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

Friday, January 25, 2013

Lovey Dovey Sparkly Poo


It's beginning to look a lot like Valentine's Day -

hearts and flowers
cupids and arrows,
candy and sweets and
all that "lovey dovey stuff".



This is my first "distressed" style card having curled corners, distressed panels, mismatched heart panels (on satiny design paper), tulle, and lots of stitching and glitter. (SO sorry about the photography - the card had to be mailed, and I ran out of sunny opportunities in the house)

Dont'cha love all the romantic and "corny" sayings that accompany Valentine's Day?

My Heart Beats for you:


Not enough afternoon light indoors today, so off to the front porch with Lovey Dovey, in pursuit of afternoon sunshine. Yesterday morning it was 36, so I pulled off the covers on the geraniums and used them to prop up my card.

The right side of the card is "squiggled" with VersaMarker and then embossed with SNS Sparkle Embossing Powder to give it a little pizzazz. The verse is from Stampin Up!'s "elegant cheer" set.

The Hampton Art image is stamped with black Staz-on ink and colored with a Dove Blender (how appropriate) and watercolor crayons on top of SNS Cloud Nine Velvet Glitter.

Time for another syrupy-sweet Valentine message:

Happiness is
 a friend like you:


Kuddos for the beat-down geraniums after being covered for 3 days. They are in a 20" pot.
(they deserve at least SOME recognition, don't they?)


Hard to believe but this love-lorn card has been entered in the following fabulous challenges:


C.R.A.F.T. Challenge - #191 Valentine's Day
Charisma Cardz - #3 - Hearts & Flowers (must have both)
Craft Us Crazy - #35 Celebrate Love or Are You Seeing Red?
Little Miss Muffet - #53 Hearts and Flowers
Bunny Zoe - January 14 Anything Goes
Lady Anne's Monday Anything Goes Challenge (Jan 14-Feb 11)
Created With Love Challenges - #25 Anything Goes
Cutie Pie Challenge - #36 Use 3 Different Textures (velvet glitter, tulle, embossing powder, satin cardstock, cloth stitching)
Fashionista Challenge - #11 - Dominant Color Red
Victorine Originals Challenge #51 - Valentines/Red, White and Pink (my pink is in the star and DP)

dies:
SB - scallop heart die
SB - rose creations die
SU - triple flower punch
MB - Riviera corner
LS - nesting hearts
LS - lace doily hearts

stamps: 
hampton art
stampin' up!

EP & Glitter:
sparkle n sprinkle

Thanks for stopping by,
always stamping hugs but today's hugs are full of Florida Sunshine, too,




62 comments:

Chris Hanselman said...

Great job on your first distressed porject.
Thanks for joining our Anything Goes Challenge this week at Created With Love Challenges

~~Chris

Sheryl said...

Hi what a pretty card for our love challenge. Thanks for joining us at CRAFT this week. Hope to see you again soon.
Hugs Sheryl xx

Always with a Sentiment said...

Hello Donna. Such a wonderful creation, and I just love the colours and fab textures. Thanks for sharing at Created with Love,
Sandra xx

Karalee said...

Hi Donna -
It's always fun to try something out of your comfort zone. I think your card is just beautiful! You always make the prettiest things.

Verna Angerhofer said...

Beautifully done. Hard to believe it is your first distressed style card. You did awesomely.

Carla S. said...

Beautiful card, Donna! Love the soft colors and all the sparkle! Thanks for joining us for the Little Miss Muffet challenge!

Paper Creations by Shirley said...

Wow Donna this is gorgeous, Love it and the title of your post! I love the soft colours, the distressed layers, glitter and embellishments. I have this stamp and have only used it for Christmas but I've just moved it from the Christmas section! Have a great weekend, Shirleyx

pam said...

fabulous card Donna, love the card design. pam

Wendy Fraser said...

Gorgeous card, I'm such a fan of the distressed look and you have nailed it. Thanks for joining us at Cutie Pie xx

Shanna Shands said...

I love the stamping on glitter technique!

Lisa xx said...

Gorgeous work Donna...and your flowers are beautiful too, what a lovely vibrant colour! Thank you for joining in with the cutie pies, come and see us again soon xx

Anne Temple said...

This is stunning! Love the colors and all the little details!

NanaConnie said...

Fantastic, De! Love the dove, and all the sparkle. Mostly I love the distressing and the curled corners. Bless your happy geraniums for being so co-operative, holding hte card for photographs. ;-D PS Can you believe I actually got a card done using the SnS sketch? I've only been MIA with that challenge since October!

Debi said...

Just beautiful Donna. Love that image on the velvet glitter. Your distressing turned out great. The geraniums are lovely as well. They look much better than my poinsettia!

creativearts said...

De, this is such a lovely card! Love the distressed look, all that sparkly ep, and the design is so perfect for Valentines Day. I'm glad you could enter so many challenges and I will put my money on you winning something again!! LOL

Monica said...

Hi Donna, thanks for lovely visit and kind words. How wonderful that you have a friend in Jakarta. Is she of Indonesian origin? We have been living here for the past five years. I am happy to be here as my cards sell well.
I will become your newest follower too.

Love,
M

Gerlinde said...

Beautiful card, Donna! Love that dove on the velvet glitter!And the colors are so soft and lovely!

Barbara Bruder said...

What a lovely card. Perfect for Valentine's Day. So glittery.Love that sewing you did and the distressed look is just right.

Grace said...

How cute is this!!! Love the sparkle and distressing and stitching... and... well... everything!!! Beautiful valentine card!!!

Dawn said...

Hi Donna, That is some fantastic distressing and beautiful stitching. I love your colouring on the sparkly glitter, the colours are soft yet maintain their brightness. Gorgeous card!

Hugs, Dawn

Andrea W said...

FABulous card! I love the sparkly heart with the beautiful image and your papers coordinate perfectly. Glad you joined us at Created With Love Challenges.

Shea said...

Hi Donna! I came over to thank you for the oh so sweet words you left on my blog, and I found this FABULOUS card just waiting for me! Is this seriously your first distressed card? It looks like you've been doing it for years! It's GORGEOUS!! All the sparkly and distressed parts, the papers, netting, swirls, just everything is perfect! And the geraniums, yes, they do deserve recognition. They're gorgeous too! Love how you write - I was grinning the whole time. :)

Inger Harding said...

Gorgeous card and beautifully designed!!!
Love it!
Have a nice weekend.

♥ Inger

Desire Fourie said...

Donna this is beautiful. Love the heart shape.
Hugs
Desíre
{Doing Life – my personal blog}

Valentina said...

thanks for stop by my blog!
Love your creations!
Valentina

Inkypinkydelights said...

Oh Donna I love this! Thanks for your kind words on my Blog today too. Judy x

Sylvia x said...

Thanks for joining us at CRAFT Challenges with this great little card, love the images you have used

Good luck

Sylvia xx

Pat said...

Gorgeous card and geraniums. You have such a lovely green thumb for sure.

Cat's sCrap said...

Original project. Sensible choice of colours. Fanbulous work on your image. Congratulations !

Thanks for joining us at Charisma Cardz this week !

Hugs from France.
Catherine.

craftin-dawn said...

Gorgeous card! Love all the die cutting...the colors are beautiful! thanks for joining us this week at Created With Love Challenges for our Anything goes Challenge!
DawnD

Shona Erlenborn said...

Such a pretty card Donna. Love your title too! You nailed the distressing and I particularly like the added sewn touch! Coloring on the glitter - well you know that's my favorite technique right now too, so what don't I like - Well, nothing Girlfriend!

Aunty Sue said...

Lovely card and thanks for sharing at craft

Brenda said...

Another fabulous creation from the fabulous MS DONNER :) The geraniums are beautiful too

Donna said...

Hi Donna, your card is so beautiful, the distressed papers and stitching work perfectly together and wow to the sparkle on your image, looks amazing as does your colouring. Thank you so so much for the wonderful comment you left over at mine (I've stopped blushing now) you are too kind and I am chuffed to learn that you have pinned my card...don't think that's ever happened before, so big thanks for making my day :) Donna ♥ x

Julie Z said...

Well Kudos to you for stepping out of your comfort zone:-) and such a wonderful job too!! This definitely is a different look for you and your did a FAB job with it! And I love how you made your distressed look still be so colorful too!

And I'm so jealous of those gorgeous geraniums! All I have to prop my cards against right now is snow :-( Thanks for sharing a little bit of your warmth with us (literally & figuratively ;-) Hugs

Abfabdesigns said...

Ab Fab darling loveing the glitter too ,I would be so pleased to receive a card like this its great
Xxx big hugs xxx

Bernardine Cuttino said...

OMG, this is drop dead gorgeous. love the color, my fave, the bling, another fave, in fact, I am in love with all of the details. Sweet, fabulous, remarkable.
Hugs
ps. thanks for your well wishes, on the road to recovery

craftimamma said...

Hi Donna, Thanks for your lovely comment on my blog today. It's much appreciated and also, it meant I knew you'd stopped by and could visit you back ;D

Your blog is lovely and you have some gorgeous designs on display. This one is no exception and I love all the different elements you have combined. The dove on the heart is really cute and I particularly like the tulle and stitching. Smashing work!

Hugs
Lesley Xx

Anonymous said...

Really stunning creation!! I love the shimmer on your papers and that image is so pretty!! HUGS :)

Jeanette (Forest Ranger) said...

WOW! I love the shimmer. Your card is gorgeous!

Thank you for participating in the Craft Us Crazy Challenge!

Debs said...

Fabulous card - love the sparkle.
Thanks for playing along with us at Charisma Cardz this week.
Good luck.
Debs xx

Bernardine Cuttino said...

Just a note, Sistah Donna, you are too, too, funny. I just love your endearing comments. Keep em coming.
Hugs

Sue from Oregon said...

This is just all out gorgeous! Love the fine glittery creation! I would be covered in glitter should I attempt such a card!

Audrey Hiltke said...

OMGracious Donna - this is breathtaking! And yes, I do love all the corny and mushy sayings at Valentine's day!! And I love your card. You did good with your distressing here - great job!! I love every detail - but that flower with the heart center and fun flourish tail really makes me smile.
You are so talented, and such a sweetheart too - thank you for all your kind comments on my blog.
Hugs and Blessings,
Audrey

Leslie Miller said...

I'm simply in LOVE with your fabulous, gorgeous, sparkly creation! Beautiful image, and your geraniums are the perfect prop. Wonderful in all respects!

Christina @ Floridays Mom said...

Donna..This is just stunning! Absolutely gorgeous! I love every thing about it and your geraniums are just beautiful..perfect back drop.

Unknown said...

Just stunning, love it.
Thank you for joining us at cute pie.
Kaz.xx

McCrafty's Cards said...

This is gorgeous Donna, I like the image in the heart, the sparkle , the papers and the swirls.
Kevin xx

Bernardine Cuttino said...

Just a note of luv and smiles. Thank you for your continued sweet luv.
Hugs

Donna Maligno said...

Lovely, sparkly, soft and I want it!!

Donna Maligno said...

And congrats on your Honorable Mention with this card on Created with Love! It certainly was as only you can do. Hugs.

Carol Hurlock said...

Yeah for the geraniums! They are so pretty just like that card! I love the glitter, oh my it's just beautiful and brings your card to life. The distressed edges are perfect with the fantastic paper. A lovely Valentine Donna. Makes me want to get out my heart die cuts and go to town this weekend...lol Have a happy crafting day!
Bear Hugs,
Carol

Jenny said...

What a pretty card. <3 Jen xx

Barbara Bruder said...

Great Card, Perfect with all that beautiful glitter.

susiestacey said...

Lovely card, was not quite sure what the image would be when l saw the post title.
Thank you for joining the Cutie Pie 3 textures challenge and good luck x Susan x

Sylvia said...

Love your beautiful Valentine, Donna, the coloring of those love bird is beautiful! Have a wonderful Friday filled with crafting!

maria's knutselplezier said...

What a great card!!!I love it , and what a beautiful details!!! You are the master!!

Greetings
Maria

Pat (mspfd) said...

Wowzers, this is gorgeous. Love the distressed look of your creation and all the beautiful elements.

Amy Martin said...

Wow...this is so pretty. I am always so inspired by everything you make. This is perfect.

Shannon White said...

Soo Pretty And Sweet! I Love all things Lovey Dovey and sparkly! Especially for Valentines! 8-) And this is just Fabulous Miss Donna!! Love the Pretty Patterned papers tule and flourishes as well! 8-)

Hugs
Shannon

Linda said...

Donna this is the most beautiful Valentine. I love the sparkle in it and the beautiful vintage tulle it looks like you dyed the tulle to match your papers. How clever to use the different heart dies. Do you dream these works of art?

E. Marie said...

Sorry I am so behind with comments. This is beautiful. I love how you tore, distressed, and stitched the background to show off this lovely image.