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

Friday, July 14, 2017

Christmas in July {Sparkle N Sprinkle}

Hello, Blogging Friends!

Welcome to the Sparkle N Sprinkle "Christmas in July" Blog Hop featuring new stamp sets!

(now hopping on the 15th of each month.)



Blog Hop Order this month is:

My teamies have created some wonderful examples with these delightful, festive stamps.

We hope you will be inspired and show us your creations in the new Sparkle N Sprinkle Creative Challenge Group.



EVERYONE CAN PLAY! EASIER AND BETTER THAN EVER the SNS Creative Challenge is back. Now on Facebook, a blog is NOT required.  Just upload photos of your cards, layouts or projects for a chance to win a $15 gift card or a Top 3 badge. (please use at least one SNS image and say what it is in the comments section of your photo)

Challenge Guidelines and FREEBIES are found here.

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In addition to

TONIC and NUVO and STAMPENDOUS and HOUSE MOUSE,


this month the SNS store introduces Hampton Arts clear layering and card making stamp sets.

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SPARKLE WITH THE VIDEO KIT CLUB:

July's chilly video Kit Club includes NUVO Aqua Flow watercolor markers, 2 glitters, shaved ice, a new stamp set and papers for 5 cards.  


(for my email followers, here is the link video kit #17)


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New Sparkle N Sprinkle Stamps


NOW, ON TO THE STARS OF THE SHOW:



Sparkle N Sprinkle Christmas

 Winter Greetings Birds and Wreath 855  (Digital Version DIGI855FS
(I love this set and the digital portion is beyond fabulous with beautiful papers!)
Winter Greetings digi papers DIGI4005FS to match Winter Greetings Birds and Wreath.
Elf Peeker 858  (Digital Version DIGI858BG)
(delightful! It is featured on my card today)
Winter Flamingos Set 1 860    (Digital Version DIGI860SG)
Winter Flamingos Set 2 861  (Digital Version DIGI861SG)
Spirit of Christmas Poinsettia 862  (Digital Version DIGI862B - huge digi bundle)
Crystal Snowflakes 868  (Digital Version DIGI868FS)

When you purchase the digi versions of any of the SNS rubber sets, you are getting lots of extras that aren't available otherwise.  These extras include additional images not available with the rubber version, digi papers (in some cases), and now a cut file to use with your electronic cutting machines will also be included with all digi images purchased.


All the new digital and rubber stamp sets are 20% during their debut from July 15 - 20.

On July 18th, ONE GRAND PRIZE WINNER will be selected from the comments left on the Designers' blogs listed above. Please leave a comment with each Designer in order to be eligible for the Grand Prize.  It's a Mystery as to which Designer will have the winning comment on her blog.

The Grand Prize Winner, who will be announced on the SNS Facebook page and the SNS Blog, will receive ALL of the new rubber stamp sets revealed this month.



My card features the mischievous Elf Peeker (from Bugaboo's eclectic artist).



Are you one of the organized people who chooses papers and THEN colors her images?

or...
are you like me... 

... scrounging for papers
after coloring?

Copic Markers were used, including the background.

Later, I could not get the background to coorindate with the warmer hues needed, 
so I distressed with Bundled Sage and Scattered Straw inks, and then rubbed Moonlight White Brilliance ink over them, to smooth out the colors, and brighten them up a bit without making them too vibrant.

It gave a bit of a frosty appearance,
and slightly pearlescent as well.

Very festive!



Elf Peeker 858 is so sweet - yet a little mischievous, too!



A simple interior, using White Detail embossing powder:
Elf Sitter 859 (Digital Version DIGI859BG)  (sneak peek for August 15. Available on website if you wish to have both elf sets to play with):


Tip: Jazz up your old stash, like brads and eyelets, and any of your old embellishments using embossing powder.

Heat the metal portion and dip immediately into your embossing powder. If needed, heat again, and dip again, until the surface is to the desired consistency, as shown with these old, old, VERY OLD snowflake brads. (see the plain left compared to the 2 on the right?):



The sentiments have been embossed with Firecracker Red Detail Embossing Powder.

Because the EP contains glitter, the sentiments are sparkly, as well as dimensional.

Notice how fine the EP is on the word "nice". It is an open-outline font with fine lines.




It was such great fun making this card - flat for mailing, and cute as can be!

Sparkle N Sprinkle Products used:






Challenges I'd like to support:

  1. Cheerful Sketches (July) Sketch (I have flipped the sketch horizontally since my character faces that direction) 8/1
  2. ABC Christmas Challenge (July 5) "N is for New and O is for Old" (stamp is brand new, but papers, punches and brads are all years old) 8/1
  3. Always Fun Challenges #14 "Anything Goes" 7/17 
  4. Aud Sentiments #184 Christmas in July Plus a Sentiment 7/24
  5. Craft Rocket Challenges #39 July - Anything Goes 8/1
  6. Holly and Ivy Christmas Challenge #10 Anything Christmas Goes 7/24
  7. The Crafty Addicts Challenge #38 Anything Goes with Something Humorous (sentiments in card) 8/1
  8. Merry Monday Christmas Challenge #July 3 - Anything Christmas - COMMENTED ON 36, 41, 45 - 8/31
  9. Pammie's Inky Pinkies #1728 "Anything Goes 7/16
  10. Unicorn Challenge (July) Christmas in July 8/1 sep post


Spirit of Christmas Hugs,



58 comments:

Linda Vich said...

Cute card Donna! I tend to stick to the traditional red and green for Christmas and this fills the bill!

Beebeebabs said...

Love your card and cute image thanks for sharing!!!

Linda said...

Such a lovely card, Donna!

Karen Letchworth said...

Your little elf is SO cute. Thanks for the inspiration on this month's hop.
Blessings.
karen Letchworth

Nancy Soetaert said...

love your card! Funny Elf! Great coloring!
Nancy

aussie aNNie said...

Cuteness on a card, love your little image you used and the new releases are so tempting. Lovely inspiration.xx [aNNie]

SD pooja said...

Fun card !! Sure to bring smile :)

Becky said...

Adorable card.

Stamping With Bibiana said...

very nice and I see that you are now creating for Sparkle and sprinkle? I have seeing them at the expo shows here in northern california
hello from california
Bibiana

Lisa said...

Wow! Your coloring is fabulous! I think you got the cutest stamp too!

TracyM #6773 said...

FUN & FABULOUS card Donna!
LOVE your ADORABLE little elf and sweet sentiment, love your pretty layers inside and out too!
PS: I feel your pain with getting your papers to match ... I am TRYING to plan my papers first but my markers usually win the race :)

Donna Phelan said...

OMGoodness! He is just the cutest Jingle Belled Elf I have ever seen! Love how he is peeking in on you! Your layers, design and use of Designer Papers are the merriest! Loving those sparkly snowflakes too! Merry Merry!

Shona Erlenborn said...

Love this fun, Christmas cheery creation! How did you think of doing that with the image to tone down the hue to match perfectly with the background papers? - ingenious! Love the effect it gave. He's such a cute little guy, certainly one of my favorites this month.

Chris said...

How cute is that elf! Such a lovely fun and festive card Donna! Fabulous design and beautiful colouring...love the effect of the 'special treatment' you used to tone down the image...must remember your tip!
Enjoy the weekend.
Chris
x

Jenny McGee said...

That elf stamp is just the cutest. Love it. A fun holiday card.

KarinsArtScrap said...

what a cute and fun image and a very beautiful card Donna.

Gr Karin

KraftyKoolKat said...

So cute and full of fun and beautifully laid out sweetie.
Hugs
Cathy
xxxx

Teresa Godines #6857 said...

This image is too cute. I love how you used it in your card design. Thanks for the inspiration

Elaine Stark said...

A fabulous card. Thanks for joining Aud Sentiments challenge. Elaine

Silvis Kreativstube said...

Hallo liebe Donna,
ich bin von deiner lustigen Weihnachtskarte ganz begeistert. Der Sketch gefällt mir sehr gut und deine Gestaltung ist einfach immer wieder perfekt. Ich bin begeistert. Ich wünsche dir ein wunderschönes Wochenende.
Ganz liebe Knuddelgrüße herzlichst hugs Silvi

ionabunny said...

That elf is such a cute and fun image and I love what you did with the brads. Fabulous card. Hugz

Lisa said...

So absolutely adorable, Donna!! The elf is so sweet!! I love how you jazzed up the brads, too!! Beautiful Christmas card, my friend!! Have a great weekend!! Big hugs :)

Lisa
A Mermaid's Crafts

Unknown said...

This is so adorable, and I love the way you designed the placement of the different elements!

Unknown said...

Your little elf card is adorable! What a fantastic release.
Sierra
www.sierrasgift.blogspot.com

Verna Angerhofer said...

Elf Peeker is so cute and your coloring of him is awesome. I also like the papers and layers you used with it and the fun sentiments.

Wendy L said...

Fab card, super cute,thanks for joining us at Craft Rocket xxx

Shelly Schmidt said...

How beautiful- I LOVE your card. Bugaboo has such a great images!

Valerija said...

Stunning card. Love the cute image and beautiful colours.

Janice said...

I love your fun Christmas card Donna, such a cute elf image too! Thank you for sharing so many tips, I especially like the heat embossed sparky snowflakes!
Janice x

Kuni said...

Stunning card.
The card also fits our challenge at the Sweet Stampers.
Check it out.
http://sweetstamperschallenge.blogspot.de/
Hugs
Kuni

CdeBaca Crafts Gallery said...

Great card!

cotnob said...

This is fabulous Donna, such a fun image and lovely Christmas colours - a super Christmas card.
Pauline - Crafting with Cotnob
x

Sue said...

Donna, Fab card. So intricate.

Hope you are having a nice day. Sue

Leslie Miller said...

He's adorable! Some cute stuff in this release. Of course, you know how I love Bugaboo art. Your Copic coloring always astounds me. Love how you did the eyes. It's always easier for me when I choose the papers first, but sometimes I do it the other way around, too. Love your ideas for helping papers and image coordinate. It all looks perfect!

Pia S said...

Jodie has some really cute elf images, I've got this one but haven't gotten around to play with him yet. As for coloring and paper choices, I actually use both techniques. When i feel organized and have lots of time I pick papers first, then I color. But I'm not always in mood for coloring, so when I am I color up extra images to be used later. Then I need to hunt for papers that match. It's easier to color second, but I'm quite fond of hunting and digging through my stash of papers to find suitable ones. I really like the sentiment you've used with the image here and the traditional color scheme.

crafty-stamper said...

Beautiful Christmas card love the cute image and brilliant sentiment-love the traditional Christmas colours and co-ordinating papers-I tend to look for suitable papers and colour to go with -otherwise I can never find papers that actually go with if done the other way round
Carol x

Anne Temple said...

Your elf peeker is adorable. I guess great minds think alike :-). Not only did we use the same image, but 2 of the same sentiments. Love how different they are though.

Conniecrafter said...

He is just the cutest, waving hello to whomever receives this sweet card!! I do tend to color my stamp and then go searching for what will go with it but every now and then when I have a stamp staring at me and I am just not sure what I want to do I remember to go looking for paper and that gets me started on the coloring. I love your tip on the embossing powder to jazz up the brads, I really need to start a tips book to help me remember all these good ideas!!
Have a wonderful week!

*Vicki* said...

Oh my word that little elf is just the cutiest I've seen!! This is my first time participating in one of the SNS blog hops and I'm so happy that I get to your beautiful inspiration with the new release my friend!! :) I think you may have me sold on this one!! Your creation is so stunning and I just love your sparkly snowflake brads!! Amazing post Donna!! HUGS :)

Linda Simpson said...

Oh my goodness Donna, how cute and mischievous is this image! I love him! Gorgeous embellishments too.
Hugs
Linda xxx

Cindy Pryor said...

I think it was very clever of you to distress the background paper to make it match your elf colors. Cute card!

Puppy Kisses and Paper Dreams said...

Donna - This card is absolutely incredible! You are so creative, and create such FUN designs! I just giggle and smile whenever I see your creations. You, and your creations, make me happy! Hugs and love to you, my dear friend! This card is perfect. I love it.

Marilyn said...

Gorgeous card and I have to go check out that little elf image!

Lori Kobular said...

Love that sweet little elf! Your card is so pretty with those lovely snowflakes!

Anila Dikay said...

Cute little image...lovely card
Thank you for joining us at Craft Rocket challenge this month.
Anila DT

Pamellia said...

What a wonderful Christmas card Donna! Your elf image is so darned adorable and you are a magician with those markers, dang! I adore the traditional red and green palette, always reminds me of Christmas in my home town. My Mom was a red a green gal and the whole house would be done up with a different theme in every room. I believe one of the bedrooms was all elves! Such a genius idea about dressing up the old brads, really adds a festive sparkle to this amazing holiday card!!

I do hope you are having a wonderful summer. I was so glad to hear that you have seen improvements with your health. I hope the weather has been better for you and the fires and stopped. We have had amazing weather this year and I have been taking advantage of every minute of it!

Still working on the patio redesign. I'm installing planters and shelves and moving things around, all in hopes of being able to hide my bird and squirrel food dishes from the complaining neighbours. I feel bad for the poor squirrels, it's like a scavenger hunt every time they come because the dishes are in a new spot. lol. Take care my friend, sending hugs from way up North! :)

Felix the Crafty Cat said...

Hi Donna, hope you're having a good week. So love your Christmas card though it is worrying me a bit that I haven't even thought about them yet! Love the elf stamp but have to say the birds are my absolute favourite. Thanks for the visit to mine and happy crafting, Angela xXx

NanaConnie said...

Such an adorable little elf, Donna, and I love the white ink on the image idea! I can't believe I was lucky enough to win a challenge which was being sponsored by SnS but I'm definitely going to pick up a couple of these Christmas sets with my coupon. :-D

DIANA L. said...

Such an adorable card Donna, I love the colors and the little elf.

Paper Creations by Shirley said...

Cute and beautiful card Donna, love your snowflakes with the glitter. I hope you are doing well, take care hugs xx

Sue said...

Donna, your little elf is fun and delightful. What a darling card. Would be fun to send to a child at Christmas, what a relief to know your on the good list, right? Love all your details as always.

Hugs
Sue

CherylQuilts said...

Donna, this is such a happy and "merry" card, and I love this elf! He sure makes me smile! Your attention to details is amazing, and I love seeing the step-outs showing your process. It's beautiful and is sure to bring a big smile this Christmas! Hugs, sweet friend! xoxo

SewPaperPaint said...

I really love this fun and sweet design and how you jazzed up the brads. I love those brads and have never thought of that - brilliant idea! Hugs, Autumn

Ina G said...

Amazing colouring Donna and fabulous colourful layout. So many gorgeous bits to gaze over. Such an awesome fun Christmas card.

sarascloset said...

Hi Donna, I have been away on vacation and this week am trying to get caught up with all the DT projects and house work. Yipes! I'm overwhelmed, but I wanted to check out what you've been up to. You left me the sweetest message on my Summertime canvas; it melted my heart--thank you!

This card is so sweet! No I am NOT one of those organized people! Ha! Ha! Great tip on reviving those old embellishments--need to give that a whirl! Sending hugs, lovely lady!

CdeBaca Crafts Gallery said...

This is great! The Christmas card threw me off a little (haha due to the heat) but this is a great card! Thank you for the detailed posts!

Margreet said...

Gorgeous cute card!
Thanks for sharing it with us at Cheerful Sketches.
xxx Margreet

cohenna said...

Beautiful! Thanks so much for participating in The Crafty Addicts Challenge this time and good luck :)