Altenew Blog Hop

Scrapping for Less is so excited to bring another fabulous new company to the website. This time we are introducing Altenew! This is a small stamp company that is on the move! They are known for their beautiful layering stamps. The Design Team has quite an array of various creations to share with you today. You can find the Altenew stamps here in the stamp category! While you are at the website make sure you sign up for the newsletter (you won't be sorry, I promise!) and also while there browse around in the store we have lots of goodies you can purchase. 

Make sure to leave a comment on each blog for a chance to win a blog prize from our store! Thanks so much for taking the time to hop with us today. 

Hi ya! 

What better way to kick off 2017 here on Sunshine, Smiles and Cards than with a blog hop! Altenew is a stamping company with some of the most beautiful stamp sets I have ever seen and the stamps have inspired me so much to want to play with my embossing powders, inks, coloring etc. 

When I laid eyes on this stamp set I got so excited because my mind was flooded with ideas! I am going to give you the run down of what I did for the two cards that I made. 

Altenew "Big World" Stamp Set & Die

So here's the run down of the products I used: 

• Altenew "Big World" Stamp & Die (the globe on the black card I cut the images out with the die)
• Embossing powders Pearl Gold on the white card/ Jeweled Gold on the black card
• VersaFine black ink on white card for sentiment 
• Stamp Perfect Tool from Hero Arts which I LOVE! I was able to get the globe and the sentiments exactly where I want them and since I have been using it for a while now I have noticed that I have more confidence when I am creating with my stamps. 

As you can see there were not many products used but I just love how they turned out, the pictures don't really do them just they are so sparkly and shiny! Thank you so much for stopping by and I hope you get the chance to get your own Altenew stamps and dies they are so much fun to create with. Your next stop is Stacy: Craft-A-holic Momma

Wishing you sunshine and smiles,

Kim :)

Here is our Lineup:

Scrapping for Less

Yvonne: Adventure of the Creative Mind

Sandy: Scrapbook Blessings Club

Teresa: Fresh and Renewed

Kimberly: Sunshine, Smiles, and Cards

Stacy: Craft-A-holic Momma

Lawn Fawn Release Blog Hop

Hello, fellow Lawn Fawn lovers! Today is the December release of Lawn Fawn! Oh, how we wish there were more of these! I absolutely adore Lawn Fawn just as much as all of the team! You will see all their great projects...hopping along! Our focus today is on the Facebook Scrapping for Less pre-order group. This is where you can pre-order many many items and where you will find new releases of certain companies..like Lawn Fawn, Avery Elle, Stamping Bella to name a few! Check out the new Lawn Fawn album where you can order all the new products...this order will be placed around Dec. 28th. There are also many Lawn Fawn items available on the website stamps and dies. 

 both

On the Facebook group you will only find the brand new Lawn Fawn release items, however, should you want to order anything else Lawn Fawn related just ask (either send Teresa a PM or email) and she will check to see if she can order it! 

Also, if you are not a current member of the Facebook group just ask to join and we will get you added super quick!

Of course, a blog hop isn't a hop without some blog candy! So, if you leave some love on each and every blog you will be entered in a drawing to receive the following brand new Lawn Fawn stamp! 

Hi All! 

Kim here from Sunshine, Smiles, and Cards with what I came up with to celebrate the Lawn Fawn Blog Hop Release!

The distress inks below are what I used to create the sky, LF's Stitched Hillside die to create the snow and LF's "Winter Alpaca" stamp set. The snowflakes on the card are stamped in Versa Mark and heat embossed with white embossing powder.I cut the alpaca's scarf out of LF's "Perfectly Plaid Christmas"

These are the colors used to create the sky.

Your next stop is Stacy at Craft-A-holic Momma !

Don't forget to leave a comment on each blog to be entered to win the blog candy!!!

Blog Line Up:

Scrapping for Less

Yvonne: Adventure of the Creative Mind

Sandy: Scrapbook Blessings Club

Teresa: Fresh and Renewed

(you are here) Kimberly: Sunshine, Smiles, and Cards

Stacy: Craft-A-holic Momma

2016 Holiday Series #9

Hi!

 I come to you today with card #9 which is turning out to be one of my favorites but it was incredibly easy to put together! I truly enjoy coloring images and sometimes I get so wrapped up in the stamps I want to use and color that I forget what adorable cards can be created without ever stamping an image. Which is exactly how this card was created.

Doodlebug Design is one of my favorite companies, I rarely find myself not wanting every single thing they release. Everything on this card is by Doodlebug Design from the paper I used to the doodle pop deer, snowflakes, heart and even the sentiment came from Doodlebug.

I chose the different patterned papers because even though they are different they all complement each other. I cut a circle out of plain white paper so that the deer would be seen more easily. I also stood them at the same level as the diagonal striped paper to ground them, I didn't want them to look like they were floating in the white ball. Inside the 6x6 paper pad I used (which I know was from last year because it was in my stash it might even be from the year before) there are little squares with sentiments on them and when I saw the above sentiment it was perfect.

This is a very simple finish to the inside of the card but it is just enough to pull the whole card together and give enough room for a sentiment inside if I want and/or a personal message. I tend to do both for Christmas cards because writing out Merry Christmas brings on hand cramps rather quickly! 

This card was simple and sweet to make and a fun change from my norm. All my supplies were purchased from Scrapping For Less and if you love Doodlebug Design as much as I do I suggest you head to FaceBook to join the pre-order group and also take a look at scrappingforless.com because there are some really great Doodlebug items currently available on the website.

Also don't forget to check out Fresh and Renewed for more Holiday inspiration! 

Thank you so much for spending some time with me and I hope your come back to visit again very soon!!

Wishing you sunshine and smiles,
Kim :) 

2016 Holiday Series #6

Hi ya!

So here we are only 17 days until Christmas Day! It still seems like it's a good distance away but now I'm thinking I better get my Christmas postage stamps ordered!!! Card #6 has to be one of my favorite images ever! It is so sweet! The stamp is from Art Impressions "Twinkle in a Tangle", I colored the image with my Copic Sketch markers. I came back and hit the lights that Mr. and Mrs. Claus is wrapped in with my clear Wink of Stella.

I used a jumbo fishtail flag die for the striped paper and used my MFT blueprints #2 die to cut out the paper with the lights on it (by the way how perfect was that paper with that stamp right?). Then as a finishing touch I added the little enamel dots that are also very glittery but that doesn't show up in the picture so well.  On the inside I added the strip of string lights at the top, I started to put them on the bottom because that is typically where I add the inside decoration but being as the lights look like they are hanging it just looked wrong!

Don't forget to head over to Fresh and Renewed and see what card Teresa made for today and pick some different ideas.

Scrappingforless.com is having a sale on everything Christmas! Head on over to the website for some great deals!

Thank you so much for stopping by I sure hope you are enjoying the series and I would love to hear your comments! 

Wishing you sunshine and smiles,
Kim :)

2016 Holiday Card Series: #4

 

Well Helloooo! 

So here we are moving right along to card #4, another image from Stamping Bella (told you I love them). I was concerned about cutting this one out but I really didn't want to do a scene or mask anything off I wanted to use the fun paper and have the sentiment on the outside so I focused on cutting her out with a small white space around her. I definitely had to take my time but I find "fussy cutting" (where you cut something out by hand) to be relaxing. My mind tends to wonder as I move my paper this way and that so that I get the cut I want.

Used Stamping Bella "Uptown Girl Posh has a Present", colored the image with my Copic Markers.

 The little label I put the sentiment on is a punch I have in my stash and thought it was the perfect size and nicely filled in some of the empty space on the front of the card.

I really liked the way the inside of the card looks with the sentiment stamped in the lower right hand corner. This way there is still a well wish on the inside but also plenty of room to write a personal message as well.

This stamp that I used today is from a while back however Stamping Bella did have a new release this year full of Holiday stamps that are just begging to be colored! Go check them out over at the Scrapping for Less FaceBook Group and there are still great products to be had if you are making your cards or if you just up and decide that you want to make something over at the website scrappingforless.com. With the items shipping out next day you are still in plenty of time to get creative whether you want to make cards or work on a project!

Additional inspiration is just a click away at Teresa's blog Fresh and Renewed where she is joining me in creating a Holiday card series on her blog too!

Thank you so much for joining me as I share my cards with you and a few thoughts. Please feel free to leave a comment below I would LOVE to hear from you!!!

Wishing you sunshine and smiles,
Kim :)

Sympathy Cards

Hi Again!

The title of this post isn't meant to bring you down but it is a reality for all of us. Which leads me to the entire reason I decided to do this post. Recently a loved one's parent passed and of course I wanted to offer my condolences. This is a stash that we all hope not to have to pull from often but it's certainly part of life.

So far I have found that flowers seem to be perfect for cards in the sympathy category because they are simple and elegant. I like to use muted colors because they lend a softer look to the card and I make sure to keep the embellishments limited and tasteful (think small pearls). I personally like to keep it pretty flat because typically I mail sympathy cards. Memorial services are usually pretty emotional for me whether I knew the person or not, I tend to be like Dolly Parton or Truvy if you've seen the movie, "I have a strict rule that nobody cries alone in my presence." (Thank you, Steel Magnolias.) The thought of handing someone my card that I truly try to write something heartfelt in feels just too uncomfortable (and what if they are holding it all together and then they read your card and it sends them into tears? I do NOT want to be the person that caused that!).

I currently don't own any fitting sentiments to go on the front of a sympathy card but I do have a stamp that I use on the inside, it is nice expresses the feelings I want to convey and is not religious (important to me because I wanted to be able to use it for anyone). I plan on investing in some more sympathy stamps but if you already make your own sympathy cards you might agree with me that they aren't easy to come by. The thing I try to focus on when making this category of cards is that the sentiment you may or may not stamp on the front of it or even the inside for that matter is not as important as the comfort that the recipient will feel when they receive the card and are reminded that someone cares (at least in my experience even when words didn't get through the pain, feelings of people caring did). 

Thank you for stopping by and please feel free to leave any comments I would love to hear what you turn to when you want to comfort a loved one who is going through the death of a loved one or a hard time in general. It has been mentioned to me that in order to leave a comment on this blog you have to have a google account, if you don't but would still like to comment please feel free to visit my FaceBook page here.

Wishing you sunshine and smiles,
Kim :)

PP289 The Paper Players Western Challenge

Howdy Y'all!

I am so excited to participate in the challenge over at The Paper Players! The theme is western and it gave me the opportunity to use a little gal from La La Land Crafts "Cowgirl Marci". (I've owned this stamp for over a year and this is the first time I've used her, hangs head in shame.) So here is my girl and the supplies I used to get her all gussied up. (I couldn't help myself.)

Supplies: (all supplies purchased from Scrapping For Less)

• Cowgirl Marci from La La Land Crafts
• colored with Copic sketch markers
• Spell Binders die Labels One on patterned paper
• circle created with Martha Stewart circle maker
• Avery Elle dotted die for the flag sentiment
• cardstock and patterned paper is from my stash
• little flowers are from Prima "Debutante" collection
• used MFT Hybrid Ink pad in Red Hot to stamp the inside of the card 
• added Wink of Stella to her kerchief, belt buckle, and boots
• added Glossy Accents to her eyes, lips, and belt buckle

You still have time to get in on the challenge, click here to enter, challenges are being accepts until Friday April 8th at NOON (PST). Head on over, check out the rules, and whip something up. Good luck!
Thank you so much for stopping by have a great weekend!

Wishing you sunshine and smiles,
Kim :)

 

Birthday Series 2016 #4

Hi ya's!

Today's card was a lot of fun to make! Although I have to admit that using distress inks to create a background really is one of my favorite techniques to use. My card isn't a one layer card but this technique is perfect to make a one layer card. (I just happened to stamp the image on a card front sized piece of paper before I decided what I was going to do.)

I wanted to create a ground for the little elephant to be walking on but had just made a card recently where I used distress inks to create grass colors and didn't want to repeat that. I decided I really wanted to use gray and then the sidewalk idea seemed to be the best choice. I don't seem to be capable of making a card without putting some Wink of Stella on it to bling things up (and honestly why would you want to! Um....hellooo!) and added it to the balloons. I wish it showed up on the pictures better (or at all!). 

Sooo here it is.....

INGREDIENTS:

• Bunch of Balloons stamp by Wild Rose Studio
• image colored with Copic markers
• Inkadinkado masking paper used to mask off the stamped image 
• Ranger distress inks minis and mini blending tool used to create sky and sidewalk
• Wink of Stella used on balloons to give it a shimmer
• sentiments are from a discontinued AmyR stamp set HB2U

*all of the ingredients I used were purchased from Scrapping For Less

My collection of birthday cards is coming along quite nicely and I have decided to also begin working on building up my stash of other cards as well because it certainly seems as though the need for wedding, baby, congratulations, get well and (most unfortunately) sympathy cards arise without warning and during a time when things are too hectic to sit down and make a card.

For those of you who make cards and those of you who buy your cards how do you store them? I am currently using a Creative Memories photo box to keep mine in because it is black and will protect them from light, dust, etc. Thank you for stopping by and spending some time with me today!

Wishing you sunshine and smiles,
Kim :) 

Birthday Series 2016 #3

Hi everybody!

I hope you are all having a fabulous day! The card I am showing you today was a bit of a challenge to me. I truly love the technique of masking an image and stamping on top of it so that when you remove the mask you have created an entirely new image. I also very much enjoy masking an image and using distress inks to create a background around said image and find peeling off the mask to reveal the unblemished stamped image highly satisfying!

All that being said...I get the steps backwards. Every. Time. I don't understand the disconnect with my brain or why I pretty much have to make a few trial runs before I get it right because I do this technique rather frequently. I tell you all this to give you hope and help you to not give up even if you do waste a little paper along the way.

I discovered Newton's Nook a few years ago but this is the first purchase I have made from Newton's Nook. I am smitten with this kitty cat!!! Newton's Nook had a great sale on Black Friday or Cyber Monday (I can't remember) so I jumped at the chance to grab some of the stamp sets I have been drooling over.

Let's get into it...I stamped the image of the cat clinging to the balloon and then went to add the party hat...that was the first time.

The hat looks like it is floating about the cat's head

I started again and that was the second attempt...

The hat STILL doesn't look the way I want it

At this point in time as I am working on this card I begin to ask myself "should I just let this go? Maybe masking isn't for me..." and then immediately think "No, I am not giving up I really love this technique!" I kept working at it and finally got the masking down in the right order. In the past when watching other card makers doing this technique I remember someone saying "always work back to front" as in reference to what you want to see of the scene you are creating. I hate that even though I knew that helpful hint it still took me FIVE attempts to get it right. It was totally worth it!

FINALLY! SUCCESS! I was so happy and proud and couldn't wait to tell the world that I had figured out how to mask! (Seriously it is super easy, I don't know why I make it so difficult, I think it just means I need to use this technique more frequently.)

Here are the steps:

1. stamp the image you want to see in it's entirety first
2. mask off the first image you stamped
3. stamp the next image, for this scene I was only working with two images so it really simple
4. now mask off both images 
5. add your background colors, I used distress inks to create the sky and the grass colors
6. peel off masking and color your image!

Ingredients for this card:

• Newton's Birthday Bash stamp set
• MFT Hybrid Ink Black Licorice stamp pad
• Distress Ink Minis- grass: Mowed Lawn, Shabby Shutters  sky: Tumbled Glass, Broken China
• Tim Holtz Distress Markers used to color image

This technique is perfect for a card that you know you need to mail since it's quite easy to make it a single layer card. Thank you so much for dropping by and I sure do hope that you give this technique a try.

Wishing you sunshine and smiles,
Kim :)

Valentine Series 2016 #5

Hello Everyone!!!

I bring a new cutie your way today and he was as much fun to color as he was to use on a card! While I was coloring this image I was thinking about musicians and how they have a reputation for people popular with the ladies. I find that to be true for me too...but to an extent. There are certain instruments that I find more attractive than others for example a saxophone is hot as is a guitar or even a piano but...the bongos? Bongos just don't do it for me. This image while not sexy in any way is stinkin' adorable!

Ingredients: 

• card base from my stash
• "lover boy" background paper from DCWV scrapbook kit in a stack Love & Wedding
• grid paper from my stash (I think it was from a collection called Lost & Found from My Mind's Eye but not 100%)
• image from La La Land Crafts Saxophone Luka
• I cut out the wonky frame with My Favorite Things Blueprint 15
• the wooden LOVE is from my stash and I used Smooches to color the wood
• I had also used Smooches to color accents on the saxophone
• I colored in the hearts with clear Wink of Stella to add some shimmer
• Glossy Accents on his eyes 

Everything I used to make this card can be purchased from Scrapping For Less (keep in mind all items depend on availability such as paper packs etc.)

Halloween Card #1

I LOVE Halloween! I love the colors, the costumes, the makeup and the candy. That being said I don't do gory or gruesome. I like cute! Cute, cute, cute! We don't get trick or treaters in my neighborhood and haven't for years (which is probably for the best since we would eat a good portion of the candy that we had meant to give out).

Here's a bit of the conundrum that I am in...I really enjoy making Halloween cards but I don't send Halloween cards to anyone. I know, what a problem right? Well some might decide that since I don't send Halloween cards to anyone then there's no reason to make them and they would certainly have a good point. Not me though! I refuse to be deterred, I so enjoy making them and I so enjoy the adorable stamps and embellies that are out there to be used that I have decided to make them anyway!

I have so many cards that I want to make and so many different techniques that I want to try that I will have more than I will need for my own family and friends so I have decided to put the extras up on Etsy, hopefully my cards will find a home.

I am so excited about Halloween that I have already started making cards! So here is the first one to kick it off!

This little guy, Darling Dragon Luka, is a stamp from La La Land Crafts (have I mentioned I LOVE dragons, oh and La La Land Crafts?) I colored the image using Letraset Promarkers and used Wink of Stella on the dragon's tummy, horns and pads of his feet.

I really like the look of cards that have a finished inside I first saw Amy Rysavy on Prairie Paper and Ink finish the inside of her card and I was smitten! I think it's such a nice touch. I do have a few cards that I haven't finished the inside but when I can I certainly prefer to.


I cut the spooky house with my Slice machine and used one of the dies out of Blueprints 19 from My Favorite Things, it cuts this perfectly wonky little shape out and fits just right on a card. I also used a banner die for the inside sentiment. For the outside sentiment I just eyeballed it and cut the fishtail flag by hand with scissors (always a trial and error).

The polka dotted paper came out of my stash but I am pretty sure it is Doodlebug Design paper. Now THAT'S a paper company that's got some cute paper!!!

Thanks for stopping by, gotta go color something else that's too cute to spook!  :)

Wishing you sunshine and smiles,
Kim