Greetings, Stamplings!
Thank you to everyone who stopped by to comment on the STAMPlorations Blog Party on my last post. I'll announce the winner of the $25 GC on November 30th, so there's still time to get in on the action if you'd like!
Thank you to everyone who stopped by to comment on the STAMPlorations Blog Party on my last post. I'll announce the winner of the $25 GC on November 30th, so there's still time to get in on the action if you'd like!
It must seem strange to bloggers from other countries to see us American bloggers flip-flopping back and forth between Christmas posts one day and Autumn/Fall/Thanksgiving posts the next. But what can we do with the two holidays literally just four weeks and three days apart?! And, of course, we have to mail our cards, don't we, so that means ...
Oh, pother, never mind. We'll just soldier on as best we can! I have more Autumn/Fall/Thanksgiving cards in the curlieque, but today's featured cards are for Christmas:
Oh, pother, never mind. We'll just soldier on as best we can! I have more Autumn/Fall/Thanksgiving cards in the curlieque, but today's featured cards are for Christmas:
This card was designed around a piece of Brusho art I made. Can you see the sort of "shattered" lines that look like frost on the window? They came from scrunching cling wrap on top of the Brusho paint while it's still wet. You let it sit for an hour or so and then when you lift the wrap, you get this cool effect. I hated to even cut the piece, but I do like how it looks like an icy frost through the window frame. The window frame was cut with a Poppystamps die called, "Small Madison Window." The heat-embossed MFT sediment is from "Season's Sentiments."
When your embossing powder puckers, does that mean it's old or is it just crappy powder? This one is old and I haven't used it for a while, but I don't think it ever melted smoothly. I just pretend I meant for it to do that.
ETA: I've had an inquiry about the white cardstock from someone who has not left me a way to contact them. It is from England and I first fell in love with it when I was gifted some by my friend Anita. Another friend and I went in together and purchased some from a company called Handy Hippo Crafts. You may be able to find other sources for it. If you have any other questions, please email me or leave me your email address in your comment. Thank you!
Challenges
- City Crafter: Beach colors for Christmas.
- Sweet Stampers: (Brand new, challenge #1!) Christmas.
Next up is a Christmas critter you might be familiar with:
Hammy is being represented today by a stamp by Big Red. He is fussy cut and you may just be able to see that the photographer gave him a liberal coat of Perfect Pearls "Biscotti" because the spray tan that human celebrities use is too harsh for Hammy's fine fur.
The NBUS sediment was free from Whimsy Stamps and Hammy is posing in shimmer paper holly leaves cut from a Memory Box die called, "Glowing Candles" (sans the candles). The plaid Santa hat is NBUS from Tim Holtz Bird Crazy Accessories. I told him he looked quite dashing in it, so now he refuses to take it off! Hammy, I mean, not Tim!
Challenges
- CAS on Sunday: Pets.
- The Heart Desires: Photo Inspiration: photo and colors. (Check out the Hammy in the photo!)
- Pixie's Snippets Playground: Use your snippets. Scrambling under the gate tonight!
- Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge: Christmas critters.
Virginia View Challenge: Stripes or plaid.Just missed it.
I leave you with a "Yule" camellia closeup from the garden.
~~~
Enjoy the weekend! 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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86 comments:
Oh Darnell what a fabulous frosty window you have there - love it and the unconventionally coloured Christmas sentiment - as for Hammy, it is so lovely to see him again - I had missed him, and to see him taking centre stage on this amazing card is wonderful!!
Blessings
Maxine
wow, I just love your cards and design, both are so lovely with great colours.
have a great weekend.
hugs xx
Darnell I am in love with the first card, what a fantastic die to highlight that brilliant piece of brusho art work. Love it and the blue embossing finishes it off perfectly.
Beautiful frosty window, love the brushos background, fab fresh colours! Your card is very elegant!
Hammy's card is so fun and sweet!! He surely is happy for it! :D
Hi Darnell, Loving the cards.
That Camellia is stunning.
Hope you have a lovely day. Sue
Gorgeous cards! I love the colours through the window. Great to see Hammy making an appearance - what a great hat! xx
Two super cards Darnell your window card background is stunning and well what can I say about Hammy's card..perfect in every way...
Anne
Two wonderful card, I love the gorgeous window and your Hammy card too.
Sue xx
Two great cards Darnell and it's good to see Hammy in the Playground! So cute :)
Hugs
Di xx
Beautiful cards!! I was just thing this morning that I wanted to make some type of window card for Christmas!! thanks for the inspiration
Two super cards Darnell...love your Brushos in the first one and I guess everything gets wrinkles as it gets older...embossing powder too! Hammy looks very dashing on card 2 and Perfect Pearls to boot!...he must be off for a night on the town looking so handsome. Take care xx
Oh I love your frosted window card thanks so much for playing along at CCCB! What a super Hammy card that is ... I bet he is so proud to be a model for such a fine stamp and what a gorgeous hat you handmade for him- Sheesh! The best dressed hamster ever!
On another note... sorry to hear that you have Crohn's... that's not nice at all and having to have that test more than once, well, bravo to you. Seriously I wasn't going to mention it at all on my blog but it is important - I did have a polyp removed and biopsies done and I wished I'd mentioned it earlier as so many have come back to tell me they had it too and I probably wouldn't have felt so nervous had I know that. Maybe it will help someone who has to have it know that we all survived it Lol! Enjoy your day my friend.
Your frosty window has a great view of the aurora borealis. Beautiful. Love Hammy in the plaid hat. He's all ready for Christmas.
Hi Darnell - it's always a pleasure to visit your blog! Your card is stunning - love the colours that you can see through the window! Much like the aurora! And Hammy's card so cute! BTW - your garden must look wonderful!
Your window card is lovely. Oh, the colors of Brushos! Just beautiful. My e/p has done that too, but at least it is even and looks the same all over so I'm sure you meant to do that. Isn't Hammy the Dandy Dude! He looks so smart and his fur is well done. Glad to see him make an appearance.
Darnell, that window in the first card is absolutely gorgeous! I love those colors blended together and that cling wrap trick added an extra oomph. Great job! The hammy card is so much fun. I can well believe he refuses to take that dashing Santa hat off. Tis the season! Your flower is stunning! Lucky you to have blooms practically all year round. :) Hugs!!
Awesome window card - some of my powders do that - think it may be cos they're older than Methuselah and I refuse to throw them out.
Hammy's fur looks good enough to cuddle and I bet Tim would look just as good in that hat!
Be good! xx
Gorgeous flower! Hammy is so handsome all decked out for the holiday. Absolutely love the window card! Where did you get that amazing cardstock? It has such a cool texture. Hugs
I LOVE LOVE LOVE the window card with that gorgeous textured white cardstock and the beautiful color in the window! Hammy looks mighty spiffy in that plaid santa hat too - and I love his big bright eyes! Fun cards :)
Love your window card with the brusho backdrop Darnell but Hammy is just wonderful!!! How lovely to have that amazing camelia mine don't bloom till late January early February!
Val x
Hi Darnell,
such wonderful and lovely cards.
The embossed sentiment on the window one looks great to me and I thought it was a sort of puffy embossing powder till you said.
Your Hammy one is awesome and so very sweet.
Love and big hugs from my house to yours.
Lots of crafty love. Jenny L.
Gorgeous frosty window scene, Darnell and Hammy has never looked better - especially with that snazzy paper-pieced hat he's wearing!! And I am jealous you still have flowers in your yard!!!
Fabulous frost effect Darnell :D Hammy looks very festive too, great card, made me smile Hugs Gay xxx
The frosty window is just gorgeous with your wonderful cling film Brusho background! I think your embossing powder should be called 'textured' not 'crappy'. Hammy looks fabulous, I love his groovy hat and the photo of your Christmas flower is beautiful! xxx
This is such a gorgeous christmas Card.
Thank you for joining us at the Sweet Stampers and i hope to see you again.
Hugs
Kuni
Great idea of using the cling wrap on the Brusho:)) Nice art work...I hate it when EP puckers that way too. Hammy looks handsome in the plaid hat:)) Thank you so much for taking the time to stop by and comment on my blog Darnell, your encouragement blesses me!
TFS both your very different and creative Christmas Cards, Darnell. I LOVE your gorgeous "Brushos Art" and the lines you created. I still have not tried that technique. Thanks for the reminder. Loved the colors too.
Then there is your "Cutie Hammy"! Even on a cold Wintery day Hammy will make someone smile! Happy Holidays Darnell...that is what we celebrate in the states...holidayssss! Hugs, Nancy
Both cards are great! I would love to know your source for the cardstock in the window card; it's way too hard to find cardstock with a nice texture like that! The extra texture in the embossing powder may be from its age (don't we all gain more texture with age?), but I usually get smoother results when I heat the image from underneath first and then from above. We have to melt all those little beadlets, and I figure the more heat from different directions, the better. Thank you so much for sharing your talents with us!
Wonderful window card. It looks like ours did during the blizzard yesterday. And, your little Hammy looks so festive with his cap on. He is already for the Christmas season too.
I had that window die and sold it...but I kept a dozen cuts of it. You have inspired me to think about get it out and trying something with it. Your brusho piece is gorgeous! Love seeing sweet hammy, too. Have a fab Thanksgiving.
The frosty window looks brilliant Darnell and the colours are gorgeous. Hammy certainly looks the part in his smart santa hat!! xx
Glad to see Hammy getting into the holiday mood. I love the Madison Window die, one of my favourites, and your frosty panes are lovely. There are different grades of embossing powder but I like the effect of the pucker.
sweet cards, luv the CAS design and your fabulous coloring! I am so glad you played along with us at simon says stamp wednesday challenge!
blog-paperie blooms
ig-2klines
sparkle & shine, kindness *~*
Wow! That window card is absolutely gorgeous! I envy you having Camellias in flower at this time of year.
X
Wow! That window card is absolutely gorgeous! I envy you having Camellias in flower at this time of year.
X
Wow, two really wonderful cards to share today! The Brusho background through the window is just beautiful and a great way to use that swirl of blues and yellow-green. I think I have that exact window die and may have to steal your idea! Now, that first card is impressive enough but oh my goodness, your sweet little hamster with his jaunty plaid hat is cute enough to keep on display all year round! How fun to combine stamp sets for just the right holiday hamster accessory
Wow,I am loving this beautiful card Auntie! How cool is that frosty view from the window?!! And to think you got that look with brusho's and plastic wrap! Who knew?!! I think I need classes on using brusho's. Very cool indeed! Oh my and Hammy on a card, well he is just dashing in that plaid Santa's hat! Love the greenery nested around him too. Yep, he makes quite the dashing Christmas card! Oh my, your "Yule" camellia is stunning! Wish I lived in your climate, we went from 70 to the low 40's in just a few hours today. Sleet this evening with blustery cold wind and temps. It's save to say I'm hunkering down and will watch whatever snow may fall tomorrow from the warmth of the house. Hugs, Brenda
Hammy's spray tan looks absolutely fabulous Darnell - truly brings out the colour of his fur! Your non-traditional Christmas card is gorgeous too - what great idea to use the watercoloured background behind the window!
Love the window card and Hammy is looking fine!!
That window card is STUNNING!! I love the Brusho background behind that window. It is so pretty!! Some of my powders pucker, others don't. Not sure if it is age or just the powder. Hammy is so cute on the second card. He looks so festive in his plaid had!!!
Hi Darnell. That frosty window card is beautiful. But the Hammy card is the best. He's so adorable. Have a great day!
Oh Darnell - I just love your window card. It's so beautiful. I only made like two Thanksgiving cards, but am into Christmas ones now. A bit anyway. Thanks for your ideas with the Brushos. Oh, and have a great Thanksgiving!
LOVING your Brusho window panes, and those frozen little cracks! Great texture... When you figure out that ep thing, lemme know -- I can get those too, I wondered if it wasn't poor quality ep. Happy Turkey Day!
Two great holiday cards - the count must be getting up there by now. Hammy certainly looks regal on his sprig of holly. I can imagine him directing Santa'a elves in the toy shop from his royal perch.
Ah Brushos! So beautiful behind your window and I love the bling added. Nice to see Hammy dressed for Christmas. Thanks for joining in at City Crafter.
Beautiful cards that image is so lovely gorgeous colours too and card design more amazing creations you have created as always your so talented!! x
Your frosty window scene is gorgeous! Jack Frost will be envious! And Hammy makes me smile! Love hat plaid hat!
Gorgeous cards, as always, Darnell. Love them both. The camellia brings a welcome splash of sunshine to this dull day.
Hugs,
Em xxx
Darnell your card made my jaw drop; it's spot on our them and I LOVE it! Thanks so much for joining us at CCCB! Good to see you!
Great Brusho art Darnell, Hammy looks well too, so sweet!
Love and hugs
Maarit
Beautiful christmas card. Thanks for joining us at the Sweet Stampers Challenge. We would love to see you again.
Hugs, Daniela
Great way to use the brushos and adore the sweet little Hammy card x
Darnell, LOVE your window card. Colours are awesome.
Hugs,
Trina
The card with Hammy is a scream. And by that of course I mean he's a fine looking specimen. I could feel the chill coming off your frosty window card. Good golly, I'm quite tired of fall/T-day/Christmas cards. Let's make Valentines ones instead, 'K?!
Hi Darnell
You have done some fabulous things with those Brushos. Love the window scene but of course, Hammy steals the show lol!
You do make me smile Mrs K.
Ang x
So sweet and cute! Thank you for playing along with The Heart Desires Challenge
I thought of Hammy when I saw the photo, Darnell, and you've dressed him to the nines in his little plaid Santa hat. I just got Brushos and don't quite have the hang of them, or much time to play, but I love your panel with the frosting. I'll remember that technique the next time I get them out.
Beautiful window card, Darnell! I need to use my Color Bursts--just too much crafting stuff in my house! That is one gorgeous camellia blossom!
Great cards! As for the embossing powder, I think we all have some that heat up lumpy. If you have invested in a MISTI, you can perfectly line up and go over over the colored EP with Versamark and clear EP and get a smooth and extra high gloss sentiment.
Great use of the Brush background! What a beautiful window! And Hammy looks adorable in his christmasstyle! Hugs, Gerrina
The hamster with its Christmas hat looks ultra cute! Great CAS design. Very much like that Christmas window card too, the colors are so delicate and different but still feels festive and wintery too.
Amazing card Darnell
big hug Tamara
GORGEOUS, GORGEOUS, GORGEOUS window pane card! I love the 'frosty' look and I also really like the texture that your embossed sentiment created (on purpose?) cuz it matches the texture of the card stock!
Hammie is darling! I want his plaid hat! His fur seriously looks real...almost one of those "reach out and touch" effects! Cool poinsettia leaf color!
The camelia is stunning! Everything in my flower beds is totally frozen!!!
The card with the window is just amazing. I like the frosty view. Superb effect have you achieved. Hammy is on the best way to become a super star. :-) I like the card and I especially like Hammy's cap.:-)
Have a great week!
Hugs,
Sonja
Love the frosty look of your Christmas window Dolly. I tried that technique a few weeks back and am posting a card tomorrow. It's fun and easy ... and creates the most beautiful backgrounds.
Great to see Hammy featured on one of your Christmas cards. He looks quite happy all decked out in his Christmas finery. :) xx
Hi Darnell, I love your window the inkiness behind is fabulous. Hammy looks adorable in his hat :) I hope you are doing well, xxx
I can see why you didn't want to cut that piece of Brusho art but I'm glad you did because this is gorgeous! Love all the white on white layers with the gorgeous teals.
And Hammy in a Santa hat? Brilliant! Put a big smile on my face and then I totally cracked up at the thought of him with little goggles on getting a spray tan. Love it!
Love the way you've framed you "artwork" Darnell, this is lovely!! And my goodness, could Hammy be any more festive, what a FUN card!!
Both cards are awesome, but I'm really drawn to the first one. I love the texture of the white, and your beautiful background. Gorgeous flower, too! Oh, and I love your intentionally-puckered embossing:)
Your brushos card is awesome, love how it is framed up.
Hammy? Oh my, so cute!!! Thanks so much for joining us at The Heart Desires.
Hi there Darnell,
Well you have been busy, Darnell. Wonderful cards, particularly love the hammy ones, soo cute!! Do love my brushos, but haven't tried the cling wrap with them yet..
Will pop below and check out your post and leave a comment there. You never know ;-)
Thanks for sharing,
Shaz in Oz.x
{Calligraphy Cards - Shaz in Oz}
A beautiful and frosty card Darnell and Hammy cuts a fine figure in that hat!! My face has 'puckered' with age so I guess embossing powder does the same! Very jealous seeing the sun in your garden when we are freezing our cods off and it's chucking it down with rain today :-( xx
Oh yes, that textured cardstock is really great! So nice of you to leave the information about it. Your cards are both lovely. I like the beautiful window, but the hamster makes you smile!
Thanks so much for your kind comment on my blog. Your comments always encourage me to keep sharing and learning! It IS a really nice community here online for stampers and crafters. Always encouraging, that is for sure!!
Two beauties! Love the blending on your window card,what a beauty! My gosh Hammy looks amazing! That is one darling fussy cut card! So sweet of you to try and find the person who asked the question,sometimes I get nowhere with trying to answer. ( can't reach them)
Greetings from a rainy day in So CA and I hear you have had rain too. The brusho background paper is gorgeous and I expect we will see more of it. Love the textured paper too. Wow the yule camellia is gorgeous. Happy Turkey Day, oh funny one. :) B
Deelightful! I love those beachy colors on your Christmas card. BTW, if the embossing powder is Zing, mine nearly always turns out that way too! I am so in love with Hammy's portrait. That is THE coolest hat. I bet if you'd made it to Virginia's on time, he'd have won! I hope you and the fam have a wonderful Turkey Day. Hugs.
Apologies for being late to the party, I was away for the weekend having fun! I love that window and the Brusho background is stunning! The cardstock is widely available over here, it is called linen texture cardstock. Some of my embossing powders 'pit' like yours did, usually if you heat from the back of the card, it will be smooth and if you heat from the top it will be pitted - I think it is more to do with the make of ep rather than the age - just a thought.
Hammy never looked so good! I love his festive hat and his rather serene pose - lol. Both cards are beautiful. Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours! Big hugs, Annie xxx
Liebe Darnell, deine Karte für die Challenge bei den Sweet Stampers ist zauberhaft. Vielen Dank für deine Teilnahme. LG Karina
Two great cards, Darnell, but I have to say I'm in love with the second one. Hammie really deserves to be the star of some of your cards and he looks adorable in his Santa hat!
These are both fabulous! I love the effect of the brushos & have long admired that fun window die. Hammy looks terrific in his hat- now I det he doesn't want to take it off- so glad he avoided the spray tan... Nice work on lots of NBUS & and thanks for joining us at The Heart Desires!
Gorgeous cards. Love your versatility. You make so many wonderful things.
PS. Tell hammy to help with the washing up. X
Beautiful frosty glass brushos, Darnell ... took me right back to the Lake House ... maybe I recognised that particular piece (hahaha!)! Hammy looks especially handsome in his cosy tartan hat ... and his fur's perfectly and pearly-ly pristine ... he does cut a dashing figure! Thanks for the shout out, my friend ... and for sharing that gorgeous camellia! LYAMYEDMAHTG! Big Hugs & bisous, Anita :)
As always, great cards! thanks so much for sharing all your wonderful work!
I'm a fellow stamper who makes blank general and thank you pet themed handmade cards and donates them to animal shelters and rescue groups for them to write messages of gratitude. If you have a stash or are interested in making blank general or thank you pet themed handmade cards I hope you visit my new blog, Sending Paw Prints, created for this purpose.
www.sendingpawprints.blogspot.com
Thank you!
Karen Howard
Gorgeous frosty window effect, Darnell! The more I see you create magic with Brushos, the more...well, you know the rest. On the wish list. How dapper Hammy is, bedecked in his plaid toque and his splendid coat of shimmer! Too cute! He is quite the handsome lad, isn't he! Your camellia is stunning!
Hugs~c
Totally darling! Thank you for joining The Heart Desires Challenge!!
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