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 25, 2015

Hello...

No card today... but...


Thank you, 
sweet friends, 
for being a big part of 
my Thanksgiving Blessings. 



love,


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Wednesday, November 18, 2015

Monochrome Christmas {Scrapy Land}

A Warm Welcome from Warm Florida,
my dear crafty friends!
Hoping you are well, and enjoying the seasonal weather.
Thanks for stopping by and for your sweet encouragement.


Challenge #30 at Scrapy Land is 
Anything Monochrome Goes with die cuts. 

To enter the challenge follow the theme AND use any die brand that Scrapy Land sells
and become eligible for a fabulous prize and badges!

My card is an A7 (5x7) card, using the following "mix-and-match" dies from three Scrapy Land manufacturers.
(Scrapy Land dies shown below with their links)
Spellbinders Bitty Blossoms


The image was stamped in VersaFine and heat set with Sparkle N Sprinkle's Concord Star EP, for a fresh glittery look. The same EP was used on the 2 Holly Branches by Die-Namites.


I played with Color Bursts as a background for the pretty Sue Wilson Snowflake Background die cut. The white die was adhered with my Xyron. Then the entire Color-Burst-background-and-adhered-Snowflake-die-cut was run through the Xyron again.  Clear Detail EP from SNS was then heat set on the panel.


While completely covering the white snowflake die cut, the Clear EP created for a "distressed look" on the Color Burst Background. The finished process achieved an icy appearance. Finally, the frame was coated with VersaMark and Sparkle EP107 and heat set one more time for a glitter border.

A Martha Stewart Punched frame provides visual interest under the panel.



Looking forward to seeing your creative designs at the Anything Monochrome Challenge #30 at Scrapy Land Challenge.


Scrapy Land Products:
Other Products:

Challenges I'd like to Play in Please:
  1. Crafty Calendar Challenge "November" - Sparkle-Bling-Embellish - The frame is embossed with glitter, and the holly leaves are also embossed with glittery EP, the snowflakes are embossed with shiny EP, Bells are embossed with purple glittery EP, hand-made roses 11/29
  2. ABC Christmas Challenge DT Call (ends Nov 30). I also submitted a second card located here: http://creativesmiles2.blogspot.com/2013/11/lovely-wreath-twisted-easel.html
  3. A Snowflakes Promise #10 Anything Winter/Christmas - 11/30
  4. Creative Card Crew  #100 "Sprinkle" 11/23 Sprinkled purple glittered EP on image and holly die cuts, Sprinkled clear EP across the background and white die cut, Sprinkled "Sparkle" EP on the white frame of the snowflake die cut.
  5. Fantastic Tuesday #112 "Purple" 11/23
  6. Scrap Creations Nov 10 "Make It Sparkle"  Purple glittered EP on image and holly die cuts, clear shiny EP across the background and white die cut, glittery "Sparkle" EP on the white frame of the snowflake die cut. 11/23
  7. Unicorn Challenge #3 "Christmas Is Coming" 11/27 (12/1)
Thanks for stopping by!
Stamping Hugs,



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Wednesday, November 04, 2015

Autumn Friendship

A big hello, crafty friends! Hope all is well for you.
Here in central-rural Florida, we are still enjoying day time temperatures in the mid-upper 80s (30C).
Our evenings are still in the upper 60s, lower 70s. We would enjoy some of the Autumn weather everyone is boasting about!

My card today is inspired by a very special friend.
Flower Girl - Magic in You (digital)
Flower Girl - Magic in You (rubber stamp set)


The Challenge this fortnight at Scrapy Land is 
Anything Goes with die cuts. 

To enter the challenge follow the theme AND use any die brand that Scrapy Land sells
and become eligible for a fabulous prize and badges!

My card is an A7 (5x7) card, using the following "mix-and-match" dies from three Scrapy Land manufacturers.
(Scrapy Land dies shown below with their links)
The card felt a little out of balance after adding the sentiment, so I added a heat embossed "portion" from the Spellbinders Triple Tear S4-490 in the top right corner, with a coordinating sticker-jewel. Here's how:

TIP:
To create visual interest, or fill in a spot, die cut a shape on an unused scrap or color of cardstock you don't care for. Then heat emboss, cut, and use part of the shape as an accent. Here was the before and after color, using Sparkle N Sprinkle's Sienna Star EP.


TIP:
Such a pretty, dainty font in this Penny Black sentiment. I enjoy embossing sentiments, but sometimes the daintier sentiments don't do well unless a detailed EP is used.
Sparkle N Sprinkle produces several colors which work well with fine fonts, due to their special hand-blending formulas. The SNS Tuscany and Cosmic lines are both wonderful alternatives. This color is Moss EP418.



TIP:
How to "splice" or "shadow" thin die cut pieces:


TIP:
Cutting and embossing border frames on two sides of your card.
here's how:




Looking forward to seeing your creative designs at the Anything Goes Challenge #29 for the Scrapy Land Challenge.



GRATEFULNESS is the theme for The Path of Positivity Challenge this month.

 Trying to maintain a positive attitude is challenging at times when living with chronic pain and illness. 
When my Peace and Contentment seem "remotely missing" due to disconcerting limitations, symptoms and pain, I know it is time to have a Gratitude Check. 

 Anyone sharing these same issues knows that sometimes we might succumb to that Green Monster Jealousy because we cannot live "normally" as others do.

 STILL...

 There is always so much to be grateful for, 
regardless of one's circumstances or feelings.
This year, one VERY dear Gift in particular 
was sent my way during a very difficult time! 

 My best friend from High School contacted me! Forty-seven years ago we inseparably shared every detail with giggles and tears and lots of studying! As happens with many friendships, we both relocated, married, and Life got in the way of catching up... until this year! It's as though we were never apart, sharing (again) every part of our lives, and so happy to be a part of each other's well-being. Though 1,000 miles separate our bodies, our hearts are still melded. It goes to prove that even with all the changes we experience in our lives -- all the turmoils, job transfers, health challenges, child problems, happy events, and personal growth, we are essentially the same people we've always been.

 The added blessing is that many personal healings have taken place for BOTH OF US, simply by being able to fondly "look back together" and by being there for each other today.
Aside from all the many "small-yet-big" things in my life,
I am very grateful for, and to, lovely Diane Brown.

 **************************************

Products Used from Scrapy Land:



Other Products:



Playing in the following challenges please:

  1. The Path of Positivity Challenge #32 Gratefulness (blurb written in last paragraph of my post) 10/7
  2. Crafts Galore Encore Challenge Blog and Design Team Call - #23 - Use a stamp or digi stamp (I have used both : Bugaboo's Digital Pretty Flower Girl, Penny Black sentiment set "Eloquence" - 12/1
  3. Crafty Time Challenges - Nov - EMBELLISH IT! Lace, Glittered EP, Jeweled Flourishes and dotted "I"s, Die Cuts 12/1
  4. Sparkles Challenge #73 Pearls or Lace 11/15 (lace)
  5. The Crafty Addicts - #4 Anything Goes Using Die Cuts (I have used 4 shown in the products listing) 12/3
  6. Crafting by Designs - Nov 4 - Anything Goes November Edition! 11/26 (sep post)
  7. Fab N Funky Challenges - #280 Die cuts and Punches (I have used 4 die sets and a Martha Stewart border punch 11/11
  8. Dies R Us Challenge - #36 Fall (used fall colors in a Gratitude theme) 11/13
  9. Whimsy Inspires Challenges #87 Fall Colors 11/17 (brown, orange, gold, copper)

Hope your crafting week has been creative!
hugs,


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