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

Friday, August 12, 2022

Good Morning Magnolias

Good Morning, my friends! It's taken over a month, but I have completed a card to share! (I did have four lumbar injections last month which have taken care of a good 50% of pain, and I am beginning to be able to walk in the house again. The resulting "flares" from my other diseases from the trauma of the procedure are also beginning to abate. FINGERS CROSSED!)

I hope this finds you doing well, and not being too adversely affected by the recent flooding and heat wave. You, my blogging friends, are always in my thoughts with deep gratitude.

Today's card is the result of an image stamped eons ago at a friend's house. It's from my "unfinished box" of stash, and is colored with Copic Markers. The pretty rectangular lace die was much too long, so I snipped a portion out of it and taped it together in a shorter version:

The sentiments are from a virginal Penny Black set that is at least 5 years old. I'm so happy to finally ink it with Forest Green Versafine Clair and heat set with clear detail EP! A little of my Great Aunt Agnes' pink lace shows (from the 1940s), and an inked Die'sire EF called Regency Swirls adorns the side:



The right side of the pearl green card base has been stripe embossed with a bone folder, but the photos don't reflect the deep grooves very well with the shine from the cardstock finish:

This card is for a dear friend who has the most amazingly generous spirit of kindness. Through no fault of her own, she has found herself victim to Florida's double-digit inflation, and skyrocketing home costs. It's no where near as pretty as her creations, but with my current situation of just being able to do things a little at time, she will treasure the card.


Products: Dies: Spellbinders S5-357 Chantilly Paper Lace, Grands (Ovals, and Scalloped Ovals); Stamps: Stampin' Up Good Morning Magnolias, Penny Black Heartfelt Clear Set 30-286, MISC: Great Aunt Agnes' Antique Lace, Copic Markers, Distress Inks, Versafine Clair Forest Green, Clear EP

Please scroll on down for some personal photos.


Challenges I would like to play in:

  1. Craft Rocket Challenges #95 Flowers 8/28
  2. Paper Funday Challenges #44 Friendship 9/4 (This card is for a dear friend who has the most amazingly generous spirit of kindness. Through no fault of her own, she has found herself victim to Florida's double-digit inflation, and skyrocketing home costs. It's no where near as pretty as her creations, but with my current situation of just being able to do things a little at time, she will treasure the card.)
  3. Pammie's Inky Pinkies #2232 AG 8/15
  4. A Perfect Time to Craft #8 AG 9/1
  5. Classic Design Challenge #8 AG 9/1
  6. Lil Patch of Crafty Friends #187 AG 8/20
  7. Tic Tac Toe Challenge #174 Use the graph (I used diagonal right to left pink, pattern paper (in oval die cut), and 3 die cuts 8/18


May I share a few other interesting things from central rural Florida?

Just down the drive, Jack found this rattle snake. It is about 2.5 feet long. Age is determined by the number of rattles on its tail. This one has 11 rattles. Rattles are formed as the snake sheds its skin, which takes place 2-3 times a year. We have friendly black snakes in our "yard" which help keep venomous snakes away:


For those of you who enjoy the Monstera Philodendron plants, this is one commonly called "Swiss Cheese" for obvious reasons. I rooted this plant from another that is at least 35 years old. This spring it sported an unopened bloom:

Then there were three flowers! Since they are in the pool cage (lanai), I hope they can pollinate one another:

The plant is so large, I've had to severely prune it two more times, and it is still larger than this:


Wishing you a beautiful day!
hugs,




19 comments:

crafty-stamper said...

Great to see you back Donna, we are beyond melting with our recent heatwaves and as we have no aircon have taken to loitering in the shops that do lol.Absolutely gorgeous card love the dies,design and beautiful flowers
Carol x

Donna said...

I was so happy to see you commenting in blog land this week and now to see a gorgeous detailed card! Such an encouraging sign Donna!

brenda said...

And a beautiful card it is as well Donna and a super post as well. Hope you are doing OK since, not much change here since my last mail, but c'est la vie.

B x

KarinsArtScrap said...

it's a very beautiful card Donna

gr karin

Chris said...

Hi Donna, how lovely to see a post from you, and with such a beautiful card! It may have taken you a while to complete it but the finished result is gorgeous- I really hope you enjoyed the process!
It's good to hear that you're beginning to feel better, have more mobility and less pain, I sincerely hope that it's just the start of things and you will continue to make good progress.
Not much liking the look of the rattlesnake- wouldn't like to find one on my drive...or even a non-poisonous snake!
It's still very hot and dry here...but rain is forecast for next week- it will be great relief!
Take care xxxx

Donna Phelan said...

Helloooo! So glad to see you, Donna! I hope your pain is subsiding and you are feeling more like your old self again! Beautiful creation, no matter how long it took to make, it is well worth the wait! Love the pretty colors and your awesome layers of texture and color! Well done! Eeek a snake! Heebie Geebies lol Be well!

Conniecrafter said...

Oh Donna this is just beautiful and your friend is going to treasure it I am sure. The coloring is beautiful and I like your idea of shrinking the die to fit, the embossing is such a pretty touch as is the lovely lace to top it off. I am so glad to hear of your continued healing and am praying that God continues that healing on your body, even if it is slow being able to create is a good thing!!

Faith A at Daffodil Cards said...

Welcome back, good to hear your injections have worked if only partly, it will give you relief at least. I love the texture on your card, the beautiful embossed die and your card as a whole, everything so beautiful.
Faith x

cotnob said...

A fabulous card Donna, such a gorgeous image and you have coloured it beautifully.
It is incredibly hot here, well it is for us anyway but at least we don't have to worry about snakes!
Take care.
Pauline - Crafting with Cotnob
x

cuilliesocks said...

Hello Donna, lovely to see you here and feeling better. Lumber injections sound really painful, but if they help ease your pain well, it'll be worth it.
Your card is gorgeous, a beautiful floral design and your colouring is amazing.
Interesting facts about the rattlesnake, super photo too.
Your plant looks really healthy, you must have green fingers. Take care of your self, Kate x

Aimeslee Winans said...

Hello Donna, so good to see the email notification of a post from you! Glad you are getting some pain relief and can create. Your card is so lovely, the offset arrangement of the SB dies is gorgeous and love that vintage lace. Your friend will definitely know you care. She's in a huge nationwide boat, not just Florida, if that's any consolation. We are lucky to be retired and in good financial shape but the inflation is slowly taking from us all. I just find my self praying a lot that we don't spend what time we have left this way or worse. Your plant is doing so well. That big 2021 freeze ended up rebirthing so much, xoxo

Leslie Miller said...

Donna, anyone would treasure this stunningly beautiful and feminine card. It shows your loving care in every inch, including those subtle stripes. Just look at all the pretty parts you put together. Your Great Aunt Agnes would be very pleased to see her lace on this lovely creation. I'm so happy to know you're feeling up to some crafting. I'm sorry your friend is feeling the worst of this economy. I cringe when I go grocery shopping, but thank goodness we are still able. Thank you for sharing your other photos as well. I never thought of rattle snakes in central Florida, but I guess they're everywhere. Not right here along the OR coast, but you don't have to drive very far to get to them.

KT Fit Kitty said...

Hello, Donna! I am so happy to see you posting a card again! It is absolutely gorgeous and the recipient will love it, especially knowing the time and effort that it took to make it! Your colouring is beautiful; I love the die-cuts; and pink/green is my favourite colour combo! I am glad you found some relief for your pain and that things have been getting back to "normal" for you, maybe a "new normal." Thank you for sharing the photos - the rattlesnake one is pretty cool but I am grateful we don't have those kinds of snakes here! Take care and be well, my friend.

Lena said...

Donna, the fact that you were close enough to the rattle snake to count the rattles on it's tail is just petrifying to me, and the fact that you mention your "friendly" snakes, just makes me go no, no, no!!! :-) I have a tomato plant in my back yard just to get possums to come visit at night because they keeps snakes and rodents away :-) You're a brave woman, my friend, or ... I'm just a whimp! :-)
I'm so glad to see you crafting again and even more glad to know that you have found a measure of relief from your pain. Your card, as always, is lovely. Beautiful image, colours, dies and gorgeous lace. Your friend is going to love it and treasure it!
I hope you keep on creating, I love to come for a visit :-)
Big hugs,
Lena

Crafting Queen said...

Beautiful card, love your colouring. Thanks for your lovley comment on my card. Anesha

KraftyKoolKat said...

This is so gorgeous Donna, so lovely to see you about. You are braver than me getting that close to a rattle snake. I am so sorry sweetheart, I still haven't had chance to answer your second email that you kindly sent me. I don't even seem to have time these days to keep up with my commenting or sit down to crafting with my SA commitments.
Hugs
Cathy
xxxx

Sue said...

What a beautiful card Donna, you really are the queen of colouring! I'm so glad that the injections are helping with your pain. Take care and have a very happy week, Sue xx

Donna Walls said...

Donna, this card is gorgeous and your coloring is awesome. I am so happy that you are enjoying some crafting time. Was that Rattlesnake Alive? What in the world was Jack doing so close to it...geez...Men! We have a "friendly" black snake who resides in our back garden and one day, he was curled up around the pool pump and I went to manually switch the pump off and he moved..then I moved...about 10 feet in the air. Thanks for playing at The Paper Funday Challenge this month!
Donna
The Paper Funday Challenge
The Inspiration Station Challenge

Pia S said...

I'm so glad to see you managed to create a card again. The image is so beautifully colored, love the yellow glow, and so clever how you chose to cut it. Elegant and interesting layout.