Hello Stamplings!
I feel guilty sitting here typing this on a beautiful sunny day with bright blue skies when so many people are suffering from terrible weather and power outages. I continue to pray that the conditions improve soon. It sure feels a lot like 2020 is still with us and I'm continuing to be on the lookout for locusts.😱
We crafters carry on no matter what and even when we can't craft, we love seeing what our friends are creating, which keeps the circle going. I wish I could be on the computer longer to leave more comments, but know that I am seeing all your blogs and marveling at your creations!
Onefer
I wanted to use a jar of my NBUS Nuvo Embossing Mousse and the challenge at the February CAS Mix Up Card Challenge was the perfect opportunity. Nancy is the host and the prompt this month is Stencil Heat Embossing.
To make this birthday card, I die-cut my own stencil using my NBUS "Prism Triangle Collage" from Birch Press Design and spatulated the mousse through it onto a charcoal gray card panel. Then I shot my heat gun at the moose, er, mousse and watched it plump up and expand. It looks cool in person, but I had to get a nose-close photo to really show it:
After that I ran the whole shebang through my Gemini using a Darice e/p to give the card even more textured personality. Then I popped up a simple sediment from GKW and attached the panel to a shiny silver card base. The texture and shine IRL are terrific.
Challenges: CAS Mix Up (stamping, stenciling, embossing), SSS Monday Challenge (add some texture), and Watercooler Wednesday (A/G with a masculine twist).
Twofer
This little number karacks me up. It was fun to make. I used the dog and cat from the Paper Smooches "Chubby Chums" set. Then I went through several Penny Black Christmas stamp sets to find the perfect Santa hat that would fit their chubby heads and I stamped and colored and cotton-balled it times two.
I think the sediment (which I had the critters hold up for me) is from Technique Tuesday. I used the Stately e/f to frame this unlikely couple of kooks, then masked the edges and let Hammy schplatter snow everywhere ... in addition, of course, to winking the Santa hats.
Challenges: CAS February Christmas Card Challenge (hosted by Susan with a theme of dogs and/or cats), Christmas 24 Challenge (cute animals), Christmas Cards All Year 'Round (beginning with C or D [cats/dogs], and Pixie's Snippets Playground - Ruby's Memory (snippets were used for the critters, hats, and sediment).
Reminder re Twofer
Thank you for all your wonderful 🎈BALLOON🎈 entries so far in this month's Twofer Card Challenge! The challenge ends on February 24th at 11:55 p.m. PST. On the blog, Designer Sonja has a fun Twofer to remind and inspire you! I hope you can join in the fun!
~~~
😢I hate to leave you on a sad note, but I want to let you know that I've lost two members of my bloggie family this week. Both crafty women had been bravely fighting cancer; one for a very long time and the other for a very short time. Both of these talented and wonderful women died too young and will be greatly missed. It reminds me again to tell you how much I appreciate you.💛
I hope you enjoy your day ... fully, totally, and truly enjoy your day. LITS* Take care and keep safe.
*Life is too short!
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71 comments:
Hi Darnell, Sorry you have lost two friends.
Here in the UK we are still in lockdown, but should hear Monday what the forward plan is.
We are in a tad warmer phase at the moment, after a very cold spell with snow and ice.
Love the cards. The second one made me laugh at the googly eyes:)
Hope you have a lovely day. Sue
So pleased, Dolly that you took the time on your gorgeous sunny day to make a beautiful heat embossed stencil card for our CAS Mix Up Challenge...Heat Embossed Stenciling:-) That is a Stunning die cut you used to create your homemade stencil. Love the color combo and sweet sentiment too. TFS your sweet dog and cat critters Christmas card too:-) So sorry to hear of your loss of dear blogger friends. I so appreciate and love you my dear friend. What a wonderful blog family we have:-) Love and Hugs...stay healthy and happy. Nancy
Sitting here kicking myself I forgot I had this set but on the bright side meant I HAD to order a new stuff for this challenge ;)and those googly eyes cards just made me smile ....Sorry to hear about your friends sending hugs x
Hi Darnell..two great cards...your envelope card could be used so different Occasions and your cute Christmas card made me smile...
So sorry to hear of your two blogging buddies passing...cancer is such an awful disease....sending you a big HUG
Anne xx
Two fabulous cards. The envelope design looks so stylish and I love the different textures, thank you for sharing at CAS Mix Up.
Your Christmas card is just too cute .... love the googly eyes!
So sorry to hear about the loss of your blog friends, sending hugs xx
Two fabulous cards Darnell, I love the Chubby Chums one and the uneven eyes.
Sue xx
So sad to hear about your craft friends never an easy time for anyone Your cards today are stunning those textures are just gorgeous on your first card Please send some sunshine to the UK almost forgot what warm sunshine feels like we have had a rotten winter Stay safe sending love Carole x
I simply adore your first make Darnell and a great home made stencil using a die with the pretty paste, and it works so well as the flap for your envelope, and love the super dry embossing over the top, and then your sweet dog and cat are gorgeous on the red for your Christmas card, and love the dry embossed frame and the hat you found from another set fits them both perfectly. x
Two great cards. Your Christmas card is just so adorable. Thank you for joining Christmas 24 challenge. Anesha
I am with you on the commenting but am here now to see these 2 beautiful cards. The mousse idea is a new one on me but sure gives a lovely texture and the second card is a lot of fun, sending hugs xx
Cute cards! Loving the cute chubby cat and dog! Sorry to hear about your blogging friends. Sending prayers
Have a great day!
Marilyn❤️
I am so sorry for your loss. Your cards are great and I'm loving "spatulated." Hahahahaha!
oh,Im so sorry...
these are beautiful cards!
hugs
Your die cut stencil (and expert stenciling!) gave such clean, crisp results, and I love the embossed texture added to the whole card. Beautiful!! And I love your adorable Chums on the second card. Cute, cute, cute!
I am so sorry to hear of the loss of two of your friends. So sad.
Great cards, Darnell. So sorry for your losses xoxo
So sorry to hear about your losses on two friends. It's never easy.
We are certainly worried about everyone in Texas too. We just watched the news and those poor people are not only dealing with no heat, the pipes are bursting, food is spoiling and they can't even communicate or know what is going on with out electricity. Ugh! It does feel like 2020 still. [Bunny]
Absolutely stunning cards Darnell just adore your two adorable images and the first card the stencilling and embossing add to another stunning card .....your right Darnell crafting does keep up busy during the horrible weather we can take ourselves away from it hopefully the weather will improve for those who are having it bad and so sorry to read you losing 2 of your friends sending virtual 🤗 xx
Oh Darnell I'm so sorry to here about your losses ... such troubling times we are living through at the moment. Prayers go up for their families & for you to find comfort in knowing they suffer no longer.
Your cards are both fabulous ... I've never tried that technique (now on my todo list) and I just love those two little goofballs ... made me smile and for that I thank you! Stay safe & healthy my friend!! Bitter cold and lots of snow here in Ohio but Spring is on it's way so we will continue forging forward!
Love that first card - that embossing folder is perhaps my all-time favorite folder! (Your die-cut stencil is great, too.) Love the second card, too. The splatters are wonderful. That is something that I haven't done, other than with a stamp. I really need to give it a try. So sorry about the loss of your friends. Cancer stinks! :(
Your cards are wonderful Darnell! The envelope card is my new favourite of your cards. Embossing MOUSSE? What will they think of next?! It's very effective anyway and I adore the EF you embossed the whole shebang with and that adorable little tag. Your second card is adorable with those goofy little cat and dog pals. Do they deserve a Stately frame? I'm not sure, but they look as if they're having fun in there! (Perhaps because it's snowing?) I'm very happy that you have sunshine and it's nice to think of you basking in its warmth. Especially as you could do with some comfort. I am so very sorry to hear of the loss of two of your blog friends. Sending hugs, Vicky x
I love the double embossing of the first card, Dolly! I wouldn't have dared dry emboss after embossing paste for fear of smooshing it, but I'm glad to see that it works! Very clever and classy card! Love the kitty and pup with their googly eyes! The crack me up too!
Nice that you made your owb stencil to reach this beautiful result! The christmascard is a fun and happy one! Hugs, Gerrina
Love, love your envelope card. Quite a talent you and Hammy have making these two cards. My dog would eat the stocking, just kidding. Hugs to you, my friend. Stay well. Glad you got the vaccine. Me too.
Your cards are so fantastic and well designed. I love them. And, I had to chuckle at the last one. So cute and fun! Sorry about your friends too. Cancer seems to take more and more each day! I feel so lucky I am as well off as I am compared to others who are suffering with it.
Such lovely cards Darnell, the geometric one is incredibly grown up and the cute critters holding up their christmas message made me smile!! Sad to hear about the loss of your friends to cancer, it is a cruel world indeed and you are quite right, 2020 still has us in it's grasp but I am sure freedom is on it's way...fingers crossed. Thank you for my beautiful Birthday card and kind words, it means a lot xx
I thought your card was an envelope at first Auntie and I thought wow that is a pretty envie. lol I love your card, I've never used mousse before, but it is cool the way it puffed up! I didn't know it could be embossed either, I learn so much...problem is it falls right back out of my mind. lol Anyway, this is an elegant looking card and I am so loving the colors you chose and the cool die you used. Your second card is adorable! These guys look like they are having such a fun time. Love their little hats and love the frame you used around them. They just make me smile! Snow day here Auntie, along with some sleet. It's crazy weather everywhere. But I am nice and warm and praying for those who don't have water or electric that it may soon be back on and for those temps in the south to raise up. They just aren't use to the bitter cold like that! Us yes, but the south, no. My heart certainly goes out to them for sure as well as my prayers. Hope your back keeps mending, although I know it is slow going. Just baby it please!! Love and hugs, Brenda
Whether as a die cut or stencil you've got a great pattern going on there in Card #1. It fits your challenges perfectly, and I'm especially happy to see it at CAS Mix up (in addition to spotting it in my Feedly, of course). Then, ohhhhh, the red critter card just reached out and grabbed me! Love the Stately embossed frame, the splatters, and how the critters are holding the banner. So cute! Oh, and those eyes! I'm very sorry to hear about your blog friends, Darnell. We can grow so close without ever having met. I do understand. Hugs from me to you.
I like your elegant dry embossed card. It is elegant with brighter triangle. Great idea to make your own stencil. Christmas card is so funny! Cute Santa hats for both of them. Background is fabulous. Just enough snowflakes. :-)
So sorry to hear about your loss of two friends. It hurts.
Take care and stay safe!
Hugs, Sonja
Lovely to see you in the CAS Mix Up gallery again this month with this beauty. I must remember to use my dies as stencils more often as you can truly do some very special things with them. The addition of the background dry embossing is just genius and so effective. lovely fun Christmas card too, googly eyes always bring a smile. So sorry to hear about your loss, very sad xx
So sorry to hear you lost two blog friends this week - it is so hard losing a friend. I understand how you're feeling - I lost two work friends to cancer last year, similar to you - one who battled it for a long time and one who developed a very rare aggressive cancer and died very quickly. Both too young with barely a chance to enjoy their recent retirements.
On a happier note, your card with the super cute dog and cat made me smile. The bright red background, their googly eyes, their mischievous expressions, and all Hammy's splattered snow - a great card! Thanks for joining in with the CAS Christmas challenge I'm hosting.
Sorry to hear that you lost two friends to cancer, Darnell. It’s so sad when it happens. I have a close friend right now who is suffering from ovarian cancer and another from lung/colon cancer. I’m happy that we can give encouragement and uplift them to some degree by making cards. It’s a blessing that so many of us can lean on this hobby to keep us going! Your cards are beautiful! Lots of wonderful texture on your first card! And, second card is too cute with the critters in their Santa hats! Love the google eyes, too! Enjoy the sunshine! We had 12 inches of snow on Monday and a couple more today. But, not complaining for we are safe and sound here in a warm house. My thoughts and prayers are with those in the south, especially Texas.
It's amazing to me how well you manage losses of friends while keeping your craft on. Guess that's why you're you and I just seem to be a mess...I'd rather be you. It does seem that 2020 is leaving it's leftovers all over creation but I honestly feel things will get better. Hope I can hold out for it.
Wishing Texas and the rest of the U.S. could get better weather and more of a handle on this pandemic. Still, we've got to keep are chins up and soldier on.
So sorry to hear you've lost friends Darnell, its always shocking no matter the cause.
The peril of living in California is the good weather (Until summer turns it into hell) while most of the country is slogging through wet stuff. We got snow and ice overnight and I love it. Means I can still make my winter cards!
Speaking of cards, your two offers today are fabulous. Love the doubling of texture on your envelope card and the googly eyes are always a winner! Hugs.
Two amazing creations, so different but both so striking!!
Hugs
Two really super creation, especially love the Christmas one, never too early to start. Super fun images and a lovely design.
Kath x
Two wonderful cards. Love the texture on the first and the cute critters on the second. I am sorry for the loss of your friends. This weather is impacting so many. Thoughts go out to them.
So sorry for the loss of your friends.
Your cards are beautiful, the first is amazing, looks quite complicated. The second is darling!
It will be warming up in Missouri next week, yeah!
Two terrific cards, Darnell! Those critters are too darn cute. Sending you lots of love, I'm so sorry for the loss of your friends.
Incredibly saddened for your losses, these are all too hard, regardless of age or health! Prayers for you and their families.
Your two cards are quite wonderful -- the first is awesome with all that texture and pattern going on, and the C&D are fabulously fun!
Oh Darnell - here is a passel of cyber {{{{{hugs}}}}}, plus prayers. to comfort you - losses are always hard, not matter who or when, expected or not.
Loving your amazing cards - they really are gorgeous, especially the embossed one.
Those two chums are such fun - they gave me a most welcome, and needed, smile.
Glad to hear you are keeping Hammy busy and out of mischief, and earning his keep :)
Stay safe
Blessings
Maxine
It is so sad when we lose precious members of our crafting family. My sympathies to you, Darnell. I knew of both the ladies I believe you are referring to, but hadn't had any real connection to them. It's just so sad, all the same.
Your cards today are wonderful. All the moussing and heating and embossing on the first one make it really special. It's a perfect masculine card - great colors, and it has a lot of dimension. The second card is just plain fun. You had me at goodly eyes on that one!
So glad you're having some lovely weather. We are finally coming out of the deep freeze. It was 12 degrees above 0 today, and it actually felt balmy after our sub-zero highs of the last week.
Sorry to hear of your two friends passing from cancer, Darnell - so tough to take on top of the pandemic!! Hugs from MN and love your cards too!!
I think I have some of that mouse, you just reminded me to pull it out with your wonderful masculine card.
Your Christmas card is adorable with the two little buddies celebrating Christmas. thanks for joining us at CAS Christmas.
Sorry to hear about your two friends, Crafty blog land has so many wonderful people ♥
Hi Darnell - so sorry to hear about your friends. Sending hugs x
On a positive note - as always your cards are just lovely. I adore the cute googly eyes on the mutts! Great work.
Here in the UK we have mixed weather - cold and snowy in Scotland, but here in North Wales it's mild and wet (today). Take care and keep safe, Deborah xx
So sorry to hear you have lost two blogging friends, Dolly. I am sending you virtual hugs, my sweet friend.
Your cards are so wonderful. I love that mousse that you've used on your first card. It's so pretty and pearly. Looks amazing through the stencil you made from that beautiful die. LOVE the texture of your whole card with embossing. Wonderful design and thank you for sharing with us at CAS Mix Up!.
Your fun Christmas dogs make me smile. I love how they pop off the red card. Those googly eyes make them look crazy fun! :) Thanks for sharing with us at CAS Christmas. Love, Lolly
So sorry and so sad for your loss...
Your embossed mouse looks amazing, especially with the design and you cleverly running it through with an e/b folder. Oh that Christmas card cracks me up too! I love it!
All okay here, I'll be in touch... Hugs
This pair of cards is fabulous! Firstly, I had no idea mousse could be heated but what a great idea/look for that first card. What can I say about the 2nd one except OMG, how CUTE! Those odd sized googlie eyes did me in, and then again so did those Santa hats! Brilliant makes today. I'm so sorry the blogging world lost 2 more beautiful souls. I read about one recently and I'm still remembering 2 others we lost in previous years. One sent me some hand-crocheted die-cut circles and as much as I love them I feel if I use them I'm giving away something to be treasured. Loss is never easy so I try to live each day with joy and appreciate all that I've been blessed with. I hope your back is improving and giving you less pain on a daily basis! Take care, warm hugs!
Firstly, I am so very sorry to hear of the death of your friends, it is always so hard to lose dear friends, my sincere sympathies to their families....
Well, who would have thought that grey would look so rich and opulent, I really, really love that gorgeous card, it is very classy indeed.
The Christmas card is just delightful and the googlie eyes are such fun! Two fabulous cards.
Have a lovely weekend my friend. Hugs, Annie xxx
Both fantastic cards. Love the texture of the first. and I love the chubby chums I have them! must remember to use googly eyes next time.
Can't imagine the cold, we are currently having days in the high 20's and 30's in Melbourne.
Sorry to hear you lost two bloggie friends.
What an amazing creation using techniques I've never seen before or seen used together. The result is veeerrry sophisticated! The quilting is just beautiful. Love the little goofballs too. Hope you are doing ok healthwise and in every other way. x
So very sad to hear about the loss of two of your blog friends Darnell....sending hugs x.
Wonderful texture on your first card and I love the way you used the mousse x.
The Christmas card is adorable and I can sure relate to the word 'chubby' at the moment! Great splats and winking from Hammy x.
I am still on the look out for those pesky locusts and I sure do appreciate you too Darnell x.
Those cute critters withe googly eyes just made me laugh! thanks for brightening my day! Thanks for playing along at Christmas 24!
Two amazing cards Darnell! Love the moody, dark colors and embossing texture on the first card and, of course, the shimmer and whimsy of the second card!
Great cards Darnell - I seem to recall the PB hat was originally on a robin. If so you get top marks for searching! You have too many commenters here to keep scrolling to and from/up and down - so all I will say is that I hope you, Kevin and darling Nellie are all doing fine. We trimmed Dudley! He now walks around wearing a small brown paper grocery sack on his head - we do to if we're with him! :) Sigh.
Lots of love and hugs
Di xx
I forgot to add, I suspect that Shaz Silverwolf would account for one friend lost to the Big C, if that doesn't sound hard, and I only hope the other friend isn't someone I also know through Blogland, I've cried so many tears over Shaz, are there any tears left? At times I do feel this pandemic is tearing me and us as a world apart.
Love, Di x
Wonderful twofers, but oh my goodness gracious! LOVE, LOVE, LOVE your super adorable chubby chums Christmas card! They put a big o” smile on ma face! The red is striking and drew me in! So great to see this in the CAS Christmas gallery.
Hi Darnell,
I am so sorry to hear of your loss. You are a wonderful friend, and I'm sure you're feeling it deeply!
Love both cards today! Your embossing on the first one is so striking and I love how you used mousse to add texture to your design! Your pup and kitty on your Christmas card just couldn't be cuter! I love their googly eyes and how you placed them holding up the sentiment...so clever! Thanks so much for playing along with us at CAS Christmas...we always enjoy seeing your creations in the gallery! xx
Sorry about your stamping buds. I lost one of my buds this week too... Many sorrows. hugs from MD.
How sad to loss friends at anytime. Your cards are delightful. I love reading your posts. Thanks for sharing your beautiful first card with us at Watercooler Wednesday this week.
Friends are so important and such a special part of our lives. It is so very sad when we loose one. I'm thinking of you and all their friends and family.
Your cards are great! I love your handmade stencil for the wonderful mouse effect on your first card and the super fun second!! Thanks for joining us at Watercooler Wednesday this week. Stay safe! Hugs :)
So sorry to hear of the loss of your two blogging friends. This year is not starting out very well. I have neglected my crafty friends terribly. Just saw on Colleen's blog that she is back online after being without power for 8 days due to an ice storm. Texas is all over the news and I feel so sorry for everyone there. Happy you are having some sunny weather. We have been in the deep freeze, but have not lost power. Have are you feeling? Hope your back is getting better. Love both of your cards! The die on the first card is amazing. I haven't seen it before but love what you did with it. The second card is really cute. Love the added touch of the googly eyes. lol Stay safe, my friend. Hugs, Sharyn
Both CAS Challenge cards are fabulous, Darnell!
Love the unique envelope design with the plumped mousse stenciled pattern and the wonderful dry embossed texture.
The dog card is so funny and adorable! The googly eyes and the shimmery hats with pom-poms are sooo cute!
And of course Hammy did a great job of adding fine spatters to the background! :-) Thank you so much for sharing this card with us at CAS Christmas!
Hideko xx
p.s. I'm so sorry to hear that you lost two of your blog friends this week... Sending you a big hug.💕
Cards are both great! I've never done anything with embossing mousse, very impressive! I'm so sorry to hear about you losing your blogging friends. Sending a virtual hug!
BEAUTIFUL Card my friend!! So sorry to hear of the passing of your two crafty friends - I hope you are doing ok with that. I am moving {again} and going through stuff and I've found SO many stamps and dies and products I have yet to use so expect me to be here often! Love, Christi
First, sorry for the loss of your friends. The two cards are very special. Very crafty first card. Tried my hand at the heat gun with mixed results. Yours is great. The second card is a smiley face moment. Love it. Take care of yourself and thanks for stopping by.
Love, Hugs and Blessings,
Jim
Sorry to hear of the loss of your friends, and at such a difficult time for their families who probably weren't able to spend as much time with them in their final days as they would have wished to because of this pandemic.
Anyway, sadness aside, your goofballs really made me laugh out loud. Those googly eyes!
Hope you are able to see something positive in the future. I've had my first vaccination and now understand why the phrase "a shot in the arm" is used to mean a positive boost, it really does feel as if the end of this horrible situation is in sight now.
Hey stranger! Both of these are so fun. The embossed stencil is a really fun technique and the cute critters with the googley eyes--gah! I miss Paper Smooches!
Popping in with my Christmas 24 hat - love the googly eyes on the mutts! Thanks so much for playing along with our Cute Animals theme at Christmas 24 Challenge. Deborah, DT.
I was just thinking today that so many people I grew up loving & admiring are gone. I know that's what happens when you're this age, but it's feeling extra sad to me these days. Sorry you've lost 2 more friends, Darnell. On a happy note--got my first vaccine shot today--hurrah! Feeling hopeful that we will see friends & do retreats again! 2 great cards--wonderfully unique 1st card & such a fun Christmas card! You've reminded me again I need to borrow that Stately embossing folder when we get together!
So sorry to read you lost two friends.
Love your homemade stencil, I was just thinking "oh no something else I need to buy!" but I think I might have a go at this myself, your result is amazing. Love that cute Christmas card too.
The first card is a revelation. Brilliant idea, great design and execution. The second card is the real manger. Please tell Hamma his snow looks amazing! But he is Grandpa Frost :-)
xx
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