Winter Flamingos

Today's non-traditional Christmas card combines two of the new stamp sets released from Sparkle N Sprinkle this month.  I used the digi versions of Winter Flamingos Set 1 and Winter Flamingos Set 2 to create this fun scene.  You could do the same scene with the rubber versions by masking the flamingos that in the front.

After coloring the birds with Copic markers, I die cut the image using a square die from Crafters Companion and a scallop square from Lifestyle Crafts.  Then I went to work on the bling 😎.  I die cut several different snow flakes (Die-Versions, Spellbinders, Sizzix) from a piece of Super Adhesive Sheet and then covered the adhesive with a combination of Waterscape and Ocean glitters.

I also used the Glueless Glitter technique on the scalloped frame.  (Cover the area you want to have glitter on it with VersaMark, heat set with Clear embossing powder, cover again with VersaMark and cover with the glitter of you choice.  Heat set again and the glitter melts into the Clear embossing powder and won't fly away.  This is much easier than applying glue to an area, covering with glitter, and waiting for it to dry.  Especially if it is a larger area.)

A bit of Neon Flamingo glitter accents the tail feathers of the bright pink flamingo in the back.  Waterscape glitter also accents the snow mounds and snow flakes as well as the sentiment.  I used the Sakura glue pen to draw over the letters and then applied my glitter.

Winter Greetings

Continuing the Christmas in July theme, today's Sparkle N Sprinkle card combines the wreath and bird from the Winter Greetings Birds and Wreath set along with the Bob Hope quote from the Spirit of Christmas Poinsettias stamp set.

I started out by using my stamp positioner (the new and improved Tim Holtz Stamp Platforms are now in stock) and inking up the wreath with two different colors of green ink by Memento.  I left the stamp where it was and colored the leaves and holly berries with Copic markers.  I inked up the stamp again with VersaMark, stamped on top of my colored wreath, and heat set it with Clear embossing powder.  You can really see the dimension this extra step gave to the card.  I also inked up the Noel stamp (part of the Winter Greeting set) with VersaMark and heat set it with Red Apple embossing powder.

The sentiment was stamped with VersaFine and heat set with Clear embossing powder.  I accented this with one of the birds (also colored with Copic markers) from the Winter Greetings set.

To give a bit more sparkle to my Christmas card, I added Sparkling Snow glitter to the holly berries.  (I use this glitter so much that I decided to get the Economy jar 👀.) I also added two strips of 1/4" Tear-ific Tape along the edges of my card and covered the adhesive with the new Sterling velvet glitter.  (Love this color!)

I created a second card using these same sets and stamping technique, but I die cut the center of the front panel with a Spellbinders die (Classic Scallop Circle) and stamped the image on the inside panel.  I also dry embossed the front panel with an embossing folder that came with a CardMaker magazine.

When you open the card, you see the Bob Hope sentiment from the Spirit of Christmas Poinsettias set, stamped with VersaMark and heat embossed with Red Apple embossing powder.  Sterling velvet glitter also accents the edges of both the front panel as well as the edges of the inside.  The Holiday Wishes banner, which is part of the Winter Greetings set, was also heat embossed with Red Apple embossing powder.

Both of these cards are flat and can be easily mailed without extra postage.

Love Doves {Scrapy Land Challenge #70}

Hey everyone, it's Wednesday and that means it's time for a new Scrapy Land Challenge.  

We have great news to go along with today's challenge - ALL the challenges are now ANYTHING GOES using any brand of die that Scrapy Land sells.  So now there is no reason not to play along with us!

For my card today, I created a wedding card using the following dies:

Sue Wilson Designs - Frames and Tags Collection - Rose Oval

Sue Wilson Designs - Australian Collection - Background die

Spellbinders - Opulent Ovals

Die-Versions - Wedding Canopy

Impression Obsession - Love Doves

Jeanine's Art - Garden Classics Lace Frame, Side Oval

Since I was mailing this card, I needed to keep it flat, without a lot of bulk.  I started off by die cutting the Opulent Oval from a matte gold cardstock and then adhered it to the white cardstock base.  I added tulle on top of the oval to soften the entire look of the card.

The next layer is the Rose Oval, die cut from white cardstock. The Love Doves and the Bride and Groom from the Wedding Canopy (I fussy cut them away from the rest of the die cut) were heat embossed with Sparkle embossing powder from Sparkle N Sprinkle.  Even though these were also die cut from white cardstock, the sparkly embossing powder makes them stand out.

inside

On the inside of the card, I die cut the Opulent Ovals again from white cardstock and the gold, stamped my sentiment with VersaFine black ink, and then heat set it with Clear embossing powder.  The sentiment is from Joy Clair (Wedding Sentiments) stamp set.

I also added two of the negative pieces from the Jeanine's Art die cut in the corners.  The smallest dies from the Australian Collection Background die set were used to die cut a "pocket".  This pocket was adhered (on three sides, leaving the top open) to the inside bottom of the card front to hold a little something extra for the happy couple 💑 😁.

So now it's your turn to show us what you've got.  There are TWO WINNERS,  one random and one chosen by the designers, AND it's ANYTHING GOES using any brand of die that Scrapy Land sells.  There are over 55 brands of dies (it doesn't have to be the exact die), so more than likely you have at least one of them in your stash.  You can see them all here, under Products.

You have until July 30 to upload your projects to the current Scrapy Land Challenge.  Be sure to check out what the rest of the design team has created to inspire you.

Elf Peeker {Christmas in July Sparkle N Sprinkle New Reveal Blog Hop}

Welcome to the Sparkle N Sprinkle

 Christmas In July 🎄🎅🤶 New Reveal Blog Hop!

We have six new Christmas themed rubber stamp sets plus two huge digi bundles being revealed this month. 

The sets are:

 Winter Greetings Birds and Wreath 855

(Digital Version DIGI855FS) 

Elf Peeker 858

(Digital Version DIGI858BG)

Winter Flamingos Set 1 860

  (Digital Version DIGI860SG)

Winter Flamingos Set 2 861

(Digital Version DIGI861SG)

Spirit of Christmas Poinsettia 862

(Digital Version DIGI862B - huge digi bundle)

Crystal Snowflakes 868

(Digital Version DIGI868FS)

DIGI4005FS - Winter Greetings digi papers

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 not available with the rubber version, digi papers (in some cases), and now 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 July 20, 2017.  So once you finish the blog hop, head on over to the New Store and start shopping.

On July 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.

If we hit 100 participants in the blog hop, we will choose a 2ND WINNER!! (checked for compliance)

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:

Eret
Donna
Belinda
Anne (you are here)
Chris
Shona
Jess
Diane

(*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 very happy to announce that the new and improved SNS Creative Challenge is now being held on Facebook. 

 Head on over to 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 began July 1 and will run from the 1st - 25th of each month.  Be sure to read the Challenge Rules before adding a photo.  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 SNS 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 started out by coloring the Elf Peeker with Copic markers.  I added Imagination glitter to his belt buckle and Evening Glow glitter to the bells on his hat. Waterscape glitter accents the snow falling around him.

Moss Green embossing powder was applied to the edges of the green panel behind the image using the Distress Embossing Technique.  (Apply VersaMark around the edges using a sponge dauber, cover with your favorite embossing powder and heat set.)  The same technique was also used around the card base, but with Waterscape glitter.

An Impression Obsession die (Slider Frame die) was used to create the sentiment.  After measuring for the length of my pull-out piece, I stamped one of the sentiments from the stamp set with VersaFine (Black) and heat set it with Clear embossing powder.  I added a brad at the end to make pulling it out easier.  I also used the Distress Embossed Technique and more Moss Green embossing powder around the edges of the pull out.

I added a sticker that I have had in my stash for years to the end of the pull out and added a bit of Peanut Butter embossing powder to the cookie chips. 

Once you pull the slider piece out completely, it reveals the rest of my sentiment.  I also stamped this sentiment with VersaFine (Black) and heat set it with Clear embossing powder.

Now it's time to hop on over to see what fun project Chris has created for you.  Don't forget to leave a comment on each of the Designers' blogs in order to be eligible to receive ALL of the rubber stamp sets revealed this month.  (It is checked for compliance😀.)

C - YA Later {Scrapy Land #69}

It's time for a new Scrapy Land Challenge.  Since it's the first Wednesday of the month (can you believe it is already July?!), that means the theme is Anything Goes using any brand of die that Scrapy Land sells.

The following dies were used for this card:

Frantic Stamper - Big Car

Impression Obsession - Winding Road/Stream

Memory Box - Puffy Clouds

Die-Versions - My Micro font (retired, but any small font will work)
Sue Wilson Designs (Noble dies - Double Pierced Rectangles Set B)

I started out by die cutting the car body from white cardstock and coloring it with Pan Pastels.  Next, I covered the car body with VersaMark, sprinkled on some Sparkling Snow glitter and then heat set it with Clear embossing powder.

The "chrome" pieces were die cut from a strip of metal foil tape used for duct work repair.  I adhered a strip of the foil tape onto a scrap of white cardstock and then ran it through my die cutting machine.  I love that this die even cuts out the metal frame that goes around the license plate.  

The license plate was colored with Copic Markers.  The letters were die cut using the My Micro font and then everything was heat embossed with Clear embossing powder.

The focal panel was die cut with the Noble die and then colored with Pan Pastels.   The "road" was adhered first and then the car was pop dotted above the road.  Puffy clouds were added as a finishing touch.

Now it's your turn to come play with us.  You have until July 19th to upload your project.  There are now TWO winners chosen - one by the designers and one is random!  So now you have a double chance of winning.  We still have the Top Three and Honorable Mention as well.

Baby Oh Baby

Baby Oh Baby is one of the new stamp sets revealed this month from Sparkle N Sprinkle.  I used the digi version and layered her on top of some old digi papers that I've had for a long time.

The image was colored with Copic markers and the flowers in her hair were accented with Nuvo Crystal Drops (Sweet Lilac).  The baby die cuts are from Die-Versions (Baby Icons) and were also colored with Copic markers.

The frames were outlined with 1/4" Tear-ific Tape and covered with Pinkerbell glitter.

This is a quick and easy baby card that could be easily adapted for a boy or a girl.