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

Saturday, December 31, 2016

SNS EXTRAVAGANZA KICKING OFF 2017!

Hi! I hope your holiday celebrations were deeply memorable, and that 2017 is full of promise for new beginnings. Thanks for joining me today.
I am kicking off the New Year as a guest designer for the SNS Extravaganza 2017 with TEN new, fantastically-eclectic rubber and digital stamp sets PLUS a brand new artist joining the SNS team!

My projects use a combination of the digital and rubber images:


IT IS ALL ABOUT 
FUN AS YOU HAVE NEVER ENJOYED IT!

It's Demo Donna on the SNS YouTube Channel!

Subscribe today to REVEL IN all the latest Demo Donna tips and techniques! But even more - PREPARE TO BE ENTERTAINED!  Each week a new technique is shared, and each month, a new video kit is revealed!



BEGINNING TODAY: The easy-peasy Sparkle N Sprinkle Creative Challenge

There are lots of prizes and recognition badges.  We would love for you to be a SNS Featured Artist as well.  The theme is always Anything Goes using Loose Glitter, Embossing Powder, and/or Flock.

Welcome to Sparkle N Sprinkle's
 January 1, 2017 New Reveal Blog Hop!

We're starting the New Year off with a BANG! 
We have a huge reveal to share with you - our largest ever!

 There are TEN new stamp sets (one is a digi-only set) being released this month!  These new sets are 20% off until January 3, 2017.  So once you finish the blog hop, head on over to the store and start shopping.  

This month's sets include: 

    friendship, 
        Valentine's, 
            encouragement, 
                Easter, 
    birthday, 
        St. Patrick's Day, 
            Spring, 
                and celebrations. 
We hope you like the assortment! 


Our newest artist is Heather Valentin of Lacy Sunshine Stamps!

Emily Showers of Love 831   (digi version DIGI831)


Right Beside You 812  (digi version DIGI812)
Milton Friendly Giraffe 817  (digi version DIGI817)
Cattleya Orchid Friendship 818  (digi version DIGI818)

Easter Chicky 820  (digi version DIGI820)
Party #1 821  (digi version DIGI821)
Party #2 822  (digi version DIGI822)

Eggs-traordinary Kindness 825  (digi version DIGI825)


On Jan 3rd, ONE GRAND PRIZE WINNER will be selected from the comments left on the Designers' blogs listed below. Please leave a comment with each Designer in order to be eligible for the Grand Prize.  It's always a mystery which Designer will have the winning comment.

The Grand Prize Winner, which will be announced on the SNS Facebook and on the SNS Blog, will receive ALL of the new stamp sets released this month (or the digi versions, if preferred).


The Blog Hop order this month is:

Donna (that's me!)

(*Tip: if you have difficulty with a particular link, try clicking on the Designer's blog title to send you to their Home page.)

My projects use a combination of both digital and rubber sets from Bugaboo's famous Edward Elephant - with the cutest sentiments and accessories!

_______________________________________
Business Size Card #1


Images: 
Embossing Powder: White Detail EP298,
Glitter: Meadow Spark G1014 (clover), Spirited Green G1070 (hearts)
Nuvo Crystal Drops - Woodland Green

The lucky clovers were printed at a very large size, painted with SNS Brushable glue, and coated with Meadow Spark G1014 ultrafine glitter. The clover in the square is layered.


Nuvo Crystal Drops - Woodland Green center each leaf cluster for visual pleasure and texture.
The Drop make perfect centers every time and never leave a peak or stringy appearance.

The patterned paper was randomly stamped with VersaMark and heat set with White Detail EP298.

_______________________________________
Business Size Card #2


Images: 
Nuvo Crystal Drops - Woodland Green
Glitter: Spirited Green G1070 (bow)

The digital 3-leaf clovers were printed in large scale format, colored with Copics, with a little Nuvo Crystal Drops - Woodland Green painted on and dropped in the center. It gives a little bit of shine to the clover.



_______________________________________

Standard Shape card 6" x 7.5" flat for mailing

Jackpot! Edward and his friends win!


Images:
Ink: Memento Cottage Ivy (sentiment)
Nuvo Crystal Drops - Woodland Green (on clover leaves)

Stitching accompanies the clover border which has been fussy-cut on the right side. The clover again has been painted and embellished with Nuvo Crystal Drops - Woodland Green after being colored with Copics.


Edward is darling and unabashed in all his "pink and green" glory!

_______________________________________

Last, but not least - the easel card


Images:
Digital Set Edward Elephant St. Patrick's Day #1 (Edward circled, 4-leaf clover border), 
Digital Set Edward Elephant St. Patrick's Day #2, (3-leaf clover leaves, sentiment)
Glitter: Meadow Spark G1014 (glittered circle),
Embossing Powder: Silver Pearl  EP391 (brad),
Sticker Paper (glittered circle), 1/4" Tear-ific Tape,
Nuvo Crystal Drops - Woodland Green

Here is my creative process, complete with boo-boos, of course!

Print border of four-leaf clovers, color with Copics and Nuvo Crystal Drops - Woodland Green. Trim and distress with ink on edges. This is the "Stop" for the card front.


Die cut SB Teardrop Circles from Sticker Paper. Place the die cut Edward image in the middle of the sticker paper, pressing firmly. Then burnish in the Meadow Spark G1014 glitter around the edges of the teardrops. The glitter is now firmly adhered with the image.







Sparkle N Sprinkle Products shown under each card above.

Other Products:

Dies: SW Pierced Circles, SB Teardrop Circles, SB Grand Big Scallops, SB Grand Circles, SB Oval Regalia, MBox Beloved Hearts,
Punch: MS lacy hearts border

On the Home Front:

My white Christmas cactus finished blooming.
They will be severely trimmed then rooted in March for new plants to give to friends:




Fabulous Challenges I'd like to support:

  1. 4 Crafty Chicks #331 Anything Goes! 1/6
  2. All Sorts Challenge #396 "Something New" (new stamp sets, new techniques with rosette and Nuvo Crystal Drops), 1-6 
  3. Crafty Gals Corner #103 Blogaversary and Anything Goes! 1/5
  4. Crafting with an Attitude #22 Anything Goes  1/5
  5. My Time to Craft Challenges #337 "Something New" (new stamp sets, new techniques with rosette and Nuvo Crystal Drops), 1-26 
  6. World Wide Open Design Team Challenge #17 Anything Goes 1/15

stamping hugs,
de


58 comments:

Anne Temple said...

Amazing cards! All are gorgeous. I love the large rosette behind the circular Edward. Gorgeous dyed ribbon too.

Patricia St Martin said...

Merry Christmas and a wonderful new year to you and your hubby! I love the pictures of the Christmas cactus you shared with us they are just beautiful. You're cards are adorable the image is so cute, all set for St Patty's day now. Hope all has been well with you been working on my craft room and looking forward to getting back to creating and designing cards again.
Hugs, Pat

Jessica K said...

Wow! these projects are just stunning, beautiful and fun!

aussie aNNie said...

STUNNING card, Beautiful flower display, and fabulous new and gorgeous images. Thanks for your tutorial and love what you do. Happy and Healthy 2017. xxxx

Sue D said...

Cute set of projects. I like the sparkle and the rosette. thanks for showing your Christmas cactus too.

Linda said...

Absolutely gorgeous! Happy New Year to you, dear Donna! Love and hugs. :)

Alicia DiCarlo said...

Your cards are so adorable. Love the gitter clovers.

Andrea said...

Love the variety you used. I love the easel card. Your Christmas cactus is beautiful too.

Puppy Kisses and Paper Dreams said...

Over achiever!!!!! And, WOW! Each and every one is fan.tas.tic!!! Your greens are gorgeous. Your "blush" is so perfectly colored ... swoon!

Memaw said...

Wonderful ideas and wonderful cards and oh how I love your Christmas cactus I finally broke down and got one this year.

belinda-lovestamping.blogspot.com said...

Wow, I love all of these!!

Shirley said...

Happy New Year Donna and may this year bring you and your family eveything your heart desires especially good health.

What would your cards be without the magical Donna bling. Those shamrocks sparkle and more off the page. Adorable makes and thank you for sharing those Christmas cactus pics.

Have a great day.

Warm crafty hugs from Shirl x x x
ShirlsCards.

brenda said...

What a way to kick start the New Year Donna, some wonderful makes and a tutorial as well and I so love all the fresh greens which give a gentle reminder that it may be wet and cold outside but Spring will soon be along with renewed growth.

A Happy New Year to you, thank you for your friendship and inspiration and here's to a very crafty 2017.

B x

Jackie T said...

Hi Donna all your creations are gorgeous I love them all. The Christmas cactus look amazing. Happy New Year. Take care. Hugs Jackie

Sue said...

Hi Donna, Loving the cards.

Your Christmas cactus are beautiful.

Hope 2017 brings you health and happiness. Sue

ionabunny said...

OK, love your cards. Especially the elephant easel. Love the bling. Love the tips and the boo boos. Thanks for sharing. Happy New Year. Hugz

Carole F said...

Love all of the cards. Thanks for all of the ideas and tips.

Diane said...

Well I have to say your projects just blew me away...WOW....these are fabulous Donna and I love, love every single one and every single detail...beautiful!!
Gorgeous Christmas cactus as well...how very pretty. Have a wonderful and fabulous 2017!!

Chris said...

Beautiful makes here Donna, love the fresh greens, a lovely reminder that spring will soon be on it's way. The easel card is particularly stunning! Happy New Year
Chris
x

KarinsArtScrap said...

these are gorgeous cards and with a cute image Donna.
Gr Karin

KraftyKoolKat said...

Such awesome creations De love them all. I adore that trim behind Edward and all the glitter.HAPPY NEW YEAR SWEETIE.
Hugs
Cathy
XXXX

Unknown said...

LOVE the St. Paddy's Day themes! That elephant is super cute, he's really adorable! Wishing you and the Hubby a VERY Happy and Healthy New Year, my dear sweet OD! xo~

Lori Kobular said...

Happy New Year Donna! Your Saint Patrick's Day cards are so festive! I love all the sparkly green, and Edward is so adorable! I hope 2017 brings you much joy, love and happiness!

Lorna said...

Love all of your cards Donna. Hope you have a terrific 2017.

Becky said...

Gorgeous, as usual. I like the way you used both stamps and digital images. Digis intimidate me. 😊 Thanks for sharing.

Mary Holshouser said...

So glad you featured the elephant.
I collect them and love to see them
in action. these stamps are
darling.
thanks for sharing.
Happy New Year

Verna Angerhofer said...

What fabulous projects and your coloring and designs are so awesome. I love the beautiful theme you chose too.

pam said...

Beautiful start to your new year card creating Donna! love the elephant.. fabulous colouring, gorgeous punched edge rosette for your easel card..
Thank you for sharing your tutorial.
Wishing you and your family a Very Happy New Year 2017..
Hugs Pam x

Christina said...

What a beautiful mix of St Patrick designs Donna! That elephant is so adorable! Happy new year! May 2017 brings you lots of good luck, happiness and joys. Sending you smiles across the miles.

Linda Simpson said...

WOW this is fabulous.
Hugs
Linda x

Jean Bullock said...

I love all the cards. The layout, the paper choices, the glitter - all so well done. I would like to wax poetic on the easel card however. I love easel cards and this one is awesome. You have so many wonderful techniques happening - the heart punched rosette and all the other wonderful circle layers. I love how you mirrored the circle motif on the base of the card. What a beautiful die cut! Love all the inking and coloring you did too. And you get extra points for using PLAID! I love the heat embossing and glitter you used. Very cool! Happy New Year, my dear friend.

TracyM #6773 said...

CONGRATULATIONS on being Guest Designer Donna!
LOVE your collection of projects, the colouring, greens, sparkle & shine are FABULOUS! Your textures and dimension are AWESOME too!
THANK YOU for sharing, I feel the NEED to make some rosettes and add more fibres to my projects NOW :)
PS - your Christmas Cacti were a stunning show.
PPS - don't forget to come over and join Challenge #103 at the Crafty Gals Corner - we have a Blog Hop and lots of prizes this week - good luck!

Eret said...

Happy New Year Donna!
Wow! I expected to see an amazing card but I wasn't ready for four astonishing art pieces. You have outdone your self. Love all your cards. Beautiful colors and just a right amount of sparkle. Simply stunning!

Conniecrafter said...

The images are so cute and fun and you have made some Awesome cards using them, you always have great designs!!
Your plant is just beautiful and so full, so lovely to have a blooming plant in the winter time!! Happy New year!

April said...

Great cards with these fun images! I love all the wonderful details!

Darlene said...

OMG! I am always in AWE when I come to visit! Happy New Year Donna ... hope 2017 is treating you well so far! These creations are AMAZING! I love this new release ... so many fun images to play with! Thanks for always sharing such wonderful details, tips & tricks! Great job as always ... HUGS!

Darlene said...

Me again ... forgot to mention ... WOW LOVE YOUR CHRISTMAS CACTUS! You must have the magic touch because it is GORGEOUS! Okay ... just had to pop back and comment on that! LOL

Teresa Godines #6857 said...

These cards are awesome. I love how you used the clovers and colors. Thanks for the wonderful inspiration.

Donna said...

Hi Donna, gorgeous cards and like that you explained how you did these wonderful embellishments. Thanks for giving me your links, I have seen your wonderful creations in blogland and did not realize you were the same Donna. I am the newest follower of your artwork! Happy New Year! Donna

Leslie Miller said...

Another fantastic collection of artwork, Donna! You always wow us with the versatility of a stamp set and the supplies you use. LOVE that accordion layer and your gorgeous dyed ribbon and how you worked the fiber fluff into it. So many inspiring ideas in one post, and, of course, you KNOW how I love Bugaboo! Thanks so much for all of this. Happy new year, my friend!

coldwaters2 said...

Happy New Year Donna. Wow what a wonderful selection of projects you have made each one is so beautifully designed, the images and colours are all ACE.
hugs
lorraine x

wannabcre8tive said...

Great job making these beautiful cards.

Lisa said...

Happy new year, Donna!! I hope 2017 is an amazing one for you my sweet friend!! I pray that you and your family had a wonderful Christmas, too!!

All of your projects are amazing!! I love the sweet elephant!! The designs of each one are so creative and beautiful!! The sparkle is fabulous!! Spectacular inspiration my dear friend!! Love it all!! Your Christmas cactus looks so beautiful!! Have a great day!! Big hugs :)

Lisa
A Mermaid's Crafts

cotnob said...

Beautiful cards Donna, such a wonderful variety of designs and lovely fresh colours.
Wishing you a very happy New Year.
Pauline
x

Shona Erlenborn said...

Wow! You never cease to amaze what you do with those "fumble" fingers!! That rosette is genius and thanks for showing how you did it! The layered clover on the first card is so cute - great idea! Beautiful, sparkly creations and the inked seam binding is gorgeous. Amazing cacti too. Obviously your fumble thumb must also be green!

Annettes Hobby Rosettes said...

Absolutely sensational makes here. Congrats on GDT you did a fabulous job for them. Great work.
Thank you for sharing with us here today at World Wide Open Design Team Challenge and best of luck with your entry.

Annette DT Registered Owners/Admin for World Wide Open Design Team Challenge

NanaConnie said...

Oh, I love what you did with this adorable St Paddy's card, Donna. It's simply fabulous even if it doesn't have purple as the main color! Of course, it probably helps that I'm Irish and was born on St. Patrick's Day. Still, the sparkle is wonderful and the layers are terrific for lots of dimension and texture. I'm loving the fibers and ribbon you chose for the bow. I've used that heat embossing technique so often on brads and just love that it gives such a perfect match to other places on the card where EP had been used. Wishing you the most prosperous and fabulous New Year ever, my friend. :-D

*Vicki* said...

Happy New Year Donna!! :) I really LOVE love love your wonderful St. Patty's Day creations here! Such a sweet image and I'm just loving your tutorial for the beautiful rosette you've made too! The sparkle on the clovers is glimmering with sparkly green happiness too!! Thanks for your wonderful post and congrats on your well deserved GDT spot my friend! Wishing you lots of happiness and creativity for 2017! HUGS

Pia S said...

Best wishes for the new year!
I've come to realize that in Norway we are celebrating very little compared to what you do in the States. St Patrick's day and Thanksgiving come to mind, but I'm sure there are even more you guys have. You've been so creative with this Bugaboo set. Plenty of great ideas, like transforming a DP with a sentiment stamp, gorgeous rosette and plenty of lovely detailing.

Mervi said...

Fabulous creations, lovely new items.
Thank you for sharing over at Allsorts' New Something week;-))m

Kathleen said...

Brilliant creations, gorgeous colours and some fabulous new images.
Thank you for joining our 'What's New' challenge this week at Allsorts.

Kath

Janice said...

Wow, you have been busy Donna! Fabulous selection of projects, beautiful colours and images.
Wishing you a very Happy New Year too.
Janice x

P.S Your Christmas cactaii are amazing!

SewPaperPaint said...

Hey sweet friend and happy New Year to you! I just adore this amazing project, that rosette, the dyed ribbon and the gorgeous row of clovers! Stunning work, such an inspiration for one of my fav. holidays to craft for! Big hugs, Autumn

crafty-stamper said...

Congrats on your GDT spot Donna and fabulous selction -but the easel card is stunning and beautiful rosette
Carol x

Stampsnob. said...

How lucky they are to have you guest This is beautiful and your TT is wonderful Also my circular fans never lay flat /,,,,,Lis

Nancy Hill said...

Beautiful cards. Love the elephant and fantastic tutorial. Hugs and Stay Warm

Carla's Cards said...

Lovely set of cards!
Thank you for sharing with us over here at the World Wide Open Design Team Challenge and best of luck with your entry.

Carla DT for:-  http://worldwideopendesignteamchallenge.blogspot.com.au/...

Crafting Suzie's Creations said...

Thank you for sharing with us over here at the World Wide Open Design Team Challenge and best of luck with your entry.

Susan DT for:-  http://worldwideopendesignteamchallenge.blogspot.com.au/...