Greetings, my stamplings!
It's so wonderful to be home and back in my own bed with the Mister! Just because I know you missed me (I missed you, too!), I've made this an epic post for you!
First, I had a lovely time with my sisters for several days,
followed immediately by a week with the BABES for our BABES II reunion!
Left to right:
Anita (My Papercraft World), Ardyth (Maskerade),
Kim (Cupcakes, Cards, and Kim)
Me, Geri (Manitoba Stamper), and Bev (Happy Dance)
I was hoping to work on making my Christmas cards while with the BABES and, happily, I managed to make over a hunnert of them! Granted, they are mostly OLCs, so they didn't take very long to make.
Okay, okay. Here is a card I made so I could play in the MCV challenge. I'm just getting in under the wire.
This OLC is made with a NBUS stamp from Stampingbella called "Penguideer!" (Ya gotta love that name!) I used a NBUS stem stamp from the "Wildflower" set by Concord & 9th for my Charlie Brown Christmas tree. The NBUS sediment is a masked stamp from Lil' Inkers. Of course, Hammy insisted that Penguideer needed googlie eyes and a coat of freshly fallen Stella.
This card is a CASE of the card below made by my friend Chriss Blagrave of Botanical Cafe for the current Muse: Christmas Visions. This is her adorable card:
It's so wonderful to be home and back in my own bed with the Mister! Just because I know you missed me (I missed you, too!), I've made this an epic post for you!
First, I had a lovely time with my sisters for several days,
Left to right: Donna, Darnell, Doris, Diana
followed immediately by a week with the BABES for our BABES II reunion!
Anita (My Papercraft World), Ardyth (Maskerade),
Kim (Cupcakes, Cards, and Kim)
Me, Geri (Manitoba Stamper), and Bev (Happy Dance)
The above link will take you to my post from BABES I with more photos and information. The two years since our initial get-together whooshed by so fast! It was great to meet again and have a dedicated week of card-making with these talented friends at this gorgeous location.
Some of you may remember that two years ago we were happily visited by an albino white squirrel we named "Snowflake."
This time we were tickled to discover that Snowflake had married and had a baby! We named the mister, "Snowball," but we never did name the baby. How does "Snowbell" sound? Too much like Snowball? How about "Snowshoe?" "Snowplow?" "Snowberry?" Slap me.
And then what happened was we were visited by Minnesota aliens! They just hovered high above the lake and never did land to come inside and craft with us. We would have shared! Spooky, huh?
Last, but certainly not least, I got to meet my bloggie buddy Jeanne of Reba Li Creates! She's very kind and fun and it was a pleasure to meet her for coffee!
~~~
Not only that, but I completed 46 other card tops that just need to be attached to card bases, so I'm three and a half quarters from being finished! Shazambam!
Would you like to see one of the cards I made or do you want to just have another cup of coffee and chat some more?
Okay, okay. Here is a card I made so I could play in the MCV challenge. I'm just getting in under the wire.
Chriss's card
You can see why I couldn't resist playing along! I was inspired by Chriss's little critter holding his own Charlie Brown Christmas tree with an ornament. I also used Chriss's design layout which included masking and blending behind my penguideer and schparkle from WOS.
~~~
I also made a fall birthday card to share, but I'll save it for another post.
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!
~~~
I also made a fall birthday card to share, but I'll save it for another post.
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!
*Life is too short!
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80 comments:
What a fun time you have had
Fun times!!!!
What a wonderful time you have had traipsing around the nation - wish I could have joined you - it looks as though you have had an awesome time and VERY productive!!
Blessings
Maxine
Looks like you had an amazing time and I wish I was there! I miss you :) What a huge collection of cards you made!!! xx
How fun, Darnell. You might have driven past my backyard and didn't even stop by for a glass of wine!! Looks like you had lovely MN weather!
Adorable cards! I love the genius of using that Concord and 9th twig for your tree. It's perfect!
Darnell you are so lucky to get to meet crafty friends and such adorable cards and cute cute critter!!
Cheers
Dr Sonia
What a wonderful time you had, a whole week of crafting with all those wonderful friends. And your sisters all D's hey. any brothers like Dan or Dave or Douglas??? So good to have you back darnell.
It's such a beautiful setting, Dolly. Great to spend time there with your sisters and then with the BABES. I bet your vocal chords could use a rest. :)
Congrats on getting all those cards made --- WOW! You were on a roll. And the one you shared is adorable! Glad you're home safe. Lolly xx
So glad you had a fabulous time and took us some lovely photos. The Albino squirrels are adorable :-D
What was the photo of the ring of lights or whatever it was though ????!!!!!
Hugz
IKE xx
Welcome home after a fabulous trip! You had such a productive time with the Babes, and I am awed by the number of cards you made. If the aliens were visiting to observe life on Earth, I wonder what they reported back about humans making cards - I'd like to hear Mork's take on that! I love your very cute one layer card.
Hugs
Carol x
Hi Darnell, So your parents loved names beginning with D:)
Glad you enjoyed your get together and made all those lovely cards.
As to the aliens...how rude not to join in with the crafting.
Hope you have a lovely day. Sue
So great for you all that you managed to get together again! I know you all came home with lots of creative energy! Think it is so inspiring to get together!
That is an amazing stack of cards that you made! I count myself lucky that I descided to sent not all selfmade cards, çause I know there are a lot of the recievers who just throw them in the trash... and if I do I use scraps and make simple cards :)
Your card is such a funny one; like it! Hugs, Gerrina
What a busy year you've had Darnell, where do you get all your energy from?
I wish that we could recreate the Swindon get together a little sooner than anticipated. Great that you got ahead with your Christmas cards too! :)
Great post and what a fun time you had your sisters all look such fun. The craft retreat sounds just perfect a whole week crafting Wow. your cards are stunning and i cannot believe how many you made wonderful Have a good week back home Love and hugs Carole x
What a lovely post Darnell. You've certainly been out and about a lot and I loved looking at your photos. What a happy one of you with your sisters. Your cards are so cute and so many mad. That's impressive! The white squirrel is amazing. I've never seen one before. I think Snowbell would be my choice for the baby's name. Have a lovely day. Hugs, Barbxx
Wow, what a great time you seem to have had. I have never seen a white squirrel before and the photo is gorgeous. Snowbell seems like a perfect name to me. A fantastic card too, love the stamp you've used.
Sue xx
Welcome home!! Your photo with your sisters is "D"elightful... My brothers and I all have names that begin with "R" Ha!
Love seeing your travel photos and those white squirrels but heck, WHAT IS that thing hovering???!!
Terrific card Darnell ... I just love everything about it! Can't believe you made so many ... Blimey, I don't do that many in a year!
YAY HOME!!! I love being home ;). Love your pics of lovely ladies and what a cool squirrel! I'm so impressed with your stack of cards too~love the 'lil details of eyes and bling~
Wow! the wanderer returns!...you are a true globe trotter this year. Looks like you had a fun and productive week...boy I am jealous of all those cards...I have made one so far! Your sisters?...there are more like you?....and all beginning with 'D'....so what to do now you are home?...no cards to make obviously!!...lol Hugs xx
Well Darnell what a fabulous and busy time you've been having and great photos of you with your sisters and the BABES, and what a wonderful place to stay for a week and craft, and make 100 cards! The white squirrels are so cute too, and your card with the mad and funny penguin/deer is a great CASE of the card by Chriss. Lastly, lovely to see you home safely and to hear about your latest escapades. Great to have you back! x
Looks like you had an amazing time ..... what a gorgeous place, and what a fab stash of cards you made too xx
So wonderful to see you made it home safe and sound and that you had such a wonderful and interesting time! Great photos and great cards. Thanks so much for sharing. You've been missed for sure! Hugs!!
You made almost 150 cards and fronts in just a few days, Darnell?! Wowza, am I impressed! Your adventures look amazing, and the albino squirrels are super cool. We used to have some jet black squirrels in our yard but I haven't seen them in a while. Well enough rambling, have a great day, Darnell!
Thanks for sharing your latest adventure with us. You're never still. Grin. Love the pix and of course your cards.
Hugs,
Em xxx
Sounds like a wonderful time and productive too! If you are ever coming to St. Louis,MO let me know!
Your posts are always full of joy and life.... and make me smile!
For me it's always difficult know where is fantasy and where is reality, but this is "part of the party" :D :D
I'm sure that you has been so well with your sisters and with the crafter group! And you has been so busy with all these semi-finished cards! The one you shown us is so beautiful and the penguin so dressed look very fun!!
A beau-ti-ful holiday card... lovely color and sparkle!
Amazing BABES II photos-looks like a fun-filled, productive week at the lake!!
I love that happy picture of you and your sisters. It looks like you have had a great time with the BABES too. It will take a while for your cheeks to get back to normal after all that laughing. Wow, you were productive with your card making! Good for you. Can't wait to hear all about your adventures. What are those lights in the water? I am so intrigued .
Lovely post Darnell.
By the smiles on everyone's face all had a good time....but it always feels so good to be back home!
What part of Minnesota were you in?
Gosh I can't believe its been 2 years since you all got together. How FUN and that place you stay at is amazing!! Good fro you actually getting card tops made too -- every time I get together [rarely] I end up talking too much and nothing gets accomplished :(. You are the Travel Queen this year too
Thought it was about time I stopped by and visited and what do I find? You have been having a ball again with some more friends - and sisters! Gosh you "D's" certainly all have a look of one another. Wonderful to see that Snowflake is still going strong and is in fact reproducing. I think any of the names is suitable, even SnowbEll.
Cannot believe how productive you were with all those cards - that is a marathon card making session and I just love the Penguideer but have to agree with Hammy that googlie eyes were the order of the day.
Think I will give Minnesota a miss if they have alien craft hovering about in the dark - ooer!
Sending lots of hugs, Net xx
So glad to see you at MCV this week, Darnell! Yes, it was a fun week full of stamping, laughter and adventures. As for the penguideer - if I didn't know better, I'd have thought you made up his name! lol! Love how you've turned a stem into a tree and decorated it! Thanks for joining us!
Sounds like you had a fab time with your sisters and friends from the crafting world! but it's nice to come home to your own bed too! l love the albino squirrel its just so cute! also is l love your card too take care x
This is such a lovely post Darnell! You look so happy with your lovely sisters, it is a great photo. I am in love with Snowball (and family), what a surprise to see him again. And then.... the Minnesota aliens - oh how I wish I had seen that, it looks amazing! How spooky!
Your card is a little beauty and a great CASE on your friend's card, the sequints make all the difference - love it! Hugs, Annie xxx
Oh, so happy to see and hear of your northeastern adventures! I think you all must have been so happy to be able to reunite!
I am so happy, more like thrilled, that you cased my little mousie and created your adorable penguideer with his special version of the Charlie Brown tree!
Big hugs, friend!
Xox ❤️
So lovely to hear you are back Darnell after a very busy time away. How on earth did you make 100 cards?!!! I've never seen an albino squirrel before...my family have always called squirrels 'squidgers'!! Don't know why!! Love your penguin which reminded me I bought the same stamp last year and have only used it once. xx Wendy
Hello Darnell: WOW!! I'm jealous, how fun it must have been to get together with your friends and just sit and make cards, I would love to do that but all my dear friends are spread out through the big USA and it's hard to get together.
Now, about those Aliens.....my dear girl, are you kidding me? what in the world was that in the sky??!!! That looks like a space ship to me, what else could it be? WOW!! that was awesome!!! who took the picture? it's a fabulous picture indeed.
Now, if we are going to be visited by Aliens, I hope that they'd enjoy crafting, what else can you possibly do on those long trips to and from Vega?
Beautiful cards, thank you for sharing.
Hugs,
Maria Rodriguez.
I love these cute and funny card CAS. I would like them to do much more, but they only like connoisseurs of the environment craft :-( Ordinary people rarely appreciate their beauty. But I love this card.
The family of squirrels lovely, I never met albino squirrels and yet it is in such quantity :-))
hugs,
BozenA
It looks like beautiful you and your equally beautiful sisters had an awesome time together. And, wow! You made a phenomenal amount of Christmas cards. I am lucky if I get one or two a day done. And, I loved the ones you showed today too!
Love knowing you're one of four sisters too - and you all have "D" names. I'm the eldest of four girls, but we have two "S" names and two "J" names. When I was little, our dogs had "S" names as well, and then when us two "S" sisters had left home, the dogs started to get "J" names!
What fun times you've had! And I am so impressed that you got 100 Christmas cards made - I need to go on a retreat to get mine done!!!
Fabulous photo's Darnel, must have been really confusing though when mail came address to Miss D. ........
Wouldn't know which one of you it was for, suppose first to the letter box opened it.
Love the card, never seen a penguin with antlers, what a great fun image and love the way you have glittered it.
Hope all this travelling and visiting has not tired you out too much.
Kath x
Hi Darnell, Thx for sharing about your travels and BABES. Your card for MCV is too cute. Love the tree and the "penguideer." He is so festive with the sparkly snow. Hugs, Marilyn
Love your little critter card, and I am so impressed by your enormous stack of cards you completed. Thanks for sharing the pictures of your lake house adventure. Looks like a blast.
I'm surprised you got that much done with all the talking and laughing I'm sure went on at the Lake House, Darnell. Your penquideer is so cute with his WOS coat.
How wonderful to visit with family and friends :). I am so impressed by your massive card making - you go, girl!
Dear Darnell, I was missing you. :-) Thank you for the great post, wonderful photos and two super sweet Christmas cards. :-)
Hugs, Sonja
Whoa, I'm pictured on your blog! Darnell, it was such a joy meeting and talking with you. My daughter said I looked happy...I was in heaven seeing you and meeting the BABES. Great card today. The tree is so you and Charlie Brown, of course. Have a happy time finishing all those cards.
I'm going to call you the smilin' sisters! You all look like you are having a wonderful time! What a nice reunion! And has it been 2 years since you met with the BABES? My but time flies! I know you had a wonderful time together too and look at all those Christmas card! I'm impressed! Love your Penguideer is adorable with all his sparkle! Glad you are home safely! xoxo
What a productive time spent with the Babes. You never would have accomplished that at home. Cute card to start the Christmas bonanza.
Hugs, B
I'm so glad you've had the chance to globe trot these past few months! TFS the great pics and fun card too! How's about "snowbitz" for a name LOL That's the first albino squirrel I've ever seen, and he's cute!
Sounds like you had a fantabulous time with both your sisters and the BABES! How wonderful! And your card is adorable - cutest penguideer ever :)
Wow, I loved visiting your playhouse today and sharing in your adventures. Can't believe you made so many cards at one time. Love all the photos. TFS
Look at all of you pretty ladies!! I'll bet you had so much fun with your sisters & crafting friends. The alien thing is kinda creepy, what was that!!?? My input for the sweet baby squirrel's name is snowdrop!! Your card is super cute!!
An adorable card!!!
Looks like another fun week and wow to how many cards you made! Adore this little sweet card with all the sparkle x
Wow Darnell how lovely to have another crafty time with like-minded people! Fab setting, lovely photos and how cute is that squirrel. Can't believe you made so many cards!! Love your penguideer!
Val x
Looks like you had a fab time with your sisters and the Babes, Darnell! Hats off to you for making so many cards, and toppers - I would have been too distracted by the albino squirrels (and the aliens!). I'm with Lisa, I like Snowdrop for a name. Love your gorgeous penguindeer and Charlie Brown tree :)
Holy Moly what fun you've had! Sisters, friends, cards? My kinda fun (except I don't have a sister...)! Anyway, how DOES one make 100 cards, and 46 card fronts while gabbing with others! I have trouble making 3 while locked in a room by myself! LOL - your cards are fab!
Oh my gosh! You had a not-so-close encounter of the 3rd kind! Which begs the question what are the 1st, 2nd and even 4th kinds?! I'll bet it was the Penguideer coming to make sure that you were representing them well on your card. It looks like you had a blast! I'm impressed at the number of cards you made while hanging out with friends. When I do it the cards fall to the wayside and the gabbing takes over.
Sounds like everyone had a fun — and even productive!!!!! — time at the Lake House! And what a cutie take on Chriss' MCV card.
Wow loved that post and all that cards and especially the penguineer one .. fabulous!sounds like you all had a ball !!!!x
Wow loved that post and all that cards and especially the penguineer one .. fabulous!sounds like you all had a ball !!!!x
Lovely photo's, it looks like you had a wonderful time, I am so glad! It's nice seeing your sisters, my Mum's name was Doris! Love your Christmas card and I cannot believe how many Christmas cards you have made! I have hardly done any so far! I think the baby squirrel should just be called Snowy! They are so cute! xxx
WOW you have been busy! How fun to catch up with your sisters and your crafty friends. A whole week without chores to craft! And you did make so many cards I'm exhausted at the thought of having to write in that many :)
Oh and your CASed card is fab - nearly forgot to mention that hehe
So glad you had fun in Minnesota (I'm now in D.C.). Your OLCs are fabulous! Love the sparkle on that penguin.
That looks like it must have been so much fun getting together with all those talented gals! Leave it to you to find a real "penguideer". Awesome cards!!!
So enjoyed seeing all the pictures of your fun trip. (and good to see Diana again too! I must say, you & Doris favor so much). Easy to see you were all having family fun...so good for you. Also enjoyed seeing some familiar faces in your BABES party too. Again, glad you got to enjoy some good craft companionship and be productive at the same time. Wow, you got a lot done! Enjoyed your penguindeer..he's a very weird cutie, but I liked 'im. Delightful & fun card. Glad you're back home safely. Hugs & TFS
Welcome back and I love that card!
Yes, I can easily imagine the wonderful week you've had all together ! Holidays, Friends, Crafts, Happiness....you really had everything to be tickled ! I have a proposition for Snowflake and Snowball's baby : Snow White ?
Thanks for sharing those wonderful moments with us !
Izzy Scrap
Hi Darnell
Glad you had a super time with family and friends. Hope you left a photograph of yourself with Kevin or he'll be forgetting what you look like with all these trips lol!
Love the cards. Wish I could do CAS as well as you do. You have such fun stamps too.
Best wishes.
Ang x
Ps.....Thank you for worrying about me matey.x
I can't believe it has been two years since the first Lake House adventure! Thanks for sharing your cardmaking travels :)
That was such a delightfully special week, Darnell ... what a joy it was to be together again ... and laugh, chat and make cards, all amid those amazing surroundings! Lovely post ... you captured the week so beautifully with those fabulous pictures and wonderful commentary! Hammy was so right about the penguindeer ... those googly eyes were so worth waiting for!! Fabulous photo of you and your sisters ... such a happy group! LYAMYAMA! Hugs & bisous, Anita :)
How wonderful to spend time with your sisters & have a week of crafting with blogging buddies! Adorable card, Darnell!
My goodness, but I've missed a lot!!! But I'm so happy I didn't miss the BABES get together once again!! You all look great Auntie and I can see how much fun ya'll are having too!! Oh yes, I remember Snowflake and just love that she has had a family since you last saw her. I definitely think the baby's name should be Snowbell. That's my vote anyway if you are taking votes. lol Love the "UFO" in the sky, what a fabulous picture to capture!!! Weird but it makes me wonder....I'm also happy you got to meet up with your blogging buddy Jeanne! You are doing well with meeting up with lots of people Auntie, how fun!!! Love that you got so many cards made and 3/4 made, now that is production! The picture of you and your sister is a fabulous one. Ya'll look so happy!!! Love, love, love your take on Chriss card! So cute is your little mouse with his Charlie Brown tree. Believe it or not, but way back when I first started blogging, I was on a design team with Chriss. She is incredibly talented!!! Sending love and big hugs to you Auntie!!! Brenda
Looks like all had a wonderful time! I keep hoping that I could win a lottery so I could do that too. I know it would be lots of fun.
Awesome post, awesome pics! Yep - the blingy baubles on the 'Tis the season' card definitely look more festive. Still lovin' his 'googly eyes' a whole lot!
Welcome home! So nice to see all your lovely faces again. And boy oh boy were you productive. Great job!
These are both just the cutest cards, Darnell! Love the CAS design and cute critters!
Running late, as usual, but catching up now...and wearing a mega-watt smile in seeing the photos of BABES Re-united! You gals look as young and gorgeous this year as you did two years ago; I can imagine the fun of the first time made for triple x quadruple that of the second. And a hunnert Christmas cards? WOWsers! Productivity amongst the playing...gotta love it! Your penguideer is awesome, as is the C9 Christmas tree (confession: I have and love that set, even though I've used it minimally. Why? Cuz I canNOT water-colour and that seems to be what I'm fixated on doing with it! Need to broaden my horizons and figure out something non-water-colour that does it justice! Maybe a forest of Charlie Brown trees would a start *grin*. Phone date for soonish...I'll be in touch. Off to your next place...
Hugs and love~c
PS Photos of and your sisters and you and Jeanne: marvelous! Love this smiles...
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