Where There Is Hope

Sparkle N Sprinkle recently released a new set of stamps called Celebrate Life.  It has some lovely Spring/Easter images and today’s card features the image Lamb & Chicks.  The image is heat embosses with White Detail Embossing Powder on vellum inside an oval frame created with an embossing folder.  I used a stylus on the back to bring out white in the embossed frame and lamb image.  I used markers and a Dove Blender to add color to the front.  This is layered on pink and green layers and all corners are rounded.  The card base is created using designer cardstock with pink polkadots cut out with a Spellbinders’ Grand Labels Four Die.

For embellishments I added a thin yellow multi-loop satin bow and a pink silk flower.  I used SNS Brushable Glue to add Green Nugget Glitter to a Fanciful Flourish die cut, cut it in several pieces, and tucked these around the flower.  I used SNS Dimensional Glue to add a floral button to the center of the flower.  The sentiment is from the Easter Wishes Set and is heat embossed with Moss Embossing Powder.  I finished by adding 4 pink jewels to the left side of the card.

It is supposed to warm up again by the end of the week and lots of spring flowers and bushes are starting to bloom.  I love this time of year!!

Have a blessed Sunday,

E. Marie

This card is entered in the following challenges:

Moving Along With The Times Challenge #137 – Lots of Layers

Cheery Lynn Designs Challenge 16 - Frame It     

The Cuttlebug Spot Challenge – Spring

DYSU Challenge #60 – Distress

All Sorts Challenge Week 143 – Anything Goes

Clearly Inspired Challenge #46 (CIC46) – SHAPELY! 

The Pixie Cottage Challenge #109 - Buttons and Bows

Paper Pretties Wednesday Challenge PWC194  – use punches or die cuts your card..

Fussy and Fancy Challenge 57 - More Than Words

Delightful Sketches Weekly Challenge – Pattern Paper

CCW Mini Challenge – Smaller Then 12 x 12/Linked to Spring

Crafty Catz Weekly Challenge #121 – I Spy…Something Beginning With B (Bow, Button)

Crafts and Me Challenge 72 – Shades of Spring

Paper Pretties Monday Challenge - Spring! 

Stampin Sisters In Christ Challenge #127 – Image Includes Flower

House Mouse Birthday Wish

It was a bit cool and breezy today so I decided to spend time in my craft room catching up on cards.  I had to stop for a bit to settle a cat fight between our big tom cat, Boo, and another cat that made the mistake of coming into our yard.  I was running around in my slippers, my daughter was trying to separate them with an old sponge mop, and the dog was running around thinking we were all having a party.  Where is the video camera when you need it?

I was putting away a few stamps when I spotted this cute little House Mouse and remembered that House Mouse and Friends’ challenge this week was Make Wishes Come True.  I just had to quick stamp this precious image and make a card.  I stamped it with Timber Brown Stazon ink and colored it using Tombow Markers and a Dove Blender.  One of my favorite birthday cakes was a confettie cake, so I added little colored polkadots to the piece of cake.

The two designer papers are Basic Grey, layered on teal, pink and yellow distressed layers.  I used three different dies from Cheery Lynn Designs.  I created the pink frame by cutting out a section from the Lattice 1 frame die and then used the Anastasia Border die for the teal lacy border along the bottom and the Cuties 1 die to create the pink flower.  I added some Sunny Daze glitter from Sparkle N Sprinkle to the center of the flower.

Hope your day was as pleasant as mine.

E. Marie

This card is entered in the following challenges:

Basic Grey Challange 63 - Wish Upon a Star

Bunny Zoe's Crafts Challenge 21 – Celebrations

Cheery Lynn Designs Challenge 16 - Frame It

DYSU Challenge #60 – Distress

HM&F Challenge #113 (HMFMC113) - *Make Wishes Come True*

Paper Sundaes Challenge #108 – Birthdays                

Stampin For The Weekend Challenge #4 – Bingo (Flowers, Polkadots, Die Cuts)

Totally Gorjuss Challenge #120 – Yummy

Moving Along With The Times Challenge #137 – Lots of Layers

Sketch Saturday Challenge Week #196 – Sketch

Swirls and Pearls

I did not get to celebrate Valentine's with the hubby last week because I was just too sick.  I basically came home from work all week and went straight to bed.  I guess I just don’t have the resistance to all those little germs anymore.  Thanks goodness I felt much better by Friday and spent Saturday at the StampScrapArtTour convention in Columbia with four of my great friends.  We had a wonderful time, found some fun things to spend money on, and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves.

Today I have a card I created using the Jasmine image from Sparkle N Sprinkle.  This lady is so elegant and I want to make a card that was very feminine.  I used some lovely swirly background paper and added the top half of a large decorative tag on the left side.  Both are sponged with Tea Dye and Victorian Velvet ink around the edges.  I added a die cut dress form colored with Victorian Velvet, Tea Dye, and Antique Linen distress stains and wrapped some seam binding ribbon, colored with the same stains, around the tag and tying it in a simple bow.

I stamped and embossed the Jasmine image, using Copper Embossing Powder, and colored her with markers and my Dove Blender.  She is cut out with a Spellbinders label die and popped up on the card with foam tape.  I added a few paper roses, a pearl swirl, and a decorative stick pin.  You can find all the details of this card at Sparkle N Sprinkle in my gallery.

I hope you have had as lovely of a weekend as I have.    

E. Marie

This card is entered in the following challenges:

DYSU #59 – Layers

Simon Says Stamps Challenge – Tag It

Simon Says Stamp and Show - Anything Goes!

Stamping Scrapping February – Say It With Flowers (used Distress Stains)

All Sorts Challenge Week 142 – Anything Goes

Corrosive Challenge #143 – Another Dimension

Crafts and Me Challenge #71 – Distressed

Crafty Catz Challenge #120 – Favorite Things (Seam Binding Ribbon, Flowers, Pearls, Swirls)

Cute Card Thursday Challenge 204 – Flower Power

Stampin Sisters In Christ Challenge #127 – Image of/with a Flower

Totally Papercrafts Challenge 104 - Ribbons &/or Bows
Phindy's Place Challenge #93 - Bling It On

Valentine's Wish, Sneak Peak, and a SALE!!!

Happy Valentine’s Day!!  Hope you had a lovely day.  I spent the day with 21 very excited kindergarten students who started their day sorting and graphing their individual boxes of Sweethearts, made Valentine crowns, and took turns putting their Valentine cards in each other's decorated cereal box mailboxes.  They, of course, brought me some wonderful goodies – mainly chocolate!!  My favorite!!

I have some very exciting news for you today.  Sparkle N Sprinkle is releasing 2 new sets and you are going to love them.  After bragging in previous posts how lovely our weather was, we are now definitely feeling winter.  Brrrr!  These new SNS sets came at the perfect time to warm things up. 

What could be better than a surfin’ good time at the beach?  This card uses images from both of the new sets and their cut files.  I added some Hit the Beach Embossing Powder and Sparkling Sands Sparkle N Soft, along with a decorative tag and die cut shells.  I can already feel the sand between my toes!!  You can get the details for this card at the SNS website gallery here.  Now check out these groovy sets:

Stamp Set 455 – Surf’s Up     #00-455P4

Stamp Set 456 – Surfin’ Woody    #00-456P4

Speaking of groovy, here is another sample to bring back those memories. 

The image, VW Bus, is cut out using an enlarged heart cut file from the Happy Heart Cut File and the Peace Sign from the Hippy Love & Peace set used the Woody Cut File.  This is all embossed using Midnight Madness Embossing Powder that gives it lots of sparkle, along with the Sunny Daze Glitter behind the Peace Sign.  Go here to get more details.

What’s more exciting than new stamps?  A!!!

In appreciation for following the Sparkle N Sprinkle Blog and all the Design Team Blogs, we’re offering a one day sale on these two brand new sets before they are released to the public.   If you purchase one of the sets, you will receive a 10% discount.  If you purchase both sets, you’ll receive a 15% discount!!!   All you have to do is pay by credit card (so your total can be adjusted before you are billed) and place a comment in the comments section of the order on the Sparkle N Sprinkle website that you’d like the blog post discount.

Lots of Love,
E. Marie

These cards are entered in the following challenges:

Life’s Just Beachy

Simon Says Stamp and Show Anything Goes

Stampendous February Challenge – Add Some Texture

CCW Mini Challenge..... Anything Mini (tag)

CES Challenge #72 – Lot of Layers

Crafty Creations Challenge #156 – Swirly Whirly

Paper Pretties Wednesday Challenge PWC192  – Add Texture

Stampin Sisters In Christ Challenge #125 – Happy Card/Rejoicing In Life

California Dreamin 
All Sorts Challenge Week 141 – Free and Easy February

The Crafty Pad Challenge #157 – The Letter “B” (Bus, Banner)

Simon Says Stamps Challenge – Love Is In The Air

Totally Gorjuss Challenge #118 – Lurve!!

Paper Pretties Monday Challenge - Use Flowers!  

Phindy's Place Challenge #92 - Round & Round

Totally Papercrafts Challenge 103 – It’s A Rainbow (Lots of Color)

Forever Yours

Valentine’s Day is just around the corner and it is such a great time to make cards to show people how special they are to you.  What could be more special than receiving a handmade card telling you how much you are loved.

Today’s card has lots of hearts and and sparkle.  The image is Sweet Briar Frame from Sparkle N Sprinkle.  I stamped and heat embossed it with White Detail Embossing Powder on vellum, then colored from the back with markers.  I used Versamark ink and Mulberry Star Embossing Powder to heat emboss the sentiment, from SNS’s Floral-Swamp Rose set.  I added a little more sparkle by adding Pretty Princess Glitter around the edge of the decorative paper behind the image and on the punched heart at the top with a glue pen.  For full details on this card go to the SNS website here.

Thanks for stopping by,

E. Marie

This card is entered in the following challenges:

DYSU Challenge #58 – Love

Paper Play Challenge Week 6 – Love Letters

CraftyCatz Challenge 119...Valentine's

All Sorts Challenge #141 – Free and Easy February

Fussy and Fancy Challenge 56 - With All My Heart...

Cute Card Thursday Challenge 203 - Pink Valentine

Bling It On February Challenge #13 – Love

Simon Says Stamps Challenge – Love Is In The Air

Top Tip Tuesday Challenge #69 - Valentine's

Totally Gorjuss Challenge #118 – Lurve! (Love)

Delightful Sketches Weekly Challenge - L♥VE

CES Challenge #72 – Lots of Layers

Everybody Art Challenge #179 – Love

Lexis Creations Challenge #58 – Love

Little Claire Monthly Challenge #18 - 'Romance'

Ooh La La Challenge #98 - Be My Valentine

Paper Pretties Monday Challenge - Red, Pink and White!   

Stamp and Create February Montly Challenge – Valentine’s/Love

Stampin Sisters In Christ Challenge #125 – Love
The Cuttlebug Spot Challenge - Sweetheart Challenge
Bunny Zoe's Crafts Challenge #20 – Picture Inspiration

Crafts 4 Eternity Challenge R#58 – Raspberry Delight

Catch The Bug Challenge – Photo Inspiration

 

Blog Hop Winners!!!

Thanks to all of you for joining our Spring Fling Blog Hop and leaving so many kind comments.  Now it is time to let you know who are the lucky winner!!  And they are ……..

Grand Prize #1 :  Janet33234

Any full-sized Stamp set of your choice on cling cushion

Grand Prize #2 :  Stampnk

Any Stampette set of your choice on cling cushion

1st Place:  Jaybee46  (from Angie’s Blog)

Any two Glitter Tinsels

2nd Place:  Denise Bryant  (from Karalee’s Blog)

Any 3 small embossing powders

3rd Place:  Cat Darling  (from Barbara’s Blog)

Any 3 small glitters

Congratulations !!  If you are a winner, head over to the Sparkle N Sprinkle Blog for instructions on how to claim your prize.

Don’t forget to check back on the SNS blog on Tuesday for Technique Tuesday with April Williams sharing another technique for you to try.  You can also check out her previous techniques in our Tips and Techniques section at Sparkle N Sprinkle.

E. Marie

Sparkle N Sprinkle’s Spring Fling Blog Hop

Welcome to Sparkle N Sprinkle’s Spring Fling Blog Hop.  It has certainly felt like spring around here lately with all this warm weather and flowers starting to bloom.  We are celebrating all the different aspects of spring such as St. Patrick’s Day, Easter, or whatever the word “Spring” inspires.  The hop is from February 9 – 10 and winners will be announced on Saturday, Feb. 11^th between 3-7 PM EST on the SNS blog.   If you came here from Shanna Shands’ stunning blog, you are in the right place.  Otherwise you may want to go back to the SNS Home Blog to get all the details and start from the beginning.  You won’t want to miss anything.

Now for the important information – the prizes!!  One lucky person will win the Grand Prize – a Stamp Set of the winner’s choice on cling!  A second person will win a Stampette Set of the winner’s choice on cling!!!   There are also three more prizes hidden on three different designers’ blogs.  To be eligible for the grand prizes you MUST leave a comment on each and every blog.  Here is the list of the designer blogs to visit:

SNS Home Blog addy:  http://sparklensprinkle.com/blog

Karalee Ingram    http://kareescardsandcraftsofcourse.blogspot.com/

Julie Zippel    http://backtobasicsandbeyond.blogspot.com/

Jill Jacobsen  http://www.stampinhands.com/

Shanna Shands    http://scsdesigns.blogspot.com/

Marie Berquist     http://craftemarie.blogspot.com/ (You are HERE)

Jessica Griffin     http://canyoupixelthis.com/

Charlene Driggs    http://www.paperandinkplayground.com/

Angie Blasingame     http://hopemorestudio.blogspot.com/

Eleanor Jenkins     http://stampinginva.blogspot.com/

Barbara Bruder     http://www.artandsoulcreations.blogspot.com/

Gerlinde Townsley     http://mycreativecorner-gerlinde.blogspot.com/

Karin Martin     http://karin-withaniforpaper.blogspot.com/

Lana Clarke     http://sweetpeaspapercreations.blogspot.com/

April Williams     http://stampwillydesigns.blogspot.com/

Shona Erlenborn     http://shonasstampingstage.blogspot.com/

Amanda Reed    http://cardscatsandcopics.blogspot.com/

Brenda Smalle     http://rubberroomantics.blogspot.com/

SNS Home Shoppping :   http://www.sparklensprinkle.com/

My first card is using an adorable image called Little Bunny.  I cut him out and popped him up on top of a pink oval filigree and decorative paper with a Spellbinder tulip medallion die tucked behind.  The sentiment, Happy Easter, is heat embossed with an embossing powder called Sangria Star.  It is one of the new Tuscany Embossing Powders.  Both stamps are available as individual stamps at the Sparkle N Sprinkle store and full details for this card can be found here.

My next card is using the new Bunny & Chicks image which is also part of a recently released set, Celebrate Life.

I embossed this image using one of my new favorite embossing powders, Teddy Brown.  I also used a square of Neenah Classic Solar White Cardstock and colored with markers.  I rounded the corners, layered it on pink, and popped this onto a light blue square with the edges punched with a corner/border punch.  This is all added to a square card base with layers of yellow polka dot and shimmery yellow floral designer papers.  The sentiment is from the Welcome Spring Set, which is also included in the Celebrate Life set, and is punched out and popped up at the top.

For embellishments I added pink ribbon, a pink flower, a pink heart pin, and two blue flower stems that I made using wire, "Tear-ific" Tape, Dimensional Glue, Twinkling Clouds Sparkle N Soft, and Fascination Glitter.  For the shorter one I added the dimensional glue to the end of a floral wire and dipped it in the Sparkle N Soft and let it dry.  For the taller one I simply wound some of the tape around it and dipped it in the Sparkle N Soft.  I added small dots of the dimensional glue to each of these and sprinkled them with the glitter.  The 2^nd one with the tape was quicker to make but I think the first one had more of the effect I wanted.  For the final touch I added three yellow pearls.

Well, it is time to head over to Jessica Griffin’s gorgeous blog to see what wonderful surprises she has for you.  Don’t forget to leave a comment first to have a chance at one of the prizes.

Thanks so much for hopping by.   Remember to check back on February 11 to see if you are a winner!!  Also, just a reminder that through the end of the month, the Sparkle Team presents Art Deco, Fantasy, People and Gail Burton images on special – 15% off!  To view all our specials, which also include a few glitters, embossing powders, and flocking – just click here.

E. Marie

These cards are entered in the following challenges:

Happy Easter Card

Stamping Scrapping Challenge Center February Challenge – Say It With Flowers

All Sorts Challenge Week #140 – Free and Easy Pt. 1

Catch The Bug February Challenge – Anything Goes

The Crafty Pad Challenge #156 – Fresh Spring Colors

The Pink Elephant TPE134 – Happy 3rd Birthday ELLA! /Use pink...a lil' pink or a lott'a
Flourishes You’ve been FRAMED: a Noon Time Challenge! – Frame

Some Bunny Loves You Card

Simon Says Stamps Challenge – Love Is In The Air

Bling It On February Challenge #13 – Love

CES Challenge #71 – Give Me Wings

Crafts and Me Challenge #69 – Use a New Image

Crazy 4 Challenges C4C122 –  Make a Scene

Delightful Sketches Weekly Challenge – Love

Fussy and Fancy Challenge 55 - Polka Dots

Lexis Creations Challenge #58 - Love

DYSU #58 – Love

Everybody Art Challenge #179 – Love

Moving Along With The Times Challenge #135 – Cute Critters   GDT

One Stop Crafts Challenge #168 – For The One I Love

Sentimental Sundays Challenge #88 - Feel the LOVE (plus a sentiment)

Stamping Sisters In Christ Challenge #125 - Create a card/project that shows love

Totally Gorjuss Challenge #117 - Sketch

Oh Hoppy Day!!

The weather has been so lovely and my daffodils are in full bloom.  Though they say it is going to get colder, right now I am in the mood for spring.  I had this adorable little frog image, called Egg Rest, from Sparkle N Sprinkle and decided to make a fun “springy” card.

The image is heat embossed using VersaMark ink and Black Detail embossing powder.  I colored it with markers, cut it out, and added glitter.  I used a second image, All Ears, cut it out and added Twinkling Clouds Sparkle N Soft.  I added this to the little frog’s head.  All of this is added to a Spellbinders Classic Oval die with the egg border from Easter Borders stamped along the bottom.  This is also colored with markers and glitter and Pine Grove Glitter Tinsel added.

The sentiment is also from the Easter Borders and is cut out with a Spellbinder tag die.  This is layered over pink tulips cut out with a border punch.  You can find complete instructions for this card here.

Make sure you return on Thursday, February 9 for Sparkle N Sprinkle’s Spring Fling Blog Hop!!

E. Marie

This card is entered in the following challenges:

DYSU #57 - ANYTHING GOES

Simon Says Stamps Challenge - Animal Antics

Anything Challenge #60 – Bingo (2 or More Stamped Images, My Choice - Animals, Die Cuts/Punches)

The Crafty Pad Challenge #156 – Fresh Spring Colors

Delightful Sketches Weekly Challenge – Punches and Dies

Fussy and Fancy Challenge #55 – Polka Dots

The Pink Elephant Challenge TPE134 - Happy 3rd Birthday ELLA! /create something and use pink

Dani's Ladybug

I know some of you have already had a lot of cold weather, and even snow, but our winter has hardly seemed like winter.  Only a few really cold days and today felt more like spring.  My daffodils are even starting to bloom. It is hard to believe it is already February 1^st.  That means it is also time for a new Sketch Challenge at the Sparkle N Sprinkle blog.

Here is February’s sketch.  This month’s sketch was a challenge for me, but that is what makes a sketch so much fun.  Love to see what you do with it, plus you have a chance to win a free stamp set.  Here are the guidelines for playing:

v Create a NEW project for the challenge. No back links please.

v Please use Sparkle N Sprinkle images only

v Please link to your blog or to your post at the SplitCoastStampers gallery (SCS)

v If posting to the SCS gallery, please be sure to include the code that appears on the sketch to tag your card to the challenge.  Please enter that code using the keyword SNSSC04 .  If posting on your blog please include the code on your blog also.  Each monthly sketch will have its own unique code that will appear on the sketch.

v Please link the card or project to the inlinkz icon at the bottom of the current challenge page here.

v Please make sure to link to your challenge card not to your blog address.

If you have any questions please email Barbara at Barbara@sparklensprinkle.com.

I really wanted to use this adorable SNS image, Dani's Ladybug, for this sketch.  I used the largest Spellbinders’ Butterfly Circle and only rolled it half way through my die cut machine, so it only cut out on the right half of a white square.  I stamped my image with Stazon ink and colored it with markers, then added Cerise glitter using "Tear-ific" Tape behind the die cut butterflies.  I used a doily die to emboss on the blue layer and a corner punch on the two right corners.  I sponged a little Bahama Blue Memento Ink over the embossing and along the edges.  I added a rectangle of yellow behind it, using the same corner punch, and added all to a white card base.  A few yellow pearls (you know how I love pearls), green die cut flourishes, and pink roses completed this card.

Please head over to the SNS blog to see what some of the other designers created with this great sketch. 

Also, remember to check back on Thursday, Feb. 9 for our Spring Fling Blog Hop.

   

E. Marie

This card is entered in the following challenges:

Stampin For The Weekend Challenge #25 – Embossing

CRAFTYCATZ Challenge # 117 - Things with Wings  
Crazy 4 Challenges C4C121 –  Layer It On

Creative Card Crew Challenge #3 – Fantasy

Incy Wincy Designs Challenge #131 – Flowers

Kaboodle Doodles Challenge #104 – It’s All About Girls

Moving Along With The Times Challenge #133 – Blooming Marvellous
Stamptacular Sunday Challenge #149 – Diamonds or Pearls (I prefer pearls!!)
Sentimental Sundays Challenge #87 - Dry Embossing