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

Tuesday, March 01, 2016

KennyK Mermaid {Crafts Galore Encore}

Hello, sweet crafting friends!
Here's to Spring (giggle)!

While we have had a mild, unusually wet winter here, with only occasional freezes, the rest of you are ready for Spring. Maybe my blog header will hasten Mother Nature? Our azaleas are about bloomed out, the tulip tree has sprouted with pink magnificence, and the camellias are still prolific. Surely Spring is about to greet us?

On to Card Making!

The March challenge at Crafts Galore Encore is upon us already!



The Rules to the Challenge are so "painless"! (giggle)

Just create your project (using any crafting medium) according to this month's theme with up to 3 entries, and link your blog posts directly to the linky on the CGE Challenge site! That's it!

This month's challenge theme is oh-so-easy! 

"Make a Card".


Our Sponsor this month is KennyK. There will be two challenge winners who get to choose 3 digital stamps of their choice from the KennyK Store! Please see the details for a special discount and contest available to all of the Crafts Galore Encore followers on our challenge blog post this month! 

KennyK stamps are sent as beautiful PNG images. Today I'm featuring "Mermaid".
My little Mermaid has been splashing with the dolphins, enjoying a fantastic day!



I used the aluminum liner on a Planter's Peanut Container to die cut the shells:



Copic Markers provided a little color on the silver aluminum liner.

There are a number of Mermaid quotes on the internet. I've assembled several with a little editing and adding some of my own to make a fun sentiment on the inside!


Some paper layered sea shell die cuts, and a few tiny real sea shells, help set the stage:



Now it's your turn to play! All you need to do is create a card!
See you at
Products Used:
Image: Kenny K Mermaid
Punches: MS Scallop Teardrop Punch (around the page), EKS 3/4" circle
Die Cuts: SB Triple Tear S4-490, SB Circles, SB Dolphin, Impression Obsession Shells, KandCo purple border
Paper: White, aqua, turquoise, metallic liners from Peanut Cans
Copic Markers, dye-base inks, embossing folders, Brilliance Ink


Challenges I'd like to play in please:

  1. Suzy Bee's Blooming Challenges #119 (Feb 27) Anything Goes with a Twist of Fantasy 3/7 (sep post)
  2. Crafting With Friends #15 Anything Goes 3/12 (top new chal)
  3. Creative Fingers #103 Anything Goes 3/5 (posts on 2 newer chals)
  4. Jo's Scrap Shack Fun-Day Friday Challenge #127 Recycled Scraps (pink border pieced from left overs, metallic shells are from recycled peanut can lid, Turquoise circle and dolphin are pieces, and the silver embossed dolphin is from a tin sliver of silver) 3/5           (winners announced week of March 7)
  5. Simply Paper Crafts #24 Anything Goes 3/13 (top new chal)
  6. Color Your World Team B Inspiration Feb 21 - Anything Goes - 2W 3/6  (top new chal)
  7. Lil Patch of Crafty Friends #28 Anything Goes - 3/5 (may show in sep post)
  8. Craft Your Passion - #301 Anything Goes 3/6
  9. Digi Stamps 4 Joy - #122 Anything Goes + Option of Add an Animal (mermaid plays with 2 dolphins) 3/14
  10. Doodle Pantry Challenges #15 Anything Goes 3/25
  11. Nordsalten Hobby Klubb #134 Use Punches and/or Die cuts (Punches: MS Scallop Teardrop Punch (around the page), EKS 3/4" circle    ANDDie Cuts: SB Triple Tear S4-490, SB Circles, SB Dolphin, Impression Obsession Shells, KandCo purple border
  12. Sisters of the Craft (March) Anything Goes 4/1
  13. Your Scrapbook Place (March) Anything Goes 4/1

Thanks for popping by! I always enjoy your visits!
hugs,

42 comments:

Paula said...

Love this card Donna, I am sure it is very encouraging to all the people across the country, letting them know that spring is on the way and then, following it, is summer. I am grateful that I live in a climate where summer is pretty much year round.

maria's knutselplezier said...

What a great card with a beautiful poëm , I just love the mermaid,and the pretty shells!!

Have a wonderful time and I olso want Spring comes soon!!

Greetings
Maria

Pamellia said...

Holy gorgeous Donna!! What a beautiful underwater scene you have created with that lovely mermaid in the fancy frame and all of her dolphin friends! Aluminum liner, genius!! Love the touches of metallic and glitter, so mesmerizing! hugs :)

Unknown said...

Hi Donna what a great card I love the image and the design is wonderful.
And your verse is gorgeous.
Debs xxx
{Debs Cards}

craftieodmae said...

Hello Donna, this card is gorgeous!!!

Dr Sonia S V said...

Oooh Donna what a beauty you have churned up this time...I cant help but ooh and aah over each element...love your shell , the dolphins and the playful expression on her face...such a cute and gorgeous card!!

Shona Erlenborn said...

Well you certainly have created a splash with this one! Together with the inside sentiment - brava! So many fun details - especially love the way the Mermaid seems to be flirting with the little silver dolphin! Genius with the peanut packaging by the way. Super backgrounds too.

Lori Kobular said...

Wow! Donna this is awesome! I love the shell you made form a can and your mermaid is beautiful. Love all the details on this gorgeous card!

ILEANA ARTUFFO said...

Hi Donna, colours that you used are wonderful! I love every little detail! Beautiful idea aluminium liner for shells!
Thank you for your always lovely compliments on my blog!
Big hugs
Ileanaxx

Christina Hor said...

Oh my gosh! This is gorgeous Donna! The little mermaid is so beautifully colored and love the water effect! And that's so genius using the Planter's peanut container to cut out the shells! I didn't know you can color aluminum with Copic besides papers. LOL. See, I still have so much more to discover with Copic as well papercrafting. You're such an inspiration Donna. Have a lovely 1st day of March and see you later. Hugs-Christina

Marilyn said...

Wow, this is really quite pretty. Love the colours and the pretty dies, embossing and shells.

Lisa said...

Well, Donna, this is my most favorite card ever of yours!! I don't know if I have a big enough vocabulary to tell you how much I love, love this!! The mermaid is gorgeous!! I love how you colored her!! The underwater details are perfect!! I love the leaping dolphins and the texture!! This is stunning my friend!! And oh, the sentiment is spectacular!! Did I mention that I love this??!! You've so brightened my rainy day!! Have a great day!! Big hugs :)

Lisa
A Mermaid's Crafts

Abfabdesigns said...

Beautiful card ,love the poem and the shells ,great
Spring is just round the corner ,all the Daffs are showing there little heads
Hugs xxxx

andree said...

So gorgeous, love this image and all your embellishments just make it perfect. Thank you so much for joining us this time at Lil Patch of Crafty Friends. Good luck and hope to see you again soon. Andree {DT Lil Patch of Crafty Friends}

KarinsArtScrap said...

ahhhhhhh so sweet and so beautiful card Donna.
great embellishments and layout you did.
Gr Karin

Sue said...

WOW! What a fab card.

Hope you've had a good day. Sue

KT Fit Kitty said...

This is my kind of card, Donna! Such a cute little scene! I LOVE everything about it! So many fun details and lots of cuteness to look at! The verse inside is wonderful - this is a special card!

cotnob said...

This is gorgeous Donna, such a beautiful image and lots of fabulous details - your verse is brilliant.
Pauline
x

Karen said...

My dear friend, this certainly whisks me away from the current winter storm outside my window! What a marvelous scene you have created. The image looks amazing and you couldn't have crafted a lovelier home for her. The bits of metallic and sparkle are spectacular and I adore the cluster of sea treasures. Inspiring as always, sweet Donna. Wishing you a day as wonderful as your creations! :o)

Hugs and blessings,
Karen

Karenladd said...

Wow Donna, what a treasure of a card! That sweet little mermaid is the cutest thing and I love all the details. I too save items like the aluminum liners to snack packaging, so it's really fun to see how you used it. I have to say that I've never used alcohol markers to color the end result but what a wonderful result!

pam said...

Wonderful scene you have created Donna, beautiful colouring on the mermaid image, love your shell from a tin! and all the details..
Hugs Pam x

Andree said...

A fantastic card Donna. I love the colours you've chosen and the fabulous fishy elements. The real shells and metallic touches are wonderful xx

Shirley said...

She has such a sweet face Donna it looks full of expectancy and the die cut shell looks great (clever idea). Fabulous underwater scene.

Warm crafty hugs from Shirl x x x
ShirlsCards.

KraftyKoolKat said...

Really awesome Donna. Gorgeous colours and layout.
Hugs
Cathy
xxxx

Lindsay A said...

What a fabulous card! Thanks for playing along with the Digistamps4joy Challenge this month!!! Good luck!!
Lindsay
DS4J DT

Lindsay A said...

What a fabulous card! Thanks for playing along with the Digistamps4joy Challenge this month!!! Good luck!!
Lindsay
DS4J DT

Pia S said...

This little mermaid is expertly colored, look at that hair and the shimmery effect of changing colors, like colors will appear in water IRL.
Well designed seabed, with the swirl and seashells, die cut and real ones. Wonderful!

crafty-stamper said...


Love the beautifully coloured mermaid and fabulous embellishments and dies and love the brilliant verse lol
Carol x

coldwaters2 said...

Donna this is absolutely gorgeous such a pretty Mermaid, I love the sea shells and colours they look like Abalone, a superb make
hugs
lorraine x

Nancy Hill said...

The mermaid turned out gorgeous and beautiful coloring. The card is adorable and love those sea shells!!!

Petra Swart said...

Oh, she is just the most adorable and pretty little mermaid, Donna!!! And how wonderful all the shells are - so clever to cut some from the silver aluminum liner and adding some real ones, too!! Such a pretty doily and die cut and great dry embossing!!! You have really done great with the sea theme!!!! Such a special card with a lovely message on the inside!!! Beautifully done!!!
Have a great day!!!
Hugz

Sue said...

Oh my, this is wonderful. Love the inside sentiment you created with the quotes you found, PERFECT! And your little mermaid sure has a fun place to play. Love her purple hair. All you extras are perfect too. shiny shells and all. My Granddaughter loves the beach, and they take their summer vacation near the water more often than not. She would love this, have to write the sentiment down, it is perfect for her. Beautiful job as always!!

Hugs
Sue

Linda Vich said...

Such a pretty card Donna! Love the purple with the blue and all the little shells around it. Your inside verse is very clever too!

KarinsArtScrap said...

and Donna
Thanks for join us at
{Digistamps4Joy DT Member}
Hope to see you again and goodluck

Karin

Jo Williams Independent Stampin' Up Demonstrator said...

Donna this is so lovely!! I love this beautiful mermaid image and your coloring is fantastic! I really like all the beautiful elements that you display on this card, the dolphins are cool and I love the different textures you brought into this. Great job! Thank you so much for joining us this week in our Funday Friday challenge! Have a great weekend!
Hugs,
Jo-owner
♥ Jo's Scrap Shack ♥

Tina Campbell said...

So pretty love the details :) Thanks for playing along with us over at Jo's Scrap Shack-Funday Friday Challenges
Tina (DT)

Elizabeth Hart said...

This is a gorgeous card - the color combination and the coloring of the foil is fabulous. Thanks so much for joining us this wee at the Suzy Bee's Bloomin Challenge, Elizabeth (DT)

Kellie 0:) said...

Absolutely gorgeous. From your beautiful colouring to all of your embellishments. I'm blown away. TFS and joining us at Jo's for Funday Friday

Leslie Miller said...

First thing I noticed was those die cut seashells. They're so pretty the way you added color. And to cut them from aluminum? Genius. Love the real seashells, too. Such a pretty and fun fantasy piece, Donna. A real delight!

Carla's Cards said...

An adorable card, love the colors and the image, thanks for sharing with Digistamps4Joy!

crafty-stamper said...

Hi Donna just popping back to say----Thank you for Joining us at Crafting With Friends
Carol DT x

Brita said...

What a beautiful card. Love the die cut shells combined with real shells:). Thanks for joining us at NSHK.
DT-Brita