Happy New Week!
I hope this finds you feeling chipper, even if your spring showers came down in flakes this past weekend! Sorry.
We were blessed with rain here and I swear I can hear the plants and trees and flowers giggling. They are so happy after four years of being thirsty!
I have a few easy one-layer cards (OLC) for you today. I needed to build my stash of cards. I have Hammy and the Hammetsters back so more ideas may be coming forth or forthcoming, depending on where you like to forthwith or with forth your preview of coming attractions.
Card #1
This type of design is one that I'm sure you've seen from me before. I love using all my Penny Black brushstroke stamps with the direct-to-stamp-and-spritz technique. This image is called "Brush Lily."
Card #2
I used Tim Holtz distress markers for these cards. You can see that the more water you use, the more watercolor-y the design ends up. Looking at them now, I think the robin one would look pretty with some splatters. I do sputter quite often, honest, but the splattering always gets forthgotten.
BTW, although I've had it for a very long time, this beautiful stamp was NBUS before now. I have a feeling it will no longer be ignored! It is called "Song Bird" and the sediment is from "Compact Sentiments" by Waltzingmouse Stamps.
Card #3
~~~
New Friends Corner
For one reason or another, it has been ages since I introduced you to new friends and I'm delighted to bring back this feature! Thank you to all of you who have joined in the last few months and been so patiently waiting!
Before I do that, I have a question for you:
addled in the dark about this!
Okay, then, for today, let's meet two new friends in chronomatic order:
Elly of Elly's Creations. Elly has been blogging since May 2012. She loves entering challenges and she has won many awards as a result of her talent! You will find loads of inspiration waiting for you from Elly!
Beverley Brown of Uniko. Beverley started her blog in February 2012, the same time she became the creator and designer of Uniko, a stamp and die company that many of you are happily familiar with. She does all this while being a full-time wife and mother to very active twins. In addition to all her other jobs, Beverley is the owner of a wonderful challenge she maintains for us on her blog, with her own works of art to inspire us!
Welcome, ladies, and thank you for joining the Playhouse!
~~~
I hope this finds you feeling chipper, even if your spring showers came down in flakes this past weekend! Sorry.
We were blessed with rain here and I swear I can hear the plants and trees and flowers giggling. They are so happy after four years of being thirsty!
I have a few easy one-layer cards (OLC) for you today. I needed to build my stash of cards. I have Hammy and the Hammetsters back so more ideas may be coming forth or forthcoming, depending on where you like to forthwith or with forth your preview of coming attractions.
Card #1
Card #2
BTW, although I've had it for a very long time, this beautiful stamp was NBUS before now. I have a feeling it will no longer be ignored! It is called "Song Bird" and the sediment is from "Compact Sentiments" by Waltzingmouse Stamps.
Card #3
The "Sketched Shapes" are from PTI and some of them are also NBUS. The sediment friend circle stamp is from Stamps of Life. The e/f is from Cuttlebug. EZPZ QACAS OLC. TYVM.
Challenges
Card #1:
- CAS on Sunday: Flowers.
- Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge: April showers bring May flowers.
Card #2:
- One-Layer Simplicity Challenge: As you wish.
- Paru's Card Making Challenge: Anything goes for April.
Card #3:
- Less Is More: One Layer with a theme of Geometric Patterns or Shapes.
- Pals Paper Arts: Colors: Picture yourself at Bermuda bay, sipping a cucumber crush and enjoying a crumb cake.
New Friends Corner
For one reason or another, it has been ages since I introduced you to new friends and I'm delighted to bring back this feature! Thank you to all of you who have joined in the last few months and been so patiently waiting!
Before I do that, I have a question for you:
Is five new friends at a time too many to visit? Should I just do two or even one? I do want this to be an interactive feature where you actually take a few minutes to go and meet my new friends and make them yours, too. I'd love your opinion.Also, after doing this for over four years, recently my friend Shaz in Oz told me that when I click the link on the tool bar to add a link, I should click the box that says "open this link in a new window." That way, she said, your blog remains open and your readers can easily come back to you. How did I not notice that?! Thank you, again, Shaz! Now I'm happy to pass on the information to others who may be
Okay, then, for today, let's meet two new friends in chronomatic order:
Elly of Elly's Creations. Elly has been blogging since May 2012. She loves entering challenges and she has won many awards as a result of her talent! You will find loads of inspiration waiting for you from Elly!Beverley Brown of Uniko. Beverley started her blog in February 2012, the same time she became the creator and designer of Uniko, a stamp and die company that many of you are happily familiar with. She does all this while being a full-time wife and mother to very active twins. In addition to all her other jobs, Beverley is the owner of a wonderful challenge she maintains for us on her blog, with her own works of art to inspire us!Welcome, ladies, and thank you for joining the Playhouse!
~~~
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 join as a follower! Please let me know you came by, so I can be sure and return the flavor!
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! Please let me know you came by, so I can be sure and return the flavor!
*Life is too short!
To open the pop-up comment box that let's you jump to the end w/o scrolling:
Click CTL + Home.
Click the Home tab under my blog banner which resets the post.
Click Page Down to reach the end of the post.
Click Comments and a pop-up box opens.
Click "Jump to Comment Form" and walla, no more car pool tunnel!
Mwah!
If you ask me a question in your comment, please remember to leave me
your email address so I can respond. Thank you!
Click the Home tab under my blog banner which resets the post.
Click Page Down to reach the end of the post.
Click Comments and a pop-up box opens.
Click "Jump to Comment Form" and walla, no more car pool tunnel!
Mwah!
If you ask me a question in your comment, please remember to leave me
your email address so I can respond. Thank you!
105 comments:
Totally AMAZING!!!!!! My goodness, i LOVE your scoring and embossing, YOUR SO TALENTED!!!!!!!
They're all just yummy looking and so beautiful! Can't even pick a favorite. Gorgeous!
Lynn
Hi Darnell, Loving the cards.
Hope you have had a good start to the week. Sue
Love love love!!! Your cards are stunning, Darnell!!! :o) hugs
Great set of cards, I definitely need to focus on making more than one at a time! Love the embossing on each card for detail.
Beautiful cards Darnell! Gorgeous watercolors! Love them all!
Oh my you are on a roll Darnell. Three beautiful cards!
They're all great cards but that lily is gorgeous!
Love all the three cards, and expecially your direct-to-stamp-and-spritz technique :D It's really impressive.
And love also the scoring as embellishment, I must remember this!
More great cards Darnell 1
BABE-a-licious cards Miss D. I love that lily, and it makes a lovely and thoughtful sympathy card. Those score lines really complete this beauty. Mr. Robin is a winner. The branch is gorgeously life-like. Awesome watercoloring on these two. I like the geometric shapes on your last card, too. Pretty colors. You're a wizard girly. And I like when you post 5 newbies on your blog for us to meet. I check them out if time permits, too. Really. Miss you!!! Bev
For me there's no such thing as an easy olc, lol. But these certainly give me inspiration, they're beautiful, Darnell!
How do you make one layer so effortless? Love that stamp and spritz technique. And I adore that Waltzingmouse Stamp. So sad that she is closing down :( As for friends to visit, I'm easy either way. :) xx
Love, love, love your first two card, gorgeous colours and gorgeous images. Fab textured CAS card too.
Mega excited here as for the first time in quite a few years we have Blue tits nesting in our bird box.
Kath x
Three gorgeous cards Darnell! I love your stamp and spritz one with its soft painted look, and the songbird stamp is lovely. Love your LIM entry too - the sketched shapes look is so eye catching and a bit different. Fab!
Three beautiful cards Darnell love the water colouring effect
Anne
Oh my goodness Darnell, the lily card is quite simply STUNNING, I love it!! The bird is so pretty too and I love your retro style card too - three really beautiful cards indeed. So pleased you got some rain too - I wish we could send you some of ours..... Hugs, Annie xxx
Fabulous collection of cards, simply beautiful!
Elaine
OOOoo! Although I have acquired several Distress Markers from one happenstance or another, I've never had the impetus to use them. LOOOoooove the way that watercolory effect looks. That robin is beautimous!
As to the new friends... I think you'll have two types of folks: those who'll visit and those who won't. I don't necessarily know that numbers will be the reason why or why not.
Three beauties Darnell and I love the simplicity of your geometric shapes on that really elegant ef and the colours are lovely, then the brush stroke type stamps with the pretty lily and the bird on the branch look fabulous with the direct to stamp technique and nicely watery, and I adore the embossed lines you have added on both. x
All fabulous design Darnell, the scoring and embossing adds amazing dimension! Way to rock a lot of challenges! Happy Monday!
Beautfiful cards Darnell, love these ones where you add colour spray and stamp, havent tried this technique at all. Penny black keep bringing out beautiful ones thst I want but I am trying so hard not to buy. In reference to friends to visit I always go to all of them and check them out and quite enjoy it being five. But in the same breathe it comes down to how comfortsble you feel about it so happy with whatever you choose (is that called dodging the question??).
Awesome job with the shapes and colors...does not feel like a one layer with all that texture. Thanks for joining the pals color challenge this week!
What gorgeous cards!! I love the look of the watercolored images!! They are amazing!! The sketched shapes are fabulous!! Have a great evening!! Big hugs :)
Lisa
A Mermaid's Crafts
I love those watercolor cards. Spritzing is such a pretty effect to make watercolor. I would visit the ladies you showcased. If I didn't have time right then I would come back later. I'm glad to have that hint from Shaz because many times if I go visit, it won't let me come back to your blog. This should make it easy.
I saw your stunning lily card pop up in my bloglovin feed and just had to pop over to tell you how stunning it is! It's my fave technique too. I adore PB stamps. Sorry I haven't been visiting much lately, I haven't had much time for blogging and creating haven't jately. hugs
A happy Monday to you Darnell! A trio of pure loveliness today my friend. Love the extra oomph your scored and embossed lines add!!
Oh gees! you make that direct-to-stamp-and-spritz technique look easy! I have tried it before and it bombed out! I mean you have never seen ME do this technique on my blog have you? giggles!! It is simply stunning Darnell : ) And your Robin is beautifully painted too!
Don't think I didn't notice all the delightful score lines!!
Three great cards friend!! : )
Patti
These are gorgeous!
Wow, these cards are so pretty. Thanks for sharing at CAS on Sunday!
Awesome cards - especially those brushstroke ones! Those score lines are so pretty! I always forget about them...They add so much, still keeping things CAS!
Gorgeous cards - especially that first one. The watercolor-like image is just beautiful. Love the scored lines as an accent, too. I like reading about your new friends. I think two or three at a time is great. I follow SO MANY blogs, that more than that might make your posts a little long for me (although I'm sure I'd read it all anyway).
They're all great cards, Darnell, but I especially love the first one! I used to do that technique more often & now it's been a long time. Thanks for the beautiful reminder!
You've had some very creative fun times in the playhouse! :) Absolutely ADORE your first card with the watercolour spritz. Gorgeous! The scoring is a fantastic finishing touch.
Your song bird ... so pretty and sweet. Gorgeous colours and design. And again, loving the scoring element.
And your last is so fun with the sketchy images and fun texture from the embossing. Thanks so much for sharing your awesome cards, my friend. Lolly xx
Gorgeous cards Darnell - love the top two in particular. To keep your page open when clicking a link, I hold the Ctrl key as I click the link, and it oipens in a new page.
Blessings
Maxine
Fab cards!
As for new friends - don't think the number matters. Today I will be visiting one cause I "know" the other one already!
Wonderful One layered cards,I loved the ones with watercolor look and the one with geometric shape looks trendy !
Beautiful cards Darnell - my favourite is the first one, I just love that stamp.
Kath x
Wow!! Wonderful display of cards!! Use of distress markers is really cool- My fave card is second one! Although I love first and third too!;)
Suchi xx
Beautiful cards Darnell ...... I love the PB brushstrokes stamps and you always bring them to life so beautifully. Have a great week xx
Stunning cards Darnell! The first two look like they should be framed and hung, they look like paintings! I love the contemporary look of the third card, with that gorgeous embossing! have a wonderful week! Hazel xx
My Card Attic
You make fantastic one layer cards, Darnell! I absolutely love the watercolour lily with the scored lines - so dreamy and soft. The PTI scribble shapes are perfect for our geometric challenge over at Less Is More and I love the colours you have used. Thank you for playing along with us this week :)
Love, love, love them Darnell! All absolutely stunning!
Hugs,
Em
Fabulous cards, Darnell. You make the dreaded one layer cards look so easy! xx
Love your ink, spritz n stamp cards! And the geo- designed one as well. Ands a very belated THANK YOU for the b-day card! Gorgeous.!
Hello Darnell, I do hope that you're keeping well. Your cards are beautiful and I especially like the one with the Lily, it's gorgeous. I really like one layer cards and you've done a wonderful job here. :) X
Three fabulous OLC's clever you Darnell, I love the flowers, great effect you achieved there :D xx
Three great card and lots of lovely inspiration. Karen x
Beautiful cards. I have so got to play with my spritzer more, if they turn out a tenth as good as yours I'll be happy. Great work on using google up some NBUS too! Enjoy the rain. Cara x
What a gorgeous collection of cards. The lily card is so very beautiful and with a great technique.Yes loving the scored lines too, must file that one away and great texture with the geometric card. Thank you for the inspiration.
A trio of gorgeousness there Darnell! Those watery-colourdy ones are breathtaking! Have fallen in love with your scribble shapes though!
Thanks so much for joining us at Less is More.
Sharon xx
These are stunning!!! I love the scored lines and CAS!!!
Three fabulous cards and wonderful designs. LOVE those stamps xx
Beautiful cards! I LOVE the one featuring the brushed lily! Gorgeous!
Take care!
Michele
Love your brushstroke cards. Back in the day, solid stamps like this used to frustrate the heck out of me... hence I got rid of them all. Now with all the different ink and marker choices I somewhat regret it. But I can enjoy them thru folks like you who do wonderful things with them. Great job... and that geometrical card is no slouch either.
BEautiful cards!!
Ahhh how inspiring is this collection some awesome stamping Darnell, love it all...but think PB npbrushstrokes is my absolute fav.
Thanks too, for the shout out, glad we managed to get the new window sorted, you'd be surprised how many don't know it, even competition blogs going for years don't get it..unless someone says something :)
I actaully think its should be default the box is checked and you need to un-tick it...how much simpler would that be???!!
God bless,
Shaz in Oz.x
Hi Darnell,
what very super cards.
These are gorgeous designs.
Always love your super creations, and designs.
So glad your plants are getting their water now.
Love and biggest hugs from my house to yours.
Lots of crafty love. Jenny L.
I love all of the cards you showed but those one layer ones really caught my eye! They are so gorgeous and I love the illusion of water coloring too!
Awesome cards
hugs Tamara
Fabulous cards Darnell! The first one is my absolute fav - I love the watercolor look. It's just perfect!
Saved you for last visit on my afternoon marathon of catchup. I knew I'd want to take time to see all on offer and am I happy I did. Of course you'll awready know how much I love that bird! Your w/c work is just amazingly beautiful. Wish I could get results that smooth. Of course I loved #1 and more gorgeousness (but - no bird...so #2 is my fav!). Love the shapes on #3 and your different dp & colors really makes that a striking card too. This would make a great mass production methinks. Glad you are getting some needed rain. (Think it's been sprinkling down in S/Diego too). Enjoy the raindrops, Hey to Hammy & Co., and hugs to your sweet self. Hope all is happy in the Playhouse & sweetness & light is prevailing at your acres! TFS & Hugs
Pretty, pretty cards...loving those stamps, too...a beautiful use of NBUS!! As for introducing newbies (see I do read your posts all the way through...lol)...I say add as many as you want and then if we can visit all we will...some days are less stressful and busy then others and we can do all...some not I guess...gee did that help..I don't think so..lol!!
Just gorgeous!
Darnell, those scored lines take your one layer card to the next level. Very nicely done. Love them.
Wow, wow, wow on the lily and robin card Auntie! I'm so in love with them!! They are just stunning and I love that they are one layer cards. The third card is a fun and so cool card. Love the embossing and those banners and circles. Especially the circle with the friend sentiment. Glad you got some rain! We got rain too, was supposed to be snow but our temps stay up there enough. Although a few times there was some snow mixed in with the rain. lol Still, none stuck to the roads or grass! Yay! Now spring can hopefully move in to stay. Hugs, Brenda
All three of your cards are fabulous! Love the prettiness of the first two watercolour cards and the third one is just so cool! Thank you for the technical tip! Me and technology are not up to speed! xxx
Have you been reading Sally Forth in the the comics. Perhaps you should go forth and do it now...not wait for May fourth. Enough of that silliness. These one layer wonders are...well...wonderful. Love Penny Black stamps and you've certainly done them up beautifully here. Have to say the embossing on all 3 cards is what caught my eye. It adds so much. I've never embossed over images before but after seeing that third card I'm going to try it. Love this craft, learn something new everyday.
Fun cards! I love the stamping on top of scoring in the last one. Thanks for joining the Pals Paper Arts challenge this week.
Those stamped and spritzed cards are so beautiful Darnell! This is a reminder to start using that technique more often because it's been years since I've done this...but the effect is so lovely. Not only are the images pretty but they couldn't be more perfect for the springtime blooms popping up in my garden this month.
One layer cards always give me the willies because there's no room for mistakes..ugh. Once it's on the card...it's on the card and that's it! Love the added texture from your embossed lines and the simplicity of your design...but did I mention that one layer cards scare me?!!
Wonderful cards. I have the same brushed lily stamp and will be using your card idea for our church card ministry--thank you.
Beautiful one layer watercolor cards, Darnell! Love the added scored lines! Like that geometric card too, but you how watercolor makes me suck in my breath! Glad you got some rain. We had rain today and the grass, flowers and trees look so fresh and lush!
I really love your OLC(s). This is one of my favorite techniques and they are perfect for sympathy. Rain? We had rain and my yard looks marvelous. I gasped when I saw one of my rose bushes in the back yard, it was gorgeous.
Have a good one. BBB
Super gorgeous - the watercolour ones are my absolute fave - so wonderful :-) xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
What a terrific trio of cards Darnell - love your geometric shapes - really effective!
Thanks so much for taking part
Anne
"Less is More"
very beautiful cards! you are very inspiring!
xoxo Olga
Such beautiful cards!! And you got rain ... well beware when you come over in July ... Rain is commonplace here!
We always have rain here we get excited when we see the sun!but gorgeous cards Darnell loving that first one *sigh*card envy !!think I might have to.pin it x
We always have rain here we get excited when we see the sun!but gorgeous cards Darnell loving that first one *sigh*card envy !!think I might have to.pin it x
Gorgeous cards I love the watercolour effect. I hope you are doing well hugs , Shirleyxx
Incredible one layer magic going on here! Your scored lines add SO MUCH to your designs. Well done, Darnell. I can't stop looking at that bird!
Oh how I love the score lines, one layer wonders x
Darnell, love your first two cards with that watercolor look. So beautiful.
Wow, Darnell ... and wow and wow! Those spritzed watercolours are spectacular ... they're both soft, delicate and so deliciously artsy ... the subtle score line grounding is perfect with them ... dimension without distraction! Cool and graphic sketched shapes ... crisp and fresh and texture-y! Introductions to new friends ... I enjoy them and visit when I can. Have to admit, there are some weeks when I just don't have chance ... that's not to do with how many new crafters you introduce ... it's just life outside blogland! Miss you, mon amie! Hugs & bisous, Anita :)
Beautiful cards. And I do mean beautiful, each and every one of them!
Three terrific cards Darnell, I love your watercolour effects and your geometric card is gorgeous!
Thanks so much
Chrissie
"Less is More"
Stunning cards, dear Darnell. I like the look of water colouring. And I like your new friends corner. I'm always reading all your presentations. :-))
Hugs, Sonja
beautiful cards, love the colors and your watercolor effects! Thanks for sharing with us this week on Simon SAys Monday Challenge Blog! BArbara
You crack me up... YCMU.
No, the songbird stamp must not be ignored! Freaking love it... Yeah, I could see some splatter in it's future...
Three beautiful cards, Darnell! I also adore the PB Brushstrokes stamps, and you've done wonders with these two. I've got the robin die but didn't realise there was a matching stamp - hmmm. Love your geometric card too, but it's the Brushstrokes that have stolen my heart :)
What a lovely cards you've made! Thank you for joining our challenge at CAS on Sunday!!
Mariken
All cards look good, but the firs two I really like or should I say I like watercouloring and these are done in such great way? Hugs, Gerrina
Your cards with the watercoloured stamping is absolutely wonderful, Darnell - love the scorelines and the beautiful stamps!!! The geometric card is great!!!!
I think your introduction to new friends are such a great idea and I think up to five introductions are fine - it's a case of some days one will have time to visit all five, some other days, not even one, but there will always be someone out there who will have the time to visit all for the day. Such a pity for not always having time to visit all, but then everyday life is sometimes just taking up too much time, hey!!!! Thanks for taking the time to do this, Darnell!!!
Hugz
Fabulous one layer pretties!!! The water colored images are stunning - especially so when paired with clean & simple score lines and DIVINE textured paper!
You won't be surprised that the simple graphic shapes made my heart sing! Again, CAS diagonal lines are the perfect match for the images!
Happy to hear that you finally had a bit of rain! Our forecast earlier in the day was for two days of rain....which now has been updated to 'two days of wet snow'. Oh well, tis typical Manitoba spring weather. Heck - it's moisture, so we'll take it!
Lovely cards,i esp loved the Lily
Ohhhhh, ahhhhhh! That's what I see when I look at spritzed stamps! Unless they're mine, I can't get the hang of it but I LOVE looking at yours!!! Also, that last but not least little diddy is just fab too!
Your Penny Black one layer cards are absolutely GORGEOUS, Darnell! Hard to believe it took so little time to create such beauties! I also love all the geometric shapes on your last card! Great idea to add texture with your EF, too! Another wonderful post...Thank you!
WOOWWWW and WOOOWWW...what an amazing collection of cards...truly stunning...LOVE IT...Željka XX
Hi Darnell
A work of art as that flower looks painted.....wonderful!
You have spoilt us with 2 more smashing cards too.
Best wishes.
Ang x
Holy cannoli!! YOU ROCK one layer cards!! Love, love, love!!! I am terrible at them and always ruin them at the last minute. You look like you just took out a brush and hand painted them!!
Just beautiful! I love the PB brush stroke stamps and these are gorgeous Darnell, adore the bird one especially, as you know I do love my bird stamps. Beautiful blending you achieved with your pens too huni, just yum! Karen x
Your stamping and spritzing makes me want to bring out the water-colours again (Dang!); so gorgeous! I've been eyeing a couple of the PB stamps (your lily and one called Unfolding...), however, somebody has bypassed her budget (like wayyyyy over!) of late, so...not just yet. Maybe. For now. Your geometric card: very cool!!
hugs~c
Darnell, these two watercolors are frameable pieces of art! Love this technique with these beautiful images!
Darnell, you totally "scored" with these beauties! (See what I did there?) Your spritzing turned out two absolutely stunning cards, and the scoring really elevates them. Please don't spatter that birdie, though. He's perfect the way he is, LOL! The banner and circle card is fabulously geometric and those colors are fabulous, too. Thanks for sharing the first two with OLS!
Hurrah! We both had cards highlighted at OLS! I'm in shock mine was chosen. Your card totally deserved to be in the spotlight, Darnell--congrats!
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