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, September 28, 2017

Dragonfly Magic! Tonic Studios - Sparkle N Sprinkle - Cardz 4 Galz


Hi, Everyone! I'm back!
Sorta....
Slowly picking up speed from recent Florida events - I especially am thinking of those who have lost loved ones, their homes, and businesses throughout the Caribbean, Texas, Florida and Mexico, and wishing you all a brighter tomorrow.

The new challenge at Cardz 4 Galz Challenges today!

Badges are awarded for the Spotlight Winner and Top Picks.

Challenge #57 is chosen by guest designer Sian - and the theme is:

  DRAGONFLY  

show us your Paper Crafting projects using any technique and medium, 
AS LONG AS IT INCLUDES DRAGONFLIES!
Challenge ends on OCTOBER 11th.

My project uses fantastic Sparkle N Sprinkle Products which have been listed at the bottom.

TIP:

Fantastically sparkle-full, the Celestial Ultrafine Glitter on the leaves is a combination of transparent and opaque glitters. Why tell you this? The leaf die cuts are cut from the same color yellow cardstock as the sentiment. Some of that yellow shows through the transparent glitter colors, so that it blends beautifully and looks well coordinated.

TIP:

The "green" is actually an embossing powder! They are equally sparkle-full, aren't they?
I blended a Hybrid Embossing Powder SNS Military Green EP288 mixed with Green Nugget Ultrafine Glitter G1065. Both are opaque. Again, why have a mentioned this? The green cardstock was not quite the color I needed to match the designer paper, but covering it with embossing powder did the trick! ALSO, with opaque products, you can even cover white cardstock with any color to customize your papers.


The dragonfly is cut from gold glossy cardstock, and adhered to a black shadow using Nuvo Deluxe Adhesive. I am still in love with the Nuvo Large Glue Pen which was used to adhere the glitter to the leaves, and the designer paper to the cardstock. HOWEVER, the Nuvo Deluxe Adhesive has an ultra thin applicator and applies creamy smooth directly to the thinnest portions of the dragonfly and leaves! While I am grateful to have been gifted with the adhesives, I will definitely purchase them on my own in the future. That's saying a lot since I had used the same wonderful glue for more than 10 years. I'm HOOKED! 

As you can see below, there are now glue smudges from my fumble fingers on the glossy cardstock:

Tonic's Autumnal Oak Die Set contains pretty leaves (above), a two-piece acorn to be used as shown or as a solid silhouette, a two-piece oak leaf, and this delicate twig. Very versatile and easy to cut. The acorn above had a piece of sticky-note-tape to hold the tiny pieces in place. Then I flipped the acorn and taped them in place permanently. 

Love the Tonic Thinking of You miniature die
 

On the inside, a sneak peek at an upcoming SNS sentiment, inspired by a dear friend:





We would love seeing your dragonfly projects at the
On a personal note:


I'm still having trouble getting up to speed, but at least my brain is semi-functioning again (giggle).

This is  what is happening in our area due to the Withalacoochee River. Although we are up high and don't suffer from the flooding which is about 6-7 miles to the east, the mosquitoes and humidity travel everywhere nearby.




Flooding shown in green - our area has still not crested, so the photos reflect flooding a week ago, where the areas have not reached their maximum flooding yet:


 THIS IS DEDICATION:



our home has these "shutters"
which are put in place before an event, and then removed.

The photos were taken 24 hours after Hurricane Irma passed overhead - we were SO FORTUNATE as only a few tornados passed through the area, and the winds were deflected by large trees. Irma downgraded to a Cat 1 by the time it hit our home.


We were VERY GRATEFUL to have the shutters.
(see the shutter bottom left which has been removed from the door):

       





Other Products:

  • EKSuccess Border Punch
  • Rust, Pale Gold, Black, Gold Glossy, Avocado Green, White cardstock and stash designer paper.
  • Recollections Jewel
Challenges I would like to play in please:

  1. Crafty Cardmakers #196 Autumn 10/1
  2. Make My Monday #55 Autumn Colors 10/1
  3. Use Your Stuff #281 Something Old - Something New 10/1 (Designer Paper, border punches, EP and G all very old - the die cuts are brand new)
  4. Fab N Funky Challenge #364 Fall Colors 10/5
  5. ScrapyLand Challenges #74 (Anything Goes using Die SL sells) (4 different Tonic Studios Die Sets listed above)
  6. World Wide Open Design Team Challenge (Anything Goes for a DT) 10/15
  7. Sisterhood of Crafters (Sept 27) Use Your Dies 10/15 (4 different Tonic Studios Die Sets listed above) (sep post prior to new challenge)

Miss You Hugs,

Friday, September 01, 2017

Fabrika Fantasy's Two Crafty Critter Crazies - Fabrika Fantasy Pegasus

Hello, Critter Loving Friends!
Wishing my blogging friends well, and hoping my Texas friends have not suffered too much loss or damage.
May you all enjoy good health and love --

and now...

A new 2 Crafty Critter Crazies Challenge begins today!

Fabrika Fantasy is sponsoring September's challenge, which ends September 30.
A random winner is selected, and a guest designer for the upcoming month is chosen.

My card features this amazing Flying Pegasus from Fabrika Fantasy.

How do you like the rhinestone panel behind the die cuts?

Raiding my old stash, I found this rhinestone mesh in just the right color, and cut it just a tad larger so a row of the rhinestones shows up on either side of the Spellbinders die cut. More of my Great Aunt Agnes' Vintage Lace was used on either side as well.
Colored with Copic Markers and Distress Inks, I have surrounded the lovely Pegasus and sentiment with Starfire Ultrafine Glitter to increase the magical feeling of the card.


The two beautiful ornate die cuts are further enhanced with
Nuvo Mother of Pearl Embellishment Mousse.
Embellishment Mousse is one of my favorite "new" products THIS YEAR because of its transformative abilities. It is fast drying (almost as fast as you can apply it) and changes ordinary, cheap cardstock into beautifully pearly-metallic satin! You can dry emboss, die cut, heat emboss, apply glitter - anything you would do with paper - even distress it! 

EMBELLISHMENT MOUSSE TIP:

When die cutting very ornate, detailed dies, apply the mousse to the cardstock prior to cutting.

As you can see below, the mousse-covered die cuts adhere easily onto each other. The heat embossed flourish in the top right corner was glued right on top of the moussed die cut.



This card is about as gaudy as it gets! (giggle)

Products Used:

Playing in the following challenges:
  1. The Crazy Challenge #256 Bingo (bottom row) Triple Tear Circle, Rhinestone (mesh layer), lace (vintage lace on both sides) 9/11
  2. The Alphabet Challenge (September 1) "Make Your Mark" (Copic Markers, Distress Inks, Hand-made sentiment, adhered glitter, applied mousse to several layers, applied embossing powder to the fourish) 9/15
  3. International Art and Soul #15 "Layer it Up!" 9/10 (card base plus lace, jewel panel, 6 layers of die cuts
  4. Classic Design Team Challenge #17 Anything DT Goes 10/1
  5. Creatalicious Challenges #122 Anything Goes with Mythical Creations 9/15
  6. Createful Heart Challenge Blog #1 Anything Goes 9/15
  7. DLArt September Linky Party Challenge - Anything Goes - 10/1
  8. Fabrika Fantasy Challenges #13 "Add Pearls or Gems" (rhinestone mesh across the back and sides) 10/1
  9. (ScrapyLand Challenges #72 "Anything Goes with Dies SL Sells" (listed above - SB, IO) 9/5
  10. World Wide Open DT Challenge #25 "Anything DT Goes" 9/15
  11. Pammie's Inky Pinkies #1735 Anything Goes 9/3

Looking forward to seeing your critter cards at 2 Crafty Critter Crazies Challenge Blog!
hugs,