Hello, Stampers!
Welcome! This date brings us to a point on the calendar where we are literally down to a month of Sundays before Christmas!
Welcome! This date brings us to a point on the calendar where we are literally down to a month of Sundays before Christmas!
I have been itching to make this card since I saw my friend Shirley post about the Craft Stamper magazine's "Make It Take It" November challenge, which is to use a "non-Christmas stamp to create a Christmas-themed image."
This is my entry:
I'll bet there are a lot of you SU fans who instantly recognized where my sweet filigree "ornaments" came from, yes? Without further a dew, here is the non-Christmas stamp I used:
This Allium flower stamp came as part of a three-stamp set, whose name I've forgotten. I have to say I'm quite pickled at how well it doubled as a Christmas stamp! I found the little ribbon in my "Bows" stamp container. It is unmarked, but I think it might have started life as a SU image, as well.
The awesome sediment is a NBUS Penny Black stamp which made a perfect shelf for hanging my "ornaments." Every part of the design was heat embossed and the bows were given an additional coating of Wink of Stella sparkle.
There are a couple of days left in this challenge, if you want to join in the fun! The link will take you to the post with all the details. The sponsor is The Artistic Stamper.
I had fun repurposing another stamp, too, so I'll be back with Part B in a separate post in a couple of days. As you all know, I never seem to have enough time to use up my stamps for what they are intended, let alone for what they aren't intended, but I recommend trying this exercise. I think you'll have fun looking around to see how you might stretch your stamps this way!
Craft Stamper is allowing participants to enter other challenges, so I'm also linking with:
If you would like more information on rules, sponsors, and prizes, please click on the links!
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- Penny Black and More Challenge, where the theme is "Anything Goes."
- STAMPlorations Blog, where the theme is "Stamps & Layers."
- TIME OUT Challenges, where the theme is "Embossing, with the optional twist of sparkle."
- Uniko Studio Challenge, where the theme is "Christmas, Anything Goes" with an optional sketch.
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New Friends Corner
Here are three more new friends for you to meet! They are happy to provide you with lots of inspiration!
Louise van Vuren of Cats, Cards, and Cupcakes. Louise, mother of three and wife of Tom, has been blogging since 2012. Not surprisingly, she is on several design teams and has won many awards. Louise loves the clean and simple card style and is always enthusiastic about trying her hand at new techniques!
Pat of Stamp, Paper, and Ink. Pat has been blogging since 2008! Needless to say, Pat has won many, many awards and served on numerous design teams. Her cards are uniquely designed, often whimsical, and always impeccably made!
Ellie of My Creative Moments. Ellie is another long-time stamper and blogger. She started stamping over a decade ago and started blogging in 2008! Like Pat and Louise, Ellie has won many awards and often served as a guest designer and design team member. Her talents with layering and coloring will awe you!
Thank you for joining, ladies, and welcome to the Playhouse!
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Critter Update
When the Mister was raking yesterday, he reached for some stray leaves along the window ledge and almost gathered up this praying mantis:
It was incredible watching her swivel that E.T.-like head and have those two wide-set pinpoint eyes look right into mine. The design is just fascinating. I took a piece of paper and moved her over to a tree so she wouldn't get scooped up in the leaf cleanup.
Now I wonder if maybe that was a bad place to put her considering birds live up there. Out of the frying pan and into the fire? Shucks. It's not easy being a bug.
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Critter Update
When the Mister was raking yesterday, he reached for some stray leaves along the window ledge and almost gathered up this praying mantis:
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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! Please let me know you came by, so I can be sure and return the flavor!
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110 comments:
Fabulous card. Brilliant idea to use that Allisum stamp!
Hope all is good with you.
Elaine
What a great challenge, and I love this beautiful CAS card Darnell. Perhaps you need to think up a new category for your occasional NBUS challenge and have a NBUTWS or Never Before Used This Way Schtuff!
Isn't your little visitor amazing too and well done to Kevin for spotting him before he got crushed.
Have a great Sunday.
Hugs
Carol x
WOW! This is stunning Darnell. I love the way you have used the flower stamp, added the bow and gorgeous sentiment. The heat embossing looks fabulous too.
I hope you are having a good weekend.
hugs Sue xx
Fabulous card
lovely stamp
hugs Tamara
What clever use of the Allium stamp Darnelle, dressed up with the bows you would never know.
Thanks so much for sharing your lovely work with us at Penny Black and More challenge.
B x
What a clever use of that flower stamp - I would never have realised once you popped the bows on! It does sound like a good exercise to try as I am very literal with my stamps - I stamp what I see :) Beautifully embossed too. Thanks for linking up at Time Out!
Ohh this is pretty Darnell I like be the stamp what a pretty Christmas card!
Have a great day
Hugs
Vic x
What a great challenge idea and how super clever was your choice of stamp love it <3
What a brilliant way to use a non-Christmas stamp! Fabulous card! xx
Gorgeous card, Darnell! Very clever! Good luck with the challenge! Hugs,
Ingrid x
From Allium to pomander...what a genius idea and they look fabulous suspended from the sentiment!! Great job!! xx
Your card is amazing such a fab CAS design I love how you made that bauble its a lovely stamp bet you use it loads. Thanks for sharing the amazing photos Love and hugs Carole x
what a clever idea and it looks just amazing-all that embossing is just stunning-and fabulous to see you at TIME OUT and Uniko x
I love this Darnell .... what a clever way to use that pretty little allium stamp. Thanks for joining in with the Craft Stamper challenge ..... good luck hun! Linda xx
Truly inspired stamping there Darnell! Absolutely gorgeous festive card. Xx
What a fun card and that stamp is perfect for a Christmas card. Well done!
Hello Darnell
A brilliant and amazing card, it's just perfect for Christmas.
luv
irene
xxxx
Genius, Darnell ... who else would've thought of allium as Christmas ornaments ... they're gorgeous! All the texture is so touchable ... and I love how they're so perfectly suspended on that fun and playful sentiment! Always delighted to have you play along with us at Time Out, my friend! Anita :)
Hi Darnell, your card is beautiful, and what a great idea to use the 'non' Christmas stamp and turn it into beautiful embossed ornaments. I hope you are having a great weekend, Shirleyxx
This is such a great design and one would never have guessed that you used a floral stamp to create it! I love how you dangled them from the sentiment! Brilliant!
What a fab card Darnell and love the pics of the bug LOL huggles Sue xx
You are a very creative lady, Darnell. I really like your use of the stamp to make the ornaments. That bug was very interesting and I hope it was able to skedaddle away from any birds! Thanks for sharing!
This is so clever indeed Darnell! Way to think outside the box! Love dropping by and seeing what you are up to! Thanks for inspiring all of us!
You really came up with a great "unChristmas" stamp. No one would ever know this wasn't an ornament. I love it hanging on the sentiment. Great card!
Brilliant idea ,Darnell!!!!!great way to use a NBUS! love your card and photos!
This is fantastic, Darnell! Love how you used that flower stamp. Now that's thinking outside of the box! It's funny but this card reminds me just a little bit of my jingle card. :-). Anyway, I love it! :-)
What a fantastically cleaver use of that stamp Darnell! A FABULOUS card as usual, so elegant, but quirky too with that jaunty sentiment! Hazel x
Oh wow Darnell, I love how you used the Allium stamp, your Christmas baubles looks amazing and I love the embossed words too.
As for the praying mantis, I had a traumatic experience as a child with one, so they make me shudder a little... but all the same, I hope it did not get eaten... Hugs, Annie xx
That is such a clever repurposing of the flower stamp. It's amazing when you look at things in a different light.
What a great take of this stamp !
Love it !
Darnell, that's a wonderful way to use that stamp! LOVE that big sentiment and you're right...it's perfect to hang the "wreaths" on. Love it!
Lynn
You clever girl to use that stamp for a christmas card. I would never have guessed it was a flower in it's former life. Fabulous card xx
Winner, winner, chicken dinner. That's what you'll be singing when the challenges you've entered get a load of this card. Brilliant use of the sentiment as your "ledge". And those shiny gold alium are perfect with the sweet little bows. As for the mantis, if she's female, she'll survive and produce other little female cannibals.
Love your sparkly ornaments made from flowers!! Great way to use a non holiday stamp for something festive! And the praying mantis is amazing! Great pictures.
You clever thing, you! Love the mantis too.
This is exceptionally creative way to use a stamp. What a genius idea.! And I love how those golden ornaments are hanging to the 'L'. Brilliant card. :)
Hi Darnell
Nice pair of baubles!
Perhaps I should re-phrase that hahaha!
Best wishes.
Ang x
Darnell what a brilliant idea to use that allisum stamp in a totally different way. You are so clever. Hugs, Veerle xx
Now, what a brilliant idea to make your stunning X-mas card using a flower stamp, Darnell!!! I LOVE this CAS creation - the sentiment is so perfect to go with your clever ornaments!!!! Love the heat embossing of everything. Great card, Darnell!!!
Beautiful pics of the praying mantis - they are such cute little insects, hey!!! TFS!!!
Have a great week!!!
oh how clever you are Darnell the flower now is a christmas decorations...and white lovely red bows...you are so clever Darnell..I adore the colors too..and many thanks for visiting me...I am always waiting your nice smile on my post..but I know you must be busy..it really means much to me for your visiting..you are a talented and very kind lady..luv you...hugs, Monika
Fabulous, what a great way to use that stamp!
Helen x
Simply perfect, sparkly and festive. Thanks so much for linking up to the Uniko Studio challenge. Hugs Bev x
Love how you've used this stamp! Great embossing too! As for the praying mantis, his is amazing. Hoping he wasn't lunch for any of our birdie friends!
Hugs,
Debbie
It's so fun to see how many ways one can use just one stamp! I would never have guessed your baubles were actually flowers!
What a creative way to use this stamp! Lovely card!
That's the perfect sentiment to hang your re-purposed ornaments from, Darnell. I love the layered look, too. It's one of my favorite cards.
That is SO clever..what a fun challenge. I love the gold, so elegant and festive for the holidays!
Oh my goodness! This card is GREAT!! I love the nontraditional treatment of that flower - what a way to stretch your stamps!
Brilliant card Darnell!! Huge success in thinking outside the box and of course, very clever to boot.
It reminds by of the mistletoe balls that my mom used to hang way back when.
Hope you are well.
Carole
Brilliant!! Way to work outside the box :)
Hola Darnell, thank you for your kind comment on my blog and thank you for following is an honour because you´re a great card maker.
Fantastic card Darnell, very clever and original non christmas stamp card, i like the bright and vibrant colours, beautiful card for christmas season.
A warm hug from Palma and i hope to see you soon on my blog.
i´m a follower of you ;D.
Your card is so beautiful and elegant with all that gold. And, how clever to use those non-traditional images to make your ornaments. Amazing idea!
Clever use of the repurposed stamp -- LOVE the beautiful red embossing too! Thanks for joining in at STAMPlorations!
Great idea to use this stamp for ornaments! Love the elegance of the red and gold!
Very creative use of this stamp, Darnell! Love the embossing and the color choices. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving! Hugs!!!
It's so nice to know that I'm not the only one who rescues bugs! I'm quite sure the tree is much safer than the ground!
Your re-purposed idea is so creative! Never in a million years would I have visualized "pretty little mistletoe" looking baubles! The embossing creates a lovely 'satin' ribbon look too!
What a creative idea Darnell. And loving your choice of colors too!
Also, thank you for playing along at Penny Black and More!!
Very creative. Great card. Thanks for sharing.
so crafty you are, Darnell. Amazing card! Love it. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving.
Darnell, your card is amazing what a fabulous idea and so stunning, better than any ornament stamp! Your gold border really makes it pop. I am going to be looking at all my stamps so differently now, thanks for always inspiring me! Hugs, Donna
Dear Darnell you have made a stunning christmas card without using christmas stamps. :-) I like the simplicity of the elements and the great effect of embossing.
Have a great week. :-) Sonja
So very clever, imaginative and perfect! Love it!
Oh my gosh! You are absolutely brilliant!
What a Brilliant idea, Darnell! Love how this card turned out!
First of all I love your CAS card. The allium are a perfect substitute for kissing balls! As for your little bug friend, I'm pretty sure that in the 50 Shades of Bug story she's the dominant so I wouldn't worry too much about her fate!
Well know, aren't you the clever one Auntie! I would never even would begin to know how to use a non Christmas stamp to make it into a Christmas card, just not that clever! lol But I have to say that I just adore this card!!! Love the sentiment stamp and love those "flowers" as your ornaments, such cute bows too. I'm in awe at how clever you are. You got a pretty nice mantis there, I usually put them in the shrubs. lol Who knows where to put them! Oh (groan) please don't remind me that Christmas is right around the corner!! It comes faster and faster each year and no I'm never really ready either. Hugs, Brenda
Look how creative you are and how well you think outside the box! Even my 11 year old, who peaked over my shoulder, was impressed! And the sentiment is so perfect for hanging those kissing balls!
This card is awesome and such a cool, creative tweak on that flower stamp!! Good for you, you clever girl!! I am just so impressed and I think this card turned out so very well!! I hope you received my email and I hope you are doing really well!!
That's beyond clever Darnell. I love the way you've 'repurposed' that stamp. It's that kind of thinking outside the box, which sets creative minds apart isn't it? Love it. Hugs, Wends x
Now aren't you the creative one!!! This turned out awesome!!!
Two words. Creative. Genius!
Oh how clever, Darnell! I have that stamp in a box of SU given to me by a friend who became a full-time RVer & I never would have thought to do this! You're so sweet to leave me a comment about the W2SB win--thank you, my friend!
What a wonderful way to repurpose a stamp!! You are one crafty clever lady, this is just lovely!!
Awesome Darnell! You rock! Happy Thanksgiving! :)
TFS what a neat idea and so clever...very nice and you have being busy entering it on all those challenges...OMG good luck!!!
warm hugs bibiana
Great design Darnell
hugs Jacee
Simply Paper Card Design
You are too clever, Darnell! I would never have thought those flowers would turn into Christmas decorations. Fabulous card!
Wow Darnell, that is so clever! I totally thought you used a Christmas baubles stamp. Beautiful with gold and red together. Love this! Thank you for taking TIME OUT and joining our challenge!
Darnell, your card for Christmas with a none christmas stamp is fabulous! I love the card!
Thank you for joining in with the craft stamper magazine Make it Take it challenge
Oh so clever. Love all that embossing! Our turkey was delectable. The leftovers today too! Wishing you well in your week of prep work ;)
Beautiful card Darnell :-D I was surprised when I saw stamp you used - GREAT :-d
I like your praying mantis photos a lot :-D I like to take photos of critters too :-D
Enjoy :-D
I love how you used that flower stamp for a Christmas ornament! I used to grow flowers like that stamp. Absolutely loved them. Thanks for the memories!
What clever thinking!! Must go thru my stamps and see what I can come up with! Love all the red and that sentiment is perfect to have something hanging from it. We get alot of green praying mantis here and the kids love putting them on their arms. I remember saving a baby bird years ago that had fallen inside our bedroom wall cavity from the roof. I couldn't bear to hear it chirping to death slowly over days so put hole in the wall with a hammer. The moment it flew out my cat appeared from nowhere, jumped up, caught it and immediately killed it. I suppose its the thought that counts......
Okay, this is genius! Who would of ever thought that was a non Christmas stamp?!...Simply, perfect!
beautiful stamping Darnell!
Thank You!!
Cracking card there Honey. Love your balls there. Wonderful take on the challenge.
Hugs
xx
You rocked the challenge, beautiful card Darnell! I hope you have a blessed Thanksgiving!!
Alliums for Christamas baubles - genius! Love that shiny golden frame! sorry for not visiting in a while - my life has been crazy....
Such a great card! Thanks for joining us at the Take It Make It Challenge.
You are just amazing...just amazing! You are just so clever to take a stamp and turn it into something that it was not meant for...I love love it.
Wow!! You amaze me Darnell : ) in a good way giggles!
Beautiful card!!
Patti
Your card is so FUN, Darnell! Who wouldda thunk to turn those allium flowers into filigree ornaments? Only a clever and creative cardmaker like you! Really love everything about your card - and it's just embossing goodness all around! Hugs!
What an ingenious idea!! I wish my brain worked like that :-P It's a lovely card too!! Hand made cards are just the best!! I'm glad you got my note, sorry for not putting my address on.....it never occurs to me to do this as i'm the only Carol I know haha!!
Ms. Darnell I am totally cheaping out on my commenting by doing a blanket comment like this! Scrolling back to your thank you card post where I left off...I love your watercolouring card--so artistic. I am sure that praying mantis in quite capable of getting out of the fire if she needs too. Gorgeous embossing on this card. Have a happy day!
Wow, how clever! It's a really pretty card - you are so talented! xxx
Wonderful card and a fantastic idea of reversing the allium to make a little wreath.
Thank you for sharing at Penny Black & More @ Allsorts ' Anything goes' challenge and good luck x Susan x
A neautiful card; so original! Love the golden embossing! Thank you for taking the TIME OUT and join us! Hugs, Gerrina
What a clever way to use that stamp! And the praying mantis....I would've rescued him/her also. Bugs have it tough enough (well, except fleas, mosquitoes, and earwigs. Those gotta die.)
Very creative to use those stamps ... Your card is terrific! I tried to leave comments yesterday but it just would not let me ...
Love how you used the flower stamp ... beautiful! Thank you so much for joining us for the Take it Make it Challenge over at Craft Stamper, good luck. xoxox
Beautiful card and a great idea, thanks for joining us at the Take It Make It Challenge. Elizabeth x
Such a pretty card Darnell.
Thank you for sharing your lovely card with us at Penny Black and More this month and we hope you will join us again soon.
Shirley
Hey Darnell!! I totally love your card. I love how you turned those flowers into ornaments. That was brilliant!! Nicely done! Thanks for joining us in the Take It Make It Challenge.
Huge congratulations Darnell on making top 3 at Craft Stamper!!!!
HUGE CONGRATS on your Craft Stamper shout out Darnell :) :) :)
Brilliant repurposing on the card (lovely card) and sweet save on the bug. So fun visiting you Darnell! I am going to look for some stamp to repurpose today! Hugz
WOW, what a creative way to use that stamp!! Beautiful card! Thanks so much for playing along in the Uniko Studio challenge!
This is gorgeous, Love the embossing :) and the pop of red, thank you for sharing with STAMPlorations
I did not recognize what your holiday ornaments were but now that you've shown me I recognize that stamp. Great job with all the embossing. Fancy schmancyness.
Welcome Darnell,
you are the messenger of good news:-) Thank you very much for them and for the kind words. Following your blog, I think it is wonderful and very inspiring.
Merry Christmas,
hugs,
Bozena
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