Do What Makes You Happy

I have a fun beach themed card to share with you today.  (But if you know me, I wear flip flops pretty much all year round 😀.)

I've used the Flip Flops die from the exclusive line at Cheapo Dies and added red Liquid Applique to the straps.

The sentiment was stamped with red ink and heat embossed with Clear embossing powder.

The frame was created using a variation of the Mitered Frame tutorial at Splitcoast Stampers.

Go out today and do more of what makes you happy!!

Four Seasons {Scrapy Land Challenge #17}

Scrapy Land Challenge #17 begins today and the theme is Anything Goes using any brand of die that Scrapy land sells.  


Scrapy Land is also having a Guest DT call.  Visit the Scrapy Land Challenge Blog to find out how you can be a part of this team.  All the information needed to apply is included in the Challenge #17 post.

For this challenge, I've used two stamp sets to create a card for each of the four seasons:  Seasonal Trees by Sparkle N Sprinkle and Simple Sayings CMS155  by Stampers Anonymous.

Spring

As you can see from the photo on the right, each of the sentiment banners are curved for added interest.  Each of the sentiments were stamped onto vellum with Distress Inks and then heat set with Clear embossing powder.


The dies used for these cards are  Spellbinders (Labels Twenty-Eight, Grand Labels Large) and Paper Smooches (Dots and Dashes).

Summer

The edges around the die cut and the sentiment banner were heat embossed using Copper Peddler embossing powder and Distress Inks  (Faded Jeans, Picked Raspberry, Ripe Persimmon, Mowed Lawn) were used to stamp each of the images.

Fall

Winter

Liquid Applique was used to create snow on the branches of the winter scene.

Be sure to check out what the rest of the design team has created for your inspiration.  You have until May 17th to upload your project.  The winner, chosen by the Designers, will receive a gift certificate to go shopping at Scrapy Land.    And don't forget to check out how easy it is to become a Guest Designer.

Glasses {Sparkle N Sprinkle March Reveal)

Welcome to Sparkle N Sprinkle's 

March 1, 2015 Reveal.

This month SEVEN new rubber stamp sets are being introduced.   These sets are 20% off their regular price, until March 3rd.  All the new reveal sets are available on Cling Mounted Rubber and as a digital image.  Glasses #698 is the stamp set featured in  This Month's Technique Video.

The sets are:

Coffee Time #694   (digi version DIGI694)

Coffee Shoppe #695   (digi version DIGI695)

Best Friends Forever #696  (digi version DIGI696)

Mustache #697   (digi version DIGI697)
Glasses #698  (digi version DIGI698)
Expresso Yourself #699  (digi version DIGI699)
Coffee Talks #700  (digi version DIGI700)

On March 3rd,  one Grand Prize Winner will be selected from the comments left on the designers' blogs listed below.  The Grand Prize Winner will receive

all SEVEN of the new rubber stamp sets (or digi sets, if you prefer)

The winner of the blog hop will be announced on March 3 on Facebook, the SNS blog, and on our blogs.  This month's Blog Hop order is:

April Williams
Shona Erlenborn
Eret Pank
Anne Temple
Marie Berquist
Belinda Shupe

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

Don't forget to leave a comment with each Designer to be eligible for the Grand Prize.  We love reading your comments and hope we have inspired you as well.  If you absolutely can not leave a comment for some reason, please email icinganne@yahoo.com with your comment and the name of the blog or Designer you are commenting about.

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A new SNS Creative Challenges also begins today, with lots of prizes and recognition badges.  The theme is always Anything Goes using Loose Glitter, Embossing Powder, and or Flock.
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Main Street Shop Hop

If you live anywhere in the Tampa Bay area of Florida, Sparkle N Sprinkle is participating in the Main Street Shop Hop, along with other local crafting stores.  The Shop Hop begins March 21st. 

You can purchase a tote for $10 to participate.  Included in the tote are lots of goodies, plus your shopping passport.  Spend $5 at each participating store to get your passport stamped.  Once you have all of your stamps, turn in your passport for a chance to win HUGE prizes!  In addition to receiving 10% off your purchases, each store will be offering Make N Takes so you can fill your scrapbook with treasured memories. 

For more information about this event, please visit the SNS Events Calendar.  When you hover your mouse over the event, detailed information about that specific event pops up.

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We hope you enjoy the New Reveals as much as we do!  Last month the winner came from Anita's blog.  Wonder which Designer contains the Grand Prize winner this month?

Now for a little bit about my card, which was inspired by an eye chart stencil I had.  I found some free clip art that had both a clear version and a blurry version of the famous eye chart and went from there.

I really wanted the glasses to pop, so after stamping them onto plain cardstock, I fussy cut them out (including the inside of the frame where the lens would be) and covered the entire thing with red Liquid Applique.  Did you know that if you don't heat set it, it dries shiny?  It's best to let it dry overnight though.  Then, after printing out both versions of the eye chart, I cut out a portion of the clear version so it would fit inside the frame of my glasses.

The sentiment, which is part of the set, was stamped with VersaMark, covered with Amethyst Spray embossing powder, and heat set.  It was die cut from a Lifestyles Craft Nesting Scallops Oval die.  The frame around the blurry eye chart, which was die cut with a stitched rectangle die (from Simon Says Stamp), and the arrow (a die from Momenta that I found at a local craft box store) were both covered with VersaMark and Abracadabra embossing powder and then heat set.  Love all the shimmery colors in this embossing powder.  I die cut the arrow twice, once from cardstock and once from white fun foam.  I adhered the heat embossed arrow onto the fun foam arrow, slightly offsetting it, to give it dimension as well as a bit of a shadow effect at the same time.

The background was die cut using a Spellbinders die (Grand Large Labels) and then I used various colors of Pan Pastels to stencil the Eye Chart, the Honeycomb and Burlap (all from Tim Holtz) onto the background.  Once my background was finished, I covered the entire piece with VersaMark, added Sparkle embossing powder, and heat set it.  

Now it's time for you to head on over to see the cool project that Marie has created for you.  I know you won't be disappointed!  Be sure to leave a comment on all of our blogs for you chance to win all 7 of these rubber stamp sets!  

Made With Love

Die-Versions' Made With Love Sweet Petite and one of the Cold Weather Wee Petites are combined to create the perfect label for your holiday gift giving.

Most everyone loves a homemade gift from the heart and this one combined a oversized mug with homemade hot chocolate  mix.  All the recipient has to do is add hot water.

To start off, die cut the Made with Love and cover the center heart with Distress Stickles dry glitter (Rock Candy).  Let dry.  Die cut the steaming mug of deliciousness from the Wee Petites die.  There are five small dies that are connected with a thin wire.  You can either cut the wires with scissors to have each one separate, or you can leave them all together and die cut all at once.  For me, it's easier to snip the wires so I can die cut which shape I want when I want.

I die cut this mug out of manilla cardstock and then covered with Mountain Mint velvet glitter from Sparkle N Sprinkle.  Liquid Applique was applied to the "steam" and along the edge of the mug and heated.  This makes the Liquid Applique bubble and add lots of dimension to a project.  I used dimensional dots and adhered this to the center of the glittered heart.

The base was cut using a scalloped circle and was also covered with Mountain Mint velvet glitter.  Since this is a semi-transparent glitter, the color of the cardstock makes subtle difference in the final outcome.  As I mentioned earlier, the mug was die cut from manilla cardstock and the circle from white cardstock.  This is a great was to add subtle differences while using the same glitter.  (Of course this wouldn't work with opaque glitters.)

Adhere the Made With Love die cut to the glittered circle to complete the label.  As a finishing touch, I added a small strip of double sided adhesive to the center of the back of the label and adhered the ribbon.  Tie it around the bag and your gift from the heart is all ready to give.

Heath Hunter

The first Wednesday challenge from Dude Time Doodles is all about Fall Colors.  Heath Hunter is decked out in his autumn finery and all ready to go hunting.

Heath's jacket and hat are paper pieced and I added liquid applique to the hat flaps and the sleeves to resemble shearling.   He's colored with Copic markers and fussy cut out.  Added a few other dies and the scene is set for whatever comes Heath's way (preferably clay pidgins).

Don't forget to check out what the rest of the Dude/Dudettes have created for your fall viewing pleasure.


Copics used: YR14, YR18    E00, E21, E11, R20    E74, E49, E79    B16, B18, B39, B63    YG93, YG97, C3, YG99    E18, E49, C1, C3, T3    RV11, R85    E35, E25

50s Pattiboop

Challenge #55 from Pattie's Creations is to use Fall/Autumn Colors.  Even though I wasn't around in the 50's, I assume Poodle skirts came in fall colors too (for some reason I always think of them as pink), so I decided to have 50's Pattiboop dressed up in her favorite fall Poodle skirt.

She's colored with Copic markers and I printed the image twice so I could pop up the bottom of her skirt for more dimension.  The whip cream on the ice cream float is actually liquid applique.

I thought this would be my last posting for Pattie's Creations, as the one year term for the team is up.  But I'm so excited to say that I was asked to stay on for another six months!

Copics used: YR20, YR31, YR23, E33, E99   YR15, YR16, YR18    YR20, YR21, YR23    T5, T7, T8    E00, E01, E11, R20    YG01, YG23, BG18    T0, T1, BV23    R46, R59, C2, C5

Time Flies

Travel is the theme for the First Wednesday Dude Time Doodles challenge.  Ahoy Matey Matt, a Bonibleaux Designs image, wanted to show you his favorite way to travel - with time flying out the door (thanks to a bit of Capt. Morgan's rum).  Matt is technically retired, but came back special for this event.  So if you really like him, you need to go get him quickly as he will go back into retirement.  (He just couldn't help himself, wanting to share a bit o' the Captain with his friends.)

He's colored with Copics and cut with the Wonky Squares die from Spellbinders.  Glossy Accents and Liquid Applique were added to his mug of beer.  (Matt likes his mug o' beer followed by a rum chaser. Everyone has their own particular tastes.)

The post card is a rubber stamp (unknown manufacturer) as is the clock face in the background (Stampin Up).  The card base is Graphic 45.  The sentiment is part of this pirate set,  from Boniblaux Designs.

Now show us your favorite travel projects.  They can be anything, as long as it's for a dude.  You'll have one week to upload your creation to the Dude Time Doodles challenge blog.

Pattie's Creations Winter Fun Blog Hop

(For the Stamping with the Dragon post, please scroll down.)

I'm so excited that Pattie's Creations is having a Winter Fun Blog Hop.  So get warm and cozy and start hopping. 

We have several sponsors PLUS some of our DT are offering a prize.  To view all the great prizes, visit Pattie's Creations Design Challenge blog. 

 In order to qualify to win you MUST:

1.  Join/Follow ALL blogs in this hop.

2.  Leave a comment with an email so we can reach you if you are a winner.  Plus, mention that you have joined this blog.

3.  Click the Facebook button at the bottom of the post to share this Hop on your FB page.  (Not all of the DT have FB buttons.)

I decided to use Ice Skater Pattieboop for the winter hop from Pattie's store as she's enjoying a fun winter activity.  The image is colored with Copic markers and I added glossy accents to the ice so it's quite shiny.  Liquid applique was added to the mountain tops and PanPastels were used to create the sky.  As you can see, I didn't make a card this time; it's more of an easel so it could be left on the recipient's desk top.  The sentiment is a rubber stamp from Serendipity and is stamped with Distress Inks (Broken China) and heat embossed with clear embossing powder.

Now for the Blog hop order.  You should have come from Pattie; if not, just start at the beginning (PCDC) and hop your way along.  Your next stop on this fun adventure is Ashley.  Don't forget to follow the blog hop rules for your chance to win some fabulous prizes and make sure you check each blog's requirements, as some DT might require additional information.

The Hop will end at 1 P.M. (Central Standard Time) on Sunday, December 18th, and the winners will be announced on Tuesday, December 20th sometime in the afternoon.  Our DT will have their own winners posted on their blogs!

PCDC

Pattie

Anne (that's me)

Ashley

Charlene

Jamie

Juelmarie

Liz

Margy

Melody

Stephanie

Sandi

Good luck, stay warm, and enjoy this winter adventure!

Copics used: BOOOO, BOOO, BOO    E00, E21, E31    E07, E09, E18    YG93, YG95, YG97, YG99, YG63, YG67, W3, W4, W5, W6, W7    BV000, BV01, BV02, BV04, BV17

Yoo Hoo Presents

Who wouldn't want to get presents from this cute little guy?  Yoo Hoo Presents from Stamping Dragon Designs is all decked out in his Santa hat and is ready to start handing out the goodies he brought.  Hope you get what you wanted.

Copic markers were used to color this image, liquid applique was used on the hat, and Smooch Pearlized inks were used for the ornaments.  The paper is from Echo Park.

There's still time to enter the current challenge (Bling It Christmas) going on at Stamping with the Dragon and be sure to visit the rest of the team to see what they've come up with too.

Couple of other bits of information for you:
  ~ head on over to Stamping Dragon Designs as Janette is doing the 12 Days of Giveaways and giving away one free thing each day for 12 days.
  ~ there is a 40% off sale of EVERYTHING at the Stamping Dragons Designs store, so go shopping!
  ~ a design team call is going on now.  Head on over to the Stamping with the Dragon challenge blog for all the details.  You'll be able to pick up a free image of Rupert and then apply by 12/23/11.  Good luck to all who submit their application.  This is a great team to be on.

Duck - Snowball Warrior

(outside)

You better not pout....or the Snowball Warrior will have to take some action and believe me, his aim is spot on!

 

(inside)

It's the second Wednesday of the month and that means it's time for the Guest Design Team Challenge and a freebie from Dude Time Doodles.  Head straight over to the Dude Time Doodles Challenge Blog to pick up your own Snowball Warrior, use him for something fun and creative, and upload him for your chance to be a gdt.  You won't be disappointed!




For my card, I used the out of the box technique and a new Sizzix Framelits (Scallop Oval) to cut out this cutie.  I was going for a night sky and used Copic markers for the sky and for the image.  Liquid applique was used to give the snow balls dimension and to make the snow flakes.  The sentiment is from Create with TLC and I added a couple snowflake stickers where the brads go.


On the inside, I created the second part of the sentiment on my computer, cut it out with Lifestyle Crafts Nested Scallop Ovals #3 and shaded with a Copic marker.  The snowflake border is from Memory Box and I embossed both the border as well as the stack of snow balls on the inside of the card with glittery embossing powder that I made myself.  (I combined glitter with a jar of clear embossing powder and I love the effect.)  You can see it really well on the close up of the snowballs, but I couldn't capture a good picture of the snow flake border (but it looks just like the snow balls - lots of sparkle).

Be sure to visit the other design team members, as well as our guest designer for this month, cg, and see their takes on this fierce warrior.  You have until next Tuesday to upload your creation to the DTD Challenge Blog.

DTD Jan Sketch Challenge

Guess what?  It's time for the Dude Time Doodles sketch challenge!  I've combined Ride Like The Wind Rocky and Putt Putt Hearts from Bonibleaux Designs.  As you can see by Rocky's tat, he loves his mom (what a good boy)!

To create Rocky, I printed him twice, so I could add dimension to his arm and leg.  It's a little hard to see in the photo, but I pop dotted his hand, his knee, and his foot.   (His shoulder and hip are flush with the body.)   He really does look like he's riding his Hog in real life!  I used Copic markers for all my coloring.  The background and the sunburst (a rubber stamp from 100 Proof Press) are airbrushed with Copics.  (I love how you can turn the marker one way and get a smooth result and turn it the other way and get speckles.  I'm partial to the speckles - as you can tell!).

I wanted the putt putt heart exhaust coming from the pipes to be more like puffs of smoke, so I used Liquid Applique on each one and then outlined them in black so they stood out better.  I also used a silver metallic rub on for all the chrome on Rocky's bike.  The sentiment is a play on words from the song "Born to Wild" by Steppenwolf :
Get your motor running 
Head out on the highway 
Looking for adventure 
In whatever comes our way

Do you have the song running through your head now?  At least it's a cool tune!   Now it's YOUR turn to play (Valentine's Day IS just around the corner). 

Here's the sketch and the rules.  

1. You will have one week to flip the Sketch, twist the Sketch, work the Sketch and submit the Sketch.
2. You are not required to use Bonibleaux Designs, although it would make us really really happy and giggle a lot if you did!
3. MUST be a masculine themed card, you can use humor, innuendo, be a little naughty, sarcastic, but it has got to be for a DUDE!
4. Be sure to use the InLinkz button at Dude Time Doodles to submit your creation. 

Designer ‘Rain Drop Echo’ (also known as Ann) is our wonderful sponsor this month.  Ann creates sentiment and digital word art files and watermarks/custom watermarks which are available for purchase at Whimsy Stamps.  She also coordinates the Challenge Blog Sentimental Sundays.  Check out Ann’s blog to see her amazing projects.  Then head over to Dude Time Doodles to check out what Ann has graciously donated to the winner this month.  


The Top Three and Top Blog winners will be announced on Tuesday,  Jan 11 at Dude Time Doodles.  So be sure to check back to see if you won!

Copics used (in group order): E50, E51 ,E53, R20    R17, RV14, R27    B21, B26    N4, N5, N6, N7, T5, T6, T7    R46, R27, RV09      E49    W000, W00, WO     T5, T6, T7     B00, B24, W6, W7    FY1, R08,W00

Cardinal

Today I designed a very simple card using Spellbinders dies,  rubber stamps and die cut sets from Heartfelt Creations, and a little Liquid Applique.


First, using Distress inks, I stamped the tree branch from the Heartfelt Creations' Holly Berry Filler set onto white cardstock, which was pre-cut using Labels One from Spellbinders.  I also used my clear Spica glitter pen to highlight each pine needle as well as the outside of this first layer.  I used a Copic marker to color in the branch itself and then applied the Liquid Applique for snow.  Distress ink was also used to ink the edges of the other two layers die cut with Labels One.


The cardinal was a bit trickier for me because I have the Heartfelt Creations dies, but not the rubber stamp set that goes with these dies.  So I improvised a little since I do have the Holiday Cardinal Mailbox pre-cut rubber stamp set.  So I stamped the image onto glossy cardstock that I pounced red alcohol inks to make a background, then embossed him with black embossing powder.  I then cut the cardinal out using the Cardinal Family die cuts and adhered my cardinal onto the branch.


My sentiment (which I also outlined with a clear Spica pen for added sparkle) also came from the Holiday Cardinal Mailbox set and was stamped onto my label created using the Ribbon Tags Trio from Spellbinders.   Used a little bit of raffia, and tied everything together.