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

Sunday, June 10, 2018

Fairy Sweet {Sparkle N Sprinkle}

Hello, Blogging Friends! I hope you are doing well. In case this is showing up as a duplicate - it's because I accidentally deleted my post after uploading all my challenges! DUH!

It is hot here, and very humid, just as Florida should be, right?

Our air conditioner is always checked out professionally twice a year because without it, we would be "uncomfortable."

In contrast, I'm showcasing a sweet little fairy and die set called Cerys Hugging Teddy, and using a sentiment stamp for its curlycue qualities, available at the Sparkle N Sprinkle store.

Love this cute stamp. Any color medium would do, but I played with Pearlescent Paints, Nuance Watercolor Powers and Tombow Markers after heat embossing with Gold Detail EP168.



After spraying Nuance Watercolor Powers on watercolor paper, I spritzed with a little water and blended some Pearlescent Paints on top. Both the watercolor panel and some white fun foam were die cut. The foam was traced around the sides and edges with Prismacolor Marker in purple. The foam was then attached to the watercolor piece with 1.5" Tear-ific Tape for dimension. A larger white shape was cut. An application of Zig Two Way Squeeze Glue around the edges grabbed Lavender Iris Semi Transparent Ultrafine Glitter. This is a sparkly clear glitter with lavender highlights. A little Tear-ific Tape on the back of the fun foam, and the panel was attached to the white frame.


For some sparkly texture, I stamped the sentiment "grateful heart" from the Cardinal and Holly Rubber Stamp set, and heat set with Mulberry Star embossing powder:


The mulberry colored base card stock was folded in half. Using the "G" in "grateful," I randomly stamped the curlycue portion of sentiment, heat set with more Mulberry Star embossing powder, to create a frame:


I wish I had photographed the angel's wings before applying Pearlescent paint on top of the shading. In the following 2 photos, please see the change in the wings as the light hits them (you can also see a little of the indigo pearlescent paint in the background, and more of the white around the edges of the panel):



Such a cute little fairy! The DL.Art Store has beautiful, easy to use, crinkled ribbon. This pretty pink hue is part of a 3-color bundle named Vintage Vineyard.

Products Used:


Challenges I'm submitting this card to:


  1. Aud Sentiments #205 Anything Goes + a Sentiment 6/19
  2. A Bit More Time to Craft #69 Angything Goes 6/15 sep post
  3. A Perfect Time to Craft #6 Anything Goes 7/1
  4. The Fairy and Unicorn Challenge (June) Anything Mystical or Mythical 7/7
  5. World Wide Open DT Challenge #5 Anything for DT 6/15
  6. DL.Art Thankful Thursday #229 - Thankful/Grateful card 6/15
  7. Lil Patch of Crafty Friends #83 Anything Goes 6/17
  8. Love to Craft #23 Anything Goes 7/1 sep post
  9. Retro Rubber #88 Anything Goes with a Stamp Older than one Year (I was gifted with this cute stamp and die set in March 2017 and have only used it now) 6/15 sep post 


On A Personal Note:

Have you ever tried growing your own celery? Easy! Cut the bottom off your store-bought celery and place it in a pot with potting soil, keeping the soil most. Baby sprigs begin showing within a week. We planted four of these in February. There is one more left to harvest from these four:


after four weeks, I cut off leaves to use in salads.

6 weeks after planting (and yes, that is the same angel wing begonia as in the pot above):

We moved the pot because of some construction:

3 months after planting, 2 feet tall, ready to harvest some time this week:


We had to dig up the Chinese Lantern bush and all the caladiums for a generator being installed. Looks so ugly:


We have had an unusual amount of rain this winter, and way more than usual this Spring, so the mold and mildew is growing all over the sidewalk. The celery is on the left, and many of the gorgeous giant caladiums cover the Chinese Lantern further down.


Thanks for visiting today!
Love,
Posted by at 40 comments:
Labels: , , , , ,

Friday, June 01, 2018

Happy Furth-day! Birthday with Fur

Happy June 1 to everyone!

This month at 2 Crafty Critter Crazies we are sponsored by Sparkle N Sprinkle, where quality digital products are available in several styles and colors!

Until the 28th of June, you may share your critter creations with us, being sure that your animals are the featured element of the project! There will be a product winner and design team picks, as well. 

My card features Sparkle N Sprinkle's Abby's and Walter's Birthday. The darling set has 2 colored versions - one with the background, and one without. I colored this image with Copic Markers, and it is the same colored image available with the digital set, in addition to the black and white version.


The frame was made with Tonic Twisting Verenda Layering Die Set 1113E which contains 11 dies to be used in an assortment of ways. With Nuvo Glue Pen Large I adhered sparkly Starfire Ultrafine glitter to the frame. The Glue Pen is quick drying, even here in humid Florida. Then the glittered frame was adhered with 1/4" Tear-ific Tape to a matching die cut piece of fun foam for added dimension.


The balloons were die cut from a piece of scrap paper that had been heat set with Mediterranean Star Embossing Powder. Fantastic glitter in this EP. The balloon in the back was coated with more Nuvo Glue Pen and dredged with Starfire Ultrafine Glitter to lighten the color a bit, but keep it monochromatic in appearance.  The balloon tails are glittery, too, because a black Copic Marker colored over the embossing powder.

 A fun card to make!

And now it is your turn to play at 2 Crafty Critter Crazies. Looking forward to seeing your fantastic designs!

Products Used:
Challenges I'd like to play in please:

Stamping Hugs,







Posted by at 24 comments:
Labels: , ,

Thursday, May 24, 2018

Black and White and one more Color!

Hello, friends! It's a great time to share that I've become part of a fabulous Challenge Blog Team - Moving Along With The Times.

(For those who have been kindly asking about me,
there is an explanation at the bottom of my post.)



Challenge 72's theme has been chosen by team member JESSIE -
Anything Goes using the colors Black, White and one other color. 




My stamp is at least 10 years old, but probably older. It was a gift from Paula, handmade in the USA by Inkadinkadoo, and purchased in a Chicago Hobby Lobby.
I found one today on e-Bay here.


Both the inside and outside use a variety of dies from the Twisting Verenda Layering Die set. It's a wonderful shape with lots of options.


After die cutting the frame, I coated it with Black Diamonds MicroFine Velvet Glitter.   

Monochromatic themes are always a pleasure. Here I used Tumbled Glass Distress Ink to distress the aqua paper edge and to color the image.


For visual interest and a little sparkle, I used two stamps and two embossing powders.

They provided even more detail around the microfine glittered frame:


The interior uses both positive and negative pieces from the same die cut set with more Poolside Glittery embossing powder:



Finished card:


There is something so magical about hummingbirds. I cherish when they visit my container gardens in search of color and nectar, and I am always mesmerized when I stand holding my watering can, and they watch me from a yard or two away, eye-to-eye. Their little wings create the most beautiful "humming" music. Pure magic!

Products:


Challenges I'd like to play in please:
  1. As you Like It Challenge (May 24) Favorite Flora or Fauna and Why (as I wrote above - There is something so magical about hummingbirds. I cherish when they visit my container gardens in search of color and nectar, and I am always mesmerized when I stand holding my watering can, and they watch me from a yard or two away, eye-to-eye. Their little wings create the most beautiful "humming" music. Pure magic! ) 6/7
  2. Crafters Cafe Blog Challenge #194 "All Creatures Great and Small" 6/1
  3. Crafty Calendar Challenge (May) "Things With Wings" 6/4
  4. Creatalicious Challenges #139 Anything Goes + "all that glitters" - the frame is covered with microfine glitter, and both embossing powders contain glitter for the background) 5/31 (sep - sev wks)
  5. Daisy Chain Challenge #19 Animals 6/5
  6. Monochrome Magic #11 Monochrome Theme + no pattern papers (mine is hand stamped and heat set with embossing powders) 6/12
  7. Pammie's Inky Pinkies #1820 AG 5/28
  8. Scrapy Land #90 AG using die brand SL sells (Tonic Studios and Spellbinders) 6/6 sep post
  9. Stamping Sensations (May) Close To Nature - 6/4 sep post
  10. Unicorn Challenge #32 Monochrome 6/3 sep post
  11. World Wide Open Design Team Challenge #5 AG for DT (6/15)


On a Personal Note:

After wrestling these past 6 months about whether to share such a personal matter, I decided yes. To my friends, it will explain a little about me. BUT MOSTLY, I share because many of you may be suffering from the same disease, or may know someone with it who has not been properly diagnosed.

Frequently, a diagnosis can be overlooked because of previous diagnoses. Because so little is known about many syndromes, a disease may improperly be diagnosed as something else. As medical advances take place, and genome therapies are created, diseases will become more accurately diagnosed.

In the meantime, many doctors lump Myofascial Pain Syndrome in with Fibromyalgia, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Tendonitis and Bursitis, but it is decidedly different, and has unique symptoms. Myofascial Pain Syndrome affects the entire body.

What is fascial tissue? Our organs and muscles are all protected and lined in myofascial tissues which allow them to move and keep lubricated. They connect our muscles to each other, to bones, ligaments, and cartilage. While sufferers contend with pain, fatigue, depression, low-grade temperatures, nausea, flu-symptoms, neuropathy and loss of sleep, the myofascial tissues are found in our mouths, ears, organs, all muscles, and can cause spasms, and inexplicable "strange" occurrences. Momentary loss of ability can occur. Sometimes impairments last hours, but can go on for weeks, months, years, and even, permanently. It progressively worsens with each "exacerbation". A sense of humor is needed because it's quite disheartening to suddenly lose lose control over body parts - especially in front of others.

No one knows what causes the MPS yet, but it is likely genetic (not necessarily inherited). If you hear of someone struggling and trying to figure out why Fibromyalgia drugs are not working for them, or why they are experiencing strange, transient, often neurologic symptoms uncommon in FMS, they may also have Myofascial Pain Syndrome. For me, the use of my hands is iffy at best. My speech is affected, and I choke for no reason. Sometimes I have violent coughing attacks or inappropriate gagging reflexes, due to the constriction of the of throat or esophagus. As you can guess, it affects the "unmentionable" organs and vital organs. Consider how your muscles change "shape" as they stretch and contract. It is the myofascial sheath that moves with those muscles, connecting them to ligaments and such, to permit a smooth movement. If it suddenly "freezes", and the person is already in mid-stride, it means the muscle cannot change shape for the movement, and extreme pain or impairment results.

While I also have FMS and some other problems, I find it helpful to know which disease is causing which symptoms in order to determine the best course of treatment for that moment. Many people are diagnosed with multiple conditions which are actually the results of MPS. 

I'm sorry this is so long. 

Here is a video about MPS. 

Here is a video how MPS affects organs, 
in particular THE HEART, to give you an idea how how it may affect organs.

Hopefully you don't know anyone with these issues, but it is often misdiagnosed as FMS, or overlooked as a possibility entirely.  Thanks for listening.

hugs,
de




Posted by at 51 comments:
Labels: , , , , ,

DL.ART Thankful Thursday Challenge #229 Graduation




Hello, blogging friends!
Hoping you are doing well, and enjoying the precious gifts this day brings.

Today I have the pleasure of guest designing for Diana Larson (aka DL.ART) for her
DL.ART Thankful Thursday Challenge #229. The theme is "Graduation."





Diana's new store is packed with colorful pretties. Check out all her crinkle ribbons here. Today I am using the "Creme Brulee" color from the Creamy Dreamy Bundle which contains 3 fabulously golden-hued ribbons.




My graduation card is done in a vintage style, signifying the end of an era - the old is now past, and a brand new beginning awaits with open arms.

The pretty, textured Creme Brulee ribbon has metallic highlights to bring out those "golden moments" in our lives that have become cherished memories.



That metallic sheen in the ribbon works exquisitely with the gold mirror cardstock.



Pop on over to DL.ART Thankful Thursday Challenge to see the beautiful design team projects, and link up your project as well. Looking forward to seeing your pretties!

Products Used:
Challenges I'd like to play in please:


  1. City Crafter Challenge Blog #413 "Graduation" 5/29 (sep post)
  2. Craft Rocket Challenges #48 "Use Embellishments" (crinkle ribbon, bronze flower with EP on it) (sep post) 6/7
  3. Creative Craft Cottage #107 Dies and/or Punches (2 layers punched edges, 2 layers die cut frame) 6/4 sep post
  4. Let's Craft and Create Challenge #137 AG + option Lace, Ribbon Twine 6/5 

stamping hugs,




Posted by at 19 comments:
Labels: , ,
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)