Sparkle N Sprinkle February 2017 Release {02.01.2017}

Welcome to the ALL NEW Sparkle N Sprinkle

 February Reveal Blog Hop!

NEW STORE - NEW BLOG - NEW PRODUCT LINES!

We have another HUGE reveal for you this month, plus something new!

The new sets are 20% off until February 3, 2017, so after the blog hop, hop on over to the NEW STORE and have fun shopping - be sure to check out the OTHER amazing new products as well! With names like TONIC and STAMPENDOUS and HOUSE MOUSE, you're sure to fill that cart up quickly!

SNS also has a brand new blog, which can be found here!


On February 3, ONE GRAND PRIZE WINNER will be selected from the comments left on all the Designers' blogs listed below.  Please leave a comment with each designer to be eligible for the Grand Prize (checked for compliance).  The Grand Prize Winner will be announced on the SNS Facebook page and the SNS New Blog.  

 There are SEVEN new rubber stamp sets being released this month, plus a new Digi Papers set (with 12 amazing papers), and a Digi Only Bundle set full of lots of extras.   

Also, when you purchase the digi versions of any of the SNS rubber sets, you are getting lots of extras that aren't available otherwise.  These extras include additional images not available with the rubber version, digi papers (in some cases), and now a cut file to use with your electronic cutting machines will also be included with all digi images purchased!

You're definitely going to want both the rubber versions as well as the digi versions of all our new releases.


The new sets are:

* 815 Leafy Flower Spring Wreath
Leafy Flower Spring Wreath digi version DIGI815B

* 826 Pansies (set one)
Pansies mini digi set DIGI826833FS

* Pansies fabulous digi bundle, includes papers DIGI826-833FS

* 832 Girlfriend Support Set 1
Girlfriend Support Set 1 digi version DIGI832

* 833 Pansies in Teacup (set two)
Pansies mini digi set DIGI826833FS

* 835 Sitting Pretty Kitty
Sitting Pretty Kitty digi version DIGI835LS

* 836 Luck of the Irish Enchantress - St. Patrick's Day
Luck of the Irish Enchantress - St. Patrick's Day  digi version DIGI836LS

* 837 Rory's Lucky Clover - St. Patrick's Day
Rory's Lucky Clover - St. Patrick's Day digi version DIGI837LS

* Eleven Watercolor Papers - Purple Pink (to coordinate with the Pansies sets)  DIGI4003FS

This month the digi versions of the Pansies (826FS) and the Teacup Pansies (833FS) have been combined into one HUGE digi bundle set: 

DIGI826-833FS  
There are tons of bonuses in this set, including decoupage sheet sets, a total of 34 images, 11 gorgeous digi papers, and a cut file.

The new sets are 20% off until February 3, 2017.  So once you finish the blog hop, head on over to the New Store and start shopping.

On Feb 3rd, ONE GRAND PRIZE WINNER will be selected from the comments left on the Designers' blogs listed below. 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 Grand Prize Winner, which will be announced on the SNS Facebook page and the SNS New Blog, will receive ALL of the new rubber stamp sets revealed this month.


The Blog Hop Order this month is:

Chris You are here!
Diane
Shona
Belinda
Anne
Donna
Eret
Jess

(*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 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????

Have you checked out the SNS YouTube Channel featuring Demo Donna?  If not, then you are in for a real treat.  Subscribe today to get all the latest Demo Donna tips and techniques!

For my card for the February release, I used the Pansies stamp set. This is an incredible set that is just gorgeous!

This set has a couple of sentiments. I used the "Get Well Wishes" sentiment. I find that we never have enough get well or sympathy cards ready to go. This sentiment is absolutely gorgeous. I stamped the sentiment using Versamark Ink, and dusted on Fabulous Grape embossing powder and heat set it.

I wanted to step outside of the standard A2 size card, and decided to make a long "business" size card, which worked out really well for this stamp set. I stamped out the pansies stamp on a business size card panel with black ink, and the sprinkled on Clear Detail embossing powder and heat set it. Then, I masked the stamped image, and stamped the image again, and repeated the heat embossing. This filled the length of the card panel. Then, I fussy cut along the bottom edge of the card panel.

I also scraplifted an idea from Demo Donna. In one of her recent videos, she showed a technique of using Nuvo Embellishment Mousse and the Mini Blender Brush Set in her Copper Egg January Video Kit Club. So, I did the same thing. I used my Pure Platinum Nuvo Embellishment Mousse, and one of the brushes from the Mini Blender Brush Set. I daubed my brush into the mousse, and swept it onto my card base. I brushed it on lightly enough so that you can still see the strokes, and didn't completely cover the panel. I wanted the brush marks to show. Here is a close up of how it looked.

To continue the card base, I laid down a strip of the new 1-1/2" "Tear-ific" Tape. Then, I ripped off the top half of it to reveal the adhesive. I rubbed in Silver Bullion Gilding Flakes into the adhesive. I pulled out one of my Mini Brushes again, and brushed away all the gilding flakes that didn't stick to the adhesive. Once that was done, I pulled off the bottom half of the release paper from the "Tear-ific Tape and then sprinkled on Hyacinth glitter and burnished it in with my finger tool. Then, my card base was done!

I also wanted to highlight the sentiment. I found a die from my stash that fit the sentiment. I used washi tape and taped down the die to my paper. I ran it through my die cut. I removed it from the die cut still "intact." I blended on purple ink over the die and onto the paper. The die creates a mask and leaves a nice border of white around the die cut piece. This is what it looked like once I was done blending the purple ink.

I also stamped more pansies and also heat embossed them with Clear Detail embossing powder. I colored all the pansies and fussy cut them all. I layered them with foam adhesives to pop up and give them lots of dimension. I also used the Nuvo Glue Pen Small Tip to add a teeny bit of adhesive to the center of the pansy. I sprinkled on some Daisy glitter and made the pansies shine! Here is a close up.

Here is another view of the layered pansies. The dimension really added a lot to this card and made the pansies really pop!

I did another technique that I scraplifted from Demo Donna. She often creates her own "ribbon" using glitter and "Tear-ific" Tape. I used this idea here. I cut a long strip of 1/4" "Tear-ific" Tape, and pulled off about 6" of the release paper. I rolled the length between my fingers and kinda folded it onto itself, and then dredged it through a pile of Hyacinth glitter. I kept revealing more of the tape and rolling it in the glitter, until the entire length was covered in glitter. It ends up looking like a cross between a thin ribbon and some twine. It sure is fun! I also did the same with a second, shorter piece of tape. I tied that into a bow and tied it around the longer twine. I wrapped the top of the card with this ribbon and bow.

Here is my card. I also laid a strip of 1/8" "Tear-ific" Tape towards the bottom of this card panel. I also dusted on Hyacinth glitter to balance the card. It sure was fun and I enjoyed using some new-to-me techniques with brushing on the mousse, making ribbon/twine, and gilding flakes/glitter combo over "Tear-ific" Tape. I know you will love these techniques too!

The next stop on our blog hop is Diane.

She has an AMAZING treat for you! You will LOVE it!!!!

February's reveal is incredible! You definitely need to keep hopping and then go directly to the store and shop until the cows come home :) All these stamp sets are swoon-worthy!

Thanks for stopping by. Have a magical day!

-Chris

Sparkle N Sprinkle compensated links are used when possible.

Alligator Birthday Card [01.30.2017]

Happy Birthday Alligator

My niece goes by Ally, and we call her Alligator. So, for her birthday, what else could I do except make her a birthday card with an alligator on it! Let's check it out.

I used a lot of Lawn Fawn stamp sets, since they have a bunch of Critters stamp sets. The alligator was from Critters Down Under, the trees from Critters from the Past, the leaves, grass, and vine from Critters in the Jungle, and the present, cake, and hat from Party Animal. I also used the coordinating lawn cuts (die cuts) for those, and used Lawn Fawn's Stitched Rectangles for the card panel.

Here is a close up of the tree tops and the vines.

I pasted in a leaf and vine inside the card too, and stamped out this sentiment from the Critters on the Savanna stamp set.

I hope my niece enjoys this card, and has a wonderful birthday!

Thanks for stopping by. Have a magical day!

-Chris

Sparkle N Sprinkle compensated links are used when possible.

Fun In The Sun Retro Card for Mom [#04/52] {01.27.2017}

Okay, okay, okay, I went old school on this one! I love patterned paper. But, I don't feel like I use patterned paper well. This card was a simple kraft cardstock base with an accent piece of patterned paper with the ol' tried and true "rip" method. Here is the card.

I also cut a die cut image using textured solid cardstock. I gave a little highlight with a glitter pen. This made the shell just a little funner.

I wanted to whip out a card quickly, and this was a nice and easy way of using some good, trusty products, and making a fairly versatile card.

Thanks for stopping by. Have a magical day!

-Chris

Sparkle N Sprinkle compensated links are used when possible.

Sparkle N Sprinkle's Eastery Chicky {01.25.2017}

Happy Day! This post is also appearing on Sparkle N Sprinkle's NEW blog today! Check out my FUN and SPARKLY chick! I used one of the TEN new January stamp sets released, the Easter Chicky. I am all things cute and adorable, and I love this stamp set. This chick gets me every time I look at it! It looks so happy and fun. Here is the card.

Using a stamp positioner, I stamped out the Easter Chickey in black ink, then stamped it again with Versamark Ink Pad and then sprinkled on Clear Detail embossing powder and heat set it. Then, I die cut the chick image with an oval die cut. I stamped out a second image as well so I could do some fussy cutting on one of them to cut out the egg pieces. I colored the images with markers. Then, the magic started! I whipped out my bottle of Brushable Glue and squeezed out a dollap onto my craft mat. I used a small brush to paint on glue to the areas I wanted to adhere glitters. I started with the chick. I painted most of the body area, but not all of it. I still wanted the lines and details to show. I sprinkled Mimosa Sparkle N Soft onto the wet glue, and gave it just a teeny bit of pressure to help squish the Sparkle N Soft into the glue. I let it dry a bit, then dumped off the rest. I brushed glue onto the fussy cut egg bits, and used Ocean glitter on those pieces. Once the egg pieces dried, I mounted them with foam tape and adhered them to the chick image. Here is a close up photo of the chick and cracked egg.

I used my Versamark Ink Pad again, and stamped up the sentiment. I stamped it onto a piece of white cardstock I had colored with pink markers. I sprinkled on White Detail embossing powder and heat set it. I die cut it into an oval shape, and then squeezed on some Dandelion Yellow Nuvo Crystal Drops. I thought this made it look more like a fun decorated egg!


I created the background and oval mat layers and added more glitter! To make the blue/green background, I cut a card panel and then layered two strips of 2-1/2" Double sided "Tear-ific" Tape on the panel, and overlapped the tape strips a teeny bit to keep a gap from showing. Once I had the panel completely covered with tape, I did the "Kiss" technique. I ran it through my die cutting machine with a background die. I pulled away the release tape from the negative pieces of the die cut. Once I had the adhesive revealed, I sprinkled on and burnished in Margarita glitter. After this, I removed the release paper from the positive image, and then sprinkled on and burnished in Ocean glitter. My background was done! I also repeated the same process of covering a card panel with the 2-1/2" Double sided "Tear-ific" Tape and die cut it with an ornate oval die. I removed the release paper from the negative images and sprinkled on and burnished in Bridal glitter. I removed the positive parts, and sprinkled on and burnished in Raspberry Soda glitter. I repeated this process once again, and cut a smaller oval shape and sprinkled on and burnished in Bubblegum glitter. I layered these all up, with the chick/egg image on top!

This was a fun card to create and it makes me yearn even more for spring ... every day it gets closer! I hope you enjoy this Easter Chicky stamp set - it sure is fun!

Thanks for stopping by. Have a magical day!

-Chris 

Sparkle N Sprinkle compensated links are used when possible.

Dino-Mite Birthday Card {01.23.2017}

I have a sweet and easy birthday card to share with you today. Here it is!

I copied a technique I saw on Jennifer McGuire's blog (but can't find the actual post right now, sorry!). I followed her lead. I stamped my image, the dinosaur from Lawn Fawn's Critters from the Past. I then stamped the dino on a post-it note, and fussy cut it to create a mask. I covered my dino with the post-it mask, and then started on the sentiment. I stamped the sentiment in black ink underneath the dinosaur, using a stamp positioner. Then, I moved the card about 1/2" and then stamped the sentiment again, in green ink. I repeated this over and over, both below and above the black-ink sentiment. I stamped the sentiment until I felt like it was enough. There is no rhyme or reason about this, I could have done only a few, but it felt right to stamp the sentiment quite a bit. Once I had stamped out the sentiments, I removed the mask and revealed the dinosaur :) I also stamped the dinosaur tracks along the edge of the card, and a little "rawr" to make it even more fun!

I also stamped out the inside of the card. I stamped more images from the Critters from the Past set, and a Happy sentiment from AltENew's Halftone Happy Stamp Set.

I hope my friend likes his dinosaur birthday card. It is something that I might have to make more of because it is really easy to replicate. The stamp positioner makes this really easy!

Thanks for stopping by. Have a magical day!

-Chris

Sparkle N Sprinkle compensated links are used when possible.

You're The Best Mom Card [#03/52] {01.20.2017}

I made a quick, one layer card for my Mommy. I used a stamp set that had some fun flower and filigree type images. I stamped them out with multiple inks. Here is the card.

I don't always do a one-layer card, but this one seemed like a fun challenge. First of all, I wanted to highlight the sentiment. I die cut a shape from masking paper. I stamped the sentiment, then covered the sentiment with the masking paper. To make the outer edges a little more bold, I used my ink blending tool and blended distress ink around the edges of the mask. Then, I pulled off the release paper and started stamping different shapes in different colors. This is what I ended up with.

I enjoyed making a one-layer card and might have to try this again!

Thanks for stopping by. Have a magical day!

-Chris

Sparkle N Sprinkle compensated links are used when possible.

Sparkle N Sprinkle Surprise Party Balloons {01.18.2017}

Here is another awesome new release from Sparkle N Sprinkle! I used two new stamp sets from Sparkle N Sprinkle's January release, Party 1 - Balloons, and Party 2 - Sentiments. Here is the Surprise Party card I made, and made it look like a package all wrapped up in a bow!

I stamped out the Balloons stamp in black ink and sprinkled on Clear Detail embossing powder and heat set it. Then, I colored the cupcakes, swirls, and balloons. I also stamped out some of the images (star, music notes) with Versamark Ink Pad, and sprinkled on embossing powders and heat set them. I used Silver Lightning on the music notes, and Daffodil on the stars. I stamped out the sentiment with Versamark Ink Pad and sprinkled on Red Apple embossing powder and heat set it. This made the card really festive and full of color!

Here is a close up of the music note, using the Silver Lightning embossing powder. I love this sparkle and depth of this color. One of my favorite embossing powders for sure! This also shows the Nuvo Pure Platinum Mousse that I rubbed into the edge of the main card panel.

I wanted to make the card look like a present. I cut out a square piece of yellow cardstock. I laid over a swirl stencil, and swiped Blue Topaz Nuvo Glimmer Paste over the stencil. This made some really fun swirls. To tie the background into the main image, I added some Super Thick Silver embossing powder and heat set it. This is really thick, and I had to heat set it from the back side of the paper. The embossing flakes will fly off if you shoot your heat directly to the front side of the paper. Ask me how I learned this :) !! After layering everything together, I also ran a strip of Nuvo Glue Pen Fine along the inside edge of the black cardstock matting the card. I sprinkled on Night Sky Sparkle N Soft along the edge to give some extra sparkle to the black matting edge.

Now, time to wrap up the package in a bow! I pulled out some ribbon, and ran a strip of 1/8" Double sided "Tear-ific" Tape along the center of the ribbon. I removed the release paper, and sprinkled on some Silver Leaf tinsel glitter. This made the ribbon even more sparkly and tied everything together with shades of silver.

The sentiments in these sets are versatile and you can make all sorts of festive cards with these sets. I hope you enjoy them.

Thanks for stopping by. Have a magical day!

-Chris

Happy Birthday Card with Lace Background Glitter Technique {01.16.2017}

Hi! I made this fun and easy, and OH SO SPARKLY Happy Birthday card with only a few supplies. It came together pretty easily, and wow, look at all that sparkle!

I did the Sparkle N Sprinkle "Lace" Technique to make the background: I laid two strips of Sparkle N Sprinkle's 2-1/2" Double sided "Tear-ific" Tape side-by-side (with a very slight overlap so there wasn't a gap between the two) onto a card panel. I pulled off the release paper and covered it with a piece of lace. I sprinkled on Priceless Peacock glitter from Sparkle N Sprinkle. Then, I burnished it in to the release paper (through the lace) with my finger tool. After this, I removed the lace, which revealed the unglittered parts of the tape, and then sprinkled on and burnished in Bridal glitter from Sparkle N Sprinkle. This created a solid background that is super sparkly and has the lace design!!

For the sentiment, I die cut out "Happy" multiple times. I glued and stacked three of them together to provide depth, and set it aside. I layered a strip of 2-1/2" Double sided "Tear-ific" Tape on a scrap piece of white cardstock. I die cut this with the "Happy" die. I pulled off the release paper and then dusted the sentiment with Sparkling Snow glitter from Sparkle N Sprinkle. This made it super sparkly!! I glued this onto the stack of happy dies previously created. I also stamped out "birthday" with Versamark Ink Pad and dusted on White Detail embossing powder from Sparkle N Sprinkle. I layered the "birthday" strip over the card panel and then adhered the "happy" above it.

This created a really sparkly, fun, colorful background, with simple sentiments that pop out over the background.

I hope my friend likes her birthday card. This was a lot of fun to make!

Thanks for stopping by. Have a magical day!

-Chris

Sparkle N Sprinkle compensated links are used when possible.

Hello There Mom Card [#2/52] {01.13.2017}

Hi! Two weeks into the New Year, and I am still keeping my plans to make and send my Mom a card a week. Yay! Here is this week's card for her.

I stamped the Hello sentiment with colored inks and tried to do a big of an ombre look to it. I also stamped "there" in black ink. I stamped onto a stitched rectangle die cut from Lawn Fawn. I layered the stitched rectangle over a card base also from Lawn Fawn. After this was done, I used the Nuvo Fine Glue Pen from Sparkle N Sprinkle, along the stitched edge and randomly on the card front. I let the glue dry to a tacky feel, then rubbed on some Nuvo Gold Gilding Flakes. The gilding flakes stuck to the tacky glue, and I brushed the rest off. This gave the card a lot of glow and glimmer!

I also stamped a sentiment inside, just for more fun.

This was a quick and easy card, and something that can easily be replicated with other card bases, sentiments, or images. I hope Mom likes it!

Thanks for stopping by. Have a magical day!

-Chris

Sparkle N Sprinkle Cattelya Orchid card {01.11.2017}

Howdy! This post is appearing on Sparkle N Sprinkle's blog today, and is also appearing here on my blog today. I love orchids, and when I saw this new Cattleya Orchid Friendship stamp set, from Sparkle N Sprinkle in their January release of TEN new stamp sets, I got super excited! I love orchids, and made a card with orchids today. Here it is.

I stamped out the Cattelya orchid and then die cut it into a circle. I colored the orchids and then added some glitter! I rolled out some adhesive with my Nuvo Glue Pen Fine and then sprinkled on glitters. I sprinkled on Misty Isles glitter to the stems and leaves, and Lacy Lilac to the orchids.

I love little drops on the edges. I think it punches up the card a teeny bit. I squeezed out three drops on the edge of the circle, using White Blizzard Nuvo Glitter Drops. Then, I sprinkled on some more Lacy Lilac glitter over the drops. This made custom drops that perfectly matched the orchid glitter!

I stamped out the sentiment with Versamark Ink Pad and sprinkled on Royal Purple embossing powder, onto vellum, and heat set it. I trimmed the vellum into a strip. Then, I swiped the Nuvo Glue Pen Large onto the edges, and sprinkled on more Royal Purple embossing powder to the edges and heat set the embossing powder. I attached it to the card panel.

To finish off the card, I stamped out the orchid image onto my background panel. I stamped it multiple times in light pink ink. Then, I ran the background panel through my Cuttlebug in an embossing folder. I layered all these together and finished off my card.

This new stamp set from Sparkle N Sprinkle is gorgeous! I know you will love it :)

Thanks for stopping by. Have a magical day!
-Chris

Sweet Little Purse {01.09.2017}

Hi! So glad you stopped by. I have a quick project today to share with you. I created a purse using a Tonic die, for a little giftie bag. Let's check it out.

I die cut the purse pieces, then scored the fold lines, and attached it all together. It came together really easily.

I stamped out a sentiment on the tags with white embossing powder, and heat set it. I attached the tags, and called this gift bag DONE!

I made this to give a little gift to a friend. Wonderful way to package and present this sweet gift.

Thanks for stopping by. Have a magical day!

-Chris

Mom Card [#1/52] Beautiful Day card {01.06.2017}

My Mom LOVES getting mail - she checks her mail box every day and stresses out if she isn't home when the mail should arrive. And, since she loves mail so much and I make cards, I have given myself the challenge to make and send her a card each week during 2017! This is CARD #1 of 52 ... I can do this! Let's check out the FIRST of many cards.

I stamped out a background stamp from Hero Arts with Versamark Ink and sprinkled on Sparkle N Sprinkle's White Detail embossing powder and heat set it. Then, I pulled out my distress inks, and started blending! I blended on 3 blue distress inks over the white embossing powder. The white embossing powder resists the ink and stays white while the paper below it gets colored by the ink. After I blended on the inks, I used a dry paper towel to wipe up any remaining ink sitting on top of the embossing powder. This makes the white a BRIGHT WHITE.

I also stamped out a sentiment on a strip of black cardstock, and heat set more White Detail embossing powder. Then, I laid a strip down of 1" Double sided Tear-ific Tape from Sparkle N Sprinkle and adhered the sentiment strip over the tape. This left the teeniest little edge of adhesive remaining on the top and bottom, and I dusted on Sparkle N Sprinkle's Priceless Peacock glitter to the remaining adhesive. This framed the sentiment really well!!

I also stamped out the inside on a panel. I stamped another sentiment and one of the flowers and heat set them with White Detail embossing powder and then blended in some blue distress ink over them to make them pop a bit more. I also blended the edges of the panel.

My Momma lives several thousand miles away from me. However, I do get to see my parents during the winter holidays. Here is my Mommy, walking past a petting zoo friend, at our visit to the Zoo when we saw each other over the holidays. She is always game for an adventure!

I hope my Mom likes this card, and the future cards ... we do stay in touch via phone, texting, and emails, but getting cards in the mail is a HUGE highlight! Mom - I hope this card helped show you have much I love and miss you!

Thanks for stopping by. Have a magical day!

-Chris