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

Wednesday, July 11, 2018

Step Card with Back to Basics and Beyond Challenge

Hello, Blogging Friends and a warm welcome to my newest followers.



Today is my first post as a design team member for

Back to Basics and Beyond Challenges.

It's a challenge blog dedicated to... you guessed it... getting back to the basics.


For the next two weeks, join us by uploading an "Anything-Goes" challenge as long as a step card - center step or side step - is shown.

Mine is a vintage A7 size Center Step Christmas Card.

TIP: To make an enlarged step card, make the height 5 to 5.5 inches, and the width to whatever you like: 6 - 8.5 inches. You can also adjust the side panels (steps), but I recommend one inch, with the side panels at least one inch as well.


For an additional 10% off your SNS orders, please use the code during checkout:
DonnaDT10

Some products used on my card:

Often, I don't have a die that perfectly fits the layers in my card. That's when I pull out my punches and custom fit the borders. There are 3 pieces of punched border, like this on the back:


On the front, it looks like this:


The back of a step card is a great place to add a note or other sentiment. One of my favorite sentiments for the year from the Happy Holidays rubber stamp set, it was stamped in Acorn Brown Hybrid Ink to match the cardstock. Not just another pretty set of letters, the sentiment is just as lovely for the inside of a card, as well as a card front:
   
The snowflake was cut out 4 times in white cardstock. Two of the flakes were coated with Fantasy Gold Ultrafine Glitter. When dry, the white layers were adhered to the glittery layers, slightly offset. Vintage colors were used on the Christmas Skate Digital Stamp:


Side View:
Looking forward to seeing your step creations!


Products Used:

On a Personal Note:

We stepped outside early one morning to water the plants in the front, when several deer in the front pasture leapt away to a neighboring pasture. In front of the gate was a brown lump, and we worried it was an injured deer. Upon closer scrutiny, we noticed it was a newborn fawn, who did what came natural - be still in a down position until his mother returns. So we marched back up the hill and waited. Just a few minutes later, the mom came back and they left together.




Challenges I'd like to play in please:

  1. Crafter's Castle Challenges #7 AG + option Christmas 8/4
  2. Twelve Months of Christmas #43 Anything Christmas Goes 8/4
  3. The Merry Christmas Challenge #26 Anything Christmas Goes
  4. Christmas at Sweet Stampin' #? Anything Goes Christmas 8/11
  5. Pile It On Challenges #144 Vintage 8/5 (sep post)
  6. The Holly and Ivy Christmas Challenge #32 Anything Christmas 8/1
  7. Scrapy Land Challenges #93 AG dies SL sells (Tattered lace, Tonic, SB)
  8. Sweet Stampers #22 Christmas In July 8/10

Thanks for dropping by!
hugs,

49 comments:

Jackie T said...

Hi Donna this is a gorgeous stepper card. I love how you used the punch to create that border. The baby deer is adorable. Have a great day. Take care. Hugs Jackie

aussie aNNie said...

oooh a beautiful baby fawn, how cute to see that.

Congrats on your new DT DE, and love the stepper, I am about to make mine... xx

meg said...

brilliant make, love the image and the layout, wonderful photo of the fawn

Diane said...

Gorgeous card Donna (and welcome to the blog), I love how you have glittered those snowflakes and the entire card is 'awesome'!! The baby deer is so cute, and so glad you left it alone, around here someone I know posted a picture of her holding a baby fawn thinking it was abandoned, it upset me immensely, I wish people wouldn't mess with nature...we do have a pesky Doe that last night ate my lilies right at the front door/walk, she just won't stay away (I am about to put her in my freezer...just kidding...LOL)!!!

Shona Erlenborn said...

This is so pretty Donna! Love the step card fold with the snowflakes bordering the gorgeously colored skates. What a great idea for the border on the focal image, you're right -dies are sometimes just not the right size! Very creative. Love "your" sentiment on the back too! As for the fawn .... I have to say for the first year in 25, those rats with antlers have not been seen in my backyard!! (Searching furiously for wood to touch!)

Crafting Queen said...

Love your card and thanks for sharing how you made it. What a wonderful thing to witness!!

Bunny said...

Beautiful colors and sparkle on this Christmas card. I do enjoy a step card.

Great picture of the doe. So sweet looking. [Bunny]

cuilliesocks said...

Hello Donna,and a warm welcome to BBB. Gosh what a fabulous blog you have, loving my scroll through it,and what beautiful projects you have.
This is absolutely stunning, beautifully designed and the skating topper is so pretty, the snowflakes,are amazing, love it all, Kate x x

MiamiKel said...

Congrats on your DT spot! And oh that little fawn!! Adorable :) Beautiful card - so detailed and stunning!

Margarets designer cards said...

Fabulous stepper Christmas card, I love your images and the snowflakes
How lovely to have deer eat the house, so glad she came back for your new born.

Janis Lewis said...

Sweet Christmas card! Thanks for joining us at The Merry Christmas Challenge.
Janis
PauseDreamEnjoy.blogspot.com

brenda said...

What a beautiful creation Donna, always like a shaped card and steppers are probably one of my favourites, lovely skating image as well.

Lovn your picture, we have a little Monkjack living on our grounds, it's pretty ilusive and we usually only see hime (or her) in the evenings when it comes out of the trees and undergrowth into the paddocks. Heskey (one of our horses) appears quite confused by it and just stands and stares, very unsual for him as he loves to strutt his Arab stuff when there is anyone or thing to put on a how for.

B x

Linda Simpson said...

This is fabulous Donna, I love the gorgeous design and wonderful Christmas image. Wonderful snowflakes too!
Hugs
Linda xxx

Hazel (Didos) said...

Welcome to the Team. Oh your creation is stunning, what a beautiful make. Ahhh that sweet wee deer. I see a few out on our wolaks bit not as clsoe up as this, Hazelxx

KraftyKoolKat said...

This is a stunner Donna as all your work is. I wouldn't call it basic!! AWESOME is more like it. Ah bless how lucky to have these lovely deer visiting.
Hugs
Cathy
xxxx

crafty-stamper said...

Fabulous stepper card Donnalove the image and beautiful snowflakes--congrats on your new DT and love the pic of the baby fawn-we ahve 3 new additions to our animals an injured young crow(who is doing well and eating furiously!!!) and 2 rescued ducks
Carol x

KT Fit Kitty said...

Aaaaw, just look at the precious fawn! You were so fortunate to see it and get a photo too - I'm glad the doe showed up to claim her baby! Your step card is gorgeous, Donna! I haven't made a step card for ages and I've been seeing a few of them around lately - it's on my list! I love your winter theme and gorgeous snowlakes! Just beautiful! It's always educational to come here too, with lots of photos and instructions, thank you! Big congrats on your new DT - they are lucky to have you!

Chris said...

Congrats on the new DT Donna ...and what a stunning card you've made for your debut! Beautiful design, stamp and die cuts, love the gorgeous colours and sparkle!
How lovely to see the baby deer, so glad he waited for his Mum to come back!
hugs
Chris
x

Lisa said...

Wow, Donna, this is so stunning!! I love the fold and those spectacular snowflakes!! The skates are beautiful!! And so creative how you used the punch!! What a gorgeous card!! I love, love it!! And oh my gosh, that baby fawn is so precious!! I'd want to keep him as a pet :) So glad his momma came back for him!! Have a great day, sweet friend!! Big hugs :)

Lisa
A Mermaid's Crafts

SewPaperPaint said...

Oh my goodness that sweetie pie deer! The other day I looked down for a moment while driving and looked up and the youngest deer I've ever seen was stopped in the road dead in front of my car. I SLAMMED on my breaks and truly thought I would hit her, but just barely missed. I was completely in shock and awe of her beautiful tiny body and pretty spots. WOW! I can still see the image in my mind perfectly clearly. So glad this one's mama returned. And biggest congrats on your new DT! Yay! I mistakenly entered the challenge once without reading the theme (I think it was listed wrong on Paper Playful), but hope to play along in the future. Your card is out of this world beautiful and I love how cleverly you layered the punched border and the offset snowflakes. Super inspiration my friend! Big hugs, Autumn

Ann Greenspan's Crafts said...

Donna, what a pretty card with the gold tones and Spellbinders die right in the middle....your coloring is always so perfect! We, too, have a baby deer but ours doesn't have any spots yet. It's adorable!

cotnob said...

A beautiful card Donna, such a fabulous image and gorgeous snowflakes - I love your colour choices.
Pauline - Crafting with Cotnob
x

Debbie Mageed said...

Stunning card, my friend!! I'm so happy to see you back in your craft room and on some design teams. That just makes my heart happy - just like this card! I love center step cards but don't do them often enough. Maybe I'll give it a shot and play along. I'm also happy to see that your baby deer was okay and mama deer came back. Bambi traumatized me for life! Have a wonderful rest of you day! XO

*Vicki* said...

Awe! That sweet little baby deer! Glad mama came back! I just LOVE the ice skates image and it looks amazing on your stair step design especially with those glittery snowflakes! Congrats on your new design team spot and it's a new to me challenge, so I've gone over to follow along! Sometimes I feel the need for something simple and basic! Always gorgeous inspiration from you my friend! Take care! HUGS

Verna Angerhofer said...

That is a beautiful step card. I love the skates image and all the dies you used in the design too. The colors are gorgeous too.

Beebeebabs said...

Wow such a beautiful card - love the layout and beautiful snowflakes - another great creation my friend thanks for sharing!!!

Conniecrafter said...

Congrats Donna on your new Design team spot, such a gorgeous way to start off your first post, I just love the sepia tones and old fashioned feel to the card, that oval die is one of my favorite, I love the gorgeous layering of the snowflakes on the side also!! Beautiful!

Oh how sweet is that fawn, I bet it was a bit nervous being left behind, so glad that momma came back to bring it along with her. So sweet!

Linda Vich said...

Lovely Christmas card with a vintage feel!

Lori Kobular said...

Such a gorgeous Victorian Christmas card! I love the skates inside that beautiful frame and your step card is terrific! I have to try making one of these someday! As for that precious fawn ~ how lucky you are to have gotten the pleasure to see him or her in your yard! You are truly blessed!!

Evelyn said...

I hope the little fawn makes it. She's so precious.

Your card is stunning. I love the soft golds and the brown together and the image is just beautiful. Thanks for sharing it with us at The Merry Christmas Challenge Blog!

Evelyn
http://mylittlecraftblog.wordpress.com

Barb Harmon said...

I'm always in awe of your creativity. Another beautiful card using non traditional colors. Love it

Lori Kobular said...

Donna this is such a gorgeous card! I love the snowflakes that you added to the sides! Love the vintage look too! Thanks for sharing with us at Scrapy Land Challenges!

Leslie Miller said...

It's so good to see a Christmas card, Donna! A little nudge, a little encouragement and inspiration now and then is good for all of us. Beautiful vintage look to this with the skates and cardstocks in muted tones. Love how you've offset the snowflakes with gold to give it that touch of holiday sparkle without overpowering. I do like the sentiment on the back, too. The little fawn is so sweet! It sure did a good job of flattening itself out, and it was kind of you to walk away and let the distressed mother return to her baby. Our deer have been quiet lately. I think they're staying further up in the hills with their fawns. We'll probably be seeing some babies soon.

Sue said...

Hi Donna, Smashing card.

How lucky you are to see the deer and especially the fawn.

Hope you are having a nice day. Sue

MaryH said...

Just beautiful, and the color is not what I normally expect of a Christmas card. Worked most grand, though. The vintage feel is lovely, and of course the skates motif is a most helpful image to enjoy on a hot afternoon as well. Enjoyed the tutorial tips, and using a punch as matting tool, is something I'd not thought of. Love the step-card design...and the tiny fawn was just so sweet. Thanks for showing the photo. You stay cool, hugs & TFS

pam said...

Hi Donna this is a gorgeous stepper card. I love how you used the punch to create that border.
Beautiful photo of the adorable fawn.
Hugs Pam x

Donna Phelan said...

Love this step card, how pretty! This is such a festive Christmas card! I adore that decorative focal cut with the skates, how charming! Your snowflakes look fantastic! This is just soooo pretty....like all over!!!

Heidi MyLittleStampingBlog said...

Beautiful card! I love the large snowflakes on the sides of your step card!

Pia S said...

This is eye candy! Love the yellow and golden tones and the beautiful glitter detail on the snowflakes. So classy and elegant with a vintage touch.

Kuni said...

Stunning and cute christmas card.
Thank you for joining us at the Sweet Stampers Challenge and i hope to see you again.
Hugs
Kuni

Sue said...

Stunning! Where do I start. I love ice skates, used to go in the freezing weather to an outdoor pond and skate, walked a mile to get there and a mile back home after skating for hours, those were the days! So ever since I was a kid the site of white ice skates makes me happy. And those snowflakes, another of my favorite things and I love how you used the white and gold and offset them, they look fabulous. The gold colored step card and pretty trims makes the image and snowflakes really stand out. A Gorgeous make as always and thanks for sharing how you put it together, always fun to see the process.

The fawn is so precious. We have had a similar experience and also lots of baby bunnies this year, love having nature visit our yard.

Good to see you crafting.

Hugs
Sue

Jessica K said...

Miss Donna! SOOO fab to see you posting :D I love this card - and the tip about using your punches! Sometimes we get so caught up in what's "new & trendy", we forget to use what we already have! Great job my friend!! Thanks for joining us at Scrapy Land CHallenges!

Jess - DT
www.freshbyjess.blogspot.ca

Valerija said...

Such an adorable image, lovely design and embellishments, beautifully coloured.
Valerija xx

Michelle B. said...

You are so talented! I love the design and your creativity is amazing. Thanks sharing the sweet picture of the fawn, melts your heart!

Poppyfield Card Crafts said...

Hi Donna

Love this stepper card and the colours you've chosen too

Cute fawn, I'm so pleased mum came back!

Happy crafting....

June/DT

Pamellia said...

It has just been too long since I had time to stop in for a visit, but I sure am glad I did today. This is just stunning Donna! I love that image with skates and I do so adore how you coloured in with a sepia palette, gives it a vintage sort of feel!! The layout of this card is brilliant, I wish I had the patience for these fancy sorts of cards. Your layered snowflakes are gorgeous, love the gold glitter, your signature element!!

Oh my gosh, I can't believe how utterly adorable that baby is!! I'm so glad you had the smarts to leave her alone so Mommy could come back and whisk her away to safety. We don't have any deer here on my lake, too many people I suspect. They really are amazing animals though. Sending hugs :)

Julie Odil said...

What a fabulous card! Thanks for the tutorial. Thanks for linking up this month at The 12 Months of Christmas Link Up. Julie, DT member

Beeceecreativity said...

fabulous card.. amazing winter theme...thanks for playing along at Crafters Castle Challenge

Angela said...

Your card looks really fantastic.Thanks a lot for joining us at our Christmas in July challenge by Sweet Stampers Challenge
Hope to see you again.
Hugs and greetings Angela DT