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!

August 5, 2019

Bleached by the Summer Sun

Hello Stamplings!

I hope you've had a fine fresh start to this first full week of August! Is it the Dog Days of Summer yet?  Let me go look that up for us because I know you're curious now, too. Well, yes, it appears those of us in the Northern Hemisphere are in the middle of the Dog Days, which are hysterically considered to be the hottest, driest days of summer from 3 July to 15 August. There is a ton of information online about the term, mostly having to do with Sirius. The star, not the radio station.

It's been a busy time again with friends and traveling, but I have a quick card epitomizing the colors of August for you. Not that the card was quick, but this post will be uncharacteristically quick, so no need to make a Sam itch and put your feet up.
This is another card front I made at the 2019 ESCR, this time using the Bleach Technique taught by Susan. It's another technique that I have tried in the past without much success, but this time it worked so much better and I love the result. Susan provided us with splashless bleach which had only a very faint smell of bleach, so it was very user-friendly. You want to use an inexpensive small paint brush to apply the bleach and remove the color.

The background was made by first smooching Brushos and letting it dry. The Harmony stamp from Penny Black was borrowed from Lolly. I added the MFT sediment and matting back at the Playhouse where Hammy could help with the choice of sediment and the color of the matting.

Challenges


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68 comments:

Vikki H said...

Totally love this card, Darnell! It's so vibrant and full of cheer! Not quite sure what splashless bleach is but I'll try looking.

KarinsArtScrap said...

this is a very beautiful card Darnell

gr karin

!neke said...

Great card Darnell !
Hope you feel good in this temperature!

kiwimeskreations said...

What a beauty Darnell - I love the bleach technique - and Hammy did well with choosing the backing and sediment - give him a rub from me please for excellent work :)
Blessings
Maxine

Julie B said...

Such a pretty background Darnell, great technique with the bleaching too. :)

Sue said...

Hi Darnell, Love the colours in this fab card.

Hope you have a good start to the week. Sue

Kathyk said...

And it appears that you have rocked this technique as your card is simply fantabulous!

Happy Monday

Kathyk

Sue's Crafty Corner said...

A fantastic card Darnell, I think I'll have to go look up that technique.

Sue xx

papierelle said...

Wow!! That's so beautiful. I love the white flower on the exciting background.
Gundi

Lisa said...

This is so gorgeous!! The colors are beautiful!! I love the results of the bleach technique you used!! Have a great day!! Big hugs :)

Lisa
A Mermaid's Crafts

Marilyn said...

Beautiful! Love the colors!
Have a great day!
Marilyn ❤️

Aquarius said...

Love the colours and the bleaching has worked well. Often had mixed results when I've tried

Karen Brown said...

This is a gorgeous card! I've not tried the bleach technique, but your rendition turned out beautifully. Thanks for joining us at Watercooler Wednesday.

cuilliesocks said...

Hello Darnell, what a gorgeous card, beautiful colours and I love the background to the pretty floral image. Hope all is well with you,have a good week, Kate x

Alice (scrAPpamondo) said...

Awww.... Amazing card! The Bleach Technique is another that I have to try....
I don't know if I will have life enough to try all the craft technique I listed!!! :D :D LOL
Also here is hot, but not too much. We have had the hottest days (I think!) some weeks ago
Hugs!

Mary Anne / MA54K said...

Love this technique, and I must admit I have not used it in ages. This is beautiful.

HJ said...

Beautiful card, Darnell! Love the bright colors. Enjoy your day!

Janis said...

This is gorgeous, Darnell!! I love the colors....so pretty. What a great effect with the bleach. I've never heard of splash-less bleach....must investigate!! Hava a great day.
<3 J

jwoolbright at gmail dot com
HerPeacefulGarden.blogspot.com

Marcia Hill said...

Vibrant, bold, and absolutely BEAUTIFUL Darnell...love it!! Hugs. :0)

Jeanne said...

Beautiful card, Darnell. Yay to a successful technique! Great job. Thanks for the info on the Dog Days. Funny, it's during that time period that it is more humid for us in my neck of the woods. Ha, ha! And yeah, thunderstorms. Dog days for sure. I'm usually sporting a hang dog expression during this time. ;) Have an awesome week!

Bonnie said...

Your bleached flowers are so pretty, Dolly! I love how you've left some color in some of the petals that gives them a more realistic look and wonderful depth of color. I need to get some bleach out and play with it again. It was lots of fun!

Em Louise Fairley said...

So pretty, Darnell xoxo

Vicki Dutcher said...

Well done on your bleaching. It almost looks masked! Thanks for joining in at STB

Brenda in IN said...

Oh my, I am just bleachless, er, speechless after seeing this card. It made the most unique background and the colors are gorgeous. Hammy always just knows the exact thing to do and I hope he can give Cassie some pointers. The flower centers are such a beautiful color.

JoAnn said...

Great technique and beautiful card. Love the pretty bleached flowers on the lovely background. Thanks so much for sharing with us at Seize the Birthday. ((Hugs))

Pat said...

You've made a fabulous job of this Darnell and the Brusho colours are gorgeous. I have just looked up splashless bleach and I think it is possible to buy it in a pen style container here in the UK, and I think the results are much better than with water so think I may give it a try. As I work in the sitting room I am not keen to use household bleach in case I have an accident and ruin the carpet or something so this seems like a great alternative. x

bolletjelucky.blogspot.com said...

Wow what a stunning background on this beautiful card. I love this combination of colors Darnell.
Greetings Miranda

Lisa Elton said...

WOW Darnell, what a FABULOUS card!!

Trina P. said...

So pretty, Dolly. Beautiful colors. I just bought some bleach and need to try this technique again. xx

Cat Craig said...

So pretty, love those blues and greens and the bit of grain texture. Fabulous card.

Verna Angerhofer said...

This card is amazingly beautiful with the bleached out flowers. When I get back to making cards I will have to try this.

Gerrina said...

Wow a beautiful card! Great how the technique worked out so well! Hugs, Gerrina

jimlynn said...

Absolutely gorgeous!!! WOW!
Lynn

Christine Alexander said...

Beautiful Darnell, I loved this technique and now you have reminded me to pull out my bleach :)

Faith A at Daffodil Cards said...

Such a Beautiful background, I have so much to learn! LOVE the flower stamp, with the gems as centre, LOVE it.
Faith x

Maura said...

Gorgeous Darnell, this technique has been on my to do list forever, but your card may just get me to actually do it!!! Lovely card!

conil said...

Super impressive background for those sweet flowers. And those colors are soooo August. Laughed out loud when I read your research about the time span for dog days...apparently, they never heard of California.

Lucy E. said...

What a lovely card!
I must try this technique.

Linda said...

WOW! Amazing results from the bleaching technique. I love your colour choice too ..... gorgeous!! xx

Mac Mable said...

What a beautiful card and so very artsy. Your card is vibrant and love the bleaching technique and what a stunning effect Darnell x.

Sarah said...

What fantastic colours Darnell and your bleaching has worked a treat!! xx

Donna said...

This is stunning Darnell, the flowers are beautiful and the background is amazing!

Kathleen said...

Fabulous image and background, a really super card.

Kath x

Redanne said...

Darnell, your card is gorgeous and full of wonderful summer colours. The bleach technique certainly worked beautifully, I really love those flowers! As always, Hammy did a brilliant job too. Hugs, Annie xxx

Leslie Miller said...

Oh, my word, this is GOR-juss! Love the background! So you bleached the ink out of the background? I've only tried it on colored card stock. So pretty!

Lisa said...

I am so glad I found you! I love your blog! Thanks for stopping by MaydreamRose.com I am now your new follower as well! Love your Play House!

JD/ Jill said...

Beautiful cards! I like the summery colors!

It sure has been the dog days of summer in our area...
One of the hottest summers...I remember in a long time
However, the weather man promised us some cooler days this week.
I sure hope he is right!

Cheryl W. said...

I wanted to make a Sam itch, so I ran next door where Sam and Emily live. Really, they do! I asked Sam if I could make him itch (I thought if I were allowed to stand at the door and let some mosquitoes in, one would eventually bite him causing him to itch). He said a very loud and definite "No!" and shut the door. As he did so, I thought I heard him mumble something about the crazy old lady next door. Harumph! So much for a Sam itch. That said, I do love your card. I haven't played with bleach for a very long time, and I ought to give it another try in combination with some Brushos. Thanks for the inspiration!

nancy littrell said...

Beautiful Brushos background for your bleached flowers, Dolly. I have been wanting to try this technique again..you have me inspired by your beauty. TFS and enjoy the Summer. Love and Hugs..Nancy

TK said...

Beautiful card, Darnell, and I love your tip on "splash-less" bleach as I've never heard of it before (had to google it even!

Anita in France said...

Simply dreamy and so lovely, Darnell ... the colours in the background are just delicious ... that delicate floral sprig is delightful against them! Tried the bleach technique very recently with disastrous results ... the bleach bled, the smell was overpowering and the paintbrush disintegrated! So, I'm really pleased to hear about splashless, low odour bleach ... need some for the next time ... thank you! LYAMYBLMA! Big hugs and bisous, Anita :)

Sandra H said...

Aw Darnell this is so lovely and creative the background is amazing and the colours just gorgeous love the flowers the technique you use is just stunning your so creative in all of your arts ...we are still having rain here so what nice days we had was lovely just hope we get more take care x

Linda W. (ScrappinBari) said...

What a stunning background you created with bleach, Darnell - absolutely love this card!! Perfect with that floral spray!!

Unknown said...

Great card.

Sue - said...

Gorgeous ca4d Darnell - another technique I really must try!

Viv said...

Such a stunning card and love that technique too Dee. One day I will have time to try out all these new techniques I see!knee deep in packing up our old kitchen for our big re-do...wish me luck ;) hugs Vee xx

Ros Crawford said...

What a happy card with those vibrant colours!! I love it Darnell!

Cathy said...

Beautiful card Darnell, love the look of this technique! Those blooms look so pretty against the gorgeous brushos background, thankyou for playing along at Seize the Birthday too, Cathy x

Fikreta said...

So very nice card!

Celeste Goff said...

Love the color combination and how beautifully that background turned out!

Craftychris said...

Absolutely beautiful card! Stunning colours and I love the bleaching. A technique I can't do with actual bleach as the smell can trigger a migraine - most annoying! It's very warm here but definitely not dry, it's been pouring with rain today! Hugs my friend! XXXXXX

Linby said...

Just beautiful. Love the colours.

Brenda said...

Now the dog days of August make more sense. lol Because July always felt more like the dog days than August, but I see it runs through both months. I am going to have to do a little research now too, to read up on the dog days of August. Wow! That background is stunning Auntie! I haven't tried smooshing Brusho's before, must give that a try. I love that beautiful flower. Loll is a sweetie and I love that you all got to "borrow" each other supplies at the retreat. Love how well your bleaching turned out! Yes, the splashless bleach is much more user friendly and doesn't stink as bad. Cause let's face it, bleach stinks in a clean way. lol You mat that Hammy picked out is goes perfectly with your background. Just a stunning card! Hugs, Brenda

Greta said...

Oh wow--this is so striking & beautiful, Darnell--love it!

Greta said...

Wow--in the spotlight at SSS--congrats!!

My Paper Epiphany said...

Beautiful artsy card and gorgeous, fresh colours!

Sharron said...

Gorgeous--love the background!

Robyn Oliver said...

You ladies sure did have fun at the retreat.. love this 'bleached' card Darnell, it will definitely have to go on my 'to do' list, Robyn