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, April 19, 2018

Pretty Roses by Sheepski

Hello, my sweet blogging friends!
Hope you are doing well, and enjoying all your endeavors.

It's my very great pleasure to Guest Design for SheepSki Designs this month!
The Facebook Challenge lasts from April 20 until May 19. 
Challenge 23 has an Optional Twist of "Use Only Two Colors" 
(but can also have black, white and skin tones).
Come join in the fun!


Andrea's very lovely Wild Roses Image was pure joy to play with!

 

I opted for CAS - Yes, I know it's not really CAS because it has layers, and not very much white space, but for me, it's as close as I can get. But I'll keep on trying. It certainly helped working with an image so thoroughly lovely.


Colored with Copic Markers, and distressed with Mowed Lawn ink, this card sports a very old butterfly punch coated in Sunny Daze Glitter and a VIRGINAL Spellbinders die set called Venise Lace 5x7. 
This image has been flipped both horizontally and vertically:


Also used on this card is...

My very first stamp set!
(available digitally as well)



Thanks for dropping by today. I hope you'll be able to join in the challenge!

Products:


Challenges I'd like to play in please:

  1. Craft Rocket Challenges #47 "Flowers" 5/1
  2. Crafting from the Heart Challenges #202 "Anything Goes" 4/22
  3. Double D Challenge (Apr 18) "Friendship" 5/1
  4. Love to Scrap Challenge Blog #108 April Showers Bring May Flowers 5/1
  5. Moving Along With the Times #69 "Springtime" 4/26
  6. Scrapyland Challenge Blog #88 Die Cut (Spellbinders, also a Memory Box Butterfly Body)

hugs,





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Sunday, April 01, 2018

Lovely Winged Collages by Linda Simpson Designs {2 Crafty Critter Crazies}

Thinking of you during the celebrations of Easter, Passover, and Spring!
To friends who have been enduring such horrific weather - my thoughts are with you, and praying you have not suffered loss as a result.

On to the fun stuff!


This month at 2 Crafty Critter Crazies we are sponsored by Linda Simpson Designs, where quality digital products are available in several styles and colors!

Until the 28th of April, you may share your critter creations with us, being sure that your animals are the featured element of the project! We have a product winner and design team picks, as well. 

It was pure joy working with Linda's quality products. My cards feature the "Les Beaux Oiseaux Designer Ephemera" - Beautiful Birds - a pair of birds on branch and postcard.



and beautiful digital papers from Les Beaux Oiseaux 6x6 Set 3.





I printed a small section of the pretty birds, die cut them, and mounted them on top of the "Tan Feathers on Light Tan" digital paper after distressing it with firebrick red and black soot inks. The butterflies are also fussy cut out, distressed with black soot ink, and layered atop. Also featured is my very VIRGINAL Spellbinders Imperial Square die set. It's lovely! This is a 6x6 card.

 Question Time:

 I heat set my sentiment on vellum using SNS Antiquities Detail Opaque Embossing Powder. While it looks great in person, all the little shadows show up in the photo. Is that because I did not heat it sufficiently from the underside of the vellum? Am I supposed to melt it from underneath and then a little bit on top?
(Embarrassed that I don't know the answer to this question, but would like to know your kind responses, please)

SNS Antiquities Detail Opaque Embossing Powder
Antiquities Detail Opaque Embossing Powder is a very fine, metallic powder, great for the smallest detail work. Depending how the light shines on it, it will appear slightly more silver, or titanium, with a splash of distressed copper or iron in it. It's a great universal color!

TIP:
To get the most economic use of my printed images, I try to save on ink and paper by "overlapping" the images in my word processor:





Next is this fun 5x7 card, using the script digital card stock in the background distressed with firebrick ink. The lace is from my Great Aunt Agnes in the 1940's.

Hello Die Cut by Tonic has been coated with Glue Pen (large) by Tonic and then dredged with SNS Galaxy Ultrafine Glitter (a mix of black and colors found in the galaxy).  Black Ash Mousse by Tonic distresses the taupe panel. Depending which one it is moved, it changes from a gunmetal gray to light ash.


 Lastly, I have a super easy card to show. The birds are digitally layered to a red background, where I applied some digital lace. This was cut out, layered onto a coordinating pale tan/ivory panel, and finally placed onto coordinating red cardstock. Added a few fussy cut butterflies for some dimension. 

The sentiment is heat set with textured SNS Timber Embossing Powder. I love the elegant earthiness this EP brings to the card with the grainy, but shiny elements! Timber Embossing Powder contains a surprise ingredient that really brings out the burnished bronze richness in brown.

SNS Timber Embossing Powder
Check out this month's challenge at 2 Crafty Critter Crazies and be sure to visit Linda Simpson's fantastic, easy-to-use vintage images!

Products:
Challenges I'd like to Play in:



On a Personal Note to my close blogging buddies:
You likely have noticed a change in my on-line habits.
It's been a period of adjusting to a new "plateau" of abilities.
I AM enjoying your creations, just not able to leave as much feedback as I'd like to. Thanks for understanding.

hugs,


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