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 8, 2024

Surprise Party Guest for Seize the Birthday!

Hello Stamplings!

I was delighted and honored to have been one of the winners of a recent fruit challenge at Seize the Birthday, which makes me delighted and honored to be one of today's Surprise Party Guests for their new challenge where the brief is one of my favorites ~ "Cute Critters!"
Another of my favorite things is placing images from different stamp companies together so that they look like they were meant to be that way! For this card, I used a NBUS Anita Jeram (Colorado Craft) adorable dog with a birthday cupcake martini from Impression Obsession and a sediment from WPlus 9. I'm hoping this makes you smile and inspires you to look at your images in a new way. Especially if you can make your design a QACAS OLC!

I stamped the images with black ink and then heat-embossed them in clear e/p. I used my Ziggies for the minimal coloring. (I hope the very talented Ms. Jeram doesn't mind that I made her cute dog a little furrier!) 

We would love to see your cute critters over at Seize the Birthday ~ or you can link up with your Anything Goes birthday card!

Thank you again, ladies! This really meant a lot to me because I've been playing in this challenge with my cards since Lesley started the challenge on December 17, 2012. I'm sure many of you have done the same and agree that all the talented design team inspiration over the years has been very much appreciated!❤

Twofer
I'm trying to make a few Christmas cards each week and I wanted to play in Nanc's other challenge, Color Hues, where the colors are pink and brown. 

After making the layerpalooza cards in my last post, I enjoyed making the STB card a one-layer design. So for my Twofer, I made another OLC. This cute image and sediment set are from Stampingbella called, "Oddball Boy Elf." Like the first card, the images were stamped in black ink and then heat-embossed in clear.

I colored the elf with my Ziggies and then let Hammy and Stanley loose with daubers on their paws to color in the snowy circle stencil using pale pink and pale brown ink for a little extra colorpawzazz.

~~~

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! We are seeing the grandtwins tomorrow for lunch before they start out (separately) on their second year of college. Hard to believe summer is almost over already 😎 ... but I do look forward to cooler weather!

*Life is too short!
Challenges:
SSS Monday: Happy 14th Birthday!
Simply Clean & Simple Anything Goes

42 comments:

Pia S said...

Two fantastic cards with fun images! It’s fun to see you combine images to make it look a totally different one.

Faith A at Daffodil Cards said...

OH! These are just wonderful and Super fun cards Darnell, I'm always assured a smile at least when I visit. x

Vicki Dutcher said...

How fun to have you guesting with us at STB and was such an adorable card! I am also loving that long legged elf 😊

Aquarius said...

Both of these super cards made me smile - so cute 😊. How lovely to be a surprise guest too.

Chris said...

Really super one layer cards Darnell, love the stamps you've used- especially the wonderful combo on the first!
Congrats on your guest spot.
xx

brandco2450@gmail.com said...

Super fun cards, Darnell! I love the Oddball Elf in pink! I just
stick to different reds and greens!!!! No creativity!

Nancy said...

Darnell, we are so happy to have you with us at Seize the Birthday. As for your card at Color Hues...Your oddball elf looks ready for the Holidays and I too am all about cooler weather. I hope you enjoy your time with the grands. Thanks for playing along at Color Hues.

Pat said...

Great to see you as the Surprise Party Guest over at StB Darnell, and love this cute AJ dog eyeing up the cakes and that martini is a very pretty colour, and then the fun elf on your seasonal make works so well in pink and brown...love it. x

Marcia Hill said...

Two fabulous cards Darnell, and although I love the ADORABLE pup in your 1st card, your snarky elf has totally hit my funny spot this evening! He is just a hoot and beautifully colored with our challenge colors! And tell the boys they did a fabulous job on the background too! Thanks so much for sharing with us at Color Hues, and enjoy lunch with the twins tomorrow! (Our youngest grandson turns one next week and he was just born yesterday...how does that happen??!!) Take care. Hugs. :0)

Lisa Elton said...

I don't think Anita would mind at all, Darnell, he's just extra lovable now! Two cute cards. Love the long longs on that elf!

Gail L said...

Congratulations on your Surprise Party Guest gig!
First card is fun!
And so is the second!
Hope you had a lovely lunch with the grands!

TK said...

CUTE cards, Darnell! They're both fun and adorable, and a testament to you

Stef Perry said...

I love all things SB Oddball, so I was tickled to see your card in the CH gallery Darnell! Your CAS design is so perfect with this Elf With an Attutude lol! Plus Hammy and Stanley did a great job with the background. Thanks so much for playing along with us at Color Hues!

kiwimeskreations said...

Two gorgeous cards Darnell - and they both made me smile, thanks.
Good to hear the boys are earning their keep still, and are doing a great job in helping you.
Blessings
Maxine

Sandra H said...

Congratulations Darnell on the surprise guest appearance you smashed it with both of your card they are so cute they made my day enjoy yours xx

Jeanne said...

Super cute and fun cards, Darnell! I think it's neat that you combined stamps from different companies. Love the w/c look that you got from the Ziggies, too. Thanks so much for sharing!

designbydonna said...

That dog looking to get a sip of that martini--how fun. I love that Stamping Bella elf is so cute. I love it in the pink colors.

Karen said...

That was an act of inspired creativity to combine that adorable pup with the martini! One layer wonders are exactly that--wonders. I'm so guilty of just adding one layer more. Love your cute elf in pink and brown with the subtle background. So nice to see you in the Color Hues gallery! Hope you'll be back soon.

Barbara said...

Darnell, I have been a fan of yours for a long time. Always reading your funny posts and delightful cards. I think I have even entered your challenges a few times. So I am so glad to see you here as a design guest. Your cards are amazing and I am inspired as well. Looking forward to seeing more.

Cat Craig said...

congrats on the GD, and both cards are such fun.

Linda W. (ScrappinBari) said...

Just love your pup with bday martini, Darnell - congrats on being a surprise party guest!! Well deserved!! That elf really brings a smile - very fun in pink/brown combo!!

JulieP said...

These are fabulous Darnell! I know I speak for everyone when I say we LOVE having you here at Seize the Birthday. You really found a cohesive mix of products for your adorable card. (Is it 5:00 o'clock yet?) And woohoo! for playing with us at Color Hues. I think that elf needs a swig of pup's cocktail. LOL!

Darlene said...

Oh my friend, these are both just awesome (no surprise there!). Thanks so much for joining in the fun at our Simply Clean & Simple challenge! 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, Word Power, Love Those Pretty Papers

Brenda in IN said...

That dog is so cute and how great to eat the cupcakes and wash them down with the drink. A fun combination of stamps. The elf is a surprise and made me laugh.

Lynette said...

Two fabulous cards, Darnell! Congrats to you! And oh my - back to college already!! Cooler weather will be nice here, too, although the last couple of days have been wonderful.

Linda said...

Darnell, welcome as one of our Surprise Party Guests. Your card is so cute with that sweet pup and the martini glass with the cupcakes and candle. And your elf looks a little frazzled, very cute.

Liz said...

Two super cards, Darnell. They are sure to bring a smile to the faces of the recipients.
Liz xx

Donna said...

Congrats on your win and GD spot! Darling card with a touch of color-very striking and cute Christmas card.

Carol L said...

Congrats on your GDS and those stamps look like they were made to be used with one another. How cute! Those oddball images always made me grin and your elf looks as cute as can be. I am choking on the reality that your grandsons are in their 2nd yr of college already! Where have all those years gone so quickly? WOW

Bobby said...

Judging by the look on his face, that dog has already had a sip of the martini, Darnell. Good job mixing companies to make such a cute card. That elf is something else and perfect for the color challenge. Love how the guys added the stenciling. Congrats on guesting.

Colleen said...

Darnell, you did NOT disappoint with your amazing card for STB and another fantastic one for Color Hues! I love your dog and the martini glass with the the candle and cupcake is a treat!! Thanks for bringing such great inspiration to STB!

Loll said...

Two awesome OL CAS cards Dolly!! Love that sweet pooch that looks very thursty to me. :) Great combination of images! And your Christmas elf is so fun too. Great colouring and love those schplatters! :) xx

Cheryl W. said...

Both of your cards made me smile today. That martini appears to be just the right size. lol Love the odd little elf, too. He's got some good, strong teeth if he can take a bite from a candycane like that.

Cathy said...

Two fun cards Darnell, the mixture of stamped images definitely look as if they were designed to be together! And the elf is hoot too, thankyou for guesting with us at STB, Cathy x

corysnana said...

Just love both of those cards, Darnell!! Your CAS designs and restraint with color is so pretty! Stopping by reminds me to break out some of my NBUS stuff!! Love the way you used your three stamps in the first card and EVERY oddball catches my eye! The elf is a keeper! Thanks for linking your card up for our "Any Occasion" challenge on the Addicted to Stamps & More blog. Cathy - ATS&M DT.

kareN stampZ said...

OMG your wee doggie is the cutest ever what an expression on his/her face. Lovely to see all the different company sets in use and playing so well. Thank you for your lovely comments and I am honoured to be the surprise "toppings" aka GD at STB with you - what an honour!

Cindy Beach said...

Both cards are adorable, Darnell! I love how you combined sets in the first card and the doggie wagging his tail for a martini does make me chuckle! I love the google-eyed elf in pink! Thanks for sharing your fabulous cards with us at Color Hues!

Susan said...

Adorable cute critter on the first card - love that sweet dog! And love the cupcake martini - whoever thought of such a thing?? And you carried on the cute theme for the second card - that is definitely an oddball elf. Fabulous use of the colours for him too!

Bonnie said...

What a fun birthday card, Dolly! This pooch looks like he's hoping for a sip of the birthday drink! Your elf is adorable in her pink and brown! The boys did a great job with the snowfall!

Ashwini Rao said...

I certainly look up to how well you've paired those different stamp sets - it really look like it's a single image, let alone same set!! Thank you so much for your fun and adorable inspiration for us at Seize the Birthday!!

shirley-bee said...

It’s so lovely to have you as our surprise party guest, Darnell! I love your fun combo of stamps to make this card - and the extra-hairy doggo looks fine to me :). Can’t go wrong with Anita Jeram stamps for cute critters, can we?
Love the Oddball elf too, that deadpan expression.
The grandtwins in their second year of college - wow!

Glenda J said...

Cheers to this fantastic card Darnell! I love martinis and this one looks delicious. So great to have you join us. (p.s. the other card is fabulous too! What a hilarious image!)