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, July 13, 2016

It's Positive to be Negative Sometimes

A very warm 'hello' to you, lovely blogging friends!

To my friends in the northern hemisphere, have you been VERY hot! Yikes!
The humidity has been in the highest category (oppressive), and our heat indices continues to be 105-110 F (40C-43C) each day.
Even the Gulf of Mexico waters in our area have been in the 90's!
Thank goodness for air conditioning!

Back to card making LOL:

Today I'm sharing a little Dies R Us Inspiration!


click below for:
STORE
The following Dies R Us Products are being used:
Dee's Distinctively IME-122 Flower Stems (card 1)
Dee's Distinctively IME-125 Flower 3 (card 1)
Spellbinders Rose Creations (leaf) (card 1)
Spellbinders Classic Petal Edgeabilities (card 1)
Die-Namites "Birdhouse Branch" DN-1144 (card 3)
Die-Versions "Happy Day" die

Today's project features both positive and negative use of dies.

The close up of the first card (US - A7 - 5.5" x 7.25") shows that even thin details of the die cut are clearly visible when using washi tape or designer paper remnants in the background.
The corners of the front panel match to the valleys of the borders:


The background panel was cut with two border dies before the washi tape was applied:


The die cut panel was dry embossed after the flowers and leaves were cut out:


Some dies offer multiple design uses. The Sue Wilson Pierced Square Noble Collection has details on both sides of the cut line, so that the negative portion can be used as well as the positive portion:


Shown in this easel card (5.5" x 5.5"):


Even the navy "broken" border has the tiny piercing.

To make these cards:




For the Easel Stop:


Piece the sections together.

Here is the same technique in a business size card (4" x 8.5"):

Be sure to line up the die cut panel with your washi tape to create the look you best like:


Would you believe I actually had to purchase washi tape for this project? I had someone escaped the washi tape craze, until our Swapping Smiles Group decided on a washi tape theme for July! 

Hope your week-end is extra special!

hugs,
Products Used:
Dee's Distinctively IME-122 Flower Stems (card 1)
Dee's Distinctively IME-125 Flower 3 (card 1)
Spellbinders Rose Creations (leaf) (card 1)
Spellbinders Classic Petal Edgeabilities (card 1)
Spellbinders Butterflies Two (card 2)
Memory Box Pinpoint Scalloped Circles (card 2)
Spellbinders Circles Two (card 2)
Sue Wilson Pierced Square Noble Collection (card 2)
Die-Namites "Birdhouse Branch" DN-1144 (card 3)
Die-Versions "Happy Day" die
Craftwell Delicate Dots embossing folder
Washi Tape
Paper: White, Navy
Stamps: Hero Arts C2916 "Wishing a Happy Day"
EKS corner punch (card 3)


Playing in these fun challenges please:

  1. Artistic Inspirations Challenges #160 Anything Goes 7/18
  2. Craft Rocket Challenges #19 Anything Goes 7/20
  3. Craft Your Passion Challenges #320 Anything Goes 7/18
  4. Crafting with an Attitude #17 Anything Goes 8/1
  5. Crafy Girls Creations #23 Just For Fun "Anything goes" 7/28
  6. Fab n Funky Challenges #313 Add a Sentiment 7/20  (c10)
  7. Moving Along With The Times #24 "No Designer Papers 7/21 (I used Washi Tape and Embossing Folders)


59 comments:

Linda said...

What a gorgeous card, Donna! And I wanted to say that I also love your header image and quotation!

Sue said...

Hi Donna, I love your cards. You have given me some inspiration, as I was wondering what I could do with my Washi Tapes.

Hope your temps drop, so you can actually go outside and enjoy the summer. Sue

Janice said...

Three lovely and very different cards using a super technique! A great reminder of the options we have on using our dies. I love the washi tape background you have made too!

Dr Sonia S V said...

WOW Donna...such a creative use of the washi and such a beautiful idea to use the dies on top...I dont have a lot of washi but will adapt your idea to pattern paper....love it!

Cheers
Dr Sonia

D K Crafts said...

Hi Donna, these are really gorgeous cards. Lovely colours and layouts and I like your ideas on using washi tape. Donna

Paula said...

beautiful as always Donna. So, is this going to be your group card for July?

Darlene said...

These are AWESOME Donna! LOVE your choice of color & patterns. Fabulous inspiration to us all ... thanks!

Paper Creations by Shirley said...

Wow goregeous cards, I love the colours and your beautiful composition, you have such a great eye for design. The die cuts are fabulous! I thought it was hot here (40 with the humidex) but obviously it's even warmer down there. It's the drought that is so concerning here. So many trees dying as home owners don't think about watering them. I managed to get some action by contacting the city mayor and they have sent out a press release, hopefully we save a few trees....sigh. Take care, Hugs, Shirleyxx

Shona Erlenborn said...

How creative! Love this idea. Thanks for all the tips on how to achieve these gorgeous little works of art!

Lori Kobular said...

Donna these cards are gorgeous! Love how you used the washi tape to create these beauties!

SD pooja said...

I loved your idea to use negative of die-cuts and cool way to use the washi tape ! Both the card have turned out wonderful !

Becky said...

I escaped the washi tape craze also. Now I'm scrambling to come up with a group card. I have a washi tape stamp, and I "made" some washi tape last night. I'm going to see how that looks before I break down and actually buy some washi tape.

I love both your cards. Beautiful color combinations.

Thanks for sharing.

Linda Simpson said...

Hi Donna, just to say thank you for leaving such uplifting comments on my blog they are so appreciated. I just love these and what a great way to use Washi tape to create backgrounds, I must give this a try. Love them all! Enjoy your day.
Hugs
Linda xxx

Sue said...

Hi Donna, Wasn't sure if you would see my reply to your comment on my blog, so I have put it here:

Donna Ellis14:05:00
Hi, Sue! Your beaded decor for the baubles is lovely! Are these used all year long? Or do you specifically decorate at Christmas time with them? They are wonderfully unique. I don't own any glitter pens! YIKES! how did that happen with all the other glittery stuff in my house? Love the peel-offs. I imagine that is very convenient and not as difficult to cut out, is that right? Hope you enjoy a lovely day! xo

ReplyDelete

Sue17:52:00
Donna, Thank you. My friend who takes the crafting morning learnt whilst out in Spain. She is making hers for her Christmas tree. I don't have a tree, but wanted to make some to just hang up in the window.

You must get some glitter pens:)

With peel-offs there isn't any cutting out, as they literally peel off the backing sheet and you place them on whatever surface and then you can colour them in.

KarinsArtScrap said...

these are fantastic Donna great idea.
fabulous designs.

Gr Karin

Beebeebabs said...

Wow beautiful cards - love how you used the Washi tape - great job as always!!!

Pia S said...

What a fabulous looking card set of different shapes and sizes! I've got many tapes but don't use them much because I lack ideas. Now I'm so happy I have them, because these cards really inspire me to use them. I love these looks, Donna, and I love the inspiration on how to get more out of my dies too. Thanks!!

Lisa said...

Oh my, these are absolutely stunning, Donna!! I love how you've used the negatives!! They look so gorgeous and I'm definitely borrowing this idea from you!! What gorgeous washi taps you've used, too!! They look so beautiful together!! Love, love these my friend!!

To answer your question, I get all of my flowers directly from the source at Wild Orchid Crafts. They have frequent sales and the last time I purchased flowers, they offered free shipping. They arrive in a couple of weeks (from the UK).

I hope you have a fabulous rest of the day sweet friend!! Big hugs :)

Lisa
A Mermaid's Crafts

Stampsnob. said...

I like the technique but even more I like the way the birds can live side by sharing and being happy Lis

cotnob said...

Gorgeous cards Donna, lovely colours and fabulous technique - a great way to use washi tape.
Pauline
x

Unknown said...

So very clever AND pretty! Love the colors of your Washi Tape, and what a great way to use them all! Pretty dies, lovely designs...oooh and all that glorious texture! I can only imagine your die selection in your craft room. These are all FANTASTIC! xo the "OD" :)

http://cheryl-cherylscreativeatcscards.blogspot.co.uk/ said...

Oh brilliant set of photos just love how you have used the dies. The papers you have used show each design off to perfection hugs cheryl xxx

Verna Angerhofer said...

A super gorgeous card design with such wonderful colors. I love the washi tape background over which you placed the negatives. Beautiful work and absolutely love those colors. There are so many things I want to do in the card making line. But other things always get in the way. LOL I hope you cool down soon. We are better since we got rain but it sounds like they will crank up the heat again soon over the weekend. So glad we have AC too!

Olga Fink said...

Fantastic! Fantastic! I love them!
Xoxo Olga

sarascloset said...

Gorgeous cards, Donna! I love the use of the negative space from the dies--so clever and looks especially lovely with the flowers. Your tapes look fabulous on these--so pretty! And yes, it's HOT! Hot, and some more HOT with a forecast of HOT! Of course I spent hours 4 to be exact hand watering everything (I was fertilizing) in my garden today, and up popped a thunderstorm with tons of rain! Now it's hot AND steamy! Yuck! Hugs to you!

NanaConnie said...

Oooo, some really fabulous ideas, my friend! I love using both the positives and the negatives from my dies. It gives me twice the bang for my buck. Gorgeous washi strips behind the negatives. Love the dies you chose with the stitching detail both inside and outside. You've given me some great inspiration, Donna. Thanks. :-D

pam said...

Gorgeous cards Donna, clever design using negative space from your die cuts! plus you still have the cuts for other projects.. wonderful designs and colours on your washi tape! something i never purchased and used.lol.
Hugs pam x

Leslie Miller said...

What a cute idea to let the Washi tape pattern show through! You sure put together a nice combo of the tapes. It's something I never got into, either. Bought some for a challenge project and then never used it again. I should get on that, I suppose. You're just so clever with your designs and die cuts, sigh... And that heat! If it was that hot here I'd stay in my air conditioned stamp room all day. I don't have an air conditioned stamp room because it's not that hot here, but it sure is windy today. 45 mph gusts. We went up the river with the dogs to get away from it. I'm prattling now when I really just wanted to tell you your cards are so pretty and colorful and I just LOVE them!!

Jeannie said...

Hi Donna! Such happy, gorgeous, and bright colors on these beauties! I have to try this technique, and you sure make it look simple. Thanks for the inspiration :)

Jeannie T.
Dragonfly Journeys

Mrs A. said...

Wonderful inspiration and it just so happens I have some washi tape!!
I love the colours on these cards. Hugs Mrs A.

CdeBaca Crafts Gallery said...

Amazing cards! Those colors are awesome! This year has been the hottest on record with May reaching the top temperature. This can become a gloomy conversation but the rising temperatures place a lot of damaging factors in our environment.

KT Fit Kitty said...

These are gorgeous, Donna! And what a fabulous way to use up the washi tape! Brilliant! I love using washi on my cards! Your butterfly easel is my favourite! Love that Happy Day Banner die! You have an awesome collection of dies, my friend! Hope you have a great weekend! Hugs, Kitty

maria's knutselplezier said...

What a great idee Donna to take tape for colouring, great positive and negatieve cards!! I love this!!!

Have fun!!
Maria

Tammi said...

Oh Donna I love your cards. Gorgeous. I am so going to follow your blog. Love love

Big Hugd
Tammi Lynn
Craftygalslife@blogspot.com

Carrie said...

Lovely cards! Thanks for the inspiration!

crafty-stamper said...

This is absolutely fabulous Donna great use of washi tape I ended up giving mine away -never used it!!!love the mix of colours and use of die-cuts negative making them positive lol -brilliant
Carol x

coldwaters2 said...

Hi Donna I wanted to thank you so much for leaving me such a lovely comment on my blog it is very much appreciated. Donna I really love these fabulous cards the use of the washi tape is something I must try, I have quite a few rolls but never really worked with it, I love how you have embossed then die cut the images from the card it looks fantastic a brilliant job well done
hugs
lorraine x

Pamellia said...

WOW Donna, what a delicious set of cards!! These are just so bright and cheery, and oh what fun are the stripes! Can't believe you did that with washi tape - genius!! Love the colours, and your negative dies are such lovely focal pieces on top of your washi backgrounds!! Gorgeous!!

We are having the same temps as you, and for this area it's apparently not the usual. Seems more like the city weather than I care to admit!! Here's to some cooler, rainier days for both of us. hugs :)

Sue said...

Donna, LOVE this idea for using washi tape!! Your butterfly and the little birdhouses and birds look awesome using the negative of the die. And your tutorial was very helpful, thanks for that!!!

Hugs
Sue

Jackie C said...

Donna these are great, I shall of course be stealing this idea and trying it out for myself!

Linda Vich said...

Donna, I love the crisp and clean color scheme you have used on these cards! Your use of Washi tape behind the ie cuts is a great idea (I never remember to use it).

Petra Swart said...

Oh, how creatively you've used the washi tape and cleverly played with the different dies, Donna!!! Really love your mix of patterns and colours on the washi!!! The die cut butterfly and flowers are so beautiful and the little birds are sweet as can be!!!!! Lovely cards, my friend!!!!
Have a great day!!!
Hugz

Lena Keultjes said...

Gosh they are pretty! What a wonderful idea, Donna! And I absolutely love the colors. Gorgeous Cards! Thanks for sharing!

CraftingMum said...

Lovely card thanks for joining us at Artistic Inspirations Louise DT x

laurie said...

What a fun idea for washi! Awesome set of cards. I LOVE the dies you used>

I'm off to check your recipes out!!!

Diane said...

Fabulous cards Donna, and love the use of the Washi tape (I never think to use mine) and what pretty colors they are as well!!! I will be emailing you today...sorry I am so behind in everything, we were gone for a weeks vacation, then came right back to a family cookout here this weekend...so I have been busy~busy with all that and have not been in my creative room much or on the computer, trying to get caught up...so will try to get an email out to you today...have a wonderful day my friend!!

*Vicki* said...

Oh wow Donna!! Your cards are absolutely stunning my friend!! :) I just love your vibrant colors with the strips and such a clever way to use them as well!! You always come up with some really fantastic ideas!! I just love this one and hope to adopt the same on some of my creations as well!! Wishing you a lovely day my friend! HUGS

Alison said...

Such a beautiful card with a fabulous colour combo. Thank you for joining us at Fab'n Funky.
Alison x

MaryH said...

I have been getting into a lot of trouble with DRUS moving sales! Love the look of the washi and your wonderful designs. The negative images look fantastic over the colorful stripes of color (and this is an idea I need to try!) Thanks for sharing the tutorial - I know it takes extra time to do all the photos, but it helps visual learners such as I am! Each of these cards is just full of sunny & bright cheer & beauty. And I echo the thank goodness for a/c! Have a wonderful week, stay cool, TFS & Hugs

SewPaperPaint said...

You are about the most clever gal ever! What a great way to use your scraps! Beautiful designs. Big hugs, Autumn

Christina said...

Hello Donna! I just LOVE what you did with the washi tapes for all the cards! They're a piece of art by themselves. I've never use them. But you're tempting me. And as a die-holic person, I have to use at least one piece of die on all my card projects. But I always use just the positive and toss the negative. Never know what to do with them. I'm so glad you share how you use them and show us how equally beautiful the negatives can be to the positives. Thank you for another beautiful inspiration.

I pray you are doing well these days Donna. I'm finally back from my 3 long weeks family vacation. And MY the humidity of the Florida and Cancun weather! I looked like someone poured a bucket of water over my head the moment I step out the door and into the sun. LOL. Both places are gorgeous, truly a paradise to visit. But the four season weather is just right for me. LOL. Wishing you a beautiful day Donna. Hugs from Ohio.

Bernardine Cuttino said...

OMG, love all of the details on this beauty, especially how you use the washi tape diagonally. I have so much just laying around.. Also love how you use the negative space. Another fabulous tutorial to gleam from. Thank you
Hugs
Berni

Monica said...

The quote on the header is so relevant for me... Specially the one from you.

Your cards are lovely - colourful and flat. I like all of them.

I hope the weather becomes cooler...

Happy crafting,

Monica

Shirley said...

All are little gems of art Donna, again your use of dies is truly amazing.

I don't use my embossing folders as much as I should but inspiration can always be found with your makes, thanks for reminding me to use them.

Hope all is well with you, apart from the humidity. Wish I could say the same for our weather it is feeling very autumnal and we are only into July.

Warm crafty hugs from Shirl x x x
ShirlsCards.

McCrafty's Cards said...

These are all gorgeous Donna, I love the way you have used the dies and the designs are great
Kevin xx

Stampsnob. said...

Interesting use of the tape Nice card
Donna our grand daughter planted leaf lettuce in our herb garden ( raised box) while here June 2015 and we ate her lettuce before they left in three weeks It continued to feed us for several weeks . On advice she planted the seed every third day so it didn't all come up at once

Nancy Hill said...

Beautiful cards and wonderful tutorial. Very creative! Hugs Nancy Hill

Anne Temple said...

Gorgeous and so creative! Love the backgrounds and the use of the negative pieces.

Alice (scrAPpamondo) said...

Brilliant use of your washi taoe!!! So creative! Love so much our cards, Thanks for sharing the step by step!
I'm a new your follower just now!