Uh oh, What does that say about me?
ReplyDeleteThat's a great inspiration piece to begin with, and you picked up the theme perfectly with your card! Those black & blue silhouettes look great with the uneven border.
ReplyDeleteI love the teal and deep purple together! Never would have thought of that. Thanks for the creative idea.
ReplyDeleteI think the card in question would be perfect for a birthday, or thank you or just an I'm thinking of you card. Everybody loves to get a card for no specific reason. And this is a card to prop on the mantle or table as a Fall decoration. I was blessed with one such card yesterday. It was the first Fall decoration to get put up in this house. I think Bobby needs to receive more cards!
Gorgeous make Darnell! And how you manage to combine so many challenges is a mystery to me! With teaching classes on card making I have hunerds if em in my garage. This year I've used most of the class samples(Xmas ones) the rest I'm going to box up and give to the orphanage charity thrift shop. Have a super weekend ( what's left of it). Hugs
ReplyDeleteOh the autumn card could be used for a birthday easy!
ReplyDeleteSo many compliments on your card that I have nothing new and unique to add except: AWESOME! Answer to your question, truly, I make cards for challenges, and they wind up in one of three places: sent to family/friends; passed along to my mom, who sells a few at the care centre where she volunteers (donation); given away. As one of your fans noted: I do this because for the creativity more than anything else, and then to make 'stuff' for my niece and nephew. It's a kind of pricey 'hobby' but not compared to my husband's bike stuff :0 Your autumn card = perfect as a 'just because'!
ReplyDeletec
Great stamping and choice of colours!
ReplyDeleteDarnell...I understand and have the some problem with dies. Too bad we all don't live in the same area and have a central supply building (a room would be too small). I do not have any problem sending cards out either, what is on front is half the fun! Now on to your card...it is fabulous as always and those colors are just stunning.
ReplyDeleteGorgeous colors! Awesome job masking - the light touches of ink in the background looks so pretty!
ReplyDeleteAs for my cards...I usually make whatever I want, most often based on challenges. Then I stash it away until the right opportunity to use it comes along! Some do sit for quite a while. I give the majority of my cards away, mostly to the girls at work and to my sister.
That MUSE card is so wonderful! WINNER!!!!
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comments on my blog! you are a wonder woman Darnell.!!!!
What a great card, Darnell, & perfect for the challenges! I have a lot of cards that need to get sent, but I agree that general cards for a challenge make great ones for thinking of you or thank you.
ReplyDeleteLOVE your take on the MUSE challenge ~ just fabulous! I rarely make cards just for a challenge. Even cards without a sentiment on the front, I often just put one on the inside. I actually like to have a couple of cards sans sentiment to have available. I also used up many of my challenge cards for Mother's Day at work this year for the babies to give to their Mom's (I work in a NICU).
ReplyDeleteOH My GOODNESS ~~~ those COLORS are FABULOUS faves of mine!!! Looks magnificent !! I really LOVE how you have rocked that inspiration card!!!
ReplyDeleteSUPER DE DUPER JOB!!
I don't usually make cards that are "extras" but I would send a seasonal card to anyone. :) :)
(sorry I haven't been around this past week... lots and lots of stuff going on...but, I'm back and will catch up on all of your posts this week!!) xo
LOVE your beautiful card Darnell and thankyou for your sweet words:) That die looks amazing and I will be adding it to my wish list....hugs xx
ReplyDeleteGreat take on the Muse, Darnell. Beautiful card! Like you, I usually find a use for those cards that aren't specific in their sentiment. Often they become thank you cards. :-)
ReplyDeleteSuper pretty card, Darnell!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for playing along with CAS(E) this Sketch!
Love your card, Darnell, that's one of my all time fav dies and the colours you've used are scrummy.
ReplyDeleteI make lots of cards for no particular reason, I do sell quite a few for which I am eternally grateful to my lovely customers and sometimes it's nice to send a card "just because" too.
Hope you are enjoying the weekend.
Hugs Lisax
Oh my, look at all these wonderful bubbly shapes, Darnel, they're so celebratory and fun!
ReplyDeleteI make more cards than I send, so have a box to dive into if a card is needed quickly. I also make for challenges because I love trying new techniques/ideas (and there's still a lot of that for me to cover). Sometimes I'll make a card that's a bit quirky, and so wonder if it'll ever get sent, but find there are always those who appreciate them! Anita :)
Love your die cut flowers, Darnell. Great take on the Muse card. I use seasonal cards for thank yous or birthdays in that season. I so try to think of what cards I will be using or someone will want me to make when I do a challenge that does not have a specific sentiment required. As always, TFS!
ReplyDeleteYour card is gorgeous, Darnell! For those "seasonal" cards, I usually don't make them because I don't know how to use them. I obviously don't send enough "hello" cards, otherwise I'd have no problem! ;-) Thank-you for your shoutout to Olivia (she's my daughter). She's very excited about her new blog, and so far I think she's doing well. :-)
ReplyDeleteDarnell, well, what can I say? I think everything has been said...you are a wonder! Not only with words but with those inks and stamps!! thank you for giving us a breath of fresh air and sharing your creations with us! And thank you for joining in the Seize the Birthday fun!!
ReplyDeleteI do sell some of my cards, but it all goes to supporting ministries at my church...giving back!!
Darnell, well, what can I say? I think everything has been said...you are a wonder! Not only with words but with those inks and stamps!! thank you for giving us a breath of fresh air and sharing your creations with us! And thank you for joining in the Seize the Birthday fun!!
ReplyDeleteI do sell some of my cards, but it all goes to supporting ministries at my church...giving back!!
Hey admin, good morning. Totally Great blog post. You have gained a completely new reader. Pls continue this awesome work and I look forward to more of your gorgeous blog posts. Thank you very much, .
ReplyDeleteCccam Server | Cardsharing Server
What a pretty card. Love how you combined the teal and purple diecuts. Thanks for sharing with us at Seize the Birthday.
ReplyDeleteI think your fall card would be great for a thank you or thinking of you. It could also be used for a fall birthday.
Great take on this week's Muse, I love the teal and dark purple combo, great partners. Can't believe I missed another Muse challenge, they seem to fly by far too quickly!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful card, love the sponged background :)
ReplyDeleteGorgeous card Darnell, I love that die cut, and what a sweet person you are giving those cards away, well I give mine away too and I have a wonderful friend who always buys a bunch to send away, thanks for sharing..
ReplyDeleteLovely card, Darnell. ;-) I absolutely LOVE that Chloe die, and I love how you've used it here - the die cuts and the masking. Very pretty. Thanks so much for stopping in at my blog for a comment! I really appreciate your kind words. ;-)
ReplyDeleteOoh Darnell . . . love what you did with that gorgeous die. Watch my blog space for an upcoming card using it!
ReplyDeleteHugs
Sarn xxx