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2024 Holiday

February 3, 2022

A Love Twofer

Hello Stamplings,

I hope you are doing well. Every day I hear about more and more friends who have Covid, or someone in their family has it. On this side of the globe, it's easier to stay in and keep safely crafting where it's warm and cozy. On the other side, spring is sprunging, so it's hard to stay in. Be careful out there. 

I just realized that if sprunging were a word (which it isn't), the g would change from hard to soft. It's like the word dung. The g is hard, but if you say the word dungeon, the g is soft. Shouldn't it be dung-e-on? "You there, this has to stop! Throw that man in the dung-e-on!" Nope. Not the same. I love words.

And I love making cards and playing in challenges, so here we go, doe-c-doe!
Another simples QACAS design. The background die is from Reverse Confetti. After I cut it, Hammy put the cut-aways back in place for the wow factor. The NBUS die is from Gina K.'s awesome "A Little Love" bundle. In real life the red is deep red and the black is pitch black.

Challenges

Twofer
Lolly kindly gifted me with a pack of beautiful pp a few months ago. I've made several cards with it, letting the pp be the star and only adding simple sediments. Thank you again, Lolly! I see a lot of you have been making really quick cards by embracing the use of the gorgeous patterned paper you've been hoarding. 👏 All together now: FREE THE PP!!

😂 That would sound like a medical condition if this weren't your hobby!

I will enter this as my first entry this month at NBUS #35. The pp is new. Remember you can enter whenever you use anything new to create! And starting this month, there will be guest designers to help me thank and encourage you!
~~~

Enjoy your day! No, seriously, enjoy, and be safe! 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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58 comments:

  1. Two stunners Darnell, the black and red one is so striking, love the background, the inlaid pieces do give it a wow factor and the font on the sentiment is beautiful. The dp is gorgeous too. Sadly my wishlist has gone on a diet, I put an order in with The Greetery and for those goodies to make it to Oz I had to extend the mortgage on my house! (Otherwise I'd be perusing the internet for your ingredients lol) Take care, Cathy x

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  2. Love the clean design of your black CAS and the second one is awesome with that wonderful floral paper!!!
    Google mail options work for me: If I choose "It's no spam" the mail returns on the inbox mails, while if I choose "delete forever" it goes in the bin...
    Hugs

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  3. Your cards are wonderful, I love the first one, with the amazing design and colour palette, and the second card is so feminine, beautiful floral images and design.
    I've just created a gmail account, as I've changed my broadband provider and my existing email will go, I must get the new email address to you.
    I'm keeping my social contacts to a minimum as I'm going into hospital for some test soon, so catching covid is not on the cards for me, you keep yourself safe, Kate x

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  4. Gorgeous cards Darnell and I am so pleased to see that Hammy stayed off the booze long enough to get those cut aways back in place so perfectly!! As a fan of an odd pad of PP or three, I think your pretty pink card is wonderful xx

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  5. Both cards are wonderful! You inspire me to hunt through my PP. The first card is CAS perfection! The inlaid dies make for such a clean black background, with great interest. And I'm in love with that Gina K die cut. If I can just get through Valentine's Day, I may be able to resist it. Thanks for joining us at Color Hues!

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  6. Wow Darnell, great masculine Valentines card and the birthday card is gorgeous! Take care!

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  7. I love the background die and the Love die. That is a fantastic card. The PP is gorgeous and the touch of gold is elegant. I'm all for freeing the PP.

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  8. Just love the black and red card with the inlays, Darnell - so striking!! And such beautiful pp on card two - I'm with you, set it FREE!! Hmmm on gmail, I don't even see a spam folder in mine...so I'm no help!

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  9. Love your LOVE card Darnell...Gina sure has come out with some beautiful word dies in the past year, hasn't she?! And yes, I think I have them all!! Hey, I'm a serious collector here!! But anyway, the card is awesome!! And your 2nd card??? Oh my gosh do I LOVE that PP!! It truly doesn't need anything but a simple sentiment added to it...absolutely lovely, lovely card my friend! We too know so many people who have gotten the virus, but Chris and I have played it very safe and just don't go out. We are both healthy and despite the COLD and snowy weather, we are both doing just fine. I'm doing a lot of reading and knitting still, but also having fun in my craft room. Not playing in as many challenges lately...I just kinda want to do my own thing, and I'm perfectly happy with that. I have been posting some of my creations to Instagram as it is so much easier than making a whole blog post that not many people even bother to look at anymore, and I get lots of inspiration from IG too. I resisted the change for quite a while, but I guess it's time to move forward with the times. I haven't totally given up my blog though, so never fear, I'm still around! Take care my friend! Hugs. :0)

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  10. Love the drama of the first card. It screams, "Ooh-la-la, it's time for love!" The paper on the second card is oh-so-beautiful. I love it when the paper does most of the work. Why should every card we make be so darn intricate with stamping, coloring, die-cutting, embossing, etc., etc. Some pretty paper and a nice sentiment can be just as beautiful. I know the frustration of dealing with the interwebs. I just wish I was a bit savvier when it comes to IT. When I need a new computer (which may be sooner, rather than later), I'm going to have the pros transfer all my files. I've always done it myself, but I'm ready to hand that job over.

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  11. Two fabulous and very striking cards and I especially like the second one. Beautiful colours and the touch of gold just finishes it off perfectly. I agree with you on the Covid situation. During the first two lockdowns here in the UK, I hardly heard of anyone that I knew getting it but now, it’s just everywhere! It really concerns me that things are seemingly getting back to normal but the death figures from Covid are still really high. I just hope it’s not too long that we can live in a world without it and thank goodness for card making as it’s a wonderful distraction from all the misery. I’m always grateful for the amazing crafting community that we have and for people like yourself that always make me smile, thank you and stay happy x

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  12. Two stunning cards, that paper is just fab-u-lous! Xxx

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  13. Two fabulous cards, Darnell. The first one is so striking with the colours you’ve used. Your second one is so pretty and feminine, what gorgeous patterned paper! I think I have enough patterned paper to last several lifetimes. 🤣 xx

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  14. Another fab Twofer Darnell, the second is so pretty and the second has a really masculine, graphic quality. The bold red sentiment looks so dramatic over the black which is relieved by the texture die cut panel. Hammy has a great eye for detail!
    Covid sucks, my daughter caught it just after a visit and was absolutely mortified she'd passed it on, she'd tested negative before she came. It's knocked her for six despite having been triple vaccinated. Four weeks on and she is still off work with fatigue.
    Thanks for joining in at Color Hues and keep safe. :)

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  15. Well these are stunners...the first one is so bold and great for a male or female! Love the true black and the contrast. I have to say though I love the second one with the foiled flower...so pretty and makes a lovely card. As the cost of living rises here in the UK maybe we should all use up the hoard of PP we have...and then we would need to start our own postal service to save on that cost!...lol xx

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  16. Again Darnell you have suppressed yourself both cards are adorable absolutely stunning pager background on your floral card and l do like the black & red on your first card totally wonderful cards enjoy your day xx

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  17. Beautiful job! Love the design on your first card!
    Have a great day!
    Marilyn💖

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  18. Words are awesome and I love when you think out loud about them. :) Yes, Covid has even hit our house, with both my girls getting it and being pretty asymptomatic, thankfully. My husband and I both got sick with hefty colds, but tested negative. Head scratcher. But I'll take it. Feeling better now, by the way. Your cards are wonderful. Striking and beautiful. Thank you so much for sharing, Darnell. Stay safe and cozy and keep making cards to stay out of Covid's way. :)

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  19. Two great cards !!!!
    Love the first one , great !
    groeten Ineke

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  20. Wow, two lovely cards Darnell. Love the boldness of the black & red card with that pretty love die cut. The second card is a wow card with that lovely pp. The sentiment is really all yo need with it. Thanks for sharing these beauties. Have a great weekend my friend.

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  21. Two brilliant cards where the word is the star but in each case the background has a major part to play as well, great idea to die cut and re-assemble to form an interesting one colour background. Think we are all guilty of hoarding beautiful papers which are 'too nice to use' so I'm with you, why not share them around on some lovely cards to showcase our sentiments.

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  22. Lovely cards Darnell, especially the one with the beautiful PP.
    Kath x

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  23. Two beautiful cards! I never thought of adding the same negatives back into a graphic die like the first card, but what a great look! Beautiful PP on the 2nd card too, what a generous gift those papers are! NJ on both!

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  24. Two radically different but stunning cards. Hammy is so handy for replacing parts into the negative spots, isn't he? Anyway, this looks like a winner to me.
    Lucky you have friends with such good taste in pp (that doesn't look right). The card is a gorgeous with all the foiled writing and outlines around the flowers. beautiful post.

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  25. Hi Darnell,
    your twofer cards are wonderful and such different designs also.
    The CAS one is fabulous and what a super backround die used and a great sentiment die used as well.
    Love the second one that is rught up my street as I love flowers on cards and those are so colourful and pretty.
    Hooray for blog friends with benafits that what I say.
    No seriously that was very lovely of Loll, blog friends are such sharing and caring people I find.
    Yes that Covid has struck again in the same fanily my Granddaughter who I made my card you commented on caught it yet again just 3 months after her last bout.
    This is the sister of the brother that was hospitalised.
    Luckily both times she only had mild symptoms and has not had the jabs yet.
    How different from her brother, but he has always been the sickly one.
    I have been exposed to it 3 times now and not caught it luckily and neither has my Son who is their father.
    I think we all may one contract it at sometime or the other.
    Lets hope it is a mild case for everyone.
    Lots of crafty love and germ free hugs. Jenny L.

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  26. Your first card definitely has the WOW factor but, hey, your second card made my jaw hit the floor! That paper! OMWord! How beautiful!

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  27. What an eye-catching first card, Darnell. IT just grabs attention. Wow I'm impressed that you found the perfect shade of pink for your sentiment on that gorgeous paper, another stunning card.

    And yes covid seems to be inching closer. I know so many more people who've caught it than ever. Hubs and I are still being very very careful. Hugs.

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  28. Both cards are just gorgeous my friend! Thanks so much for joining in the fun at our Make The Cards Challenge! Good Luck and we hope you’ll come back often.

    Darlene
    MAKE THE CARDS CHALLENGE
    DAR’S CRAFTY CREATIONS

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  29. Oh everyone knows you love words, Darnell, and I can tell your love for words in today's blog too! :-)
    Your love card is modern and striking. I love the style!
    The floral card has a totally different look from the first one. I would scratch my head, wondering how to add a sentiment to the floral panel, but you've found a perfect solution!
    Hideko xx

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  30. Two fantastic cards Darnell, and the black die cut background with the pieces kept in place gives a dramatic look with that gorgeous red and white die cut 'love' and white hearts over the top, and then that wonderful floral gold embossed designer paper and the die cut white on pink sentiment banner works brilliantly over the top, just the right size to be able to see lots of that beautiful paper. x

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  31. Love that bold Love card! Wow, such CAS and yet so effective, Darnell. And your pp card is beautiful -- love the built-in gold highlights that bring a pretty shine to the whole card.

    We are staying safe here, no illnesses here and hopefully your family is staying well too!

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  32. So lovely to know you're still have "a-weigh" with words Darnell!
    You also have a way with cards as these are both stunners!
    My mojo is elsewhere atm! Two of my kids have had the Covid, including my youngest who I have been trying to protect these past two years. Fortunately the omicron variety isn't as deadly as the others and they're both ok. Hubby and I kept expecting to test positive but never did so the boosters must work (and perhaps the vaccinations my two sons had last year kept them from developing enough load to infect us). My eldest son was boosted, but only the day before we calculated he caught it so perhaps it hadn't had time to start working. It's no better on the other side of the world where my sister caught it and she's incredibly careful and was boosted the previous week - zero effects though! Enough anectdotes though, even if they do concur with the science! It's still a scary time out there and much safer to stay inside and craft!!

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  33. Love the drama of the first card and hammy did a super job with the cut outs. And wow to that lovely PP and such a good idea as I am not too crafty at the moment must look through my pp and see when I need a quick card but no mojo. Sending hugs xx

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  34. Wow that first card knocked my sox off. :) Really a stunner Darnell. And what gorgeous pp from Loll. Keepers both of them….so pass them on now. ;) I’m staying busy creating a mess and made one card. Ugh. I was on roll back in December where’d it roll to? Take care my friend. Hugs Nan and the Girls

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  35. This first card is classic elegance, Dolly! What a pretty die cut love with it's backing and insetting the little strips gives a great looking background. Lucky you have Hammy to do the insetting! Love, love, love that paper and what a great way to use it! I need to stop hoarding and start putting it on some cards!

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  36. Yep, same here on the East Coast, when covid stared I didn't know anyone who had it, now it seems like family and friends all have had it! Thankfully I've not, or if I have didn't know it, but don't think so! The English language is a funny one Auntie! And they say one of the hardest to learn, which I get because look at all the words that sound the same but spelled differently, how some words you can hear the hard or soft letter, etc...not to mention all the slang. Love both of these cards, the black and red is so pretty-I don't know what it is about black and red, but I always think it is so elegant looking. I also love when PP can do the work for us as well and all it needs is a sentiment, so the second card is equally beautiful! We do need to free the PP for sure. lol Stay well, stay healthy Auntie! Hugs, Brenda

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  37. First, let me just say you had me in stitches this morning and it felt so good to laugh! Throw him in the Dung-e-on! LOL As for Covid, it is striking very close to home now. My father has had it for a week today and thankfully is holding his own and not hospitalized. I was so scared when I first got the news. Of course, Hubby and I had just been to see him two days prior, but thankfully are fine and tested negative. As for your cards...That Gina K love die makes such a statement on the fun geometric type background. Nice job! That DSP is as gorgeous as can me and definitely didn't need much at all. Great cards! Thanks for playing along at Color Hues and Please Take care!

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  38. Thanks for your thoughts on those words. My mind will often think of things like that and get very confused, so it is good to hear that I am not alone. Both your cards are superb this time, love the black and red and inlaying your cut pieces adds interest. I don't think I have ever done that with the same card, why not I wonder? Your PP is just beautiful and needs nothing more xx

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  39. D - I'm pinning your pp* card to try and replicate that gorgeous water colored look! Such gorgeous paper! It would be hoarded here for sure!
    LOVE that die cut on your fab classic black card, too!
    =]

    *reminds me of a game we played at a bachelorette party once! Pin the pp on the Playboy!

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  40. OH! my goodness, I LOVE your cards Darnell, both are just stunning in completely different ways. Love the black and red and the paper is just gorgeous, with the beauitful sentiment to show it off. Just gorgeous. Thankfully no Covid with us, but 2 teen brothers, in the family, have had it twice in 2 weeks!
    Faith x

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  41. LOVE both your Twofer cards, Dolly. Thanks Hammy for placing the die cut pieces back into the wonderful die cut black background, which is perfect for the beautiful die cut LOVE sentiment. The 2nd card is Stunning with the Gorgeous PP...Thank you for not covering up much of the pretty paper. I have been using pretty paper more than normal lately...so hard to resist when there are so many Stunning PP's out there!!! Enjoyed the chuckle from your words too:-) Love and Hugs or is it Hugs with a silent g? Stay safe and healthy, my dear friend:-)

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  42. Great Twofer! Love the black card base with the contrast of the red and white! Makes a fabulous masculine card. And good for you using the beautiful pp. I've been trying my very best (but I'm not doing a great job) to use my hoard of pp!

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  43. Ohh - gorgeous black and red card Darnell - Hammy must have been wondering what was happening with just the two colours! Love your teo-fer - that paper is stunning. I too am trying to reduce my PP! It's a slow process :)
    Stay safe
    Blessings
    Maxine

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  44. Two more beauties, my friend! The black die cut base on the first one looks fantastic and I love the feminine look of the second!

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  45. Two beautiful cards Darnell...the black card is really eye popping the sentiment really stands out....your floral card is really pretty and I love the beautiful background paper you've used...

    Anne

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  46. The black and red colour combination and the in laying looks so striking on your first card and what a beautiful second card Darnell x. The pattern paper look so very pretty x. Continue to safe your end Darnell x.

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  47. These are both stunning!!! Red and black is one of my fav combos and wow, is that pp ever pretty! I managed to keep my parents and myself clear of the Covid that hubby and daughter both had (and have recovered from)...THANK GOODNESS!

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  48. Both cards are just fabulous Darnell! The black and red card is bold and striking. In contrast, the floral card is soft and delicate. I must admit I am guilty of hoarding pp and my excuse is I don’t know what to do with them.
    I also want to say thank you so much for the opportunity at a guest design spot on NBUS. Take care and stay safe.
    Prudence

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  49. Yep, it's been going through our family along with a whole host of other winter ailments. Fun times! I LOVE your bold coloured Love card though. Says it all doesn't it. It's all you need the Beatles told me, so all I want right now! xx

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  50. Both cards are fabulous Darnell! The black and red card is bold and striking. In contrast, the pink card is soft and dainty.
    I know… I should use more of my pp but my excuse is I don’t know what to do with them (while I studiously ignore the easy to do example you’ve graciously provided).
    I just want to say thank you for the opportunity of being this month’s guest designer at NBUS.
    Prudence xxx

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  51. Dare I say two fab cards and rather quick to make I would think. Love that saying "free the pp"! must get onto that movement ;) just if there were more hours in my day and more days in my week!

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  52. So lovely, the background is so dramatic and your love sentiment really pops!! Thank you for sharing at the Color Hues!

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  53. I love the drama with the black card, Darnell. The patterned paper is gorgeous and the banner with the sentiment was the perfect addition to it.

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  54. Both cards are really neat...but6 YOU KNOW That I am drawn to that pretty PINK card! smile

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  55. FREE THE PP indeed! I love all the new things I learn on your posts, and I always smile and chuckle. LOVE your bold card for Color Hues, and so glad to have you in our gallery! The pink is exquisite, that paper is definitely meant to be used.

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  56. The first card is brilliant in its simplicity and its amazing contrast. I haven't seen the LOVE punch you used in this card yet, but it's really interesting.
    The second card really gets your attention with this beautiful designer paper. These watercolor flowers look stunning and it really doesn't take a lot of extras to make a really beautiful card
    xx

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Thank you for commenting on my blog post! I read and appreciate every one! Mwah! (Sorry I've had to set comments to moderate because of excessive spam.) Darnell