Hello

I used the Playful Kittens exclusive die from Cheapo Dies.  This was die cut from watercolor paper and watercolored with Zig Clean Color Real Brush watercolor markers.

I actually die cut it a second time from a scrap of white cardstock so I could cut off the ball and string of yarn and add real twine around the ball and let it string along.  This gave it tons of dimension.

The sentiment was from a Concord and 9th stamp set (Bitty Burst) and stamped with VersaFine ink.  I then heat set it with Clear embossing powder.

Loads of Love

I have a new project using Cheapo Dies to share with you on this fabulous Friday!  I used this 11 piece die set called Loads of Love to create this fun card:

To start out, I die cut everything from white cardstock and then used Copic markers to color the truck and the sentiment.  Although it's hard to tell in the photo, the sentiment has an ombre effect, going from light pink to a darker pink.

The hearts were also colored with Copics and a bit of bling was added to them using a Spectrum Noir Sparkle Marker (Clear).  The hub caps were colored with a Wink of Luna metallic marker (Silver).

A bit of washi tape and twine are used for the finishing touches to this cute and simple card.  I think this would be great for a guy or a gal.

Don't forget to visit the Cheapo Dies Blog regularly to see what the rest of the Design Team is creating with these wonderful Cheapo Dies.

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 Red, Orange Surprise, Daisy, Lator Gator, Jasper Blue, Cobalt 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).

Spiders, Oh My!

This was such a fun Halloween card to create.  I started off by die cutting the recently released Spider Web die from Die-Versions from white cardstock for the web and a shimmery black cardstock for the spiders.

The stone wall background was created using a Crafters Companion embossing folder (Dry Stone Wall).  I inked up the inside of the folder with Distress Ink (Fired Brick) before running the grey cardstock through my machine.  Love how the ink transfers onto the paper when you do this technique.  The spiders come in two sizes with this die and I added a little red hourglass on both of their backs and googly eyes to the larger one.

Next comes the fun part.  I heat embossed my spider web with Glow in the Dark embossing powder.  The glow in the dark powder gives you a really cool effect.

This is what it looks like in the dark.  Very fun to see, but very hard to photograph.  I can never find the right button to push in the dark and then I have to keep it steady so that it isn't blurry.  I let a little light come through so that you could still see the rest of the card.

The funky pumpkins were fussy cut from patterned paper and Spica glitter pens were used to give them a bit of sparkle here and there.

Express Yourself

Expresso Yourself is one of the March new reveals from Sparkle N Sprinkle.  I used the digi version (DIGI699) and created a tag.

After printing and coloring the image with Copic markers, the image was die cut using a Spellbinders die (Labels Four) and the edges distressed with Distress Ink (Tea Dye).  Caramel embossing powder was added to the swirl on the coffee cup and Gypsy Red velvet glitter was sprinkled over SNS Dimensional Glue added to the steam.

The tag was created using Wendy Vecchi's Splattered Plaster Technique by combining Archival inks (Manganese Blue and Saffron) with rubbing alcohol and spritzing with Dylusions Ink Spray (White Linen).  Once this dried I stamped images from the SNS Journal Mixed Media set.  The coffee rings were stamped with VersaMark and heat embossed with more Caramel embossing powder.  The other images were stamped with the Archival inks.

I created a ribbon flower and added twine for a finishing touch.

Mustache

I have a fun and quick masculine card today using the new Mustache stamp set from Sparkle N Sprinkle.  It's a tall, thin card, so it would fit in a business envelope for easy mailing.

I started out by cutting a circle and drawing where the hair line should be and then colored it in with Copic markers.  After stamping the large mustache, I fussy cut it out and then colored it with the same colors as his hair.  The monocle was then heat embossed with Blackened Bronze embossing powder and colored with Copics.  As a final step, the mustache is pop dotted for more dimension.

All of the patterned papers came from my scraps.  The tabs are dies from Taylored Expressions (Simple Tabs).  I masked the sentiment so it could be stamped onto the two tabs, stamped each part with VersaMark, and then heat embossed with Forest Green embossing powder.  Memento Ink (New Sprout) adds a touch of added color to the tabs.

Heavy twine was added to the bottom of the card with 1/2" Tear-ific Tape.  Once the twine was placed where I wanted it,  Lavender Iris glitter was sprinkled over the rest of the tape to cover the remaining exposed adhesive.  It give the card a subtle touch of sparkle without being over the top.  And who says you can't add glitter to a guy card?  Not me :-).

Bubble Gum

Today's card showcases the new Bubble Gum rubber stamp set from Sparkle N Sprinkle.

To start off, I stamped the image in Barn Door Distress Ink and heat embossed it with Clear embossing powder.  The rest of the image is colored with Copic markers.  I added a very healthy dose of Glossy Accents to the "glass bowl" holding all the bubble gum pieces.  It took this quite a while to dry, but I like that it really looks like a piece of glass.

The embedded embossing technique was used to create the sentiment tag.  I started off by stamping one of the sentiments from the set with VersaMark, covering it with White Detail embossing powder, and heat setting the powder.  Next apply VersaMark over the entire tag, which is a die cut from Taylored Expressions (Tag Stacklets 1), cover with Clear embossing powder and heat set again.

I created a frame from black cardstock and then adhered several different colors of twine around the edge to create a multicolored frame.  Distressed embossing technique was added to the edges of the larger patterned paper using Faded Jeans Distress Ink and Clear embossing powder.

For more details, you can also visit my Sparkle N Sprinkle Art Gallery.  (You can search under my name to see all the projects I have worked on since becoming a Designer too.)

Sparkle N Sprinkle Aug 1 Reveal

Welcome to Sparkle N Sprinkle's August 1 Reveal.

This month SIX new stamp sets are being introduced. These sets are 20% off their regular price, until August 3rd.  All the sets are available on Cling Mounted Rubber and as a digital image. The Sunflower, set #643 is the stamp set featured in  This Month's Technique Video.

The sets are:

Knight Owl #632     (Digi version: DIGI632)

Sunflower #643     (Digi version: DIGI643)

A Little Note #645     (Digi version: DIGI645)

Pilgrim Thanksgiving #646     (Digi version: DIGI646)

Wisps of Autumn #647     (Digi version: DIGI647)

Witchy Gerty #648     (Digi version: DIGI648)

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

1) all SIX of the new rubber stamp sets

or 

2) all the new digital stamps and digital stamp sets. 

The new SNS Creative Challenges also begins today, with lots of prizes and recognition badges. 

The winner of the blog hop will be announced on August 3 on Facebook, the SNS blog, and on our blogs:

Anita Scroggins
April Williams
Belinda Shupe
Emmy van den Heuvel
Eret Pank
Marie Berquist
Shona Erlenborn
Steff Munnings
Anne Temple

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.

We hope you enjoy the New Reveals as much as we do!

Wonder which Designer contains the Grand Prize this month?

Now for a little bit about my project.  I decided to use the digi version of A Little Note and colored her with Copic markers.  Using a Sakura Glue pen, I applied the glue and added Sunny Daze glitter to the flowers and Bubblegum glitter was added to the bow's on the little girl's outfit.  

The heart button was customized with Firecracker Red embossing powder.  You can watch a short video here, describing the process.  It's really easy to bling your brads and buttons this way.

Lil Inker's Designs Quilted Stitched Pattern die is the background for this sweet image and the sentiment was die cut using the Sizzix Labels, Fancy #3.  A little twine wrapped around the panels finishes it off nicely.

Hope you enjoyed the SNS New Reveal and that something has caught your eye.  Don't forget to leave each of us a comment for your chance at the Grand Prize.

Hello

I needed a quick thank you type note card and I decided to do some inlay die cutting to give it a little more punch.

This really was quick and easy to make.  Start off by cutting you circle from patterned paper and then die cut the sentiment, I used a die from Savvy Stamps, in the center of the circle.  Be sure to save the little "extra" parts from the letters as you'll need to re-insert these later.  You can save the actual "hello" for a different project.  Die cut the sentiment again, this time from solid cardstock and insert it into the circle.  Here is a trick I use to adhere those little pieces back into the "e", "l", and "o".  I added regular tape to the back side of the circle, making sure that the open parts of the letters was covered with the tape.  Then I turned it back over to the front side the adhesive from the tape will let you stick those little pieces in where they belong.

On the inside of the card, I die cut the Vest Card from Die-Versions out of the same patterned paper.  I wanted it to look quilted, like a hunting vest would be.  So I dry embossed it using the Die-Versions Diamonds Background die.  I did the same technique to the front of the card as well.

Here is the vest opened.  I added a small strip at the bottom inside of the vest so I could tuck my note inside (without having to worry that it would fall out in transit).

I also added a strip (read "scrap") of the same patterned paper to the envelope for a coordinated note card look :-).

SNS May Reveal

Welcome to Sparkle N Sprinkle's May Reveal.

Our website was not playing nicely, so we are a bit late showing off our May projects with the new images.

This month Sparkle N Sprinkle is introducing EIGHT new rubber stamp sets and 5 new digital sets. Through May 21, the rubber stamp sets are 20% off their regular price.
The beautiful Nesting Bird set is available:
 on Cling Mounted Rubber
as a digital image
and is also included in Jazzy Jill's Technique Video for the month.

SPECIAL FOR VIDEO KIT CUSTOMERS ONLY:
FREE shipping any size order. When checking out in the on-line store, please use a credit card (not PayPal) and write VIDEO KIT CUSTOMER in the COMMENTS section. Your account will be manually adjusted.
Video Kit Customers using PayPal, please phone the office to receive free shipping.
Offer expires May 21, 2014.

On May 21 EIGHT winners will be selected from the comments left on the designers' blogs listed below. Each winner will receive a new stamp set, and the choice of one embossing powder and glitter to go with their new set.

The new stamp sets are:

Travel Mixed Media #607
Floral Flourish #634
Leafy Flourish #641
Nesting Bird #602   (digital available)
Church Sympathy #604   (digital available)
Across the Miles #603   (digital available)
Spunky with Flowers #605 (digital available)
Garden Silhouette #600 (digital available)

Now a little bit about my project.

I've chosen the Across the Miles stamp set to showcase today.  After coloring the image with Copic markers, I added Dimensional Glue to the flower centers and covered it with Bubble Gum glitter.

Using a WeR Memory Keepers Envelope board, I created an envelope to fit the image and one of the sentiments from the set was randomly heat embossed over the entire area with Tangy Tangerine embossing powder.

Numbers and Letters embossing folder (by Spellbinders) was used to create the background for my envelope.  I ran some VersaMark over the entire area and sprinkled some Opaline embossing powder over it and heat set.

I added a bit of twine to the end of my fishtail banner, which I scored along the edges with a score board.  Another sentiment is also heat embossed with Tangy Tangerine embossing powder on the banner.  As a finishing touch, the Distressed Embossing technique was done around the edges of the card base, using Distress Ink (Mowed Lawn) and Clear embossing powder.

I will be showcasing the other new stamp sets in this month's release each weekday beginning on May 21st, including the Nesting Bird (which you've already seen a sneak peek for).  So I hope you come back (daily) to see the rest of my projects with these new stamp sets.

The blog hop winners will be announced on May 21 on Facebook, the SNS blog, and on our blogs:

Anita Scroggins
Steff Munnings
Donna Ellis

Shona Erlenborn
Eret Pank
Mayra Hernandez
Emmy van den Heuvel
Belinda Shupe
Marie Berquist
April Williams
Anne Temple (you're here)

Thanks for being patient with us and hope you've enjoyed this extra special Sparkle N Sprinkle Blog Hop.

Smart Phone

Here is a really quick and easy card using the Smart Phone die from My Favorite Things.  I was able to use scraps for each of the components (you've got to love that!).  The card base, which is a small note size, was dry embossed with the Cuttlebug Distress Stripes embossing folder.  Twine and sequins finish it off.

Told you it was really quick and easy  :-)

Winter Cardinal

 A Winter's Cardinal from Sparkle N Sprinkle is one of the five new rubber stamp sets debuting this month.

I started out by coloring him with Copic markers and then using the Nesting Scallop Oval by Lifestyle Crafts.  The background is chalked in for a soft looking sky.  A VersaMarker ink pen was used to apply ink to the pine needles, which were then heat embossed with Pine embossing powder.

This cute file folder was created using the WR Memory Keepers Envelope Punch board.  You can view a You Tube video here, although a friend talked me through how to make one.  I used the Distress Embossing Technique on the edges of the file folder and the edges of the card base by applying VersaMark and Gold Tinsel embossing powder.

I wanted to place my sentiment on the inside of the file folder, but thought it was a bit plain.  So, I stamped the new Crystal Medallion into the center with Memento Danube Blue ink and then stamped the sentiment on top of this with VersaMark and heat set it with White Detail embossing powder.

A bit of twine and a pine cone shaped button are the finishing touches to this beautiful cardinal.  You can also visit my SNS Art Gallery page for more detailed instructions.

Musical Kids

Die-Versions new release this month is all about music and I've incorporated four of the new dies into this card, plus a few handmade flowers that remind me of carnations.  The new releases are the Music Stand, Musical Boy, Musical Girl, and Harmony Wee Petites (music notes).

I started out by creating my background using a technique which combines embossing powder and embossing paste.  (You can see a video of it here by Jennifer McGuire.)  I placed the Dreamweaver metal stencil down onto white cardstock and applied the embossing paste.  After carefully removing the stencil, I covered it with Lagoon Blue embossing powder from Sparkle N Sprinkle and let it completely dry.

Once it was dry (I waited a couple hours), I heat set the embossing powder.  This gave it a really nice, but subtle, shimmer.  I didn't like the white background, so I spritzed the entire thing with Dylusions Ink Spray (Dirty Martini).  The raised embossing paste/embossing powder design acted like a resist and I was able to take a paper towel and remove all the ink from that portion, leaving a nice variegated background.

I wanted the boy and girl in silhouette and decided they were playing a duet together.  The little girl is pop dotted beside the boy to give the illusion she's standing right beside him, reading the sheet music from the music stand.

After adhering everything together, I felt it needed a little something more.  I remembered seeing these flowers several years ago and decided to make a few.  It's so easy too.... just die cut or punch a bunch of scalloped circles, all the same size.  Then lightly spritz them with water or a spritz (I added Smooch Spritz Vanilla Shimmer) to soften the fibers of the paper.  This allows you to crumple them up in a ball easier.  Once they are dry, punch a hole in the center and begin threading the layers through a brad.  Unfurl the layers as you go.  You can add as many or as few layers as you want to determine the size of the flower.  As I mentioned, these remind me of the carnations I taught people how to make out of gum paste or fondant for cakes.

You're definitely going to want to check out this new release as well as what the rest of the DV Dynamos have come up with.  I think you're going to be pretty impressed.

I'm entering this in the Dreamweaver's challenge: February Flutters.