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!

More Blossom Set Ideas

Well I had intended to get out in the garden today to do some more cleaning up of the flower beds, but I was busy with photographs for my daughter's musical and it took way longer than I intended it to!  However, if you are like me, and are still in the Spring mood for Flowers and color, why don't you jump on over to the Sparkle N Sprinkle site, where you will find some of my fellow designer's creations, specially created for this time of year.