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!

June 23, 2025

Summer Colors and PP Blues

Hello Stamplings!

Welcome to a brand-new Monday and the start of summer in this half of the globule! Are you going on summer vacation? Or like us, do you leave this time for families with school-age kids and take your vacation after kids go back to school? That's one of the joys of being empty-nesters/retireds, although I'm not a fan of the word retired. It's so sleepy. You're re-tired?🥱 I think the word should be "rested."

"Are you still working?" "No, I'm rested now." 

This is the fourth Monday in June, so it is A = Anything Goes week on the I.D.E.A.S. Calendar. I struggle with this week, stupidly enough. Apparently, I'm at that age where I need direction because, you know, squirrels everywhere.

Onefer +
What happened was, my friend Karen used a colored paper a few weeks ago that I loved. She shared that it was from Concord & 9th and I lucked into their annual inventory sale ... and you know the rest of the story. Kaching, kaching.

I think it's been six years since I bought an ink pad, having invested in the delicious Catherine Pooler pads and reinkers, but I decided to buy C9th's latest bundle of paper and matching ink. When the order arrived, Hammy reminded me that we had a NBUS stamp and washi tape set called, "Rainbow Daisies" from Pinkfresh on Mt. NBUS and it worked beautifully with the C9th colors!

Next, I found a NBUS sediment from "Essential Sentiments" by Ink to Paper for inside the wreath and I stamped it in the matching ink onto hammered card x six. The bling added the perfect balance and punch-uation. It's an old, but classic and timeless design.
And, bonus, I still have all the rainbow daisy flower die-cuts from the washi-tape, so the lads and I are going back into batch-production this afternoon to build up the card stash even more!👏

Twofer
My friend, one-l-Michele🥰, has her first sketch up at Freshly Made Sketches as a member of the Design Team and I wanted to make a card to support her and her great sketch! The timing works out that I'm always squeezing in under the fence with my Monday posts, but better late than never.

For this card, I celebrate stamping. I stamped and clear-heat-embossed my NBUS "Eclectic Blooms" stamp from Concord & 9th. Following the colors from the Color Throwdown Challenge, I painted the blooms and washed the sky with my Ziggies and the lads added the schparkle and the schplatter. To finish, I added a stitched frame from Reverse Confetti, and some blingadingding.

I'm also linking to the Krafty Chicks Challenge where the brief is clean and simple (CAS).


PP Blues
As a distraction from the scary world, I thought I would share this photo of me holding a piece of paper over a magazine article to show how thin the paper is. As a cardmaker, you are thinking it's a thin piece of vellum or if you're old like me, you will be reminded of the "onion skin" paper used for carbon copies back when I started secretarial school in the 1900s. 

But, no. Sadly that paper is toilet paper. Yup. If you're a longtime reader, you know I've complained about this before. No one listens. I would think by now there must be some women in charge of the toilet paper products ordered for use in public washrooms in stores and on planes, ferries, trains, etc. 

Pinterest
I'm all for being economical and ecological, but are they really? When a woman has to unroll 58 yards of the stuff in order to get enough to cover her tiny hand after a tinkle, how is that either economical or ecological? Rant over.

And, by the way, we don't sit on the seat, so it's not that easy to be bent over with our heads even with our knees and our butts in the breeze, as we twist to the side in order to unroll long narrow ribbons of the stuff! Sorry. Now I'm done.

Except to say that it's also unhealthy! It's not just that we don't want to get our hand in our business. It's that our doctors have told us that we have to be dry our precious bits thoroughly in order to prevent urinary tract infections. 

Also ~ slap! Okay, okay.

~~~

I.D.E.A.S. CalendarA = Anything Goes

You will find a linky tool below for you to share your creations with no restrictions! Your card may help motivate others out of a schlump! 

I love seeing what you create, visiting you, and 
pinning your designs! 
Thank you so much to everyone who shared their designs last week! Mwah! 

Enjoy your week! No, seriously, enjoy! LITS!* As always, thank you for coming by to visit the Playhouse!

*Life is too short!

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

25 comments:

Kathyk said...

Two smashing makes, loving the tiny flowers of the first one.

I'm not a fan of the word "retired" either but ... technically, it's what I am!

Don't get me started on toilet paper .... it's either so insubstantial it fragments in your hand or so solid you end up sore (remember the toilet paper from school???)

Kathyk

Em Louise Fairley said...

Beautiful cards, Darnell. I'll be back on Wednesday to link up xoxo

Jeanne said...

Your cards are oh so pretty, Darnell! I like how you supported Michele with your great card. And oh my goodness, your rant this morning was spot on! I hope you have a great day!

Carole said...

Oh darnell what pretty rainbow cards, so joyful..no wonder you have been batch making them! Still chuckling over the loo roll...yes i am with you and it seems to get harder the less flexible we get too..lol. the thin paper you show reminds me of what we had as a kid called Izal and I used to use it to trace pictures and things from books...but oh it was hard on the derriere!! xx

Jean said...

Good Morning Darnell! Loving that colorful daisy card! The colors on your Eclectic Bloom card are gorgeous. I hear you a bout the toilket paper situation! Thanks for stopping by my blog! I always appreciate your kind words.

designbydonna said...

You are such an enjoyable entertainment as I walk through blogland. I have been making the same complaint for years. Add to that the thin paper towels where you have to use 3 to get your hands dry. Anyway, love your cards. The wreaths are very pretty. nice to see a non-leaf wreath. The yellow flowers really pop on the blue background.

Linda W. (ScrappinBari) said...

Fabulous set of rainbow wreath cards, Darnell - glad you found some fun new inks! Great take on Michele's sketch too - love the background wash and splatters!

Totally with you on the tp situation. Add to that - their skimpy paper towels!! Always pull them b4 your hands are wet or you'll just have a sodden mess dangling from the dispenser!!

Brenda in IN said...

That Washi tape is awesome. It is wonderful to have those bright, cheery colors in a wreath. Also, love those colorful yellow flowers to brighten up the day. I agree with the TP story. I don't know why places don't see they are wasting money by not buying a decent toilet paper. I want my precious bits clean and dry without harm to my body.

[email protected] said...

Fabulous post , always a laugh!!! Awesome cards, totally different
and each one is terrific! Toilet paper - what a subject! That is one item I WILL NOT skimp on!!!

Donna said...

Laughing out loud in Missouri!! Your cards are stunning. Have a good week Darnell!

BożenA said...

I love these Pink Fresh Studio washi tapes! They have such beautiful colors and look like precise watercolor. You've used your stash so well, perfect cards for different occasions. I also love the different color versions. Everyone will find their favorite card. Unfortunately, I have to tell you that they all look amazing together. I'm also in love with the second card, beautiful color combination and perfect card for sketching. It's so nice that you created a card to support your friend. I'm sure she appreciates it.
hugs,
BożenA

I Card Everyone said...

Dearest D, I am pickled tink that you've had a play with my premier sketch! Your brightly colored blue card with those gorgeous yellow lilies is bound to make the recipient's day as special as can be! LOve the stitched frame and water-y-colored sky with the perfect amount of schparkle from the lads - thanks, little dudes!
Thanks so much for playing, my friend - you've made my day very special!
=]

Leslie Miller said...

I'm still giggling from the last bit... you are speaking my mind, Darnell! Now, those Pinkfresh Rainbow Daisies! You made me look. However I didn't shop because I already did that two days in a row. I need to rein it in!! Beautiful lilies, too. You always do the prettiest watercoloring!

Loll said...

Your rainbow flower wreath cards are all so beautiful Dolly. There's something about rainbow colours that lifts the spirits. :) And your lovely yellow lillies look AMAZING against the bright blue background and framing. Zigs have the most beautiful, bright and clean colours! Great work, my friend. I'm happy to be playing along again this week. I used Stencils as my Anything Goes, even though this will be next week's IDEAS challenge. I do love a good stencil. :) xx

HilaryJane said...

Lovely colourful cards today Darnell, and I completely agree with your rant xx

Lynette said...

Gorgeous cards, and the perfect sentiment for inside the wreath. I love the second card, too. OMG - that TP is so extremely thin!

Bobby said...

Yay! for building up your stash with those lovely washi floral wreaths, Darnell. I too bought the newest paper and ink cubes but forgot to bring the ink with me. The paper swatches too, so I don't know whose I'm using. Your day lilies are beautiful all sparkled and splattered in that wonderful stitched frame.

Cat Craig said...

I was laughing so hard, hubs had to come over to visit from his study next door. I agree wholeheartedly about the re-tired thing. And what a lovely sextuplet of wreath cards. Makes me want to pull out a new stamp set...see what you did...inspiration! Love your take on Michele's sketch too. Stay cool. Do not watch the news. Hugs.

Bonnie said...

Just look at all those pretty colors of cardstock and daisies! What a great batch of cards, Dolly! Your flower is so pretty on the second card and perfect for Michele's sketch! That has got to be the thinnest tp I've ever seen! We do need to be nimble to use a restroom. One reason I don't like to go far from home.

TK said...

Very pretty array of cards, the colors are fantastic, bright and cheery. AND your second with the sketch is pretty, and smile-inducing, as well.
Now... to the rest of the story - AMEN, SISTER! TP and I have a love/hate relationship! Love to stay clean, tidy and fresh but HATE that someone has to change up even the good stuff! Why???? Though, your "rant" did cause quite a few chuckles, and a few more when shared with Hubbs!

Cheryl W. said...

Pretty, pretty and more pretty! Lovin' the cards. And thumbs up to your TP rant! I feel the same and cannot fathom why they have to make it SO thin! They've got to know we just use way more of the stuff!

Gerrina said...

Love the classic design in the rainbow colors! But the yellow on blue is my favorite! Love those colors together!
Glad we have 'normal' toilet paper here :)! Get your struggles...and don't get why it is so thin in your part of the world... Be careful! :) Hugs, Gerrina

Karen said...

I'm a day late commenting on your post, and as frequently happens, I got my first good laugh of the day! I could use one. I spent the weekend with my arms ensconced with ice packs from some odd allergic and very itchy reaction to bug bites (they think.) Yesterday they did biopsies of two bites. Yuck! And now I'm several days behind in my long list of cards that need making as well as blog reading. You made wonderful use of the new C&9th cardstocks. I had a little shopping spree myself during their inventory sale--hard to pass up. I'm always happy to be an enabler. Hopefully, you'll see the results of my shopping before too long.

Inkyfingers said...

Your pretty rainbow daisy wreaths are such a cheery sight, Darnell. I've never tried washi and dies, but they do look wonderful, and I might just have to go and investigate! I'm with you on the toilet paper issues. My pet hate is the enormous roll that tears off with one or two thin sheets, and you have to keep going back for more. Like Carole above, I remember Izal and using it for tracing.
Hope you are well,
Hugs
Carol x

Susie Moore said...

Love your card for Color Throwdown! So glad you played along!

OSZAR »