Hello Stamplings!
How are you? I've got a cooler full of frozen neck scarves, so let me know if you need one while you're reading this. I really feel for all of you who have been under the heat dome for days and weeks now and my prayers are with the people of Greece, Canada, and Europe where there are both raging fires and heat.🙏
Group of Seven Cardmakers
This month the Group of Seven Cardmakers turned to 3D embossing folders for fun and Bonnie provided videos and examples for us to try, including sponging, watercoloring, and inkpad swiping. Several beautiful examples and the links to the videos are on the Go7 blog.
I wasn't feeling well earlier this month, so I only made one card, using watercoloring:
If I'm honest, I struggle with adding any sort of color, paint, or ink to my embossing folders or embossed panels. It's just one of those things. Fortunately, I love the look of embossing folders without color! Nevertheless, I'm not a quitter, so I tried watercoloring an e/f again.
I used a 3D folder from Simon Says and colored the bits with my Ziggies. As in the past, I thought it turned out meh. It sat there for a few days. Thankfully, Hammy came back from his bowling league championship bus tour so I could ask his advice. I'm going to take a pee break here while you get over laughing hysterically as you visualize eggplant-shaped hamsters bowling with those little tiny arms and legs.
After he ran around his wheel for five minutes, looking at the panel from every angle, Hammy saved the day as usual and we ended up deeming the card sendable ~ and that's what counts! I fussy-cut the panel and then outlined the bits with my fine-line pen. To add more interest, I popped it on another embossed panel, but I placed it too far to the right, so I added a strip of Washi tape for balance.
Please check out the amazing cards the other ladies have created using their embossing folders and all the various coloring methods!
Challenges
- HLS Birthday: A/G.
- Seize the Birthday: A/G.
- Simon Says Stamp Wednesday: A/G.
Twofer
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I made this simple design for the July Rudolph Days Challenge. I missed last month and need to catch up on making Christmas cards. I plan to use this design for batch-making, changing out the stamp. I'm also going to unearth my cache of Christmas pp, which should also work as backgrounds.
I don't have the packaging for this evergreen stamp and die, but it's a favorite. I stamped it twice on the card base and then once separately, so I could die-cut it and use it as a brooch in the upper corner. They're coming back, you know, brooches. The Picture Frame dies are from Waffle Flower.
Challenges
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This appeals to my dark sense of humor.
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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! As you can tell, I finally feel more like myself again. Thank you all for your ongoing thoughts and prayers. Stay cool and well!
*Life is too short!
That last quote got a good chuckle from me! The EF card is lovely, so I'm glad Hammie came along in time to help. The Christmas card is also beautiful. I've decided to do a photo card for most of our Christmas list this year, so I won't have too many to make. I should, of course, get a move on. The way time is flying by me, it will be December in no time!
ReplyDeleteHi Darnell,
ReplyDeleteHappy Rudolf Days.
Your embossed card looks very stunning and beautiful and I love the flowers.
What a great Rudolf one and I love your wonderful design it's such another stunning creation.
Love how you have done the apertures and the stamping underneath.
All finished off perfectly with the die cut too.
I love your sense of houmour I must remember that when I dust as I hate dusting so it's a good excuse for me not to do it.
Thank you for joining the Rudolf Challenge.
Lots of crafty love and hugs from my house to yours. Jenny L. DT
I think your coloured embossed card has turned out very well, using the fine liner and cutting out the image were great ideas. I struggle with this technique too. I can't seem to keep the colour where I want it. I am glad you are feeling a bit better. At least, you imply that you are. Love the extra frame on your pine frond card. Great idea xx
ReplyDeleteStunning colored embossing and like that Christmas card. Hope you feel better soon.
ReplyDeleteVery pretty coloring on your sweet round embossed blooms and stems Sis!They look lovely against the embossed background. So sorry you've been not well - and glad to hear you are rallying - I'm sure you missed Hammy and glad he is back to help you out in the craft room when you need important decisions made! I can see why you love that die cut pine branch - what a beauty and easy to make multiples! We are in a heat wave for the weekend - but have not had the continued heat of the west and Texas. Julia xx
ReplyDeleteYour coloured blooms look fine to me and I love the contrast embossed background. The slightly offset looks as if it was meant to be! I need a heated scarf as the weather here has been rather wet miserable. Still it's warmed up these last couple of days so it's nice and muggy now! ;)
ReplyDeleteStunning holiday card, Darnell! Love the design... so beautiful! Thanks for playing along with the Christmas in July 2023 {BYSHC} Linky Party!
ReplyDeleteLove this!
ReplyDeleteyour embossed and fussy cut flowers are so pretty, the embossing really adds dimension to the whole flower. Wow the pine branch is gorgeous, wonderful shades of greens and love the framing. xx
ReplyDeleteI hope you're feeling better ♥
Beautiful cards. Love that embossing with the florals.
ReplyDeleteSuch an elegant Christmas card. Love it. Thanks for playing along with us at BYSHC Christmas in July Linky Party.
You always make me laugh with your posts, love the idea of Hammy playing at bowling, hope that someone haven't exchanges him with a bowling ball... :D And also the thought about dust is so fun, I have to remember this quote in my own defense!! LOL
ReplyDeleteGreat use of the 3D folder, the watercoloured flowers are so pretty and that washi adds interest! The Christmas card looks so beautiful too!
Have a lovely weekend!
Your floral card is so pretty and full of interest. Love the layers on your pretty Christmas card.
ReplyDeleteYou did great!! I LOVE your embossed blossoms ... wonderful colouring ... they brightened my day, my sweet friend. And your twofer card is an awesome design to multi-batch. So happy that you are now feeling better, although not 100% yet! Take care. Love, Lolly
ReplyDeleteGlad you are feeling better and were able to get your two lovely cards done with Hammy's help of course. Love your fussy cut flowers on the first one and how you laid them on another embossed panel. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteOMG, Darnell! I am still laughing from reading your post - whether it's Hammy or the dust photo! Thank YOU! Your fern brooch in the corner is eye catching! Such a brilliant idea to use this sketch with different stamps and papers for other cards! I am so glad you found your way to the {BYSHC} Christmas in July Linky Party! (We'll have another one on November! Hope you play along then, too!) Thanks for the humor and brightening my day!
ReplyDeleteOMG...I LOVE every beautiful detail of your Gorgeous colored with Zigs 3D Dry Embossed flowers, Dolly...They really pop, especially with the added fine line tracing around the flower edges:-) I love the added textured dry embossed background and strip of designer paper on the border..All Perfect my friend:-) All that and you weren't even feeling well. So happy to hear you are much more back to your Dolly-self, my dear friend:-)
ReplyDeleteLove your Twofer Christmas card too..a fabulous design for making multiples too!!!
Take care and stay Coooooooollllllllll!!!! Love and Hugs, dear sweet friend:-)
Yes, I agree with that dust sentiment... dusting is my least favourite task - I call it furniture protector!!
ReplyDeleteLoving your embossed and coloured card Darnell - so very pretty - well done Hammy on returning home with a fresh perspective :)
The Christmas card is another gorgeous creation also - looks as though you are well on the mend now Darnell, which is good to see.
Blessings
Maxine
Great cards as always and now I'm off to check out the Group of Seven
ReplyDeleteI love the look of color on the embossed sheets…though I have had a hard time doing it my self. Yours look FAB>
ReplyDeleteDarnell, this is gorgeous. I like the CAS style of your christmascard.
ReplyDeleteLia DT POE
Pleased you are feeling better Darnell...your posts always make me smile...two lovely cards
ReplyDeleteAnn
I hope today finds you feeling well again and more like yourself after that extended illness! The florals are so pretty with the embossing and I do like the coloring. The Christmas card is pretty with the double frame and pine branches too. I love that reason for not dusting and I'm going to use that excuse from now on, so thanks for the inspiration LOL
ReplyDeleteLove your post and cards and that super quote at the end!
ReplyDeleteJust laughed the whole way through!
Wonderful cards, Darnell. Hope you are feeling better now. I hear you about all the heat and fires around the world. Kind of scary, honestly! Hope you are not being baked. Your cards are terrific. Good idea with the embossed one and the sprig one is just so festive. Thanks so much for sharing. And oooooh, maybe that picture explains why I don't care much for dusting either! LOL
ReplyDeletesorry not been around and I hope you are feeling better now? I am not so good but did make a card today-first in ages. And I really like the look of the colour on the EF and such pretty colours too, adore the font too. Sending hugs xx
ReplyDeleteBeautiful cards Darnell and your watercolouring looks perfect. That sounds like a jolly good reason not to dust, thank you!! xx
ReplyDeleteYour water coloring is so pretty and colorful and the flowers look so pretty on the embossed background. Cool idea to add the washi along the side. I like the clean look Christmas card too. That is a beautiful evergreen sprig and will look pretty on pattern paper. Thank goodness I now have a reason to never dust again!
ReplyDeleteP.S. Please send frozen neck scarf!
Well! I Love your embossed card, the added tape is just perfect, definitely a sendable card, I agree with Hammy, who wouldn't want to receive this lovely card? Your Christmas card is beautiful too. I love the design and your stamps. Thanks for the humour and beauty in your lovely post too.
ReplyDeleteFaith x
You did a great job colouring the embossing. I find it really tricky to do too, which is probably why I rarely do it. Thanks for the inspiration to have another go. You've made a great Christmas card too.
ReplyDeleteHope you'll soon be fully recovered. xx
I tried coloring embossing for years before I finally got a result that I liked. So don't despair, my friend. You got bright and beautiful colors on this and cutting it out and placing it on a white embossed background worked brilliantly! Love the Pine sprig and how it makes such a classy Christmas card! Hope you're feeling much better. We need to talk soon.
ReplyDeleteBeautifully colored and embellished ef swag, Darnell - perfect on the white embossed background! Love the pine bough with white frames too - looks like a winner for mass production! Glad you're feeling better! And I knew there was a reason I don't dust...thanks for the chuckle!!
ReplyDeleteI too, love the look of a plain embossed panel Auntie, but boy the Go7 gals are making me see them in a whole new light! I love your card, your watercoloring is gorgeous and it looks amazing cut out and popped up on another embossed panel! Glad Hammy was back in time to help out. Love the twofer, those pines looks so pretty and I just love the frame going around give a little peek into the background. Ha, the "dust" appeals to my dark sense of humor too! LOL Hope you are feeling better now Auntie! Hugs, Brenda
ReplyDeleteYou are too hard on yourself...that first embossed floral card was so pretty.
ReplyDeleteYour Rudolph entry is lovely and the perfect design for batch baking!
Thanks for taking part in the Rudolph Days Challenge.
Maureen aka Scrappymo
I have yet to be brave enough to watercolor an embossed panel! Yours looks awesome, and the fussy-cut and placed on another panel so perfect. I'm so glad you kept working with this and came up with a "sendable" card, because it sure is enjoyable. Maybe you've even encouraged me to try water coloring a 3d embossed panel
ReplyDeleteWell I like your embossed and coloured piece of artwork ad I think it was a clever idea to outline the flowers and mount them up. I use finger daubers very lightly to colour mine with and oxide inks...not tried the watercolour technique. Liking your Christmas card too..very classy. So glad to hear you are feeling better....take care. Hugs xx
ReplyDeleteHello Darnell, sorry to hear that you have been poorly, I hope you are feeling much better now.
ReplyDeleteBoth of your cards are absolutely gorgeous, I love the coloured blooms on your first card, and that fir branch is a lovely addition to your card.
I owe you an email, I'm very tardy about replying but I will get around to it, Keep well, hugs Kate x
Beautiful cards, Darnell! That pine branch is wonderful & so is the card design! Hopefully, I'll get a better routine for visiting blogs after I recover from surgery. Thanks so much for your friendship--so appreciated!
ReplyDeleteYour card is gorgeous Darnell as always your so creative and created a great card l love the floral images and the embossed panel's hope your feeling much better nice to see your posts x
ReplyDeleteStruggle or not, your embossed card is gorgeous! One would never know you had any issue with it at all. Your Christmas card looks good for batch making and using up some DP. The pine stamp is really nice and I love the stamped and die cut sentiment. Oh, and I used to love wearing brooches and sometimes still do, especially at Christmastime.
ReplyDeleteWonderful set of cards. Your embossed watercolour blooms are so pretty. Love the simplicity of your pine branch Christmas card. Glad you’re feeling better than earlier in the month and that Hammy can pull away from bowling to help. 😉
ReplyDeleteBEAUTIFUL cards my friend! I'm always inspired by your creativity! Thanks so much for joining in the fun at our Peace On Earth challenge! Good Luck and we hope you’ll come back often.
ReplyDeleteDarlene
DAR’S CRAFTY CREATIONS
Co-Owner … Can You Handle the Pressure, Double D, Four Seasons, Peace On Earth, Stencil Fun, Simply Clean & Simple, Two Old Bats, Triple B
Two lovely cards, Darnell! I need to remember your Washi Tape trick when I get things a little off kilter, that's a good idea! Hope you're feeling better every day!
ReplyDeleteVery pretty with the floral arrangement on the embossed background. Thanks for sharing with us at HLS Birthday :)
ReplyDeleteYour 3D embossed card turned out beautifully with Zig coloring, Darnell! I'm so glad to hear that Hammy came back home from the tournament tour in time to help you. ;-) Using your black fine-line pen and cutting out the image were great ideas, and it shows in the stunning result. The textured dry embossed background adds such an elegant touch to the overall design. The pine Christmas card is lovely, and the design is perfect for making multiples. I hope you continue to feel better.
ReplyDeleteHideko xx
I think your embossed card turned out beautifully. I have discovered that I like embossing dark-colored cardstock and then sponging white ink on the raised design. It's quick, easy, and looks impressive, especially with 3D EFs. I love your Christmas card, too. Simple, but lush in its design. It will make an excellent batch design. I hope you're feeling better and stronger now. Sending you my best vibes.
ReplyDeleteTwo wonderful cards. I love the double frame on the second one. All I can say is thank goodness for Hammy!
ReplyDeleteStunning cards Darnell and I did chuckle at the photo..the weather has been really miserable here but I feel for all the countries having those horrible fires...hugs Sue x
ReplyDeleteGreat use of the pretty 3D embossing folder Darnell, and I think your colouring using Zigs has worked beautifully on the peonies and the outlining really makes them stand out.. so bright and fresh, and then placed over the EF background and with the bit of washi down the side is just perfect! The twofer Christmas make is delightful using that pine branch and a great pine covered background and I love the aperture and further frame within, and the stamped and die cut branch over the top with that super large sentiment to finish looks wonderful. Hope the virus is well and truly behind you, and what a great idea to put your scarves in the cooler to refresh when the heat gets you down. We do not have need of this at present as the weather here has gone to pot as we would say...lol. x
ReplyDeleteDarnell - popping back in to let you know you WON a prize in the BYSHC Christmas in July Linky Party! Check today's post on the BYSHC Blog. Cathy
ReplyDeleteTwo stunning cards Darnell, I love the embossed one at the top bit have to say that my favourite is the CAS Christmas card. Thanks for joining in the fun at Rudolph Days this month.
ReplyDeleteSue xx
The embossed flowers look fabulous die cut and replanted on the embossed folder, Darnell. I love the simplicy of the pine branches on the other card and can definitely see making multiples of those. So glad you're getting back to crafting.
ReplyDeleteI don’t get on with colouring EF either! But you have made a lovely card with Hammy’s help. Glad to hear you’re feeling a lot better now. As for your frozen scarves - no thanks - a heated one would be better here!
ReplyDeleteOh I love your coloured embossed flowers! The Christmas card is very pretty too. I hope you're feeling better. Love the funny poster🤣 Hugs xxx
ReplyDeleteBeautiful cards! Love the embossing and the coloring you id on the first card
ReplyDeleteThis heatwave over here is getting to me. I can't wait for colder weather and you usually don't hear me saying that since I don't like cold weather. But right now I look forward to it.
Have a great day!
Marilyn❤️
Two awesome cards. Love your colouring.
ReplyDeleteStill laughing about your joke at the end!!!
ReplyDeleteI too struggle with adding colour to my embossing folders - it's just not my thing, I guess. But I'm so glad Hammy was able to save the coloured flowers and add them to a beautiful wonderfully plain embossed background.
Your Christmas card is fabulous - love the evergreen bow and all the layering.