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

Monday, January 12, 2015

Winter Blues {Sweet Stamps}


Hi, Blogging Friends! 

Today I'm showing the 2nd card as Sweet Stamps' January Guest Designer! I hope you will stop by and see their many pretty stamp designs, stencils, dies, and art supplies. 

The Sweet Stamps Blog challenge this week is WINTER BLUES. Please visit the Sweet Stamps Blog to see the beautiful inspiration the Sweeties have designed for you! 


The following Sweet Stamps products were used:

Back in the Olden Days (some 20 years ago),
we frequently used a technique called CRACKED ICE.
(anyone ELSE recall that term?)
"Cracked Ice" is now known as "Cracked Glass". 
It was called Cracked Ice because the freezer was used as a tool to create the finish. When "cracked" it also was reminiscent of the "old fashioned" ice cubes that cracked when manually removed from the freezer.

My card has fewer cracks to let the pretty Fuschia image be seen. It is distressed with the same color ink the image was stamped in (Danube Blue Memento).

Love the delicate yet playful font in the Sending Happy Thoughts 9115 sentiment:


Have you noticed that the stamped Floral Wrap 4004 image is on the left at the top, but on the right on the bottom? (giggle)

Tip: How to reverse a rubber stamp image:

Also "back in the olden days", we used to ink a rubber stamp, stamp it onto a flat piece of rubber, and then stamp that flat rubber image onto paper in order to reverse the image. It never came out perfectly. 
Sooooo... this is how I did it:
Today's card uses Sweet Stamps Floral Wrap Rubber Stamp 4004. It is stamped with Danube Blue Memento Ink. The stamped image was scanned and saved to my hard drive. The image was manipulated by flipping it vertically to show it on the right side, instead of the left, and then printed. Because it was printed on X-Press It Copic paper, I was then able to color it just like any other image using Copic Markers.


One Last Look at those Cold Wintry Blues the rest of the country is contending with:


The Sweeties are looking forward to seeing your creations at their challenge, too!


Products Used:
Sweet Stamps Fuschia
Sweet Stamps Floral Wrap 4004
Sweet Stamps Sending Happy Thoughts 9115
Sweet Cuts Fancy Leaf die cut
Sweet Stamps Danube Blue Memento Ink
Sweet Stamps Spun Sugar Distress Ink
Scrapy Land Spellbinders Majestic Squares S4-383
Scrapy Land Spellbinders Scallop Squares Classic
Scrapy Land Copic Sketch Markers
Sparkle N Sprinkle Clear Detail embossing powder
Spellbinders Grand Labels One
Spellbinders Grand Decorative Labels One
Spellbinders Luscious Labels One
EKSuccess corner punch
Ink: Danube Blue Memento, VersaMark, Brilliance Pearlescent Sky Blue, Spun Sugar Distress
Copic Markers

Challenges this card is submitted to:

  1. Die Cut Divas (Jan 1) - Anything Goes with Die Cuts - P1 M (please see list of die cuts above)
  2. Artistic Inspirations #122 - Anything Goes with A Twist of New (new stamps, new Danube Blue Ink, New Reverse Technique)  1/18
  3. Crafting from the Heart #42 - Anything Goes - 1/18


Stamping Hugs,



50 comments:

Sue said...

Beautiful card. Reminds me of the blue china you often see. Think it's called Willow.

Hope you have a good start to the week. Sue

craftieodmae said...

Beautiful, love the blue........

Pamellia said...

Gorgeous Donna! I agree with Sue, it reminds me of my Mom's china set, although there's not many pieces left now. Just stunning and I love the bit about the cracked ice, very interesting! big hugs :)

maria's knutselplezier said...

What a beauty dear Donna, great image, great colours, great shape, I really love this!!!!

Have a nice scrapping and stamping time!!!
Greetings
Maria

Shona Erlenborn said...

Gorgeous card Donna. The blue hues are stunning. Like your up-to-date way of reversing the border. Being technically challenged - I'd still be using the mirror stamp technique!! Would be hard in the blue ink I think.

KarinsArtScrap said...

this is gorgeous Donna look like a dutch tile from the 1800
Gr Karin

KT Fit Kitty said...

This is beautiful, Donna! I love the "old" techniques you used - your "cracked ice" looks so pretty! Great idea on how to reverse the image too - I wouldn't have thought of that! Love your colour scheme too! Wishing you a wonderful day, my friend!

KraftyKoolKat said...

Donna this is so beautiful and I was going to say like a Dutch tile but I see Karin has beaten me to it. Lol!!! I love seeing all your different techniques, you are so talented sweetie.
Hugs
Cathy
xxxx

brenda said...

A really quick visit to say hello Donna - internet has been down most of the time last few day so grabbing the of moment when I can and explain my absence.

B x

Lisa said...

Oh wow, Donna, this is stunning!! The flowers look amazing!! I love the cracked glass look!! And what a creative way to reverse the stamp - genius!! Absolutely gorgeous card!! I love, love it!! Have a great day :)

Lisa
A Mermaid's Crafts

Lori Kobular said...

Donna ~ your card is gorgeous! I love the blues together, they are so calming! And that cracked glass look is wonderful!

susiestacey said...

Stunning card Donna, lovely stamps.
Happy New Year x Susan x

jimlynn said...

Not only is your card beautiful and stunning - but I also feel I've learned so much too! I've never heard of the Cracked Ice technique but it sounds interesting and is pretty! Also, never thought of doing the reverse stamping like that but WILL be doing that for sure!!!
A gorgeous card Donna!
Lynn

Sharon said...

Happy New Year Donna.
Your card is gorgeous. Love the image and the cracks look fabulous. Your card is beautifully designed.
Have a lovely week.
Hugs Sharon. x

Anne Temple said...

This looks fabulous with lots of great tips and techniques. (I know the cracked ice technique as cracked glass :-).

Sandy Fredrick said...

What a beautiful design, I love the cracked glass technique you used on the focal piece with the fuchsia. Love the wonderful tips too. Thanks again for sharing your talents with us as our guest designer.

Bernardine Cuttino said...

Wow, DE. This is amazingly stunning. Your new title for me is Technique connoisseur. Love the colors and design.
Hugs
Berni

pam said...

Fabulous card design Donna, lovely stamp and great technique for reverse image..beautiful blue and pink colours and love the card shape.
Hugs Pam x

Verna Angerhofer said...

That is super stunning in the blue tones and I always loved the look of cracked glass or ice like you said in your post. And making it an easel card is extra wonderful! Not sure I could do that reversing border either, but I sure like the way you did it.

Janis said...

Another exquisite beauty for us to enjoy, Donna! This is just gorgeous. There's something so elegant about blue and white. How clever of you to flip your image digitally! The old way had its time, but this is much better. Thanks for sharing your wonderful art!
<3 J

jwoolbright at gmail dot com
HerPeacefulGarden.blogspot.com

Paper Creations by Shirley said...

Hi Donna, Gorgeous design, I love the images. The techniques you used are interesting and the inside of the card is also beautiful. I hope you are doing well, Shirleyxx

Stampsnob. said...

Cracked glass .hum shows you how out of the loop I am , didn't know it had a new name I am still calling it cracked ice and still putting it in the freezer . No matter what it is called you did a top notch job with it and all the aspects of this lovely card , of course if it is blue it is always a winner...............Lis

Brenda said...

So gorgeous and love that you used the cracked glass on it!

Leslie Miller said...

Oh, yes, I love that technique and I keep meaning to buy more UTEE so I can do it again. I'm not very technique oriented, but I love that one. You did a gorgeous job with it here. LOVE the monotone coloring and the exquisite images and the whole card design! Beautiful, Donna!

Karen said...

Donna, this is exquisite! What a gorgeous take on the wintry color palette challenge. :o) The fuschia is breathtaking and I love how you reversed the floral wrap! You're such a smart cookie. :o) The colors are so pretty and I love your elegant dies. You always inspire. :o) Have a wonderful night!

Hugs and blessings,
Karen

Paula said...

Lovely card and nice seeing this lovely technique revitalized Donna!

Jane Savage said...

Wow, Donna this is so clever! Reminds me of Delft pottery! Stunning! xxx

crafty-stamper said...

Beautiful card,love the blues I have used the cracked ice technique once but it never made it onto a card and I remember the actual ice cubes cracking lolgreat tip about reversing the image too
Carol x

Sue said...

Hello, Ms technique, some oldies but goodies. They come and go so quickly, and it seems once we move on we forget all the great techniques we used. Love the cracked glass, looks wonderful. The entire card is just lovely. The flower stamp and color are favorites of mine. Just beautiful, Donna.

Hugs
Sue

Shirley said...

I love this about visiting friends blogs Donna because you get to see things that you have forgotten about. Used to do this type of make quite a lot but haven't done in a long while. Thank you for the inspiration and reminder, me thinks I will be making something soon with this technique.

Your topper on the card looks like wedgwood china - adorable.

Warm crafty hugs from Shirl x x x
ShirlsCards.

Donna K said...

What an amazing blue creation. Total agreement with you on that sentiment, which is in my stash waiting for ink! I am in awe of your style, Donna. Great techniques and colors....and so very generous of you to share in detail your techniques with us!

Karen said...

Hello again, Donna! I'm fluttering in to thank you for leaving me extra bloggie love on my butterfly card. :o) I've been sick and unable to craft much, so your comment really made my day. :o) And now that I'm here, what a joy to take in this masterpiece again! Your style and talent are gifts for us all to enjoy. What a blessing you are to this sweet crafty community. :o)

Hugs and blessings,
Karen

Desire Fourie said...

Pure gorgeousness right here Donna. Absoloutely loving the blues and that amazing crackle effect on the fowers. Its amazing that all this beuty is just the humble colour blue.
Hugs Desíre {Doing Life}

Shelly Schmidt said...

I am just in love with this gorgeous card! LOVE your colors- the Cracked Glass/Ice- lovely touch! What a great idea for rotating the image- I always got a lighter reverse image with the stamping on rubber technique. I look forward to seeing what you will create next : )

Petra Swart said...

WOW, I love that cracked glass/ice effect, Donna!!! Your card is so beautiful in all the blues!!!

Lisa's Creative Niche said...

wow! What a cool technique! This card is simply amazing!!!

Monica said...

You had me laughing reading about your 'olden days' techniques. Seriously, a decade is not a decade any more, it is twenty years. This new generation is so different. I can feel it when I see how differently things are done around.

Happy New Year, my lovely friend.

Your card is as charming as you. I like the blues and the pretty stamp and sentiment.

Lots of love and I will email soon,

Monica

Amelia Breytenbach said...

This card is stunning Donna. Love the cracked glass effect for the flower tile. Gorgeous!
Amelia

Patricia St Martin said...

Donna, OMGoodness this card is totally STUNNING! Congratulation on being GD! The stamp set is fantastic and you did a wonderful job showcasing them. You never see much cracked glass any more but it would be nice to see more. Reverse stamping I still have the rubber stamps you can stamp on and them stamp again, I think we forget a lot more them we remember. That looks fantastic when you look at the hole card bring it all together. Thanks so much for sharing all of this with us and love all the beautiful pictures.
Hugs, Pat/♥

Susan Renshaw said...

ooooh...I like this! Thanks for sharing with Crafting from the Heart!

Roxie said...

Beautiful card, I like the accent of pink with the blue.

Jean Bullock said...

Oh, I love this. It reminds me of beautiful tiles. Loved reading about the olden days tricks. LOL, now I want to try it. I pinned. https://www.pinterest.com/pin/415386765606492774/

Arlene said...

Wonderful monochromatic card. Beautifully done.

So glad you could join us at Die Cut Divas.

Michele Kovack said...

Very pretty! Reminds me of the blue china plates my Grandma had. :)

Lynne said...

Beautiful card with phenomenal technique!!! Thanks for joining us this week at Crafting from the Heart and good luck!
Hugs,
Lynne, Crafting from the Heart DT

Silvis Kreativstube said...

Hallo liebe Donna,

ich habe deine wundervolle Karte beinahe übersehen. Ich bin von der Gestaltung und den wundervollen Blumen total begeistert. Eine sehr schöne Karte hast du wieder gebastelt. Ganz liebe Knuddelgrüße Hugs Silvi

NanaConnie said...

Beautiful, my friend! So elegant and I do love the cracked look, whether it's ice or glass these days. Wonderful instructions on reversing a rubber stamp image. Thank you.

nwilliams6 said...

Not sure how I missed this! The cracked glass is one of my favorite techniques and all this blue is gorgeous!!!!Hugz

cotnob said...

This is a stunning card Donna, such a beautiful Fuchsia image - my favourite flower and wonderful technique. Your design is perfect and you have used such a pretty combination of blues.
Pauline
x

MA-MI said...

It's a real piece of art! It remembers the Portuguese blue tiles.
I'm sorry to be late on commenting for Artistic Inspirations. I'd like to thank you to joining us.
Hugs, Maja DT