Hello, Stamplings!
What a grand Thanksgiving holiday weekend we had! It's always so nice to see family and friends and carry on timeless traditions!
Now it is full-steam ahead with getting those holiday cards made. Today I'm honored to be the Guest Designer for this week's CASology Challenge #277! This week the cue card word is ROUND and here's my inspiration for you, starring you-know-who:
I watercolored my NBUS ornament from "Hammie Holiday Fun" by Your Next Stamp after heat-embossing it in black. The evergreens were die-cut from blended paper snippets using my NBUS die, also from Your Next Stamp. You can faintly see that I used the negative die cut to stencil a few fronds directly on the card panel for extra depth.
Here is your cue card badge:
Challenges
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Another "round" design idea using jingle bells:
The background paper is a shiny gold glossy paper and if you look closely, you can see that it is made up of row after row of teeny-tiny jingle bells! The banner is from Simon Says Stamp, the sediment is from The Ton, and the jingle bells are from Lil Inker, cut from gold metallic paper.
Challenges
I had similar DSP in glossy red, so I made a few more like this:
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Real quick. I forgot to show you this photo last week.
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Enjoy your day! No, seriously, enjoy! LITS!*
What a grand Thanksgiving holiday weekend we had! It's always so nice to see family and friends and carry on timeless traditions!
Now it is full-steam ahead with getting those holiday cards made. Today I'm honored to be the Guest Designer for this week's CASology Challenge #277! This week the cue card word is ROUND and here's my inspiration for you, starring you-know-who:
Nothing says Christmas like a hamster in an ornament!
Here is your cue card badge:
I hope you get a chance to play along this week! You can find the linky tool and lots of outstanding inspiration from the Design Team over at CASology!
Challenges
- Merry Monday Christmas Card Challenge: Color Combo.
- Pixie's Snippets Playground: AG using your snippets!
- Your Next Stamp: Color inspiration.
Another "round" design idea using jingle bells:
Challenges
- Cards In Envy: It's only paper.
- INKspirational: Christmas card using neutral colors.
- Rudolph Days: AG Christmas.
I had similar DSP in glossy red, so I made a few more like this:
Real quick. I forgot to show you this photo last week.
It was taken on our walk through the park. As I held up the pretty leaf rimmed with ice, the rising sun lit it from behind. I had The Mister take a photo over my shoulder to share with you.
And, of course, I had to share the grandtwins!
And, of course, I had to share the grandtwins!
You haven't seen them for a while, so that's Henry on the left, Adam on the right. They were not happy to be stopped in their tracks as they were about to dive into a box of See's candy! Check out Adam's itchy finger, primed and ready to pounce!
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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 to return the flavor!
*Life is too short!
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83 comments:
Good morning Darnell...congrats on the guest spot! You made some fabulous cards and great inspiration! Your grands are growing up and getting more handsome with every picture...I think they take after their "Grandma"!! Beautiful leaf, with ice on it? No wonder you have are wearing gloves...aren't you in sunny California? *wink Have a happy day friend! Heart Hugs, Col
Beautiful cards! The one linked for our challenge is so pretty. Love the pine branches with the ornament! Thanks for sharing with us at Cards in Envy.
Congratulations on your GD spot and what a super card you've made too. I love how you've attached the pine leaves to give extra texture. Your two jingle bell cards are fabulous too, how different they look by just changing the colours. TFS your photo of the leaf - Amazing! xx
Congrats on your Guest spot. So well deserved. Several beautiful cards. Your MM card is adorable. Thanks for joining us this week at Merry Monday. What a cute picture of the twins. I can see why they are ready to pounce. And beautiful leaf...You had a lot to share on this post. Have a great week.
Hi Darnell, Great cards.
Henry and Adam are getting more handsome. some girls hearts are going to be broken.
Love the iced leaf. We are having temps below freezing, so first thing all the leaves are looking like that.
Hope you ar ehaving a good week. Sue
The hammy stamp is perfect for you! So cute! One of these days I'm going shopping at Your Next Stamp. Adorable stuff there. I'm loving my Lil' Inker stuff, which is brand new to me. Got to break out of my usual shopping routine once in a while, but no more till January (maybe). Yes, full steam ahead with the Christmas cards as it's time to get them in the mail soon! I'm glad you took the time to share the extra photos, too. That leaf is so gorgeous back lit by the sun. Looks like a beautiful walk in the park on a chilly day. Oh, the grandtwins! I get those itchy fingers way too often!
Congrats on GD and love the fresh look of your card. Adore the card with Neutral colours, nice touch of shine and fab to see you at Ink x
First of all, who wouldn't want to dive into See's chocolates...no less than six 1 lb boxes are coming here to live. Sadly, none of them are staying... their for the neighbors. But while they're heer I can dream of their lusciousness.
The boys are growing so fast...and are starting to look like young men. Whoooosh, and they will be.
Congrats on your GD gig with CASology. You've done them proud...love the critter in the ornament and the stencilled background...the diecut needles just add to the festiveness. Have a thing for jingle bells so your twofer and threefer are right up my alley.
Hi Darnell,
Happy Rudolf Days.
Waht wonderful cards and as usual your designs are so super.
Love Hammy in the bauble.
That leaf looks fantastic.
My they do grow up so soon my Grandson is 13 and he looks down on me now and is getting so tall.
Thanks for joining the Rudolf Challenge.
Love and hugs for my house to yours. Jenny L.
Congratulations on your GD spot Darnell, and what a fun and pretty card, and your hammy seems very happy to be sitting in his bauble. I love all the pine branches and the added inked ones too. The jingle bells have each got wonderful colourful jingly backgrounds and love that sentiment banner on each too. I love the photo of your ice rimmed leaf and the sun shining through it has been caught so cleverly, also the twins look extremely handsome,and glad you all had a great Thanksgiving. x
Congratulations on your GD, your cards are so fresh, you always have great ideas!
and such lovely photos.
hugs xx
Congrats on your well-deserved win and GD spot at CASology, Darnell! Your 'Hammie' Christmas card is absolutely adorable! I love how he's peeking out amid those gorgeous evergreens and how you added dimension by stenciling a few fronds...so clever! I also love how you showcased the jingle bells on your next 2 cards...both are so festive and the ombre effect on the last one is swoon-worthy :)
Thanks for sharing a pic of your handsome grandtwins with us...gosh, they're growing so fast! And, what a great find that you spotted that gorgeous leaf during your walk...WOW! I love how the sun shines through to highlight all of those lovely autumn colors!
Those cards are so wonderful and well designed. And, I can see the grandsons have grown even more. They are two handsome young lads.
Wonderful csrds! Good for them you being their guestie 😀
Great designs for the round challenge! Especially the two with the jingle bells - I have those dies and love getting ideas for using them!
HI Darnell, love the first card, really made me smile, a cute image and great leaves and lovely colours.
Two great cards too, love the banner.
The leaf photo is amazing.
Lovely to see those handsome boys again.
Kath x
Ooh, Hammy looks so snug in that bauble! Congrats on your GD spot at CASology, you've done them proud with your creations. What a fabulous shot of the leaf - nature at its best. And those boys are looking so grown up now!
A fabulous trio of cards, but the hamster in the bauble steals the show! What a perfectly adorable card for the challenge!
Congratulations on your GD. Christmas can now start as Hammy is in the ornament...super cute card x Perfect CAS cards with the jingle bells too x Thank you for sharing that amazing leaf photo and the photo of the grand twins, very handsome boys x
How cute is the little hammy peeking out the circle!! Adorable colours and leaves! LOVE this card so very much!!! Congrats for your GD, this CAS card is very inspiring!!
Lovely and cheerful also the two with the bell, I have a similar bell die, very unused, so thanks for sharing your inspirations!
Your grandsons are adorable. How they can wait for those yummy? You are cruel :D LOL
Hugs
Congrats! Such lovely cards. Wonderful photos toO!
Congratulations on being guest designer! Fabulous cards - Hammy looks happy to be centre stage on the first one, I love the bauble hanging from the gorgeous branches! Awesome photo of the leaf with the sun shining through and the boys are looking so handsome! I hope they enjoyed their chocolate! Hugs xxxxxxx
I had to go look up those Hammie stamps from YNS - they are so adorable! Clearly they were made entirely for you... :) I love how you used his here. However, I can imagine the carnage if there was a Hammie in our Christmas tree - I don't know who would be more excited - Tex or Ella!
I am totally diggin' those tiny jingle bell papers especially the red one.
Your leaf photo is gorgeous! I hope it finds it's way beyond your blog and into a frame. So pretty. No frost here but it's 66F tonight so I'm officially freezing! No complaints - happy to break out the cozy pjs! :)
Henry and Adam are adorable (although I'm sure they'd be appalled at that choice of word). Which one got to the candy first?
It wouldn't be a Christmas card without a hammy somewhere hiding or peeking! Adorable ornament card as well as the jingle bells cards! You've been busy I see, and my goodness how those twins are growing up! They each have their own distinctive look now - and they're such handsome young lads! Glad you had a wonderful Thanksgiving!!
I Love all your Christmas cards with your wonderful CAS designs. I have to admit...hammy in the ornament is my favorite. Fun seeing how the boys are changing and looking so much older. My twin sis and I still look a like and Margie always has her hair longer than me! We have been having making Christmas cards together:-)
Happy Holidays Darnell. A Big Hug!
Congrats on your GD spot Darnell...well deserved! And your card featuring Hammy is wonderful...especially in the colors for this weeks MM challenge!! Love your jingle bell cards too, the beautiful frozen leaf, and of course those 2 handsome young men diving for chocolate! They sure are growing up fast!! Thanks so much for joining us this week at Merry Monday and have a GREAT rest of your week!! :0)
Congrats on guesting Darnell!! Your card featuring your darling Hammie is perfectly delightful!! Your jingle bell cards are a vision of shimmery loveliness. Speaking of lovely...that leaf photo is fantastic! The boys are growing up fast, cute photo!
Great cards, Darnell.Lovely to see you guesting at Casology. Your grands are practically all grown up- how does that happen?! Needless to say, our leaves are way past that awesome stage here in the Midwest. Keep up the amazing work you & Hammy are doing. Hugs.
So nice cards!
Glad you had a good holiday & enjoyed the kiddos! Congrats on being the GD--2 great cards, Darnell! I especially love the red bells one--so festive!
Your merry cards are marvelous! Can you tell I love a little alliteration? I hadn't thought of using a negative pine bough die-cut to add a few fronds directly to the cardstock, but I definitely will now! You continue to inspire me with every post! I enjoyed the photo of the icy leaf, too. It has such a perfect shape and color. Thank you for sharing that. Congrats on those two handsome grandsons. They are definitely handsome boys.
Great to see you as a guestdesigner at CASology; that card is my favorite of your cards here! Love the fresh colours! Here it was just a normal weekend; so bussy and everybody walking in and out at all times to get stuff, eat and sleap and go do things again :) Hugs, Gerrina
What a fabulous round of cards Darnell - and so glad to see Hammie featured - he deserves it after living in the background for so long!!
Looks as though those boys are starved, and you had no right to interrupt their eating the survival rations!! ;-)
Blessings
Maxine
A other fabulous set of cards Darnell, you must be well on your way to finihsing by now!!!! I always love to see little Hammie make his way onto one of your cards, and there he was! All twinkly and cute in the bauble. Very sweet indeed! And I did laugh at the finger poised to pick out 1 (or 50) of those delicious choccies. Haha, tis the season..... hugs, Lisa xx
Hi Darnell, congratulations on your DT spot, and your cards are fabulous, especially the hamster image, all beautifully designed and coloured.
That is a beautiful leaf, really big too, and don't your Grandsons look so very handsome, my finger would be itching too, Kate x
Delightful post all around. Super cute cards (love Hammy in an ornament), super cute grandtwins and a gorgeous leaf shot. What is not to love! So happy to see what you have created and shared. Happy week to you! Hugs!
I love the card with Hammy. It's got wonderful colors. The picture of the leaf is stunning. No ice or cold for me though. You're grandsons look like they're having a fine time. So glad y'all have a lovely Thanksgiving. [Bunny]
Oh, leading role for Hammy on the first card! Fantastic. :-) I love CAS christmas cards in both colours. Thank you for sharing beautiful photos. :-)
Hugs,
Sonja
Gorgeous cards, and gorgeous boys too! xoxo
Gorgeous cards, I always have problems with c&s cards, just don’t know when to stop. Lovely photos of the boys.
Hugs
I bet Hammy is over the moon to be on such a cute card. I love both of the bell cards, especially the red one. The leaf picture is fantastic. The sun and ice in the same picture, wow! My gosh, the twins are growing up so much. Not seeing them all the time really brings that home. They are young men now. I'm so happy you had a great time with them.
Hammy brings such joy to us all so that's a perfect sentiment for your card, Darnell. Every time I see a hamster stamp I wonder if you have it. Congrats on being the guest designer at CASology. Your bells are lovely and inspired me to get out mine. Thanks for sharing your other pictures too, of the rime on the leaf and the handsome young men.
...sneaking in a few bloggie visits at work this morning! Shhhh...don't tell!
Congrats on your GD gig at CASology. Adore your cards! Love how you used the negative cut from the evergreen die to ground the branch is so effective in grounding the image! The CAS jingle bell cards rock! Makes my CAS lovin' heart smile. The DP is fabulous!
Now let's chat about your pics! The way you showcased the depth of field in the first photo (the leaf) is photo magazine material! Gorgeous colors and so darn cool...but the twinks steal the show today! They are like two young models! I seriously WANT THEIR HAIR! Noticed several young fellows over the weekend (on Brady's hockey team) sporting this same trendy style!
That ornament is completely adorable! Perfect for you to work with!
Oh my goodness, Darnell, It's like a party here at your comment box! Lots of love to go around!
I'm popping in to say how cute your card is for Merry Monday. Love hammy in the Christmas ornament for his perky cuteness.
And speaking of perky, love that twitchy finger. Great photos and a wonderful post.
Fabulous cards Darnell - and of course Hammie is the star of the show :) Wonderfully amusing and fun blog post as always - that leaf is amazing - but's it was cold enough to be wearing gloves already? Gosh.
Great that you found time to come and play with us.
Hugs
Di xx
Well now, I am totally loving the card with the ornament and Hammy! How cute it is and of course how cute Hammy is! Love the pine boughs as well as the stenciled ones. Your bell cards are perfect-who doesn't need some bells at Christmas?!! Goodness, look at the frost on that leaf and the sunlight peering through! And you in a coat and gloves! Another friend in Southern CA says they are still near the 100's, it just blows my mind that one friend is sweating and you are cold. lol Love the picture of the twins, they get more handsome with each picture you post. I had to laugh at Adam's itchy finger ready to dive into those chocolates. Can't say I blame him! Hugs, Brenda
What a sweet ornament on that christmas tree. I'm quite sure Charles the cat would love a similar one on "his" tree.
That leaf is HUGE!!!!!!!!!!!! And pass me a chocolate.
Beautiful cards!! Love the photo of the leaf!
Oh, what beautiful cards, your cards are always like a breath of fresh air, I love the hamster one and the red bell one is fabulous!!! The jingle bell paper in the background was the perfect choice.
The leaf is gorgeous, how amazing to be rimmed in frost like that! Adam and Henry look so grown up, they really are very handsome! Big hugs, Annie xxx
oh my goodness...those boys have grown! I hope they enjoyed their candy!
Your cards are all lovely. I see the Rudolph entry spurred you on to batch bake...oh how I love that! Need to do a little of that myself!
Thanks for taking part in the November Rudolph Days Challenge.
Congrats on your Guest Designer spot on CAS-ology, Dolly!! LOVE your "round" designs ... especially the one featuring Hammie ... hope the fame doesn't go to his head! :)
Wow ... very cold in your parts for Thanksgiving. The ice-edged leaf is so cool. Good job by the Mr. taking the pic. And great pic of the grandtwins ... they are sure growing up fast. Those chocolates look yummy, no wonder they didn't want to be interrupted! :) Lolly xx
Love all your cards Darnell. That ornament is so cute on your first card. Love everything about it. Thanks for sharing with us at Merry Monday.
Hammy is so cute perched on an ornament! I know he's thrilled to be hanging on the Christmas tree! Love the jingle bells and that reminds me I should show that die some love. The boys look so grown up! Very handsome!
Hey guest designer I love your Hammy card and the colors are great.Your photo with the leaf is amazing and interesting as you were wearing gloves and the leaf has ice. My grandsons were swimming with grandpa both Wednesday and Thursday - temp in the 80's. Have a good week.
Congratulations on the GD Darnell! Such an adorable Hammy card, love the design! Your other two cards are beautiful! That leaf looks beautiful, can see why you wanted a photo and show it to the grandtwins. I love their expressions, lol, too cute.
Hugs, Sherry x
Loose Stitches and Unraveled Threads
I'm loving all your cards, Darnell, especially the hamster one. It makes me smile. Your grandsons are so handsome. I know they enjoyed the See's candies. That fall leaf is beautiful. It looks as if it could have come from Georgia - LOL!
Loving all the cards but Hammie in an ornament is brilliant! Your Grandtwins are growing up into very handsome young men x
Splendid trio of circle motifs, but I'll fess up that #1 is my fav. Just love Hammie peeking out, looking just as I'd imagined. Nice interpretation of the challenge theme with the jingle bells and the circle pattern paper too. Clever boots! Love your idea of stenciling the negative branches underneath, it truly did add some extra dimension to the pretty die branches. Enjoyed seeing the Twinks...aren't they growing up so fast! Handsome fellas too. So happy ya'll had a lovely holiday, spent with those you love best! TFS & Big hugs too.
Congratulations on your GD spot ..... fabulous card. Love little Hammy in the bauble .... he's so cute!, just like those grand twins of yours! xx
Pretty cards - love the jingle bells and the DSP. Congrats on GD at CASology! Someday I'll have to tell you the story of my son's "hammy" when he was little. Let's just say his little "hammy" was not so cute! Hope you're having a good week!
Congrats on being guest designer at CASology, great cards for the round theme. Love your adorable little guy in the ornament :)
Cool CAS Darnell, do love the Hammy card and I’m sure he was rapt!!!! And the wee bell cards with contrasting DP look great too, busy batch baking here and trying to get overseas mail sent by Monday, last year they took simply weeks and weeks.
Thanks for popping over and sharing your inspiration!
Shaz in Oz.x
{Calligraphy Cards - Shaz in Oz}
I'm loving your holiday cards!That top one is so cute, and I love the branches. Have a great day Darnell!
Congrats on your GD spot! All very nicely done cards! Glad you had a nice Thanksgiving. We did too! Daughter cooked! (and it was really good!!!) The Grandkids keep getting cuter and cuter...the girls have to be already lined up out the door. Hope you have a great weekend!
Had to let you know I love, love the jingle bell cards - especially the red one. I too say congrats and thanks for doing the round challenge. To quote you, "hugs". :-)
Your cards are fantastic as always - adore the hamster one especially. Beautiful photo of the leaf glowing and your grandtwins have grown so much and are turning into handsome young men. Belated Happy Thanksgiving to you xxx
Oh my goodness what an adorable "hammie" card! Just perfect for you to make! I really love the jingle bell cards too! You are a master at the clean and simple cards! And what a beautiful leaf--love those colors--awesome pic! Hugs!
Such beautiful cards.
A few days ago we were sweltering in 38 C now it is a cool mid 20's and heaps of rain! Such a contrast.
Great pic of the twins - I don't think my kiddos would be stop for a pic they'd dive straight in!
Congrats on the GD spot! Does Hammie now have a part-time job posing for a stamp company? He's quite a little star, isn't he! Adore your sweet card! And love the wonderful Lil' Inker jingle bell designs too. TFS a new photo of the twins--goodness they are growing. Glad your turkey day was wonderful!!
Darnell, well done on the GD Spot! Hammy looks so darling peeking out from that ornament, and I love the jingle bell cards too. So very festive. Keep warm.
First off, Darnell ... congratulations on Guest Designing with CASology ... you did them and Hammy proud with your festive Hammy ornament ... isn't he such a cutie! The shimmery shiny-ness of the two jingle bell cards is fabulous ... so deliciously Christmassy and magical! Didn't know you had frost in California ... that's how it is here at the moment too ... though our leaves aren't quite as beautifully showcased as this one ... it's glowingly gorgeous! Handsome boys ... they get more so each time you show us a photo of them ... and those chocolates look scrumptious ... drool, drool, no wonder there's an itchy finger there! LYAMYMASWAC! Big hugs & bisous, Anita :)
Many congratulations on your well deserved GD spot Darnell! LOVE your beautiful CAS Christmas cards! Happy to hear you had a lovely Thanksgiving! That leaf did look stunning with the light coming through and rimmed with ice, thank you for sharing it with us too! May I say, your grandsons are going to be very handsome young men who will break a few hearts before settling down eh? Have a lovely weekend my friend! Luv & Hugs. Hazel xx
My Card Attic
Oh Darnell,congratulations on the GS! Your cards are simply fabulous and so much inspiration. Those handsome grandsons of yours are so grown up you and Kevin have to be bursting with pride.
Last but certainly not least ~ look at that leaf photo! That's awesome, girlfriend
The twins are sooo handsome/cute! I see gloves and a jacket...... We had a heat wave for Thanksgiving!
Loving the cards with the bells and the tree branch is so pretty in tones of green. Oh I love the leaf you are holding up too!
Love your Merry Monday submission but also all the other cards on the post!!!
Wow, you've been busy! I love the ornament you used on our Merry Monday Challenge and your grand-twins are handsome! Thanks for playing Merry Monday!
Congrats on your GD spot! That Hammy ornament is totally adorable and your jingle bells cards fun and festive. Love that you had the perfect PP for them!
And how good are your grandsons to smile for you when all they want to do is dive into the chocolate!
Darnell, so sorry for my late visit...all heck is breaking loose around here with the kids and their acitvities this holiday season! I love your CASology card, such a sweet image and fun die cut pine branches, I love them! All of your cards are fab, and your grandsons are too cute! (Hope they enjoyed the candy!) So nice to have you guest desigining with us this week at CASology!
Hey, Darnell! Great post, love the leaf, your grandsons are sweetly handsome and the cards are great! I love Hammy in the ornament! Congrats on being the GD at CASology! Oh! I love the bells too. If I'm not back before then, Merry Christmas!
Hi Darnell
Fantastic set of festive creations but ya gotta love a Hammy!
Those 2 boys are growing up mighty fast.
Never think of you living somewhere that gets frost. Always imagine you leaping about like Pamela Anderson on sunkissed beaches.
Best wishes.
Ang x
A great set of cards Darnell and a lovely photo of the boys! xx
Oooo what a stunning set of Xmas cards and sorry for my belated comment, thanks for joining us at Rudolph's Challenge for November, Luv Sam x
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