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, March 10, 2017

A Sunny Hello

Greetings, Sweet Blogging Friends!
If you are following me via e-mail, apologies for the duplicate post.

I clicked the wrong button (PUBLISH) prior to writing parts of my post.
So this could be called "Post of Blunders" but it's not (giggle)

Today's post could be called:

DISTRESSING with Glitter

(can there BE such a thing?)

This beautiful, glitter-full, sparkly copper frame provided lots of fantastic sparkly effects, but was not dark enough for the project, so I decided to distress the EP with two more colors of glitter:


Final Frame (try to ignore the yellow glitter in the middle - that's not what it really looks like LOL):


The frame is truly sparkly, and has fantastic texture - I just could not get it to sparkle the way it really is. (and of course, the transparent yellow in the sun looks like an unwanted opaque gold in the photo).
I can't win with cameras.

This is more how the transparent Sunny Daze glitter actually looks, only sparklier:


Cute Sentiment:



The Sun's Friendly Face was stamped twice on the watercolor background. The 2nd image was fussy cut around his crinkled eyes, colored with Zig's and distressed around the edges with Memento ink. It was then popped up for dimension and added depth.

The background for the sun was done with Color Burst watercolors.
The image is slightly highlighted using Zig Watercolor markers:


Should brighten someone's day!


Products Used:
Images: Stampendous Sun and Sunny sentiment stamped in black
Memento Tuxedo Black Ink
Copper Dreams (glittery) Embossing Powder distressed with Midnight Gold Glitter and Black Ice Glitter
Sunny Daze Glitter around sun
Color Burst Watercolors, Zig Watercolor markers

Challenges:

  1. 613 Avenue Create "Anything Goes: twist - no digitals" 4/1
  2. Cards und More - MUST STAMP - #179 Friendship (my sentiment says "May Your Day be filled with Sunshine" stamped in black ink 3/16
  3. Craft Rocket Challenges #34 "No Patterned Paper" (used watercolor paper with Color Burst powders) 3/17
  4. Crafting With An Attitude #25 Anything Goes 3/26
  5. Crafts Galore Encore Challenge (March) Anything Goes 4/1


Thanks for stopping by today!
hugs,

47 comments:

Brenda said...

Another beautiful sparkly card :)

Linda Simpson said...

This is fabulous Donna and sure made me smile! I just can't wait for the warmer weather to get here. As I sit typing this in my craft room I can see the trees getting their buds and Spring is on it's way. Have a wonderful weekend.
Hugs
Linda xxx

SewPaperPaint said...

Wow! I love these amazing effects. Gorgeous summery card, definitely will brighten someone's day. Hugs, Autumn

Linda said...

What a brilliant and cheery card, Donna!!! :)

Shelly Schmidt said...

How gorgeous! The sparkle is awesome, loving the sun with the face popped up too. The inside is awesome as well. Yes, this will definitely brighten someone's day and put a huge smile on their face too!

KarinsArtScrap said...

thats gorgeous and bright Donna.
what a great stamp of that sun.
and great glittering


gr karin

Sue said...

Hi Donna, Loving the card.

Hope you have a lovely weekend. Sue

Jackie T said...

Hi Donna this is a stunning card I love the frame and the lovely friendly sun. I wouldn't mind seeing a bit more of the sun over here. Have a great weekend. Hugs Jackie

SD pooja said...

It has already started to get warm here in my place as long as the sun is friendly it good :D !! Loved the glittery frame and the sunny card !

Diane said...

Wow, this is FABULOUS Donna, the frame is amazing as is the sun....love all that sparkle-y goodness, beautifully created! Have a creative weekend...cold here...brrr!

Chris said...

It will definitely brighten someone's day Donna...it's already brightened mine! Wonderful image, beautiful sunshine colours, love all the sparkle and the frame looks amazing!
Chris
x

Karenladd said...

I really like the distressed look that you got by layering different glitters and embossing powder. It compliments that artsy sun image perfectly.

Verna Angerhofer said...

Wow my friend! This is so gorgeous. I love your distressed version of the frame. And, it is so cool that you popped up the face of the sun. And, I love how you did the inside too! I bet this is a really fantastic looking piece of artwork in person. I know...I seldom can get a photo to look exactly the way it does in person. Thanks so much for sharing this ray of sunshine.

cotnob said...

A gorgeous card Donna, beautiful colours and brilliant design. Your sparkly frame is fabulous and I love your sentiment.
Pauline - Crafting with Cotnob
x

Debi said...

Donna,
This is spectacular! Bright, glittery, lovely sentiments. You rocked this! Hugs, Debi

pam said...

This is a gorgeous card design Donna, that frame is beautiful, love the texture you have created and the end colour result, (I wonder if you started with dark brown/black card it would have been as dark as you wanted it to be) tell me to shut up if you like my dear friend.
Love the sun and amazing colours you manage and of course the sparkle.
Hugs Pam xx

Lisa said...

What a gorgeous card, Donna!! The sparkle is amazing!! I love the beautiful frame!! The sun is fabulous!! I love the inside, too!! Stunning, my friend!! Have a great weekend!! Big hugs :)

Lisa
A Mermaid's Crafts

*Vicki* said...

Wow!! This is really incredible Donna! I just love the effects with the glitter on your frame! Stunning creations my friend! Happy weekend!

Ann Greenspan's Crafts said...

Donna, you are the Queen of Glitter! Your cards are always so pretty with all your glitter work and ideas. Today's card is striking to say the least. I do not even attempt to work with glitter unless it's permanently glued to the paper already. Thanks for sharing your wonderful tips.

Carole J said...

Oh this is so beautiful, Donna! I love the image, the vibrant colours, the embossing and, of course, the glitter! It really is a sunshiny card and would make anyone smile. Great idea to use darker glitter to add a little distress to the frame.
Thank you for sharing your talent with us at the Crafts Galore Encore March Challenge, “Anything Goes”. Good Luck and hope to see you again next month!
Carole x DT (Craftilicious Creations)


Creaine said...

wow nice. Thanks for joining us at Craft Rocket Challenges. Good luck.
Bye,Groetjes van Ine (DT)
http://creaine-cards.blogspot.nl/

KraftyKoolKat said...

This is such a beauty Donna. Your work is always a treasure to look at. Love the sunshine you have brought into everyone's life today with this creation. Wish it was lovely here. We had one day of sunshine and now it has disappeared. Cold wind and overcast again. I am now full of cold after weeks of coughing and squeaky the cold is finally here.
Hope you are well sweetie.
Hugs
Cathy
xxxx

Unknown said...

Well it has certainly brighten my day and I have 8 inches of snow on the ground, not an easy task! This is gorgeous, I love how you play with your glitters and embossing powders! You are the technique die cutting paper layering Master (Mistress) of these techniques! I love this card, that sun is AWESOME and as AMAZING as YOU! xoxo

Donna Ellis said...

LOL!
Great minds, Pam!

Yes, I did start out with a dark brown card in the beginning, but that copper EP was so shiny and sparkly that it captured too much light, and made the frame appear lighter than I wanted in the end. Thanks for the suggestion!
hugs,
de

Lori Kobular said...

Donna, your card is stunning! I love how you distressed the frame, it looks gorgeous! Your sun is dazzling! It surely makes me smile! Love everything about your beautiful card!

KT Fit Kitty said...

Such a beautiful and sparkly card, Donna! I love the inside as well as the outside! Perfect sentiment for this image and your watercolour background is gorgeous! Enjoy your weekend, my friend!

Beebeebabs said...

Wow absolutely beautiful card - love the Distressing with Glitter. Love the image and perfect sentiment thanks for sharing and have a fabulous weekend!!!

Darnell said...

Mmmm, Donna, I feel like I'm 22 again and I've been basking in the sun for hours, all warm and toasty! Of course, now we know that was a no-no (and I've paid the price), so it was lovely to have that warm and toasty feeling spread over me in a safe way with these brilliant cards of yours! And I mean brilliant in every way! Your talent is amazing!! Hugs, Darnell

PS Thanks so much for doing those posts on being a "no reply" blogger and how to put your blog name on the Plus profile! It's nice to see someone else spreading the word!!

Becky said...

Love the sun image. Beautiful card. :-)

Conniecrafter said...

Oh I will say this will brighten someone's day, the glitter frame looks terrific and I love the coloring of the sun, great idea for the background and such a terrific inside to the card too!

maria's knutselplezier said...

What an amazing card Donna, I just love every detail of it, beautiful colours, great image !! A really fantastic work!!
Have fun!!
Maria

Jeni Mc said...

A beautiful card Donna . Made me feel better just looking at the sun ,something we are not seeing much of over here . Such a glittery card and lots of ideas in it , Thanks for your comments
jenny

crafty-stamper said...

Beautiful sunshine card and image love the embossed glitter
Carol x

coldwaters2 said...

WOW Donna this is spectacular both inside and out, love the wonderful sunshine colours and that lovely glitter, this is a pure delight to the eyes
hugs
lorraine x

Leslie Miller said...

Ooooh, I love that rich, coppery glitter and all the warm sunshine! Such a cute, happy stamp, and you're very good with the Color Bursts. Talk about brightening someone's day... this will definitely do the trick! We're having a rare sunny day today so we're taking advantage of it. Yay!

April said...

Such a bright and cheery card! Great job with the glitter!

Pia S said...

You're the queen of glitter, Donna! And die cutting, making the most of your dies. Such a fantastic sunshine design!

Sue said...

WOW, you have out-sparkled yourself gain!! Love your Mr. Sun. I have that stamp, and he hasn't seen ink for many moons!!! Love how you did the beautiful frame, and who doesn't love to see the sun, beautiful card.

We a hunkering down today, expecting snow starting today and continuing through Wednesday......let's hope they are wrong about the double digit amount of accumulation.

Hugs
Sue

Pamellia said...

Distressing with glitter, you're genius knows no bounds! I love it, and what a wonderful colour palette you used for that frame. It's such a perfect fit for the amazing sun filled card! The flourish pattern in the background is so beautiful and that glittery sun in the middle just makes me smile! I adore all the sentiments as well, it's just impossible not to smile at this bright and cheery piece!! Hope you have a wonderful week my friend, thinking of you :)

MaryH said...

You always have the bestest ideas with EP & Glitter, and I think this one's a stunner. Also loving the sun, and how you've shaded & created dimension with the fussy details too. The frame is gorgeous and thanks for the tutorial on glue over EP and then adding more 'schtuff'. This sunny & blaze of cheer card would brighten anyone's day, and clever to carry through the sunrays to the interior. It's just gorgeous! TFS & Hugs

sarascloset said...

I had a good giggle at your post. Sounds like something I would do! (Premature Publishing) Your card brightens my day! I love all those sparkle effects and your frame turned out amazing! Sending hugs from chilly wet NC!

aussie aNNie said...

Hello lovely De, wowowow, this is just stunning I so love your creative spirit and the little tuts you give...you are amazing..hugs.xx ♥[aNNie]

Paper Creations by Shirley said...

Wow gorgeous card and fantastic detail on how you created it. Love the 'distress glitter'. :) Take good care, Hugs, Shirleyxx

Puppy Kisses and Paper Dreams said...

This definitely brightened my day!! Love it!

Marilyn said...

Wowsa, wowsa, wowsa! Fabulous technique with amazingly beautiful results. I've got to try this.

Petra Swart said...

Oh, isn't it so frustrating when you can't capture the true beauty of your card with the camera, hey!!!! But I have to say that your card does look fabulous in the photo's, Donna!!!!! That frame is so beautiful and I love the happy sparkly sun!!!!! Some lovely dry-embossing, too and a lovely sentiment to go with all the sunshiny goodness!!!!!! Lovely, my friend!!!
Hugz

Andree said...

A wonderfully happy card Donna. The stamped sun is fabulous and the frame looks so ornate with the richness of colour and texture.
Thank you for joining in with the Crafts Galore Encore March Challenge “Anything Goes”. Good luck x