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 Winter. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Winter. Show all posts

Thursday, November 27, 2025

Winter Pink Birthday Card

Hello, everyone! It is my sincerest hope you are doing well this holiday season. 

Today's birthday card is for a very dear friend. Birthdays in December often mean "seasonal" themed cards, and this one is no different! Being a rather new stamper, my friend enjoys challenges with new techniques and products. It's fun seeing stamping "anew" through her eyes. I've always enjoyed making dimensional cards with flowers, embellishments and other themes. Like many of you, once the post office changed the "thickness" rules, I altered my style. But since this is being delivered in person, I took advantage of that by creating a "thick" card!

After taking over 20 shots, I gave up! The pure white feathers show up as a drab gray. I think maybe the tininess of each feather barb, and the thinness of the "afterfeathers" created a shadow beneath, making the white appear gray. Has that happened to you when photographing white feathers? 


Taking a cue from Leslie Miller, I've produced an "off-size" skinny (slimline) card 4.25" x 7.25". With several layers, lots of sparkle was added to match the sparkle of Ana's personality. I sure do wish the sparkle showed up better. From my "pieces box", I put together lots of odds 'n' ends. The poinsettia petals all have a thick coating of clear glue mixed with highly textured glitter and mylar glitter. The center is comprised of Prills (I have a ton of those in my stash from some 8-9 years ago in a host of colors!). The luster balls have florist wire and were purchased at least 10 years ago from Hobby Lobby's bridal section. There is a paper raffia piece which was inked in pumice stone, and metallic silver netting from a wire ribbon. 


The French background script is from a virginal SU 5x6 wood mount stamp at least 20 years old. This card was SO MUCH FUN to make, using stuff from my "unfinished box" stuff, and old crafting goodies crying to be used!

Inside:

On the inside is a pocket for a gift card, adorned with the same MS punch as used on the card front and on the borders of the interior sentiment. I really do love the old MS punches. To make the simple pocket, I cut cardstock one inch wider than necessary, scored the two sides at 1/2 inch, and the bottom at 1/2 inch. Niche the corners for the fold to fit neatly. Adhere the back so that the niched places are glued to one another rather than to the pocket itself, so the gift card can slide in and out easily. Wish I had taken a photo of that for posterity (giggle).

Products:   Dies: Sue Wilson Noble Dies Double Pierced Bkgrnd CED5512, SW Dandelion CED1434, IO Pine Branch DIE021, IO Pine Sprig DIE319, MS Floral Crochet PAP Punch, MS Holly Punch, Stamps: Freebie Sentiment (shared below), SU En Francais script background stamp, SU birthday Warmest Regards stamp, Cardstock: SU pink & Green, white, old designer paper, Vellum,  Inks: Pumice Stone, Shabby Shutters, Peeled Paint, Worn Lipstick, Spun Sugar, VersaMark, Other: Feathers, Chunky Clear Glitter, Clear Mylar Glitter, Silver ultra fine glitter, Green EP with Glitter, Lime Prills, embellishments from the bridal section of Hobby Lobby, Silver Metallic Ribbon Netting, Paper Netting inked with pumice stone.

My gift to you - Arrangements of the same sentiment - one for any day and one for birthday - for use on the inside or outside of your projects. Please do not sell these Sentiments. Use on any of your projects, including projects involving any design teams you might be on.

Click on the image to bring it to full size. Because of the changes Google Made with Blogger (June 2020), your image will appear to be solid black. Don’t panic. Right click and do a SAVE AS PNG. Once it is saved on your hard drive, you can open it and it will have a transparent background. I create PNGs instead of JPGs so they can be placed anywhere on a scene or project, and so backgrounds can be made using them. Please let me know if you have any problems. I hope they serve you well!

Enjoy!


   

Thanks for stopping by.


I'd like to support the following challenges by playing in them please:

  1. Fab 'n' Funky #626 All That Glitters 11/2 (sep post week later) (silver, clear, chunky, mylar glitters (inside and out).
  2. As You Like It Challenge Nov 27 "Gold, Silver or Glitter and Why" 12/11 If it is glittery, it's for me! This birthday card is made for Ana who LOVES glitter and glitzy things. Although the mylar and chunky clear glitters are not showing up very well in photography of the poinsettia flower layers, the sparkly silver glitter is merry sparkle for the season inside and out. Glitter is amazing in its many uses. Thanks for the fun challenge!
  3. Elliebelle's Garden Party #9 Anything from a Garden 12/8 (poinsettia flower) (FU #11)
  4. Pammie's Inky Pinkies #2547 AG 11/30
  5. Creations in Pink #87 AG in Mainly Pink 12/13 (sep post)
  6. Tic Tac Toe Challenge #284 (Using left to right diagonal - Embellishment, Free, Flowers) Several embellies feather, paper raffia, metallic net ribbon, prills, pearls. 12/11 sep post week later


Monday, November 13, 2017

House Mouse Challenge Anything Goes with Option Theme FROSTY

EEEEK!
A Special Greeting, friends!
So delighted to be joining my friends at

House-Mouse and Friends Monday Challenge

as a guest designer for the next 3 challenges!
Sigh - I just love those darling little mice, their friends and their antics.



 House Mouse & Friends Secret

#254 Anything Goes OR Theme Option "Frosty"
November 13th-25th 

Monica is helping her dear friend stay warm on a frosty day with this cute stamp called "Birdie Booties". Even the name is sweet:

The frame and die cut are both coated and heat set with
SNS Sparkle EP107.
Believe it or not, the frame is actually the same color paper as the turquoise paper in the mat. The edges of the Winter Fun Corner Die, the turquoise frame and the designer paper were all distressed with Walnut Ink, left to dry, and then distressed again with VersaMark ink, with more Sparkle EP107 added:



The sweet sentiment from SNS Eskimo Kisses Rubber Stamp Set (also available in digital) was stamped in black VersaFine and coated with clear EP and heat set on pearly vellum. The little star brads were also coated with Sparkle EP107.



So get those cute little House Mouse and Friends stamps out, make your sweet creations, and load them to the

House-Mouse and Friends Monday Challenge!

Such a fun, sweet group of designers, too.


Products Used:


Challenges I'd like to play in please:


  1. Animal Friends Challenge #56 Christmas Animals 12/1 (sep post)
  2. Coloring in Scrap Land (Nov) "Winter Is Coming 12/4 (sep post)
  3. Crafty Animals #8 Anything Goes with an Animal 12/1 (sep post)
  4. Creative Fingers Challenges #140 Anything Goes 11/17 (3 wks later)
  5. C.R.A.F.T. Challenge #441 "Winter" 11/16
  6. Daisy Chain Challenges #14 Christmas or Winter 12/1
  7. Dragonfly Dreams (Nov 5) "Winter" 12/3
  8. Emerald City Crafts Challenges #5 Anything Goes (12/1)
  9. Hannah and Friends #286 "Animals" 11/22 (sep post)
  10. Jingle Belles Challenges (Nov 10) Thankful for the Holidays (thank you cards) 11/22 



Eeeek! Mousie Hugs,

Thursday, October 31, 2013

SNS Winter Wonderland - November 1 Release

Welcome to Sparkle N Sprinkle's pretty golden Winter Wonderland theme tag.

Are you color challenged? Do you prefer not having to purchase expensive cardstock? If so, the techniques on this tag are for you.
My project today uses only one color of cardstock - WHITE!
This makes it affordable while producing an elegant look.

  

But business first!
This month we are featuring two marvelous stamp sets by artist Rosiland Solomon. The Winter Wonderland rubber stamp set is also available digitally here. The pretty Flourishes Two rubber stamp set creates some lovely, interesting backgrounds.

For More Design Ideas Blog Hop Order


This tag is made from several layers. The bottom white layer has been coated with Gold Detail embossing powder EP168. The layer with white holly leaves is the same white paper. The top layer has been stamped with VersaMark Ink   and heat set with more Gold Detail embossing powderThat layer was trimmed and distressed around the edges. After distressing the edges with more VersaMark Inka little Gold Tinsel embossing powder EP385 was heat set to gild the frame. To further distress, Dimensional Glue was squeezed around the edges very lightly, and pretty Aztec Gold ultrafine glitter was applied. In person, this "three-part" distressing produces a striking effect:  



Below, a little Twinkling Clouds Sparkle N Soft Flock SS107 was applied with Brushable Glue. After drying, I colored the sparkling flock with a Tombow Marker, to give the bunny a furry appearance, and shade certain areas for detail. The deer on the left is also colored with the marker, but without the Twinkling Clouds. The only coloring medium was a single Tombow marker for the doe and bunny.
It really makes a difference:


More Twinkling Clouds Sparkle N Soft Flock SS107 was applied with Dimensional Glue in the tree branches for a softer, snowy look. 


Brushable Glue was painted on the trunks and some snowy elements in the background. Diamond Dust sparkly glitter G1116 was dredged on to make a spectacularly glitter-full creation. The darker conditions below reveal the shadows of the Sparkle N Soft on the bunny and branches:



The back is not plain by any means!
Once again, only white cardstock was used.
Gold Detail embossing powder covers the layers and sentiment:


Three layers create the ornate tag topper:



TIP: If you prefer not using inks on the inside of your embossing folders, emboss your cardstock and then use VersaMark Ink on the embossed piece. By heat embossing with DETAIL EMBOSSING POWDER, every crevice is nicely covered, and the dry embossed areas are plainly visible. SNS carries over 25 colors of detail embossing powders.






Do you see the 3 layers of Fanciful Flourish by Spellbinders? 


The front "layer" (shown above) is actually two gold embossed flourishes, adhered back-to-back with Brushable Glue, so that the gold shows front and back. 


On the flip side (shown left) a third Flourish is attached to adorn the back side of the tag, and to hide the ribbon which was woven through the front.


Having the 3 layers provides good support for the tag as well.


The following products were used on this project:

Old Paper Dye Ink
Cardstock: White
White Lace, Ribbon
Tombow Marker Color 990
Spellbinders Fantastic Flourish Two S2-009
Spellbinders Long Classic Scalloped Rectangles LG S4-143
MS Holly Leaves PATP
EKS Corner Rounder
Swiss Dot embossing folder
Sakura Pen Touch Gold Pen


Participating in these fabulous challenges!

  1. Created with Love - #64 Anything goes (11-2)
  2. Corrosive Challenge - #186 Tic Tac Toe - diagonal "bling, image, layers" (11-9)
  3. Challenges 4 Everybody - #32 Anything Goes - (11-8)
  4. Tammy's Scrappin' Corner - #Anything Goes (11-2)
  5. Party Time Tuesdays - #144 Anything Goes (11-4)
  6. Through the Craft Room Door - Anything Goes (11-4)
  7. Tip Top Tuesday - #113 Seasons - Winter (tip is about detail EP & embossing folders) (11-3)
  8. Use It Tuesday - #66 Critters - (doe and bunny) (hoarded supplies from the past Aztec Gold Glitter and the white ribbon - both had never been opened)
  9. Crafty Girls Challenges (4 Krafty Girls) - #5 Anything Goes - (11-14)
  10. Charisma Cardz Challenge - #43 Anything But Cards - (11-5)


Thanks for stopping by today,
hugs,