Monday, June 26, 2017

Tropical Mermaid Alana



Today's card showcases the Tropical Mermaid Alana stamp set from Sparkle N Sprinkle.  I used the digi version of the stamp set and my background paper is also digi paper (Digi4002FS Watercolor Paper Blue). 

I brought in the digi paper first onto my Word document and then inserted the .png version of the image and layered it on top of the digi paper.  The image portion stayed white while the rest of the background was the digi paper.  I then changed the shape and added a silver border before printing the entire thing and fussy cutting it out.  

The image was colored with Copic markers. Shimmering Sea glitter and Sea Spray glitter accents her body.  Oceanic glass glitter was used to accent the sea floor and Neptune Nuvo Crystal Drops accent the water bubbles.
The sentiment was printed at the same time and die cut using a Sizzix die (Tim Holtz Labels).  While the die cut was still in the die, I outlined the inside of the die using a Sakura glue pen and then covered the glue line with Sea Spray glitter.  The small images inside the sentiment were colored with colored pencils.
A strip of 1/2" Tear-ific Tape and  1/8" Tear-ific Tape were added to the front panel and covered with more Oceanic glass glitter.  The sentiment was then pop dotted on top of these strips.


Wednesday, June 21, 2017

Koi {Scrapy Land Challenge #68}


Today is the start of a new Scrapy Land Challenge.  The theme is Embossing (heat or dry), plus use any brand of die that Scrapy Land sells.  There are over 50 different brand to choose from.  You can find them all here.

I think I went a little overboard as every die cut on this card was heat embossed😁.  These are the dies used to create this card:


Die-Versions: Oriental Screen
Die-Versions: Koi Fish (currently out of stock, but here are some other brands)
Die-Versions: Hello Express Edge (currently out of stock, but here are some other options)


I started out by die cutting the Oriental Screen, inking it up with alcohol inks and a felt applicator, and then heat embossing it with a mixture of embossing powders.  I keep a bottle of various embossing powders that I dumped together when I accidentally contaminated one color of embossing powder with another color.  (I also have a bottle of mixed glitters and a bottle of mixed flocks - for the same reason.  That way I don't waste any product.)




The Koi fish was also embossed with various colors of embossing powder.  I kept adding different colors of oranges, reds, and yellows (as well as a bit of glass glitter) until I was happy with the results.  The eyes were created by squeezing out a drop of Gloss White Nuvo Crystal Drops onto my craft mat and then immediately adding a smaller drop of Ebony Black Crystal Drops right in the center.  Once these were dry (20 - 30 minutes at most), I adhered them onto my embossed die cut.


The Hello Express Edge was also heat embossed.  Do you see all the texture on this?  The way I achieved this was to take a piece of (ugly) glitter cardstock that I knew I would never use and I heat set it with embossing powder.  I love the texture it gave, plus I was able to use some cardstock that would otherwise never have been used.  (I'm sure everyone has some of that type of cardstock on hand 😉.)



WE NOW HAVE TWO WINNERS PER CHALLENGE.  One is random and the other is chosen by the Design Team.  Each winner will receive a $10 gift certificate to go shopping at Scrapy Land.

Now it's your turn to join us for this fun themed Scrapy Land Challenge.  You have until July 2 to upload your project.  Be sure to check out what the rest of the Design Team has created too.



Monday, June 19, 2017

Swallowtail Butterflies


Today I am showcasing the new Swallowtail Butterflies stamp set from Sparkle N Sprinkle.  This set was designed so that you could do two-step stamping, plus lots of other techniques.  I had so much fun trying out various techniques with this set!  This is a long post with lots of step by step photos, so grab a drink and let's get started.

The first technique I want to show is an oldie but goodie called the "Kissing" Stamp Technique.  It's best to use pigment inks with this technique as the ink dries slower.  Start off by inking up the solid stamp.  I am using the larger of the two solid butterflies here.  Next, ink up a detailed stamp.  I am using the Crackle Background stamp.

The photo below shows each individual stamp ready to "kiss" each other.


Place one stamp on top of the other and press down slightly (just as you would if it were a piece of paper).

The results are that the ink from the detailed stamp transfers to the solid stamp.

Now press this two toned stamp onto your cardstock:

Here is another example using both the large and small solid stamps:




You can stamp the two toned detailed stamp to create a fun background for a future project:

This example shows that you can do triple "kissing" as well.  The first two steps are the as above.

Then take a third color and ink up the detailed butterfly stamp that comes with this set.  Press it on top of the two toned solid stamp and this is the result before it is stamped onto cardstock:

And this is how it looks on white cardstock:

I had lots of fun playing.  Bronze Splendor glitter was added to each of the butterflies bodies and each of the butterflies were heat embossed using Clear embossing powder:

First and second generation stamping of the "Triple Kissed" stamp:

First and second generation using the small butterfly and regular "Kissing":

Distress Oxides and regular stamping with the large detailed butterfly:



This one shows the traditional two-step stamping technique.  Ink the solid stamp with one color, stamp onto cardstock.  Ink the second, detailed butterfly stamp with a contrasting color and stamp on top of the solid butterfly on the cardstock.



For the completed card, I chose one butterfly from each of the techniques I used and adhered them onto my background.  The background was created by first die cutting a Spellbinders die (Tropical Paradise) from cardstock.  I die cut it from white cardstock and then used one of the same inks I used to create the butterflies to add color (using the direct to paper method).

I then die cut a piece of Super Adhesive Sheet using the frame die, which is part of the Spellbinders set.  I adhered the colored leaves die cut on top of the die cut frame and then filled in the remaining areas with Margarita velvet glitter.

The sentiment was stamped with the same color pigment ink and then heat set with Clear embossing powder.  This was die cut using a Sue Wilson die (Italian Collection - Umbria).  Three small dots were added using Nuvo Jewel Drops (Key Lime).

I hope you've enjoyed seeing these older techniques being used again and that they inspire you to try them again as well.


Wednesday, June 14, 2017

Umbrella Friends {Sparkle N Sprinkle Blog Hop}


Welcome to the Sparkle N Sprinkle
 June Reveal Blog Hop!


We are now revealing our new stamp sets on the 15th of each month.  On the first of the month, a new video kit club will be revealed.

NEW STORE - NEW BLOG - NEW PRODUCT LINES! 

We are continuing to add new product lines, so be on the look out for them.  The newest addition is Hampton Arts.


We have four new rubber stamp sets plus one huge digi bundle being revealed this month.  

The sets are:


Umbrella Friends 851  
(Digital Version DIGI851BG - additional sentiment)

Tropical Mermaid Alana 854
  (Digital Version DIGI854LS - additional sentiments)

Swallowtail Butterflies 856
(Digital Version DIGI856FS - see below)

Baby, Oh Baby 857
(Digital Version DIGI857SG - additional sentiments)

DIGI856FS - Swallowtail Butterflies (includes lots of additional colored images, additional sentiments, and digi paper)

When you purchase the digi versions of any of the SNS rubber sets, you are getting lots of extras that aren't available otherwise.  These extras include additional images and/or sentiments not available with the rubber version, digi papers (in some cases), and a cut file to use with your electronic cutting machines will also be included with all digi images purchased!

You're definitely going to want both the rubber versions as well as the digi versions of all our new releases.

The new sets are 20% off until June 20, 2017.  So once you finish the blog hop, head on over to the New Store and start shopping.

On June 18th, 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 the SNS Blog, will receive ALL of the new rubber stamp sets revealed this month.


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 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.  

 Wonder who the Mystery Host will be this month????



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!



We are also happy to announce the new and improved SNS Creative Challenge.  It will now be held on Facebook. 

 Search for the Sparkle N Sprinkle Creative Challenge group and ask to join today.  This is a closed group, but we want anyone who wants to participate to join (just trying to keep out spammers 😀).  You can join today!

 The new challenge will begin July 1 and will run from the 1st - 25th of each month.  A SNS image (either rubber or digi) needs to be used.  If you don't have any yet, no worries, there are some Freebies located on the new website.  They are located on the Home page, just scroll down a bit to see them:

The Winner and Top Three will be posted on the last day of each month.  The Winner will receive a $15 Gift Certificate to the new on-line store.  Please review all the Challenge Rules before submitting your photo.

We hope to see you soon in our new Facebook Group!


Now for a bit about my project.  I am showcasing the Umbrella Friends set with a fun fold shadowbox style card, which easily folds flat for mailing.





The photos above and to the left show the card at an angle so that you can see the fun fold more easily.

Strips of 1/4" Tear-ific Tape and 1/8" Tear-ific Tape were added to the front of the card and covered with Denim velvet glitter.





The image was colored with Copic markers and die cut using a Lifestyles Crafts die (Nesting Ovals).  The same die was used to die cut the opening on the front panel.  You adhere the focal point on the back panel.  Pan Pastels were used to color the background of the focal image.

Easy Green glitter accents the leaves and the umbrella and Nuvo Crystal Drops were used to accent the flower center (Sweet Lilac) and the earrings on the girl on the left (Dandelion Yellow).  Buttermilk Nuvo Crystal Drops accent the outer
Oval.

The sentiment was stamped with Memento Ink and then quickly heat set with Clear embossing powder.  A Sizzix die (Tim Holtz Labels) was used to die cut the sentiment.  Nuvo Aqua Flow markers (Autumn Woodland) were used to give a splash of color to the flower on the sentiment.  More Nuvo Crystal Drops (Buttermilk, Sweet Lilac) were also added to the die cut.  Pan Pastels were also used to color the background of the sentiment.

Your next stop on the June New Reveal Blog Hop is Belinda and I know she has something special for you.  Be sure to leave a comment on each of the Designers' Blogs for your chance to win all the rubber stamp sets revealed this month.

Wednesday, June 7, 2017

Find Joy {Scrapy Land Challenge #67}


It's the first Wednesday of the month and time for a new Scrapy Land Challenge.  The theme is Anything Goes using any brand of die that Scrapy Land sells.


The following dies were used:


Sue Wilson Designs: Noble dies-Double Pierced Rectangles Set B
Spellbinders: Grand Labels Eleven
Crafters Companion: Butterflies

I started out by stamping this Sitting Pretty Kitty image by Sparkle N Sprinkle onto white cardstock and coloring it with Copic markers.  This was then die cut using the Spellbinders die and cutting off the bottom portion.  Nuvo Jewel Drops (Orange Marmalade) was used to accent the flower centers and a touch of Black Ice glitter was added to the small butterfly sitting on the kitty's nose.

The two larger butterflies were die cut and then colored with Spectrum Noir Sparkle Markers.  The sentiment (which is from the Flowers Silhouette stamp set) was stamped twice - once with White Detail embossing powder and then again, but slightly offset, with Forest Green embossing powder.

The green patterned cardstock as well as the orange layer were die cut using the Sue Wilson die.  The completed panels were then adhered to a white card base.

A strip of lace was added to the bottom and the flower centers were given dimension by adding a drop of Orange Marmalade Nuvo Crystal Drops to each flower.

WE NOW HAVE TWO WINNERS PER CHALLENGE.  One is random and the other is chosen by the Design Team.  Each winner will receive a $10 gift certificate to go shopping at Scrapy Land.

Now it's your turn to join us for the latest Scrapy Land Challenge.  You have until June 18 to upload your project.  We can't wait to see what you create!