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!

November 4, 2024

And Just Like That ... 🗓️🗓️

Hello Stamplings!

I hope you are doing well! We finally turned our backs, er, our clocks back, so I should start waking up in with more engery. I have such a hard time getting going when my brain tells me, "It is the pitch of night, go back to bed." Today I have to get through the first of a series of yucky dental appointments and the election is tomorrow. Anxiety is high, so thank you, Lord, for potatoes, from which wodka flows.

But that's not why you called in. Let's talk about pretty things. Like cards. Christmas cards, to be exact. And it's week one of November's I.D.E.A.S., so I had a play with Ink.

Onefer
The trends of using die-cut images and embossing folders continues in delightful ways with this hobby, but for this QACAS design, I really enjoyed just using stamps.

I have to say this was a treat to photograph. She said, snarkcastically. I finally got an angle to show both the embossed shine of the sediment and the glossification of the berries, compliments of Hammy and Stanley. The sediment and the double-stamped NBUS mistletoe are from, "The Magic of Christmas" by Simon Says. 

Twofer
Back in February, the Group of Seven Cardmakers did a technique called, "Masked Stenciling" and I made this pair using that technique. I especially love the die cut deer and trees with their unexpected stencil lines and lavender color.

~~~
Lunch With Girlfriends
By Kathy O’Malley

Elaine’s vertigo has never been worse.
Kay can’t recall where she left her purse.

Rhonda’s about to replace her knees.
Linda’s breathing is tinged with a wheeze.

Donna's left boob has a troublesome lump.
Diane’s on her third trip to take a dump.

Lorraine’s husband can’t remember a thing.
Nine years a widow, Marge still wears her ring.

Marlene is dealing with another UTI.
Sally’s giving hearing aids another try.

Marie has decided she can’t drive at night.
Sharon still wears clothes two sizes too tight.

They’ve been through divorces and babies and wakes.
They do for each other whatever it takes.

They’ve already buried Marcia and Kate.
And truthfully, Lizzie’s not looking so great.

So whenever they can, they get out to eat.
Open bottles of wine and forget their sore feet.

There’s laughing and crying and letting down guards.
And when the bill comes, there’s ten credit cards.

So here’s to the waiters who keep orders straight,
And the places that let lunches run three hours late.

And here’s to the girlfriends, those near and those far.
Here's to the girlfriends, you know who you are!
🥰🥰🥰

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!
Challenges:
Addicted to Stamps and More: 2: Die Cuts and Stencils.
Christmas Crafts All Year 'Round: 2: Reindeer, Deer, or Moose.
Color Hues: 1: Red and Black.
Jingle Belles: 2: Christmas animals.
Peace on Earth: 1: Christmas.
We Love Stamping: 1: Christmas.




41 comments:

Jenny L said...

Hi Darnell,
such a very wonderful cards and such brilliant designs also.
Love the mistletoe one and the stamp used.
What a great friendship poem.
Lots of crafty love from my house to yours. Jenny L.

Em Louise Fairley said...

Beautiful cards as always, Darnell xoxo

Kathyk said...

Fab post Darnell, as always. Hope the dental appointment goes well. FABULOUS cards (well done on persevering to get the right shot too).
Happy Monday

Kathyk

Bonnie said...

Your mistletoe is so pretty with the shiny berries and sentiment! I'm also impressed with the photo you got! Lavender is a great color for a Christmas card! It's unexpected. Love the stenciling on the deer and that you didn't waste a thing. Love, love, love the poem. So, so true. I'm so glad we're friends.

Lynette said...

Two super cards, Darnell!! The first one is my favorite. Your posts always make me smile! I love the poem - so true.

I Card Everyone said...

You 'had me' at lavender deer! SO pretty I want to spray-dye every one that I see!
=]

brenda said...

We had the change of clocks last week and it throws everything, also an election in the summer, thankfully that one worked out well.

Your card is so very elegant Darnell and perfect for our Magic of the Season theme at Allsorts, many thanks for joining in. Good luck with the dentist!

B x

brandco2450@gmail.com said...

Just love your post! I always have a laugh! The first card is gorgeous and the second is very pretty in that shade! Last but
not least, the verse is awesome! Nearly forgot, have fun at
the dentist!xoxo








Karen said...

Lovely cards, as always! I especially love that CAS card with the mistletoe. The poem is a hoot--too bad it rings a bell.

Jeanne H said...

Wonderful cards, love the color and technique. Best wishes at the dentist. Thank you for sharing the poem.

Lisa Elton said...

Terrific cards, Darnell! Love those cute little patterned deer!

Donna said...

Great cards Darnell, I like the stamped magic one with the berries, very cheerful and your two for one is great and how nice to get a double!

HilaryJane said...

That poem is just great. Thanks for sharing it. Love your cards too especially the shiny red one. Thanks for making the effort to show us the shine. It also shows us some of your lovely Californian sunshine. We have been stuck under grey skies for what seems like weeks now. They call it anticyclonic gloom. I think that's a great term and am determined to remember it. Probably won't succeed though xx

Liz said...

Wonderful cards, Darnell. I especially love the first one, so striking in the colours you've used. Thanks for sharing the poem, so funny! Good luck with your dental treatment. Hope the US get the correct result in the election tomorrow. x

Nancy said...

The poem is a hoot! Sometimes it is nice to just use stamps on a card. Your believe card is just perfect. You managed to catch the shine in your pic just perfectly. The twofer reindeer scene is as darling as can be! I will have to give that a try very soon. Thanks for joining us at Color Hues, I really love having you in our gallery. Take care!

Karen said...

I'm back to add our thanks for sharing your beautiful mistletoe card with us at Color Hues!

Gail L said...

Fabulous cards!!
Hope things went well at the dentist!

Bobby said...

Great job of capturing the shine, Darnell, and what a cute twofer you got with the stenciled background and die cut deer. That poem is fabulous and pretty right on at this stage of life. Good luck at the dentist. Have a shot of wodka before you go. ;)

Cheryl W. said...

Your Christmas cards are fabulous! I love the stenciled reindeer scene, too.

Susan said...

Great cards as always, especially the first one with the wonderful shine on sentiment and berries. Love the friendship poem - so applicable to our age. Hope you get through the stress of election day tomorrow - my fingers are crossed for you.

LesleyG said...

Fab cards, love the sparkly shine on the mistletoe, and the cute stripy reindeer scene. Loved the verse too, 😂 and hope the dentist wasn’t too awful 😷 xxx

EmmaT said...

The red and white card is very striking, crisp and beautiful, love the masked stencilling - very effective and a brilliant poem. Thank you for joining us at We Love Stamping

Darlene said...

Oh my friend ... I can ALWAYS depend on you for my morning chuckle! Your cards are fabulous ... LOVE that first card and yes you've captured the glossy berries perfectly!! LOVED the poem and hope it's okay I grabbed it and shared on my FB page ... a message to all my girlfriends! (I did remember to give you credit lol).
Thanks so much for joining in the fun at our Peace On Earth challenge! Good Luck and we hope you’ll come back often.

Darlene
DAR’S CRAFTY CREATIONS
Peace On Earth Co-Owner

Leslie Miller said...

Love your cards and the poem at the end! How true that is. It's a treat to see your Cottage Cutz Moose and Pines, too. They're some of my favorites!

Julia Aston said...

Oh, what a fun visit here today sis! Love that poem! and your beautiful mistletoe card and the fun twofer masked stenciling - so pretty in the purple! Julia xx

Linby said...

Love that bright crisp stamping and embossing. Your stencilled cards are wonderful and a clever idea. What a glorious poem!

lauren bergold said...

Oh my gosh, what an amazing and clever pair of cards, I love how you used the positive and negative space! So happy you joined our celebration of holiday critters at Jingle Belles!

TK said...

Gosh - I LOVE these cards, Darnell! For the life of me, I cannot figure out how you made the second "mask" but it's wonderful. And your holly stem? Fabulous! You know what else is fabulous, besides you? Your knack for finding great poems and stories!

Sandra H said...

Both cards are amazing as always another great post too x

Fiona said...

Lovely cards and your choice of colours - that looks like a fun technique to try. Thanks for sharing with us at ATSM

Izzy Scrap said...

Two gorgeous cards, Darnell ! I love the CAS design of the first one and the shine of the berries and sentiment. And what a fun technique for your second card, I definitely have to try that, such a cool result. Take care, hugs xx

Brenda in IN said...

That glossy red and white really caught my eye. I love it! The lavender deer are so fun and cute. I have to say the poem brought tears to my eyes. My friends are so special and as we get older there are pains, troubles, and things we struggle with. It is our friends that get us through a lot of it by just being there. Sending love to you and all my blogging friends.

Pat said...

Three fabulous cards Darnell, and I love the pretty leaves and glossy red berries, and a lovely bright red sentiment to match, and then the two using the masked stencilling technique, and what a great idea to used the die cut deer as the mask on the first, and then using that for the second card with that wonderful pattern all over it from the pretty stencil..love the lilac colour, and a wonderful poem too I do have a card for your Week 1 I.D.E.A.S. which has stamping and some glittering..those sparkles get everywhere..lol. x

Pat said...

Sorry Darnell, I did mean to say I hope your visit to the dentist was not too horrid. x

Linda W. (ScrappinBari) said...

Such a beautiful gloss on your BELIEVE card, Darnell - love it! Love the pair of deer & tree cards too!! Fun poem for friends - so true!!

Elaine aka Ellapu said...

Beautiful design Thanks for sharing over at Peace on Earth Christmas and hope to see you in future challenges.
Elaine DT

KraftiKards (my blog)
613 Avenue Create DT
Peace on Earth Christmas DT
Simply Clean and Simple DT

Loll said...

Late to the party as usual. Two fabulous Christmas cards!! LOVE those gorgeous glossy berries on branches ... pretty CAS design, my friend. And LOVE the masked stenciling. Great way to create two cards at once. The lavender with design make the most beautiful cards. LOVED the poem you shared. We are so blessed to have friends like that!! :) xx PS ... sharing my IDEAS card today.

Stef Perry said...

Darnell, you've created two lovely Christmas card and made all of us laugh at the poem, which rings so true. The mistle toe in black and red is fabulous, and it looks like you won your photography battle, the pic is perfect with shiny things. Thank you so much for playing along at Color Hues!

Tracey McNeely said...

Darnell your just stamps and ink card is so beautiful. I agree with you that sometimes it's just nice to play with ink and stamps. No teeny tiny pieces to glue together. Both of your Christmas cards are so lovely and your poem made me laugh out loud. Thanks so much for sharing with us at the Color Hues!

Deanne Saunders said...

Beautiful creations!!! Thanks so much for participating in our CHRISTMAS CRAFTS ALL YEAR 'ROUND challenge!!! I appreciate that you play along and I enjoy visiting your blog!! Have a happy crafty day!! Deanne at A Little Bit O’ Paper

Robyn Oliver said...

Hi at last Darnell... been away from home with mum celebrating her 94th birthday... but now I'm back catching up with visiting my fav blogs. Southern parts of Australia have just gone to daylight savings but up here we're dealing with the early sun rises, so we're opposites. Hope your dental visits went ok... not fussed with them myself. Now for your lovely cards.. I agree quick heat embossed cards are still a go to and your Christmas one is lovely and sparkly... great idea with the masked stencil/die cuts... looks like the trees have decorations. Hugs and thanks for visiting my blog, I love yours because they always make me smile.