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, February 06, 2023

Oh To Fly A Kite! {Jan's Digi Stamps}

Welcome, friends, to my little bloggie home! Thank you for all your kind words of comfort to Jack and me for our recent loss.

Today's kite-flying card is the kickoff at  February's Anything Goes Challenge at Jan's Digi Stamps!  If you use a JDS image in your card, please mention it. There is a 2nd draw specifically for those who use one of Jan's fun images.

Jan's newest sets and this month's Easter Sale are 25% off.

To create my card, two sets were used (just click on them to enlarge):

Let's Go Fly A Kite 4065J (15 images) on sale for $3.75


Basket of Hope 866J

New (for me) Technique - Double Twisted Ribbon 

My friend Connie is also showcasing this technique today with her lovely card here.

Terri Gaines has a great youtube video for the technique. I thought it complemented my little girl's kite tails (do they still call them tails? or are they now streamers? anyone know?)

Easel cards fold flat for mailing:

Copic Markers and Distress Inks were used to color this cute image using monochromatic coloring. 

Besides, one can be a tomboy and still wear girly colors!


Looking down:

Because this card was originally meant to be 5x7, an inch and a half was cut off the morphed square card. The 1.5 inches was placed on the bottom to give the illusion of a waterfall or sidewalk:;

You can probably see that the tremors in my hands and arms are returning, like the circles on the kite. I have another appointment at the end of February with a specialist to discuss a more permanent way of assisting my spinal issues:

Thanks for stopping by and please check out my teamies' pretty projects in the Anything Goes Challenge at Jan's Digi Stamps!

Products Used: Jan's Digi Images: Let's Go Fly A Kite 4065J, Basket of Hope 866J, Gelly Roll White Pens, Copic Markers, Stencils (for kite, grass and sky); Pumice stone, Walnut Stain, Kitsch Flamingo Distress Inks, Picked Raspberry Oxide (distressed "ribbon"), EK Success border punch, EK Success Rounder Punch, Cuttlebug 5x7 embossing folder, Spellbinders Classic Ovals Large S4-110 and Grand Ovals die sets, Light, Medium & Dark Kraft colored cardstock.

On A Personal Note:

Remember Florida on Christmas Eve just one month ago? Perhaps this will remind you:

The day before this freeze occurred, I pruned some coleus and angel wing begonias to root indoors for Spring, only to discover a hitchhiker Monarch Butterfly Caterpillar:


So I went back outside and cut some fresh milkweed for the little guy, thinking he would need food. As I cut the milkweed, I discovered another dozen of this little caterpillar's brothers and sisters. So I cut a lot of milkweed, brought the family indoors and covered with a home-made tulle netting. I placed the box in the garage, which stays about 60 even on cold nights.

In the meantime, the original caterpillar disappeared! The next morning we found this just beneath the crown molding:


So we made plans for it to "hatch" indoors by making a loose netting, giving it plenty of room to stretch its pretty wings on its eclosion:


Imagine what our exterminator thought when he came through! (giggle)

But alas, weeks went by. We saw wing development occurring inside, but a dreaded thing happened. A tiny white "filament" appeared out the bottom of the chrysalis. If you click on the photo below, you can see the semi-developed butterfly and the tiny filament:


That filament was an indication of a parasite (fly or wasp) chomping away on the dormant Monarch. The thread meant that the Monarch was dead. Sigh. How disappointing. The other caterpillars died as well. Next time, I'll leave them outside instead, and let them find a way of protecting themselves. No good deed.... right?

Back to our regularly scheduled program... 

I'd like to play in the following fine challenges please:

  1. World Wide Open Design Team Challenge #1 AG DT 2/12
  2. As You Like It Challenge (Jan 26) Favorite (mostly color) and (why) 2/9 I'm mostly a pink girly girl when it comes to colors because it is a sweet color (to my eye), comforting, and with so many shades it is kind of a neutral that goes with most other hues, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, is frequently found in nature. Thanks for the fun challenge!
  3. Let's Create and Craft #192 AG + "say what?" - have a sentiment on your card. 3/1
  4. Morgan's Artworld #2 AG 3/1 (1/3)
  5. Crafts Galore Encore #108 AG 3/1 (1/3)
  6. A Perfect Time to Craft Open Challenge #2 AG 3/1
  7. Girlz Creative Crafts #33 More Than One Fold 2/14
  8. Classic Design Challenge #2 AG 3/1
  9. The Paper Funday Challenge #50 AG with lots of layers 3/1
  10. CD Sunday + #103 AG from a download (I placed the sun behind the kite and then stenciled the background and the kite, with some hand drawn dots and circles on the kite and the little girl's shirt. The sentiment is from another digital set) 2/19
  11. Colorful Options (Feb 2023) Celebrate Pink 2/28
  12. Just Us Girls #665 Color Week 2/11 (shown below)

Stamping Hugs,

42 comments:

Pamela said...

A really pretty image and I love the ribbon zigzags.
Pamela
CD Sunday Plus DT.

Donna Walls said...

Aww, I am sorry to see the little butterfly didn't make it. I wonder if they would have survived outside, in the cold? Mother Nature has a way of working things out. Your card is so Pretty in Pink! Thanks for another wonderful team project for the Jan's Digi Stamps Challenge!
Donna xx

crafty-stamper said...

Gorgeous card and image-pretty in pink,and how beautiful does the twisted ribbon border look! Such a shame about the butterflies.
Carol x

crafty-stamper said...

Meant to say hope you get your spinal issues sorted
Carol x

Chris said...

Beautifully designed card Donna, a wonderful image, she looks so happy and carefree-just as a child should! Your colouring looks great, I would never have guessed that your tremors are returning, hope that something more permanent can be achieved for you. The ribbon panel is so pretty, a lovely new technique added to your repertoire.
Such a shame about the butterfly- you couldn't have tried any harder!
xxx

Melanie Hungerford said...

What a lovely card, the design and incorporating the paper strip border looks great. Thanks for sharing the detail on that, I want to try it out! So happy you joined us at the Paper Funday Challenge!

Donna said...

Such a stunning card with your paper piecing and that amazing double twisted ribbon, thanks for the pictures and the link to Connie's video!

Conniecrafter said...

Oh Donna it is just fantastic, that was such a great way to showcase this technique with your sweet scene of kite flying, I still call them tails myself :) Love all the pinks against your kraft background, I love that the embossing gives the feel of wind and movement, you just think of everything, so cool to make it an easel too and extend the ribbon to the inside, you just have such great detail ideas!! Sorry to hear that the tremors are coming back, praying the doctors can figure something out to help.
Oh you tried with the caterpillars, bummer those darn parasites had to come and put an end to it. I know Debbie that comes to my blog has a whole set up she does for caterpillars and shows them becoming butterflies, so neat to see the progression.
You take care and it was fun doing this with you :)

brenda said...

Wow Donna, so much intricate lattice work but it sooooo effective, brilliant patience and card. That "soil" was washi tape, I'm a bit addicted.

B x

Lisa Elton said...

What a cute image and your lattice panel looks terrific with it! Delightufl card. Thanks for sharing it with us at Just Us Girls!

KraftyKoolKat said...

This is so gorgeous Donna, so beautifully coloured and laid out. Sorry about the poor butterflies after all your care and hardwork.
Hugs
Cathy
xxxxx

Vicki said...

So pretty! Wow, what a fun and technique with the zig zag design. Thanks for sharing at Colorful Options February Challenge.

KarinsArtScrap said...

what a sweet and lovely card Donna

gr karin

Cheryl W. said...

Your card is wonderful and I love the twisted ribbon technique you used. I plan to try it myself very soon. Thank you so much for joining in on our latest challenge at Let's Craft and Create. Cheryl W, DT

Verna Angerhofer said...

I love all the pink and your Copic coloring is beautiful! So sorry for your monarch caterpillars! You certainly had good intentions!

Monica C. said...

This is so pretty Donna! I love how you have done those clouds to compliment your lovely scene and the paper ribbon effect is gorgeous!
I call them kite tails, but what do I know??
So sorry about your caterpillars.
Hugs
Monica

Seafield Jo said...

Lovely image used to create a beautiful card. I love the ribbon zig zags and will have to give that technique a try.
Thanks for sharing with us.
Jo
CD Sunday Plus DT

Donna Phelan said...

Oh so FUN! That lattice panel makes for a beautiful paper accent, love it! The little girl flying a kite is wonderful! This reminds me of watching Mary Poppins with Penny and singing along to Let's Go Fly A Kite....pure JOY!!!

Beebeebabs said...

Such a beautiful card and image, great job as always. Thanks for sharing the tutorial my friend

wannabcre8tive said...

A very fun and cute card. I love the beautiful, clouds and how you did the double ribbon technique. The coloring is great.

Faith A at Daffodil Cards said...

A Beautiful and feminine tom boy card, I love how you did the ribbon. So pretty in pink, a great design too. Love your card. What a shame about the butterflies, but how exciting if they had been able to fly inside the net.
Faith x

Jan Mahew said...

Exceptional monochromatic easel card, Donna! Beautiful coloring. Thank you for showcasing "Let's go fly a kite" on your Playful creation and sharing it with others.
Hugs,
Jan

Brenda said...

This is such a pretty card and is perfect in your favorite color. Thanks so much for joining us at As You Like It Challenge!

Aimeslee Winans said...

What a nice ribbon weave look and beautifully colored kite flyer! xoxo

Jocelyn said...

I love the ribbon technique, will have to give that a try. Your cloud background is also very pretty. Thank you for sharing with us.
Jocelyn x
CD Sunday Plus DT

Wendy Ann Batchen said...

Lovely card Donna. Thank you for sharing with us over at Morgan's ArtWorld. We hope to see you again.
~ Wendy CT

Lowcarb team member said...

Stopping by from 'Conniecrafters' blog to see your card.
It does look very nice and pink is my favourite colour.

My good wishes.

All the best Jan

Lori m said...

Donna your twisted ribbon card is fantastic, my first seeing one. Sorry about your caterpillars, hugs, Lori m

Donna Walls said...

I love this technique Donna and I love that you're able to craft even more! Thanks for sharing your lovely project with us at The Paper Funday Challenge.
Donna xx

ahlers5 said...

Thanks for stopping by my blog and leaving such a wonderful comment. Also, thanks for following me. I tried to follow you and quickly realized that I am already following. Your comments were so kind. I plan on stopping back later today and seeing all your wonderful work. One of my grandsons has a half day today so I need to get all my housework done early today. I pick him up and keep him until his parents pick him up. I was fascinated by your caterpillar story. So sorry he didn't make it. I home schooled last school year. As a science project in the spring we raised caterpillars. Out of 16 we got 15 butterflies and released them in our front yard. We also did tadpoles. Now I have a tank with two frogs that I have to buy crickets for every week for the next five to seven years. I really didn't realize what I was getting into.

ahlers5 said...

Okay, brain is not in gear. Forgot to comment on the card! I love the kite card you did. I's simply beautiful. What a wonderful ribbon technique. It's a wonderful way to add ribbon without adding too much bulk. The pink clouds and the coloring of the image is gorgeous.

Leslie Miller said...

I used to love to fly kites with our son! We have plenty of wind on the beaches and back then everything was less developed so there was room to run. Just for kicks we sometimes used a fishing pole and heavy line for the kite string. Reeled it in when done. That part was all Rich's idea. Your card is such a pretty thing. Wonderful idea for DSP or ribbon. Your little tomboy looks good in pink! I'm awfully sorry to hear your tremors ae coming back. It has been so good to see you on the blog recently. I hope the specialist can help you with that. A more permanent solution would be amazing. It was a nice surprise to see the Monarchs are trying to take hold at your place. I thought they would only do that on milkweed. I imagine there are plenty of predators in your area. Life is hard.

pam said...

Beautiful card and stunning colouring Donna,
Aw shame about your butterfly;
Hugs Pam x

Inkyfingers said...

That is such a great technique, Donna and I love the pink colours against the kraft card, along with the unusual design.
How sad that the butterflies didn't make it, but how kind of you to try so hard with them!
I hope your appointment goes well later this month.
Take care.
Hugs
Carol x

Lisa said...

Super cute image and wonderfully colored. I love that you added the twisted ribbon to this, it is perfect for a kite image.

https://shinebrightandcreate@blogspot.com/ said...

A beautiful card Donna and your colouring is amazing. I was amazed at your butterfly story and would have done the same in your position. I have a small wildlife-friendly garden and I'm sure the blackbirds wait for me to leave the garden before they dismantle the bug homes that I have made and have just put down lol x

Ilonka said...

So beautiful your card. Thanks for sharing it with us at the Let's Craft and Create Challenge Blog.
Big hugs Ilonka DT

Mrs A. said...

Hi Donna, Have sent you an email. Hugs Mrs A.

Angelique said...

Beautiful, bright card.
Thank you for joining us at Girlz Creative Crafts.
greetings Angelique

Nancy Soetaert said...

lovely card, thanks for joining our more-than-one-fold-challenge!
Nancy
DT GCC

Savyakala by Asha said...

This is beautiful Donna.. Love the pink....
Hello, I just want to let you know that the World Wide Open Design Team Challenge has a new name and blog address. You can find it here. Worldwide Crafters and Colorists Challenge.
We hope to see you there.
~ Asha DT

Margarets designer cards said...

I love the way you did the ribbon down the side, beautiful image
Thank you for joining us
Margaret
CD sunday plus DT