Hello Stamplings!
I've bookended my posts this week with a Monday wake-up call and now here we are once again whooshed straight into Friday! When you have a paying job, the weeks seem interminably long, but look out, when you're retired and slow down with your bad self, the weeks fly by like a bat out of a bag of biscuits!
Up til now, bloggers who make Christmas cards all year long advise their readers to turn their heads if they don't have the stomach for it, especially during the summer. Helluuuu! It's gonna be the first day of September tomorrow! It might even be September where you are already! You're going to have to suck it up now, ladies, cuz if you want your Chrissy cards in the mail by the beginning of December, you've only got three months. That's twelve weeks.
I'm sorry. Steady on. Someone get a cool washcloth.
When you're ready, here's your Onefer inspiration for today:
Up til now, bloggers who make Christmas cards all year long advise their readers to turn their heads if they don't have the stomach for it, especially during the summer. Helluuuu! It's gonna be the first day of September tomorrow! It might even be September where you are already! You're going to have to suck it up now, ladies, cuz if you want your Chrissy cards in the mail by the beginning of December, you've only got three months. That's twelve weeks.
I'm sorry. Steady on. Someone get a cool washcloth.
When you're ready, here's your Onefer inspiration for today:
If you don't bother with the slim mat of gold, this is a super QACAS card. If you attach the gold mat, it's still a QACAS card, just not super so. The NBUS poinsettia banner is from STAMPlorations, called "Poinsettia Row." I colored directly on the stamp using Memento markers, gave it a quick spritz, and stamped it on mixed media paper.
Then I gold-embossed the Noel and let Hammy blow gold paint all over the front with his itty-bitty paper straw. (I made four of these while I was at it, so it took him ages, even with the rest breaks required by law. Don't yell at me, the strong-willed little furball insisted, and now I have to puree all his food because he can't get his mouth unpursed!)
Then I gold-embossed the Noel and let Hammy blow gold paint all over the front with his itty-bitty paper straw. (I made four of these while I was at it, so it took him ages, even with the rest breaks required by law. Don't yell at me, the strong-willed little furball insisted, and now I have to puree all his food because he can't get his mouth unpursed!)
Challenges
- Rudolph Days: A/G Christmas.
- Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge: Anything goes.
- STAMPlorations: Never-ending anything goes.
I bought a pack of the SU stained glass vellum and I just love it. This is my first time using a piece. I colored it from the back and it was so satisfying I was able to cancel my therapy for the week. I attached the vellum to the diamond-embossed card base at the point where the PTI greeting was added.
When making this card, I was following the current sketch from LIM. After the card was finished I realized that I had covered up the middle section so that it looks like one big square stained glass, instead of four windows like the sketch. So here's a piece of the vellum so you can see it is four squares:
Well, I mean, it's any number of geometric shapes ~ squares, diamonds, rectangles, hexagons, but if you step back over by the bookcase, and squint your eyes, you can see the four large squares, with dividing lines ...?
Oh, never mind. Wodka?
Challenges
- Less is More: Sketch week.
- The Holly and Ivy Christmas Challenge: Anything goes.
- Watercooler Wednesday: Anything goes.
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!)
77 comments:
woohoo 1st comment, that doesnt happen often hey. Usually down in the 70's. Well two beautiful Christmas cards and I hear you, its just sooooo hard to get motivated. Even harder now as Spring is springing and Summer on the way and who wants to make snowy critter Christmas cards. Love that QUAS 1st card, I think I need a stamp like that and of course the gold mat behind is perfect.
Love that SU image window, how cool is that, just colour and add. Now go a bit easier on Hammy ok or you could have him passing out at inconvenient times you know, in the middle of a card - can you image the mess.... Take care sweet friend xx Aileen
Two gorgeous cards. That vellum paper looks stunning, and as for those poinsettias, you shouldn't have told us it was a border stamp, so we would all go to our graves believing that you'd done all the necessary lining up and masking to get a single flower stamp right across the card, and had found it such a breeze you'd STLL been able to call it QACAS
Hi Darnell, Loving the stained glass. I have some parchment, as I have dabbled with doing parchment cards in the past. I may just try doing some designs and using it as backgrounds.
Hope you have a fab Friday. Sue
Can't stop crying with laughter, so it's hard to see the Windows teehee, two great cards and I do colouring in instead of therapy :) happy RD, may be this one or the next........xxx
Hi Darnell,
Happy Rudolf Days.
oh I love the wonderful Onefer card it's so brilliantly created and poor hammy having having to blow that wonderful paint over 4 of them.
You sure are a hard task master, and he's an angel.
Good job no animal welfare are looking at this. LOL.
Such a neat job on your Twofer design the colouring is fantasitc and looks amazing, and that embossed background really stands so proud too.
Thank you for joining the Rudolf Challenge.
Lots of crafty love and hugs from my house to yours. Jenny L. DT
Two very different cards, but both so impressive! Love especially the geometric one with that vellum, wow, it's so elegant!
Two beautiful cards Darnell. I know just what you mean about the time whizzing by when you don't work, I thought I was well in advance with my Christmas cards having made 60 plus so far. Then my mother who at 87 with very bad arthritic hands, decided that she could no longer make her own cards so pinch mine instead. Guess its back to making Christmas cards for me.
Sue xx
Two beautiful cards Darnell - love what you've done with the vellum but especially like the first one! I'm not yet retired, but can honestly say the older I get, the busier I definitely become! I too have been making Christmas cards with a vengeance this past week -here's to being organised (ish!)
I don't think we retire Darnell - I think we re-fire!! Well that's my story and I am sticking to it!
So glad you are taking card of Hammy and pureed his food... he was just helping you know!!
Love your cards, as ever - you do do exquisite work.
Blessings
Maxine
Two beautiful cards!! I especially love the first card with all the gold splashes!
Have a great day!
Marilyn❤
Two gorgeous cards Darnell and love the pretty coloured poinsettias and gold splatters, and the vellum in those beautiful colours with that striking banner sentiment across the middle is perfect. Persònally I am a little further with my Christmas cards than I normally am by now, but that isn't saying much...lol. x
You sure make me smile, Darnell! Love your Christmas cards and the stained glass vellum is beautiful. Wow what a lovely intro to the unofficially official start of Christmas card making season. :)
Two fabulous christmas cards. I was just over at Stamplorations as it is Kat's 3rd birthday missed that stamp better go take another peek. Love the stained glass too - I certainly can see 4 panels.
Two gorgeous cards today Darnell, I share your plan to conquer the Christmas card mountain by making them through the year - well done to you
Kathyk
I'm impressed with the gold-spattered poinsettias card! Poor hammy, hope he can soon unglue his widdle mouth enough to eat snacks! As for the stained glass vellum, I think I'm living under a rock - I wasn't even aware that SU! made that! Oy, I need to order some new glasses and look through that catalog again ;) Love the look of coloring the vellum and what a fantastic card the 2nd one is! Way to get a jump on your Christmas cards in August! Yep, it's still August here for several more hours :) OH, and yes please to the wodka, I have some delicious watermelon and mint to add to it for a delicious August drinkypoo ;) Happy Labor Day weekend! WOW, that sneaked up on us quickly didn't it?
This is stunning Darnell, I may have to CASE this! Hope you and Adam are doing well. Have a good weekend!
Such pretty cards! Just love the first one! I don't usually make Christmas cards but I have an art show next week so maybe I should paint a few.
Happy Labor Day!
That stained glass card is just stunning with your color choice!
Wow, two beautiful cards Darnell. Love the pretty poinsettias and that geometric panel is gorgeous. Love your coloring. Thanks for sharing these great cards.
Have a wonderful weekend.
Only 12 weeks to make Christmas cards? Are you serious? :-)) Where are previous months?
You've created great Christmas cards. I like poinsettia row and red-gold colour combination. Wonderful idea but not possible to realize without Hammy. :-)
Hugs,
Sonja
I see four squares and I think it fits the LIM challenge perfectly! The colored vellum looks like a stained glass window. So pretty! Love your row of poinsettias and all the splatters! Hammy did a wonderful job with them! Hope his mouth has straightened out by now. Show him WOS and he'll get so becited that he'll smile and get those lips back in shape.
So glad I joined your Blog yesterday after viewing your card in Rubeena's Blog Hop. I guess that's why I love these blog hops so much. I'm introduced to new "friends" out there. Love these cards...especially the stained glass card. So beautiful. And your sense of humor is delightful. I needed that "therapy" this morning...inspiring me to not only giggle...but to begin creating my Christmas cards. I've been so doggone busy canning, freezing and dehydrating stuff from the garden...it's taken me away from my little Studio. I NEED to get in there and just play. Thanks again for helping to start my day off right!
I Love your Poinsettia banner with all the gold splatters (Thanks Hammy) and your narrow gold trim. Very pretty and wonderful CAS design for multiple cards.
A beautiful colored vellum stained glass card too. Looks like you and Hammy are in the Christmas spirit, my friend. TFS Hugs..
Laughed out loud at the thought of dear Hammy blowing the ink through his tiny straw and getting his mouth stuck in pursed position. But tell him it was worth it as I love the poinsettia card - beautiful stamped banner, fabulous splatters, and in my opinion, still very CAS even with the gold border.
Forgot to say, I also love the stained glass window card - I was just so smitten by the first card that I hardly paid attention to the second!
Seriously, Christmas cards ALREADY! I'm just not ready yet. Just started making summer cards. Maybe if I stare long enough at these two lovelies, I will get there. Think Hammy did a stellar job with the spatters. Hope he recovers soon from his affliction. AND, that stained glass vellum is awesome. Love the way you colored it is gorgeous.
I was okay with the first of December until you said 12 weeks. I haven't started my fall cards yet! I may have to rethink the stained glass vellum paper. That is just beautiful. I do see the four squares. The poinsettia card is sweet with them in a row like that. I like the gold mat and Hammy did a great job with his straw.
Thanks for the Christmas card inspiration. I've 5 cards made. Sorry, but I can't do it in the heat we had most of August. Sigh. Also want to say how much I love reading the comments you get and find new people to follow! Thanks for that too. Hugs to you!
Well, I am one lady who is glad she started in early with the Christmas cards. I think I made some every month and now I have nearly all I will need and then some. But that is fine with me. I send out around 80 or more cards. This way I don't have to rush it and maybe can find more time to do some Christmas baking. Not that we need any of that sweet stuff, but it is mainly the only time of year I do a lot. And, as to your wonderful Christmas cards I just love both of them. I especially love the poinsettia one and it is so elegant with the gold. And, the geometric design of the other one is fantastic too in the traditional colors.
Ack, you just freaked me out about the nearness of Christmas mail time! I've made quite a few cards, but not enough. I need to quit buying such labor intensive Christmas stamps! Love those poinsettias with the gold, and the stained glass vellum is so cool! Okay... you've inspired me. Thanks!
Stunning cards!
hugs
Beautiful cards Darnell, I love the poinsettia card, lovely design and love the gold splashes.
Very modern design for your second one, brilliantly designed too, Kate x
Darnell,
Love that spritzed poinsettia line, the gold mat makes it. YOur stained glass looks lovely as well...wonder why the horizontal lines didn't show through very well? Still fabulous card. Happy Labor Day weekend.
That first card, with the very arty poinsettias - gorgeous! If only I'd seen this before I placed my last STAMPlorations order... or maybe it's just as well. :P And I love the stained glass look of the second one!
Love the CAS - BUT - I have no one to blow gold pain around!!! Hammy is such a helper. This would be so easy to mass produce. And the second one is stunning - the coloring on the vellum is beautiful. BUT my favorite was the saying like a bat out of a bag of biscuits. Since I gave up cussing a year ago this works so well for me vs. like a bat out of - well you know the rest.
Two great cards, Darnell. The stamp on the first card is beautiful and Hammy made a super job of the splattering the gold paint with the straw. Just as well he knew he had to blow and not suck, otherwise it could have been a disaster! I LOVE the stained glass vellum, I've never seen it before. The card you've made using it is just stunning! xx
Two great cards Darnell, poor Hammy, but maybe this has taught him a lesson, quit while you are winning.
Kath x
PS. Hope I haven't already told you this but I have just discovered on u-tube the Dene Martin roasts and one guy who really cracks me up is Foster Brooks.
Two beautiful holiday cards Darnell! I especially love the first one!
Ahh, yes, the weeks do fly by, I just treat every day like a Saturday, but that can often be very confusing!!
The poinsettia card is gorgeous and a timely reminder that I must get started on my Christmas cards. The stained glass is absolutely stunning, wonderful colours and I love the whole design of your finished card, it really does have the wow factor!! Hugs, Annie xxx
Love the stamp on your first wonderful card and such a gorgeous CAS card. So glad Hammy gets regular breaks otherwise he would be onto the Hammy Union X The stained glass effect on the second card looks so classy and loving the four panes of glass! Glad the colouring was so therapeutic X yes I am with you on time just zipping past X
Darnell, two beautiful Christmas cards. And it won't be long now until Santa arrives. Yikes....
Poor hammy, I hope you paid him double time and served his pureed food up on a silver salver. (Was that a pig a just saw flying past the window!!) Great cards. Your always full of such inspritaction. hugs Mrs A.
Was admiring your steady stamping hand with the perfectly aligned poinsettias in the row, and then - a border stamp...Well it's very impressive as well as being purty too. Hammy did a great job with the spatters also, the gold adds a nice elegant touch. Haven't seen this stained glass vellum, and I like this very much. Good job on the coloring on the back - it looks gorgeous. Especially over the EF you've selected. You & Hammy rest up this holiday weekend, and I hope he will soon be back to solid food! TFS & Hugs
Wonderful cards my friend! LOVE the QCAS of your first one, ideal for batch baking if you lend my Hammy - and his paper straw. I love that you emphasised that it's paper and not plastic! And the stained glass look is so cool - very therapeutic I should imagine.
Hugs
Di xx
I am in awe of your perseverance in getting your Christmas cards done. I haven't made any for ages, so I think it's going to be a mad scramble in November again this year. We'll be traveling for 6 weeks in September and October, so I won't get any done then. I do love qacas Christmas cards, so thanks for the beautiful inspiration.
Your Rudolph Days Challenge entry is great! Hammy outdid himself with these cool gold splatters!
I just bought an Impression Obsession stamp off of bidding wars that has an uneven, but small dot splatter pattern all over it . I think it is 5x5 abd I can not wait to use it! I am so glad to find it as flying Hammy up here to blow through a straw on all my cards was going to be quite pricey!!!
Wonderful card, Darnell. Thanks for taking part in the August Rudolph Days Challenge.
Time flies when we are having fun... Great how you used the stain-glass! But favorite is the poinsettacard; such a fresh one! Enjoy the weekend (that looks too whoes every time :) )
Two stunners, Darnell. That stained glass vellum is beautiful and I love the way you incorporated it into our sketch, and those colours together are gorgeous (I may have to slap your booty a little for not leaving any unpatterned/untextured white space for LIM but I love it so I won't! :D)
Thanks so much for sharing with us at Less is More, Anita x
Two gorgeous cards Darnell, especially LOVE the first and Hammy has done an excellent job with his gold blowing.
As for christmas.... I'd better get a move on with cards otherwise I won't be sending any. BUT I don't care as it can't come quickly enough for me this year! xx
Oh my goodness! These are gorgeous. I've been debating about getting the SU stained glass DP and now I know I REALLY NEED it!! BTW - I do Christmas cards all year long. It's so much easier and less stressful.
Oh you crack me up! That stained glass card is lovely. And it's fine, I know I have to get on with my Christmas cards..... it's so hard to find the will to do it!! xx
I make Christmas cards all year round, they’re my favorites to make, and I hate last minute stress. Your first card is traditional and elegant, your second one has a trendy twist. Both beautiful but in very different styles.
I can't believe today is Sept Auntie! Christmas is literally right around the corner. I'm so not ready for winter. lol I am totally in love with your poinsettia card-I'm in love with that poinsettia stamp! It is so beautiful and I love the way you stamped it with the markers. The gold mat and sentiment is the perfect touch to go with poinsettia's. Hammy did a wonderful job of blowing gold paint all over the front, I feel for him though since he now has to eat pureed foods. Poor Hammy! I didn't even know that SU had this stained glass vellum, but it is just beautiful and even more so since you colored it. I love that sentiment banner too as well as that diamond background. Perfection! Ummm, I didn't have any Wodka, but I can see the four large squares with dividing lines. lol Hugs, Brenda
Wow 2 great Christmas cards - love the splatter snow effect on the poinsettia card and that stained glass 2nd card is fabulous. Thanks for joining in the fun at the Watercooler Wednesday Challenge this week.
Two Christmas beauties, Dolly!! LOVE the row of poinsettia with the watercolour spritz technique and gold splatters. Very artsy fartsy ... look at you go!!!
I've never heard of the stained glass vellum. How cool ... I'm assuming it comes pre-printed and you are colouring on the back?? Love the look of your finished card. Wouldn't have realized the "oops" part if you hadn't mentioned it. Lolly xx
Two beautiful cards! I'm particularly wowed by the poinsettias (very good splatter...) and I laughed to myself reading your post, great fun!
wonderful cards love that poinsettia banner and that vellum looks so special I love that so much I'm one of those sad people who have been making Christmas cards all year but mainly because one of my DT have a get ready for Christmas challenge every month Love and hugs Carole x
Stunning holiday creations, Darnell - especially love the row of poinsettias but the stained glass looks amazing too!! You know me - I'm one to make Christmas cards all year long so I'm sitting pretty right now. :) This will serve me well when the chorus starts preparing for our holiday show!!
Good Morning, Darnell ... and thank you ... you waited till I'd finished my coffee!! Those poinsettia are so soft and pretty ... one of these days I need to try this spritz technique again (previously my attempts have just become a watery mess). You used it beautifully ... and didn't Hammy do well ... hope he's suitably unpursed by now. Never seen that stained glass vellum ... it's gorgeous ... both in those yummy jewel colours and naked ... love how that delicate background mimics the geometric shapes! LYAMYMA! Big hugs & bisous, Anita :)
Simply stunning, yet 2 very different CAS cards and thanks for joining at August's Rudolph Days Challenge, Luv Sam x
You are so right about time flying when you are retired... Why is that? Gorgeous cards Darnell and I'm one of those last minute Christmas card makers who can't face each season till it's upon us... 12 weeks? Yikes!
Two wonderful Christmas cards, Darnell. The row of poinsettias is so pretty, especially with Hammy’s gold paint splattering. Your vellum stained glass card is beautiful. Fantastic colouring from the back to give it such rich colours. Thank you for joining us at Less is More with that one, xx
Happy Labour Day!
💙 Trina
Your Christmas card is beautiful. Great, pure CAS, and I love those crumbs of paint around the flower line. Beautiful card. And your geometric card is great, it looks like a colorful stained glass window
Hugs,
BożenA
You did a beautiful job colouring the vellum! And the embossed diamond background is a perfect touch. Thanks for joining us at Watercooler Wednesday.
Yes, thank you, I needed this gentle reminder to sit down and get started on my Christmas cards! But in this heat I am even less motivated than usual... Ok, I'll stop my whining.
Your cards are very inspiring! Especially love the first one. Hammy did an awesome job with the gold splatters. Must be that tiny straw...
OH goodness do I love your poinsettia card! The gold kicks up the elegance a notch and is just striking! The second card is graphic and fun. Another incredible pair sweet friend!
LOL I so enjoyed your story about Hammy's crafting help. I can just picture his little pursed mouth. His splattering really did add a wonderful festive touch to your card. Beautiful stamping. :-)
Gorgeous cards, Darnell. I refuse to think about Christmas until after my birthday, but have spent some of the long weekend starting to die cut a number of such embelly elements xoxo
Beautiful Christmas cards! Thanks so much for joining us at the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge :)
Thank you Darnell for your kind wishes and comment on my blog.
Your post today is amazing
love it
big hug Tamara
I personally love Christmas cards all year long! Hope you are still on the mend.
I love your pretty blooms all stamped in the upper part of the card,so beautiful and elegant . Your second card is beautiful too love both different styles.Hugs and healing prayers for all .
You know me--Christmas cards are my favorite & I never apologize for posting them all year long! In fact, I made one tonight! Absolutely love the poinsettia border--may have to use a gc I've been saving to get it! Never saw vellum like that--how neat!
Ooh two beautiful Christmas cards! Love the poinsettias and am howling with laughter at the thought of Hammy stuck pursing his lips. You do make me happy! Hugs xxxxxxx
Well, that first card may be quick and easy for you but you had me stopped short at the spritz and sprinkle part. No Hammy here to take over the straw-blowing duties so this would probably have taken me a week. It is just gorgeous though...so bravo to you!!
That printed stained glass vellum looks gorgeous! I don't believe I've ever colored vellum, even though I have loads of it...so this is something I need to try.
I love using and teaching marker to stamp as it makes an elegant card. Is the vellum already stamped? Cool. 👵🏻 Barb
Two lovely Christmas cards! You are reminding that I need to start making Christmas cards again...I don't want to be short again like I was last year!
Two gorgeous cards. I do love the stained glass one. Not seen that SU vellum but then again I try not to look to stop me spending lol!
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