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

Wednesday, November 19, 2014

Gaudy Project of the Decade {Scrapy Land}

Welcome, dear friends, and to newest follower Patti Senter!

ALERT! 
This project deserves the Gaudy Project of The Year Award!

Well,
     it could not get any gaudier
          and
               I can't believe I'm showing it,
                     but here is my latest project for
the new Scrapy Land Challenge -- 

A Number Ten Size Can repurposed as a decorated cookie container to be mailed.
     The cookies will be protected in the can,
          stay nice and fresh,
               and the decoration will suffice as Christmas wrap!



The Challenge is open until November 30. 
The theme is ANYTHING GOES WITH TEXTURE using any die manufacturer which Scrapy Land sells (electronic die cuts do not qualify)Scrapy Land sells over 40 brands of dies, including overseas products, and most are at a great discount
  plus free shipping over $45!


The Cookie Container uses the following die cuts:

All the dies are from Scrapy Land:

Impression Obsession Pine Branch









































The Matte Snowflakes are a smooth texture in contrast to the glittered Poinsettias.
The Lumiere Paints showcase the underlying mulberry paper, and give a pearly look.

Some of the papers for the Poinsettias are textured.
There are four sizes of glitter used to show more texture.


All die cuts were adhered with Alleen's Quick Dry Tacky Glue.
They dried rather quickly - even the chipboard snowflakes.


MORE TEXTURE:
The lid has layers of the Pine Branch, stuffed with silver mesh.
The lace was sprayed with lavender and turquoise spritzes from a company who is no longer in business.





The lid also sports an old floral pick from Michaels. I cut it apart. Using the same blue paint, I painted the pine tree portions and dredged with Sparkle N Sprinkle Tinsel Shape Glitter. Martha Stewart chunky glitter was used on top of the painted silk holly leaves. An assortment of glitters was used on the pine branch die cuts.


Thanks for checking out my GAUDIEST EVER project - I certainly learned a lot playing with all the supplies!

Path of Positivity Challenge - Gratitude:

Every December, our "Cookie Group" puts together a huge box of decorated cookies to send to a Vietnam War Vet who suffers from PTSD, deafness, and other war-related disabilities. We are so grateful to do this special thing for him. He lives in a remote area of the country without any of the conveniences we take for granted. He walks four miles to town to pick up his mail, uses a generator as necessary for "power", removes icy snows from the roof his log home, hunts and cures his own meat, grows and stores his own vegetables. This gentle soul knows he is a danger to others, and is most comfortable living alone, and in a "community" where most of his neighbors share similar challenges also "courtesy" of Vietnam. I've been blessed to meet him on occasion when he visits a nearby farm to help his family out. These visits are decreasing, as traveling by bus and train are becoming increasingly taxing to his PTSD. He loves receiving our goodie packages. Each of the cookies are in paper decorated packaging, have their own recipes included, and according to his words, "makes me feel like I'm home for the holidays". He enjoys sitting by the fire at night, munching the goodies, and re-reading the recipes, even tho he does not bake.

WE ARE GRATEFUL for all the people who have sacrificed and served in some capacity to help others and/or to serve our country.

It takes so little to bring GRATITUDE to our own hearts - simply by doing small, thoughtful things for others, which in turn, brings GRATITUDE to their own dear hearts.

At the risk of being sappy - your cyber friendship brings GRATITUDE to my heart.

Stamping Hugs,
CHALLENGES PLAYING IN:

  1. Clear it Out - Nov 18 Challenge and Stash is Anything Goes with Paper Crafting - I have used long forgotten mulberry paper, first time use for the Poppy Stamps Blooming Poinsettia, first time use of the Lumiere Paints (in my stash at least 8 years) 11/24
  2. Craft-Room Challenge - #89 - Anything 3D (lots of dimension in my project) 11/24
  3. Holly Jolly Christmas Challenge - Nov 11 Colour Choice BLUE, WHITE, SILVER (silver mesh ribbon and glitter, assorted blue papers, blue paint, white snowflakes)11/24
  4. Through the Craft Room Door - TTCRD Nov 18-24 - Anything Goes 11/24
  5. All Crafts Challenge - Oct/Nov - Anything But Cards - 12/1 (check tab)
  6. Craft Hoarders Anonymous - #20 Box it Up! - repurposed #10 can for packaging cookies, hoarded items were forgotten copper mulberry paper, Lumiere paints (in my stash at least 8 years), old floral pick, and first time use of Poppy Stamps Blooming Poinsettia 11/30
  7. Path of Positivity - #20 Gratitude (please see paragraph in my post) 12/1
  8. The Pink Elephant - #TPE277 "ANYTHING BUT A CARD" 11/24
  9. Unstampabelles Challenges - #41 Box it Up! Create a box/container and document how it was made (shown above) 11/28
  10. Dream Valley Challenges - #95 Anything Goes 11/27

Wednesday, November 05, 2014

Snowy Fun Christmas {Scrapy Land}

Hi, Blogging Friends! 
And a special welcome to new follower Barb Burgess.
It is time for a new ANYTHING GOES Scrapy Land Challenge!


The Challenge is open until November 16. 
The theme is ANYTHING GOES using any die manufacturer which Scrapy Land sells (electronic die cuts do not qualify)Scrapy Land sells over 40 brands of dies, including overseas products, and most are at a great discount
  plus free shipping over $45!


Since it never snows in Florida (well, except for that time 2 years ago and in 1977), I created this snowy wintry scene on paper using 3 Sue Wilson's beautiful dies and 1 Spellbinders die.

My card uses the following die cuts:

All the dies are from Scrapy Land:
  1. Creative Expressions Sue Wilson Basic Frames Set A California Collection CED1103
  2. Creative Expressions Sue Wilson Seville Spanish Collection CED1203
  3. Creative Expressions Sue Wilson Holly Accessory Kit - Festive Collection CED3014
  4. Spellbinders Elegant Labels Four (outside frame)

The Sue Wilson Die (in white) has been inked with Lavender Pearl just to show you the embossed detail. This die set comes with 4 gorgeously shaped dies.

The background colors are navy blue, but they appear black (for some reason) in the photos. The snowy background is a Cuttlebug EF colored with Brilliance Moonlight White ink.

The Sue Wilson Festive Collection with Holly Accessory Kit contains several sizes of leaves and berries:
The glitter is from Tulip Treasures and Sparkle N Sprinkle. The mica flakes are from Stampin' Up! The two frilly white layers are the same shade of white, but the camera must have picked up the reflection or dry glue color, yellowing the top layer slightly. In real life, they look the same, but one is sparkly.


Please join us at Scrapy Land Challenge this month! 
The prize is great, and badges are awarded as well! 
You may enter as many times as you like.
Products Used:
Challenges Playing In:
  1. Fairy Tale Stampers #46 Something New - (The Snowman image is new, and so are the 3 Sue Wilson Die Cuts 11/15
  2. Use Your Stuff #160 - Snow (Snowman, and snowing background) I've had this image for a few years, and this is the first time it has seen ink LOL 11/9
  3.  Art By Miran - #18 Anything Goes 11/13
  4. One Crazy Stamper - Nov "Anything Goes" 12/1
  5. The Artistic Stamper Challenge - Nov - Christmas Is Coming - Must use rubber stamp (the Joy stamp and the little scene stamp are both by Inkadinkadoo and stamped with Paris Dusk ink) 12/1
  6. Bearly-Mine Challenges - Nov - Christmas - 12/1
  7. Craft Your Passion - #238 Bright and Sparkly - (I used 2 colors of glitter, and 2 sizes of glitter, and the iridescent sparkly mica flakes) 11/10
  8. Crafty Cardmakers and More - ##126 Cut It Out (used 4 die cuts shown above)
  9. Dream Valley - #94 Getting Ready for Christmas 11/11
Stamping Hugs,