My blog is called "Creative Smiles" because my designs are the result of incorporating mistakes. With fumble fingers that drop whatever they are holding - repeatedly, it takes a lot of giggles, smiles and creative patience during my crafting process. xx

Tuesday, June 24, 2014

Happy The Car {Sparkle N Sprinkle}

Greetings! And Welcome to my humble blog home. 

Today I am featuring a masculine card using
 SPARKLE N SPRINKLE products.

A special welcome to new followers: Sandra van Blaricum and aussie aNNie.

This masculine card used several embossing powders listed below, and this fun Happy The Car Rubber Stamp Set.





TIP:  Depending on the thickness and/or layers of EP applied, metallic EPs can look smooth and shiny, or they can highlight textures and details, making them look like real metal, rather than applied to paper.




Shade unexpectedly, like above the "smile" to create the illusion of a mustache, adding humor to your artwork!

Speaking of Humor, this month at Path of Positivity Challenge, the theme is HAPPINESS.

  • Perhaps Happiness is a very subjective emotion/feeling/state of being. 
  • To me, Happiness is definitely tied into our state of being, and comes from within. 
  • Many people depend on others to bring them happiness. I wonder if those individuals ever truly enjoy a true state of Happiness, since it would be so fleeting. 
  • Others seem to bring it with them, regardless of their circumstances. 
  • Probably, like a good relationship, Happiness requires cultivation and a little hard work at times. 
  • But you cannot "fake" true happiness. Contentment and Gratitude often work hand-in-hand with Happiness. 
  • Sometimes we have to make difficult choices in our lives in order for Happiness to overcome Unhappiness.
  • It's important to always make time in our lives for a little "Happying Up" so that the rest of our time is more productive, enjoyable, and free.

One thing is certain, thank you, dear blogging friends, for bringing happiness into my life -by sharing your lives with mine, and making me a better person because of it.


My first ever step card! 

TIP:    Create 5x7 step card in white card stock. Use walnut ink and distress all the edges and folds so that the white will not show on the edges. Cut Brown Authentique DP pieces to layer on top of the white CS as desired.





Thanks for stopping by today!


Crafty Bloggers Network June Challenge uses this bingo card:

Column A (Die cuts, Image, Patterned Paper) is on my card.

Products Used:


Challenges this Card was submitted to:

  1. Crafty Bloggers Network - June 2 2014 - Bingo Card (shown in my blog post uses Column A (Die cuts, Image, Patterned Paper) on my card - see blurb in my blog post. 7/2
  2. Path of Positivity Challenge - #15 "Happiness" - See paragraph above 7/2
  3. Party Time Tuesday - #178 Anything Goes - 6/30
  4. Through the Craft Room Door - June 24-30 Anything Goes 6/30
  5. Cards Galore Encore - June - Anything Goes 7/1


Thanks for visiting today!
hugs,



38 comments:

Shona Erlenborn said...

Wow - you snuck this one in quickly! It is so cool and I love the step card fold. Loving those powders too, Donna, the gears look so realistic. Fantastic job!

KarinsArtScrap said...

this is looking great and fab Donna.

gr karin

Desire Fourie said...

Oh wow Donna this is an awesome masculine side stepper. Love all the manly elements. And you hit Happiness on its head and I totally agree it comes from within and no one but yourself can make your own happiness.
Hugs Desíre {Doing Life}

April said...

We will be missing you so much at Sparkle N Sprinkle. Thanks so much for sharing this really cute card. I love it and all the gears! Great job! xo

crafty-stamper said...

Fabulous masculine step card love the fun image and embossed cogs
Carol x

cotnob said...

This is a brilliant card Donna, such a wonderful design with so many fabulous details and such a fun image.
I will really miss your Sparkle N Sprinkle DT cards, I do hope you will still make some 'unofficial' ones.
Pauline
x

Mrs A. said...

What a lovely card to finish your DT assignment with. I like the tip of colouring the edges of the card before assembling. Hugs Mrs a.

Stampsnob. said...

Great card de > I love this S&S stamp set .......Lis

aussie aNNie said...

Loving your side step card and gorgeous image....take care...♥aNNie xx
The Journey is the Start

MaryH said...

Oh Boo Hoo on you leaving SnS DT officially, but I hope you keep sharing your beautiful work with us. I do understand that Life brings other commitments and priorities though. I was surprised to see this was a first step card for you (I have never attempted one!). It's great, and thanks for showing how you added the distressing in the folds. Great tip. The image was such a fun one, and loved all the metallic shine of the gears with this jalopy. It's just a really fun & cute 'guy' card, and it rocks! Also enjoyed the thoughts in your post. Spot on. We must have Happiness within ourselves..at least most of the time anyway. Someone else can't bring happiness if you don't have a bit of it within your soul. The other person just adds some extra and you share it back. TFS the inspiration and the joy at seeing your super delicious card! Hope all is well healthwise. Hugs

pam said...

Hi Donna, fantastic card for a Man!!! brilliant image and colours. great stepper card and all your embellishments..
Agree about happiness, you said it all..
hugs pam x

Jane Savage said...

What a terrific image, Donna, it did make me smile! He is certainly a VERY happy car!! Love the blue and brown colour combo and your cog and star embellishment looks amazing! xx

McCrafty's Cards said...

Wow Donna I love this card, what a fabulous design I like everything about it!!!
Kevin xx

Benzi said...

Donna, you always have wonderful posts. Your step card is fabulous and the gears do look real. The car is too cute and fun.

I've been away from my blog for a few weeks. Missed your work and coming here gives me quite a lot of "happying up".

KT Fit Kitty said...

Hello, Donna! Your step card is wonderful! Now you've shown your masculine cards are just as gorgeous as your girly ones! I love how you embossed the gears - a wonderful idea! That car is so cute! I liked your definitions of happiness too. Sorry to see this is your final post for SnS - I know you will miss them! Sending big hugs your way!

Hugs,
Kitty

Becky said...

Very cute card. Glad to see you back with us. :-)

D- said...

Your card made me smile. LOVE that cute car and all the great details you added. Thanks for sharing at Path of Positivity.
Crafty hugs,
D~
DesignsbyDragonfly.blogspot
Path of Positivity Guest Designer

D- said...

Also thanks for becoming my latest follower and for the moderator tip. My spammers sometime leave messages on posts from month ago as well as recent ones so I need to keep it on all the time to catch them. Not sure why they still try to add them since I never post them. lol.
Crafty hugs,
D~
DesignsByDragonfly.blogspot

arlsmom aka Lynda said...

What a wonderful fun card! I love that you really thought a lot about what happiness is to you and shared it with your readers. Thank you for your kind comment on my blog post; as I too find much happiness gardening and also believe that you must cultivate your happiness. Wishing you much happiness in your day today! Lynda - DT member Path of Positivity

Eret said...

It seems that you make step cards in every day, Donna. This is so awesome! I adore blue and brown color combo and your embossed gears. Your card is fantastic!
Hugs,
Eret

Gemma said...

Cool card love the image
Thank you for joining us at the Crafts Galore Encore Use a stamp or digi on your project challenge #5
Good luck
Gemma xx

maria's knutselplezier said...

Wow Donna, what a great card, I really love that cute car and the great frame work you did, and what a great shape you placed it in, I love to come and injoy your blog too!!!
Have a great weekend!!!
Maria

NanaConnie said...

This is incredible, Donna! I love the embossed gears. They look so metallic. Perfect for a masculine card. Happy is one of my favorite car stamps. :-)

Brenda said...

The side step cards are so much fun - what a great masculine card - lots of fabulous embellies and chock full of deliciousness :)

Jerri Jimenez said...

This design is so precious Donna and it was such a joy reading your post. I struggle with masculine cards and am so thrilled when I see them on other blogs. Whoever received this card must have been over the moon with joy!

Paula said...

Donna, I hope you will continue to share your talent with all of us, even though you are not on the SNS DT anymore. I totally agree with you on the happiness, it must come from within us. Good luck friend, I will still check in here.

Unknown said...

What a fantastic step card! Thank you for joining us at the Cards Galore Encore Anything Goes

Desire Fourie said...

Back with my DT hat on, Donna. That little car is definitely one happy chap. This is so perfect for our HAPPINESS theme this month. Thanks for sharing your talent with us and good luck.
Hugs
Desíre
{Path of Positivity DT Member}
{Doing Life – my personal blog}

Deonna B said...

Aweome Card, coloring,image and details on this card. Thank you for sharingyour work with TTCRD.

Shirley said...

Oh my gosh, DE, this is just too too cute for words and I love every inch of it and your fold too! TFS the tutorial!~

Karen Petitt said...

Gorgeous card De and sorry to hear you are leaving SNS but if it's better for you then you need to do that! So sorry that it has been so long for me to visit - will try harder huni Karen xx

Leslie Miller said...

I'm so delighted to see Happy and Henry available as digital stamps! When I have time I have to remember to go purchase them. I've been in love with them since I saw your Henry card many moons ago. Yes, I had to go look... been over there for a while. This is as cute as can be! How perfect with the gears, and love the step design. Sparkle 'n Sprinkle is going to miss you mightily, but I expect you'll still be wowing us with your sparkly cards, especially considering your fresh new stamp room and all. Your wise words regarding happiness are food for thought. Whatever stress and unhappiness I feel come from unimportant sources, so I choose happiness. I know I'm lucky up to this point, but don't take things for granted. Keep on keeping on, Donna.

Anonymous said...

My goodness this is so cute Donna! Love the image and beautiful card shape.
Amelia

nwilliams6 said...

How fun! Some great details, super card shape, and love the darling image! Hugz!

Petra Swart said...

Oh, I love this card, Donna!!! I have a docrafts set of gears dies and I love using them on masculine cards and I also give them some life with EP - sometimes I even use clear EP if I want to use them in black, but they do look great in silver or gold!!!

I so enjoyed your little piece on Happiness - and it costs us nothing to spread happiness all around us, hey!!! I so enjoy to be cheerful and happy and hopefully brighten someone's day along the line!!!

Having lots of fun here, visiting you!!!



Path of Positivity said...

Hey Donna,

I'm so glad that you had the chance to join us again this month. You've definitely been missed. I'm sure you'll go forward taking many wonderful memories of your time with SNS with you. You are certainly going out with a bang as this card is just great. You did a wonderful job with your first stepper card and I love all the little gears and other embellies you've added.

I also love all the things that you had to say about happiness. Words of wisdom as always.

Thank you so much for joining us for Challenge #15 over on the Path of Positivity. It is sooooo good to see you back. Good luck in the draw!

May you always experience true happiness throughout your life.

Hugs,
Lisa
{Path of Positivity}

Verna Angerhofer said...

This is an awesome card. I love all the elements used in it.

Carol Hurlock said...

OMgoodness Donna-this is adorable. It reminds me of my sister-in-law and brother-in-law. They just bought an old green car they named "Frankie" to restore. They live in California and post pics all the time on fb. I owe you an email my friend. Thanks so much for your support and patience. Love the super sweet card! I spent most of the night making a decision about "unhappiness". My poor husband seeing my heart broke. I feel bad about that-he did his best to comfort me. Fifty something years to absolutely face the truth. Took me a long time. But the stars were amazing at 2 a.m. in the morning during my walk and after that I finally went to sleep. Now off to work-should be interesting. Anyone taking bets that I doze off once or twice....lol