Monday, August 31, 2015

Sparkle N Sprinkle September Reveal (09/01/2015)

Welcome to Sparkle N Sprinkle's 
Sept 1 New Reveal Blog Hop!


This month we are doing something a little different. Instead of releasing new stamp sets, we decided to do a themed reveal. Our theme is "Beach/Water" related, so you will see lots of different stamp sets used by our Designers. Any "beach themed" set will be 20% off until Sept 3. So once you finish the blog hop, head on over to the store and start shopping. All of the sets are available on cling mounted rubber or as a digital image. 


Big Day 749,a calendar/planner stamp set, is featured with this month's Technique Video Kit



Here are a few of the Beach themed sets being used this month:


Tropical 158 (digi version DIGI158)  
Ocean Treasures 560 (digi version DIGI560jj)
Sea Lady 735 (digi version DIGI735)
Mermaid Kisses 529 (rubber only)
Surf's Up 455  (digi version DIGI455)
Beach Babes 473 (digi version DIGI473m)

On Sept 3, one GRAND PRIZE WINNER will be selected from the comments left on the Designers' blogs. Please leave a comment with each Designer in order to be eligible for the Grand Prize. You never know who the Mystery Designer will be that has the winning comment!

The winner will get to choose FOUR beach/water themed stamp sets of his/her choice (or the digi version, if preferred).


The Grand Prize Winner will be announced on September 3 on the SNS Facebook page, the Designer's blogs, and on the SNS Blog.

 
In addition to our regular Designers, two of our 2015 Guest Designers, Ani and Chris, are with us again this month.


The Blog Hop order this month is:

Eret
Chris  <-----That's me!
Anne  
Ani
Marie  
Belinda  
Shona
(*Tip: if you have difficulty with a particular link, try clicking on the Designer's blog title to send you to their Home page.)

 

We love reading your comments and hope that we have inspired you as well. If you cannot leave a comment for some reason, please email icinganne@yahoo.com with your comment and the name of the blog or the Designer you are commenting about.



The Sparkle N Sprinkle Creative Challenge also begins today. There are lots of prizes and recognition badges. Come check out how you can become a SNS Featured Artist as well. The theme is always Anything Goes using Loose Glitter, Embossing Powder, and/or Flock.


We hope you enjoy the New Reveal Blog Hop as much as we do. Thanks for joining us and remember to comment on each of the Designers' blogs to be eligible for the Grand Prize.
Wonder who the Mystery Host will be this month????


Now, here is my project for this reveal!

I was inspired by the Eva the Glam Mermaid Digital Stamp Digi038 for this month's Beach/Water Reveal. I got the digital image, and printed it out on white, copic-friendly, cardstock with a laser printer. Here she is:

I colored her with Copic markers, and then covered a lot of the coloring with coordinating glitters. Here is her hair, and hair jewelry. I brushed on Sparkle N Sprinkle's Brushable Glue 540 on her hair, and sprinkled on Evening Glow Semi-transparent Glitter G1086. I used Raspberry Soda Semi-transparent Glitter G1052 for her hair jewelry. I love using semi-transparent glitter because it allows the coloring below to show through, while making the design POP!
The corners needed a little something. I pulled out the shell stamp from Tropical Stamp Set 158. This was just the perfect image to finish off two of the corners. I used Surf Semi-transparent Glitter G1117 and Bubble Gum Semi-transparent Glitter G1088 to make the shells all sparkly :) 
 Here is the other corner. Check out the sparkle!


I also glittered up her sweet little purse, with Raspberry Soda Semi-transparent Glitter G1052.
After coloring her body with Copic markers, I covered the flowers with Raspberry Soda Semi-transparent Glitter G1052 as well.
 I framed the entire card stock panel with 1/8" Double-sided "Tear-ific Tape" SAT02, and then sprinkled on more Bubble Gum Semi-transparent Glitter G1088 around the edges.
I took some photos in sunlight, check out the sparkle in that Bubble Gum Semi-transparent Glitter G1088!

This mermaid was so much fun to create. I love her pink and orange outfit, and all her sparkles. Her hair is a flowing golden mass of sparkle! Definitely glamorous! 

The next stop on our blog hop is Anne. I know she has something amazing to show you - go and check it out! Happy Hopping!

Thanks for stopping by, have a magical day! 

Chris

Cool Mohawk Chicks! (08/31/2015)

Today's cards were inspired (cough, cough, totally scraplifted!) from Demo Donna's awesome video: Cool Chick Makeover, Liquid Pearls #16. It is a MUST SEE!! I made multiple versions of this card - this is the front of all of them:
I used Sparkle N Sprinkle's Birds of a Feather Stamp Set 726P5. I stamped out the larger chick, with her string of pearls, on the front. Just like Demo Donna, I also gave her a mohawk, some spikes on her shoes, and a little tattoo! After coloring the image with Copic markers, I added in Viva Pearl Pen to give her pearl necklace some dimension. 
I stamped out the sentiment, colored over it with a Copic marker, then used a Sakura Glue Pen to scribble some glue somewhat strategically over the middle line. I sprinkled on Bubble Gum Semi-transparent Glitter G1088, and added dimension to some of the sentiment with a Viva Pearl Pen.
I did two options for the inside. For this one, I stamped out the chick with the purse, from the Birds of a Feather Stamp Set 726P5, and colored her with Copic markers. I stamped the sentiment in Versamark Ink VM-001, then covered it with Blue Silver Embossing Powder EP446, and heat set it.
Here is a closeup, which helps show how awesome the Blue Silver Embossing Powder EP446 is. It is so great, so rich!
The other inside was the same as above, except the sentiment was a birthday sentiment. Here it is:

These cards were really fun to make - and Demo Donna really inspired me with her incredible cards! I loved her take on adding to the stamp by drawing in the mohawk and spiked heels. I think I'll try this type of thing on additional stamps in the future! Boom!

Thanks for stopping by, have a magical day! 

Chris

Saturday, August 29, 2015

Birthday Flower Cards (08/29/2015)

Hi! I have a LOT of birthdays in August, so I made some birthday cards recently. I don't often make duplicates of cards, but I wanted to make several of these cards so I had some birthday cards for my peeps. Let's say HELLO, shall we?

I used Alt E New's Vintage Roses set, which is a flower layering set. I stamped out the three images of this rose in light pink, medium pink, and a dark pink to get the layered effect. I did the same with the leaves, I used three colors of green ink. 
The happy birthday sentiment was a die cut from Lawn Fawn, called Happy Birthday Border. I cut it out from white cardstock, and adhered it to the front of the card. 

I stamped out the inside too with more roses and leaves from Alt E New's Vintage Roses, after creating a panel for the inside from Simon Says Stamp's Frames Craft die. The Wish Big sentiment is from Lawn Fawn's Birthday Tags set.
 Here is a closeup of the flowers and leaves from Alt E New's Vintage Roses set.
And a closeup of the sentiment, from Lawn Fawn's Birthday Tags set. 


Now, I have a few more birthday cards for all the birthdays we celebrate in August. Happy Birthday! 

Thanks for stopping by, have a magical day! 

Chris

Friday, August 28, 2015

Find a Cure (08/28/2015)

Hi! I did another card in light blue to bring awareness to prostate cancer, with Sparkle N Sprinkle's Pink Ribbon Background Stamp Set 408, and the Awareness Stamp Set 714. I am so happy that Sparkle N Sprinkle is bringing awareness to cancer and helping fight the fight!
15-0828_01_FindACure_Cover
I stamped the Pink Ribbon Background Stamp Set 408 on white cardstock with Versamark Ink Pad (VM-001), and then covered it with Baby Blue Opaque Embossing Powder (EP221), and heat embossed it. This gave a nice background in light blue, and showcased this awesome stamp!
Then, I die cut a circle from black cardstock, and stamped the large ribbon from the Awareness Stamp Set 714 with Versamark Ink Pad (VM-001). I covered the image with Sparkle Semi-transparent Embossing Powder (EP107) and heat embossed it. This ribbon stamp image is so awesome - it has the ribbon shape, but also has encouraging words (survive, hope, live, laugh, love) and hearts within the ribbon. I love it!
15-0828_06_FindACure_Circle
I also stamped several sentiments from the Awareness Stamp Set 714 with Versamark Ink Pad (VM-001) and also covered them with Sparkle Semi-transparent Embossing Powder (EP107) and heat embossed them.
15-0828_03_FindACure_Sentiments
I also die cut out a scalloped circle in blue cardstock, and covered the edges with Versamark Ink Pad (VM-001) and sprinkled on more Sparkle Semi-transparent Embossing Powder (EP107) and heat embossed it. I layered the scalloped circle under the black cardstock circle. Here is a closeup photo of the scalloped frame with the awesome sparkle!
15-0828_05_FindACure_Scallops
I pulled out some sweet little blue paper flowers from my stash, shaped them with a stylus, then glued them onto the frame, and then added in a drop of SNS Brushable Glue (540) and then sprinkled on some Princess Anna Royal Glitter (G1124) from the Frozen Glitters (G1125) collection in the center of each flower. I LOVE this color!
15-0828_02_FindACure_FlowerCircle
Here is another angle of the flowers with this awesome glitter from the Frozen Glitters (G1125) collection.
15-0828_04_FindACure_Flowers
Thank you, Sparkle N Sprinkle, for these amazing stamp sets and helping to bring awareness to the fight against cancer. Let's fight this fight together! And, I'd like to send out hugs to all of the amazing cancer survivors out there - you are strong and wonderful!


Thanks for stopping by, have a magical day! 

Chris

Wednesday, August 26, 2015

Happy Graduation! (08/26/2015)

Wow! We have had a lot of graduations to celebrate this year. Here are some graduation cards and enveopes I made to celebrate two of our friends, who graduated from college:


One of our friends is a woman, and likes pretty things, while the other is male. I struggle with masculine cards, but wanted to make the cards in a similar color palette due to the college colors. I went with vertical stripes for the masculine card. I stamped out vertical stripes and then covered it with Blue Silver Embossing Powder EP446 from Sparkle N Sprinkle. They have the most amazing embossing powders and glitters! I heat set the stripes, and then layered my other elements onto it.

Here is a closeup of the stripes and the mortarboard and year. I used Lawn Fawn's Hats Off to You stamp set and matching dies

And, the front for the woman's card. I liked the little circle dots - feminine, yet subtle for a background. I used Sparkle N Sprinkle's Clear Detail Embossing Powder EP280 here. Also, I used Lawn Fawn's Scripty Congrats die on both. I used a heat laminater to foil the silver onto the sentiment. I used Lawn Fawn's Louie's 123s for the year, and also foiled those. I did this for both cards.
Here is the inside. I did them both the same. I used Lawn Fawn's So Much To Say stamp set for the inside sentiment. I heat embossed the sentiment with Sparkle N Sprinkle's White Detail Embossing Powder EP298.  I also used Sparkle N Sprinkle's Flourishes 1 Stamp Set 516 to add some happy flourish swirls along the edges. 


Here is a closeup of the sentiment from Lawn Fawn's So Much To Say in Sparkle N Sprinkle's White Detail Embossing Powder EP298

I used Alt E New's Invisible Alpha set to stamp the graduates' names on the envelopes. I also blended some ink using a swirl and a gear stencil. 

The graduates enjoyed their day, and it was really fun to celebrate their huge accomplishments! Congratulations Taylor and Ashley :) We are so proud of you!

Thanks for stopping by, have a magical day! 

Chris

Wednesday, August 19, 2015

Awareness Card (08/19/2015)

Hi! I tried a new technique on this card, so it was a bit of an experiment. Check it out!

I attempted several new things on this card actually, more about them to come! I used Sparkle N Sprinkle's Awareness Stamp Set 714P7, and Die Versions Whispers Awareness Ribbon Doily DV-478. Sparkle N Sprinkle and Die Versions teamed up in August to bring awareness to the fight to eradicate cancer, and proceeds from their sales in early August went to support cancer research. Yay!

I made the card in light blue, which is the ribbon color for prostate cancer. I wanted to have a lot of blue, but not have it all blue. To start out, I created my own blue background paper. I used Ken Oliver's Crafts Color Burst Ultramarine Blue (KN-06066) and spritzed the dry powder onto some white watercolor paper. I spritzed water onto the powder, and created a blue water color background! After that dried, I dropped on some larger drops of water and blotted up the water drops, which removed some of the blue and added more texture into the blue background. After I created this background, I used some of it to frame the card panel, and I also used a left over piece to use for the ribbon. Here is a closeup of the blue background, framing the panel. I really like how easy the Color Burst powder is to use. It makes a really pretty watercolor!

For the ribbon in the center, I used a left over piece of blue watercolor background paper. I stamped the ribbon image from Sparkle N Sprinkle's Awareness Stamp Set 714P7 with Versamark Ink Pad (VM-001) and covered it with White Detail Embossing Powder (EP298) and heat embossed it. Then, I fussy cut around the ribbon. Here it is:
I still needed some more stuff, so I stamped the ribbon on the black card panel in Versamark Ink Pad (VM-001) and covered it with Clear Detail Embossing Powder (EP280) and heat embossed it.
After I did this, I still wanted to try more new things ... so I decided to try shrinking fun foam. I die cut out the ribbon from Die Versions Whispers Awareness Ribbon Doily DV-478 from black fun foam. I held it down on my craft mat with a poker tool, and blasted it with my heat gun. This shrinks the fun foam - I did this long enough to shrink it about a third of the original size. I am not sure if I could have gotten it really small, but I was happy with how it ended up, so used it the size I got it to. Here is how it ended up looking:
I also stamped on some of the sentiments from Sparkle N Sprinkle's Awareness Stamp Set 714P7 with Versamark Ink Pad (VM-001) and covered them with Baby Blue Opaque Embossing Powder (EP221) and heat embossed them. 
One final thing I attempted was glittering inside the ribbon stamp image. I stamped the small open ribbon from Sparkle N Sprinkle's Awareness Stamp Set 714P7 with Versamark Ink Pad (VM-001) and covered it with Baby Blue Opaque Embossing Powder (EP221) and heat embossed it. Then, I brushed some SNS Brushable Glue (540), and dusted some Sparkle N Sprinkle Bridal Glitter (G1029). Here, in the lower left, is the glittered, embossed ribbon stamped image.
This was a fun card to make - it was an honor to use blue to bring awareness to prostate cancer, since it has touched my family. I also enjoyed trying techniques which were new to me.

Thank you Sparkle N Sprinkle for bringing more awareness to the fight to eradicate cancer. Thank you too, for supporting cancer research!


Thanks for stopping by, have a magical day! 

Chris

Friday, August 14, 2015

Cancer Awareness Heart (08/14/2015)

I am so excited to be bringing another Cancer Awareness card to Sparkle N Sprinkle's blog and my blog today! I was so excited about this reveal and helping to bring awareness to the fight to eradicate cancer. My card today is in light blue, which is the ribbon color for prostate cancer, which is a cancer that has touched my family. Here is the card I made:15-0814_01_CancerHeart_Cover
I used Sparkle N Sprinkle's Pink Ribbon Background Stamp Set 408, and stamped it with Versamark Ink Pad (VM-001) over a white cardstock panel, and heat embossed it with White Detail Embossing Powder (EP298). Then, I used an ink blending tool to apply Distress Ink in a light blue to the cardstock panel. The areas with the embossing powder resisted the ink, while the uncovered areas on the paper were colored with the blue ink. This made a really cool background! Here is a close up of the background:
15-0814_04_CancerHeart_Layers-Background
I also used Sparkle N Sprinkle's Awareness Stamp Set 714P7's "Find a Cure" sentiment. I stamped it on a scrap strip of white cardstock with Versamark Ink Pad (VM-001) and sprinkled Baby Blue Opaque Embossing Powder (EP221) over it, then heat embossed it. Here is the sentiment strip:
15-0814_03_CancerHeart_Sentiment
I also used Die Version's Awareness Heart Whispers DV-484 to make the heart die cut. I masked off "cancer" and covered the rest of the die cut with Versamark Ink Pad (VM-001) and sprinkled Baby Blue Opaque Embossing Powder (EP221) over the entire image. I heat set it, which coated the entire die cut with embossing powder (except for the masked off area). After this, I unmasked the word "cancer" and covered it with Dimensional Glue (539) and sprinkled Sparkling Snow Semi-Transparent Glitter (G1003) over the glue. This really made the word pop out from the rest of the words within the heart. I also die cut a piece of fun foam, and placed the fun foam under the die cut to raise it up from the card panel behind it.
15-0814_02_CancerHeart_CancerSentiment
Here is another angle of the dimensional glue over the word - these photos don't do the dimension justice, it turned out really great in real life!
15-0814_05_CancerHeart_CancerDimension
This was an honor to make this card, to help bring awareness to the fight against cancer, and to raise awareness about prostate cancer. Let's find a cure!

Thanks for stopping by, have a magical day! 

Chris