A site for my handmade cards, accompanied by my photos and written meanderings which are occasionally witty, often tongue-in-cheek, and rarely profound. Beginning in June 2013, you'll also see lots of NBUS, which is an acronym I coined for Never-Before-Used-Schtuff. Note: my Privacy Policy can be found at a tab below and you can find my NBUS Challenge online. I hope you'll join in the fun there! Thanks for coming by! Have a beverage and enjoy!

August 16, 2023

Thinking of Maui

Hello Stamplings!

I hope this finds you doing well! I have had a quiet week, creatively. Which, if you are in the middle of one of those rare times when your chores are caught up and you are free to play, is flustruating. 

So I looked at YouTube videos one day, Pinterest the next, and Instagram the day after. I got so many great ideas! Unfortunately, then I slept in between and forgot everything. Then I turned to my folders of ideas that I've saved over the years. We've talked about this before. You know those folders of techniques you want to try and those cards you want to CASE? 
 
Here's how that went. I opened the technique folder on my computer and was smacked in the face by spider webs. It looked like there was a nest of rats under a pile of die-cuts and pastes over in the corner. I quickly closed the door. I moved down the list to my to-CASE folder and the dust and spiderwebs there weren't too bad, since I'd just been in there recently. I thumbed through a few hundred cards, but mojo was missing. 

So on the sixth day I poured a wodka for me and a thimble of carrot juice for my wee helper and we decided to try going through everything in the Playhouse. Did I start by excavating something from Mt. NBUS? Of course not. I was drinking. I started in the farthest cupboard and we were both embarrassed by how much the door squeaked when I opened it. Fortunately, as I snooped around in there, I could feel my ol' mojo juices slooooowly start flowing. Squeeeeee!

When I got to the Fruit section, I stopped. I haven't done a card with a fruit image for ages and with summer fully upon us, fruits around here are sumptuous and plentiful. Our favorites right now are peaches and blueberries, but when I came upon an old pineapple stamp, I thought about the tragedy in Maui and a card was born:
I did my favorite direct-to-paper technique where you color your stamp, spritz it lightly with water, and then stamp it onto paper. After wards, I filled in bits using my colored pencils. And after adding the sediment, I ran the panel through my Gemini using the Subtle e/f from SU. 

At first, I made several panels using traditional yellow, green, and beige markers to color the pineapple and I will finish them and make them into cards soon, but this off-beat pineapple is the one I wanted to share today. It came about after Hammy passed me a few purple, teal, and blue markers. 

I cocked my head. Hmmm? He queried, "Who says pineapples can't be whatever color you want them to be?" So I gave it a go and love the result! The vibrant unexpected colors are perfect for representing how colorful and beautiful Hawaii is. The devastation from the fire on Maui is unimaginable. The whole world is thinking of them as they recover and rebuild.

Challenges
Twofer...s
I recently posted a card with a double-frame (Picture Frames Die from Waffle Flower) and I wanted to show you how I used the same idea for making Christmas cards. It worked great and I love that it uses my frame and word dies, as well as snippets of Christmas pp, white cardstock, and metallic foil paper! QACAS! I am sharing this with my friends at the Snippets Playground.

~~~

I'll leave you with this true-to-life saying that my friend Bobby found on FB:

I had a thought.
Then I had another thought.
Unfortunately, they ricocheted off each other
and now I can't find either of them!
😄😄😄
~~~

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! 

*Life is too short!

46 comments:

Cat Craig said...

Well you sure reeled in the mojo. Love the multi hued pineapple and the Christmas cards. Fabulous showing today.

Julie B said...

You can't beat a good rootle through the cupboards and your inspiration certainly blossomed here. Love the subtle texture of the EF and the funky colour choices too. I was rootling through one of my cupboards the other day looking for some thread that I knew I had. Low and behold I found the 3, yes 3 boxes of 6 x 6 DP I wanted a month ago!! :)

Pat said...

I just adore your very colourful pineapple Darnell, and the other more 'normal' ones are pretty too, and the Subtle EF embossing in the background looks great. I love your double framed Christmas cards too...such beautiful winter images! I love that saying..I have many a moment like that..lol. x

Carole said...

What a super funky pineapple Darnell, great card! xx

jimlynn said...

You sound like me trying to get motivation! Love the colors of your pineapple card. So pretty. Great cards for the holidays too!
Lynn

Alice (scrAPpamondo) said...

I too have folders of techniques to try and cards to CASeing, great for inspirations, but I never remember to look at them... So I suppose that there are so much webs and spiders there, as in yours! :D Glad you founded your mojo and the colourful pineapple card looks just fabulous. So sad for all the Hawaii disaster. :(
Beautiful cards for Christmas, love the double-frame technique and hope to remember it...
Hugs

Lisa Elton said...

That pineapple is full of mojo! Lots of terrific cards, today, Darnell!

Donna said...

My heart is breaking for Maui and the people there. A pineapple card is a good tribute and it is gorgeous, I never thought of highlighting with colored pencils, thanks for the idea. You Christmas cards are stunning, looks like watercolor not patterned paper.

Cheryl W. said...

I so LOVE your beautiful, colorful pineapple! I have been to Maui, and I simply cannot fathom the devastation and loss the people have experienced there. Thank you for honoring them in your post today. I love your Christmas cards, too. The double frame idea is great, and I may have to CASE it.

TK said...

i LOVE your pineapple card and its coat of many colors! It is so fun and definitely a great tribute to Hawaii -- we are all praying. Your double frame cards are wonderful too -- love the pp or whatever it is you used for the focal points, and the foiled words definitely make these even more beautiful!

Liz said...

So sad to see the devastation in Hawaii. Your multicoloured pineapple card is beautiful, Darnell. I love your fabulous Christmas cards too. xx

LesleyG said...

Love your colourful pineapple, and a lovely way to think of those affected by the fires. Love your double frames too……I still have some of that paper……must Google double frames now! Hugs xxx

Loll said...

I love the untraditional colours of your pineapple, Dolly. So very beautiful and perfect for a summer card. I was so sorry to hear about the devastastion in Maui. Terrible trajedy. xx

Sandra H said...

Such devastation its so unfair for Hawaii going to take a lot of time to rebuild but l am sure it will happen my thoughts are with those people, your card is lovely and the pineapple image is just perfect for the occasion just love it and your array of Christmas cards are so beautiful too xx

kiwimeskreations said...

Oh Hammy, your colour choice for the Boss is amazing - love it!! It made for a stunning pineapple.
The Christmas cards are gorgeous Darnell
Blessings
Maxine

Christine said...

Love that pineapple, good to see alternative colours.
Thank you for sorting out my 'thoughts' problem, I had labelled it 'distractions' but this reason makes more sense. lol

Sue's Crafty Corner said...

Such a beautiful collection of cards Darnell, especially those Christmas cards.

Sue xx

Carol L said...

I like those fun colors on your pineapple too, it looks great. Your Christmas cards all look so pretty too, and I'm glad your mojo found it's way back home. I can't seem to find either of my thoughts anymore either, what a coincidence LOL

Jeanne said...

Oh Darnell, your beautiful pineapple is a balm for the soul after watching and hearing about the devastation in Maui. Thank you for sharing. I'm glad you were able to find some mojo, too. Your Christmas cards are glorious as well. Thank you so much for sharing. You bring a smile to my face. Crafty hugs!

Darlene said...

Hello my friend! Your cards are all just amazing and I agree with Hammy ... who says pineapples HAVE to be yellow! Love what you've done here! And, thanks for sharing the pretty holiday card ideas ... they look awesome! Yes the fires in Maui are devastating ... I can't imagine going through something like that! SO SAD!!!
Anyways, Thanks so much for joining in the fun at our Can You Handle the Pressure and Four Seasons challenges! Good Luck and we hope you’ll come back often.

Darlene
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

designbydonna said...

Our creative license does say piniapples can be any color you want. So great job there. I have been to Lahania It is a beautiful place and it is so sad to see the devastation there. Love the double framing on the Christmas cards. I have some of that paper and will be CASing them. Thanks for the inspiration.

Em Louise Fairley said...

All your cards are beautiful, Darnell xoxo

Bobby said...

A good rooting through your supplies and a few challenges can often get the mojo going. At least that's what happened to me after weeks of nothing. I'm glad you ran across the pineapple and WOW!! is it gorgeous in all the colors, Darnell. Almost holographic without the shine.

HilaryJane said...

Your pineapple is just brilliant, I love its wacky colours and your sentiment behind it. It is funny how inspiration can suddenly appear. I look forwards to seeing how the others end up. love your double framed Christmas cards too xx

Linda W. (ScrappinBari) said...

Gorgeous pineapple card - love the color combo, Darnell! Love your set of Christmas cards too!! Yes, very sad about Maui - spent many happy days in Lahaina when family had a condo there years ago. My heart aches for them & your card is a perfect tribute.

Leslie Miller said...

I love all your pineapples, but I have to say the first one is my favorite, too. I'm all for getting creative with color, and you were very creative! Good progress on the Christmas cards. I'm glad to see them as your twofer this time. I need to get cracking! I have a lot of cute new dies and one new stamp set for Christmas. I'll never run out of NBUS!

Susan said...

A beautiful card for Maui - I love the colours on the pineapple! And great cards using your Picture Frames Die - gorgeous choice of papers!

Gerrina said...

I love the different coloured pinapple! And the more traditional yellow ones too!
Great use of your dies on the christmas cards! Hugs, Gerrina

Greta said...

Love the colorful pineapple card! The devastation is so heartbreaking. We saw it in our area 3 years ago, but so many less people lived here. The Christmas cards are lovely!

Sue - said...

Love the colourful pineapple! Not sure I’d want to eat it though😂. A great set of Christmas cards too , all very pretty. I can really relate to the quote as well. xx

Brenda in IN said...

That Hammy, he really knows his colors. Better than me! The pineapple is lovely and a wonderful tribute to Maui. The devastation is horrendous and hard to see. My heart goes out to them. I love the framed look of the Christmas cards on that beautiful paper. A great saying and uses a word you don't hear anymore. Ricochet. Now I'll be singing Ricochet Romance all day. Anyone remember that?

Ellibelle said...

Your inspiration folders do sound a bit like mine, I'm scared enough to take a peek as I am sure spiders live there now LOL.
Your pineapple card however turned out absolutely fabulous, great idea to use all the different colors!
A fantastic set of Christmas cards too!
Thank you so much for sharing with us at Four Seasons challenge!

Bonnie Lynn said...

Darnell, your pineapple card is perfect! It represents Maui so well too. I just might have to CASE it myself, if I can find the pineapple stamp I was gifted (it's not in my NBUS basket). I got a good giggle from the quote at the end of your post. Fits me perfectly right now.

Lisa said...

I feel like I have gone through all those creative mojo steps...is there a program for them that I should join? LOL! Seriously, you did great with this fruit image and your colors are so lovely too.

Lynette said...

Awesome cards, Darnell!! I have finally had a tiny bit of time in my stamping room and experienced a bit of the same thing. I couldn't figure out what to do! I hope to have some time later today, so maybe it will go better. I'm glad you were able to figure something out.

Faith A at Daffodil Cards said...

Your card is colourful and wonderful and perfect for the tragedy in Maui. My Niece had booked a hotel there next January on her way home from New Zealand. It brings it closer to me in the UK, how awful and how many lives have been lost and changed in this dreadful fire. As for your thoughts, YEP! They echo mine these last few weeks. I love your Christmas cards, such lovely images and designs. Your quote? Yep! I'm with you on that too.
Have a remarkable full of mojo week.
Faith x

Bonnie said...

This is the prettiest pineapple, Dolly! In fact all of your pineapples are beautiful! You and Hammy make a great pair! Love those frames and all the ways you have used them! Great papers to use them with too. I'm glad to see that your chores are caught up and you could get to the playhouse. XOXO

Stamps and Paper said...

Your pineapple colouring is beautiful Darnell and represents Maui so well ..love the 'framed' cards as well.beautiful muted backgrounds. .

Anne

Sarah said...

Gorgeous cards Darnell and your pineapple is a perfect colour tribute to those poor people affected in Maui xx

frommycraftroom said...

Glad you found your mojo! Love the explanation of how you found it!

Gorgeous cards. That christmas paper is so pretty!

R's Rue said...

So pretty.

Shirley-Anne said...

What a wonderful post to read!
The colourful pineapple was quite the eye candy and the embossed background actually made the card , or so I thought . any way thanks for sharing .

Vickie Y said...

Beautiful pineapple! Thank you for sharing with us at CYHTP Embossing Folder Challenge.

kel Acopan said...


How lovely! Thanks for stopping by A Place To Start !!

lovies, =o) kel
APTS DT

PS - from someone born and raised in Hawaii I wanted to say thank you for thinking of us. #mauistrong

Judy McKay said...

Beautifully done. Love how you have coloured the pineapple. Thank you for joining us at A Place to Start this month. Hope to see you back here again soon. Judy https://hereisaplacetostart.blogspot.com/

Judy McKay said...

Beautiful colours in your pineapple. Interesting design and layers. Thnak you for joining us at Creative Artiste this month. Hope to see you back here again soon. Judy DT