THE SPARKLE N SPRINKLE MONOCHROMATIC BLOG HOP

Hi there, and welcome to the SNS Monochromatic Blog Hop.  Today, instead of a subject theme, the Sparkle Team will be presenting projects using monochromatic color schemes.  We were permitted to use any stamps, for any occasion, so I'm sure there are going to be a lot of varied ideas this time round!

The hop will run for two days, winners being announced on Saturday, the 16th.  In order to have a chance at being one of these winners, all you need do is leave a comment at the end of each of the designer's posts.  If you are here by way of Anne's blog, then you are in the right place, if not then pop back to the Sparkle N Sprinkle blog, to be eligible for all the prizes.

So without further ado, grab a cup of your favorite beverage and let's get on with the show! 

I couldn't decide which projects to post today.  I created a few monochromatic cards, using different techniques and then picked out two (well - maybe three!) to share with you today.

First up, is my green underwater scene.  Sparkle N Sprinkle is now carrying some of the Lifestyle embossing folders and dies.  I love the two Tide embossing folders (L-EF0020).  I used one of them in my previous post and, as promised, used the second one for this card.  For two of the fish, I applied outline stickers to white cardstock applied with 2 1/2" Tear-ific Tape and Cloud Nine Velvet Glitter.  They were colored with watercolor crayons and a waterbrush. The third fish was colored the same way without the glitter underneath.  The saying is from a really cute new set Just Froggy.

You will find full instructions in the gallery here.

For my second card, I decided to stay green and with the new Just Froggy set.  I used a branches embossing folder for the grass this time and a flower border punch to make my "water" lily.  I thought I'd try to make it look like he was "peeking" out through the grass to say he was sorry for being late!  It somehow transpired into an easel card - one of my favorite fun folds at the moment!

Isn't he just adorable?  Who wouldn't forgive him?  Again, I used Cloud Nine Glitter and watercolor crayons to color him in.  Full details? Right here!

.... and now for something completely different - how about purple and pinks and butterflies?

I was trying out a new technique using an Impressibilities Plate.  To achieve this look, you temporarily tape the plate to white glossy cardstock and apply Versamark, using the plate as a stencil, before you run it through the machine.  Remove the die and apply Clear Detail embossing powder and heat emboss. Apply Distress inks to the embossed piece - the color will appear where the plain cardstock remains. I used some Plum Wine embossing powder for the saying, and for the little butterflies I sprinkled some Magic Speckle over the Plum Wine butterflies to create the mosaic look. The outline stickers were colored with Cloud Nine and Watercolor crayons, and for the smaller butterfly on the right, I used Bubblegum Glitter and Purple Potion Velvet glitter directly onto the Tape behind the sticker. Full directions can be found in the Gallery.

So that's it for today. I hope you've enjoyed the show.  Now you should  flutter on over to Karin's blog for some more inspiration.  Remember to leave a comment before you go!

'Till next time,

Shona

HANG IN THERE

I unfortunately had to do a quick "hang in there" card for a very dear friend up at our church.  She is the Church Volunteer Organizer - no matter what event is going on - there she is.  She volunteers 5 days a week - and never misses a day. We invite her and her husband to all our parties - they are both so much fun.  Her family originally came from Scotland, and so we have a unique tie between our heritage and the Church.

She was at a bereavement  at the church this week, and let David and me know that she has to go in for surgery on the 19th of February. Just so unexpected, as she had recently had a scan of the area nearby and nothing had shown up.

It really hit home to me that we are not invincible.  I believe with all my heart that she'll be OK - she has such strong faith.

So here is the card that I sent her:  the inside reads - Hang in there!

I love this new set (482)  from Sparkle N Sprinkle.  If you haven't seen my recent posts then scroll on down!  Apart from the cute froggy images, there are many fun sayings too!

So for this card, I colored the image with watercolor pencils and blended with Gamsol.  I fussy cut and then layered it on a trellis, made from gold card stock, cut out from the Spellbinders Lattice die.  I layered it on to black cardstock before wrapping gold ribbon through the tag, also stamped from the same set, embossed with Detail Black and cut and embossed with Spellbinders Ribbon Tag Trio two.

Let's hope that it works, and Peggy is back to her normal, bubbly self very soon.

Till next time,

Shona

SNS February Creative Challenge

Hi all, and happy February!  Can you believe it's already February!  We're 1/12th into 2013!  Well, I guess I'm having fun - 'cause the time sure is flying!  Our Challenge this month, with Sparkle N Sprinkle, is this wonderful Design seed.   Isn't this cool?

Color swatch courtesy of Design Seeds®

As I was preparing dinner this evening, January 14th, (yes I know, this was pre-posted!) I was watching the news and they were showing how the new World Trade Center Building, was going to be taller than the Empire State, making it the highest building now in NY.  It seemed fitting to work on this project tonight!

I've had the "seeds" sitting by me all through the festive season, being overlooked on several occasions, as I really was thinking buildings!  Then for for some reason today - I don't know why - or how - I was "under the sea"!

I really loved how this came out - although I have to say there are no Sparkle N Sprinkle stamps used here (in fact there are no stamps!), but there is plenty of SNS product!  

Full details for this card can be found in the SNS gallery.

... and for more inspiration have a look here, to see what the other Designers came up.  Remember the new rule - although we'd prefer it, you don't have to uses SNS images!

Did you know that Sparkle N Sprinkle is now carrying some of the Lifestyle craft embossing folders and die cuts?  The one featured here is one of two of the Tide embossing folders.    Check back later this month for the February blog hop, to see how I incorporated the other one into a project. 

'Till then, keep stamping!

Shona