Hello Stamplings!
I have an exciting post for you today! I am delighted that Dotty Jo, the owner of Christmas Kickstart Challenge, has invited me to be her guest designer Elf for this challenge and I was really pickled tink when she asked if we could make it a Twofer-inspired challenge!
The fun prompt for this challenge is Christmas π/Christmas π!
To make your card a Twofer, you need to use the same Christmas πstamp, die, or stencil and create two different design layouts when making your cards. Since the word "design" can be subjective, we got help from Dictionary.com:
To prepare the preliminary sketch or the plans for (a work to be executed), especially to plan the form and structure of an object, work of art, decorative scheme, etc. To plan and fashion artistically or skillfully. To form or conceive in the mind; contrive; plan. To make drawings, preliminary sketches, or plans. (Noun: Such outlines, sketches, or plans.)
You're free to do what you like with regard to your style or the techniques you use: you can use the same style and techniques on both cards, or you can use different ones. To be Twofer-inspired, the only design criteria is that your underlying layouts need to be distinctly different for each card. You can find more information under the Twofer Card Challenge Definitions/Examples tab.
Dotty Jo and I have each prepared Twofer cards as examples of two different designs using the same Christmas π/Christmas π. You can find Jo's designs on the Kickstart challenge blog and here are mine:
Dotty Jo and I have each prepared Twofer cards as examples of two different designs using the same Christmas π/Christmas π. You can find Jo's designs on the Kickstart challenge blog and here are mine:
The die that both my cards have in common is "Evergreen Trees" by Poppystamps.
Onefer
The bottom snowy panel is a gift from my friend Chrissie. I've been wanting that e/f for ages, but it is hard to find in stock, so Chrissie kindly sent me some embossed sheets. Crafty friends are the best!
The Christmas πhere is a negative of the Poppystamps die, cut from a panel of pp. For my sediment, I white heat-embossed "warm" on the black pp panel and then black heat-embossed "winter wishes" on the white snowy bumps. A few gold sequints and shazambam another Christmas cards in the DONE pile!
Twofer
For my second design, I created an entire winter nighttime scene. I die-cut the NBUS CUTplorations home on a hill die by STAMPlorations out of heavy vellum and attached it to another one which was die-cut from white card. The vellum has a beautiful sheen.
I then attached the hill to another sheet of the same pp I used on my Onefer, but this piece has a bright full moon blurred by the schparkly falling snow.
I added three Christmas πs to the hill because Hammy reminded me of The Rule of Three. (Please note that works in art, not in marriage.) Two πs are from the same die used on my Onefer and the third one is from "Evergreen" by Taylored Expressions. All the πs were also double-layered, once in white card and once in vellum.
To finish the card with a nod to Captain Obvious, I clipped the word "winter" from a NBUS "warm winter wishes" CUTplorations black die cut and added it to the front. I lost the dot on the letter "i," so I replaced it with a gold sequint ~ according to the Rule of One, which I just made up ~ and because it brought out the gold stardust in the pp.
I'm also linking this card to Pixie's Snippets Playground and Rudolph Days.
~~~
Thank you so much, Jo, for inviting me to be the Elf for this Twofer-inspired Christmas π/Christmas πchallenge!
I love this fun idea of having you make Twofers this time and I can't wait to see what you make for this Christmas Kickstart Challenge! The challenge runs from now until August 12th at 23:55 BST.
It will be a pleasure seeing you stretch your design skills and increase your Christmas card stash!
Because, gulp, August is like two days away! π²π²π²
It will be a pleasure seeing you stretch your design skills and increase your Christmas card stash!
Because, gulp, August is like two days away! π²π²π²
~~~
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!
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67 comments:
Thanks so much for being my elf for this challenge, Darnell! I love your cards and am thrilled to have created my first twofers! Big hugs, Jo x
Wow - what stunning, dramatic cards Darnell - loving the black and white and the way you have made a two-fer from the same tree!!
Good to see that Hammy has had a paw in these cards as well - his art knowledge is certainly impressive as he reminds you of the rules :)
Blessings
Maxine
Wonderful designs love the black and white just perfect Love and hugs Carole x
They're both so gorgeous!! I love the black and white designs!! They're so stunning, Darnell!! Have a great day!! Big hugs :)
Lisa
A Mermaid's Crafts
Awesome cards
hugs Tamara
Two fabulous card designs, but that splash of 'glitterness' on the second makes it even more spectacular!
June
Hi Darnell,
Happy rudolf Days.
Oh my word these 2 are so gorgeous and very wonderfully created as usual.
I love them both as they look soooooooooooo! amazing.
Thank you for joining the Rudolf Challenge.
Lots of crafty love and hugs. Jenny L. DT
I'm amazed at these wonderful Christmassy cards, they are so luxurious and sparkly. They'll certainly standout in a mass of others. Even 3!
Faith x
Congratulations on being a Christmas Elf, Darnell. Do you get the elf cap to go along with the title? Do they have an honorary elf hat for Hammy? Your cards are beautiful with the lovely trees and winter sky. The one with the moon in the falling snow is gorgeous! Thank you SO much for sharing! :)
These are both gorgeous Darnell, love the dramatic Black/ white designs with the lovely sparkle. Fun challenge theme too....congrats on your GD spot!
xx
THese cards are stunning! I love how you used this die!!
Be congrats for your GD spotlight as Elf :D You well deserve it and your two samples for both your own Twofers Challenge and the Christmas Kickstart Challenge are just stunning!!! Such amazing scenes you have created! Love the black&white contrast and the sparkle!!
Hugs
What a great night sky, my friend. A great idea to use vellum for the hill and house as it gives a misty look like looking through snow. Two great layouts! Congratulations on your Guest Designer spot. Great inspiration!
Both cards are gorgeous, Darnell. For the first time ever I've made a healthy start on my Christmas cards. Good job too because I'm still not up to much crafting after my surgery earlier this month!
Congratulations of being the guest elf at Christmas Kickstart Challenge. I love your beautiful "twofer" Christmas cards. Very striking in the b/w with the lovely black panels.
Love the stunning black and white effect. Your cards are beautiful. Really love that second one with the moon glow in the background. I will try that vellum over white cardstock. It is a great touch.
Well done you for being a guest Elf and look what you've come up with...two wouzzers, that can't be the right spelling????indeed is it even a word? I love both of your designs Darnell, the black background makes those trees pop, and the sparkle on your second card is gorgeous, Kate x
O, Christmas twofer! Cute! :-) I like your use of Christmas tree on both cards and a simply color combo with amazing winter night scene.
Lucky you to have Hammy and his knowlidge about design matters to remind you of the rule "three" and "one". :-)
Have a nice day!
Hugs, Sonja
Great idea for the challenge theme & your cards are both stunners, Darnell! I'll be joining in for sure! Congrats on adding elf to your resume!
Congratulations Dolly on being the guest designer for the Kickstart Christmas Challenge:-) I LOVE your 2 Gorgeous Winter scene cards. Your glowing moon on the 1st card is Stunning!!!! Love your beautiful Winter village, trees and snipped Winter and Gold sequin on your 2nd card too. I hope I have time to play:-) TFS and all the inspiration. Love and Hugs..Nancy
Congrats on your guesting spot for this new challenge (to me!) !! I just LOVE how you used that gorgeous black pp for both cards with the white trees and little house! They're both gorgeous and almost tend to cool me off in this latest wave of blazing heat! Thanks for the wonderful inspiration to keep cool :)
Wow these are dramatic and as always your whole post is such an interesting read, full of information and humour.
You make a great elf and the cards you made are both so wonderful. I love that gorgeous backgrounds on them and it makes the white die cuts really pop.
Hi Darnell, Congrats on being the Guest Elf.
Fab cards.
Hope you have had a nice day. Sue
Two gorgeous cards Darnell and I adore that sparkly nighttime sky you have used, and the treee die is extremely pretty and looks great with both the scene and with the snowfall embossing, and the black and white is so elegant. Congratulations on being GD over at the Christmas Kickstart Challenge too. I have not made a single Christmas card yet so will have to start soon. x
congrats on GD and what dramatic looking cards-haven't read all the details but had to pop by and say how I just love a little drama in cards and you have done it here hon and in style x
I love your twofer Christmas cards Darnell, the black/white combination is fabulous. Thanks for joining in with the Rudolph days challenge this month and good luck in the draw.
Sue xx
these are gorgeous Darnell but love the second one
Gr Karin
Two beautiful cards Darnell...love them to bits...right up my street as they say...though our street is awash with thunder rain at present! Hugs xx
Many congratulations Darnell on your guest appearance and your twofer Christmas cards are fantastic as always take care x
Congrats on you GD spot! You've two wonderful Christmas cards for the challenge. The black and white is so elegant!
Congratulations on guesting and what stunning cards you have created. What a fun idea to do The Twofer Theme x. Both cards are so striking, elegant and classy and both have the Wow factor Darnell x Fun idea too to use the gold sequin x
Two beautiful black and white cards. I love the shimmer in the black and I understand why you like the snowy paper so much. It's having a beautiful texture. Great Twofers ;P
Greetings Miranda
These are absolutely stunning Darnell, your night sky is amazing and is perfect against your white scene! Congrats on your GD spot!
I absolutely love your beautiful Christmas cards!! I am loving the black & white!!
I would love for you to enter my "Thank you" GIVEAWAY over at my blog
Have a wonderful day,
Migdalia Rodriguez
Migdalia's Crafts
Two absolutely fabulous cards, I love black and white (but not Movies) and the lovely gold on the background just adds that special touch.
Kath x
Lovely cards. I'm going to try so dadgummed hard to enter this go around. [Bunny]
Please, nudge Hammy if he's snickering behind his little paws. I really am going to try.
Wow! Two gorgeous cards! Love that sparkly moon too! Congrats on the GD spot!! Hugs!
I know the months really are racing by i'm scared to blink in case I miss anymore of it. What a fabulous duo Darnell, the white against the black and visa versa are both stunning and effective and I love that burst of embossing. I need to try that one out. Congrats on you GD slot you make a wonderful Elf.
Creative Hugs & Wishes Tracey x
Congratulations on GD, Dolly! More Wonderful B&W Christmas cards... love the night scene with the shining moon. xx
That's patterned paper? Holy cow, it's amazing! Two gorgeous cards, Darnell. I doubt I'll have time to play before we leave on our next trip. I've been stamping ahead for my challenge teams and that's about it.
It's a win win for us Darnell! A fun twofer challenge and a FABULOUS guest designer! Your cards are incredible!
So dramatic, I'm loving the black and white them with all that schparkle :)
Wow both beautiful, but the one with the shining moon is so special! Love how you used the black! Hugs, Gerrina
First off, Darnell ... congratulations on being such a star Elf at Christmas Kickstart! Your twofer cards are stunning ... bold, stylish, elegant ... love the drama of the black and white ... the sheen on the vellum is delicious ... and the moon ... well, just wow! LYAMYLMA ... HYHF! Big hugs and bisous, Anita :)
Oh how stunning - love the black and white - don't think to use those colors for holiday cards but it is a beautiful combo. Love the night sky on your second card - and you are so lucky to have Hammy around to remind you of the "rules" of stamping.
Stunning, Darnell! The black and white looks so elegant and how wonderful that you added a layer of vellum. I especially love the sky on the second card! Congrats on being a GD with this inspiring Twofer challenge!
Congrats on your Guest Elf gig over at Jo's Christmas Kickstart!! Your cards are just gorgeous, Darnell. Layering the vellum over the white cardstock is an interesting technique that I haven't ever tried.
This Twofer idea is going to be quite a challenge for me, but I hope to be able to come up with something.
<3 J
jwoolbright at gmail dot com
HerPeacefulGarden.blogspot.com
These are fun Christmas cards in black and white, but really interesting textures and shine. Great work.
What a wonderful twofer, Darnell! Oh how I love that sparkly black with the snowy white! Two great designs that are both so elegant! It's good to see you're beating the heat with your backyard full of heavy snow - oh wait, that must be a backdrop of PP, how silly of me!
I love simple yet effectful cards like these. Makes me want to pull out all my Christmas gear. But first some autumn cards, I think. Thank you for the inspiration though. Question: The ab fab background on the black card? Have you made that too?
Great cards, Darnell. the twofer aspect of your entry is comprised of two wonderful designs. That sparkly dark paper is gorgeous! I especially love the one with the sun/moon glowing thru!
hanks for taking part in the July Rudolph Days Challenge.
WOW these are stunning! love the effect of black and white
Wow, wow, wow! Your cards are stunning Auntie! I love that pattern paper. I thought you did some kind of technique until I kept reading and found out it was designer paper. I was bummed because I wanted to know how to get that beautiful night time sky. lol Love both of your twofers. What a fun challenge you ladies came up with and Dotty Jo certainly got a great guest designer! Hugs, Brenda
Beautiful cards, and I LOVE the idea of sparkly vellum over the white cs!!! Brilliant! Love both cards, and I hope I can jump in on your "elfing" expedition!
Both cards a re fabulous Darnell, hugs AlliC XoX
Amazing cards!!!! Especially I love the star lights on your second card, it looks so real !!
Two beautiful Christmas cards Dolly!! LOVE that gorgeous patterned paper you have. Really adds so much sparkle and shine on the black. Gorgeous paired with all white accents. Love, Lolly
Love the drama you achieved with these gorgeous black and white cards, Darnell. Love the embossed texture and the sparkly snow - so elegant!
Have a great weekend.
Hugs
Carol x
Two great cards Darnell! Love them both although your snippets one is really why I'm commenting of course. Clever to add that gold sequin - it looks deliberate! Super card all round.
Hugs
Di xx
Two fabulous cards Darnell, especially love the gorgeous winter nighttime scene with the schparkly moon xx
Two gorgeous night time Christmas designs, I love the sparkly paper you’ve used on both cards as well as the black and white themes. Stylish and peaceful sceneries.
Two winter beauties, Darnell - just love the black/white combo with all the sparkle! Congrats on being an elf this month - I heard about it from my friend Dawn and am inspired to play along. I have a new Christmas tree stamp that needs a go! Thanks for the inspiration!!
These are absolutely beautiful, Darnell! Love that black, sparkly paper!
WOW! I can't tell which one I like more, because both cards are amazing. I love how you created moonlight, black background, white landscape and gold ... a brilliant idea
Hugs,
BoΕΌenA
Two absolutely gorgeous cards Darnell!
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