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

Thursday, May 11, 2017

Texture It Up! {Cardz 4 Galz}

Hello, blogging friends and visitors! It's great to see you this morning, and I hope you are doing well.

A DESIGN TEAM CALL AND new challenge begins at Cardz 4 Galz Challenges today!
Badges are awarded for the Spotlight Winner and Top Picks.
Challenge #47 is chosen by teamie Sian -and the theme is:

  Add Texture to Your Card.  

Show us your cards using any and all manner of textures - 
Challenge ends on May 24.

IF INTERESTED in an enjoyable, lay-back, easy-to-manage DESIGN TEAM
THIS WOULD BE IT!
Caz, our DT Coordinator, is the nicest, most kind coordinator I've had the pleasure of designing with - so don't hesitate contacting her if you're interested!

Leaving my proverbial box behind, I made my first Christmas card of the year - sigh - so much for good intentions of 2 Christmas cards per month! 

Lots of Textures and Lots of "Old Stuff" from my stash!


  1. KandCompany printed Christmas paper which has to be at least 10 years old! Yikes! 
  2. Rhinestone sparklies (2 years old? 3 years old?) added to the columns on the paper.
  3. One of my first digital images ever - I don't know who drew it, but it's cute! (colored with Copics)
  4. Virginal Sizzix rosettes, inked on the edges, and topped with glittered snowflake brads which are at least 10 years old (another yikes!)
  5. Glitter Tinsel, again, at least 4 or 5 years old.
  6. Pretty striped grosgrain ribbon which is also several years old.
  7. Not to mention the cheesecloth from MY GREAT AUNT AGNES' COOKING STASH! (double yikes! since it must be from the 1960s or 1970s).
  8. Good standbys like Starfire Glitter to jazz up the Chloe Stems.

I love the rosettes on other people's cards, and I finally used my Sizzix die which has two sizes of rosettes cut out in a single pass:


I am falling more deeply in love with the Nuvo Glue Pens. This time I used the medium tip on these tiny brads, and dredged with Starfire G1017 Ultrafine Glitter. The glitter is rock hard on the brads! Pleasant surprise. I even pressed down hard and rubbed, and no glitter came off! 
Starfire G1017 Ultrafine Glitter is also adhered to the Chloe Stems and the merry blue circles in the image.
Tomato Red Glitter Tinsel was glued onto the SB foliage pieces to give a little extra sparkle and texture to the floral spray. (even the die cuts are all old!)

I thoroughly enjoyed using all my "old stuff"!


Products:
Image - unknown digital, colored with Copic markers (one of my first)
SB Dies - Foliage, Big Scallop Ovals, Labels Four
Sizzix Die - Tim Holtz Mini Paper Rosettes
Memory Box Die - Chloe Stem
Tomato Red Glitter Tinsel
Starfire G1017 Ultrafine Glitter
KandCompany Christmas paper (old, old)
Rhinestones, striped ribbon, Cheesecloth, Brads

Challenges I'd like to support with this card:

  1. A Perfect Time to Craft Open Challenge #5 May - Anything Goes 6/1
  2. A Snowflakes Promise #40 Anything Goes Christmas or Winter - 6/10
  3. Cheerful Sketches Challenge #May - Sketch - 6/1
  4. Christmas Card Challenges #12 Anything Christmas + Optional Photo 5/20
  5. Christmas Card Throwdown #May 6 - Sketch with Many Layers - 5/21
  6. Christmas At Sweet Stampin' Challenges #May 10 - "Anything Christmas" 6/10
  7. Crafty Gals Corner #122 BLING! 5/17 (rows of rhinestones, lots of glitter on brads and die cuts)
  8. Crafty Girls Creations Challenges #36 Anything Goes 6/1
  9. The Holly and Ivy Christmas Challenge #5 Anything Christmas Goes 5/14 sep post
  10. World Wide Open Design Team Challenge #21 Anything for a DT 5/1

Stamping Smiles,





51 comments:

aussie aNNie said...

wowzer what an awesome card De, full of goodies, texture and very admirable...xxx ♥[aNNie]

Monica said...

Hello Donna,

This is beautiful with lots of texture. Your cards are always sooooooo full of beauty and joy.

We celebrate the first anniversary of United World Sanctuary on May 17th. I will try and send photos to you. I plan to conduct a loving kindness meditation for the ladies. Am expecting about 10 people. Going to keep it very simple.

Lots of love and gratitude for all your encouragement,

Monica

Desire Fourie said...

Wow Donna what a delightful and festive Christmas creation. Adore the folded flowers with the silver sprays.
Hugs
Desíre
{Doing Life – my personal blog}

Sue said...

Hi Donna, That's a lovely Christmas card.

Hope you have a nice day. Sue

Valerija said...

This is beautiful and I love the texture.
Valerija xx

Unknown said...

I kind of made that same resolution, 1 every week lol You may be ahead of me on the Christmas card cunt! hahahaha This is fabulous! I love all of that glorious texture AND that fantastic layering! From the glitter to the cheesecloth to the Copic coloring! This is all over YUMMY! Merry Merry!

craftieodmae said...

Love the image and all those gorgeous details!

Jackie T said...

Hi Donna this is a gorgeous Christmas card I love it so much. The image is beautiful and I love all the texture. This is truly something special. Take care. Hugs Jackie

KarinsArtScrap said...

wow gorgeous card Donna, great decoration put it in my challenge from facebook please,
Gr Karin

Chris said...

Fabulous and festive! Cute image, beautiful colouring and so much texture and sparkle.. Lovely traditional colour combo toio!
Chris
x

Linda Simpson said...

Stunning festive card Donna, loving the elements and gorgeous textures.
Hugs
Linda xxx

Lisa said...

Oh my goodness, this is stunning, Donna!! The textures you added are amazing!! I love the sparkle and the rosettes!! Each detail is perfection!! What a gorgeous Christmas card this is, my friend!! I love, love it!! Have a great day!! Big hugs :)

Lisa
A Mermaid's Crafts

Leslie Miller said...

Yay, Donna, your first of the year! Better than none at all, right? How fun it is to click up close and examine every detail of your card. My eyes keep finding surprises. You're a master at tucking in little treasures where I'd never think to add them. Love the image. So cute with the tree hanging from the toe, tee hee! You keep me busy looking around at my things and loving all the toys. What fun we have!

Linda said...

It is a gorgeous card, Donna! Wow! I love all the colours and details.

Becky said...

Beautiful card, as usual. You are so talented. I love looking at your cards.

cotnob said...

A fabulous Christmas card Donna, a super image and lovely traditional colours - you rosettes are a lovely touch.
Pauline - Crafting with Cotnob
x

Beebeebabs said...

Wow such a beautiful Christmas card - love the rosettes and the beautiful background and all the embellies - another great creation thanks for sharing!!!

Ann Greenspan's Crafts said...

My favorite part of this beautiful card is the rosettes.....they add so much to the card. Lovely layering as usual and all that sparkle is perfect for the holidays.

pam said...

Beautiful Christmas card in these festive colours Donna, your colouring is amazing on this wonderful image, love all your textures with pretty sparkle.
Hugs Pam x

Lori Kobular said...

Beautiful Christmas card! I love the red jewels that you used on that pretty KC paper, I believe I still have some of that too! Your rosettes are so pretty with the glittery snowflakes in the center and I love the image of the stocking!

Shona Erlenborn said...

A beautifully created unique Christmas card, with so much dimension and layers. Loving those little rosette flowers - oh the inspiration you give us all is awesome Donna! Thank you dear friend!

Babs said...

This is oozing with texture Donner , loving your first festive christmas card.

Hugs Babs x

NanaConnie said...

WOW, Donna, glorious texture everywhere! Love the shapes of the image and the red frame for it. The rosettes are perfect for Christmas, especially the snowflake centers. I adore the pops of glitter and the cheesecloth. I can't even comment on everything I love. I'd be typing til midnight! :-D

crafty-stamper said...

I made the same resolution too and have just made my first one too lol-love all the fabulous textured layers,dies and sparkle a beautiful Christmas card
carol x

Verna Angerhofer said...

Absolutely stunning Christmas card design. You really added loads of beautiful texture to it as well. You always inspire me with the fantastic cards and other projects you make.

Cazro said...

A stunning electic collection has creted an awesome Christmas card. Loving it.
Thanks for joining us at The Holly and the Ivy Challenges. Caz DT.

Lucinda said...

Wow, loads of layers and loads of texture. I love all the different elements you've incorporated, and the very Christmassy colours pulling it together. A fab card, and well done for starting your Christmas card stash for the year. Thank you for sharing with us at the Christmas Card Throwdown.

Conniecrafter said...

Oh my Donna, for being old stuff you used it looks just fabulous!! You did this challenge perfectly, such a wonderful layered card, lovely colored image and love the sparkle and the rosettes!!

Annettes Hobby Rosettes said...

Wow great design and great colouring. Love those Rosettes, they look fabulous with this project. Lovely work and as always, a real pleasure to pop over and visit your blog and view your amazing talent.

Annettes Hobby Rosettes said...

Back again, and again just super gorgeous work. Thank you for sharing with us here today at World Wide Open Design Team Challenge and best of luck with your entry.

Annette DT Registered Owners/Admin for World Wide Open Design Team Challenge



KraftyKoolKat said...

I adore all the lovely colours and gorgeous elements in this sweetie. Such beautiful textures and fantastic layout.
Hugs
Cathy
xxxx

SewPaperPaint said...

Oh Donna! This is just as festive and beautiful as it can be! What a fantastic design! I love this to bits. Hugs, Autumn

Silvis Kreativstube said...

Hallo liebe Donna,

ich war lange nicht mehr auf deinem Blog. Sorry, mein Tag ist einfach immer viel zu kurz.
Ich habe mir gerade deine vielen wunderschönen Werke angeschaut. Mir blieb wieder der Mund offen vor Begeisterung. Deine Werke sind immer mit so viel Liebe zum Detail gestaltet. Bling bling darf auch nicht fehlen. Ich bin ganz begeistert von allen Werken. Ich wünsche dir ein wunderschönes Wochenende. Ganz liebe Grüße Hugs Silvi

AlisonC said...

You've certainly gone to town on the layers and I love it. The colours go together beautifully and the rosettes are the perfect finishing touch. Brilliant that you've used up so much of your stash (and your GA Agnes' stash) too. Now I'll need to go and checkout these glue pens.
Thanks for playing along at Christmas Card Throwdown.

aussie aNNie said...

Hello lovely De, yes my card was stamped randomly first then the rest added on top. Thanks for your ongoing support, compliments and hugs to you.xxx

Janice said...

Wow Donna, such a fabulous Christmas card! So much texture and detail, I just keep looking at it, to take it all in! Gorgeous traditional colours too. Good luck with your plan, I'm sure you'll have more made before I even start mine!
Janice x

Margreet said...

Gorgeous card Donna....so much to see...love the rosettes!
Thanks for joining us at Cheerful Sketches.
xxx Margreet

Sian said...

Great card. I love the combination of texture and a bit of bling. There's so much going on.

Nancy said...

Beautiful card, Donna! Lots of fabulous texture! :o)

brenda said...

I'm so late to the party Donna - I know, what's new !

Wonderful embellishments on such a stunning creation, something about the traditional Christmas colours that never fail to please.

That is some rainfall, we could indeed do with it here, we've had less than an inch this month and not much more last, as usual they are taking about hosepipe banks here in the UK, always makes me smile given we are a Country well know for being wet.

Those blossoms in my post are actually wild ones would you believe, they are common hedgerow bushes here in the UK and I've loved them since a child when they lined Dad's fields, their wonderful perfume is so intense and even more so in the evening.

We have them all along the top hedgerow of one of our paddocks, my Dad planted them for us about thirty years ago and although I lost him Christmas a few years ago I never fail to think of him when I see their blossom.......well I think of him every day, but anything related to nature evokes such strong feelings as he taught me to love everything in it's natural glory, where most of my crafting inspiration come from.

Sorry to ramble on, I've almost written assay here.

B x

brenda said...

Hosepipe bans even, and essay - as you can see my fingers are still not plan fair with me.

B x

Pia S said...

A sparkly beauty in traditional colors and with plenty of detailing. I like how you made his flower suit the Christmas theme and adding extra glitter to your design, and the rosettes are also great decorative elements. I realize I've missed a few posts, so going to catch up now.

Nonnie's Cards and Gifts said...

I love this little stocking. Thank you for sharing with us over here at "A Perfect Time To Craft" and best of luck with your entry.

Victoria DT for http://aperfecttimetocraft.blogspot.com.au/...


Bea said...

Such a beautiful card you make Donna, thanks for playing along with the challenge at Cheerful Sketches...

Greetings Bea(DT).

Sue said...

Well, you have made one more Christmas card than I have!!! Donna, what an awesome card. Love the traditional colors and all that sparkle and shine. Image is so cute, who wouldn't want a full stocking like that!! Wonderful card.

Hugs
Sue

April said...

Oh wow! So much texture and interest on your card! Love it!

Judy V said...

Beautiful card! Love the design! Thanks for sharing with us at Crafty Gals Corner!

Stampsnob. said...

Oh my /Christmas in May and it is lovely ,,,,,,,,,Lis

Karenladd said...

Donna, this is absolutely spectacular and I love it even more when I see that you used old stash. I have a lot of those shaped brads tucked away and always forget to use them...but you've inspired me. Your great aunt Agnes's cheesecloth is undoubtedly proud to have a second life as a card embellishment, and it adds to the vintage feel. If you only have two cards this year, you should be proud that this is one of them!!

sweet art designs said...

A simply lovely card. Thank you for sharing with us at 52 {Christmas} Card Throwdown - Myrna DT

sarascloset said...

Donna, this is a STUNNING Christmas card! I love the traditional colors and all that sparkle! I say good for you for pulling out the old Christmas stash and using it! Sending hugs!