Just Wanted to Say...

Hi there!
Samantha here and today I'm sharing a super pretty, and card that just plain makes me happy to look at! 

     

I have used that background stamp a millions times, I think! And I'll use it a million more, I just know it! This time, I wanted to add color with Distress Markers! 

Let's create this card together!
- use your Distress Markers to color directly onto the large, cling stamp
- spritz with water, lightly and press onto a piece of white cardstock
- BOOM - gorgeous! ha!

- cut out along the outside edge and add foam tape to the back
- heat emboss part of the sentiment in white, onto a strip of cardstock
- heat emboss the other part of the sentiment in black onto the cardbase
- attach all of your images and add sequins!

If you wanted to, you could stamp this directly onto the card front, and that would look beautiful! I just like to have a little height to add some interest and litter nooks to hide and tuck in sequins! 

That Mandala Cling stamp...swoon! Am I right? Who else just LOVES that image?! I swear, I could use it on every card!
The sentiment is from Just Saying Hello! I also used some Pretty Pink Posh clear sequins!

    

Do you follow us on Instagram? Are you in our Facebook Fans group? Why not?! We want to see what you make! Share it and tag us! 

~Samantha

   

Watercolor Thank You Card

Hi there!
Samantha here and today I'm sharing a fall themed thank you card using one of my favorite stamp sets! 

     

Those leaves are SO MUCH FUN to watercolor! I just couldn't resist stamping a bunch out and having fun with autumn colors!

So, let's start making this card, shall we?
- on a piece of watercolor paper, stamp the leaves
- watercolor with your preferred watercolors! I used Distress Markers for mine, but there are so many other watercolor choices out there, too!  
- set aside to dry
- on the card front, use the stencil and some white embossing paste to create a subtle textured background
- once the leaves are dry, fussy cut out and arrange on your card front!

- the sentiment was heat embossed onto some black cardstock and then popped up with foam tape! 
- I finished off the card with a torn strip of some gold vellum paper! I love the look of gold with the warm autumnal colors! 

Depending on your color choices, it doesn't have to be a 'fall' themed card at all! If you chose to use bright, happy colors, it would be perfect year round! 

I used the adorable Time to Say Thanks stamp set along with the Diamonds Stencil!

    

Did you check out the new release for October?! It's so adorable and FUN! You can see the whole release here! :) Enjoy!

~Samantha
   

  

A Very Sheep-mas Card

Hi there!
Samantha here today, and I'm sharing a sweet, little Christmas card with you! And funny story, I made this card when we didn't have power because of the Hurricane last weekend! Ha! No power - no problem! 

     

Last week I made a card with those cute little ornaments, and I wanted to use them again. And While I was flipping through my stamps, I saw this cute little sheep and could NOT resist coloring him up again! I think he's one of my favorite images ever! Love that cute little egg shape! :) Ha! 

So, let's start making this card! Who's with me?
- I started by stamping my images onto my favorite watercoloring paper and then using my Distress Markers to watercolor! LOOOOOOOVE! :)
(this includes stamping the letters for the sentiment!)
- Next, I used a polka dot stencil onto a white card front with some Pumice Stone Distress Ink to add a subtle backround. Once I was done with that, I spritzed the whole card front with water and set aside to dry.
- once the images and letters were all dry, I fussy cut them out (yes...even the letters...and it didn't take as long as you think! And I really didn't mind...as I mentioned above, we were without power for a while, so what else was there to do?! Ha!

- Once the card front was dry, I arranged the letters and glued them down. I drew a string for the ornaments and attached those to the card. popped up the little sheep, and then sat back and laughed at my clever-pun-ness! Ha!
(In case you were wondering, it's from the song Deck the Halls, and should really be " Fa la la la la"! Ha!)
- I added glitter to my letters with the Spectrum Noir Glitter Pen and then a layer of glossy accents on top to make them shine! 

You don't have to use transluscent embossing paste if you don't like it, or don't have it! Any texture paste will give fun, subtle interest to the background of your card! 

I used the adorable Made of Snow stamp set for the sweet little ornaments! The sentiment was created with the Crystal Letter Lower stamp set! And the star of the show: that cute little sheep is from the Eggstraordinary Egghunt stamp set! LOOOOOOVE using nontraditional Christmas sets to make a Christmas card! Ha!

    

Have you seen the release from last month, yet? That halloween set...I CAN'T EVEN!! It's so adorable!! :) Ha! Be sure to get your hands on the release and then look out for the NEW October release next week! 

~Samantha 

           

Pinch Me, It's Your Birthday!

Hello again!
Samantha here with you today, sharing a cute little, under the sea card!

     

Adorable, right? I am not sure, maybe because it's summer, maybe because ocean backgrounds are fun, but I have been making a lot of under the sea type cards, and I love them! 

Shall we get into the making of this fun card? Let's do it!

- on a white piece of card stock, blend together Distress Inks to create your ocean (I used Peacock Feathers and Vintage Photo)
- splatter on some water drops and set aside to dry
- stamp and color the cute lobster image onto watercolor paper

- use Distress Markers in Pinks, Oranges and Reds to create the shading; fussy cut and set aside
- die cut out the area of the ocean on the white cardstock that you like
- layer a few pieces of washi on the card front, and attach banner
- stamp the sentiment and attach the image with foam tape

Remember, you don't have to watercolor the image! You can use copics, color pencils, anything! Whatever you are most comfortable with, use that!

I used the adorable Sending Sunshine kit  and Stacked Pierced Banners die for this card! I also used the Mini Birthday stamp set for part of the sentiment! Disclaimer - the Sending Sunshine kit is not available - but never fear!! You can pick up some of the paper, enamel dots and washi! Also, there's the newest kit: Beach Party that's available!! 

    

Be sure to stick around and keep a close eye on Create a Smile next week...it's the EPIC July release!! 

~Samantha

        

But First, Coffee!

Hello again!
Samantha here with you today, and boy, do I have a card for you!

     

Are you in love?! I know I am!! I mean, a coffee addicted, eight armed, rainbow wielding octopus is the best idea ever, I think! Ha!

Shall we get into the making of this beauty? Let's do it!

- to start, I stamped and watercoloed the images with Distress Markers
- once everything was dry, I splattered a smidge of white acrylic paint over all the images
- then I fussy cut all of those little rainbow cups and arms (8 of each!! lol!)

- I even popped up that fun image! (hint: that's a lot of tiny pieces of foam tape!! Ha!)
- on the card front, I used the Waves stencil and some embossing paste, and set it aside to dry
- once it was dry, I used Peacock Feathers and Tumbled glass to add some 'water' look with the packaging technique!
- lastly, I heat embossed the sentiment and then added a few of the AMAZING clear dots from the Beach Party Kit to create the 'bubbles!'

Do you like one layer cards? Do you prefer one layer cards to all of that fussy cutting?! Ha! This card could easily be recreated as a one layer: you just need a little masking! First, stamp the octopus, and mask him off. Then stamp the coffee cups! Then add the watecolor look around the images! So cute!

I used a bunch of sets for this card! Of course, I used Underwater Love for the octopus image! LOVE him! Then I used the Coffee First and Big Time Stamp sets! The waves were created with the Waves stencil! :)

    

Have you joined the Create a Smile Friends and Family Facebook group yet? It's the perfect place for inspiration, ideas and there's also a challenge there! Be sure to check it out! 

Thanks again for hanging out with me today!

~Samantha

         

Enjoy Every Moment Layout

Hello!
Samantha here, and today I'm sharing a layout I made of my little Mann's first time on a waterslide! Ha! Wild and free, alright!

     

Here's the scoop: I love working with girly colors. I love the pinks, and the gold and the foil! But the truth is, I can't always create cards or a layout (especially a layout!) of my little Menn in those colors all the time! It jut doesn't work!! But every now and then, I like to sneak a few layouts with some pinks and gold and I just love them! And this photo just screamed: PRETTY COLORS! Ha! :)

The layout itself, is pretty simple, overall. The tricky part, was creating the feathers with the gold foil!

- first, I applied a light layer of gesso to the background

- on my layout, I used some embossing paste and a stencil. Once it was dry, I added some watercolor on top via Cracked Pistachio Distress Inks!

- I layered some pretty papers behind my photo and then adhered that on top of the mixed media area

On to the feathers:

- stamp and watercolor onto watercolor paper and set aside to dry

- stamp another feather image onto some masking paper (or scratch paper to use as a mask)

- cover the watercolored feathers with the mask, so only the bottom area is shown though and spritz with the Heidi Swapp Minc Reactive Mist, set aside to dry

(I also splattered some light drops of the mist onto the feathers)

- once dry, I used some gold foil and ran the feathers through my laminator! 

- I LOVE how they turned out

- I also stamped a feather onto some vellum and attached it to the bottom corner cluster, which includes the adorable enamel shapes in mint! 

Those gold foiled feathers could totally be put on a card, instead of a layout! The point is, they're SO PRETTY! Ha! Use them on all the things!! :)

I used one of my favorite stamp sets EVER: Time to Say Thanks!

    

Did you get your hands on one of the Beach Party kits released last week? There are still some available, so be sure to grab yours before they're gone forever!! What are you waiting for?

Thanks again for hanging out with me today!

~Samantha