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 26, 2024

Anything Goes, Girls!

Hello Stamplings!

One more week, or rather six days, and we will be whooshing away another page of this year's calendar! Rrrippp! 🗓

We have a busy few weeks ahead with traveling and with friends and family visiting. I have made a few cards to try and keep to my I.D.E.A.S. schedule, but I'm not sure they will get posted ... best laid plans and all that! Commenting will be sparse, but I know you understand.🤗

Today being the fourth week/letter of August, it's a free-for-all, otherwise known as A = Anything Goes!

Onefer
I was inspired to make a card for the Pink Fresh Studio August 2024 Challenge. It gave me a chance to use some of the new Washi die cuts that Col, Lin, and I made in June. This time I used the beautiful balloons and a Pink Fresh sediment from the "Perfect Sediments" set. The NBUS cover plate background die is called, "Hexagon Tile," and it is also from Pink Fresh.

I was going to call it good, but then Hammy suggested adding some schparkle with a frame from MFT cut from pretty blue glitter paper and, not to be out-done, Stanley suggested I add an escaped balloon in order to balance the compost. (That's what he calls it. We think it's cute and don't have the heart to correct him!)

Twofer
For this card, I used a NBUS Penny Black set called, "Painter's Vase," which I received from my dear friend Loll in 2019. It's been buried on Mt. NBUS ever since, but this week I was inspired to excavate it because Loll is a Guest Designer for the current Penny Black Saturday Challenge. The brief is anything goes with the option of flowers.

I used the technique where you color the stamp with markers and then spritz the image and stamp it on your paper. I wanted to also play in the current Color Hues Challenge, where my friend Tracey is the host, so I used yellow and orange markers.

I love how the vase turned out, but I think the flowers could use more shadows or white highlights. I also think the design itself needs something like a frame or some soft background blending or stenciling, and a shadow to ground the vase ... . I love this technique, especially with PB stamps, so I'll keep playing and improving.

~~~

Enjoy your week! No, seriously, enjoy! LITS!* 

Oh, I have to share this photo of a baby fence lizard on the patio. That is a tiny toothpick next to him! So cute!

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!







31 comments:

Aquarius said...

Super cards as always. Enjoy your time travelling and with friends visiting.

Liz said...

Two beautiful cards, Darnell. I love how you’ve coloured the flowers in the second card, so pretty.
Liz xx

Gerrina said...

Love both cards! The balloons and the vase have a beautiful 'lightnis' and look see-trough; great! Hugs, Gerrina

Jeanne said...

I'm surprised you saw that baby lizard at all, it's so tiny! LOL Thanks for sharing these lovely cards. Always a delight to stop by and see what you have been up to. Have fun with your family and friends!

Bonnie said...

These balloons are so festive! Love the colors! And those flowers are GORGEOUS in their matching vase! Safe travels, my friend.

Em Louise Fairley said...

Both cards are beautiful, Darnell... as is the one I've just opened. Thank you! xoxo

Linda W. (ScrappinBari) said...

Another Monday and some great inspiration, Darnell - just love your balloon washi, so colorful and fun atop that coverplate with blue sparkly frame!! And card two - what a gorgeous yellow vase with the orange poppies; they look perfect to me!! Awww, cute lizard too - lucky you caught a glimpse; they move so quickly... Enjoy the last weeks of summer!

Carole said...

Two super makes Darnell. I love your balloons..so pretty and the frame really does set them off. Your yellow flowers and vase ...super colouring there with your spritzed stamp..another forgotten technique! Don't worry you are not that old , I remember it too and I am only 07!..lol Enjoy your busy time with friends and family. Your little lizard...boy he is tny...hope no-one treads on him! xx

!neke said...

Two great cards !!!!
The orange and yellow, wowwww!
groeten Ineke

Cheryl W. said...

I think these two cards are perfect! I really love both of them. We are having a busy August, too. Lots of overnight guests and dinner guests. We also had a death in the family, which was a sad complication. We are trying to stay on the upside, however, and enjoy the rest of our summer. But that doesn't leave much time for crafting, as you know.

Sarah said...

Lovely cards Darnell, the vase looks amazing!! Have a lovely time with your friends and family xx

Jeanne H said...

Two excellent cards but my favorite is the vase and flowers. Superior coloring! Hugs.

HilaryJane said...

Two great cards. My favourite is the vase of flowers. I like that the flowers and vase are a similar colour and that you left the background clean white. It gives it a simple elegance. Enjoy the next few weeks. Hope all goes well xx

Lisa Elton said...

I like those pretty floral balloons! What a festive card, Darnell. Your vase of flowers is lovely too. So warm and sunny. Enjoy your family, friends and most of all safe travels!

Nancy said...

Darnell, Love both your cards but the vase and florals looks amazing!! It completely caught my attention in the gallery at Color Hues. I hope you have a lovely time with your friends and family and thanks for playing at Color Hues.

Loll said...

Those pretty balloons look so lovley with the washi tape flowers you've added. The sparkly frame makes it even more special. LOVE your watercolouring of that gorgeous vase of flowers, Dolly! Great work, my friend! xx

Robyn Oliver said...

Two brilliant cards from you this week Darnell, that background and frame look super with the bunch of balloons, and I just love your vase of flowers - wow you did a beautiful job of marker colouring - it all looks so realistic... wonderful and have a wonderful time with your friends, hugs Robyn

brandco2450@gmail.com said...

Two fabulous cards! Enjoy yourself! xoxo

My Paper Epiphany said...

Two beauties Darnell! The balloon card is full of gorgeous colours and I’m so glad you inked up the Painter’s Vase stamp - one of my faves! I love the joyous yellow. Thanks for sharing at PBSC:)

Karen said...

Two very lovely cards! I love those Washi Tape balloons, and your friends were right to add that sparkly frame. Being a fan of CAS cards, I think the Penny Black flowers and vase are wonderful on their own--no need for a frame. Thanks for joining us at Color Hues! Have a wonderful time with family and travel.

Susan said...

The balloon card is such a happy card with all those lovely colours. And the poppies are gorgeous - wonderful shading on the vase.

kiwimeskreations said...

Two beautiful cards Bonnie - love the way the boys help you with suggestions, especially when it comes to adding schparkle - not that I think you need much encouragement in that department! :)
Loving the vase full of poppies that's gorjus!
Blessings
Maxine

Bobby said...

I love how your little fellows add their touch to your cards, Darnell. I always enjoy reading about them and how they influence your card making. Both of these are wonderful and that vase is absolutely perfect. You are great with that marker/spritz technique.

JulieP said...

Both are lovely but I'm really drawn to our challenge card. I haven't done that technique in years but definitely need to revisit it. And thanks for making me feel so much less guilty about my NBUS bins. LOL!!! We appreciate you playing with us at Color Hues Darnell.

Leslie Miller said...

Before I forget... you have the cutest, tiniest lizards there. I'm sure they must love basking in the sun that shines on your beautiful garden. Now, for your cards -- I love those pretty balloons! I think they're just right with the perfectly matched sparkly frame. As a die hard Penny Black fan I'm smitten with your Painter's Vase. You achieved a painterly artistic look with this technique using the warm colors I love. Enjoy your busy days and travels, Darnell!

Sheri Gilson said...

Fabulous cards! Love the floral arrangement and your use of this weeks colors! Thank you so much for playing along with Color Hues Color Challenge!

Tracey McNeely said...

Darnell two lovely lovely cards my friend. I think the balloon washi is super fun. The PF washi are just amazing. Your Color Hues card is so bright and cheery and such a beautiful vase. I love how the technique ends up looking so intentional. Thank you so much for sharing with us at the Color Hues!

Pat said...

Two beautiful cards Darnell, and I love the background embossing and with the blue glitter frame around the pretty bunch of balloons, and great washi tape, and a lovely die cut sentiment too. The second is gorgeous with the vase of flowers so wonderfully coloured using markers straight to stamp and you have built up the colour of the flowers and vase brilliantly, and love the sentiment placed across the vase. I can't believe how small that little lizard is..so cute! I know you are becoming busy with lots going on, but I do have a card for this week's Anything Goes. I hope you have a lovely time travelling and with visiting friends and family to catch up with..enjoy! x

Inkyfingers said...

What pretty cards, Darnell! I like the vase of flowers so much and admire how you mastered the ink and spritz technique. The balloon card is perfect for any celebration and I love how you gave the balloons so much apparent transparency and dimension. A job extremely well done, I would say and you deserve a break from normal operations!
Have a good weekend and I hope you are well.
Hugs
Carol x

Sandra H said...

Both cards are stunning Darnell and the colours used are fabulous the sentiment stamp on your first card is gorgeous along with the balloones and a great background your 2nd card is gorgeous too lovely the colours are beautiful x

Helen said...

Beautiful card Darnell - so glad you dug out that gorgeous stamp!
Thanks for playing at the Penny Black Saturday Challenge!
Helen x