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!

December 8, 2019

Inspiration

Hello Stamplings!

Thank you for taking a break from making/signing all those cards to visit me. It's a chance to rest your fingers. You needed to get up anyway to relieve things, stretch your legs, pour a wodka cup of tea.

That's how these cards came about. Hammy and I took a break and then, of course, we saw a coupla challenges that squirreled inspired us! So, in turn, we thought we would inspire you, real quick like.

Onefer
This card is QACAS all the way and the sediment makes it a bit non-traditional for a Christmas card. All you need is a pretty colored card base and die cuts and you're done. The Poinsettia Ribbon die is from Memory Box and the Hello die-cut was a gift from a friend, so I don't know who makes it.

Challenges
Monthlythemebadge
Twofer
This design was easy, too, just a little more time-consuming with the layers of pp, but it always feels good to use it. The sediment from Technique Tuesday was stamped in red and heat-embossed in clear for some schparkle. A stocking brad was added for punctuation and shazambam, doners!

Challenges
Grab Our Badge!
~~~

Okay, back you go! 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!

*Life is too short!

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54 comments:

Tracey@Hotchpotchcreations said...

Morning Darnell, oh yes it's so nice to take a break and have a catch up with a cuppa. That's a beautiful yet simple first design, if only I had chosen a Christmas die like this, my Christmas card life would have been much easier this year. Lovely little added stocking to your second and a message shared around the world.. Fabulous.
Thank you for sharing with us today hope you can find a little time for you during this busy season. Happy Sunday Hugs Tracey xx

Marilyn said...

Pretty cards! Love the pink one with the poinsettia ribbon!
Have a great day!
Marilyn❤

Kristie Goulet said...

Good morning, Darnell! I was so excited to see your pink Christmas card! It's so stunning! Love the little stocking brad on your second card! xoxo

Carole said...

Taking a break..as you said before the wrapping begins..and I dash to finish the last of my cards...hubby's is always last. I like your cards but I am a traditionalist at heart so i really like the red and white and the splash of gingham thrown in too. Have a good and productive week. Hugs xx

Bunny said...

Wow, you used a brad! I just saw a container full last night. I opened it and stared at them wondering why I still had them. Some are really cute. I think I quit using them because they don't mail well.

Anyhoo .....Cute cards. Especially the one with the pp. Hammy's looking pretty spiffy over there with his Santa hat on. [Bunny]

Pat said...

Fabulous cards Darnell and adore that MB poinsettia against the pretty pink and then the bright pp with the black gingham really pops on tbe second and love the little stocking brad and red sentiment to finish. x

Cat Craig said...

Wonderful cards Hon. Each perfect for the challenges you chose. Loving that b&w plaid.

Jean said...

Lovely cards!

Alice (scrAPpamondo) said...

The poinsettia ribbon die is so elegant and delicate, and matchs so well with the Hello one! The pink textured cardstock is a great choice! Love so much also the second one, WOW! It remembers me a festive mural on a street, how wonderful would be walking in a street and seeing this on a wall, with that sentiment! :D
The stocking brad is a fab addition!!
Big Hugs

cuilliesocks said...

Hello Darnell, what a gorgeous card, beautiful poinsettia die and design.
Lovely bright and cheery Christmas card too, Kate x

Verna Angerhofer said...

Yes, I know I have been working on getting the cards off in the mail. I still have a round of them to go and every year a few will trickle in unexpectedly from people so I have to return the favor. It is a reprieve from making them but I am starting to feel like I want to get back into the groove again. Thanks for inspiring me with your wonderful cards you showed here today. They are fantastic!

Sue said...

Hi Darnell, Fab cards.

Can I blow my own trumpet....well if you insist. All my cards and parcels have been sent and all hand delivered ones given out.

Hope you have a great week ahead. Sue

Fikreta said...

so beautiful cards!

Maria said...

Beautiful cards, Darnell! Beautiful color and dies on your first card! It looks like a pretty wrapped gift! And, second card is just too cute with the tiny stocking!

BożenA said...

A great delicate first card and amazing colors of the second card. WOW! I love this sock, it looks stunning
Hugs,
BozenA

Liz said...

I'm taking a break because all my cards are finally finished and ready to post. The ones going to other countries were posted a couple of days ago. (I'm polishing my halo here!) Your cards are lovely, Darnell. I especially love the first one, great design and the shade of pink is beautiful. The little stocking brad is a perfect finishing touch on your second card. xx

Sandra H said...

So pretty are both cards Darnell and the die on the first card is gorgeous 2nd card equally beautiful also the stocking so effective xx

Faith A at Daffodil Cards said...

All my cards were posted last week of November!!! I'm doing other things like gift boxes etc. BUT I wish I had seen these card before doing mine, they would have been time savers. Absolutely LOVE your card Darnell.
Faith x

conil said...

Thanks! My hand was getting cramped. So glad you came along to allow me to flex it and inspire me. The first card may be non-traditional but it has and amazing WOW! factor and the second, though traditional, is just perfect. I smell some winners here.

Bobby said...

My break has been far too long but it's always a treat to drop in on you, Darnell. Your QACAS pink poinsettia card is fabulous with that gorgeous die cut. Thanks for sharing it with us at The Flower Challenge.
I keep thinking I should use more of my pp and your red, white and black collection is right up my alley. Thanks for sharing that card at Just Us Girls.

OH Babs said...

You keep making Christmas cards and I wonder how many will you will have made this year.
Just finished a card this morning and I will make one more and then stop. My "across the pond" card has been mailed and now I need to address the envelopes - but only a fraction of what you will mail.
Thanks for the B card.

TK said...

Beautiful, Darnell, and I love that you used the Christmas poinsettia for a winter hello card! That die is gorgeous, and quite lovely all dressed in pink

Carol L said...

Pink has never been one of my favorite colors but it's growing on me ;) The white elements look stunning on that textured cardstock! Love the little stocking on the Peace On Earth card too - it's perfect CAS!

Greta said...

Love these--especially the pink one! I've gotta work longer signing cards--breaks are taking over--haha! So hard not to enter challenges, but it's my own fault I didn't get cards ready to mail earlier!

Lisa Elton said...

I knew right away your first card was for FMS! You nailed it. These are both terrific Darnell!

Jen Brum said...

What a great set of cards! Love the pretty pink card and the beautiful die cut flower! So sweet! Thanks for joining us this week at Freshly Made Sketches!

Cheryl W. said...

I'd say you and Hammy have done yourselves proud with these two QACAS cards. The die-cut on the first one is quite elegant. I think you could use it any time of year. Your pretty papers and tiny stocking on the second one set it apart, as well. Nicely done! So go ahead and have that vodk...,er, I mean refreshing drink.

Jacquie Southas said...

I adore the white on pink CAS perfection of the first card, Darnell! I hope you & yours are enjoying the holiday season. Thanks for playing along with us at Freshly Made Sketches this week!

frommycraftroom said...

Fabulous.
Bit hard to take a break if you haven't started yet! ;)

oldpunca said...

Thank you to remind me to stretch my legs. :-) And thank you for two simple but very attractive cards. Amazing idea for the "last moment". I'm waving to you with a glue and colors on my fingers. :-)
Have a nice week!
Hugs, Sonja

Bonnie said...

QACAS cards are perfect for this time of year! Love the textured pink background with the pretty openwork die cut flower. And that tiny stocking brad is the perfect adornment for the more traditional Christmas card!

Kara Lynne said...

I love that white on pink for a girly Christmas card! I have that poinsettia ribbon too, so thanks for the great inspiration! I love your pp layers on your second card and I'm so impressed with your crisp stamping on that textured paper. At first I thought it was a thin die cut sentiment. I scrolled through to see all your Thanksgiving and tree trimming festivities - beautiful cards, great kids, and at first I thought Nellie stole the show until I saw Duke curled up in Nellie's bed!

Em Louise Fairley said...

They are both adorable! xoxo

Patti said...

Two great cards!! the first one is so elegant! such a beautiful die cut. Your second card is as sweet as it can be made even more so by the pp you selected!! I can see your inspiration in the Card Concept photo. I say... to the top of the class with ya! A++++

Sharon Underwood said...

Love your cards, Darnell! As always, your blog is a lot of fun to read. Sorry I've been MIA for a while. Been traveling, recuperating from surgery (my hand strength is slowly returning and my little finger is uncurling as we speak) and now I'm making Christmas cards! Not sure if I'll get them all done by Christmas, but sure am hoping!

Karenladd said...

Yes well, making those Christmas cards are easy for me because I work on them all year round, but it's the signing and sending that kicks my behind. So, taking a break to browse your blog and have a third cup of coffee came just in time.

Loving your CAS cards and especially like the one with the little stocking brad and layered pp. I probably have some Christmas brads around here somewhere and really hadn't thought to use them in this way, so I'm on it now! Thanks for the inspiration

JD/ Jill said...

Both are pretty cards!

Linda W. (ScrappinBari) said...

Two fab cards, Darnell - especially love the white die cuts on pink and card two looks wonderful with the ribbon strips and patterned paper!!

Christine Alexander said...

Two great cards Darnell, I love the simplicity of your die cut and of course that adorable little brad.
things are getting a little frantic for me, my stash is running low so it's make and write time :)

Lisa Babitz said...

Your CAS pink holiday card looks great; I love the white die cuts on the textured card stock. Love the black white and red on the second one. The "hand drawn" look on your festive paper looks so nice with the thin, scripty font.

Julia Aston said...

The pink card is so pretty with the white die cuts Sis - and your Christmas card is so bright and fun with the papers you used and cute little stocking hung there!

Leslie Miller said...

Fantastic examples of quick and easy cards! Gosh, I have that poinsettia ribbon die and made multiples of QACAS cards with it one Christmas. Really love it on the pink! Your second card is a cute way to use some designer paper. The stocking is darling, too. Now you've gone and inspired others with your cards!

Linda said...

Two fantastic cards, Darnell. I'm still not getting to play in my craft room much as something seems to always come along, (like being sick) ugh...
I making the rounds today to say Merry, Christmas, my friend.

Linda Callahan said...

I always love a wonderful two for one event! Your first card is so pretty in pink....beautiful die cuts! Glad you shared it at FMS! And card number two is as sweet as can be for the holidays!

Redanne said...

Apologies for my lateness. Both cards are gorgeous, the die cuts on the first one are beautiful and I love the pink background. The DP on the second card is beautiful, very traditional, great colour choices and the little stocking is just so sweet. Big hugs, Annie xxx

KandA said...

Two wonderful cards Darnell, the pink and white colour combo on the first is brilliant with the MB die, and what a super way to use the papers on the twofer xx

Julie Gearinger said...

Both cards are perfect! Love the pink and white on the first one and the red, white and black (especially the plaid) on the second. What a great way to highlight how to get two totally different cards using the same dies. Thanks for sharing with us at The Card Concept- we hope you can play along again with us soon!

Mrs A. said...

Two fab cards. Lurv the pinkness on the top one.hugs Mrs A.

Cindy C. said...

Both card wonderful! I love the red, white and black color scheme on the second card and the stocking brad is the perfect embellishment for it.

StampinwithAnita said...

I really enjoyed your cards, Darnell! I love a good CAS card for your first one. The second card has such great layering for the perfect setting for the sentiment. I took a look at your "Playhouse" too - what a wonderful space both inside and out! Thank you so much for joining us at The Card Concept Challenge during this busy time of the year!

Celeste Goff said...

Two beautiful cards! I adore that delicate and gorgeous die set you used on the pink card. It really makes the card!

Aileen said...

Hi Sweetie, its been like forever but I am finally back to making cards and commenting here and there for The Flower Challenge. Love, love your cards particularly the one for The flower Challenge, quick easy and ohhh so pretty. Loving this year seeing so many people bring other colours into Christmas cards. The die cut flower and sentiment you have used are perfect.

Thank you so much for joining us at The Flower Challenge and we hope to see you there again soon. Lots of crafty hugs Aileen DesignTeam

Pia S said...

All my cards are ready and done, but I love the inspiration anyways as I now plan to get a head start on next year’s cards. I’ve got plenty of brads, I also think there are stockings in my stash, so thanks for the idea. The first card is a postage friendly beauty!

Jeanne H said...

Hello. The design and dies on your hello card is wonderful. Thanks for the inspiration and enabling. Hugs and Merry Christmas to you and all your family.