Hello Stamplings!
I hope you are doing well! I've had a few great days as the weather is leveling off and I've had fun getting reacquainted with my Ziggies!
Onefer
.jpg)
You know, I still can't wrap my head around how productive I could have been during Covid ~ and wasn't. I put it down to the limbo state we were all in. Remember how the pandemic was just going to last for a couple of weeks, then a couple of months, then a few more months, and so on? It brought a sort of paralysis to our lives. And husbands and wives and kids were all staying home together, sometimes getting on each other's nerves, as the days moved to months and then moved to years.
With this hobby, it would have been the perfect time to be more creative than ever, and purge, super clean, and reorganize, use all that NBUS, and tackle all those techniques. I don't know about the rest of you, but it didn't work out that way for me. I was pretty much of a creative load, doing just the minimum to keep my passion for this hobby from dying out completely. It was all very odd.
All this to tell you that my dear friend Sonja, who lives in Slovenia, sent me the awesome flower and basket die I used today. She sent it to me in 2020 and I'm only using it for the first time now ~ and it was great fun. (I know, better late than never, but it did make me wax philosophical about the last three-plus years.)
And there is a happy ending as the pandemic has come to a close🤞and I can feel myself returning to the joy cardmaking brings me ... and remembering the joy it brings the card recipients! I hope you feel the same way.
Challenges ~ lots of spring flower challenges!
- Beautiful Blossoms: Anything Flowers Goes. Optional Mood Board.
- Double D: Flowers.
- HLS Watercolor: Option Flowers.
- The Flower Challenge: Pretty Pastels.
- Triple B: Birds, Blooms, and Butterflies.
.png)
Twofer
.jpg)
I've been trying to make a Christmas card for my Twofer this year whenever I post. So naturally, with that beautiful basket in front of me, Hammy thought we should try filling it with Christmas poinsettias. I used poinsettia dies from three different dies/companies. The NBUS border die is from Spellbinders, called Candlewick. (BTW, Hammy is sad it doesn't really show in the photos, but he wants you to know he winked both baskets and bouquets liberally!)
Challenges
- 52 Christmas Card Throwdown: May Colour Challenge: red, green, and brown.
- Peace on Earth: Anything goes.
- Snippets Playground: Anything snippets goes. My baskets and poinsettias were cut from snippets.
~~~
By the way, do you like my fancy photography with the pretty red ribbon? Well, 😕, it's there to let you eyeball the basket of poinsettias without being distracted by the boo-boo. Here, look:
.jpg)
Yup. That happened. The last thing I did was pop the bouquet over the basket. I had done some last-minute touching up, which apparently hadn't dried, so I got paint on my finger. I laid it there for a second while I sat all puffed up with pride, enjoying my incredible artistic accomplishment.
Moved my finger and 😱! It happens to all of us. I may try getting it off, but that might make it worse. So I think the best thing to do is send it to one of you next Christmas because you will understand and overlook it.
What schmear? I don't see a schmear!
~~~
Enjoy your day! No, seriously, enjoy! 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!
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!)
56 comments:
Fabulous work on all cards Darnell! Made me giggle about the boo-boo smudge. And of course, having sent you a card with the insert upside down a year plus ago - do feel free to earmark your lovely snippets card for me! Put a Post-It on it right now, in case you forget. Snort! x
Hugs
Di xx
They are both gorgeous, Darnell!! I would surely accept the one with the schmear! :-)
Covid has a lot to answer for, post covid as the docs are calling it round here, has me in a most unfit state. Fortunately my hobby can be enjoyed sitting down!!! lol
Great cards and I like the idea of making a C card as your second one. I think that basket die will be very useful, lots of things can be put in a basket.
Good idea on the coverup of the boo-boo! Too funny - and I would imagine we've all done something similar too! LOVE these cards - and what fantastic dies! Fabulous!
Lynn
Both cards are absolutely gorgeous, smear and all and yep I certainly have done those crazy things too and am certain I will keep on doing them!!
Thank you for joining our challenge at Double D, Peace On Earth, Triple B and Beautiful Blossoms!
Diane DD, TB POE Co-Owner and BB DT
{Nellies Nest}
{Double D}
{Triple B}
{Stencil Fun}
I know exactly what you mean about not making the most of the time during those lost years Darnell as I felt pretty much the same..my creativity took a massive nosedive. I wasn't too bad in 2020, but 2021 was dreadful and it did pick up last year, especially when I sensed we were coming out of it. I love your cards and the colours are so bright and beautiful on the first and such a lovely gift from Sonja, and your poinsettias fill that tub brilliantly, and actually the winking does show up. I had to laugh at the last photo minus the red ribbon..oops! I have frequently had inky fingers which have left their mark. I do have a Mono sand eraser which will sometimes remove all or the majority of a mark, but this one being bright red and on that beautiful ornate border I don't think that would work, but it is still a gorgeous card. x
both your baskets are filled with beauty, Darnell.
Gorgeous baskets of blossoms, Dolly! Love the peonies! The colors are amazing! And the poinsettias are so pretty that the color kind of had to spread out! Creative use of ribbon, my friend!
Fabulous cards with that barrel & flowers, Darnell!! Had to laugh - artful placement of objects to hide boo-boo; great idea and I'll have to remember it!! My solution for your ink smear is to artistically add more around that frame - bet it would be amazing!!
I totally agree with what you said about Covid - it would have been the perfect time to organize my craft room, but like you, I drifted along in limbo land (though I did have my heart attack and its subsequent recovery in there and that certainly didn't leave me with any extra energy). Oh well, no point looking backwards.... Love your two cards - gorgeous peonies, and of course a wonderful Christmas card. Great idea to use that same basket die and fill it with a poinsettia! Thanks so much for joining us at Peace on Earth.
I adore your cards today, Darnell. That basket die is a keeper, for sure! I can see it filled with all manner of things. Maybe you should do a series of Christmas cards and fill it with...candy canes, ornaments, snowflakes, holiday greens, toys, snowballs, etc., etc. I didn't get a lot of crafting done during the pandemic, either, but I did manage to get my kitchen remodeled--so that's something. Stay well, my friend, and craft on!
Darnell it's good to see you back, and hearing that you are enjoying being creative again - I was on my own during out major 'lockdown', and I had broken three ribs and my sternum in a fall the weekend before it started, so I was very thankful for embroidery as I could sit and stitch in relative comfort!! I also had fabulous neighbours, and we could often talk 'over the fences' ... it was character building to say the least!!
Loving your two cards, and I can well imagine that Hammy winked everything to perfection, with multiple layers for maximum effect. Hmm yes to that ooops, maybe a fallen petal??
Blessings
Maxine
Wow what fabulous watercolouring! Both cards are gorgeous, ugh schmears happen to us all, but the ribbon placement, genius! So glad we have our hobby, gives me so much pleasure, don’t care if the recipient likes it or not haha…..do really 😂 xxx
LOVE the bright coloured flowers in your first basket card. Aren't crafting friends generous??!! 2020 isn't that long ago ... I have things I've received as gifts that are much older. Geesh, where does the time go. I'm with you about the pandemic, I thought I would get more done - oh well.
I love the basket filled with poinsettias. Great twofer cards, my friend. Red ink is the worst for ending up where it shouldn't be. What can't it be a light coloured ink?? Murphy! xx
Gorgeous floral cards and such a long and interesting post to read, made me think and smile as always
Two fab cards Darnell, I'm sure you'll think of a way to camouflage the boo boo! You're right about Covid, it was a v weird time, there's only so much housework a gal can do before they get bored, but I did push through with the crafting or it would have sent me totally doolally! What, you think I'm already there. ;)
Two fabulous cards Darnell, even with the Boo-Boo. I think so many of us can hold up our hands regarding being under productive during lockdown and are now kicking ourselves when we haven't got time. Still if we ever have to go that route again I'm sure that crafters everywhere will be beavering away.
Sue xx
Yes Darnell, I will raise my hand and declare "Me too"! I lost lots of Mojo during that period because I just worried about catching the virus, wearing those dreaded masks everywhere and not being able to luncheon with friends. I HOPE we never go through anything like that again. As for your cards, both are stunning and what boo-boo? I don't see a boo-boo! Thanks for sharing with us at the Beautiful Blossoms Challenge. We look forward to seeing more from you soon.
Donna xx
Beautiful Blossoms Challenge
Paper Funday Challenge
Inspiration Station Challenge
I hear you about the whole pandemic! What a disconcerting time. We sure need to give ourselves some grace for having gotten through it! I'm so glad you are getting your mojo back. Your cards are so lovely! I don't see a schmear. I see a beautiful basket of pointsettias. I hope you have a lovely weekend, my friend!
I think the past few years impacted us all in many different ways and I find it hard to be the person I was just a short time ago. Your cards both turned out so pretty with those floral arrangements. I might be inclined to add a small red cardinal to cover up that smudge, or perhaps even a tiny gift-wrapped box or two at the bottom. It's beautiful and we've all dealt with this sort of thing so no worries. That is however a very creative cover-up with the red ribbon LOL
Beautiful baskets filled with gorgeous flowers …just catch up after a few days in Cornwall
Anne
Oh I'm so with you on your thought of covid Darnell. My sense of time is way off now, and forgetful..... well I guess that could be age lol. Anyway, I'm glad it's over to the main degree although there are still pockets of it. Our medical services has now told us that masks are no longer mandatory, yeah!! so it's good news.
I love your pretty cards, and what a lovely gift to receive, beautiful colours too.
What a pity about the mark, but it happens, as you say, it won't be minded by a fellow crafter. Keep well, hugs Kate x
You do make me laugh Darnell, I love your cards, beautiful dies and colours, I loved your setting with the red ribbon, and then you spoil it by saying - WHAT! You are like me and make schmears too! Why are they always in a place you can't hide? AND! After the card is complete? Never mind, it's still a beautiful card. It's also good to know the dreaded Covid is over and we can relax. I was in the garden relaxing, the best weather we had had for years!
Faith x
What, my trusted mentor made a boo-boo? :-) Fun way you let us know, and of course, we crafters don't care. You can send me the card. I probably would have taken the basket off, thrown away the rest and started over with a new base. Just saying. Hugs to you and Hammy.
Oh, and two beautiful cards. TFS What a great basket gift.
Two baskets full of prettiness, Darnell! Add a few more little paint smudges and sprinkle on some speckles or splatters... the recipient will never know ;)
Both cards are simply gorgeous, Darnell! We have all made those boo-boos! I'll take your card any time!
You always do such an awesome job with your Ziggs. Beautiful flowers. Sorry, I have been so negligent in thanking you for the beautiful Easter card. I am having a hard time getting back into crafting after all my traveling in April.
Hugs. Waiting for the three little munchins to come for the day.
Both your cards are absolutely beautiful, Darnell! I started ooohing and ahhhing first thing. I understand about the 2020 thing. We spent a lot of that summer outside. Then in 2021 we had all the work done on the house. I don't know what happened to 2022. I don't really have a good excuse for how long things sit in my NBUS baskets, but I have to quit it. I'm sorry about the schmear on your gorgeous poinsettia card. It does happen to all of us. That's oftentimes how I end up with a little something extra on my cards.
Brilliant Dolly! xx
I love both of your cards (as usual), and especially the proof of their being "handmade." ... I'm still in Covid limbo-land, struggling to make cards for close friends and family while skipping over the hundred or so others I used to send cards to. The supply shelves are very full, but my heart just isn't in design mode. I hope the juices will start flowing again soon, there's a lot of "stuff" to use up!
Dear friend, it's great to see your interpretation of these wonderful peonies. I like the coloring of flowers and also of basket. Also poinsettia looks great in the same basket. I have to giggle about the red "stamp". It's better if it stays this way. It's handmade, literally. :-)
It feels good to know you can go on a trip again after three of dark years.
Hugs, Sonja
Oh Darnell, these are both just BEAUTIFUL! Thanks so much for joining in the fun at our Peace On Earth challenge! Good Luck and we hope you’ll come back often.
Darlene
Co-Owner
PEACE ON EARTH
DAR’S CRAFTY CREATIONS
PS ... thanks for also sharing in the fun at our Double D and Triple B challenges ... good luck!
We all can see that the world has changed in a lot of ways during and after these three years. There would be many comparisons to make...
During the first lockdown I had my niece at home with me and we enjoyed any little moment, crafted and experimented so much together, but no clean up or purge, only create! :D It has been a long crazy time, so we were crazy too, but in our special way to choose happiness and keep our own thinking free. As is your blog quote, LITS ...to be conditioned by fear, media, etc.
Well done for having used that NBUS set of dies, how beautiful pot!!! Love both the cards and I can't see any smudge in the second one :D LOL
But IF I saw it, I would probably tell you that, if it bothers you too much, you could cut another panel with that nice edge, cut the middle part with a rectangular die and glue it on, to frame the vase with the Poinsettias. But I can't see any smudge, sorry for this :D ;)
Hugs, have a lovely weekend!
Hi Darnell love your cards as always eve the bloopers we all have them well placed ribbon we would never have guessed if you had not shown us , you do make me laugh wishing you well big hugs Andrea ❤️❤️🤗🤗
I love the cardl great colours and I can see them in a garden as easy!
I know what you mean about those 3,5 year; it felt so strange and made me first stop for a little while with planning things, then stopped more and more things and made me realy stop and think about the rush I/we did things. And than live started to get going again and I felt like I needed a verry long time to get going again, but know how I liked and wanted it. At the moment I'm not there totally, but I have changed a lot: are more in the 'moment', take a pause to enjoy that what I am doing, go visit and call people and do things with them (because we lost a bunch in those 3,5 year)... And then again I am shocked as I go to a specialist in a hospital and he doesn't do 'shaking hands' while "We don't do that since Covid" ? Doesn't make sence when you have to see and thus touch my knee in order to come up with something to do at the moment...? It did throw me back and put the thouhjt in my head: Oh yea, life has changed... And the 2nd reaction was: Back to what I came up with in order of changes! So.... I hope you get what I'm saying and hope you can follow up on all the things you came up with in those slow/still-standing and get back to 'normal life'- 3,5 years! Hugs, Gerrina
Here's to two beautiful cards, schmears or not! The basket is so sweet, and it works wonders with both flowers. I think we can all agree that it's happened to all of us, and while mighty frustrating, the dampened spirits are lifted again soon.
As for COVID, I think spirits are still trying to recover, I know people got angry, depressed and as you so aptly noted, frozen. Maybe it's because we went from frozen in life to a point of being too busy and overwhelmed with the catch up!
Two beautiful cards Darnell. Brilliant watercolouring with your Zigs.
Yeah the Covid years sucked, but life goes on and must be made the most of in as joyful and carefree manner as possible.
Thanks for coming to play in the Snippets Playground. Come and enjoy a cocktail (or two) up in the Treehouse later! Hugs, Sarn x
Two beauties Sis - using that lovely bucket with the lovely summer flowers and the glorious poinsettia! I was the opposite during covid and DID spend a lot of time in the craft room (not cleaning unfortunately, but making more mess!) that and reading books on the deck in the backyard! Can't tell you how many times I put a black finger on a just finished card - often on the inside when I'm stamping the sentiment - sometimes I can erase it off but more often I tear the front off the card and layer it to another card base ugh!! Julia xx
What a lovely gift from Sonja. You did it proud (well, you and Hammy). It is a happy card. What a shame about the ink smear on this stunning card. Beautiful poinsettias and I love the border die. I agree with what happened during the Covid years. I was somewhat catatonic during that time and had no desire to stamp much or for sure not go out.
Oh yes, we all know that feeling and the disappointment after all the effort. Great idea with the ribbon, but thanks for your honesty. love our colouring on the first card too. I think the pandemic had the same effect on most of us. Strange times and it doesn't really feel back to normal yet. Scratch the surface and there is a whole load of strife hanging around underneath xx
What a fab couple of baskety cards, inky boo boo and all!! xx
Stunning! Love that beautiful basket of gorgeous flowers, wish I had that on my back deck, so colorful! And your 2nd creation is just as pretty! I hear ya on the whole Pandemic thing, I can honestly say not one drawer, not one closet had been cleaned out lol What a waste! ;) Thanks so much for playing along with us at The Double D, Flowers Challenge. Donna, DT Member.
That basket is the perfect size to hold the flowers, Darnell. I'm looking for something like that. Who makes the one you have? If unbranded can you at least tell me the dimensions so I can look for one?
What a good idea to make a Christmas twofer. I've been trying to play along with 52CCTD but now that I'm at the lake I don't have access to all my Christmas stamps/dies. Too bad about the smudge. You can easily take the basket of poinsettias off and just make a new background. That's what I have done.
So glad you are again feeling the joy of cardmaking. I haven't made one in a few days and I'm itching to get back to it.
Hello my friend ... it's ME once again! LOL Thanks so much for joining in the fun at Beautiful Blossoms! Good Luck and we hope you’ll come back often. We appreciate your support!
Darlene
BB DT
BEAUTIFUL BLOSSOMS CHALLENGE
DAR’S CRAFTY CREATIONS
Well,you certainly made up for time by making not one but two beautiful cards with your gifted dies! I love the pretty pinks and yellow of the flowers in the 1st basket and then using the basket to hold a poinsettia on the second card was a wonderful idea. I'm so sorry about your boo boo - my fav is usually black ink or liquid glue on foil ha ha! Always lovely to see your cards in the gallery at The Flower Challenge, Darnell! Thanks for playing along!
Boo boo Smudge and the insert was the wrong way up Darnell made me lol....both of your cards are stunning love the basket l always love poinsettias they sit so nice and great edges too xx
Glad you are having great days with the weather leveling off Auntie! You have a way with words and you have summed up how I felt over Covid. I think most of us felt that way. Being home wasn't my problem, I'm a homebody as it is...so that didn't affect me. It was the news that affected me. It go so bad that I finally stopped watching the news and still don't watch much news to this day. Now on to your cards! What a beautiful gift from Sonja! I love this basket of blooms, so pretty and colored up so perfectly by you and Hammy! Then there is your Christmas basket, love the poinsettias in the basket as well. This basket die will get many uses I'm sure! Schmear???? What schmear???? Hugs, Brenda
These cards are stunning, your Zigs and your coloring made lovely vibrant flowers and like the touches of glitter!
What a lovely gift from Sonja! Your coloring with the zig markers is so pretty! I must use my zig markers more and was thinking so lately, but haven’t done it yet. Your poinsettia card is just as lovely! In regards to Covid, yes, am very happy it’s over. Some things stay with me such as keep hand sanitizer with me. I saw a dirty menu just the other day when I went to lunch with my sis. I immediately got out my sanitizer and used it. And, my mind went to that awful place where I thought maybe someone who held this menu had bad germs…maybe even Covid?! Anyways, things are much better thank goodness! Card making does soothe the soul. And, looking at your lovely cards make me smile! Take care, my friend, hugs!!
SO pretty!
Do you have a mondo eraser? I use that sometimes for my smears - they happen to all of us and yes we understand!
Hi! I just realized I have not been getting your blog posts. And I miss them. Not sure why. Lovely cards. I think the one with a smudge is perfect and would love it. I always enjoy your posts and will try to remember to jump on more often.
yep, I was the same during the pandemic and behond! I adore your flower card, such wonderful colours and layers-beautiful and sending hugs xx
That is exactly what happened to me too Darnell. Lots of time, lots of creative goodies,zero mojo because I was fretting. But the NBUS doesn't go away does it and the mojo comes back - such a great hobby!
Love your basket of bright flowers and applaud your decision to try filling the basket with poinsettias. Oops about the smudge of colour :/ That's never happened to me, no, not even ever! (This could be an outright falsehood!) Feel free to send the card to me. Without my glasses I'd never know - and I have no idea where I left my glasses... Mwah! Vicky x
Lovely christmas-flowers in your basket Darnel
Have a nice day Epie
Haha, Darnell, you are getting off easy. You need to schmear the entire bottom and top, or else do it all around, THEN it would look intentional. Just joking with ya. There but for the Grace of God go I. And I will again soon. Hate schmears! Thanks for linking up at Beautiful Blossoms Challenge! xoxo, Aimeslee
Post a Comment