SEPTEMBER CREATIVE CHALLENGE AND A NEW SET!

Well here we are - the first day of September.  I don't know about you, but this has been the shortest summer I've ever experienced! 
Still, it calls for a Party with a capital "P", and you're invited! 

With the new month comes the new creative challenge over at Sparkle N Sprinkle. This month it is "Anything Goes with Glitter, Embossing Powder and/or Flocking". How can it be any easier? I hope you'll take the time to enter the challenge. Have a look over at the Creative Challenges blog, where you'll find everything you need to know about the challenge and some samples from the Design Team to help get those creative juices flowing!  

Here's my creation, using some awesome SNS sparkly embossing powders and glitters:

..... and if you're a Sparkle N Sprinkle fan, you'll probably be saying right now - I've not seen that stamp before! That's where THIS party begins!  

Today, Sparkle N Sprinkle is releasing this super cute little Owlette set, created by artist Becky Muir. 

For a chance to win this set, an embossing powder and a glitter, we are going to have a Mystery Designer Party! 

A commenter will be selected from one of the six participating blogs below to receive the prize.  No one knows who the Mystery Designer is, so you may wish to visit each one to increase your chances of winning!  The winner will be announced on September 3 on Facebook, the SNS blog and on our blogs.

here they are:

Belinda Shupe

Shona Erlenborn (you're already here)

Craft E Marie Berquist

April "Stampwilly" Williams

Barbara Bruder

Donna Ellis

3 day special:

This darling Owlette set is available  at 20% off
as part of our Labor Day specials.
Just use the code LABOR20 in the COMMENTS SECTION
when checking out in the SNS on-line store
to receive this brand new set at 20% off.
Promotion valid through September 3. (sorry, credit card customers only. Total will be manually adjusted. Or phone the SNS shoppe on Monday).

One more peek at these little cuties:

Thanks for stopping by today! I wonder WHOOOOO the Mystery Designer is? Maybe it's me?

Hope to see you back soon!

Shona

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU TAG

I'm just doing a little last minute laundry before Struan heads back to Scotland tonight.  While I'm waiting on the pre-wash, here's a birthday tag that I did a couple of weeks ago, when I was on my Gelato's roll!

I applied pink Gelatos to a piece of cream card, then put a piece of netting over that and ran a white Gelato over the piece - giving me the mottled look.  Then I ran the piece through the Cuttlebug "You" embossing folder, applied Memento Lilac Posies directly to the raised pattern. Cut in the shape of a tag.

Sparkle N Sprinkle has some new marbled embossing powders out, and "Mesmerized" is my favorite. That was what was used for the flower.  Run the Lilac Posies directly over the flower too and then apply Versamark and heat emboss with Clear Detail. 

The happy birthday was taken from an embossing folder. I added a couple of Dylusions-sprayed flourishes, pom-pom ribbon, a heart brad heat embossed with Bahama Mama (another of the Marbled embossing powders) and some glitter and my tag was complete.  For step by step instructions please click here.

OK, on with the laundry!

Stop by in a few days, where we'll be releasing the newest Sparkle N Sprinkle Set.  It's going to be a "hoot"!

Shona

VAMP STAMP NEWS PUBLICATIONS

Hi there,

Just got a note from Nancie Waterman letting me know that I'm in the latest edition of the on-line Vamp Stamp News Magazine.

This month we were challenged to use Gelatos or gel sticks.  Have to confess I enjoyed playing around with these little guys for much longer than I should have!!

Here is the first one I came up with using the Gelatos to color in an image:

For the second one, I used the Gelatos as a wash for the background:

.. and for the third I tried a little experimenting!  

So much sparkle on this third card.  I had just received the new marbled embossing powders from Sparkle N Sprinkle, so wanted to try them too! I learnt that if I colored on glossy cardstock with Gelatos, it would just rub off when touched, but I loved the vibrant colors it produced, so after coloring, I covered the entire colored card with Versamark and added a little "Sparkle", so that all the color would stay put!  A pretty Gelato Butterfly and we were done!

Click here if you need the instructions to any of the three cards:

That's all the Gelato for now!

Shona

CLOUD NINE 25TH ANNIVERSARY

Hi there,

Well it's been a whirlwind for me the last couple of weeks - you know the old saying when it rains - it pours.

I knew I had two weeks of Musical Camps up at the church, for which I was to make a slide show for each week.  In the middle of the second week, the choir kids (all three of ours) sang the National Anthem and God Bless America at the local minor league baseball game on Wednesday, which meant I housed 4 extras (including the old Choir Director) that very late night!!  Need I say more?  Thank goodness that only happens once a year!  

Then David was out of town for the next two days, which was when the water tank gave out!  This weekend was spent fixing the water tank, trying to get caught up, including gutting out the dishwasher, which was totally clogged.  But we think we actually fixed it!  Time will tell!

Tomorrow starts Hand Bell Camp for the two younger ones and Struan the oldest, who just returned from climbing Mount Washington in New Hampshire last night at 2am, will be helping the beginning of tearing down the two bathrooms upstairs, we are about to renovate!!  I never want to go forward in time, as I know how precious time is, but this morning taking a shower before church, I wished it was a month from now, so I didn't have to go through the dust and aggravation and (new problems) of what is about to happen!

So anyway, that's why you haven't heard from me in a while!  So without further ado here is a Happy 25th Anniversary Card, which I did I while ago, but have never gotten around to posting! 

This is the card closed - or as close to closed as it could be! (Try saying that three times fast!)

Then we open it up:

.... and here it is from the top:

All the directions can be found right here in the Sparkle N Sprinkle Gallery.

I hope that you can see the glittery goodness of the Cloud Nine Glitter which has been colored on top with colored pencils!  There are a few different tutorials on how to do this in the SNS Tips and Techniques section. For this particular card I used StazOn black and watercolor pencils.

That's it for tonight, I'll be back soon,

Shona

A POCKET FULL OF TULIPS!

I woke up early this morning and since I couldn't get back to sleep, thought I'd come down and write a quick post, as I do have a few projects to share with you this month.  

Our challenge for this month was to create something other than a square or rectangular card.  I started with the tulips from Set 491. I covered a piece of card in Super Adhesive Sheet and applied Snow White Flocking.  I stamped the tulips in black StazOn ink, then using daubers I sponged different Memento ink colors on to the tulips. After cutting them out, I thought they needed a vase or planter, and I searched my stash for ideas.

How about a pocket?

I used the smallest Spellbinders Pocket and Swirl's pocket die, heat embossed it with Sandstone embossing powder, and added some glitter to the flowers and details of the vase. 

I stamped "Just for You" from the same set, inside. Such a cute little note card to go along with a bouquet of flowers? 

Full directions, if you need them, can be found in the SNS Gallery right here.

OK, that's it for today! Will be back soon, with another different shaped card, see you then!

Shona