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, February 23, 2013

Asian Birds in Cherry Blossoms

Welcome! My Blog Candy Deadline is February 28 - click here for details.

This card was made in a No Glitter Create Zone! How did that happen? ...out of my comfort zone with this Asian theme card, created for a Swap with the Florida Stampers Yahoo Group.

It was my first attempt using clear EP resist with watercolors technique.

Everyone else's looks so pretty. I need to practice this technique to learn how to apply the shading and color intensity.

Another first: A fellow blogger explained how to crumple, dye, and adhere the seam binding ribbon in a distressed manner. It is the first time I've used seam binding (courtesy of Barbara). The ribbon is tied with thread, and an antique button from my great aunt's sewing stash from the 1950s is sewn in the middle.

New-to-me Decorative Labels 27 SB dies (4 layers).

Does anyone know if release/ejection foam will work on SB's detailed dies?

The designer papers, Hero Arts Bird stamp, antique button and seam binding are from my stash - been in my stash for at least a year, and all virginal. ~smile~

The edges of the card base, the designer paper panel, and one SB die panel have been distressed with gold detail embossing powder from Sparkle N Sprinkle. (The detail clear EP is also courtesy of SNS).

Hero Arts K4892 Decorative Birds
SNS Clear Detail & Gold Detail embossing powders
Raisin dye ink, VersaMark ink
SB Labels 27 and Decorative Labels 27
Kraft, DP, White and Burgundy cardstock

This card was submitted to the following challenges:

Artistic Inspirations - #29 Buttons and Bows (ribbon is died, tied with thread, and an antique button sewn in center of bow)

Crafty Bloggers Network - #8 Anything Goes

Crafty Boots Challenge - "Out of Your Comfort Zone" (used new-to-me techniques - Watercolor Resist, died and distressed ribbon with different style bow, sewn with a button)

Created With Love Challenges - #29 Things that Fly (birds in stamped image and butterflies in DP)

Deep Ocean Challenge - #45 Anything with Letter "B" - (Bow, Birds, Butterflies, Blossoms, Button)

Loves Rubber Stamps - #40 Lots of Layers (4 die cuts, ribbon designer panel, base card)

Make It Monday - #128 Anything Goes

Make My Monday - Ribbons and Buttons (distressed ribbon with antique button sewn in center)

Victorine Originals - #53 Stamp, Emboss, Embellish (image is clear embossed, 3 layers distressed embossed with gold EP, 1 layer is dry embossed, embellished with ribbon and antique button)

Alphabet Challenge Blog - Anything With Wings (Birds, Butterflies on DP)

Thank you for pausing to visit my blog today!

Stamping hugs,

58 comments:

Lady Bug Stampers said...

Your card is beautiful. Thanks for playing along with us at Created with Love challenges.
Linda K

Gerlinde said...

This is stunning, Donna! Love the colors, the gilded edges, and the resist technique too! The seam binding ribbon and button and the perfect finishing touch! Love it! Love it!

Karen Petitt said...

Absolutely stunning - love it! hugs Karen

McCrafty's Cards said...

Beautiful card Donna, I like the design all the gold and the ribbon.
Kevin xx

Paper Creations by Shirley said...

Hi Donna, wow this is a stunner, love it ! The watercolour resist and ribbon are both beautiful. You have also used beautiful die cuts. I would love to learn how to create that distress ribbon. Hope you are having a fabulous weekend, Shirleyx

Chris Hanselman said...

Adorable card. Love the birds and the gold leafing. Thanks for joining our Things that Fly challenge at Created With Love Challenges

~~Chris

Pat K said...

Stunning card Donna. Beautiful image, colors and I love the gold embossing...fabulous. pat k x

Dawn said...

Wow! Beautiful card, Donna! That resist technique creates such a pretty effect. Beautiful golden distressing and I love the seam binding and vintage button.

Hugs, Dawn

cebelica said...

Wowers, your card us stunning. I love all the gold and the touch of vintage. I would never guess that was your first attempt using the EP resist with watercolors technique. I think you did a brilliant job!

Thank you very much for stopping by my blog and leaving me such lovely comment. I really appreciate it!

Hugs! xx

Debi said...

What an elegant and stunning card, Donna. How long did it take you to make this? Just beautiful!

pam said...

fabulous card Donna, love your embossing and fab colours ..pam

Unknown said...

Exquisite Donna, just beautiful and love that stamp with the blossoms and the colours are all gorgeous...xx

Carolyn said...

Ohhh Donna,
Another lovely card. You do such outstanding work. I love Make it Monday and am glad to be back again.

Carolyn W

NanaConnie said...

Well, I never would have known this was a new technique for you or that you were out of your comfort zone, Donna. I think the result is utterly magnificent! Love how your seam binding ribbon turned out. Perfect color combo for an Asian theme.

Unknown said...

Great card! I love the ribbon flower and your great technique!

Thank you for joining us at the Alphabet Challenge Blog!

Sheena
xxx

Roxx.T Barnes said...

Stunning card! Love the colors,layers and fabulous seam binding!

Thanks for joining us at Alphabet Challenge Blog.
Roxx.T

Dee's Craft Room said...

Fab card and expertly done. Thank you for stepping out of your comfort zone for Crafty Boots Challenges.

Dionne

Bernardine Cuttino said...

Wow, this is so pretty, gorgeous colors and design. Thanks for the tibit on the color challlenge.
Hugs

Desire Fourie said...

This is just stunning Donna. I love how the image pops against the rest of the design.
Hugs Desíre {Doing Life}

Ann Craig said...

I think your card is stunning Donna. I love the gilt highlights that work so beautifully with the burgundy and pinks, and the resist patterning is delightful.

Dangina Martinez said...

So pretty. Love your layers and bow. Thank You for playing along here at Loves Rubber Stamps Challenge this week.
Good Luck, Dangina

Janice said...

Great card, so much detail. Jx

lalkygirl said...

what a beautiful card Donna,love the colours and your lush bow
thanks for joiningm ua at MIM and good luck
tracey x

Shona Erlenborn said...

Great idea to use the EP resist technique on that stamp - it really came out lovely. There is so much detail, every other look I see something different, but I love your seam binding with the gorgeous button. What a treasure.

Anonymous said...

What a gorgeous creation, Donna! Hard to believe there are so many "firsts" here - looks so professional! First off, you've done a fabulous job with the emboss resist method, and I think your shading is excellent! And don't you just love seam binding? It's my favorite kind of ribbon, so shabby chic, versatile, easy to dye, wrinkle, straighten, ruche, etc. Love that antique button, and I LOVE your choice of colors and papers on this card. BEEYOOTIFUL!

Anne Temple said...

This is stunning! Love the colors, the technique, well....everything!

PetraB said...

so elegant and beautiful, love the texture

Brenda said...

Stunning!!! Awesome!!! Gorgeous!!! Fabulous!!! Stupendous!!! Beautiful!!!

Carole said...

Love your card Donna, found you on Make it Monday!

Carole x

Leslie said...

Your card is beautiful, Donna! I love the colors and the seam binding.

Sharon said...

Donna this is just so beautiful!!! I love it!

Olivia said...

Fabulous job. Thanks for joining us at Loves Rubberstamps.

Mynn xx said...

This is just stunning! LOVE the gorgeous deep tones with the gold! Thanks for joining us at MMM! :)

Sylvia said...

Lovely Asian themed card, Donna, I love the pop of pink, the cherry blossoms are so pretty! Have a wonderful Monday!

April said...

So pretty and elegant! I love it, Donna. I love the bow too!

Bernardine Cuttino said...

The details and the gold is magnificent in this outstanding creation. You are so sweet to stop by and leave your lovely luv.
Hugs

Bridie said...

Stunning card with gorgeous colours

Fliss said...

Really gorgeous creation. Thanks for joining in with our MMM ribbon & buttons challenge.
Fliss x

creativearts said...

Gorgeous card, De! Love how you used this set of Spellbinders and all of that gold makes it really sparkle!

Sharon Field / Inky A*Muse-ment said...

Oooh.. what a lovely card Donna!! Love the color combo,the sparkle and dimension! wow!!

Lydia said...

great card - lovely design and great layers xx thanks for joining us at Loves Rubberstamps xxx

Terry said...

Donna, this EP watercolor resist technique is gorgeous! What an elegant card! Love this!

Abfabdesigns said...

Love this technique so much it looks so rich ,must try but could not do like you fab darling
Xxx hugs xxx

Leslie Miller said...

Another beautiful card! Always with such lovely stamps and design elements. I love the gold emboss distress idea. Gorgeous!

Donna Maligno said...

Are you getting tired of the word "stunning"? You can add my "stunning" to the list as well. Love the color choices and the distressing. Just lovely!

Alexa said...

I think your card is beautiful. It's great to go outside your comfort zone & try new ideas - you never know where it will take you. Your bow is also beautifully done!

Shannon White said...

Wow Miss Donna!! This is Soo Beautiful and Elegant and your died seem binding ribbon treatment turned out Fabulously!! Just Love every detail!

Hope you've been doing fabulously my Sweet friend! 8-)

Hugs
Shannon

Monica said...

Hello Donna, what a sweet blogger you are... Your comments are always so genuine and sincere. And you encourage me so much. Thank you and I value your visits.
Well, my visit to Singapore was for our visas so we did not really take pics. And Singapore is really our neighbour so we don't consider it much of a travel even though it is a world of difference from Indonesia. It is so well developed and has perfect infra structure. We used to live there some 8 years ago.
I should have put this down in an email but it was nearing my bed time so I put it here.
Your card is a stunning piece of art yet again. What a style you have... very impressive. Maroon and gold look so royal and the ribbon is perfect. Just so beautiful.

Love,
M

Viv said...

Such a gorgeous card Donna :) Viv xx

Miriam Prantner said...

What a beautiful card! I love the embossing. And thank you so much for the sweetest comment on my blog! You really made my day!

Unknown said...

Hi Donna, just want to thank you again for always commenting..glad you could work out how to use the blings for borders, I was stumped too as have had them for ages...take care.xx

Anonymous said...

Wow, Donna this is a stunning card. Love the layout, gold embossing, oh, everything about the card is just beautiful. Have a great day.
Amelia x

Mrs A. said...

A lovely oriental style card. Just perfect. Hugs Mrs A.

E. Marie said...

This certainly doesn't look like you were out of your comfort zone. Gorgeous card.

Jacqueline Smith said...

Awesome card, love the Asian theme and all the fabulous details on your card. You certainly rocked this card!

Viv said...

OOo Donna!! Love love love this - have this cardstock and never used it so you have inspired me as I have inspired you! LOL Thanks for visiting and saying such nice things - I hope you can find the time to scroll back through the bloggy and check out my vintage and shabby creations (which I think are more fun than cards!! Shhhhhh!!!)
Now a follower so I don't miss out on anything you have shared in blogland.
Hugs from North West England!

Carol Hurlock said...

This is just gorgeous. I love it. I think you did good with the technique. I don't know about the foam on SB-but I use wax paper sandwich between the die and the cardstock and my die cuts just fall out of the die after embossing. It works well for me.
Bear Hugs,
Carol

Shirley said...

I am totally in love with this card. Everything about it is divine.

Hugs Shirley x x