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!

November 26, 2018

Classic B/W and Red for Christmas

Hello, Stamplings!

Thank you for stopping by today, seeing as how you're exhausted after all that post-Thanksgiving shopping you did over the weekend. When you weren't eating leftovers. Or is that just me?

I won't keep you cuz you know I have tons to do. I mean, I know you have tons to do.
You can count on me for mostly uber-doober QACAS inspiration as it gets closer to Christmas. My cards today took minutes to make. The beautiful image above is NBUS from Unity. I had to buy it (cough) months ago after seeing it on my friend Shelly's blog and I finally got around to inking it up for Christmas. It was stamped onto a corner-chomped OLC base and clear-embossed. The Christmas flower was colored and shaded with Ziggies and the sediment is from Penny Black. Hammy winked the heck out of that flower. Hmm, maybe that's why the colors all blended. Bless his heart.

Challenges
Twofer.
Another uber festive card. This full-front text image is an old wooden stamp from Stampendous. I inked it in black and embossed it in clear ep, which you can just make out in the shine here and there. I found a NBUS roll of pretty SU ribbon to tie around the card front. Tip: This is a cheater's bow you tie after you've tried twelveteen times to tie a bow. It's less bulky to mail, too.👏

Challenges
~~~

Enjoy this busy time of year for us card arteests! 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!

*Life is too short!

To open the pop-up comment box that let's you jump to the end w/o scrollingClick 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!)

68 comments:

Diny said...

Two beautiful cards.
Thank you for becoming my follower.
Greetings Diny

sandie said...

Both really pretty cards and adore the shine on your Time Out card. Great colouring, thank you for joining Time Out

Liz said...

Two beautiful black, white and red Christmas cards, Darnell. The flower on the first card is so striking and I love the text stamp on the second one. xx

kiwimeskreations said...

Beautiful cards Darnell - but don't blame Hammy for doing what you have trained him to do with the winking... that's mean!! He was doing his best for you!! Poor boy :-( Give him a big hug from me please.... and next time use a waterproof medium for colouring (says she who speaks from the same experience.)
Blessings
Maxine

KandA said...

Two wonderful cards Darnell. Love the black, white and red combo and super stamps (especially the text background one) xx

Lisa said...

They are both so gorgeous!! The beautiful red flower just pops off the paper in the first one!! I love the stamp you used on the second!! Have a great day!! Big hugs :)

Lisa
A Mermaid's Crafts

Pat said...

The pop of red on the black and white is so stylish and pretty Darnell and love both these beautiful CAS cards. Glad you enjoyed Thanksgiving. x

Marilyn said...

Beautiful cards!
Have a great day!
Marilyn❤️

Jean said...

Great color combos for the pretty cards!

Lisa Babitz said...

The red really pops on these CAS black and white cards. Love them!

R's Rue said...

Love.

Bunny said...

Love both of these cards, Darnell. The embossing looks grand. [Bunny]````

Alice (scrAPpamondo) said...

Great ideas to make quick cards, the red adds a lot of festive feel to the black and white!
Hugs

Sharron said...

Loving your classy CAS designs! Red is the perfect accent with black & white and also great for Christmas!

Kathyk said...

Rocking the Christmas cards, Darnell!

Kathyk

cuilliesocks said...

Beautiful cards Darnell, I love the colour theme and the fab designs, Kate x

conil said...

I'm still stuffed from Thanksgiving so, no, not eating leftovers. I sent them home with the kids. I see you've got this black/white/one color thing down pat and beautifully so. Incidentally, I love the look of your ribbon...bows are a pain in the...well, you know.

Happy Dance said...

Remember the old "black and white and red all over" jokes? Not that your cards are jokes, mind you. No. They're pretty cool if you ask me, the whole joke thing was a memory triggered by your color scheme. As kids we would always try to outdo each other with our punch lines. Your cards are really CASimply lovely. Beautiful Christmas cards, in fact! Love that you didn't color the leaves on your blossom. I was drawn right in to it and then had a gander around your whole card. Love it! Sweet package-like card, too. That red ribbon was a perfect choice. It's just sweet. Sending hugs dear friend. xo Bev

Anita in France said...

QACAS loveliness, Darnell ... that Hammy-winked bloom is so vibrant, rich and shimmery against all the glorious white ... and the touchable text with the bright tied ribbon is delicious (has me wanting to run my fingers over the screen!). Good to find Hammy is safely home from his trip ... guess he's helping out with the leftovers! Delighted, as always, to have you playing along with us at Time Out! LYAMYMA ... big hugs and bisous, Anita :)

Diane said...

Two fun card designs Darnell.

Hugs diane

Leslie Miller said...

Oh, I know! I have to make some QACAS cards, too. My version of QACAS takes maybe a couple of hours as opposed to all afternoon. I love both stamps. Gosh, so nice to have that text stamp that makes the whole card. I can see the embossing quite clearly and it's very effective as the only special touch you need, but then you went and added the pretty ribbon. I tied a bow yesterday and it probably took as long as making the whole rest of the card, sheesh. Really love the cup and saucer with flower. What a cool and unusual stamp! I can see why you had to have it and it only took you a few months (ahem) to get around to it. Hey, that's not long, considering it can sometimes take years.

Susan said...

Love red and black as a colour combination - makes for such elegant cards, and yours are no exception. Two fabulous quick cards (something we all need to be making at this point in the year!!).

Verna Angerhofer said...

Wonderful cards. The red and black look very dramatic.

Sue said...

Hi Darnell, Loving the cards, especially the second one.

Hope you've had a good start to the week. Sue

nancy littrell said...

Simply beautiful Black, white and a touch of red Christmas cards, Dolly. TFS Hugs.Nancy

Loll said...

Two beautiful QACAS cards using a classic colour combination Dolly! You gotta love cards that are quick to make this time of year. Very inspiring, my friend! Lolly xx

oldpunca said...

Fabulous cards. I understand why you have to buy the poinsettia stamp. :-) I understand almost always why I have to buy something too. :-) Your ribbon on the second card the bow is tied perfect. An inovative way for sending the card per mail and bow stays in the shape. :-)
Have a great week!
Hugs,
Sonja

Joyce said...

Both cards are gorgeous and festive. Thanks so much for playing along at Time Out.

Kathleen said...

Two gorgeous creation Darnell, love the black and white and red colour combo.

Kath x

Mac Mable said...

Glad you managed time to shop over the weekend and hope you found some bargains?
Such a crisp and beautiful first card and what a wonderful stamped image. Yep I've done what Hammy did too and the colours just blended.....however in your case it looks beautiful x.
Striking second card and the full text stamped image looks fabulous and love that cute bow x

Maura said...

So striking, Darnell, and so creative to put these 2 images together!

Barb Ghig said...

Two gorgeous black, white and red Christmas cards, Darnell! I love how Hammy winked and blended all those pretty shades of red on your bloom and how you 'wrapped' your 2nd card like a lovely gift! You did an amazing job keeping both cards CAS and I love how you used the inspiration photo for your design...Thanks so much for playing along with us at Fusion!

Karenladd said...

Oooh, I love the black, white and red color combo (one of my favorites) and that one with the ribbon tied around it is perfection! Great way to use up all that ribbon in our stash too. I may have to dig around and see if I can make a similar design with stamps that I have.

Carol L said...

Oh my goodness these are so beautiful with those striking colors of red and black! Love that flower especially! Hopefully your air quality has returned closer to normal now and you can enjoy being outdoors again.

Bonnie said...

A gorgeous schparkly Christmas flower, Dolly! And I love your half bow! It's much more interesting than a regular one!

Lisa Elton said...

What a lovely vibrant bloom! Both cards are oozing with elegance!

Cat Craig said...

Love this combination of colors (my wedding colors) and you have rocked it for sure Darnell.

Cheryl W said...

QACAS or not, your cards look amazing. Love the bold color combo - passionate red, shiny black and dazzling white! I just finished making my Christmas cards today. The shoulders ache a bit from leaning over my work area, but, oh, what a relief it is...

Patti said...

Love these beautiful QACAS cards!! I have the background stamp from Stampendous and it is NBUS!! I really need to CASE you on that one!

I am a bit tired from shopping today!! I have a nice haul of NBUS on the way to me tonight giggles!!

Have a wonderful week friend!

Patti

Christine Alexander said...

Two wonderful QACAS cards Darnell, I really struggle withe OLC I always ave an oppsy at some point or it buckles and bends when I heat emboss.

TK said...

Maybe uber CAS but UBER awesome! Love the pops of red, and that first stamp is beautiful!

Gerrina said...

It is bold and looks great with just the red! Thank you for joining us at TIME OUT! Hugs, Gerrina

AlisonC said...

Beautifully simple and elegant cards in stylish colours. Your bow looks fab and is a great tip which I may well be tying, (trying). Thanks for joining in at 52CCT

Inkyfingers said...

We all need quick cards if we are still making them in December Darnell and these look so festive with the beautiful pops of red. Hope you had a great Thanksgiving. Alice is 1 today!!! I know - where did that year go to?
Hugs
Carol xx

Redanne said...

Only you could make cards in a few minutes Darnell and make them look so gorgeous, I love black, white and red, my favourite colour combo, it always looks so elegant. The bow on the second card is brilliant, I need to try that one! Always so inspiring to visit you... Hugs, Annie xxx

Dr Sonia S V said...

Such pretty cards Darnell...especially love the cup with the gorgeous flower
Thank you so much for joining us at the Rudolph Days Challenge!
Rudolph Days Challenge DT
Dr Sonia

Sandra H said...

Both cards are so beautiful and creative Darnell xx

Stamps and Paper said...

Two very eye catching card Darnell the Red really pops out

Anne

Ruth said...

Love then both and am looking for lots of QACAS Christmas Card inspirations. I have at least another 6 to make, if not 10. I have just the perfect stamp for a plain black and EP on top :)

What's Black and White and Read allover??

A Newspaper...

Ba-boom Ching! Thank you for my beautiful Birthday Card! xx

Trina P. said...

Two wonderful cards, Darnell. Black, white and a pop of red is definitely a striking and classy. Your card or our challenge is CAStastic. Thank you for joining us at LIM. xx

Vicki said...

Love the black white and red colours. Gorgeous cards.

Em Louise Fairley said...

These are so pretty, Darnell! I really must get on with creating my Christmas cards! xoxo

Linda said...

Two fantastic cards Darnell. Love the red and black.

Colleen said...

Darnell, I love the QACAS and the red and white...awesome Christmas cards and very festive!

Robyn Oliver said...

Fabulous mug stamp Darnell, it might have taken minutes but it looks amazing - the black, white and red, two great cards

nwilliams6 said...

Very pretty card, Darnell. I love them both but the second is my fave -what a great image and that bow you did is just perfect for it. Great job! Hugz

Carole Pollard said...

Stunning designs that colour combo works so well love them Love and hugs Carole x

Fikreta said...

these are lovely cards!
hugs

Greta said...

Such a great color combo & 2 lovely cards, Darnell! The flower is beautiful & what a neat design for the second card!

Brenda in IN said...

I love quick and simple and both of these are lovely q&s. I don't think Hammy realized what would happen to the shading when he winked, but it is still beautiful. I love the black and white card. That is a very fun stamp and never goes out of style. The pop of red ribbon looks great. The ribbon looks to be in pretty good shape after being tied twelveteen times!

Linda said...

Beautiful cards .... I do love black and white with a touch of red xx

Gerrina said...

Seems I have missed this post somehow... Both looking great; love that idea with the text background and twine! And the flower just popps so great; like that red is super! Thank you dor joining us at TIME OUT again! Hugs, Gerrina

scrappymo! said...

Two great cards. Loving the way you coloured part of the image only! It looks fab.

Thanks for taking part in the November Rudolph Days Challenge.

Celeste Goff said...

Such gorgeous cards Darnell!!!

Jeanne J. said...

Drooling over that shiny embossing and gorgeous red bow. Talk about eye candy!

sweet art designs said...

Very elegant card. Thank you for taking part in our 52 Christmas Card Throwdown Challenge - Myrna DT

Sharon Traynor Designs said...

Fab cards once again Darnell! The classy black white and red theme is so dramatic. Sorry your winked flower blended so well! One would never know these cards took minutes to make as they look so professional but we would expect nothing less from you ;-) Thanks so much for linking the first card up with us at Less is More xx

Bobby said...

QACAS is good in my book any day, Darnell. Love the Hammy winked flower and the cheaters bow is very stylish.