Monday, November 30, 2015

Cherry Blossoms


 Welcome to Sparkle N Sprinkle's
 Dec 1 Blog Hop!

This month the Designers were given a Surprise Package full of products found at the SNS Shoppe and were asked to create projects with these products.  So sit back, enjoy the Hop and get ready to have those creative juices flowing!


On Dec 3rd, ONE GRAND PRIZE WINNER will be selected from the comments left on the Designers' blogs listed below. 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 Grand Prize Winner, which will be announced on the SNS Facebook page and on the SNS Blog, will receive a $20 gift certificate to go shopping at the SNS Shoppe.

The Blog Hop order this month is:

Anne (you are here)
Shona
Jess
Belinda
Marie
Eret
Irit

(*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 would also like to thank all the Guest Designers who joined us this year: DianeAshleyAniChrisIrit, and Jess.  It was a pleasure having each of you on the team as Guest Designers!

We hope you enjoy the Surprise 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.  
 Wonder who the Mystery Host will be this month????


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.


Have you checked out the SNS YouTube Channel featuring Demo Donna?  If not, then you are in for a real treat.  Subscribe today to get all the latest Demo Donna tips and techniques!



Now a little about my project.



Some of the items I received in my Surprise package were the Dreamweaver Cherry Blossom stencil, Clear Embossable Acetate, Mon Ami Gabby flat backed Pearl Mesh, Want 2 Scrap chipboard and self adhesive bling, plus a few other things as well.

I knew I wanted to incorporate acetate and the stencil, so I set out to experiment on a couple of things.  First off, the embossing paste I had was white and I wanted pink.  So I added a little Nuance powder (Scarlet and a small bit of Turquoise) to the white and mixed it together on my craft mat.  The Nuance colored the paste beautifully.  I also wasn't sure how the paste would look on the clear acetate since you can see both sides.  As you see in the photo below, it looks good.  The darker spots on the flowers are where the powders were still concentrated in certain areas.  If you don't like these concentrated areas, spend a little more time combining the Nuance powders into the embossing paste.  Once the embossing paste was dry, I added some Mon Ami Gabby flat backed pearls to the centers with a dab of Brushable glue.

inside
The acetate was framed using a Simon Says Stamp die (Stitched Rectangles) and then some Mon Ami Gabby pull ribbon was adhered along the edges.  I also added a thin line of glue around the frame's outside edge using a Sakura glue pen and covering it with Sparkling Snow glitter.  The sentiment is another die from Taylored Expressions that I die cut from fun foam and added more Sparkling Snow glitter to the letters.

The card base was created from watercolor paper so that I could watercolor the inside panel of the card.  I used Nuance powders (Turquoise) to create my sky background.  The birch trees are a die from Taylored Expressions and I highlighted certain areas of the trunks with a Sakura glue pen and Sparkling Snow glitter.

I'm first on the blog hop today, so your next stop is Shona.  Be sure to visit each of the Designers for your chance to win the $20 gift certificate to the SNS Shoppe.


Friday, November 27, 2015

Woofie's Birthday - SNS



Today's card showcases the new Woofie's Birthday rubber stamp set from Sparkle N Sprinkle.  I combined a couple different techniques for this card.  The paper tole technique was used to add lots of dimension to Woofie and the background and large balloons use the Floating Alcohol Ink technique.  I found this technique here on Snippet's blog and she linked the video for the technique here.


I decided to use the digi version so that I could make the scene a little larger.  Woofie has been covered in Brushable Glue and Snow White flock for his fur and Pink Spirit Sparkle N Soft for his nose and paw pads.  Lavender Iris and Tiger Orange glitters have been added to various areas.   The rest of the image was colored with Copic markers.  The balloon strings on the image were first traced with a gel pen and then heat embossed with Black Detail embossing powder.  This is an easy way to add heat embossing to your digi images.


The sentiment, which is part of the stamp set, was die cut using a Tim Holtz Labels die and was colored with Distress Inks and then heat embossed with Sparkle embossing powder.

The large balloons were die cut from more cardstock colored with the Floating Alcohol Ink technique.  Then I covered each of the balloons with Super Thick Clear embossing powder and heat set.  This gives them a bit of dimension and extra shine.

1/8" Tear-ific Tape was added to ehe outer edges of the background layer and covered with more Lavender Iris glitter.

Tuesday, November 24, 2015

Love Bug


Today we are heading back to the sixties with this Retro LOVE die from Die-Versions.  I had lots of ideas for this die, but decided to pair it with the ultimate hippy car - the original Love Bug.

To start out, I die cut a basic shape and then die cut the Retro LOVE die inside that to create an inlayed effect.  Although the basic shape looks quite dark, it was heat embossed with combination of bright red, white, and black chunky embossing powder called Checkers by Sparkle N Sprinkle.  Instead of melting it completely, I left it more textured.

The Retro LOVE was again from white cardstock which was colored with various Distress Inks.  Clear embossing powder was added for a shiny look.  This was then inserted into the original piece and a strip of cardstock was added to the back so the negative areas of the die would also have color.

I die cut the "O" from the die a couple more times from glossy paper colored with Nuance water based dye powders by Magenta for the peace sign and fussy cut that part out.  I also saved the flowers (negative pieces from the original cuts) and sprinkled them about.

The digi (VW Beetle) was colored with Copic markers and "Bug" was die cut twice using the DV Middle School font: once from black cardstock and once from scraps left over from the glossy paper colored with the Nuance powders.

(I have to strut my feathers a little and say that I had a small hand in helping to create this die - a very small hand.  I suggested making the "O" a peace sign. :-). )

Peace Out!

Friday, November 20, 2015

Splish Splash


Today's card showcases the new Splish Splash rubber stamp set from Sparkle N Sprinkle.  The background was derived from the sentiment, which is the digi version.

After stamping the main image with VersaMark, it was heat set with one of the new chunky embossing powders, Fleur de Lis.  After fussing cutting out the image, it was adhered beside the sentiment and a Sakura glue pen was used to add rain.  Ocean glitter covers the rain drops.  The die cut frame (by Impression Obsession - All in One Frames, Rectangles)  The frame was heat embossed using Vanilla Ice embossing powder.


For the top left portion of the background, I die cut several stars (from Die-Versions - Stars) from a piece of Super Adhesive Sheet and covered them with Daisy glitter.  The bottom right portion of the background uses several strips of 1/2" Tear-ific Tape.  Each strip of tape is covered in glitter, creating a rainbow.  The glitters used are Fire Engine RedOrange SurpriseDaisyLator GatorJasper BlueCobalt Glaze, and Purple Dust.

Twine was added toward the bottom and a ribbon flower, which was created using  Mon Ami Gabby pull ribbon and a Couture Accent piece for the center.  The card base was dry embossed using a Crafters Companion embossing folder (Distress).

Wednesday, November 18, 2015

Congrats {Scrapy Land #30}



Today is the start of a new Scrapy Land Challenge and the theme is Monochromatic, plus use any brand of die that Scrapy Land sells.  The winner, which is chosen by the designers, will receive a $15 gift certificate to go shopping at the Scrapy Land store.

For today's card, I chose shades of purple and used the following dies:
Sue Wilson Designs: New York Collection - Background
Sue Wilson Designs: Finishing Touches - Cornflower
Frantic Stamper: Congrats

To start off, I created my background using a piece of YUPO synthetic paper and sprayed Purple Metallic Memories Mist on top.  I blotted off some of the excess ink with a paper towel, giving the appearance of texture.  YUPO paper takes a while to dry, so I let it dry overnight before completing the card.


The next layer was die cut using the Sue Wilson Designs background die and then heat set with Wisteria embossing powder from Sparkle N Sprinkle.  The Cornflowers are made up of multiple layers of various sizes of die cut copy paper (sprayed with more Memories Mist) stacked on top of each other.  Diamond Dust Twinklets glitter was added to the center of each flower as well.  The Delicate Fronds were die cut from both dark and light shades of purple.

The sentiment was added to the center and the outer edge of the card base was also heat embossed with Wisteria embossing powder.

Be sure to visit the rest of the team to see what they have created for this fun challenge and don't forget to upload your own monochromatic project by Nov 30th.

Monday, November 16, 2015

Birthday Queen



Birthday Queen is one of the new stamp sets released by Sparkle N Sprinkle this month.  This is a sweet stamp set perfect for all the princesses in your life.

I used a digi version for both the image and the sentiment.  The image was fussy cut out and Green Iris, Mystical Mauve, and Ocean glitters were added to her outfit.

The sentiment was die cut using a Tim Holtz Labels die and then Distress Ink was applied to the top using the direct to paper technique.  Clear embossing powder was then added for more shine.

Both of the background layers, as well as the belly strip, were dry embossed using an embossing folder set (Antique Elegance) that came in one of the Cardmaking and Papercrafting magazines.  Sequins are the finishing touch for this Princess's birthday card.


Thursday, November 12, 2015

Boogie Fever


Die-Versions has newly released Retro dies that will take you back to the fifties, sixties, and seventies.  Today we are going to remember those disco days of the seventies (which has now re-circled and is now popular again).  I've used the Retro Shoe die and two font dies for today's card.

To start out, I die cut the show twice from white cardstock and heat embossed each one with Gold Coast embossing powder by Sparkle N Sprinkle.  Next I used some new-to-me water based dye powders called Nuance by Magenta on glossy paper.  I sprinkled the dry powder onto the glossy paper and then heavily spritzed it with water.  I also used a brush to blend the colors somewhat.  These are very vibrant, which you know I love.

Once the glossy paper was dry, I die cut the Retro Show twice more and used the negative pieces for the inserts into the heat embossed shoes.  My sentiments are cut from the scraps of same glossy paper.  The font dies used are the Cuppycake font for the top one and Middle School font for the sentiment on the bottom.  I added a few sequins and some psychedelic patterned paper to complete our step back in time.

Now it's time to Boogie on.  Be sure to visit the Die-Versions blog often to see what the rest of the team has created with these newly released Retro dies.

Monday, November 9, 2015

Rainbows and Rain




Puddles, one of the new rubber stamp sets released by Sparkle N Sprinkle reminds me of playing out in the rain when I was a kid.

I used the digi version and printed the image out a couple times so that I could fussy cut out the following pieces: the umbrella, the raincoat, and the rubber boots.


For the umbrella, I cut out each section and then heat embossed each piece with a different embossing powder: Red Apple, Sapphire, Pumpkin, and Christmas Green.  The raincoat was heat embossed with Clear embossing powder and then covered with Galaxy Night glitter using the Glueless Glitter technique.  The Glueless Glitter technique was also used on the rain boots and they were finished with Daisy glitter.

In order to give a bit of color to the sentiment, I outlined each letter of the word "rainbow" with a Sakura glue pen and added the following glitters: Fire Engine Red, Orange Surprise, Daisy, Lator Gator, Ocean, Cobalt Glaze, and Purple Dust.  Ocean glitter was also added to each letter of the word "rain".

The rain drops in the background were created using Dimensional Glue and then covered with more Ocean glitter.  The multi-looped twill bow was stained like a rainbow with Distress Inks.  For the button in the center of the bow, I added some Dimensional Glue and covered it with more Ocean glitter.


Wednesday, November 4, 2015

Birthday Wishes {Scrapy Land #29}


It's the first Wednesday of the month and that means it's time for a new challenge from Scrapy Land Challenge Blog.  The theme is Anything Goes using any brand of low profile/steel ruled die that Scrapy Land sells.  The winner will receive a $15 gift certificate to go shopping at the Scrapy Land store.

The dies I used to create today's card are:
Die-Versions: Birthday Cut-Out
Sue Wilson Designs: Delicate Fronds, Delicate Daisy Complete Petals, Delicate Daisy Open Petals

 To start out, I created a background using a version of Joseph's Coat technique that I read about from a Technique Junkie's newsletter.   Instead of using a brayer to add your colors, you choose a stencil and add your inks.  I used Distress Inks and a blending tool.

Stencil before adding VersaMark

Colors added, plus the VersaMark


After cleaning the stencil, VersaMark was applied over the openings and heat set with Clear embossing powder.  Then I applied Black spritzed Dylusions Ink Spray over the entire area and wiped away the excess ink from the embossed areas.

Completed background



Once the background was complete, I cut it into three panels and die cut my "Birthday".  A strip of white cardstock heat embossed with Sparkle embossing powder was added behind the letters.




Sparkle embossing powder was also added to some of the die cut flower petals before assembling.


Now it's your turn.  You'll have until Nov 15th to upload your project.  Be sure to visit the rest of this very talented team to see what they have created for you.  If you are interested in being a Guest Designer for Scrapy Land, check out the Scrapy Land Challenge Blog to see how easy it is to apply.