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

Tuesday, October 20, 2020

How'd THAT happen?

 I'm in "whacky" mode today with a silly card for the

  Monday House Mouse and Friends Challenge.


How'd THAT happen?

  • Did they drink too much Colloidal Silver? 
  • Were they feeling Blue and "blue" just happened? 
  • Did they try and try until they turned blue in the face, and ultimately, had an accident?
  • Were they transformed during a Blue Moon event?
  • Is it a Halloween costume effect gone awry?
Amanda is trying her best to help her chipmunk buddy. Something tells me both of them were lucky that things did not become even MORE serious. Giggling. What do YOU think they were up to? 

Are there clues in the list of recovery rules?

Pigmented with Caran d'Ache Luminance 6901 Color Pencils and Gamsol these mischievous friends were fun to color (although my friends were shaking their heads in disbelief - I can see their point).


Thanks for brightening my day with your visit!

Products: Dies- Cheery Lynn Dutch Doily Rectangle Frame; Stamps- 292 The Quick Fix (Amanda) from 1999. Punches - MS Doily Lace Trim Deep Edge, MS Scalloped Scallops edger. Color Wash Jewels Blue Topaz, goldenrod burlap, misty blue glitter

Challenges I'd like to play in please:

  1. House Mouse and Friends Monday Challenge #326 - 10/25
  2. Pammie's Inky Pinkies #2042  10/25
  3. Classic Design Challenge #10 11/1
  4. Outlawz Color Challenge Oct 20-Nov 2
Special Hugs to you,



Thursday, October 15, 2020

Turner Syndrome Awareness Set

 Hello, my friends! Hope this finds you well. 

HAVE YOU NOTICED?! 

Google re-instated the ability to click on photos and drag them into your draft post! YIPPEE! So much easier!


Artist Jan Mahew has created a sweet digital release for the 2021 Turner Syndrome Awareness blog hop and challenge, supporting Lori's goal of reaching out to women and girls globally. 

This darling set features 22 versatile images and sentiments for a mere $3.00

One Hundred Percent of the moneys goes to Lori's TSA chapter.


Such sweetness with this little cherub of a fairy blowing magical wishes of encouragement, I couldn't help but use the gorgeously precolored image done by Jan herself, and just add a few more coloring details.



First,  I flipped the image and created a scene by adding the "butterfly wishes" surrounding the fairy. With a Copic Multi Liner, the butterfly bodies were enhanced.  I colored her wings  to match those cute hi-top sneakers. A Sue Wilson die from her Frames & Tags Collection (Daisy Circles CED4238) was cut in half and placed behind the scalloped circle. Then it was framed with SB Decorative Labels Eight die set.

The card is 4.5" x 6"


Happiness is a green and pink creation. The Card is 5" x 7" with the Anna Griffin Flower Bramble background die. I dry embossed it and colored the die cut while it was still in the die itself. 


Her wings were also colored to match those cute hi-tops. The card was cut to the shape of the Flower Bramble background.



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Products: Dies: SB Grand Scalloped Ovals, Anna Griffin Flower Bramble, SB Decorative Labels Eight, SB Scallop Circles, SW Daisy Circle set - Images Jan's Digi's Turner Foundation Awareness Fairy. Other coloring done with Copic Markers, Distress Inks and colored pencils with gamsol.

Challenges I'd like to support:

  1. A Bit More Time to Craft #126 Anything Goes 11/1
  2. QKR Stampede Challenge #406 Anything Goes 11/1
  3. Pammie's Inky Pinkies #2041 Anything Goes 10/19
  4. Incy Wincy Designs (10/5-17) Anything Magical Fairytales 10/19
  5. Path of Positivity #84 (10/5 - 11/1) Anything Positive Opt GIRL POWER 11/1
  6. All Fun Challenges #17 Anything Goes 10/24

ON A PERSONAL NOTE:

In the beginning of the Covid Misadventure, Jacky decided to 1) build a green house 2) raise traditionally grown veggies in "growth bags", 3) grow others hydroponically in a vertical manner. I will publish these endeavors in a tab in the future.

Unfortunately, I have experienced a faster progression of the Fascia issues, and the disease is now fully attacking my organs. So while I am passionate about gardening of any kind, I'm limited in what I can enjoy. so it's fun seeing photos from my blogging friends.

We also began raising Milkweed for Monarchs, and learned quickly a completely different type of "eco-system" develops from that adventure. It was fun!

These imposters, I believe, are called QUEEN BUTTERFLIES. Hundreds of Oleander Aphids attach themselves to the new growth, but they don't spread to other plants. The caterpillars munch down the new growth so quickly, that the aphids cannot live very long:


So I am constantly pruning the stalks down to 2 or 3 inches high, and the plants replenish their leaves to a height of about 3-4 feet in just a few weeks. These 2 photos were taken on overcast days. Below is a bush with two visible Queen Butterflies (as opposed to Monarchs) and two visible Queen Caterpillars. Did you know there were "imposter monarchs"?:


Wishing you all the best,