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

Showing posts with label Masking. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Masking. Show all posts

Wednesday, March 04, 2020

2 Crafty Critter Crazies - Amazing Owls!

Greetings, Wonderful Blogging Friends!
It's time for a brand new challenge 2 Crafty Critter Crazies!

and guess what?

I am the sponsor with my pretty Great Horned Owl Set! The set contains 17 JPG and PNG images in black and white, and also with sentiments.

I'll be giving this set to one three of my blogging friends as well, so if you are interested, just say so in comment and I'll randomly select a name on March 31.


For the month of March, join us at 2 Crafty Critter Crazies by uploading an "Anything-Goes" project as long as critter is the focal point of your project. The team has all kinds of inspiration and a variety of styles to view, so take a look!

My inky rendition depicts that period of time just after dusk. I can hear softly hooting owls in the trees talking to one another, the chirping of happy insects announcing the full moon, croaking toads and frogs in search of goodies, and perhaps even some "night owls" doing their crafting!


I printed out The Great Horned Owl digital set TWICE. 

One owl was fussy cut to make a mask. The other was colored with Copic Markers. This is one of the colored images included in the digital set.
After die cutting a circle and placing it on top of the owl mask, I used distress inks in Black Soot, Blueprint, and Stormy Sky to create a night sky.


The frame process:
(if you are reading this on my personal blog, click on the photos to enlarge)



  1. Applied a double sided Adhesive Sheet to black cardstock, leaving "rough" protective layer in place.
  2. After die cutting shape, I removed the protective layer and burnished in Black Microfine Glitter (if you prefer, use black glittery EP instead).
  3. I distressed with VersaMark Ink here and there and applied a gold-and-black Chunky Opaque embossing powder.  Then I added a bit of chunky Black embossing powder on top of the gold color, to tone down the gold. Glittery green embossing powder was also used in the distressing process. Heat a little at a time so it does not melt the double sided adhesive sheet.
  4. I die cut some white fun foam in the same shape, and edged it with a black Sharpie marker. The black frame was then adhered to the fun foam for dimension, using Double Sided Tape.


    I thoroughly enjoy "distressing" with glitters and embossing powders!
    frame close up:

    The set comes with a leafy twig - great for framing or using around the branch. Because this set was once available in rubber, I embossing the twig with more Green embossing powder to give the leaves a night time appearance. Any twig stamp will work.

    The sentiment was stamped with Nocturne VersaFine Clair and heat set with Black Detail embossing powder. It was distressed with the same colors as the sky background.


    The Handmade paper was dry embossed and distressed with 3 colors of mousse.



    Finished Card:




    Stamping Hugs,


    Thursday, February 13, 2020

    It's a Beautiful Day to Embrace Love - Lavinia World #20

    Welcome, friends, to my humble blog.
    It is my sincerest hope that you are each doing well, and that your families are enjoying good health.

    Today's post includes a project "outside" my normal creative-style box, using new-to-me techniques, so I'm going to point out my boo-boo that I did not fix. Maybe you will learn from me, so you won't do the silly thing I did.



    It is time for a new
    Lavinia World Challenge!

    Details of our Lavinia World ChallengeWinner receives
    a $15 gift certificate to the Lavinia World store. Submissions can be placed either on our Lavinia World Challenge blog which has an ANYTHING GOES theme using ANY brand clear or rubber stamp - no digitals. Or you may play in our friendly Facebook Group called Anything Lavinia if using ANY Lavinia Product in your creationEither way, we enjoy seeing your artwork!

    Today's story 


    It's time for all creation to re-awaken to Love's own song! 
    Trinity Fairy says we are to bring the Color of Caring to all the inhabitants of our precious planet!

    I started by die cutting my own masks. To do this I used NON-HEATABLE-NON-EMBOSSABLE acetate sheets. These are much easier to die cut than the more durable acetate. The detailed stencil on the right is from my stash.


    Sorry, I did not take photos.

    My boo-boo's.

    1. Next, I applied the circle mask to my 6.75" x 4.75" white panel and put the stencil on top, distressing here and there with Antique Linen ink, and a bit more with Scattered Straw ink.
    2. Using Fairy Spells stamp, I randomly stamped with Walnut ink. HINT: Next time, I will leave more open space by stamping the background fewer times.
    3. With Walnut ink and a finger dauber, I pulled color from the center off the round mask outward. HINT: Next time, I will make the color more intense and pull it out slightly more, for more drama.
    4. Using another finger dauber and Spun Sugar Pink ink, I brought out more color from the center of the mask, in a starburst fashion, so some areas extend further out than other areas. HINT: Next time, I will make a greater fluctuation of the colored areas.
    5. After Removing the round stencil/mask, I applied the negative stencil/mask on top. Line up the circle. I placed another mask on top of that open circle. With Spun Sugar ink, I created detail on the magical "moon" and pulled Scattered Straw color INWARD toward the center of the circle.
    6. Finally I stamped the fairy with Pinecone Versafine Clair ink. Immediately, I realized my mistake. Do you see it?



    I SHOULD HAVE:

    Probably many of you know better than I - because my Logic works "backwards" when it comes to figuring things out. But it seems to me that once I figured out where I wanted the moon, I should have stamped the fairy FIRST, THEN applied the moon mask and carefully pulled colors around the fairy, so the moon would not show through her hair. Our should I have simply colored her white hair a darker color than the moon? What is the correct answer for remedying this design error? Thanks for your feedback.

    Close up of the boo-boo:


    With Pinecone Versafine Clair ink, I stamped the sentiment on vellum, and heat set with clear embossing powder. The sentiment is already distressed around the letters. Also, please notice the little stars floating to the heavens from her horn, reaching out to the universe for anyone who will listen to the Call:



    The dragonfly brad was made hot with my heat tool and then dipped into a bottle of EP to change the color from hot yellow to bronze. I especially like embossing powders that contain mica powder for this technique. A Sakura Quickie Glue Pen added glitter to her wings. The edges of the card are distressed with Golden Meadow Versafine Clair ink and heat set with a champagne colored EP that has lots of light glitter colors in it.



    Thanks for stopping by today. I hope you will upload at least one submission to our challenge for an opportunity to win a $15 store credit. AND IF YOU KNOW THE ANSWER TO MY QUESTION ABOVE, will you please let me know either via email or in a comment below? Thanks.





    Products Used:

    Challenges I would like to support please:

    1. Addicted to Stamps and More #376 Anything Goes 2/19
    2. Wednesday's Creative Inspirations Challenge (Feb 5) Anything Goes 3/4
    3. Unicorn Challenge #51 Anything Goes 2/28
    4. Classic Design Challenge #2 Anything Goes 3/1
    5. Love to Craft Challenge #43 Anything Goes 3/1
    6. Pammie's Inky Pinkies #2006 AG 2/16



    Fairy Kisses,


    Monday, October 23, 2017

    Lovely Autumn Color theme at The Crazy Challenge!

    Good Morning, sweet blogging friends!
    I hope this finds you well and enjoying the season.

    Today I am guest designing for a fun challenge blog called

    THE CRAZY CHALLENGE. 

    (thank you for giving me this opportunity, Crazies!)


    This fortnight's challenge is COLOR THEME #260.
    So get your Pretty Autumn Colors out and join in the fun!


    I'm playing with a masking technique, using "Post-it Tape" with this collage stamp. Manufactured by Rubber Cottage and purchased in 2005, it has only seen ink one time before. How NEGLECTFUL of me! (Isn't it a cool image?)

    (click on the image below to enlarge)
    Assorted inks were used (hybrid, pigment and dye base):


    I embossed the background, sentiment, and around the leaves and acorn with Copper Kettle Cosmic Semi-Transparent EP. Because it is semi-transparent, the color changes depending on the colors behind it. For example, see the green leaf below, distressed with Citrus Green, Indian Gold, and Orange Blush Embellishment Mousse? The Copper EP changed to a pinker hue when touching the Orange Blush Mousse.

    The versatile Autumnal Oak Die set is great because the leaves and acorn are actually two pieces, allowing for an assortment of techniques. For the acorn:


    On the inside, I used the negative portion of leaves from the same die set, distressing with a little hybrid ink and Indian Gold Mousse:

    Don't forget to upload your lovely Autumn creations to THE CRAZY CHALLENGE!


    Products Used:



    Challenges I would like to play in please:
    1. Crafty Catz Challenge #389 Anything Goes with Autumn Colors 10-26.
    2. Moving Along With the Times #56 Autumn/Fall 10/25 (sep post)
    3. The Crafty Addicts #41 Anything Goes Autumn Colors 10/31
    4. Stamping Sensations (Oct 1) Autumn Glory 11/1
    5. Dare2BArtzy (Oct 1) Fall Colors 11/1
    6. A Bit More Time To Craft "Anything Goes" #54 11/1
    7. World Wide Open DT Challenge  Anything for a DT Goes 11/15
    8. A Perfect Time to Craft #10 Anything Goes 10/31 (sep post)
    9. Crafting from the Heart #180  Anything Goes 10/31
    10. Emerald City Crafts Challenges #4 Anything Goes 10/31


    Stamping Hugs,










    Wednesday, November 30, 2016

    Ewe're So Wonderful

    Greetings, my friends!

    Hope this finds you well, and enjoying the holiday preparations in your special corner of the planet.

    Today I have the pleasure of guest designing for Sparkle N Sprinkle during their December Reveal!
    If you arrived here from Diane's fabulous blog, then you are in the right place!


    Sparkle N Sprinkle has six new stamp sets to share with you today.  I am using:



    These new sets are 20% off until the 3rd of the month; so once you finish the blog hop, head on over to the store and start shopping!  Five of the new sets are available on cling-mounted rubber and digitally. One of the new offerings is available digitally only.  

    The sets are:


    Build A Flower Set #811  (digi version DIGI811)
      Will Ewe Be Mine Set #813  (digi version DIGI813)
       Light Up My Life Set #814  (digi version DIGI814)
    Rustic Flowers-Snapdragons Set #816  (digi version DIGI816)
    Spring Bunny Set #819  (digi version DIGI819)
    Build A Wreath (Digi Only)  DIGI3128B
       
    On Dec 3rd, ONE GRAND PRIZE WINNER will be selected from one of the comments left on ALL the Designers' blogs listed below. So leave a comment with each Designer in order to be eligible for the Grand Prize. The Winner, who will be announced on the SNS Facebook page and on the SNS Blog, will receive ALL of the new stamp sets released this month (or the digi versions, if preferred).

    My super talented teamies have some wonderful ideas waiting 
    JUST FOR YOU on their blogs! 
    The Blog Hop order this month is:
    Donna (that's me!)

    (*Tip: if you have difficulty with a particular link, 
    try clicking on the Designer's blog title to send you to their Home page.)

    We hope you enjoy the stamp sets as much as we do.  Thanks for joining us and remember to comment on each of the Designers' blogs to be eligible for the Grand Prize. Wonder who the Mystery Host will be this month?



    BEGINNING TODAY: The easy-peasy Sparkle N Sprinkle Creative Challenge

    There are lots of prizes and recognition badges.  We would love for you to be a SNS Featured Artist as well.  The theme is always Anything Goes using Loose Glitter, Embossing Powder, and/or Flock.



    IT IS ALL ABOUT FUN AS YOU HAVE NEVER ENJOYED IT!
    It's Demo Donna on the SNS YouTube Channel!

    Subscribe today to REVEL IN all the latest Demo Donna tips and techniques! But even more - PREPARE TO BE ENTERTAINED! I usually giggle and laugh at Donna's comments throughout her demonstrations - 
    She is...

         The Informative, 
              The Talented,
                   The Fully Entertaining...

    DEMO DONNA!


    Now, let's get down to business (giggling)


    Today's cards use:

          the same image, 

              the same border punch and
                        the same Sue Wilson oval die. 

    However, they look completely different!


    I love the cute, silly images from Bugaboo. Jodie (the artist) captures emotions so beautifully in her delightful drawings. I can't help but smile at these three crazy ewes!

    TIP:

    On both cards, the sentiments have been cut apart to mix and match the words:



    If you are thinking they look a little "fuzzy" in the photo, you would be correct! Each ewe has been hand painted with Brushable Glue. Around the outer edges Swanky Gray Sparkle N Soft was applied.  It contains a little glitter. The interior portions are covered with Snow White Flocking.

    My ewes LONG to show off their soft wool, hoping someone will simply pet them!
    It makes for a fun card!

    Here's a close-up of their cuddly softness:


    This set comes with lots of sentiments. I cut them up to mix and match the words from "a Wonderful day" and "Wishing ewe".
    It's cute to say "Wonderful ewe".

    (right?)

    I've also used a little Nuvo Mother Of Pearl Embellishment Mousse on the embossed back panel to bring out the flowers from the embossing folder:


    BOO BOO TIME!

    This was my first application of the Embellishment Mousse. It's wonderful to work with.
    AND GUESS WHAT? You can distress with ink on top of the mousse! BUT BUT BUT,
    if you do use dye-base inks for distressing on top of the mousse, clean off the applicator because some of the creamy mousse ends up on the applicator, making the ink rather smooshie and dark the next time you use the applicator (see the blue coloring around the sentiment? It's suppose to be like the distressed blue in the ewe panel).

    Just sayin'...
    😄😄😄
    The grass began as a piece of Sticker Paper. Peeling off the protective layer, I burnished Parisian Mist Ultrafine Glitter G1037 into it. Then cut the blades of grass. Finally, with the help of Brushable Glue, I added more grassy detail to highlight the greens with Spirited Green Ultrafine Glitter G1070.

    You can see the lighter color green glitter atop the darker color below:


    Happiness is... WONDERFUL EWE!

    Tip:

    Create the illusion that there are more layers on your card by carefully using glitter or unheated embossing powder. Apply double-sided Tear-ific Tape around the back side of your punched or die cut shape. Leave the protective coating in place on the backside. Turn the panel face up, so your tape is sticky-side up. Burnish the glitter (Misty Blue Ultrafine Glitter) into the small openings as shown in the frame below:


    My next card:

    (Wahhhhh! my dry embossed hearts don't show on the bottom part!)


    TIP:

    Make a single layer look like two:


    The new background paper gives a little glitter pizzazz to the lacy front.
    The glitter trick from the first card was used again; and burnished Misty Blue Ultrafine Glitter is around the interior edges of the lacy frame:


    Burgundy Glitz Ultrafine Glitter G1047 was burnished into a piece of Sticker Paper, and then die cut using the SW Oval die, and the SB wavy border die. Before adhering the silly ewes panel, I die cut the SW leaves from the glittered section. There are a few punched hearts as well from the left over areas of the glittered shape. Again, the sentiment has been cut apart to mix and match:


    Lots of sparkle in the custom background panel, the lacy edge, the middle panels, the extra tiny hearts and the leaves:



    IT IS FLAT FOR MAILING!

    Thanks for dropping by today, and for hopping in SNS's December Release!
    Be sure to check back to see who won the grand prize!

    Sparkle N Sprinkle Products:
    Other Products:
    • Dies: SB A2 Curved Borders One, SB Mega Scallop Long Rectangles, SB Petite Scallop Ovals, SW Double Pierced Ovals, SW Faux Quilled Leaves
    • Punches: MS Lacy Heart Border (for the glittered hearts), and the Vintage Floral PATP, EKSuccess Rounded Scallop Corners
    • Embossing Folders: We R Memory Keepers Dotted 2 hearts, Embossalicious Crafter's Comp Floral Wonder
    • assorted inks, papers
    Challenges I'd like to support:
    1. 613 Avenue Create #191 ANYTHING GOES! 12/4
    2. Aud Sentiments Challenges #169 ANYTHING GOES + A SENTIMENT 12/5 (both cards contain sentiments where the rubber has been cut apart and pieced together)
    3. Craft Your Passion #340 Anything Goes 12/5
    4. Crafting by Designs (11-30) Anything Goes 12/7 
    5. Crafting from the Heart #138 Anything Goes 12/5
    6. Crafty Gals Corner #100 Anything Goes 12/7
    7. Creative Fingers Challenge Blog #121 12/9
    8. Creative Moments Challenges #107 Anything Goes 12/7
    9. Die Cuttin' Divas #294 Make It Sparkle (the EP has glitter in it for background, the layers around the frame are glitter, the leaves are glitter, the gray flocking has sparkle and glitter, hearts are glittered, the grass is die cut with scallop rectangle and glittered, the embossing has shiny embellishment mousse) 12/4
    10. Get Creative Challenges #53 Birthday (my easel card) 12/12
    11. Lil Patch of Crafty Friends #46 ANYTHING GOES! 12/4
    12. World Wide Open Design Team Challenge #16 ANYTHING GOES! 12/15

    December hugs,