test to see if anyone is receiving the follow.it notifications

 test

Subscribe by Email

Greetings to my Blogging Followers!

Like many others, I have switched to "follow.it" as my choice of "subscribe by email", since Feedburner is no longer offering the service.  The people at follow.it were extremely pleasant and helpful, even though I opted for the free service. They even moved most of my followers over when I emailed the list of email addresses to import.

The major difference you will see is in the "from" section of the emails, which will now say "follow.it" instead of Creative Smiles.

I hope you don't mind that I've done that on your behalf. Please know how important your comments are to me. My life is very "little" since being homebound the last 20 years, and I treasure your kind friendships.

If you prefer to follow by email, and don't already receive emails from my blog, please visit my blog, and look in the right side bar. Scroll to the 4th item in the sidebar, and enter your email address. Thank you so much!

Now, for my poor Hoya Carnosa (Hindu Rope). Unfortunately, last Autumn it was in the way of some (supposedly plant friendly) overspray from the roof, and has some yellow streaks now. But check out the blooms. The plant also scales upward another 6 feet in addition to the hanging portion. The blooms are velvety soft when they open, but look like hard wax while closed:

Wishing you all the best this summer (and winter for my "Down Under" buddies!

hugs,

Pippi Merry Christmas with Freebie

Christmas Happens All Year (when it's in your heart) (smile!)

I could not pass up the fun, eclectic Christmas bird freebies on Kajsan's Blog.  I've used one of her birdies on 4 cards, each slightly different:

Colored with Prismacolor Pencils and Gamsol, and distress inks, these were so cute and fun to color!

Just looking at her birds makes me happy!

Would you like another Christmas Freebie? My gift to you - Arrangements of the same sentiment for use on the inside or outside of your projects. Please do not sell the Sentiments. Use on any of your projects, including projects involving any design teams you might be on.

Click on the image to bring it to full size. Because of the changes Google Made with Blogger in June 2020, your image will appear to be solid black. Don’t panic. Right click and do a SAVE. Once it is saved on your hard drive, you can open it and it will have a transparent background. I create PNGs instead of JPGs so they can be placed anywhere on a scene or project, and so backgrounds can be made using them. Please let me know if you have any problems. I hope they serve you well!

Enjoy!

Products: Embossing Folder by Craft Essentials Diamond Tiles, Kajsan's freebie Pippi Digital Stamp, Dies: SB Labels 5 die and TH Garden Greens. Paper: SU pattern paper, SU celery green cardstock, SU Rose Red cardstock, white cardstock, Other: PrismaColor Pencils and Gamsol, Distress inks (Fire Brick and Victorian Velvet), MS Lace Heart Edge Punch, Washi Tape

I would like to play in the following challenges please:

1. C.R.A.F.T Challenge #598 Christmas 5/27
2. Fezziwigs Festive Frolics #May 12 "Let's Get Sentimental" 5/24 (sep post T3)
3. Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge #542 Anything Christmas 5/21
4. The Holly and the Ivy Christmas Challenge #94 Anything Christmas 5/23 (sep post)
5. Merry Little Christmas Challenge #34 Anything Christmas 5/31 (sep post)
6. Cards for Gals #147 Things With Wings (I used birds) 6/2
7. Pammie's Inky Pinkies #2120 AG 5/24 (sep post)

Thanks for popping by to see my Pippi bird!

On A Musical Note - Inspiration Station Challenge

Welcome, Friends! It's time for a new Inspiration Station Challenge! What fun to "interpret" this challenge's inspiration piece. 

The inspiration board this time: PSST! Remember! It's entirely YOUR take as to what inspires you - it could be emotional, thematic, color, texture. What ignites your imagination today?

I was inspired by the colors, the music theme, and the fun melodies always heard on the carousel. Remember that reaching for the brass ring was only part of the fun - it was seeing the joy on the faces of fellow passengers and the whiz-by smiles of watchers standing nearby!

So much fun because I was able to hold ink pads AND stamps! (giggle)

This delightful card is 5.25" x 6.5". The black background was stamped with VersaFine Clair Charming Pink (just in case the color showed through the white detail embossing powder after the EP was heat set). The carousel horse was colored with Zig Watercolor pens and Distress Inks. The distressing around the image was done with both pink and black inks:

To tear the mulberry paper, a paint brush with lots of water was used. Let the mulberry paper absorb the water, and it is very easy to tear. Then I "rolled" the edges inward while they were still wet to give a little dimension to the layer:

Hope you will drop by and play in the Inspiration Station Challenge!

Products - STAMPS: Hero Arts C2916 Wishing You a Happy Day, JudiKins 2104J Music Notes, Inkadinkado Carousel 6-00716 - DIES: Memory Box Meridian Border, IO DIE062-F Flourish, Taylored Exp Banner Stacklets #1,  SB Edgeabilities Classic Petal E8-006, SB Labels 22 S4-346,  - INKS: VF Charming Pink, VF Nocturne, Distress Black Soot, Distress Kitsch Flamingo, Distress Tattered Rose, - PAPER: Black, White, Pink, Mulberry - OTHER: Zig Watercolor Pens, White Detail EP, Clear Glitter, Pink Glitter

One of my huge pots of Coleus Plants. In about a month, they will grow long spikes of purple flowers, attracting all kinds of pollinators. Hummingbirds especially love their flowers! The cascading "smiles" of salmon flowers are Angel Wing Begonias, with a few dregs of jade plants and snapdragon flowers (whispering their last breath due to the heat).

I would like to play in the following Challenges please:

1. Allsorts Challenge #624 Anything Goes 5/22 (sep post 5/21)
2. World Wide Open Design Team Challenge #5 AG for DT (sep post 6/12)
3. 2 Crafty Critter Crazies #50 Have A Critter 6/1 (sep post)
4. Pammie's Inky Pinkies #2120 AG 5/24 (sep post)
5. Outlawz Monday Greeting Challenge (5/10 - 5/23) Use Dies (6/1) (used 5 dies)
6. Here Is A Place to Start #5 Anything Goes (6-7 check tabs)
7. AAA Birthday Challenges #25 HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO AAA! (5-30) sep post (6-7)

Stamping Hugs,