Best Part of Christmas

Sparkle N Sprinkle recently released several “Stampette” sets.  These are cute & fun little value packed "mini" sets with many of them complementing larger sets.  They have some adorable Christmas sets and I decided to use one of these for today’s card.

This card uses the Snow Family Stampette set.  These little snowmen are so adorable and I couldn’t resist coloring them to be dressed alike.  It brings back memories of making matching Christmas dresses for me and my two little girls one year.  I heat embossed this image, using Midnight Madness embossing powder.  This gave the image a lot of sparkle but I added more by adding Twinkling Clouds Sparkle N Soft to the trim on the coats and the snow at the bottom of the image.

I cut the image out with a Spellbinder die and layered it on a black scalloped rectangle, also cut with a Spellbinder die.  This is added to red and black layers, then to a white card base.  I used a glue pen to add Starfire Glitter to the star on the image and the snowflakes on the red background layer.  The sentiment is also part of this adorable set and is stamped with Jet Black Stazon ink on a Spellbinder label die.

It is hard to believe that Christmas is only two months away and I hope that my oldest daughter will be able to come home for at least a few days so we can be together as a family for Christmas this year.  It makes it so special.

Thanks for visiting today,

E. Marie

This card is entered in the following challenges:

Totally Papercrafts Challenge #89 - Layer upon Layer

Ooh La La Challenge #91 - Let It Snow

Little Claire Monthly Challenge # 14 - 'Christmas'

Joan's Gardens Weekly Challenge #7: 

   ■ Use a die

   ■ Use a Christmas Sentiment

   ■ Use some kind of light (Candle, Christmas Tree Lights, snow etc)

   ■ Use Red and White and additional colors if you wish

Fussy and Fancy Challenge 47 --Three B's: Black, Border Punch, Bling

Card Crazy Card Challenge ..... 'numbers'  or  'add a sentiment'

Crafty Cardmakers Challenge #54 – Cute, with a Dark Twist

Corrosive Challenges By Janet Challenge #135 – Flying Things

Aifactory Challenge #96 - Anything Goes

Simon Says Stamps Challenge – Anything Goes

Harvest Scarecrow

This was a long weekend for me so I finally attacked my craft room.  What a mess!!  I did not get as far as I wanted so my hallway, living room, and den are a disaster.  I pretty much pulled everything out and am putting it back a little at a time and doing some rearranging.  It will take a bit but will be sooo worth it.  The hard part is trying to actually make cards.

I escaped to my friend, Bonnie’s, on Saturday.  She lives up in the mountains and the drive was beautiful.  The leaves are starting to change and the weather was perfect.  My friend, Susan, came with me and we had a wonderful time creating together.  Bonnie showed us how to make a very special project which I can’t wait to show you, but it is not quite finished so I will have to.  I think you will love it.

Here is something I can share – another fun Fall card.  I love Fall colors because they are so deep and rich.  I used the front and back of some decorative cardstock for the background and diecut flower.  The cute little scarecrow is from the Harvest Scarecrow stamp set from Sparkle N Sprinkle.  I stamped and heat embossed it in black and colored it with Pearlescent Watercolors.  I cut it out using the Harvest Scarecrow Cut File.  I also created a narrow shadow layer to put behind it.  This is popped up on top of a layer created with a leaf stamp from Sparkle N Sprinkle Fall Leaves Stampette set.  I stamped it repeatedly with some new purple distress ink and heat embossed it with Amethyst Spray Embossing Powder, and used the Pearlescent Watercolors to color them again.  I added a purple felt flower, orange buttons, and some seam binding ribbon that I stained purple.

Well, it is back to the craft room to put more things away – at least enough to see my table.  I had to finish the above card on a clipboard in my lap. 

Thanks for stopping by,

E. Marie

This card is entered in the following challenges:

Stampin Sisters In Christ Challenge #111 – Use 2 of Everything

Everybody – Art Challenge #163 – Halloween

Crafts 4 Eternity Challenge Recipe #41 – Orange and Purple

Stamptacular Sunday Challenge #134 – Anything Goes

Phindy's Place Challenge #77 - Halloween!

Paper Pretties Wednesday Challenge PWC175 – Halloween Inspiration

The Pink Elephant Challenge TPE120 - Inspiration

Paper Cutz Challenge #113 - "Stars, Circles and Diamonds, Oh My”/Halloween

Fussy and Fancy Challenge 46 --Fall or Halloween!

Delightful Sketches Challenge – Colors of Fall

Crafts and Me Challenge #56 – Orange

CES Challenge #58 – Forever Autumn

Anything Goes Challenge #51 – Dies Cuts/Punches or Both (Dark Orange Background Flower)

Totally Gorjuss Challenge #102 – Bingo! (Flowers, Buttons, Bows)

Simon Says Stamps Challenge – Halloween/Goth

Speedy the Cat's Friends Challenge Week 77 - Seeing Double (Leaf)

Cute Card Thursday Challenge 186 - Tree-mendous!/ feature a tree/leaves

Creative Card Crew Challenge - Spooky Fun/Halloween

Crazy 4 Challenges C4C109 – Holiday Card/Heat Embossing

Everything To Enjoy

I found this awesome pack of cardstock at my local Tuesday Morning.  I bought it because I loved the shape and it had this great design in black and white.  When I opened it I realized it actually had a glossy finish.

This is another shaped card created from cutting shaped cardstock in half.  I folded it and then sponged ink on it.  I actually tried to use my new Distress Stains first but due to the glossy finish this did not work.  I ended up doing direct to paper with my Stazon pads  and then lightly wiping over it to keep the colors subtle.  I think it gave it a great Fall look.

For the sentiment I created a mottled background with Distress Stains on white cardstock.  I stamped the frame from Our Daily Bread Designs’ Vine Borders set with Fired Brick Distress Ink.  The sentiment is from Our Daily Bread Designs’ Scripture Series 2 and was stamped in Teal Blue Stazon Ink.    I added a teal flourish cut with Cheery Lynn’s Victorian Romance Flourish and yellow border on the straight sides of the card using a Martha Stewart border punch.

The flower is made from old book pages.  I added ink using direct to paper and when it dried I punched out scalloped hearts using a Fiskars punch.  I glued the pointed ends to a cardstock circle in layers and then added a button to the center with thread that has been stitched through the center to help hold the flower together better.  Then I scrunched up the “petals” a bit to give it more depth and shape.

E. Marie

This card is entered in the following challenges:

Our Daily Bread Designs Shining the Light ODBDSLC79 - Make your own Embellishment

Crafty Cardmakers Challenge #53 – Anything Goes

The Crafty Pad Challenge #142 – Vintage

Craft Your Passion Challenge #79 – A Card for All Occasions

Fourishes Bring Back the Beautiful Challenge – The Beauty of a Technique

Setimental Sundays Challenge #76 – Anything Goes (Plus a Sentiment)

Top Tip Tuesday Challenge #55 – Use Designer Paper (TIP: How to make flower)

Stampin Sisters In Christ Challenge #110 – Anything Goes

Anything Goes Challenge #51 – Diecuts/ Punches or Both

The Shabby Tea Room Challenge Week #83 – Fall Flowers (Bonus Points if Handmade)

Moxie Fab World Tuesday Trigger: Finesse the Dress (I was inspired by the flourish design on the front of the dress and also the edge design on the top and bottom of the dress.  I added just a splash of the dress color with the teal flourish.)

Live, Love, Laugh

Today was a rainy, dreary day and even after two cups of coffee I still took a long nap after work.  Felt soooo good!!  Then it was straight to the craft room to finish a card I started this weekend.  I am trying to get a lot done this week because I really hope to attack my craft room so I can actually find things.  My daughter wants me to come to Memphis to visit her, instead, so who knows if it will actually happen.

This is a very sparkly card!!  I embossed the background, using a new embossing folder that I found about a month ago at Hobby Lobby.  I haven’t seen it anywhere since so I am glad I grabbed it.  I rubbed some Timber Brown Stazon ink over the to make it show up more and then added three different colors of glitter to the leaves, using a glue pen.

The image is Penny Black and one of my favorites.  If you visit my blog often, you will have seen it several times before.  This little guy is actually throwing flowers in the air but I covered them with leaves that I made.  I sponged a variety of Fall colored Distress Stain on cardstock and when it was dry I punched them out with Martha Stewart punches.  I brushed them with clear drying glue, after shaping them with an embossing tool, and dipped them in semi-transparent glitter.  I added some sparkle to the leaves in the background paper with a glitter pen.

The image and sentiment are cut out using Spellbinder dies and added with foam dots to a scalloped layer.  I added two leaf and one acorn button in the bottom corner.  I hope this card adds a little joy to your day and a smile to your face!!

Happy Fall,

E. Marie

This card is entered in the following challenges:

Penny Black at Allsorts October Challenge - Autumn Inspiration

Moving Along With The Times Challenge #119 – Autumn Leaves

Stampin Sisters In Christ Challenge #110 – Anything Goes

Totally Papercrafts Challenge #87 – Animals

Top Tip Tuesday Challenge #55 – Use Designer Papers (Tip – How to Make Sparkly Leaves)

Sew Many Challenge #70 - Color Challenge/Burnt Orange, Yellow, and Brown

Sentimental Sundays Challenge #76 - Anything Goes (plus a sentiment)

Kaboodle Doodles Challenge #88 – Let’s See Those Leaves

Fussy and Fancy Challenge 46 --Fall or Halloween!

DYSU Challenge #40 – Use Brown

Crafty Catz Weekly Challenge #103 – Recipe:  1 Image, 2 Papers 3 Buttons.

Art Impressions Stamps Challenge #35 – Stripes

Simon Says Stamps Challenge – Sparkle and Bling

Paper Play Challenges Week 40 – Autumn Colors
The Pixie Cottage Challenge #90 – Sketch/Fall Fun

Magnolicious Fall

Recently we took our kindergartners to a local apple orchard and they always have these huge pumpkins sitting around.  The first thing the children want to do is to climb on them.  When I went to make a Fall card using this new Magnolia image, I decided to create a scene from our orchard visit.

The card is created using various layers of rust, orange, green, purple, and both sides of some decorative cardstock.  I distressed all the edges and ran Tea Dye Distress Stain along them.  It gave the card a more rugged look.

For the image, I colored her with Tombow markers and cut her out.  I placed her on top of a pumpkin that I made using my Spellbinder Pumpkin dies and Distress Stains.  I popped this on top of a white panel that I embossed with the tree image.  I rubbed brown ink over it and then added lots of color with my stains.

For a little bling, I ran my glue pen over parts of the embossed tree and pumpkin and added a jeweled swirl that I picked up at our new Mighty Dollar store.  I found this great wide sheer orange polkadot ribbon and added a fluffy bow.  After taking the pictures I decided that it might look better with some pretty leaves along the bottom of the image so I think I will go back and do that.

Thanks for coming by today!!

E. Marie

This card is entered in the following challenges:

Magnolia  Down Under Challenge #117 – Halloween

Magnolia-licious Challenge #11 – Halloween

Magnolia Stamp Lovers Challenge – Fall

Just Magnolia Challenge Week 127 – Anything Goes

Paper Play Challenge Week 40 – Autumn Colors

Simon Says Stamps Challenge – Sparkle and Bling

Stampin For The Weekend Challenge #18 – Colors of Autumn

Creative Craft World Card Crazy Challenge – Halloweeney Colors

Fussy and Fancy Challenge 46 --Fall or Halloween!

Kaboodle Doodles Challenge #88 – Let’s See Those Leaves

One Stop Craft Challenge Week #152 – Anything Goes

Stamptacular Sunday Challenge #133 – Distressing

Moving Along With The Times Challenge #119 – Autumn Leaves

The Pink Elephant Challenge TPE120 – Inspiration Challenge

Sketch Saturday Challenge Week #174 – Sketch

Sweet Fall

Today I decided to play some more with my Distress Stains.  I used a piece of white cardstock that I ran through a Frame Cutting and Embossing Folder and colored it with a variety of Fall colored stains.  I spritzed it with some Vanilla Shimmer Smooch Spritz which gave it a lovely shimmer.  I cut the center out and layered it on dark brown cardstock.  I used foam dots to pop this up on top of some rust cardstock punched with a Martha Stewart corner/border punch, then layered this on green and more dark brown.

For the image in the center I stamped and heat embossed using Versamark ink and gold embossing powder.  I painted it with bleach but it wasn’t as light as I wanted so I decided to paint it with some Smooch.  This really added some sparkle.  The image is Bird On Flowering Branch from Sweet Stamps.

This was a fun card to make and I really love those stains.  I have ordered a few more and can’t wait to get them.  Thanks so much for stopping by.

E. Marie

This card is entered in the following challenges:

Sweet Stamps Challenge #35 – Anything Goes

Delightful Sketches Challenge – Make It Dimensional

Speedy the Cat's Friends Challenge Week 76 - No Designer Paper

Paper Play Challenge Week 40 – Autumn Colors

Simon Says Stamps Challenge – Sparkle and Bling

Simon Says Stamp and Show Challenge – Things With Wings

Bling It On Challenge #8 – No Patterned Papers

DYSU Challenge #40 – Use Brown

Fussy and Fancy Challenge 46 --Fall or Halloween!

Kaboodle Doodles Challenge #88 – Let’s See Those Leaves

Sew Many Challenge #70 – Colors: Burnt Orange, Yellow, and Brown

Stamptacular Sunday Challenge #133 – Distressing

Totally Papercrafts Challenge #87 – Animals

Stampin Sisters In Christ Challenge #110 – Anything Goes

The Pink Elephant TPE120 – Inspiration Challenge!!

A Star on Top

I am trying to get started on some of my Christmas cards earlier this year (anything before Dec. 15 is earlier).  I have so many beautiful Christmas papers and cardstock so I am going to make all different kinds this year instead of just one that I make about 40 times.

Who could resist this little guy from House Mouse.  I stamped him in black and colored him with Tombows.  I cut the image out with a Spellbinder die and layered it on green.  I cut out a metallic gold ornament top with a sizzix die to give the look of an ornament.  I layered this on some lovely red decorative paper that is layered on gold metallic and green. 

Across the top I used a Martha Stewart border punch to create the border, and then I sponged the pine with ink and ran some gold ribbon with gold wired weaving down the center of the border.  I added a green flourish on the side of the ornament and added holly leaves (Martha Stewart punch) and jeweled berries.  After punching out the leaves, I sponged all the edges with ink and used a stylus to shape them.  I used a glitter pen to add touches of sparkle.  The final touch is a very sparkly bow at the top of the “ornament”.

E. Marie

This card was entered in the following challenges:

Delightful Sketches – Make It Dimensional (Holly Leaves)

Simon Says Stamps Challenge – Sparkle and Bling

CES Challenge #57 – Seeing Red

Crafty Cardmakers Challenge #53 – Anything Goes  

Craft Your Passion Challenge #78 – Anything Goes/Twist-Ribbon 

Flourishes Heavy Metal Challenge FLLCOCT11 – Heavy Metal Challenge (Gold)

Little Claire Monthly Challenge # 14 - 'Christmas'

One Stop Crafts Challenge Week #152 – Anything Goes

Stamptacular Sunday Challenge #133 – Distressing

Totally Paper Crafts Challenge #87 – Animals
Kaboodle Doodles Challenge #88 - Let's See Those Leaves
Whoopsie Daisy Challenge - Christmas

Top Tip Tuesday Challenge #54 – Sketch Challenge

Halloween Dress Up

I went on a field trip with the kindergarten class to Farm Day on Friday and they were so excited to see all the animals.  The highlights were getting to ride a horse and holding a scorpion (no, I did not do either).  I came home exhausted and sunburnt so I was ready for a relaxed weekend of playing with friends.  Several of us spent the afternoon together and had a great time.  The weather was beautiful and Fall is definitely here with the cool mornings and perfect afternoons. 

The challenge at Impression Obsession was Halloween/Favorite Costume.  I looked through my stamps and just couldn’t come up with anything I thought would work.  Then my friend showed us a card she had made using this adorable image that was perfect.  She was kind enough to let me use it to create this card.  The stamp is F7527 Fritzy with Butterfly.  I stamped it in black and cut it out, and then I colored it with Tombow markers and added some flower soft to the pom poms.  I cut out two different sized pumpkins, using my Spellbinder dies, and added some color to give them some dimension.  I cut the top off of the smallest one to make it look like a candy bucket.  I added my party animal with foam dots to the front of the big pumpkin and placed the small pumpkin in his paw.  I layered all of this on some cute polkadot cardstock.

For embellishment I added some ribbon across the top and added a black flourish that I cut out with a die.  The little bats are from a Martha Stewart punch and I added the eyes with a white pen.

E. Marie

This card was entered in the following challenges:

Charisma Cardz Challenge #40 – Black and Orange

Delightful Sketches – Make It Dimensional

Impression Obsession Challenge – Halloween/Favorite Costume

Paper Play Challenge Week 40 – Autumnal Colors

Craft Your Passion Challenge #78 – Anything Goes/Twist-Ribbon

The Pink Elephant TPE119 – "Trick or Treat" Theme!!

Totally Paper Crafts Challenge #87 – Animals

Fussy and Fancy Challenge #46 – Fall or Halloween

Top Tip Tuesday Challenge #54 – Sketch Challenge

Sparkle N Sprinkle World Animal Day Blog Hop Winners!!!

Thank you to everyone that hopped with us this week.  We loved all of your comments and we hope you were inspired by all the images, designs, and sparkling products.  Remember that all our Critter stamps are on special 15% off this month, with many of our accessorizing products like glitters, flockings, and embossing powders.

Don’t forget to come back for our “It’s a Cultural Thing” Blog Hop on November 10,  celebrating the elements which comprise our culture.  It will be very interesting to see which elements each designer picks to show off and, of course, there will be PRIZES.

Speaking of prizes, the winners have been announced.  The two Grand Prize winners are

Grand Prize #1 – Stamp Set of her Choice – Frann (papergardener)

Grand Prize #2 – Stampette Set of her Choice – Anita Braddock

Check out these adorable new Stampette Sets to pick from:

Blossoms to Go

Fall Leaves

Christmas Basket

Snow Family

Just For You

Hope Love Faith

There were also 3 mystery prize winners — “Mystery prizes” because 3 of our Designers contained prizes on their blogs, but they did not know it.

Prize One from Patti White – 2 tinsel glitter colors of her choice – Janet LoBianco

Prize Two from  Shona Erlenborn – 3 embossing powders of her choice – Connie Chapman

Prize Three from Karin Martin - 3 glitters of her choice – Dee in N.H.

Congratulations!!! 

E. Marie

Sparkle N Sprinkle World Animal Day Blog Hop!!

Welcome back for the Sparkle N Sprinkle World Animal Day Blog Hop!!  So glad you stopped by to see what I have to show you today.  If you arrived here from Karin Martin’s purrrrfectly wonderful blog, you are in the right place.  If not, you might want to start at the beginning of this hop by returning to the Sparkle N Sprinkle Home Blog where you can find all the details and a list of all participating designers.  You don’t want to miss a chance to win one of two Grand Prizes - Stamp Sets of the winner’s choice.

The hop runs from 5AM Eastern Time on October 3 through October 4. Winners will be announced Wednesday, October 5 between 11AM-3PM on the SNS blog so make sure you check back!!

Today we are celebrating World Animal Day.  Animals are so much a part of our lives.  Here are pics of the animals that are a part of my family.

They provide us with so much joy and love so I was excited to participate in this hop.  My challenge was which stamp to pick from all wonderful images Sparkle N Sprinkle has to offer.  Don’t forget that through the end of the month, the Sparkle Team presents all of the SNS Animals, Dogs & Cats, and Insects stamps on special - 15% off! To view all our specials, including stamps, glitters, EPs, and other fine SNS products, just click here. 

Let’s get to what you came here for.

My first card is fairly simple, though all the extra layers may make it appear more difficult.  I used layers of lime and aqua cardstock, pre-cut decorative paper, some great glossy cardstock decorated with alcohol inks, and SNS’s image, Zebra. 

I stamped the image with Jet Black Stazon on top some beautiful glossy cardstock decorated with alcohol inks that my friend, April, shared with me.  The sentiment is from one of SNS’ new stampette sets call Just For You.  I used a glue pen to add Starfire Glitter to some of the flowers on the decorative pre-cut paper.

For my second card I decided to try a new technique I recently saw at a local stamp convention.  SNS carries various shapes of acrylic pieces.  I decided to create a stain glass look using one of their acrylic tags.  I stamped the Stained Glass Hummingbird image with Jet Black Stazon ink and heat set it.  Then I painted the back using SNS Brushable Glue mixed with reinkers and when it dried it looked just like stained glass.  I ran 1/4" Double Sided "Tear-ific" Tape around the edges, layered it on Holographic cardstock, and added Burgundy Glitz glitter.  It was hard to get a picture that showed how beautiful it came out.

For the actual card I used layers of cream, burgundy, and blue cardstock and two different decorative cardstocks.  I created a frame using a die cut and used foam tape to pop it up so it created a nice window to hang the tag in.

Now it is time to head to Shona Erlenborn’s grrrreat blog where I know she will have something special to share with you.  Don’t forget to leave a comment to become eligible to win a Grand Prize.

Thank you so much for stopping by to celebrate the animals in our lives.

    

E. Marie

These cards have been entered in the following challenges:

Zebra Card

Simon Says Stamps Challenge – Anything Goes

Catch the Bug Challenge – Anything Goes

Crafts and Me Challenge #54 – Flowers

Cute Card Thursday Challenge 184 - Animal Crackers/feature an animal as or in the main image.

Flutter By Wednesday #173 – Open

4 Crafty Chicks Crazy Egg Challenge 57 - Anything Goes

Joan's Gardens Weekly Card Challenge #4 –

  ■ Create a Card using something from nature

  ■ Create a card using several layers

  ■ Create a card using glitter

  ■ Created a card using a border around the card

Crafts 4 Eternity Recipe #39 – Anything Goes

Sketch Saturday Challenge Week #174 – Sketch

Hummingbird Card

Crafty Catz Weekly Challenge #102 - Things with Wings

Flourishes Bring Back The Beautiful – The Beauty of A Technique

Fussy and Fancy Friday Challenge 45 - Try a New Technique

Joan’s Gardens World Card Making Day - Anything

DDCC #132 – BINGO (Punches/Distressing/Bling)

Totally Gorjuss Challenge 100 - Sketch

Lexi's Creations Challenge #50 - ‘Pink for Boobies’

I am so excited to have been chosen as a guest designer over at Lexi’s Creations for this week’s challenge.  The theme for Challenge #50 is ‘Pink for Boobies’.  Since two of my sisters and two of my friends recently battled cancer, this was very dear to my heart.  I wanted to create a card to celebrate those that are survivors. 

I used some very special paper perfectly themed for this card and layered it on maroon, deep pink, and a white card base.  I used the digital sentiment, Special Friend, from Fairy Dust Crafts, and printed it on light pink cardstock. 

I cut it out with a die and sponged darker pink ink around the edges before layering it on two strips of lace I added to the middle of the card.  I used my Cricut and a new SVG to cut out the ribbon and sponged it with darker pink ink to give it some dimension.  I used foam squares to pop it up to the right of the sentiment and then added some pearl swirls.  I really do thank God for the survival of those who are so dear to me.

Don’t forget to go to Lexi’s to see what the designers there have created for you and all the details to enter this challenge.

E. Marie

This card has been entered in the following challenges:

Delightful Sketches Challenge – Delightful Pearls and Swirls

Simon Says Stamps Challenge – Anything Goes

Catch the Bug Challenge – Anything Goes

DYSU Challenge #39 – Swirls

4 Crafty Chicks Crazy Egg Challenge 57 - Anything Goes

Incy Wincy Designs Challenge #114 – Think Pink

Joan’s Gardens World Card Making Day – Anything

Paper Pretties Wednesday Challenge PWC173 – use a sentiment as a focal point on your card.

Whoopsie Daisy Challenge – Lace and Pearls

Crafts 4 Eternity Recipe #39 – Anything Goes