Hello Stamplings!
Happy Sunday! I hope this finds you well and your little dog, too! Or cat. Or hamster. Or bag of Halloween candy. Whatever makes you smile your inner smile no matter how crazy insane this world gets.
What's making me smile here (besides the resident hamster) are a coupla squirrels who are loving the little squirrel candy that our Japanese Maple is covered with this time of year. I wish you could see these guys outside my Playhouse window doing unbelievable gymnastics as they reach the farthest kernel on the wimpiest branch. Yesterday the fat one literally fell to the ground when he reached too far and lost his little squirrel grip.
I have to admit I laughed my head off, but not until after he shook himself off and literally leaped back onto the tree for another go at whatever crack that tree is providing. In between watching the squirrel antics, I managed some cards:
What's making me smile here (besides the resident hamster) are a coupla squirrels who are loving the little squirrel candy that our Japanese Maple is covered with this time of year. I wish you could see these guys outside my Playhouse window doing unbelievable gymnastics as they reach the farthest kernel on the wimpiest branch. Yesterday the fat one literally fell to the ground when he reached too far and lost his little squirrel grip.
I have to admit I laughed my head off, but not until after he shook himself off and literally leaped back onto the tree for another go at whatever crack that tree is providing. In between watching the squirrel antics, I managed some cards:
Challenges
- Creative With Stamps: Halloween or Leaves.
- Mod Squad: Fall thank you card.
- TIME OUT: Grateful.
While the first card was very QACAS (quick and clean and simple), was it really clean enough to be suitable for the current Less Is More challenge? I didn't think so, so I whipped up this Twofer with one set of leaves, popped up for dementia:
Challenges
- Less Is More: Dimension.
- Words 2 Craft By: October eves.
And because it's past time to be working on Christmas cards:
Here's a better view:
- City Crafter Challenge: Silver bells.
- Rudolph Days Challenge (from the 25th to the last day of the month).
- The Holly and Ivy Christmas Challenge: Anything goes.
~~~
Real quick, I have to show you another critter that came around while I was photographing my cards:
Real quick, I have to show you another critter that came around while I was photographing my cards:
It's a wee baby fence lizard no bigger than my pinkie finger, but it's so hard to tell scale. Just know that those little flowers are teeny-tiny! He sat there for five minutes while I talked to him. The Mister shakes his head when he sees me outside talking to the hummingbirds and lizards. He is sure the neighbors are going to turn me into the Loony Bin peeps!
Here's a closeup:
Actually I've refrained from showing you the lizzies for ages even though I have lots of pics. We've had a large crop of babies this year and it's really amazing to see them when they're about an inch long. Although he won't admit it, the Mister likes it when any of them come out for a shower when he's watering the plants!
~~~
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!)
76 comments:
Loving your leafy cards Dolly! Looks amazing using a stencil monoprint background. The colours are so pretty! And great design with the double and then the single! Great way to build your stash of cards. And also a gorgeous and sparkly Christmas card too! Beautiful background paper and very cool and artsy cover plate die. Sweet bell for the focal panel. Thanks for the picture of your visitor as well. He may be small, but he still would make me squeal! :) Love, Lolly
Oooooohhhhh, squirrels and lizards and all that crafty gorgeousness, what a lovely read to start the day!
Love the mirroring of the branches with the sentiment in between, such great idea! And the other cards are beautiful too, fabulous colouring and the last one shines so pretty!
Your stories are always so fun and love that posing wizard! :D
Hi Darnell, Loving the cards.
Hope the Squirrels don't invade your playhouse and run amok:) LOL
Not sure what I think of the lizard. Not into reptiles, but as long as he kept away from me, I'd leave him alone.
Hope you have a nice day. Sue
Great cards - your silvery one is very festive and perfect for our challenge at City Crafter.
I just love the effect you've achieved with the leafy cards - it looks like an illustration(if you know what I mean?) Gorgeous.
Yes, I love how acrobatic and persistent squirells are - I love them too. Don't get lizards here though!
Oh wow, the first two cards are gorgeous, I love how you 'mirrored' the image on the first one and how you created shadows on each of them. The Christmas card really caught my eye though as I thought the silvery background and the curvy die cut on top looked like they would be perfect for a sea themed card (you know what I'm like!) - what a great die and so perfect for your Christmas embellishment too!
Sadly we don't get many squirrels around here (except the odd grey one) and no lizards at all, I can only image what fun it is to see them scurrying around - I would be in my element! The Heron and the Kingfishers are quite active though and it is always a joy to see them. Hugs, Annie xxx
Love squirrels!
your cards are gorgeous!
lizard is so cute!
hugs
beautiful cards Darnell, love your QACAS, oooh not sure thats right but its too late with go with anyway, cards and the shimmer in the third. Love your critters too and don't worry we all talk to the critters (I tell the Huntsman thats the size of my hand with my fingers spread, to stay over in the corner and don't move closer to my craft desk all the time). I even wander in the supermarket chatting to myself, I find its a great way to get people to leave me alone lol)
You have quite the little gathering out there in the garden. I love squirrels but we don't have then here on the island, and lizards well, not sure about those. Yours is cute though.
Gorgeous cards too .... love the leafy designs and the sparkle on your Christmas card looks so pretty xx
A gorgeous collection of cards Darnell and a beautiful photo of the lizard too.
Sue xx
Beautiful cards Darnell! Love the sparkle and shine on your third card!
Have a great day!
Marilyn❤
Lovely post as always loved your squirrel antics story and those lizards as well. Oh and your cards are all gorgeous great buy that leaf stamp Love and hugs Carole x
I love both of your leafy creations Darnell, and the pretty Christmas card, too! The squirrel antics crack me up also, they are a little 'nuts' this time of year!
Fabulous cards Darnell, the leaf cards are beautiful and your Christmas card design is stunning!
Beautiful Lindy colors and I love the two designs. Your Christmas card just glimmers. Great cover plate and such a pretty card. Pinky size is fine. Bigger, not so much. The squirrels are fun to watch this time of year since they are so busy. I talk to the dog so I see nothing wrong with talking to any species. It's when they answer that I get alarmed. Do NOT, under any circumstances, admit that has happened.
Hello Darnell what wonderful cards, I love the beautiful stamp on the first two and the lovely colours. Your second card is beautifully designed too and all that sparkle is fabulous.
What a cute little lizard, super photo of it, Kate x
Oooo such pretty cards! I was looking at that die from pink fresh but since I’m not making many cards anymore I refrained. Glad you didn’t so I could see what it looked like in use. Thanks :) The squirrel gymnastics sounds fascinating to watch. Bitty lizard....called geckos down here. Tons of them. Cats love ‘em! Fun fact: when in danger they pop part of their tail off. It wiggles causing a distraction so the rest of the gecko can make a speedy escape. T has brought me many tails when we lived at the house. 😳 😂 have a wonderful day Darnell. Hugs
It is always such a treat to read your posts. Beautiful cards, fun photos and sweet commentary, who could ask for more:)
Oooo WOW what a stunner, i'm loving the background die and all the sparkle too, thanks for joining us at Rudolph Days Challenge this month, Luv Sam x
Fabulous post Darnell...love your greenery cards and the sparkle on the Christmas card must be to die for! (not literally). How nice to have such nature on your doorstep with the squirrels and lizards. here it seems to be spiders and wood lice...ugh! xx
Your commentary is always just as colorful as your cards, which are beautiful by the way! I love the design of the first two, and the shimmer on the third is delightful. Thanks for playing our Time Out challenge!
Great cards today and fun stories about lizards and squirrels. Hammy must be quite amused by their antics, and hopefully vey grateful that he doesn’t have to be out there foraging for food.
Three fabulous cards Darnell, and love the stencil monoprint in those pretty colours with the foliage stamp over the top, and both the single and the double version work beautifully. The Chrismas bells are so pretty too with the wonderful sparkly paper behind that great cover plate die. Love your wildlife photography catching that sweet lizard, and the squirrel in the tree. Usually if I try to take photos of anything like that they scurry away before I even get the chance to press the button..lol. x
Fun cards D. I love how you cut the image in two pieces and created twofers.
Oh the lizards! We have them too and often when sitting at my craft table I see movement outside and there is a lizard. Early in the morning I see a rabbit scamper across the patio. Our dog Ginger nose dives into bushes attempting to catch a rabbit - she never has. The other day as Cal was preparing to take her for her evening walk the stick in the driveway moved and it was a baby rattlesnake. Ginger slowly walked backwards, smart dog. Cal placed a plastic container over the now coiled snake and called the fire department. They disposed of the snake. Whew!
Beautiful stencil monoprint (I bet it's really sparkly) with that foliage and love your bell card, cool background.
those lizards are so cool, BC's way too cold for something like that :)
Love seeing your two-fers! I so love that floral stamp, and really love your coloring as well. And, great Christmas card as well. We watch the squirrels all day trying to get into the bird feeders....the gray ones are so athletic! Cute lizards- too cold here for them : )
Your cards are all so gorgeous!! I love the designs of each one!! And that lizard is cute--from a distance!! Have a great day!! Big hugs :)
Lisa
A Mermaid's Crafts
Amazing how prolific you crafting is. And done so beautifully. I fell in love with particular Pink Fresh stamp & die myself...so it sits here, screaming at me to use it. Too much going on to really get my hands into ink but I see, by your cards, I really isn't necessary. Heaven knows I have lots of previously prepared backgrounds. Looks like you've got plenty of Christmas cards already but I know it's never enough. This one is shimmery deliciousness...gorgeous.
Super cute. Thank you for sharing with us at THIACC. Marlene DT
Your cards are Fabulous Darnell. Love them both, though my order-loving brain liked the second one a bit better. Your third card is another gorgeous piece. I love that overlay ontop of your background. I've been looking and looking at that Avery Elle set. Its beautifully set on your third card. Love the silver embossing and the delicate coloring.
My Dad has lizards too...but many are short their tails...3 cats...2 hunters...not good for lizards.
Aww your garden is full of life as are your cards they are so beautiful Darnell x
Hi Darnell~ Love your pretty cards. Great colors! I have squirrels here in NC, plenty! And, I'm afraid I have those slithery lizards, too. Found one on top of a pumpkin and talked to him for 20 minutes, so you're in good company!
I am dying with laughter over your popping up the panel for dementia! ROFL! You have such a crafty way with words in addition to your crafty skills with paper, ink, and everything else! Leaping lizards, that's a tiny fella come to visit you at the playhouse! Some folks attract wildlife - me I think I frighten them all away, specially when I hiss at the groundhog who comes to feed in my yard. LOL I got sidetracked and forgot to mention how much I like all of these cards! NJ on them all!
Oh no--now I want that Pinkfresh set! Your first card is one of my all-time favorites, Darnell! What a fabulous picture of your little visitor. I'm happy they're at your house--I'm happy just to see your pictures--haha!
Three fantastic cards Darnell. And your little visitor is cute too, but I'm with Greta better there than here. LOL.
A fabulous collection of cards and especially love the leafy ones with the great backgrounds. Great photo's two.
Kath x
Hmm, if I saw that lizard I would have FREAKED!! Not a huge fan of reptiles!! LOVE your pretty cards. You are making me want that Pinkfresh set but am not allowed to buy right now. Love your Christmas card!!
I love the cards! When you popped it up for dementia I nearly snorted my drink. You crack me up, seriously!
Your monoprint is perfect for this foliage stamp and die, Dolly! I love it surrounding the sentiment and I love the single row for a QACAS card! Your stained glass bell is so pretty and it schparkles so beautifully! Hats off to Hammy! Those lizards are really cute outside. Don't like them inside much. They're too quick to catch! xoxo
all great cards! I try not to think about how far behind I am in making Christmas cards...
Pretty cards Darnell, love that CAS duo and the stained glass bell is fabulous! Sounds like you've been enjoying a few of God's creatures. Isn't it mind blowing to wrap your head around all he has given us!
Dang, I love that Lush Greenery stamp! Some are just too hard to resist, even though we all have plenty of NBUS to work with. It's so pretty on the background you created! Beautiful Christmas card, too. The paper is incredible. It looks like glass. It's a perfect companion to your sweet little NBUS. Love seeing the critters! I have to admit I thought at first the squirrel was a bunny rabbit and I sure was wondering what he was doing in a tree. He's a fat one!
Fun critter photos and three fabulous cards, Darnell!
Pretty icy blue Christmas card and love the scallopy cover plate...I'm all about non-trad colors ~ all shades of blue are my preference.
Love the Lush Greenery image and you color choices here! Thanks for joining us at Creative With Stamps for this month's challenge :-)
Ooh I am loving your greenery cards my friend! The first one is fabulous with the two each side of the sentiment and the second one is beautiful too! I adore the colours you have used for them both. Gorgeous shimmery Christmas card wonderfully winked by Hammy! I love the little lizard and it's so cool you can watch the squirrels antics too! hugs xxxxxx
Gorgeous cards, and cute-ish critters too xoxo
The mono-print die cuts actually looks like loose watercoloring which is all the rage, Darnell. Hammy must be in his glory with all the shimmery shine on the lovely Christmas card. How does he feel about the squirrels taking all your attention? ;) They are definitely fun to watch. You can almost see the wheels turning as they try to figure out how to get to their food.
Best use of this pretty new PFresh image..it looks fab overstamped on the Lindy's background. Loving both of the greenery cards and each design is eye-catching. Also love the QACAS feel on #2. #3 with the die cut card front in the non-traditional Christmas colors is also a big hit. You picked the perfect DP to show off those scallops. The silver colors have a neat shimmer too! TFS & Hugs.
:-)
I love your colorful watercolor background for a card with leaves. Such cool colored spots blend with these beautiful stamps. Great designs, Darnell. Another card reminds me of the Arctic glaciers. Great card.
I understand you well, I also talk with my cats, sometimes with my husband. Unfortunately, I do not know the speech of other animals, only my cats want to listen to me, but they rarely answer :-(
Hugs,
BożenA
A bit late commenting.... Love the foliage stamps and they look great on both cards! The bells really look elegant on that background! And thanks for the great pics; would love to see the squirrels; they are fascinating to watch...I always loose track of time doing that.... Hugs, Gerrina
I love the sloshy abstract background to your lush greenery cards, Darnell, very modern. Hammy's done a splendid job schparkling up the silver bells card, and it's lovely to see your little visitor! :)
All I can say about PFS's stamps, is whimsical. I love the layers of leaves in this stamp, and I love how you've used that oh-so Magical background. It's a perfect fit for all the irl colors of the various leaves and stems. Great thank you card. Your card for LIM is wonderful. I love all the white space, and the happy look is purveys. (Good word, eh?!) Your Christmas card looks like it has taken hours to make. And yet you say it's a QACAS card???!!! LOVE it! The blues are fabulous, and the little bell and bow are just the right image for this. Squirrels, ok. Reptiles, um not so much, sorry. He might be cute, but he'd freak me out....Sorry. Sending hugs, my sweet baboo! xo Bev
Oh Darnell! what a delightful post!! Your cards are over the top pretty! and you funny squirrel story makes me smile! I LOVE your Lizzie! is is a "Blue Belly"? When I lived in CA I have to say I came to really love those fast little creatures! and have missed them in WI and SD. We have Lizards here, of course, but I haven't seen any yet L )
Have a wonderful week friend!
Patti
Lovely cards Darnell ...we have lots of squirrels in our garden but they are pests as they steal the bird food...not sure how I would feel about lizards though
Anne
what a lovely greenery cards, I love them! and very elegant Christmas card.
we have a lot of lizards here too :)
hugs xx
Congrats on the shout out at ModSquad!
Two leafy beauties, Darnell, and I love the pretty bell Christmas card too! So fun to see your backyard wildlife too!!
Really beautiful cards! Love that stamp set! Thanks for playing along with us at Creative with Stamps-Pam DT
I'm not sure how you did that technique but your card sure is gorgeous! Love that Pink Fresh greenery. And the sparkly Christmas beauty is fabulous. I always enjoy your critter stories and photos. The lizard would be a wonderful visitor. Tonight's odd couple in our backyard was a skunk and black cat--a Halloween duo maybe! Can't even imagine what the attraction is there but was glad when hubby ran them off and plugged the hole under our fence. We check the yard every night after it's dark before letting dogs out. You just never know what might be paying us a visit!
Your cards are all wonderful! The lush greenery ones remind me of warmer days (it's definitely getting cold here in Minnesota). I'm a little envious of the Christmas cards you've managed to make already. I'm so behind, it's hard to see how I'll ever get it all done!
You have such varied wildlife in the garden. We have pigeons, magpies and a couple of squirrels too who are enjoying the fallen apples from my neighburs tree. I'm not a huge fan as the grey ones are bullies, but it is nice to see them making use of things we can't. Your cards are beautifully clean and simple and I love the use of the alcohol ink panels for die cutting and stamping. xx
Hi Darnell,
Happy Rudolf Days.
what wonderful threefer cards and their designs are just fantastic.
We all have a certain way of making cards and yours is one of the best ideas of creating.
The Chrsitnas one looks very stunning with that gorgeous shimmery blue background and the fab die cut pattern on top.
Thank you for your get well wishes for hubby.
Lots of crafty love and hugs from my house to yours. Jenny L.
A beautiful bunch of cards, Darnell ! I was looking for a "dimensional" squirrel on your card but it seems that he also fell down and now he is hiding himself in this gorgeous whimsical and delicate greenery ! Love your colouring too. It seems that we all are filling up our Christmas stock of cards. Love all the shimmery of your background paper, beautiful cover plate and bell image ! Thanks so much for sharing and for playing along at Less is More. Hugs x
Beautiful cards. I think I need that cover plate - oh why did I have to see it LoL!
We have swinging squirrels here, try to keep them off the bird food but it's a losing battle.
Your Rudolph Days card is lovely and schparkly and full of pretty surprises. Loving the stencil looking overlay and the glimmer that shows through from underneath. The bell image is so pretty and glimmery too!
Thanks for taking part in the October Rudolph Days Challenge.
Fabulous card! Thank you so much for enering our chalenge this month.
MaryV
Here I am at last, Darnell ... blown away by this scrumptious trio ... and your wildlife tales! You've made those luscious Pink Fresh leaves shine on both cards ... don't those magicals make for a wonderful unstructured, loose watercolour-y look. So much inspiration for little old me and my set, my friend ... thank you! Your sparkly, stained glass bell is beautiful ... it's soft and shimmery and so striking (get it ... bell ... hahaha, just realised that!) ... Hammy did so well with the winking! Lizards ... they come to visit inside the house as well as outdoors here ... and then get all worked up trying to figure a way out. They're so independent they won't take any help from us ... no pleasing them!! Delighted to have you playing along with us at Time Out! LYAMYLMA! Big hugs and bisous, Anita :)
As usual, I am terribly behind in my commenting but better late than never, right? Love your leafy Twofer and the sparkly Christmas card! And it's always fun to read about and see pictures of the wildlife in your garden! Squirrels are amusing to observe but we have way too many and ever since they have done damage on our house we are not such big fans any more...
Just gorgeous cards.
I enjoy the pics of your garden visitors!
Hi, Darnell! I came to see pretty cards and was treated with pics of an adorable lizard! What's not to love?! Speaking of love, your cards are so sweet, and I'm thrilled that you shared with us at Words 2 Craft By. Thanks for stopping by to play along. :)
Hi Darnell! So nice to be visiting your blog after many many weeks! I recently moved house and have not been very active online, the move has taken surprisingly a lot of energy and creativity hasn't been blooming! Anyway, I try to get back to the swing of things now! I love both of your cards for LIM, the second is wonderfully CAS but for me the first one also has enough white space so that one looks amazing too! I LOVE the idea of stamping and die cutting the flowers from an artsy bg like this -something I definitely must try. Thanks for the inspiration and thank you for joining us at Less Is More!
Wow! What a superb selection of cards again Darnell. Each of them are so beautiful and I adore your LIM cards. Sorry it has taken me so long to get around to commenting - been a rough couple of weeks here. Thank you so much for sharing those cards with us at Less is More xx
Congrats for getting Honours at Time Out x
How great to be beside you in the honours at Tine Out Darnell!
These cards are completely awesome!
We have Cleo with us this week whilst her mummy and daddy are in Venice for a few days! I am suitably exhausted!
When I saw that first card of yours, I knew it was a winner. Congratulations on your Honours at Time Out.
Hurrah for the shout out at Time Out!
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