Hi und Good Bye!

Hello everybody,

Tanja here. It's my second and already last post on the Create a smile stage today. There are a few personal reasons for my (harsh) decision to leave the designteam.

I'm so sad. I will miss all these most talented, kind, always helpful and so funny ladies of this wonderful team.

Last but not least a big thank you to Christine.

She let me be a part of it all. A part of the birth of her (our) baby called Create A Amile. Christine, you are the best. I don't know a lot of people with so much talent and burning ambition. It's thrilling. I learned so much from you. Thanks for your support. Always patient with me *lol*

Perhaps I can come back one day !? Who knows...

Stop! Now it's enough. Otherwise I'll start to cry.

Now here is my project. It's not a card - it's a little gift for someone who needs a break (myself? *lol*)

It's a wrapping for bath salts. And bath salts perfectly fit together with the bath tub from the stamp set Comfy, don't they?

Close up:

I hope the different pictures explain how it works.

I have a die to create the package (with my Bigshot). I glued the workpiece together and decorated it with twine (wink to Christine).
Then I attached the bath tub and I used crystal effects to immitate water drops.
That's all.

Here with the bath salts behind the package:

And here the bath salts inside:

Hope you found some inspiration in my post today.

Thank you all for supporting me.
Take care of yourself.

Hugs
Tanja




Hello (gangster) - need a break?

Hello everybody,

Tanja here with my first post for Create A Smile.
I found some awesome inspirations during the last days. That's why I created this card.
Oh - it's not only a card. It's a little gift. Because the card includes a button.

But first back to my inspiration. I would like to share it with you.
I got one inspiration from Christine. She made a card and I could not stop thinking about it. So I decided to create my beaver with this technique. And I LOVE it.  The other inspiration came from Jessa. On the Release Bog-Hop (I also used the beaver for my card then) she wrote that the beaver looks a little bit  like a gangster with his sunglasses. And she was sooooo right. That made me laugh out loud.

And like on the Release Bog-Hop  I used Comfy and Friends in the Woods.

Let's have a look:  
You can see the card with the button on it here.



And here without the button. OOOOPS - suddenly the beaver is a gangster no more.
No way. He is a cute little guy yet.

Here's an example what you can do with the button.
Maybe as a gift for a cute little (gangster) human-child??

Thank you for visiting my first DT post for  Create a smile. Hope you had fun!

Take care of yourself.

Hugs

Tanja 

Release-week Countdown "1": Inspiration by Tanja and Kelly

Hi friends!

This is countdown "1" in this exciting release-week. Oh gosh, can you believe the release is TOMORROW!?! And the sets will be for sale at 8sm CET (2am EST) - that's only 14 hours away. My heart is beating so fast when I think about it!

The countdown means we have some inspiration for you, using both sets. There are so many ways to use those images, so let's see what we have for you:

First up is Tanja. She created this adorable card using the owl from Friends in the Woods. (The team seems to like that owl, huh?)

Her coloring is amazing and those enamel dots and the brad add a nice touch to that tag-shape. The colors make this look like a male card - I always struggle with that :)

Next up is Kelly  who made two cards using Comfy. I really want to go to the beach TODAY!

I love all the texture that she added to the towels and the colors are so warm and bright! And look how she created the water from dark to light - clever!

Her second card makes not going to the beach even harder - see that sunset? and again: awesome texture on the towel (and on the umbrella).

Okay, I'll leave you with some summer-feeling now (it's been grey and rainy here for some days now - and cold!). 

Check back tomorrow for our Release Blog Hop (with awesome guests!) and the giveaway. And of course to see the stamp in our Online-Store.

Happy crafting!

Introducing the Design Team - Day 4

Good morning an happy sunday!

I hope you're having a crafty weekend. I did a lot of crafting yesterday, but have to pause today because I'll be getting some new braids and have to sit for about 7 hours.
Okay, enough smalltalk, let's see why we're here - it's time to reveal the next Design Team Member.

I know she is VERY excited to be an "official" DT member now, hehe. 
Today we'd like to indroduce....

 *drummroll*

Tanja Kewel-Neef

Tanja used to play along with our kis-challenges - that's how we found each other. When I started my cards-related facebook page Tanja was the first who said welcome and we got in contact. From that day on we were in contact nearly every day and we became some kind of online-friends. :) She's lovely, creative and she has her very own style - I have never seen something close to that before.

Please give her a warm welcome to this new adventure!

Name, Age, Location:

Tanja, 42, somewhere between Hanover and Hamburg, Germany.

Hi Tanja, glad you join us! Take a seat, get comfy. May I offer you something? Coffee or cookies?

Hi Christine – I'm happy to be here! OOOH yes, coffee with milk please. I’m a coffeine-junkie *lol*

Okay, you know why you’re here: People want to know everything about you. Let’s start with something simple:

You’re a paper crafter. When did you start and how did it happen?

Window Murals, silk painting, window color. But then, I guess 20 years ago, I visited a craft fair and bought my first rubber stamp. This was the start of all. From time to time I had a break but since a couple of years I can't stop. *lol*

What kind of projects are your favorite? And why?

Definitely cards. They have a good size. I sometimes make something else, for example a bookmark or a box (if it's necessary for a challenge).

Is there one technique that you use more often than others?

I'm not fixed. I think my cards are versatile. Today this,  tomorrow that.  But I like paper piecing and coloring with copics very much.

If you look at other people’s projects: What amazes you and what makes you frown?

I can't really describe it. When I see a project, it's an impulse. I think "oh my gosh it's amazing" or not.  It doesn't depend on the technique or style.

You’ve been paper crafting for quite a while. Is there a lesson you learned that you’d like to share with our readers?

Find your own way and style. Pick some inspiration but don't try to copy it. It’s important to be true to yourself.  There's no need to go mainstream.

Good lesson! Let’s get to something personal. You live in Nienhagen. What’s your favorite spot there and why do you think people should visit this place?

I’m sure other people think my village Nienhagen is boring. Maybe they are right. But I love it. It’s green everywhere, most people known each other. When I go to the bakery for example and I forgot my money it's not a proplem. I pay the next day. You know what I mean?  Kitschy - right?

What is a characteristic that describes you the best?

I'm an optimist. Everything will be okay....someday ;-)

What else should people know about you?

Most in the world I love my two kids.

When I would like to make a card and it doesn’t work my day is done and I’m angry!!!

Almost all of my cards get a (black) border. Without this border they are not completed (in my opinion).

I’m glad to be a part of the crafty community. It means a lot to me and is so much fun every day.

Thanks for the interview Tanja, I’m so glad and honored you joined out little team!

Christine – I thank YOU, that I could be a part of this amazing team. I’m sooo proud!

Tanja made this adorable card using our monster freebie (did you notice there is NOT a black border around it? hehe!)

If you want to see more of her creations, ho over to her blog and become a follower!