Hello Stamplings!
There is a certain quiet that falls over Blogland this time of the year when the sun is warming up backyards and the days are longer. Those of you who live in regions with really nasty long winters become especially quiet as gardens and sports and vacations fill your calendar so you can squeeze in every last drop of summer! Which, by the way, starts tomorrow! Happy first day of summer to this side of the world!
For the rest of you, put another log on the fire and welcome!
Today I have a glass of wine for you ... in its very early stages:
For the rest of you, put another log on the fire and welcome!
Today I have a glass of wine for you ... in its very early stages:
In spite of how flat the image looks above, it is really quite schparkly. Hammy is back and taking lots of naps trying to recover from his weekend away, but he came to life when I waved the winking brush in front of him!
Challenges
- Moving Along With the Times: Girls Birthday.
- Lost Coast Portal to Creativity: Round and Round.
- TIME OUT: Holiday (optional: one-layer).
I don't have any grape vines in the yard, although there was one along the fence when we first bought this house. The grapes were horrid and then they became fungified so they were pulled out. Now the purples I have are the statice (behind my card photo above) and several butterfly bushes.
It's not always sunshine and lollipops in the garden as long as there are scoundrel squirrels! I'd like to know what neighbor is giving out the peanuts! Don't get me wrong, I love my squirrels and love seeing them find places around the yard to bury their peanuts for later, but I mean, not on the deck, dude!
~~~
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!
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!
To open the pop-up comment box that let's you jump to the end w/o scrolling: Click CTL + Home. Click the Home tab under my blog banner which resets the post. Click Page Down to reach the end of the post. Click Comments and a pop-up box opens. Click "Jump to Comment Form" and wallah, no more car pool tunnel! Mwah! (p.s. If you ask me a question in your comment, please remember to leave me your email address so I can respond. Thank you!)
60 comments:
Thank you for your visit and comment! Hugs, Darnell
Hi Darnell, That's a lovely card.
Yes, tomorrow is 21st June, which is the longest day and the Summer Equinox. Temps are set to rise here.
My dad had several butterfly bushes. The colours are beautiful.
Pesky Squirrel.
Hope you have a lovely day. Sue
What a wonderful card Darnell, and so glad Hammy is back and enjoying the schparkle. I have a grapevine in the back yard and thankfully the grapes are yummy, and I know what you mean about the multiple colours on one bunch.
What you call butterfly bush has become a noxious plant here and will grow rampant given half a chance, and it is hard to kill, although I managed it after it started to try and take over the back yard! Enjoy the distractions it brings you :-)
Blessings
Maxine
Hi Darnell. Yes, the official first day of summer, hope it returns, and no, it's not my birthday again, just the celebration of my sunny side. Love the cards. Those grapes look good enough to eat and suspiciously circular!! Have you seen the round and round challenge at the Lost Coast Portal to Creativity?? I think your pre-wine card would fit right in. Have a fabtabulous day and enjoy your beautiful butterfly bush. Hugz https://lostcoastportaltocreativity.blogspot.com/2018/06/challenge-55-round-and-round.html
Fabulous cards, love how the blue grapes sparkle and yes, I too have had blue grapes in my garden! :D
I would have some squirrels, too.... but they aren't! :D LOL
Please, don't hate squirrels even if they could make some damages to your beautiful garden, they are so cute, sweet and peaceful wild animals.
I don't think they search anything under the soil. Perhaps it's another animal that has done that mischief. See Pamellia's blog for knowing them better, she has wonderful photos on wildlife and especially of her squirrel friends :)
http://mylittlecraftthings.blogspot.com/
Hugs
Darnell, if you put a three-wheeler as cute as this one out, SOMEONE is going to want to take a ride in its basket!
LOve your grapes, and the gorgeous variety of color you've used.
Sorry I haven't been by more often. It's always a treat!
=]
Love the sparkly grapes, Darnell. I wonder if it adds extra effervescence to the future wine. I'll bet it does. I like the different colors you added to the grapes, too. So realistic. Thank you for sharing some of your beautiful garden. Oh my goodness, your butterfly bush is glorious! I don't think mine has ever looked that good. Ohhhh, sorry for the squirrely scoundrels. Hope you don't have to clean up too many messes. Happy summer to you, Darnell! May it be filled with fun and joy! Hugs!
Hi Darnell! Love your post, as usual. The grapes look fantastic! I grew up having wine with dinner every night, so I guess I can relate to those who enjoy a glass every now & then. Love your pics of the butterfly bush. When I had a house, I had a Butterfly Bush right outside my window & often enjoyed all the butterflies that came. Your post brought back a lot of memories for me. Thank you!
Beautiful card and photos Darnell. The squirrel? Not so much! xoxo
Fabulous card - love the colours and that gorgeous sparkle.
Love your garden blooms - so pretty. Unfortunately I have only to look at a plant for it to wither :-(
xxx
Okay, if I understand this, if we want that glass of wine we have to stomp the grapes, right? I have to admit they look juicy so I'd better get my stomping shoes on. Your coloring on this card is just fantastic. Everything is beautiful and so real. They come across purple on my screen. I wish I could come and see your backyard. Just gorgeous.
A really lovely card. I really like the different colors you used on the grapes!
Wow Auntie, this card is stunning! I love your coloring, so perfect. I love to color with pencil's and gamsol but haven't did it for along time. Guess I need to do it again. lol To many coloring mediums to play with! lol I love how you did your grapes different colors, as grapes do come in many colors and are different colors depending on the stage of ripeness. Makes your grapes look more natural looking. Loving that washi too. I think we all love a glass or two of wine from time to time. lol Well done on this card! Yes, cold winters drives us outside as much as we can. Mowing to be done as well and if one isn't lazy or if they are able-flower beds to be tended and gardens. After being cooped up in the house all winter, spring and summer are is so welcomed! I am like the other Brenda, and would love to see your yard! Your flowers are so beautiful. I lost my butterfly bush, need to get me another one. Hope your summer is off to a great start Auntie! Hugs, Brenda
Fabulous card Darnell and yes ... grapes can come in a variety of colors. My dad had wonderful concord grape vines along a handmade trellis down by our main garden when I was growing up and I used to love to go and pluck them off the vine (wipe them off) and eat them ... so sweet (makes my mouth water thinking of that time).
I planted a couple of butterfly bushes a few years back in the location where my big old lilacs once stood and I love all the butterflies that frequent them. Yours is GORGEOUS and located in a better spot for viewing than mine is! Isn't Mother Nature wonderful!!
Happy Day my friend ...
Fab card Darnell! Your coloring is spot on girl. Waaay back in my mind I seem to remember coloring with prisma pencils and gamsol...💖 Bout time summer is official. Got the fixings for bbq chicken in the crock all set for the upcoming holiday. Yum Oh your butterfly bush is gorgeous. The girls would love to sit and chitter at the butterflies. :) funny I was going to mention Pamellia’s blog about squirrels too. Maybe one snuck a peanut all the way down to your neck of the woods to hide n eat. ;)) I’m playing with acrylic glazes today and guess what colors I’ve picked out....yep...purple, blue and green! Have a great weekend my Friend! Hugs from the Girls
I leave my comment and forget to check the box, grrr! I wish they would fix this!!
Love your coloring of the grapes, they look great and are very pretty. Great one layer card too. TFS
I think the color on the pre-wines look absolutely awesome, Darnell - proof that the coloring class has paid off, right?! Those blossoms in the yard look spectacular!
Hugs to you! :)
Gorgeous grapes, my friend! The added sparkle is as though they've been touched by morning dew. Your plants...stunning! We just had several new plants added to our new yard, so lots of TLC about to unfold in keeping them fertilized and watered. We're having unusually (or perhaps it's becoming usual) high temps for longer stretches of time, so need to be extra vigilant in the watering/weeding.
I, too, have been remiss in posting/commenting. The bike race officiating on the weekends (on top of all the travel already done, will also be traveling to/from Edmonton every weekend in July) is plentiful, but I'm also doing loads of behind-the-scenes stuff during the week. Busy and time-consuming...but love it!
Hugs and love,
~c
If we lived near by, we'd be the culprits because squirrels eat our seed for the birds...but we do not offer peanuts. However, someone in our neighborhood does because I find them buried in my pots, too. Unfortunately, our squirrels don't clean up after themselves either. We do have a grape vine over an arbor in our yard. Never had a grape off of it, though. The birds are much to fast for us. Our grapes don't look as amazing as the ones on your card do. The colors and sparkles are gorgeous.
Beautiful card with those pretty grapes. And, I love the colors you used. Very close to the look of the photo. Thanks for sharing your pretty garden too. Enjoy them while we can, right?
Your Gorgeous grapes are even more beautiful and very shiny IRL, my friend. We sure did learn some really cool techniques in BC and it was so fun being able to share our samples IRL. I LOVE your CAS finished grape designs, Dolly. TFS your beautiful card and photos. Yep, the critters can be irritating at times. Good thing you have hammy well trained. BTW, it sure was fun meeting hammy in BC too:-) Love and Hugs...
Stunning card and coloring!
I am not lost. All your posts I read but don't make the time to respond to all of them. This card is great and love that you used washi tape it always adds a nice touch. The photos of grapes shows what inspired you. I love the hombre colored bush. Our yard is looking good and the weather is okay except for "June gloom."
I keep too busy with teach card making to our merry band of over 60 ladies. :) Hugs, Barb
Correction it is 50 ladies over the age of 60, actually ranging from 60 - 86. Bye
Love the schparkly grapes and I am sure your wine loving buddy will too. xx
Beautiful card with those wonderfully coloured grapes! Fabulous photos. What naughty squirrels you have! Hugs xxxxxxxxx
I love your beautifully coloured grapes Darnell and the different tones and lots of schparkle looks great. The Buddliea is gorgeous and it is great to see all the insets and butterflies that buzz around them over here too. Our pots luckily don't get wrecked by squirrels though..lol. x
Beautiful card with gorgeous colours of grapes. Your flowers look gorgeous.
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Wonderful coloring, Darnell. Love that you called it a drink in its infancy. LOL.
Well, your schparkly grapes look just luscious to me, Darnell ... a perfect depiction of what ours will be like come September ... all those colours ... most definitely! Now ... when will that wine be ready?? Thanks so much for sharing this beauty with us at Time Out! LYAMYHMA ... LFTSTWWYS! Big hugs & bisous, Anita :)
Those grape you coloured look exactly like the ones David grew last year, but they tasted horrible (sadly) - but nonetheless your grapes look fantastic and the sparkle just enhances the leaves even more!
I don't want to put a curse on things, but we have been enjoying warm and sunny weather for a good few weeks now, let's hope it last a wee while longer! Hugs, Annie xxx
Hi Darnell
My, you can certainly see that sparkle on those super grapes.
We have a grapevine. Have had it for about 10 years and its only had 3 grapes on it so I have moved it this year in the hope that starts producing the goods.
Best wishes.
Ang x
Very pretty, Darnell! Your grapes are beautiful and sparkly! A lot of people around here lost their grapevines due to frost earlier this month. Yes, we had frost here in June! It set all kinds of records, not in a good way. A lot of other crops were lost as well. Those squirrels are a bit cheeky, aren't they?!
Beautiful card, Darnell, I love your sparkly grapes. The flowers in your garden are beautiful, such gorgeous colours.
After a cold and drizzly week here, we had the most glorious sunset tonight, so it looks like midsummer's day is going to be warm and sunny. :-) xx
Love your card!
LOL, the squirrels were so bad digging in my pots that I sprinkled red pepper powder on the soil. Fortunately they don't like red pepper. I think it's the only thin they don't like, the scoundrels!
I do love your grapes and I imagine they would make a very tasty glass of wine. Or wine from the bottle as it's quicker and grapes on the side! Beautifully colored, Dolly!
Swoon, I love the way you've colored the grapes, just beautiful Darnell!
This is beautiful, Darnell! Love those grapes!
Such a pretty card Darnell l love grapes and l love the layout to your card l have lots of purple in my garden x
Fantastic coloured grapes! It seems like real.
Have a great summer!
Hugs,
Sonja
Perfect card for a wine lover!
Love your sparkly grapes! Looks like yummy sugared grapes! Your card is beautiful! So is that butterfly bush!
Your grades look luscious! Love all the wonderful mix of shades. I'm jealous of your gorgeous butterfly bush though. Just haven't had luck with growing them in our yard here. But we do have our crop of pesky little squirrels!
Pretty card and love the inspiration. Beautiful photos of your garden. I wonder if I can grow statice here. I have a feeling not, I need to ask my resident gardener hubby!. In my dried flower days I bought dried statice to use in my arrangements!
Those grapes are so luscious in color and they sparkle as if they're covered with dewdrops from the early morn. Love that strip of washi that adds so much pizazz to that beautiful image! Gorgeous gardens too, including that adorable bicycle planter that Mr Nuts all but destroyed! Pesky squirrels!!!
Beautiful card Darnell and a great reminder that its 15.50 here which means if I keep a bit quiet, I might be able to sneak a glass of wine in in around about an hour and half's time! Your grapes look amazing - I haven't tried gamsol with coloured pencils but I do love the look you get and let's face it they are quite hard to blend without unless you have a lot of time. Which no-one seems to have nowadays. Your butterfly bush is so pretty - and the perfect spot to enjoy an aperitif. Go on you know you want to..... hugs, Lisa xx
I love the way you colored your grapes. And by the sparkle you've added I'll bet they're all "sweet" grapes too! Thanks for taking the time to visit my blog. I don't get around to blogs as often as I use to. Seems like my days are flying by and sometimes I'm not too sure I've accomplished much! Thanks for keeping in touch! Hugs! Susan
Those luscious-looking grapes make me thirsty for a nice glass of wine. It's a bit too late in the evening, though. Actually, it's after midnight as I type this. Just trying to catch up after 5 days away. I love the sparkly highlights, too. Great card!
I'm sure I'd regret saying this but I so wish we had squirrels here in NZ. I'd love watching them run around while I gardened away. I don't usually have too much company apart from the odd cat or dog, and some cheeky fantails that fly so very close. I love the blue of the grapes, living in 'wine country' we have so many different coloured grapes EVERYWHERE so your friend would be very happy here for a visit. I've never tried Gamsol but heard that it really does help with the blending etc. Look forward to seeing more 'experiments' with it. And of course you can always share them with us at TIME OUT, always happy to see you!!
This is brilliant Darnell, I love your early glass of wine lol,especially the sparkle. We have a grape vine that produces every year , but they taste HORRIBLE lol. We don't have squirrels in our garden, but I'd swap them for the pigeons anytime. Thanks so much for joining in with our challenge at Lost Coast Designs, and have a very happy weekend. Sue xx
Beautiful card Darnell!
Your grapes are so pretty Dolly. Love the added schparkle! Not surprised that pulling out the winking brush got Hammy excited. :) Great job with the colouring. Love your butterfly bush. It's gorgeous and helps to bring even more beautiful butterflies to your garden. Those pesky squirrels ... they like to dig up any pots I have on my deck too. And they make such a mess doing it! Lolly xx
Great job with the pencils and Gamsol, Darnell. I love my PolyChromos and am considering investing in Gamsol to use with them.
Such a pretty card! I love the grape stamp and your have colored it beautifully! Thanks for joining the Lost Coast Design Challenge!
Squirrels are cute & fun to watch, but boy do they drive poor Fritz crazy! Wow--your coloring is beautiful & the winking puts it over the top!
How beautiful, Darnell! I love the vivid, rich coloring of the grapes -great idea to use many different shades of color. Love the simplicity of this too and of course the shine from the wink of stella!! Stunning! :) Thanks for joining us at TIME OUT!
Lovely card, Darnell! Great use of color! Thank you for joining in on the Round and Round challenge over on the Lost Coast Designs Portal of Creativity Blog.
Your grapes look very realistic to me, and beautiful coloring! I'd never have guessed pencils. Someday I'll get around to that coloring lesson. Love how all the different colors are incorporated. The color purple...ahhhh... our butterfly bush is in bud, but not close to blooming yet. Darn squirrels! We don't have the big ones that do this sort of thing, but I've learned never to use fish fertilizer in my pots or garden. The raccoons love it, and think if they dig far enough they'll find the fish, grrrr!
Thanks for playing along with us at Lost Coast. What a pretty card you made.
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