SPARKLING WINTER SENSATIONS

Hi there, and welcome to our cool Sparkling Winter Sensations Blog Hop!  I hope that you are beating the heat, sitting in front of your computer, with a nice cool drink and blasting the air-conditioner.  Hopefully the SNS's designers' cool creations will chill you down at least for a while, as you go through the Blog Hop and leave comments on each of the designers' blogs, giving you the chance to become eligible for six "hot" prizes!

If you mountain boarded in from Dawn Thomas' blog - then you are on the right ski trail!  If not, take the ski lift back to the Sparkle N Sprinkle blog at http://sparklensprinkle.com/blog/. You don't want to miss out on any chances to win!

For my winter season cards, I wanted to highlight one of my latest favorite products from Sparkle N Sprinkle, the 2 1/2" Tear-ific Tape.   It is a super-quick way to make super cool backgrounds.  For my first card I adhered the tape across a piece of ivory cardstock , then applied Waterfall glitter, to make a sparkly strip to highlight my ornaments!

I also used the tape on the two background ornaments.  After stamping and embossing in gold, I colored in with Copic Markers and then stuck the Tear-ific tape over the front of the entire ornament.  I cut out the ornament using the Spellbinders die cut, which can be purchased as a combo along with the Heirloom Ornament stamp set and then I took off the protective backing and applied Sparkling Snow Glitter.  For complete instructions to make this card, just click here.

The tape is strong enough to hold everything.  In this sample, I colored the same ornament three times and then applied the tape on top of the center ornament in the same way after it was colored.  This time I stuck clear micro beads for a different look.  To see full instructions for this card, click right here.





So now, how about a couple of ornaments!  I stamped the big Joy Ornament from the Heirloom Ornament stamp set, twice in red, and twice in green.  Cover both with the tape again and cut out with the Spellbinders die cut.  Glue the two ornaments together and punch a hole for the thread.  Remove the protective backing and apply the micro beads to both sides.  An easy ornament ready to adorn your Christmas tree this year!  Here they are, and their full instructions are here:

 Joy, Joy, Joy!

For my last card, I switched gears back to a technique that I used in the last SNS blog hop, which was the "embossing painting".  I got many favorable comments on my embossable acetate over the basketball court photo card.  So I thought I'll keep you "oiled", while you wait on my next blog, which I am hoping to get to soon, which will be a tutuorial on the embossing painting technique.  My Christmas card is less complex than the basketball player, so if you tried the technique and were scared off, perhaps try doing this card, and you'll see how easy and effective it can be!

For full instructions on how to create this card , just click here.  Basically, for the embossing painting on the acetate all you do is stamp the tree in Versamark on the embossable acetate and heat emboss with Silver embossing powder. Repeat the process with Merry Christmas, under the tree image and heat emboss with Gold.  Then turn the piece over and using the Penboss marker, paint within the outline of the tree and then heat emboss with Halo embossing powder.  One more step, apply Versamark ink to the same side as the Halo EP and then heat emboss with "my-all- time-favorite, never-be-without" Sparkle embossing powder.  Such a sparkly little number - don't you think?   

Well that is it from me for this Blog Hop.  I hope I am one of "The Five" holding a secondary prize, so please be sure to leave a comment here, before you ski down the mountain to Eleanor Jenkins' blog at http://stampinginva.blogspot.com/ and see what she has in store for you!  Enjoy the cool ride! 

Two Passions in One

Well I came down and looked out the kitchen window this morning.  The deer have been in last night and had themselves quite the gourmet meal!  I now have a sinking feeling in my tummy!  Well, I'll just have to get out the nasty smelling spray, it's raining, so we won't be eating out on the porch today anyway.  As you know, if you've already read my profile, gardening and stamping are two of my favorite passions.  That's why I was furious this morning!  I love taking pictures of my yard, as each new plant comes into bloom (of course, I'll have to wait a couple of weeks now, 'till they come back), but there is usually something new every week.  Today, I want to show how I put the two passions together in my latest card.

Our challenge for this month with Sparkle N Sprinkle, was to create a card using at least one glittery product and a greeting.  I had done a Scrapbooking Convention with Margaret, about a month ago, and we demonstrated on how to add "bling" to photos.  So I decided to go that route for my glittery card.

I took a photo out in my yard and sent it down to Costco, but had it developed in black and white, instead of color.  I took four Copic markers: two pink, RV02 Sugar Almond Pink and RV42 Salmon Pink, 0 the Colorless Blender and G99 Olive and put color back into the photo.




Next I punched the bottom of the photo with the Tulip punch from EK Success.                           

Sparkle N Sprinkle has started to carry this great 2 1/2" tear-ific tape (SAT11).  It is wonderful for making all kinds of backgrounds - just apply it to card stock and remove the protective backing and apply glitter, flocking, tinsel, even beads - it is very sticky and everything sticks to it!  I took this tape and stuck it behind the punched area of the  photo.  I then applied Cyclamen Glitter (G1090) which stuck to the open areas of the punch.

Cut the photo down to 4" x 5 1/4" at this point, so it will fit nicely on to your finished card.  Then using the Quickie Glue Pen draw around the petals and leaves of the roses and add different glitters (one at a time).  For my card, I used Cyclamen (G1090), Bubblegum (G1088) and my all-time favorite SNS Glitter Sparkling Snow (G1003).  When you want some bling, but don't need color - then he's your man!  Put the photo aside at this point to dry (although it only takes five minutes).  Meanwhile make the label for the card.

Take a piece of pink card and stamp your sentiment in Staz-On ink.  I used the saying Happy Birthday to You from the new  Happy Birthday Set 416  from Sparkle N Sprinkle.  A very versatile set, full of great sayings for every birthday occasion!            

Cut and emboss the saying with Spellbinder's Ribbon Tag Trio Two.  Then take a Versamark pad and cover the entire label with the ink.  Heat emboss with the "one and only" Sparkle Embossing Powder.  It gives a lovely sparkly, intensified color to the label.




Thread a piece of white organdy ribbon through the label as shown and using dimensionals attach it to the front of the card.

Tape the ribbon down on the back of the photo with Tear-ific tape and then remove the protective backing of the 2 1/2" tape then you can go ahead and stick it down to your card front.

Here is the finished card:

I hope you have enjoyed making this card with me.  I also hope that you will see the endless possibilities you have with your very own black and white photos.   Have fun!

The "Not So Macho Masculine" Card Blog Hop

Welcome to the Sparkle N Sprinkle "Not So Macho Masculine" Card Blog Hop.  If you are anything like me, meaning you cringe every time you have to make a masculine card, then you are in for a treat this month!  This month all the sports, vehicles and school stamp sets are on sale, just in time for Father's Day creations.  If you got here by way of the SNS Home Page then you are heading for a field goal!  If you came directly to me, go back to home plate here at SNS to get all the information you need to be eligible to win a stamp set of your choice and 13 different designer choice goodies!

Throughout my life, I've always been surrounded with sports. Actually, I can't think of many that I haven't tried (well OK. I don't do skydiving, but then I really don't think that should be considered a sport - more like a suicide aid!!).  I grew up with three brothers; enough said!  My Dad is a very keen and reasonably proficient (I would say) golfer.  I met my hubby playing coed softball and my 11 year old is not happy unless there is some kind of sport ball at his finger-tips or toes!  So for me, when I heard masculine theme, I just had to go with Sports.

So for the SNS masculine Blog Hop I decided to highlight Set 257 - Baseball and Basketball.  I have a soon-to-be 11 year old, (next Monday, actually) and his birthday present is going to be a basketball hoop!  Hopefully he'll like the card too!  So, here is my first card, Slam Dunk!

When my hubby and I met, I was the pitcher on the team!  So, I think I'll strike him out again!  Here is my Father's Day card.  For this one I used three of my favorite Sparkle N Softs!  I used Irish Sparkle (for the grass), Blissful Blue (for the sky) and Sparkling Sands (of course for the mound).  Just stick a piece of Tear-ific Tape down and apply the different Sparkle N Softs and you have an instant background!  My personal give-away to add to the Grand Prize today is Irish Sparkle.  Remember to leave a comment at the bottom of each of the blogs and at the home blog to increase your chances of winning!

And for my final card, I thought to incorporate one of SNS's new avenues!  Lately, Sparkle N Sprinkle has been attending Scrapbooking Conventions, so we've been giving a lot more thought to how to incorporate our products in the Scrapbooking World!  Our designers have been been busy showing some fun things to do with photographs, using our embossing powders, glitters and lately, the Copic markers.

I personally love to play with our Embossable Acetate, and that is what I have used in the creation of my final card for you today.  I call it "embossing painting".  You paint the embossable acetate with a Versamarker pen and then "color in" with an Opaque embossing powder.  Layer it over a black and white photograph - e voila!  Click here for complete instructions for this card.







I hope you have enjoyed seeing my projects!  Don't forget - leave a comment here (to increase your chances of winning) and then slide on over to Eleanor to see what she has in the second inning for you!