Hello Stamplings!
How are you on this fine day? You feel like you are winning just making it through one fine day after another, don't you? Yay, go us! And isn't it fun that 'go us' are the letters that bookend the word 'gorgeous?!'
Onefer
This one-layer clean and simple design features my NBUS stamp set from PTI called "Friend Til The End." I white heat-embossed the flower and painted it with my Ziggies in lime and brown. Then I stamped the sediment in brown and Hammy winked the flower to a fare-thee-well.
Interesting side note: Fare-thee-well originally meant 'goodbye' or 'I fare you well' on parting. Over time it has evolved to mean 'the utmost degree' or 'a state of perfection,' which is ideal for describing Hammy's winking skills!
Challenges
- Less Is More: One-layer favourite flower.
- Color Hues: Chocolate and mint.
- The Flower Challenge: Circle/Circles.
Twofer/Threefer
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I have made designs in the past that are similar to these, but I have not posted them. They are perfect for the current CAS Christmas Card Challenge where the prompt is "Pine." I love the look of copper with lots of white. I also love bronze e-p. And platinum e/p. I should use my metallic e/ps more often. Hammy, fetch your Bulletin Board of Reminders! Oh, sorry. I forgot there's no more space on it.
Update From Last Post
I made it through my Reading List and deleted over a thousand blogs because they had been closed for at least a year.😧 Oddly, a great many closed in 2015 and 2017. The process was very bittersweet and left me feeling melon collie. As I visited each blog, I recognized the faces, took a trip down memory lane, and was left wondering how they are now.
Bear with me as I come up with a new routine of checking out my Reading List each day to try and keep up with you. I have added Follow It to my side bar as another way for you to follow me. I will also start an email list for friends who don't blog so I can let you know when I publish a new post. I have a few names already, but let me know (if you see this!) via email if you want to be on that list. [darnell dot knauss at gmail dot com.] Thank you! Mwah!
Aaah Bless!
Warning: I know some of you don't like squirrels, so look away!
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Our temperature was 104 degrees a coupla days ago. I was happy we had the bird bath filled for our feathered friends ~ and once in a while for our friends who wear fur coats!
Immediately after lapping up his fill, this guy collapsed into his chillax pose! We had a stare-down contest through the window of the Playhouse until he got bored with me and moved on.
~~~
Enjoy your day! No, seriously, enjoy! LITS!*
As always, thank you for coming by to visit the Playhouse, being a follower, and leaving me some love! Remember that August 25 is Kiss-and-Make-Up-Day. I couldn't find it anywhere on the Interwebs, but doesn't it follow that August 24th must be Pick-a-Fight Day?🥊
*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!)
Three fabulous really CAS cards Darnell, and your lime green and brown sunflower is gorgeous ad I love the winking by Hammy...great job. I must say I didn't know that fare-thee-well meant anything other than goodbye, so was surprised that it now has this new meaning...you learn something new every day. Your pine branch and then the pinecone on the last look spectacular with their wonderful added embossing and metallic backgrounds to boot. Going through your reading list was a big job and as you say when you come across a blog that is no longer in use it seems so sad. The super photo of the squirrel having a lovely drink and then collapsing in a heap to cool off really made me smile. x
ReplyDeleteFabulous CAS cards Darnell, it takes talent to do these, I find them challenging. Great pictures of the squirrels.
ReplyDeleteIt's good to see another one of your NBUS flowers, and in such a pretty color! You're spot on with the CAS pine designs, too. Embossing is a magical thing and I've been doing a lot more of it in the last year or so. I wish I could remember all the things I remind myself to do, sheesh. Good luck with that. I applaud you for accomplishing the huge task you set for yourself. That's a LOT of blogs you had to delete! Maybe some of them went to Instagram or Facebook. Love the squirrel pics, especially the second one. I certainly don't have anything against squirrels and I think it's nice that they're able to find a drink on a ridiculously hot day. I keep three bird baths full. The birds enjoy them and the deer and probably racoons, too, drink from them. We are not 104 degrees, but everyone needs water.
ReplyDeleteSuper cute Cards!
ReplyDeleteWow! what a lot of work you had to do with the deleting. That's a lot of blogs. I guess I need to do some of that too. (But there just seems to be too much to keep up with these days).
I'm not a big fan of squirrels but your photos were cute, and I'm glad he was able to find something to drink on those hot days... Bless You...
Take care and keep safe. Hugs, Jill
Beautiful CAS cards today. I especially love your Christms cards. Our Christmas celebrations ought to be more CAS, don't you think? Thank you for sharing the photos of your furry friend. I'm not a big fan of the digging those critters do in my flower pots, but they are cute to look at.
ReplyDeletethree amazing cards Darnell, love your pine and cone :) thanks for joining us at CAS Christmas :)
ReplyDeleteWell done with the reader list, I use mine all the time but I know it's no where as long as yours, and those squirrel look so darn cute, Dylan would be after them in a second :)
Fabulously coloured flower, expertly winked, and love the cas Christmas cards too.
ReplyDeleteLovely pics of the squirrel too, and oh how I wish I could keep up with the blog techy side, but we’ll done you xxx
I like your CAS, your cards are perfect. I must use embossing powders more. Yes, I am cleaning my reading list too, it makes me soo sad sometimes... Lovely squirrel, I love them.
ReplyDeleteHave a great Sunday xx
Three great cards as always and thanks for sharing the lovely squirrel pics. Love your thoughts on the 'days' for 24/25 August 🤣
ReplyDeleteLove the Gerbera in the Color Hues colours Darnell, they're one of my fave flowers too.
ReplyDeleteThe squirrel looks exhausted, lounging on the edge like that, a bit like I felt last week too with all the heat!! Mind you I'm not a fan as they strip the bark off our trees, killing them. The OH has an ongoing eradication plan, but in a recent magazine there was a report about a trial to feed them a squirrel contraceptive to try to keep the numbers down. They are the source of a disease that is killing off our native red squirrels but they are immune to!
Stay cool!
Amazing CAS cards Darnell, the Christmas ones are so elegant! Love especially the first one with the lime coloured flower, so striking with the brown centre!
ReplyDeleteThe squirrel drinking and chilling is also more amazing, God bless you for putting water for the wild animals!! Thanks for sharing the photos!
Wonderful cards Darnell - love the first one in particular, especially as Hammy had such a great hand in it - or should that be paw?
ReplyDeleteI also love the metallic embossing powders - and you have used the copper to perfection here on these two cards.
I am still receiving your posts through my blogger feed... but apparently mine are not necessarily getting out, so I have also added Follow.it...
Loving your squirrel photos - especially the chillax-ing one :)
Blessings
Maxine
Beautiful cards Darnell! Love those Christmas cards
ReplyDeleteI really need to take the time out to go through my list also and delete some that are no longer around.
Have a great day!
Marilyn❤️
Dear Darnell... well blow me down you were just in my mind and thought must see if you're okay when your beautiful creations appear!
ReplyDeleteLove the go us bookends of Gorgeous.
And yes, go us! For making it through another day I totally concur.
And re goodbye.. it actually comes from old English of "God be w'ye" so we could keep going around in linguistic circles.
I do love your first card most of all as Christ in Christmas cards is my preferred, though I do also underuse my metal EP..
Just for record the "follow it"works and it was great to have your enail in my inbox, thanks so much for adding it.🥰
And that squirrel is the cutest.. if theyre native not ferral then theyre okay and even if ferral in heat be kind anyways.
Praying for you each day.
Thanks for sharing, and may God bless you and keep you and all whom you love safe and well.
Prayer hugs, Shaz in Oz. X
{Wonderful Words of Life - Shaz in Oz}
{Calligraphy Cards - Shaz in Oz}
Fantastic card Darnell, I love the green you have used on this flower, looks so cool. What a beauty this is. I love what goes on in your garden a squirrel and just staring at you, brilliant xx Aileen DT
ReplyDeleteI saw the flower card at NBUS (I am right next to it) and had to come on over and comment how gorgeous it is, love the colors, love the design, well heck all three of your CAS cards are beautiful!! Your squirrelly picks are great, had to laugh at the second one where he looks like he had a bit too much to drink, what do you have in that birdbath anyhow???
ReplyDeleteLLove your aquarel colouring on the first! Not jet into X-mas cards gere, but yours look beautifully CAS! And I love squirrels so finding these aquirrel pics here was a treat! Enjoy the sunday!
ReplyDeleteThree super CAS cards darnell..and a flat out squirrel!...lol I love your zingy flower...super colouring and your pine branches and fir cone look lovely with the copper embossing. xx
ReplyDeleteI love this delicious flower, Dolly! It's mint and chocolate remind me of an Andes mint. Yum! Love your pine bough and embossed pine cone! I love that metallic embossing with lots of white space to show it off!
ReplyDeleteThree lovely makes Darnell...love the vibrant colour of your 'friend' card it really 'pops' off the card...like the simplicity of your your second card with the branch and your pine cone...the copper card really adds something to the white card... we're not fans of squirrels as they always dig up our spring bulbs but your little chap looks totally exhausted...
ReplyDeleteIt's such a shame that so many bloggers have disappeared....blogland used to be so busy, I don't really do things like facebook or Instagram I still like blogs so will be around for some time...unless of course everyone else disappears!!!
hugs...Anne x
Smashing cards and great squirrel pix
ReplyDeleteI'm with you on the realisation that so many challenge blogs have closed and so many personal blogs haven't had posts in over a year - I should probably go through the same exercise you have just completed and, well done to you too
Happy Sunday
Kathyk
That flower in green is so refreshing and pretty. I love both of the clean Christmas cards too. That embossing in copper is one of my favorites and it's beautiful. That is a lot of people and would take all day to keep up with. It's a shame our friends drop off or give up stamping. There are several I miss and don't know what happened to them.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure your squirrel friend was grateful for the drink. No wonder he collapsed, I would too in that heat. I think that look said "thank you".
Love that gorgeous (see what did there?) green flower. I am going to have to bring out the Ziggies from their hiding place and try more coloring. The Christmas cards are lovely. So appropriate with all the shine.
ReplyDeleteThree fabulous cards, Darnell! Especially the Christmas ones - love those simple CAS designs with the beautiful shine of the copper. Thanks so much for joining us at CAS Christmas!
ReplyDeleteYour squirrel photos are adorable - poor guy coping with 104 degrees!
Hi Dolly. Your bright lime flower is so pretty and what a lovely was to brighten someone's day. Hammy did so a perfect job of winking! Lovely pine Christmas cards. I'm sure it wasn't easy to make those during 104 heat ... geesh! Thanks for sharing with us at CAS Christmas. I just love the pose of the squirrel ... he obviously doesn't like the heat either. :) Stay cool, my friend. Love,Lolly
ReplyDeleteHi Darnell, your cards are soooo beautiful, I especially love that gorgeous flowerhead, wonderful colour too.
ReplyDeletePoor little squirrel, I'd be collapsed in that heat too. I'm melting a 25 degrees.
I have people who have clicked to follow and they have never commented, and like you there are followers from years and years ago, that seem to have dropped out of blogging, like you I wonder what's become of them. Take care, Kate x
SO many "gorgeous" cards here Darnell and brilliant musings as always to keep us entertained and informed! Love that squirrel pose - and I totally felt like that more than a few times these past weeks!
ReplyDeleteYikes! 104! Very impressive you were still able to produce a trio of gorgeoUS CAS cards in that heat. Wonderful pine Christmas cards. I’m a fan of metallic e/p and only have silver and gold. The pine cone embossed with bronze e/p is so pretty and elegant. Thank you for joining us at CAS Christmas.
ReplyDeleteLove all your cards, and that squirrel is precious! Wonder what Hammy thought of him. :-) I do hope you are cooler these days.
ReplyDeleteYour lime green flower explodes into happiness, Darnell! It's fantastic. Loving the metallics on your pine cards and so happy you added them to our CAS Christmas gallery! Your furry visitor is too cute with all of his shenanigans and poses!
ReplyDeleteThat daisy is awesome, and I love your quick CAs cards with the pine and pine cone. I love the squirrels and your pics are great. I love he antics of those in our back yard the thieving lil rats.
ReplyDeleteI love copper (and all metallics) with lots of white space, too! Gorgeous Christmas cards, Darnell and your daisy is fabulous! Thanks so much for playing along with us at CAS Christmas! Stay cool, my friend ~ xx
ReplyDeleteWhat fabulous CAS cards they look so classy and thanks for sharing those squirrel photos I like squirrels and love watchin* them when we go to our holiday condo in Florida Hope you are well hugs Carole x
ReplyDeleteYour cards are all gorgeous, Darnell, as is the critter. Not sure how anyone can not like squirrels! xoxox
ReplyDeleteI gasped out loud when I saw your card over at Color Hues. It is just perfect, Darnell. I enjoyed reading your post as I start my morning, thanks for that. Your CAS Christmas cards are very pretty too. The pinecone embossing is so good and thick! Thanks for joining us at Color Hues. Take care!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful cards, Darnell - love the jumbo daisy and the CAS pines cards!! Darling squirrel cards too - you're so lucky to have caught him doing something cute :)
ReplyDeleteOoh Darnell you have created 3 fabulous cards each and everyone are beautiful, now the squirrels are something different lol l have done the same starred as they fall flat out they are amusing but also annoying when they chew through your garden electric lights lol l did have 2 but now only see the one so l do wonder what happened to the other??? xx
ReplyDeleteI have that flower stamp from PTI, used it quite a bit when I first got it, now it sits...lovely card in mint and the brown center! thank you for joining us with your two CAS Christmas cards. Keeping it simple and using ep is so striking! Oh and thank you for those pics of the squirrel, the last one cracked me up. I feel like that some days! ha ha. Have a great week, Heart Hugs, Col
ReplyDeleteBeing a huge CAS fan, I love your cards, Darnell! Well done. Also, the pictures of the squirrel are great, although I'm not a great fan of them. They can be so pesty!
ReplyDeleteOH! Such gorgeous cards Darnell. I love the simplicity and beauty in them. As for the squirrel, I find them so funny and cheeky too, we don't have them so much now since we had to take the bird feeder down due to rats yuck! Thanks for the idea to go into my Readers list and edit! I didn't even know it existed until a few weeks ago, but there I've only been on Blogger for 12 years!
ReplyDeleteKeep well
Faith x
You're so great at making CAS cards. I'm fascinated by your green flower, the coloring gives the image some debth, I really like it.
ReplyDeleteI'm just starting to catch up with blogs after being away for two weeks, where I actually did NOT read one blog. Actually that was easier due to the fact that internet access was spotty at best. Anyway--fun to see that CAS card at the top of your post in mint and chocolate! That PTI stamp is a favorite of mine, and it's been unused for far too long. I'm always glad to see a card of yours in the Color Hues gallery!
ReplyDeleteOkay, the cards are delightful but my real excuse to stop by today is to read your post! The squirrel made me snort!
ReplyDeleteOhh!! I love squirrels, they are a permanent part of my back yard, it's so much fun to see them out of my kitchen windows running back and forth from the feeders.
ReplyDeleteAnd I love this gorgeous CAS card Darnell, the white embossing makes the beautiful green on your daisy really pop.
Thank you for playing with us at THE FLOWER CHALLENGE.
Please stay healthy and safe.
XO
Maria/DT
Darnell your flower is so beautiful and I'm so glad to see you use an old Papertrey stamp. I still have some that I just can't part with. It is amazing how many blogs have shut down or people don't post on anymore. You are right it is bittersweet to go back and look at comments from the past. I am a terrible blogger these days, I just don't have the energy to go through my reading list. Mine is far too big but when I go to make cuts I just can't--lol! Life has taken quite a turn with my parents. So creating is in the back burner for now and only when I have a deadline. However, your card is so cheery and thsnk you so much for sharing with us at the Color Hues!
ReplyDeleteVery pretty cards Darnell! It's nice to get a jump start on Christmas. But I just have to say that I adored seeing the squirrel pictures. The one where he's lying down is so cute! Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteBrilliant cards Darnell! AND such a 'hot' squirrel indeed lol
ReplyDeleteHi Darnell!! Your cards are beautiful! I'm jealous of your head start on Christmas cards too! Haha! A side note, I had to find your blog via web search as I just realized I had not received an email notification any any of your blog posts in quite a while! Very strange I think! Cute squirrel photos too! He, and y'all, must be exhausted from that heat!! Many hugs!
ReplyDeleteAnother three fabulous cards Darnell! I just love your friendly squirrel, he looks so relaxed/ exhausted with the heat! xx
ReplyDeleteWonderful cards Darnell and equally wonderful pics of the sunbathing squirrel!! I too have recently done a bit of Blogger "housekeeping" and it made me feel quite sad that so many virtual friends have given up blogging, I know it's more time consuming but so much friendlier xx
ReplyDeleteThree beautifully CAS cards, I do love the first one best though. That green is stunning. Well done for making it through your blog list. that's a great achievement and I can understand the emotions that you must have felt xx
ReplyDeleteWow - what a treat here today Sis! LOVE your pine and pine cone designs, beautifully detailed stamps and so pretty with the copper embossing! - and your big bloom is gorgeous - looking so dimensional! So happy you are watering your wild life - we do too and I always feel bad when it's dirty or even completely dried up over night! We have just gray or black squirrels here - your california squirrels are so pretty with their mix of brown tan and black! He cracks me up in his chillax pose - I can just see you two staring each other down! xx
ReplyDeleteHi Darnell! Well, your CAS cards are a delight. Not surprised, and happy I was able to come and comment on the Flower. Challenge sunflower card. How lovely in. green! Always a joy. visiting your blog. PS we beat you by 1 degree. It's 105 here today. And I love all. wildlife, even the critters that chew up my drip!
ReplyDeleteHi Darnell,
ReplyDeletePopped over from the LIM challenge where I saw your very pretty and striking CAS card.
Then I saw the squirrel pic’s which cracked me up. Must admit I felt like the squirrel in the second pic during our recent heatwave.
Your pine cards are beautiful too.
Sounds like you’ve undertaken a mammoth task with your reading list. Xxx
That's a gorgeous stamp you've used Darnell and what a fab colour. Thank you for sharing with us at Less is More.
ReplyDeleteThree fabulous cards, Darnell. I especially love the first one. The lime green and brown certainly give it an extra WOW factor. I’ve only heard of the expression ‘fare thee well’ to mean goodbye. You learn something new every day! xx
ReplyDeleteWonderful cards Darnell ( and great photos of the cute squirrel!!) I love your beautiful green daisy - so striking! A perfect CAS creation with max impact!! Thanks so much for sharing with us at Less Is More Challenge. Have a good day! :)
ReplyDeleteFabulous CAS cards! Thank you so much for playing along with us over at the Color Hues Challenge!
ReplyDelete104 degrees should be illegal!! No wonder the squirrel had to have a drink! Your Zig coloring is so inspiring, Darnell--LOVE the flower card! I love metallic ep, too, & really need to use mine more often. The pine bow card is my favorite, but love the pinecone, too!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful friendship card, Darnell, your coloring is just exquisite! And the metallic numbers just let the light shine, oh so pretty.
ReplyDeleteAs for your critter -- well I actually thought he was a painting at first! I love the photo, and him chilling was too cute!
I admire anyone who can do CAS cards this well! I love that big lime green flower but the Christmas cards are beautiful too! That poor little squirrel looks heat-beat and exhausted. I can't imagine having to wear a winter coat in this summer heat! I should probably update my reading list too, it's been a while! Hope you are doing well these days :)
ReplyDeleteDarnell, 3 lovely cards. Love your mint flower and then the pine cards are perfect for CAS Christmas. Thanks for joining us. Hope you are doing well.
ReplyDeleteI'd be just like that squirrel if it was 104 here. No A/C at the cottage.
ReplyDeleteI love your CAS cards, Darnell. Metallic ep does seem to elevate cards somehow. And of course so does Hammy's winking.
I'm late seeing this because I keep forgetting to check my bookmarked blogs. I'll get used to it and it seems to work fine but since using Follow.it is easier I'll go ahead and subscribe.
I just love how zingy and fresh looking this card is, so beautiful. I'm not good at looking at my reading list.Great squirrel photos too.
ReplyDelete