Greetings, Stamplings!
The critters have climbed up and over the Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday hills to take over the blog today for Wednesday Hump Day.
Let's begin with this:
It was Hammy's turn to pick the next challenges and he chose the CAS on Sunday challenge where the brief is "Balloons" and the Inkspirational challenge where our friend Kathy K. is the Guest Designer and where the brief, briefly, is to use PP:
The critters have climbed up and over the Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday hills to take over the blog today for Wednesday Hump Day.
Let's begin with this:
I made this card after seeing the CASology challenge where the cue card is "Fun" and the Less Is More challenge for something Exotic. There are wonderful examples made by the Design Teams at both challenges!
I looked up "exotic" and it basically means "not native." Well, that opens the door to a whole slew of flowers and veggies and critters. Since I had the NBUS "Panda Can't Even" stamp set to use, I went with it, because pandas are certainly not native to California. As luck would have it, I own an unmarked v.o. bamboo stamp, so wallah-wallah-ding-dong, two extatic and exotic panda bears happily chomping away! The NBUS sediment is from the Hero Arts "Live & Laugh" stamp set.
Twofer
It was Hammy's turn to pick the next challenges and he chose the CAS on Sunday challenge where the brief is "Balloons" and the Inkspirational challenge where our friend Kathy K. is the Guest Designer and where the brief, briefly, is to use PP:
What's better than a balloon? A balloon made of balloon PP!!
What's better than a boozy chicken on a swing holding the balloon? Absolutely nothing!
What's better than a boozy chicken on a swing holding the balloon? Absolutely nothing!
The PTI fine linen card base was embossed with a Darice e.f. The chicken is from Whipper Snapper Designs. The NBUS sediment, balloon, and string are from the "Smirthday" stamp set by Technique Tuesday.
And, hey, that balloon is a snippet so I'll also take this card over to Pixie's Snippets Playground.
And, hey, that balloon is a snippet so I'll also take this card over to Pixie's Snippets Playground.
Frog Naming Contest
Thank you all for your really clever and fun suggestions for a name for Hammy's new English frog friend. Froggie was the most obvious choice, but I couldn't call him that because I already have a beloved Froggie. A shoutout to my sister Dood who came up with the winning name! Ta da:
What do you think? It's unique and appropopo considering his delightful fabric design!
FRECKLES!
What do you think? It's unique and appropopo considering his delightful fabric design!
Freckles and Hammy
New Friends Corner
Due to my holiday, it's been a while since I've introduced my new friends to you, so please take a few minutes to meet:
Maria Illsley of Ivy Leaf Crafts. Maria has been blogging since September of last year so she is coming up on her first year anniversary! Maria makes the most exquisite cards, usually in a gorgeous square shape. As is often the case with so many of you, Maria's cards are gifts unto themselves and I know you will find lots of inspiration when you visit!
Elizabeth Robinson of The Crafty Robin. Elizabeth is from North Wales and she has been blogging since 2009, so you should be prepared for a long visit to her! Elizabeth's love of paper and ink developed in her mother's print studio. Elizabeth teaches art and serves on many design teams, not the least of which is Craft Stamper Take It Make Challenge. You will find Elizabeth excels at every kind of wonderful art from fabrics and felting to layouts, cards, and canvases!
Jan Appleton (LLJ) of Lunch Lady Jan's Fabric Frenzy. LLJ has been blogging since 2011. She doesn't make cards, but she works magic with fabric! LLJ and I met on "What's on Your Workdesk Wednesday" (WOYWW) where I met a lot of my long-time British friends. I've been enjoying her fun posts and Diane Bromilow (Morti) of Mad Ramblings. Morti has been blogging since ~ can you believe it ~ 2006! She's not prolific, but still, that's an accomplishment! Well, it it is to me, at least, since I wasn't even aware of Blogland until five years later! Morti is a self-described magpie and jack of all trades. She enjoys making jewelry, papercrafts, strawsilk, and stitchery. I had the pleasure of also meeting Morti on my visit to England!Helen Lindfield of Stamping by H. Helen started blogging in 2009. She is also a friend who I met through WOYWW in 2012, although I sadly didn't get to meet her on my recent visit. Helen's well known over at WOYWW because she does all her beautiful works of art on the floor! Helen's journaling and her expertise with color are amazing!Thank you for joining, ladies, and welcome to 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!
 Sadly, as I mentioned the other day, something is wrong with the Blogger Follow gadget and so I am currently unable to follow my new friends back. I’ve cleared my cookies, cakes, and history. I am writing again to Blogger Help as this issue has been ongoing for at least a month, which is ridicustrating, and I hope you’ll do the same if it isn’t working for you. The squeaky wheel gets the oil! |
*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!
~~~
I'll be back on Saturday for the opening day of NBUS Challenge #7!!
See you there!
Fabulous cards Darnell and Freckles is a great name for Hammy's new friend!
ReplyDeleteKath x
The pandas certainly look happy up their bamboo trees and the boozy chicken gave me a good chuckle this morning! I love the name Freckles, it really suits the frog and I am glad that he and Hammy are friends too.
ReplyDeleteLovely to see Elizabeth joining you - when we visited Wales we were near to where she lives but I only found out afterwards. She is a really lovely lady in real life too! Hugs, Annie xxx
Love love love the drunk hen stamp - looks like me on a swing - I get so sick so quickly when I get on one it's not funny. Fabulous cards Darnell - when are yours not fabulous though?? I have encountered quite a few broken blogger thingy's around the 'net, so you are not on your own :-(
ReplyDeleteBlessings
Maxine
Such fabulous cards again Darnell. Those pandas are brilliant, and certainly make me happy to look at!
ReplyDeleteAnd a big hello to Freckles! I'm sure he'll have loads of fun with Hammy. Make sure they don't get up to too much mischief together! x
Great cards, but I love the one with the Pandabears the most. Have a nice day, Ankie
ReplyDeleteA fab pair of cards Darnell, love the ef on the second.
ReplyDeleteWelcome Freckles, I'm sure you will be very happy in the playhouse! :)
Fabulous cards!! That chicken has me laughing! Great name for your frog too and FINALLY I am in receipt of your mystery gift and it should be winging it's way to you tomorrow ... Hugs
ReplyDeleteWhat fantastic cards! Love the humour in them... they both made me smile :) The pandas are awesome, and absolutely perfect for our exotic theme at Less is More! And the boozy chicken is excellent! Have a fab week :)
ReplyDeleteWelcome Freckles! He's adorable! Love both your cards too...those pandas shout happy to me and I really need to use some of my patterned paper!
ReplyDeleteGreat card Darnell - love the tipsy chicken on a swing :) BTW, I also love the pandas card as well. I do hope your Blogger issues are resolved soon - still haven't come up with any more ideas here, sigh.
ReplyDeleteHugs
Di xx
Great cards Darnell particularlily the Chicken. Love the frogs new name.
ReplyDeleteSpell check didnt even pick up my spelling then. Ohh well not long till the NBUS , hope we are allowed to add lots of cards cause boy have I been busy shopping.
Awesome cards!!
ReplyDeletecute cards Darnell - and love your new friend Freckles! by the way - i really enjoyed the trip to England - have been to many of those places and it so neat to visit the charming villages and other sites with you!
ReplyDeleteBoth your cards are cute and fun!!
ReplyDeleteLove both cards. They brought lots of happy today. Cute images.
ReplyDeleteAww . . . who doesn't love pandas and chickens. LOVE both cards Darnell, especially the chook one!
ReplyDeleteHugs, Sarn xxx
Sooo cute! I love your adorable little pandas! I like the stamped bamboo! Your chicken card is adorable too - I really like the paper-pieced balloon! Freckles is an adorable name for Hammie's friend!
ReplyDeleteYour two cards brought a huge smile to my face, so adorable. Love the name for the new addition x
ReplyDeleteYour cards are so beautiful!! I love the images!! Freckles is so darn cute!! I love the picture with Hammy!! Have a great day!! Big hugs :)
ReplyDeleteLisa
A Mermaid's Crafts
You have 3 of the happiest looking characters in Blogland, my friend! Those Pandas look like they are really enjoying their bamboo. And the hen looks totally relaxed and happy! Freckles is the perfect name for your new friend!
ReplyDeleteOh, I love finding stamps that play well together like your pandas and the bamboo! A perfect, fun pair - thanks for playing along with us at CASology this week, Darnell!
ReplyDeleteLove that little hen! And the balloon on balloon is terrific! Looking forward to meeting you in person soon!
ReplyDeleteI must have missed the frog naming post...could have had fun with that! But Freckles he is and will be ever more! I adore your fun hanging pandas and what a cool and CAS way to use the DSP, love the balloons in the balloons. Great to see you hanging out at Ink x
ReplyDeleteGreat cards, Darnell, Jo x
ReplyDeleteFirst, the frogs name is perfect. Dood dood it good! No onto the cards.Have to giggle because we chose (maybe simultaneously) the same panda stamp though the cards look completely different, I hope. Just couldn't resist a laughing panda. What could be more fun? Well, two pandas, of course. And a snack for them...the card is too cute. As is the boozy chicken in a swing...where on earth did you find that? And with a balloon, looks like fun to me. And another terrific card, to boot.
ReplyDeleteI love your panda card, it is just brilliant!
ReplyDeleteGreat name for your frog!
Hope all is good with you.
Elaine
Such fun cards! Love Freckles!
ReplyDeleteFreckles suits Freckles perfectly!! Lovely cards, especially love the boozy chicken!! xx
ReplyDeleteLove the cards and in particular those adorable pandas. So glad you are getting back in to your routine. Your adventures were delightful to read and thanks for sharing. Later gator, Barb.
ReplyDeleteLove your fun cards, so cute.
ReplyDeleteI like Hammy's new friend and the cute name.
Two fabulous cards, great colours and design.
ReplyDeleteI shall call him Hoppy as I think Hammy and Hoppy go well together.
Kath x
ABSOLUTELY ADORE the panda card! So impressed with your mixing and matching of stamps that are perfect for each other! Love the font (and color) of the sentiment! Those little guys totally made me smile!
ReplyDeleteThe chicken cracked me up! Seriously, where do you find these stamps! Love the embossed background! You might have toss this ef into your Lakehouse suitcase!
Freckles is a perfect name for Hammy's sweet friend! And I love the balloon made of balloon paper! Great take on the exotic challenge too!
ReplyDeleteMy NBUS card is made and ready to go - you inspired me when you mentioned it the other day. I could make a hundred NBUS cards! Shame on me for all the shopping I do!
Aww loving your pandas but schpessially loving the chook one tho! Freckles is so cute. I have the matching cock chook. His name is Tony (DiNozzo)! Yes really!
ReplyDeleteHugs to you all.
Xxx
Darnell, Your pandas are cute, cute, cute... but I love that balloon-pp balloon. Clever!
ReplyDeleteOne very sweet panda card... and a chicken to make me smile.
ReplyDeleteHope Freckles has settled in well. X
Two adorable cards, Darnell!
ReplyDeleteLoving the name Freckles, too! And YAY, can't wait for the NBUS challenge! I'll have to be sure to play along! :)
Love your cute cards! Now I think I need some bamboo for my pandas, too! Love Freckles.
ReplyDeleteFreckles is the perfect name for Hammy's new companion!! CUTE cards Darnell. Those climbing pandas gave me a big smile and that chicken...what a HOOT!!
ReplyDeleteSuper fun cards, Darnell. The pandas play well with the bamboo trees and the boozy chicken made me giggle. And, that's a great name for the little frog :-)
ReplyDelete2 fun cards, Darnell! I love the embossing folder on the second one--keep looking at it & may have to make Mt NBUS a bit taller--haha!
ReplyDeleteDelightful cards, Darnell! The pandas in the bamboo just make me smile - so clever and how fortuitous that you had the perfect stamps to go together. It's situations like this that fully justify our crafty spending :)
ReplyDeleteI think Freckles is a perfect name. Fab cards today. Those pandas just make me laugh, and I love the balloony balloon!
ReplyDeleteTwo fabulous fun cards .... love the cute little pandas and that tipsy chicken, well what can I say ...... just brilliant!!
ReplyDeleteLooking forward to the NBUS challenge. My craft room is on the move so will be getting a good old tidy ..... I'm sure there'll be something in there thats just perfect xx
Fab cards. Great name for Hammy's friend.
ReplyDeleteLooking forward to the NBUS challenge - had another parcel delivery today!
Love both cards, Darnell. They are adorable.
ReplyDeleteHugs,
Em x
Love both of your fabulous cards, they made me smile, along with Freckles and Hammy :) Have a great day, Hugs xxx
ReplyDeleteI love the panda card. And that chicken crackse me up. I think it's his feet! I do like that embossing folder you used. Freckles is a good name for the frog and I'm happy Hammy has a new playmate.
ReplyDeleteI love both these cards Darnell with those cute critters. That lovely design with the pandas climbing up the bamboo and chomping away at it, and then the cute chicken with that lovely embossed background and the balloon made from paper with balloons on, so you definitely covered that challenge well. The new playmate Freckles has the perfect name as if not spotty definitely has that look about him. x
ReplyDeleteBring on the happy indeed! If you weren't happy before you saw the panda card for sure you have a big old smile on your face now. Too much fun! Love the boozy chicken and that giant patterned balloon.
ReplyDeleteI think both cards are really fun! Love the bears and silly hen! Love the pattern on Freckles!
ReplyDeleteTwo fabulous cards Darnell, love the pandas. Freckles is just a perfect name for Hammy's new friend. I have had the same problem with the "follow" button, it lasted about three weeks then it just started working again last week!
ReplyDeleteTwo adorable cards Darnell. Welcome back from you trip. Enjoyed your pictures and posts immensely.
ReplyDeleteDarnell your climbing Pandas are just too FUN! Love your sweet design. Next boozy chicken has a fantastic background! Hammy's new friend absolutely looks like a Freckles--good choice! Thank you for sharing your design with us at CASology hisi week!
ReplyDeleteYour cards are so cute!! That chicken is hilarious!! And thanks for giving me new crafty friends to follow!! I've been working on my cards for the NBUS challenge. I can't wait!! So, I can only enter 3 cards or I can only enter 3 times, multiple cards per entry??
ReplyDeleteA couple of fabulous cards Darnell. I absolutely adore the little pandas climbing the bamboos. Is it me? Or do they look like that are laughing and chuckling away to each other? That sentiment is just perfect for them. Lovely to see you at Less is More this week.
ReplyDeleteSharon xx
Your exotic card is suoer! I love panda's but see a lot the same ones; these look so much playfuller (is that a word) like this!
ReplyDeleteAnd your ballooncard looks great with that background! Enjoy your week! (we have sunny-hot temperatures here...)
Some fab cards but I love that drunk chicken on the swing. First time I've visited your blog and I love your sense of humour! I shall be visiting more often now:-)
ReplyDeleteHi Darnell, Loving the cards.
ReplyDeleteGreat name for Hammys new friend.
Hope you have a lovely weekend. Sue
Hi Darnell. The patterned paper balloon looks great with the chicken - the embossed base really adds something to the design. Really enjoyed looking at all your fabulous creations.
ReplyDeleteThank you for joining us at Inkspirational Challenges. Come back next time!
I love pandas so your card is a real hit with me. Love the chicken and his spotty balloon.
ReplyDeleteNice to see hammy has a friend now!
Love your playful pandas, Darnell, and the paper pieced balloon is fabulous!!
ReplyDeleteDelightful cards - as always! And Freckles - well isn't he cute - almost as cute as Hammy ;)
ReplyDeleteWell, those sweet giggly panda's really are having so much fun, Darnell ... aren't they just so adorable munching on their long lunch! Good thing that boozy chicken's holding onto his sweet balloon PP balloon ... seems he'd be toppling off his swing otherwise! Welcome Freckles ... what a perfect name ... hope he's settling in beautifully! LYAMYHACWTSYMA!! Big hugs & bisous, Anita :)
ReplyDeleteFabulous super fun cards! Freckles is a cool name for Hammy's new friend! xxx
ReplyDeleteHi Darnell
ReplyDeleteLove both terrific cards.........pandas and a drunken chicken, its a winning combo lol!
Best wishes.
Ang x
Oh those pandas! Chomping on their bamboo - this is simply adorable Darnell. I love the CAS element of the card too. I would never have put my sentiment in a different colour, I would have used green or black, but I love that it stands out by ties in with the card if that makes any sense at all? It does in my addled brain anyway. And then the boozy chicken, well what is not to love about him. I wonder how long he managed to stay on the swing!
ReplyDeleteFabulous cards, dear Darnell. So full of fun and happiness. :-) I like the name of your new frog friend. Hope he (she) speaks with an english accent. :-)
ReplyDeleteI'm disappointed about post offices. Who knows, where my card for you is traveling....
Hugs, Sonja
Yep! Nailed it with both your card designs and the name for Hammy's new frog friend! You must have a secret stash of never ending creativity hidden away somewhere because you never fail to inspire!!!
ReplyDeleteThanks for playing along with us yet again over at CASology! :)
My Granny duties over the past few weeks have taken their toll on my commenting time... many apologies for the late visit!
ReplyDeleteThis is as ever a fantabulous post... love Hammy's new friend and your cards are ace. I lurve that chicken!
Thanks so much and see ya soon!
Chrissie
"Less is More"