Sparkle N Sprinkle Magical Winter Moments Blog Hop

Welcome to the Sparkle N Sprinkle Magical Winter Moments Blog Hop.  It is hard to believe that Christmas is around the corner and, if you are like me, it sneaks up too soon and you are rushing to finish up those Christmas cards and get them in the mail.  Well, grab a mug of hot chocolate (with marshmallows, of course), wrap up in a warm blanket, and get ready for some awesome inspiration to get you started.

If you came here from Dawn Thomas’ fantastic blog, you are in the right place.  If not, you might want to start at the Sparkle N Sprinkle blog to get all the details and a complete list of Design Team blogs to visit. 

The hop runs from 5:00 am, Thursday, September 22^nd through Friday, September 23^rd.  Sparkle N Sprinkle will be giving away a stamp set of the winner’s choice as the Grand Prize.  However, you will also have a chance to win one of 3 mystery prizes so make sure you leave a comment at each stop for a chance to win.  All winners will be revealed between 11:00 am – 3:00 pm on Saturday, September 24^th, so make sure you check back to see if you are one of the randomly selected, lucky winners.

For my first card I decided to create a winter scene using a side step card.  The main image is Noele’s Tree and the sentiment is Snow Peace.  Sparkle N Sprinkle is now selling cut files for their stamps so I cut out Noele’s Tree using the new Tis The Season Cut File.  This was so much quicker than hand cutting, which was a good thing since all the individual trees on the side steps were hand cut. 

I tucked them behind sparkly “drifts” of snow surrounding the sentiment.  For details and complete instructions how to make this card, check out the SNS Gallery here.

This hop would not be complete without ornaments so I also created a magical shaker ornament.  I used Spellbinders’ Heirloom Ornament dies to cut chipboard, decorative paper, and Clear Embossable Acetate.

I used Winter White Embossing Powder and Snow Flurries border to add snowflakes and swirls to the decorative paper and then layered all of this to create the ornament.

Inside the shaker card I used Spellbinders Labels Thirteen, Candy Cane Pengie image, and some fluffy Twinkling Clouds Sparkle N Soft “snow”. 

Then on the back I used the Snow Cheer sentiment.  I added snowflakes covered with Starfire Glitter and ribbon.  You can find all the details here.

All the images and sentiments I used can be purchased separately or included in the new Stamp Set 438 - Playful Pengies or the new Stamp Set 439 - Tis The Season.  You can also purchase the cut files CE101 Tis The Season and CE102 Playful Pengies that coordinate with these stamp sets.  Don’t forget that all of the SNS Christmas, Chanukah, Winter, Christian, Jewish, Sympathy and Lisa Hillaker artist stamps on special - 15% off – through the end of the month.  To view all their specials, including stamps, glitters, EPs, and other fine SNS products, just click here. 

Now it is time to hop to Sandy Meier’s sparkling blog.  Add more marshmallows (they’re the best part) and head over to see what she has waiting for you.  Don’t forget to leave a comment for a chance to win!!

Thanks so much for stopping by!!

E. Marie

The Side Step Card has been entered in the following challenges:

Stamptacular Sunday Challenge #129 – Just Saying (some sort of sentiment/words)

Catch The Bug Challenge – Create a Scene

Clearly Inspired Challenge #36 (CIC36) – Glitter

Crafts and Me Challenge #53 – Stripes

Kaboodle Doodles Challenge #85 – Lots of Layers

Everybody Art Challenge #160 – Stair Step Card

The Shaker Ornament has been entered in the following challenges:

Simon Says Stamps Challenge – Dies to Die For

Totally Gorjuss Challenge #98 – Nothing Square

Corrosive Challenge #133 – Punches and/or dies

DDCC #130 – Monochromatic Challenge

Incy Wincy Designs Challenge #112 – Distressing

Ooh-La-La Challenge #89 – Punches/Dies

Phindy's Place Challenge #73 – Christmas
Flourishes Bring Back The Beautiful Challenge - Monochromatic

Sentimental Sundays Challenge #73 – Monochromatic (plus sentiment)

Tiny, Simple, and Sparkly!!

On my last post I mentioned that it was supposed to cool off and it sure did.  I had to wear a jacket this weekend and almost turned on the heat.  Forget Fall – I am almost ready for Winter!!  Or at least for a Winter Blog Hop.  Check back on Thursday, September 22 for the start of the Sparkle N Sprinkle’s Magical Winter Moments Blog Hop.   To get you in the spirit I have a simple little card to show you.

If you are a regular visitor to my blog you already know I have a hard time with simple cards but this one was fun to make.  I guess the addition of the embossing and different glitters satisfied my need for details and bling.  Since I make 40 or more Christmas cards each year, it is nice to have something easy to make but still looks classy.   

I started with the image, Tiny Tree, from Sparkle N Sprinkle.  This is one of their new images and it can also be purchased as part of their Tis The Season set.  I simply heat embossed it, dry embossed around it, and colored it.  I layered it on red and green cardstock and added glitter.  For full details on how to make this card go to the Sparkle N Sprinkle website here.

We will see you on Thursday when I will have two more fun card ideas for you.   You might want to start at the Sparkle N Sprinkle blog to get all the details and the list of awesome Design Team Members who have created some amazing winter magic!!

E. Marie

This card is entered in the following challenges:

Totally Papercrafts Challenge #84 - Clean and Simples!

Cute Card Thursday Challenge #182 - Anything Goes!

4 Crafty Chicks Challenge #55 - Embossing (Heat or Dry)

Moving Along With The Times Challenge #116 – Sparkle

Phindy's Place Challenge #73 – Christmas

Happy Fall Y'All

I have been told that the temperature is supposed to drop soon and I might actually need to get out a sweater.  Yeah!!!  I am soooo tired of being soooo hot.  Since we are all in the mood for Fall, I decided to make a Halloween/Autumn card.  Last year I had seen how to make little bats using a punch.  It was so adorable and I knew it would be perfect with some of my Sparkle N Sprinkle stamps.  I also wanted to work on a sketch challenge over at Moxie Fab World.

I used the punch three different directions on black cardstock to create the bats and then used a spider web corner/border punch along the side.  I added some sticker paper from Sparkle N Sprinkle behind the bats and added some Autumn Sparkle colored Sparkle N Soft and then some Embers glitter.  I stamped the sentiment, Happy Fall Y All, and heat embossed using VersaMark ink and Amethyst Spray Embossing Powder.    I heat embossed my Pumpkin image using Midnight Madness embossing powder and colored with markers.  I cut it out and used some black foam squares to pop it up on the front.

I added the black card to orange and purple layers and a yellow card base.  I ran some 1/4" Double Sided "Tear-ific" Tape along the front edge of the purple layer before adding the smaller orange layer and then dipped the exposed taped border in Impulsive Purple glitter.  I finished off this card by using SNS Dimensional Glue to adding tiny wiggle eyes to the bats.  I didn’t want to use the wiggle eyes on the Pumpkin image but did use a white pen to add some white hi-lites to the eyes.

Here is the Horizontal Sketch I used:

Come back again soon,

E. Marie

This card is entered in the following challenges:

Horizontal Sketch Challenge in the Moxie Fab World

Sentimental Sundays Challenge #72 – Autumn (plus a sentiment)

Paper Cutz Challenge #108 - We're "Going to the Pumpkin Patch"

Lexis Creations Challenge #48 – Autumn

Flourishes Colors of Fall Challenge

The Crafty Pad Challenge #138 – Goodbye Summer/Autumn Colors

CES Challenge #53 – Make It Magical or Spooky

Catch The Bug Challenge – Punches/Dies

Stamp Something Challenge – Anything Goes

Speedy the Cat's Friends Challenge Week 72 - Use a Punch
Paper Play Challenge Week 37 - Punches and Dies
Craft Your Passion Challenge #75 - Scrappy "F" Words (Fall)
Cute Card Thursday Challenge #182 - Anything Goes
4 Crafty Chicks Challenge #55 - Embossing
Moving Along With The Times Challenge 116 - Sparkle
Totally Stampalicious Challenge - Anything Goes

The Beauty of Fall

The weather was definitely cooler today and it reminded me of Fall.  I guess that put me in the mood for today’s easel card.

I recently purchased some new stains and wanted to play with them and this card was perfect for it.  The image is Pumpkins 4 Sale from Sparkle N Sprinkle and I heat embossed it using Versamark Ink and Copper Embossing Powder on cream cardstock four times.  On the first image I added the sky and ground color.  On the second image I used the stains to add all the coloring, cut it out, and used foam tape to pop it on top of the first image.  I colored the remaining two images and cut out various sections to add more layering on the flowers, leaves, wagon, and 4 Sale sign.  I used an embossing tool to shape the flower petals and to press down the centers.  Then I used SNS Brushable Glue to add Autumn Sparkle colored Sparkle N Soft to the center of each flower to add some bling.

For the inside of the card, I colored the sky and ground again.  I used a die to cut out the pumpkin and heat embossed the SNS sentiment, The Beauty, with the Copper embossing powder.  I colored it with the stains, added the grooves and shaping using a large tipped embossing tool, and used foam tape to adhere it.  A quick tip for the shaping is to do it before the paper dries as it is more flexible and holds the shaping better when it does dry.

The brown decorative strips were created using a border punch and I threaded some ribbon through it.  I actually colored the ribbon to match the card.  The butterflies were cut out using the smallest Spellbinders’ Nested Butterflies 2 Die.  I colored them and added a tiny strip of Double Sided Tear-ific Tape to the back of the body opening so I could add some Embers glitter.  The wings were lightly brushed with the SNS Brushable Glue and dipped into Starfire glitter.  I love the sparkle and bling this added.

Do you feel the crisp Fall breeze this card inspires?

E. Marie

This card is entered in the following challenges:

Bunny Zoe's Crafts Challenge 15 - Easel Cards

Delightful Sketches Challenge - Halloween

Speedy the Cat's Friends Challenge Week 71 - Bring on the Bling!!!

Simon Says Stamps Challenge – Multifold Cards/Creations

Top Tip Tuesday Challenge 50 – Easel Card/Easel Box Card (Tip on shaping images) Happy 1st B-Day!1

Bugaboo’s September Challenge – Anything Goes

Crafty Creations Challenge #135 – Anything But a Square

Craft Us Crazy Challenge 16 – Autumn Colors and/or Favorite Embellishments

Craft Your Passion Challenge #74 – Anything Goes with a Twist (Flowers)

Flutter By Wednesday Challenge #170 – Open

Incy Wincy Designs Challenge #110 – Make Your Own Flowers (hopefully all my coloring, cutting, shaping, and layering counts)

Lexis Creations Challenge #48 – Autumn

Stamptacular Sunday Challenge #127 – The Sky’s The Limit

Stamping For The Weekend Challenge #15 – Holidays

Whoopsie Daisy Challenge – Let’s Bling It

Everybody Art Challenge #158 - Fall/Autum

Creative Card Crew Challenge - Anything Goes

Totally Stampalicious Challenge - Pink, Orange, and Yellow

Totally Gorjuss Challenge #96 – Sketch

In My Thoughts

I hope everyone had a nice weekend.  We didn’t have quite as much rain as was predicted but there is still more to come.  I am just excited that it is supposed to be cooler.

This card is for a sketch challenge at Moxie Fab World.  There are four different sketches and this one is the Shaped Sketch.  I started with a large brown circle and layered a teal doily on top of it.  I heat embossed the edges using Versamark Ink and Gold Detail Embossing Powder from Sparkle N Sprinkle.  I added some light brown angled squares cut out from a section of a Lattice Window Die to divide the doily in fourths.

Using the Versamark and Gold Detail Embossing Powder, I stamped the SNS image, Flowers in the Square, twice on pink, teal, and brown cardstock.  I cut out different parts from all three colors and layered them with foam tape to create the lovely medallion in the center.  I heat embossed the sentiment from the SNS Thoughts Set on pink cardstock and cut it out with a rectangle die and added gold embossing along the edges.  I popped this on the bottom of the card with foam tape, and then used the pink “Square” from the main image to create the decorative layer behind the brown circle.

Have a wonderful week,

E. Marie

This card is entered in the following challenges:

Simon Says Stamps/Simon Says Stamp and Show Challenge – Anything Goes

Bugaboos September Challenge – Anything Goes

Charisma Cardz Challenge #35 – Anything Goes

Crafty Creations Challenge #134 – Dies N Punches (Circle Die, Doily Die, Lattice Window die, and Rectangle Die)
Creative Card Crew Challenge - Anything Goes
Stamptacular Sunday Challenge #127 - The Sky's the Limit
Craft Your Passion Challenge #74 - Anything Goes with a Twist/Flower
Sentimental Sunday Challenge #71 - Sympathy/Thinking of You (plus sentiment)

Shaped Sketch Challenge in the Moxie Fab World