A site for my handmade cards, accompanied by my photos and written meanderings which are occasionally witty, often tongue-in-cheek, and rarely profound. Beginning in June 2013, you'll also see lots of NBUS, which is an acronym I coined for Never-Before-Used-Schtuff. Note: my Privacy Policy can be found at a tab below and you can find my NBUS Challenge online. I hope you'll join in the fun there! Thanks for coming by! Have a beverage and enjoy!

September 2, 2016

Paper Towel Brusho Art + Last NBUS Reminder!

Hey, how's it goin' out there?

(I'm not even going to talk about the fact that we have whooshed into September. Maybe if we ignore it, it will stop galloping towards Christmas.)

Are you feverishly tossing never-before-used-schtuff (NBUS) onto your desk from every drawer and plastic container in your drafty corner, sorry, crafty dorner? I sure hope so! Goodness, there is already SO MUCH incredible inspiration in the gallery below! Thank you, everyone! I'm very proud of you!

If you don't know what I'm talking about, pahlez click HERE for all the deets on NBUS Challenge #7 which ends at the end of the day, September 5, 2016.

Also, I have started a Pinterest Board, brilliantly called "NBUS Challenge #7." If you'd like to follow it, you can click here.

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Now for today's inspiration from me:
The potted plant is "Fancy Potted Flower" from Memory Box. The NBUS sediment is from Simon Says Stamp's "Birthday Balloons" set.

So what happened was I made a lot of Brusho stencil art when I was at the Happy Little Stampers Retreat, which I will share soon and which involved using paper towels to blot up the Brusho paint. The cast-off towels were so pretty that I scooped them up and brought them home to use. Here's them:
I will be sharing later other makes I come up with using the paper towels. Today's card was my first effort. What's neat about them is that each panel is two-ply, so I carefully separated them and ended up with double the delirium! 

Here is a closeup. It's quite sheeny in person from an acetate layer.
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New Friends Corner

Are you ready to meet more friends? Of course, you are!

Debbie YoderDebbie Yoder. Debbie is known as "swldebbie" at Splitcoast Stampers. Debbie has been showcasing her brilliant cards at SCS since January of 2009. That means Debbie has a 41-page gallery of pretty and/or adorable cards for your viewing pleasure! You'll lose all track of time when you visit, but you won't care!

Debbie LDebbie L. of Cat Card Crazy Lady. Debbie is from Scotland. She just started her blog in April of this year, so welcome to Blogland, Debbie! I love her blog name! I think there are a lot of us card crazy ladies and a fair amount of ladies crazy about cats, too. Debbie's card art is sensational! She does a lot of one-layer cards and Brushos, so check her out for inspiration and let her know how welcoming we are in our little community!

Toni MToni Maddox of Frankie Helps Craft. Speaking of cats, Toni is another card artist who loves cats so much she gave her cat Frankie top billing at her blog! Toni lives in the Seattle area and she has been blogging since September 2013. She is an avid challenge player and winner and she currently serves on several well-known design teams. Toni has lots of spectacular card art to inspire you!

Regina KolebabchukRegina Kolebabchuk of Catchy Sketch. Regina was born in Siberia. She is now a journalist living in California. Regina started her blog in March of this year, so she is also new to Blogland. Welcome, Regina! Her cards are beautiful and often very personal for members of her family back in Russia. Regina has been slowly entering challenges, which is a wonderful way to meet fellow bloggers. Please visit and leave Regina some love, too!

Trina P.Trina Pham of My Crafting Closet. Trina also started blogging in April of this year!  I don't know when Trina started making cards, but they have the professional look of someone who has been creating card art for many years. Trina started her blog to enter challenges and she took to them like a duck to water! Trina is amazingly talented when it comes to her masking and coloring, and the execution of her fantastic designs!

Thank you for joining, ladies, and welcome to the Playhouse!

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Enjoy your day! Enjoy the NBUS #7 Challenge! No, seriously, enjoy! LITS!*

*Life is too short!

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67 comments:

Sue said...

Hi Darnell, Loving the card. The effect for the plant pot is fab.

Hope you have a lovely day. Sue

Cheryl W. said...

Your mind works in wondrous ways, Darnell! I would not have thought of saving--let alone using--those paper towels. And your card is beautiful!

Karren said...

Double the delirium indeed! This is so pretty - love that Brusho finish.

Jane Willis said...

Wow, talk about waste not, want not - what a stunning card, those paper towels would have been thoroughly miserable just thrown in the dustbin!
Jane

Redanne said...

Love your 'mop up' card, the colours are so, so beautiful! I was going to add to NBUS today but there is nothing on the my project that has not been used before... sigh. Well done on the 195 so far though - a great success I would say!! Hugs, Annie xxx

Julie B said...

Told you that the paper towels made great backgrounds! Love that die cut too. :)

Sammy said...

Oh what a fabulous way to use something most people would throw away. and what a waste that would have been, as it turned out so beautifully. Love it! x

Ros Crawford said...

It's absolutely terrific!! Fancy you bringing home those paper towels and what a clever girl to use them like this! So pretty! Thanks so much for playing along at CCCB!!

Carole said...

Now that's what I call dedication.....mop up paper towels all the way from England to America! Love your card Darnell!

Alice (scrAPpamondo) said...

Oh darnell, such a fabulous tip is putting the acetate on the paper towels!!! :D Thanks very much!!! It makes really the brushos shine!!
LOVE your CAS, just fabulous with this brushos vase and flowers!

Jeanne said...

Gorgeous colors! What a fun idea to use up the paper towels for double the fun, too. Thanks for inspiring Darnell! You are so good at that! :) Have a lovely weekend!

Brenda in IN said...

This is just beautiful and a terrific idea to recycle. I love the mix of colors on the flower pot. I'm so happy to see so many great submissions for NBUS. It's nice to know we are not alone when it comes to buying things and not using them right away. We have a commercial running ov TV now that says we are more alike than unalike. Every time I hear that I think of NBUS!

laurie said...

I haven't been around blogland much lately...almost missed your NBUS ! Better late then never...glad I made it in time. You always get such fun cards in your gallery...off to take a peek! Love your Brusho card! I may try that inlaid die cutting with my alcohol ink!

stampwithsandy said...

Creating something with cast off paper towels? You are so clever, Darnell! Congrats on another successful NBUS challenge. I knew you would have lots of entries, prizes or not!

Sue - said...

Now I would almost certainly have thrown them away and missed a great opportunity as they have made a gorgeous card!

Linda said...

Love this Darnell .... that mop up piece was perfect for this job.
How come my paper towel mop ups never look as pretty as yours.
Congratulations on another fabulous NBUS challenge .... they're always so much fun.
Enjoy the weekend my friend xx

Stamps and Paper said...

Your brusho's give a beauytiful backfground effect Darnell

Anne

Linda said...

What a way to use up your scraps. Those cast off paper towels are beautiful. And your card is just lovely.

G Peplow said...

Love your flowerpot card Darnell, shimmery and beautiful :D Been a little manic here, I want to join in your lovely NBUS challenge, fingers crossed for me please? My Sis is here and we've done nothing but natter, natter, natter LOL Big hugs Gay xx

KT Fit Kitty said...

Well I guess I had better get a move on if I'm going to get my third entry made in time! Thanks for the reminder! When the challenge started, September 5 seemed so far away! Your card is gorgeous! Love seeing all your NBUS!

Debbie said...

thank you for the lovely welcome in your new friends corner - I read the NBUS challenge all the time and such a great idea - I now have a box full of NBUs - so watch this space xx

debbie (Scotland )

Donna said...

Such a clever way to use up what others deem to be rubbish, Darnell :)

conil said...

It appears that you have a great deal of ammo for future cards...how you ever got a piece of paper towel that contains both an earth-pot color and a pretty purple for the flowers, is beyond me. I can't seem to even semi control Brusho's. That's probably the idea, although, I keep trying. Anyway, the card looks beautifully unique.

KandA said...

Fabulous card Darnell and such a clever way to use up those wonderfully coloured paper towels. Hope you have a great weekend xx

Pat said...

This card makes a great reminder of your time in the UK using paint soaked pieces of kitchen towel no less..lol. This look so pretty Darnell and the acetate over the top works brilliantly. I love that sentiment too and the linen look card has a wonderful texture. x

Princess Judy Palmer said...

Oh dear. I always say that I already have enough stuff without starting to add the cast off papers and toweling to the mix. That said, the is a most awesome card.

Trina P. said...

Thank you so much, Darnell, for the mention in your new friends section. I love your NBUS challenge. Such a brilliant idea. I have so much NBUS and just submitted my second entry today. Hopefully, I will get the third one done by the deadline.
Your card today is beautiful. I have such a hard time with powder inks. You did great with the Brushos.

Trina from Vancouver, Canada

nancy littrell said...

Gorgeous paper towel inking of your beautiful die cut flower pot. Love how you added the sheeny die cut acetate layer. Your image really does shine my friend. TFS and always entertaining and inspiring us all Darnell:-) Hugs, nancy

Verna Angerhofer said...

How clever of you to salvage what normally would be tossed and create a gorgeous work of art with it. I just love the colorful flower pot and the flowers. What a wonderful die you used too. I really like that.

Kathleen said...

Fabulous card Darnell and great colours.
Glad the challenge is going well.

Kath x

Sue said...

The paper towels turned out beautifully, why not use them :) I purchased two packages of Brusho's last summer and have yet to use them. Terrible, I know! Have a great weekend. Your card is very pretty! Love it!

Carole Pollard said...

Love your card today so much texture and a very pretty design Love and hugs Carole x

Patti said...

This is so pretty!! I have been hearing so much about this product, Brushos!! I really need to try them! : )

Have a wonderful weekend! I'll be back tomorrow to post to your NBUS challenge : )
Patti

Zelda said...

Oh you're brilliant! And so clever to use acetate too. Love the end result, it's gorgeous. Have a fab week-end! Hugs, Zelda
PS: can you imagine if your luggage had been searched? ;)

brenda said...

Here by the skin of my teeth, thank you for the invite and it's lovely to see such wonderful support for such a fun challenge.

B x

Inkyfingers said...

Wow Darnell, I love what you did with what I threw in the bin! Boy do I regret that now. I love this pretty card and it is so nice to see a different orientation for the sentiment. I am going to have to get my skates on to join in. I made 2 NBUS cards for my DT commitments and then realised that they don't go live until after your challenge ends. Honestly, I'd be dangerous if my brain worked! I'm determined to be there before the doors close though.
Hugs
Carol xx

MRS DUCK said...

Hi Darnell
What a stunning card! The plant pot looks amazing. Only you could take paint soaked kitchen roll home with you lol! Would have made an interesting chat if you got stopped at customs, along with kilo bag of white detail embossing powder lol!
Ang x

Sandy said...

Just checking in to see what you are up to and find you doing a wonderful challenge.. So glad to see you doing so well with all your challenges.

Paper Creations by Shirley said...

Hi Darnell, your flower pot brusho art is beautiful, quite creative :) I see your NBUS challenge continues to be very popular, whoever said that it was popular just because of prizes was SO wrong, it's popular because of you and your great idea...stamp companies would love to be as successful at challenges as you are. Congratulations I see that you have over 1,000 followers ... amazing ! Hugs, Shirley xxx

Em Louise Fairley said...

Gorgeous card, Darnell.
Hugs,
Em xxx

Marlena M. said...

BEAUTIFUL work Darnell! This is such a great effect~love the dimension and colors you've achieved. I'll have to check out your challenge and link up~

Happy Dance said...

Pretty sure I hadn't gotten to commenting before now, didn't look to see if I did, and if I already did, then you just get two comments from me. Woohoo!! Girl. You are brilliant on umpty-ump levels. Discards into sweet cards. Adding an acetate level was another level of your ever expanding brilliance. Dang girl. And I'm pretty sure that most of us like to play along with your NBUS challenge because you is being the hostess with thee mostest. We adore you, punkin! MISS YOU! Bev

Planetsusie said...

Oooh missus - I just lurve how you collected, separated and saved all the spare bits of paper to use at a later date - I've told you before I'm certain we are from the same pod!! Just like two peas! This is such a gorgeous card and I have some Brushos myself which I must get around to using - I guess I'm too scared of not being happy with whatever I 'create' - more than likely to be a bloomin' mess methinks! Anyway on to other things, I've received my wonderful Hammy and am so chuffed! I will have to send you one or two of mine which I hope you will like. Hugs to you Soupie. xxxxxx

Geri said...

Ditto on Bev's comment cuz I thought that I had already comment too! An ageing brain is NOT fun!!!

First of all, I LOVE that sentiment..totally a 'happy' font! Secondly...paper towel...seriously? The colors are gorgeous and the blending is so 'soft'. Bonus to get 'two' of each! Gotta love the two-ply towels!

Stunning card! I love the sheen on the flowers, but it's the flower pot that makes me smile all over my face!!! Love your creativity and resourcefulness!

sandie said...

Such a cool idea to keep the paper towels but boy I bet it was hard to separate them, rather you than me. They look fab with the shiny acetate layer. Love you started the Pin board, already pinned one cadd from it. Thanks for doing this x

Cathy said...

Great recycling Darnell, the paper towels look gorgeous and make a great card, Cathy x

Shaz in Oz.CalligraphyCards said...

Phew, Darnell, the days have quite snuck on me..
I made this card for my dad for Fathers day in Oz today otherwise wouldn't have NBUS offering this time which would have been a first I think..
Twas such a blessing to dig out a very old unused stamp and to try my newest NBUS which was brushos .. funny that eh?
Just happened to come on super- uber cheap on Ebay otherwise I would not have them.
Sorry been slack commenting still not 100%, a way to go to get tablets back to normal but getting there. It's is so much harder as one geta older, also a flare up of my right shoulder injury hasn't helped computer work. But could be worse, at least I can use two hands still, not like some dear folk.
Hugs and will do my best commenting,
Shaz.x

Shaz in Oz.CalligraphyCards said...

PS my mop up cloths were too messy ie inky by time i finished with them. too stingey I guess but might try that too, as yours look grand.

Nora Noll said...

How clever are you to use the PAPER TOWEL LEFTOVERS? This little card is so darn cute!! Love the way you put the acetate over the towel to give it a little shine. Such a fabulous card. Thank you for sharing!!

Marianne said...

Now that's what I call stretching your supplies, and with a beautiful result I might add. Just linked up my first NBUS project and I'm hoping to link up 2 more. I'm happy to see your followers don't need a monetary incentive to play along. Not that I had expected otherwise...

Lynn said...

Hi Darnell, A great plant pot card - so shiny and pretty! If I were a magpie I would have scooped this little card up and put it in my nest. I have joined in with the challenge - so much new stuff, and so little time - sigh. :-)

Lynn x

Bonnie said...

Ha! So much for the thought that the prizes were what were bringing folks to your challenge! Thanks so much for giving me the push to use some of that NBUS! I have certainly helped the crafting economy in the past year! Some of which I got because of your enabling. Like the Fuse Tool. You are an inspiration! xoxo

Cat Craig said...

Darnell, That looks so cool peeing through the diecut. What fabulous colors. So smart to keep those paper towels.

Kirsty Vittetoe said...

Awesome technique and the beautiful result!

Tracey McNeely said...

Darnell this is fabulous! You are amazing with the Brushos! I am so sorry I didn't play with any NBUS this past week, that doesn't mean that I don't have any! I have not been in my craftroom in over a week, but the babies have gone to school so I may be able to resume my life again. xoxo

Gayatri said...

LOVE the brusho background behind the flower pot. Thank you so much for playing along Simon Says Stamp Anything Goes Challenge. Gayatri xx

Cris G. said...

Your paper towels look so yummy, Darnell! I believe we'll be seeing many fantastic cards using them.
This time I couldn't play along with NBUS #7... but I can see you had another smashing success!
Thank you for stopping by my blog!

Misty Elam said...

Hi Darnell!! I'm having a little problem trying to get my pix added to the inLinks. I have 2 cards in 1 post that I am trying to add, but when I try and add the 2nd one, it says that URL already exists... How do I add a second image from the same post...?????

Claire said...

Congrats on a whopping 1000 followers Darnell! So glad I managed to sneak a link to your latest challenge just before it closed. Loving those gorgeous blooms- I really must try that technique. It looks so effective!

Helen F. said...

Darnell, you have taken "never throw out ANYTHING that may be used on a card" to a new level of creativity! LOVE your Brusho Art card! :-)

Gerrina said...

So good to keep the towels and make something with it; they have such beautiful colours! And look great on your card!
Thanks to your NBUS-challenge I am full in using my NBUS things, but must say I went to an event last week (just one of the four I am going to this year) and well, my NBUS-pile has grown again... That means much more projects too make with fun new things :)!) Hope your week is a sunny one!

Misty Elam said...

WOOHOO!!! Got my 3rd entry in with 7 minutes to spare!!! And now I'm going to bed... What a weekend. nighty night ~

maria f. said...

Love, love, love all that colorful goodness waiting to be used like on this lovely card! Waste not, want not (whatever that means ;)

Catchy Sketch said...

Dear, Darnell, sorry I'm late with commenting on this post! Thanks a TON for featuring me and my blog among new friends! I'm very grateful! I even couldn't imagine this happening!
And I love how you used this paper towel. This is so creative! Flower pot and flowers look perfect!
And you've made such a great job creating this pinterest board for all of us!
Thanks so much again!
Regina

Anita in France said...

Goodness, even your left overs are works of art, Darnell ... you turned brushos and paper towel into such a lovely card ... sweet, pretty, crisp and CAS ... delicious! LYAMYHAHACWTSY! Hugs & bisous, Anita :)

Linby said...

Loving the brusho paper towels, now I wonder what customs would have made of those?
Love the card you made too.

Lisa T said...

What a wonderful way to use the towels - and this is so so pretty. It makes me wish I had kept my brusho brush offs now. What a waste to throw them in the bin.
As I was looking at the paper towels, it reminded me of a card my mum made back in the days when she did that as a hobby. She made my Dad a card for their 50th wedding anniversary and she used a tiny bit of the most beautiful paper napkin within her card - I forget the detail, but I think it was a kind of a tiny Tuscan landscape, oranges and greens. She didn't just plonk it on, she made it look really beautiful and every time I see paper napkins I now think of how I can use the images on a card, so different.
And now I shall look at brusho paper towels the exact same way!
I think I am now finally caught up on all your lovely blog posts :)
Lisa xx