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

Monday, December 11, 2017

House Mouse Challenge with "ANYTHING CHRISTMAS GOES" theme

Not a creature was stirring...
not EVEN a ...



Greetings, friends!
In my last post, I mentioned that we had beautiful warm weather and were still using air conditioning. Today's weather is different. We are below freezing! I feel sorry for all the wildlife, farmers, and our plants - they don't know what is happening!
Sigh. All good things must come to an end. This is my final Guest Design card with my wonderful mice buddies at House Mouse and Friends!

SPECIAL HOLIDAY CHALLENGE
#256 Anything Christmas Goes
December 11th through January 8th

There are so many darling stories these House Mouse stamps tell. My imagination smiles and giggles while coloring them, and putting the cards together.

These two characters were misbehaving all night, when they were finally told that Santa would not come until they ceased their shenanigans and went to sleep. They stopped right where they were, closed their eyes -- and

did they REALLY fall immediately to sleep? Or are they pretending?

What do you think?



Colored with Copic Markers, the darling House Mouse image (called FRIENDLY DREAMS) was die cut with a pretty Sue Wilson die - Indian Ocean - Maldives CED10015.

Bringing out more of my AGES OLD K&C paper, it has been embellished with awesome Champagne Glass Glitter. I wish you could see it in real life - what sparkle this has! AND easy to use without glittery particles floating around, too!
(click on the photo below for a close-up of this glitter please)



The glass glitter was adhered with Nuvo Glitter Accents Aztec Gold. I chose this as "adhesive" because all the crevices were covered with the same color of glittery goodness between the chunky glass glitter pieces. It really affords a nice dimensional look whether used alone, or adding more glitter atop.



It's been such a pleasure designing with the Mousie crowd these two months!

Products Used:

Lovely Challenges to play in please!

  1. Addicted to Stamps #159 "Seasons Greetings" (animals are rubber, sentiment is digital) 12/24
  2. Animal Friends Challenge #57 (Dec) Anything goes with an Animal 1/1 (sep post)
  3. Classic Design Team Open Challenge #20 Anything for a DT 1/1 (sep post)
  4. Come and Get It Challenges (Dec) Christmas 1/7
  5. Crafty Animals #9 Anything Goes with a Critter 1/1 (sep post)
  6. Christmas Card Throwdown  (Dec 2) (choose a challenge from 2012-2013) I chose the Animals from Challenge #15 March 16-2013. 12/30  (C12)
  7. Let's Craft and Create Challenge #132 Anything Christmas Goes 12/31
  8. Pammie's Inky Pinkies #1750 Anything Goes 12/18 (sep post)
  9. Pile It On Challenges #137 Non-Traditional Colors  1/7 
  10. Merry Monday #269 (color challenge) 12/18 (sep post) comment on 3
Warm Christmasy Stamping Hugs,



Thursday, December 07, 2017

Show Me A Snowman - Cardz 4 Galz - Sparkle N Sprinkle

Hello, Blogging Buddies! Wishing you a great day. Are you enjoying the holiday celebrations and preparations? Here in central Florida, we are enjoying gorgeous  blue skies, light fluffy clouds, and temperatures in the low 80s (in the shade!)

Maybe my card will cool things off.

Speaking of cards - I love playing with my supplies, getting messy, and experimenting. Do you?


There's a new challenge at Cardz 4 Galz Challenges today!


Badges are awarded for the Spotlight Winner and Top Picks.

Challenge #61 is chosen by designer Caz - and the theme is:

  SHOW ME A SNOWMAN  

show us your Paper Crafting projects using any technique and medium, 
AS LONG AS IT FEATURES A SNOW PERSON!
Challenge ends on DECEMBER 21st.

Today's card is 5x7 (A7) and features this darling Bugaboo Image merged with  Sparkle N Sprinkle has become the Snow Couple Rubber Stamp Set (also available digitally). They are delighted, cuddling together to keep each other COLD, and singing you "we wish you a Merry Christmas".

I colored this image with Copic Markers, and this is the colored version you will receive with this stamp set if you buy the digital set.

Then I die cut the intriguing Tonic Layering Ribbon and Bow Frame Set in white, coated it with VersaMark and dredged with Firecracker Red Detail Opaque EP (it contains glitter). I removed the center (detailed) portion of the die, leaving two plain pieces, and die cut the same frame out of fun foam.



Nuvo Deluxe Adhesive with fine nozzle tip was applied to the back of the red embossed frame and adhered to the fun foam.
The back of the fun foam was coated with 1/4" Tear-ific Tape, and it was then placed on the die cut Snow Couple die cut piece.


Cut red cardstock as desired, and then cut the Super Adhesive Sheet 1/4" smaller.
Carefully center the cut SAS to the red cardstock, leaving the protective layer on top. Adhere the red layer to the card base:


The sentiment was designed to be on one side, so I pulled back the SAS on the right side just enough to apply a little Cloud Nine Velvet Microfine Glitter, burnishing it in with my finger. (See how it will look when the protective layer is finally removed?



After wiping off the excess, I prepared the left side for the same treatment, leaving the center tacky for the Snow Couple Panel:



Leaving the protective layer in place, burnish the left side and brush off any loose glitter.
Place entire panel in the Tim Holtz Stamp Platform to arrange the flourish stamp (sorry about the glaring light bulb!):



To get the Blazing Red Staz-on ink to show up enough, I had to restamp 7 times (because the base cardstock is red, not white). After stamping, the protective layer was removed, the Snow Couple panel was applied, and then the top and bottom of the SAS was burnished with more glitter. (Below, see that the SAS holds the Snow Couple panel, and just above and below more glitter is needed:



The sentiment is heat embossed with White Detail EP. I put it back in the Stamp Platform and stamped again with Versamark, and heat set with Velvet Sparkle EP. This allows the white EP to show clearly, but gives a bit of a sparkly shadow to the words (hope you can see the sparkles):



To create my giant sized snowflakes I used Nuvo Glitter Accents Fresh Snowfall, and dredged with Diamond Dust Glitter. The same process was done on the ground, and on the snow couple's hats:



Tonic's Poinsettia Wreath Die 80e was cut up and embellished with more Firecracker Red Detail Opaque EP to match the frame. The little heart brad was heat set with Velvet Sparkle EP. (Just heat the brad, dip into embossing powder, heat again, dip again, until you like the appearance).

Finished Sparkly card:

Products Used:

Fun Challenges I'd like to play in:

  1. Kerst/Christmas Challenges #12 Anything Goes Christmas 1/1/2018
  2. Craftaholics R Us #48 Christmas 12/13
  3. Always Fun Challenges #35 "Snowmen" 12/10
  4. World Wide Open DT Challenge #28 Anything for a DT 12/15
  5. Bugaboo Crafty Challenge #11 Anything Bugaboo Goes 12/15
  6. Love to Scrap #104 Winter Wonderland 12/31 (sep post)
  7. Crafty Calendar Challenges (December) "It's Christmas" 1/1 (sep post)
Thanks for coming by today,


Friday, December 01, 2017

Sasayaki Glitter - 2 Crafty Critter Crazies

Hello, Critter-loving Friends!
I'm so happy to be seeing you again.



It's time for a new challenge at

2 Crafty Critter Crazies!

Sasayaki Glitter is sponsoring December's challenge, which ends December 30. A random winner is selected, and a guest designer for the upcoming month is chosen.

I am featuring Little Miss Teacup Mouse!


Colored with Copic Markers, she slurped her way through yummy hot chocolate in her china teacup. Even her fur coloring changed to a rich chocolate hue!

The teacup was coated with VersaMarker, and heat set with SNS clear detail embossing powder. Great shine, isn't it? (All that "white" in the cup is actually shine from the light on the clear EP)


Burnished Bronze Dream Weaver stencil paste was applied to K and Company designer paper, and allowed to dry into this amazing color!

The dies are Spellbinders Labels 8, and Sue Wilson Melbourne.

I accidentally dropped my round die cut with the mousie, and it adhered in the wrong place on the card, but that's how it goes sometimes. The adhesive was too strong to pull back up. Has that happened to you?
(While it's sad that it fell where it did, at least it fell relatively straight, right?) lol

The background cardstock was dry embossed and inked with the same abandoned coral distress ink as the image's circle.

Thank you for popping by today!
Don't forget to upload your creations that feature a critter at

2 Crafty Critter Crazies!

hugs,
Donna