Thursday, April 30, 2015

Fill Life with Happiness {SNS May Reveal}



Welcome to Sparkle N Sprinkle's
 May 1 New Reveal Blog Hop!


This month we are doing something a little different.  Instead of releasing new stamp sets, all the Designers have been creating projects with Dreamweaver stencils, using various techniques and products.

Be sure to visit the SNS Blog all month long, as well as the Designers' blogs (you can click on the Designers' names to go directly to their blogs) to see different techniques used with the stencils.   Each Designer always posts 2 different projects to the SNS Blog and 4 different projects to their personal blogs each month.   
Some of the techniques you see throughout the month is dry embossing with your stencil; double glitter technique; combining embossing pastes with glitter, embossing powders, flock, and/or guilded flakes; using the embossing paste as a resist; double embossing paste technique and lots of other fun ideas.

 All Dreamweaver stencils, soap, and embossing pastes are 20% off until May 3.  So once you finish the blog hop, head on over to the store and start shopping.  
Large Feather is the stencil featured with this month's Technique Video Kit.



On May 3, one GRAND PRIZE WINNER will be selected from the comments left on the Designers' blogs.  Please leave a comment with each Designer in order to be eligible for the Grand Prize.  You never know who the Mystery Designer will be that has the winning comment.  

The winner will be able to choose $55 worth of any products listed under the Stencils and Templates category, plus mica powders (Pearl Ex) and of course, glittersembossing powdersflock, and sticker paper or adhesive sheets.

The Grand Prize Winner will be announced on June 3 on the SNS Facebook page, the Designer's blogs, and here on the SNS Blog.  

We are pleased to have Diane and Ashley, two of our 2015 Guest Designers, joining us again this month. They will be our Guest Designers for the months of April, May, and June.

The Blog Hop order this month is:

(*Tip: if you have difficulty with a particular link, try clicking on the Designer's blog title to send you to their Home page.)

We love reading your comments and hope that we have inspired you as well.  If you can not leave a comment for some reason, please email icinganne@yahoo.com with your comment and the name of the blog or the Designer you are commenting about.


The Sparkle N Sprinkle Creative Challenge also begins today.  There are lots of prizes and recognition badges.  Come check out how you can become a SNS Featured Artist as well.  The theme is always Anything Goes using Loose Glitter, Embossing Powder, and/or Flock.



We hope you enjoy the New Reveal Blog Hop as much as we do.  Thanks for joining us and remember to comment on each of the Designers' blogs to be eligible for the Grand Prize.  Last month Diane was the Mystery Designer with the winning comment.  Wonder who it will be this month??

Now here's a bit about how I created my project.  I'm using what I call the Double Embossing Paste technique.  I started off by laying down the Damask Dreamweaver stencil onto white cardstock and I applied Black Matte embossing paste over it.  (Be sure to clean your stencil and palette knife as soon as you are finished).  Once the black embossing paste was dry, I laid the stencil on top of the dry black embossing paste and then applied Crackle embossing paste over the top.  Let dry throughly.  The black embossing paste undercoat lets the cracks from the Crackle embossing powder be more pronounced.

Did you know that most embossing pastes act as a resist?  Well, they do.  With that in mind, I inked up my card base with Distress Inks (Picked Raspberry and Shabby Shutter).  I wiped off the excess ink from the embossing paste.  Once the color was added, you can see the cracks left from the crackle embossing paste even better.

The sentiment, from the Life Is Beautiful stamp set, was applied to vellum using the Glue-less Glitter technique.  This very easy way to apply glitter was done by stamping the sentiment with Versamark onto the vellum, covering it with Dogwood Rose glitter, and then heat setting it.  Once heat set, the glitter will not rub off.  You can watch the SNS You-Tube video here.  The small dragonfly, from the Buggy die set by Die-Versions, was heat embossed using Pebbled Copper embossing powder.  

The fabric flowers were layered and I added Bubble Gum glitter to one of the layers and Glossy Accents to a few of the petals to replicate dew drops.

To finish the card, I applied strips of 1/4" Tear-ific Tape around the edges of my card base and covered them with more Dogwood Rose glitter.


I hope you enjoyed the techniques I used today and will try them soon.  Now it's time to head on over to Ashley's blog to see what she's created using Dreamweaver stencils.  Don't forget to leave each of us a comment as we never know who the Mystery Designer is that will have the winning comment.


Monday, April 27, 2015

'Shrooms


I've had more fun using the Mushroom die set from Die-Versions.  For today's card I experimented with fun foam and a heat tool.

All you need to do is die cut the fun foam using the dies from the Mushroom set, heat up the fun foam with your heat tool, and watch it shrink before your eyes!  It's a super easy technique and it really works.

Both the red capped mushroom and the white capped mushroom (pictured in the photo to the right) were die cut using the same large mushroom die from the set.  How long you heat the fun foam dictates how much the foam piece will shrink.  I also experimented with different color foam and found that my white fun foam shrunk more than the colored fun foam did.  (The foam eventually stops shrinking and you know it's time to quit.)

Once I had all my pieces shrunk, I colored them with Copic markers and added some Wink of Stella to the caps for a bit of sparkle.  The random white dots were left overs from the white foam.

The sentiment is also die cut from yellow fun foam and is the Hello Express Edge from Die-Versions.  I love that the fun foam allows you to curve the sentiment instead of just being straight.  The background was created using various Distress Inks, a bit of water, and a spritz of homemade shimmer.

So dig out your fun foam and start die cutting and shrinking to your heart's desire.

Wednesday, April 22, 2015

Happy Day


Today I'm showcasing the new Spring Bike die by Die-Versions.

I started out by die cutting the bicycle in cream, black, and red so that I could paper piece parts of the bike onto the red bike base.  The basket and flowers were die cut three times in cream so they could be stacked on top of each other for added dimension.  Sometimes it's easier to die cut several pieces and adhere them together rather than adding a pop dot to the back, especially if it's a small area that you want more dimension on.  The top layer of the basket and flowers were colored with Copic markers, Wink of Stella glitter pens, and Spica glitter pens.

I cut off the bike seat, tires, and hand grips from the black cardstock die cut and adhered it to the red bike.  All of the silver pieces of the bike were colored using a Wink of Stella glitter pen.  Glossy Accents was added to the red portions of the bike so it would look like the red beach cruiser bike that I have :-).  Lastly, I die cut the Spring Bike one more time out of black fun foam and adhered it to the back of the finished bike for dimension (and a touch of shadow near the flowers).

The background circle is a die from Little B (Circles) that includes the dots around the perimeter.  I die cut the same circle without the dots from black cardstock and adhered it behind the patterned paper to make the dots pop.

The sentiment banner, which is a die from MFT (Fishtail Flags), was created using a rubber stamp from Simon Says Stamp (Always Edge Set AE6) and was heat embossed with White Detail embossing powder from Sparkle N Sprinkle.  I also sprinkled on some Buttercup Petal embossing powder on top of the sentiment to give the banner a speckled look.  As a final touch to the banner, I used Sparkle embossing powder and the Bling Your Brad technique on a heart shaped brad that I had.

Monday, April 20, 2015

Old Well


Old Well is one of the four new stamp sets released by Sparkle N Sprinkle this month and it comes with quite a few sentiments, as well as the two bunnies and the main image.

For today's card, I used a masking technique for both the sentiment and to add the bunnies in front of the well.  I stamped the bunnies first, then stamped them again on scrap paper and cut them out (these are my masks).  After adhering the mask over the bunnies, I stamped the main image.  Everything is colored with Copic markers.  Sugar Plum glitter gives added sparkle to the wisteria blooms.

To create the sentiment, I die cut a piece of Super Adhesive Sheet using the Stitched Rectangle dies from Simons Says Stamp.  I saved the release paper and cut out the center and used this as a mask.  The exposed edge was then covered with more Sugar Plum glitter and Bubble Gum glitter was added to the center.  The Stamping on Glitter technique was used to create the sentiment.   Using a MISTI stamping tool makes this technique a breeze to do! A piece of tulle was added behind the sentiment for a bit more interest.


Wednesday, April 15, 2015

Pearls and Lace {Scrapy Land #16}


It's time for a new Scrapy Land Challenge.  The theme for this challenge is to use Pearls and/or Lace, plus use any brand of die that Scrapy Land sells on your project.

I thought this would be a perfect theme for a Mother's Day card.  I started out by creating a silhouette using a Dreamweaver's stencil (Cameo) and embossing paste.  While the embossing paste was still wet, I sprinkled Cloud Nine velvet glitter onto the silhouette itself (but not the frame around the silhouette) and then let it dry overnight.  Once the embossing paste was dry, I die cut the image using a Spellbinders die (Classic ovals) and then spritzed it with a shimmer mist I created using the Marion Smith Color Lab Paint kit. The dry embossing paste acts as a resist and the mist doesn't adhere.  As soon as I had spritzed the entire thing,  I used a paper towel to soak up the shimmer mist from the paste. Lace was then adhered to the back of my oval to create a frame.

Memory Box's Elliana background die was used as the backdrop for the framed silhouette.  After die cutting it out, I applied VersaMark to the entire area and then heat set it with Pink Delight embossing powder from Sparkle N Sprinkle.

I created my sentiment on the computer and printed it out onto vellum.  Clear embossing powder was then applied to the printer ink and heat set.

I also created a lace flower and added a length of pearl string form Mon Ami Gabby to the back of the flower.  The larger pearls on the string were colored a soft pink using a Copic marker.

Now it's your turn to create a project following this week's theme.  You'll have until April 26th to upload it to the Scrapy Land Challenge and the winner, who is chosen by the Designers, will receive a $15 gift certificate to go shopping at the Scrapy Land store.

Monday, April 13, 2015

Straw Basket



The Straw Basket is one of the latest dies released from Die-Versions.  I decided to fill my basket with spring flowers, specifically the tulips from the bicycle basket on the new Spring Bike die.  I die cut the flower portion multiple times and colored the flowers with Copic markers.

I also die cut the basket twice.  Once from fun foam and once from patterned paper.  I used the negative portions of the patterned paper to fill in the gaps on the fun foam.

The glittery background was cut from sticker paper and, after adhering the basket, covered with Lavender Iris glitter.

My sentiment was die cut using the DV Peppermint font, using the same patterned paper that was used for the basket.  I also added a touch of Spica glitter pens to the letters to give them a subtle sparkle as well.


Friday, April 10, 2015

Spring Window


Spring Window is one of the four new stamp sets released by Sparkle N Sprinkle this month.

I stamped the image with Staz-On ink onto watercolor paper and used Distressed Inks (Scattered Straw, Weathered Wood, Pumice Stone, Seedless Preserves, Milled Lavender, Old Paper, Picked Raspberry, Victorian Velvet, Mowed Lawn, Vintage Photo) and a water brush to color the image.


Lacy Lilac glitter was added to the flowers in the vase, the word "faith" in the sentiment, and the glittery frame.   Mauvelous glitter gives the blossoms a bit of sparkle.


Monday, April 6, 2015

Friendship Flowers

Friendship Flowers - SNS
front, closed

Friendship Flowers is one of the new stamp sets just released from Sparkle N Sprinkle.  Today I created a fun fold card using Spellbinders Hexagons dies.  As you can see in the photo below, the opening is a Z fold with a window on each side with the image in the center of the card. 
opened
opened


I created frames for the window openings using two sizes of the nesting hexagons, which were die cut from Sticker paper.  Once I had the frames die cut, Luau Green velvet glitter covers the exposed adhesive.


Friendship Flowers4 - SNSAfter stamping and coloring the image with Copic markers, it was fussy cut and adhered to another piece of Sticker paper.  The remaining adhesive was covered with Lavender Iris glitter for a shimmery background.  A Sakura glue pen and more Lavender Iris glitter highlights various flower petals as well.

I used the Glue-less Glitter technique to create both sentiments, using VersaMarkClear embossing powder, and more Luau Green velvet glitter.  You can watch our SNS You Tube video, to see how to do this fun and easy technique.


Saturday, April 4, 2015

Sparkle N Sprinkle April Reveal/Blog Hop Winner

Thanks to everyone who participated in this month's release.  One Grand Prize winner will win the entire collection revealed this month!

This month FOUR new rubber stamp sets were introduced.   The sets are:


Get Well Friends #701   (digi version DIGI701)
Friendship Flowers #702   (digi version DIGI702)
Old Well #703  (digi version DIGI703)
Spring Window #704   (digi version DIGI704)


 One Grand Prize Winner was selected from the comments left on the participating Designers' blogs.  

The Grand Prize Winner will receive 
 each of the New Reveal rubber stamp sets (or digi versions, if preferred)


Congratulations goes to 
Jodie Stoddard

who said...

Wonderful card. I love how you made your brick background. I would never have thought of that technique. Thank you for sharing.
April 2, 2015 at 10:32 AM



Her comment came from Diane's blog.


Please email Anne at icinganne@yahoo.com to claim your prize.  Be sure to include your mailing address and phone number (if you are an international winner).


Hugs from The Sparkle Team,

Wednesday, April 1, 2015

Daisies {Scrapy Land #15}

If you are looking for the Sparkle N Sprinkle April New Reveal Blog Hop, please scroll down, or click here.


Although today is April Fool's Day, we aren't fooling.  It's also the first Wednesday of the month and that means it's time for a new Scrapy Land Challenge.  The theme is Anything Goes, plus use any brand of die that Scrapy Land sells.

For today's challenge, I started off by stamping the Daisies image from Sparkle N Sprinkle and coloring it with Copic markers.  Pan Pastels were used for the background and flat backed pearls were adhered to the centers of the flowers.  Once this was done, I fussy cut out the image and added some cheese cloth behind it.

A Sue Wilson die (Spanish Collection - Granada) was used to create the shimmery background.  I die cut this from a double sided adhesive strip which was adhered to a piece of white cardstock.  Once the adhesive on top was exposed, Princess Elsa Frost glitter was used to cover the top.  Then I dry embossed the entire piece with the Basket Weave embossing folder from Crafters Companion.

My sentiment was created from the Die-Versions Love You Express Banner die.

Now it's your turn.  Be sure to follow the theme and include a brand of die that Scrapy Land sells on your project.  You'll have until April 12th and the winner will enjoy a $15 gift certificate from Scrapy Land.