Hello Stamplings!
How's October treating you? I love this time of year with the crisp evenings and cool mornings. I've been enjoying the company of a dear friend for the last week and the weather has been delightful!
As we enjoyed lots of crafty time in the Playhouse, I noticed a challenge milestone happening in Blogland, so I made this card:
The toadstools are NBUS from The Greetery called, "BotaniCuts Toadstool Garden" stamp and die set. When I first saw this set, I had to have them and I spent many happy hours die-cutting and coloring dozens of the toadstools. And then, as one does, I hit a wall and, in spite of all the wonderful designs to be found online, I could not come up with a design that spoke to me. That changed last month when my talented friend Vicky Hayes made a fantastic card using the toadstools which inspired my design today! Thank you, Vicky!
The milestone challenge I'm talking about is happening at Just Us Girls (JUGS), where they are celebrating their 700th challenge! Congratulations JUGS! Challenges that have lasted that long amaze me! I appreciate the hard work and dedication of all the Design Team members over the years! Their 700th challenge falls during Color Week:
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Other Challenges
- Alphabet Challenge: N is for Nature.
- Day of the Month Card Club: National Mushroom Day.
- Four Seasons: Anything Goes.
This Christmas card was a collaboration with my visiting friend, which made it especially fun! We used the NBUS die called "Poinsettia Edger" from Creative Expressions. Some of you are familiar with my friend ... none other than the marvelous Anita in France! She has been taking a sabbatical from her blog, My Papercraft World and it's been such a delight having her come for a visit!
Anita says, "Bonjour" to everybody!
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! It may be a while before I'm here again because more company is arriving for several days. Fall weather is really the best time to travel. Well, I should say, "can be," with fingers crossed!
*Life is too short!
Two fab cards Darnell. I think we've all been in the position of buying something then staring at it because we can't think how to use it!!
ReplyDeleteHow lovely that friends can now meet up again and craft together, it was sadly missed. Enjoy your new visitors too. :)
Two absolutely BEAUTIFUL cards Darnell and a FABULOUS pic of you and Anita...please give her a big hug from me!! And one for you too!! :0)
ReplyDeleteOh wow how great to see Anita with you! Must have been great!
ReplyDeleteLove the toadstools; the background and colours on them make it a super warm card! And a fresh and beaitiful christmascard too! Hugs, Gerrina
Oh my goodness! Anita from France! How exciting for you! I'm sure you had a marvelous time. She's been taking a long break. I hope all is going well for her. Thanks for sharing. Your cards are beautiful, each in their own way. Thanks for sharing them, too. Enjoy your season of company! Crafty hugs!
ReplyDeleteYour cards are both so lovely and I had no idea the JUGS challenge has been going that long, wow! That's dedication for sure! Love that you're spending time with Anita and crafting together! What a blessing it is to welcome a fellow blogger into your home to craft together! Enjoy your times together and TFS that great picture!
ReplyDeleteI adore those die cut toadstools and so prettily coloured and the two tone background suits them perfectly Darnell, and a wonderful CASEing of Vicky's lovely card. How great to have Anita to stay, and love the poinsettia and foliage and beautiful with the flower and leaves infilled..a proper work of art, and the berries in different sized gems are delightful, also the outline in white shows up beautifully against that gorgeous red. x
ReplyDeleteBrilliant cards as always and how lovely to have a visit from a fellow crafter - double the pleasure when you could craft together and share ideas.
ReplyDeleteTwo fabulous cards and it is always great to spend the day with a crafty friend!
ReplyDeleteFirst I have to say Darnell that I love heading over to your blog and seeing the Playhouse. I have Playhouse envy every time! Your card is lovely too, with the creative ideas you used to incorporate our colors this week! Equally fabulous is the font of your sentiment! I also have spatter-envy because yours are perfect and I just didn't get that gene. We are so glad that your shared this beauty with us at Just Us Girls this week!
ReplyDeleteOh Darnell, both cards are just beautiful! Those mushrooms are amazing and of course your holiday card is gorgeous! Thanks so much for joining in the fun at our Four Seasons Challenge! Good Luck and we hope you’ll come back again soon.
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
Talk about serendipity. I was just thinking about Anita this morning as I looked at her little sachet bag of lavender that I keep near my crafting desk. The one that was a gift when we met you at the lakehouse. If she's still there, tell her I miss her and give her a big hug from me.
ReplyDeleteI love your toadstools, Darnell. I would probably have used them for my card but they were in Ohio and I was in Michigan. Your watercolored background and splatters fit right in with our color challenge. Thank you for joining in our birthday celebration at Just Us Girls.
Your collabrative Christmas card is beautiful. I with you both peace, love and joy.
First I have to say Darnell that I love heading over to your blog and seeing the Playhouse. I have Playhouse envy every time! Your card is lovely too, with the creative ideas you used to incorporate our colors this week! Equally fabulous is the font of your sentiment! I also have spatter-envy because yours are perfect and I just didn't get that gene. We are so glad that your shared this beauty with us at Just Us Girls this week!
ReplyDeleteTwo totally stunning cards Darnell and how lovely to see Anita bonjour to you too, love the toadstools and that Christmas poinsettia edge die is stunning xx
ReplyDeleteWOW! The simplicity and gorgeous extends to each card, love both. What a lovely photo, looks like you both enjoyed the stay.
ReplyDeleteFaith x
So fun having a visitor! Both cards are amazing, but I am partial to the toadstool card 😉. Thanks for sharing at JUGS
ReplyDeleteHow wonderful to have such a gifted cardmaker to stay with you. The card you made together is fabulous. Love the red and white contrast. I am really glad that you eventually found inspiration for those mushrooms. I love the end result and such amazing splatters too. It doesn't matter if we don't see you for a while as long as you are enjoying life xx
ReplyDeleteWhat FANTASTIQUE cards Darnell, love the toadstools, such amazing colours and the poinsettia border is gorgeous xx
ReplyDeleteLOve your duo of cards - but I will be honest, I love this crafty duo even more, D. You can't imagine how much I'd love to see you both again!
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How much fun is that to have a visitor from France!!! I love when I have a chance to meet someone from blogland in person. Your cards are lovely. I can totally relate to having a pile of die cuts all ready for a card and then no inspiration! I love your cards. The Christmas one is just gorgeous with all those inlaid pieces.
ReplyDeleteThose toadstools looks just amazing against your beautiful background! Wow! LOVE this card and the palette! The poinsettia one is gorgeous, beautiful inlay!
ReplyDeleteIt seems you have had a lovely time with your French crafty
Hugsfriend!
Such pretty mushrooms, Dolly! I love how you've colored them! Your poinsettia edge is so bright and pretty! I'm so glad you are getting to spend time with Anita! Such fun and tell her bonjour from me! Missed you today.
ReplyDeleteWhat a treat to spot your pretty card in the JUGs gallery, Darnell! i like hte way you used our colors. So happy to have you joining us this week. I miss Anita's blog posts! How fun that the two of you get to have this crafty time together Please tell her hello from me!
ReplyDeleteGorgeous cards, Darnell, and how wonderful to have a visit from Anita!!
ReplyDeleteHow lucky are you to have a visit from a crafting friend visit- Hi Anita ♥
ReplyDeleteLove your toadstool card the colours are so soft and the poinsettia card is so crisp and vibrant xx
Two wonderful cards, and I'm so glad the inspiration came because your toadstood card is awesome! Love your use of the colors. Your Christmas card will be a wonderful addition to your stash, it also has pretty colors.
ReplyDeleteAnd ANITA?!?!?! Wow, so glad to see she's visiting you, and I hope she returns to blogland soon -- we miss her! Gosh, if she was in California, she could've just kept coming North to Washington!
Fabulous cards Dolly! LOVE that toadstool with blended background. Great way to use the challenge colours! And that poinsettia edger is beautiful!! Looks like you and Anita are having a great visit and enjoying some crafty time together. Please give Anita a BIG HUG from me!! Love, Lolly
ReplyDeleteTwo wonderful cards, and a fabulous sentiment on the toadstools. It made me think of something my other half often says, and I think it applies to you too…..”love you more “……..because I love your inspiration, humour and kindness xxx
ReplyDeleteWhat beautiful mushrooms, even if they are certainly not edible. And a very successful CAS card. Really excited to see you at the DotMCC Challenge. Gundi
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing your mushroom card with us at the Alphabet Challenge. Great
ReplyDeleteway to use the colors, and perfect for our nature theme!
Lovely toadstools Darnell...super colours an svery realistic......and a Christmas card too! Nice colouring, love the festive white and red. How nice that you get time to spend with your crafty buddies...enjoy! xx
ReplyDeleteFabulous mushroom card but the star for me is the collab card. So bold and bright with the berries. Great to have Anita in your playhouse.
ReplyDeleteHow wonderful to see Anita! Please give her a hug from me and tell her she is greatly missed - her cards and her wonderfully musings!
ReplyDeleteYour cards are fabulous Darnell! How perfect is that subtly blended and then spattered background for that trio of autumnal beauties! Your Christmas card is a gorgeous and I admire your patience with all that inlaying and the "berries" are lovely!
Hugs, Kate
Two fantastic cards Darnell. Your collaboration with Anita turned out beautifully. I'm sure you had a wonderful time visiting with her. And the first card is pretty too. Hope you are having a great Fall.
ReplyDeleteBoth cards are wonderful, Darnell. Those mushrooms stole my heart as I am so into Fall this year. Please give Anita a hello from me if she is still there. I love her and miss seeing her in blog land. Thanks for playing along at JUGS for our special challenge.
ReplyDeleteTwo stunning cards Darnell - how is Hammy taking the fact that you are crafting with someone else?? What a privilege to have an international crafter to play with!!
ReplyDeleteLoving all the die cut inserts in the second card, and the toadstools are simply amazing!!
Blessings
Maxine
Loving those mushrooms Darnell - I like Vicky's card too...not surprised you've been inspired. Lovely to see who's with you - hello Anita! - I'd been quite concerned as she hasn't been around blogland in a long time!
ReplyDeleteOh my gosh, I love those toadstools and the fantastic card. Your coloring is so authentic. The collaboration with Anita on the second card is lovely. Thanks for sharing the picture of you two cuties.
ReplyDeleteBonjour Anita and Darrell. :-) It's great to see you together in the Playhouse. I love both of your cards. The mushrooms are just great in fall colours and the poinsettia is delightful.
ReplyDeleteHugs, Sonja
What wonderful cards you made, Darnell! I just love the sponging on the mushroom card! Thank you for playing with us at the Alphabet Challenge. I hope you can join us again soon.
ReplyDeleteDebbie, DT
Secrets To Stamping
Join my Creative Creases Challenge for fun folds!
Lovely new edger you used, thanks for the enabling! How wonderful to see Anita, I've missed here. I bet you had a wonderful visit, lucky you. Hugs to you both!
ReplyDeleteGorgeous cards Darnell!! Can you send some of your cooler weather my way? We're going back into the 90's this week. :( Have a fabulous week.
ReplyDeleteTwo lovely cards Darnell...and how lovely to have a fellow crafter visit and to be able to craft together...two heads are always better than one..
ReplyDeleteAnne
Two crafty heads are always better than one, right? Your cards are awesome. Love those toadstools. I just received a mushroom die set recently, but have yet to use it. You've inspired me!
ReplyDeleteI'm so pleased you're having fun with those mushrooms (toadstools?!) Darnell! I 'had to have them' too, Send my lol! The Poinsettia Edger card is a total WOW! I love the colours you used and the glittery top - gorgeous! And talking of gorgeous, look at you and Anita In France (well, obviously not actually IN France!) enjoying some crafty time in the Playhouse together. Bonjour Anita et Darnell! Enjoy :) Vicky x
ReplyDeleteYour mushroom card is a delight, Darnell ! What a gorgeous take on the JUGS' colour combo, your colours are so beautiful that your toadstool look real. I recognise Anita's CAS touch in your beautiful Christmas card, love the nice touches of colours. I'm so happy to see this picture of you both, you look fabulous ! Hugs x
ReplyDeleteI really love the use of colors on the mushroom card. Those are great die cut mushrooms too. The inlay on the second card took a lot of time but turned out great. I hope you enjoy your day.
ReplyDeleteI like to believe that you had a lot of fun with those toadstools Darnell! Your card is gorgeous and so is the Christmas card!
ReplyDeleteHow nice that such a talented crafter like Anita was next to you and that you could create such a beautiful card together! Thank you so much for playing along with DotMCC. Rosi x
Happy to hear you are having a good visit with your French friend!
ReplyDeleteLove both cards! The toadstools are calming! The Christmas card
is gorgeous and full of colour, intricate too!
Gorgeous cards
ReplyDeleteHow much fun to have Anita come and play with you!