Hello Stamplings!
I hope you have been doing well wherever you are and whatever seasonal change you are experiencing. Our hemisphere has been having xtreme weather again. We actually got over three inches of rain, unseasonably early for us, but we badly need it. Others, sadly, had wind and flood damage and my heart goes out to them.
Here in America, we are heading into the Trifecta of Holidays. First up is Halloween this weekend, followed four little weeks later by Thanksgiving, followed four little weeks later by Christmas. Followed by my usual 13.5 pound weight gain. It would be so much easier if these holidays weren't all within such a short time, but I wasn't home the day they called for my opinion on the matter.😄
For this post, I only feature two of the holidays, starting with two Christmas cards:
Are these NBUS critters from the MFT Picture Perfect set guinea pigs or hamsters? Not sure, but no matter, they are darlin' either way, so Hammy and I are declaring they are one of each! I chose the frame and coloring to play in the Color Hues kraft and red challenge, only to just discover that it ended this morning. Oops, I guess I need my head eyes examined.
Besides the sediment declaring this a Christmas design, I tried to change the sunflower seed into an ornament. Now, I'm thinking it looks more like a flask, but, hey, that's festive, too right? Maybe they had a long day planned dropping off Christmas gifts to all the relatives (hamsters and guinea pigs tend to have a LOT of relatives!) and it was cold and they needed a little nip of brandy now and then to sustainsiatate them.
Challenges
- Addicted to Stamps and More: Christmas.
- Cardz 4 Guyz: Animal (actual or animated).
- Jingle Belles: Not a creature was stirring.
- Peace on Earth: Anything goes with an inspiration board.
Twofer
This card is art and function. Whoever gets it in the mail this holiday can always use it to light the way if the electricity goes off! I chose this pretty snowflake frame from GKW to paper-piece in metallic gold and blue to join in the October Rudolph Days Challenge. Mo is dedicating this month's challenge to Kath of Plain and Simple, who passed away a few months ago. Kath was a well-known friend to many of us and she loved paper-piecing. I love it, too. It's fiddly, but so satisfying. I finished it with a simple vellum sediment from Penny Black.
Challenges
- Christmas Kickstart: Make one for a loved one.
- HLS Christmas: Anything goes.
- SSS Wednesday: Anything goes.
Happy Halloween!
I don't make a lot of Halloween cards and this silly card is my fav this year, even though it happened by accident. What happened was, I made a few cards using the ghosts from poppystamps Groups of Ghosts. I pushed out their eyeballs and tossed them off to the side because the ghosts are intended to be sheets with empty eye-holes cut out.
Well, I happened to push them onto a piece of discarded black card and, thankfully, Hammy looked up just then from sewing his pirate costume and he noticed how cute the eyeballs looked all by themselves on the black paper! I added a white-inked sediment and I used a NBUS embossing folder for a little texture. (It's hard to see, but it is a large conversation bubble.)
Challenges
- HLS CAS: One-Layer.
- The Male Room: Black and white.
- Two Old Bats: Anything Halloween.
~~~
Enjoy your day! No, seriously, enjoy! LITS!*
Thank you, too, for your continued patience and all your kind emails. I'm making lots of progress on the To Dew list, making Christmas cards, and I've had a confirmed diagnosis on the hip. Just awaiting word now on a date for surgery, which won't be for some months because everything is lackbogged. Same as everywhere, so can't complain!
*Life is too short!
To open the pop-up comment box that let's you jump to the end w/o scrolling: Click 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!)
67 comments:
Beautiful B&W card! Thanks for playing at The Male Room challange.
Great cards but my fave is the one with hamsters/gerbils or whatever - who minds, they are so cute either way. The 'Boo' one was a stroke of genius too.
What a fun card with the cute guinea pigs/hamsters, sorry you missed the CH deadline but thanks for sharing at Cardz4Guyz.
After a few weeks of very unseasonal warm weather, we have resorted to type, cold, grey and v wet! :)
What fabulous cards Darnell, and I love the one featuring Hammy and his friend - that is such a fun one - and great to see they won't be without sustenance as they visit all the friends and rellies!
Loving the snowflake card - that is so elegant!
You ghostie card is fabulous - love it, and I don't like 'H' cards at all!
Hope you get your surgery sooner than you hope - things here are all backlogged too....
Stay safe
Blessings
Maxine
Hi Darnell, Loving the cards, especially the gold one.
Hope you don't have to wait too long for your hip op.
Hugs
Sue
Three stunning cards Darnell, I love the hamster/gerbil card, the one at the front looks like he's trying to say something. Your paper pieced card is my favourite and I'm sure that Kath would have loved it also. And as for the halloween card, sometimes the simplest of ideas are what turn out the best, it's perfect. Thanks for joining in at Rudolph Days this month.
Sue xx
Thanks for playing along with us over at Cardz 4 Guyz...you rocked our "Any Animal-Acutal or Animated" challenge. And you are right...they are darling!! You can see excitement on their little faces!!
Wonderful cards, Darnell. So enjoy your humor and creativity. Glad you got some much needed rain and thankfully no damage. I'm sorry to hear you need hip surgery and hope it will go smoothly and you rocover quickly whenever it happens. Thanks for sharing your delightful cards. :)
Those are three amazing - and totally different! - cards, Darnell! You are so lucky to have a little helper in your playhouse to come up with more ideas and notice things that you might miss. LOL! Good luck with your hip.
I don't know if they're gerbils or hamsters but I always think of Hammy when I see something stamped with these fun guys! It's prolly best for their safety that the ornament only hold a little Christmas cheer! I'm lovin' the ghosts and googly eyes card and I know Jack will be happy to see something Halloween in our house! Those eyes on the black are AWESOME and so SCARY! I hope you don't have to wait too long to get your hip fixed! XOXO
all cards are great and what a great save for the ghost eyes, very clever. You can add your Christmas cards to Peace On Earth Christmas challenge if interested, we are NEW and going strong! As usual I enjoyed reading your post, I hope Hammy gets lots of Halloween candy in his pirates costume!!
The hamsters/gerbils are just darling! Love the elegance of your snowflake card. THe Boo card is just perfect! I hope you are able to get some relief as you wait for surgery. Hang in there.
Three fabulous cards Darnell, and I love your fun hamsters/gerbils on the first, and I instantly thought the background one was carry a bauble so it really isn't that obscure..I love the kraft and red and such a shame you were too late for the party. The blue and gold look of the second is so pretty with the snowflakes and I love the piece of vellum for the sentiment, and lastly the hilarious Halloween card with the just the ghostly eyes and sentiment..perfect, and the background embossing with the stitch lines and speech bubble is brilliant. x
Love these but that last one is GENIUS! I’m so swiping this idea with your permission.
Hi Darnell! Fantastic cards, the first one is so cheerful-put a smile on my face, the second so elegant-gorgeous, and the third is too cute!
I say they are hamsters and they are darling, Darnell. I'm sorry you missed the deadline. Speaking of missing, you said the gorgeous and elegant blue and gold card was for Rudolph Days but you didn't link that up. You can't get more CAS than that Halloween card. Kudos to Hammy for recognizing a brilliant card when he sees one. I must have missed a post along the way when you mentioned hip problems. Am I to assume surgery means a replacement? Sending prayers that all goes well when the time comes.
Fab cards Darnell. Love Hammy and friend and oh my paper piecing such tiny pieces,wow! But the eyes have it for me. :) I too must have missed a post about your hip. Prayers and hugs that you won’t have to wait too long for the op. Sending hugs, Nan and the Girls
Okay, clearly, I've been living under a rock. What's this about hip. Knew you were having issues but missed the underlying problem. Hope they can schedule you soon so that your Physical Therapy can begin. That's always so much fun.
Have enjoyed looking at your cards today...the hip doesn't seem to hinder your talent any. Those hamsters (that's what I'm calling them) look as though they've already started draining the flask. So cute, I'm sure it would have been a winner at Color Hues. Love the paper pieced foiled cardstock. That die is gorgeous. And who doesn't love two timid ghosts. Clever and so easy to replicate.
Hello my friend! LOVE your paper pieced card, the colors are so rich and regal! Your hammy cards are a delight as well. And your Halloween card is superb! so very clever, I love it too! So glad to read that things are progressing and now it is just waiting, the hardest part for sure. I will pray that all goes well when the time comes and you can be off and running again! I am looking forward to seeing you in person!! Heart Hugs, Col
Wonderful cards Darnell...the seed does look like a flask now that you pointed it out. I love that you put the blue pieces in the snowflake card, time consuming but totally worth it. Your last card is my favorite. Such a smart and sassy card. There will probably be afew like it next year as the season rolls around you trend setter! Hugs.
Hamster and guinea pig are both adorable. Ornament or flask, I choose flask. Of course the ornaments won't hang themselves so now I'm not sure. The blue and gold is just stunning. That is a great card and I love those little eyes peeking out on the Halloween card.
Three brilliant cards Darnell and lovely inspiration for us all. I do love doing inlaid die cutting and all things shiny so the middle card is my favourite. What a lovely tribute to Kath xx
I couldn't decide, either, whether they're Guinea pigs or hamsters. Their markings are like guinea pigs, but their ears are like hamsters. I guess it doesn't matter. They sure are cute! I love how you made them into a Christmas card just by adding red and a Christmas sentiment and, of course, the flask of Christmas joy. Your snowflake card is gorgeous and your Halloween card is perfection! Looks like critter eyes shining out of the dark. It's good to see your post today, Darnell. So many changes in our world these last couple of years. I'm not sure there's a good enough reason for all of it, sigh.
ALL of these cards are so creative and beautiful, but I have to say your B&W is just clever, accidents can have great results. As long as it's not body accidents! Thank you so much for joining us in our Black & White challenge at The Male Room Good Luck and I hope you will join us in our next challenge.
Faith DT
Wonderful group of cards. The critters on the first card are so cute! Love how elegant the 2nd card is and your happy Halloween accident is so fun.
The first one is so festive and fun with those cuties on it busy decorating for the holidays. The second is so elegant with the mirror cardstock and embossing die cut design. And I love the CAS Halloween one. Awesome idea with the white on the black with just that simple word Boo and the sets of eyes! I love these three designs a lot.
Oops, I should have thanked you for supporting our Peace on Earth challenge by sharing your darling Guinea hamsters!
Three great cards, Darnell - love the cute hamsters, the elegant gold with blue and the fun Halloween card!!
Fabulous trio of cards Darnell, the little furballs are so funny, the paperpieced is rich and elegant for Kath, and the Halloween one is so clever and made me laugh out loud! Xxx
Darnell - Thank you for once again writing a throughly enjoyable post and making me laugh. I was however prepared and did not drink my tea while reading. ;)
Love the metallic piece work card. Blue and gold look beautiful. And your Halloween card is perfection. I have too many stamp sets to count, but can say I only have 3 Halloween sets and three dies, one of which is ghosts. The eyes with the simple BOO is just wonderful.
I’m off to eat more candy..... can’t let you gain alone.
Love your Christmas card with the hamsters (but could be guinea pigs?). They look like they are ready for some holiday cheer! Thanks for sharing with us at Cardz 4 Guys!
I love all 3 cards. I really, really thought that the hamster had a pecan in his hand and you just kinda colored it a little differently.
I'm not eating one piece of candy tomorrow. I'm so overweight from the COVID it's terrible. Even worse, when I go to walk and overdo which really isn't walking that much I hurt my hips. Oh geez!
I'm pretty sure that's a pecan. [Bunny]
All the cards are wonderful. I especiall like the gold and blue
Christmas card. You did a fabulous job photgraphing that card. The last card I di with reflective paper...Yikes. No matter how many photos I took...It was so difficult to see the card.
Hope you are dointg well...
Love your little hamster / guinea pig card - they are so cute!! Too bad you missed the kraft and red challenge as that card would be perfect - I get so mad at myself when I just miss posting for a challenge and I have the perfect card for it! Next up is that gorgeous and very regal blue and gold card - truly stunning! And the Halloween "boo" card is perfect! Hammy will be adorable as a pirate. Fingers crossed you don't have to wait too long for the hip surgery.
Three great cards Darnell, all so different!...so no favourite here. Sorry to hear you are having to have surgery on your hip my friend and I hope your wait is not too long. Stay safe and take care. Hugs xx
I love your cards! and your dialogue.
It certainly is heading into busy busy time. We were let out of lockdown a couple of days ago and now its full steam ahead! til Christmas time - horse races, birthday parties, allowed to now "see" people and try and get sorted for Christmas. You will excuse me if I go MIA.
Love your card trifecta, Darnell. Each one unique, but equally fetching. The hamster/guinea pig duo is hilarious. I think the one is drinking from a flask, too. I'd be wearing a beer hat (with something stronger in it) nonstop if I had as many relaatives to give presents to as they do! Love the elegant gold and blue (paper-piecing is definitely a fav technique) and the ghostly eyes are awesome--and would be downright scary if I met them in the dark.
Hope you are doing well. Glad you got some rain. Have a fun Halloween. We'll be doing our part to give the neighborhood children a sugar high.
Hi Darnell! I know I'm here for your Christmas card, but that Halloween card is soooooo funny! You are clever. Love your other cards too. The gold and turquoise are magnificent together - wow! Thanks so much for playing again at Christmas Kickstart, Jo x
Thank you so much for adding your adorably cute card to our challenge at Peace On Earth!
Diane POE DT {Nellies Nest}
The guinea/hamster card is perfect - if the bauble is a spirit flask then it is fine for the season too. So cute!
The gold card is beautiful ad I love the blue showing through.
Your last card, designed by Hammy no less, is great! What fun and what a fabulous idea to replicate. If I sent Halloween cards that would be perfect.
Hope all is well with you.
Hugs Neet xx
A fabulous bunch of cards ..... love the little hammies, so cute! The paper piecing looks amazing, but I have to say my favourite is the spooky design .... I love it!!!
Happy Halloween my friend!! xx
Rain around here too, just got 4 inches. But we can't have rainbows without any rain, right?! But do we have to get it all at once? I think my neck of the country is going to be snowy this winter. The other parts that are flooding...well my heart goes out to them too. The weather has been xtreme for sure!
Yes, it would be nice if all these holidays were so close together. But they didn't ask for my opinion on the matter. lol
Love the guinea pig/hamster card! So cute, so adorable! I love how you changed the sunflower seed to an ornament or flask, both give Christmas Cheer! Your twofer is stunning, shinny yes, but that is perfect. Love the color combo. I adore the Halloween card, so fun and a perfect use for the negative off pieces! That Hammy is so dang good with his eye!
I'm sorry to hear you need hip surgery Auntie, but glad it is that and not something life threatening with the backlog and over crowded hospitals with Covid. Take care Auntie and keep us updated! Love, hugs and prayers to you! Brenda
Oh Darnell, once again you've made my day just by reading your blog post! LOL LOVE your two Christmas cards! I'm saying they are hamsters and OMG how cute they are and that 2nd card is AMAZINGLY BEAUTIFUL! Love the blue/gold color combo ... just gorgeous! OMG that Halloween card is just SO CLEVER! Thanks so much for joining in the fun at our Peace On Earth Christmas challenge! Good Luck and we hope you’ll come back often. We appreciate your support on our new challenge adventure!!
Darlene
PEACE ON EARTH CHRISTMAS CHALLENGE
DAR’S CRAFTY CREATIONS
Please stop in for a visit!
Three fab cards Darnell! Your hamsters are hilarious, your gold Christmas one so elegant and a real stunner, and your Halloween one is so simple it's brilliant!! Thanks for playing along with Christmas Kickstart x
I am with you on the weight gain Darnell and I don't need an excuse about celebrating an occasion!
What an adorable Hammy card and extra loving the 'flask' for a quick nip of Brandy.
Glorious and shiny second card, great paper piecing and a wonderful and thoughtful tribute to Kath x.
Well done Hammy on rescuing the third unique and fun third card x.
Glad to hear you've had the diagnosis with the hip Darnell but so sorry you have to wait so long x.....Sending hugs my friend x.
Hi Darnell, what a wonderful selection of cards today, love the cute critters and the blue and gold card is just glorious. Such a fun Halloween card.
I hope you don't have to wait too long for your hip surgery, but your are right it's the same everywhere. I'm waiting on a further appointment for stomach and colon tests, I was told a month or so, but that a few months ago, so I guess it's the "or So", take care, Kate x
Wow..... fabulous cards l am loving the hamsters 🐹 card and another tribute to Kath this is another stunning card such a lovely thought always great creations ....so sorry to read you have a long wait at least now you have the diagnosis take care stay well x
Hamsters win every time! Love that fun card but the winner today is "Boo" in all of its simplicity! Amazing!
Those have to be some of Hammy's relatives hamming it up! Three wonderful cards, Darnell. Hope all goes well with the hip issues. Sending hugs!
I’m all for a wee nip. Flask / Ornament…I won’t tell. What cute critters! They make me smile. Thank you for joining my challenge choice at Cardz4Guyz this round. Cheers, Jolanda - DT
All three cards are AWESOME, Dolly! LOVE the first one with a portrait of Hammy?? ... or maybe it's one of his rellies. Super cute! The gold and blue snowflake card is gorgeous. What a beautiful and elegant card. Love the way it looks paper pieced with these beautiful colours of foil card stock. And the Halloween card is adorable ... Hammy is so good at noticing a great way to use those discarded eyeballs. :)
Sorry I haven't been in touch this week. I don't know what happened to the days. Will call you early this week. Love you, Loll.
oh my goodness the stamp on the first card is beyond cute! I totally thought that was an ornament never guessing it was originally a sunflower seed. Love your inlaying on the second card. But your 3rd card - just genius even if it was more down to hammy than you lol! 🤣
I also want to thank you for your generous comment on my blog. It certainly means a lot coming from such a talented designer as you.
L x
Great cards as always Darnell. The hamster card is so cute, the blue and gold one is absolutely gorgeous and the Halloween card is the best one I’ve seen! Hope all is well with you and you’re not too affected by this weird weather! xx
Hi Darnell,
Happy Rudolf Days.
As usual your way with words really cracks me up.
Love your wonderful cards and their brilliant designs.
The Ruddy one is so luxurious and elegant and I love the colours used.
Snap I too am having great trouble with my hip I have to use 2 waliking sticks to move around now.
I am currently trying to loose weight ready for a hip replacement.
I have lost 2stone so far by giving up sweet things and snacks and only eating 3 meals a day.
Not missed it at all and hoping to loose another 2 stone.
Lots of crafty love and hugs from my house to yours. Jenny L.
Your cards are always gorgeous, Darnell. And thanks for the much needed giggle too xoxo
Your cards are cute-elegant-funny, in that order:) I think those white eyes on the black background is a brilliant idea.
The hamster/guinea pig card is just adorable, I love their little faces! The gold and blue Christmas card is just gorgeous, anyone who gets that one is very lucky indeed.
The black and white ghost card is just a delight and so clever, I just love it.
That is great news about your hip, I hope you don't have to wait too long my friend. Hugs, Annie xxx
Fantastic blac&white masculine card. Thank you for joining us at The Male Room chalenge. Goga
Absolutely fantastic cards, I adore them all! The flask goes well with the sentiment Christmas Cheer! A little Christmas tipple is definitely Christmas cheer! Your snowflake card is so pretty and the boo card is genius! Take care. Hugs my friend. xxxxxx
All three cards are simply fabulous, Darnell.
I really like the blue pieces in the snowflake card, so worth the time it must have taken! My favorite is your FUN Halloween card, brilliant move, Hammy ;-)
Hugs and best wishes for a successful surgery and speedy recovery period.
oh my word those cuties make me smile ... so very glad you joined us for our Creature Feature at Jingle Belles.
oh my gosh those hamsters (or other rodents lol) are BEYOND cute and you've built the perfect CAS card to show them off. so happy you could join our christmas critter celebration at JINGLE BELLES!
I love thinking that he's sipping from a flask! I'm right there with him! It does say Christmas Cheer(s)! Your blue and gold look so elegant together! Those eyes on the black are genius! Sorry I've been MIA (I know you posted about that too). Mom's been in the hospital all week, Kate has an overnight 18th birthday party here on Friday, and well...stuff. Now to get my eye to stop twitching! I miss you and need to catch up soon!
Wonderful cards!
Three terrific cards, Darnell, and I happen to love the "oopsy" of the eyeballs -- so fun!
Glad your weather is ok, we got some rain and a bit of wind here, but we're short on water of late so it was welcome!
And your holidays? I'm thinking you miscounted because New Years, although that is usually liquid fillers instead of solids :o)
Very effective black and white design - love it!
Thanks for joining us at The Male Room Challenge.
Helen x
(DT)
Doing a little catch up before hitting the sack. Love the blue & gold card--so elegant! Very creative Halloween card, too!
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