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!

January 3, 2018

Embossing Christmas

Hello, Stamplings!

I know we are all up to here with Christmas cards, but I have a couple more to share that haven't been posted. (Not that they will be the last ones I'll post throughout the year because I'm really committed this time to making them all year long!)

We enjoyed another weekend with the grandtwins and it was nice to get the Christmas decorations packed away and normal decor back in its place. Those sweet boys were very helpful and removed all the ornaments from the tree as Papa and I wrapped them in tissue. The ornaments, I mean.

Okay, first up:
A ridiculously QACAS card! The chalkboard 25th is actually an old sticker from GKW. The embossing folder is by SU and the sediment is a piece of Mike's Washi tape! I did at least put a little effort into this card by trimming the top panel and popping it up for some dementia.

Challenges
Share Our Badge!
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And next,
My friend Trina made the most adorable omni Noel card in blue where she substituted the "o" for a wee birdie, so I CASEd her. Don't go look at her version because it's way better than mine, haha, but I sure had fun with her idea! It was another quickie card. The most time-consuming part was waiting for the gloss to dry. The NBUS Santa Chick is from Penny Black's "Winter Wonderland" and the Noel, which I've had for more than a year, is from Winnie & Walter.

Challenges
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Enjoy your day!  No, seriously, enjoy!  LITS!*

As always, thank you for coming by to visit the Playhouse and a 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 favor!

And if you live in parts of the world that are suffering terribly with deep-freeze temperatures, my heart goes out to you. Please stay inside if you can and I pray it doesn't last much longer!








*Life is too short!

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81 comments:

Maria - Ivyleaf Crafts said...

Morning two lovely cards I particularly like the second one I love the little birdy idea xx

Marianne said...

Happy New Year to you and yours, Darnell! Wonderful makes. As you know, I'm all for making Christmas cards all year long, so I look forward to seeing many more on your blog as well.I remember seeing the blue version, and now I want to go and play with my Noel die. Maybe I should go with the new Pantone colour of the year and move the sentiment down again? Hmmm, there's a thought...
Marianne x

Julie B said...

Two fab cards Darnell.Love the embossing folders and the CASe of Trina's card is great. All is quiet here as my daughter has returned home to sort out a plumber! :)

Sue said...

Hi Darnell, Happy New Year.

Fab cards.

Hope you have a nice day. Sue

Alice (scrAPpamondo) said...

Happy New Year, Darnell! You always makes me smile! For an instant I have seen in my mind your grandsons and your hubby all wrapped together in tissue... LOL :D
Your first card is so quick to make and surely simple, but effective with that 25th sticker, it looks great as focal point! Love the second one too, such fun fluffy birdie in the sentiment and lovely embossing! I have to learn CAS cards, perhaps may be this year... LOL :)
Hugs

Sarah said...

Happy New Year to you and yours Darnell, hope 2018 will be all you want it to be, and more!! Two lovely cards, loving the Christmas chick xx

My Card Attic: Hazel said...

Gotta love those quick and easy cards (especially for Christmas) eh? But that little birdie . . . oh how adorable is he? Such a super sweet CAS card! LOVE them both! Have a great day! Love & Hugs. Hazel xx
My Card Attic

Anita in France said...

Yum, Darnell ... white on white with just a little pop of colour ... gorgeous! Those pine branches are so texture-y and dimensional ... I just want to run my fingers over them! LOVE the little chickie ... cute, fun and so perfect for pushing the o out of the nest! Oh, and there's more touchable texture ... luscious! CWFNW ... LYAMYMA! Big hugs & bisous, Anita :)

Marilyn said...

Pretty cards!! I especially love your Noel card! Happy New Year!

Ros Crawford said...

Happy New Year!! Love your card and I happened to have saved Trina's card too as I loved it! I have to say your version is every bit as beautiful!

SmilynStef said...

Love your clever little NOEL ... the round little birdie makes the perfect *o* ... so glad you joined our first Jingle Belles prompt of 2018.

Unknown said...

Wonderful cards Darnell, love the embossing on both :)
Hugs Kaz xx

Jeanne said...

Two delightful cards, Darnell. I adore that little chick with the Santa hat. Makes me smile. Happy New Year to you and yours! Hope it's filled with fun and frolic! Hugs!

Sherri Thacker said...

Both are adorable cards! Perfect for our challenge at Cards in Envy. PS I just "visited your playhouse" and it's as cute as cute can be! I want something like that!!

ionabunny said...

These are fun. Love the noel. Looking forward to the 10th. HUgz

Patti said...

Great cards!! I especially love your NOEL card with the birdie I may have to CASE YOU!

Happy New Year and I am looking forward to your new challenge : )

(((Hugs)))
Patti

Mac Mable said...

Glad you had a lovely weekend with the twins. Love both cards....of course but the second one is stunning! x

Colleen said...

I love your birdie card...that is so clever!! and I cracked up when you said you added dementia to your card...where does this come from? Happy New Year friend!!

conil said...

You're so nice...not wrapping the Grandtwins in tissue and waiting to show all the Christmas cards you made. Both of these (simple or not) are terrific, of course, the bird one is my favorite. I alway wondered how come I didn't have wings. I did check out Trina's and it isn't better...it's just different. Both are adorable.

Linda said...

Two gorgeous cards ..... I love the little birdie one.
I'm just about to start taking the Christmas decorations down .... not my favourite job. Everything always looks so bare. Wish I had two little helpers xx

Linda said...

Two gorgeous cards ..... I love the little birdie one.
I'm just about to start taking the Christmas decorations down .... not my favourite job. Everything always looks so bare. Wish I had two little helpers xx

Cat Craig said...

With the amount of cards you send out, its a great idea to get a head start. I hope to be more on top of those big mail days this year too.

Your card with the pine sprig is lovely and cas. YOur lil bird is adorable in the noel...so cute.

Cheryl W. said...

Love these, even if one of them does have a bit of dementia. In fact, that may be a big part of its gorgeosity! (yeah, I like to play with words a bit, too). Feels good to be started on 2018 CCs, doesn't it? Looks like your New Year is off to a smashing start.

Kristie Goulet said...

Hi Darnell! Happy New Year!
These are both amazing cards. Love the embossing!!! xoxo

Pat said...

Two great cards Darnell, and I love the WOW with just the black sticker and the pop of red with the sentiment, and then the wonderful CASEing of Trina's super card with the adorably cute chick replacing the 'o' in the beautifully glossy ombre type sentiment, and the background embossing is so pretty too. Glad you had a lovely weekend with the grandtwins and got your baubles safely stowed away for another year. x

Redanne said...

I am definitely going to try to do them all year long too... fingers crossed. Your first card is gorgeous, loving that red sentiment banner. The little bird on the second card is just adorable!! - I may even case that one myself for Christmas this year, I have a teeny little Santa stamp that would look great! Great inspiration my friend! Hugs, Annie xxx

Sandra H said...

Happy new year Darnell both cards are amazing xx

Donna said...

Fab cards Darnell!
Thanks for watercolouring with the crew from SHOPPING OUR STASH this week!!

MagsB said...

Two lovely CAS Christmas cards, Darnell! I was making Christmas cards all year last year, and I wasn't in quite as big a panic in December, so it's worth the effort!!

Happy New Year!

love Mags B x

cuilliesocks said...

Two fabulous cards Darnell, beautifully desined and coloured, hope you are well ,Kate x

Carol L said...

What a fun pair of cards, especially that little birdie all glossed up with a Santa hat! Glad to see you're still doing Christmas cards, but I can't stop laughing at your popping up for dimentia! Bwahahahaha :)

Verna Angerhofer said...

Wonderful card designs. I love the idea of making the Christmas ones all year long and plan to do that as well. I even made a few extra this year so they will carry over to my next season greetings. And, I love to see the ideas others share always so bring on the Christmas greetings whenever you want.

oldpunca said...

A pair of lovely cards. Sorry, I have to look at Trina's card. :-) Your version is fantastic too.
Hugs,
Sonja

KandA said...

Two super cards Darnell, especiially love the little birdie xx

Shelly said...

These are beautiful, Darnell!
Happy New Year!! Wishing you nothing but the best in 2018! Hugs

Viv said...

Love the little birdie Darnell! Two great cards. x

Linda W. (ScrappinBari) said...

Two fab cards, Darnell - especially love your colorful birdie NOEL!!

Greta said...

I never tire of Christmas cards & never stop making them, so I love this post, Darnell! That Washi tape is amazing on the first card & I'm always a sucker for dry embossing! The Noel card is fabulous! I loved that one done in blue & yours is so striking, beautiful & cute! That Noel die is one of my favorites, so now I need to case the 2 of you! Glad you had fun with the boys & how great they're willing to help with chores! So glad we're just cold, but not in the deep freeze. Sending hugs, Greta

Craftychris said...

I am so glad you had such a lovely weekend with the, oh so helpful, Grandtwins! Two lovely cards - I adore the little birdie on the second one - it's sooooo sweet! The first card is lovely too - fab dimension and the cool red sentiment panel! Happy New Year! Big Hugs! xxxxxxx

Birgit said...

I hoped you poked holes in the Christmas box so your grandbabes can breathe..hahahaaa, sorry but I couldn't help it. I love your cards. The first one might be simple but it packs a punch with the red and the 2nd is cute and love the glossy words

Happy Dance said...

hahahahaha! You are too funny! Tissue papered twins... I can just picture that in my mind. I'm loving that first card. At first I thought those boughs were die cuts...what an incredible embossing folder! Love the sticker and the washi tape sentiment, too. Second card..while it might be QACAS, it's pretty darn clever. Those shiny letters are the perfect compliment to the embossing. And that chick...nothing but cute!! Looking forward to next week....!!!!!!! xoxoxoxo Bev

JD/ Jill said...

Lovely Christmas cards!

Bonnie said...

Simple is good, IMHO! Love the embossing on both and your fantastic CASE of Trina's card! I have that bird. Now I'm wondering if I have a similar NOEL. It's a good feeling to have the Christmas stuff safely stored for another year. Sounds like you had some excellent help!

Sharron said...

Fabulous job with the embossing! And I love the Noel card. That little rally polly bird is so adorable!

TK said...

Two awesome cards, Darnell! Love the embossing and its matching sticker; then that adorable bird is just too cute!

Shaz in Oz.CalligraphyCards said...

Ah dear friend, Darnell, I do love your cards esp the Birdee one.... it’s so cute!!!!!!!
Love PB ... beginning to think it’s an addiction actually ...
Mmm I too make all year around and even then don’t have enough...
Thanks dear friend for the gorgeous card which did arrive in good time but I can’t recall thanking you! I love JOY cards esp as was my dear mumma’s name so doubly special, because Christmas is indeed a time of Joy, she was born in December too, and married in December!

Confession: I didn’t send you one!
And few other folks too from UK and Us, did fairly well but mess up invariably. ;-)
I’m sorry, but do appreciate your kindnesses and pray every blessing of the Lord upon you in this new year as we walk it together with Him.
Love and prayers,
Shaz in Oz x

JoAnn said...

Two lovely Christmas cards. Love your noel card with that cute birdie.
I love making Christmas cards all year long.

Leslie Miller said...

Your ridiculously QACAS card is ridiculously pretty! The beautiful sunshine really shows up the embossing, too. Looks fabulous! And then there's that cute, cutie, cute cute cute noel card! LOVE it! The gloss, the embossing, the birdie -- darling! Happy new year, Darnell!

Loll said...

Two awesome embossed Christmas cards Dolly! LOVE your take on Trina's Noel card design. Adorable! Lolly xx

Sue - said...

Two more fabulous cards, particularly no 2. We’ve still got the tree up but will be pleased to get rid of it now.

kiwimeskreations said...

Oh Darnell what gorgeous cards - love the wee birdie on the 'O' in noel - that and the gloss make it a perfect card
Blessings
Maxine

Maria Rodriguez. said...

Two fabulous and beautiful cards Darnell, my favorite is the "Noel" one, that little chicky is just adorable and the embossed background amazing, love that folder.
Thank you for sharing with us at SHOPPING OUR STASH, hope you play again soon.
Hugs,
Maria Rodriguez.

Susan Joyce said...

Fabulous cards Darnell, love all the texture on the first one with the sticker and washi tape. Thanks for sharing at Merry Monday.

Em Louise Fairley said...

Gorgeous cards, Darnell xoxo

Trina P. said...

Both cards are awesome, Darnell! I was shocked last night to see an unexpected spike in visits to my blog... so thank you for the mention. I absolutely LOVE your birdie CASE card, especially with the gloss! You completely made my week!!!
I’m going to try to make my Christmas cards slowly throughout the year too. Of course, I don’t have as many to make as you do. 😉
Have a wonderful day! Trina xx

Brenda in IN said...

How exciting to bring in the New Year with the boys. That had to be fun. Your cards are so cute. I love the case of the little birdie and your washi tape is so pretty on your first card. I wish I could say the same for my Christmas decorations. The tree is still up and all the decorations are piled up on the dining room table. It is just to cold to be running in and out of the garage where things are stored. I hate it for Molly, the snow freezes her feet but she has learned she doesn't have to smell the entire yard before she goes. I guess finding that perfect place isn't as important when it's cold.

Jenny L said...

Hi Darnell,
sorry it has been so long since my last visit but I have not been well over Christmas, and it's still hanging around.
Love your wonderful creations they are excellently created as usual.
Thank you so much for your Christmas card.
Love and big hugs from my house to yours. Jenny L.

Gingin said...

Great cards Darnell! Love the embossing you used on your cards. Happy New Year and thanks so much for joining us this week at Stamp Ink Paper :)

Cara said...

Wow, that is crisp and deep embossing on the first card! It looks fabulous. Your second card is super cute too x

maria f. said...

You've already undecorated! Geesh you're efficient. Happy New Year to you and the Mister. Hope it's a great 2018. Speaking of great, your shiny and bright Noel totally caught my eye in the gallery. Well done! LOVE all that white space.

Lisa Elton said...

Fantastic cards Darnell! The texture on the first looks great and I love the little Santa birdie for the O on the second. Thanks for the happy mail I received today, you're such a sweetheart!

Julia Aston said...

Happy New Year Sis! we just got 2 feet of snow dumped on us - but it is beautiful to see and so magical - I know you saw my FB post and said hello! Two great textured card designs here - love those pine pieces and the cute birdy sitting on the NOEL! Looking forward to your Twofer challenge coming up! Julia xx

Cathy said...

2 fabulous cards Darnell! I think I too need to start making cards now as I ran out of them and time to make them at the end of last year! Yours arrived in the mail today, thank you so much! Will surprise you since it's too late now to reciprocate lol! Have a great week, Cathy x

Liz said...

Two brilliant cards, Darnell. I love the embossing on the first card and what a clever design on the second, adding the little bird as the 'o'. xx

Lisa T said...

Happy New Year to you Darnell! I don't mind seeing Christmas cards all year round at all - and maybe this year you may get all yours done before me! I shall try not to worry that I haven't started mine yet haha! Two gorgeous cards - and nothing is quick and clean and simple in my eyes. They all take time and are worthy of pride of place on a shelf! Love the noel die - I have that too and haven't used it yet. Thanks for the inspiration! Hugs to you, Lisa xx

lauren bergold said...

ohhhhhhhhh my goodness! both of these are AMAZING! i especially love the ombre effect on noel... which i really want to try now... so pleased you could join our JINGLE BELLES fun! ♥

Kelly Lunceford said...

Fabulous embossing! Thanks for joining us this week at Merry Monday!

Julia Dunnit said...

I keep coming back to that pine twig/branch...embossing of a superior quality missus, it’s wondderful. So is the Noel, lovely idea. And even though ou said not to, I went to look at Trina’s. Coz I’m like that. And now I’m doubly jealous of good colouring skills! Xx

Sue said...

Two gorgeous cards Darnell and thank you so very much for your cards they were beautiful! huggles Sue xx

Fikreta said...

Beautiful cards!
hugs

OH Babs said...

You are mastering QACAS cards. Love the cased bird card. The flu is big news here.

Bobby said...

Wonderful embossing on both cards, Darnell, but that little bird stole my heart. I think I need him.

Oh You Made Me Ink said...

Your Noel card is super cute! I love that cute critter with the hat! Thanks for sharing it with us at Shopping Our Stash! Cyndi, DT

Helen F. said...

Oh these two CAS Christmas cards are fabulous, Darnell! I love both Trina's and your Noel birdies! Too darn sweet (or is that tweet? :-)

Andrea Ockey Parr said...

This is a wonderful post! I loved seeing your creations and think you did an amazing job. I love the textures you used and how your colors really pop. I'm so glad you shared your talents with us for this week's Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge!

Mrs A. said...

The embossing on these two cards certainly does take centre stage and
really do stand alone without much else needed. hugs Mrs A (ValeryAnne).

Linda said...

Two beauties Darnell. Lovely CAS on the first card and the second one is fabulous. Thanks for Joining us this week at Merry Monday.

June Houck said...

Both cards are lovely in their own right, but I personally LOVE your CASE noel card with the cute birdie!!!

Lady Joyful said...

Fabulous cards! Great examples of embossing and I love that little birdie. Thank you for joining us at Merry Monday Christmas Challenge - Charlotte/Lady Joyful, GDT

Sandy Trefger said...

Love the snowy embossed branches on your card! Beautiful! Thanks for sharing with us at Cards in Envy.

wendipooh13 said...

love how the embossing just jumps off the card!!! Thanks for playing with Cards in Envy!!