Hello Stamplings,
How are you? I'm sorry I fell off the grid there for a minute. There's been a lot going on ... but like you, I try to squeeze in a bit of time for making cards when I can.
Today I have a quick post and a quick card to celebrate the First Day of Spring. (Please keep your eyes focused on the calendar and not on what is happening outside your window.)
It's a shame you can't see how much this card glitters from Hammy's winking. This is a one-layer card (OLC) made by first inking direct to the stamps with markers, followed by a jeuzzing around with my Ziggies. The sediment is an old stamp that I think might be from Paper Smooches. Oh, and before he winked, you might be able to see that Hammy gave the background a very light pastel flickadoodledo.
I'm also playing with:
- Beautiful Blossoms: Floral with optional mood board.
- Cardz 4 Galz: Spring flowers.
- The Paper Players: CAS from Ann: Spring has sprung!
~~~
Sadly ...
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I know many of you have also lost loved ones recently and three of my bloggie friends have died in the last six months. It takes a toll.💔
🌬Also last week, we were finally impacted by the storms that have been rolling through California one after the other for weeks. The fierce winds took out two small trees and the whole length of our backyard fence. It's going to be a while before the fence can be repaired. Lots of other folks have lost trees and fences throughout our area and beyond, so the fence contractors are quite busy. My heart aches for the sweet birds, including "my" hummingbirds who lived in those trees.😢
Well, that's too much sadness for this blog! I don't want you leaving here sad, so how about a hamster butt to cheer you up? You can't look at that butt and not smile!
I hope you take care and don't forget to enjoy your day! No, seriously, enjoy! As I always say, LITS*.
I hope you take care and don't forget to enjoy your day! No, seriously, enjoy! As I always say, LITS*.
Mwah!
*Life is too short!
Oh Darnell, I am so very sorry for the loss of your brother. Sending prayers and warm hugs to you!
ReplyDeleteYour card is gorgeous! It shouts Spring! Those purple iris are beautiful!
Thank you for joining us at The Paper Players this week!
Darnell so sorry to hear about the loss of your brother my thoughts and prayers are with you all. It sounds like you have been having a particularly difficult time and I do hope that better days are ahead. Your card is so beautiful the colours are fabulous and the "jeuzzing" with the ziggies really brings it to life. Thank you so much for joining us at Less is More (I just love saying that) lol with this perfect one layer card.
ReplyDeleteHugs
Marie
I was only admiring the new green leaves of the irises in the garden this morning, I do love them. Your card is a reminder that they will be in bloom soon and also an idea for an up coming challenge. ;)
ReplyDeleteSo sorry to hear of the loss of your brother, how ever distant it must still be painful. Your cheeky photo made me smile though! Hope the fences get sorted and the hummers have found somewhere else to nest. :)
I am so sorry for your loss, Darnell. My thoughts are with you and all who knew and loved your brother. Your purple irises are gorgeous! It reminds of my childhood. My grandmother had the most beautiful iris bed. I love cards that evoke sweet memories. Thank you for sharing in my challenge this week at The Paper Players!
ReplyDeleteSo sorry about your Brother, sounds like you are due some better times.
ReplyDeleteI hope you didn’t hurt yourself falling off the grid, and I can see Hammy’s splattering, as for the backside, too cute and too funny xxx
Irises are one of my favourite flowers so I love this. Such lovely colours and great soft blending. It is a great one layer card. So sorry to hear about your traumas. It definitely hits home whenever we lose someone so young xx
ReplyDeleteOh Darnell, so so sorry to hear about your loss! :( It's always a so hard time when someone we love goes to Heaven!
ReplyDeleteSo sorry also for the trees and the birds...
Your card is delightful and those irises look majestic, I enlarged the pic and saw the sparkling, but I'm sure that it is much more IRL.
My prayers and big hugs to you!!
Oh Darnell I am so sorry to hear of the loss of your younger brother - and for the other losses you are having to bear. On a brighter note, your irises are beautiful - I love the combination of watercolour and sparkle. So pretty - and the hamster butt did indeed make me giggle! Thanks for playing along with us over at The Paper Players this week!
ReplyDeleteI'm so very sorry for your loss, Darnell. Losing a family member or friends is never easy, no matter the circumstances. I'm sorry to hear the bad weather made it to you as well and caused so much damage. I hope the playhouse was unscathed. Life does deal us a bad hand at times and it seems you've been dealt a full house as of late. You'll be in my thoughts and prayers, my friend. On the upside, your card is lovely and that Hammy has one cute tush!
ReplyDeleteDarnell, I am so sorry for your loss...must feel like you've lost twice...big hugs.
ReplyDeleteYOur card is lovely and makes me long for spring...though happily we are getting some warmer weather now and the nights are above freezing. Progress.
Darnell, so sorry for your loss, even though you weren't close it still is a loss nonetheless. Love your beautiful Spring card. So pretty in the purples.
ReplyDeleteTake care my friend and hopefully your weather will improve. We actually had big ole snowflakes this morning for a couple of hours. Nothing stuck but we are ready for Spring.
So sorry to read about your loss... It is a strange world where the younger ones go first... my dad (87) was the oldest of five siblings and since february this year he is the only one left of those five... He feels sad and misses them so much; they where close... But, he is getting every beautiful moment out of hie days as much as he can! Hope you can remember the good and funny and sweetand put some strenght out of that...
ReplyDeleteLove the card!
Isn't it possible to repair the fence yourself? I know... I am pretty handy and did so many different jobs like that myself... It would be quicker... Good that nothing else happend! Keep save and enjoy all the little beautiful moments... Hugs, Gerrina
Darnell, so sorry to hear about your younger brother, my heart goes out to you and all your siblings ♥
ReplyDeleteyour hamster but made me smile :)
Beautiful card by the way xx
Sincere condolences to you on the loss of your brother. It's hard to lose a sibling, whether or not you are close. So big hugs to you. Your OLC is wonderful. It reminds me of the irises my mother used to grow in our yard when I was a child. She was always so proud of them.
ReplyDeleteCondolences, Darnell, loss is never easy and it leaves the heart a tad empty, even if you weren't close due to circumstances. I'm sorry, and hope that time will heal this wound and fill it with great memories.
ReplyDeleteYour card is definitely looking of spring, and the sparkle is wonderful. Question? What was Hammy trying to slurp when you caught him off guard?
So sorry for your loss of your baby brother. He is in a better place. Also, wow on the storm damage as well. Good Grief. Glad you had time to sneak in a card for our OLC challange over at LIM. Thanks for playing.
ReplyDeleteNow that's what I call a hard few months Darnell - please accept my sincere sympathy, especially on the passing of your 'little' brother - it's hard when younger members of the family 'go' first.
ReplyDeleteThat sounds a very nasty storm (or series of storms) we had a big one here recently that tore up, and flooded, the "fruit bowl" of our nation.
Love your gorgeous card - the colours are beautiful, and Hammy has done well with the 'winking'
Blessings and prayers
Maxine
Darnell, I'm so very sorry for the loss of your brother, it's so hard no matter the circumstances in your relationship. And the loss of your bloggie friends. It indeed takes a toll. I hope you are doing okay. Then to lose your backyard fence and trees? So much to take in. Please take care of yourself. The card is lovely and ushers in a lovely spring mood. And that hamster tooshie indeed makes me smile. Thanks for all you do! Please take care. Hugs.
ReplyDeleteI love your irises...what a bright and spring like card and a technique i remember from way back. Sometimes the forgotten ones are the best. I am so very sorry for your loss Darnell and send love and hugs to you, and also sorry to learn of your storm damage...frightening...but glad you are safe. keep trucking...life will come good again I am sure. xx
ReplyDelete1st, I want to send Condolences to you and your family. My oldest brother passed away a few years ago and it hit me hard. We were 11 years apart so he was much like a Father to me instead of a brother. 2nd, Thanks for entering your lovely card in the Beautiful Blossoms Challenge. We enjoy seeing everyone's creativity.
ReplyDeleteDonna xx
Paper Funday Challenge
Inspiration Station Challenge
These irises are beautiful, Dolly! I expect the iris garden across the street from our house will be in full bloom soon. They look like these irises. I'm so sorry for your loss. Even though we sometimes live far apart, we hold family close. There is so much sadness. But hamster butts help to keep it from overwhelming us! Hopefully your hummers took cover before the trees blew down and will find another place nearby to take up residence.
ReplyDeleteYour flowers are gorgeous, Darnell! So sorry about your brother. Very sad. And your bloggie friends, too. Also sorry about the storm damage to your trees and fence. I'm glad your house is okay! Thanks for the hamster butt picture. LOL!
ReplyDeleteYour card is just beautiful with those sparkly flowers. It's a great welcome to spring - which is still not within sight here, only on the calendar! I'm so sorry you lost your youngest brother as well as your blog friends. There are so many losses of late, it's hard to imagine, but trying to cope with those losses takes a toll, I'm well aware. Wishing you brighter days ahead and just stay safe! Life really is too short. Heartfelt Hugs heading your way.
ReplyDeleteYour card is absolutely BEAUTIFUL Darnell (and a very Happy Spring to you too!) and I think you have hit the master level of Zigs! I should just send you mine as I have never learned to love them and they usually just end up frustrating me! Grrr!!
ReplyDeleteI am so very sorry to hear about your baby brother...he was my age and that's just too young! Cancer sucks!!! I'm also sorry to hear that the weather was mean to you and everyone in your state...so much devastation we see on the news! Guess I better just keep my mouth shut about Winter and just deal with it! Hang in there sure hope life brightens up for you soon! Take care my friend! Hugs. :0)
I'm so sorry to hear of the loss of your brother Darnell. Even if you weren't close, these things are never easy. And to lose blogging friends too, I'm not surprised things are weighing heavy on your heart right now. I'm so sorry you are going through this. Your card is beautiful (as they always are) and I most definitely did smile at Hammy's butt! Hugs to you, Lisa xx
ReplyDeleteoh goodness, so much sadness and my heart gos out to you and preayers-I got your card and sent an email thanking you but it may have been lost it all the mdness and I have not been around either-but I loved it and hugs. And this is a Spring joy too xx
ReplyDeleteSorry to hear that life has been dealing you a bad hand lately Darnell, and that your baby brother has been taken, and storms can create such havoc. Last winter we had a couple of storms on the trot which took down a lot of our fences which made such a mess, but it can be fixed and hopefully the hummers will find somewhere nearby to live and nest. The irises are so pretty and love the markers used straight to stamp with just a little more colour from your ziggies, such a beautiful OLC, and the bit of splattering and winking has finished it really well. x
ReplyDeleteI’m sorry about your loss and hardships lately. Personally, my worst year ever was 2022, but things are looking better😊 Spring? The only sign of spring here is that I can hear birds sing again. It’s very quiet during winter without the birds who are going south for the winter. But when we don’t have snow nature looks very brown, still waiting for spring greens. But, shouldn’t be surprised as historically we have the most snow in March. I love snow for the Christmas spirit but that’s about it. As for your card, what a beautiful one layer, loving the colors.
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry for your loss of your brother and the rough times you have been having. Sending prayers and positive thoughts. Beautiful spring card!
ReplyDeleteThis is a lovely spring flower card and Hammy did a good job too. We used to have those flowers in our yard many years ago. Your poor trees and fence. I'm so glad it wasn't the house though. I'm sorry to hear the news about your brother. I love a picture where someone looks so happy and he does in this picture. It's so sad to lose a loved one and having lost so many lately is so hard. I will say looking at a hamster butt to cheer me up is a first for me.
ReplyDeleteGorgeous irises card, Darnell! I love your beautiful coloring, and this card reminds me of one of Van Gogh's iris paintings. I understand that the strong CA sunshine vanishes all the pretty sparkle of Hammy's work in the photo. ;-(
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry about the passing of your younger brother. Losing your family members is never easy even if you were not that close to them.
I thought about you when the storm affected CA. So sorry to hear that it damaged your trees and fence. I'm glad that you were safe.
The hamster butt pic definitely made me smile! :-)
Hideko xx
Lovely, lovely card. What wonderful coloring you and Hammy did. TRS Concolences on the passing of your brother. I sure miss mine and now I am the oldest of all my cousins. Take good care of you, okay? Hugs.
ReplyDeleteLosing anyone in our families is hard, but losing a younger sibling must be particularly difficult, no matter how close you were. Your irises are gorgeous--the multi-colors are so realistic! No iris poking their heads up here yet. We just came back from a three week road trip so we did misstwo big snows.
ReplyDeleteI am very sorry for your loss, Darnell. I send you and the family my condolences and prayers. Close or not it brings it's own kind of grievance as a sibling. Your card is lovely and I love the touch of sparkle! Irises always make me think of spring and new beginnings. Thank you for sharing your talents with us at "Beautiful Blossoms". Good Luck.
ReplyDeleteHugs,
Jan
So very sorry to hear about your brother, Darnell. It definitely is out of order for the youngest to die first. Sending virtual hugs.
ReplyDeleteYour irises are just gorgeous - I love all the different colours and colour tones you got into the flowers. Great winking on Hammy's part!
Darnell, I'm sorry about your brother. No matter the proximity or circumstances, the loss is a sad thing to bear. The loss of your bloggie friends hits hard, too. I have felt that as well. People I planned to travel to meet and now they're gone. I'm also so sorry about your trees and fence, the birds, and all the trouble in your area and beyond. It's a lot. I'm glad to see your irises today in all their watercolor splendor. The colors within colors are an artful delight. I can imagine the winking. It's hit or miss capturing it in a photo. Thanks for ending with a smile. I couldn't make heads or tails of it at first, tee hee!
ReplyDeleteDarnell its always so very sad and upsetting to lose a family member close or not it always and still does hit home sending lots of hugs your way to you and your families, so very sad too regarding the destruction its so hard to see and very sad for those who have been effected by the storm and losing their properties my heart goes out to them all, you card is lovely has that spring about it and l love the colour take care sending lots of love xx
ReplyDeleteYour card is lovely and the purple irises are grand. So sorry about your brother and your bad weather. Thanks for playing in the Beautiful Blossoms Challenge and we hope to see you again! XOX, Aimeslee DT
ReplyDeleteBeautiful card! I'm sorry for your loss!
ReplyDeleteThanks for playing along at Cardz 4 Galz
Debbie - C4G DT
Debbie's Dash of This and That
Darnell, first your card is so pretty! Someone needs to invent a camera that captures all of our sparkles. Secondly, I’m so very sorry for your loss of your brother. May the memories of the times you connected with him become treasures in your heart and comfort you. Sending much love and many hugs, my friend! ❤️
ReplyDeleteDarnell so sorry to hear of about the passing of your brother, 66 is no age at all... just love your Iris card with a touch of glitz...thats the one flower I just cannot seem to grow in the garden...
ReplyDeleteAnne
Oh no, so sorry to hear about your baby brother, Darnell - so hard to lose a sibling at any age! My sympathies! And so sorry you suffered damage in those horrendous storms! Beautiful iris card - love the colors!
ReplyDeleteOh Sis - I am SO sorry to hear about the loss of your brother - kin is kin no matter how estranged and it is certainly a family loss - also sorry to hear that you finally got the bad weather suffered by so much of CA this year. I'm glad it wasn't worse than it was for you but a downed fence is bad enough! thanks for sharing the butt - I was feeling quite sad from your news...... I also love your card with its beautiful shimmery/watery iris! we are certainly all ready to welcome spring! hugs to you! Julia xx
ReplyDeleteI am so sorry to read of your loss Darnell. A beautiful card though and the hamster butt, well, what can I say!! xx
ReplyDeleteDarnell, I am so sorry for your loss. This last storm affected us too. Our street got flooded after 2.5 inches of rain (according to my other half's rain gauge). I am so thankful for the sandbags our neighbor placed around the house after that first storm back in January. Hang in there.
ReplyDeleteHello, Darnell. I'm sorry to hear about your brother, and for the devastation occurring in your area. May his family find comfort in their memories of him. There is something about losing trees - the sense of nature's long lasting "tall life" - that makes us miss them terribly when they are gone. I hate that all of these storms are hitting one right after the other - it produces a sense of trauma after a while. Wishing that CA can regain some normalcy soon. Thank you for showing your sparkling card of Irises. When I lived in Covina, one of our neighbors grew prize winning irises and I always enjoyed, even as a child, walking from plant to plant to view the colors and textures. Your card reminds me of that. We cannot grow them in Florida. Thank you for sharing your love of all things flowers at the Beautiful Blossoms Challenge. Looking forward to seeing more of your designs soon!
ReplyDeleteHappy Crafting Hugs,
Donna
{Creative Smiles - my little crafting world}
I am so sorry about the loss of your baby brother. This past week we lost two more of my Mom's siblings leaving just 1 of 7 still alive. Loss, no matter how close you are, changes your world. Thanks for playing along with us as Less is More!
ReplyDeleteDarnell, I am so sorry to read of your youngest brother's passing. Prayers for all the family. Also prayers for those impacted by the terrible weather in your area.
ReplyDeleteYour card is beautiful.
Hugs to you my friend.
So sorry to hear of your loss, my thoughts are with you.
ReplyDeleteI’m so sorry to read about the loss of your brother and also your blogging friends. Unfortunately we seem to be at that age! Roy has lost a few of his old army friends in the last year.
ReplyDeleteA beautiful card as always! And hopefully your hummingbirds will come back and find somewhere else to nest. xxx